Functions of cyclin D1 as an oncogene and regulation of cyclin D1 expression

Resilience of weighted networks with dynamical behavior against multi-node removal

In many real-world networks, interactions between nodes are weighted to reflect their strength, such as predator-prey interactions in the ecological network and passenger numbers in airline networks. These weighted networks are prone to cascading effects caused by minor perturbations, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes. This vulnerability highlights the importance of studying weighted network resilience to prevent system collapses. However, due to many variables and weight parameters coupled together, predicting the behavior of such a system governed by a multi-dimensional rate equation is challenging. To address this, we propose a dimension reduction technique that simplifies a multi-dimensional system into a one-dimensional state space. We applied this methodology to explore the impact of weights on the resilience of four dynamics whose weights are assigned by three weight assignment methods. The four dynamical systems are the biochemical dynamical system (B), the epidemic dynamical system (E), the regulatory dynamical system (R), and the birth-death dynamical system (BD). The results show that regardless of the weight distribution, for B, the weights are negatively correlated with the activities of the network, while for E, R, and BD, there is a positive correlation between the weights and the activities of the network. Interestingly, for B, R, and BD, the change in the weights of the system has little impact on the resilience of the system. However, for the E system, the greater the weights the more resilient the system. This study not only simplifies the complexity inherent in weighted networks but also enhances our understanding of their resilience and response to perturbations.

The ERK5 pathway in BRAFV600E melanoma cells plays a role in development of acquired resistance to dabrafenib but not vemurafenib

Malignant melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer with a poor prognosis, frequently features BRAFV600E mutation resulting in activation of the MAPK pathway and melanocyte proliferation and survival. BRAFV600E inhibitors like vemurafenib and dabrafenib have enhanced patient survival, yet drug resistance remains a significant challenge. We investigated the role of the ERK5 pathway in BRAFV600E melanoma cells and cells with acquired resistance to PLX4720 (vemurafenib) and dabrafenib. In BRAFV600E melanoma, ERK5 inhibition minimally affected viability compared to ERK1/2 inhibition. In vemurafenib-resistant cells, ERK5 inhibition alone didn't impact viability or restore drug sensitivity to vemurafenib. However, in dabrafenib-resistant cells, ERK5 inhibition reduced viability and enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of MEK1/2 inhibition. Targeting the ERK5 pathway may represent a therapeutic opportunity in dabrafenib-resistant melanoma.

Ferulic acid interventions ameliorate NDEA-CCl4-induced hepatocellular carcinoma via Nrf2 and p53 upregulation and Akt/PKB-NF-κB-TNF-α pathway downregulation in male Wistar rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a prevalent form of liver cancer that is life threatening. Many chemically synthesized anti-cancer drugs have various degrees of side effects. Hence, this study investigated the effect of FEAC interventions on NDEA-CCl4-induced HCAR in male Wistar rats. HCAR was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 200 mg/kg of NDEA and 0.5 mL/kg CCl4 (as a promoter of HCAR). Following the induction of HCAR, rats were treated differently with two different doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) of FEAC. HCAR induction was confirmed by the significant elevation of serum levels of ALT, AST, and α-FP. Also elevated significantly were liver levels of Akt/PKB, NF-κB, TNF-α, MDA, GSH, and activities of GST, SOD, and CAT, while levels of liver p53 and Nrf2 were significantly lowered compared with normal rats. Treatment interventions with both 25 and 50 mg/kg of FEAC against the DEN-CCl4-induced HCAR gave comparable effects, marked by a significant reduction in the levels of serum ALT, AST and α-FP, as well as liver levels of MDA, GSH, Akt/PKB, NF-κB, TNF-α, GST, SOD, and CAT, while levels of liver p53 and Nrf2 were significantly elevated compared with normal rats. Put together and judging by the outcomes of this study, FEAC being a potent antioxidant may also be potent against chemical-induced HCAR via upregulation of p53 and Nrf2, as well as downregulation of the Akt/PKB-NF-κB pathway in rats.

Novel Antineoplastic Inducers of Mitochondrial Apoptosis in Human Cancer Cells

I propose a new strategy to suppress human cancer completely with two entirely new drug compounds exploiting cancer's Warburg effect characterized by a defective mitochondrial aerobic respiration, substituted by cytosolic aerobic fermentation/glycolysis of D-(+)-glucose into L-(+)-lactic acid. The two essentially new drugs, compound 1 [P(op)T(est)162] and compound 3 (PT167), represent new highly symmetric, four-bladed propeller-shaped polyammonium cations. The in vitro antineoplastic highly efficacious drug compound 3 represents a covalent combination of compound 1 and compound 2 (PT166). The intermediate drug compound 2 is an entirely new colchic(in)oid derivative synthesized from colchicine. Compound 2's structure was determined using X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 and compound 3 were active in vitro versus 60 human cancer cell lines of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP) 60-cancer cell testing. Compound 1 and compound 3 not only stop the growth of cancer cells to ±0% (cancerostatic effect) but completely kill nearly all 60 cancer cells to a level of almost -100% (tumoricidal effect). Compound 1 and compound 3 induce mitochondrial apoptosis (under cytochrome c release) in all cancer cells tested by (re)activating (in most cancers impaired) p53 function, which results in a decrease in cancer's dysregulated cyclin D1 and an induction of the cell cycle-halting cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/p21Cip1.

CircNEK6 promotes the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through targeting miR-503/CCND1 axis

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to reveal the function and underlying molecular mechanism of circRNA NIMA related kinase 6 (circNEK6) in promoting the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

The differentially expressed circRNAs in three paired PDAC tissues and adjacent tissues were identified by RNA sequencing. CircNEK6 was screened out to further explore its relationship with the prognosis of PDAC patients. The target microRNAs and mRNAs of circNEK6 were analyzed through online databases and detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell counting kit-8 assay, clone formation assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry and western blot were used to explore the function of circNEK6 on the biological behaviors of PDAC cells. The in vivo antitumor effect of circNEK6 silencing on PDAC was investigated by nude mouse xenograft models.

RESULTS

203 differentially expressed circRNAs including circNEK6 were identified between paired PDAC tissues and adjacent tissues, and the expression level of circNEK6 was negatively correlated with the prognosis of PDAC patients. The results of in vitro experiments showed that knockdown of circNEK6 repressed the proliferation, migration and invasion, but induced the apoptosis of PDAC cells. Moreover, circNEK6 silencing inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival time of PDAC-bearing mice. Mechanistically, miR-503/cyclin D1 (CCND1) axis was predicted and confirmed as the target of circNEK6.

CONCLUSIONS

CircNEK6 serves as a competing endogenous RNA of CCND1 by absorbing miR-503, which might be treated as a novel and potential target for PDAC treatment.

Treatment of aged wound healing models with FGF2 and ABT-737 reduces the senescent cell population and increases wound closure rate

Delayed tissue repair in the aged presents a major socio-economic and clinical problem. Age-associated delay in wound healing can be attributed to multiple factors, including an increased presence of senescent cells persisting in the wound. Although the transient presence of senescent cells is physiologic during the resolution phase of normal healing, increased senescent cell accumulation with age can negatively impact tissue repair. The objective of the study was to test interventional strategies that could mitigate the negative effect of senescent cell accumulation and possibly improve the age-associated delay in wound healing. We utilised a 3D in vitro senescent fibroblast populated collagen matrix (FPCM) to study cellular events associated with senescence and delayed healing. Senescent fibroblasts showed an increase in anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family proteins. We hypothesized that reducing the senescent cell population and promoting non-senescent cell functionality would mitigate the negative effect of senescence and improve healing kinetics. BCL-2 inhibition and mitogen stimulation (FGF2) improved healing in the in vitro senescent models. These results were confirmed with an ex vivo human skin biopsy model. These data suggested that modulation of the senescent cell population with soluble factors improved the healing outcome in our in vitro and ex vivo healing models.

Micro RNAs as a Diagnostic Marker between Glioma and Primary CNS Lymphoma: A Systematic Review

Differentiating glioma from primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) can be challenging, and current diagnostic measures such as MRI and biopsy are of limited efficacy. Liquid biopsies, which detect circulating biomarkers such as microRNAs (miRs), may provide valuable insights into diagnostic biomarkers for improved discrimination. This review aimed to investigate the role of specific miRs in diagnosing and differentiating glioma from PCNSL. A systematic search was conducted of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for articles on liquid biopsies as a diagnostic method for glioma and PCNSL. Sixteen dysregulated miRs were identified with significantly different levels in glioma and PCNSL, including miR-21, which was the most prominent miR with higher levels in PCNSL, followed by glioma, including glioblastoma (GBM), and control groups. The lowest levels of miR-16 and miR-205 were observed in glioma, followed by PCNSL and control groups, whereas miR-15b and miR-301 were higher in both tumor groups, with the highest levels observed in glioma patients. The levels of miR-711 were higher in glioma (including GBM) and downregulated in PCNSL compared to the control group. This review suggests that using these six circulating microRNAs as liquid biomarkers with unique changing patterns could aid in better discrimination between glioma, especially GBM, and PCNSL.

Diagnostic potential of serum miR-532-3p as a circulating biomarker for experimental intrinsic drug-induced liver injury by acetaminophen and cisplatin in rats

Evaluating tissue injury largely depends on serum biochemical analysis despite insufficient tissue specificity and low sensitivity. Therefore, attention has been paid to the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) to overcome the limitations of the current diagnostic tools, as tissue-enriched miRNAs are detected in the blood upon tissue injury. First, using a cisplatin-injected rats, we screened a specific pattern of altered hepatic miRNAs and their target mRNAs. Subsequently, we identified novel liver-specific circulating miRNAs for drug-induced liver injury by comparing miRNA expression changes in organs and serum. RNA sequencing revealed that 32 hepatic miRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in the cisplatin-treated group. Furthermore, among the 1217 targets predicted using miRDB on these DE-miRNAs, 153 hepatic genes involved in different liver function-related pathways and processes were found to be dysregulated by cisplatin. Next, comparative analyses of the liver, kidneys, and serum DE-miRNAs were conducted to select circulating miRNA biomarker candidates reflecting drug-induced liver injury. Finally, among the four liver-specific circulating miRNAs selected based on their expression patterns in tissue and serum, miR-532-3p was increased in the serum after cisplatin or acetaminophen administration. Our findings suggest that miR-532-3p is potential as a serum biomarker for identifying drug-induced liver injury, leading to the accurate diagnosis.

Glycolaldehyde-derived advanced glycation end products promote macrophage proliferation via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are heterogeneous proinflammatory molecules produced by a non-enzymatic glycation reaction between reducing sugars (and their metabolites) and biomolecules with amino groups, such as proteins. Although increases in and the accumulation of AGEs have been implicated in the onset and exacerbation of lifestyle- or age-related diseases, including diabetes, their physiological functions have not yet been elucidated in detail.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The present study investigated the cellular responses of the macrophage cell line RAW264.7 stimulated by glycolaldehyde-derived AGEs (Glycol-AGEs) known as representative toxic AGEs. The results obtained showed that Glycol-AGEs significantly promoted the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells at a low concentration range (1-10 µg/mL) in a concentration-dependent manner. On the other hand, neither TNF-α production nor cytotoxicity were induced by the same concentrations of Glycol-AGEs. The increases observed in cell proliferation by low concentrations of Glycol-AGEs were also detected in receptor triple knockout (RAGE-TLR4-TLR2 KO) cells as well as in wild-type cells. Increases in cell proliferation were not affected by various kinase inhibitors, including MAP kinase inhibitors, but were significantly suppressed by JAK2 and STAT5 inhibitors. In addition, the expression of some cell cycle-related genes was up-regulated by the stimulation with Glycol-AGEs.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest a novel physiological role for AGEs in the promotion of cell proliferation via the JAK-STAT pathway.

7-Geranyloxcycoumarin enhances radio sensitivity in human prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent and the fifth deadliest cancer among men worldwide. To improve radiotherapy outcome, we investigated the effects of 7-geranyloxycoumarin, also known as auraptene (AUR), on radiation response of prostate cancer cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PC3 cells were pretreated with 20 and 40 µM AUR for 24, 48 and 72 h, followed by X-ray exposure (2, 4 and 6 Gy). After 72 h recovery, cell viability was determined by alamar Blue assay. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to assess apoptosis induction, clonogenic assay was carried out to investigate clonogenic survival, and the expression of P53, BAX, BCL2, CCND1 and GATA6 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Cell viability assay indicated that toxic effects of radiation was enhanced by AUR, which was also confirmed by increased numbers of apoptotic cells and reduced amount of survival fraction. The qPCR results demonstrated significant induction of P53 and BAX, while the expression of BCL2, GATA6, and CCND1 was significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study indicated, for the first time, that AUR improved radio sensitivity in prostate cancer cells, and thus, has the potential to be used in future clinical trials.

5-ALA-PDT induced ferroptosis in keloid fibroblasts via ROS, accompanied by downregulation of xCT, GPX4

Keloids display many cancerous properties, including uncontrolled and invasive growth, high rates of recurrence as well as similar bioenergetics. 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) is an effective treatment that performs cytotoxic effects by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is linked to lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Herein, we explored underlying mechanisms of 5-ALA-PDT against keloids. We identified that 5-ALA-PDT led to elevated levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation in keloid fibroblasts, accompanied by downregulation of xCT and GPX4, which are associated with anti-oxidation effects and ferroptosis inhibition. These results may indicate that 5-ALA-PDT treatment increases ROS while inhibiting xCT and GPX4, thus promoting lipid peroxidation to induce ferroptosis in keloid fibroblasts.

Ferulic Acid: A Review of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Effects on Pulmonary Diseases

Ferulic acid (FA), a prevalent dietary phytochemical, has many pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation effects, and has been widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. Many studies have shown that FA can significantly downregulate the expression of reactive oxygen species and activate nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2/heme oxygenase-1 signaling, exerting anti-oxidative effects. The anti-inflammatory effect of FA is mainly related to the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathways. FA has demonstrated potential clinical applications in the treatment of pulmonary diseases. The transforming growth factor-β1/small mothers against decapentaplegic 3 signaling pathway can be blocked by FA, thereby alleviating pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, in the context of asthma, the T helper cell 1/2 imbalance is restored by FA. Furthermore, FA ameliorates acute lung injury by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways via toll-like receptor 4, consequently decreasing the expression of downstream inflammatory mediators. Additionally, there is a moderate neuraminidase inhibitory activity showing a tendency to reduce the interleukin-8 level in response to influenza virus infections. Although the application of FA has broad prospects, more preclinical mechanism-based research should be carried out to test these applications in clinical settings. This review not only covers the literature on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of FA, but also discusses the therapeutic role and toxicology of FA in several pulmonary diseases.

The dual role of microRNA (miR)-20b in cancers: Friend or foe?

MicroRNAs, as non-coding transcripts, modulate gene expression through RNA silencing under normal physiological conditions. Their aberrant expression has strongly associated with tumorigenesis and cancer development. MiR-20b is one of the crucial miRNAs that regulate essential biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and migration. Deregulated levels of miR-20b contribute to the early- and advanced stages of cancer. On the other hand, investigations emphasize the tumor suppressor ability of miR-20b. High-throughput strategies are developed to identify miR-20b potential targets, providing the proper insight into its molecular mechanism of action. Moreover, accumulated results suggest that miR-20b exerts its effects through diverse signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK axes. Restoration of the altered expression levels of miR-20b induces cell apoptosis and reduces invasion and migration. Further, miR-20b can be used as a biomarker in cancer. The current comprehensive review could lead to a better understanding of the miR-20b in either tumorigenesis or tumor regression that may open new avenues for cancer treatment. Video Abstract.

Differentially Expressed Cell Cycle Genes and STAT1/3-Driven Multiple Cancer Entanglement in Psoriasis, Coupled with Other Comorbidities

Psoriasis is a persistent T-cell-supported inflammatory cutaneous disorder, which is defined by a significant expansion of basal cells in the epidermis. Cell cycle and STAT genes that control cell cycle progression and viral infection have been revealed to be comorbid with the development of certain cancers and other disorders, due to their abnormal or scanty expression. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of certain cell cycle and STAT1/3 genes in psoriasis patients and to determine the types of comorbidities associated with these genes. To do so, we opted to adopt the in silico methodology, since it is a quick and easy way to discover any potential comorbidity risks that may exist in psoriasis patients. With the genes collected from early research groups, protein networks were created in this work using the NetworkAnalyst program. The crucial hub genes were identified by setting the degree parameter, and they were then used in gene ontology and pathway assessments. The transcription factors that control the hub genes were detected by exploring TRRUST, and DGIdb was probed for remedies that target transcription factors and hubs. Using the degree filter, the first protein subnetwork produced seven hub genes, including STAT3, CCNB1, STAT1, CCND1, CDC20, HSPA4, and MAD2L1. The hub genes were shown to be implicated in cell cycle pathways by the gene ontology and Reactome annotations. The former four hubs were found in signaling pathways, including prolactin, FoxO, JAK/STAT, and p53, according to the KEGG annotation. Furthermore, they enhanced several malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia. Viral infections, including measles, hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr virus, and HTLV-1 and viral carcinogenesis were among the other susceptible diseases. Diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease were conjointly annotated. In total, 129 medicines were discovered in DGIdb to be effective against the transcription factors BRCA1, RELA, TP53, and MYC, as opposed to 10 medications against the hubs, STAT3 and CCND1, in tandem with 8 common medicines. The study suggests that the annotated medications should be tested in suitable psoriatic cell lines and animal models to optimize the drugs used based on the kind, severity, and related comorbidities of psoriasis. Furthermore, a personalized medicine protocol must be designed for each psoriasis patient that displays different comorbidities.

Identification of a novel pyridine derivative with inhibitory activity against ovarian cancer progression in vivo and in vitro

Ovarian cancer is the second leading cause of death of female gynecological malignant tumor patients worldwide. Although surgery and chemotherapy have achieved dramatic achievement, the mortality remains high, resulting in the demand for new specific drug discovery. Disrupting ovarian cancer growth via histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition is a strategy for cancer therapy or prevention. In this work, we synthesized a novel pyridine derivative named compound H42 and investigated its anti-cancer activity in vivo and in vitro. We found that compound H42 inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation with IC50 values of 0.87 μM (SKOV3) and 5.4 μM (A2780). Further studies confirmed that compound H42 induced apoptosis, intracellular ROS production, and DNA damage. Moreover, compound H42 downregulated the expression of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) with a distinct increase in the acetylation of α-tubulin and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), followed by the degradation of cyclin D1, resulting in cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Importantly, ectopic expression of HDAC6 induced deacetylation of HSP90 and α-tubulin, while HDAC6 knockdown upregulated the acetylation of HSP90 and α-tubulin. However, in the nude xenograft mouse study, compound H42 treatment can inhibit ovarian cancer growth without obvious toxicity. These findings indicated that compound H42 inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation through inducing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase via regulating HDAC6-mediated acetylation, suggesting compound H42 could serve as a lead compound for further development of ovarian cancer therapeutic agents.

The targets of aspirin in bladder cancer: bioinformatics analysis

Background

The anti-carcinogenic properties of aspirin have been observed in some solid tumors. However, the molecular mechanism of therapeutic effects of aspirin on bladder cancer is still indistinct. We introduced a bioinformatics analysis approach, to explore the targets of aspirin in bladder cancer (BC).

Methods

To find out the potential targets of aspirin in BC, we analyzed direct protein targets (DPTs) of aspirin in Drug Bank 5.0. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and signaling pathway of aspirin DPTs were then analyzed subsequently. A detailed analysis of the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway has shown that aspirin is linked to BC. We identified overexpressed genes in BC comparing with normal samples by Oncomine and genes that interlinked with aspirin target genes in BC by STRING.

Results

Firstly, we explored 16 direct protein targets (DPT) of aspirin. We analyzed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and signaling pathways of aspirin DPT. We found that aspirin is closely associated with a variety of cancers, including BC. Then, we classified mutations in 3 aspirin DPTs (CCND1, MYC and TP53) in BC using the cBio Portal database. In addition, we extracted the top 50 overexpressed genes in bladder cancer by Oncomine and predicted the genes associated with the 3 aspirin DPTs (CCND1, MYC and TP53) in BC by STRING. Finally, 5 exact genes were identified as potential therapeutic targets of aspirin in bladder cancer.

Conclusion

The analysis of relevant databases will improve our mechanistic understanding of the role of aspirin in bladder cancer. This will guide the direction of our next drug-disease interaction studies.

Computer Image Analysis Reveals C-Myc as a Potential Biomarker for Discriminating between Keratoacanthoma and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The distinction between Keratoacanthoma (KA) and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is critical yet usually challenging to discriminate clinically and histopathologically. One approach to differentiate KA from cSCC is through assessing the immunohistochemical staining patterns of the three indicators, β-catenin, C-Myc, and CyclinD1, which are critical molecules that play important roles in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Ki-67, as a proliferation biomarker for human tumor cells, was also assessed as an additional potential marker for differentiating KA from cSCC. In this report, these four indicators were analyzed in 42 KA and 30 cSCC cases with the use of the computer automated image analysis system. Computer automated image analysis is a time-based and cost-effective method of determining IHC staining in KA and cSCC samples. We found that C-Myc staining was predominantly localized in the nuclei of basal cells within KA patients, whereas cSCC staining was predominantly localized in the nuclei of diffuse cells. This C-Myc staining pattern has a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 66.7% for identifying KA. Moreover, positive rates of distinct expression patterns of C-Myc and Ki-67 may also serve as a means to clinically distinguish KA from cSCC. Taken together, our results suggest that these markers, in particular C-Myc, may be useful in differentiating KA from cSCC.

Increased MIB-1 expression in salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma that recurs and undergoes malignant transformation

The objective of this retrospective study was to explore possible changes in histopathological features and expression of cyclin D1 and MIB-1 in salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) that recur or undergo malignant transformation. Knowledge of these characteristics might help to guide the management of these rare tumors. The histopathology and immunohistochemical staining characteristics of such tumors were analyzed in a cohort of 65 patients constituting three different groups of tumors: PA, recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (RPA) and carcinoma ex PA (CxPA). The RPAs were divided into two subgroups: primary PA that were known to recur later (PA-prim) and recurrent tumors appearing after a primary tumor (PA-rec). RPAs and CxPAs were compared with PAs without recurrence, which served as a control group. In our study, CxPA and PA-rec, but not PA-prim, showed increased MIB-1 expression compared with the control group. Neither cyclin D1 expression nor any histopathological features showed any association in statistical analyses. CxPA showed increased mitotic activity, squamous metaplasia, and nuclear atypia. Tumor multifocality was more frequent in PA-rec and CxPA. The different MIB-1 expression in CxPA and PA-rec in comparison to PA-prim suggests that the changes in expression could develop after the primary tumor.

Supplementation with High or Low Iron Reduces Colitis Severity in an AOM/DSS Mouse Model

The relationship between colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and the dysregulation of iron metabolism has been implicated. However, studies on the influence of dietary iron deficiency on the incidence of CAC are limited. This study investigated the effects of dietary iron deficiency and dietary non-heme iron on CAC development in an azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) mouse model. The four-week-old mice were divided into the following groups: iron control (IC; 35 ppm iron/kg) + normal (NOR), IC + AOM/DSS, iron deficient (ID; <5 ppm iron/kg diet) + AOM/DSS, and iron overload (IOL; approximately 2000 ppm iron/kg) + AOM/DSS. The mice were fed the respective diets for 13 weeks, and the AOM/DSS model was established at week five. FTH1 expression increased in the mice’s colons in the IC + AOM/DSS group compared with that observed in the ID and IOL + AOM/DSS groups. The reduced number of colonic tumors in the ID + AOM/DSS and IOL + AOM/DSS groups was accompanied by the downregulated expression of cell proliferation regulators (PCNA, cyclin D1, and c-Myc). Iron overload inhibited the increase in the expression of NF-κB and its downstream inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFα, iNOS, COX2, and IL-1β), likely due to the elevated expression of antioxidant genes (SOD1, TXN, GPX1, GPX4, CAT, HMOX1, and NQO1). ID + AOM/DSS may hinder tumor development in the AOM/DSS model by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway by increasing the expression of Ndrg1. Our study suggests that ID and IOL diets suppress AOM/DSS-induced tumors and that long-term iron deficiency or overload may negate CAC progression.

G870A Polymorphic Variants of CCND1 Gene and Cyclin D1 Protein Expression as Prognostic Markers in Laryngeal Lesions

CCND1 gene encodes Cyclin D1 protein, the alternations and overexpression of which are commonly observed in human cancers. Cyclin D1 controls G1-S transition in the cell cycle. The aim of the study was to assess utility of the genotyping and protein expression in predicting the susceptibility of transformation from normal tissue to precancerous laryngeal lesions (PLLs) and finally to laryngeal cancer (LC). Four hundred and thirty-five patients (101 with LC, 100 with PLLs and 234 healthy volunteers) were enrolled in the study. Cyclin D1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and G870A polymorphism of gene CCND1 by PCR-RFLP technique. We confirmed association between the A allele and risk of developing LC from healthy mucosa (p = 0.006). Significantly higher expression of Cyclin D1 was observed in LC compering with PLLs (p < 0.0001) and we found that it could be a predictive marker of shorter survival time. To sum up, in the study population CCND1 gene polymorphism A870G and Cyclin D1 expression have a significant impact on the risk of developing PLLs and LC, and, therefore, Cyclin D1 could be a useful marker for the prediction of survival time in LC, whereas CCND1 gene polymorphism does not have a direct impact on patients’ outcome.

Anti-tumor effects of rivoceranib against canine melanoma and mammary gland tumour in vitro and in vivo mouse xenograft models

BACKGROUND

Rivoceranib, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor, exhibits anti-tumour effects by selectively blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) in cancer cells. Recently, the therapeutic effects of rivoceranib on solid tumours have been elucidated in human patients. However, the anti-tumour effects of rivoceranib against canine cancer remain unclear. Here, we investigated the anti-tumour effects of rivoceranib using in vitro and in vivo mouse xenograft models.

METHODS

We performed cell proliferation, cell cycle, and migration assays to determine the effects of rivoceranib on canine solid tumour cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, apoptosis and angiogenesis in tumour tissues were examined using a TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry methods with an anti-cluster of differentiation-31 antibody, respectively. Additionally, the expression levels of cyclin-D1 and VEGFR2 activity were determined using western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Rivoceranib treatment showed anti-proliferative effects and mediated cell cycle arrest in the canine melanoma cell line (LMeC) and the mammary gland tumour (MGT) cell line (CHMp). In animal experiments, rivoceranib decreased the average volume of LMeC cells compared to that following control treatment, and similar results were observed in CHMp cells. Histologically, rivoceranib induced apoptosis and exerted an anti-angiogenic effect in tumour tissues. It also downregulated the expression of cyclin-D1 and inhibited VEGFR2 activity.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that rivoceranib inhibits proliferation and migration of tumour cells. These findings support the potential application of rivoceranib as a novel chemotherapeutic strategy for canine melanoma and MGTs.

Down-regulation of PRR11 affects the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Purpose: This study aim to explore the effect of down-regulation of PRR11 (proline-rich protein 11) on the proliferation, invasion, migration, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and EMT of osteosarcoma cells. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining, fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression level of PRR11 in osteosarcoma tissues and osteosarcoma cells. After SiRNA down-regulated the expression level of PRR11, CCK8 was used to detect cell proliferation ability, Transwell chamber to detect cell invasion ability, scratch test to detect cell migration ability, and flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of wnt/β-catenin pathway related proteins and key epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins. Results: PRR11 is highly expressed in osteosarcoma tissues, and its expression level is related to tumor size, Enneking stage of tumor, lymph node metastasis and patient prognosis. The low expression of PRR11 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, and promote apoptosis. Down-regulating the expression of PRR11 will inhibit the expression of Wnt pathway related proteins β-catenin and p-GSK-3β, enhance the expression of p-β-catenin, GSK-3β, and increase the expression of downstream genes CyclinD1 and c-Myc in the Wnt pathway. At the same time, the expression of PRR11 was down-regulated, the epithelial marker E-cadherin was significantly increased, and the expression levels of mesenchymal markers Vimentin and Fibronectin were significantly reduced. Conclusion: Down-regulation of PRR11 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, and its mechanism may be related to down-regulation of PRR11 to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and thus prevent the EMT process. Therefore, PRR11 may be used as an oncogene to promote the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma, and is a potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.

HPV Status as Prognostic Biomarker in Head and Neck Cancer-Which Method Fits the Best for Outcome Prediction?

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck cancer (HNSCC) is rising globally, presenting challenges for optimized clinical management. To date, it remains unclear which biomarker best reflects HPV-driven carcinogenesis, a process that is associated with better therapeutic response and outcome compared to tobacco/alcohol-induced cancers. Six potential HPV surrogate biomarkers were analyzed using FFPE tissue samples from 153 HNSCC patients (n = 78 oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC), n = 35 laryngeal cancer, n = 23 hypopharyngeal cancer, n = 17 oral cavity cancer): p16, CyclinD1, pRb, dual immunohistochemical staining of p16 and Ki67, HPV-DNA-PCR, and HPV-DNA-in situ hybridization (ISH). Biomarkers were analyzed for correlation with one another, tumor subsite, and patient survival. P16-IHC alone showed the best performance for discriminating between good (high expression) vs poor outcome (low expression; p = 0.0030) in OPSCC patients. Additionally, HPV-DNA-ISH (p = 0.0039), HPV-DNA-PCR (p = 0.0113), and p16-Ki67 dual stain (p = 0.0047) were significantly associated with prognosis in uni- and multivariable analysis for oropharyngeal cancer. In the non-OPSCC group, however, none of the aforementioned surrogate markers was prognostic. Taken together, P16-IHC as a single biomarker displays the best diagnostic accuracy for prognosis stratification in OPSCC patients with a direct detection of HPV-DNA by PCR or ISH as well as p16-Ki67 dual stain as potential alternatives.

In silico simulation of the effect of hypoxia on MCF-7 cell cycle kinetics under fractionated radiotherapy

The treatment outcome of a given fractionated radiotherapy scheme is affected by oxygen tension and cell cycle kinetics of the tumor population. Numerous experimental studies have supported the variability of radiosensitivity with cell cycle phase. Oxygen modulates the radiosensitivity through hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilization and oxygen fixation hypothesis (OFH) mechanism. In this study, an existing mathematical model describing cell cycle kinetics was modified to include the oxygen-dependent G1/S transition rate and radiation inactivation rate. The radiation inactivation rate used was derived from the linear-quadratic (LQ) model with dependence on oxygen enhancement ratio (OER), while the oxygen-dependent correction for the G1/S phase transition was obtained from numerically solving the ODE system of cyclin D-HIF dynamics at different oxygen tensions. The corresponding cell cycle phase fractions of aerated MCF-7 tumor population, and the resulting growth curve obtained from numerically solving the developed mathematical model were found to be comparable to experimental data. Two breast radiotherapy fractionation schemes were investigated using the mathematical model. Results show that hypoxia causes the tumor to be more predominated by the tumor subpopulation in the G1 phase and decrease the fractional contribution of the more radioresistant tumor cells in the S phase. However, the advantage provided by hypoxia in terms of cell cycle phase distribution is largely offset by the radioresistance developed through OFH. The delayed proliferation caused by severe hypoxia slightly improves the radiotherapy efficacy compared to that with mild hypoxia for a high overall treatment duration as demonstrated in the 40-Gy fractionation scheme.

Heat-Killed and Live Enterococcus faecalis Attenuates Enlarged Prostate in an Animal Model of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and live E. faecalis on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The BPH rat model was established by administering male rats with testosterone propionate (TP, 5 mg/kg, in corn oil) via subcutaneous injections daily for four weeks after castration. The rats were divided into five groups: Con, corn oil-injected (s.c.) + DW administration; BPH, TP (5 mg/kg, s.c.) + DW administration; BPH+K_EF, TP (5 mg/kg, s.c.) + heat-killed E. faecalis (7.5 × 10¹² CFU/g, 2.21 mg/kg) administration; BPH+L_EF, TP (5 mg/kg, s.c.) + live E. faecalis (1 × 10¹¹ CFU/g, 166 mg/kg) administration; BPH+Fi, TP (5 mg/kg, s.c.) + finasteride (1 mg/kg) administration. In both of BPH+K_EF and BPH+L_EF groups, the prostate weight decreased and histological changes due to TP treatment recovered to the level of the Con group. Both of these groups also showed regulation of androgen-signaling factors, growth factors, and apoptosis-related factors in prostate tissue. E. faecalis exhibited an inhibitory effect on benign prostatic hyperplasia, and even heat-killed E. faecalis showed similar efficacy on the live cells in the BPH rat model. As the first investigation into the effect of heat-killed and live E. faecalis on BPH, our study suggests that heat-killed E. faecalis might be a food additive candidate for use in various foods, regardless of heat processing.

KRASG12C inhibitor: combing for combination

Oncogenic mutation in KRAS is one of the most common alterations in human cancer. After decades of extensive research and unsuccessful drug discovery programs, therapeutic targeting of KRAS mutant tumour is at an exciting juncture. The discovery of mutation-specific inhibitors of KRASG12C and early positive findings from clinical trials has raised the hope of finally having a drug to treat a significant segment of KRAS mutant cancer patients. Crucially, it has also re-energized the RAS field to look beyond G12C mutation and find new innovative targeting opportunities. However, the early clinical trial data also indicates that there is significant variation in response among patients and that monotherapy treatment with KRASG12C inhibitors (G12Ci) alone is unlikely to be sufficient to elicit a sustained response. Understanding the molecular mechanism of variation in patient response and identifying possible combination opportunities, which could be exploited to achieve durable and significant responses and delay emergence of resistance, is central to the success of G12Ci therapy. Given the specificity of G12Ci, toxicity is expected to be minimal. Therefore, it might be possible to combine G12Ci with other targeted agents which have previously been explored to tackle KRAS mutant cancer but deemed too toxic, e.g. MEK inhibitor. Ongoing clinical trials will shed light on clinical resistance to G12C inhibitors, however extensive work is already ongoing to identify the best combination partners. This review provides an update on combination opportunities which could be explored to maximize the benefit of this new exciting drug.

Anti-inflammatory dihydroxanthones from a Diaporthe species

In a search for anti-inflammatory compounds from fungi inhibiting the promoter activity of the small chemokine CXCL10 (Interferon-inducible protein 10, IP-10) as a pro-inflammatory marker gene, the new dihydroxanthone methyl (1R, 2R)-1,2,8-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-9-oxo-2,9-dihydro-1H-xanthene-1-carboxylate (2) and the previously described dihydroxanthone AGI-B4 (1) were isolated from fermentations of a Diaporthe species. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and calculations using density functional theory (DFT). Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the LPS/IFNγ induced CXCL10 promoter activity in transiently transfected human MonoMac6 cells in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ values of 4.1 µM (±0.2 µM) and 1.0 µM (±0.06 µM) respectively. Moreover, compounds 1 and 2 reduced mRNA levels and synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and chemokines in LPS/IFNγ stimulated MonoMac6 cells by interfering with the Stat1 and NFκB pathway.

Cyclin D1 gene expression is essential for cell cycle progression from the maternal-to-zygotic transition during blastoderm development in Japanese quail

Embryogenesis proceeds by a highly regulated series of events. In animals, maternal factors that accumulate in the egg cytoplasm control cell cycle progression at the initial stage of cleavage. However, cell cycle regulation is switched to a system governed by the activated nuclear genome at a specific stage of development, referred to as maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). Detailed molecular analyses have been performed on maternal factors and activated zygotic genes in MZT in mammals, fishes and chicken; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear in quail. In the present study, we demonstrated that MZT occurred at blastoderm stage V in the Japanese quail using novel gene targeting technology in which the CRISPR/Cas9 and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) systems were combined. At blastoderm stage V, we found that maternal retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) protein expression was down-regulated, whereas the gene expression of cyclin D1 (CCND1) was initiated. When a microinjection of sgRNA containing CCND1-targeted sequencing and Cas9 mRNA was administered at the pronuclear stage, blastoderm development stopped at stage V and the down-regulation of RB1 did not occur. This result indicates the most notable difference from mammals in which CCND-knockout embryos are capable of developing beyond MZT. We also showed that CCND1 induced the phosphorylation of the serine/threonine residues of the RB1 protein, which resulted in the degradation of this protein. These results suggest that CCND1 is one of the key factors for RB1 protein degradation at MZT, and the elimination of RB1 may contribute to cell cycle progression after MZT during blastoderm development in the Japanese quail. Our novel technology, which combined the CRISPR/Cas9 system and ICSI, has the potential to become a powerful tool for avian-targeted mutagenesis.

PAPOLA contributes to cyclin D1 mRNA alternative polyadenylation and promotes breast cancer cell proliferation

Poly(A) polymerases add the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of nearly all eukaryotic mRNA, and are associated with proliferation and cancer. To elucidate the role of the most-studied mammalian poly(A) polymerase, poly(A) polymerase α (PAPOLA), in cancer, we assessed its expression in 221 breast cancer samples and found it to correlate strongly with the aggressive triple-negative subtype. Silencing PAPOLA in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells reduced proliferation and anchorage-independent growth by decreasing steady-state cyclin D1 (CCND1) mRNA and protein levels. Whereas the length of the CCND1 mRNA poly(A) tail was not affected, its 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) lengthened. Overexpressing PAPOLA caused CCND1 mRNA 3'UTR shortening with a concomitant increase in the amount of corresponding transcript and protein, resulting in growth arrest in MCF-7 cells and DNA damage in HEK-293 cells. Such overexpression of PAPOLA promoted proliferation in the p53 mutant MDA-MB-231 cells. Our data suggest that PAPOLA is a possible candidate target for the control of tumor growth that is mostly relevant to triple-negative tumors, a group characterized by PAPOLA overexpression and lack of alternative targeted therapies.

Review of novel tissue-based biomarkers for prostate cancer: towards personalised and targeted medicine

Background:

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and responsible for about 10% of all cancer mortality in both Canadian and American men. Currently, serum PSA level is the most commonly used test for the detection of prostate cancer, though the levels can also be elevated in benign conditions, has limited specificity and has a high rate of overdiagnosis and treatment of indolent disease. Consequently, in recent years, several investigations have been conducted to identify novel cancer biomarkers capable of both effective screening and diagnosis, as well as assisting to shift the diagnostic and treatment paradigm of prostate cancer towards more patient-specific and targeted medicine. The goal of this narrative review paper is to describe eleven novel and promising tissue-based biomarkers for prostate cancer capable to account for individual patient variabilities and have the potential for risk assessment, early detection and diagnosis, identification of patients who will benefit from a particular treatment and monitoring patient response to treatment.

Materials and methods:

We searched several databases from August to December 2020 for relevant studies published in English between 2000 and 2020 and reporting on tissue-based biomarkers for screening and early diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of prostate cancer.

Conclusions:

Emerging prostate cancer biomarkers have the potential to guide clinical decision-making since they have the potential to detect the disease early, measure the risk of developing the disease and the risk of progression, provide accurate information of patient response to a specific treatment and are capable of informing clinicians about the likely outcome of a cancer diagnosis independent of the treatment received. Therefore, the future holds promise for personalised and targeted medicine from prevention to diagnosis and treatment that considers the individual patient’s variabilities in the management of prostate cancer.

O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase OGT inhibits diabetic nephropathy by stabilizing histone methyltransferases EZH2 via the HES1/PTEN axis

BACKGROUND

O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (OGT) is involved in diabetes-related diseases including diabetic nephropathy (DN), and responsible for O-GlcNAcylation. Moreover, O-GlcNAcylation and OGT could be induced by high glucose. Thus, we sought to explore the molecular mechanism of OGT in DN.

METHODS

Loss- and gain-functions were conducted to determine the roles of OGT, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), hairy and enhancer of split 1 (HES1) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in the viability, cell cycle and fibrosis of mesangial cells (MCs), followed by the assessment using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, and Western blot assay (fibrosis-related proteins). The interaction between OGT and EZH2 and the effect on EZH2 glycosylation were verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays. EZH2 stability was checked by treatment with cycloheximide.

RESULTS

Expression of OGT was repressed in the DN mice and high glucose-treated MCs. Elevated OGT suppressed viability of high glucose-treated MCs, blocked proliferation characterized by repressed cyclin D1, but enhanced p21 levels, and inhibited fibrosis evidenced by reduced levels of fibronectin (FN) and collagen-4 (col-4). OGT interacted with EZH2 and promoted its glycosylation thus stabilizing the EZH2. EZH2 overexpression enhanced the enrichment of EZH2 and histone H3 Lys27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in the HES1 promoter. HES1 was upregulated and PTEN was downregulated in DN mice. Transduction of lentivirus vector containing overexpression (oe)-OGT alleviated renal injury in DN mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, OGT stabilizes histone methyltransferases EZH2 to regulate HES1/PTEN thus inhibiting DN.

RNA-Binding RING E3-Ligase DZIP3/hRUL138 Stabilizes Cyclin D1 to Drive Cell-Cycle and Cancer Progression

DZIP3/hRUL138 is a poorly characterized RNA-binding RING E3-ubiquitin ligase with functions in embryonic development. Here we demonstrate that DZIP3 is a crucial driver of cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion. In mice and zebrafish cancer models, DZIP3 promoted tumor growth and metastasis. In line with these results, DZIP3 was frequently overexpressed in several cancer types. Depletion of DZIP3 from cells resulted in reduced expression of Cyclin D1 and a subsequent G1 arrest and defect in cell growth. Mechanistically, DZIP3 utilized its two different domains to interact and stabilize Cyclin D1 both at mRNA and protein levels. Using an RNA-binding lysine-rich region, DZIP3 interacted with the AU-rich region in 3' untranslated region of Cyclin D1 mRNA and stabilized it. Using a RING E3-ligase domain, DZIP3 interacted and increased K63-linked ubiquitination of Cyclin D1 protein to stabilize it. Remarkably, DZIP3 interacted with, ubiquitinated, and stabilized Cyclin D1 predominantly in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, where it is needed for cell-cycle progression. In agreement with this, a strong positive correlation of mRNA expression between DZIP3 and Cyclin D1 in different cancer types was observed. Additionally, DZIP3 regulated several cell cycle proteins by modulating the Cyclin D1-E2F axes. Taken together, this study demonstrates for the first time that DZIP3 uses a unique two-pronged mechanism in its stabilization of Cyclin D1 to drive cell-cycle and cancer progression. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings show that DZIP3 is a novel driver of cell-cycle and cancer progression via its control of Cyclin D1 mRNA and protein stability in a cell-cycle phase-dependent manner. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/81/2/315/F1.large.jpg.

Cross-Cancer Genome-Wide Association Study of Endometrial Cancer and Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Identifies Genetic Risk Regions Associated with Risk of Both Cancers

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggests a relationship between endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Independent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer have identified 16 and 27 risk regions, respectively, four of which overlap between the two cancers. We aimed to identify joint endometrial and ovarian cancer risk loci by performing a meta-analysis of GWAS summary statistics from these two cancers.

METHODS

Using LDScore regression, we explored the genetic correlation between endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. To identify loci associated with the risk of both cancers, we implemented a pipeline of statistical genetic analyses (i.e., inverse-variance meta-analysis, colocalization, and M-values) and performed analyses stratified by subtype. Candidate target genes were then prioritized using functional genomic data.

RESULTS

Genetic correlation analysis revealed significant genetic correlation between the two cancers (rG = 0.43, P = 2.66 × 10-5). We found seven loci associated with risk for both cancers (P Bonferroni < 2.4 × 10-9). In addition, four novel subgenome-wide regions at 7p22.2, 7q22.1, 9p12, and 11q13.3 were identified (P < 5 × 10-7). Promoter-associated HiChIP chromatin loops from immortalized endometrium and ovarian cell lines and expression quantitative trait loci data highlighted candidate target genes for further investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

Using cross-cancer GWAS meta-analysis, we have identified several joint endometrial and ovarian cancer risk loci and candidate target genes for future functional analysis.

IMPACT

Our research highlights the shared genetic relationship between endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Further studies in larger sample sets are required to confirm our findings.

Naringin and naringenin as anticancer agents and adjuvants in cancer combination therapy: Efficacy and molecular mechanisms of action, a comprehensive narrative review

Although the rates of many cancers are controlled in Western countries, those of some cancers, such as lung, breast, and colorectal cancer are currently increasing in many low- and middle-income countries due to increases in risk factors caused by development and societal problems. Additionally, endogenous factors, such as inherited mutations, steroid hormones, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor systems, inflammation, oxidative stress, and exogenous factors (including tobacco, alcohol, infectious agents, and radiation), are believed to compromise cell functions and lead to carcinogenesis. Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies are some examples of the approaches used for cancer treatment. However, various short- and long-term side effects can also considerably impact patient prognosis based on clinical factors associated with treatments. Recently, increasing numbers of studies have been conducted to identify novel therapeutic agents from natural products, among which plant-derived bioactive compounds have been increasingly studied. Naringin (NG) and its aglycone naringenin (NGE) are abundantly present in citrus fruits, such as grapefruits and oranges. Their anti-carcinogenic activities have been shown to be exerted through several cell signal transduction pathways. Recently, different pharmacological strategies based on combination therapy, involving NG and NGE with the current anti-cancer agents have shown prodigious synergistic effects when compared to monotherapy. Besides, NG and NGE have been reported to overcome multidrug resistance, resulting from different defensive mechanisms in cancer, which is one of the major obstacles of clinical treatment. Thus, we comprehensively reviewed the inhibitory effects of NG and NGE on several types of cancers through different signal transduction pathways, the roles on sensitizing with the current anticancer medicines, and the efficacy of the cancer combination therapy.

Long non-coding RNA NORAD exhaustion represses prostate cancer progression through inhibiting TRIP13 expression via competitively binding to miR-495-3p

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a malignant heterogeneous tumor that threatens men's health. Long non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) and microRNA-495-3p (miR-495-3p) have been revealed to be concerned with the tumorigenesis and progression of diverse cancers. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanism between NORAD and miR-495-3p in PCa is unclear.

Methods

The expression of NORAD, miR-495-3p, and thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) mRNA was detected with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The levels of Bcl-2, Bax, Cleaved-casp-3, TRIP13, cyclin D1, and PCNA were detected through western blot analysis. The proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of PCa cells were assessed through 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, or transwell assays. The relationship between NORAD or TRIP13 and miR-495-3p was confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter, RIP, or RNA pull-down assays.

Results

NORAD and TRIP13 were upregulated while miR-495-3p was downregulated in PCa tissues and cells. Both NORAD silencing and miR-495-3p upregulation accelerated cell apoptosis and curbed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in PCa cells. Also, NORAD silencing repressed tumor growth in vivo. Notably, NORAD modulated TRIP13 expression by competitively binding to miR-495-3p. Furthermore, miR-495-3p repression reversed NORAD knockdown-mediated effects on the malignant behaviors of PCa cells. Moreover, TRIP13 enhancement overturned the effects of miR-495-3p overexpression on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of PCa cells.

Conclusion

NORAD depletion inhibited PCa advancement via the miR-495-3p/ TRIP13 axis, which provided a potential tactic for PCa treatment.

Vanillic Acid Stimulates Anagen Signaling via the PI3K/Akt/ β-Catenin Pathway in Dermal Papilla Cells

The hair cycle (anagen, catagen, and telogen) is regulated by the interaction between mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells in the hair follicles. The proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs), mesenchymal-derived fibroblasts, has emerged as a target for the regulation of the hair cycle. Here, we show that vanillic acid, a phenolic acid from wheat bran, promotes the proliferation of DPCs via a PI3K/Akt/Wnt/β-catenin dependent mechanism. Vanillic acid promoted the proliferation of DPCs, accompanied by increased levels of cell-cycle proteins cyclin D1, CDK6, and Cdc2 p34. Vanillic acid also increased the levels of phospho(ser473)-Akt, phospho(ser780)-pRB, and phospho(thr37/46)-4EBP1 in a time-dependent manner. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt pathway, attenuated the vanillic acid-mediated proliferation of DPCs. Vanillic acid-induced progression of the cell-cycle was also suppressed by wortmannin. Moreover, vanillic acid increased the levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as phospho(ser9)-glycogen synthase kinase-3β, phospho(ser552)-β-catenin, and phospho(ser675)-β-catenin. We found that vanillic acid increased the levels of cyclin D1 and Cox-2, which are target genes of β-catenin, and these changes were inhibited by wortmannin. To investigate whether vanillic acid affects the downregulation of β-catenin by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), implicated in the development of androgenetic alopecia, DPCs were stimulated with DHT in the presence and absence of vanillic acid for 24 h. Western blotting and confocal microscopy analyses showed that the decreased level of β-catenin after the incubation with DHT was reversed by vanillic acid. These results suggest that vanillic acid could stimulate anagen and alleviate hair loss by activating the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in DPCs.

Comparison of phenolics, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of two Hypsizygus marmoreus varieties

Phenolics, antioxidant activities, and antiproliferative properties of brown Hypsizygus marmoreus (brown HM) and white Hypsizygus marmoreus (white HM) were compared. The results showed that the contents of (+)-catechin, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid of brown HM were higher than those of white HM. Moreover, brown HM had greater cellular antioxidant activity (CAA), peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values than white HM, which demonstrated that brown HM presented a stronger antioxidant capacity. Both of brown HM and white HM showed remarkable antiproliferative activities against HepG2 cells and brown HM was proven to be the more effective. The flow cytometry results revealed that both of brown HM and white HM could induce G1 arrest and cell apoptotics in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, CyclinD1, CDK4, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were downregulated with the treatment of brown HM or white HM. Taken together, our study revealed that brown HM afforded better antioxidant and antiproliferative activities than white HM and laid the foundation for potential application of Hypsizygus marmoreus as source of nutraceuticals and functional food products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A systematic assessment of the potential differences of phenolics, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities between different Hypsizygus marmoreus varieties was carried out in the present study. Furthermore, our findings would present possible antiproliferative mechanism of extracts of different Hypsizygus marmoreus varieties, which may provide theoretical basis for further development and utilization of Hypsizygus marmoreus.

ZiYinHuaTan Recipe Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer by Suppressing PI3K/AKT Pathway

In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has played an important role in the treatment of gastric cancer in China. ZiYinHuaTan (ZYHT) recipe was developed for advanced gastric cancer and had shown its promising value in the clinic. In this study, we explore the effect of ZYHT on gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. ZYHT can inhibit tumor growth and improve the general condition of mice in subcutaneous transplantation nude mice models of gastric cancer. And ZYHT can also inhibit cell proliferation and blocked the cells in G0/G1 to induce cell apoptosis in HGC27 and MGC803 cells. Then, network pharmacology analysis showed that ZYHT may exert antitumor effect mainly through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, the expression of PI3K, p-Akt, CyclinD1, and Bcl-2 was detected in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that ZYHT could decrease the expression of PI3K, CyclinD1, and Bcl-2 both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggested that ZYHT could be used as a method for the treatment of developed gastric cancer.

Meningioma Tumor Microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment consists of noncancerous cells, such as immune cells and fibroblasts, and the proteins produced by these cells as well as the extracellular matrix components in the environment around a tumor. Tumor influences the behavior of the cells present in the surrounding environment, while the cells in the tumor microenvironment modulate the evolution of the tumor. Little is known about the microenvironment of meningioma, the most common benign intracranial tumor. Here, we review the current knowledge of the tumor microenvironment of meningioma and discusses its importance in meningioma tumorigenesis as well as in the designation of novel therapeutic approaches.

Topical application of Cinnamomum hydroethanolic extract improves wound healing by enhancing re-epithelialization and keratin biosynthesis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Context: Cinnamomum verum J. Presl. (Lauraceae) has a high number of polyphenols with insulin-like activity, increases glucose utilization in animal muscle, and might be beneficial for diabetic patients.Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of an ointment prepared from Cinnamomum verum hydroethanolic extract on wound healing in diabetic mice.Materials and methods: A total of 54 male BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: (1) diabetic non-treated group mice that were treated with soft yellow paraffin, (2 and 3) mice that were treated with 5 and 10% C. verum. Two circular full-thickness excisional wounds were created in each mouse, and the trial lasted for 16 d following induction of the wound. Further evaluation was made on the wound contraction ratio, histopathology parameters and mRNA levels of cyclin D1, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde of granulation tissue contents. HPLC apparatus was utilized to identify the compounds.Results: The HPLC data for cinnamon hydroethanolic extract identified cinnamaldehyde (11.26%) and 2-hydroxyl cinnamaldehyde (6.7%) as the major components. A significant increase was observed in wound contraction ratio, fibroblast proliferation, collagen deposition, re-epithelialization and keratin biosynthesis in the C. verum-treated groups in comparison to the diabetic non-treated group (p < 0.05). The expression level of cyclin D1, IGF1, GLUT 1 and antioxidant capacity increased in the C. verum-treated groups in comparison to the diabetic non-treated group (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Topical administration of C. verum accelerated wound healing and can possibly be employed in treating the wounds of diabetic patients.

Micro-Ribonucleic Acid-216a Regulates Bovine Primary Muscle Cells Proliferation and Differentiation via Targeting SMAD Nuclear Interacting Protein-1 and Smad7

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), belonging to a class of evolutionarily conserved small noncoding RNA of ∼22 nucleotides, are widely involved in skeletal muscle growth and development by regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. While the expression feature and underlying function of miR-216a in mammal skeletal muscle development, especially in cattle, remains to be further elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the function and mechanism of miR-216a during bovine primary muscle cells proliferation and differentiation. Herein, we found that the expression level of miR-216a both presented a downward trend during the proliferation and differentiation phases, which suggested that it might have a potential role in the development of bovine skeletal muscle. Functionally, during the cells proliferation phase, overexpression of miR-216a inhibited the expression of proliferation-related genes, reduced the cell proliferation status, and resulted in cells G1 phase arrest. In cells differentiation stages, overexpression of miR-216a suppressed myogenic maker genes mRNA, protein, and myotube formation. Mechanistically, we found that SNIP1 and smad7 were the directly targets of miR-216a in regulating bovine primary muscle cells proliferation and differentiation, respectively. Altogether, these findings suggested that miR-216a functions as a suppressive miRNA in development of bovine primary muscle cells via targeting SNIP1 and smad7.

Cyclin D1 is a mediator of gastrointestinal stromal tumor KIT-independence

Oncogenic KIT or PDGFRA tyrosine kinase mutations are compelling therapeutic targets in most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and the KIT inhibitor, imatinib, is therefore standard of care for patients with metastatic GIST. However, some GISTs lose expression of KIT oncoproteins, and therefore become KIT-independent and are consequently resistant to KIT-inhibitor drugs. We identified distinctive biologic features in KIT-independent, imatinib-resistant GISTs as a step towards identifying drug targets in these poorly understood tumors. We developed isogenic GIST lines in which the parental forms were KIT oncoprotein-dependent, whereas sublines had loss of KIT oncoprotein expression, accompanied by markedly downregulated expression of the GIST biomarker, protein kinase C-theta (PRKCQ). Biologic mechanisms unique to KIT-independent GISTs were identified by transcriptome sequencing, qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, protein interaction studies, knockdown and expression assays, and dual-luciferase assays. Transcriptome sequencing showed that cyclin D1 expression was extremely low in two of three parental KIT-dependent GIST lines, whereas cyclin D1 expression was high in each of the KIT-independent GIST sublines. Cyclin D1 inhibition in KIT-independent GISTs had anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects, associated with Rb activation and p27 upregulation. PRKCQ, but not KIT, was a negative regulator of cyclin D1 expression, whereas JUN and Hippo pathway effectors YAP and TAZ were positive regulators of cyclin D1 expression. PRKCQ, JUN, and the Hippo pathway coordinately regulate GIST cyclin D1 expression. These findings highlight the roles of PRKCQ, JUN, Hippo, and cyclin D1 as oncogenic mediators in GISTs that have converted, during TKI-therapy, to a KIT-independent state. Inhibitors of these pathways could be effective therapeutically for these now untreatable tumors.

Prognostic Significance of Cyclin D1 Over-expression in Colorectal Cancer: An Experience from Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Background and study aim: Cyclin D1 is a key regulatory protein in the cell cycle and is over-expressed in many tumors, including endometrial, thyroid, urothelial, breast, brain gliomas, and esophageal cancers. The main aim of the present study is to examine the expression pattern of cyclin D1 and its correlation with the different clinicopathological features in patients with colorectal camcer (CRC) from the Madinah region of Saudi Arabia. Patients and methods: The archival tumor blocks were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for Cyclin D1 over-expression in 324 CRC patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2017, at the Department of Pathology, King Fahad Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Results: Cyclin D1 over-expression was absent in normal mucosa, while 15% cases of adenoma showed its over-expression. In CRC, Cyclin D1 was expressed at high levels in 24.1% of case. No significant correlation was observed between Cyclin D1 over-expression and age, gender, tumor size, type and location. However, Cyclin D1 over-expression exhibited a significant correlation with tumor differentiation (p=0.04), lymph node involvement (p=0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.001), distant metastasis (p=0.006) and AJCC staging (p=0.001). The Kaplan-Meir analysis revealed a shorter period of survival with Cyclin D1 over-expression (p=0.000). The Cox-regression model analysis showed that Cyclin D1 over-expression was an independent prognostic marker in CRC (p=0.000). Conclusion: Cyclin D1 over-expression increases during normal-adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The significant association observed between Cyclin D1 over-expression, advanced tumor stage and short survival period clearly suggest the role of Cyclin D1 in the carcinogenesis and progression of CRC.

Modification of the aminopyridine unit of 2'-deoxyaminopyridinyl-pseudocytidine allowing triplex formation at CG interruptions in homopurine sequences

The antigene strategy based on site-specific recognition of duplex DNA by triplex DNA formation has been exploited in a wide range of biological activities. However, specific triplex formation is mostly restricted to homo-purine strands within the target duplex DNA, due to the destabilizing effect of CG and TA inversion sites where there is an absence of natural nucleotides that can recognize the CG and TA base pairs. Hence, the design of artificial nucleosides, which can selectively recognize these inversion sites with high affinity, should be of great significance. Recently, we determined that 2-amino-3-methylpyridinyl pseudo-dC (^3MeAP-ΨdC) possessed significant affinity and selectivity toward a CG inversion site and showed effective inhibition of gene expression. We now describe the design and synthesis of new modified aminopyridine derivatives by focusing on small chemical modification of the aminopyridine unit to tune and enhance the selectivity and affinity toward CG inversion sites. Remarkably, we have newly found that 2-amino-4-methoxypyridinyl pseudo-dC (^4OMeAP-ΨdC) could selectively recognize the CG base pair in all four adjacent base pairs and form a stable triplex structure against the promoter sequence of the human gene including multiple CG inversion sites.

Targeting PIN1 exerts potent antitumor activity in pancreatic ductal carcinoma via inhibiting tumor metastasis

The human prolyl isomerase PIN1, best known for its association with carcinogenesis, has recently been indicated in the disease of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the functions of PIN1 and the feasibility of targeting PIN1 in PDAC remain elusive. For this purpose, we examined the expression of PIN1 in cancer, related paracarcinoma and metastatic cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry and analyzed the associations with the pathogenesis of PDAC in 173 patients. The functional roles of PIN1 in PDAC were explored in vitro and in vivo using both genetic and chemical PIN1 inhibition. We showed that PIN1 was upregulated in pancreatic cancer and metastatic tissues. High PIN1 expression is significantly association with poor clinicopathological features and shorter overall survival and disease‐free survival. Further stratified analysis showed that PIN1 phenotypes refined prognostication in PDAC. Inhibition of PIN1 expression with RNA interference or with all trans retinoic acid decreased not only the growth but also the migration and invasion of PDAC cells through regulating the key molecules of multiple cancer‐driving pathways, simultaneously resulting in cell cycle arrest and mesenchymal‐epithelial transition in vitro. Furthermore, genetic and chemical PIN1 ablation showed dramatic inhibition of the tumorigenesis and metastatic spread and then reduced the tumor burden in vivo. We provided further evidence for the use of PIN1 as a promising therapeutic target in PDAC. Genetic and chemical PIN1 ablation exerted potent antitumor effects through blocking multiple cancer‐driving pathways in PDAC. More potent and specific PIN1 targeted inhibitors could be exploited to treat this aggressive cancer.

Silencing of heat shock protein 27 increases the radiosensitivity of non‑small cell lung carcinoma cells

Radiotherapy is a useful treatment for malignant tumors, including lung carcinoma; however, non‑small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is frequently insensitive to radiation. It has been reported that heat shock protein 27 (HSPB1) is a radioresistance‑associated protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the present study, the role of HSPB1 in NSCLC cells induced by irradiation was investigated. The viability of cells was determined by a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay. The apoptotic activity, cell cycle distribution and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of cells were evaluated via flow cytometry. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were employed to measure the expression of various genes and proteins. It was observed that knockdown of HSPB1 with small interfering RNA (si‑HSPB1) markedly decreased the viability of A549 NSCLC cells and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase following exposure to 6 Gy irradiation. Furthermore, it was revealed that si‑HSPB1 significantly downregulated cyclin B1 and cyclin G1 expression. Additionally, si‑HSPB1 promoted apoptosis and depolarized the MMP of cells exposed to 6 Gy irradiation. The expression levels of B‑cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2), mitochondrial cytochrome c (cyto c) and pro‑caspase‑8 were downregulated, whereas those of Bcl‑2 associated X protein (Bax), cytosolic cyto c and cleaved‑caspase‑8 were upregulated. Collectively, silencing of HSPB1 increased the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells by reducing cell viability, depolarizing the MMP, arresting the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and promoting cell apoptosis. Therefore, HSPB1 may be a novel target for increasing radiosensitivity in the treatment of NSCLC.

Muscadine grape skin extract inhibits prostate cancer cells by inducing cell-cycle arrest, and decreasing migration through heat shock protein 40

Previously we demonstrated that muscadine grape skin extract (MSKE), a natural product, significantly inhibited androgen-responsive prostate cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis through the targeting of survival pathways. However, the therapeutic effect of MSKE on more aggressive androgen-independent prostate cancer remains unknown. This study examined the effects of MSKE treatment in metastatic prostate cancer using complementary PC-3 cells and xenograft model. MSKE significantly inhibited PC-3 human prostate cancer cell tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. The growth-inhibitory effect of MSKE appeared to be through the induction of cell-cycle arrest. This induction was accompanied by a reduction in the protein expression of Hsp40 and cell-cycle regulation proteins, cyclin D1 and NF-kBp65. In addition, MSKE induced p21 expression independent of wild-type p53 induced protein expression. Moreover, we demonstrate that MSKE significantly inhibited cell migration in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Overall, these results demonstrate that MSKE inhibits prostate tumor growth and migration, and induces cell-cycle arrest by targeting Hsp40 and proteins involved in cell-cycle regulation and proliferation. This suggests that MSKE may also be explored either as a neo-adjuvant or therapeutic for castration resistant prostate cancer.

Early heme oxygenase 1 induction delays tumour initiation and enhances DNA damage repair in liver macrophages of Mdr2-/- mice

Multi drug resistance protein 2 knockout mice (Mdr2-/-) are a mouse model of chronic liver inflammation and inflammation-induced tumour development. Here we investigated the kinetics of early heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) induction on inflammation, tumour development, and DNA damage in Mdr2-/- mice. HO-1 was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP) twice weekly for 9 consecutive weeks. Immediately after HO-1 induction, liver function improved and infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was reduced. Furthermore, we observed increased p38 activation with concomitant reduction of Cyclin D1 expression in aged Mdr2-/- mice. Long-term effects of HO-1 induction included increased CD8+ T cell infiltration as well as delayed and reduced tumour growth in one-year-old animals. Unexpectedly, DNA double-strand breaks were detected predominantly in macrophages of 65-week-old Mdr2-/- mice, while DNA damage was reduced in response to early HO-1 induction in vivo and in vitro. Overall, early induction of HO-1 in Mdr2-/- mice had a beneficial short-term effect on liver function and reduced hepatic T cell accumulation. Long-term effects of early HO-1 induction were increased CD8+ T cell numbers, decreased proliferation as wells as reduced DNA damage in liver macrophages of aged animals, accompanied by delayed and reduced tumour growth.