Thymoquinone inhibits lung cancer stem cell properties via triggering YAP degradation

Thymoquinone and Metabolic Reprogramming in Breast Cancer: A New Dimension From Proteomic Analysis

Thymoquinone (TQ) has shown antitumorigenic effects in breast cancer; however, its detailed impact on cell signaling mechanisms requires further investigation. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind TQ's antiproliferative effects in breast cancer by analyzing proteome-level changes. MCF-7 cells were treated with 15 µM TQ, the inhibitory concentration (IC50), for 48 h. Proteins from treated and untreated (control) groups were isolated and subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proteomic analysis. Identified proteins were functionally annotated, with hub proteins identified using Cytoscape software, and verification conducted through Western blot analysis. Label-free quantitation identified 629 master proteins, with 104 upregulated and 477 downregulated in TQ-treated samples compared to controls. Among these, 150 proteins showed dramatic regulation, including 11 upregulated and 139 downregulated proteins, with ribosomal proteins emerging as central. The heatmap demonstrated robust clustering of replicates. Functional annotations indicated that TQ significantly impacts crucial mechanisms such as carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, protein synthesis, and the citrate cycle, essential for metabolic reprogramming. This study identifies novel molecular targets associated with metabolic reprogramming, previously underexplored in TQ's effects, highlighting their pivotal role in TQ's anticancer mechanisms in breast cancer. These findings could lay the groundwork for developing future TQ-based therapies.

Inhibition of the AURKA/YAP1 axis is a promising therapeutic option for overcoming cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer stem cells

BACKGROUND

Primary resistance to anti-EGFR therapies affects 40% of metastatic colorectal cancer patients harbouring wild-type RAS/RAF. YAP1 activation is associated with this resistance, prompting an investigation into AURKA's role in mediating YAP1 phosphorylation at Ser397, as observed in breast cancer.

METHODS

We used transcriptomic analysis along with in vitro and in vivo models of RAS/RAF wild-type CRC to study YAP1 Ser397 phosphorylation as a potential biomarker for cetuximab resistance. We assessed cetuximab efficacy using CCK8 proliferation assays and cell cycle analysis. Additionally, we examined the effects of AURKA inhibition with alisertib and created a dominant-negative YAP1 Ser397 mutant to assess its impact on cancer stem cell features.

RESULTS

The RAS/RAF wild-type CRC models exhibiting primary resistance to cetuximab prominently displayed elevated YAP1 phosphorylation at Ser397 primarily mediated by AURKA. AURKA-induced YAP1 phosphorylation was identified as a key trigger for cancer stem cell reprogramming. Consequently, we found that AURKA inhibition had the capacity to effectively restore cetuximab sensitivity and concurrently suppress the cancer stem cell phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

AURKA inhibition holds promise as a therapeutic approach to overcome cetuximab resistance in RAS/RAF wild-type colorectal cancer, offering a potential means to counter the development of cancer stem cell phenotypes associated with cetuximab resistance.

Thymoquinone: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and is responsible for approximately one million deaths each year. The current standard of care is surgical resection of the lesion and chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, of concern is the increasing incidence in an increasingly younger patient population and the ability of CRC cells to develop resistance to 5-FU. In this review, we discuss the effects of thymoquinone (TQ), one of the main bioactive components of Nigella sativa seeds, on CRC, with a particular focus on the use of TQ in combination therapy with other chemotherapeutic agents. TQ exhibits anti-CRC activity by inducing a proapoptotic effect and inhibiting proliferation, primarily through its effect on the regulation of signaling pathways crucial for tumor progression and oxidative stress. TQ can be used synergistically with chemotherapeutic agents to enhance their anticancer effects and to influence the expression of signaling pathways and other genes important in cancer development. These data appear to be most relevant for co-treatment with 5-FU. We believe that TQ is a suitable candidate for consideration in the chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy for CRC, but further studies, including clinical trials, are needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in the treatment of cancer.