Emerging Insights into Wnt/β-catenin Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer

β-catenin/CBP activation of mTORC1 signaling promotes partial epithelial-mesenchymal states in head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancers, which include oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as a major subsite, exhibit cellular plasticity that includes features of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), referred to as partial-EMT (p-EMT). To identify molecular mechanisms contributing to OSCC plasticity, we performed a multiphase analysis of single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data from human OSCC. This included a multiresolution characterization of cancer cell subgroups to identify pathways and cell states that are heterogeneously represented, followed by casual inference analysis to elucidate activating and inhibitory relationships between these pathways and cell states. This approach revealed signaling networks associated with hierarchical cell state transitions, which notably included an association between β-catenin-driven CREB-binding protein (CBP) activity and mTORC1 signaling. This network was associated with subpopulations of cancer cells that were enriched for markers of the p-EMT state and poor patient survival. Functional analyses revealed that β-catenin/CBP induced mTORC1 activity in part through the transcriptional regulation of a raptor-interacting protein, chaperonin containing TCP1 subunit 5 (CCT5). Inhibition of β-catenin-CBP activity through the use of the orally active small molecule, E7386, reduced the expression of CCT5 and mTORC1 activity in vitro, and inhibited p-EMT-associated markers and tumor development in a murine model of OSCC. Our study highlights the use of multiresolution network analyses of scRNAseq data to identify targetable signals for therapeutic benefit, thus defining an underappreciated association between β-catenin/CBP and mTORC1 signaling in head and neck cancer plasticity.

miRNAs as key modulators between normal cells and tumor microenvironment interactions

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is well-defined target for understanding tumor progression and various cell types. Major elements of the tumor microenvironment are the followings: endothelial cells, fibroblasts, signaling molecules, extracellular matrix, and infiltrating immune cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNAs with major functions in the gene expression regulation at post-transcriptional level that have also appeared to exerts key functions in the cancer initiation/progression in diverse biological processes and the tumor microenvironment. This study summarized various roles of miRNAs in the complex interactions between the tumor and normal cells in their microenvironment.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas: state of the field and emerging directions

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) develops on the mucosal epithelium of the oral cavity. It accounts for approximately 90% of oral malignancies and impairs appearance, pronunciation, swallowing, and flavor perception. In 2020, 377,713 OSCC cases were reported globally. According to the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO), the incidence of OSCC will rise by approximately 40% by 2040, accompanied by a growth in mortality. Persistent exposure to various risk factors, including tobacco, alcohol, betel quid (BQ), and human papillomavirus (HPV), will lead to the development of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), which are oral mucosal lesions with an increased risk of developing into OSCC. Complex and multifactorial, the oncogenesis process involves genetic alteration, epigenetic modification, and a dysregulated tumor microenvironment. Although various therapeutic interventions, such as chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and nanomedicine, have been proposed to prevent or treat OSCC and OPMDs, understanding the mechanism of malignancies will facilitate the identification of therapeutic and prognostic factors, thereby improving the efficacy of treatment for OSCC patients. This review summarizes the mechanisms involved in OSCC. Moreover, the current therapeutic interventions and prognostic methods for OSCC and OPMDs are discussed to facilitate comprehension and provide several prospective outlooks for the fields.

ALDOC promotes non-small cell lung cancer through affecting MYC-mediated UBE2N transcription and regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Despite advancements in therapeutic options, the overall prognosis for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poor. Therefore, it is crucial to further explore the etiology and targets for novel treatments to effectively manage NSCLC. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of aldolase, fructose-bisphosphate C (ALDOC) protein in tumor tissues and adjacent non-malignant tissues from 79 NSCLC patients. Our findings revealed that ALDOC was overexpressed in NSCLC tissues. ALDOC expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, lymphatic metastasis and pathological stage. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that higher ALDOC levels were indicative of a poorer prognosis. Additionally, we observed elevated ALDOC mRNA levels in NSCLC cell lines relative to normal cells. To investigate the functional roles of ALDOC, we infected cells with small interfering RNA against ALDOC, which led to attenuated proliferation and migration, as well as ameliorated apoptosis. Furthermore, through our investigations, we discovered that ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2N (UBE2N) acts as a downstream factor of ALDOC. ALDOC promoted NSCLC through affecting MYC-mediated UBE2N transcription and regulating the Wnt pathway. More importantly, we found that downregulation of UBE2N or the use of Wnt pathway inhibitor could reverse the promoting effects of ALDOC elevation on NSCLC development in vitro and in vivo. Based on these findings, our study highlights the potential of ALDOC as a future therapeutic target for NSCLC.

MFAP2 promotes the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through autophagy

Microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) is a small glycoprotein that is involved in vascular development and metabolic disease. The present study aims to explore the regulatory role of MFAP2 in the development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), including the underlying mechanisms. MFAP2 expression and its association with the progression of OSCC are explored using bioinformatics. MFAP2 expression in OSCC tissues is detected by immunohistochemical staining. SCC15 cell migration, invasion, apoptosis, proliferation, and viability are detected by wound healing, Transwell, flow cytometry, colony formation, and cell counting kit-8 assays. An in vivo experiment is used to detect tumor formation. Western blot analysis is used to determine MFAP2's regulatory role in autophagy and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. MFAP2 is highly expressed in SCC15 cells and OSCC tissues, which correlates positively with the poor prognosis of patients with OSCCs. Functionally, MFAP2 promotes oncogenic autophagy to increase cell invasion, migration, and proliferation but inhibits apoptosis in SCC15 cells and promotes tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, MFAP2 upregulates autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin signaling to stimulate OSCC development. Intriguingly, regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling dependent on autophagy contributes to the malignant behaviors of SCC15 cells. MFAP2 could serve as a novel biomarker for OSCC and could affect OSCC tumorigenesis and development via autophagic regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Circulating tumour DNA alterations: emerging biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and Neck cancers (HNC) are a heterogeneous group of upper aero-digestive tract cancer and account for 931,922 new cases and 467,125 deaths worldwide. About 90% of these cancers are of squamous cell origin (HNSCC). HNSCC is associated with excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption and infection with oncogenic viruses. Genotyping tumour tissue to guide clinical decision-making is becoming common practice in modern oncology, but in the management of patients with HNSCC, cytopathology or histopathology of tumour tissue remains the mainstream for diagnosis and treatment planning. Due to tumour heterogeneity and the lack of access to tumour due to its anatomical location, alternative methods to evaluate tumour activities are urgently needed. Liquid biopsy approaches can overcome issues such as tumour heterogeneity, which is associated with the analysis of small tissue biopsy. In addition, liquid biopsy offers repeat biopsy sampling, even for patients with tumours with access limitations. Liquid biopsy refers to biomarkers found in body fluids, traditionally blood, that can be sampled to provide clinically valuable information on both the patient and their underlying malignancy. To date, the majority of liquid biopsy research has focused on blood-based biomarkers, such as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumour cells (CTCs), and circulating microRNA. In this review, we will focus on ctDNA as a biomarker in HNSCC because of its robustness, its presence in many body fluids, adaptability to existing clinical laboratory-based technology platforms, and ease of collection and transportation. We will discuss mechanisms of ctDNA release into circulation, technological advances in the analysis of ctDNA, ctDNA as a biomarker in HNSCC management, and some of the challenges associated with translating ctDNA into clinical and future perspectives. ctDNA provides a minimally invasive method for HNSCC prognosis and disease surveillance and will pave the way in the future for personalized medicine, thereby significantly improving outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

Identification of Moesin (MSN) as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Colorectal Cancer via the β-Catenin-RUNX2 Axis

CRC is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. The complex mechanisms of metastatic CRC limit available therapeutic choice. Thus, identifying new CRC therapeutic targets is essential. Moesin (MSN), a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin family, connects the cell membrane to the actin-based cytoskeleton and regulates cell morphology. We investigated the role of MSN in the progression of CRC. GENT2 and oncomine were used to study MSN expression and CRC patient outcomes. MSN-specific shRNAs or MSN-overexpressed plasmid were used to establish MSN-KD and MSN overexpressed cell lines, respectively. SRB, migration, wound healing, and flow cytometry were used to test cell survival and migration. Propidium iodide and annexin V stain were used to analyze the cell cycle and apoptosis. MSN expression was found to be higher in CRC tissues than in normal tissues. Higher MSN expression is associated with poor overall survival, disease-free survival, and relapse-free survival rates in CRC patients. MSN silencing inhibits cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion in vitro, whereas MSN overexpression accelerates cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. RNA sequencing was used to investigate differentially expressed genes, and RUNX2 was discovered as a possible downstream target for MSN. In CRC patients, RUNX2 expression was significantly correlated with MSN expression. We also found that MSN silencing decreased cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin levels. Additionally, pharmacological inhibition of β-catenin in MSN-overexpressed cells led to a reduction of RUNX2, and activating β-catenin signaling by inhibiting GSK3β rescued the RUNX2 downregulation in MSN-KD cells. This confirms that MSN regulates RUNX2 expression via activation of β-catenin signaling. Finally, our result further determined that RUNX2 silencing reduced the ability of MSN overexpression cells to proliferate and migrate. MSN accelerated CRC progression via the β-catenin-RUNX2 axis. As a result, MSN holds the potential to become a new target for CRC treatment.

Combinations of PRI-724 Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Inhibitor with Vismodegib, Erlotinib, or HS-173 Synergistically Inhibit Head and Neck Squamous Cancer Cells

The Wnt/β-catenin, EGFR, and PI3K pathways frequently undergo upregulation in head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) cells. Moreover, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway together with Hedgehog (Hh) signaling regulate the activity of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the combinatorial use of the Wnt/β-catenin and Hh pathway inhibitors on viability, cell cycle progression, apoptosis induction, cell migration, and expression of CSC markers in tongue (CAL 27) and hypopharynx (FaDu) cancer cells. Co-inhibition of Wnt signaling with EGFR or PI3K pathways was additionally tested. The cells were treated with selective inhibitors of signaling pathways: Wnt/β-catenin (PRI-724), Hh (vismodegib), EGFR (erlotinib), and PI3K (HS-173). Cell viability was evaluated by the resazurin assay. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction were tested by flow cytometric analysis after staining with propidium iodide and Annexin V, respectively. Cell migration was detected by the scratch assay and CSC marker expression by the R-T PCR method. Mixtures of PRI-724 and vismodegib affected cell cycle distribution, greatly reduced cell migration, and downregulated the transcript level of CSC markers, especially POU5F1 encoding OCT4. Combinations of PRI-724 with erlotinib or HS-173 were more potent in inducing apoptosis.

Critical roles of adherens junctions in diseases of the oral mucosa

The oral cavity is directly exposed to a variety of environmental stimuli and contains a diverse microbiome that continuously interacts with the oral epithelium. Therefore, establishment and maintenance of the barrier function of the oral mucosa is of paramount importance for its function and for the body's overall health. The adherens junction is a cell-cell adhesion complex that is essential for epithelial barrier function. Although a considerable body of work has associated barrier disruption with oral diseases, the molecular underpinnings of these associations have not been equally investigated. This is critical, since adherens junction components also possess significant signaling roles in the cell, in addition to their architectural ones. Here, we summarize current knowledge involving adherens junction components in oral pathologies, such as cancer and oral pathogen-related diseases, while we also discuss gaps in the knowledge and opportunities for future investigation of the relationship between adherens junctions and oral diseases.

Kinesin family member C 1 overexpression exerts tumor-promoting properties in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via the Rac1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Kinesin family member C 1 (KIFC1) is a kinesin-14 motor protein, and its abnormal upregulation promotes the malignant behavior of cancer cells. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is a common modification of eukaryotic mRNA and affects RNA expression. Herein, we explored how KIFC1 regulated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumorigenesis and how m6A modification affected KIFC1 expression. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to screen for genes of interest, and in vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to investigate the function and mechanism of KIFC1 in HNSCC. We observed that the expression of KIFC1 in HNSCC tissues was significantly higher than in normal or adjacent normal tissues. Cancer patients with higher KIFC1 expression have lower tumor differentiation status. Demethylase alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), a cancer-promoting factor in HNSCC, could interact with KIFC1 mRNA and post-transcriptionally activated KIFC1 through m6A modification. KIFC1 downregulation suppressed HNSCC cell growth and metastasis in vivo and in vitro. However, overexpression of KIFC1 promoted these malignant behaviors. We demonstrated that KIFC1 overexpression activated the oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin pathway. KIFC1 interacted with the small GTPase Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) at the protein level and increased activity. The Rho GTPase Rac1 was indicated to be an upstream activator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and its Rac1 inhibitor, NSC-23766, treatment reversed the effects caused by KIFC1 overexpression. Those observations demonstrate that abnormal expression of KIFC1 may be regulated by demethylase ALKBH5 in an m6A-dependent manner and promote HNSCC progression via the Rac1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

CDK5RAP2 is a Wnt target gene and promotes stemness and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma

In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a highly aggressive and frequently lethal malignancy, the role and action mechanism of the microtubule regulatory protein CDK5RAP2 have not been fully understood. Here, we show that CDK5RAP2 is highly expressed in OSCC and its expression correlates with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of the disease. The expression of CDK5RAP2 is regulated by the Wnt signaling pathway. Depletion of CDK5RAP2 inhibits the tumorigenesis and migration of OSCC cells and alters the OSCC cancer stem (-like) cell (CSC) signature. Notably, suppression of CDK5RAP2 expression disrupts spindle orientation during mitosis. Collectively, these results identify CDK5RAP2 as a potential CSC marker and reveal a mechanism that controls the CSC population in OSCC.

PLODs: Novel prognostic biomarkers and potential immunotherapy targets for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) comprise a group of malignant tumors arising from the squamous epithelium of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. HNSCC is the 6th most common cancer in the world, with approximately 650,000 new cases and 400,000 deaths annually. Although survival rates have improved, HNSCC therapy may result in short - or long-term morbidity in approximately 50% of cases. Previous studies have also indicated that the overexpression of procollagen-Lysine, 2-Oxoglutarate 5-Dioxygenases (PLOD) family proteins could lead to certain diseases or even tumors. However, there has been no dedicated evaluation of the relationship between PLOD family members and HNSCC. Here we used data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases to explore the potential role of PLOD family proteins in HNSCC. Our evaluations suggest that increased expression of PLOD family proteins may be associated with poorer prognosis and increased immune infiltration in HNSCC, making these proteins a potential biomarker for personalized treatment of HNSCC.

Inhibition of Wnt7b reduces the proliferation, invasion, and migration of colorectal cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal tumors. The role of Wnt7b as a ligand of the Wnt signaling pathway in colorectal cancer remains to be studied. Through bioinformatics online analysis, we found that Wnt7b is abnormally highly expressed in a variety of gastrointestinal tumors. This study mainly explored the effects of Wnt7b regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SW480 cells in colorectal cancer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Applying the TCGA data set, Wnt7b was found to be highly expressed in most gastrointestinal tumor samples. Real-time quantitative PCR(q-PCR), Western blotting(WB) results showed that Wnt7b was significantly higher expressed in colorectal cancer cell lines compared with normal intestinal epithelial cells. SW480 cells transfected with the sh-Wnt7b showed successful knockdown of Wnt7b. MTT colorimetry showed the proliferation ability of sh-Wnt7b group decreased significantly compared with the non-transfected group. The results of double staining flow cytometry showed that the sh-Wnt7b group had more apoptosis. Cell scratch test showed that the cell migration rate of sh-wnt7b group considerably reduced. The Transwell invasion experiment demonstrated that the number of cell invasions in the sh-Wnt7b group decreased significantly. After SW480 cells was transfected with sh-Wnt7b, the protein levels of β-catenin, CCND1, and CD44 in this group of cells were detected to be reduced by WB, and the same results were obtained by q-PCR detection of mRNA.

CONCLUSION

Wnt7b is highly expressed in colorectal cancer cells, which may affect the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Targeted therapy for head and neck cancer: signaling pathways and clinical studies

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is malignant, genetically complex and difficult to treat and is the sixth most frequent cancer, with tobacco, alcohol and human papillomavirus being major risk factors. Based on epigenetic data, HNC is remarkably heterogeneous, and treatment remains challenging. There is a lack of significant improvement in survival and quality of life in patients with HNC. Over half of HNC patients experience locoregional recurrence or distal metastasis despite the current multiple traditional therapeutic strategies and immunotherapy. In addition, resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some targeted therapies is common. Therefore, it is urgent to explore more effective and tolerable targeted therapies to improve the clinical outcomes of HNC patients. Recent targeted therapy studies have focused on identifying promising biomarkers and developing more effective targeted therapies. A well understanding of the pathogenesis of HNC contributes to learning more about its inner association, which provides novel insight into the development of small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we summarized the vital signaling pathways and discussed the current potential therapeutic targets against critical molecules in HNC, as well as presenting preclinical animal models and ongoing or completed clinical studies about targeted therapy, which may contribute to a more favorable prognosis of HNC. Targeted therapy in combination with other therapies and its limitations were also discussed.

Follicle-like tertiary lymphoid structures: A potential biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

The maturity and spatial distribution of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) vary dynamically within and between cancers, leading to a controversial role in cancer. We aimed to develop a simple morphology-based approach to identify the maturity of TLSs in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and examine their clinically relevant functional role.

Methods

TLSs were identified based on morphological features via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and the accuracy was verified by multi-immunohistochemical analysis. The density, maturity, spatial distribution and prognostic value of TLSs were separately analyzed in two human laryngeal cancer cohorts. The TLS profile was linked to RNA-seq data from the TCGA database to perform bioinformatics analysis.

Results

TLSs can be classified as early TLSs (E-TLSs), primary follicle-like TLSs (PFL-TLSs) and secondary follicle-like TLSs (SFL-TLSs). The three types of TLSs showed higher infiltration in the extratumoral region. XCL2 is a vital chemokine in the maturation and infiltration of TLSs. FL-TLS was an independent positive prognostic indicator in laryngeal cancer. The FL-TLS group had more abundant immune cell infiltration and a better response to immunotherapies than the non-FL-TLS group. Functional analysis showed that the non-FL-TLS group was enriched in tumor invasion, metastasis and immunosuppression pathways.

Conclusion

The maturity of TLSs can be accurately classified by H&E staining. FL-TLS is a potential mediator of antitumor immunity in human laryngeal cancer.

Tumor Suppressor miRNA-503 Inhibits Cell Invasion in Head and Neck Cancer through the Wnt Signaling Pathway via the WNT3A/MMP Molecular Axis

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, and its incidence and death rates have been consistently high throughout the past decades. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently gained significant attention because of their role in the regulation of a variety of biological processes via post-transcriptional silencing mechanisms. Previously, we determined a specific profile of miRNAs associated with HNC using a miRNA microarray analysis. Of the 23 miRNAs with highly altered expression in HNC cells, miR-503 was the most significantly downregulated miRNA. In this study, we confirmed that miR-503 acts as a tumor suppressor, as our results showed decreased levels of miR-503 in cancer cells and patients with HNC. We further characterized the role of miR-503 in the malignant functions of HNC. Although there was a minimal effect on cell growth, miR-503 was found to inhibit cellular invasion significantly. Algorithm-based studies identified multiple potential target genes and pathways associated with oncogenic mechanisms. The candidate target gene, WNT3A, was confirmed to be downregulated by miR-503 at both the mRNA and protein levels and validated by a reporter assay. Furthermore, miR-503 modulated multiple invasion-associated genes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), through the Wnt downstream signaling pathway. Overall, this study demonstrates that miR-503 suppresses HNC malignancy by inhibiting cell invasion through the Wnt signaling pathway via the WNT3A/MMP molecular axis. The modulation of miR-503 may be a novel therapeutic approach to intervene in cancer invasion.

The prognostic significance of β-Catenin expression in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:β-Catenin has been recently identified as a promising novel therapeutic target and prognostic marker in different types of cancer. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis to better clarify the correlation between β-Catenin expression and survival outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.

Patients/methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items or Systematic Reviews Meta Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases were systematically searched for relevant studies to explore the prognostic significance of β-Catenin in NPC. Pooled hazards ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the association of β-Catenin expression with survival outcomes in NPC patients. Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for clinicopathological characteristics were also statistically analyzed.

Results: Eight studies involving 1,179 patients with NPC were ultimately included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis indicated that elevated β-Catenin expression was significantly associated with poor OS (HR = 2.45, 95% CIs: 1.45–4.16, p = 0.001) and poor DFS/PFS (HR 1.79, 95% CIs: 1.29–2.49, p = 0.000). Furthermore, β-cadherin was signifcantly associated with higher TMN stages (OR = 5.10, 95% CIs 2.93–8.86, p = 0.000), clinical stages (OR = 5.10, 95% CIs 2.93–8.86, p = 0.000) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) (OR = 5.01, 95% CIs 2.40–10.44, p = 0.000).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that for NPC, patients with elevated β-Catenin expression are more likely to have poor survival.

Expression of Tumor Suppressor SFRP1 Predicts Biological Behaviors and Prognosis: A Potential Target for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Genomic instability is implicated in the initiation and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Tumor suppressor Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 1 (SFRP1) may participate in the aberrant evolution of OSCC, the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of which may provide effective therapeutic targets. Methods: A bioinformatics analysis was carried out on a publicly available database using R language to map the prognostic value, immune infiltration and enrichment of SFRP1 expression. Subsequently, in vitro experiments were conducted to unveil the biological function of SFRP1. Results: SFRP1 was found to be ubiquitously lowly expressed in OSCC using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Univariate analysis confirmed that those patients characterized by a low SFRP1 expression were significantly associated with advanced T-stage, clinical stage and poor mortality (p < 0.05). Furthermore, SFRP1 displayed a positive performance in tumor immune infiltration, especially in mast cells. Functional annotations indicated that highly expressed SFRP1 was associated with membrane potential and passive transmembrane transporter activity and it was mainly enriched in calcium pathway and neuroactive ligand−receptor interaction. In vitro, the overexpression of SFRP1 inhibited its proliferation, migration, and invasion and resulted in G0+G1 phase arrest within Cal27 cells (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The bioinformation data suggest that SFRP1 expression provides an insight into the risk and prognostic stratification in OSCC. SFRP1 was validated as a potential biomarker with anticarcinogenic behaviors for use in targeted therapy.

CMTM6 and CMTM4 as two novel regulators of PD-L1 modulate the tumor microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays crucial roles in regulating tumor occurrence, progress, metastasis and drug resistance. However, it remains largely elusive how the components of TME are regulated to govern its functions in tumor biology. Here, we discussed how the two novel functional proteins, chemokine-like factor (CKLF)-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 6 (CMTM6) and CMTM4, which involved in the post-translational regulation of PD-L1, modulate the TME functions. The roles of CMTM6 and CMTM4 in regulating TME components, including immune cells and tumor cells themselves were discussed in this review. The potential clinical applications of CMTM6 and CMTM4 as biomarkers to predict therapy efficacy and as new or combined immunotherapy targets are also highlighted. Finally, the current hot topics for the biological function of CMTM6/4 and several significant research directions for CMTM6/4 are also briefly summarized in the review.

Oesophageal carcinoma: The prevalence of DNA tumour viruses and therapy

Oesophageal carcinoma ranks the sixth leading cause of cancer death and affected 544,000 - 604,000 people in 2020. Patients often presented with a poor cancer prognosis with a low survival rate of 15-25%. Depending upon the cell type, oesophageal carcinoma is categorised into oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). ESCC is predominantly reported in developing countries, while EAC is more common in developed countries. Aside from the presence of exogenous co-factors, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); infection with oncogenic viruses is suspected to be one of the major factors contributing to EC development. Oncogenic viruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) have been detected in various proportions of EC samples. Nonetheless, their aetiological roles in EC remain debatable. In this review, we garnered previous studies that focus on the association between oncogenic viruses and EC. Among these oncogenic viruses, HPV appears to have a stronger association with EC than the others. In addition, we also discuss the pros and cons of the treatment regimens to treat EC patients, including immunotherapy, chemo- and chemoradiotherapy, and their efficacy.

DNA Methylation Associates With Clinical Courses of Atypical Meningiomas: A Matched Case-Control Study

Background

Accounting for 15–20% of all meningiomas, WHO grade II meningiomas represent an intermediate group regarding risk of tumor recurrence. However, even within this subgroup varying clinical courses are observed with potential occurrence of multiple recurrences. Recently, DNA methylation profiles showed their value for distinguishing biological behaviors in meningiomas. Therefore, aim of this study was to investigate DNA methylation profiles in WHO grade II meningiomas.

Methods

All patients that underwent resection of WHO grade II meningiomas between 1993 and 2015 were screened for a dismal course clinical course with ≥2 recurrences. These were matched to control cases with benign clinical courses without tumor recurrence. DNA methylation was assessed using the Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip microarray. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed for identification of DNA methylation profiles associated with such a dismal clinical course.

Results

Overall, 11 patients with WHO grade II meningiomas with ≥2 recurrences (Group dismal) and matched 11 patients without tumor recurrence (Group benign) were identified. DNA methylation profiles revealed 3 clusters—one comprising only patients of group dismal, a second cluster comprising mainly patients from group benign and a third cluster comprising one group dismal and one group benign patient. Based on differential methylation pattern associations with the Wnt and the related cadherin signaling pathway was observed.

Conclusion

DNA methylation clustering showed remarkable differences between two matched subgroups of WHO grade II meningiomas. Thus, DNA methylation profiles may have the potential to support prognostic considerations regarding meningioma recurrence and radiotherapeutic treatment allocation after surgical resection.

Viral and Clinical Oncology of Head and Neck Cancers

Purpose of Review

This study assesses the current state of knowledge of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), which are malignancies arising from the orifices and adjacent mucosae of the aerodigestive tracts. These contiguous anatomical areas are unique in that 2 important human oncoviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV), are causally associated with nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal cancers, respectively. Mortality rates have remained high over the last 4 decades, and insufficient attention paid to the unique viral and clinical oncology of the different subgroups of HNSCC.

Recent Findings

We have compared and contrasted the 2 double-stranded DNA viruses and the relevant molecular oncogenesis of their respective cancers against other head and neck cancers. Tobacco and alcohol ingestion are also reviewed, as regard the genetic progression/mutation accumulation model of carcinogenesis. The importance of stringent stratification when searching for cancer mutations and biomarkers is discussed. Evidence is presented for a dysplastic/pre-invasive cancerous phase for HPV+ oropharyngeal cancers, and analogous with other HPV+ cancers. This raises the possibility of strategies for cancer screening as early diagnosis will undoubtedly save lives.

Summary

Staging and prognostication have changed to take into account the distinct biological and prognostic pathways for viral+ and viral− cancers. Diagnosis of pre-cancers and early stage cancers will reduce mortality rates. Multi-modal treatment options for HNSCC are reviewed, especially recent developments with immunotherapies and precision medicine strategies. Knowledge integration of the viral and molecular oncogenic pathways with sound planning, hypothesis generation, and clinical trials will continue to provide therapeutic options in the future.

CMTM6 as a master regulator of PD-L1

Immune checkpoint proteins, such as programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), play critical roles in the pathology of chronic inflammatory pathological conditions, particularly cancer. In addition, the activation of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is involved in mediating resistance to certain anti-cancer chemo- and immuno-therapeutics. Unfortunately, targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway by the available anti-PD-1/PD-L1 drugs can benefit only a small proportion of cancer patients. Thus, studying the factors that regulate the expression of these immune checkpoint proteins is of central importance in this context. Recent investigations have identified CMTM6 and, to a lesser extent, CMTM4, as master regulators of PD-L1 expression in various cancer cells. Understanding the mechanisms by which such proteins upregulate the expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells, and determining the potential regulators of CMTM6 expression in different types of cancers will accelerate the development of new therapeutic targets and/or lead to the enhancement of the currently available PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapies.

At the Crossroads of Molecular Biology and Immunology: Molecular Pathways for Immunological Targeting of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Recent advances in immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have led to implementation of anti-programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) immunotherapy to standard of care for recurrent/metastatic HNSCC. However, the majority of tumors do not respond to these therapies, indicating that these tumors are not immunogenic or other immunosuppressive mechanisms might be at play. Aim: Given their role in carcinogenesis as well as in immune modulation, we discuss the relation between the STAT3, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt signaling pathways to identify potential targets to empower the immune response against HNSCC. Results: We focused on three pathways. First, STAT3 is often overactivated in HNSCC and induces the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines, thereby promoting recruitment of immune suppressive regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME) while hampering the development of dendritic cells. Second, PI3K/AKT/mTOR mutational activation results in increased tumor proliferation but could also be important in HNSCC immune evasion due to the downregulation of components in the antigen-processing machinery. Third, canonical Wnt signaling is overactivated in >20% of HNSCC and could be an interesting pleotropic target since it is related to increased tumor cell proliferation and the development of an immunosuppressive HNSCC TME. Conclusion: The molecular pathology of HNSCC is complex and heterogeneous, varying between sites and disease etiology (i.e., HPV). The in HNSCC widely affected signaling pathways STAT3, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt are implicated in some of the very mechanisms underlying immune evasion of HNSCC, thereby representing promising targets to possibly facilitate immunotherapy response.

Companion Animal Model in Translational Oncology; Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Canine Oral Melanoma

Simple Summary

Laboratory rodents are the most common animal models used in preclinical cancer research. Companion animals with naturally occurring cancers are an under-utilized natural model for the development of new anti-cancer drugs. Dogs and cats develop several types of cancers that resemble those arising in humans with similar clinical and histopathological features and often with similar molecular and genetic backgrounds. Exposure to environmental carcinogens, including air, food and water are also common between people and their pets. Dogs and cats are a unique model that could be integrated between the preclinical laboratory animal model and human clinical trials.

Abstract

Companion animals with naturally occurring cancers can provide an advantageous model for cancer research and in particular anticancer drug development. Compared to commonly utilized mouse models, companion animals, specifically dogs and cats, share a closer phylogenetical distance, body size, and genome organization. Most importantly, pets develop spontaneous, rather than artificially induced, cancers. The incidence of cancer in people and companion animals is quite similar and cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10 years of age. Many cancer types in dogs and cats have similar pathological, molecular, and clinical features to their human counterparts. Drug toxicity and response to anti-cancer treatment in dogs and cats are also similar to those in people. Companion animals share their lives with their owners, including the environmental and socioeconomic cancer-risk factors. In contrast to humans, pets have a shorter life span and cancer progression is often more rapid. Clinical trials in companion animals are cheaper and less time consuming compared to human trials. Dogs and cats with naturally occurring cancers are an ideal and unique model for human cancer research. Model selection for the specific type of cancer is of pivotal importance. Although companion animal models for translational research have been reviewed previously, this review will try to summarize the most important advantages and disadvantages of this model. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma as a model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and canine oral melanoma as a model for mucosal melanoma and immunotherapy in people will be discussed as examples.

Circ_0058106 promotes proliferation, metastasis and EMT process by regulating Wnt2b/β-catenin/c-Myc pathway through miR-185-3p in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) accounts 95% of hypopharyngeal cancer, which is characterized by high early metastasis rate and poor prognosis. It is reported that circular RNA is involved in the occurrence and development of cancer; however, the role of circRNA in hypopharyngeal cancer has little been investigated. We performed hypopharyngeal carcinoma circRNA microarray and qRT-PCR verification. The results showed circ_0058106 expression level was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues than in corresponding normal tissues. We found that circ_0058106 upregulation promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of HSCC cells, while knockdown of circ_0058106 inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of HSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics predicted circ_0058106 may interact with miR-185-3p. We verified circ_0058106 directly bound miR-185-3p and downregulated miR-185-3p expression by using dual-luciferase reporter assay and qRT-PCR. Moreover, we proved circ_0058106 promoted HSCC cells tumorigenesis and EMT process by regulating Wnt2b/β-catenin/c-Myc pathway via miR-185-3p. In conclusion, our findings firstly confirmed the carcinogenic effect of circ_0058106 in promoting HSCC cells tumorigenesis, metastasis, invasion and EMT process by regulating Wnt2b/β-catenin/c-Myc pathway through sponging miR-185-3p, indicating that circ_0058106 may be a new therapeutic target and prognostic marker for HSCC.

Differences in Extracellular Vesicle Protein Cargo Are Dependent on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell of Origin and Human Papillomavirus Status

To identify potential extracellular vesicle (EV) biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we evaluated EV protein cargo and whole cell lysates (WCL) from HPV-positive and -negative HNSCC cell lines, as well as normal oral keratinocytes and HPV16-transformed cells. EVs were isolated from serum-depleted, conditioned cell culture media by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation/ultracentrifugation. EV and WCL preparations were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Candidate proteins detected at significantly higher levels in EV compared with WCL, or compared with EV from normal oral keratinocytes, were identified and confirmed by Wes Simple Western protein analysis. Our findings suggest that these proteins may be potential HNSCC EV markers as proteins that may be (1) selectively included in EV cargo for export from the cell as a strategy for metastasis, tumor cell survival, or modification of tumor microenvironment, or (2) representative of originating cell composition, which may be developed for diagnostic or prognostic use in clinical liquid biopsy applications. This work demonstrates that our method can be used to reliably detect EV proteins from HNSCC, normal keratinocyte, and transformed cell lines. Furthermore, this work has identified HNSCC EV protein candidates for continued evaluation, specifically tenascin-C, HLA-A, E-cadherin, EGFR, EPHA2, and cytokeratin 19.

Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor ICG-001 enhances the antitumor efficacy of radiotherapy by increasing radiation-induced DNA damage and improving tumor immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Radiotherapy (RT) has a promising anti-tumor effect depending on its effects on both cancer cells and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). As one of the most common alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), wnt/β-catenin pathway activation, has been reported to induce radioresistance and suppressive TIME. In this study, we aim to explore the effect of wnt/β-catenin inhibitor ICG-001 on radiosensitivity and RT-related TIME of HCC and the underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C57BL/6 and nude mouse tumor models were used to evaluate the efficacy of different treatments on tumor growth, recurrence and mice survival. Flow cytometry was performed to assess tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). DNA damage response (DDR) and radioresistance was investigated by colony formation assays, γ-H2AX and micronuclei measurements.

RESULTS

The addition of ICG-001 to RT exhibited better anti-tumor and survival-prolong efficacy in C57BL/6 than nude mice. TILs analysis revealed that ICG-001 plus RT boosted the infiltration and IFN-γ production of TIL CD8⁺ T cells, meanwhile reduced the number of Tregs. Moreover, mechanistic study demonstrated that ICG-001 increased the radiation-induced DDR of HCC cells by suppressing p53, thus leading to stronger activation of cGAS/STING pathway. Utilization of cGAS/STING pathway inhibitors impaired the therapeutic effect of combination therapy. Furthermore, combination therapy led to stronger immunologic memory and tumor relapse prevention.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that ICG-001 displayed both local and systematic effects by increasing radiosensitivity and improving immunity in HCC, which indicated that ICG-001 might be a potential synergetic treatment for radiotherapy and radioimmunotherapy in HCC patients.

Tumor-secreted exosomal Wnt2B activates fibroblasts to promote cervical cancer progression

The activation of stromal fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been suggested to promote primary tumor growth and progression; however, the mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between tumors and fibroblasts that drives stromal heterogeneity remain unknown. Here, we show that high Wnt2B levels were positively correlated with the number of CAFs in cervical cancer (CC). More importantly, Wnt2B was characteristically enriched in CC cell-secreted exosomes and transferred into fibroblasts to promote fibroblast activation via Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and inhibiting exosomal release or the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway diminished the activation induced by exosomal Wnt2B. Moreover, circulating exosomal Wnt2B also promoted CAF conversion in vitro and its expression was significantly higher in CC patients. In conclusion, our findings indicate that CC cell-derived Wnt2B can induce the activation of fibroblasts into CAFs, mainly via exosome-dependent secretion, thus providing directions for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic targets for CC progression.

Insights into the Role of Magnesium Ions in Affecting Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells with the ability to differentiate into bone-producing cells, which is essential for bone formation. Magnesium biomedical materials, such as biodegradable matters with osteoinductive properties, play a vital role in the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. International and Chinese studies have shown that magnesium ions, which are produced by biodegradation, mainly achieve this effect by regulating the expression of genes and proteins associated with osteogenesis, activating multiple signal pathways, elevating autophagic activities, and adjusting the pH in the microenvironment. It is of great significance to study the regulatory mechanisms and identify the optimal conditions that how magnesium ions promote osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. In this study, we summarized the regulatory mechanisms noted above.

Expressions of ZNF436, β-catenin, EGFR, and CMTM5 in breast cancer and their clinical significances

As the leading malignancy among women, breast cancer is a serious threat to the life and health of women. In this context, it is of particular importance that a proper therapeutic target be identified for breast cancer treatment. We collected the pathological tissues of 80 patients, with the view to discovering appropriate molecular targets for the treatment of breast cancer, this paper analyzes the expressions of ZNF436, β-catenin, EGFR and CMTM5 in breast cancer tissues, as well as their correlations with breast cancer in combination with the clinicopathologic characteristics of studied patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was utilized to detect the expression levels of ZNF436, β-catenin, EGFR and CMTM5 in cancerous and paracancerous tissues of breast cancer patients. The expression levels of ZNF436, β-Catenin and EGFR in breast cancer tissues were significantly greater than those in paracancerous tissues in this study (p<0.05), while CMTM5 was highly expressed in paracancerous tissues (p<0.05). Additionally, the correlation of the expressions of such indicators with the staging, differentiation and lymphatic metastasis of breast cancer, were also found to be statistically significant at the level p<0.05. The different expression levels of ZNF436, β-catenin, EGFR and CMTM5 in breast cancer and paracancerous tissues open up the possibility of utilizing them as molecular markers for breast cancer. These findings provide a theoretical basis for targeted molecular therapies for breast cancer, and hence carry a significant practical significance.

Roles of the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common type of head and neck tumor. It is a high incidence malignant tumor associated with a low survival rate and limited treatment options. Accumulating conclusions indicate that the Wnt signaling pathway plays a vital role in the pathobiological process of HNSCC. The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway affects a variety of cellular progression, enabling tumor cells to maintain and further promote the immature stem-like phenotype, proliferate, prolong survival, and gain invasiveness. Genomic studies of head and neck tumors have shown that although β-catenin is not frequently mutated in HNSCC, its activity is not inhibited by mutations in upstream gene encoding β-catenin, NOTCH1, FAT1, and AJUBA. Genetic defects affect the components of the Wnt pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate inhibitors of the Wnt pathway. This paper aims to summarize the groundbreaking discoveries and recent advances involving the Wnt signaling pathway and highlight the relevance of this pathway in head and neck squamous cell cancer, which will help provide new insights into improving the treatment of human HNSCC by interfering with the transcriptional signaling of Wnt.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Most head and neck cancers are derived from the mucosal epithelium in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx and are known collectively as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Oral cavity and larynx cancers are generally associated with tobacco consumption, alcohol abuse or both, whereas pharynx cancers are increasingly attributed to infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), primarily HPV-16. Thus, HNSCC can be separated into HPV-negative and HPV-positive HNSCC. Despite evidence of histological progression from cellular atypia through various degrees of dysplasia, ultimately leading to invasive HNSCC, most patients are diagnosed with late-stage HNSCC without a clinically evident antecedent pre-malignant lesion. Traditional staging of HNSCC using the tumour-node-metastasis system has been supplemented by the 2017 AJCC/UICC staging system, which incorporates additional information relevant to HPV-positive disease. Treatment is generally multimodal, consisting of surgery followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for oral cavity cancers and primary CRT for pharynx and larynx cancers. The EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab is generally used in combination with radiation in HPV-negative HNSCC where comorbidities prevent the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy. The FDA approved the immune checkpoint inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab for treatment of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC and pembrolizumab as primary treatment for unresectable disease. Elucidation of the molecular genetic landscape of HNSCC over the past decade has revealed new opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Ongoing efforts aim to integrate our understanding of HNSCC biology and immunobiology to identify predictive biomarkers that will enable delivery of the most effective, least-toxic therapies.

Extracellular vesicular Wnt7b mediates HPV E6-induced cervical cancer angiogenesis by activating the β-catenin signaling pathway

Background

The E6 oncoproteins of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 are the critical drivers of cervical cancer (CC) progression. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as critical mediators of cancer-tumor microenvironment (TME) communication. However, whether EVs contribute to HPV 16/18 E6-mediated impacts on CC progression remains unclear.

Methods

A series of in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to elucidate the roles and mechanism of EV-Wnt7b in HPV E6-induced CC angiogenesis. The prognostic value of serum EV-Wnt7b was determined and a predictive nomogram model was established.

Results

HPV 16/18 E6 upregulated Wnt7b mRNA expression in four HPV 16/18-positive CC cell lines and their EVs. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that EV-Wnt7b mRNA was transferred to and modulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) toward more proliferative and proangiogenic behaviors by impacting β-catenin signaling. Clinically, serum EV-Wnt7b levels were elevated in CC patients and significantly correlated with an aggressive phenotype. Serum EV-Wnt7b was determined to be an independent prognostic factor for CC overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Notably, we successfully established a novel predictive nomogram model using serum EV-Wnt7b, which showed good prediction of 1- and 3-year OS and RFS.

Conclusions

Our results illustrate a potential crosstalk between HPV 16/18-positive CC cells and HUVECs via EVs in the TME and highlight the potential of circulating EV-Wnt7b as a novel predictive biomarker for CC prognosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-020-01745-1.

ROS-Mediated Therapeutic Strategy in Chemo-/Radiotherapy of Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer is a highly genetic and metabolic heterogeneous collection of malignancies of the lip, oral cavity, salivary glands, pharynx, esophagus, paranasal sinuses, and larynx with five-year survival rates ranging from 12% to 93%. Patients with head and neck cancer typically present with advanced stage III, IVa, or IVb disease and are treated with comprehensive modality including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Despite advancements in treatment modality and technique, noisome recurrence, invasiveness, and resistance as well as posttreatment complications severely influence survival rate and quality of life. Thus, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed that offer enhanced efficacy with less toxicity. ROS in cancer cells plays a vital role in regulating cell death, DNA repair, stemness maintenance, metabolic reprogramming, and tumor microenvironment, all of which have been implicated in resistance to chemo-/radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. Adjusting ROS generation and elimination to reverse the resistance of cancer cells without impairing normal cells show great hope in improving the therapeutic efficacy of chemo-/radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. In the current review, we discuss the pivotal and targetable redox-regulating system including superoxide dismutases (SODs), tripeptide glutathione (GSH), thioredoxin (Trxs), peroxiredoxins (PRXs), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Nrf2/keap1), and mitochondria electron transporter chain (ETC) complexes and their roles in regulating ROS levels and their clinical significance implicated in chemo-/radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. We also summarize several old drugs (referred to as the non-anti-cancer drugs used in other diseases for a long time) and small molecular compounds as well as natural herbs which effectively modulate cellular ROS of head and neck cancer to synergize the efficacy of conventional chemo-/radiotherapy. Emerging interdisciplinary techniques including photodynamic, nanoparticle system, and Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) therapy are promising measures to broaden the potency of ROS modulation for the benefit of chemo-/radiotherapy in head and neck cancer.

HOXB5 promotes the progression of breast cancer through wnt/beta-catenin pathway

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to explore the function of HOXB5 in breast cancer and related signaling pathway.

METHODS

Breast cancer tissues and non-cancerous tissues were collected from 82 cases who were pathologically diagnosed with breast cancer. The mRNA level of HOXB5 was detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Chi-square test was adopted to analyze the association of HOXB5 with clinical features. The viability, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells were detected through MTT and Transwell assays, respectively. Protein analysis was performed adopting western blot analysis.

RESULTS

HOXB5 expression was increased in breast cancer tissues and cells, and showed positive correlation with tumor size (P = 0.028), TNM stage (P = 0.048), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.002). Losing HOXB5 expression suppressed clone formation, proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. The knockdown of HOXB5 significantly inactivated wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, wnt/β-catenin pathway had the potential to neutralize the oncogenic function of HOXB5 in breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

HOXB5 may be involved in the invasive progression of breast cancer. The function of HOXB5 in breast cancer was mediated by wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Sulforaphane suppresses the viability and metastasis, and promotes the apoptosis of bladder cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of FAT‑1

FAT atypical cadherin 1 (FAT1) regulates complex mechanisms for the promotion of oncogenesis or the suppression of malignancies. Sulforaphane (SFN) has antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. The present study investigated the roles of SFN and FAT1 in bladder cancer (BC). The expression of FAT1 in BC cell lines and tissues was measured by western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The association between FAT1 expression and the 5-year survival rate of patients with BC was evaluated. The viability of and FAT1 expression in T24 and SW780 cells exposed to various concentrations of SFN were detected by MTT assay, and western blot analysis and RT-qPCR, respectively. Furthermore, the viability, migration, invasion and apoptosis of and FAT1 expression in BC cells subjected to FAT1 overexpression or knockdown, and with or without SFN stimulation, were examined. The results revealed that FAT1 expression in BC cells and tissues was increased, and patients with a high FAT-1 expression had a shorter 5-year survival time than those with a low FAT-1 expression. BC cell viability and FAT1 expression were suppressed by SFN in a concentration-dependent manner. The knockdown of FAT1 inhibited the viability, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of BC cells, whereas the overexpression of FAT1 produced opposite effects. In addition, cells exposed to SFN exhibited a reduced viability, migration, invasion and an increased apoptosis, effects which were promoted by FAT1 knockdown; however, the overexpression of FAT1 blocked the above-mentioned effects of SFN on the cells. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that SFN suppresses the progression of BC by inhibiting the expression of FAT-1; thus, SFN may be used as a potential drug for the treatment of BC.

Sevoflurane Inhibits Proliferation, Invasion, but Enhances Apoptosis of Lung Cancer Cells by Wnt/β-catenin Signaling via Regulating lncRNA PCAT6/miR-326 Axis

Sevoflurane was frequently used as a volatile anesthetic in cancer surgery. However, the potential mechanism of sevoflurane on lung cancer remains largely unclear. In this study, lung cancer cell lines (H446 and H1975) were treated by various concentrations of sevoflurane. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assessment and colony formation assay were performed to detect the cell viability and proliferation, separately. Also, transwell assay or flow cytometry assay was applied as well to evaluate the invasive ability or apoptosis in lung cancer cells, respectively. Western blot assay was employed to detect the protein levels of β-catenin and Wnt5a. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to examine the expression level of prostate cancer-associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) and miR-326 in lung cancer tissues and cells. The target interaction between miR-326 and PCAT6 or Wnt5a was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Sevoflurane inhibited the abilities on viability, proliferation, invasion, and activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, but promoted apoptosis of H446 and H1975 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of PCAT6 was increased in lung cancer tissues and cells, except for that of miR-326. Besides, sevoflurane could lead to expressed limitation of PCAT6 or improvement of miR-326. This process presented a stepwise manner. Up-regulation of PCAT6 restored the suppression of sevoflurane on abilities of proliferation, invasion, rather than apoptosis, and re-activated the Wnt5a/β-catenin signaling in cells. Moreover, the putative binding sites between miR-326 and PCTA6 or Wnt5a were predicted by starBase v2.0 software online. PCAT6 suppressing effects on cells could be reversed by pre-treatment with miR-326 vector. The promotion of Wnt5a inverted effects led from miR-326 or sevoflurane. Our study indicated that sevoflurane inhibited the proliferation, and invasion, but enhanced the apoptosis in lung cancer cells by regulating the lncRNA PCAT6/miR-326/Wnt5a/β-catenin axis.

Huaier extract restrains pancreatic cancer by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease, and new treatments need to be explored. Huaier extract is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been found to exert antitumor properties in some cancers. However, the role of Huaier extract in pancreatic cancer has not been examined. In this study, we found that the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) of pancreatic cancer cells were suppressed by treatment with Huaier extract and that apoptosis increased. We also observed that expression of β-catenin was inhibited by Huaier extract. Furthermore, an animal study showed that Huaier extract slowed tumor growth in pancreatic cancer. Our results reveal that Huaier extract suppresses pancreatic cancer by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway both in vitro and in vivo.

WNT7A Promotes EGF-Induced Migration of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Activating β-Catenin/MMP9-Mediated Signaling

Aims and hypothesis

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to induce the migration of various cancer cells. However, the underlying signaling mechanisms for EGF-induced migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain to be elucidated. WNT7A, a member of the family of 19 Wnt secreted glycoproteins, is commonly associated with tumor development. It is mostly unknown whether and, if so, how EGF modulates WNT7A in OSCC cells. The role of WNT7A in OSCC was thus investigated to explore the underlying signaling mechanisms for EGF-induced migration of OSCC.

Methods

Cell migration was measured by Wound healing assay and Transwell assay. Western blotting was carried out to detect the expression of WNT7A, MMP9, β-catenin, p-AKT, and p-ERK. The cells were transfected with plasmids or siRNA to upregulate or downregulate the expression of WNT7A. The location of β-catenin was displayed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to confirm the relation between WNT7A expression and OSCC progression.

Results

The present study showed that the levels of WNT7A mRNA and protein were increased by EGF stimulation in OSCC cells. Besides, it was proved that p-AKT, but not p-ERK, mediated the expression of WNT7A protein induced by EGF. Furthermore, the inhibition of AKT activation prevented the EGF-induced increase of WNT7A and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) expression and translocation of β-catenin from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Moreover, histological analysis of OSCC specimens revealed an association between WNT7A expression and poor clinical prognosis of the disease.

Conclusions

The data in this paper indicated that WNT7A could be a potential oncogene in OSCC and identified a novel PI3K/AKT/WNT7A/β-catenin/MMP9 signaling for EGF-induced migration of OSCC cells.

Parathyroid Tumor Microenvironment

Parathyroid tumors are the second most common endocrine neoplasia, and it is almost always associated with hypersecretion of the parathormone (PTH), involved in calcium homeostasis, causing primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Parathyroid neoplasia has a stromal component particularly represented in atypical adenomatous and carcinomatous lesions. Recently, data about the features and the function of the parathyroid tumor microenvironment (TME) have been accumulated. Parathyroid TME includes heterogeneous cells: endothelial cells, myofibroblasts, lymphocytes and macrophages, and mesenchymal stem cells have been identified, each of them presenting a phenotype consistent with tumor-associated cells. Parathyroid tumors overexpress proangiogenic molecules including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and angiopoietins that promote both recruitment and proliferation of endothelial cell precursors, thus resulting in a microvessel density higher than that detected in normal parathyroid glands. Moreover, parathyroid tumor endocrine cells operate multifaceted interactions with stromal cells, partly mediated by the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway, while, at present, the immune landscape of parathyroid tumors has just begun to be investigated. Studies about TME in parathyroid adenomas provide an example of the role of TME in benign tumors, whose molecular mechanisms and functions comprehension are limited.

Targeting CMTM6 Suppresses Stem Cell-Like Properties and Enhances Antitumor Immunity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

CMTM6, a regulator of PD-L1 expression, also modulates tumor immunity. Little is known about the function of CMTM6 and its mechanism of action in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, we found by IHC analysis that CMTM6 overexpression predicted a poor prognosis for patients with HNSCC. We discovered that CMTM6 expression was correlated with increased activity through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is essential for tumorigenesis, maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSC), and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristic of multiple cancers. We used short hairpin RNA to eliminate expression of CMTM6, which led, in HNSCC cells, to reduced expression of nuclear β-catenin as well as inhibition of stem cell-like properties, TGFβ-induced EMT, and cell proliferation. Consistent with these results, we identified a significant positive correlation between expression of CMTM6 and EMT- and CSC-related genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We found positive correlations for both RNA and protein between expression of CMTM6 and immune checkpoint components. CMTM6 silencing-induced PD-L1 downregulation delayed SCC7 tumor growth and increased CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T-cell infiltration. The proportions of PD-1⁺, TIM-3⁺, VISTA⁺, LAG-3⁺, and B7-H3⁺ exhausted T cells were decreased significantly in the CMTM6 knockdown group. CMTM6 thus regulates stemness, EMT, and T-cell dysfunction and may be a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of HNSCC.

Wnt Signaling Pathways in Keratinocyte Carcinomas

The skin functions as a barrier between the organism and the surrounding environment. Direct exposure to external stimuli and the accumulation of genetic mutations may lead to abnormal cell growth, irreversible tissue damage and potentially favor skin malignancy. Skin homeostasis is coordinated by an intricate signaling network, and its dysregulation has been implicated in the development of skin cancers. Wnt signaling is one such regulatory pathway orchestrating skin development, homeostasis, and stem cell activation. Aberrant regulation of Wnt signaling cascades not only gives rise to tumor initiation, progression and invasion, but also maintains cancer stem cells which contribute to tumor recurrence. In this review, we summarize recent studies highlighting functional evidence of Wnt-related oncology in keratinocyte carcinomas, as well as discussing preclinical and clinical approaches that target oncogenic Wnt signaling to treat cancers. Our review provides valuable insight into the significance of Wnt signaling for future interventions against keratinocyte carcinomas.

Cancer stem cell (CSC) resistance drivers

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a population of self-renewal cells with high tumorigenic potency. CSCs can adopt easily with changes in the nearby milieu, and are more resistant to conventional therapies than other cells within a tumor. CSC resistance can be induced secondary to radio- and chemotherapy, or even after chemotherapy secession. A combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors is contributed to CSC-mediated therapy resistance. CSCs represent protective autophagy and efficient cell cycling, along with highly qualified epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulators, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, drug transporters, and anti-apoptotic and DNA repairing systems. In addition, CSCs develop cross-talking and share some characteristics with other cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) being more intense in higher stage tumors, and thereby sophisticating tumor-targeted therapies. TME, in fact, is a nest for aggravating resistance mechanisms in CSCs. TME is exposed constantly to the nutritional, metabolic and oxygen deprivation; these conditions promote CSC adaptation. This review is aimed to discuss main (intrinsic and extrinsic) mechanisms of CSC resistance and suggest some strategies to revoke this important promoter of therapy failure.

Knockdown of lncRNA LEF1-AS1 inhibited the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) via Hippo signaling pathway

It is verified that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in various cancers. LncRNA LEF1-AS1 is a reported oncogene in colorectal cancer and glioblastoma. In this study, we unveiled that LEF1-AS1 markedly increased in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues and cell lines. Besides, OSCC patients with high levels of LEF1-AS1 were apt to poor prognosis. Functionally, LEF1-AS1 knockdown inhibited cell survival, proliferation and migration, whereas enhanced cell apoptosis and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in vitro. Consistently, LEF1-AS1 silence hindered tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, LEF1-AS1 inhibition stimulated the activation of Hippo signaling pathway through directly interacting with LATS1. Furtherly, we disclosed that LEF1-AS1 silence abolished the interaction of LEF1-AS1 with LATS1 while enhanced the binding of LATS1 to MOB, therefore promoting YAP phosphorylation but impairing YAP1 nuclear translocation. Additionally, we demonstrated that LEF1-AS1 regulated YAP1 translocation via a LATS1-dependent manner. Furthermore, we also uncovered that YAP1 overexpression abolished the suppressive impact of LEF1-AS1 repression on the biological processes of OSCC cells. In a word, we concluded that LEF1-AS1 served an oncogenic part in OSCC through suppressing Hippo signaling pathway by interacting with LATS1, suggesting the therapeutic and prognostic potential of LEF1-AS1 in OSCC.