Extracellular matrix protein 1 promotes cell metastasis and glucose metabolism by inducing integrin β4/FAK/SOX2/HIF-1α signaling pathway in gastric cancer

Integrins as the pivotal regulators of cisplatin response in tumor cells

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a widely used first-line chemotherapeutic drug in various cancers. However, CDDP resistance is frequently observed in cancer patients. Therefore, it is required to evaluate the molecular mechanisms associated with CDDP resistance to improve prognosis among cancer patients. Integrins are critical factors involved in tumor metastasis that regulate cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions. They modulate several cellular mechanisms including proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, polarity, and chemo resistance. Modification of integrin expression levels can be associated with both tumor progression and inhibition. Integrins are also involved in drug resistance of various solid tumors through modulation of the tumor cell interactions with interstitial matrix and extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, in the present review we discussed the role of integrin protein family in regulation of CDDP response in tumor cells. It has been reported that integrins mainly promoted the CDDP resistance through interaction with PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and WNT signaling pathways. They also regulated the CDDP mediated apoptosis in tumor cells. This review paves the way to suggest the integrins as the reliable therapeutic targets to improve CDDP response in tumor cells.

Role of adhesion molecules in cancer and targeted therapy

Adhesion molecules mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions and transmit mechanical and chemical signals among them. Various mechanisms deregulate adhesion molecules in cancer, enabling tumor cells to proliferate without restraint, invade through tissue boundaries, escape from immune surveillance, and survive in the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have revealed that adhesion molecules also drive angiogenesis, reshape metabolism, and are involved in stem cell self-renewal. In this review, we summarize the functions and mechanisms of adhesion molecules in cancer and the tumor microenvironment, as well as the therapeutic strategies targeting adhesion molecules. These studies have implications for furthering our understanding of adhesion molecules in cancer and providing a paradigm for exploring novel therapeutic approaches.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 from cancer-associated fibroblasts contribute to the progression of diffuse-type gastric cancers through the interaction with integrin β1

BACKGROUND

Tumor cells of diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) are discohesive and infiltrate into the stroma as single cells or small subgroups, so the stroma significantly impacts DGC progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of the tumor stroma. Here, we identified CAF-specific secreted molecules and investigated the mechanism underlying CAF-induced DGC progression.

METHODS

We conducted transcriptome analysis for paired normal fibroblast (NF)-CAF isolated from DGC patient tissues and proteomics for conditioned media (CM) of fibroblasts. The effects of fibroblasts on cancer cells were examined by transwell migration and soft agar assays, western blotting, and in vivo. We confirmed the effect of blocking tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1) in CAFs using siRNA or shRNA. We evaluated the expression of TINAGL1 protein in frozen tissues of DGC and paired normal stomach and mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue using RNA in-situ hybridization (RNA-ISH).

RESULTS

CAFs more highly expressed TINAGL1 than NFs. The co-culture of CAFs increased migration and tumorigenesis of DGC. Moreover, CAFs enhanced the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mesenchymal marker expression in DGC cells. In an animal study, DGC tumors co-injected with CAFs showed aggressive phenotypes, including lymph node metastasis. However, increased phosphorylation of FAK and migration were reduced by blocking TINAGL1 in CAFs. In the tissues of DGC patients, TINAGL1 was higher in cancer than paired normal tissues and detected with collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) in the same spot. Furthermore, high TINAGL1 expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis in several public databases and our patient cohort diagnosed with DGC.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that TINAGL1 secreted by CAFs induces phosphorylation of FAK in DGC cells and promotes tumor progression. Thus, targeting TINAGL1 in CAFs can be a novel therapeutic strategy for DGC.

Integrin β4 Regulates Cell Migration of Lung Adenocarcinoma Through FAK Signaling

The role of the integrin family in malignancy has received increasing attention. Many studies have confirmed that ITGB4 could activate multiple signal pathways and promote cell migration in various cancers. However, the regulatory role of integrin β4 (ITGB4) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still unclear. Examination of the expression or survival analysis of ITGB4 in cells, pathological samples, and bioinformatics lung adenocarcinoma databases showed ITGB4 was highly expressed in LUAD and significantly associated with poor prognosis. Small interfering RNA and plasmids were performed to investigate the effect of changes in ITGB4 expression on lung adenocarcinoma. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor defactinib was used to further explore the molecular mechanism of ITGB4. The results showed depletion of ITGB4 inhibited migration and activation of FAK signaling pathways in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Moreover, increased ITGB4 expression activated FAK signaling and promoted cell migration, which can be reversed by defactinib. In addition, ITGB4 could interact with FAK in lung adenocarcinoma cells. ITGB4 may promote cell migration of lung adenocarcinoma through FAK signaling pathway and has the potential to be a biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma.

Protein cargo in extracellular vesicles as the key mediator in the progression of cancer

Exosomes are small vesicles of endosomal origin that are released by almost all cell types, even those that are pathologically altered. Exosomes widely participate in cell-to-cell communication via transferring cargo, including nucleic acids, proteins, and other metabolites, into recipient cells. Tumour-derived exosomes (TDEs) participate in many important molecular pathways and affect various hallmarks of cancer, including fibroblasts activation, modification of the tumour microenvironment (TME), modulation of immune responses, angiogenesis promotion, setting the pre-metastatic niche, enhancing metastatic potential, and affecting therapy sensitivity and resistance. The unique exosome biogenesis, composition, nontoxicity, and ability to target specific tumour cells bring up their use as promising drug carriers and cancer biomarkers. In this review, we focus on the role of exosomes, with an emphasis on their protein cargo, in the key mechanisms promoting cancer progression. We also briefly summarise the mechanism of exosome biogenesis, its structure, protein composition, and potential as a signalling hub in both normal and pathological conditions. Video Abstract.

ITGB4 upregulation is associated with progression of lower grade glioma

Gliomas originating in the neuroepithelium account for about 80% of brain malignancies and are the most common cancer of the central nervous system. Clinical management of gliomas remains challenging despite significant advances in comprehensive therapies, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. The ITGB4 (Integrin subunit beta 4) gene encodes a receptor for laminins and its upregulation in tumor tissues is associated with poor prognosis. However, its role in glioma is not well understood. First, we performed a pan cancer analysis of ITGB4 expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Survival analysis was done on Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and TCGA. Immunohistochemistry was then used to validate the expression and role of ITGB4 in glioma. We finally analyzed the possible mechanism by immune infiltration and single-cell sequencing analysis. Here, we found that ITGB4 is upregulated in glioma and accurately predicts the prognosis of lower grade glioma (LGG). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that ITGB4 is a risk factor for LGG. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that ITGB4 accurately predicts LGG prognosis. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) cluster analysis showed that ITGB4 was closely related to immune related genes. Immune cell infiltration and single cell sequencing analyses indicated that ITGB4 may be closely related to the microenvironment of gliomas, especially tumor-associated fibroblasts. ITGB4 is a promising diagnostic and therapeutic factor in LGG patients.

Expression Profiles of Hypoxia-Related Genes of Cancers Originating from Anatomically Similar Locations Using TCGA Database Analysis

Background: Hypoxia is a well-recognized characteristic of the tumor microenvironment of solid cancers. This study aimed to analyze hypoxia-related genes shared by groups based on tumor location. Methods: A total of 9 hypoxia-related pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database or the Reactome database were selected, and 850 hypoxia-related genes were analyzed. Based on their anatomical locations, 14 tumor types were categorized into 6 groups. The group-specific genetic risk score was classified as high- or low-risk based on mRNA expression, and survival outcomes were evaluated. Results: The risk scores in the Female Reproductive group and the Lung group were internally and externally validated. In the Female Reproductive group, CDKN2A, FN1, and ITGA5 were identified as hub genes associated with poor prognosis, while IL2RB and LEF1 were associated with favorable prognosis. In the Lung group, ITGB1 and LDHA were associated with poor prognosis, and GLS2 was associated with favorable prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the Female Reproductive group was enriched in relation to cilia and skin, while the Lung group was enriched in relation to cytokines and defense. Conclusions: This analysis may lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of cancer progression and facilitate establishing new biomarkers for prognosis prediction.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation in kidney diseases: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential

The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is regulated by methylases, commonly referred to as "writers," and demethylases, known as "erasers," leading to a dynamic and reversible process. Changes in m6A levels have been implicated in a wide range of cellular processes, including nuclear RNA export, mRNA metabolism, protein translation, and RNA splicing, establishing a strong correlation with various diseases. Both physiologically and pathologically, m6A methylation plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of kidney disease. The methylation of m6A may also facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases, according to accumulating research. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential role and mechanism of m6A methylation in kidney diseases, as well as its potential application in the treatment of such diseases. There will be a thorough examination of m6A methylation mechanisms, paying particular attention to the interplay between m6A writers, m6A erasers, and m6A readers. Furthermore, this paper will elucidate the interplay between various kidney diseases and m6A methylation, summarize the expression patterns of m6A in pathological kidney tissues, and discuss the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting m6A in the context of kidney diseases.

Conditional knockout of ITGB4 in bronchial epithelial cells directs bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Neonatal respiratory system disease is closely associated with embryonic lung development. Our group found that integrin β4 (ITGB4) is downregulated in the airway epithelium of asthma patients. Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory illness in childhood. Therefore, we suspect whether the deletion of ITGB4 would affect fetal lung development. In this study, we characterized the role of ITGB4 deficiency in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). ITGB4 was conditionally knocked out in CCSP-rtTA, Tet-O-Cre and ITGB4f/f triple transgenic mice. Lung tissues at different developmental stages were collected for experimental detection and transcriptome sequencing. The effects of ITGB4 deficiency on lung branching morphogenesis were observed by fetal mouse lung explant culture. Deleting ITGB4 from the airway epithelial cells results in enlargement of alveolar airspaces, inhibition of branching, the abnormal structure of epithelium cells and the impairment of cilia growth during lung development. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the airway epithelial cilia of the β4ccsp.cre group appear to be sparse, shortened and lodging. Lung-development-relevant factors such as SftpC and SOX2 significantly decreased both mRNA and protein levels. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that multiple ontogenesis-regulating-relevant pathways converge to FAK. Accordingly, ITGB4 deletion decreased phospho-FAK, phospho-GSK3β and SOX2 levels, and the correspondingly contrary consequence was detected after treatment with GSK3β agonist (wortmannin). Airway branching defect of β4ccsp.cre mice lung explants was also partly recovered after wortmannin treatment. Airway epithelial-specific deletion of ITGB4 contributes to lung developmental defect, which could be achieved through the FAK/GSK3β/SOX2 signal pathway.

PI3K/AKT signaling activates HIF1α to modulate the biological effects of invasive breast cancer with microcalcification

Microcalcification (MC) is a valuable diagnostic indicator of breast cancer, and it is reported to be associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Nevertheless, the exact potential molecular mechanism is not completely understood. Here, we find that the mineralized invasive breast cancer (IBC) cells not only increased their proliferation and migration, but also showed the characteristic of doxorubicin resistance. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is associated with the generation of calcification in IBC, and it activates the transcription and translation of its downstream hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α). Knockdown of HIF1α protein significantly downregulated cell proliferation and migration while calcification persists. Meanwhile, calcified breast cancer cells restored sensitivity to doxorubicin because of suppressed HIF1α expression. In addition, we provide initial data on the underlying value of HIF1α as a biomarker of doxorubicin resistance. These findings provide a new direction for exploring microcalcifications in IBC.

HIF-1α drives resistance to ferroptosis in solid tumors by promoting lactate production and activating SLC1A1

Solid tumors have developed robust ferroptosis resistance. The mechanism underlying ferroptosis resistance regulation in solid tumors, however, remains elusive. Here, we report that the hypoxic tumor microenvironment potently promotes ferroptosis resistance in solid tumors in a hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)-dependent manner. In combination with HIF-2α, which promotes tumor ferroptosis under hypoxia, HIF-1α is the main driver of hypoxia-induced ferroptosis resistance. Mechanistically, HIF-1α-induced lactate contributes to ferroptosis resistance in a pH-dependent manner that is parallel to the classical SLC7A11 and FSP1 systems. In addition, HIF-1α also enhances transcription of SLC1A1, an important glutamate transporter, and promotes cystine uptake to promote ferroptosis resistance. In support of the role of hypoxia in ferroptosis resistance, silencing HIF-1α sensitizes mouse solid tumors to ferroptosis inducers. In conclusion, our results reveal a mechanism by which hypoxia drives ferroptosis resistance and identify the combination of hypoxia alleviation and ferroptosis induction as a promising therapeutic strategy for solid tumors.

EDIL3 is a potential prognostic biomarker that correlates with immune infiltrates in gastric cancer

Background

EDIL3, which contains epidermal growth factor-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains, is a secretory protein that plays an important role in embryonic development and various illnesses. However, the biological function of EDIL3 in gastric cancer (GC) is still unclear. The objective of this research was to explore the role and potential mechanism of EDIL3 in GC.

Methods

In this study, we used the GEPIA, HPA, MethSurv, SMART, STRING, GeneMANIA, LinkedOmics TIMER, TIMER2.0, TISIDB, and RNAactDrug databases to comprehensively analyze the roles of EDIL3 in GC. To validate the in silico findings, EDIL3 expression was measured in our collected GC tissues. Meanwhile, several in vitro experiments were performed to test the function of EDIL3 in GC.

Results

We found that EDIL3 was highly expressed in GC and associated with adverse clinical features. In vitro assays revealed that EDIL3 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells. The functions of EDIL3 and co-expression genes were significantly associated with extracellular structure organization and matrix receptor interaction. EDIL3 expression was positively associated with numerous tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their biomarkers.

Conclusion

This study determined that EDIL3 may function as an oncogene and is associated with immune infiltration in GC. EDIL3 could be used as a potential therapeutic target for GC.

Extracellular matrix-derived mechanical force governs breast cancer cell stemness and quiescence transition through integrin-DDR signaling

The extracellular matrix (ECM) serves as signals that regulate specific cell states in tumor tissues. Increasing evidence suggests that extracellular biomechanical force signals are critical in tumor progression. In this study, we aimed to explore the influence of ECM-derived biomechanical force on breast cancer cell status. Experiments were conducted using 3D collagen, fibrinogen, and Matrigel matrices to investigate the role of mechanical force in tumor development. Integrin-cytoskeleton-AIRE and DDR-STAT signals were examined using RNA sequencing and western blotting. Data from 1358 patients and 86 clinical specimens were used for ECM signature-prognosis analysis. Our findings revealed that ECM-derived mechanical force regulated tumor stemness and cell quiescence in breast cancer cells. A mechanical force of ~45 Pa derived from the extracellular substrate activated integrin β1/3 receptors, stimulating stem cell signaling pathways through the cytoskeleton/AIRE axis and promoting tumorigenic potential and stem-like phenotypes. However, excessive mechanical force (450 Pa) could drive stem-like cancer cells into a quiescent state, with the removal of mechanical forces leading to vigorous proliferation in quiescent cancer stem cells. Mechanical force facilitated cell cycle arrest to induce quiescence, dependent on DDR2/STAT1/P27 signaling. Therefore, ECM-derived mechanical force governs breast cancer cell status and proliferative characteristics through stiffness alterations. We further established an ECM signature based on the fibrinogen/fibronectin/vitronectin/elastin axis, which efficiently predicts patient prognosis in breast cancer. Our findings highlight the vital role of ECM-derived mechanical force in governing breast cancer cell stemness/quiescence transition and suggest the novel use of ECM signature in predicting the clinical prognosis of breast cancer.

Integrins in cancer: Emerging mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

Integrins are vital surface adhesion receptors that mediate the interactions between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells and are essential for cell migration and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Aberrant integrin activation promotes initial tumor formation, growth, and metastasis. Recently, many lines of evidence have indicated that integrins are highly expressed in numerous cancer types and have documented many functions of integrins in tumorigenesis. Thus, integrins have emerged as attractive targets for the development of cancer therapeutics. In this review, we discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms by which integrins contribute to most of the hallmarks of cancer. We focus on recent progress on integrin regulators, binding proteins, and downstream effectors. We highlight the role of integrins in the regulation of tumor metastasis, immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, and other hallmarks of cancer. In addition, integrin-targeted immunotherapy and other integrin inhibitors that have been used in preclinical and clinical studies are summarized.

Targeted deprivation of methionine with engineered Salmonella leads to oncolysis and suppression of metastasis in broad types of animal tumor models

The strong dependency of almost all malignant tumors on methionine potentially offers a pathway for cancer treatment. We engineer an attenuated strain of Salmonella typhimurium to overexpress an L-methioninase with the aim of specifically depriving tumor tissues of methionine. The engineered microbes target solid tumors and induce a sharp regression in several very divergent animal models of human carcinomas, cause a significant decrease in tumor cell invasion, and essentially eliminate the growth and metastasis of these tumors. RNA sequencing analyses reveal that the engineered Salmonella reduce the expression of a series of genes promoting cell growth, cell migration, and invasion. These findings point to a potential treatment modality for many metastatic solid tumors, which warrants further tests in clinical trials.

New insights into KLFs and SOXs in cancer pathogenesis, stemness, and therapy

Despite the development of cancer therapies, the success of most treatments has been impeded by drug resistance. The crucial role of tumor cell plasticity has emerged recently in cancer progression, cancer stemness and eventually drug resistance. Cell plasticity drives tumor cells to reversibly convert their cell identity, analogous to differentiation and dedifferentiation, to adapt to drug treatment. This phenotypical switch is driven by alteration of the transcriptome. Several pluripotent factors from the KLF and SOX families are closely associated with cancer pathogenesis and have been revealed to regulate tumor cell plasticity. In this review, we particularly summarize recent studies about KLF4, KLF5 and SOX factors in cancer development and evolution, focusing on their roles in cancer initiation, invasion, tumor hierarchy and heterogeneity, and lineage plasticity. In addition, we discuss the various regulation of these transcription factors and related cutting-edge drug development approaches that could be used to drug "undruggable" transcription factors, such as PROTAC and PPI targeting, for targeted cancer therapy. Advanced knowledge could pave the way for the development of novel drugs that target transcriptional regulation and could improve the outcome of cancer therapy.

SOX2-associated signaling pathways regulate biological phenotypes of cancers

SOX2 is a transcription factor involved in multiple stages of embryonic development. In related reports, SOX2 was found to be abnormally expressed in tumor tissues and correlated with clinical features such as TNM staging, tumor grade, and prognosis in patients with various cancer types. In most cancer types, SOX2 is a tumor-promoting factor that regulates tumor progression and metastasis primarily by maintaining the stemness of cancer cells. In addition, SOX2 also regulates the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, ferroptosis and drug resistance of cancer cells. However, SOX2 acts as a tumor suppressor in some cases in certain cancer types, such as gastric and lung cancer. These key regulatory functions of SOX2 involve complex regulatory networks, including protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions through signaling pathways and noncoding RNA interactions, modulating SOX2 expression may be a potential therapeutic strategy for clinical cancer patients. Therefore, we sorted out the phenotypes related to SOX2 in cancer, hoping to provide a basis for further clinical translation.

Extracellular matrix remodeling in tumor progression and immune escape: from mechanisms to treatments

The malignant tumor is a multi-etiological, systemic and complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and distant metastasis. Anticancer treatments including adjuvant therapies and targeted therapies are effective in eliminating cancer cells but in a limited number of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tumor development through changes in macromolecule components, degradation enzymes and stiffness. These variations are under the control of cellular components in tumor tissue via the aberrant activation of signaling pathways, the interaction of the ECM components to multiple surface receptors, and mechanical impact. Additionally, the ECM shaped by cancer regulates immune cells which results in an immune suppressive microenvironment and hinders the efficacy of immunotherapies. Thus, the ECM acts as a barrier to protect cancer from treatments and supports tumor progression. Nevertheless, the profound regulatory network of the ECM remodeling hampers the design of individualized antitumor treatment. Here, we elaborate on the composition of the malignant ECM, and discuss the specific mechanisms of the ECM remodeling. Precisely, we highlight the impact of the ECM remodeling on tumor development, including proliferation, anoikis, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immune escape. Finally, we emphasize ECM "normalization" as a potential strategy for anti-malignant treatment.

Short communication: Photoperiod impacts ovarian extracellular matrix and metabolic gene expression in Siberian hamsters

Ovarian cyclicity is variable in adult Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus), who respond to long breeding season photoperiods with follicle development and ovulation, while short photoperiods typical of the non-breeding season induce gonadal atrophy. Recent RNAseq results identified ovarian matrix components and regulators of metabolism as differentially regulated by photoperiod; however, the impact of photoperiod across a full cycle of ovarian regression and recrudescence had not been explored for additional regulators of ovarian metabolism and extracellular matrix components. We hypothesized that matrix and metabolism-related genes would be expressed differentially across photoperiods that mimic breeding and non-breeding season daylengths. Hamsters were housed in one of four photoperiod groups: long day (16 h of light per day: 8 h of dark; LD, controls), short day regressed (8 L:16D; SD, regressed), and females exposed to SD then transferred to LD to stimulate return of ovarian function for 2 (early recrudescence), or 8 (late recrudescence) weeks. Plasma leptin concentrations along with expression of ovarian versican and liver-receptor homolog-1/Nr582 mRNA decreased in SD compared to LD and late recrudescence, while vimentin mRNA expression peaked in early and late recrudescence. Ovarian expression of fibronectin and extracellular matrix protein-1 was low in LD ovaries and increased in regressed and recrudescing groups. Expression of hyaluronidase-2, nectin-2, liver-X receptors-α and-β, and adiponectin mRNA peaked in late recrudescence, with no changes noted for adiponectin receptor-1 and -2. The results offer a first look at the parallels between expression of these genes and the dynamic remodeling that occurs during ovarian regression and recrudescence.

Glycoproteomics revealed novel N-glycosylation biomarkers for early diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma cancers

Circulating biomarkers play important roles in diagnosis of malignant tumors. N-glycosylation is an important post-translation patter and obviously affect biological behaviors of malignant tumor cells. However, the role of N-glycosylation sites in early diagnosis of tumors still remains further investigation. In this study, plasma from 20 lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), which were all classified as stage I, as well as 20 normal controls (NL) were labeled and screened by mass spectrometry (MS). Total 39 differential N-glycosylation sites were detected in LUAD, 17 were up-regulated and 22 were down-regulated. In all differential sites, ITGB3-680 showed highest potential in LUAD which showed 99.2% AUC, 95.0% SP and 95.0% SN. Besides, APOB-1523 (AUC: 89.0%, SP: 95.0%, SN: 70.0%), APOB-2982 (AUC: 86.8%, SP: 95.0%, SN: 45.0%) and LPAL2-101 (AUC: 81.1%, SP: 95.0%, SN: 47.4%) also acted as candidate biomarkers in LUAD. Combination analysis was then performed by random forest model, all samples were divided into training group (16 cases) and testing group (4 cases) and conducted by feature selection, machine learning, integrated model of classifier and model evaluation. And the results indicated that combination of differential sites could reach 100% AUC in both training and testing group. Taken together, our study revealed multiple N-glycosylation sites which could be applied as candidate biomarkers for early diagnosis diagnosis of LUAD.

ECM1 regulates the resistance of colorectal cancer to 5-FU treatment by modulating apoptotic cell death and epithelial-mesenchymal transition induction

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) chemoresistance is a persistent impediment to the efficient treatment of many types of cancer, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying such resistance remain incompletely understood. Here we found CRC patients resistant to 5-FU treatment exhibited increased extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) expression compared to CRC patients sensitive to this chemotherapeutic agent, and higher levels of ECM1 expression were correlated significantly with shorter overall survival and disease-free survival. 5-FU resistant HCT15 (HCT15/FU) cells expressed significantly higher levels of ECM1 relative to parental HCT15 cells. Changes in ECM1 expression altered the ability of both parental and HCT15/FU cells to tolerate the medication in vitro and in vivo via processes associated with apoptosis and EMT induction. From a mechanistic perspective, knocking down and overexpressing ECM1 in HCT15/FU and HCT15 cell lines inhibited and activated PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling, respectively. Accordingly, 5-FU-induced apoptotic activity and EMT phenotype changes were affected by treatment with PI3K/AKT agonists and inhibitors. Together, these data support a model wherein ECM1 regulates CRC resistance to 5-FU via PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathway-mediated modulation of apoptotic resistance and EMT induction, highlighting ECM1 as a promising target for therapeutic intervention for efforts aimed at overcoming chemoresistance in CRC patients.

Functional and clinical characteristics of focal adhesion kinases in cancer progression

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and an adaptor protein that primarily regulates adhesion signaling and cell migration. FAK promotes cell survival in response to stress. Increasing evidence has shown that at the pathological level, FAK is highly expressed in multiple tumors in several systems (including lung, liver, gastric, and colorectal cancers) and correlates with tumor aggressiveness and patient prognosis. At the molecular level, FAK promotes tumor progression mainly by altering survival signals, invasive capacity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the tumor microenvironment, the Warburg effect, and stemness of tumor cells. Many effective drugs have been developed based on the comprehensive role of FAK in tumor cells. In addition, its potential as a tumor marker cannot be ignored. Here, we discuss the pathological and pre-clinical evidence of the role of FAK in cancer development; we hope that these findings will assist in FAK-based clinical studies.

Effects of Ion-Transporting Proteins on the Digestive System Under Hypoxia

Hypoxia refers to a state of oxygen limitation, which mainly mediates pathological processes in the human body and participates in the regulation of normal physiological processes. In the hypoxic environment, the main regulator of human body homeostasis is the hypoxia-inducible factor family (HIF). HIF can regulate the expression of many hypoxia-induced genes and then participate in various physiological and pathological processes of the human body. Ion-transporting proteins are extremely important types of proteins. Ion-transporting proteins are distributed on cell membranes or organelles and strictly control the inflow or outflow of ions in cells or organelles. Changes in ions in cells are often closely related to extensive physiological and pathological processes in the human body. Numerous studies have confirmed that hypoxia and its regulatory factors can regulate the transcription and expression of ion-transporting protein-related genes. Under hypoxic stress, the regulation and interaction of ion-transporting proteins by hypoxia often leads to diseases of various human systems and even tumors. Using ion-transporting proteins and hypoxia as targets to explore the mechanism of digestive system diseases and targeted therapy is expected to become a new breakthrough point.

The function of Piezo1 in hepatoblastoma metastasis and its potential transduction mechanism

Background

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common primary malignant liver tumor in children. The prognosis of HB metastasis is poor, despite the increasing diversity of treatment. Piezo, a ubiquitously expressed membrane mechano-transduction protein, is involved in the process of tumor cell migration. Under the gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) database, Piezo1 was highly expressed in HB and negatively correlated with the overall survival time.

Methods

Firstly, the expression of Piezo1 in both paracancerous and HB tissues (n = 7) was detected, and the prognostic value of Piezo1 was assessed in HB (n = 160) patients. Secondly, the inhibition and overexpression of Piezo1were executed in two HB cell lines, HepG2 and Huh 6. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), wound healing and trans-well assays were performed to identify the effect of Piezo1 on the proliferation and metastasis of HB cells, respectively. In addition, a co-immunoprecipitation assay was performed to determine whether Piezo1 has an interaction with HIF-1α. Finally, the expressions level of Piezo1, HIF-1α, and VEGF by overexpression/inhibition each other were detected by RT-qPCR and western blots to find a possible signaling channel in HB metastasis.

Results

We found that Piezo1 was highly expressed in HB tissues and associated with poor prognosis of patients. Piezo1 was related to cell proliferation in HepG2 and Huh 6 cells. We also found that Piezo1 stimulated HIF-1α expression. Meanwhile, overexpression of Piezo1 promoted the migration and invasion of HB cells, while the promotion was not detected when HIF-1α was suppressed. Additionally, the silencing of HIF-1α inhibited the expression of VEGF, but showed no effect on Piezo1 expression.

Conclusion

In this study, we identified that Piezo1 was involved in HB metastasis, and the Piezo1-HIF-1α-VEGF axis could be a possible signaling pathway in HB metastasis.

HIF in Gastric Cancer: Regulation and Therapeutic Target

HIF means hypoxia-inducible factor gene family, and it could regulate various biological processes, including tumor development. In 2021, the FDA approved the new drug Welireg for targeting HIF-2a, and it is mainly used to treat von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, which demonstrated its good prospects in tumor therapy. As the fourth deadliest cancer worldwide, gastric cancer endangers the health of people all across the world. Currently, there are various treatment methods for patients with gastric cancer, but the five-year survival rate of patients with advanced gastric cancer is still not high. Therefore, here we reviewed the regulatory role and target role of HIF in gastric cancer, and provided some references for the treatment of gastric cancer.

ILP-2: A New Bane and Therapeutic Target for Human Cancers

Inhibitor of apoptosis protein-related-like protein-2 (ILP-2), also known as BIRC-8, is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAPs) family, which mainly encodes the negative regulator of apoptosis. It is selectively overexpressed in a variety of human tumors and can help tumor cells evade apoptosis, promote tumor cell growth, increase tumor cell aggressiveness, and appears to be involved in tumor cell resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Several studies have shown that downregulation of ILP-2 expression increases apoptosis, inhibits metastasis, reduces cell growth potential, and sensitizes tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition, ILP-2 inhibits apoptosis in a unique manner; it does not directly inhibit the activity of caspases but induces apoptosis by cooperating with other apoptosis-related proteins. Here, we review the current understanding of the various roles of ILP-2 in the apoptotic cascade and explore the use of interfering ILP-2, and the combination of related anti-tumor agents, as a novel strategy for cancer therapy.

ECM1 is associated with endocrine resistance in ER+ breast cancers

Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is associated with a poor prognosis of breast cancers. However, the role of ECM1 with endocrine resistance in estrogen receptor-positive (ER⁺) breast cancers has not been elucidated yet. We show that ECM1 promotes endocrine resistance in ER⁺ breast cancers. ECM1 is overexpressed in luminal breast cancer patients compared to the basal type of breast cancer. Significantly, higher expression of ECM1 is associated with poor response to endocrine therapies in luminal B breast cancer patients. We found that ECM1 is upregulated in CAMA1 and MDA-MB-361 cells grown in long-term estrogen-deprived (LTED) conditions. Moreover, the ablation of ECM1 significantly inhibited the proliferation of CAMA1 LTED and MDA-MB-361 LTED cells. Finally, an interrogation of a dataset containing transcriptome and proteome of breast cancer cell lines revealed that the level of ECM1 mRNA is positively correlated with that of phosphorylated Src. Based on these findings, we strongly suggest that ECM1 significantly contributes to the acquisition of endocrine resistance in ER⁺ breast cancers by the activation of Src.

The establishment of polypeptide PSMA-targeted chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells for castration-resistant prostate cancer and the induction of ferroptosis-related cell death

Background

The mortality of castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is high due to lack of an effective treatment. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐based therapy is a promising immunotherapeutic strategy. Here, we aimed to design a novel CAR‐natural killer (NK) cells with a clinically significant tumoricidal effect on CRPC.

Methods

We constructed novel CAR‐NK92MI cells with a CD244‐based recombinant lentiviral vector. Different intracellular segments (CD244, NKG2D, or CD3ζ) were screened to identify the best candidate according to cell lysis assay and CD107a expression levels. To enhance the affinity of the CAR to the tumor antigen, we compared an antibody specific for prostate‐specific membrane antigen (anti‐PSMA) with PSMA‐targeted polypeptide (p‐PSMA), which was screened by phage display combinatorial library. Then, CAR‐NK92MI cells with both a high affinity for PSMA and a strong tumoricidal capacity were generated. In addition, we verified their tumor‐killing effect in vitro and in vivo. The release of cytokine by NK92MI cells was compared with that by CAR‐NK92MI cells through flow cytometry and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, ferroptosis‐related cell death was explored as a possible underlying mechanism.

Results

Three different CAR intracellular regions CAR1 (CD244), CAR2 (CD244, NKG2D) and CAR3 (CD244, NKG2D, and CD3ζ) were constructed. CAR2 was chosen to confer a stronger tumoricidal ability on CAR‐NK92MI cells. Compared with anti‐PSMA, p‐PSMA exhibited enhanced affinity for the tumor antigen. Thus, p‐PSMA‐CAR‐NK92MI cells, which expressed CAR with a polypeptide‐based antigen‐binding region, an intracellular CD244 and a NKG2D costimulatory domain, were generated. They could selectively and successfully kill PSMA⁺ target cells and exhibited specific lysis rate of 73.19% for PSMA‐positive C4‐2 cells and 33.04% for PSMA‐negative PC3 cells. Additionally, p‐PSMA‐CAR‐NK92MI cells had significantly higher concentrations of IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and granzyme B than NK92MI cells. In a CRPC cancer xenograft model, p‐PSMA‐CAR‐NK92MI cells significantly inhibited tumor growth and exerted a more consistent killing effect than NK92MI cells. Moreover, ferroptosis is a potential mechanism through which CAR‐NK92MI cells attack cancer cells, and is triggered by IFN‐γ.

Conclusions

p‐PSMA‐CAR‐NK92MI cells can effectively kill CRPC^PSMA+ cells in vitro and in vivo. This strategy may provide additional treatment options for patients with CRPC.

Extracellular Matrix Protein 1 Regulates Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferative, Migratory, Invasive and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Activities Through the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/Snail Signaling Axis

In prior reports, extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) upregulation has been reported in colorectal cancer (CRC) patient tumor tissues, and has been suggested to be related to the metastatic progression of CRC, although the underlying mechanisms have yet to be clarified. In this study, we found that ECM1 was overexpressed in both CRC tissues and cell lines. Upregulation of ECM1 was correlated with tumor size, lymph node status and TNM stage in CRC patients. Knocking down ECM1 suppressed CRC cell growth, migration and invasion, in addition to reducing the expression of Vimentin and increasing E-cadherin expression. The overexpression of ECM1, in contrast, yielded the opposite phenotypic outcomes while also promoting the expression of p-AKT, p-GSK3β, and Snail, which were downregulated when ECM1 was knocked down. Treatment with LY294002 and 740 Y-P reversed the impact upregulation and downregulation of ECM1 on CRC cell metastasis and associated EMT induction. In vivo analyses confirmed that ECM1 overexpression was able to enhance EMT induction and CRC tumor progression. In conclusion, ECM1 influences CRC development and progression in an oncogenic manner, and regulates CRC metastasis and EMT processes via the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/Snail signaling axis.

Construction of a prognostic risk assessment model for lung adenocarcinoma based on Integrin β family‐related genes

Background

Integrin β (ITGB) superfamily plays an essential role in the intercellular connection and signal transmission. It was exhibited that overexpressing of ITGB family members promotes the malignant progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but the relationship between ITGB superfamily and the LUAD prognosis remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, the samples were assigned to different subgroups utilizing non‐negative matrix factorization clustering according to the expression of ITGB family members in LUAD. Kaplan–Meier (K‐M) survival analysis revealed the significant differences in the prognosis between different ITGB subgroups. Subsequently, we screened differentially expressed genes among different subgroups and conducted univariate Cox analysis, random forest feature selection, and multivariate Cox analysis. 9‐feature genes (FAM83A, AKAP12, PKP2, CYP17A1, GJB3, TMPRSS11F, KRT81, MARCH4, and STC1) in the ITGB superfamily were selected to establish a prognostic assessment model for LAUD.

Results

In accordance with the median risk score, LUAD samples were divided into high‐ and low‐risk groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of LUAD patients’ survival was predicted via K‐M survival curve and principal component analysis dimensionality reduction. This model was found to have a favorable performance in LUAD prognostic assessment. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of differentially expressed genes between groups and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of intergroup samples confirmed that the high‐ and low‐risk groups had evident differences mainly in the function of extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction. Risk score and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of clinical factors showed that the prognostic model could be applied as an independent prognostic factor for LUAD. Then, we draw the nomogram of 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival of LUAD patients predicted with the risk score and clinical factors. Calibration curve and clinical decision curve proved the favorable predictive ability of nomogram.

Conclusion

We constructed a LUAD prognostic risk model based on the ITGB superfamily, which can provide guidance for clinicians on their prognostic judgment.

miRNA-guided reprogramming of glucose and glutamine metabolism and its impact on cell adhesion/migration during solid tumor progression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs about 22 nucleotides in length that regulate the expression of target genes post-transcriptionally, and are highly involved in cancer progression. They are able to impact a variety of cell processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation and can consequently control tumor initiation, tumor progression and metastasis formation. miRNAs can regulate, at the same time, metabolic gene expression which, in turn, influences relevant traits of malignancy such as cell adhesion, migration and invasion. Since the interaction between metabolism and adhesion or cell movement has not, to date, been well understood, in this review, we will specifically focus on miRNA alterations that can interfere with some metabolic processes leading to the modulation of cancer cell movement. In addition, we will analyze the signaling pathways connecting metabolism and adhesion/migration, alterations that often affect cancer cell dissemination and metastasis formation.

METTL14-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification of ITGB4 mRNA inhibits metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background

Integrin β4 (ITGB4) participates in tumorigenesis and progression of several malignancies, but its role and related mechanisms in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain unclear.

Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect mRNA and protein levels of relevant genes. Biological functions of ITGB4 and methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The levels of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in ccRCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were calculated via total RNA m6A quantification assay. The m6A modification of ITGB4 was demonstrated via m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), RIP and luciferase reporter assays.

Results

ITGB4 was significantly overexpressed in ccRCC tissues and high level of ITGB4 predicted poor prognosis as well as metastasis. Functionally, ITGB4 stimulated ccRCC cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) strengthened. Mechanically, the total levels of m6A were reduced in ccRCC tissues. METTL14, a favorable factor for ccRCC patients’ prognosis, facilitated m6A modification on ITGB4 3′UTR and subsequently accelerated ITGB4 mRNA degradation, leading to its declined expression. Furthermore, the METTL14-mediated inhibition of ITGB4 expression was dependent on the YTH domain family protein 2 (YTHDF2), which acted as an m6A reader to bind to ITGB4 mRNA and to promote its decay. In addition, we demonstrated that knockdown of METTL14 promoted ccRCC cell migration, invasiveness and metastasis as well as stimulating the EMT process and the PI3K/AKT signal by overexpressing ITGB4.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that METTL14 inhibits ITGB4 expression via m6A modification to attenuate metastasis and EMT of ccRCC cells, suggesting the METTL14/ITGB4 axis as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ccRCC.

THBS2 is Closely Related to the Poor Prognosis and Immune Cell Infiltration of Gastric Cancer

Background: The potential functions of Thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) in the progression and immune infiltration of gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of THBS2 in GC prognosis and the relationship between THBS2 and GC immune cell infiltration.

Material and Methods: The differential expression levels of THBS2 in the GC and cancer-adjacent tissues were identified using the TCGA databases and verified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemical staining and two datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). THBS2 related differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and used for further functional enrichment analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Furthermore, a THBS2-related immune infiltration analysis was also performed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were utilized to illustrate the effects of THBS2 on the prognosis and clinical variables of GC. Finally, a nomogram was constructed to predict the survival probability of patients with GC.

Results: The THBS2 expression in GC was significantly higher than that in cancer-adjacent tissues (p < 0.001), which was verified using real-time PCR, immunohistochemical staining and datasets from GEO. The 599 identified DEGs were primarily enriched in pathways related to tumorigenesis and tumor progression, including the focal adhesion pathway, signaling by vascular endothelial growth factor, and Wnt signaling. THBS2 expression was positively correlated with the enrichment of the macrophages (r = 0.590, p < 0.001), which was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry; however, negatively correlated with the enrichment of Th17 cells (r = 0.260, p < 0.001). The high expression of THBS2 was significantly correlated with the pathological grade (p < 0.01), histological grade (p < 0.05), histological type (p < 0.05), T stage (p < 0.001), and poor overall survival (OS) (P = 0.003) of GC. The constructed nomogram can well predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-years OS probability of patients with GC (C-index [95% confidence interval] = 0.725 [0.701–0.750]).

Conclusion: THBS2 is closely related to the poor prognosis and immune infiltration of gastric cancer.

DOK5 as a Prognostic Biomarker of Gastric Cancer Immunoinvasion: A Bioinformatics Analysis

Background

Docking protein 5 (DOK5) is a member of the docking protein group of membrane proteins and is an adapter protein involved in signal transduction. Nevertheless, the role of DOK5 expression in the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, clinical prognostic parameters and survival data related to DOK5, in patients with GC, were analyzed using bioinformatics analysis comprising Oncomine and TIMER, UALCAN database, Kaplan-Meier plotter, GEPIA, GSEA, DAVID, and cBioPortal websites.

Results

In our study, GC contained various DOK5 expressions, which forecasted poor survival outcomes. Moreover, our research showed that high DOK5 could predict high-level infiltration of several GC immune cells, as evidenced by M1, TAM, M2, B cell, and T cell failure. Hence, DOK5 might become a new gastric cancer biomarker and therapeutic target. In the following analysis, in order to explore the prognostic value of DOK5 in GC, more clinical trials are needed to validate our results.

Conclusions

Through multiple database verifications, DOK5 was found to be part of the pathogenic genes for GC. Thus, it can change the formation and progression of tumors by acting on human immunity.

A Pan-Cancer Analysis of the Oncogenic Role of Integrin Beta4 (ITGB4) in Human Tumors

Background

Integrin beta4 (ITGB4) is a transmembrane receptor that plays a key role in tumorigenesis and tumor development. However, there are no pan-cancer analyses of ITGB4.

Methods

This study demonstrates the first potential oncogenic roles of ITGB4 across 33 tumors based on the dataset of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO).

Results

ITGB4 is highly expressed in many cancers, and distinct correlations exist between ITGB4 expression and the prognosis of tumor patients. We also found that the methylation and genetic alteration level of ITGB4 was associated with some cancer prognosis. Furthermore, we found a reduced phosphorylation of ITGB4 at S1457 in several tumors, such as breast and ovarian cancers. Finally, ITGB4 expression was correlated with cancer-associated fibroblasts in liver hepatocellular carcinoma and prostate adenocarcinoma, and the infiltration level of NK cells and neutrophils was observed in other cancers, such as breast invasive carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, RNA metabolism and protein processing-associated functions are involved in the functional mechanism of ITGB4.

Conclusion

Our first pan-cancer study may offer a relatively comprehensive understanding of the oncogenic roles of ITGB4 across different tumors.

Roles of Integrins in Gastrointestinal Cancer Metastasis

Integrins are a large family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors which mediate cell adhesion and transmit signals to the cell interior. The mechanistic roles of integrins have long been an enigma in cancer, given its complexity in regulating different cellular behaviors. Recently, however, increasing research is providing new insights into its function and the underlying mechanisms, which collectively include the influences of altered integrin expression on the aberrant signaling pathways and cancer progression. Many studies have also demonstrated the potentiality of integrins as therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. In this review, we have summarized these recent reports and put a particular emphasis on the dysregulated expression of integrins and how they regulate related signaling pathways to facilitate the metastatic progression of gastrointestinal cancer, including gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC), which will address the crucial roles of integrins in gastrointestinal cancer.

Integrated analysis reveals the participation of IL4I1, ITGB7, and FUT7 in reshaping the TNBC immune microenvironment by targeting glycolysis

BACKGROUND

The overall response rate of immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unsatisfactory. Accumulating evidence indicated that glucose metabolic reprogramming could modulate immunotherapy efficacy. However, transcriptomic evidence remains insufficient.

METHODS

Genes' relationship with glucose metabolism and TNBC-specific immune was demonstrated by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The glucose metabolic capability was estimated by standardised uptake value (SUV), an indicator of glucose uptake in 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and a reflection of cancer metabolic behaviour. PD-(L)1 expression was used to reflect the efficacy of immunotherapy. Additionally, immune infiltration, survival, and gene coexpression profiles were provided.

RESULTS

Comprehensive analysis revealing that IL4I1, ITGB7, and FUT7 hold the potential to reinforce immunotherapy by reshaping glucose metabolism in TNBC. These results were verified by functional enrichment analysis, which demonstrated their relationships with immune-related signalling pathways and extracellular microenvironment reprogramming. Their expressions have potent positive correlations with Treg and Macrophage cell infiltration and exhausted T cell markers. Meanwhile, their overexpression also lead to poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

IL4I1, ITGB7, and FUT7 may be the hub genes that link glucose metabolism, and cancer-specific immunity. They may be potential targets for enhancing ICB treatment by reprogramming the tumour microenvironment and remodelling tumour metabolism.

Natriuretic peptide receptor a promotes gastric malignancy through angiogenesis process

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks the third among global cancer-related mortality, especially in East Asia. Angiogenesis plays an important role in promoting tumor progression, and clinical trials have demonstrated that anti-angiogenesis therapy is effective in GC management. Natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA) functions significantly in promoting GC development and progression. Whether NPRA can promote angiogenesis of GC remains unclear. Tumor samples collection and immunohistochemical experiment showed that the expression of NPRA was positively correlated with the expression of CD31 and vessel density. In vivo and in vitro analysis showed that NPRA could promote GC-associated angiogenesis and tumor metastasis. Results of Co-IP/MS showed that NPRA could prevent HIF-1α from being degraded by binding to HIF-1α. Protection of HIF-1α improved VEGF levels and thus promoted angiogenesis. In summary, NPRA protected HIF-1α from proteolysis by binding to HIF-1α, increased the expression of HIF-1α, and promoted GC angiogenesis. This study has discovered a new mechanism for NPRA to promote gastric cancer development and a new regulatory mechanism for HIF-1α.

Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies Two Novel Mutations in a Patient with UC Associated with PSC and SSA

BACKGROUND

Patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) associated with primary sclerosis cholangitis (PSC) and sessile serrated adenoma (SSA) are rare. The present study aimed to identify the potential causative gene mutation in a patient with UC associated with PSC and SSA.

METHODS

DNA was extracted from the blood sample and tissue sample of SSA, followed by the whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis. Bioinformatics analysis was utilized to predict the deleteriousness of the identified variants. Multiple sequence alignment and conserved protein domain analyses were performed using online software. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the identified variants. Expression and diagnostic analysis of identified mutated genes was performed in the GSE119600 dataset (peripheral blood samples of PSC and UC) and GSE43841 dataset (tumor samples of SSA).

RESULTS

In the present study, a total of 842 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in 728 genes were identified in the blood sample. Two variants, integrin beta 4 (ITGB4) (c.C2503G; p.P835A) and a mucin 3A (MUC3A) (c.C1019T; p.P340L), were further analyzed. MUC3A was associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Sanger sequence in blood revealed that the ITGB4 mutation was fully cosegregated with the result of WES in the patient. Additionally, a variant, tumor protein p53 gene (TP53) (c.86delA; p.N29Tfs ^∗ 15) was identified in the tissue sample of SSA. Compared to that in normal controls, ITGB4 was upregulated in both UC and PSC, MUC3A was, respectively, upregulated and downregulated in PSC and UC, and TP53 was downregulated in SSA. ITGB4 and TP53 had a potential diagnostic value for UC, PSC and SSA.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated that the ITGB4 (c.C2503G; p.P835A) and MUC3A (c.C1019T; p.P340L) mutations may be the potential causative variants in a patient with UC associated with PSC and SSA. TP53 (c.86delA; p.N29Tfs ^∗ 15) mutation may be associated with SSA in this patient.

Knockdown of PGM1 enhances anticancer effects of orlistat in gastric cancer under glucose deprivation

Background

Phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) acts as an important regulator in glucose metabolism. However, the role of PGM1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role of PGM1 and develop novel regimens based on metabolic reprogramming in GC.

Methods

Correlation and enrichment analyses of PGM1 were conducted based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Data derived from the Kaplan–Meier Plotter database were analyzed to evaluate correlations between PGM1 expression and survival time of GC patients. Cell counting kit-8, 5-Ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine, flow cytometry assays, generation of subcutaneous tumor and lung metastasis mouse models were used to determine growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Cell glycolysis was detected by a battery of glycolytic indicators, including lactate, pyruvic acid, ATP production and glucose uptake. Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) activity and expression levels of lipid enzymes were determined to reflect on lipid metabolism.

Results

Correlation and enrichment analyses suggested that PGM1 was closely associated with cell viability, proliferation and metabolism. PGM1 was overexpressed in GC tissues and cell lines. High PGM1 expression served as an indicator of shorter survival for specific subpopulation of GC patients. It was also correlated with pathological tumor stage and pathological tumor node metastasis stage of GC. Under the glucose deprivation condition, knockdown of PGM1 significantly suppressed cell viability, proliferation and glycolysis, whereas lipid metabolism was enhanced. Orlistat, as a drug that was designed to inhibit FASN activity, effectively induced apoptosis and suppressed lipid metabolism in GC. However, orlistat conversely increased glycolytic levels. Orlistat exhibited more significant inhibitive effects on GC progression after knockdown of PGM1 under glucose deprivation due to combination of glycolysis and lipid metabolism both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

Downregulation of PGM1 expression under glucose deprivation enhanced anti-cancer effects of orlistat. This combination application may serve as a novel strategy for GC treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02193-3.

ITGB4 as a novel serum diagnosis biomarker and potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer

Purpose

To develop new and effective biomarkers for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Experimental design

The serum expression of ITGB4 (49 CRC and 367 HC) was detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and its diagnostic value was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The sensitivity and specificity of ITGB4 in CRC diagnosis were calculated through statistical analysis. The optimal clinical cutoff value was calculated using the Youden index, and diagnostic efficacy was analyzed in a larger serum sample (98 CRC and 1631 non‐CRC). The expression of ITGB4 was measured by CyTOF (cell experimental technology) at the single‐cell level, and characteristics were analyzed using viSNE and SPADE TREE.

Results

Serum ITGB4 and CEA levels were significantly higher in CRC patients than in HC and non‐CRC patients. The use of serum ITGB4 levels for the diagnosis of CRC has a high sensitivity (79%) but not high specificity when the clinical cutoff value was 0.70 ng/mL. However, the optimal cutoff value was 1.6 ng/mL with 86.2% specificity and 52.0% sensitivity, and the diagnostic efficacy was greatly improved with high specificity (82.0%) and sensitivity (71.4%) when combined with CEA. ITGB4 expression characteristics were measured and related to the expression of EpCAM, Ck8/18, and perforin at the single‐cell level. Single‐cell analysis showed that cell clusters with low expression of CK8/18 and ITGB4 were more sensitive to 5FU and radiotherapy (RT).

Conclusions

ITGB4 is an effective diagnostic serum biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Integrin β4 as a Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tumor Marker

Integrin β4 (ITGβ4) is a class of transmembrane adhesion molecules composed of hemidesmosomes (HDs). Its unique long intracellular domain provides intricate signal transduction functions. These signal transduction effects are especially prominent in tumors. Many recent studies have shown that integrin β4 is differentially expressed in various tumors, and it plays a vital role in tumor invasion, proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis. Therefore, we categorize the research related to integrin β4, starting from its structure and function in tumor tissues, and provide a basic description. Based on its structure and function, we believe that integrin β4 can be used as a tumor marker. In clinical practice, it is described as a diagnostic marker for the targeted treatment of cancer and will be helpful in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors.

ROBO2 hampers malignant biological behavior and predicts a better prognosis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatalmalignant cancer with extremely poor prognosis and high mortality. Genome wide studies show that Slit/Robo signaling pathway takes a major effect in the oncogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer. However, the function and mechanism of ROBO2 in the development of PDAC remains unclear.

METHODS

In present study, we use Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect the expression of ROBO2 in pancreatic cell lines. Cell proliferation,Transwellmigration and invasion were conducted inAsPC-1, MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1cell lines. RNA sequencing, bioinformatics analysisand Western blot were used to explore its mechanism and potential target molecules. The expression of ROBO2 in 95 tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

ROBO2 expression was downregulated in PDAC cell lines and tissue samples. A high expression of ROBO2 was associated with better prognosis. Upregulation of ROBO2 inhibited PDAC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, we found theoppositeresults in the ROBO2 downregulation group. In addition, the function of ROBO2 on cell proliferation was further affirmed by the animal model. Finally, the results of RNA sequencing indicated that ROBO2 partly promoted the antitumor activity by inhibiting ECM1 in PDAC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work suggests that ROBO2 inhibits tumor progression in PDAC and may serve as a predictive biomarker and therapeutic target in PDAC.

Extracellular matrix protein-1 secretory isoform promotes ovarian cancer through increasing alternative mRNA splicing and stemness

Extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM1) promotes tumorigenesis in multiple organs but the mechanisms associated to ECM1 isoform subtypes have yet to be clarified. We report in this study that the secretory ECM1a isoform induces tumorigenesis through the GPR motif binding to integrin αXβ2 and the activation of AKT/FAK/Rho/cytoskeleton signaling. The ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1) transduces the ECM1a-integrin αXβ2 interactive signaling to facilitate the phosphorylation of AKT/FAK/Rho/cytoskeletal molecules and to confer cancer cell cisplatin resistance through up-regulation of the CD326-mediated cell stemness. On the contrary, the non-secretory ECM1b isoform binds myosin and blocks its phosphorylation, impairing cytoskeleton-mediated signaling and tumorigenesis. Moreover, ECM1a induces the expression of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L like (hnRNPLL) protein to favor the alternative mRNA splicing generating ECM1a. ECM1a, αXβ2, ABCG1 and hnRNPLL higher expression associates with poor survival, while ECM1b higher expression associates with good survival. These results highlight ECM1a, integrin αXβ2, hnRNPLL and ABCG1 as potential targets for treating cancers associated with ECM1-activated signaling.

Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) has been associated with cancer but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not clear. Here, the authors show that while ECM1b isoform is a tumour suppressor, the secreted isoform ECM1a promotes tumourigenesis and chemoresistance through increasing stemness and alternative mRNA splicing in ovarian cancer.

Targeting DNAJC19 overcomes tumor growth and lung metastasis in NSCLC by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling

Background

Some driver oncogenes are still unknown in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DNAJC19, a major component of the translocation machinery of mitochondrial membranes, is a disease-associated protein. Herein, we report the role of DNAJC19 in NSCLC cell growth and metastasis.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to investigate DNAJC19 expression in NSCLC clinical samples. For knockdown or overexpression assays in A549 or NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells, lentiviral vectors were used. After assessment of cell functions, DNAJC19-knockdown A549 cells were further applied to establish mouse xenograft and metastasis tumor models. Assessments based on the RNA-seq data, western blotting, PCR and IHC were performed for the mechanistic study.

Results

Expression of DNAJC19 was higher in tumors than in noncancerous adjacent tissues. Survival analysis indicated that low DNAJC19 levels were correlated with an increased progression-free survival rate. ShRNA-mediated knockdown of DNAJC19 markedly inhibited cell growth, viability, migration and invasion. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis revealed that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was involved in molecular events when A549 cells were treated with shDNAJC19. In addition, DNAJC19 knockdown decreased PI3Kp85a, AKT and p-AKT expression in A549 cells, and cellular functions were greatly rescued in DNAJC19-knockdown A549 cells by ectopic overexpression of AKT. Furthermore, tumor xenograft growth and lung metastasis were markedly repressed in the shDNAJC19 group compared to the control group. As expected, the expression levels of DNAJC19, PI3K and AKT in xenograft mouse samples were also lower in the shDNAJC19 group than in the shCtrl group.

Conclusions

DNAJC19 greatly promotes NSCLC cell growth and lung metastasis by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling, providing a novel therapeutic target for treating NSCLC patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02054-z.

Conservation of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Process in Neural Crest Cells and Metastatic Cancer

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a highly conserved cellular process in several species, from worms to humans. EMT plays a fundamental role in early embryogenesis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. For neural crest cell (NCC) development, EMT typically results in forming a migratory and potent cell population that generates a wide variety of cell and tissue, including cartilage, bone, connective tissue, endocrine cells, neurons, and glia amongst many others. The degree of conservation between the signaling pathways that regulate EMT during development and metastatic cancer (MC) has not been fully established, despite ample studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis dissects the major signaling pathways involved in EMT of NCC development and MC to unravel the similarities and differences. While the FGF, TGFβ/BMP, SHH, and NOTCH pathways have been rigorously investigated in both systems, the EGF, IGF, HIPPO, Factor Receptor Superfamily, and their intracellular signaling cascades need to be the focus of future NCC studies. In general, meta-analyses of the associated signaling pathways show a significant number of overlapping genes (particularly ligands, transcription regulators, and targeted cadherins) involved in each signaling pathway of both systems without stratification by body segments and cancer type. Lack of stratification makes it difficult to meaningfully evaluate the intracellular downstream effectors of each signaling pathway. Finally, pediatric neuroblastoma and melanoma are NCC-derived malignancies, which emphasize the importance of uncovering the EMT events that convert NCC into treatment-resistant malignant cells.

Natural products as potent inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in cancer therapy

Hypoxia is a prominent feature of tumors. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a major subunit of HIF-1, is overexpressed in hypoxic tumor tissues and activates the transcription of many oncogenes. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that HIF-1α promotes tumor angiogenesis, metastasis, metabolism, and immune evasion. Natural products are an important source of antitumor drugs and numerous studies have highlighted the crucial role of these agents in modulating HIF-1α. The present review describes the role of HIF-1α in tumor progression, summarizes natural products used as HIF-1α inhibitors, and discusses the potential of developing natural products as HIF-1α inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.

Potential role of mitochondria in gastric cancer detection: Fission and glycolysis

Gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Helicobacter pylori infection, high salt intake, smoking, alcohol, low fiber intake, family history of GC, obesity and precancerous lesions, including chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, are considered general risk factors for GC. Image enhancement endoscopy methods, which improve the visualization of mucosal structures and vascularity, may be used for the early diagnosis of GC, such as narrow band imaging, which can reveal fine details of subtle superficial abnormalities of early gastric cancer (EGC). Mitochondria are well-known for their role in producing ATP via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In cancer cells, the energetic metabolism can be reprogrammed as anaerobic glycolysis for energy production and anabolic growth. In addition to their dominant metabolic functions, mitochondria participate in several central signaling pathways, such as the apoptotic pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conversely, mitochondrial dynamics, including fission/fusion and mitophagy, can also contribute to the pathogenesis of cancer. The dysfunction and dysregulation of mitochondria have been associated with several ageing and degenerative diseases, as well as cancer. The present review focuses on energy metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics, and summarizes the changes in gastric carcinogenesis, the diagnosis of EGC and indicates potential targeted treatments.

Emerging technologies provide insights on cancer extracellular matrix biology and therapeutics

Recent engineering technologies have transformed traditional perspectives of cancer to include the important role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in recapitulating the malignant behaviors of cancer cells. Novel biomaterials and imaging technologies have advanced our understanding of the role of ECM density, structure, mechanics, and remodeling in tumor cell-ECM interactions in cancer biology and have provided new approaches in the development of cancer therapeutics. Here, we review emerging technologies in cancer ECM biology and recent advances in engineered systems for evaluating cancer therapeutics and provide new perspectives on how engineering tools present an opportunity for advancing the modeling and treatment of cancer. This review offers the cell biology and cancer cell biology communities insight into how engineering tools can improve our understanding of cancer ECM biology and therapeutic development.