The therapeutic implications of immunosuppressive tumor aerobic glycolysis

Epitranscriptomics and cervical cancer: the emerging role of m6A, m5C and m1A RNA modifications

Cervical cancer (CC), one of the most prevalent and detrimental gynaecologic cancers, evolves through genetic and epigenetic alterations resulting in the promotion of oncogenic activity and dysfunction of tumour-suppressing mechanisms. Despite medical advancement, the prognosis for advanced-stage patients remains extremely low due to high recurrence rates and resistance to existing treatments. Thereby, the search for potential prognostic biomarkers is heightened to unravel new modalities of CC pathogenesis and to develop novel anti-cancer therapies. Epitranscriptomic modifications, reversible epigenetic RNA modifications, regulate various biological processes by deciding RNA fate to mediating RNA interactions. This narrative review provides insight into the cellular and molecular roles of endogenous RNA-editing proteins and their associated epitranscriptomic modifications, especially N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and N1-methyladenosine (m1A), in governing the development, progression and metastasis of CC. We discussed the in-depth epitranscriptomic mechanisms underlying the regulation of over 50 RNAs responsible for tumorigenesis, proliferation, migration, invasion, survival, autophagy, stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metabolism (glucose, lipid, glutamate and glutamine), resistance (drug and radiation), angiogenesis and recurrence of CC. Additionally, we provided a concise overview of the therapeutic potential of targeting the altered expression of endogenous RNA-editing proteins and aberrant deposition of RNA modifications on both coding and non-coding RNAs in CC.

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals heterogeneity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and effect of anti-angiogenesis therapy in the pancreas metastatic lesion

Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma has heterogenous tumor microenvironment (TME). Among the metastatic lesions, pancreas metastasis is rare and controversy in treatment approaches. Here, extensive primary and metastatic lesion samples were included by single-cell RNA-seq to decipher the distinct metastasis TME. The hypoxic and inflammatory TME of pancreas metastasis was decoded in this study, and the activation of PAX8-myc signaling, and metabolic reprogramming were observed. The active components including endothelial cells, fibroblasts and T cells were profiled. Meanwhile, we also evaluated the effect of anti-angiogenesis treatment in the pancreas metastasis patient. The potential mechanisms of pancreatic tropism, instability of genome, and the response of immunotherapy were also discussed in this work. Taken together, our findings suggest a clue to the heterogeneity in metastasis TME and provide evidence for the treatment of pancreas metastasis in renal cell carcinoma patients.

Cross-tissue human fibroblast atlas reveals myofibroblast subtypes with distinct roles in immune modulation

Fibroblasts, known for their functional diversity, play crucial roles in inflammation and cancer. In this study, we conduct comprehensive single-cell RNA sequencing analyses on fibroblast cells from 517 human samples, spanning 11 tissue types and diverse pathological states. We identify distinct fibroblast subpopulations with universal and tissue-specific characteristics. Pathological conditions lead to significant shifts in fibroblast compositions, including the expansion of immune-modulating fibroblasts during inflammation and tissue-remodeling myofibroblasts in cancer. Within the myofibroblast category, we identify four transcriptionally distinct subpopulations originating from different developmental origins, with LRRC15+ myofibroblasts displaying terminally differentiated features. Both LRRC15+ and MMP1+ myofibroblasts demonstrate pro-tumor potential that contribute to the immune-excluded and immune-suppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs), whereas PI16+ fibroblasts show potential anti-tumor functions in adjacent non-cancerous regions. Fibroblast-subtype compositions define patient subtypes with distinct clinical outcomes. This study advances our understanding of fibroblast biology and suggests potential therapeutic strategies for targeting specific fibroblast subsets in cancer treatment.

Transferrin receptor-targeted immunostimulant for photodynamic immunotherapy against metastatic tumors through β-catenin/CREB interruption

The immunosuppressive phenotype of tumor cells extensively attenuates the immune activation effects of traditional treatments. In this work, a transferrin receptor (TfR) targeted immunostimulant (PTI) is fabricated for photodynamic immunotherapy against metastatic tumors by interrupting β-catenin signal pathway. To synthesize PTI, the photosensitizer conjugated TfR targeting peptide moiety (Palmitic-K(PpIX)-HAIYPRH) is unitized to encapsulate the transcription interrupter of ICG-001. On the one hand, the recognition of PTI and TfR can promote drug delivery into tumor cells to destruct primary tumors through photodynamic therapy and initiate an immunogenic cell death with the release of tumor-associated antigens. On the other hand, PTI will interrupt the binding between β-catenin and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), regulating the gene transcription to downregulate programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) while upregulating C-C motif chemokine ligand 4 (CCL4). Furthermore, the elevated CCL4 can recruit the dendritic cells to present tumor-specific antigens and promote T cells activation and infiltration, and the downregulated PD-L1 can avoid the immune evasion of tumor cells and activate systemic anti-tumor immunity to eradicate lung metastasis. This work may inspire the development of antibody antibody-free strategy to activate systemic immune response in consideration of immunosuppressive conditions.

Construction and validation of a prognostic model for overall survival time of patients with ovarian cancer by metabolism-related genes

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is a female-specific malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. The metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells is closely related to the biological behavior of tumors.

METHODS

The prognostic signature of the metabolism-related gene (MRGs) was established by LASSO-Cox regression analysis. The prognostic signature of MRGs was also prognosticated in each clinical subgroup. These genes were subjected to functional enrichment analysis and tissue expression exploration. Analysis of the MRG prognostic signature in terms of immune cell infiltration and antitumor drug susceptibility was also performed.

RESULTS

A MRG prognostic signature including 21 genes was established and validated. Most of the 21 MRGs were expressed at different levels in ovarian cancer than in normal ovarian tissue. The enrichment analysis suggested that MRGs were involved in lipid metabolism, membrane organization, and molecular binding. The MRG prognostic signature demonstrated the predictive value of overall survival time in various clinical subgroups. The monocyte, NKT, Tgd and Tex cell scores showed differences between the groups with high- and low-risk score. The antineoplastic drug analysis we performed provided information on ovarian cancer drug therapy and drug resistance. In vitro experiments verified that PLCH1 in 21 MRGs can regulate the apoptosis and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

This metabolism-related prognostic signature was a potential prognostic factor in patients with ovarian cancer, demonstrating high stability and accuracy.

Involvement of tumor immune microenvironment metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer progression, immune escape, and response to immunotherapy

Metabolic reprogramming is a k`ey hallmark of tumors, developed in response to hypoxia and nutrient deficiency during tumor progression. In both cancer and immune cells, there is a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect, which then leads to lactate acidification, increased lipid synthesis, and glutaminolysis. This reprogramming facilitates tumor immune evasion and, within the tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer and immune cells collaborate to create a suppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The growing interest in the metabolic reprogramming of the TME, particularly its significance in colorectal cancer (CRC)-one of the most prevalent cancers-has prompted us to explore this topic. CRC exhibits abnormal glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and increased lipid synthesis. Acidosis in CRC cells hampers the activity of anti-tumor immune cells and inhibits the phagocytosis of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), while nutrient deficiency promotes the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and M2-like macrophages. In CRC cells, activation of G-protein coupled receptor 81 (GPR81) signaling leads to overexpression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and reduces the antigen presentation capability of dendritic cells. Moreover, the genetic and epigenetic cell phenotype, along with the microbiota, significantly influence CRC metabolic reprogramming. Activating RAS mutations and overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) occur in approximately 50% and 80% of patients, respectively, stimulating glycolysis and increasing levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and MYC proteins. Certain bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which activate CD8+ cells and genes involved in antigen processing and presentation, while other mechanisms support pro-tumor activities. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in selected CRC patients has shown promise, and the combination of these with drugs that inhibit aerobic glycolysis is currently being intensively researched to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Genetically programmable cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles for targeted combination therapy of colorectal cancer

Cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles possess inherent advantages derived from their membrane structure and surface antigens, including prolonged circulation in the bloodstream, specific cell recognition and targeting capabilities, and potential for immunotherapy. Herein, we introduce a cell membrane biomimetic nanodrug platform termed MPB-3BP@CM NPs. Comprising microporous Prussian blue nanoparticles (MPB NPs) serving as both a photothermal sensitizer and carrier for 3-bromopyruvate (3BP), these nanoparticles are cloaked in a genetically programmable cell membrane displaying variants of signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) with enhanced affinity to CD47. As a result, MPB-3BP@CM NPs inherit the characteristics of the original cell membrane, exhibiting an extended circulation time in the bloodstream and effectively targeting CD47 on the cytomembrane of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Notably, blocking CD47 with MPB-3BP@CM NPs enhances the phagocytosis of CRC cells by macrophages. Additionally, 3BP, an inhibitor of hexokinase II (HK2), suppresses glycolysis, leading to a reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and lactate production. Besides, it promotes the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) towards an anti-tumor M1 phenotype. Furthermore, integration with MPB NPs-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) enhances the therapeutic efficacy against tumors. These advantages make MPB-3BP@CM NPs an attractive platform for the future development of innovative therapeutic approaches for CRC. Concurrently, it introduces a universal approach for engineering disease-tailored cell membranes for tumor therapy.

Xanthohumol Promotes Skp2 Ubiquitination Leading to the Inhibition of Glycolysis and Tumorigenesis in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a common, highly lethal tumor. Herein, we reported that S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) is essential for the growth and aerobic glycolysis of ovarian cancer cells. Skp2 was upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Using a customized natural product library screening, we found that xanthohumol inhibited aerobic glycolysis and cell viability of ovarian cancer cells. Xanthohumol facilitated the interaction between E3 ligase Cdh1 and Skp2 and promoted the Ub-K48-linked polyubiquitination of Skp2 and degradation. Cdh1 depletion reversed xanthohumol-induced Skp2 downregulation, enhancing HK2 expression and glycolysis in ovarian cancer cells. Finally, a xenograft tumor model was employed to examine the antitumor efficacy of xanthohumol in vivo. Collectively, we discovered that xanthohumol promotes the binding between Skp2 and Cdh1 to suppress the Skp2/AKT/HK2 signal pathway and exhibits potential antitumor activity for ovarian cancer cells.

A comprehensive analysis of the oncogenic and prognostic role of TBC1Ds in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Backgrounds

TBC1D family members (TBC1Ds) are a group of proteins that contain the Tre2-Bub2-Cdc16 (TBC) domain. Recent studies have shown that TBC1Ds are involved in tumor growth, but no analysis has been done of expression patterns and prognostic values of TBC1Ds in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

The expression levels of TBC1Ds were evaluated in HCC using the TIMER, UALCN and Protein Atlas databases. The correlation between the mRNA levels of TBC1Ds and the prognosis of patients with HCC in the GEPIA database was then analyzed. An enrichment analysis then revealed genes that potentially interact with TBC1Ds. The correlation between levels of TBC1Ds and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in HCC were studied using the TIMER 2.0 database. Finally, a series of in vitro assays verified the role of TBC1Ds in HCC progression.

Results

This study revealed the upregulated expression of TBC1Ds in HCC and the strong positive correlation between the mRNA levels of TBC1Ds and poor prognosis of patients with HCC. The functions of TBC1Ds were mainly related to autophagy and the AMPK pathway. There was also a significant correlation between level of TBC1Ds and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in HCC. The promoting role of TBC1Ds in HCC progression was verified in vitro assays.

Conclusion

The results of this analysis indicate that TBC1Ds may serve as new biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Mechanism study of lncRNA RMRP regulating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 axis

OBJECTIVE

It is well-known that lncRNAs regulate energy metabolism in tumors. This study focused on the action of RMRP on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell proliferation, apoptosis, and glycolysis.

METHODS

In the resected ESCC tissues and adjacent tissues from patients, RMRP/miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 expressions were evaluated. ESCC cell proliferation rates and apoptotic rates were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Apoptosis related markers were examined by Western blot. Moreover, glucose uptake, lactic acid, and ATP were measured by commercial kits, whereas HK2 and PKM2 were evaluated by Western blot to study ESCC cell glycolysis. Finally, the editing program of RMRP/miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 was translated by luciferase reporter assay and RIP analysis.

RESULTS

RMRP and ATP13A3 were induced, while miR-580-3p was reduced in their expression in ESCC tissues. Silencing RMRP reduced proliferation, glycolysis, and anti-apoptosis ability of ESCC cells. RMRP sequestered miR-580-3p to target ATP13A3. Silenced ATP13A3 or overexpressed miR-580-3p rescued overexpressed RMRP-mediated promotion of proliferation, glycolysis, and anti-apoptosis of ESCC cells.

CONCLUSION

RMRP accelerates ESCC progression through the miR-580-3p/ATP13A3 axis, renewing a reference for lncRNA-based therapies for tumors.

Metabolic Regulation-Mediated Reversion of the Tumor Immunosuppressive Microenvironment for Potentiating Cooperative Metabolic Therapy and Immunotherapy

Tumor cells exhibit heightened glucose (Glu) consumption and increased lactic acid (LA) production, resulting in the formation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that facilitates malignant proliferation and metastasis. In this study, we meticulously engineer an antitumor nanoplatform, denoted as ZLGCR, by incorporating glucose oxidase, LA oxidase, and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 that is camouflaged with a red blood cell membrane. Significantly, ZLGCR-mediated consumption of Glu and LA not only amplifies the effectiveness of metabolic therapy but also reverses the immunosuppressive TME, thereby enhancing the therapeutic outcomes of CpG-mediated antitumor immunotherapy. It is particularly important that the synergistic effect of metabolic therapy and immunotherapy is further augmented when combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Consequently, this engineered antitumor nanoplatform will achieve a cooperative tumor-suppressive outcome through the modulation of metabolism and immune responses within the TME.

Bulk and single-cell transcriptome reveal the immuno-prognostic subtypes and tumour microenvironment heterogeneity in HCC

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Accumulating evidences suggest tumour microenvironment (TME) profoundly influence clinical outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Existing immune subtypes are susceptible to batch effects, and integrative analysis of bulk and single-cell transcriptome is helpful to recognize immune subtypes and TME in HCC.

METHODS

Based on the relative expression ordering (REO) of 1259 immune-related genes, an immuno-prognostic signature was developed and validated in 907 HCC samples from five bulk transcriptomic cohorts, including 72 in-house samples. The machine learning models based on subtype-specific gene pairs with stable REOs were constructed to jointly predict immuno-prognostic subtypes in single-cell RNA-seq data and validated in another single-cell data. Then, cancer characteristics, immune landscape, underlying mechanism and therapeutic benefits between subtypes were analysed.

RESULTS

An immune-related signature with 29 gene pairs stratified HCC samples individually into two risk subgroups (C1 and C2), which was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. The machine learning models verified the immune subtypes from five bulk cohorts to two single-cell transcriptomic data. Integrative analysis revealed that C1 had poorer outcomes, higher CNV burden and malignant scores, higher sensitivity to sorafenib, and exhibited an immunosuppressive phenotype with more regulators, e.g., myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), Mø_SPP1, while C2 was characterized with better outcomes, higher metabolism, more benefit from immunotherapy, and displayed active immune with more effectors, e.g., tumour infiltrating lymphocyte and dendritic cell. Moreover, both two single-cell data revealed the crosstalk of SPP1-related L-R pairs between cancer and immune cells, especially SPP1-CD44, might lead to immunosuppression in C1.

CONCLUSIONS

The REO-based immuno-prognostic subtypes were conducive to individualized prognosis prediction and treatment options for HCC. This study paved the way for understanding TME heterogeneity between immuno-prognostic subtypes of HCC.

Nanocatalysts for modulating antitumor immunity: fabrication, mechanisms and applications

Immunotherapy harnesses the inherent immune system in the body to generate systemic antitumor immunity, offering a promising modality for defending against cancer. However, tumor immunosuppression and evasion seriously restrict the immune response rates in clinical settings. Catalytic nanomedicines can transform tumoral substances/metabolites into therapeutic products in situ, offering unique advantages in antitumor immunotherapy. Through catalytic reactions, both tumor eradication and immune regulation can be simultaneously achieved, favoring the development of systemic antitumor immunity. In recent years, with advancements in catalytic chemistry and nanotechnology, catalytic nanomedicines based on nanozymes, photocatalysts, sonocatalysts, Fenton catalysts, electrocatalysts, piezocatalysts, thermocatalysts and radiocatalysts have been rapidly developed with vast applications in cancer immunotherapy. This review provides an introduction to the fabrication of catalytic nanomedicines with an emphasis on their structures and engineering strategies. Furthermore, the catalytic substrates and state-of-the-art applications of nanocatalysts in cancer immunotherapy have also been outlined and discussed. The relationships between nanostructures and immune regulating performance of catalytic nanomedicines are highlighted to provide a deep understanding of their working mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, the challenges and development trends are revealed, aiming to provide new insights for the future development of nanocatalysts in catalytic immunotherapy.

Advances in Nanodelivery Systems Based on Metabolism Reprogramming Strategies for Enhanced Tumor Therapy

Tumor development and metastasis are closely related to the complexity of the metabolism network. Recently, metabolism reprogramming strategies have attracted much attention in tumor metabolism therapy. Although there is preliminary success of metabolism therapy agents, their therapeutic effects have been restricted by the effective reaching of the tumor sites of drugs. Nanodelivery systems with unique physical properties and elaborate designs can specifically deliver to the tumors. In this review, we first summarize the research progress of nanodelivery systems based on tumor metabolism reprogramming strategies to enhance therapies by depleting glucose, inhibiting glycolysis, depleting lactic acid, inhibiting lipid metabolism, depleting glutamine and glutathione, and disrupting metal metabolisms combined with other therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, etc. We further discuss in detail the advantages of nanodelivery systems based on tumor metabolism reprogramming strategies for tumor therapy. As well as the opportunities and challenges for integrating nanodelivery systems into tumor metabolism therapy, we analyze the outlook for these emerging areas. This review is expected to improve our understanding of modulating tumor metabolisms for enhanced therapy.

Prognostic Significance of Glycolysis-Related Genes in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is one of the most common malignancies. There is growing evidence that glycolysis-related genes play a critical role in tumor development, maintenance, and therapeutic response by altering tumor metabolism and thereby influencing the tumor immune microenvironment. However, the overall impact of glycolysis-related genes on the prognostic significance, tumor microenvironment characteristics, and treatment outcome of patients with LUSC has not been fully elucidated. We used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset to screen glycolysis-related genes with prognostic effects in LUSC and constructed signature and nomogram models using Lasso and Cox regression, respectively. In addition, we analyzed the immune infiltration and tumor mutation load of the genes in the models. We finally obtained a total of glycolysis-associated DEGs. The signature model and nomogram model had good prognostic power for LUSC. Gene expression in the models was highly correlated with multiple immune cells in LUSC. Through this analysis, we have identified and validated for the first time that glycolysis-related genes are highly associated with the development of LUSC. In addition, we constructed the signature model and nomogram model for clinical decision-making.

Integrating TCGA and Single-Cell Sequencing Data for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Novel Glycosylation (GLY)/Tumor Microenvironment (TME) Classifier to Predict Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response

The major liver cancer subtype is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies have indicated that a better prognosis is related to the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in HCC. However, the molecular pathways that drive immune cell variation in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remain poorly understood. Glycosylation (GLY)-related genes have a vital function in the pathogenesis of numerous tumors, including HCC. This study aimed to develop a GLY/TME classifier based on glycosylation-related gene scores and tumor microenvironment scores to provide a novel prognostic model to improve the prediction of clinical outcomes. The reliability of the signatures was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and survival analyses and was verified with external datasets. Furthermore, the correlation between glycosylation-related genes and other cells in the immune environment, the immune signature of the GLY/TME classifier, and the efficacy of immunotherapy were also investigated. The GLY score low/TME score high subgroup showed a favorable prognosis and therapeutic response based on significant differences in immune-related molecules and cancer cell signaling mechanisms. We evaluated the prognostic role of the GLY/TME classifier that demonstrated overall prognostic significance for prognosis and therapeutic response before treatment, which may provide new options for creating the best possible therapeutic approaches for patients.

Immune, metabolic landscapes of prognostic signatures for lung adenocarcinoma based on a novel deep learning framework

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a malignant tumor with high lethality, and the aim of this study was to identify promising biomarkers for LUAD. Using the TCGA-LUAD dataset as a discovery cohort, a novel joint framework VAEjMLP based on variational autoencoder (VAE) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) was proposed. And the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) method was introduced to evaluate the contribution of feature genes to the classification decision, which helped us to develop a biologically meaningful biomarker potential scoring algorithm. Nineteen potential biomarkers for LUAD were identified, which were involved in the regulation of immune and metabolic functions in LUAD. A prognostic risk model for LUAD was constructed by the biomarkers HLA-DRB1, SCGB1A1, and HLA-DRB5 screened by Cox regression analysis, dividing the patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. The prognostic risk model was validated with external datasets. The low-risk group was characterized by enrichment of immune pathways and higher immune infiltration compared to the high-risk group. While, the high-risk group was accompanied by an increase in metabolic pathway activity. There were significant differences between the high- and low-risk groups in metabolic reprogramming of aerobic glycolysis, amino acids, and lipids, as well as in angiogenic activity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumorigenic cytokines, and inflammatory response. Furthermore, high-risk patients were more sensitive to Afatinib, Gefitinib, and Gemcitabine as predicted by the pRRophetic algorithm. This study provides prognostic signatures capable of revealing the immune and metabolic landscapes for LUAD, and may shed light on the identification of other cancer biomarkers.

Effect of HPV Oncoprotein on Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in Tumor Cells

High-risk HPV infection accounts for 99.7% of cervical cancer, over 90% of anal cancer, 50% of head and neck cancers, 40% of vulvar cancer, and some cases of vaginal and penile cancer, contributing to approximately 5% of cancers worldwide. The development of cancer is a complex, multi-step process characterized by dysregulation of signaling pathways and alterations in metabolic pathways. Extensive research has demonstrated that metabolic reprogramming plays a key role in the progression of various cancers, such as cervical, head and neck, bladder, and prostate cancers, providing the material and energy foundation for rapid proliferation and migration of cancer cells. Metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells allows for the rapid generation of ATP, aiding in meeting the high energy demands of HPV-related cancer cell proliferation. The interaction between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its associated cancers has become a recent focus of investigation. The impact of HPV on cellular metabolism has emerged as an emerging research topic. A significant body of research has shown that HPV influences relevant metabolic signaling pathways, leading to cellular metabolic alterations. Exploring the underlying mechanisms may facilitate the discovery of biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of HPV-associated diseases. In this review, we introduced the molecular structure of HPV and its replication process, discussed the diseases associated with HPV infection, described the energy metabolism of normal cells, highlighted the metabolic features of tumor cells, and provided an overview of recent advances in potential therapeutic targets that act on cellular metabolism. We discussed the potential mechanisms underlying these changes. This article aims to elucidate the role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in reshaping cellular metabolism and the application of metabolic changes in the research of related diseases. Targeting cancer metabolism may serve as an effective strategy to support traditional cancer treatments, as metabolic reprogramming is crucial for malignant transformation in cancer.

Predicting therapeutic responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from TP53 mutation detected by cell-free DNA

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an epithelial malignant tumor originating from the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasal cavity, sinuses, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx. Mutations in TP53 are the most common of all somatic genomic changes in HNSCC, and TP53 mutations are associated with the response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Tumor-derived circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a minimally invasive method to determining genetic alterations in cancer. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic responses of patients with HNSCC with TP53 mutation and the accuracy of cfDNA for detecting TP53 mutation.

Methods

Information on TP53 mutations, patient survival time, and clinical data in HNSCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The difference in immune infiltration between the TP53-mutant group and the wild-type group was compared. We applied the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis method on the transcriptome of HNSCC samples to assess the distribution of immune cell types between the two groups. The chemotherapy response was constructed using the R software package, "pRRophetic". Gene set enrichment analysis was performed based on the TP53 mutation. The next-generation sequencing was executed on cfDNA from nine patients with HNSCC to detect genetic alterations. Tumor biopsy (n=9) was sequenced using the same technique.

Results

TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene in HNSCC. The TP53 mutation was related to immune cells and the expression of immune-associated genes. The TP53 mutation group showed lower response to immunotherapy but high sensitivity to some chemotherapies compared with the wild-type group. TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene (6/9; 66.67%) in cfDNA. Only 27.27% of TP53 mutations in tumor tissue were detected outside of cfDNA.

Conclusions

TP53 mutation could be used as a specific predictor of treatment response in patients with HNSCC. Using cfDNA to detect the TP53 mutations in patients with HSNCC is a feasible method. The results suggested that the therapeutic response in patients could be predicted by detecting TP53 mutations in cfDNA, and large-scale and prospective studies are needed to validate this hypothesis.

Rapid intestinal and systemic metabolic reprogramming in an immunosuppressed environment

Intrinsic metabolism shapes the immune environment associated with immune suppression and tolerance in settings such as organ transplantation and cancer. However, little is known about the metabolic activities in an immunosuppressive environment. In this study, we employed metagenomic, metabolomic, and immunological approaches to profile the early effects of the immunosuppressant drug tacrolimus, antibiotics, or both in gut lumen and circulation using a murine model. Tacrolimus induced rapid and profound alterations in metabolic activities within two days of treatment, prior to alterations in gut microbiota composition and structure. The metabolic profile and gut microbiome after seven days of treatment was distinct from that after two days of treatment, indicating continuous drug effects on both gut microbial ecosystem and host metabolism. The most affected taxonomic groups are Clostriales and Verrucomicrobiae (i.e., Akkermansia muciniphila), and the most affected metabolic pathways included a group of interconnected amino acids, bile acid conjugation, glucose homeostasis, and energy production. Highly correlated metabolic changes were observed between lumen and serum metabolism, supporting their significant interactions. Despite a small sample size, this study explored the largely uncharacterized microbial and metabolic events in an immunosuppressed environment and demonstrated that early changes in metabolic activities can have significant implications that may serve as antecedent biomarkers of immune activation or quiescence. To understand the intricate relationships among gut microbiome, metabolic activities, and immune cells in an immune suppressed environment is a prerequisite for developing strategies to monitor and optimize alloimmune responses that determine transplant outcomes.

Identification of mitochondrial-related signature and molecular subtype for the prognosis of osteosarcoma

Mitochondria play a vital role in osteosarcoma. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of mitochondrial-related genes (MRGs) in osteosarcoma. Based on 92 differentially expressed MRGs, osteosarcoma samples were divided into two subtypes using the nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF). Ultimately, a univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox analysis were performed to construct a prognostic risk model. The single-sample gene set enrichment analysis assessed the immune infiltration characteristics of osteosarcoma patients. Finally, we identified an osteosarcoma biomarker, malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MLYCD), which showed downregulation. Osteosarcoma cells proliferation, migration, and invasion were effectively inhibited by the overexpression of MLYCD. Our findings will help us to further understand the molecular mechanisms of osteosarcoma and contribute to the discovery of new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Histone Methyltransferase NSD2 Activates PKCα to Drive Metabolic Reprogramming and Lenalidomide Resistance in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma cells undergo metabolic reprogramming in response to the hypoxic and nutrient-deprived bone marrow microenvironment. Primary oncogenes in recurrent translocations might be able to drive metabolic heterogeneity to survive the microenvironment that can present new vulnerabilities for therapeutic targeting. t(4;14) translocation leads to the universal overexpression of histone methyltransferase NSD2 that promotes plasma cell transformation through a global increase in H3K36me2. Here, we identified PKCα as an epigenetic target that contributes to the oncogenic potential of NSD2. RNA sequencing of t(4;14) multiple myeloma cell lines revealed a significant enrichment in the regulation of metabolic processes by PKCα, and the glycolytic gene, hexokinase 2 (HK2), was transcriptionally regulated by PKCα in a PI3K/Akt-dependent manner. Loss of PKCα displaced mitochondria-bound HK2 and reversed sensitivity to the glycolytic inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate. In addition, the perturbation of glycolytic flux led to a metabolic shift to a less energetic state and decreased ATP production. Metabolomics analysis indicated lactate as a differential metabolite associated with PKCα. As a result, PKCα conferred resistance to the immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD) lenalidomide in a cereblon-independent manner and could be phenocopied by either overexpression of HK2 or direct supplementation of lactate. Clinically, t(4;14) patients had elevated plasma lactate levels and did not benefit from lenalidomide-based regimens. Altogether, this study provides insights into the epigenetic-metabolism cross-talk in multiple myeloma and highlights the opportunity for therapeutic intervention that leverages the distinct metabolic program in t(4;14) myeloma.

SIGNIFICANCE

Aberrant glycolysis driven by NSD2-mediated upregulation of PKCα can be therapeutically exploited using metabolic inhibitors with lactate as a biomarker to identify high-risk patients who exhibit poor response towards IMiD-based regimens.

Peptide-Appended Nanosonosensitizers Targeting Tumor Glycolysis for Synergistic Sonodynamic-Immunometabolic Therapy of Spinal-Metastasized Tumors

Despite recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy, challenges have yet to be surmounted to achieve two major goals of magnifying antitumor immunity and remodeling the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Here, a nanosystem (ODM-R) that integrates oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide (ODM) nanosonosensitizers and R7 peptides with tumor metabolism regulation effects is designed and fabricated for synergistic sonodynamic-immunometabolic therapy of spinal-metastasized tumors. The ODM generates reactive oxygen species upon ultrasound irradiation to implement sonodynamic therapy (SDT), inducing cancer cell apoptosis and immunogenic cell death. The R7 attached on ODM markedly inhibits the uptake of glucose and excretion of lactic acid in cancer cells by perturbing the glycolysis process. The combination of SDT and tumor glycolysis obstruction by ODM-R guarantees satisfactory efficacy in synergizing with PD-L1 antibody to eradicate spinal-metastasized tumors, achieving concurrent sonodynamic-triggered immune activation and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment remodeling. This work provides a proof-of-concept of nanosonosensitizers for boosting cancer immunotherapy by SDT and tumor metabolic regulation.

Rapid intestinal and systemic metabolic reprogramming in an immunosuppressed environment

Intrinsic metabolism shapes the immune environment associated with immune suppression and tolerance in settings such as organ transplantation and cancer. However, little is known about the metabolic activities in an immunosuppressive environment. In this study, we employed metagenomic, metabolomic, and immunological approaches to profile the early effects of the immunosuppressant drug tacrolimus, antibiotics, or both in gut lumen and circulation using a murine model. Tacrolimus induced rapid and profound alterations in metabolic activities within two days of treatment, prior to alterations in gut microbiota composition and structure. The metabolic profile and gut microbiome after seven days of treatment was distinct from that after two days of treatment, indicating continuous drug effects on both gut microbial ecosystem and host metabolism. The most affected taxonomic groups are Clostriales and Verrucomicrobiae (i.e., Akkermansia muciniphila), and the most affected metabolic pathways included a group of interconnected amino acids, bile acid conjugation, glucose homeostasis, and energy production. Highly correlated metabolic changes were observed between lumen and serum metabolism, supporting their significant interactions. Despite a small sample size, this study explored the largely uncharacterized microbial and metabolic events in an immunosuppressed environment and demonstrated that early changes in metabolic activities can have significant implications that may serve as antecedent biomarkers of immune activation or quiescence. To understand the intricate relationships among gut microbiome, metabolic activities, and immune cells in an immune suppressed environment is a prerequisite for developing strategies to monitor and optimize alloimmune responses that determine transplant outcomes.

Tumor microenvironmental nutrients, cellular responses, and cancer

Over the last two decades, the rapidly expanding field of tumor metabolism has enhanced our knowledge of the impact of nutrient availability on metabolic reprogramming in cancer. Apart from established roles in cancer cells themselves, various nutrients, metabolic enzymes, and stress responses are key to the activities of tumor microenvironmental immune, fibroblastic, endothelial, and other cell types that support malignant transformation. In this article, we review our current understanding of how nutrient availability affects metabolic pathways and responses in both cancer and "stromal" cells, by dissecting major examples and their regulation of cellular activity. Understanding the relationship of nutrient availability to cellular behaviors in the tumor ecosystem will broaden the horizon of exploiting novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer.

N6-methyladenosine modification: an important player in the tumor immune microenvironment

The decoration of RNA with N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a reversible post-transcriptional modification that plays an important regulatory role in all eukaryotic life activities. The m6A modification of RNA regulates the development and progression of tumors, including bladder cancer, melanoma, Lewis lung carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) includes immune cells, cytokines, and cell surface molecules, which interact with each other and ultimately determine the flow of tumor immunity. The onset of cancer implies that the TIME has been reshaped into a pro-tumor state. The key to cancer treatment lies in reshaping the TIME to reset the anti-tumor immune response. Here, we have reviewed how RNA m6A modification affects the TIME, and discussed the merits of using m6A regulator inhibitors as an individual treatment strategy as well as in combination with immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

Glycolysis-related biomarker TCIRG1 participates in regulation of renal cell carcinoma progression and tumor immune microenvironment by affecting aerobic glycolysis and AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a hypermetabolic disease. Abnormal up-regulation of glycolytic signaling promotes tumor growth, and glycolytic metabolism is closely related to immunotherapy of renal cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine whether and how the glycolysis-related biomarker TCIRG1 affects aerobic glycolysis, the tumor microenvironment (TME) and malignant progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

METHODS

Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 533) and the glycolysis-related gene set from MSigDB, we identified the glycolysis-related gene TCIRG1 by bioinformatics analysis, analyzed its immunological properties in ccRCC and observed how it affected the biological function and glycolytic metabolism using online databases such as TIMER 2.0, UALCAN, LinkedOmics and in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

It was found that the expression of TCIRG1, was significantly increased in ccRCC tissue, and that high TCIRG1 expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS) and short progression-free interval (PFI). In addition, TCIRG1 expression was highly correlated with the infiltration immune cells, especially CD4+T cell Th1, CD8+T cell, NK cell, and M1 macrophage, and positively correlated with PDCD1, CTLA4 and other immunoinhibitors, CCL5, CXCR3 and other chemokines and chemokine receptors. More importantly, TCIRG1 may regulate aerobic glycolysis in ccRCC via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby affecting the malignant progression of ccRCC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that the glycolysis-related biomarker TCIRG1 is a tumor-promoting factor by affecting aerobic glycolysis and tumor immune microenvironment in ccRCC, and this finding may provide a new idea for the treatment of ccRCC by combination of metabolic intervention and immunotherapy.

STING is a cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint restricting aerobic glycolysis by targeting HK2

Evasion of antitumour immunity is a hallmark of cancer. STING, a putative innate immune signalling adaptor, has a pivotal role in mounting antitumour immunity by coordinating innate sensing and adaptive immune surveillance in myeloid cells. STING is markedly silenced in various human malignancies and acts as a cell-intrinsic tumour suppressor. How STING exerts intrinsic antitumour activity remains unclear. Here, we report that STING restricts aerobic glycolysis independent of its innate immune function. Mechanistically, STING targets hexokinase II (HK2) to block its hexokinase activity. As such, STING inhibits HK2 to restrict tumour aerobic glycolysis and promote antitumour immunity in vivo. In human colorectal carcinoma samples, lactate, which can be used as a surrogate for aerobic glycolysis, is negatively correlated with STING expression level and antitumour immunity. Taken together, this study reveals that STING functions as a cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint that restricts aerobic glycolysis to promote antitumour immunity. These findings have important implications for the development of STING-based therapeutic modalities to improve antitumour immunotherapy.

Molecular profile of non-coding RNA-mediated glycolysis control in human cancers

The glycolysis is a common characteristic of cancer and it is responsible for providing enough energy to ensure growth. The glycolysis suppression is beneficial in tumor growth reduction. The stimulation/inhibition of glycolysis in cancer is tightly regulated by ncRNAs. The regulation of glycolysis by ncRNAs can influence proliferation and therapy response of tumor. The miRNAs are capable of inactivating enzymes responsible for glycolysis and suppressing signaling networks resulting in glycolysis induction. By regulation of glycolysis, miRNAs can affect therapy response. The lncRNAs and circRNAs follow a same pathway and by targeting glycolysis, they affect progression and therapy response of tumor. Noteworthy, lncRNAs and circRNAs sponge miRNAs in glycolysis mechanism control in tumor cells. Furthermore, ncRNA-mediated regulation of glycolysis mechanism can influence metastasis to organs of body. The ncRNAs regulating glycolysis are reliable biomarkers in cancer patients and more importantly, exosomal ncRNAs due to their presence in body fluids, are minimally-invasive biomarkers.

Development and validation of polyamines metabolism-associated gene signatures to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Polyamines metabolism is closely related to tumor development and progression, as well as tumor microenvironment (TME). In this study, we focused on exploring whether polyamines metabolism-associated genes would provide prognosis and immunotherapy response prediction in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

The expression profile data of polyamines metabolism-associated genes were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Utilizing the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm, we created a risk score model according to polyamines metabolism-associated gene signatures. Meanwhile, an independent cohort (GSE72094) was employed to validate this model. Through the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, the independent prognostic factors were identified. Subsequently, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect their expression in LUAD cells. By consensus clustering analysis, polyamines metabolism-associated subgroups were determined in LUAD patients, with differential gene expression, prognosis, and immune characteristics analyses explored.

Results

A total of 59 polyamines metabolism genes were collected for this study, of which 14 genes were identified for the construction of risk score model using LASSO method. High- and low- risk groups of LUAD patients in TCGA cohort were distinguished via this model, and high-risk group presented dismal clinical outcomes. The same prognostic prediction of this model had been also validated in GSE72094 cohort. Meanwhile, three independent prognostic factors (PSMC6, SMOX, SMS) were determined for constructing the nomogram, and they were all upregulated in LUAD cells. In addition, two distinct subgroups (C1 and C2) were identified in LUAD patients. Comparing the two subgroups, 291 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were acquired, mainly enriching in organelle fission, nuclear division, and cell cycle. Comparing to C1 subgroup, the patients in C2 subgroup had favorable clinical outcomes, increased immune cells infiltration, and effective immunotherapy response.

Conclusion

This study identified polyamines metabolism-associated gene signatures for predicting the patients' survival, and they were also linked to immune cells infiltration and immunotherapy response in LUAD patients.

Regulative Roles of Metabolic Plasticity Caused by Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation and Glycolysis on the Initiation and Progression of Tumorigenesis

One important feature of tumour development is the regulatory role of metabolic plasticity in maintaining the balance of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in cancer cells. In recent years, the transition and/or function of metabolic phenotypes between mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in tumour cells have been extensively studied. In this review, we aimed to elucidate the characteristics of metabolic plasticity (emphasizing their effects, such as immune escape, angiogenesis migration, invasiveness, heterogeneity, adhesion, and phenotypic properties of cancers, among others) on tumour progression, including the initiation and progression phases. Thus, this article provides an overall understanding of the influence of abnormal metabolic remodeling on malignant proliferation and pathophysiological changes in carcinoma.

Profiling of immune responses by lactate modulation in cervical cancer reveals key features driving clinical outcome

Cervical cancer is still an important problem perplexing health management in developing countries. Previous studies have shown that cervical cancer cells show markers of aerobic glycolysis, suggesting that these tumors may secrete lactic acid. Through the biological characterization of lactate gene in tumor and its relationship with immune cells in tumor microenvironment, a lactate scoring system capable of evaluating cancer prognosis was constructed to explore the molecular mechanism of lactate metabolism disorder affecting prognosis. 29 hub genes in this study were differentially expressed in cervical cancer, including 24 genes related to lactate metabolism, LDHA in Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) group, SLC16A3 in Monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) group and three Histone lactation modification related genes (EP300, ACAT1, ACACA). More importantly, we found that from an epigenetic point of view, histone lactation plays an important role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of cervical cancer. Mainly affect the prognosis of the disease through changes in the infiltration of plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell (pDC) and Central Memory T cell (Tcm) in the tumor immune microenvironment. Lactate inhibition may be a useful tool for anticancer therapy.

Nanocarriers overcoming biological barriers induced by multidrug resistance of chemotherapeutics in 2D and 3D cancer models

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is currently a big challenge in cancer therapy and limits its success in several patients. Tumors use the MDR mechanisms to colonize the host and reduce the efficacy of chemotherapeutics that are injected as single agents or combinations. MDR mechanisms are responsible for inactivation of drugs and formbiological barriers in cancer like the drug efflux pumps, aberrant extracellular matrix, hypoxic areas, altered cell death mechanisms, etc. Nanocarriers have some potential to overcome these barriers and improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutics. In fact, they are versatile and can deliver natural and synthetic biomolecules, as well as RNAi/DNAi, thus providing a controlled release of drugs and a synergistic effect in tumor tissues. Biocompatible and safe multifunctional biopolymers, with or without specific targeting molecules, modify the surface and interface properties of nanocarriers. These modifications affect the interaction of nanocarriers with cellular models as well as the selection of suitable models for in vitro experiments. MDR cancer cells, and particularly their 2D and 3D models, in combination with anatomical and physiological structures of tumor tissues, can boost the design and preparation of nanomedicines for anticancer therapy. 2D and 3D cancer cell cultures are suitable models to study the interaction, internalization, and efficacy of nanocarriers, the mechanisms of MDR in cancer cells and tissues, and they are used to tailor a personalized medicine and improve the efficacy of anticancer treatment in patients. The description of molecular mechanisms and physio-pathological pathways of these models further allow the design of nanomedicine that can efficiently overcome biological barriers involved in MDR and test the activity of nanocarriers in 2D and 3D models of MDR cancer cells.

Overexpression of CHAF1A is associated with poor prognosis, tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and treatment resistance

Background: As distinct marker of proliferating cells, chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1) was critical in DNA replication. However, there is paucity information about the clinical significance, functions and co-expressed gene network of CHAF1A, the major subunit in CAF-1, in cancer.

Methods: Bioinformatic analysis of CHAF1A and its co-expression gene network were performed using various public databases. Functional validation of CHAF1A was applied in breast cancer.

Results: Overexpression of CHAF1A was found in 20 types of cancer tissues. Elevated expression of CHAF1A was positively correlated with breast cancer progression and poor patients’ outcome. The analysis of co-expression gene network demonstrated CHAF1A was associated with not only cell proliferation, DNA repair, apoptosis, but cancer metabolism, immune system, and drug resistance. More importantly, higher expression of CHAF1A was positively correlated with immunosuppressive microenvironment and resistance to endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. Elevated expression of CHAF1A was confirmed in breast cancer tissues. Silencing of CHAF1A can significantly inhibit cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Conclusion: The current work suggested that overexpression of CHAF1A can be used as diagnostic and poor prognostic biomarker of breast cancer. Higher expression of CHAF1A induced fast resistance to endocrine therapy and chemotherapy, it may be a promising therapeutic target and a biomarker to predict the sensitivity of immunotherapy in breast cancer.

Attenuating Metabolic Competition of Tumor Cells for Favoring the Nutritional Demand of Immune Cells by a Branched Polymeric Drug Delivery System

Tumor cells are dominant in the nutritional competition in the tumor microenvironment, and their metabolic abnormalities often lead to microenvironmental acidosis and nutrient deprivation, thereby impairing the function of immune cells and diminishing the antitumor therapeutic effect. Herein, a branched polymeric conjugate and its efficacy in attenuating the metabolic competition of tumor cells are reported. Compared with the control nanoparticles prepared from its linear counterpart, the branched-conjugate-based nanoparticles can more efficiently accumulate in the tumor tissue and interfere with the metabolic processes of tumor cells to increase the concentration of essential nutrients and reduce the level of immunosuppressive metabolites in the TME, thus creating a favorable environment for infiltrated immune cells. Its combined treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) achieves an enhanced antitumor effect. The work presents a promising approach for targeting metabolic competition in the TME to enhance the chemo-immunotherapeutic effect against cancers.

4-Octyl itaconate inhibits aerobic glycolysis by targeting GAPDH to promote cuproptosis in colorectal cancer

Cuproptosis, a novel copper-induced cell death pathway, is linked to mitochondrial respiration and mediated by protein lipoylation. The discovery of cuproptosis unfolds new areas of investigation, particularly in cancers. The present study aimed to explore the role of cuproptosis in colorectal cancer progression. The genetic alterations of cuproptosis in colon cancer were evaluated using a database. MTT assays, colony formation, and flow cytometry were used to examine the effect of elesclomol-Cu and 4-Octyl itaconate (4-OI) on colorectal cancer cell and oxaliplatin-resistant cell viability. The anti-tumor effect of elesclomol with 4-OI was verified in vivo assay. The results showed that FDX1, SDHB, DLAT, and DLST genes were more highly expressed in normal tissues than those in primary tumor tissues. Patients with high expressions of these genes in tumor tissues had a better prognosis. Using MTT assay and colony formation analysis, elesclomol-Cu pulse treatment showed significant inhibition of cell viability in HCT116, LoVo, and HCT116-R cells. In addition, flow cytometry revealed elesclomol-Cu significantly promoted apoptosis. Tetrathiomolybdate, a copper chelator, markedly inhibited cuproptosis. Subsequently, we found 2-deoxy-D-glucose, a glucose metabolism inhibitor, sensitized cuproptosis. Furthermore, galactose further promoted cuproptosis. Interestingly, 4-OI significantly enhanced cuproptosis which was irrelevant to ROS production, apoptosis, necroptosis, or pyroptosis pathways. Aerobic glycolysis was inhibited by 4-OI through GAPDH, one of the key enzymes of glycolysis, sensitizing cuproptosis. Meanwhile, FDX1 knockdown weakened the ability of 4-OI to promote cuproptosis. In vivo experiments, 4-OI with elesclomol-Cu showed better anti-tumor effects. These results indicated that elesclomol-Cu rapidly halted cell growth in colorectal cancer cells and oxaliplatin-resistant cell line. Importantly, we revealed that 4-OI inhibited aerobic glycolysis by targeting GAPDH to promote cuproptosis.

Harnessing bioactive nanomaterials in modulating tumor glycolysis-associated metabolism

Glycolytic reprogramming is emerging as a hallmark of various cancers and a promising therapeutic target. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the anti-tumor therapeutic approaches associated with glycolysis. Finely controlled chemical composition and nanostructure provide nanomaterials unique advantages, enabling an excellent platform for integrated drug delivery, biochemical modulation and combination therapy. Recent studies have shown promising potential of nanotherapeutic strategies in modulating tumor glycolytic metabolism alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. To foster more innovation in this cutting-edge and interdisciplinary field, this review summarizes recent understandings of the origin and development of tumor glycolysis, then provides the latest advances in how nanomaterials modulate tumor glycolysis-related metabolism. The interplay of nanochemistry, metabolism and immunity is highlighted. Ultimately, the challenges and opportunities are presented.

METTL3 promotes glycolysis and cholangiocarcinoma progression by mediating the m6A modification of AKR1B10

OBJECTIVE

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is involved in governing the mechanism of tumor progression. We aimed to excavate the biological role and mechanism of the m6A methyltransferase METTL3 in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

METHODS

METTL3 expression was determined by database and tissue microarray analyses. The role of METTL3 in CCA was explored by loss- and gain-of-function experiments. The m6A target of METTL3 was detected by RNA sequencing. The role of AKR1B10 in CCA was explored, and the association between METTL3 and AKR1B10 was confirmed by rescue experiments.

RESULT

METTL3 expression was upregulated in CCA tissue, and higher METTL3 expression was implicated in poor prognoses in CCA patients. Overexpression of METTL3 facilitated proliferation, migration, invasion, glucose uptake, and lactate production in CCA cells, whereas knockdown of METTL3 had the opposite effects. We further found that METTL3 deficiency inhibited CCA tumor growth in vivo. RNA sequencing and MeRIP-qPCR confirmed that METTL3 enhanced AKR1B10 expression and m6A modification levels. Furthermore, METTL3 directly binds with AKR1B10 at an m6A modification site. A CCA tissue microarray showed that AKR1B10 expression was upregulated in CCA tissue and that silencing AKR1B10 suppressed the malignant phenotype mentioned above in CCA. Notably, knockdown of AKR1B10 rescued the tumor-promoting effects induced by METTL3 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Elevated METTL3 expression promotes tumor growth and glycolysis in CCA through m6A modification of AKR1B10, indicating that METTL3 is a potential target for blocking glycolysis for application in CCA therapy.

Tumor microenvironment-associated lactate metabolism regulates the prognosis and precise checkpoint immunotherapy outcomes of patients with lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Despite the wide clinical application of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma, its limited benefit to patients remains puzzling to researchers. One of the mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance may be the dysregulation of lactate metabolism in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which can inhibit dendritic cell maturation and prevent T-cell invasion into tumors. However, the key genes related to lactate metabolism and their influence on the immunotherapeutic effects in lung adenocarcinoma have not yet been investigated in depth.

METHODS

In this study, we first surveyed the dysregulated expression of genes related to lactate metabolism in lung adenocarcinoma and then characterized their biological functions. Using machine learning methods, we constructed a lactate-associated gene signature in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort and validated its effectiveness in predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes of patients in the Gene Expression Omnibus cohorts.

RESULTS

A 7-gene signature based on the metabolomics related to lactate metabolism was found to be associated with multiple important clinical features of cancer and was an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that rather than being simply a metabolic byproduct of glycolysis, lactate in the TME can affect immunotherapy outcomes. Therefore, the mechanism underlying this effect of lactate is worthy of further study.

Warburg effect in colorectal cancer: the emerging roles in tumor microenvironment and therapeutic implications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Countless CRC patients undergo disease progression. As a hallmark of cancer, Warburg effect promotes cancer metastasis and remodels the tumor microenvironment, including promoting angiogenesis, immune suppression, cancer-associated fibroblasts formation and drug resistance. Targeting Warburg metabolism would be a promising method for the treatment of CRC. In this review, we summarize information about the roles of Warburg effect in tumor microenvironment to elucidate the mechanisms governing Warburg effect in CRC and to identify novel targets for therapy.

Enforcing GLUT3 expression in CD8+ T cells improves fitness and tumor control by promoting glucose uptake and energy storage

Despite the tremendous success of adoptive T-cell therapies (ACT) in fighting certain hematologic malignancies, not all patients respond, a proportion experience relapse, and effective ACT of most solid tumors remains elusive. In order to improve responses to ACT suppressive barriers in the solid tumor microenvironment (TME) including insufficient nutrient availability must be overcome. Here we explored how enforced expression of the high-affinity glucose transporter GLUT3 impacted tumor-directed T cells. Overexpression of GLUT3 in primary murine CD8+ T cells enhanced glucose uptake and increased glycogen and fatty acid storage, and was associated with increased mitochondrial fitness, reduced ROS levels, higher abundance of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, and better resistance to stress. Importantly, GLUT3-OT1 T cells conferred superior control of B16-OVA melanoma tumors and, in this same model, significantly improved survival. Moreover, a proportion of treated mice were cured and protected from re-challenge, indicative of long-term T cell persistence and memory formation. Enforcing expression of GLUT3 is thus a promising strategy to improve metabolic fitness and sustaining CD8+ T cell effector function in the context of ACT.

Leucine-tRNA-synthase-2-expressing B cells contribute to colorectal cancer immunoevasion

Immunoregulatory B cells impede antitumor immunity through unknown features and mechanisms. We report the existence of leucine-tRNA-synthase-2 (LARS2)-expressing B cell (LARS B) subset with a transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-dominant regulatory feature in both mouse and human progressive colorectal cancer (CRC). Of note, LARS B cells exhibited a leucine nutrient preference and displayed active mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. They were located outside the tertiary lymphoid structure and correlated with colorectal hyperplasia and shortened survival in CRC patients. A leucine diet induced LARS B cell generation, whereas LARS B cell deletion by Lars2 gene ablation or leucine blockage repressed CRC immunoevasion. Mechanistically, LARS2 programmed mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) regeneration and oxidative metabolism, thus determining the regulatory feature of LARS B cells in which the NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) was involved. We propose a leucine-dieting scheme to inhibit LARS B cells, which is safe and useful for CRC therapy.

Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in apoptosis induced by HK2 inhibitor and its potential as a new drug combination strategy

Compared with normal cells, tumor cells mainly obtain energy through aerobic glycolysis. Hexokinase 2 (HK2) plays a key role in the regulation of tumor cell aerobic glycolysis, and targeting HK2 has become a new strategy for cancer treatment. However, little is known about the role of HK2 in colon cancer and the regulation of its targeted inhibitors. In this study, we found that the expression of HK2 in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the expression level of HK2 in metastatic colorectal cancer was further increased. Meanwhile, the expression level of HK2 was closely related to clinical TNM stage and outcome of colorectal cancer patients. We provide here evidence that HK2 inhibitor 3-Bromopyruvate acid (3-BP) can significantly inhibit the survival and proliferation of colon cancer cells, and induce apoptosis through mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathway. In addition, we found that 3-BP can also induce endoplasmic reticulum stress in colon cancer cells, the mechanism may be through the increase of intracellular calcium concentration. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress could further increase the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induced by 3-BP. Collectively, our results show that HK2 is highly expressed in colorectal cancer. 3-BP, an inhibitor of HK2, can induce apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in colon cancer cells. Endoplasmic reticulum stress plays a protective role in cell death induced by 3-BP. This result suggested that targeting HK2 and endoplasmic reticulum stress may be a valuable strategy in targeted and combination therapy of colon cancer.

Noncoding RNAs in the Glycolysis of Ovarian Cancer

Energy metabolism reprogramming is the characteristic feature of tumors. The tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance of ovarian cancer (OC) is dependent on energy metabolism. Even under adequate oxygen conditions, OC cells tend to convert glucose to lactate, and glycolysis can rapidly produce ATP to meet their metabolic energy needs. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) interact directly with DNA, RNA, and proteins to function as an essential regulatory in gene expression and tumor pathology. Studies have shown that ncRNAs regulate the process of glycolysis by interacting with the predominant glycolysis enzyme and cellular signaling pathway, participating in tumorigenesis and progression. This review summarizes the mechanism of ncRNAs regulation in glycolysis in OC and investigates potential therapeutic targets.

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

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

Ionic Regulation of T-Cell Function and Anti-Tumour Immunity

The capacity of T cells to identify and kill cancer cells has become a central pillar of immune-based cancer therapies. However, T cells are characterized by a dysfunctional state in most tumours. A major obstacle for proper T-cell function is the metabolic constraints posed by the tumour microenvironment (TME). In the TME, T cells compete with cancer cells for macronutrients (sugar, proteins, and lipid) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals/ions). While the role of macronutrients in T-cell activation and function is well characterized, the contribution of micronutrients and especially ions in anti-tumour T-cell activities is still under investigation. Notably, ions are important for most of the signalling pathways regulating T-cell anti-tumour function. In this review, we discuss the role of six biologically relevant ions in T-cell function and in anti-tumour immunity, elucidating potential strategies to adopt to improve immunotherapy via modulation of ion metabolism.

Metabolic Plasticity in Melanoma Progression and Response to Oncogene Targeted Therapies

Simple Summary

Targeted anti-cancer therapies have revolutionised melanoma patient care; however, cures remain uncommon due to acquired drug resistance that results in disease relapse. Recent insights from the clinic and experimental settings have identified a key role for metabolic plasticity, defined as the flexibility to utilise different nutrients and process them in different ways, in both disease progression and response to targeted therapies. Here, we discuss how this plasticity creates a moving target with important implications for identifying new combination therapies.

Abstract

Resistance to therapy continues to be a barrier to curative treatments in melanoma. Recent insights from the clinic and experimental settings have highlighted a range of non-genetic adaptive mechanisms that contribute to therapy resistance and disease relapse, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming. A growing body of evidence highlights the inherent plasticity of melanoma metabolism, evidenced by reversible metabolome alterations and flexibility in fuel usage that occur during metastasis and response to anti-cancer therapies. Here, we discuss how the inherent metabolic plasticity of melanoma cells facilitates both disease progression and acquisition of anti-cancer therapy resistance. In particular, we discuss in detail the different metabolic changes that occur during the three major phases of the targeted therapy response—the early response, drug tolerance and acquired resistance. We also discuss how non-genetic programs, including transcription and translation, control this process. The prevalence and diverse array of these non-genetic resistance mechanisms poses a new challenge to the field that requires innovative strategies to monitor and counteract these adaptive processes in the quest to prevent therapy resistance.

Ethoxyquin Inhibits the Progression of Murine Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma through the Inhibition of Autophagy and LDH

Cancer cells exhibit an increased glycolysis rate for ATP generation (the Warburg effect) to sustain an increased proliferation rate. In tumor cells, the oxidation of pyruvate in the Krebs cycle is substituted by lactate production, catalyzed by LDH. In this study, we use ethoxyquin (EQ) as a novel inhibitor to target LDH in murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and as a combination therapy to improve the therapeutic efficacy of the conventional chemotherapy drug, cisplatin (CIS). We investigated the anti-tumor effect of EQ on EAC-bearing mice and checked whether EQ can sustain the anti-tumor potential of CIS and whether it influences LDH activity. Treatment with EQ had evident anti-tumor effects on EAC as revealed by the remarkable decrease in the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 and by a significant increase in the expression of apoptotic genes (BAX and caspase-3). EQ also caused a significant decrease in the autophagic activity of EAC cells, as shown by a reduction in the fluorescence intensity of the autophagosome marker. Additionally, EQ restored the altered hematological and biochemical parameters and improved the disrupted hepatic tissues of EAC-bearing mice. Co-administration of EQ and CIS showed the highest anti-tumor effect against EAC. Collectively, our findings propose EQ as a novel inhibitor of LDH in cancer cells and as a combinatory drug to increase the efficacy of cisplatin. Further studies are required to validate this therapeutic strategy in different cancer models and preclinical trials.