PNO1 regulates autophagy and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma via the MAPK signaling pathway

Knockdown of RFC4 inhibits cell proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the one of the most common types of malignant tumor found in the head and neck area. Replication factor C subunit 4 (RFC4), an oncogene active in various human cancers, has been rarely studied in OSCC. In the present study, bioinformatics analysis identified RFC4 as a potential key target in OSCC progression. Additional experiments showed that RFC4 expression was significantly higher in OSCC tumor tissues than in normal tissues. Knockdown of RFC4 led to G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and inhibited the proliferation of OSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. High RFC4 expression in OSCC tumors was linked to increased levels of MET, along with reduced levels of CD274 and CD160. Overall, the present study reveals that RFC4 may play a pivotal role in OSCC tumorigenesis and could serve as a potential predictive marker for the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Autophagy-based therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: from standard treatments to combination therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and targeted nanomedicines

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been identified as a significant cause of mortality worldwide. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted to understand the underlying mechanisms of autophagy in the pathogenesis of the disease, with the aim of developing novel therapeutic agents. Targeting autophagy with conventional therapies in invasive HCC has opened up new opportunities for treatment. However, the emergence of resistance and the immunosuppressive tumor environment highlight the need for combination therapy or specific targeting, as well as an efficient drug delivery system to ensure targeted tumor areas receive sufficient doses without affecting normal cells or tissues. In this review, we discuss the findings of several studies that have explored autophagy as a potential therapeutic approach in HCC. We also outline the potential and limitations of standard therapies for autophagy modulation in HCC treatment. Additionally, we discuss how different combination therapies, nano-targeted strategies, and oncolytic virotherapy could enhance autophagy-based HCC treatment in future research.

Calreticulin-driven autophagy enhances cell proliferation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Calreticulin (CALR) is a multifunctional calcium-binding protein. Recent studies have revealed that CALR contributes to tumor development and promotes cancer cell proliferation. However, how CALR affects the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains mysterious. Thus, this study aimed to explore the effect of CALR on LSCC development and uncover its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

CALR expression in LSCC cell lines and tissues was examined by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis and its functional role was detected via in vivo and in vitro assays. Cell proliferation was discriminated with CCK-8 and colony formation assays, while apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Autophagy levels were measured via LC3 immunofluorescence, and western blot assay was conducted to assess apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins. Additionally, a mouse xenograft model was employed to determine the impact of CALR knockdown on tumor growth.

RESULTS

We found that CALR knockdown reduced LSCC cell viability and proliferation while enhancing apoptosis, whereas CALR overexpression showed opposite effects. In vivo experiments verified that CALR knockdown suppressed tumor growth. In addition, elevated CALR expression induced autophagy in LSCC cells, while autophagy inhibitor 3-MA (2.5 mM) reversed the anti-apoptosis effects of CALR overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Our study identifies CALR as an oncogene in LSCC, where it promotes tumor progression by inducing autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis. Targeting CALR or modulating autophagy may represent novel therapeutic strategies for LSCC.

miR-326 overexpression inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth and proteasome activity by targeting PNO1: unveiling a novel therapeutic intervention strategy

Proteasome inhibition emerges as a promising strategy for cancer prevention. PNO1, pivotal for colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, is involved in proteasome assembly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Hence, we aimed to explore the role of PNO1 in proteasome assembly and its up- and down-streams in CRC. Here, we demonstrated that PNO1 knockdown suppressed CRC cells growth, proteasome activities and assembly, as well as CDKN1B/p27Kip1 (p27) degradation. Moreover, p27 knockdown partially attenuated the inhibition of HCT116 cells growth by PNO1 knockdown. The up-stream studies of PNO1 identified miR-326 as a candidate miRNA directly targeting to CDS-region of PNO1 and its overexpression significantly down-regulated PNO1 protein expression, resulting in suppression of cell growth, decrease of proteasome activities and assembly, as well as increasing the stability of p27 in CRC cells. These findings indicated that miR-326 overexpression can suppress CRC cell growth, acting as an endogenous proteasome inhibitor by targeting PNO1.

Pan-cancer exploration of PNO1: A prospective prognostic biomarker with ties to immune infiltration

The partner of NOB1 homolog (PNO1) is an RNA-binding protein that participates in ribosome biogenesis and protein modification. The functions of this molecule are largely unknown in cancers, particularly breast cancer. We employed bioinformatics methods to probe the putative oncogenic functions of PNO1 based on expression profiles and clinical data from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), genotype-tissue expression project (GTEx), human protein atlas (HPA), cancer cell line encyclopedia (CCLE), UALCAN, drug sensitivity in cancer (GDSC) and UCSC XENA databases. Our analyses revealed that PNO1 was overexpressed in 31 malignancies, which excluded kidney chromophobe (KICH) and acute myeloid leukemia (LAML). Prognostic assessments have demonstrated that high PNO1 expression was significantly correlated with poor overall and disease-specific survival in various cancers. The promoter methylation level of PNO1 is significantly decreased in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP), prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD), thyroid carcinoma (THCA) and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). Furthermore, inhibition of PNO1 decreased the viability, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, and these results were confirmed by mouse xenograft models of breast cancer. In addition, we discovered that tumor microenvironment (TME), immune infiltration, and chemotherapy sensitivity were influenced by PNO1 expression. Concordantly, our analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between PNO1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression across breast carcinoma samples. In conclusion, these findings indicate that PNO1 could act as a promising prognostic biomarker and adjunct diagnostic indicator, because it affects tumor growth and invasion. Our study offers valuable new perspectives on the oncogenic role of PNO1 in various types of cancers.

PD-L1 induces autophagy and primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma via the MAPK signaling pathway

Resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is a significant cause of treatment failure and cancer recurrence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Approximately 30% of patients with EGFR-activating mutations exhibit primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs. However, the potential mechanisms of primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs remain poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that increased expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is associated with EGFR-TKIs resistance. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of PD-L1 in primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells. We found that PD-L1 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD, while the combination of EGFR-TKIs with chemotherapy could improve its therapeutic efficacy. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that PD-L1 promoted the proliferation and autophagy and inhibited the apoptosis of LUAD cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that upregulation of PD-L1 was critical in inducing autophagy through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which was beneficial for tumor progression and the development of gefitinib resistance. Furthermore, we found that gefitinib combined with pemetrexed could synergistically enhance antitumor efficacy in PD-L1-overexpression LUAD cells. Overall, our study demonstrated that PD-L1 contributed to primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant LUAD cells, which may be mediated by inducing autophagy via the MAPK signaling pathway. These findings not only help improve the prognosis of patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD but also provide a reference for the research of other cancer types.

Association of mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase with prognosis and immune regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK2), a mitochondrial isoenzyme, supports the growth of cancer cells under glucose deficiency conditions in vitro. This study investigated the role and potential mechanism of PCK2 in the occurrence and development of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and other databases distinguish the expression of PCK2 and verified by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Kaplan-Meier was conducted to assess PCK2 survival in HCC. The potential biological function of PCK2 was verified by enrichment analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The correlation between PCK2 expression and immune invasion and checkpoint was found by utilizing Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). Lastly, the effects of PCK2 on the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were evaluated by cell tests, and the expressions of Epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and apoptosis related proteins were detected. PCK2 is down-regulated in HCC, indicating a poor prognosis. PCK2 gene mutation accounted for 1.3% of HCC. Functional enrichment analysis indicated the potential of PCK2 as a metabolism-related therapeutic target. Subsequently, we identified several signaling pathways related to the biological function of PCK2. The involvement of PCK2 in immune regulation was verified and key immune checkpoints were predicted. Ultimately, after PCK2 knockdown, cell proliferation and migration were significantly increased, and N-cadherin and vimentin expression were increased. PCK2 has been implicated in immune regulation, proliferation, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma, and is emerging as a novel predictive biomarker and metabolic-related clinical target.

Pien Tze Huang Inhibits Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells through Suppressing PNO1 Expression and Activating p53/p21 Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the regulatory effect of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) on targeting partner of NOB1 (PNO1) and it's down-stream mediators in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

METHODS

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine mRNA levels of PNO1, TP53, and CDKN1A. Western blotting was performed to determine protein levels of PNO1, p53, and p21. HCT-8 cells were transduced with a lentivirus over-expressing PNO1. Colony formation assay was used to detect cell survival in PNO1 overexpression of HCT-8 cells after PZH treatment. Cell-cycle distribution, cell viability and cell apoptosis were performed to identify the effect of PNO1 overexpression on cell proliferation and apoptosis of HCT-8 cells after PZH treatment. Xenograft BALB/c nude mice bearing HCT116 cells transduced with sh-PNO1 or sh-Ctrl lentivirus were evaluated. Western blot assay was performed to detect PNO1, p53, p21 and PCNA expression in tumor sections. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labling (TUNEL) assay was used to determine the apoptotic cells in tissues.

RESULTS

PZH treatment decreased cell viability, down-regulated PNO1 expression, and up-regulated p53 and p21 expressions in HCT-8 cells (P<0.05). PNO1 overexpression attenuated the effects of PZH treatment, including the expression of p53 and p21, cell growth, cell viability, cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis in vitro (P<0.05). PNO1 knockdown eliminated the effects of PZH treatment on tumor growth, inhibiting cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in vivo (P<0.05). Similarly, PNO1 knockdown attenuated the effects of PZH treatment on the down-regulation of PNO1 and up-regulation of p53 and p21 in vivo (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The mechanism by which PZH induces its CRC anti-proliferative effect is at least in part by regulating the expression of PNO1 and its downstream targets p53 and p21.

Clinical significance of PNO1 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target of hepatocellular carcinoma

The RNA-binding protein PNO1 plays an essential role in ribosome biogenesis. Recent studies have shown that it is involved in tumorigenesis; however, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine whether PNO1 can be used as a biomarker of HCC and also examine the therapeutic potential of PNO1 knockout for the treatment of HCC. PNO1 expression was upregulated in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. PNO1 expression was positively associated with tumour stage, lymph node metastasis and poor survival. PNO1 expression was significantly higher in HCC compared to that in fibrolamellar carcinoma or normal tissues. Furthermore, HCC tissues with mutant Tp53 expressed higher PNO1 than those with wild-type Tp53. PNO1 knockout suppressed cell viability, colony formation and EMT of HCC cells. Since activation of Notch signalling pathway promotes HCC, we measured the effects of PNO1 knockout on the components of Notch pathway and its targets. PNO1 knockout suppressed Notch signalling by modulating the expression of Notch ligands and their receptors, and downstream targets. PNO1 knockout also inhibited genes involved in surface adhesion, cell cycle, inflammation and chemotaxis. PNO1 knockout also inhibited colony and spheroid formation, cell migration and invasion, and markers of stem cells, pluripotency and EMT in CSCs. Overall, our data suggest that PNO1 can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of HCC, and knockout of PNO1 by CRISPR/Cas9 can be beneficial for the management of HCC by targeting CSCs.

Ginsenoside Rk1 induces autophagy-dependent apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most lethal cancer in the world. Recent studies have shown that suppression of autophagy plays an important role in the development of HCC. Ginsenoside Rk1 is a protopanaxadiol saponin isolated from ginseng and has a significant anti-tumor effect, but its role and mechanism in HCC are still unclear. In this study, a mouse liver cancer model induced by diethylnitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride (DEN + CCl4) was employed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Rk1 on HCC. The results demonstrate that ginsenoside Rk1 effectively inhibits liver injury, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis during HCC progression. Transcriptome data analysis of mouse liver tissue reveals that ginsenoside Rk1 significantly regulates the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, autophagy pathway, and apoptosis pathway. Subsequent studies show that ginsenoside Rk1 induces AMPK protein activation, upregulates the expression of autophagy marker LC3-II protein to promote autophagy, and then downregulates the expression of Bcl2 protein to trigger a caspase cascade reaction, activating AMPK/mTOR-induced toxic autophagy to promote cells death. Importantly, co-treatment of ginsenoside Rk1 with autophagy inhibitors can inhibit apoptosis of HCC cells, once again demonstrating the ability of ginsenoside Rk1 to promote autophagy-dependent apoptosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that ginsenoside Rk1 inhibits the development of primary HCC by activating toxic autophagy to promote apoptosis through the AMPK/mTOR pathway. These findings confirm that ginsenoside Rk1 is a promising new strategy for the treatment of HCC.

Inhibition of UBA52 induces autophagy via EMC6 to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and progression

Ubiquitin A-52 residue ribosomal protein fusion product 1 (UBA52) has a role in the occurrence and development of tumours. However, the mechanism by which UBA52 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumorigenesis and progression remains poorly understood. By using the Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8), colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, we assessed the effects of UBA52 knockdown and overexpression on the proliferation and migration of HCC cells in vitro. By establishing subcutaneous and metastatic tumour models in nude mice, we evaluated the effects of UBA52 on HCC cell proliferation and migration in vivo. Through bioinformatic analysis of data from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, we discovered that UBA52 is associated with autophagy. In addition, we discovered that HCC tissues with high UBA52 expression had a poor prognosis in patients. Moreover, knockdown of UBA52 reduced HCC cell growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, knockdown of UBA52 induced autophagy through EMC6 in HCC cells. These findings suggest that UBA52 promoted the proliferation and migration of HCC cells through autophagy regulation via EMC6 and imply that UBA52 may be a viable novel treatment target for HCC patients.

Combination of bulk RNA sequencing and scRNA sequencing uncover the molecular characteristics of MAPK signaling in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma

The MAPK signaling pathway significantly impacts cancer progression and resistance; however, its functions remain incompletely assessed across various cancers, particularly in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). Therefore, there is an urgent need for comprehensive pan-cancer investigations of MAPK signaling, particularly within the context of KIRC. In this research, we obtained TCGA pan-cancer multi-omics data and conducted a comprehensive analysis of the genomic and transcriptomic characteristics of the MAPK signaling pathway. For in-depth investigation in KIRC, status of MAPK pathway was quantitatively estimated by ssGSEA and Ward algorithm was utilized for cluster analysis. Molecular characteristics and clinical prognoses of KIRC patients with distinct MAPK activities were comprehensively explored using a series of bioinformatics algorithms. Subsequently, a combination of LASSO and COX regression analyses were utilized sequentially to construct a MAPK-related signature to help identify the risk level of each sample. Patients in the C1 subtype exhibited relatively higher levels of MAPK signaling activity, which were associated with abundant immune cell infiltration and favorable clinical outcomes. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of KIRC samples identified seven distinct cell types, and endothelial cells in tumor tissues had obviously higher MAPK scores than normal tissues. The immunohistochemistry results indicated the reduced expression levels of PAPSS1, MAP3K11, and SPRED1 in KIRC samples. In conclusion, our study represents the first integration of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing to elucidate the molecular characteristics of MAPK signaling in KIRC, providing a solid foundation for precision oncology.

PNO1 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma via TGF-β and YAP/TAZ pathway

This study aimed to explore the potential role and mechanisms of the partner of NOB1 homolog (PNO1) in osteosarcoma. The expression of PNO1 in tumor and adjacent tissue samples was examined using western blotting. Lentiviral transfection was used to establish sh-Ctrl and sh-PNO1 osteosarcoma cell lines. MTT assay, Celigo cell cytometer count, and cell colony formation assay were used to investigate the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells in vitro, whereas xenotransplantation assay was performed for in vivo experiments. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were chosen to verify the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Flow cytometry assay and caspase-3/7 activity analysis were adopted for the analysis of cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Finally, transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were adopted to explore the acting mechanisms. The expression of PNO1 was higher in osteosarcoma tissues than that in adjacent tissues. Down-regulation of PNO1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, according to transcriptome sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, we found that PNO1 might affect the progression of osteosarcoma via TGF-β and YAP/TAZ signaling pathways. PNO1 could be a potential target for osteosarcoma treatment.

The Prognosis of Cancer Depends on the Interplay of Autophagy, Apoptosis, and Anoikis within the Tumor Microenvironment

Within the tumor microenvironment, the fight between the immune system and cancer influences tumor transformation. Metastasis formation is an important stage in the progression of cancer. This process is aided by cellular detachment and resistance to anoikis, which are achieved by altering intercellular signaling. Autophagy, specifically pro-survival autophagy, aids cancer cells in developing treatment resistance. Numerous studies have shown that autophagy promotes tumor growth and resistance to anoikis. To regulate protective autophagy, cancer-related genes phosphorylate both pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Apoptosis, a type of controlled cell death, eliminates damaged or unwanted cells. Anoikis is a type of programmed cell death in which cells lose contact with the extracellular matrix. The dysregulation of these cellular pathways promotes tumor growth and spread. Apoptosis, anoikis, and autophagy interact meticulously and differently depending on the cellular circumstances. For instance, autophagy can protect cancer cells from apoptosis by removing cellular components that are damaged and might otherwise trigger apoptotic pathways. Similarly, anoikis dysregulation can trigger autophagy by causing cellular harm and metabolic stress. In order to prevent or treat metastatic disease, specifically, targeting these cellular mechanisms may present a promising prospect for cancer therapy. This review discourses the state of our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying tumor transformation and the establishment of metastatic tumors. To enhance the prognosis for cancer, we highlight and discuss potential therapeutic approaches that target these processes and genes involved in them.

Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptor G2 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression and Serves as a Neutrophil-Related Prognostic Biomarker

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2) is an orphan adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which performs a tumor-promoting role in certain cancers; however, it has not been systematically investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we utilized multiple databases to analyze the expression and diagnostic and prognostic value of ADGRG2 in HCC and its correlation with immune infiltration and inflammatory factors. The function and upstream regulatory miRNA of ADGRG2 were validated through qPCR, Western blot, CCK8, wound healing, and dual luciferase assays. It turned out that ADGRG2 was significantly higher in HCC and had a poor survival rate, especially in AFP ≤ 400 ng/mL subgroups. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ADGRG2 may be involved in cancer pathways and immune-related pathways. In vitro, siRNA-mediated ADGRG2 silencing could inhibit the proliferation and migration of Huh7 and HepG2 cells. There was a highly significant positive correlation between ADGRG2 and neutrophils. Moreover, NET-related genes were filtered and confirmed, such as ENO1 and S100A9. Meanwhile, the high expression of ADGRG2 was also accompanied by the highest number of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors and good immunotherapy efficacy. Finally, AGDGR2 may be sensitive to two drugs (PIK-93 and NPK76-II-72-1) and can be targeted by miR-326. In conclusion, ADGRG2 may serve as a novel biomarker and drug target for HCC diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis and was related to neutrophils and the inflammatory process of liver cancer development.

Unraveling the Janus-Faced Role of Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions

This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy and mitophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy is an essential cellular process in maintaining cell homeostasis. Still, its dysregulation is associated with the development of liver diseases, including HCC, which is one of leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. We focus on elucidating the dual role of autophagy in HCC, both in tumor initiation and progression, and highlighting the complex nature involved in the disease. In addition, we present a detailed analysis of a small subset of autophagy- and mitophagy-related molecules, revealing their specific functions during tumorigenesis and the progression of HCC cells. By understanding these mechanisms, we aim to provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies to manipulate autophagy effectively. The goal is to improve the therapeutic response of liver cancer cells and overcome drug resistance, providing new avenues for improved treatment options for HCC patients. Overall, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians interested in the complex role of autophagy in HCC and its potential as a target for innovative therapies aimed to combat this devastating disease.

A novel prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on pyruvate metabolism-related genes

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer, accounting for over 90% of cases. As pyruvate metabolic pathways are often dysregulated in cancer cells, investigating pyruvate metabolism-related genes may help identify prognostic gene signature and develop potential strategies for the management of patients with HCC. The mRNA expression profile, gene mutation data, and clinical information of HCC were obtained from open-source databases. A list of pyruvate metabolism-related genes was downloaded from the MSigDB dataset. Our findings revealed that certain pyruvate metabolism-related genes had copy number variations and single nucleotide variations in patients with liver cancer. Based on pyruvate metabolism-related genes, we stratified patients with HCC into three subtypes with different prognoses, clinical features, mutation profiles, functional annotation, and immune infiltration status. Next, we identified 13 key pyruvate metabolism-related genes significantly correlated with the prognosis of HCC using six machine learning algorithms and constructed a risk model. We also observed that the risk score was positively associated with a worse prognosis and increased immune infiltration. In summary, our study established a prognostic risk model for HCC based on pyruvate metabolism-related genes, which may contribute to the identification of potential prognostic targets and the development of new clinical management strategies for HCC.

Current and novel approaches in the pharmacological treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignant tumours worldwide. The mortality-to-incidence ratio is up to 91.6% in many countries, representing the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Systemic drugs, including the multikinase inhibitors sorafenib and lenvatinib, are first-line drugs used in HCC treatment. Unfortunately, these therapies are ineffective in most cases due to late diagnosis and the development of tumour resistance. Thus, novel pharmacological alternatives are urgently needed. For instance, immune checkpoint inhibitors have provided new approaches targeting cells of the immune system. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies against programmed cell death-1 have shown benefits in HCC patients. In addition, drug combinations, including first-line treatment and immunotherapy, as well as drug repurposing, are promising novel therapeutic alternatives. Here, we review the current and novel pharmacological approaches to fight HCC. Preclinical studies, as well as approved and ongoing clinical trials for liver cancer treatment, are discussed. The pharmacological opportunities analysed here should lead to significant improvement in HCC therapy.

Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Interplay of Apoptosis and Autophagy

The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multifactorial process that has not yet been fully investigated. Autophagy and apoptosis are two important cellular pathways that are critical for cell survival or death. The balance between apoptosis and autophagy regulates liver cell turnover and maintains intracellular homeostasis. However, the balance is often dysregulated in many cancers, including HCC. Autophagy and apoptosis pathways may be either independent or parallel or one may influence the other. Autophagy may either inhibit or promote apoptosis, thus regulating the fate of the liver cancer cells. In this review, a concise overview of the pathogenesis of HCC is presented, with emphasis on new developments, including the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress, the implication of microRNAs and the role of gut microbiota. The characteristics of HCC associated with a specific liver disease are also described and a brief description of autophagy and apoptosis is provided. The role of autophagy and apoptosis in the initiation, progress and metastatic potential is reviewed and the experimental evidence indicating an interplay between the two is extensively analyzed. The role of ferroptosis, a recently described specific pathway of regulated cell death, is presented. Finally, the potential therapeutic implications of autophagy and apoptosis in drug resistance are examined.

Targeting and regulation of autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma: revisiting the molecular interactions and mechanisms for new therapy approaches

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process that plays a role in regulating homeostasis under physiological conditions. However, dysregulation of autophagy is observed in the development of human diseases, especially cancer. Autophagy has reciprocal functions in cancer and may be responsible for either survival or death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal and common malignancies of the liver, and smoking, infection, and alcohol consumption can lead to its development. Genetic mutations and alterations in molecular processes can exacerbate the progression of HCC. The function of autophagy in HCC is controversial and may be both tumor suppressive and tumor promoting. Activation of autophagy may affect apoptosis in HCC and is a regulator of proliferation and glucose metabolism. Induction of autophagy may promote tumor metastasis via induction of EMT. In addition, autophagy is a regulator of stem cell formation in HCC, and pro-survival autophagy leads to cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Targeting autophagy impairs growth and metastasis in HCC and improves tumor cell response to therapy. Of note, a large number of signaling pathways such as STAT3, Wnt, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs regulate autophagy in HCC. Moreover, regulation of autophagy (induction or inhibition) by antitumor agents could be suggested for effective treatment of HCC. In this paper, we comprehensively review the role and mechanisms of autophagy in HCC and discuss the potential benefit of targeting this process in the treatment of the cancer. Video Abstract.

Roles of hypoxia-inducible factor in hepatocellular carcinoma under local ablation therapies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common digestive malignancies. HCC It ranges as the fifth most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. While The prognosis of metastatic or advanced HCC is still quite poor. Recently, locoregional treatment, especially local ablation therapies, plays an important role in the treatment of HCC. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation are the most common-used methods effective and feasible for treating HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of ablation in the treatments for HCC and the HCC recurrence after ablation still are poorly understood. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), the key gene switch for adaptive responses to hypoxia, has been found to play an essential role in the rapid aggressive recurrence of HCC after ablation treatment. In this review, we summarized the current evidence of the roles of HIF in the treatment of HCC with ablation. Fifteen relevant studies were included and further analyzed. Among them, three clinical studies suggested that HIF-1α might serve as a crucial role in the RAF treatment of HCC or the local recurrence of HCC after RFA. The remainder included experimental studies demonstrated that HIF-1, 2α might target the different molecules (e.g., BNIP3, CA-IX, and arginase-1) and signaling cascades (e.g., VEGFA/EphA2 pathway), constituting a complex network that promoted HCC invasion and metastasis after ablation. Currently, the inhibitors of HIF have been developed, providing important proof of targeting HIF for the prevention of HCC recurrence after IRFA and HIFU ablation. Further confirmation by prospective clinical and in-depth experimental studies is still warranted to illustrate the effects of HIF in HCC recurrence followed ablation treatment in the future.

FGF19 promotes cell autophagy and cisplatin chemoresistance by activating MAPK signaling in ovarian cancer

Background

Chemotherapy is one of the primary treatments for ovarian cancer patients. Autophagy has been linked to chemotherapy resistance in tumor cells. Recent studies have suggested that fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) may be involved in the onset and progression of malignancies. However, the relationship between FGF19 and autophagy in ovarian cancer is still unknown.

Methods

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was conducted to analyze gene mutation profiles of 62 cases of high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to validate the amplification of FGF19 in HGSOC tissues. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to analyze the difference of FGF19 in mRNA and protein expression. Meanwhile, bioinformatics techniques were used to analyze the expression profiles of FGF19 and the correlation with prognosis. Besides, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy and Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) were used to investigate the potential mechanisms.

Results

In this study, we found that FGF19 promotes cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells by inducing autophagy. NGS analysis of 62 HGSOC cases identified a significantly amplified gene, FGF19. In addition, the expression level of FGF19 in ovarian cancer samples was higher than that in normal samples. FISH results showed a positive correlation between amplification and expression of FGF19. Knockdown of FGF19 inhibited the cell autophagy through decrease in the expression of LC3 and Beclin 1, and increase in the expression of SQSTM1/p62. Furthermore, we observed that p38 MAPK phosphorylation was down-regulated after FGF19 knockdown. IFN-γ, a potential p38 MAPK activator, counteracted the inhibition of cell autophagy and the anti-proliferation effect of cisplatin induced by FGF19 knockdown in ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion

FGF19 increases autophagy and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer by activating the p38 MAPK pathway. These results could point to FGF19 being a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Inhibition of ribosome assembly factor PNO1 by CRISPR/Cas9 technique suppresses lung adenocarcinoma and Notch pathway: Clinical application

Growth is crucially controlled by the functional ribosomes available in cells. To meet the enhanced energy demand, cancer cells re-wire and increase their ribosome biogenesis. The RNA-binding protein PNO1, a ribosome assembly factor, plays an essential role in ribosome biogenesis. The purpose of this study was to examine whether PNO1 can be used as a biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma and also examine the molecular mechanisms by which PNO1 knockdown by CRISPR/Cas9 inhibited growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The expression of PNO1 was significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma compared to normal lung tissues. PNO1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma patients increased with stage, nodal metastasis, and smoking. Lung adenocarcinoma tissues from males expressed higher PNO1 than those from females. Furthermore, lung adenocarcinoma tissues with mutant Tp53 expressed higher PNO1 than those with wild-type Tp53, suggesting the influence of Tp53 status on PNO1 expression. PNO1 knockdown inhibited cell viability, colony formation, and EMT, and induced apoptosis. Since dysregulated signalling through the Notch receptors promotes lung adenocarcinoma, we measured the effects of PNO1 inhibition on the Notch pathway. PNO1 knockdown inhibited Notch signalling by suppressing the expression of Notch receptors, their ligands, and downstream targets. PNO1 knockdown also suppressed CCND1, p21, PTGS-2, IL-1α, IL-8, and CXCL-8 genes. Overall, our data suggest that PNO1 can be used as a diagnostic biomarker, and also can be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

RNA m6A methyltransferase METTL14 promotes the procession of non-small cell lung cancer by targeted CSF1R

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most malignant cancer types, characterized by a poor prognosis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent internal modification of mRNA. METTL14, an RNA methyltransferase that mediates m6A modification, is implicated in mRNA biogenesis. However, the biomechanism of METTL14 in NSCLC is not very clear.

METHODS

Here, immunohistochemical (IHC) assay was employed to detect METTL14 in NSCLC tissues. The biological functions of METTL14 were demonstrated using cell transfection, cell proliferation assay, cell clone formation assay, cell cycle analysis, cell death analysis, transwell and wound healing assays. Transcriptome and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MERIP)-sequencing were used to explore the pathways and potential mechanism of METTL14 in NSCLC. RNA sequencing, METTL14 rip-sequencing, and METTL14 merip-sequencing were conducted to identify the potential targets of METTL14.

RESULTS

METTL14 was significantly correlated with clinical pathological parameters of differentiation and M stage. Additionally, METTL14 promotes cell proliferation, induces cell death, and enhances cell migration and invasion in vitro. Transcriptome and MeRIP-sequencing reveal oncogenic mechanism of METTL14. RIP-sequencing highlights CSF1R and AKR1C1 as targets of METTL14. After validation with TCGA dataset, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) showed significant positive coefficient with METTL14, and was presumed to be one target of METTl14 in lung cancer and verified by the cellular experiments.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our results revealed the clinical significance of m6A RNA modification atlas, the function, and molecular targets CSF1R of METTL14 in NSCLC cell lines. The RNA m6A methyltransferase METTL14 promotes the progression of NSCLC by targeted CSF1R.

PNO1 inhibits autophagy-mediated ferroptosis by GSH metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma

Effective strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the second leading cause of death worldwide, remain limited. A growing body of emerging evidence suggests that ferroptosis activation is a novel promising approach for the treatment of this malignancy. Nevertheless, the potential therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis remain elusive. In this study, we found that PNO1 is a bona fide inhibitor of ferroptosis and that autophagy induced by PNO1 promotes cystine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 while increasing the synthesis and accumulation of intracellular glutamate. This increase is followed by an equally proportional addition in cystine uptake, which consequently enhances system Xc^- activity that leads to the inhibition of ferroptosis. In the maintenance of redox homeostasis, system Xc^- activated via PNO1-autophagy metabolism is responsible for maintaining cysteine for glutathione (GSH) synthesis, and the final GSH metabolic reprogramming protects HCC cells from ferroptosis. The combination of PNO1 inhibition with drugs causing ferroptosis induction, particularly sorafenib, the first-line drug associated with ferroptosis in liver cancer shows therapeutic promise in vitro and in vivo. Together, our findings indicated that PNO1 protects HCC cells from ferroptotic death through autophagy-mediated GSH metabolic remodeling, and we identified a candidate therapeutic target that may potentiate the effect of ferroptosis-based antitumor therapy.

Green Tea Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Regulates Autophagy in Male and Female Reproductive Cancer

With a rich abundance of natural polyphenols, green tea has become one of the most popular and healthiest nonalcoholic beverages being consumed worldwide. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the predominant catechin found in green tea, which has been shown to promote numerous health benefits, including metabolic regulation, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. Clinical studies have also shown the inhibitory effects of EGCG on cancers of the male and female reproductive system, including ovarian, cervical, endometrial, breast, testicular, and prostate cancers. Autophagy is a natural, self-degradation process that serves important functions in both tumor suppression and tumor cell survival. Naturally derived products have the potential to be an effective and safe alternative in balancing autophagy and maintaining homeostasis during tumor development. Although EGCG has been shown to play a critical role in the suppression of multiple cancers, its role as autophagy modulator in cancers of the male and female reproductive system remains to be fully discussed. Herein, we aim to provide an overview of the current knowledge of EGCG in targeting autophagy and its related signaling mechanism in reproductive cancers. Effects of EGCG on regulating autophagy toward reproductive cancers as a single therapy or cotreatment with other chemotherapies will be reviewed and compared. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms and crosstalk of EGCG between autophagy and other cellular processes, such as reactive oxidative stress, ER stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, will be summarized. The present review will help to shed light on the significance of green tea as a potential therapeutic treatment for reproductive cancers through regulating autophagy.

DNAJC24 is a potential therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma through affecting ammonia metabolism

Evolutionarily conserved heat shock proteins are involved in the heat shock response of cells in response to changes in the external environment. In normal tissues, heat shock proteins can help cells survive in a rapidly changing environment. Likewise, in malignant tumors heat shock proteins may help tumor cells cope with external stresses as well as the stress of treatment. In this way they become accomplices of malignant tumors. Here we demonstrated for the first time that high expression of DNAJC24 (a heat shock protein) shortens survival in patients with HCC by immunohistochemical staining of 167 paired hepatocellular carcinomas and paraneoplastic tissues as well as data from public databases. In vitro experiments demonstrated that stimuli such as hypoxia, starvation and heat could upregulate DNAJC24 expression in HCC cells through transcriptional regulation of HSF2, and high expression of DNAJC24 in HCC cells could promote the proliferation and motility of HCC cells. In addition, we also verified that targeting DNAJC24 under normal culture conditions can affect the proliferation and autophagy of HCC cells by interfering with ammonia metabolism, thereby inhibiting the malignant progression of HCC. Overall, we suggested that DNAJC24 may become a new target for the treatment of HCC.

Recent Progress in Understanding the Action of Natural Compounds at Novel Therapeutic Drug Targets for the Treatment of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death following lung and stomach cancers. As a highly lethal disease, liver cancer is diagnosed frequently in less developed countries. Natural compounds extracted from herbs, animals and natural materials have been adopted by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices and reported to be effective in the development of new medications for the treatment of diseases. It is important to focus on the mechanisms of action of natural compounds against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in terms of cell cycle regulation, apoptosis induction, autophagy mediation and cell migration and invasion. In this review, we characterize novel representative natural compounds according to their pharmacologic effects based on recently published studies. The aim of this review is to summarize and explore novel therapeutic drug targets of natural compounds, which could accelerate the discovery of new anticancer drugs.

BRAF-activated WT1 contributes to cancer growth and regulates autophagy and apoptosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is one of most prevalent malignant endocrine neoplasms, and it is associated with a high frequency of BRAF gene mutations, which lead to lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis that promote tumor progression. The molecular mechanism of PTC and the role of BRAF mutation in PTC progression and development need to be further elucidated.

Methods

In this study, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in thyroid cancer patients carrying mutant BRAF. Then, we confirmed the prognostic role of WT1 in thyroid cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the expression profile of WT1 in PTC tissue. Lentivirus shWT1 was transfected into BRAFV600E (mutant) PTC cells to stably inhibit WT1 expression. CCK-8, EdU, immunofluorescence, colony formation, cell migration, cell wound healing, apoptosis and autophagy assays were performed to assess the biological functions of WT1 in BRAFV600E PTC cells. RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were performed to explore the molecular mechanism of WT1 in BRAFV600E PTC cells.

Results

The results confirmed that “epithelial cell proliferation”, “apoptosis” and “selective autophagy” were closely associated with this BRAF mutant in these thyroid cancer patients. Knocking down BRAF-activated WT1 effectively inhibited the proliferation and migration of BRAFV600E PTC cells. Silencing WT1 significantly inhibited autophagy and promoted the apoptosis of BRAFV600E PTC cells. Mechanistic investigations showed that silencing WT1 expression remarkably suppressed the AKT/mTOR and ERK/P65 signaling pathways in BRAFV600E PTC cells.

Conclusion

All these results indicate that WT1 is a promising prognostic biomarker and facilitates PTC progression and development of cells carrying the BRAFV600E mutation.