Melatonin inhibits triple-negative breast cancer progression through the Lnc049808-FUNDC1 pathway

YTHDF3 Regulates the Degradation and Stability of m6A-Enriched Transcripts to Facilitate the Progression of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) readers mediate cancer progression. However, the functional role and potential mechanisms of the m6A readers in prostate cancer tumorigenicity remain to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that YTHDF3 expression is elevated in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and positively correlated to high grade, bone metastasis and poor survival. YTHDF3 expression promoted CRPC cell proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumour progression. Mechanistically, YTHDF3 promoted the RNA degradation of SPOP and NXK3.1 but stabilized RNA expressions of TWIST1 and SNAI2 dependent on m6A to facilitate cell proliferation and EMT. Additionally, YTHDF3 expression enhanced AKT activity via degrading SPOP in an m6A-dependent manner. Importantly, we found that melatonin can compete with m6A to occupy the m6A-binding cage of YTHDF3, leading to inhibition of YTHFD3 and its target expressions as well as CRPC tumour growth. Our findings uncover an essential role of YTHDF3 in the progression of CRPC and highlight the role of melatonin in anti-CRPC activity.

Role of melatonin in carcinogenesis and metastasis: From mechanistic insights to intermeshed networks of noncoding RNAs

In recent years, seminal studies have been devoted to unraveling the puzzling mysteries associated with the cancer preventive/inhibitory role of melatonin. Our current knowledge of the translational mechanisms and the detailed structural insights have highlighted the characteristically exclusive role of melatonin in the inhibition of carcinogenesis and metastatic dissemination. This mini-review outlines recent discoveries related to mechanistic role of melatonin in prevention of carcinogenesis and metastasis. Moreover, another exciting facet of this mini-review is related to phenomenal breakthroughs linked with regulation of noncoding RNAs by melatonin in wide variety of cancers.

TRIM21-mediated Sohlh2 ubiquitination suppresses M2 macrophage polarization and progression of triple-negative breast cancer

Lung metastasis is the major cause of death in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent the M2-like phenotype with potent immunosuppressive activity, and play a pro-tumor role in TNBC lung metastasis. Sohlh2 belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family. However, its role in macrophages polarization remains unknown, especially in TNBC progression. Here we demonstrated that Sohlh2 overexpression promoted M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, high expression of Sohlh2 in M2-like macrophage enhanced TNBC cell growth, migration and lung metastasis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we revealed that Sohlh2 functioned through up-regulating LXRα, ABCA1, ABCG1 expression and disturbing the lipid homeostasis on the membrane of macrophages. Sohlh2 could directly bind to the promoter of LXRα and promote its transcription activity. E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 promoted Sohlh2 ubiquitination and degradation, and suppressed M2 macrophage polarization and TNBC progression. Collectively, our findings suggested that Sohlh2 in macrophage could be a novel therapeutic target for TNBC metastatic 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.

Crosstalk between mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis

Mitochondrial mass and quality are tightly regulated by two essential and opposing mechanisms, mitochondrial biogenesis (mitobiogenesis) and mitophagy, in response to cellular energy needs and other cellular and environmental cues. Great strides have been made to uncover key regulators of these complex processes. Emerging evidence has shown that there exists a tight coordination between mitophagy and mitobiogenesis, and their defects may cause many human diseases. In this review, we will first summarize the recent advances made in the discovery of molecular regulations of mitobiogenesis and mitophagy and then focus on the mechanism and signaling pathways involved in the simultaneous regulation of mitobiogenesis and mitophagy in the response of tissue or cultured cells to energy needs, stress, or pathophysiological conditions. Further studies of the crosstalk of these two opposing processes at the molecular level will provide a better understanding of how the cell maintains optimal cellular fitness and function under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, which holds promise for fighting aging and aging-related diseases.

Fucoidan/chitosan layered PLGA nanoparticles with melatonin loading for inducing intestinal absorption and addressing triple-negative breast cancer progression

Melatonin and fucoidan are naturally active compounds that have been reported to have therapeutic benefits for patients receiving cancer treatment. However, both compounds face significant challenges, including physical, chemical, and biological metabolisms in the gastrointestinal tract, which limit their ability to achieve therapeutic concentrations at the tumor site. Furthermore, the effectiveness of melatonin and fucoidan as adjuvants in vivo is influenced by the route of administration through the digestive system and their accumulation at the endpoint of the tumor. In this study, we developed an oral administration of nanoparticle, MNPs@C@F, that consisted of PLGA nanoparticles modified with chitosan, to promote intestinal microfold cell transcytosis for the delivery of melatonin and fucoidan into tumors. The experimental results indicated that melatonin and fucoidan in the tumors could regulate the tumor microenvironment by decreasing P-gp, Twist, HIF-1α, and anti-inflammatory immune cell expression, and increasing cytotoxic T cell populations following doxorubicin treatment. This resulted in an increase in chemo-drug sensitivity, inhibition of distant organ metastasis, and promotion of immunogenic cell death. This study demonstrates a favorable co-delivery system of melatonin and fucoidan to directly reduce drug resistance and metastasis in TNBC.

Identification of prognostic melatonin-related lncRNA signature in tumor immune microenvironment and drug resistance for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Melatonin is a neurohormone involved in diverse physiological processes, including regulation of circadian rhythm, oncogenesis and immune function. More attention are focused on the molecular events surrounding the occurrence of abnormally expressed lncRNAs leading to breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of melatonin-related lncRNAs in the clinical management of BRCA patients and their immune responses.

METHODS

The transcriptome data and clinical data of BRCA patients were acquired from TCGA database. A total of 1103 patients were randomly assigned to either training set or validation set. A melatonin-related lncRNA signature was constructed in the training set and verified in the validation set. Functional analysis, immune microenvironment and drug resistance analysis associated to melatonin-related lncRNAs were performed by utilizing GO&KEGG, ESTIMATE and TIDE analysis. A nomogram based on the signature score and clinical characteristics was established, which was calibrated to increase prediction probability of 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival for BRCA patients.

RESULTS

BRCA patients were divided into two signature groups based on a 17-melatonin-related lncRNA signature. High-signature patients had worse prognosis than low-signature patients (p < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis proved that the signature score was an independent prognostic factor for BRCA patients. Functional analysis indicated that high-signature BRCA involved in regulation of processing and maturation of mRNA and misfolded protein response. Remarkably, immune microenvironment analysis showed that the proportion of tumor-infiltrating M2 macrophage and the expression of CTLA4 were significantly higher in high-signature BRCA. The calibration curves for the probability of invasive BRCA showed optimal agreement between the probability as predicted by the nomogram and the actual probability.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel melatonin-related lncRNA signature was considered as an independent prognostic indicator for BRCA patients. Melatonin-related lncRNAs were potentially associated with tumor immune microenvironment and might be therapeutic targets for BRCA patients.

Therapeutic Potential of Melatonin Counteracting Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

The purpose of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the existing knowledge on the therapeutic potential of melatonin to counteract the undesirable effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. To this aim, we summarized and critically reviewed preclinical- and clinical-related evidence according to the PRISMA guidelines. Additionally, we developed an extrapolation of melatonin doses in animal studies to the human equivalent doses (HEDs) for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with breast cancer patients. For the revision, 341 primary records were screened, which were reduced to 8 selected RCTs that met the inclusion criteria. We assembled the evidence drawn from these studies by analyzing the remaining gaps and treatment efficacy and suggested future translational research and clinical trials. Overall, the selected RCTs allow us to conclude that melatonin combined with standard chemotherapy lines would derive, at least, a better quality of life for breast cancer patients. Moreover, regular doses of 20 mg/day seemed to increase partial response and 1-year survival rates. Accordingly, this systematic review leads us to draw attention to the need for more RCTs to provide a comprehensive view of the promising actions of melatonin in breast cancer and, given the safety profile of this molecule, adequate translational doses should be established in further RCTs.

Synergistic actions of Alpelisib and Melatonin in breast cancer cell lines with PIK3CA gene mutation

AIMS

Breast cancer (BC) presents high mortality rate and about 25-46 % have mutation in the PIK3CA gene. Alpelisib is a PI3K inhibitor that acts on p110α, which is a subunit of the PI3K protein. The melatonin shown important anti-neoplastic effects and may increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This study evaluated the synergistic action of Alpelisib and Melatonin in BC lines carrying the H1047R mutation in PIK3CA, relative to the cellular dynamics and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

MAIN METHODS

MDA-MB-468 (triple-ernegative), MDA-MB-453 (H1047R PIK3CA, HER2+) and T-47D cells (H1047R PIK3CA, ER+/PR+) were divided into four treatment groups: control; Melatonin (1 mM); Alpelisib (1 μM); and Alpelisib (1 μM) + Melatonin (1 mM). Cell viability and migration were investigated using the MTT assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Protein expression of PI3K, p-AKT, mTOR, HIF-1α, and caspase-3, was verified using immunocytochemistry.

KEY FINDINGS

MTT assay revealed that MDA-MB-453 and T-47D showed reduction in cell viability in all groups, especially in the MDA-MB-453 treated with Melatonin + Alpelisib. MDA-MB-468 presents reduction in cell migration only with Melatonin, while in the lines with mutation, the treatment of Melatonin + Alpelisib caused inhibition of cell migration. PI3K, p-AKT, mTOR and HIF-1α were inhibited after treatment with Melatonin + Alpelisib in MDA-MB-453 and T-47D lines. The expression of caspase-3 increased in all groups in MDA-MB-453 and T-47D cells, being the increase more pronounced in the Melatonin + Alpelisib group.

SIGNIFICANCE

These results indicate that the combined use of Melatonin and Alpelisib may be more effective in inhibiting BC in women carrying the PIK3CA gene mutation than either treatment alone.

Autophagy/Mitophagy Regulated by Ubiquitination: A Promising Pathway in Cancer Therapeutics

Autophagy is essential for organismal development, maintenance of energy homeostasis, and quality control of organelles and proteins. As a selective form of autophagy, mitophagy is necessary for effectively eliminating dysfunctional mitochondria. Both autophagy and mitophagy are linked with tumor progression and inhibition. The regulation of mitophagy and autophagy depend upon tumor type and stage. In tumors, mitophagy has dual roles: it removes damaged mitochondria to maintain healthy mitochondria and energy production, which are necessary for tumor growth. In contrast, mitophagy has been shown to inhibit tumor growth by mitigating excessive ROS production, thus preventing mutation and chromosomal instability. Ubiquitination and deubiquitination are important modifications that regulate autophagy. Multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases and DUBs modulate the activity of the autophagy and mitophagy machinery, thereby influencing cancer progression. In this review, we summarize the mechanistic association between cancer development and autophagy/mitophagy activities regulated by the ubiquitin modification of autophagic proteins. In addition, we discuss the function of multiple proteins involved in autophagy/mitophagy in tumors that may represent potential therapeutic targets.

Nanomaterial-assisted CRISPR gene-engineering - A hallmark for triple-negative breast cancer therapeutics advancement

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most violent class of tumor and accounts for 20–24% of total breast carcinoma, in which frequently rare mutation occurs in high frequency. The poor prognosis, recurrence, and metastasis in the brain, heart, liver and lungs decline the lifespan of patients by about 21 months, emphasizing the need for advanced treatment. Recently, the adaptive immunity mechanism of archaea and bacteria, called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) combined with nanotechnology, has been utilized as a potent gene manipulating tool with an extensive clinical application in cancer genomics due to its easeful usage and cost-effectiveness. However, CRISPR/Cas are arguably the efficient technology that can be made efficient via organic material-assisted approaches. Despite the efficacy of the CRISPR/Cas@nano complex, problems regarding successful delivery, biodegradability, and toxicity remain to render its medical implications. Therefore, this review is different in focus from past reviews by (i) detailing all possible genetic mechanisms of TNBC occurrence; (ii) available treatments and gene therapies for TNBC; (iii) overview of the delivery system and utilization of CRISPR-nano complex in TNBC, and (iv) recent advances and related toxicity of CRISPR-nano complex towards clinical trials for TNBC.

Use of Melatonin in Cancer Treatment: Where Are We?

Cancer represents a large group of diseases accounting for nearly 10 million deaths each year. Various treatment strategies, including surgical resection combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, have been applied for cancer treatment. However, the outcomes remain largely unsatisfying. Melatonin, as an endogenous hormone, is associated with the circadian rhythm moderation. Many physiological functions of melatonin besides sleep–wake cycle control have been identified, such as antioxidant, immunomodulation, and anti-inflammation. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have described the anticancer effects of melatonin. This has drawn our attention to the potential usage of melatonin for cancer treatment in the clinical setting, although huge obstacles still exist before its wide clinical administration is accepted. The exact mechanisms behind its anticancer effects remain unclear, and the specific characters impede its in vivo investigation. In this review, we will summarize the latest advances in melatonin studies, including its chemical properties, the possible mechanisms for its anticancer effects, and the ongoing clinical trials. Importantly, challenges for the clinical application of melatonin will be discussed, accompanied with our perspectives on its future development. Finally, obstacles and perspectives of using melatonin for cancer treatment will be proposed. The present article will provide a comprehensive foundation for applying melatonin as a preventive and therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of melatonin in breast cancer

Breast cancer is considered as one of the most important health problems due to its poor prognosis and high rate of mortality and new diagnosed cases. Annually, a great number of deaths are reported in men and women; this means that despite all the improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment, still, an intense need for more effective approaches exists. Melatonin is a multivalent compound which has a hand in several cellular and molecular processes and therefore, is an appropriate candidate for treatment of many diseases like cancer. Currently, considerable properties of this agent have oriented the research towards investigating its effects specifically in breast cancer. In this review, we gathered a bunch of evidence in order to give a new sight for breast cancer treatment utilizing melatonin. We expect that in coming years, melatonin will become one of the most common therapeutic drugs with lesser side-effects than other chemotherapeutic drugs.

New Advances in Targeted Therapy of HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has an extremely high incidence in women, and its morbidity and mortality rank first among female tumors. With the increasing development of molecular biology and genomics, molecular targeted therapy has become one of the most active areas in breast cancer treatment research and has also achieved remarkable achievements. However, molecular targeted therapy is mainly aimed at HER2-positive breast cancer and has not yet achieved satisfactory curative effect on HER2-negative breast cancer. This article describes the potential targets that may be used for breast cancer treatment from the aspects of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, DDR, angiogenesis, the cell cycle, breast cancer stem cells, etc., and explores possible inhibitors for the treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer, such as PI3K inhibitors, AKT inhibitors and m-TOR inhibitors that inhibit the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors that restrain angiogenesis, CDK inhibitors, aurora kinase inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors that block cell cycle, as well as the drugs targeting breast cancer stem cells which have been a hit, aiming to provide a new idea and strategy for the treatment of HER2-negative breast cancer.

Effects of melatonin and doxorubicin on primary tumor and metastasis in breast cancer model

BACKGROUND

Melatonin exerts oncostatic effects on breast cancer via immunomodulation and anti-oxidation. Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent, but parallel studies also provide ample evidence of an off-target effect of Doxorubicin in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

Combinatorial use of doxorubicin and melatonin has not been comprehensively analyzed in breast cancer models. We hypothesized that the anti-oxidative, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin could ameliorate the off-target effects of doxorubicin in breast cancer patients and enhance the anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin. The goal of the study is to test this hypothesis in cancer cell lines and xenografted mice.

METHODS

The effects of Melatonin and doxorubicin on the cell viability were evaluated in 4T1-Brain Metastatic Tumor (4TBM). Furthermore, the effects of melatonin and doxorubicin on the primary tumors and systemic metastasis were evaluated in the xenografted mice. Lung and liver tissues were removed and metastasis analyses were performed. The levels of p65, phospho-STAT3, CD11b+, GR1+, Ki67, and cleaved caspase-3 proteins were determined with immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. We examined the effects of melatonin and Melatonin+Doxorubicin combination therapy on 4TBM cells.

RESULTS

Our results showed that doxorubicin inhibited the proliferation of metastatic breast cancer cells while melatonin did not affect cells. Tumor growth and metastasis were markedly suppressed in melatonin alone and combination with doxorubicin. The expression of CD11b+ and GR1+ proteins which are indicators of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were noted to be reduced in both primary tumor and metastatic tissues in melatonin and doxorubicin groups.

CONCLUSION

The combination of melatonin with doxorubicin reduced primary tumor growth and distant metastasis. Based on these results, melatonin is a promising candidate for combinatory use with conventional chemotherapeutics for breast cancer treatment.