|
1
|
Hu C, Chen Q, Wu T, Du X, Dong Y, Peng Z, Xue W, Sunkara V, Cho YK, Dong L. The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311071. [PMID: 38639331 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) has become a public health concern in elderly men due to an ever-increasing number of estimated cases. Unfortunately, the available treatments are unsatisfactory because of a lack of a durable response, especially in advanced disease states. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayer encircled nanoscale vesicles that carry numerous biomolecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids), mediating the transfer of information. The past decade has witnessed a wide range of EV applications in both diagnostics and therapeutics. First, EV-based non-invasive liquid biopsies provide biomarkers in various clinical scenarios to guide treatment; EVs can facilitate the grading and staging of patients for appropriate treatment selection. Second, EVs play a pivotal role in pathophysiological processes via intercellular communication. Targeting key molecules involved in EV-mediated tumor progression (e.g., proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, immune escape, and drug resistance) is a potential approach for curbing PCa. Third, EVs are promising drug carriers. Naïve EVs from various sources and engineered EV-based drug delivery systems have paved the way for the development of new treatment modalities. This review discusses the recent advancements in the application of EV therapies and highlights EV-based functional materials as novel interventions for PCa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cong Hu
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Tianyang Wu
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Xinxing Du
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yanhao Dong
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zehong Peng
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wei Xue
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Vijaya Sunkara
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Kyoung Cho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
- Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis, Institute for Basic Science Ulsan, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Ziranu P, Pretta A, Aimola V, Cau F, Mariani S, D’Agata AP, Codipietro C, Rizzo D, Dell’Utri V, Sanna G, Moledda G, Cadoni A, Lai E, Puzzoni M, Pusceddu V, Castagnola M, Scartozzi M, Faa G. CD44: A New Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer? Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1569. [PMID: 38672650 PMCID: PMC11048923 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a non-kinase cell surface glycoprotein. It is overexpressed in several cell types, including cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cells overexpressing CD44 exhibit several CSC traits, such as self-renewal, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) capability, and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. The role of CD44 in maintaining stemness and the CSC function in tumor progression is accomplished by binding to its main ligand, hyaluronan (HA). The HA-CD44 complex activates several signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. The CD44 gene regularly undergoes alternative splicing, resulting in the standard (CD44s) and variant (CD44v) isoforms. The different functional roles of CD44s and specific CD44v isoforms still need to be fully understood. The clinicopathological impact of CD44 and its isoforms in promoting tumorigenesis suggests that CD44 could be a molecular target for cancer therapy. Furthermore, the recent association observed between CD44 and KRAS-dependent carcinomas and the potential correlations between CD44 and tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) open new research scenarios for developing new strategies in cancer treatment. This review summarises current research regarding the different CD44 isoform structures, their roles, and functions in supporting tumorigenesis and discusses its therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pina Ziranu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Andrea Pretta
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Valentina Aimola
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (V.A.); (F.C.)
| | - Flaviana Cau
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (V.A.); (F.C.)
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Alessandra Pia D’Agata
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Claudia Codipietro
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Daiana Rizzo
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Veronica Dell’Utri
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Giorgia Sanna
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Giusy Moledda
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Andrea Cadoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Eleonora Lai
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Marco Puzzoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Valeria Pusceddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00013 Rome, Italy;
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS 554 km 4500 Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (A.P.); (S.M.); (A.P.D.); (C.C.); (D.R.); (V.D.); (G.S.); (G.M.); (A.C.); (E.L.); (M.P.); (V.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Gavino Faa
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy;
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Maltseva D, Tonevitsky A. RNA-binding proteins regulating the CD44 alternative splicing. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1326148. [PMID: 38106992 PMCID: PMC10722200 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1326148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is often deregulated in cancer, and cancer-specific isoform switches are part of the oncogenic transformation of cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that isoforms of the multifunctional cell-surface glycoprotein CD44 play different roles in cancer cells as compared to normal cells. In particular, the shift of CD44 isoforms is required for epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and is crucial for the maintenance of pluripotency in normal human cells and the acquisition of cancer stem cells phenotype for malignant cells. The growing and seemingly promising use of splicing inhibitors for treating cancer and other pathologies gives hope for the prospect of using such an approach to regulate CD44 alternative splicing. This review integrates current knowledge about regulating CD44 alternative splicing by RNA-binding proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Maltseva
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Tonevitsky
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
|
4
|
Lambis-Anaya L, Fernández-Ruiz M, Liscano Y, Suarez-Causado A. High OCT4 Expression Might Be Associated with an Aggressive Phenotype in Rectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3740. [PMID: 37509401 PMCID: PMC10378144 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Rectal cancer (RC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms, and cancer stem cells (CSCs) of the intestinal tract have been implicated in its origin. The oncofetal protein OCT4 has been linked to neoplastic processes, but its role and clinical significance in RC are unknown. This study investigates the expression of the stem cell marker OCT4 related to clinical-pathological characteristics and its clinical significance in RC patients. The expression level of stem cell marker OCT4 was analyzed in 22 primary rectal tumors by western blot. The association between OCT4 protein expression and the clinical-pathological features of tumors was evaluated by χ2 test and Fisher's exact test. We demonstrated that the expression of the stem cell marker OCT4 was observed in tumor tissue but not adjacent non-tumor tissue. High expression of the stem cell marker OCT4 was significantly associated with histological differentiation grade (p = 0.039), tumor invasion level (p = 0.004), lymph node involvement (p = 0.044), tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (p = 0.002), and clinical stage (p = 0.021). These findings suggest that high OCT4 expression is associated with a more aggressive RC phenotype, with a greater likelihood of progression and metastasis. These results shed light on the importance of targeting this CSC marker to attenuate RC progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lina Lambis-Anaya
- Grupo Prometeus & Biomedicina Aplicada a las Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena 130014, Colombia
| | - Mashiel Fernández-Ruiz
- Grupo Prometeus & Biomedicina Aplicada a las Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena 130014, Colombia
| | - Yamil Liscano
- Grupo de Investigación en Salud Integral (GISI), Departamento Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia
| | - Amileth Suarez-Causado
- Grupo Prometeus & Biomedicina Aplicada a las Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena 130014, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|