Mutated CEACAMs Disrupt Transforming Growth Factor Beta Signaling and Alter the Intestinal Microbiome to Promote Colorectal Carcinogenesis

Regulation of TGF-β/BMP signaling during osteoblast development by non-coding RNAs: Potential therapeutic applications

Bone is a connective tissue that is metabolically active and serves multiple functions, including movement, structural support, and organ protection. It is comprised primarily of three types of bone cells, namely osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts are bone-forming cells, and the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells towards osteoblasts is regulated by several growth factors, cytokines, and hormones via various signaling pathways, including TGF-β/BMP (transforming growth factor-beta/bone morphogenetic protein) signaling as a primary one. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs and long ncRNAs, play crucial roles in regulating osteoblast differentiation via the TGF-β/BMP signaling cascade. Dysregulation of these ncRNAs leads to bone-pathological conditions such as osteoporosis, skeletal dysplasia, and osteosclerosis. This review provides a concise overview of the latest advancements in understanding the involvement of ncRNAs/TGF-β/BMP axis in osteoblast differentiation. These findings have the potential to identify new molecular targets for early detection of bone metabolism disorders and the development of innovative therapy strategies.

RPL22L1 is a novel biomarker for prognosis and immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma, promoting the growth and metastasis of LUAD cells by inhibiting the MDM2/P53 signaling pathway

The ribosomal protein L22-like1 (RPL22L1) is a constituent of the 60 S ribosomal subunit whose function in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains ambiguous. This study aims to elucidate the role of RPL22L1 in LUAD through a thorough analysis and experimental validation. Our findings indicate that RPL22L1 exhibits abnormal expression patterns in various cancer types, including LUAD. Moreover, a statistically significant association was observed between elevated levels of RPL22L1 expression in LUAD patients and several clinical parameters, such as pathological stage (p = 0.0083) and gender (p = 0.0038). The high expression of RPL22L1 in LUAD demonstrated a significant association with poorer overall survival (OS) (p = 0.005), progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.027), and disease-specific survival (p = 0.015). The expression of RPL22L1 in LUAD (p = 0.005) was identified as an independent prognostic factor. Additionally, RPL22L1 expression in LUAD was found to be correlated with immune infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, TMB/MSI, and mRNAsi. Notably, the expression of RPL22L1 exhibited significant negative correlations with 1-BET-762, Trametinib, and WZ3105 in LUAD. The RPL22L1 gene exhibited up-regulation in multiple individual cells of LUAD, leading to a comparatively shorter PFS in the RPL22L1 variant group as opposed to the RPL22L1 variant-free group in LUAD. Significantly increased expression of RPL22L1 was noted in LUAD cell lines, where it was found to enhance the growth and metastasis of LUAD cells by suppressing the MDM2/P53 signaling pathway. Therefore, RPL22L1 may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with LUAD.

Immunomodulatory effects of live and UV-killed Bacillus subtilis natto on inflammatory response in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro

Background and Objectives

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease of the colon or rectum arising from adenoma precursors and serrated polyps. Recently, probiotics have been proposed as an effective and potential therapeutic approach for CRC prevention and treatment. Probiotics have been shown to alleviate inflammation by restoring the integrity of the mucosal barrier and impeding cancer progression.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of live and UV-killed Bacillus subtilis natto on the inflammatory response in CRC. Caco-2 cells were exposed to various concentrations of live and UV- killed B. subtilis natto, and cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. Gene expression analysis of IL-10, TGF-β, TLR2 and TLR4 was performed using RT-qPCR.

Results

Our findings showed that both live and UV-killed B. subtilis natto caused significant reduction in inflammatory response by decreasing the gene expression of TLR2 and TLR4, and enhancing the gene expression of IL-10 and TGF-β in Caco-2 cells as compared to control group.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that live and UV-killed B. subtilis natto may hold potential as a therapeutic supplement for modulating inflammation in CRC.

Characteristics of Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecules and Their Relationship to Cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAM), such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the oncofetal glycoprotein family, are tumor markers. The CEACAMs consist of 12 different human CEACAMs and 5 different murine CEACAMs. The CEACAM family of proteins participates in multiple biological processes that include the immune response, angiogenesis, and cancer. CEACAMs play a significant role in cancer initiation and development. Increasing evidence suggests that family members may be new cancer biomarkers and targets in that CEACEAMs tend to be aberrantly expressed and therefore may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic importance. This review systematically summarizes the biogenesis, biological properties, and functions of CEACAMs, with a focus on their relationship with cancer and potential clinical application. As our knowledge of the relationships among CEACAMs and cancer increases, and as our understanding of the involved molecular mechanisms improves, new therapeutic strategies will evolve for cancer prevention and treatment of patients with cancer.

Serum ITIH5 as a novel diagnostic biomarker in cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma often remains undetected until advanced stages due to the lack of reliable diagnostic markers. Our goal was to identify a unique secretory protein for cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis and differentiation from other malignancies, benign hepatobiliary diseases, and chronic liver conditions. We conducted bulk RNA-seq analysis to identify genes specifically upregulated in cholangiocarcinoma but not in most other cancers, benign hepatobiliary diseases, and chronic liver diseases focusing on exocrine protein-encoding genes. Single-cell RNA sequencing examined subcellular distribution. Immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays assessed tissue and serum expression. Diagnostic performance was evaluated via receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain family member five (ITIH5), a gene encoding an extracellular protein, is notably upregulated in cholangiocarcinoma. This elevation is not observed in most other cancer types, benign hepatobiliary diseases, or chronic liver disorders. It is specifically expressed by malignant cholangiocytes. ITIH5 expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues exceeded that in nontumorous bile duct, hepatocellular carcinoma, and nontumorous hepatic tissues. Serum ITIH5 levels were elevated in cholangiocarcinoma compared with controls (hepatocellular carcinoma, benign diseases, chronic hepatitis B, and healthy individuals). ITIH5 yielded areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) from 0.839 to 0.851 distinguishing cholangiocarcinoma from controls. Combining ITIH5 with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) enhanced CA19-9's diagnostic effectiveness. In conclusion, serum ITIH5 may serve as a novel noninvasive cholangiocarcinoma diagnostic marker.

SARS-Cov-2 spike induces intestinal barrier dysfunction through the interaction between CEACAM5 and Galectin-9

Background

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5), as a typical tumor marker, has been found to exert immunomodulatory effects in many diseases. We previously reported the clinical and molecular evidences supporting that SARS-Cov-2 infected the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and found a reduction of CEACAM5 in COVID-19 patients' feces which associated with gut dysbiosis. Yet the role of CEACAM5 in GI infection is ill-defined.

Methods

Mice models were established through intraperitoneally injecting with recombinant viral spike-Fc to mimic the intestinal inflammation. We collected duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon samples after 6h, 2 days, 4 days and 7 days of spike-Fc or control-Fc injection to perform proteomic analysis. Blood was collected from healthy donors and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated by density gradient centrifugation, then CD4+ T cells were isolated with magnetic beads and co-cultured with Caco-2 cells.

Results

In addition to intestinal CEACAM5, the expression of tight junction and the percent of CD4+ T lymphocytes were significantly decreased in spike-Fc group compared to control (p < 0.05), accompanied with increased level of inflammatory factors. The KEGG analysis revealed differentially expressed proteins were mainly enriched in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), tight junction, focal adhesion, adherens junction and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified the interaction between CEACAM5 and Galectin-9 that was also verified by molecular docking and co-IP assay. We further confirmed a reduction of CEACAM5 in SARS-CoV-2 spike stimulated enterocytes could promote the expression of Galectin-9 protein in CD4+T cells. Then it gave rise to the increasing release of inflammatory factors and increased apoptosis of CD4+T cells by inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Ultimately intestinal barrier dysfunction happened.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that CEACAM5 overexpression and Galectin-9 knockdown played a protective role in intestinal barrier injury upon spike-Fc stimulation. Collectively, our findings identified firstly that SARS-CoV-2 spike induced intestinal barrier dysfunction through the interaction between CEACAM5 and Galectin-9. The result provides potential therapeutic targets in intestinal barrier dysfunction for treating severe COVID patients.

The global landscape of immune-derived lncRNA signature in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous cancer. This heterogeneity has an impact on the efficacy of immunotherapy. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play regulatory functions in cancer immunity. However, the global landscape of immune-derived lncRNA signatures has not yet been explored in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

In this study, we applied DESeq2 to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs in colon cancer. Next, we performed an integrative analysis to globally identify immune-driven lncRNA markers in CRC, including immune-associated pathways, tumor immunogenomic features, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune checkpoints, microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutation burden (TMB).

RESULTS

We also identified dysregulated lncRNAs, such as LINC01354 and LINC02257, and their clinical relevance in CRC. Our findings revealed that the differentially expressed lncRNAs were closely associated with immune pathways. In addition, we found that RP11-354P11.3 and RP11-545G3.1 had the highest association with the immunogenomic signature. As a result, these signatures could serve as markers to assess immunogenomic activity in CRC. Among the immune cells, resting mast cells and M0 macrophages had the highest association with lncRNAs in CRC. The AC006129.2 gene was significantly associated with several immune checkpoints, for example, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA). Therefore, the AC006129.2 gene could be targeted to regulate the condition of immune cells or immune checkpoints to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy in CRC patients. Finally, we identified 15 immune-related lncRNA-generated open reading frames (ORFs) corresponding to 15 cancer immune epitopes.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we provided a genome-wide immune-driven lncRNA signature for CRC that might provide new insights into clinical applications and immunotherapy.

Management after non-curative endoscopic resection of T1 rectal cancer

Since the introduction of population-based screening, increasing numbers of T1 rectal cancers are detected and removed by local endoscopic resection. Patients can be cured with endoscopic resection alone, but there is a possibility of residual tumor cells remaining after the initial resection. These can be located intraluminally at the resection site or extraluminally in the form of (lymph node) metastases. To decrease the risk of residual cells progressing towards more advanced disease, additional treatment is usually needed. However, with the currently available risk stratification models, it remains challenging to determine who should and should not be further treated after non-curative endoscopic resection. In this review, the different management strategies for patients with non-curatively treated T1 rectal cancers are discussed, along with the available evidence for each strategy and relevant considerations for clinical decision making. Furthermore, we provide practical guidance on the management and surveillance following non-curative endoscopic resection of T1 rectal cancer.

Key processes in tumor metastasis and therapeutic strategies with nanocarriers: a review

Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Metastasis occurs at all stages of tumor development, with unexplored changes occurring at the primary site and distant colonization sites. The growing understanding of the metastatic process of tumor cells has contributed to the emergence of better treatment options and strategies. This review summarizes a range of features related to tumor cell metastasis and nanobased drug delivery systems for inhibiting tumor metastasis. The mechanisms of tumor metastasis in the ideal order of metastatic progression were summarized. We focus on the prominent role of nanocarriers in the treatment of tumor metastasis, summarizing the latest applications of nanocarriers in combination with drugs to target important components and processes of tumor metastasis and providing ideas for more effective nanodrug delivery systems.

Colorectal cancer: Genetic alterations, novel biomarkers, current therapeutic strategies and clinical trials

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly detected cancer with a serious global health issue. The rates for incidence and mortality for CRC are alarming, especially since the prognosis is abysmal when the CRC is diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage. Both type of (modifiable/ non-modifiable) types of risk factors are established for CRC. Despite the advances in recent technology and sophisticated research, the survival rate is still meager due to delays in diagnosis. Therefore, there is urgently required to identify critical biomarkers aiming at early diagnosis and improving effective therapeutic strategies. Additionally, a complete understanding of the dysregulated pathways like PI3K/Akt, Notch, and Wnt associated with CRC progression and metastasis is very beneficial in designing a therapeutic regimen. This review article focused on the dysregulated signaling pathways, genetics and epigenetics alterations, and crucial biomarkers of CRC. This review also provided the list of clinical trials targeting signaling cascades and therapies involving small molecules. This review discusses up-to-date information on novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies alongside specific clinical trials.

Unraveling the gut health puzzle: exploring the mechanisms of butyrate and the potential of High-Amylose Maize Starch Butyrate (HAMSB) in alleviating colorectal disturbances

Colorectal disturbances encompass a variety of disorders that impact the colon and rectum, such as colitis and colon cancer. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, plays a pivotal role in supporting gut health by nourishing colonocytes, promoting barrier function, modulating inflammation, and fostering a balanced microbiome. Increasing colorectal butyrate concentration may serve as a critical strategy to improve colon function and reduce the risk of colorectal disturbances. Butyrylated high-amylose maize starch (HAMSB) is an edible ingredient that efficiently delivers butyrate to the colon. HAMSB is developed by esterifying a high-amylose starch backbone with butyric anhydride. With a degree of substitution of 0.25, each hydroxy group of HAMSB is substituted by a butyryl group in every four D-glucopyranosyl units. In humans, the digestibility of HAMSB is 68% (w/w), and 60% butyrate molecules attached to the starch backbone is absorbed by the colon. One clinical trial yielded two publications, which showed that HAMSB significantly reduced rectal O6-methyl-guanine adducts and epithelial proliferation induced by the high protein diet. Fecal microbial profiles were assessed in three clinical trials, showing that HAMSB supplementation was consistently linked to increased abundance of Parabacteroides distasonis. In animal studies, HAMSB was effective in reducing the risk of diet- or AOM-induced colon cancer by reducing genetic damage, but the mechanisms differed. HAMSB functioned through affecting cecal ammonia levels by modulating colon pH in diet-induced cancer, while it ameliorated chemical-induced colon cancer through downregulating miR19b and miR92a expressions and subsequently activating the caspase-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, animal studies showed that HAMSB improved colitis via regulating the gut immune modulation by inhibiting histone deacetylase and activating G protein-coupled receptors, but its role in bacteria-induced colon colitis requires further investigation. In conclusion, HAMSB is a food ingredient that may deliver butyrate to the colon to support colon health. Further clinical trials are warranted to validate earlier findings and determine the minimum effective dose of HAMSB.

Clonal Parabacteroides from Gut Microfistulous Tracts as Transmissible Cytotoxic Succinate-Commensal Model of Crohn's Disease Complications

Crohn's disease (CD) has been traditionally viewed as a chronic inflammatory disease that cause gut wall thickening and complications, including fistulas, by mechanisms not understood. By focusing on Parabacteroides distasonis (presumed modern succinate-producing commensal probiotic), recovered from intestinal microfistulous tracts (cavernous fistulous micropathologies CavFT proposed as intermediate between 'mucosal fissures' and 'fistulas') in two patients that required surgery to remove CD-damaged ilea, we demonstrate that such isolates exert pathogenic/pathobiont roles in mouse models of CD. Our isolates are clonally-related; potentially emerging as transmissible in the community and mice; proinflammatory and adapted to the ileum of germ-free mice prone to CD-like ileitis (SAMP1/YitFc) but not healthy mice (C57BL/6J), and cytotoxic/ATP-depleting to HoxB8-immortalized bone marrow derived myeloid cells from SAMP1/YitFc mice when concurrently exposed to succinate and extracts from CavFT-derived E. coli , but not to cells from healthy mice. With unique genomic features supporting recent genetic exchange with Bacteroides fragilis -BGF539, evidence of international presence in primarily human metagenome databases, these CavFT Pdis isolates could represent to a new opportunistic Parabacteroides species, or subspecies (' cavitamuralis' ) adapted to microfistulous niches in CD.

The Role of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Pathway in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has attracted attention as a tumor suppressor because of its potent growth-suppressive effect on epithelial cells. Dysregulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway is considered to be one of the key factors in carcinogenesis, and genetic alterations affecting TGF-β signaling are extraordinarily common in cancers of the gastrointestinal system, such as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that TGF-β is produced from various types of cells in the tumor microenvironment and mediates extracellular matrix deposition, tumor angiogenesis, the formation of CAFs, and suppression of the anti-tumor immune reaction. It is also being considered as a factor that promotes the malignant transformation of cancer, particularly the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Therefore, elucidating the role of TGF-β signaling in carcinogenesis, cancer invasion, and metastasis will provide novel basic insight for diagnosis and prognosis and the development of new molecularly targeted therapies for gastrointestinal cancers. In this review, we outline an overview of the complex mechanisms and functions of TGF-β signaling. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potentials of targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway for gastrointestinal cancer treatment and discuss the remaining challenges and future perspectives on targeting this pathway.

Therapeutic targeting of microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases

Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) is a member of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family, phosphorylates the microtubule-connected proteins and plays a vital role in causing cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. This kinase modulates multiple signaling pathways, including mammalian target of rapamycin, nuclear factor-κB, and Hippo-signaling, presumably responsible for cancer and Alzheimer's. MARK4 acts as a negative controller of the Hippo-kinase cassette for promoting YAP/TAZ action, and the loss of MARK4 detains the tumorigenic properties of cancer cells. MARK4 is involved in tau hyperphosphorylation that consequently affects neurodegeneration. MARK4 is a promising drug target for cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. Developing the potent and selective inhibitors of MAKR4 are promising in the therapeutic management of associated diseases. Despite its great significance, a few reviews are available to discuss its structure, function and clinical significance. In the current review, we aimed to provide detailed information on the structural features of MARK4 targeted in drug development and its role in various signaling pathways related to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We further described the therapeutic potential of MARK4 inhibitors in preventing numerous diseases. Finally, the updated information on MARK4 will be helpful in the further development of effective therapeutic molecules.

SMAD Proteins in TGF-β Signalling Pathway in Cancer: Regulatory Mechanisms and Clinical Applications

Suppressor of mother against decapentaplegic (SMAD) family proteins are central to one of the most versatile cytokine signalling pathways in metazoan biology, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway. The TGF-β pathway is widely known for its dual role in cancer progression as both an inhibitor of tumour cell growth and an inducer of tumour metastasis. This is mainly mediated through SMAD proteins and their cofactors or regulators. SMAD proteins act as transcription factors, regulating the transcription of a wide range of genes, and their rich post-translational modifications are influenced by a variety of regulators and cofactors. The complex role, mechanisms, and important functions of SMAD proteins in tumours are the hot topics in current oncology research. In this paper, we summarize the recent progress on the effects and mechanisms of SMAD proteins on tumour development, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and provide clues for subsequent research on SMAD proteins in tumours.

Salivary and fecal microbiota: potential new biomarkers for early screening of colorectal polyps

Objective

Gut microbiota plays an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis through microbes and their metabolites, while oral pathogens are the major components of CRC-associated microbes. Multiple studies have identified gut and fecal microbiome-derived biomarkers for precursors lesions of CRC detection. However, few studies have used salivary samples to predict colorectal polyps. Therefore, in order to find new noninvasive colorectal polyp biomarkers, we searched into the differences in fecal and salivary microbiota between patients with colorectal polyps and healthy controls.

Methods

In this case-control study, we collected salivary and fecal samples from 33 patients with colorectal polyps (CP) and 22 healthy controls (HC) between May 2021 and November 2022. All samples were sequenced using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing and compared with the Nucleotide Sequence Database. The salivary and fecal microbiota signature of colorectal polyps was established by alpha and beta diversity, Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) and random forest model analysis. In addition, the possibility of microbiota in identifying colorectal polyps was assessed by Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC).

Results

In comparison to the HC group, the CP group's microbial diversity increased in saliva and decreased in feces (p < 0.05), but there was no significantly difference in microbiota richness (p > 0.05). The principal coordinate analysis revealed significant differences in β-diversity of salivary and fecal microbiota between the CP and HC groups. Moreover, LEfSe analysis at the species level identified Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Leptotrichia wadei, Prevotella intermedia, and Megasphaera micronuciformis as the major contributors to the salivary microbiota, and Ruminococcus gnavus, Bacteroides ovatus, Parabacteroides distasonis, Citrobacter freundii, and Clostridium symbiosum to the fecal microbiota of patients with polyps. Salivary and fecal bacterial biomarkers showed Area Under ROC Curve of 0.8167 and 0.8051, respectively, which determined the potential of diagnostic markers in distinguishing patients with colorectal polyps from controls, and it increased to 0.8217 when salivary and fecal biomarkers were combined.

Conclusion

The composition and diversity of the salivary and fecal microbiota were significantly different in colorectal polyp patients compared to healthy controls, with an increased abundance of harmful bacteria and a decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria. A promising non-invasive tool for the detection of colorectal polyps can be provided by potential biomarkers based on the microbiota of the saliva and feces.

Mouse models in colon cancer, inferences, and implications

Mouse models of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been crucial in the identification of the role of genes responsible for the full range of pathology of the human disease and have proved to be dependable for testing anti-cancer drugs. Recent research points toward the relevance of tumor, angiogenic, and immune microenvironments in CRC progression to late-stage disease, as well as the treatment of it. This study examines important mouse models in CRC, discussing inherent strengths and weaknesses disclosed during their construction. It endeavors to provide both a synopsis of previous work covering how investigators have defined various models and to evaluate critically how researchers are most likely to use them in the future. Accumulated evidence regarding the metastatic process and the hope of using checkpoint inhibitors and immunological inhibitor therapies points to the need for a genetically engineered mouse model that is both immunocompetent and autochthonous.

How the interplay among the tumor microenvironment and the gut microbiota influences the stemness of colorectal cancer cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most prevalent cancer disease and involves a multi-step process in which intestinal cells acquire malignant characteristics. It is well established that the appearance of distal metastasis in CRC patients is the cause of a poor prognosis and treatment failure. Nevertheless, in the last decades, CRC aggressiveness and progression have been attributed to a specific cell population called CRC stem cells (CCSC) with features like tumor initiation capacity, self-renewal capacity, and acquired multidrug resistance. Emerging data highlight the concept of this cell subtype as a plastic entity that has a dynamic status and can be originated from different types of cells through genetic and epigenetic changes. These alterations are modulated by complex and dynamic crosstalk with environmental factors by paracrine signaling. It is known that in the tumor niche, different cell types, structures, and biomolecules coexist and interact with cancer cells favoring cancer growth and development. Together, these components constitute the tumor microenvironment (TME). Most recently, researchers have also deepened the influence of the complex variety of microorganisms that inhabit the intestinal mucosa, collectively known as gut microbiota, on CRC. Both TME and microorganisms participate in inflammatory processes that can drive the initiation and evolution of CRC. Since in the last decade, crucial advances have been made concerning to the synergistic interaction among the TME and gut microorganisms that condition the identity of CCSC, the data exposed in this review could provide valuable insights into the biology of CRC and the development of new targeted therapies.

CEACAMS 1, 5, and 6 in disease and cancer: interactions with pathogens

The CEA family comprises 18 genes and 11 pseudogenes located at chromosome 19q13.2 and is divided into two main groups: cell surface anchored CEA-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) and the secreted pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs). CEACAMs are highly glycosylated cell surface anchored, intracellular, and intercellular signaling molecules with diverse functions, from cell differentiation and transformation to modulating immune responses associated with infection, inflammation, and cancer. In this review, we explore current knowledge surrounding CEACAM1, CEACAM5, and CEACAM6, highlight their pathological significance in the areas of cancer biology, immunology, and inflammatory disease, and describe the utility of murine models in exploring questions related to these proteins.

Role of Gut Microbiome in Immune Regulation and Immune Checkpoint Therapy of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal malignant tumors worldwide. Immune checkpoint therapies (ICTs) have been proven to be a reliable treatment for some subtypes of CRC. Gut microbiome is closely involved in intestinal carcinogenesis through the regulation of local immune and inflammation of colonic mucosa. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the immunotherapeutic efficacy of CRC and other kinds of cancer is influenced by the immunosuppressive microenvironment constituted by intestinal microbiome and their metabolites. This Review will discuss the recent advances in how gut microbiome can modify the immune microenvironment and its potential role in ICTs of CRC.

The Auxiliary Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Before Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Patients with cancer use low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMF) as a supplement to therapy. However, most studies of LMF are in vitro or conducted using animals. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the gold standard for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This study investigated the quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes of patients with LARC taking LMF as a supplement to neoadjuvant CCRT. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The sample comprised 87 patients, of whom 44 were included in a fucoidan group and 43 were included in a placebo group. We compared their QoL scores and clinical outcomes before treatment, and at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months posttreatment. Pretreatment and posttreatment gut microbiota differences were also compared. Although enhanced physical well-being (PWB) at 2 months and 3 months posttreatment in the fucoidan group were observed (both P < .0125), the improvements of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Patients with Colorectal Cancer (FACT-C) were nonsignificant (all P > .0125). Skin rash and itching and fatigue were less common in the fucoidan group (both P < .05). Posttreatment, the genus Parabacteroides was significantly more common in the gut microbiota of the fucoidan group. LMF administration improved the QoL, skin rash and itching, fatigue, and gut microbiota composition of the patients with LARC receiving CCRT.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04342949.

Oncolytic virus driven T-cell-based combination immunotherapy platform for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, highlighting an urgent need for new therapeutic options and combination strategies for patients. The orchestration of potent T cell responses against human cancers is necessary for effective antitumour immunity. However, regression of a limited number of cancers has been induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors, T cell engagers (TCEs) and/or oncolytic viruses. Although one TCE has been FDA-approved for the treatment of hematological malignancies, many challenges exist for the treatment of solid cancers. Here, we show that TCEs targeting CEACAM5 and CD3 stimulate robust activation of CD4 and CD8-positive T cells in in vitro co-culture models with colorectal cancer cells, but in vivo efficacy is hindered by a lack of TCE retention in the tumour microenvironment and short TCE half-life, as demonstrated by HiBiT bioluminescent TCE-tagging technology. To overcome these limitations, we engineered Bispecific Engager Viruses, or BEVirs, a novel tumour-targeted vaccinia virus platform for intra-tumour delivery of these immunomodulatory molecules. We characterized virus-mediated TCE-secretion, TCE specificity and functionality from infected colorectal cancer cells and patient tumour samples, as well as TCE cytotoxicity in spheroid models, in the presence and absence of T cells. Importantly, we show regression of colorectal tumours in both syngeneic and xenograft mouse models. Our data suggest that a different profile of cytokines may contribute to the pro-inflammatory and immune effects driven by T cells in the tumour microenvironment to provide long-lasting immunity and abscopal effects. We establish combination regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors for aggressive colorectal peritoneal metastases. We also observe a significant reduction in lung metastases of colorectal tumours through intravenous delivery of our oncolytic virus driven T-cell based combination immunotherapy to target colorectal tumours and FAP-positive stromal cells or CTLA4-positive Treg cells in the tumour microenvironment. In summary, we devised a novel combination strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancers using oncolytic vaccinia virus to enhance immune-payload delivery and boost T cell responses within tumours.

Roles of intestinal Parabacteroides in human health and diseases

The stability of gut microbiota is essential for the host health. Parabacteroides spp., core members of the human gut microbiota, have average abundance of 1.27% in the human of 12 populations. Parabacteroides has been recently reported to have a close relationship with host health (E.g., metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and obesity). Parabacteroides have the physiological characteristics of carbohydrate metabolism and secreting SCFAs. However, antimicrobial resistance of Parabacteroides to antibiotic (such as clindamycin, moxifloxacin and cefoxitin) should not be ignored. In this review, we primarily focused on Parabacteroides distasoniss, Parabacteroides goldsteinii, Parabacteroides johnsonii and Parabacteroides merdae and discussed their relationships with host disease, diet and the prevention or induction of diseases. P. distasonis and P. goldsteinii may be viewed as the potential next generation probiotics (NGP) candidate due to their protective effects on inflammation and obesity in mice. We also discussed the potential therapeutic application of Parabacteroides spp. in maintaining host-intestine homeostasis.

Loss of MMR and TGFBR2 Increases the Susceptibility to Microbiota-Dependent Inflammation-Associated Colon Cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes are causative in Lynch syndrome and a significant proportion of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs). MMR-deficient (dMMR) CRCs display increased mutation rates, with mutations frequently accumulating at short repetitive DNA sequences throughout the genome (microsatellite instability). The TGFBR2 gene is one of the most frequently mutated genes in dMMR CRCs. Therefore, we generated an animal model to study how the loss of both TGFBR2 signaling impacts dMMR-driven intestinal tumorigenesis in vivo and explore the impact of the gut microbiota.

METHODS

We generated VCMsh2/Tgfbr2 mice in which Msh2loxP and Tgfbr2loxP alleles are inactivated by Villin-Cre recombinase in the intestinal epithelium. VCMsh2/Tgfbr2 mice were analyzed for their rate of intestinal cancer development and for the mutational spectra and gene expression profiles of tumors. In addition, we assessed the impact of chemically induced chronic inflammation and gut microbiota composition on colorectal tumorigenesis.

RESULTS

VCMsh2/Tgfbr2 mice developed small intestinal adenocarcinomas and CRCs with histopathological features highly similar to CRCs in Lynch syndrome patients. The CRCs in VCMsh2/Tgfbr2 mice were associated with the presence of colitis and displayed genetic and histological features that resembled inflammation-associated CRCs in human patients. The development of CRCs in VCMsh2/Tgfbr2 mice was strongly modulated by the gut microbiota composition, which in turn was impacted by the TGFBR2 status of the tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate a synergistic interaction between MMR and TGFBR2 inactivation in inflammation-associated colon tumorigenesis and highlight the crucial impact of the gut microbiota on modulating the incidence of inflammation-associated CRCs.

Targeting TGF-β signal transduction for fibrosis and cancer therapy

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) has long been identified with its intensive involvement in early embryonic development and organogenesis, immune supervision, tissue repair, and adult homeostasis. The role of TGF-β in fibrosis and cancer is complex and sometimes even contradictory, exhibiting either inhibitory or promoting effects depending on the stage of the disease. Under pathological conditions, overexpressed TGF-β causes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) formation, which leads to fibrotic disease, and cancer. Given the critical role of TGF-β and its downstream molecules in the progression of fibrosis and cancers, therapeutics targeting TGF-β signaling appears to be a promising strategy. However, due to potential systemic cytotoxicity, the development of TGF-β therapeutics has lagged. In this review, we summarized the biological process of TGF-β, with its dual role in fibrosis and tumorigenesis, and the clinical application of TGF-β-targeting therapies.

Ginseng polysaccharides alter the gut microbiota and kynurenine/tryptophan ratio, potentiating the antitumour effect of antiprogrammed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) immunotherapy

OBJECTIVE

Programmed death 1 and its ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) immunotherapy is promising for late-stage lung cancer treatment, however, the response rate needs to be improved. Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in immunotherapy sensitisation and Panax ginseng has been shown to possess immunomodulatory potential. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the combination treatment of ginseng polysaccharides (GPs) and αPD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) could sensitise the response by modulating gut microbiota.

DESIGN

Syngeneic mouse models were administered GPs and αPD-1 mAb, the sensitising antitumour effects of the combination therapy on gut microbiota were assessed by faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and 16S PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. To assess the immune-related metabolites, metabolomics analysis of the plasma samples was performed.

RESULTS

We found GPs increased the antitumour response to αPD-1 mAb by increasing the microbial metabolites valeric acid and decreasing L-kynurenine, as well as the ratio of Kyn/Trp, which contributed to the suppression of regulatory T cells and induction of T_eff cells after combination treatment. Besides, the microbial analysis indicated that the abundance of Parabacteroides distasonis and Bacteroides vulgatus was higher in responders to anti-PD-1 blockade than non-responders in the clinic. Furthermore, the combination therapy sensitised the response to PD-1 inhibitor in the mice receiving microbes by FMT from six non-responders by reshaping the gut microbiota from non-responders towards that of responders.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that GPs combined with αPD-1 mAb may be a new strategy to sensitise non-small cell lung cancer patients to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. The gut microbiota can be used as a novel biomarker to predict the response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

The gut microbiota can orchestrate the signaling pathways in colorectal cancer

Current evidence suggests that bacteria contribute to the development of certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), partly by stimulating chronic inflammation. However, little is known about the bacterial impact on molecular pathways in CRC. Recent studies have demonstrated how specific bacteria can influence the major CRC-related pathways, i.e., Wnt, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, TGF-β, EGFR, mTOR, and p53. In order to advance the current understanding and facilitate the choice of pathways to investigate, we have systematically collected and summarized the current knowledge within bacterial altered major pathways in CRC. Several pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic bacterial species and their respective metabolites interfere with the major signaling pathways addressed in this review. Not surprisingly, some of these studies investigated known CRC drivers, such as Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Bacteroides fragilis. Interestingly, some metabolites produced by bacterial species typically considered pathogenic, e.g., Vibrio cholera, displayed anti-tumorigenic activities, emphasizing the caution needed when classifying healthy and unhealthy microorganisms. The results collectively emphasize the complexity of the relationship between the microbiota and the tumorigenesis of CRC, and future studies should verify these findings in more realistic models, such as organoids, which constitute a promising platform. Moreover, future trials should investigate the clinical potential of preventive modulation of the gut microbiota regarding CRC development.

Classification of Parabacteroides distasonis and other Bacteroidetes using O- antigen virulence gene: RfbA-Typing and hypothesis for pathogenic vs. probiotic strain differentiation

Parabacteroides distasonis (Pdis) is the type species for the new Parabacteroides genus, and a gut commensal of the Bacteroidetes phylum. Emerging reports (primarily based on reference strain/ATCC-8503) concerningly propose that long-known opportunistic pathogen Pdis is a probiotic. We posit there is an urgent need to characterize the pathogenicity of Pdis strain-strain variability. Unfortunately, no methods/insights exist to classify Bacteroidetes for this purpose. Herein, we developed a virulence gene-based classification system for Pdis and Bacteroidetes to facilitate pathogenic-vs-probiotic characterization. We used DNA in silico methods to develop a system based on the virulence (lipopolysaccharide/bacterial wall) 'rfbA O-antigen-synthesis gene'. We then performed phylogenetic analysis of rfbA from fourteen Pdis complete genomes (21 genes), other Parabacteroides, Bacteroidetes, and Enterobacteriaceae; and proposed a PCR-based Restriction-Fragment Length Polymorphism method. Cluster analysis revealed that Pdis can be classified into four lineages (based on gene gaps/insertions) which we designated rfbA-Types I, II, III, and IV. In context, we found 14 additional rfbA-types (I-XVIII) interspersed with numerous Bacteroidetes and pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae forming three major "rfbA-superclusters." For laboratory rfbA-Typing implementation, we developed a PCR-primer strategy to amplify Pdis rfbA genes (100%-specificity) to conduct MboII-RFLP and sub-classify Pdis. In-silico primers for other Bacteroidetes are proposed/discussed. Comparative analysis of lipopolysaccharide/lipid-A gene lpxK confirmed rfbA as highly discriminant. In conclusion, rfbA-Typing classifies Bacteroidetes/Pdis into unique clusters/superclusters given rfbA copy/sequence variability. Analysis revealed that most pathogenic Pdis strains are single-copy rfbA-Type I . The relevance of the rfbA strain variability in disease might depend on their hypothetical modulatory interactions with other O-antigens/lipopolysaccharides and TLR4 lipopolysaccharide-receptors in human/animal cells.

An investigation into the role of inherited CEACAM gene family variants and colorectal cancer risk

Objective

This study was designed to determine if CEACAM mutations are associated with inherited risk of colorectal cancer. Recently, protein-truncating mutations in the CEACAM gene family were associated with inherited breast cancer risk. That discovery, along with aberrant expression of CEACAM genes in colorectal cancer tumors and that colorectal cancer and breast cancer share many risk factors, including genetics, inspired our team to search for inherited CEACAM mutations in colorectal cancer cases. Specifically utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) blood-derived whole-exome sequencing data from the colorectal cancer cohort, rare protein-truncating variants and missense variants were investigated through single variant and aggregation analyses in European American and African American cases and compared to ethnic-matched controls.

Results

A total of 34 and 14 different CEACAM variants were identified in European American and African American colorectal cancer cases, respectively. Nine missense variants were individually associated with risk, two in African Americans and seven in European Americans. No identified protein-truncating variants were associated with CRC risk in either ethnicity. Gene family and gene-specific aggregation analyses did not yield any significant results.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-022-05907-6.

Particle Radiation Side-Effects: Intestinal Microbiota Composition Shapes Interferon-γ-Induced Osteo-Immunogenicity

Microbiota can both negatively and positively impact radiation-induced bone loss. Our prior research showed that compared to mice with conventional gut microbiota (CM), mice with restricted gut microbiota (RM) reduced inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in bone marrow, interleukin (IL)-17 in blood, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in bone marrow under anti-IL-17 treatment. We showed that Muribaculum intestinale was more abundant in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from the small intestine of female RM mice and positively associated with augmented skeletal bone structure. Female C57BL/6J pun RM mice, which were injected with anti-IL-17 antibody one day before exposure to 1.5 Gy 28Si ions of 850 MeV/u, showed high trabecular numbers in tibiae at 6 weeks postirradiation. Irradiated CM mice were investigated for lower interferon-γ and IL-17 levels in the small intestine than RM mice. IL-17 blockage resulted in bacterial indicator phylotypes being different between both microbiota groups before and after irradiation. Analysis of the fecal bacteria were performed in relation to bone quality and body weight, showing reduced tibia cortical thickness in irradiated CM mice (-15%) vs. irradiated RM mice (-9.2%). Correlation analyses identified relationships among trabecular bone parameters (TRI-BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, Tb.Sp) and Bacteroides massiliensis, Muribaculum sp. and Prevotella denticola. Turicibacter sp. was found directly correlated with trabecular separation in anti-IL-17 treated mice, whereas an unidentified Bacteroidetes correlated with trabecular thickness in anti-IL-17 neutralized and radiation-exposed mice. We demonstrated radiation-induced osteolytic damage to correlate with bacterial indicator phylotypes of the intestinal microbiota composition, and these relationships were determined from the previously discovered dose-dependent particle radiation effects on cell proliferation in bone tissue. New translational approaches were designed to investigate dynamic changes of gut microbiota in correlation with conditions of treatment and disease as well as mechanisms of systemic side-effects in radiotherapy.

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 3 facilitates human colon cancer growth and metastasis through the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 3 (P4HA3) has been known to be associated with a variety of human cancers. However, the role of P4HA3 on colon cancer growth and metastasis is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of P4HA3 on the growth and metastasis of colon cancer and its possible molecular mechanism. First of all, we demonstrated that P4HA3 expression was greatly higher in cells and tissues of colon cancer than that in non-tumor tissues and cells, and the prognosis of patients who had higher P4HA3 was distinctively poorer than patients who had lower level of P4HA3. Second, it was shown that P4HA3 knockdown strongly inhibited the migration, proliferation and invasion ability of colon cancer cells. However, P4HA3 over-expression accelerated the abilities. Meanwhile, P4HA3 could promote subcutaneous tumorigenesis in nude mice in vivo. In addition, P4HA3 knockdown significantly decreased mesenchymal markers Vimentin, N-cadherin and Snail expression and increased epithelial marker E-cadherin expression. And conversely, over-expression of P4HA3 produced the opposite effects. In the current study, there was further evidence that down-regulating P4HA3 significantly reduced both TGF-β and its following molecules including p-Smad2 as well as p-Smad3. However, overexpression of P4HA3 showed the opposite effect. In conclusion, this study shows that P4HA3 promotes the human colon cancer growth and metastasis by affecting TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. P4HA3 may become a new target for early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis assessment of colon cancer.

Parabacteroides distasonis: intriguing aerotolerant gut anaerobe with emerging antimicrobial resistance and pathogenic and probiotic roles in human health

Parabacteroides distasonis is the type strain for the genus Parabacteroides, a group of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria that commonly colonize the gastrointestinal tract of numerous species. First isolated in the 1930s from a clinical specimen as Bacteroides distasonis, the strain was re-classified to form the new genus Parabacteroides in 2006. Currently, the genus consists of 15 species, 10 of which are listed as 'validly named' (P. acidifaciens, P. chartae, P. chinchillae, P. chongii, P. distasonis, P. faecis, P. goldsteinii, P. gordonii, P. johnsonii, and P. merdae) and 5 'not validly named' (P. bouchesdurhonensis, P. massiliensis, P. pacaensis, P. provencensis, and P. timonensis) by the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature. The Parabacteroides genus has been associated with reports of both beneficial and pathogenic effects in human health. Herein, we review the literature on the history, ecology, diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and genetics of this bacterium, illustrating the effects of P. distasonis on human and animal health.

Identification of Signature Genes in the PD-1 Relative Gastric Cancer Using a Combined Analysis of Gene Expression and Methylation Data

BACKGROUND

The morbidity and mortality rates for gastric cancer (GC) rank second among all cancers, indicating the serious threat it poses to human health, as well as human life. This study aims to identify the pathways and genes as well as investigate the molecular mechanisms of tumor-related genes in gastric cancer (GC).

METHOD

We compared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in gastric cancer and normal tissue samples using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) and the Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis' pathway annotations were conducted on DMGs and DEGs using a clusterProfiler R package to identify the important functions, as well as the biological processes and pathways involved. The intersection of the two was chosen and defined as differentially methylated and expressed genes (DMEGs). For DMEGs, we used the principal component analysis (PCA) to differentiate gastric cancer from adjacent samples. The linear discriminant analysis method was applied to categorize the samples using DMEGs methylation data and DMEGs expression profiles data and was validated using the leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) method. We plotted the ROC curve for the classification and calculated the AUC (area under the ROC curve) value for a more intuitive view of the classification effect. We also used the NetworkAnalyst 3.0 tool to analyze DMEGs, using DrugBank to acquire information on protein-drug interactions and generate a network map of gene-drug interactions.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 971 DMGs in 188 PD-1 negative and 187 PD-1 positive gastric cancer samples obtained from TCGA. The KEGG and GO enrichment analysis showed the involvement of the regulation of ion transmembrane transport, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, cell-cell junction, and peptidase regulator activity. We simultaneously obtained 1,189 DEGs, out of which 986 were downregulated, while 203 were upregulated in tumors. The enriched analysis of the GO's and KEGG's pathways indicated that the most significant pathways included an intestinal immune network for IgA production, Staphylococcus aureus infection, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor, which have previously been linked with gastric cancer. The compound DB01830 can bind well to the active site of the LCK protein and shows good stability, thus making it a potential inhibitor of the LCK protein. To observe the relationship between DMEGs' expression and prognosis, we observed 10 genes, among which were TRIM29, TSPAN8, EOMES, PPP1R16B, SELL, PCED1B, IYD, JPH1, CEACAM5, and RP11-44K6.2. Their high expressions were related to high risks. Besides, those genes were validated in different internal and external validation sets.

CONCLUSION

These results may provide potential molecular biological therapy for PD-1 negative gastric cancer.

Microbiota Associations with Inflammatory Pathways in Asthma

BACKGROUND

The airway microbiota plays an important role in asthma pathophysiology. However, the relationship between the airway microbiota and asthma phenotypes is still poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to characterize the airway microbiota in asthma patients and determine its correlation with airway inflammatory phenotypes and other phenotypic characteristics.

METHODS

The microbial composition of induced sputum specimens collected from asthma patients was determined using 16S rDNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

Patients with asthma had a higher abundance of bacterial taxa associated with Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria and a reduced abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria compared to healthy controls. This study classified the asthma-associated lung microbiota into three community types based on DMM models, which were defined as three pulmotypes (P1, P2, and P3). The lungs of patients with pulmotype 3 (P3) were dominated by Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides, while patients with pulmotype 1 (P1) had a greater abundance of Pasteurellaceae, Streptococcus, and Rothia. P1 patients were older (p = 0.045) and had lower blood TGF levels (P=0.028). P3 patients had fewer eosinophils (P=0.016) and more neutrophils (P=0.039) in induced sputa than P1 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in asthma-associated airway microbiota pulmotypes are associated with and might influence asthma, particularly inflammatory phenotypes.

CEACAM Gene Family Mutations Associated With Inherited Breast Cancer Risk - A Comparative Oncology Approach to Discovery

Introduction

Recent studies comparing canine mammary tumors (CMTs) and human breast cancers have revealed remarkable tumor similarities, identifying shared expression profiles and acquired mutations. CMTs can also provide a model of inherited breast cancer susceptibility in humans; thus, we investigated breed-specific whole genome sequencing (WGS) data in search for novel CMT risk factors that could subsequently explain inherited breast cancer risk in humans.

Methods

WGS was carried out on five CMT-affected Gold Retrievers from a large pedigree of 18 CMT-affected dogs. Protein truncating variants (PTVs) detected in all five samples (within human orthlogs) were validated and then genotyped in the 13 remaining CMT-affected Golden Retrievers. Allele frequencies were compared to canine controls. Subsequently, human blood-derived exomes from The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer cases were analyzed and allele frequencies were compared to Exome Variant Server ethnic-matched controls.

Results

Carcinoembryonic Antigen-related Cell Adhesion Molecule 24 (CEACAM24) c.247dupG;p.(Val83Glyfs^∗48) was the only validated variant and had a frequency of 66.7% amongst the 18 Golden Retrievers with CMT. This was significant compared to the European Variation Archive (p-value 1.52 × 10^–8) and non-Golden Retriever American Kennel Club breeds (p-value 2.48 × 10^–5). With no direct ortholog of CEACAM24 in humans but high homology to all CEACAM gene family proteins, all human CEACAM genes were investigated for PTVs. A total of six and sixteen rare PTVs were identified in African and European American breast cancer cases, respectively. Single variant assessment revealed five PTVs associated with breast cancer risk. Gene-based aggregation analyses revealed that rare PTVs in CEACAM6, CEACAM7, and CEACAM8 are associated with European American breast cancer risk, and rare PTVs in CEACAM7 are associated with breast cancer risk in African Americans. Ultimately, rare PTVs in the entire CEACAM gene family are associated with breast cancer risk in both European and African Americans with respective p-values of 1.75 × 10^–13 and 1.87 × 10^–04.

Conclusion

This study reports the first association of inherited CEACAM mutations and breast cancer risk, and potentially implicates the whole gene family in genetic risk. Precisely how these mutations contribute to breast cancer needs to be determined; especially considering our current knowledge on the role that the CEACAM gene family plays in tumor development, progression, and metastasis.

SPTBN1 inhibits growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer by downregulating miR-21

SPTBN1 (spectrin beta, non-erythrocytic 1) has been linked to tumor progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the role of SPTBN1 has yet to be investigated in breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the viability, growth, and migration ability of the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and BT549 using CCK-8 assay, xenograft models, and Transwell assays. The expression of SPTBN1, EMT-related genes, and miRNA21 in breast cancer cells and tissues were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot. SPTBN1 staining of breast cancer tissues was analyzed by the Human Protein Atlas databases. Both chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR and immunofluorescence were performed to detect how SPTBN1 regulates miRNA21. Our results showed that the expression of SPTBN1 in primary breast cancer tumors was dramatically lower than that in normal tissues and that lower levels of SPTBN1 were associated with significantly shorter progression-free survival. We also discovered that the loss of SPTBN1 promotes EMT, the viability of MDA-MB-231 and BT549 in vitro, and the growth of MDA-MB-231 tumor xenografts in vivo by upregulating miR-21 level. Furthermore, loss of SPTBN1-mediated miR-21 upregulation was dependent on the stability and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. Therefore, SPTBN1 is a pivotal regulator that inhibits EMT and the growth of breast cancer.

TGF-β Signaling in Liver, Pancreas, and Gastrointestinal Diseases and Cancer

Genetic alterations affecting transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling are exceptionally common in diseases and cancers of the gastrointestinal system. As a regulator of tissue renewal, TGF-β signaling and the downstream SMAD-dependent transcriptional events play complex roles in the transition from a noncancerous disease state to cancer in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas. Furthermore, this pathway also regulates the stromal cells and the immune system, which may contribute to evasion of the tumors from immune-mediated elimination. Here, we review the involvement of the TGF-β pathway mediated by the transcriptional regulators SMADs in disease progression to cancer in the digestive system. The review integrates human genomic studies with animal models that provide clues toward understanding and managing the complexity of the pathway in disease and cancer.

Characterization of TGFβ-associated molecular features and drug responses in gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma

Background

Gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma (GIAD) has caused a serious disease burden globally. Targeted therapy for the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway is becoming a reality. However, the molecular characterization of TGF-β associated signatures in GIAD requires further exploration.

Methods

Multi-omics data were collected from TCGA and GEO database. A pivotal unsupervised clustering for TGF-β level was performed by distinguish status of TGF-β associated genes. We analyzed differential mRNAs, miRNAs, proteins gene mutations and copy number variations in both clusters for comparison. Enrichment of pathways and gene sets were identified in each type of GIAD. Then we performed differential mRNA related drug response by collecting data from GDSC. At last, a summarized deep neural network for TGF-β status and GIADs was constracted.

Results

The TGF-β^high group had a worse prognosis in overall GIAD patients, and had a worse prognosis trend in gastric cancer and colon cancer specifically. Signatures (including mRNA and proteins) of the TGF-β^high group is highly correlated with EMT. According to miRNA analysis, miR-215-3p, miR-378a-5p, and miR-194-3p may block the effect of TGF-β. Further genomic analysis showed that TGF-β^low group had more genomic changes in gastric cancer, such as TP53 mutation, EGFR amplification, and SMAD4 deletion. And drug response dataset revealed tumor-sensitive or tumor-resistant drugs corresponding to TGF-β associated mRNAs. Finally, the DNN model showed an excellent predictive effect in predicting TGF-β status in different GIAD datasets.

Conclusions

We provide molecular signatures associated with different levels of TGF-β to deepen the understanding of the role of TGF-β in GIAD and provide potential drug possibilities for therapeutic targets in different levels of TGF-β in GIAD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-021-01869-4.

Mice with dysfunctional TGF-β signaling develop altered intestinal microbiome and colorectal cancer resistant to 5FU

Emerging data show a rise in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in young men and women that is often chemoresistant. One potential risk factor is an alteration in the microbiome. Here, we investigated the role of TGF-β signaling on the intestinal microbiome and the efficacy of chemotherapy for CRC induced by azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate in mice. We used two genotypes of TGF-β-signaling-deficient mice (Smad4^+/- and Smad4^+/-Sptbn1^+/-), which developed CRC with similar phenotypes and had similar alterations in the intestinal microbiome. Using these mice, we evaluated the intestinal microbiome and determined the effect of dysfunctional TGF-β signaling on the response to the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluoro-uracil (5FU) after induction of CRC. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we determined gut microbiota composition in mice with CRC and found reduced amounts of beneficial species of Bacteroides and Parabacteroides in the mutants compared to the wild-type (WT) mice. Furthermore, the mutant mice with CRC were resistant to 5FU. Whereas the abundances of E. boltae, B.dorei, Lachnoclostridium sp., and Mordavella sp. were significantly reduced in mice with CRC, these species only recovered to basal amounts after 5FU treatment in WT mice, suggesting that the alterations in the intestinal microbiome resulting from compromised TGF-β signaling impaired the response to 5FU. These findings could have implications for inhibiting the TGF-β pathway in the treatment of CRC or other cancers.

Aurora B kinase: a potential drug target for cancer therapy

BACKGROUND

Ensuring genetic integrity is essential during the cell cycle to avoid aneuploidy, one of the underlying causes of malignancies. Aurora kinases are serine/threonine kinase that play a vital role in maintaining the genomic integrity of the cells. There are three forms of aurora kinases in the mammalian cells, which are highly conserved and act together with several other proteins to control chromosome alignment and its equal distribution to daughter cells in mitosis and meiosis.

METHODS

We provide here a detailed analysis of Aurora B kinase (ABK) in terms of its expression, structure, function, disease association and potential therapeutic implications.

RESULTS

ABK plays an instrumental in mitotic entry, chromosome condensation, spindle assembly, cytokinesis, and abscission. Small-molecule inhibitors of ABK are designed and synthesized to control cancer progression. A detailed understanding of ABK pathophysiology in different cancers is of great significance in designing and developing effective therapeutic strategies.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we have discussed the physiological significance of ABK followed by its role in cancer progression. We further highlighted available small-molecule inhibitors to control the tumor proliferation and their mechanistic insights.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen: A Potential Biomarker to Evaluate the Severity and Prognosis of COVID-19

Background and Objectives: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a serious pandemic disease worldwide. Identification of biomarkers to predict severity and prognosis is urgently needed for early medical intervention due to high mortality of critical cases with COVID-19. This retrospective study aimed to indicate the values of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in evaluating the severity and prognosis of COVID-19. Methods: We included 46 death cases from intensive care unit and 68 discharged cases from ordinary units with confirmed COVID-19 of Wuhan Jin Yin-tan Hospital from January 1 to March 22, 2020. Laboratory and radiologic data were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were followed up until April 10, 2020. Results: COVID-19 patients in the death group had significantly higher CEA levels (ng/ml) than discharged group (14.80 ± 14.20 vs. 3.80 ± 2.43, P < 0.001). The risk of COVID-19 death increased 1.317 times for each additional 1 ng/ml CEA level (OR = 1.317, 95% CI: 1.099-1.579). The standardized and weighted receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis adjusted to age, sex, and ferritin levels suggested that the area under the curve (AUC) of the serum CEA levels was 0.808 in discrimination between death cases and discharged cases with COVID-19 (P < 0.001). We found mortality of COVID-19 is associated with elevated CEA levels increased (HR = 1.023, 95% CI: 1.005-1.042), as well as age (HR = 1.050, 95% CI: 1.016-1.086) and ferritin levels (HR = 1.001, 95% CI: 1.001-1.002) by survival analysis of Cox regression model. Among discharged patients, CEA levels were significant lower in moderate cases compared to the severe and critical cases (P = 0.005; OR = 0.488, 95% CI: 0.294-0.808) from binary logistic regression analysis. The AUC of CEA levels was 0.79 in distinguishing moderate cases from discharged COVID-19 patients by standardized and weighted ROC analysis (P < 0.001). A positive correlation between CEA levels and CT scores existed in discharged patients (Correlation Coefficient: 0.687; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Elevated CEA levels increased the risk of death from COVID-19 and CEA levels were related to CT scores of the discharged patients positively.

A Holistic View of Berberine Inhibiting Intestinal Carcinogenesis in Conventional Mice Based on Microbiome-Metabolomics Analysis

Berberine (BBR) has been reported that it has effects on inhibiting colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism of BBR on CRC also remains largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic effects of BBR on CRC from the perspective of gut microbiota and metabolic alterations, which can provide a holistic view to understand the effects of BBR on CRC. First, azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) mouse was used as CRC animal model, then the degree of colorectal carcinogenesis in AOM/DSS mice with or without BBR administration was measured. The composition and abundance of gut microbiota was investigated by using 16S rRNA. Meanwhile, feces samples were analyzed with ¹H NMR spectroscopy to investigate the metabolic alterations. As a result, BBR significantly reduced intestinal tumor development with lower macroscopic polyps and ki-67 expression of intestinal tissue, and better colonic morphology in mice. Moreover, BBR altered the composition of gut microbiota in AOM/DSS mice obviously, which were characterized by a decrease of Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia significantly at the phylum level. At the genus level, it was able to suppress pathogenic species, such as f_Erysipelotrichaceae, Alistipes, and elevate some short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing bacteria, including Alloprevotella, Flavonifractor, and Oscillibacter. Metabolic data further revealed that BBR induced metabolic changes in feces focus on regulating glycometabolism, SCFA metabolism and amino acid metabolism, which also provides evidence for alteration of the microbiota because these feces metabolites are the products of interactions between the host and the microbial community. This study showed that BBR induced alterations in microbiota and metabolic in AOM/DSS mice, which might providing new insight into the inhibition effects of BBR on CRC.

Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells in the Progression to Liver Metastasis

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality. Tumorigenesis is a dynamic process wherein cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their microenvironment promote initiation, progression, and metastasis. Metastatic colonization is an inefficient process that is very complex and is poorly understood; however, in most cases, metastatic disease is not curable, and resistance mechanisms tend to develop against conventional treatments. An understanding of the underlying mechanisms and factors that contribute to the development of metastasis in CRC can aid in the search for specific therapeutic targets for improving standard treatments. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding tumor biology and the use of stroma cells as prognostic factors and inflammatory inducers associated with the use of tumor microenvironments as a promoter of cancer metastasis. Moreover, we look into the importance of CSC, pericytes, and circulating tumor cells as mechanisms that lead to liver metastasis, and we also focus on the cellular and molecular pathways that modulate and regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Finally, we discuss a novel therapeutic target that can potentially eliminate CSCs as a CRC treatment.