GANT61 suppresses cell survival, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition through inactivating AKT/mTOR and JAK/STAT3 pathways in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Circular RNAs: characteristics, functions, mechanisms, and potential applications in thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine malignancies, and its incidence has increased globally. Despite extensive research, the underlying molecular mechanisms of TC remain partially understood, warranting continued exploration of molecular markers for diagnostic and prognostic applications. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently garnered significant attention owing to their distinct roles in cancers. This review article introduced the classification and biological functions of circRNAs and summarized their potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers in TC. Further, the interplay of circRNAs with PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK/ERK, Notch, JAK/STAT, and AMPK pathways is elaborated upon. The article culminates with an examination of circRNA's role in drug resistance of TC and highlights the challenges in circRNA research in TC.

Ruxolitinib induces apoptosis and pyroptosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer via the transcriptional inhibition of DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) has a 100% disease-specific mortality rate. The JAK1/2-STAT3 pathway presents a promising target for treating hematologic and solid tumors. However, it is unknown whether the JAK1/2-STAT3 pathway is activated in ATC, and the anti-cancer effects and the mechanism of action of its inhibitor, ruxolitinib (Ruxo, a clinical JAK1/2 inhibitor), remain elusive. Our data indicated that the JAK1/2-STAT3 signaling pathway is significantly upregulated in ATC tumor tissues than in normal thyroid and papillary thyroid cancer tissues. Apoptosis and GSDME-pyroptosis were observed in ATC cells following the in vitro and in vivo administration of Ruxo. Mechanistically, Ruxo suppresses the phosphorylation of STAT3, resulting in the repression of DRP1 transactivation and causing mitochondrial fission deficiency. This deficiency is essential for activating caspase 9/3-dependent apoptosis and GSDME-mediated pyroptosis within ATC cells. In conclusion, our findings indicate DRP1 is directly regulated and transactivated by STAT3; this exhibits a novel and crucial aspect of JAK1/2-STAT3 on the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics. In ATC, the transcriptional inhibition of DRP1 by Ruxo hampered mitochondrial division and triggered apoptosis and GSDME-pyroptosis through caspase 9/3-dependent mechanisms. These results provide compelling evidence for the potential therapeutic effectiveness of Ruxo in treating ATC.

RARγ promotes the invasion and metastasis of thyroid carcinoma by activating the JAK1-STAT3-CD24/MMPs axis

The nuclear receptor superfamily RAR is generally considered to play a crucial role in the development of tumors by regulating the transcription of target genes. Nevertheless, whether RARγ performs tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressing functions and its specific mechanism in thyroid carcinoma (TC) remain unknown. Here, our study demonstrated that RARγ was abnormally overexpressed in TC tissues compared with normal thyroid tissues. Moreover, RARγ expression was remarkably correlated with cell phenotypes such as cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, RARγ knockdown effectively decreased the phosphorylation levels of JAK1 and STAT3, leading to decreased expression of the membrane protein CD24. In a coculture system, TC cells with high levels of CD24 in the membrane were more likely to escape phagocytosis by macrophages via the combination of CD24 with the inhibitory receptor Siglec-10 in the membrane of macrophages. In contrast, the ability of macrophages to engulf TC cells was notably elevated through exogenous addition of CD24 antibody. Collectively, our study revealed a previously undiscovered molecular mechanism of RARγ in promoting the development of TC, shedding light on RARγ as a promising therapeutic target for TC.

Oncogenic KRASG12D Reprograms Lipid Metabolism by Upregulating SLC25A1 to Drive Pancreatic Tumorigenesis

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease with obesity as one of the risk factors. Oncogenic KRAS mutations are prevalent in pancreatic cancer and can rewire lipid metabolism by altering fatty acid (FA) uptake, FA oxidation (FAO), and lipogenesis. Identification of the underlying mechanisms could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for treating KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer. Here, we observed that KRASG12D upregulated the expression of SLC25A1, a citrate transporter that is a key metabolic switch to mediate FAO, fatty acid synthesis, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis. In genetically engineered mouse models and human pancreatic cancer cells, KRASG12D induced SLC25A1 upregulation via GLI1, which directly stimulated SLC25A1 transcription by binding its promoter. The enhanced expression of SLC25A1 increased levels of cytosolic citrate, FAs, and key enzymes in lipid metabolism. In addition, a high-fat diet (HFD) further stimulated the KRASG12D-GLI1-SLC25A1 axis and the associated increase in citrate and FAs. Pharmacologic inhibition of SLC25A1 and upstream GLI1 significantly suppressed pancreatic tumorigenesis in KrasG12D/+ mice on a HFD. These results reveal a KRASG12D-GLI1-SLC25A1 regulatory axis, with SLC25A1 as an important node that regulates lipid metabolism during pancreatic tumorigenesis, thus indicating an intervention strategy for oncogenic KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer.

SIGNIFICANCE

Upregulation of SLC25A1 induced by KRASG12D-GLI1 signaling rewires lipid metabolism and is exacerbated by HFD to drive the development of pancreatic cancer, representing a targetable metabolic axis to suppress pancreatic tumorigenesis.

The Role of Inflammation-Associated Factors in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which originates in the head or neck tissues, is characterized by high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Inflammation is important in HNSCC prognosis. Inflammatory cells and their secreted factors contribute to the various stages of HNSCC development through multiple mechanisms. In this review, the mechanisms through which inflammatory factors, signaling pathways, and cells contribute to the initiation and progression of HNSCC have been discussed in detail. Furthermore, the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of targeting inflammation in HNSCC has been discussed to gain new insights into improving patient prognosis.

STAC1 is required for glioblastoma cell invasion and survival

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving GBM tumorigenesis is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the role of STAC1, a gene belonging to the SH3 and cysteine-rich domain family, in glioblastoma cell invasion and survival. Computational analyses of patient samples reveal that STAC1 expression is elevated in GBM tissues, and higher STAC1 expression is associated with lower overall survival rates. Consistently, we find that overexpression of STAC1 in glioblastoma cells enhances invasion, while knockdown of STAC1 reduces invasion and the expression of genes associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). STAC1 depletion also induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, we show that STAC1 regulates AKT and calcium channel signaling in glioblastoma cells. Collectively, our study provides valuable insights into the pathogenic roles of STAC1 in GBM and highlights its potential as a promising target for the treatment of high-grade glioblastoma.

[SLC12A8 promotes proliferation, invasiveness, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of bladder cancer cells by activating JAK/STAT singaling]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of solute carrier family 12 member A8 (SLC12A8) in regulation of biological behaviors of bladder cancer and the mechanism mediating its effect.

METHODS

The TCGA database was used to analyze SLC12A8 expression in bladder cancer and is correlation with prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients. In different bladder cancer cell lines, the effects of transient transfection with SLC12A8 siRNA on cell proliferation, invasion and migration ability were examined using CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay and scratch experiment. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was carried out to analyze pathway enrichment. The correlation of SLC12A8 with the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers was analyzed using Western blotting. The effect of colivelin on biological behaviors of the cells with SLC12A8 knockdown was assessed using CCK-8 and Transwell assays.

RESULTS

SLC12A8 was highly expressed in bladder cancer (P<0.05) and associated with a poor prognosis and advanced pathological stages of the patients (P<0.05), and could serve as an independent prognostic factor. The bladder cancer cell lines with SLC12A8 knockdown showed significantly attenuated proliferation, invasion and migration capacities (P<0.05). GSEA identified significant gene enrichment in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway (P=0.008). Correlation analysis showed that SLC12A8 expression was negatively correlated with E- cadherin expression (r=-0.167, P<0.001) but positively with N-cadherin (r=0.306, P<0.001) and vimentin (r=0.358, P<0.001) expressions. The bladder cancer cells with SLC12A8 knockdown showed significantly decreased expressions of p-Jak2, p-Stat3, N-cadherin and vimentin proteins with an increased expression of E-cadherin. Treatment with colivelin effectively enhanced proliferation, invasion and migration capacities of the bladder cancer cells with SLC12A8 knockdown (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

SLC12A8 promotes bladder cancer progression by activating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and its high expression is closely associated with a poor prognosis of the patients.

Ouabain Effects on Human Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma 8505C Cells

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare, but aggressive, carcinoma derived from follicular cells. While conventional treatments may improve patients' survival, the lethality remains high. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective ATC treatments. Cardiotonic steroids, such as ouabain, have been shown to have therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. Thus, we aimed to evaluate ouabain's effects in human anaplastic thyroid cells. For this, 8505C cells were cultured in the presence or absence of ouabain. Viability, cell death, cell cycle, colony formation and migratory ability were evaluated in ouabain-treated and control 8505C cells. The expression of differentiation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, as well as IL-6, TGFb1 and their respective receptors were also quantified in these same cells. Our results showed that ouabain in vitro decreased the number of viable 8505C cells, possibly due to an inhibition of proliferation. A reduction in migration was also observed in ouabain-treated 8505C cells. In contrast, decreased mRNA levels of PAX8 and TTF1 differentiation markers and increased levels of the N-cadherin EMT marker, as well as IL-6 and TGFb1, were found in ouabain-treated 8505C cells. In short, ouabain may have anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effect on 8505C cells, but maintains an aggressive and undifferentiated profile.

Platycodin D sensitizes KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer cells to cetuximab by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor that blocks downstream signaling pathways of receptor tyrosine kinases, including Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K/Akt, thereby inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing cancer cell apoptosis. Owing to KRAS mutations, the effectiveness of cetuximab is usually limited by intrinsic drug resistance. Continuous activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is another reason for cetuximab resistance. Platycodin-D, a bioactive compound isolated from the Chinese herb Platycodon grandiflorum, regulates Akt in different trends based on tissue types. To investigate whether platycodin-D can sensitize KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer cells to cetuximab by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, HCT116 and LoVo cells were treated with cetuximab and platycodin-D. LY294002 and SC79 were used to regulate Akt to further evaluate whether platycodin-D sensitizes cells to cetuximab by inhibiting Akt. Our results confirmed that platycodin-D increased the cytotoxic effects of cetuximab, including inhibition of growth, migration, and invasion, via downregulation of PI3K and Akt phosphorylation in HCT116 and LoVo cells both in vitro and in vivo. Given these data, platycodin-D may sensitize KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer cells to cetuximab via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

PIKE-A Modulates Mitochondrial Metabolism through Increasing SDHA Expression Mediated by STAT3/FTO Axis

Previous studies have shown that phosphoinositide 3-kinase enhancer-activating Akt (PIKE-A) is involved in the regulation of several biological processes in cancer. In our previous study, we demonstrated a crucial function of PIKE-A in cancer energy metabolism by regulating pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) flux. However, whether PIKE-A regulates energy metabolism through affecting mitochondrial changes are poorly understood. In the present study, we show that PIKE-A promotes mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to increasing proliferation of glioblastoma cell. Mechanistically, PIKE-A affects the expression of respiratory chain complex Ⅱ succinate dehydrogenase A (SDHA), mediated by regulating the axis of STAT3/FTO. Taken together, these results revealed that inhibition of PIKE-A reduced STAT3/FTO/SDHA expression, leading to the suppression of mitochondrial function. Thus, our findings suggest the PIKE-A/STAT3/FTO/SDHA axis as promising anti-cancer treatment targets.

Network Pharmacology-Integrated Molecular Docking Reveals the Expected Anticancer Mechanism of Picrorhizae Rhizoma Extract

This study sought to explore the anticancer mechanism of Picrorhizae Rhizoma (PR) extract based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. The potential chemicals of PR were screened through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and relevant literatures. Corresponding targets of active ingredients were found with the help of the UniProtKB database, and therapeutic targets for cancer action were screened with the help of the GeneCards database. We used Cytoscape software to construct the compound-target-pathway network of PR extract. We utilized the STRING database to obtain the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. We used DAVID database combining Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, molecular docking was employed for initial efficacy checking. We have identified 16 potential active components of PR through screening, involving 112 disease action targets. Utilizing the GeneCards database, 112 intersecting targets between PR extract and cancer were found, which mainly exerts anticancer effects by regulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF), recombinant caspase 3 (CASP3), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)/JUN, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and estrogen receptor-1 (ESR1) with some other target genes and pathways associated with cancer. The major anticancer species are prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, small cell lung cancer, etc. In the molecular docking study, herbactin had a strong affinity for TNF. Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking studies, PR and their compounds have demonstrated potential anticancer activities against several key targets. Our preliminary findings provide a strong foundation for further experiments with PR constituents.