Midazolam increases cisplatin-sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via the miR-194-5p/HOOK3 axis

HOOK3 suppresses proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer via the SP1/VEGFA axis

HOOK3, a member of the human hook microtubule-tethering protein family, has been implicated in the progression of cancer. However, the role of HOOK3 in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the expression of HOOK3 protein in GC tissues using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The findings of our study indicate that the expression levels of HOOK3 in GC tissues were relatively low. Furthermore, a significant negative association was seen between HOOK3 expression and the prognosis of patients with GC. The suppression of HOOK3 resulted in a notable increase in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival of GC cells. Conversely, the overexpression of HOOK3 had the opposite impact, reducing these cellular processes. Moreover, in vivo tests have shown evidence that the overexpression of HOOK3 significantly inhibited the formation of tumors and the spread of GC cells to the lungs. In a mechanistic manner, the analysis of RNA-seq data demonstrated that the knockdown of HOOK3 resulted in a notable increase in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in GC cells. Furthermore, the upregulation of VEGFA counteracted the impacts of HOOK3 upregulation on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival of GC cells. Furthermore, it was revealed that specificity protein 1 (SP1) exhibited the ability to bind to the promoter region of VEGFA. Moreover, the overexpression of SP1 successfully counteracted the inhibitory impact of HOOK3 overexpression on the expression of VEGFA in GC cells. In summary, the results of our study indicate that HOOK3 has a role in inhibiting the growth, migration, invasion, and survival of GC cells by modulating the SP1/VEGFA pathway. These findings contribute significant knowledge to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of GC.

Role of midazolam on cancer progression/survival - An updated systematic review

Background and Aims

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Despite advancements in cancer management, cancer progression remains a challenge, requiring the development of novel therapies. Midazolam is a commonly used adjunct to anaesthesia care for various surgeries, including cancer. Recently, there has been a growing interest in exploring the potential role of midazolam as an anticancer agent; however, the exact mechanism of this linkage is yet to be investigated thoroughly.

Methods

Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline, this systematic review presented aggregated evidence (till November 2022) of the effects of midazolam on cancer progression and survival. All primary research article types where midazolam was administered in vivo or in vitro on subjects with cancers were included. No restrictions were applied on routes of administration or the type of cancer under investigation. Narrative synthesis depicted qualitative findings, whereas frequencies and percentages presented numerical data.

Results

Of 1720 citations, 19 studies were included in this review. All articles were preclinical studies conducted either in vitro (58%, 11/19) or both in vivo and in vitro (42%, 8/19). The most studied cancer was lung carcinoma (21%, 4/19). There are two main findings in this review. First, midazolam delays cancer progression (89%, 17/19). Second, midazolam reduces cancer cell survival (63%, 12/19). The two major mechanisms of these properties can be explained via inducing apoptosis (63%, 12/19) and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation (53%, 10/19). In addition, midazolam demonstrated antimetastatic properties via inhibition of cancer invasion (21%, 4/19), migration (26%, 5/19), or epithelial-mesenchymal transition (5%, 1/19). These anticancer properties of midazolam were demonstrated through different pathways when midazolam was used alone or in combination with traditional cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Conclusion

This systematic review highlights that midazolam has the potential to impede cancer progression and decrease cancer cell survival. Extrapolation of these results into human cancer necessitates further investigation.

Midazolam impedes lung carcinoma cell proliferation and migration via EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling pathway

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a dominating type of lung cancer with high morbidity and mortality. Midazolam has been reported to promote cell apoptosis in NSCLC, but the molecular mechanism of midazolam remains to be further explored. In the current work, cell viability, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis rates of NSCLC cells treated with midazolam were measured using cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and colony formation assays, transwell, and flow cytometry assay, respectively, to evaluate the malignant behaviors. Western blot was applied to access EGFR/MEK/ERK pathway-related protein levels. The results demonstrated midazolam significantly declined the viability of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, midazolam restrained cell proliferation and migration and contributed to cell apoptosis in NSCLC. Midazolam exerted suppressive function to EGFR pathway during NSCLC development. Moreover, the activation of EGFR/MEK/ERK pathway abrogated the effects of midazolam on NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Taken together, midazolam exhibited anti-tumor effects hallmarked by EGFR pathway inhibition, providing a novel insight into the treatment of NSCLC.

Drug Repurposing: The Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways of Anti-Cancer Effects of Anesthetics

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. There are only limited treatment strategies that can be applied to treat cancer, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, but these have only limited effectiveness. Developing a new drug for cancer therapy is protracted, costly, and inefficient. Recently, drug repurposing has become a rising research field to provide new meaning for an old drug. By searching a drug repurposing database ReDO_DB, a brief list of anesthetic/sedative drugs, such as haloperidol, ketamine, lidocaine, midazolam, propofol, and valproic acid, are shown to possess anti-cancer properties. Therefore, in the current review, we will provide a general overview of the anti-cancer mechanisms of these anesthetic/sedative drugs and explore the potential underlying signaling pathways and clinical application of these drugs applied individually or in combination with other anti-cancer agents.

Targeting miRNAs with anesthetics in cancer: Current understanding and future perspectives

Anesthetics are extensively used during cancer surgeries. The progression of cancer can be influenced by perioperative events such as exposure to general or local anesthesia. However, whether they inhibit cancer or act as a causative factor for metastasis and exert deleterious effects on cancer growth differs based on the type of cancer and the therapy administration. Recent experimental data suggested that many of the most commonly used anesthetics in surgical oncology, whether general or local agents, can alter gene expression and cause epigenetic changes via modulating miRNAs. miRNAs are single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at various levels, and their dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of cancers. However, anesthetics via regulating miRNAs can concurrently target several effectors of cellular signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, and viability. This review summarized the current research about the effects of different anesthetics in regulating cancer, with a particular emphasis on the role of miRNAs. A significant number of studies conducted in this area of research illuminate the effects of anesthetics on the regulation of miRNA expression; therefore, we hope that a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the regulation of miRNA in the context of anesthesia-induced cancer regulation could help to define optimal anesthetic regimens and provide better perspectives for further studies.