Aberrant activation of hepatocyte growth factor/MET signaling promotes β-catenin-mediated prostatic tumorigenesis

Androgen deprivation induces double-null prostate cancer via aberrant nuclear export and ribosomal biogenesis through HGF and Wnt activation

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) targeting androgen/androgen receptor (AR)- signaling pathways is the main therapy for advanced prostate cancer (PCa). However, ADT eventually fails in most patients who consequently develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). While more potent AR antagonists and blockers for androgen synthesis were developed to improve clinical outcomes, they also show to induce more diverse CRPC phenotypes. Specifically, the AR- and neuroendocrine-null PCa, DNPC, occurs in abiraterone and enzalutamide-treated patients. Here, we uncover that current ADT induces aberrant HGF/MET signaling activation that further elevates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in human DNPC samples. Co-activation of HGF/MET and Wnt/β-catenin axes in mouse prostates induces DNPC-like lesions. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses identify increased expression and activity of XPO1 and ribosomal proteins in mouse DNPC-like cells. Elevated expression of XPO1 and ribosomal proteins is also identified in clinical DNPC specimens. Inhibition of XPO1 and ribosomal pathways represses DNPC growth in both in vivo and ex vivo conditions, evidencing future therapeutic targets.

Amazing roles of extrachromosomal DNA in cancer progression

In cancers, extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) has gained renewed interest since its first discovery, presenting its roles in tumorigenesis. Because of the unique structure and genetic characteristics, extrachromosomal DNA shed new light on development, early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cancers. Occurs in cancer cells, extrachromosomal DNA, one dissociative circular extrachromosomal element, drives the amplification of oncogenes, promotes the transcription and lifts tumor heterogeneity to participate in tumorigenesis. Given its role act as messenger, extrachromosomal DNA is connected with drug resistance, tumor microenvironment, germline and aging. The diversity of space and time gives extrachromosomal DNA a crucial role in cancer progression that has been ignored for decades. Thus, in this review, we will focus on some unique information of extrachromosomal DNA and the regulation of oncogenes as well as its roles and possible mechanisms in tumorigenesis, which are of great significance for us to understand extrachromosomal DNA comprehensively in carcinogenic mechanism.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of New Mesenchymal–Epithelial Transition Factor (c-Met) Kinase Inhibitors with Dual Chiral Centers

A series of tepotinib derivatives with two chiral centers was designed, synthesized, and evaluated as anticancer agents. The optimal compound (R, S)-12a strongly exhibited antiproliferative activity against MHCC97H cell lines with an IC50 value of 0.002 μM, compared to tepotinib (IC50 = 0.013 μM). Mechanistic studies revealed that compound (R, S)-12a significantly inhibited c-Met activation, as well as the downstream AKT signaling pathway, and suppressed wound closure. Moreover, compound (R, S)-12a induced cellular apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in a dose-dependent fashion.

The contributions of extrachromosomal DNA elements in neoplasm progression

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is a small, circular structure of DNA found outside chromosomes, in the cytoplasm and outside cells. Since the discovery of ecDNA in 1964, more studies have verified the significant prospect and application potential of its use in oncology. The presence of ecDNA is associated with a series of tumor activities such as the increasing or decreasing of oncogene copies, carcinogenic transmission, and activation of related signaling pathways. This review focuses on discussing the structure of ecDNA and its relevance in carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, drug resistance and metastasis.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Oral Carcinogenesis

Oral carcinogenesis is a complex and multifactorial process that involves cumulative genetic and molecular alterations, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation, impaired DNA repair and defective cell death. At the early stages, the onset of potentially malignant lesions in the oral mucosa, or oral dysplasia, is associated with higher rates of malignant progression towards carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Efforts have been made to get insights about signaling pathways that are deregulated in oral dysplasia, as these could be translated into novel markers and might represent promising therapeutic targets. In this context, recent evidence underscored the relevance of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in oral dysplasia, as this pathway is progressively "switched on" through the different grades of dysplasia (mild, moderate and severe dysplasia), with the consequent nuclear translocation of β-catenin and expression of target genes associated with the maintenance of representative traits of oral dysplasia, namely cell proliferation and viability. Intriguingly, recent studies provide an unanticipated connection between active β-catenin signaling and deregulated endosome trafficking in oral dysplasia, highlighting the relevance of endocytic components in oral carcinogenesis. This review summarizes evidence about the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the underlying mechanisms that account for its aberrant activation in oral carcinogenesis.

Resveratrol Suppresses Prostate Cancer Epithelial Cell Scatter/Invasion by Targeting Inhibition of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) Secretion by Prostate Stromal Cells and Upregulation of E-cadherin by Prostate Cancer Epithelial Cells

Cancer mortality is primarily attributed to metastasis and the resulting compromise of organs secondary to the initial tumor site. Metastasis is a multi-step process in which the tumor cells must first acquire a migratory phenotype and invade through the surrounding tissue for spread to distant organs in the body. The ability of malignant cells to migrate and breach surrounding tissue/matrix barriers is among the most daunting challenges to disease management for men in the United States diagnosed with prostate cancer (CaP), especially since, at diagnosis, a high proportion of patients already have occult or clinically-detectable metastasis. The interaction between hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secreted by the stroma, with its receptor c-Met located in the epithelium, must occur for epithelial CaP cells to become migratory. We studied the effects of grape-derived phytochemical resveratrol on the transition of epithelial tumor cells from sedentary to a mobile, penetrant phenotype. A time lapse microscopy assay was used to monitor the acquisition of the migratory phenotype by resveratrol. The results show that resveratrol inhibits HGF-mediated interaction between the stroma and epithelium and suppresses epithelial CaP cell migration by attenuating the control of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).