FBP1 regulates proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance by participating in C-MYC/STAT3 signaling axis in ovarian cancer

Integrating Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomics to Uncover and Elucidate GP73-Mediated Pro-Angiogenic Regulatory Networks in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was characterized as being hypervascular. In the present study, we generated a single-cell spatial transcriptomic landscape of the vasculogenic etiology of HCC and illustrated overexpressed Golgi phosphoprotein 73 (GP73) HCC cells exerting cellular communication with vascular endothelial cells with high pro-angiogenesis potential via multiple receptor-ligand interactions in the process of tumor vascular development. Specifically, we uncovered an interactive GP73-mediated regulatory network coordinated with c-Myc, lactate, Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signals in HCC cells and elucidated its pro-angiogenic roles in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that GP73, the pivotal hub gene, was activated by histone lactylation and c-Myc, which stimulated the phosphorylation of downstream STAT3 by directly binding STAT3 and simultaneously enhancing glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78)-induced ERS. STAT3 potentiates GP73-mediated pro-angiogenic functions. Clinically, serum GP73 levels were positively correlated with HCC response to anti-angiogenic regimens and were essential for a prognostic nomogram showing good predictive performance for determining 6-month and 1-year survival in patients with HCC treated with anti-angiogenic therapy. Taken together, the aforementioned data characterized the pro-angiogenic roles and mechanisms of a GP73-mediated network and proved that GP73 is a crucial tumor angiogenesis niche gene with favorable anti-angiogenic potential in the treatment of HCC.

Current data and future perspectives on DNA methylation in ovarian cancer (Review)

Ovarian cancer (OC) represents the most prevalent malignancy of the female reproductive system. Its distinguishing features include a high aggressiveness, substantial morbidity and mortality, and a lack of apparent symptoms, which collectively pose significant challenges for early detection. Given that aberrant DNA methylation events leading to altered gene expression are characteristic of numerous tumor types, there has been extensive research into epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation, in human cancers. In the context of OC, DNA methylation is often associated with the regulation of critical genes, such as BRCA1/2 and Ras‑association domain family 1A. Methylation modifications within the promoter regions of these genes not only contribute to the pathogenesis of OC, but also induce medication resistance and influence the prognosis of patients with OC. As such, a more in‑depth understanding of DNA methylation underpinning carcinogenesis could potentially facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic approaches for this intricate disease. The present review focuses on classical tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, signaling pathways and associated microRNAs in an aim to elucidate the influence of DNA methylation on the development and progression of OC. The advantages and limitations of employing DNA methylation in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of OC are also discussed. On the whole, the present literature review indicates that the DNA methylation of specific genes could potentially serve as a prognostic biomarker for OC and a therapeutic target for personalized treatment strategies. Further investigations in this field may yield more efficacious diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives for patients with OC.

Decoding host-microbiome interactions through co-expression network analysis within the non-human primate intestine

The gut microbiome affects the health status of the host through complex interactions with the host's intestinal wall. These host-microbiome interactions may spatially vary along the physical and chemical environment of the intestine, but these changes remain unknown. This study investigated these intricate relationships through a gene co-expression network analysis based on dual transcriptome profiling of different intestinal sites-cecum, transverse colon, and rectum-of the primate common marmoset. We proposed a gene module extraction algorithm based on the graph theory to find tightly interacting gene modules of the host and the microbiome from a vast co-expression network. The 27 gene modules identified by this method, which include both host and microbiome genes, not only produced results consistent with previous studies regarding the host-microbiome relationships, but also provided new insights into microbiome genes acting as potential mediators in host-microbiome interplays. Specifically, we discovered associations between the host gene FBP1, a cancer marker, and polysaccharide degradation-related genes (pfkA and fucI) coded by Bacteroides vulgatus, as well as relationships between host B cell-specific genes (CD19, CD22, CD79B, and PTPN6) and a tryptophan synthesis gene (trpB) coded by Parabacteroides distasonis. Furthermore, our proposed module extraction algorithm surpassed existing approaches by successfully defining more functionally related gene modules, providing insights for understanding the complex relationship between the host and the microbiome.IMPORTANCEWe unveiled the intricate dynamics of the host-microbiome interactions along the colon by identifying closely interacting gene modules from a vast gene co-expression network, constructed based on simultaneous profiling of both host and microbiome transcriptomes. Our proposed gene module extraction algorithm, designed to interpret inter-species interactions, enabled the identification of functionally related gene modules encompassing both host and microbiome genes, which was challenging with conventional modularity maximization algorithms. Through these identified gene modules, we discerned previously unrecognized bacterial genes that potentially mediate in known relationships between host genes and specific bacterial species. Our findings underscore the spatial variations in host-microbiome interactions along the colon, rather than displaying a uniform pattern throughout the colon.

STAT3 mediates ECM stiffness-dependent progression in ovarian cancer

The treatment of ovarian cancer remains a medical challenge and its malignant progression is connected with obvious changes in both tissue and cell stiffness. However, the accurate mechanical-responsive molecules and mechanism remains unclear in ovarian cancer. Based on our previous results combined with the crucial regulatory role of STAT3 in the malignant progression of various cancer types, we want to investigate the relationship between STAT3 and matrix stiffness in ovarian cancer and further explore the potential mechanisms. Collagen-coated polyacrylamide gels (1, 6, and 60 kPa) were prepared to mimic soft or hard matrix stiffness. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, IHC, EdU assays, and TEM were used to evaluate the effect of STAT3 in vitro under different matrix stiffnesses. Furthermore, a BALB/c nude mouse model was established to assess the relationship in vivo. Our results confirmed the differential expression of STAT3/p-STAT3 not only in normal and malignant ovarian tissues but also under different matrix stiffnesses. Furthermore, we verified that STAT3 was a mechanically responsive gene both in vitro and in vivo, and the mechanical response was carried out by altering the migration-related molecules (TNFAIP1) and adhesion-related molecules (LPXN, CNN3). The novel findings suggest that STAT3, a potential therapeutic target for clinical diagnosis and treatment, is a mechanically responsive gene that responds to matrix stiffness, particularly regulation in migration and adhesion in the progression of ovarian cancer.

Tripartite Motif-containing Protein 11 Silencing Inhibits Proliferation and Glycolysis and Promotes Apoptosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Inactivating Signal Transduction and Activation of Transcription Factor 3/c-Myc Signaling

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common type of human digestive tract cancer with poor survival. Tripartite motif-containing protein 11 (TRIM11) is an oncogene in certain cancers that can regulate glycolysis and signal transduction and activation of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) signaling. This study was designed to investigate the role and the mechanism of TRIM11 in ESCC. First, TRIM11 expression in ESCC tissues and the correlation between TRIM11 expression and prognosis were analyzed using bioinformatics tools. After TRIM11 expression was detected by Western blot in ESCC cells, TRIM11 was silenced to evaluate its effect on the malignant phenotypes of ESCC cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by cell counting kit-8 assay, ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. The glucose uptake and lactate secretion were detected to examine glycolysis. In addition, Western blot was employed to detect the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, glycolysis, and STAT3/c-Myc signaling. Then, ESCC cells were treated with STAT3 activator further to clarify the regulatory effect of TRIM11 on STAT3/c-Myc signaling. TRIM11 was upregulated in ESCC tissues and cells, and high expression of TRIM11 was associated with a poor prognosis. TRIM11 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and glycolysis while facilitating apoptosis of ESCC cells. Besides, the expression of p-STAT3 and c-Myc was significantly downregulated by TRIM11 silencing. Of note, the STAT3 activator partially reversed the effects of TRIM11 depletion on the proliferation, apoptosis, and glycolysis in ESCC cells. Collectively, TRIM11 loss-of-function affects the proliferation, apoptosis, and glycolysis in ESCC cells by inactivating STAT3/c-Myc signaling.

Piperlongumine based nanomedicine impairs glycolytic metabolism in triple negative breast cancer stem cells through modulation of GAPDH & FBP1

BACKGROUND

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and exhibits high rate of chemoresistance, metastasis, and relapse. This can be attributed to the failure of conventional therapeutics to target a sub-population of slow cycling or quiescent cells called as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Therefore, elimination of CSCs is essential for effective TNBC treatment.

PURPOSE

Research suggests that breast CSCs exhibit elevated glycolytic metabolism which directly contributes in maintenance of stemness, self-renewability and chemoresistance as well as in tumor progression. Therefore, this study aimed to target rewired metabolism which can serve as Achilles heel for CSCs population and have far reaching effect in TNBC treatment.

METHODS

We used two preclinical models, zebrafish and nude mice to evaluate the fate of nanoparticles as well as the therapeutic efficacy of both piperlongumine (PL) and its nanomedicine (PL-NPs).

RESULTS

In this context, we explored a phytochemical piperlongumine (PL) which has potent anti-cancer properties but poor pharmacokinetics impedes its clinical translation. So, we developed PLGA based nanomedicine for PL (PL-NPs), and demonstrated that it overcomes the pharmacokinetic limitations of PL, along with imparting advantages of selective tumor targeting through Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect in zebrafish xenograft model. Further, we demonstrated that PL-NPs efficiently inhibit glycolysis in CSCs through inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by modulating glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) and upregulation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), a rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis. We also illustrated that inhibition of glycolysis results in overall tumor regression in two preclinical models.

CONCLUSION

This study discusses novel mechanism of action by which PL acts on CSCSs. Taken together our study provides insight into development of PL based nanomedicine which could be exploited in clinics to achieve complete eradication of TNBC by targeting CSCs.

FOXP2 suppresses the proliferation, invasion, and aerobic glycolysis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating the KDM5A/FBP1 axis

The Warburg effect is the preference of cancer cells to use glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation to generate energy. Accumulating evidence suggests that aerobic glycolysis is widespread in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and closely related to tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) in aerobic glycolysis and tumorigenesis in HCC. Here, we found that FOXP2 was lower expressed in HCC tissues and cells than in nontumor tissues and normal hepatocytes. Overexpression of FOXP2 suppressed cell proliferation and invasion of HCC cells and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro, and hindered the growth of mouse xenograft tumors in vivo. Further researches showed that FOXP2 inhibited the Warburg effect in HCC cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that FOXP2 up-regulated the expression of fructose-1, 6-diphosphatase (FBP1), and the inhibitory effect of FOXP2 on glycolysis was dependent on FBP1. Mechanistically, as a transcription factor, FOXP2 negatively regulated the transcription of lysine-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A), and then blocked KDM5A-induced H3K4me3 demethylation in FBP1 promoter region, thereby promoting the expression of FBP1. Consistently, overexpressing KDM5A or silencing FBP1 effectively reversed the inhibitory effect of FOXP2 on HCC progression. Together, our findings revealed the mechanistic role of the FOXP2/KDM5A/FBP1 axis in glycolysis and malignant progression of HCC cells, providing a potential molecular target for the therapy of HCC.

Adipocyte-derived exosomes promote the progression of triple-negative breast cancer through circCRIM1-dependent OGA activation

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has an escalating morbidity and a dismal prognosis. Obesity has been reported to be strongly linked to adverse TNBC outcomes. Exosomes (Exos) transport RNA and proteins between cells and serve as intermediaries for cell-to-cell communication. Accumulated evidence suggests that adipose-secreted circular RNAs (circRNAs) can modulate protein glycosylation in TNBC to facilitate tumor cell outgrowth. Herein, exo-circCRIM1 expression was found to be elevated in TNBC patients with a high body fat percentage. Functional experiments demonstrated that by inhibiting miR-503-5p, exo-circCRIM1 enhanced TNBC evolution and metastasis while activating glycosylation hydrolase OGA. Furthermore, OGA negatively regulates FBP1 by decreasing its protein stability. Moreover, the levels of OGA and FBP1 were positively related to the infiltration level of some immune cells in TNBC. These findings indicate that exo-cirCRIM1 secreted by adipocytes contributes to TNBC progression by inhibiting miR-503-5p and activating the OGA/FBP1 signaling pathway. The findings reveal a novel intercellular signaling pathway mediated by adipose-derived exosomes and suggest that treatment targeting the secreted exosome-circCRIM1 may reverse TNBC progression.

Research progress on the mechanism of glycolysis in ovarian cancer

Glycolysis is the preferred energy metabolism pathway in cancer cells even when the oxygen content is sufficient. Through glycolysis, cancer cells convert glucose into pyruvic acid and then lactate to rapidly produce energy and promote cancer progression. Changes in glycolysis activity play a crucial role in the biosynthesis and energy requirements of cancer cells needed to maintain growth and metastasis. This review focuses on ovarian cancer and the significance of key rate-limiting enzymes (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase, related signaling pathways (PI3K-AKT, Wnt, MAPK, AMPK), transcription regulators (HIF-1a), and non-coding RNA in the glycolytic pathway. Understanding the relationship between glycolysis and these different mechanisms may provide new opportunities for the future treatment of ovarian cancer.

The RioK1 network determines p53 activity at multiple levels

By responding to a host of adverse conditions, ranging from DNA damage to viral infection, transcription factor p53 supports genomic stability, cellular health, and survival. Not surprisingly, tumours across the cancer spectrum carry mutations in p53, misexpress the protein, or dysregulate its activity. Several signalling pathways, many of which comprise oncogenic proteins, converge upon p53 to control its stability and activity. We here present the conserved kinase/ATPase RioK1 as an upstream factor that determines p53 activity at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels. It achieves this task by integrating the regulatory events that act on p53 into a coherent response circuit. We will also discuss how RIOK1 overexpression represents an alternative mechanism for cancers to inactivate p53, and how targeting RioK1 could eradicate malignancies that are driven by a dysregulated RioK1-p53 network.

TRIM28 recruits E2F1 to regulate CBX8-mediated cell proliferation and tumor metastasis of ovarian cancer

Chromobox protein homolog 8 (CBX8) is a transcriptional suppressor participated in various cancers. However, the function and mechanism of CBX8 in the progression of ovarian cancer (OC) are unclear. In this study, we found that CBX8 was upregulated in OC tissues originating from GEPIA and TNM databases, OC patients' samples from hospital, and OC cell lines. Furthermore, CBX8 knockdown by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) technology markedly inhibited proliferation and invasion, induced migration, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistically, CBX8 activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to take effect. In addition, TRIM28 and E2F1 were enriched in OC tissues from the TNM database and OC patients' samples similar to the results of CBX8. Correlation analysis indicated positive correlations among TRIM28, E2F1, and CBX8. E2F1 was proved to bind to the promoter regions of CBX8 and TRIM28, while TRIM28 recruited E2F1 to increase the expression of CBX8 to further increase cell viability, proliferation, and invasion, and decrease migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. Finally, CBX8 or TRIM28 knockdown repressed tumor growth and metastasis of OC in vivo. Therefore, our study showed that the promoting effect of CBX8 on tumor growth and metastasis of OC was participated in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, TRIM28 and E2F1. Our findings suggested that CBX8 could serve as a potential marker and therapeutic target for OC patients.

Restoring gluconeogenesis by TEF inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis and immune surveillance in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is the major histological subtype of kidney tumor which covers approximately 80% of the cases. Although various therapies have been developed, the clinical outcome remains unsatisfactory. Metabolic dysregulation is a key feature of KIRC, which impacts progression and prognosis of the disease. Therefore, understanding of the metabolic changes in KIRC is of great significance in improving the treatment outcomes.

METHODS

The glycolysis/gluconeogenesis genes were analyzed in the KIRC transcriptome from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) by the different expression genes (DEGs) test and survival analysis. The gluconeogenesis-related miRNAs were identified by ImmuLncRNA. The expression levels of indicated genes and miRNAs were validated in KIRC tumor and adjunct tissues by QPCR. The effects of miR-4477b and PCK1 on cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined using the cell viability assay, cell apoptosis assay, and clone information. The interaction of miR-4477b with TEF was tested by the luciferase report gene assay. The different gluconeogenesis statuses of tumor cells and related signatures were investigated by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis.

RESULTS

The 11 gluconeogenesis genes were found to be suppressed in KIRC (referring as PGNGs), and the less suppression of PGNGs indicated better survival outcomes. Among the 11 PGNGs, we validated four rate-limiting enzyme genes in clinical tumor patients. Moreover, restoring gluconeogenesis by overexpressing PCK1 or TEF through miR-4477b inhibition significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation, colony formation, and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Independent single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data analysis revealed that the tumor cells had high levels of PGNG expression (PGNG + tumor cells) represented a phenotype of early stage of neoplasia and prompted immune surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that the deficiency of gluconeogenesis is a key metabolic feature of KIRC, and restoring gluconeogenesis could effectively inhibit the proliferation and progression of KIRC cells.

FBP1 is a potential prognostic biomarker and correlated with tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment in glioblastoma

Hypoxia has been shown to contribute to tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and is an effective prognostic indicator. This study aimed to screen prognostic hypoxia-related genes (HRGs) in glioblastoma and investigate the association between HRGs and tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. The glioblastoma-related mRNA data were collected from TCGA, GEO, and CGGA databases. Totally 200 HRGs were obtained from the GSEA website. The prognostic HRGs were screened by univariate Cox regression analysis. Somatic mutation data of glioblastoma from TCGA was visualized using the "maftools" of R package. Immune cell infiltration proportions were calculated by CIBERSORT. The TISIDB online tool was applied to analyze the relationship between HRGs and immunoinhibitors as well as the HRG expression in different glioblastoma immune and molecular subtypes. Hub gene's mRNA and protein levels in cell lines were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. The effects of hub gene knockdown on cell viability and migration ability were evaluated employing CCK8 and wound healing assays. The univariate Cox regression showed that high level of FBP1 (fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1) was a poor prognostic biomarker, and FBP1 was mainly expressed in lymphocyte depleted immune subtype of glioblastoma. High FBP1 mRNA and protein levels have been successfully validated in vitro. The somatic mutation analysis suggested that TP53 mutation rate was the highest in the high FBP1 glioblastoma group, while EGFR mutation rate was the highest in the low FBP1 glioblastoma group. In the high FBP1 group, the infiltration proportions and types of immune cells were less, dominated by macrophages M2, and the expression of CTLA4, LAG3, TIGIT, PDL1, and PDL2 was significantly upregulated. The expression of FBP1 was positively correlated with several immunoinhibitors, such as IL-10 and TGFβ-1. In conclusion, we demonstrated that FBP1 could serve as a prognostic biomarker for glioblastoma. The immune microenvironment in the high FBP1 group might be suppressed by up-regulating immune checkpoints and immunoinhibitors.

Metabolic dependencies and targets in ovarian cancer

Reprogramming of cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. Cancer cells undergo metabolic adaptations to maintain tumorigenicity and survive under the attack of immune cells and chemotherapy in the tumor microenvironment. Metabolic alterations in ovarian cancer in part overlap with findings from other solid tumors and in part reflect unique traits. Altered metabolic pathways not only facilitate ovarian cancer cells' survival and proliferation but also endow them to metastasize, acquire resistance to chemotherapy, maintain cancer stem cell phenotype and escape the effects of anti-tumor immune defense. In this review, we comprehensively review the metabolic signatures of ovarian cancer and their impact on cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to treatment. We highlight novel therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic pathways under development.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D regulates macrophage activation through FBP1/PKR and ameliorates arthritis in TNF-transgenic mice

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)₂D₃) has immunomodulatory activity and its deficiency correlates with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) incidence. Whether 1,25(OH)₂D₃ modulates macrophage activation or protects against RA remains unclear. We demonstrate that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ suppresses M1 macrophage polarization and CD80, IL-6, CXCL10, IFIT1, IFI44, and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase R (PKR) expression in the macrophages of RA patients. In phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced THP-1 cells, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ upregulates fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1) expression through direct promoter interaction. FBP1 interacts with PKR and promotes PKR ubiquitination degradation. SiR-FBP1 transfection impairs 1,25(OH)₂D₃ action and suppresses IL-6, CXCL10, IFIT1, IFI27, and IFI44 expression in macrophages, whereas siR-PKR transfection impairs siR-FBP1 activity in 1,25(OH)₂D₃-treated macrophages. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment ameliorates the clinical signs of arthritis in tumor necrosis factor-transgenic mice, inhibits M1 polarization and marker expression, and promotes FBP1 expression in mononuclear cells isolated from swollen joints; thus, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ suppresses M1 macrophage activation through FBP1/PKR and ameliorates arthritis by restoring the macrophage subtype.

Biological functions and molecular interactions of Wnt/β-catenin in breast cancer: Revisiting signaling networks

Changes in lifestyle such as physical activity and eating habits have been one of the main reasons for development of various diseases in modern world, especially cancer. However, role of genetic factors in initiation of cancer cannot be ignored and Wnt/β-catenin signaling is such factor that can affect tumor progression. Breast tumor is the most malignant tumor in females and it causes high mortality and morbidity around the world. The survival and prognosis of patients are not still desirable, although there have been advances in introducing new kinds of therapies and diagnosis. The present review provides an update of Wnt/β-catenin function in breast cancer malignancy. The upregulation of Wnt is commonly observed during progression of breast tumor and confirms that tumor cells are dependent on this pathway Wnt/β-catenin induction prevents apoptosis that is of importance for mediating drug resistance. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin signaling induces DNA damage repair in ameliorating radio-resistance. Wnt/β-catenin enhances proliferation and metastasis of breast tumor. Wnt/β-catenin induces EMT and elevates MMP expression. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin participates in tumor microenvironment remodeling and due to its tumor-promoting factor, drugs for its suppression have been developed. Different kinds of upstream mediators Wnt/β-catenin signaling in breast cancer have been recognized that their targeting is a therapeutic approach. Finally, Wnt/β-catenin can be considered as a biomarker in clinical trials.

The Role of Long Noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) Biomarkers in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma is one of the common cancers whose incidence and mortality are continuously growing worldwide. Initially, this type of tumour is usually asymptomatic. Due to the lack of reliable diagnostic markers, one-third of ccRCC patients already have distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. This underlines the importance of establishing biomarkers that would enable the prediction of the disease's course and the risk of metastasis. LncRNA, which modulates genes at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels, appears promising. The actions of lncRNA involve sponging and sequestering target miRNAs, thus affecting numerous biological processes. Studies have confirmed the involvement of RNAs in various diseases, including RCC. In this review, we focused on MALAT1 (a marker of serious pathological changes and a factor in the promotion of tumorigenesis), RCAT1 (tumour promoter in RCC), DUXAP9 (a plausible marker of localized ccRCC), TCL6 (exerting tumour-suppressive effects in renal cancer), LINC00342 (acting as an oncogene), AGAP2 Antisense1 (plausible predictor of RCC progression), DLEU2 (factor promoting tumours growth via the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition), NNT-AS1 (sponge of miR-22 contributing to tumour progression), LINC00460 (favouring ccRCC development and progression) and Lnc-LSG1 (a factor that may stimulate ccRCC metastasis).

FBP1 induced by β-elemene enhances the sensitivity of gefitinib in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

β-elemene is known to play a critical role in tumorigenesis as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance in lung cancer. However, the biological function and molecular mechanism remain largely unknown.

METHODS

In this study, the common genes involved in gefitinib resistance and β-elemene were identified using bioinformatic analysis. The expression of FBP1 was examined by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell proliferation, flow cytometry, clone formation and IC50 assays were performed to assess the effects of β-elemene and FBP1. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate apoptosis-related gene expression. Finally, in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the crucial role of FBP1 in gefitinib-resistant HCC827/GR cells in nude mice.

RESULTS

Screening analysis demonstrated that fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1) was induced by β-elemene and downregulated in gefitinib-resistant lung cells. Functionally, overexpression of FBP1 inhibited proliferation and gefitinib resistance and promoted apoptosis of PC9/GR and HCC827/GR cells in vitro. Mechanistically, FBP1 impeded the nuclear translocation of p-STAT3. The FBP1/STAT3 axis was required for FBP1-mediated apoptosis-related gene expression. In vivo experiments further confirmed the enhanced effects of FBP1 on lung cancer cell sensitivity to gefitinib.

CONCLUSION

Our research indicated that β-elemene suppressed proliferation and enhanced sensitivity to gefitinib by inducing apoptosis through the FBP1/STAT3 axis in gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cells.

Identification of key genes and pathways related to cancer-associated fibroblasts in chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells based on GEO and TCGA databases

Background

Studies have revealed the implications of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumor progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Here, in silico analyses were performed to reveal the key genes and pathways by which CAFs affected chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.

Methods

Candidate genes were obtained from the intersected differentially expressed genes in ovarian cancer, ovarian cancer chemoresistance, and ovarian CAF-related microarrays and chemoresistance-related genes from GeneCards databases. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were employed to identify the pathways engaged in ovarian cancer chemoresistance and ovarian CAF-related pathways. The top genes with high Degree in the protein-protein interaction network were intersected with the top genes enriched in the key pathways, followed by correlation analyses between key genes and chemotherapeutic response. The expression profiles of key genes were obtained from Human Protein Atlas database and TCGA-ovarian cancer data.

Results

p53, cell cycle, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK pathways were the key pathways related to the implication of CAFs in ovarian cancer chemoresistance. 276 candidate genes differentially expressed in CAFs were associated with ovarian cancer chemoresistance. MYC, IGF1, HRAS, CCND1, AKT1, RAC1, KDR, FGF2, FAS, and EGFR were enriched in the key chemoresistance-related ways. Furthermore, MYC, EGFR, CCND1 exhibited close association with chemotherapeutic response to platinum and showed a high expression in ovarian cancer tissues and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion

The study suggests the key genes (MYC, EGFR, and CCND1) and pathways (p53, cell cycle, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK) responsible for the effect of CAFs on ovarian cancer chemoresistance.

The emerging roles of the interaction between m6A modification and c-Myc in driving tumorigenesis and development

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an extremely common and conservative posttranscriptional modification, that can specifically target and regulate the expression or stability of a series of tumor-related genes, thus playing critical roles in the occurrence and development of tumors. c-Myc is an important tumorigenic transcription factor that promotes tumorigenesis and development by mainly regulating the expression of downstream target genes. Increasing evidence shows that m6A modification, as well as abnormal expression and regulation of c-Myc, is critical molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis and development. Although more evidence has been uncovered about the individual roles of m6A modification or c-Myc in tumors, the interaction between m6A modification and c-Myc in tumorigenesis and development has not been systematically summarized. Therefore, this review is focused on the mutual regulation between m6A modification and c-Myc expression and stability as well as its roles in tumorigenesis and development. We also summarized the potential value of the interaction between m6A modification and m6A expression and stability in tumor diagnosis and treatment, which provides a specific reference for revealing the mechanism of tumor occurrence and development as well as clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Solute Carrier Family 27 Member 6 (SLC27A6) Possibly Promotes the Proliferation of Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Regulating c-MYC

To investigate the expression and mechanism of LSC27A6 in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We analyzed the differential expression of SLC27A6 in PTC tissues and normal tissues based on the TCGA database and validated it using immunohistochemistry. Wilcoxon rank sum, chi-square test, or Fisher exact exam were used to analyze the relationship between the expression of SLC27A6 and clinicopathological information. Samples were divided into two groups according to whether BRAF was mutated or not, and Wilcoxon rank sum was used to determine whether the expression of SLC27A6 was related to BRAF mutation. The effects of SLC27A6 on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of PTC cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between SLC27A6 and c-MYC. Protein expression was detected by Western blot. The expression of SLC27A6 was higher in PTC and positively correlated with N stage. SLC27A6 expression was higher in samples with BRAF mutations. Down-regulation of SLC27A6 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced apoptosis. Spearman correlation analysis showed that SLC27A6 was positively correlated with c-MYC. Knockdown of SLC27A6 inhibited c-MYC expression. Our results suggest that SLC27A6 is overexpressed in PTC tissues and affects the progression of PTC by regulating c-MYC.

Identification of a Three-Glycolysis-Related lncRNA Signature Correlated With Prognosis and Metastasis in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

The clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is not only a malignant disease but also an energy metabolic disease, we aimed to identify a novel prognostic model based on glycolysis-related long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) and explore its mechanisms. With the use of Pearson correlation analysis between the glycolysis-related differentially expressed genes and lncRNAs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, we identified three glycolysis-related lncRNAs and successfully constructed a prognostic model based on their expression. The diagnostic efficacy and the clinically predictive capacity of the signature were evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The glycolysis-related lncRNA signature was constructed based on the expressions of AC009084.1, AC156455.1, and LINC00342. Patients were grouped into high- or low-risk groups according to risk score demonstrated significant differences in overall survival (OS) period, which were validated by patients with ccRCC from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database. Univariate Cox analyses, multivariate Cox analyses, and constructed nomogram-confirmed risk score based on our signature were independent prognosis predictors. The CIBERSORT algorithms demonstrated significant correlations between three-glycolysis-related lncRNAs and the tumor microenvironment (TME) components. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated potential pathways and processes correlated with the risk model. Clinical samples validated expression levels of three-glycolysis-related lncRNAs, and LINC00342 demonstrated the most significant aberrant expression. in vitro, the general overexpression of LINC00342 was detected in ccRCC cells. After silencing LINC00342, the aberrant glycolytic levels and migration abilities in 786-O cells were decreased significantly, which might be explained by suppressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and reversed Epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) process. Collectively, our research identified a novel three-glycolysis-related lncRNA signature as a promising model for generating accurate prognoses for patients with ccRCC, and silencing lncRNA LINC00342 from the signature could partly inhibit the glycolysis level and migration of ccRCC cells.

HPV E6/E7 promotes aerobic glycolysis in cervical cancer by regulating IGF2BP2 to stabilize m6A-MYC expression

Enhanced aerobic glycolysis constitutes an additional source of energy for tumor proliferation and metastasis. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer (CC); however, the associated molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined, as does the relationship between CC and aerobic glycolysis. To investigate whether HPV 16/18 E6/E7 can enhance aerobic glycolysis in CC, E6/E7 expression was knocked down in SiHa and HeLa cells using small interfering RNA (siRNA). Then, glucose uptake, lactate production, ATP levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were evaluated. RNA-seq was used to probe the molecular mechanism involved in E6/E7-driven aerobic glycolysis, and identified IGF2BP2 as a target of E6/E7. The regulatory effect of IGF2BP2 was confirmed by qRT-PCR, western blot, and RIP assay. The biological roles and mechanisms underlying how HPV E6/E7 and IGF2BP2 promote CC progression were confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Human CC tissue microarrays were used to analyze IGF2BP2 expression in CC. The knockdown of E6/E7 and IGF2BP2 attenuated the aerobic glycolytic capacity and growth of CC cells, while IGF2BP2 overexpression rescued this effect in vitro and in vivo. IGF2BP2 expression was higher in CC tissues than in adjacent tissues and was positively correlated with tumor stage. Mechanistically, E6/E7 proteins promoted aerobic glycolysis, proliferation, and metastasis in CC cells by regulating MYC mRNA m⁶A modifications through IGF2BP2. We found that E6/E7 promote CC by regulating MYC methylation sites via activating IGF2BP2 and established a link between E6/E7 and the promotion of aerobic glycolysis and CC progression. Blocking the HPV E6/E7-related metabolic pathway represents a potential strategy for the treatment of CC.