Human amniotic membrane inhibits migration and invasion of muscle-invasive bladder cancer urothelial cells by downregulating the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway

Bladder cancer is the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer with the highest lifetime treatment costs. The human amniotic membrane (hAM) is the innermost foetal membrane that possesses a wide range of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Despite the growing number of studies, the mechanisms associated with the anticancer effects of human amniotic membrane (hAM) are poorly understood. Here, we reported that hAM preparations (homogenate and extract) inhibited the expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers N-cadherin and MMP-2 in bladder cancer urothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, while increasing the secretion of TIMP-2. Moreover, hAM homogenate exerted its antimigratory effect by downregulating the expression of FAK and proteins involved in actin cytoskeleton reorganisation, such as cortactin and small RhoGTPases. In muscle-invasive cancer urothelial cells, hAM homogenate downregulated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway, the key cascade involved in promoting bladder cancer. By using normal, non-invasive papilloma and muscle-invasive cancer urothelial models, new perspectives on the anticancer effects of hAM have emerged. The results identify new sites for therapeutic intervention and are prompt encouragement for ongoing anticancer drug development studies.

The Significance of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in Urinary Bladder Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Urinary bladder cancer is a serious oncological problem that is the cause of many deaths worldwide. The processes of metastasis and origination of local tumor invasion depend on the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. The cancer microenvironment, particularly the ECM, may be considered a key factor in cancer progression. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are classified as the main factors responsible for the degradation of ECM components. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in urinary bladder cancer according to different stages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Urinary bladder tissue samples were analyzed. Cancer patients were divided into two groups: low-grade tumors (LG; Group I) and high-grade tumors (HG; Group II). Control tissue was obtained from the opposite site to the tumor. MMPs content and activity (actual and specific) were evaluated using ELISA and Western blot methods, respectively.

RESULTS

Both MMPs are present in high and low molecular complexes in healthy or bladder cancer tissues. The content of MMP-9 is enhanced in comparison with MMP-2, particularly in HG cancer tissue. The actual activity of MMP-2 was highest in LG cancer tissue whereas the actual activity of MMP-9 was highest in HG cancer. Specific activity of both MMPs was highest in LG cancer, but the activity of MMP-9 was higher in comparison with MMP-2.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the content and specific activity of MMP-9 were increased in comparison with MMP-2. The revealed differences in content and activity of both MMPs demonstrate their different participation in ECM remodeling at different stages of cancer development. Moreover, it seems that MMP-9 has higher clinical utility than MMP-2 as a potential therapeutic option and a diagnostic biomarker of urinary bladder cancer.

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles and Their Anticancer Effects Pertaining to Probiotic Bacteria—A Review

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can be produced by biogenic, physical, and chemical processes. The physical and chemical processes have hazardous effects. However, biogenic synthesis (by microorganisms) is an eco-friendly and economical technique that is non-toxic to human and animal health. The mechanism for biogenic SeNPs from microorganisms is still not well understood. Over the past two decades, extensive research has been conducted on the nutritional and therapeutic applications of biogenic SeNPs. The research revealed that biogenic SeNPs are considered novel competitors in the pharmaceutical and food industries, as they have been shown to be virtually non-toxic when used in medical practice and as dietary supplements and release only trace amounts of Se ions when ingested. Various pathogenic and probiotic/nonpathogenic bacteria are used for the biogenic synthesis of SeNPs. However, in the case of biosynthesis by pathogenic bacteria, extraction and purification techniques are required for further useful applications of these biogenic SeNPs. This review focuses on the applications of SeNPs (derived from probiotic/nonpathogenic organisms) as promising anticancer agents. This review describes that SeNPs derived from probiotic/nonpathogenic organisms are considered safe for human consumption. These biogenic SeNPs reduce oxidative stress in the human body and have also been shown to be effective against breast, prostate, lung, liver, and colon cancers. This review provides helpful information on the safe use of biogenic SeNPs and their economic importance for dietary and therapeutic purposes, especially as anticancer agents.

A New Model for Predicting Nonsentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Using MMP15

Background. In early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients, 40–70% of lymph node metastases are limited to the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Patients at low risk for nonsentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis should be exempt from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or regional lymph node radiotherapy (RNI). Methods. The present study included 237 female early-stage BC patients with positive SLNs who received ALND. Based on the clinicopathological factors of the 158 patients in the training cohort, multivariate analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for NSLN metastasis, which were used to establish the NSLN metastasis prediction model. The calibration and discrimination of this model were tested with the training and validation cohorts and compared to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) model. Results. Tumor size, neural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, expression of matrix metalloproteinase 15 (MMP15) in the cytoplasm, and the number of positive SLNs were statistically significant by multivariate analysis ( $P<0.05$ ), which were used to establish the new model. The MSKCC model was verified by the training cohort, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.733 (95% CI: 0.650–0.816), which was less than that of the new model (0.824; 95% CI: 0.760–0.889). The area under the ROC curve in the validation cohort for the new model was 0.773 (95% CI: 0.669–0.877), and the calibration performed well. The false-negative rates were 3.2%, 6.5%, and 14.5% for the predicted probability cut-offs of 50%, 60%, and 70%, respectively. Conclusions. The new model included five variables: tumor size, neural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, cytoplasmic MMP15 expression, and the number of positive SLNs. The model with a cut-off of 60% could accurately identify low-risk patients with NSLN metastasis.

MT2-MMP is differentially expressed in multiple myeloma cells and mediates their growth and progression

OBJECTIVE

Membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) are known as key regulators of cancer progression/metastasis. However, their roles in the growth and progression of multiple myeloma (MM) have not been yet elucidated.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The expression of 6 MT-MMPs in MM, B cell lines, and normal peripheral blood (PB) cells were measured by RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. B lymphocytes, CD19^-/CD138^-, and CD19^-/CD138⁺ cells, known as malignant plasma cells (MPC), were sorted from bone marrow (BM) aspirations of 10 MM patients, and MT2-MMP expression was examined in these cells using qRT-PCR, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Moreover, the expression of MT2-MMP in BM biopsies from 13 normal individuals and 14 MM patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. MT2-MMP was also knocked down in U266 cells using siRNA technology and the adhesion, invasion, migration abilities, and cell proliferation were determined and compared with scrambled ones in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

RESULTS

Our results showed that MT2-MMP expression is significantly higher in MM cell lines and MPC cells than B cell lines and other PB- or BM-derived cells. MT2-MMP is expressed in BM biopsies from all 14 patients with MM, and 67.85% ± 32.38 of BM cells were positive for MT2-MMP. In contrast, only 0.38 ± 0.76 of BM biopsies from normal individuals were positive for MT2-MMP. Importantly, MT2-MMP was expressed in all the patients' BM biopsies at the diagnosis, but not in the remission phase. MT2-MMP siRNA significantly decreased adhesion, invasion, migration, and 3D cell proliferation of U266 cells. Moreover, in the xenographic model, MT2-MMP siRNA prevented the growth and development of plasmacytoma. Taken together, these data demonstrate that MT2-MMP is strongly expressed in MM cells and plays important role in the growth and progression of these cells, suggesting that MT2-MMP is an appropriate biomarker in diagnosis and therapeutic interventions of MM.

MMP1 and MMP9 are potential prognostic biomarkers and targets for uveal melanoma

BACKGROUND

Uveal melanoma (UVM) is the leading cause of eye-related mortality worldwide. This study aimed to explore the expression and prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in UVM.

METHODS

Gene expression levels were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Oncomine databases. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Metascape database. GeneMANIA was then applied to construct a protein-protein interaction network and identify the hub genes. Moreover, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) analysis for the hub genes was performed using the UALCAN and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) online tool. Furthermore, TRRUST was used to predict the targets of the MMPs.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that the transcriptional levels of MMP1, MMP9, MMP10, MMP11, MMP13, MMP14, and MMP17 were upregulated in UVM tissues compared to normal tissues. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and the top 50 hub genes were identified. The functions of MMPs and their neighboring proteins are mainly associated with ECM-receptor interaction, proteoglycans in cancer, the IL-17 signaling pathway, and microRNAs in cancer. Among the MMPs, MMP1/2/9/11/14/15/16/17/24 played significant roles in the progression of UVM from stage 3 to stage 4. We also found that the expression of MMP1, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP16 positively correlated with OS and DFS in patients with UVM. Additionally, 18 transcription factors associated with nine MMPs were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study may provide potential biomarkers and targets for UVM. However, further studies are required to confirm these results.

The Interplay between Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Bladder Cancer Development

In 2018, 550,000 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer (BC), of which nearly 200,000 people died. Moreover, men are 4 times more likely than women to be diagnosed with BC. The risk factors include exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals, especially tobacco smoke, benzidine and genetic factors. Despite numerous studies, the molecular basis of BC development remains unclear. A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation, oxidant-antioxidant imbalance and angiogenesis disorders may play a significant role in the development and progression of bladder cancer. The patients with bladder cancer were characterised by an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the products of lipid peroxidation, proinflammatory cytokines and proangiogenic factors as compared to controls. Furthermore, it was shown that polymorphisms localised in genes associated with these pathways may modulate the risk of BC. Interestingly, ROS overproduction may induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which finally activated angiogenesis. Moreover, the available literature shows that both inflammation and oxidative stress may lead to activation of angiogenesis and tumour progression in BC patients.

Emerging Biomarkers for Predicting Bladder Cancer Lymph Node Metastasis

Bladder cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Early detection of lymph node metastasis of bladder cancer is essential to improve patients' prognosis and overall survival. Current diagnostic methods are limited, so there is an urgent need for new specific biomarkers. Non-coding RNA and m6A have recently been reported to be abnormally expressed in bladder cancer related to lymph node metastasis. In this review, we tried to summarize the latest knowledge about biomarkers, which predict lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer and their mechanisms. In particular, we paid attention to the impact of non-coding RNA on lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer and its specific molecular mechanisms, as well as some prediction models based on imaging, pathology, and biomolecules, in an effort to find more accurate diagnostic methods for future clinical application.

Dominative role of MMP-14 over MMP-15 in human urinary bladder carcinoma on the basis of its enhanced specific activity

BACKGROUND

Human urinary bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with the mortality rate of approximately 165,000 people annually. The modulation of extracellular matrix is a crucial event in the metastatic spread, among others in angiogenesis. It is initiated and prolonged by the cascade of matrix metalloproteinases. MMP-14 and MMP-15 are associated with a high degree of malignancy, aggressiveness, and survival prognosis by the activation of other matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This study was aimed at evaluating the expression and the activity of selected transmembrane metalloproteinases at different stages of human urinary bladder cancer.

METHODS

Western blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method were used to evaluate the expression and content of MMPs and TIMP-1. The activity of studied enzymes was determined with fluorometric method.

RESULTS

Both transmembrane metalloproteinases are found in healthy or cancerous tissue in high molecular complexes of human urinary bladder. MMP-14 dominates over MMP-15, particularly in high-grade urinary bladder cancer. Their contents significantly change with the grade of bladder tumor. The amount of MMP-14 increases with increasing grade of tumor. MMP-15 content decreases in high-grade bladder cancer. With increasing grade of urinary bladder cancer their actual activity (per kg of total protein content) is varying in different ways. In all examined tissues, the specific activity of MMP-15 (per kg of the enzyme content) is much higher in comparison to MMP-14. Human urinary bladder cancer contains higher TIMP-1 amounts than control tissue but with the decrease with an increase in tumor grade.

CONCLUSION

Comparison of investigated enzymes' activity and the inhibitor content suggests it opposite effects, higher suppression of MMP-14 than MMP-15 activity in low-grade bladder cancer and reverse TIMP-1 action in high-grade cancer. The MMP-14 activity determination in urinary bladder cancer tissue may be used as a predictor of a risk of metastasis.

Chordoma: the entity

Chordomas are malignant tumors of the axial skeleton, characterized by their locally invasive and slow but aggressive growth. These neoplasms are presumed to be derived from notochordal remnants with a molecular alteration preceding their malignant transformation. As these tumors are most frequently observed on the skull base and sacrum, patients suffering from a chordoma present with debilitating neurological disease, and have an overall 5-year survival rate of 65%. Surgical resection with adjuvant radiotherapy is the first-choice treatment modality in these patients, since chordomas are resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Even so, management of chordomas can be challenging, as chordoma patients often present with recurrent disease. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular events that contribute to the development of chordomas are promising; the most novel finding being the identification of brachyury in the disease process. Here we present an overview of the current paradigms and summarize relevant research findings.

Multiple steps of HLA-G in ovarian carcinoma metastasis: alter NK cytotoxicity and induce matrix metalloproteinase-15 (MMP-15) expression

Previous study showed that aberrant HLA-G expression in cancer cells plays important roles in disease progression and it was associated with tumor metastasis and with poor survival in an animal model with ovarian cancer; however, the mechanisms remain to be explored. In this study, we found that HLA-G expression could dramatically decreased the NK cytotoxicity against the ovarian carcinoma cell line (HO-8910) engineered to express HLA-G (HO-8910-G), and matrix metalloproteinase-15 (MMP-15) expression was up-regulated in HO-8910-G cells. Consistent with this, a strong correlation between HLA-G and MMP-15 expression were observed in a cohort of ovarian cancer samples. Knockdown the HLA-G induced MMP-15 expression by small interfere RNA (siRNA) significantly decreased the HO-8910-G cell migration potential and tumor metastasis. Collectively, our study indicated that HLA-G involved in tumor invasiveness or metastasis may rely on the NK cytotoxicity inhibition and induction of MMP-15 expression in ovarian cancer.

Downregulation of CDH13 expression promotes invasiveness of bladder transitional cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of downregulated CDH13 expression with invasiveness of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CDH13 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) expression was detected in 23 normal bladder epithelial tissues and 71 bladder TCC tissues. RNA interference was used to inhibit CDH13 expression in bladder TCC 5637 cells and then analyzed its effects on migration, invasion, adhesion, and proliferation of 5637 cells, as well as MMP2 expression in 5637 cells.

RESULTS

The CDH13 expression in bladder TCC tissues was significantly lower than that in normal bladder epithelial tissues. Moreover, the expression of CDH13 from the muscle-invasive group was significantly lower than that from the non-muscle-invasive group. In addition, the MMP2 expression was increased in bladder TCC, especially in muscle-invasive tumors. After the transfection of CDH13 siRNA into 5637 cells, CDH13 expression was significantly decreased, and the migration, invasion, adhesion of 5637 cells, as well as MMP2 expression in 5637 cells was significantly promoted compared with blank and negative controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Downregulated expression of CDH13 is associated with increased invasion of bladder TCC, and may be due to the enhancement of cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and increased MMP2 expression.

Matrix Metalloproteinases and Bladder Cancer: What is New?

Urothelial bladder cancer represents a heterogeneous disease with divergent pathways of tumorigenesis. Tumor invasion and progression are a multifactorial process promoted by microenvironmental changes that include overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Recent data clearly challenge the classic dogma that MMPs promote metastasis only by modulating the remodeling of extracellular matrix. Indeed, MMPs have also been attributed as an impact on tumor cell behavior in vivo as a consequence of their ability to cleave growth factors, cell surface receptors, cell adhesion molecules, and chemokines/cytokines. Levels of the different MMPs can be measured in several sample types, including tissue, blood (serum and plasma), and urine, and using different methodologies, such as immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, western and northern blot analyses, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and zymography. Several MMPs have been identified as having potential diagnostic or prognostic utility, whether alone or in combination with cytology. Although MMP inhibitors have shown limited efficacy, advances in the understanding of the complex physiologic and pathologic roles of MMPs might permit the development of new MMP-specific and tumor-specific therapies. In this paper we update the understanding of MMPs based on a systematic PubMed search encompassing papers published up to December 2011.

Human matrix metalloproteinases: an ubiquitarian class of enzymes involved in several pathological processes

Human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) belong to the M10 family of the MA clan of endopeptidases. They are ubiquitarian enzymes, structurally characterized by an active site where a Zn(2+) atom, coordinated by three histidines, plays the catalytic role, assisted by a glutamic acid as a general base. Various MMPs display different domain composition, which is very important for macromolecular substrates recognition. Substrate specificity is very different among MMPs, being often associated to their cellular compartmentalization and/or cellular type where they are expressed. An extensive review of the different MMPs structural and functional features is integrated with their pathological role in several types of diseases, spanning from cancer to cardiovascular diseases and to neurodegeneration. It emerges a very complex and crucial role played by these enzymes in many physiological and pathological processes.

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 promotes cell growth and invasion in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the western world. In this study, we evaluated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 gene (MMP2) in CRC and analyzed its correlation with clinicopathological features. We found that the expression of MMP2 was significantly higher in CRC tissues than in the colorectal tissues. In addition, high levels of MMP2 protein were positively correlated with the status of tumor size, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, Dukes' stage, and tumor invasion. Moreover, patients with higher MMP2 levels had markedly shorter overall survivals than those with low MMP2 levels. Multivariate analysis results suggested that the level of MMP2 expression is an independent prognostic indicator for the survival of patients with CRC. Silencing MMP2 expression in CRC cell lines with lentiviral-mediated shRNA markedly suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion. Furthermore, we observed that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and membrane type 1 (MT1)-MMP protein levels were decreased in MMP2-down-regulated colorectal cells. Therefore, our study demonstrated that MMP2 is an important factor related to carcinogenesis and metastasis of CRC, and MMP2 promotes CRC cell growth and invasion by up-regulating VEGF and MT1-MMP expression, which makes this pathway a potential target for cancer treatment.

Matrix metalloproteinases and their clinical relevance in urinary bladder cancer

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have important roles in several cancer-supporting cellular processes, such as extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, angiogenesis, apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cell proliferation. This broad range of activity has led to considerable interest in the use of MMPs in the clinical setting as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and as therapeutic targets. Levels of the different MMPs can be measured in several sample types, including paraffin-embedded or fresh frozen tissue, serum, plasma and urine, and by various analytical methodologies, such as immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, western and northern blot analyses, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and zymography. Several MMPs have been identified as having potential diagnostic or prognostic utility, whether alone or in combination with currently available diagnostic tests or imaging modalities. Although the early broad-spectrum anti-MMP agents showed a lack of efficacy, our continually improving understanding of the complex physiologic and pathologic roles of MMPs might enable the development of new MMP-specific and tumor-specific therapies. Accordingly, MMPs will continue to be the subjects of intensive research in bladder cancer.