Molecular principles of metastasis: a hallmark of cancer revisited

An ultra-long-acting L-asparaginase synergizes with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in starvation-immunotherapy of metastatic solid tumors

Metastasis stands as the primary contributor to mortality associated with tumors. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are frequently utilized in the management of metastatic solid tumors. Nevertheless, these therapeutic modalities are linked to serious adverse effects and limited effectiveness in preventing metastasis. Here, we report a novel therapeutic strategy named starvation-immunotherapy, wherein an immune checkpoint inhibitor is combined with an ultra-long-acting L-asparaginase that is a fusion protein comprising L-asparaginase (ASNase) and an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), termed ASNase-ELP. ASNase-ELP's thermosensitivity enables it to generate an in-situ depot following an intratumoral injection, yielding increased dose tolerance, improved pharmacokinetics, sustained release, optimized biodistribution, and augmented tumor retention compared to free ASNase. As a result, in murine models of oral cancer, melanoma, and cervical cancer, the antitumor efficacy of ASNase-ELP by selectively and sustainably depleting L-asparagine essential for tumor cell survival was substantially superior to that of ASNase or Cisplatin, a first-line anti-solid tumor medicine, without any observable adverse effects. Furthermore, the combination of ASNase-ELP and an immune checkpoint inhibitor was more effective than either therapy alone in impeding melanoma metastasis. Overall, the synergistic strategy of starvation-immunotherapy holds excellent promise in reshaping the therapeutic landscape of refractory metastatic tumors and offering a new alternative for next-generation oncology treatments.

The role of liver cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis

Metastasis accounts for the vast majority of cancer deaths; however, this complex process has yet to be fully explained. To form metastases, cancer cells must undergo a series of steps, known as the "Metastatic cascade", each of which requires a specific functional transformation. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in tumor metastasis, but their dynamic behavior and regulatory mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Based on the "Metastatic cascade" theory, this review summarizes the effect of liver CSCs on the metastatic biological programs that underlie the dissemination and metastatic growth of cancer cells. Liver CSCs have the capacity to initiate distant organ metastasis via EMT, and the microenvironment transformation that supports the ability of these cells to disseminate, evade immune surveillance, dormancy, and regenerate metastasis. Understanding the heterogeneity and traits of liver CSCs in these processes is critical for developing strategies to prevent and treat metastasis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

In silico study suggests potential drugs that target CD151 to treat breast cancer and glioblastoma

Recently tetraspanin CD151 has been identified as an important biological target involved in metastatic processes which include cell adhesion, tumor progression processes, and so forth in different types of cancers, such as breast cancer and glioblastoma. This in Silico study considered 1603 compounds from the Food and Drug Administration database, after performing an ADMET analysis; we selected 853 ligands, which were used for docking analysis. The most promising ligands were selected from docking studies, based on two criteria: (a) showed lowest affinity to the CD151 protein and (b) they interact with the QRD motif, located in the second extracellular loop. Furthermore, we investigate the stability of the protein-ligand complexes through MD simulations as well as free energy MM-PBSA calculations. From these results, loperamide and glipizide were identified as the best evaluated drugs. We suggest an in vitro analysis is needed to confirm our in silico prediction studies.

Eurycomanone inhibits osteosarcoma growth and metastasis by suppressing GRP78 expression

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Osteosarcoma (OS) is characterized by rapid growth and frequent pulmonary metastasis. Eurycoma longifolia Jack, a flowering plant primarily found in Southeast Asian countries, is commonly used in traditional herbal medicine. Its root extract is mainly used for against cancer, malaria, parasites and other conditions. The active compound in its root extract, eurycomanone (EUR), has been proven to inhibit lung and liver cancer proliferation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our research aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect and underlying molecular mechanism of EUR on OS growth and metastasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro experiments: western blotting (WB) screened 41 compounds that inhibited GRP78 expression and evaluated the protein levels of GRP78, PARP, cleaved-PARP, MMP2, and MMP9. Cell proliferation was evaluated using CCK-8, EdU, colony formation assay, and cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Transwell, wound healing, and tube formation assays were performed to determine the effect of EUR on tumor invasion, migration, and angiogenesis, respectively. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain (qRT-PCR) and dual-luciferase activity assays detected GRP78 mRNA stability and transcription levels post-EUR and thapsigargin treatment. RNA-Seq identified signaling pathways inhibited by EUR. In vivo experiments: effects of EUR in mice were evaluated by H&E staining to detect lung metastasis and potential toxic effects in tissues. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining detected the expression of Ki-67, CD31, and cleaved caspase-3 in tumors.

RESULTS

GRP78 is highly expressed in OS and correlated with poor prognosis. In vitro, eurycomanone (EUR) significantly downregulated GRP78 expression, inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation, and induced apoptosis. Moreover, it enhanced trichostatin A (TSA) sensitivity and exhibited inhibitory effects on other cancer types. Mechanistically, EUR decreased GRP78 mRNA stability and transcription. In vivo, EUR inhibited proliferation and invasion in tibial and PDX models.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that EUR inhibits the growth and metastasis of OS by reducing GRP78 mRNA stability and inhibiting its transcription, which offers a novel approach for clinical treatment of OS.

In vitro effects of l-kynurenine and quinolinic acid on adhesion, migration and apoptosis in B16 F10 melanoma cells

INTRODUCTION

The inhibition of melanoma adhesion through adhesion molecules, such as integrins and E-cadherin, may represent a promising strategy for managing melanoma metastasis. Compounds, namely l-kynurenine (L-kyn) and quinolinic acid (Quin), previously displayed anti-cancer effects at half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) against B16 F10 melanoma cells in vitro. However, the role of these compounds in B16 F10 melanoma cell adhesion, migration and apoptosis remain unknown.

METHODS

Post-exposure to the compounds, flow cytometry was used to analyse the expression of very late antigen-5 (VLA-5), E-cadherin and cleaved caspase-3 in B16 F10 melanoma and RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. An adhesion assay was used to quantify the adhesion of both cell lines to vitronectin. A scratch migration assay was used to measure the possible inhibition of cell migration in B16 F10 cells in response to L-kyn and Quin.

RESULTS

In both B16 F10 and RAW 264.7 cells, neither L-kyn nor Quin induced significant effects on VLA-5 expression or cell adhesion to vitronectin. In B16 F10 cells, both L-kyn and Quin elevated E-cadherin expression and displayed a trend of suppressed migration. However, only L-kyn elevated E-cadherin in RAW 264.7 cells. L-kyn induced apoptosis by elevating cleaved caspase-3 expression in both cell lines.

CONCLUSION

L-kyn and Quin demonstrated promising antimetastatic effects in their ability to elevate E-cadherin expression and induce apoptosis in B16 F10 melanoma cells. However, these effects did not occur in response to vitronectin or VLA-5 integrin alterations. Furthermore, it cannot be excluded that L-kyn also induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 cells. As such, these effects should be confirmed in additional control cell lines and substantiated with in vivo models.

Exploring the anti-cancer and antimetastatic effect of Silymarin against lung cancer

Lung cancer metastasis remains a significant challenge in cancer therapy, necessitating the exploration of novel treatment modalities. Silymarin, a natural compound derived from milk thistle, has demonstrated promising anticancer properties. This work explored the inhibitory effects of silymarin on lung cancer metastasis and revealed the underlying processes, focusing on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP-9 activities. Using a combination of in vitro and molecular docking analyses, we found that silymarin effectively reducing the lung cancer cells' motility and invasion by modulation of expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, MTT assays revealed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation upon silymarin treatment and found the IC50 value at 58 μM. We observe that apoptotic morphology characteristic in silymarin treated groups. Cell cycle analysis exhibit the cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, 25.8 % increased apoptosis in silymarin treated groups, as evidenced by Annexin V staining. Moreover, silymarin treatment shows the lipid peroxidation in elevated level and reduced in enzymatic antioxidant level, indicating its potential role in mitigating oxidative stress induce cell death. Gelatin zymography assay indicates the silymarin has ability to inhibit the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in lung cancer. Additionally, cell migration assays and colony formation assays demonstrated impaired migratory and colony-forming abilities of lung cancer cells when treated with silymarin. Molecular docking studies further supported the binding affinity of silymarin with MMP-2 and MMP-9, demonstrate the -10.26 and -6.69 kcal/mol of binding energy. Collectively, our findings highlight the multifaceted anticancer properties of silymarin against lung cancer metastasis, providing insights into its therapeutic potential as an adjuvant treatment strategy.

Delineating the nexus between gut-intratumoral microbiome and osteo-immune system in bone metastases

Emerging insights in osteoimmunology have enabled researchers to explore in depth the role of immune modulation in regulating bone health. Bone is one of the common sites of metastasis notably in case of breast cancer, prostate cancer and several other cancer types. High calcium ion concentration and presence of several factors within the mineralized bone matrix including TGF-β, BMP etc., aid in tumor growth and proliferation. Accumulating evidence has substantiated the role of the gut-microbiota (GM) in tumorigenesis, further providing a strong impetus for the growing "immune-cancer-gut microbiota" relationship. Recent advancements in research further highlight the importance of the intra-tumor microbiota in conjunction with GM in cancer metastasis. Intratumoral microbiota owing to their ability to cause genetic instability, mutations, and epigenetic modifications within the tumor microenvironment, has been recognized to affect cancer cell physiology. The host microbiota and immune system crosstalk shapes the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, which is the key player in cancer progression. In this review, we aim to decipher the role of microorganisms mediating bone metastasis by shedding light on the immuno-onco-microbiome (IOM) axis. We discussed the feasible cancer therapeutic interventions based on the modulation of the microbiome-immune cell axis which includes prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics. Here, we leverage the conceptual framework based on the published articles on microbiota-based therapies to target bone metastases. Understanding this complicated nexus will provide insights into fundamental factors governing bone metastases which will subsequently help in managing this malignancy with better efficacy.

ETS1 drives EGF-induced glycolytic shift and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer cells

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), a leading cause of gynecological cancer-related morbidity and mortality and the most common type of ovarian cancer (OC), is widely characterized by alterations in the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) signaling pathways. The phenomenon of metastasis is largely held accountable for the majority of EOC-associated deaths. Existing literature reports substantiate evidence on the indispensable role of metabolic reprogramming, particularly the phenomenon of the 'Warburg effect' or aerobic glycolysis in priming the cancer cells towards Epithelial to Mesenchymal transition (EMT), subsequently facilitating EMT. Considering the diverse roles of growth factor signaling across different stages of oncogenesis, our prime emphasis was laid on unraveling mechanistic details of EGF-induced 'Warburg effect' and resultant metastasis in EOC cells. Our study puts forth Ets1, an established oncoprotein and key player in OC progression, as the prime metabolic sensor to EGF-induced cues from the tumor microenvironment (TME). EGF treatment has been found to induce Ets1 expression in OC cells predominantly through the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway activation. This subsequently results in pronounced glycolysis, characterized by an enhanced lactate production through transcriptional up-regulation of key determinant genes of the central carbon metabolism namely, hexokinase 2 (HK2) and monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4). Furthermore, this study reports an unforeseen combinatorial blockage of HK2 and MCT4 as an effective approach to mitigate cellular metastasis in OC. Collectively, our work proposes a novel mechanistic insight into EGF-induced glycolytic bias in OC cells and also sheds light on an effective therapeutic intervention approach exploiting these insights.

Multi-layered knowledge graph neural network reveals pathway-level agreement of three breast cancer multi-gene assays

Multi-gene assays have been widely used to predict the recurrence risk for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer patients. However, these assays lack explanatory power regarding the underlying mechanisms of the recurrence risk. To address this limitation, we proposed a novel multi-layered knowledge graph neural network for the multi-gene assays. Our model elucidated the regulatory pathways of assay genes and utilized an attention-based graph neural network to predict recurrence risk while interpreting transcriptional subpathways relevant to risk prediction. Evaluation on three multi-gene assays-Oncotype DX, Prosigna, and EndoPredict-using SCAN-B dataset demonstrated the efficacy of our method. Through interpretation of attention weights, we found that all three assays are mainly regulated by signaling pathways driving cancer proliferation especially RTK-ERK-ETS-mediated cell proliferation for breast cancer recurrence. In addition, our analysis highlighted that the important regulatory subpathways remain consistent across different knowledgebases used for constructing the multi-level knowledge graph. Furthermore, through attention analysis, we demonstrated the biological significance and clinical relevance of these subpathways in predicting patient outcomes. The source code is available at http://biohealth.snu.ac.kr/software/ExplainableMLKGNN.

Long-term exposure of human U87 glioblastoma cells to polyethylene microplastics: Investigating the potential cancer progression

Precancerous cells are present in all human bodies. Various environmental triggers can promote the development of cancer. Microplastics, an emerging concern, may potentially act as one such trigger, contributing to cancer initiation or progression. Studies have confirmed the presence of microplastics within the human body. This raises concerns about their potential toxicity and health risks. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the impact of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) within the size range of 37-75 microns on glioblastoma cancer cells. Initially, we assessed the short-term effects of six different concentrations of PE-MPs (20 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, 1.25 mg/mL, and 0.62 mg/mL) on the U87 glioblastoma cell line. The results demonstrated that PE-MPs exposure led to an increase in cell proliferation compared to the untreated control group. Based on these findings, we decided to further explore the long-term effects of PE-MPs on U87 cancer cells. To evaluate the long-term effects, U87 glioblastoma cells were continuously exposed to 0.005 g of PE-MPs over an extended period of 26 days. Chronic exposure to PE-MPs significantly increased the proliferative and migratory capacities of U87 cells compared to the unexposed control group. Furthermore, continuous PE-MPs exposure altered the behavior and morphological characteristics of U87 cells. These cells exhibited a propensity to aggregate and form colonies within the culture flask. The formation of spheroid structures was also observed in the PE-MPs-exposed cell population. The results of this research indicate that polyethylene microplastics can promote the progression of glioblastoma cancer.

Renal cell carcinoma as a cause of aortic tumor thrombus embolization and acute limb ischemia

This article presents a unique case of acute limb ischemia resulting from arterial tumor embolism secondary to renal cell carcinoma involving an aortobi-iliac bypass graft. To the best of our knowledge, this instance is the first documented in the literature of such a complication. The patient, a man in his 70s with a complex medical history, underwent bilateral femoral embolectomy and subsequent endovascular intervention for the resolution of the tumor thrombus. The rarity of this phenomenon poses challenges in formulating a standardized management strategy.

Inhibition of JNK/STAT3/NF-KB pathway-mediated migration and clonal formation of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells by daphnetin

Daphnetin, a coumarin derivative isolated from Daphne odorifera, has anti-tumor effects. The MAPK, STAT3, and NF-κB signaling pathways are closely related to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. To investigate the effect of daphnetin on anti-lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and its mechanism. The anti-tumor effects of daphnetin on the proliferation, clone formation, migration, and invasion of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells were investigated. The results showed that daphnetin inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells through the MAPK/STAT3/NF-KB pathway, and mainly inhibited the clonal formation and migration of A549 cells through the JNK pathway. These results provide a new research direction and theoretical basis for the use of daphnetin in the inhibition of lung adenocarcinoma.

Plant bioactive compounds driven microRNAs (miRNAs): A potential source and novel strategy targeting gene and cancer therapeutics

Irrespective of medical technology improvements, cancer ranks among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Although numerous cures and treatments exist, creating alternative cancer therapies with fewer adverse side effects is vital. Since ancient times, plant bioactive compounds have already been used as a remedy to heal cancer. These plant bioactive compounds and their anticancer activity can also deregulate the microRNAs (miRNAs) in the cancerous cells. Therefore, the deregulation of miRNAs in cancer cells by plant bioactive compounds and the usage of the related miRNA could be a promising approach for cancer cure, mainly to prevent cancer and overcome chemotherapeutic side effect problems. Hence, this review highlights the function of plant bioactive compounds as an anticancer agent through the underlying mechanism that alters the miRNA expression in cancer cells, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Moreover, this review provides insight into using plant bioactive compounds -driven miRNAs as an anticancer agent to develop miRNA-based cancer gene therapy. They can be the potential resource for gene therapy and novel strategies targeting cancer therapeutics.

Anti-tumor and anti-metastasis of water-soluble sulfated β-glucan derivatives from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Traditional fungi β-glucan commonly possesses high molecular weight with poor water solubility, which remains significant challenge in the drug development and medical application. Water-soluble β-glucan with high molecular weight (dHSCG) of 560 kDa, low molecular weight (dLSCG) of 60 kDa, and sulfated derivative (SCGS) with a molecular weight of 146 kDa and sulfate degree at 2.04 were obtained through well-controlled degradation and sulfated modification from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in this study. The structural characteristics were confirmed as β-1,3/6-glucan by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. Carbohydrate microarrays and surface plasmon resonance revealed distinct and contrasting binding affinities between the natural β-glucans and sulfated derivatives. SCGS exhibited strong binding to FGF and VEGF, while natural β-glucan showed no response, suggesting its potential as a novel antitumor agent. Moreover, SCGS significantly inhibited the migration rate of the highly metastatic melanoma (B16F10) cells. The lung metastasis mouse model also demonstrated that SCGS significantly reduced and eliminated the nodules, achieving an inhibition rate of 86.7% in vivo, with a dramatic improvement in IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels. Through analysis of protein content and distribution in lung tissues, the anti-tumor and anti-metastasis mechanism of SCGS involves the regulation of degrading enzymes to protect extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as the reduction of angiogenic factor release. These findings provide a foundation for exploring the potential of SCGS in the development of new anti-tumor and anti-metastasis drugs and open up a new field in cancer research.

Recent discovery of natural substances with cathepsin L-inhibitory activity for cancer metastasis suppression

Cathepsin L (CTSL), a cysteine cathepsin protease of the papain superfamily, plays a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis. Dysregulation of CTSL is frequently observed in tumor malignancies, leading to the degradation of extracellular matrix and facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process in malignant cancer metastasis. This review mainly provides a comprehensive information about recent findings on natural inhibitors targeting CTSL and their anticancer effects, which have emerged as potent anticancer therapeutic agents or metastasis-suppressive adjuvants. Specifically, inhibitors are categorized into small-molecule and macromolecule inhibitors, with a particular emphasis on cathepsin propeptide-type macromolecules. Additionally, the article explores the molecular mechanisms of CTSL involvement in cancer metastasis, highlighting its regulation at transcriptional, translational, post-translational, and epigenetic levels. This work underscores the importance of understanding natural CTSL inhibitors and provides researchers with practical insights to advance the relevant fields and discover novel CTSL-targeting inhibitors from natural sources.

Manipulating the EphB4-ephrinB2 axis to reduce metastasis in HNSCC

The EphB4-ephrinB2 signaling axis has been heavily implicated in metastasis across numerous cancer types. Our emerging understanding of the dichotomous roles that EphB4 and ephrinB2 play in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses a significant challenge to rational drug design. We find that EphB4 knockdown in cancer cells enhances metastasis in preclinical HNSCC models by augmenting immunosuppressive cells like T regulatory cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment. EphB4 inhibition in cancer cells also amplifies their ability to metastasize through increased expression of genes associated with hallmark pathways of metastasis along with classical and non-classical epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In contrast, vascular ephrinB2 knockout coupled with radiation therapy (RT) enhances anti-tumor immunity, reduces Treg accumulation into the tumor, and decreases metastasis. Notably, targeting the EphB4-ephrinB2 signaling axis with the engineered ligands ephrinB2-Fc-His and Fc-TNYL-RAW-GS reduces local tumor growth and distant metastasis in a preclinical model of HNSCC. Our data suggests that targeted inhibition of vascular ephrinB2 while avoiding inhibition of EphB4 in cancer cells could be a promising strategy to mitigate HNSCC metastasis.

Single-cell RNA sequencing elucidated the landscape of breast cancer brain metastases and identified ILF2 as a potential therapeutic target

Distant metastasis remains the primary cause of morbidity in patients with breast cancer. Hence, the development of more efficacious strategies and the exploration of potential targets for patients with metastatic breast cancer are urgently needed. The data of six patients with breast cancer brain metastases (BCBrM) from two centres were collected, and a comprehensive landscape of the entire tumour ecosystem was generated through the utilisation of single-cell RNA sequencing. We utilised the Monocle2 and CellChat algorithms to investigate the interrelationships among each subcluster. In addition, multiple signatures were collected to evaluate key components of the subclusters through multi-omics methodologies. Finally, we elucidated common expression programs of malignant cells, and experiments were conducted in vitro and in vivo to determine the functions of interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 (ILF2), which is a key gene in the metastasis module, in BCBrM progression. We found that subclusters in each major cell type exhibited diverse characteristics. Besides, our study indicated that ILF2 was specifically associated with BCBrM, and experimental validations further demonstrated that ILF2 deficiency hindered BCBrM progression. Our study offers novel perspectives on the heterogeneity of BCBrM and suggests that ILF2 could serve as a promising biomarker or therapeutic target for BCBrM.

A novel role of IGFBP5 in the migration, invasion and spheroids formation induced by IGF-I and insulin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

PURPOSE

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system includes IGF-I, IGF-II insulin and their membrane receptors. IGF system also includes a family of proteins namely insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) composed for six major members (IGFBP-1 to IGFBP6), which capture, transport and prolonging half-life of IGFs. However, it has been described that IGFBPs can also have other functions.

METHODS

IGFBP5 expression was inhibited by shRNAs, migration was analyzed by scratch-wound assays, invasion assays were performed by the Boyden chamber method, spheroids formation assays were performed on ultra-low attachment surfaces, expression and phosphorylation of proteins were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS

IGFBP5 is a repressor of IGF-IR expression, but it is not a repressor of IR in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In addition, IGFBP5 is a suppressor of migration and MMP-9 secretion induced by IGF-I and insulin, but it does not regulate invasion in MCF-7 cells. IGFBP5 also is a repressor of MCF-7 spheroids formation. However treatment with 340 nM rescues the inhibitory effect of IGFBP in the MCF-7 spheroids formation.

CONCLUSION

IGFBP5 regulates IGF-IR expression, migration and MMP-9 secretion induced by IGF-I and/or insulin, and the spheroids formation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Percutaneous Delivery of Oncogel for Targeted Liver Tumor Ablation and Controlled Release of Therapeutics

Advanced-stage liver cancers are associated with poor prognosis and have limited treatment options, often leading the patient to hospice care. Percutaneous intratumoral injection of anticancer agents has emerged as a potential alternative to systemic therapy to overcome tumor barriers, increase bioavailability, potentiate immunotherapy, and avoid systemic toxicity, which advanced-stage cancer patients cannot tolerate. Here, an injectable OncoGel (OG) comprising of a nanocomposite hydrogel loaded with an ionic liquid (IL) is developed for achieving a predictable and uniform tumor ablation and long-term slow release of anticancer agents into the ablation zone. Rigorous mechanical, physiochemical, drug release, cytotoxicity experiments, and ex vivo human tissue testing identify an injectable version of the OG with bactericidal properties against highly resistant bacteria. Intratumoral injection of OG loaded with Nivolumab (Nivo) and doxorubicin (Dox) into highly malignant tumor models in mice, rats, and rabbits demonstrates enhanced survival and tumor regression associated with robust tissue ablation and drug distribution throughout the tumor. Mass cytometry and proteomic studies in a mouse model of colorectal cancer that often metastasizes to the liver indicate an enhanced anticancer immune response following the intratumoral injection of OG. OG may augment immunotherapy and potentially improve outcomes in liver cancer patients.

The phytochemical plumbagin: mechanism behind its "pleiotropic" nature and potential as an anticancer treatment

Chemotherapeutics are most often used to treat cancer, but side effects, drug resistance, and toxicity often compromise their effectiveness. In contrast, phytocompound plumbagin possesses a distinct pleiotropic nature, targeting multiple signaling pathways, such as ROS generation, cell death, cellular proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance, and is shown to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Plumbagin has been shown to act synergistically with various chemotherapeutic drugs and enhance their efficacy in drug-resistant cancers. The pleiotropic nature is believed to be due to plumbagin's unique structure, which contains a naphthoquinone ring and a hydroxyl group responsible for plumbagin's various biological responses. Despite limitations such as restricted bioavailability and delivery, recent developments aim to address these challenges and harness the potential of plumbagin as an anticancer therapeutics. This review delves into the structural aspect of the plumbagin molecule contributing to its pleiotropic nature, explores the diverse mechanism that it targets, and discusses emerging strategies to overcome its limitations.

SOX17 expression in tumor endothelial cells in colorectal cancer and its association with favorable outcomes in patients

The high mortality rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) highlights the need for new treatment strategies; however, the venous invasion mechanisms in tumor endothelial cells within CRC remain unexplored. Therefore, we investigated the clinicopathological features of SRY-box transcription factor 17 (SOX17) in CRC. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 55 CRC tissue specimens using a SOX17-specific antibody, followed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. SOX17 immunoreactivity was detected in the endothelial cells of tumor-penetrating vessels in 35/55 CRC samples. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with SOX17 immunoreactivity had favorable overall and progression-free survival (log-rank test, P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Notably, tumor endothelial SOX17 immunoreactivity was associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with stage III or IV disease (OS, P = 0.0089; PFS, P = 0.0065). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis indicated that SOX17 immunoreactivity is an independent factor for predicting favorable overall and progression-free survival in CRC (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). The present findings suggest that SOX17 expression in tumor endothelial cells is a potential indicator of favorable prognosis in patients with CRC.

Propylene glycol alginate sodium sulfate suppressed lung metastasis by blocking P-selectin to recruit CD4 regulatory T cells

P-selectin has been shown to enhance growth and metastasis of mouse tumors by promoting regulatory T cell (Treg) infiltration into the tumors. Theoretically, a P-selectin antagonist could suppress the process. Popylene glycol alginate sodium sulfate (PSS) is a heparin-like marine drug, which was originally approved to treat cardiovascular disease in China. Previously, we reported that PSS was an effective P-selectin antagonist in vitro. However, it is unknown whether PSS can regulate Treg infiltration and its effect on lung metastasis in vivo. Our results showed that PSS at 30 mg/kg significantly suppressed lung metastasis and improved overall survival, with potency comparable to the positive control LMWH. Mechanistic study indicated that PSS blocked tumor cells adhesion and activated platelets by directly binding with activated platelet's P-selectin. Compared to the model group, PSS decreased the percent of Tregs by 63 % in lungs after treating for 21 days while increasing CD8+ T cells (1.59-fold) and Granzyme B+ CD8 T cells (2.08-fold)' percentage for generating an adaptive response for systemic tumor suppression. The study indicated that the P-selectin antagonist, PSS, suppressed lung metastasis by inhibiting the infiltration of regulatory T cells (Treg) into the tumors.

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles release combined with systemic DOX exhibits synergistic effects in 3D bioprinted triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer, lacking targeted therapeutic options. Hydrogels, particularly gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), have emerged as promising materials for localized drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties. This study investigates a dual-delivery system for enhancing the treatment efficacy of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) using a combination of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from Citrus limon L. and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). We fabricated 3D bioprinted GelMA scaffolds to achieve localized and controlled release of EVs and evaluated their synergistic effects with systemic DOX delivery on both primary and metastatic 3D TNBC models. The GelMA scaffolds, especially those with 95 % methacrylation, exhibited higher stiffness, which enhanced their sustained release. Following 48-h incubation, the combination of EVs and DOX significantly increased cytotoxicity in the primary 3D TNBC model, reducing cell viability to approximately 30 % compared to controls. This was notably more effective than treatments with DOX or EVs alone. During the extended 7-day incubation period, the combination treatment continued to show superior efficacy, with persistently high levels of ROS generation and further reduction in cell viability. In a metastatic 3D TNBC model, a significant sensitivity to the combined treatment was observed, which notably inhibited aggregate formation and migration. Importantly, EVs-embedded scaffolds promoted the proliferation of human fibroblasts, highlighting their non-toxic nature, while concurrently inhibiting TNBC cell growth. This approach provides a promising strategy to improve the treatment outcomes of TNBC by exploiting the synergistic effects of local EVs release and systemic chemotherapy.

Platelets and circulating (and tumor) cells: partners in promoting metastatic cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite being discovered decades ago, metastasis remains a formidable challenge in cancer treatment. During the intermediate phase of metastasis, tumor cells detach from primary tumor or metastatic sites and travel through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to distant tissues. These tumor cells in the circulation are known as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and a higher number of CTCs has been linked to poor prognoses in various cancers. The blood is an inhospitable environment for any foreign cells, including CTCs, as they face numerous challenges, such as the shear stress within blood vessels and their interactions with blood and immune cells. However, the exact mechanisms by which CTCs survive the hostile conditions of the bloodstream remain enigmatic. Platelets have been studied for their interactions with tumor cells, promoting their survival, growth, and metastasis. This review explores the latest clinical methods for enumerating CTCs, recent findings on platelet-CTC crosstalk, and current research on antiplatelet therapy as a potential strategy to inhibit metastasis, offering new therapeutic insights.

RECENT FINDINGS

Laboratory and clinical data have provided insights into the role of platelets in promoting CTC survival, while clinical advancements in CTC enumeration offer improved prognostic tools.

SUMMARY

CTCs play a critical role in metastasis, and their interactions with platelets aid their survival in the hostile environment of the bloodstream. Understanding this crosstalk offers insights into potential therapeutic strategies, including antiplatelet therapy, to inhibit metastasis and improve cancer treatment outcomes.

The oncomicrobiome: New insights into microorganisms in cancer

The discoveries of the oncomicrobiome (intratumoral microbiome) and oncomicrobiota (intratumoral microbiota) represent significant advances in tumor research and have rapidly become of key interest to the field. Within tumors, microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea form the oncomicrobiota and are primarily found within tumor cells, immunocytes, and the intercellular matrix. The oncomicrobiome exhibits marked heterogeneity and is associated with tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and treatment response. Interactions between the oncomicrobiome and the immune system can modulate host antitumor immunity, influencing the efficacy of immunotherapies. Oncomicrobiome research also faces numerous challenges, including overcoming methodological issues such as low target abundance, susceptibility to contamination, and biases in sample handling and analysis methods across different studies. Furthermore, studies of the oncomicrobiome may be confounded by baseline differences in microbiomes among populations driven by both environmental and genetic factors. Most studies to date have revealed associations between the oncomicrobiome and tumors, but very few have established mechanistic links between the two. This review introduces the relevant concepts, detection methods, sources, and characteristics of the oncomicrobiome. We then describe the composition of the oncomicrobiome in common tumors and its role in shaping the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss the current problems and challenges to be overcome in this rapidly progressing field.

Epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 promotes peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer by inducing the formation of circular RNAs modulating epithelial plasticity

Peritoneal metastases prevalently occur in ovarian cancer, deteriorating patient prognosis. During the metastatic cascade, tumor plasticity enables cells to adapt to environmental changes, thereby facilitating dissemination. We previously found that epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1) is linked to peritoneal metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in ovarian cancer. This study delves into the underlying mechanism. We found that ESRP1 preserves epithelial plasticity in ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Functionally, ESRP1 enhances ovarian cancer cell growth and peritoneal dissemination. High-throughput sequencing revealed several ESRP1-related epithelial RNAs, encompassing both linear and circular forms. Specifically, ESRP1 triggers the cyclization of circPAFAH1B2 and circUBAP2 through binding to the GGU sequences in adjacent introns. The two ESRP1-induced circular RNAs stabilize DKK3 and AHR mRNAs, which are critical for epithelial plasticity, through interaction with IGF2BP2. Collectively, ESRP1 triggers the formation of circPAFAH1B2 and circUBAP2, which in turn stabilizes DKK3 and AHR through IGF2BP2 binding, thereby modulating the epithelial plasticity and aiding the peritoneal spread of ovarian cancer cells. The findings unveiled a biological network, orchestrated by ESRP1, that governs the epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of ovarian cancer cells, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of ESRP1 and its induced circular RNAs for ovarian cancer treatment.

SPI1+CD68+ macrophages as a biomarker for gastric cancer metastasis: a rationale for combined antiangiogenic and immunotherapy strategies

BACKGROUND

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been demonstrated to be associated with tumor progression. However, the different subpopulations of TAMs and their roles in gastric cancer (GC) remain poorly understood. This study aims to assess the effects of Spi-1 proto-oncogene (SPI1)+CD68+ TAMs in GC.

METHODS

The distribution of SPI1+CD68+ TAMs in GC tissue was estimated by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. Single-cell transcriptome analysis and multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry were applied to explore the role of SPI1+CD68+ TAMs in an immune contexture. SPI1 overexpression or knockdown cells were constructed to evaluate its role in macrophage polarization and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to verify the mechanism of SPI1 transcriptional function. The effect of combined antiangiogenic and immunotherapy was further validated using mouse peritoneal metastasis models.

RESULTS

Single-cell transcriptome analysis and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that SPI1 was expressed in macrophages, with a higher enrichment in metastatic lesions than in primary tumors. Higher SPI1+CD68+ TAMs infiltration was associated with poor overall survival. Mechanically, SPI1 promoted the M2-type macrophage polarization. SPI1 could bind to the promoter of vascular endothelial growth factor A and facilitate angiogenesis. Moreover, the level of SPI1+CD68+ TAMs infiltration was closely related to the efficacy of immunotherapy, especially when combined with antiangiogenic therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that SPI1+CD68+ TAMs are a promising biomarker for predicting prognosis, antiangiogenic drug sensitivity, and combination target of immunotherapy in patients with GC.

A nanoprodrug derived from branched poly (ethylene glycol) recognizes prostate-specific membrane antigen to precisely suppress prostate cancer progression

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in 80-90 % of prostate cancers (PCa) and is widely used as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker. Docetaxel (DTX), an FDA-approved anti-microtubule drug, is commonly employed to manage metastatic castration-resistant PCa; however, DTX therapy is often associated with severe side effects. One promising strategy to mitigate these side effects is the development of nanomedicine by loading small molecules into biocompatible vectors. Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been extensively used in clinical settings for this purpose, with PEGylated drugs demonstrating significant success. Compared to linear PEG, branched PEG (multi-arm PEG) provides enhanced stability for nanomedicines. In this study, we developed a novel nanoprodrug 4armPEG-Docetaxel DCL (4armPEG-DD) by conjugating a 4-arm PEG with DTX via a reduction-sensitive disulfide bond and further modifying it with 2-[3-[5-amino-1-carboxypentyl]-ureido]-pentanedioic acid (DCL), a PSMA-targeting ligand. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that the designed nanoprodrug specifically recognized PSMA-positive PCa cells and effectively released DTX in response to the intracellular reducing environment, leading to potent cytotoxic effects on PSMA-positive prostate tumors. Importantly, 4armPEG-DD exhibited improved in vivo safety compared to small-molecule DTX. Thus, we propose that 4armPEG-DD represents a promising candidate for the clinical treatment of PSMA-positive PCa.

Deep Learning-Assisted Assessing of Single Circulating Tumor Cell Viability via Cellular Morphology

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are closely associated with cancer metastasis and recurrence, so the assessment of CTC viability is crucial for diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and efficacy judgment of cancer. Due to the extreme scarcity of CTCs in human blood, it is difficult to accurately evaluate the viability of a single CTC. In this study, a deep learning model based on a convolutional neural network was constructed and trained to extract the morphological features of CTCs with different viabilities defined by cell counting kit-8, achieve accurate CTC identification, and assess the viability of a single CTC. Being efficient, accurate, and noninvasive, it has a broad application prospect in biomedical directions.

metsDB: a knowledgebase of cancer metastasis at bulk, single-cell and spatial levels

Cancer metastasis, the process by which tumour cells migrate and colonize distant organs from a primary site, is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this complex process is essential for developing effective metastasis prevention and therapy strategies. To this end, we systematically analysed 1786 bulk tissue samples from 13 cancer types, 988 463 single cells from 17 cancer types, and 40 252 spots from 45 spatial slides across 10 cancer types. The results of these analyses are compiled in the metsDB database, accessible at https://relab.xidian.edu.cn/metsDB/. This database provides insights into alterations in cell constitutions, cell relationships, biological pathways, molecular biomarkers, and drug responses during cancer metastasis at bulk, single-cell, and spatial levels. Users can perform cell or gene searches to obtain multi-view and multi-scale metastasis-related data. This comprehensive resource is invaluable for understanding the metastasis process and for designing molecular therapies.

Short-Term Exposure to Foodborne Xenoestrogens Affects Breast Cancer Cell Morphology and Motility Relevant for Metastatic Behavior In Vitro

Breast cancer is highly susceptible to metastasis formation. During the time of disease progression, tumor pathophysiology can be impacted by endogenous factors, like hormonal status, as well as by environmental exposures, such as those related to diet and lifestyle. New lines of evidence point toward a potential role for foodborne endocrine disruptive chemicals in this respect; however, mechanistic understanding remains limited. At the molecular level, crucial steps toward metastasis formation include cell structural changes, alteration of adhesion, and reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins involved in motility. Hence, this study investigates the potential of dietary xenoestrogens to impact selected aspects of breast cancer cell mechanotransduction. Taking the onset of the metastatic cascade as a model, experiments focused on cell-matrix adhesion, single-cell migration, and adaptation of cell morphology. Dietary mycoestrogens alternariol (AOH, 1 μM) and α-zearalenol (α-ZEL, 10 nM), soy isoflavone genistein (GEN, 1 μM), and food packaging plasticizer bisphenol A (BPA, 10 nM) were applied as single compounds or in mixtures. Pursuing the hypothesis that endocrine active molecules could affect cell functions beyond the estrogen receptor-dependent cascade, experiments were performed comparing the MCF-7 cell line to the triple negative breast cancer cells MDA MB-231. Indeed, the four compounds functionally affected the motility and the adhesion of both cell types. These responses were coherent with rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and with the modulation of the expression of integrin β1 and cathepsin D. Mechanistically, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed a potential interaction with fragments of the α1 and β1 integrin subunits. In sum, dietary xenoestrogens proved effective in modifying the motility and adhesion of breast cancer cells, as predictive end points for metastatic behavior in vitro. These effects were measurable after short incubation times (1 or 8 h) and contribute to shed novel light on the activity of compounds with hormonal mimicry potential in breast cancer progression.

A strategic review of STAT3 signaling inhibition by phytochemicals for cancer prevention and treatment: Advances and insights

Cancer remains a significant global health concern. The dysregulation of signaling networks in tumor cells greatly affects their functions. This review intends to explore phytochemicals possessing potent anticancer properties that specifically target the STAT3 signaling pathway, elucidating strategies and emphasizing their potential as promising candidates for cancer therapy. The review comprehensively examines various STAT3 inhibitors designed to disrupt the signaling cascade, including those targeting upstream activation, SH2 domain phosphorylation, DNA binding domain (DBD), N-terminal domain (NTD), nuclear translocation, and enhancing endogenous STAT3 negative regulators. A literature review was conducted to identify phytochemicals with anticancer activity targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway. Popular research databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and ResearchGate were searched from the years 1989 - 2023 based on the keywords "Cancer", "STAT3", "Phytochemicals", "Phytochemicals targeting STAT3 signaling", "upstream activation of STAT3", "SH2 domain of STAT3", "DBD of STAT3", "NTD of STAT3, "endogenous negative regulators of STAT3", or "nuclear translocation of STAT3", and their combinations. A total of 264 relevant studies were selected and analyzed based on the mechanisms of action and the efficacy of the phytocompounds. The majority of the discussed phytochemicals primarily focus on inhibiting upstream activation of STAT3. Additionally, flavonoid and terpenoid compounds exhibit multifaceted effects by targeting one or more checkpoints within the STAT3 pathway. Analysis reveals that phytochemicals targeting upstream activation predominantly belong to the classes of flavonoids and terpenoids, which hold significant promise as effective anticancer therapeutics. Future research in this field can be directed towards exploring and developing these scrutinized classes of phytochemicals to achieve desired therapeutic outcomes in cancer treatment.

Emerging Paradigms in Cancer Metastasis: Ghost Mitochondria, Vasculogenic Mimicry, and Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells

The capacity of cancer cells to migrate from a primary tumor, disseminate throughout the body, and eventually establish secondary tumors is a fundamental aspect of metastasis. A detailed understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning this multifaceted process would facilitate the rational development of therapies aimed at treating metastatic disease. Although various hypotheses and models have been proposed, no single concept fully explains the mechanism of metastasis or integrates all observations and experimental findings. Recent advancements in metastasis research have refined existing theories and introduced new ones. This review evaluates several novel/emerging theories, focusing on ghost mitochondria (GM), vasculogenic mimicry (VM), and polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs).

Covalent Inhibitors of S100A4 Block the Formation of a Pro-Metastasis Non-Muscle Myosin 2A Complex

The S100 protein family functions as protein-protein interaction adaptors regulated by Ca2+ binding. Formation of various S100 complexes plays a central role in cell functions, from calcium homeostasis to cell signaling, and is implicated in cell growth, migration, and tumorigenesis. We established a suite of biochemical and cellular assays for small molecule screening based on known S100 protein-protein interactions. From 25 human S100 proteins, we focused our attention on S100A4 because of its well-established role in cancer progression and metastasizes by interacting with nonmuscle myosin II (NMII). We identified several potent and selective inhibitors of this interaction and established the covalent nature of binding, confirmed by mass spectrometry and crystal structures. 5b showed on-target activity in cells and inhibition of cancer cell migration. The identified S100A4 inhibitors can serve as a basis for the discovery of new cancer drugs operating via a novel mode of action.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel quinoline-based EGFR/HER-2 dual-target inhibitors as potential anti-tumor agents

Dual targeting of EGFR and HER2 is a valid anti-cancer approach for treating solid tumors. We designed and synthesized a new series of EGFR/HER-2 dual-target inhibitors based on quinoline derivatives. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was verified using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and elemental analysis. The targeted compounds were tested for antiproliferative efficacy against four cancer cell lines. All the compounds had GI50s ranging from 25 to 82 nM, with breast (MCF-7) and lung (A-549) cancer cell lines being the most sensitive. Compound 5a demonstrated the most significant antiproliferative action. With inhibitory (IC50) values of 71 and 31 nM, respectively, compound 5a proved to be the most effective dual-target inhibitor of EGFR and HER-2, outperforming the reference erlotinib (IC50 = 80 nM) as an EGFR inhibitor but falling short of the clinically used agent lapatinib (IC50 = 26 nM) as a HER2 inhibitor. The apoptotic potential activity of 5a was examined, and the findings demonstrated that 5a promotes apoptosis by activating caspase-3, 8, and Bax while simultaneously reducing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. The docking studies provided valuable insights into the binding interactions of compounds 3e and 5a with EGFR, effectively rationalizing the observed SAR trends.

Can salivary and skin microbiome become a biodetector for aging-associated diseases? Current insights and future perspectives

Growth and aging are fundamental elements of human development. Aging is defined by a decrease in physiological activities and higher illness vulnerability. Affected by lifestyle, environmental, and hereditary elements, aging results in disorders including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neurological diseases, which accounted for 16.1 million worldwide deaths in 2019. Stress-induced cellular senescence, caused by DNA damage, can reduce tissue regeneration and repair, promoting aging. The root cause of many age-related disorders is inflammation, encouraged by the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Aging's metabolic changes and declining immune systems raise illness risk via promoting microbiome diversity. Stable, individual-specific skin and oral microbiomes are essential for both health and disease since dysbiosis is linked with periodontitis and eczema. Present from birth to death, the human microbiome, under the influence of diet and lifestyle, interacts symbiotically with the body. Poor dental health has been linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases since oral microorganisms and systemic diseases have important interactions. Emphasizing the importance of microbiome health across the lifetime, this study reviews the understanding of the microbiome's role in aging-related diseases that can direct novel diagnosis and treatment approaches.

Tumor-intrinsic role of ICAM-1 in driving metastatic progression of triple-negative breast cancer through direct interaction with EGFR

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive subtype, presents a critical challenge due to the absence of approved targeted therapies. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify effective therapeutic targets for this condition. While epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is prominently expressed in TNBC and recognized as a therapeutic target, anti-EGFR therapies have yet to gain approval for breast cancer treatment due to their associated side effects and limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) exhibits elevated expression levels in metastatic breast cancer and serves as a pivotal binding adaptor for EGFR activation, playing a crucial role in malignant progression. The activation of EGFR by tumor-expressed ICAM-1 initiates biased signaling within the JAK1/STAT3 pathway, consequently driving epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and facilitating heightened metastasis without influencing tumor growth. Remarkably, ICAM-1-neutralizing antibody treatment significantly suppressed cancer metastasis in a breast cancer orthotopic xenograft mouse model. In conclusion, our identification of ICAM-1 as a novel tumor intrinsic regulator of EGFR activation offers valuable insights for the development of TNBC-specific anti-EGFR therapies.

Lung bronchiectasisas a paradigm of the interplay between infection and colonization on plastic modulation of the pre-metastatic niche

The lungs are most often a preferential target organ for malignant spreading and growth. It is well known that chronic parenchymal inflammation and prolonged injuries represents an independent risk factor for cancer onset. Growing evidence supports the implication of lung microbiota in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. However, the full interplay between chronic inflammation, bacterial colonization, pathologic condition as bronchiectasis and malignant growth deserves better clarification. We here aim at presenting and analyzing original data and discussing the state-of-the-art on the knowledge regarding how this complex milieu acts on the plasticity of the lung pre-metastatic niche to point out the rationale for early diagnosis and therapeutic targeting.

Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 1 in Cancer Metastasis and Therapeutic Resistance: Mechanistic Insights and Translational Advances

Interleukin-1 Receptor Associated Kinase 1 (IRAK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a critical role as a signaling transducer of the activated Toll-like receptor (TLR)/Interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling pathway in both immune cells and cancer cells. Upon hyperphosphorylation by IRAK4, IRAK1 forms a complex with TRAF6, which results in the eventual activation of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. IRAK1 can translocate to the nucleus where it phosphorylates STAT3 transcription factor, leading to enhanced IL-10 gene expression. In immune cells, activated IRAK1 coordinates innate immunity against pathogens and mediates inflammatory responses. In cancer cells, IRAK1 is frequently activated, and the activation is linked to the progression and therapeutic resistance of various types of cancers. Consequently, IRAK1 is considered a promising cancer drug target and IRAK1 inhibitors have been developed and evaluated preclinically and clinically. This is a comprehensive review that summarizes the roles of IRAK1 in regulating metastasis-related signaling pathways of importance to cancer cell proliferation, cancer stem cells, and dissemination. This review also covers the significance of IRAK1 in mediating cancer resistance to therapy and the underlying molecular mechanisms, including the evasion of apoptosis and maintenance of an inflammatory tumor microenvironment. Finally, we provide timely updates on the development of IRAK1-targeted therapy for human cancers.

Epidermal Growth Factor Intralesional Delivery in Chronic Wounds: The Pioneer and Standalone Technique for Reversing Wound Chronicity and Promoting Sustainable Healing

The early expectations about growth factors' (GFs') discovery as an undisputed therapeutic solution for chronic wounds progressively eclipsed when they failed to accelerate acute wound closure and restore the healing trajectory of stagnant ulcers. Critical knowledge about chronic wound biology and GF pharmacology was a conundrum at that time. Diabetes undermines keratinocytes' and fibroblasts' physiology, impairing skin healing abilities. Diabetic ulcers, as other chronic wounds, are characterized by hyperinflammation, unbalanced proteolytic activity, catabolism, and free radical cytotoxicity. This hostile scenario for the chemical stability, integrity, and functionality of GFs led to the conclusion that topical administration may jeopardize GFs' clinical effectiveness. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has a proximal position in tissues homeostasis by activating survival and mitogenic pathways from embryonic life to adulthood. Seminal experiments disclosed unprecedented pharmacological bounties of parenterally administered EGF. Accordingly, the experience accumulated for more than 20 years of EGF intralesional infiltration of diabetic wound bottoms and edges has translated into sustained healing responses, such as low recurrences and amputation rates. This delivery route, in addition to being safe and tolerated, has shown to restore a variety of circulating biochemical markers ordinarily disturbed in diabetic conditions. EGF infiltration triggers a cascade of local fibroblast reactions, supporting its molecular integrity, prolonged mean residence time, and ultimately eliciting its receptor trafficking and nuclear translocation. The intralesional delivery route seems to warrant that EGF reaches wound fibroblasts' epigenetic core, mitigating the consequences of metabolic memory imprinting.

Association of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Treatment with Risk of Brain Metastasis in Advanced Stage Breast Cancer

The routine use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) is not recommended for the prevention or treatment of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia or febrile neutropenia because risks associated with certain types of cancers, distant organ metastases, and primary tumor growth cannot be excluded. We examined the association between GCSF use and the incidence of brain metastasis (BM), as well as BM-free survival (BMFS). This retrospective cohort study included 121 stage IV breast cancer patients without confirmed BM at the time of diagnosis and who received at least one course of systematic chemotherapy or target therapy at a tertiary teaching hospital between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2022. The effect of GCSF use on BM was assessed with other confounding factors in Cox regression analyses. In this retrospective cohort, patients who received GCSF treatment had a significantly higher incidence of BM than those who did not (34.9% vs. 13.8%, p = 0.011). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that GCSF use, menopause status, hormone treatment, HER2 treatment, cumulative dosage, dosage density, and neutropenia were independent risk factors for BMFS (p < 0.05). GCSF users had a higher risk of BM (adjusted HR: 2.538; 95% CI: 1.127-5.716, p = 0.025) than nonusers. BM risk was significantly associated with those with neutropenia (RR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.80) but not with those without neutropenia (RR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41-0.84, Interaction p-value < 0.05). The higher the dose density of GCSF, the higher the risk compared with those who do not use GCSF (p for trend < 0.01). These preliminary results suggest that GCSF is associated with BM in patients with stage IV breast cancer who did not have BM at initial diagnosis. Further comprehensively designed large-scale observational studies are needed to confirm our preliminary results.

HBx-induced upregulation of MAP1S drives hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and migration via MAP1S/Smad/TGF-β1 loop

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has a significantly higher risk of recurrence. However, the exact mechanism by which HBV prompts HCC recurrence remains largely unknown. In this study liver microarray test revealed significant upregulation of microtubule associated protein 1S (MAP1S) in metastatic HCC compared to control. MAP1S knockdown suppressed growth of HCCLM3 cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) upregulates MAP1S, which enhances microtubule (MT) acetylation by promoting the degradation of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), and facilitates the nuclear translocation of Smad complex, and thereby enhancing downstream TGF-β signaling. Smad complex, in turn, increases MAP1S, establishing a feedback loop of MAP1S/Smad/TGF-β1. Finally, survival analysis of 150 HBV-associated HCC patients demonstrated both increased MAP1S and decreased HDAC6 were significantly associated with shorter relapse-free survival. Collectively, this study reveals a unique mechanism whereby HBx-induced upregulation of MAP1S drives HBV-related HCC proliferation and migration through the MAP1S/Smad/TGF-β1 feedback loop. TEASER: MAP1S is a key link between HBV infection and a higher risk of metastatic recurrence of HCC.

Tumor-on-chip platforms for breast cancer continuum concept modeling

Our previous article entitled "Proteomics and its applications in breast cancer", proposed a Breast Cancer Continuum Concept (BCCC), including a Breast Cancer Cell Continuum Concept as well as a Breast Cancer Proteomic Continuum Concept. Breast cancer-on-chip (BCoC), breast cancer liquid biopsy-on-chip (BCLBoC), and breast cancer metastasis-on-chip (BCMoC) models successfully recapitulate and reproduce in vitro the principal mechanisms and events involved in BCCC. Thus, BCoC, BCLBoC, and BCMoC platforms allow for multiple cell lines co-cultivation to reproduce BC hallmark features, recapitulating cell proliferation, cell-to-cell communication, BC cell-stromal crosstalk and stromal activation, effects of local microenvironmental conditions on BC progression, invasion/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/migration, intravasation, dissemination through blood and lymphatic circulation, extravasation, distant tissues colonization, and immune escape of cancer cells. Moreover, tumor-on-chip platforms are used for studying the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs/nano-drugs or nutraceuticals. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize and analyse the main bio-medical roles of on-chip platforms that can be used as powerful tools to study the metastatic cascade in BC. As future direction, integration of tumor-on-chip platforms and proteomics-based specific approaches can offer important cues about molecular profile of the metastatic cascade, alowing for novel biomarker discovery. Novel microfluidics-based platforms integrating specific proteomic landscape of human milk, urine, and saliva could be useful for early and non-invasive BC detection. Also, risk-on-chip models may improve BC risk assessment and prevention based on the identification of biomarkers of risk. Moreover, multi-organ-on-chip systems integrating patient-derived BC cells and patient-derived scaffolds have a great potential to study BC at integrative level, due to the systemic nature of BC, for personalized and precision medicine. We also emphasized the strengths and weaknesses of BCoC and BCMoC platforms.

The Wnt signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor that arises from hepatocytes. Multiple signaling pathways play a regulatory role in the occurrence and development of HCC, with the Wnt signaling pathway being one of the primary regulatory pathways. In normal hepatocytes, the Wnt signaling pathway maintains cell regeneration and organ development. However, when aberrant activated, the Wnt pathway is closely associated with invasion, cancer stem cells(CSCs), drug resistance, and immune evasion in HCC. Among these factors, the development of drug resistance is one of the most important factors affecting the efficacy of HCC treatment. These mechanisms form the basis for tumor cell adaptation and evolution within the body, enabling continuous changes in tumor cells, resistance to drugs and immune system attacks, leading to metastasis and recurrence. In recent years, there have been numerous new discoveries regarding these mechanisms. An increasing number of drugs targeting the Wnt signaling pathway have been developed, with some already entering clinical trials. Therefore, this review encompasses the latest research on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in the onset and progression of HCC, as well as advancements in its therapeutic strategies.

Biochemical pharmacology of adenylyl cyclases in cancer

Globally, despite extensive research and pharmacological advancement, cancer remains one of the most common causes of mortality. Understanding the signaling pathways involved in cancer progression is essential for the discovery of new drug targets. The adenylyl cyclase (AC) superfamily comprises glycoproteins that regulate intracellular signaling and convert ATP into cyclic AMP, an important second messenger. The present review highlights the involvement of ACs in cancer progression and suppression, broken down for each specific mammalian AC isoform. The precise mechanisms by which ACs contribute to cancer cell proliferation and invasion are not well understood and are variable among cancer types; however, AC overactivation, along with that of downstream regulators, presents a potential target for novel anticancer therapies. The expression patterns of ACs in numerous cancers are discussed. In addition, we highlight inhibitors of AC-related signaling that are currently under investigation, with a focus on possible anti-cancer strategies. Recent discoveries with small molecules regarding more direct modulation AC activity are also discussed in detail. A more comprehensive understanding of different components in AC-related signaling could potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for personalized oncology and might enhance the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy in the treatment of various cancers.

Intratumoral microbiota as cancer therapeutic target

Intratumoral microbiota, which affects the physiological and pathological processes of the host, has attracted increasing attention from researchers. Microbials have been found in normal as well as tumor tissues that were originally thought to be sterile. Intratumoral microbiota is considered to play a significant role in the development of tumors and the reduction of clinical benefits. In addition, intratumoral microbiota are heterogeneous, which have different distribution in various types of tumors, and can influence tumor development through different mechanisms, including genome mutations, inflammatory responses, activated cancer pathways, and immunosuppressive microenvironments. Therefore, eliminating the intratumoral microbiota is considered one of the most promising ways to slow down the tumor progression and improve therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we systematically categorized the intratumoral microbiota and elucidated its role in the pathogenesis and therapeutic response of cancer. We have also described the novel strategies to mitigate the impact of tumor progression. We hope this review will provide new insights for the anti-tumor treatment, particularly for the elderly population, where such insights could significantly enhance treatment outcomes.

MiR-29a-laden extracellular vesicles efficiently induced apoptosis through autophagy blockage in HCC cells

BACKGROUND

In spite of significant advancements in theraputic modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there is still a high annual mortality rate with a rising incidence. Major challenges in the HCC clinical managment are related to the development of therapy resistance, and evasion of tumor cells apoptosis which leading unsatisfactory outcomes in HCC patients. Previous investigations have shown that autophagy plays crucial role in contributing to drug resistance development in HCC. Although, miR-29a is known to counteract authophagy, increasing evidence revealed a down-regulation of miR-29a in HCC patients which correlates with poor prognosis. Beside, evidences showed that miR-29a serves as a negative regulator of autophagy in other cancers. In the current study, we aim to investigate the impact of miR-29a on the autophagy and apoptosis in HCC cells using extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a natural delivery system given their potential in the miRNA delivery both in vitro and in vivo.

METHOD

Human Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles were lately isolated through 20,000 or 110,000 × g centrifugation (EV20K or EV110K, respectively), characterized by western blot (WB), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). miR-29a was subsequently loaded into these EVs and its loading efficiency was evaluated via RT-qPCR. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo assessments were then performed on Huh-7 and HepG2 cell lines.

RESULTS

EV20K-miR-29a treatment significantly induces cell apoptosis and reduces both cell proliferation and colony formation in Huh-7 and HepG2 cell lines. In addition, LC3-II/LC3-I ratio was increased while the expression of key autophagy regulators TFEB and ATG9A were downregulated by this treatment. These findings suggest an effective blockade of autophagy by EV20K-miR-29a leading to apoptosis in the HCC cell lines through concomitant targeting of critical mediators within each pathway.

Physical network regimes of 3D fibrillar collagen networks trigger invasive phenotypes of breast cancer cells

The mechanical characteristics of the extracellular environment are known to significantly influence cancer cell behavior in vivo and in vitro. The structural complexity and viscoelastic dynamics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) pose significant challenges in understanding its impact on cancer cells. Herein, we report distinct regulatory signatures in the invasion of different breast cancer cell lines into three-dimensional (3D) fibrillar collagen networks, caused by systematic modifications of the physical network properties. By reconstituting collagen networks of thin fibrils, we demonstrate that such networks can display network strand flexibility akin to that of synthetic polymer networks, known to exhibit entropic rubber elasticity. This finding contrasts with the predominant description of the mechanics of fibrillar collagen networks by an enthalpic bending elasticity of rod-like fibrils. Mean-squared displacement analysis of free-standing fibrils confirmed a flexible fiber regime in networks of thin fibrils. Furthermore, collagen fibrils in both networks were softened by the adsorption of highly negatively charged sulfonated polymers and colloidal probe force measurements of network elastic modulus again proofed the occurrence of the two different physical network regimes. Our cell assays revealed that the cellular behavior (morphology, clustering, invasiveness, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity) of the 'weakly invasive' MCF-7 and 'highly invasive' MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines is distinctively affected by the physical (enthalpic/entropic) network regime, and cannot be explained by changes of the network elastic modulus, alone. These results highlight an essential pathway, albeit frequently overlooked, how the physical characteristics of fibrillar ECMs affect cellular behavior. Considering the coexistence of diverse physical network regimes of the ECM in vivo, our findings underscore their critical role of ECM's physical network regimes in tumor progression and other cell functions, and moreover emphasize the significance of 3D in vitro collagen network models for quantifying cell responses in both healthy and pathological states.

Cutaneous Seeding of Glioblastoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

ABSTRACT

We present the case of a 61-year-old male patient with a history of intracranial IDH-wildtype glioblastoma with an isolated cutaneous metastasis within the previous surgical site scar. The cytomorphology of the cutaneous deposits was reminiscent of metastatic melanoma, which is a differential diagnostic pitfall. The tumor molecular characteristics are described, as these have become essential diagnostic criteria for many central nervous system tumors, along with a discussion of the role of immunohistochemical markers and potential pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of melanoma and poorly differentiated carcinoma. We discuss the biology of metastatic glioblastoma and provide a focused literature review of previous glioblastomas with tumor cell seeding within prior surgical scars.