Tadalafil Reverses the Effect of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture System on Stem Cell Features in A549 and SK-MES-1

FTO Promotes the Stemness of Gastric Cancer Cells

The full name of the FTO gene is fat mass and obesity-associated gene. In recent years, it has also been found that FTO is involved in m6A demethylation and regulates the progression of multiple cancers, including gastric cancer. The cancer stem cell theory argues that cancer stem cells are key factors in cancer metastasis, and inhibiting the expression of stemness genes is a good method to inhibit metastasis of gastric cancer. Currently, the role of the FTO gene in regulating stemness of gastric cancer cells is still unclear. By analyzing public databases, it was discovered that FTO gene expression was increased in gastric cancer, and high expression of FTO was associated with poor prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. After gastric cancer stem cells were isolated, it was found that FTO protein expression was increased in gastric cancer stem cells; stemness of gastric cancer cells was reduced after the FTO gene knockdown; subcutaneous tumors of nude mice were smaller than those of the control group after FTO knockdown; and stemness of gastric cancer cells was enhanced after FTO was overexpressed by plasmid. By reviewing additional literature and experimental validation, we found that SOX2 may be the factor by which FTO promotes the stemness of gastric cancer cells. Therefore, it was concluded that FTO could promote the stemness of gastric cancer cells, and targeting FTO may be a potential therapeutic approach for patients with metastatic gastric cancer. CTR number: TOP-IACUC-2021-0123.

In Vitro Drug Repurposing: Focus on Vasodilators

Drug repurposing aims to identify new therapeutic uses for drugs that have already been approved for other conditions. This approach can save time and resources compared to traditional drug development, as the safety and efficacy of the repurposed drug have already been established. In the context of cancer, drug repurposing can lead to the discovery of new treatments that can target specific cancer cell lines and improve patient outcomes. Vasodilators are a class of drugs that have been shown to have the potential to influence various types of cancer. These medications work by relaxing the smooth muscle of blood vessels, increasing blood flow to tumors, and improving the delivery of chemotherapy drugs. Additionally, vasodilators have been found to have antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on cancer cells, making them a promising target for drug repurposing. Research on vasodilators for cancer treatment has already shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies. However, additionally research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action of vasodilators in cancer and determine the optimal dosing and combination therapy for patients. In this review, we aim to explore the molecular mechanisms of action of vasodilators in cancer cell lines and the current state of research on their repurposing as a treatment option. With the goal of minimizing the effort and resources required for traditional drug development, we hope to shed light on the potential of vasodilators as a viable therapeutic strategy for cancer patients.

Extracellular matrix stiffness mediates radiosensitivity in a 3D nasopharyngeal carcinoma model

Purpose

Radiotherapy is one of the essential treatment modalities for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), however, radioresistance still poses challenges. Three-dimensional (3D) tumor culture models mimic the in vivo growth conditions of cells more accurately than 2D models. This study is to compare the tumor biological behaviors of NPC cells in 2D, On-Surface 3D and Embedded 3D systems, and to investigate the correlation between radioresistance and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness.

Methods

The morphology and radioresistance of the human NPC cell line CNE-1 were observed in 2D and 3D systems. The CCK-8 assay, wounding healing assays, flow cytometry, soft agar assays, and western blot analysis were used to evaluate differences in biological behaviors such as proliferation, migration, cell cycle distribution, and stem cell activity. Different ECM stiffness systems were established by co-blending collagen and alginate in varying proportions. ECM stiffness was evaluated by compressive elastic moduli measurement and colony formation assay was used to assess radioresistance of NPC cells in systems with different ECM stiffness after irradiation.

Results

Compared to 2D models, the morphology of NPC cells in 3D culture microenvironments has more in common with in vivo tumor cells and 3D cultured NPC cells exhibit stronger radioresistance. Integrin β1 but not the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition pathway in 3D models boost migration ability. Cell proliferation was enhanced, the proportion of tumor stem cells was increased, and G1/S phase arrest occurred in 3D models. NPC cells cultured in softer ECM systems (with low alginate proportions) exhibit striking resistance to ionizing radiation.

Conclusion

The tumor biological behaviors of NPC cells in 3D groups were obviously different from that of 2D. Radioresistance of NPC cells increased with the stiffness of ECM decreasing.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02787-5.

Pros and Cons of Pharmacological Manipulation of cGMP-PDEs in the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer

The cyclic nucleotides, cAMP and cGMP, are ubiquitous second messengers responsible for translating extracellular signals to intracellular biological responses in both normal and tumor cells. When these signals are aberrant or missing, cells may undergo neoplastic transformation or become resistant to chemotherapy. cGMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are attracting tremendous interest as drug targets for many diseases, including cancer, where they regulate cell growth, apoptosis and sensitization to radio- and chemotherapy. In breast cancer, PDE5 inhibition is associated with increased intracellular cGMP levels, which is responsible for the phosphorylation of PKG and other downstream molecules involved in cell proliferation or apoptosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the most relevant studies regarding the controversial role of PDE inhibitors as off-label adjuvants in cancer therapy.