AHA1 regulates cell migration and invasion via the EMT pathway in colorectal adenocarcinomas

Current Progress of EMT: A New Direction of Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer with Invasion and Metastasis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor with a high frequency of recurrence and metastasis, which are the major causes of death in patients. The prerequisite for the invasion and metastasis is the strong mobility of CRC cells to transport far away from the original site to the distant organs and tissues, where they settle down and proliferate. It was reported that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the occurrence and development of various tumors in the entire process of tumor invasion and metastasis. Therefore, as a vital factor for the biological characteristics of tumor cells, EMT markers may serve as prognostic predictors and potential therapeutic targets in CRC. This article mainly reviews the current status of CRC with metastasis, the studies of EMT, the possible relationship of EMT with CRC, as well as the potential targeted therapy.

AHSA1 Promotes Proliferation and EMT by Regulating ERK/CALD1 Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Activator of HSP90 ATPase activity 1(AHSA1) was reported to be involved in regulating the maturation, stability, and degradation of related cancer-promoting proteins. However, the biological function and regulatory mechanism of AHSA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma were unclearly. In this study, we found AHSA1 was upregulated and associated with poor clinical characteristics and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Moreover, AHSA1 promoted proliferation, metastasis, epithelium-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo by recruiting ERK1/2 and promoting the phosphorylation and inactivation of CALD1. Taken together, our findings provided a mechanistic insight into the role of AHSA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma progression and implied AHSA1 may be a biomarker and therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related death worldwide. AHSA1 as a chaperone of HSP90 promotes the maturation, stability, and degradation of related cancer-promoting proteins. However, the regulatory mechanism and biological function of AHSA1 in HCC are largely unknown. Actually, we found that AHSA1 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines and was notably correlated with the poor clinical characteristics and prognosis of HCC patients in this study. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo, gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that AHSA1 promoted the proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC. Moreover, the mechanistic study indicated that AHSA1 recruited ERK1/2 and promoted the phosphorylation and inactivation of CALD1, while ERK1/2 phosphorylation inhibitor SCH772984 reversed the role of AHSA1 in the proliferation and EMT of HCC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the knockdown of CALD1 reversed the inhibition of proliferation and EMT by knocking AHSA1 in HCC. We also illustrated a new molecular mechanism associated with AHSA1 in HCC that was independent of HSP90 and MEK1/2. In summary, AHSA1 may play an oncogenic role in HCC by regulating ERK/CALD1 axis and may serve as a novel therapeutic target for HCC.

Bacterial Involvement in Progression and Metastasis of Colorectal Neoplasia

While the gut microbiome is composed of numerous bacteria, specific bacteria within the gut may play a significant role in carcinogenesis, progression, and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Certain microbial species are known to be associated with specific cancers; however, the interrelationship between bacteria and metastasis is still enigmatic. Mounting evidence suggests that bacteria participate in cancer organotropism during solid tumor metastasis. A critical review of the literature was conducted to better characterize what is known about bacteria populating a distant site and whether a tumor depends upon the same microenvironment during or after metastasis. The processes of carcinogenesis, tumor growth and metastatic spread in the setting of bacterial infection were examined in detail. The literature was scrutinized to discover the role of the lymphatic and venous systems in tumor metastasis and how microbes affect these processes. Some bacteria have a potent ability to enhance epithelial–mesenchymal transition, a critical step in the metastatic cascade. Bacteria also can modify the microenvironment and the local immune profile at a metastatic site. Early targeted antibiotic therapy should be further investigated as a measure to prevent metastatic spread in the setting of bacterial infection.