Polymorphonuclear cells stimulate the migration and metastatic potential of rat sarcoma cells

Overview on Molecular Biomarkers for Laryngeal Cancer: Looking for New Answers to an Old Problem

Laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) accounts for almost 25-30% of all head and neck squamous cell cancers and is clustered according to the affected districts, as this determines distinct tendency to recur and metastasize. A major role for numerous genetic alterations in driving the onset and progression of this neoplasm is emerging. However, major efforts are still required for the identification of molecular markers useful for both early diagnosis and prognostic definition of LSCC that is still characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. Non-coding RNAs appear the most promising as they circulate in all the biological fluids allowing liquid biopsy determination, as well as due to their quick and characteristic modulation useful for non-invasive detection and monitoring of cancer. Other critical aspects are related to recent progress in circulating tumor cells and DNA detection, in metastatic status and chemo-refractoriness prediction, and in the functional interaction of LSCC with chronic inflammation and innate immunity. We review all these aspects taking into account the progress of the technologies in the field of next generation sequencing.

Neutrophils: Accomplices in metastasis

Metastasis is a critical cause of treatment failure and death in patients with advanced malignancies. Tumor cells can leave the primary site and enter the bloodstream; these circulating tumor cells then colonize target organs by overcoming blood shear stress, evading immune surveillance, and silencing the offensive capabilities of immune cells, eventually forming metastatic foci. From leaving the primary focus to the completion of distant metastasis, malignant tumor cells are supported and/or antagonized by certain immune cells. In particular, it has been found that myeloid granulocytes play an important role in this process. This review therefore aims to comprehensively describe the significance of neutrophils in solid tumor metastasis in terms of their supporting role in initiating the invasion and migration of tumor cells and assisting the colonization of circulating tumor cells in distant target organs, with the hope of providing insight into and ideas for anti-tumor metastasis treatment of tumor patients.

Incorporation of the SUVmax Measured From FDG PET and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio Improves Prediction of Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Locally Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of incorporation 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for improving prediction of clinical outcomes of patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 138 patients with unresectable LA NSCLC at our institution from July 2010 to August 2017. Spearman correlation analyses were used to estimate the correlations between SUVmax and NLR level. The univariate and multivariate Cox survival analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic indicators, including the incorporation of SUVmax and NLR. We defined the SUVmax and NLR grade (SNG = 0, 1, or 2) score as the number of risk factors among (1) SUVmax > 11.95 and (2) NLR > 3.82. The SNG score prognostic value was evaluated for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that tumor stage, SUVmax, SUVmean, NLR, and SNG score were significantly associated with OS and PFS in patients with LA NSCLC. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test demonstrated significant differences in both OS and PFS among patients in SNG score (OS, P < .001; PFS, P < .001). Spearman correlation analyses showed that SUVmax had a correlation with the NLR (r = 0.237; P = .005). In subgroup analyses for patients with tumor pathologic stage IIIA/IIIB, we found that the SNG score was significantly associated with OS and PFS in each subgroup (P < .001, P < .001 for OS and P = .027, P < .001 for PFS, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the SNG score was a significantly independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio, 1.612; 95% confidence interval, 1.157-2.246; P = .005) and PFS (hazard ratio, 2.241; 95% confidence interval, 1.486-3.379; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Incorporation of the SUVmax and NLR improves prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with LA NSCLC.

Combined Detection of Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and CEA as an Independent Prognostic Factor in Nonmetastatic Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Resection Is Superior to NLR or CEA Alone

Objective

To explore the role of combined detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the prognostic assessment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

We investigated preoperative NLR and CEA in 125 surgical CRC patients, determined the patients' thresholds by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and assessed their prognostic values by Kaplan–Meier curve and Cox regression models. In addition, we used nomograms of several risk factors to evaluate the risk in survival and predictive accuracy by using Harrell's concordance index (c-index).

Results

Results of multivariate analysis showed high NLR, high CEA, and high COCN (combination of CEA and NLR) were significantly correlated with decreased disease-free survival (DFS) [HR: 2.229, 95% CI: 1.012–4.911, and P = 0.047; HR: 3.652, 95% CI: 1.630–8.179, and P = 0.002; HR: 3.139, 95% CI: 1.800–5.472, and P < 0.001]. But high CEA and COCN remained significant only for decreased overall survival (OS) [HR: 3.713, 95% CI: 1.396–9.873, and P = 0.009; HR: 3.106, 95% CI: 1.576–6.123, and P = 0.001]. High NLR showed higher mortality rates with worse OS (P = 0.058), and nomograms containing NLR improved the predictive accuracy. Area under the curve of COCN was higher than that of CEA or NLR.

Conclusion

COCN acts as a better independent prognostic biomarker of CRC than NLR or CEA alone.

Inflammation and cancer: role of annexin A1 and FPR2/ALX in proliferation and metastasis in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

The anti-inflammatory protein annexin A1 (ANXA1) has been associated with cancer progression and metastasis, suggesting its role in regulating tumor cell proliferation. We investigated the mechanism of ANXA1 interaction with formylated peptide receptor 2 (FPR2/ALX) in control, peritumoral and tumor larynx tissue samples from 20 patients, to quantitate the neutrophils and mast cells, and to evaluate the protein expression and co-localization of ANXA1/FPR2 in these inflammatory cells and laryngeal squamous cells by immunocytochemistry. In addition, we performed in vitro experiments to further investigate the functional role of ANXA1/FPR2 in the proliferation and metastasis of Hep-2 cells, a cell line from larynx epidermoid carcinoma, after treatment with ANXA1_2–26 (annexin A1 N-terminal-derived peptide), Boc2 (antagonist of FPR) and/or dexamethasone. Under these treatments, the level of Hep-2 cell proliferation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, ANXA1/FPR2 co-localization, and the prostaglandin signalling were analyzed using ELISA, immunocytochemistry and real-time PCR. An influx of neutrophils and degranulated mast cells was detected in tumor samples. In these inflammatory cells of peritumoral and tumor samples, ANXA1/FPR2 expression was markedly exacerbated, however, in laryngeal carcinoma cells, this expression was down-regulated. ANXA1_2–26 treatment reduced the proliferation of the Hep-2 cells, an effect that was blocked by Boc2, and up-regulated ANXA1/FPR2 expression. ANXA1_2–26 treatment also reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and affected the expression of metalloproteinases and EP receptors, which are involved in the prostaglandin signalling. Overall, this study identified potential roles for the molecular mechanism of the ANXA1/FPR2 interaction in laryngeal cancer, including its relationship with the prostaglandin pathway, providing promising starting points for future research. ANXA1 may contribute to the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis through paracrine mechanisms that are mediated by FPR2/ALX. These data may lead to new biological targets for therapeutic intervention in human laryngeal cancer.

Berberine counteracts enhanced IL-8 expression of AGS cells induced by evodiamine

AIMS

Although showing an anti-tumor activity, evodiamine also up-regulated IL-8 production of human gastric cancer AGS cells. This study aimed to assess this effect and to examine whether co-administration with berberine counteracts it.

MAIN METHODS

MTT assay was used to assess the cell proliferation and adhesive ability. Flow cytometry was performed to measure the cell cycle distribution. Wound healing assay was used to detect the migration ability of cells. IL-8 production was determined by ELISA. Levels of mRNA expression of IL-8, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were measured by real-time PCR. Molecular pathways involved were evaluated by ELISA and western-blotting methods.

KEY FINDINGS

Evodiamine triggered proliferative inhibition and cell cycle arrest, and decreased migration of AGS cells. IL-8 expression and the adhesive ability of AGS cells to HUVECs were significantly increased by evodiamine, but were inhibited after being co-treated with berberine in AGS cells. As IL-8 was neutralized, increased adhesion of AGS cells to HUVECs induced by evodiamine was abolished. Berberine significantly suppressed the up-regulation of VCAM-1 and the down-regulation of ICAM-1 induced by evodiamine. Evodiamine provoked IL-8 secretion via ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, JAK2 and AP-1 pathways which could be counteracted by berberine.

SIGNIFICANCE

Although showing anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activities in AGS cells, evodiamine displayed a potential tendency to promote metastasis of gastric cancer cells by increasing IL-8 secretion and adhesion molecules. However, berberine could counteract the side-effect and simultaneously keep anti-proliferative and anti-migratory properties of evodiamine on AGS cells, which reduces the risk to use evodiamine in therapy of gastric cancers.

Pathobiology of the neutrophil-intestinal epithelial cell interaction: Role in carcinogenesis

The role of chronic inflammation, acting as an independent factor, on the onset of gastrointestinal carcinogenesis is now well accepted. However, even if there is an increase in the number of elements directly involving polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), as a major actor in digestive carcinogenesis, the different cellular and molecular events occurring in this process are still not completely understood. The transepithelial migration of PMNL, which is the ultimate step of the afflux of PMNL into the digestive mucosa, is a complex phenomenon involving sequential interaction of molecules expressed both on PMNL and on digestive epithelial cells. Chronic inflammatory areas rich in PMNL [so-called (chronic active inflammation)] and iterative transepithelial migration of PMNL certainly evoke intracellular signals, which lead toward progressive transformation of epithelia. Among these different signals, the mutagenic effect of reactive oxygen species and nitrates, the activation of the nuclear factor-κB pathway, and the modulation of expression of certain microRNA are key actors. Following the initiation of carcinogenesis, PMNL are involved in the progression and invasion of digestive carcinomas, with which they interact. It is noteworthy that different subpopulations of PMNL, which can have some opposite effects on tumor growth, in association with different levels of transforming growth factor-β and with the number of CD8 positive T lymphocytes, could be present during the development of digestive carcinoma. Other factors that involve PMNL, such as massive elastase release, and the production of angiogenic factors, can participate in the progression of neoplastic cells through tissues. PMNL may play a major role in the onset of metastases, since they allow the tumor cells to cross the endothelial barrier and to migrate into the blood stream. Finally, PMNL play a role, alone or in association with other cell parameters, in the initiation, promotion, progression and dissemination of digestive carcinomas. This review focuses on the main currently accepted cellular and molecular mechanisms that involve PMNL as key actors in digestive carcinogenesis.

Stimulation of angiogenesis resulting from cooperation between macrophages and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: proposed molecular mechanism and effect of tetrathiomolybdate

BACKGROUND

Infiltration by macrophages (Mphi) indicates a poor prognosis in breast cancers, in particular by inducing angiogenesis. Our study aimed 1) to investigate the mechanism by which cooperation between Mphi and aggressive breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) induces angiogenesis; 2) to examine the effect of tetrathiomolybdate (TM) on this angiogenic activity.

METHODS

Mphi coincubated with MDA-MB-231 were used as a model to mimic the inflammatory microenvironment. Angiogenesis induced by the culture media was tested in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Mphi phenotype was evaluated by 1) expression of the M1 marker CD80, and secretion of interleukin 10 (IL-10), an M2 marker; 2) capacity to secrete Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFalpha) when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide/interferon gamma (LPS/IFNgamma); 3) ability to induce MDA-MB-231 apoptosis. To explore the molecular mechanisms involved, cytokine profiles of conditioned media from MDA-MB-231, Mphi and the coculture were characterised by an antibody cytokine array. All experiments were carried out both in presence and in absence of TM.

RESULTS

Incubation of Mphi with MDA-MB-231 induced a pro-angiogenic effect in the CAM. It emerged that the angiogenic activity of the coculture is due to the capacity of Mphi to switch from M1 Mphi towards M2, probably due to an increase in Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor. This M1-M2 switch was shown by a decreased expression of CD80 upon LPS/IFNgamma stimulation, an increased secretion of IL-10, a decreased secretion of TNFalpha in response to LPS/IFNgamma and an inability to potentiate apoptosis. At the molecular level, the angiogenic activity of the coculture medium can be explained by the secretion of CXC chemokines/ELR+ and CC chemokines. Although TM did not modify either the M2 phenotype in the coculture or the profile of the secreted chemokines, it did decrease the angiogenic activity of the coculture medium, suggesting that TM inhibited angiogenic activity by interfering with the endothelial cell signalling induced by these chemokines.

CONCLUSIONS

Cooperation between Mphi and MDA-MB-231 transformed M1 Mphi to an angiogenic, M2 phenotype, attested by secretion of CXC chemokines/ELR+ and CC chemokines. TM inhibited this coculture-induced increase in angiogenic activity, without affecting either Mphi phenotype or cytokine secretion profiles.