Reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism in cancer

Interactions between ferroptosis and tumour development mechanisms: Implications for gynaecological cancer therapy (Review)

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is distinct from apoptosis. The mechanism involves redox‑active metallic iron and is characterized by an abnormal increase in iron‑dependent lipid reactive oxygen species, which results in high levels of membrane lipid peroxides. The relationship between ferroptosis and gynaecological tumours is complex. Ferroptosis can regulate tumour proliferation, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance, and targeting ferroptosis is a promising antitumour approach. Ferroptosis interacts with mechanisms related to tumorigenesis and development, such as macrophage polarization, the neutrophil trap network, mitochondrial autophagy and cuproptosis. The present review examines recent information on the interaction between the molecular mechanism of ferroptosis and other tumour‑related mechanisms, as well as the involvement of ferroptosis in gynaecological tumours, to identify implications for gynaecological cancer therapy.

Dysregulation of genes involved in the long-chain fatty acid transport in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive lethal malignancy with limited options for treatment and a 5-year survival rate of 11% in the United States. As for other types of tumors, such as colorectal cancer, aberrant de novo lipid synthesis and reprogrammed lipid metabolism have been suggested to be associated with PDAC development and progression.

AIM

To identify the possible involvement of lipid metabolism in PDAC by analyzing in tumoral and non-tumoral tissues the expression level of the most relevant genes involved in the long-chain fatty acid (FA) import into cell.

METHODS

A gene expression analysis of FASN, CD36, SLC27A1, SLC27A2, SLC27A3, SLC27A4, SLC27A5, ACSL1, and ACSL3 was performed by qRT-PCR in 24 tumoral PDAC tissues and 11 samples from non-tumoral pancreatic tissues obtained via fine needle aspiration or via surgical resection. The genes were considered significantly dysregulated between the groups when the p value was < 0.05 and the fold change (FC) was ≤ 0.5 and ≥ 2.

RESULTS

We found that three FA transporters and two long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases genes were significantly upregulated in the PDAC tissue compared to the non-tumoral tissue: SLC27A2 (FC = 5.66; P = 0.033), SLC27A3 (FC = 2.68; P = 0.040), SLC27A4 (FC = 3.13; P = 0.033), ACSL1 (FC = 4.10; P < 0.001), and ACSL3 (FC = 2.67; P = 0.012). We further investigated any possible association between the levels of the analyzed mRNAs and the specific characteristics of the tumors, including the anatomic location, the lymph node involvement, and the presence of metastasis. A significant difference in the expression of SLC27A3 (FC = 3.28; P = 0.040) was found comparing patients with and without lymph nodes involvement with an overexpression of this transcript in 17 patients presenting tumoral cells in the lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION

Despite the low number of patients analyzed, these preliminary results seem to be promising. Addressing lipid metabolism through a broad strategy could be a beneficial way to treat this malignancy. Future in vitro and in vivo studies on these genes may offer important insights into the mechanisms linking PDAC with the long-chain FA import pathway.

Emerging role of metabolic reprogramming in the immune microenvironment and immunotherapy of thyroid cancer

The metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells is a hallmark of many malignancies. To meet the energy acquisition needs of tumor cells for rapid proliferation, tumor cells reprogram their nutrient metabolism, which is caused by the abnormal expression of transcription factors and signaling molecules related to energy metabolic pathways as well as the upregulation and downregulation of abnormal metabolic enzymes, receptors, and mediators. Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine tumor, and immunotherapy has become the mainstream choice for clinical benefit after the failure of surgical, endocrine, and radioiodine therapies. TC change the tumor microenvironment (TME) through nutrient competition and metabolites, causing metabolic reprogramming of immune cells, profoundly changing immune cell function, and promoting immune evasion of tumor cells. A deeper understanding of how metabolic reprogramming alters the TME and controls immune cell fate and function will help improve the effectiveness of TC immunotherapy and patient outcomes. This paper aims to elucidate the metabolic communication that occurs between immune cells around TC and discusses how metabolic reprogramming in TC affects the immune microenvironment and the effectiveness of anti-cancer immunotherapy. Finally, targeting key metabolic checkpoints during metabolic reprogramming, combined with immunotherapy, is a promising strategy.

Disruption of bioenergetics enhances the radio-sensitivity of patient-derived glioblastoma tumorspheres

BACKGROUND

Despite available treatment approaches, including surgical resection along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, glioblastoma (GBM), the most prevalent primary brain tumor, remains associated with a grim prognosis. Although radiotherapy is central to GBM treatment, its combination with bioenergetics regulators has not been validated in clinical practice. Here, we hypothesized that bioenergetics regulators can enhance the radio-sensitivity of GBM tumorspheres (TSs).

METHODS

Gene expression profiles of GBM patient-derived TSs were obtained through microarray and RNA-seq. In vitro treatment efficacy was assessed using clonogenic assay, 3D invasion assay, neurosphere formation assay, and flow cytometry. Protein expression was measured via western blot, and γH2AX foci were detected via immunofluorescence. In vivo efficacy was confirmed in an orthotopic xenograft model.

RESULTS

Based on radiation response-associated gene expression, GBM TSs were classified into high- or low-radioresistant groups. Among the five bioenergetics regulators, the pentose phosphate pathway inhibitor DHEA and the glycolysis inhibitor 2-DG notably enhanced the efficacy of ionizing radiation (IR) efficacy in vitro, reducing the survival fraction, stemness, and invasiveness in high- and low-radioresistant TSs. Combination with 2-DG further stimulated IR-induced DNA damage response and apoptosis in low-radioresistant GBM TSs. RNA-seq analysis revealed a downregulation of bioenergetics- and cell cycle-associated genes, whereas extracellular matrix- and cell adhesion-associated genes were enhanced by combined IR and 2-DG treatment. This therapeutic regimen extended survival and diminished tumor size in mouse xenograft models.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that combination with bioenergetics regulator 2-DG enhances the radio-sensitivity of GBM TSs, highlighting the clinical potential of this combined regimen.

Exploring lipidomic profiles and their correlation with hormone receptor and HER2 status in breast cancer

Dysregulated lipid metabolism promotes the progression of various cancer types, including breast cancer. The present study aimed to explore the lipidomic profiles of patients with breast cancer, providing insights into the correlation between lipid compositions and tumor subtypes characterized by hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. Briefly, 30 patients with breast cancer were categorized into four groups based on their HR and HER2 status: HR+ no HER2 expression (HER2-0), HR+ HER2-low; HR+ HER2-positive (pos) and HR- HER2-pos. The lipidomic profiles of these patients were analyzed using high-throughput liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The data were processed through principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest (RF) classification to assess the lipidomic variations and significant lipid features among these groups. The profiles of the lipids, particularly triglycerides (TG) such as TG(16:0-18:1-18:1)+NH4, were significantly different across the groups. PCA and PLS-DA identified unique lipid profiles in the HR+ HER2-pos and HR+ HER2-0 groups, while RF highlighted phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate(21:2)+NH4 as a crucial lipid feature for accurate patient grouping. Advanced statistical analysis showed significant correlations between lipid carbon chain length and the number of double bonds within the classifications, providing insights into the role of structural lipid properties in tumor biology. Additionally, a clustering heatmap and network analysis indicated significant lipid-lipid interactions. Pathway enrichment analysis showed critical biological pathways, such as the 'Assembly of active LPL and LIPC lipase complexes', which has high enrichment ratio and statistical significance. In conclusion, the present study underscored that lipidomic profiling is crucial in understanding the metabolic alterations associated with different breast cancer subtypes. These findings highlighted specific lipid features and interactions that may serve as potential biomarkers for breast cancer classification and target pathways for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, advanced lipidomic analyses can be integrated to decipher complex biological data, offering a foundation for further research into the role of lipid metabolism in cancer progression.

Linoleic acid exhibits anti-proliferative and anti-invasive activities in endometrial cancer cells and a transgenic model of endometrial cancer

Emerging evidence has provided considerable insights into the integral function of reprogramming fatty acid metabolism in the carcinogenesis and progression of endometrial cancer. Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid with the highest consumption in the Western diet regimen, has shown pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic effects on tumor cell growth and invasion in multiple types of cancer. However, the biological role of linoleic acid in endometrial cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the functional impact of linoleic acid on cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in endometrial cancer cells and in a transgenic mouse model of endometrial cancer. The results showed that Linoleic acid significantly inhibited the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of HEC-1A and KLE cells with linoleic acid effectively increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, caused cell cycle G1 arrest, and induced intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. The anti-invasive ability of linoleic acid was found to be associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in both cell lines, including the decreased expression of N-cadherin, snail, and vimentin. Furthermore, treatment of Lkb1fl/flp53fl/fl transgenic mice with linoleic acid for four weeks significantly reduced the growth of endometrial tumors and decreased the expression of VEGF, vimentin, Ki67, and cyclin D1 in tumor tissues. Our findings demonstrate that linoleic acid exhibits anti-proliferative and anti-invasive activities in endometrial cancer cell lines and the Lkb1fl/flp53fl/fl mouse model of endometrial cancer, thus providing a pre-clinical basis for future dietary interventions with linoleic acid in endometrial cancer.

Autophagy as a Therapeutic Target in Breast Tumors: The Cancer stem cell perspective

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, with a subpopulation of tumor cells known as breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) with self-renewal and differentiation abilities that play a critical role in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex area where diverse cancer cells reside creating a highly interactive environment with secreted factors, and the extracellular matrix. Autophagy, a cellular self-digestion process, influences dynamic cellular processes in the tumor TME integrating diverse signals that regulate tumor development and heterogeneity. Autophagy acts as a double-edged sword in the breast TME, with both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing roles. Autophagy promotes breast tumorigenesis by regulating tumor cell survival, migration and invasion, metabolic reprogramming, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). BCSCs harness autophagy to maintain stemness properties, evade immune surveillance, and resist therapeutic interventions. Conversely, excessive, or dysregulated autophagy may lead to BCSC differentiation or cell death, offering a potential avenue for therapeutic exploration. The molecular mechanisms that regulate autophagy in BCSCs including the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMPK, and Beclin-1 signaling pathways may be potential targets for pharmacological intervention in breast cancer. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between autophagy and BCSCs, highlighting recent advancements in our understanding of their interplay. We also discuss the current state of autophagy-targeting agents and their preclinical and clinical development in BCSCs.

Crosstalk between pancreatic cancer and adipose tissue: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications

The incidence rate of pancreatic cancer, a fatal illness with a meager 5-year survival rate, has been on the rise in recent times. When individuals accumulate excessive amounts of adipose tissue, the adipose organ becomes dysfunctional due to alterations in the adipose tissue microenvironment associated with inflammation and metabolism. This phenomenon may potentially contribute to the aberrant accumulation of fat that initiates pancreatic carcinogenesis, thereby influencing the disease's progression, resistance to treatment, and metastasis. This review presents a summary of the impact of pancreatic steatosis, visceral fat, cancer-associated adipocytes and lipid diets on the advancement of pancreatic cancer, as well as the reciprocal effects of pancreatic cancer on adipose tissue. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between dysfunctional adipose tissue and pancreatic cancer better may lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets for the disease's prevention and individualized treatment. This is especially important given the rising global incidence of obesity, which will improve the pancreatic cancer treatment options that are currently insufficient.

ACSL4-mediated H3K9 and H3K27 hyperacetylation upregulates SNAIL to drive TNBC metastasis

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has profound unmet medical need globally for its devastating clinical outcome associated with rapid metastasis and lack of targeted therapies. Recently, lipid metabolic reprogramming especially fatty acid oxidation (FAO) has emerged as a major driver of breast cancer metastasis. Analyzing the expression of major FAO regulatory genes in breast cancer, we found selective overexpression of acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4) in TNBC, which is primarily attributed to the absence of progesterone receptor. Loss of ACSL4 function, by genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition significantly reduces metastatic potential of TNBC. Global transcriptome analysis reveals that ACSL4 activity positively influences the gene expression related to TNBC migration and invasion. Mechanistically, ACSL4 modulates FAO and intracellular acetyl-CoA levels, leading to hyperacetylation of particularly H3K9ac and H3K27ac marks resulting in overexpression of SNAIL during the course of TNBC metastatic spread to lymph node and lung. Further, human TNBC metastasis exhibits positive correlation among ACSL4, H3K9ac, H3K27ac, and SNAIL expression. Altogether, our findings provide molecular insights regarding the intricate interplay between metabolic alterations and epigenetic modifications, intertwined to orchestrate TNBC metastasis, and posit a rational understanding for the development of ACSL4 inhibitors as a targeted therapy against TNBC.

Unraveling the causal relationship and potential mechanisms between osteoarthritis and breast cancer: insights from mendelian randomization and bioinformatics analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of osteoarthritis (OA) on the development of breast cancer (BC), and reveal the potential mechanisms underlying the association between them.

METHODS

A two-step, multivariable Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis was performed, using statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), to determine the effect of OA on BC and explore the role of major depressive disorder (MDD) in mediating it. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were utilized to establish a prognostic model and explore the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, BC cells and nude mice were used to verify the role of RTN4 in BC.

RESULTS

The two-sample MR analysis implied a causal relationship between OA and BC at the genetic level, and the mediating MR analysis identified that MDD may play a potential role in mediating it, accounting for approximately 12.20%. Then, we constructed a prognostic model (OA-score) with six genes screened out from datasets and selected RTN4 as the representative gene for validation study. It was demonstrated that high OA-score was an independent risk factor for breast cancer, and patients with low OA-score were more likely to have better OS, higher infiltration level of DC and CD 4 + T cells, and higher expression of some immune checkpoints. Moreover, the knockdown of RTN4 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified the causal influence of OA on BC mediated by MDD at the genetic level. OA-Score may potentially serve as a new prognostic biomarker for OA related BC patients.

Alternative Polyadenylation in Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Application

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) serves as a crucial mechanism for the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression and influences gene expression by generating diverse mRNA isoforms. This process is regulated by a diverse array of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which selectively bind to specific sequences or structures within the pre-mRNA molecule. Dysregulation of APA and its associated RBPs has been implicated in numerous diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, nervous system disease, and cancer. For instance, aberrant APA events have been observed in several types of tumors, contributing to tumor heterogeneity and affecting key cellular pathways involved in cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and response to therapy. This review critically evaluates the current understanding of APA mechanisms and the multifaceted roles of RBPs in orchestrating this intricate process. We highlight recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics tools that have enhanced our ability to study APA on a genome-wide scale. Moreover, we explored the pathological consequences of APA dysregulation, emphasizing its role in oncogenesis. By elucidating the intricate relationships between APA and RBPs, this review aims to underscore the potential of targeting the APA machinery and RBPs for therapeutic intervention. Understanding these molecular processes holds promise for developing novel diagnostic markers and treatment strategies for a range of human cancers.

Investigating How Lysophosphatidylcholine and Lysophosphatidylethanolamine Enhance the Membrane Permeabilization Efficacy of Host Defense Peptide Piscidin 1

Lysophospholipids (LPLs) and host defense peptides (HDPs) are naturally occurring membrane-active agents that disrupt key membrane properties, including the hydrocarbon thickness, intrinsic curvature, and molecular packing. Although the membrane activity of these agents has been widely examined separately, their combined effects are largely unexplored. Here, we use experimental and computational tools to investigate how lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), an LPL of lower positive spontaneous curvature, influence the membrane activity of piscidin 1 (P1), an α-helical HDP from fish. Four membrane systems are probed: 75:25 C16:0-C18:1 PC (POPC)/C16:0-C18:1 phosphoglycerol (POPG), 50:25:25 POPC/POPG/16:0 LPC, 75:25 C16:0-C18:1 PE (POPE)/POPG, and 50:25:25 POPE/POPG/14:0 LPE. Dye leakage, circular dichroism, and NMR experiments demonstrate that while the presence of LPLs alone does not induce leakage-proficient defects, it boosts the permeabilization capability of P1, resulting in an efficacy order of POPC/POPG/16:0 LPC > POPE/POPG/14:0 LPE > POPC/POPG > POPE/POPG. This enhancement occurs without altering the membrane affinity and conformation of P1. Molecular dynamics simulations feature two types of asymmetric membranes to represent the imbalanced ("area stressed") and balanced ("area relaxed") distribution of lipids and peptides in the two leaflets. The simulations capture the membrane thinning effects of P1, LPC, and LPE, and the positive curvature strain imposed by both LPLs is reflected in the lateral pressure profiles. They also reveal a higher number of membrane defects for the P1/LPC than P1/LPE combination, congruent with the permeabilization experiments. Altogether, these results show that P1 and LPLs disrupt membranes in a concerted fashion, with LPC, the more disruptive LPL, boosting the permeabilization of P1 more than LPE. This mechanistic knowledge is relevant to understanding biological processes where multiple membrane-active agents such as HDPs and LPLs are involved.

The combination of gemcitabine and albumin-bound paclitaxel effectively inhibits de novo lipogenesis in pancreatic cancer cells by targeting the AMPK/SREBP1 pathway

Abnormal lipid de novo lipogenesis and reprogramming of lipid metabolism have been associated with the development and progression of various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine (GEM) combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer. There have been many studies on the molecular mechanisms of gemcitabine and paclitaxel in cancer treatment. Still, the effects of the combination on lipid metabolism and the specific mechanisms have not been explored. This study found that GEM combined with nab-PTX inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and de novo lipogenesis. The exact mechanism is that GEM combined with nab-PTX induces adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion and activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in pancreatic cancer cells, which in turn inhibits sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) expression and nuclear translocation, and ultimately inhibits de novo lipogenesis in pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, we found that the novel lipid-lowering drug ETC-1002 significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of GEM combined with nab-PTX on de novo lipogenesis in pancreatic cancer cells. These findings establish a link between GEM combined with nab-PTX and lipid metabolism, and the discovery of the novel lipid-lowering drug ETC-1002 provides a potential therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.

Adipocyte-derived fatty acid uptake induces obesity-related breast cancer progression: a review

Obesity is a metabolic disorder that occurs when excess energy taken into the body is stored as fat. It is known that this metabolic imbalance affects the development of other diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, and diabetes. The main cellular component of adipose tissue is adipocytes, and the environmental interactions of adipocytes are important to study the mechanism of disorder formation. Breast tissue is rich in adipose tissue and obesity is known to be an important risk factor in the development of breast cancer. Altered adipogenesis and lipogenesis processes in adipocytes in breast tissue support tumor development through the transfer of fatty acids released from adipocytes. We believe that blending adipocyte biology with breast cancer development is important for investigating the mechanisms that regulate breast tumor malignant behavior and providing new targets for treatment. Fatty acids, which are an energy source for breast cancer cells, are discussed from molecular perspectives in this review.

Hsp90α promotes lipogenesis by stabilizing FASN and promoting FASN transcription via LXRα in hepatocellular carcinoma

Excessive lipid accumulation promotes the occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), accompanied by high levels of fatty acid synthetase (FASN) and more active lipogenesis. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) acts as a chaperone to maintain the stability and activity of the client proteins. Studies have revealed that Hsp90 regulates the lipid metabolism of HCC, but the effect of Hsp90 on FASN still remains unknown. This study aims to discover the mechanism of Hsp90 inhibition on lipid accumulation and investigate the different effects of Hsp90 N-terminal domain inhibitor STA9090 and C-terminal domain inhibitor novobiocin (NB) on FASN protein stability and transcription pathway in HCC. We found that HCC cells tended to store lipids, which could be disrupted by Hsp90 inhibitors in vivo and in vitro. High levels of Hsp90α and FASN in tumor tissue had correlation with poor prognosis of HCC patients and Hsp90α interacted with FASN to maintain its protein stability. Furthermore, N-terminal domain of Hsp90α was essential for process of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) to activate FASN transcription and Hsp90α prevented proteasomal degradation of liver X receptor α (LXRα) to upregulate FASN transcription via LXRα/SREBP1 axis. Our data reveals that Hsp90α promotes lipid accumulation by increasing the protein stability and FASN mRNA transcription, and can be alleviated by Hsp90 inhibitors, which provides a theoretical basis for Hsp90-targeted therapy on lipid metabolism in HCC.

Novel biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma: Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1

BACKGROUND

In recent years, more and more studies have shown that reprogramming lipid metabolism plays an important role in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is a lack of systematic exploration of fatty acid (FA) profiles in HCC.

AIMS

This study aims to systematically investigate the FA profile in HCC and assess the diagnostic potential of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) as a biomarker for HCC.

METHODS

The FA profile in HCC tissues was detected by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Abnormal FA metabolism was analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blot. Immunohistochemical and bioinformatics analysis were used to analyze SCD1 expression and function. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of SCD1, and the relationship between SCD1 and immune infiltration in HCC was analyzed by the biological information method.

RESULTS

FAs were found to accumulate in the HCC samples, and abnormal FA metabolism in HCC related to the upregulation of the expression and activity of SCD1. The combination of SCD1 and alpha-fetoprotein produced a greater area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.925, P < 0.001) than SCD1 or alpha-fetoprotein alone. It also showed better sensitivity (77.5 %). Besides, high SCD1 expression was found to be related to immune infiltration in HCC.

CONCLUSION

SCD1 can serve as a reliable biomarker for HCC diagnosis.

Role of ATP citrate lyase and its complementary partner on fatty acid synthesis in gastric cancer

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) and acyl-CoA short-chain synthetases 2 (ACSS2) are key enzymes in lipid metabolism. We explored the role of ACLY in gastric cancer (GC) and the effect of ACLY and ACSS2 compensation on GC growth. We used immunohistochemistry to verify the expression level of ACLY in GC, shRNA to stably knock down the expression level of ACLY in GC cells. The expression levels of lipid metabolizing enzymes were verified by qPCR and WB, and targeted lipidomics and quantification of lipid metabolism-related indicators helped us to understand the changes in lipid metabolism. Finally, subcutaneous graft tumors validate our findings from in vitro experiments. ACLY is upregulated in GC tissues, downregulation of ACLY reduced lipid accumulation and inhibited GC proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. ACSS2 maintains cell growth by compensatory elevation to maintain fatty acid synthesis activity in ACLY-depleted GC cells. Inhibition of ACSS2 enhanced the inhibitory effect of downregulation of ACLY on the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice. Downregulation of ACLY inhibited GC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. ACSS2 was compensated to increase to maintain cell growth in ACLY-depleted GC cells.

The cytotoxic activities of the major diterpene extracted from Salvia multicaulis (Bardakosh) are mediated by the regulation of heat-shock response and fatty acid metabolism pathways in human leukemia cells

BACKGROUND

Leukemia is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide and represents the sixth-leading cause of cancer deaths. The results of leukemia treatment have not been as positive as desired, and recurrence is common.

PURPOSE

Thus, there is an urgent requirement for the development of new therapeutic drugs. Salvia multicaulis (Bardakosh) is a widespread species that contains multiple phytochemical components with anti-cancer activities.

METHODS

We isolated and characterized the major diterpene candesalvone B methyl ester from S. multicaulis and investigated its action as a cytotoxic agent towards sensitive and drug-resistant leukemia cells by the resazurin reduction assay. Additionally, the targeted genes and the affected molecular mechanisms attributed to the potent cytotoxic activities were discovered by transcriptome-wide mRNA expression profiling. The targets predicted to be regulated by candesalvone B methyl ester in each cell line were confirmed by qRT-PCR, molecular docking, microscale thermophoresis, and western blotting. Moreover, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Candesalvone B methyl ester was cytotoxic with IC50 values of 20.95 ± 0.15 µM against CCRF-CEM cells and 4.13 ± 0.10 µM against multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 leukemia cells. The pathway enrichment analysis disclosed that candesalvone B methyl ester could regulate the heat-shock response signaling pathway via targeting heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in CCRF-CEM cells and ELOVL fatty acid elongase 5 (ELOVL5) controls the fatty acid metabolism pathway in CEM/ADR5000 cells. Microscale thermophoresis showed the binding of candesalvone B methyl ester with HSF1 and ELOVL5, confirming the results of molecular docking analysis. Down-regulation of both HSF1 and ELOVL5 by candesalvone B methyl ester as detected by both western blotting and RT-qPCR was related to the reversal of drug resistance in the leukemia cells. Furthermore, candesalvone B methyl ester increased the arrest in the sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle in a dose-dependent manner from 1.3 % to 32.3 % with concomitant induction of apoptosis up to 29.0 % in CCRF-CEM leukemic cells upon inhibition of HSF1.

CONCLUSION

Candesalvone B methyl ester isolated from S. multicaulis exerted cytotoxicity by affecting apoptosis, cell division, and modulation of expression levels of genes contributing to the heat stress signaling and fatty acid metabolism pathways that could relieve drug resistance of leukemia cells.

Epigenetics as a strategic intervention for early diagnosis and combatting glycolyis-induced chemoresistance in gynecologic cancers

Prospective prediction from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) showed a likely incidence of 1 in 23 women diagnosed with gynaecological malignancy, where the incidence of relapse with a drug-resistant clone poses a significant challenge in dealing with it even after initial treatment. Glucose metabolism has been exploited as a therapeutic target under anti-metabolomic study, but the non-specificity narrowed its applicability in cancer. Novel updates over epigenetics as a target in gynaecological cancer offer a rational idea of using this in the metabolic rewiring in mutated glycolytic flux-induced drug resistance. This review focuses on the application of epigenetic intervention at a diagnostic and therapeutic level to shift the current treatment paradigm of gynaecological cancers from reactive medicine to predictive, preventive, and personalised medicine. It presents the likely epigenetic targets that can be exploited potentially to prevent the therapeutic failure associated with glucose metabolism-induced chemotherapeutic drug resistance.

SsCyp86 modulates sporisorium scitamineum mating/filamentation and pathogenicity through regulating fatty acid metabolism

BACKGROUND

Fatty acid metabolism constitutes a significant and intricate biochemical process within microorganisms. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes are found in most organisms and occupy a pivotal position in the metabolism of fatty acids. However, the role of CYP450 enzyme mediated fatty acid metabolism in the pathogenicity of pathogenic fungi remains unclear.

METHODS

In this study, a CYP450 enzyme-encoding gene, SsCYP86, was identified in the sugarcane smut fungus Sporisorium scitamineum and its functions were characterized using a target gene homologous recombination strategy and metabonomics.

RESULTS

We found that the expression of SsCYP86 was induced by or sugarcane wax or under the condition of mating/filamentation. Sexual reproduction assay demonstrated that the SsCYP86 deletion mutant was defective in mating/filamentation and significantly reduced its pathogenicity. Further fatty acid metabolomic analysis unravelled the levels of fatty acid metabolites were reduced in the SsCYP86 deletion mutant. Exogenous addition of fatty acid metabolites cis-11-eicosenoic acid (C20:1N9), pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), and linolenic acid (C18:3N3) partially restored the mating/filamentation ability of the SsCYP86 deletion mutant and restored the transcriptional level of the SsPRF1, a pheromone response transcription factor that is typically down-regulated in the absence of SsCYP86. Moreover, the constitutive expression of SsPRF1 in the SsCYP86 deletion mutant restored its mating/filamentation.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that SsCyp86 modulates the SsPRF1 transcription by fatty acid metabolism, and thereby regulate the sexual reproduction of S. scitamineum. These findings provide insights into how CYPs regulate sexual reproduction in S. scitamineum.

Astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol promote liver regeneration through regulation of hepatic oxidative homeostasis and glucose/lipid metabolism

BACKGROUND

The regenerative capacity of the liver is pivotal for mitigating various forms of liver injury and requires the rapid proliferation of hepatocytes. Aquaporin-9 (AQP9) provides vital support for hepatocyte proliferation by preserving hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidative balance and glucose/lipid metabolism equilibrium within hepatocytes. Our previous study demonstrated that Radix Astragali (RA) decoction promotes liver regeneration by upregulating hepatic expression of AQP9, possibly via two major active constituents: astragaloside IV (AS-IV) and cycloastragenol (CAG).

PURPOSE

To verify that upregulated AQP9 expression in hepatocytes maintains liver oxidative balance and glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis, and is the main pharmacological mechanism by which AS-IV and CAG promote liver regeneration.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS

Effects of AS-IV and CAG on liver regeneration were scrutinized using a mouse model of 70 % partial hepatectomy (PHx). AQP9-targeted liver regeneration mediated by AS-IV and CAG was verified using AQP9 gene knockout mice (AQP9-/-). The AQP9 protein expression pattern in hepatocytes was determined using tdTomato-tagged AQP9 transgenic mice (AQP9-RFP). Potential mechanisms of AS-IV and CAG on liver regeneration were studied using real-time quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, staining with hematoxylin and eosin, oil red O, and periodic acid-Schiff, and immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, HyPerRed fluorescence, and biochemical analyses.

RESULTS

AS-IV and CAG promoted substantial liver regeneration and increased hepatic AQP9 expression in wild-type mice (AQP9+/+) following 70 % PHx, but had no discernible benefits in AQP9-/- mice. Both saponin compounds also helped maintain oxidative homeostasis by reducing levels of oxidative stress markers (reactive oxygen species [ROS], H2O2, and malondialdehyde) and elevating levels of ROS scavengers (glutathione and superoxide dismutase) in AQP9+/+ mice post-70 % PHx. This further activated the PI3K-AKT and insulin signaling pathways, thereby fostering liver regeneration. Furthermore, AS-IV and CAG both promoted hepatocyte glycerol uptake, increased gluconeogenesis, facilitated lipolysis, reduced glycolysis, and inhibited glycogen deposition, thus ensuring the energy supply required for liver regeneration.

CONCLUSION

This research is the first to demonstrate AS-IV and CAG as major active ingredients of RA that promote liver regeneration by upregulating hepatocyte AQP9 expression, improving hepatocyte glucose/lipid metabolism, and reducing oxidative stress damage, constituting a crucial pharmacological mechanism underlying the liver-protective effects of RA. The augmentation of hepatocyte AQP9 expression underscores an important aspect of the Qi-tonifying effect of RA. This study establishes AQP9 as an effective target for regulation of liver regeneration and provides a universal strategy for clinical drug intervention aimed at enhancing liver regeneration.

Feasibility Study for the Use of Gene Electrotransfer and Cell Electrofusion as a Single-Step Technique for the Generation of Activated Cancer Cell Vaccines

Cell-based therapies hold great potential for cancer immunotherapy. This approach is based on manipulation of dendritic cells to activate immune system against specific cancer antigens. For the development of an effective cell vaccine platform, gene transfer, and cell fusion have been used for modification of dendritic or tumor cells to express immune (co)stimulatory signals and to load dendritic cells with tumor antigens. Both, gene transfer and cell fusion can be achieved by single technique, a cell membrane electroporation. The cell membrane exposed to external electric field becomes temporarily permeable, enabling introduction of genetic material, and also fusogenic, enabling the fusion of cells in the close contact. We tested the feasability of combining gene electrotransfer and electrofusion into a single-step technique and evaluated the effects of electroporation buffer, pulse parameters, and cell membrane fluidity for single or combined method of gene delivery or cell fusdion. We determined the percentage of fused cells expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) in a murine cell model of melanoma B16F1, cell line used in our previous studies. Our results suggest that gene electrotransfer and cell electrofusion can be applied in a single step. The percentage of viable hybrid cells expressing GFP depends on electric pulse parameters and the composition of the electroporation buffer. Furthermore, our results suggest that cell membrane fluidity is not related to the efficiency of the gene electrotransfer and electrofusion. The protocol is compatible with microfluidic devices, however further optimization of electric pulse parameters and buffers is still needed.

Altered carnitine transporter genes (SLC22A5, SLC22A16, SLC6A14) expression pattern among lung cancer patients

Background

Despite the decrease of morbidity rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in recent years, it is still a cancer with poor prognosis. Lung cancers (LCs) are usually diagnosed at a late stage of the disease due to non-specific clinical symptoms. Proper regulation of carnitine levels is important in the context of development and increased risk of cancer cells proliferation. The expression profiles and clinical value of SLC family members in LC remain largely unexplored. The aim of the study was the assessment of SLC22A16, SLC22A5 and SLC6A14 mRNA expression level among patients suffering from NSCLC. The obtained results were compared with the clinical and the pathological features of NSCLC patients.

Methods

Through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and bioinformatics studies, the evaluation of carnitine transporting genes (SLC22A16, SLC22A5 and SLC6A14) mRNA levels was performed in order to elucidate their connection to clinical features of patients and influence on overall survival (OS).

Results

The analysis showed a significant difference for the SLC22A5 gene of NSCLC patients and for SLC6A14 and SLC22A5 genes in LUSC patients in terms of sex (P=0.002, P=0.02 and P=0.001, respectively) and in terms of tobacco smoking (P=0.04). Analysis also revealed a significant negative correlation for SLC22A5 and SLC22A16 genes expression level in the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) subtype with standardized uptake value (SUV) (r=-0.40, P=0.02 and r=-0.43, P=0.04). The significant downregulation of gene expression compared to normal adjacent tissue was observed for SLC22A5 in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and for SLC6A14 in both LUAD and LUSC subtypes. The effect of the SLC22A5, SLC22A16 and SLC6A14 gene expression at the time of diagnosis on the OS time of LC patients revealed that lower expression correlated with a shorter 5 years OS (all P values <0.01). The effects were distinct after division for LUAD and LUSC subtypes.

Conclusions

The expression levels of genes encoding carnitine transporters are diverse, hinting at a potentially altered carnitine metabolism in LC patients. Notably, this variance is not uniform and exhibits specificity across LC subtypes, with marked distinctions between LUAD and LUSC. The correlation between gene expression levels and OS of patients underlines the prognostic significance of SLC genes within these cancer subtypes.

Identification of HER2-positive breast cancer molecular subtypes with potential clinical implications in the ALTTO clinical trial

In HER2-positive breast cancer, clinical outcome and sensitivity to HER2-targeted therapies are influenced by both tumor and microenvironment features. However, we are currently unable to depict the molecular heterogeneity of this disease with sufficient granularity. Here, by performing gene expression profiling in HER2-positive breast cancers from patients receiving adjuvant trastuzumab in the ALTTO clinical trial (NCT00490139), we identify and characterize five molecular subtypes associated with the risk of distant recurrence: immune-enriched, proliferative/metabolic-enriched, mesenchymal/stroma-enriched, luminal, and ERBB2-dependent. Additionally, we validate the biological profiles of the subtypes and explore their prognostic/predictive value in external cohorts, namely the NeoALTTO trial (NCT00553358), SCAN-B (NCT02306096), I-SPY2 (NCT01042379), METABRIC and TCGA. Immune-enriched tumors present better survival outcomes, in contrast to mesenchymal/stroma-enriched and proliferative/metabolic-enriched tumors, while luminal and ERBB2-dependent tumors are characterized by low and high rates of pathological complete response, respectively. Of note, these molecular subtypes provide the rationale for treatment approaches leveraging the heterogeneous biology of HER2-positive breast cancer.

Elucidating the causal links between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and pituitary tumors: a Mendelian randomization analysis

Background

Pituitary tumors (PTs) are common benign intracranial tumors. Investigating the metabolites in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in PTs is essential to understanding the underlying biological mechanisms and identifying new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.

Methods

We used the GWAS dataset of PTs from the FinnGen database, a dataset of 486 plasma metabolites from the GWAS catalog database, and a dataset of 338 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolites from the WADRC and WRAP study collections. An inverse variance weighting (IVW) approach was utilized as the mainly method to investigate causality between metabolites and PTs, supplemented by four complementary methods to strengthen our findings. Additionally, we utilized several sensitivity methods to guarantee the robustness of our findings.

Results

The study identified 17 plasma metabolites and 10 CSF metabolites related to PTs. Among these, 11 metabolites indicated a significant positive causality with PTs, while 16 displayed a remarkable negative causality. Particularly, plasma levels of 3-dehydrocarnitine (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.55-4.83, P = 0.001) and acetylcarnitine (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.19-0.63, P = 0.001) were found to be significant exposure factors for PTs. Multiple sensitivity analyses confirm the robustness of the results. The study found no evidence of a reverse causality between PTs and the plasma levels of 3-dehydrocarnitine and acetylcarnitine.

Conclusions

The present study identified 27 metabolites associated with the incidence of PTs, among which 3-dehydrocarnitine and acetylcarnitine are the most noteworthy.

Understanding Metabolic Pathway Rewiring by Oncogenic Gamma Herpesvirus

Gamma herpesviruses, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), are key contributors to the development of various cancers through their ability to manipulate host cellular pathways. This review explores the intricate ways these viruses rewire host metabolic pathways to sustain viral persistence and promote tumorigenesis. We look into how EBV and KSHV induce glycolytic reprogramming, alter mitochondrial function, and remodel nucleotide and amino acid metabolism, highlighting the crucial role of lipid metabolism in these oncogenic processes. By understanding these metabolic alterations, which confer proliferative and survival advantages to the virus-infected cells, we can identify potential therapeutic targets and develop innovative treatment strategies for gamma herpesvirus-associated malignancies. Ultimately, this review underscores the critical role of metabolic reprogramming in gamma herpesvirus oncogenesis and its implications for precision medicine in combating virus-driven cancers.

Metabolic reprogramming in saliva of mice treated with the environmental and tobacco carcinogen dibenzo[def, p]chrysene

The goal of this study is to develop a non-invasive approach for early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using our established mouse model that faithfully recapitulates the human disease. We present for the first time a comparative metabolomic profiling of saliva samples of the tobacco smoke constituent, dibenzo[def, p]pyrene, (DB[a, l]P) vs. DMSO (control)-treated mice using an established and highly sensitive LC-MS/MS approach. DB[a, l]P was administered by topical application into the mouse oral cavity (25 µmol, 3x week for 6 weeks) and saliva was collected 24 h after the last dose of carcinogen administration. Using an untargeted metabolomics approach (negative and positive modes), we found that DB[a, l]P differentially altered several metabolites known to be involved in the carcinogenesis process when compared to DMSO. Of particular significance, we found that DB[a, l]P significantly enriched the levels of phosphatidic acid, known to bind and activate mTORC which can enhance proliferation and promote carcinogenesis. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DB[a, l]P altered two major lipid metabolism pathways (phospholipid biosynthesis and glycerolipid metabolism). Collectively, our results using saliva as a safe and non-invasive approach, provide additional mechanistic insights on DB[a, l]P-induced OSCC and potential biomarkers for early detection and an opportunity for cancer interception via reprogramming lipid metabolism.

Utilizing integrated bioinformatics and machine learning approaches to elucidate biomarkers linking sepsis to fatty acid metabolism-associated genes

Sepsis, characterized as a systemic inflammatory response triggered by the invasion of pathogens, represents a continuum that may escalate from mild systemic infection to severe sepsis, potentially resulting in septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Advancements in lipidomics and metabolomics have unveiled the complex role of fatty acid metabolism (FAM) in both healthy and pathological states. Leveraging bioinformatics, this investigation aimed to identify and substantiate potential FAM-related genes (FAMGs) implicated in sepsis. The approach encompassed a differential expression analysis across a pool of 36 candidate FAMGs. GSEA and GSVA were employed to assess the biological significance and pathways associated with these genes. Furthermore, Lasso regression and SVM-RFE methodologies were implemented to determine key hub genes and assess the diagnostic prowess of nine selected FAMGs in sepsis identification. The study also investigated the correlation between these hub FAMGs. Validation was conducted through expression-level analysis using the GSE13904 and GSE65682 datasets. The study identified 13 sepsis-associated FAMGs, including ABCD2, ACSL3, ACSM1, ACSS1, ACSS2, ACOX1, ALDH9A1, ACACA, ACACB, FASN, OLAH, PPT1, and ELOVL4. As demonstrated by functional enrichment analysis results, these genes played key roles in several critical biological pathways, such as the Peroxisome, PPAR signaling pathway, and Insulin signaling pathway, all of which are intricately linked to metabolic regulation and inflammatory responses. The diagnostic potential of these FAMGs was further highlighted. In short, the expression patterns of these FAMGs c effectively distinguished sepsis cases from non-septic controls, which suggested that they may be promising biomarkers for early sepsis detection. This discovery not only enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning sepsis but also paved the way for developing novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic dysregulation in septic patients. This research sheds light on 13 FAMGs associated with sepsis, providing valuable insights into novel biomarkers for this condition and facilitating the monitoring of its progression. These findings underscore the significance of purine metabolism in sepsis pathogenesis and open avenues for further investigation into therapeutic targets.

The influence of endothelial metabolic reprogramming on the tumor microenvironment

Endothelial cells (ECs) that line blood vessels act as gatekeepers and shape the metabolic environment of every organ system. In normal conditions, endothelial cells are relatively quiescent with organ-specific expression signatures and metabolic profiles. In cancer, ECs are metabolically reprogrammed to promote the formation of new blood vessels to fuel tumor growth and metastasis. In addition to EC's role on tumor cells, the tortuous tumor vasculature contributes to an immunosuppressive environment by limiting T lymphocyte infiltration and activity while also promoting the recruitment of other accessory pro-angiogenic immune cells. These elements aid in the metastatic spreading of cancer cells and contribute to therapeutic resistance. The concept of restoring a more stabilized vasculature in concert with cancer immunotherapy is emerging as a potential approach to overcoming barriers in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the metabolism of endothelial cells, their regulation of nutrient uptake and delivery, and their impact in shaping the tumor microenvironment and anti-tumor immunity. We highlight new therapeutic approaches that target the tumor vasculature and harness the immune response. Appreciating the integration of metabolic state and nutrient levels and the crosstalk among immune cells, tumor cells, and ECs in the TME may provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Common biological processes and mutual crosstalk mechanisms between cardiovascular disease and cancer

Cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are leading causes of mortality and thus represent major health challenges worldwide. Clinical data suggest that cancer patients have an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, while epidemiologic studies have shown that patients with cardiovascular disease are also more likely to develop cancer. These observations underscore the increasing importance of studies exploring the mechanisms underlying the interaction between the two diseases. We review their common physiological processes and potential pathophysiological links. We explore the effects of chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and disorders of fatty acid metabolism in CVD and cancer, and also provide insights into how cancer and its treatments affect heart health, as well as present recent advances in reverse cardio-oncology using a new classification approach.

Myoglobin inhibits breast cancer cell fatty acid oxidation and migration via heme-dependent oxidant production and not fatty acid binding

The monomeric heme protein myoglobin (Mb) is aberrantly expressed in approximately 40 % of breast tumors. Mb expression is associated with better patient prognosis, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are unclear. In muscle, Mb's heme moiety confers oxygen storage and delivery. However, prior studies demonstrate that low levels of Mb in cancer cells preclude this function. Several studies propose a fatty acid binding function for Mb via lysine residue K46. Because cancer cells can upregulate fatty acid oxidation (FAO) to fuel cell migration, we tested whether Mb-mediated fatty acid binding modulates FAO and migration. We demonstrate that stable expression of human Mb in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells decreases cell migration and FAO. Site-directed mutagenesis of Mb K46 disrupted fatty acid binding but did not improve FAO or migration. Conversely, cells expressing Apo-Mb (with disrupted heme binding) did not show impaired FAO or migration rates, suggesting Mb attenuates FAO and migration via a heme-dependent mechanism rather than through fatty acid binding. Mb's heme-dependent oxidant generation dysregulates migratory gene expression, which is reversed by catalase treatment. Collectively, these data demonstrate that Mb's heme-dependent oxidant production decreases breast cancer cell migration, prompting therapeutic strategies to modulate oxidant production and Mb in tumors.

Machine learning approach in canine mammary tumour classification using rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry

Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) coupled with a monopolar handpiece used for surgical resection and combined with chemometrics has been previously explored by our research group (Mangraviti et al. in Int J Mol Sci 23(18):10562, 2022) to identify several mammary gland pathologies. Here, the increased sample size allowed the construction of three statistical models to distinguish between benign and malignant canine mammary tumours (CMTs), facilitating a more in-depth investigation of changes in cellular metabolic phenotype during neoplastic transformation and biological behaviour. The results demonstrate that REIMS is effective in identifying neoplastic tissues with an accuracy of 97%, with differences in MS spectra characterized by the relative abundance of phospholipids compared to triglycerides more commonly identified in normal mammary glands. The increased rate of phospholipid synthesis represents an informative feature for tumour recognition, with phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, the two major phospholipid species identified here together with sphingolipids, playing a crucial role in carcinogenesis. REIMS technology allowed the classification of different histotypes of benign CMTs with an accuracy score of 95%, distinguishing them from normal glands based on the increase in sphingolipids, glycolipids, phospholipids, and arachidonic acid, demonstrating the close association between cancer and inflammation. Finally, dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism with increased signalling for saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids characterized the metabolic phenotype of neoplastic cells and their malignant transformation, supporting the increased formation of new organelles for cell division. Further investigations on a more significant number of tumour histotypes will allow for the creation of a more extensive database and lay the basis for how understanding metabolic alterations in the tumour microenvironment can improve surgical precision.

CEACAM6 facilitates gastric cancer progression through upregulating SLC27A2

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most lethal cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) in tumor initiation and progression in GC and proposed therapeutic strategies for CEACAM6-positive patients. In this article, we found that CEACAM6 overexpression promoted GC initiation and progression by overactivating FAO. CEACAM6 promotes SLC27A2 expression, contributing to enhanced fatty acid incorporation. CEACAM6 interacts with both SLC27A2 and USP29, facilitating the deubiquitination of USP29 on SLC27A2. Pharmacological inhibition of SLC27A2 attenuates the tumor-initiating ability of GC. Taken together, CEACAM6 overexpression facilitates GC progression by upregulating fatty acid uptake through SLC27A2, thereby contributing to FAO. Genetic ablation of SLC27A2 is a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with CEACAM6-positive GC.

Roles of posttranslational modifications in lipid metabolism and cancer progression

Lipid metabolism reprogramming has emerged as a hallmark of malignant tumors. Lipids represent a complex group of biomolecules that not only compose the essential components of biological membranes and act as an energy source, but also function as messengers to integrate various signaling pathways. In tumor cells, de novo lipogenesis plays a crucial role in acquiring lipids to meet the demands of rapid growth. Increasing evidence has suggested that dysregulated lipid metabolism serves as a driver of cancer progression. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs), which occurs in most eukaryotic proteins throughout their lifetimes, affect the activity, abundance, function, localization, and interactions of target proteins. PTMs of crucial molecules are potential intervention sites and are emerging as promising strategies for the cancer treatment. However, there is limited information available regarding the PTMs that occur in cancer lipid metabolism and the potential treatment strategies associated with these PTMs. Herein, we summarize current knowledge of the roles and regulatory mechanisms of PTMs in lipid metabolism. Understanding the roles of PTMs in lipid metabolism in cancer could provide valuable insights into tumorigenesis and progression. Moreover, targeting PTMs in cancer lipid metabolism might represent a promising novel therapeutic strategy.

High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) promotes the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer by increasing lipid synthesis

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, enabling tumor cells to meet the high energy and biosynthetic demands required for their proliferation. High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) is a structural transcription factor and frequently overexpressed in human colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we show that HMGA1 promotes CRC progression by driving lipid synthesis in a AOM/DSS-induced CRC mouse model. Using conditional knockout (Hmga1△IEC) and knock-in (Hmga1IEC-OE/+) mouse models, we demonstrate that HMGA1 enhances CRC cell proliferation and accelerates tumor development by upregulating fatty acid synthase (FASN). Mechanistically, HMGA1 increases the transcriptional activity of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) on the FASN promoter, leading to increased lipid accumulation in intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, a high-fat diet exacerbates CRC progression in Hmga1△IEC mice, while pharmacological inhibition of FASN by orlistat reduces tumor growth in Hmga1IEC-OE/+ mice. Our findings suggest that targeting lipid metabolism could offer a promising therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase in CD4+ T cells suppresses tumor growth through activation of the CXCR3/CXCL11 axis in CD8+ T cells

BACKGROUND

Within the tumor microenvironment, altered lipid metabolism promotes cancer cell malignancy by activating oncogenic cascades; however, impact of lipid metabolism in CD4+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) remains poorly understood. Here, we elucidated that role of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) increased by treatment with cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) supernatant in CD4+ T cells on their subset differentiation and activity of CD8+ T cells.

RESULTS

In our study, we observed that CD4+ TILs had higher lipid droplet content than CD4+ splenic T cells. In tumor tissue, CAF-derived supernatant provided fatty acids to CD4+ TILs, which increased the expression of SCD and oleic acid (OA) content. Increased SCD expression by OA treatment enhanced the levels of Th1 cell markers TBX21, interleukin-2, and interferon-γ. However, SCD inhibition upregulated the expression of regulatory T (Treg) cell markers, FOXP3 and transforming growth factor-β. Comparative fatty acid analysis of genetically engineered Jurkat cells revealed that OA level was significantly higher in SCD-overexpressing cells. Overexpression of SCD increased expression of Th1 cell markers, while treatment with OA enhanced the transcriptional level of TBX21 in Jurkat cells. In contrast, palmitic acid which is higher in SCD-KO cells than other subclones enhanced the expression of Treg cell markers through upregulation of mitochondrial superoxide. Furthermore, SCD increased the secretion of the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11) from CD4+ T cells. The binding of CXCL11 to CXCR3 on CD8+ T cells augmented their cytotoxic activity. In a mouse tumor model, the suppressive effect of CD8+ T cells on tumor growth was dependent on CXCR3 expression.

CONCLUSION

These findings illustrate that SCD not only orchestrates the differentiation of T helper cells, but also promotes the antitumor activity of CD8+ T cells, suggesting its function in adverse tumor microenvironments.

Lipid metabolism-related gene signature predicts prognosis and unveils novel anti-tumor drugs in specific type of diffuse large B cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of lymphoma which possess highly aggressive and heterogeneous. Despite advances in understanding heterogeneity and development of novel targeted agents, the prognosis of DLBCL patients remains unsatisfied. Lipids are crucial components of biological membranes and signal transduction while accumulating evidence has supported the vital roles of abnormal lipid metabolism in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, some related pathways could serve as prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. However, the clinical significance of abnormal lipid metabolism reprogramming in DLBCL has not been investigated. In the current study, we developed a prognostic risk model for DLBCL based on the abnormal expressed lipid metabolism genes and moreover based on our risk model we classified patients with DLBCL into novel subtypes and identified potential drugs for DLBCL patients with certain lipid metabolism profiles.

METHODS

We utilized univariate Cox regression analysis to identify the prognosis-related lipid metabolism genes, and then performed LASSO Cox regression to identify prognostic related lipid metabolism related genes. Multivariate cox regression was used to establish the prognostic model. Patients were divided in to high and low risk groups based on the median risk score. Immune cell infiltration and GSEA were used to identify the pathways between high and low risk groups. Oncopredict algorithm was utilized to identify potential drug for high-risk patients. In vitro cell apoptosis and viability analysis were employed to verify the specific tumor inhibition effects of AZD5153.

RESULTS

Nineteen survival related lipid metabolism genes TMEM176B, LAYN, RAB6B, MMP9, ATAD3B, SLC2A11, CD3E, SLIT2, SLC2A13, SLC43A3, CD6, SIRPG, NEK6, LCP2, CTTN, CXCL2, SNX22, BCL6 and FABP4 were identified and subjected to build the prognostic model which was further verified in four external microarray cohorts and one RNA seq cohorts. Tumor immune microenvironment analysis and GSEA results showed that the activation of MYC targets genes rather than immunosuppression contribute to the poor survival outcome of patients in the high-risk group. AZD5153, a novel bivalent BET bromodomain inhibitor which could inhibit the transcription of MYC and E2F exhibited specific antitumor function for cells with high-risk score.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide the first lipid metabolism-based gene signature for predicting the survival of patients with DLBCL. Furthermore, by determining novel subtypes with our lipid metabolism prognostic model we illustrated that drugs that compromising MYC target genes rather than immune checkpoint inhibitors may be beneficial to DLBCL patients with certain lipid metabolism profiles.

Research Hotspots and Trends in Global Cancer immunometabolism:A Bibliometric Analysis from 2000 to 2023

Background

Cancer poses a major global health challenge, and immunotherapy, known as the third revolution in cancer treatment, has brought new hope to patients. The emerging field of immunometabolism has further enhanced the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy. Over the past two decades, this field has rapidly evolved in oncology, leading to numerous significant findings. This review systematically examines the literature on immunometabolism in cancer, visualizing research trends and identifying future directions.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases, covering publications from January 2000 to December 2023. We employed tools like Citespace, VOSviewer, and RStudio for visual analysis of publication trends, regional contributions, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords.

Results

A total of 3320 articles were published by 8090 authors across 1738 institutions, involving 71 countries. Leading contributors were China (n=469), the United States (n=361), and Germany (n=82). Harvard University was the most influential institution, while Frontiers in Immunology had the highest number of publications. The top research areas included glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, the tumor microenvironment, and immune cell regulation.

Conclusion

International collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts are advancing the field of cancer immunometabolism. Future research will likely focus on the interplay between metabolism and immunity, metabolic markers, immune cell reprogramming, and tumor-immune metabolic competition.

Targeting mitochondrial metabolism by the mitotoxin bromoxib in leukemia and lymphoma cells

Targeting mitochondrial metabolism represents a promising approach for cancer treatment. Here, we investigated the mitotoxic potential of the polybrominated diphenyl ether bromoxib, a natural compound isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea family. We could show that bromoxib comprised strong cytotoxicity in different leukemia and lymphoma cell lines (such as HL60, HPBALL, Jurkat, K562, KOPTK1, MOLT4, SUPB15 and Ramos), but also in solid tumor cell lines (such as glioblastoma cell lines SJ-GBM2 and TP365MG). Bromoxib activated the mitochondrial death pathway as evidenced by the rapid translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and the subsequent mitochondrial release of Smac. Accordingly, bromoxib-induced apoptosis was blocked in caspase 9 deficient Jurkat cells and Jurkat cells overexpressing the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. In addition, we could show that bromoxib functioned as an uncoupler of the electron transport chain with similar rapid kinetics as CCCP in terms of dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), processing of the dynamin-like GTPase OPA1 and subsequent fragmentation of mitochondria. Beyond that, bromoxib strongly abrogated ATP production via glycolysis as well as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) by targeting electron transport chain complexes II, III, and V (ATP-synthase) in Ramos lymphoma cells. Thus, bromoxib's potential to act on both cytosolic glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration renders it a promising agent for the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma.

Supercritical fluid chromatography- Nanospray ionization-mass spectrometry (SFC-nSI-MS)

A nanospray emitter coupled to a supercritical fluid chromatograph (SFC-nSI-MS) for mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of fatty acids (FA) positional isomers is introduced. The experimental setup uses conventional bore columns before the SF back-pressure regulator (pre-BPR). The flow is then split and nanosprayed using a short emitter post-BPR. A C18 column was used to resolve positional isomers of unsaturated FA with a 5 min gradient. Chromatographic resolution of the nSFC was compared to a LC-MS system with superior resolving power demonstrated in the nSFC MS system. This system has proven quantitative performance for analyzing pharmaceutical effects on FA composition in a complex biological matrix like E coli lysate.

The association of preoperative serum free fatty acid levels with survival in breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Serum free fatty acids (FFA) are associated with various types of cancer. However, the prognostic value of preoperative serum FFA levels and breast cancer (BC) remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the specific relationship between FFA levels and BC outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on 4133 patients with BC admitted to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from January 2015 to October 2021. Preoperative serum FFA levels were detected by the enzymatic endpoint method. The relationship between serum FFA levels and clinical characteristics was analyzed based on FFA interquartile range. Restricted cubic splines and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between preoperative serum FFA levels and overall survival (OS) in patients with BC. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

According to the FFA interquartile range, FFA levels were significantly correlated with OS (years) (p < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline analysis might reveal a U-shaped relationship between preoperative serum FFA levels and OS, after adjusting for other variables. According to the cutoff points for FFAs, multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that patients with low FFA levels (≤ 250 µmol/L) had higher rates of all-cause mortality and cancer-specific mortality than those with high FFA levels (530-700 µmol/L) in the total population and patients with a BMI of 18.5-24.0 kg/m2. A trend was observed indicating that elevated FFA levels (≥ 715 µmol/L) were associated with worse prognosis; however, this association failed to reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

There might be a nonlinear U-shaped relationship between preoperative serum FFA levels and survival in breast cancer patients, with lower FFA levels associated with worse OS. The effect of elevated FFA levels on prognosis requires further investigation.

Establishment and drug resistance characterization of paired organoids using human primary colorectal cancer and matched tumor deposit specimens

Tumor deposits (TDs) represent a specific form tumor metastasis observed in colorectal cancer (CRC). The lack of successfully established cell lines for TDs, as well as the molecular mechanisms by which TDs occur remain largely unknown. Here, we established paired CRC organoids, including a human primary cancer organoid and its TD organoid, from a 46-year-old male patient with CRC. Further analysis revealed that, compared with primary tumor-derived cells, TD-derived cells exhibited enhanced proliferative, invasive and metastatic capabilities, and increased expression of stemness-related proteins. Furthermore, the present findings also demonstrated that TD-derived cells were more resistant to oxaliplatin or 5-FU. Transcriptomic profiling and qPCR revealed that TD-derived cells exhibited more alterations in fatty acid metabolism signaling and enhanced lipid synthesis ability compared to primary tumor-derived cells. Inhibition of lipid synthesis markedly decreased resistance to oxaliplatin in TD-derived cells. Taken together, the paired organoids established using CRC primary tumor and its TD specimens will provide valuable tools to study tumorigenicity, metastasis and chemoresistance in CRC. Notably, these models will provide novel insights to study tumor heterogeneity and lipid metabolism in CRC.

Comprehensive determination of fatty acids in real samples without derivatization by DMU-SPME-GC methods

The comprehensive determination of fatty acids without derivatization, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), is a big challenge but powerful for lipidomics in biology, food, and environment. Herein, the dual mode unity solid-phase microextraction (DMU-SPME) combined with gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) or mass spectrometry (MS) was proposed as a powerful method for the determination of comprehensive free fatty acids in real samples. Under the optimized DMU-SPME conditions, the proposed method has good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.994) and low limits of determination (0.01-0.14 mg/L). In the stability analysis, the intra-day relative standard deviation was 1.39-12.43 %, and the inter-day relative standard deviation was 2.84-10.79 %. The recoveries of selected 10 fatty acids in real samples ranged from 90.18 % to 110.75 %, indicating that the method has good accuracy. Fatty acids ranging from C2 to C22 were detected in real samples by the untargeted determination method of DMU-SPME combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The DMU-SPME method proposed in this study can be used for lipid metabolism analysis and free fatty acid determination in the fields of biology, food, and environment.

Obesity-dependent selection of driver mutations in cancer

Obesity is a risk factor for cancer, but whether obesity is linked to specific genomic subtypes of cancer is unknown. We examined the relationship between obesity and tumor genotype in two clinicogenomic corpora. Obesity was associated with specific driver mutations in lung adenocarcinoma, endometrial carcinoma and cancers of unknown primaries, independent of clinical covariates, demographic factors and genetic ancestry. Obesity is therefore a driver of etiological heterogeneity in some cancers.

HIF1A/PCDH7 axis mediates fatty acid synthesis and metabolism to inhibit lung adenocarcinoma anoikis

BACKGROUND

Aberrantly expressed PCDH7 participates in the malignant progression of many cancers. PCDH7 has been newly discovered as a risk factor in lung cancer, but its functional study in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not been conducted yet. This study aimed to investigate the functional role of PCDH7 in LUAD.

METHODS

Bioinformatics analyzed the expression of PCDH7 and HIF1A in LUAD tissues, predicted the binding sites between the two, analyzed the clinicopathological relevance of PCDH7 and examined the pathway enrichment of PCDH7. Expression of PCDH7 and HIF1A in LUAD cells was analyzed by RT-qPCR. A nude mouse transplantation tumor model was constructed to analyze the effect of PCDH7 on tumor growth in vivo. The binding relationship between PCDH7 and HIF1A was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments and the dual-luciferase assay. Cell viability was detected with Cell Counting Kit-8. Triglyceride content and Caspase3 activity were measured using corresponding reagent kits. FASN and ACC1 expression was determined utilizing western blot.

RESULTS

PCDH7 was highly expressed in LUAD and correlated with patients' overall survival time and N stage. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that PCDH7 could promote LUAD growth and anoikis resistance. Moreover, overexpression of PCDH7 markedly increased the content of triglycerides in cells and promoted the expression of FASN and ACC1 proteins to inhibit LUAD cell anoikis. Cell rescue experiment confirmed that HIF1A activated PCDH7 to suppress LUAD anoikis by promoting fatty acid (FA) synthesis and metabolism.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrated that the HIF1A/PCDH7 axis suppressed LUAD anoikis by promoting FA synthesis and metabolism. The FA synthesis pathway might be a key pathway regulated by PCDH7 in LUAD anoikis.

HN1-mediated activation of lipogenesis through Akt-SREBP signaling promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with more than 800,000 deaths each year, and its 5-year survival rate is less than 12%. The role of the HN1 gene in HCC has remained elusive, despite its upregulation in various cancer types. In our investigation, we identified HN1's heightened expression in HCC tissues, which, upon overexpression, fosters cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, unveiling its role as an oncogene in HCC. In addition, silencing HN1 diminished the viability and metastasis of HCC cells, whereas HN1 overexpression stimulated their growth and invasion. Gene expression profiling revealed HN1 silencing downregulated 379 genes and upregulated 130 genes, and suppressive proteins associated with the lipogenic signaling pathway networks. Notably, suppressing HN1 markedly decreased the expression levels of SREBP1 and SREBP2, whereas elevating HN1 had the converse effect. This dual modulation of HN1 affected lipid formation, hindering it upon HN1 silencing and promoting it upon HN1 overexpression. Moreover, HN1 triggers the Akt pathway, fostering tumorigenesis via SREBP1-mediated lipogenesis and silencing HN1 effectively curbed HCC tumor growth in mouse xenograft models by deactivating SREBP-1, emphasizing the potential of HN1 as a therapeutic target, impacting both external and internal factors, it holds promise as an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC.

[SARIFA-a new multi-entity biomarker]

A stroma a‑reactive invasion front area (SARIFA) is a new prognostic biomarker in carcinomas. Essentially, SARIFA describes the occurrence of direct contact between at least five tumor cells and adipocytes. This phenomenon is extremely easy and quick to identify, shows an extremely low interobserver variability, and does not require any additional staining as it can be identified on standard HE sections. The prognostic efficiency has now been demonstrated in gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate carcinoma.

Aberrant Energy Metabolism in Tumors and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Energy metabolic reprogramming is frequently observed during tumor progression as tumor cells necessitate adequate energy production for rapid proliferation. Although current medical research shows promising prospects in studying the characteristics of tumor energy metabolism and developing anti-tumor drugs targeting energy metabolism, there is a lack of systematic compendiums and comprehensive reviews in this field. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review on the characteristics of tumor cells' energy metabolism, with a specific focus on comparing abnormalities between tumor and normal cells, as well as summarizing potential targets for tumor therapy. Additionally, this review also elucidates the aberrant mechanisms underlying four major energy metabolic pathways (glucose, lipid, glutamine, and mitochondria-dependent) during carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Through the utilization of graphical representations, we have identified anomalies in crucial energy metabolism pathways, encompassing transporter proteins (glucose transporter, CD36, and ASCT2), signaling molecules (Ras, AMPK, and PTEN), as well as transcription factors (Myc, HIF-1α, CREB-1, and p53). The key molecules responsible for aberrant energy metabolism in tumors may serve as potential targets for cancer therapy. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the distinct energy-generating pathways within tumor cells, laying the groundwork for developing innovative strategies for precise cancer treatment.

The Role of the Swollen State in Cell Proliferation

Cell swelling is known to be involved in various stages of the growth of plant cells and microorganisms but in mammalian cells how crucial a swollen state is for determining the fate of the cellular proliferation remains unclear. Recent evidence has increased our understanding of how the loss of the cell surface interactions with the extracellular matrix at early mitosis decreases the membrane tension triggering curvature changes in the plasma membrane and the activation of the sodium/hydrogen (Na +/H +) exchanger (NHE1) that drives osmotic swelling. Such a swollen state is temporary, but it is critical to alter essential membrane biophysical parameters that are required to activate Ca2 + channels and modulate the opening of K + channels involved in setting the membrane potential. A decreased membrane potential across the mitotic cell membrane enhances the clustering of Ras proteins involved in the Ca2 + and cytoskeleton-driven events that lead to cell rounding. Changes in the external mechanical and osmotic forces also have an impact on the lipid composition of the plasma membrane during mitosis.

Leveraging ML for profiling lipidomic alterations in breast cancer tissues: a methodological perspective

In this study, a comprehensive methodology combining machine learning and statistical analysis was employed to investigate alterations in the metabolite profiles, including lipids, of breast cancer tissues and their subtypes. By integrating biological and machine learning feature selection techniques, along with univariate and multivariate analyses, a notable lipid signature was identified in breast cancer tissues. The results revealed elevated levels of saturated and monounsaturated phospholipids in breast cancer tissues, consistent with external validation findings. Additionally, lipidomics analysis in both the original and validation datasets indicated lower levels of most triacylglycerols compared to non-cancerous tissues, suggesting potential alterations in lipid storage and metabolism within cancer cells. Analysis of cancer subtypes revealed that levels of PC 30:0 were relatively reduced in HER2(-) samples that were ER(+) and PR(+) compared to those that were ER(-) and PR(-). Conversely, HER2(+) tumors, which were ER(-) and PR(-), exhibited increased concentrations of PC 30:0. This increase could potentially be linked to the role of Stearoyl-CoA-Desaturase 1 in breast cancer. Comprehensive metabolomic analyses of breast cancer can offer crucial insights into cancer development, aiding in early detection and treatment evaluation of this devastating disease.