Integrative gene network and functional analyses identify a prognostically relevant key regulator of metastasis in Ewing sarcoma

Advanced approaches of the use of circRNAs as a replacement for cancer therapy

Cancer is a broad name for a group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow out of control and are characterized by their complexity and recurrence. Although there has been progress in cancer therapy with the entry of precision medicine and immunotherapy, cancer incidence rates have increased globally. Non-coding RNAs in the form of circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, and therapy of different diseases, including cancer. According to recent studies, circRNAs appear to serve as accurate indicators and therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. However, circRNAs are promising candidates for cutting-edge cancer therapy because of their distinctive circular structure, stability, and wide range of capabilities; many challenges persist that decrease the applications of circRNA-based cancer therapeutics. Here, we explore the roles of circRNAs as a replacement for cancer therapy, highlight the main challenges facing circRNA-based cancer therapies, and discuss the key strategies to overcome these challenges to improve advanced innovative therapies based on circRNAs with long-term health effects.

The diagnostic accuracy of serum and plasma microRNAs in detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Studies suggest a need for new diagnostic approaches for cervical cancer including microRNA technology. In this review, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs in detecting cervical cancer and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guideline for protocols (PRISMA-P). We searched for all articles in online databases and grey literature from 01st January 2012 to 16th August 2022. We used the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies tool (QUADAS-2) to assess the risk of bias of included studies and then conducted a Random Effects Meta-analysis. We identified 297 articles and eventually extracted data from 24 studies. Serum/plasma concentration miR-205, miR-21, miR-192, and miR-9 showed highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC of 0.750, 0.689, 0.980, and 0.900, respectively) for detecting CIN from healthy controls. MicroRNA panels (miR-21, miR-125b and miR-370) and (miR-9, miR-10a, miR-20a and miR-196a and miR-16-2) had AUC values of 0.897 and 0.886 respectively for detecting CIN from healthy controls. For detection of cervical cancer from healthy controls, the most promising microRNAs were miR-21, miR-205, miR-192 and miR-9 (AUC values of 0.723, 0.960, 1.00, and 0.99 respectively). We report higher diagnostic accuracy of upregulated microRNAs, especially miR-205, miR-9, miR-192, and miR-21. This highlights their potential as stand-alone screening or diagnostic tests, either with others, in a new algorithm, or together with other biomarkers for purposes of detecting cervical lesions. Future studies could standardize quantification methods, and also study microRNAs in higher prevalence populations like in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Our review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022313275).

Extracellular vesicles in nanomedicine and regenerative medicine: A review over the last decade

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are known to be secreted by a vast majority of cells. These sEVs, specifically exosomes, induce specific cell-to-cell interactions and can activate signaling pathways in recipient cells through fusion or interaction. These nanovesicles possess several desirable properties, making them ideal for regenerative medicine and nanomedicine applications. These properties include exceptional stability, biocompatibility, wide biodistribution, and minimal immunogenicity. However, the practical utilization of sEVs, particularly in clinical settings and at a large scale, is hindered by the expensive procedures required for their isolation, limited circulation lifetime, and suboptimal targeting capacity. Despite these challenges, sEVs have demonstrated a remarkable ability to accommodate various cargoes and have found extensive applications in the biomedical sciences. To overcome the limitations of sEVs and broaden their potential applications, researchers should strive to deepen their understanding of current isolation, loading, and characterization techniques. Additionally, acquiring fundamental knowledge about sEVs origins and employing state-of-the-art methodologies in nanomedicine and regenerative medicine can expand the sEVs research scope. This review provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art exosome-based strategies in diverse nanomedicine domains, encompassing cancer therapy, immunotherapy, and biomarker applications. Furthermore, we emphasize the immense potential of exosomes in regenerative medicine.

In situ administration of STING-activating hyaluronic acid conjugate primes anti-glioblastoma immune response

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor, with a highly immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). In this work, we investigated the use of the STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) pathway as an effective means to remodel the GBM TIME through the recruitment of both innate and adaptive immune cell populations. Using hyaluronic acid (HA), we developed a novel polymer-drug conjugate of a non-nucleotide STING agonist (MSA2), called HA-MSA2 for the in situ treatment of GBM. In JAWSII cells, HA-MSA2 exerted a greater increase of STING signaling and upregulation of STING-related downstream cyto-/chemokines in immune cells than the free drug. HA-MSA2 also elicited cancer cell-intrinsic immunostimulatory gene expression and promoted immunogenic cell death of GBM cells. In the SB28 GBM model, local delivery of HA-MSA2 induced a delay in tumor growth and a significant extension of survival. The analysis of the TIME showed a profound shift in the GBM immune landscape after HA-MSA2 treatment, with higher infiltration by innate and adaptive immune cells including dendritic, natural killer (NK) and CD8 T cell populations. The therapeutic potential of this novel polymer conjugate warrants further investigation, particularly with other chemo-immunotherapeutics or cancer vaccines as a promising combinatorial therapeutic approach.

MCE: Medical Cognition Embedded in 3D MRI feature extraction for advancing glioma staging

In recent years, various data-driven algorithms have been applied to the classification and staging of brain glioma MRI detection. However, the restricted availability of brain glioma MRI data in purely data-driven deep learning algorithms has presented challenges in extracting high-quality features and capturing their complex patterns. Moreover, the analysis methods designed for 2D data necessitate the selection of ideal tumor image slices, which does not align with practical clinical scenarios. Our research proposes an novel brain glioma staging model, Medical Cognition Embedded (MCE) model for 3D data. This model embeds knowledge characteristics into data-driven approaches to enhance the quality of feature extraction. Approach includes the following key components: (1) Deep feature extraction, drawing upon the imaging technical characteristics of different MRI sequences, has led to the design of two methods at both the algorithmic and strategic levels to mimic the learning process of real image interpretation by medical professionals during film reading; (2) We conduct an extensive Radiomics feature extraction, capturing relevant features such as texture, morphology, and grayscale distribution; (3) By referencing key points in radiological diagnosis, Radiomics feature experimental results, and the imaging characteristics of various MRI sequences, we manually create diagnostic features (Diag-Features). The efficacy of proposed methodology is rigorously evaluated on the publicly available BraTS2018 and BraTS2020 datasets. Comparing it to most well-known purely data-driven models, our method achieved higher accuracy, recall, and precision, reaching 96.14%, 93.4%, 97.06%, and 97.57%, 92.80%, 95.96%, respectively.

Comparison of 177Lu-octreotate and 177Lu-octreotide for treatment in human neuroblastoma-bearing mice

Background

Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) have a 5-year event-free survival of less than 50 %, and novel and improved treatment options are needed. Radiolabeled somatostatin analogs (SSTAs) could be a treatment option. The aims of this work were to compare the biodistribution and the therapeutic effects of 177Lu-octreotate and 177Lu-octreotide in mice bearing the human CLB-BAR NB cell line, and to evaluate their regulatory effects on apoptosis-related genes.

Methods

The biodistribution of 177Lu-octreotide in mice bearing CLB-BAR tumors was studied at 1, 24, and 168 h after administration, and the absorbed dose was estimated to tumor and normal tissues. Further, animals were administered different amounts of 177Lu-octreotate or 177Lu-octreotide. Tumor volume was measured over time and compared to a control group given saline. RNA was extracted from tumors, and the expression of 84 selected genes involved in apoptosis was quantified with qPCR.

Results

The activity concentration was generally lower in most tissues for 177Lu-octreotide compared to 177Lu-octreotate. Mean absorbed dose per administered activity to tumor after injection of 1.5 MBq and 15 MBq was 0.74 and 0.03 Gy/MBq for 177Lu-octreotide and 2.9 and 0.45 Gy/MBq for 177Lu-octreotate, respectively. 177Lu-octreotide treatment resulted in statistically significant differences compared to controls. Fractionated administration led to a higher survival fraction than after a single administration. The pro-apoptotic genes TNSFS8, TNSFS10, and TRADD were regulated after administration with 177Lu-octreotate. Treatment with 177Lu-octreotide yielded regulation of the pro-apoptotic genes CASP5 and TRADD, and of the anti-apoptotic gene IL10 as well as the apoptosis-related gene TNF.

Conclusion

177Lu-octreotide gave somewhat better anti-tumor effects than 177Lu-octreotate. The similar effect observed in the treated groups with 177Lu-octreotate suggests saturation of the somatostatin receptors. Pronounced anti-tumor effects following fractionated administration merited receptor saturation as an explanation. The gene expression analyses suggest apoptosis activation through the extrinsic pathway for both radiopharmaceuticals.

Tumor microenvironment reprogramming by nanomedicine to enhance the effect of tumor immunotherapy

With the rapid development of the fields of tumor biology and immunology, tumor immunotherapy has been used in clinical practice and has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential, particularly for treating tumors that do not respond to standard treatment options. Despite its advances, immunotherapy still has limitations, such as poor clinical response rates and differences in individual patient responses, largely because tumor tissues have strong immunosuppressive microenvironments. Many tumors have a tumor microenvironment (TME) that is characterized by hypoxia, low pH, and substantial numbers of immunosuppressive cells, and these are the main factors limiting the efficacy of antitumor immunotherapy. The TME is crucial to the occurrence, growth, and metastasis of tumors. Therefore, numerous studies have been devoted to improving the effects of immunotherapy by remodeling the TME. Effective regulation of the TME and reversal of immunosuppressive conditions are effective strategies for improving tumor immunotherapy. The use of multidrug combinations to improve the TME is an efficient way to enhance antitumor immune efficacy. However, the inability to effectively target drugs decreases therapeutic effects and causes toxic side effects. Nanodrug delivery carriers have the advantageous ability to enhance drug bioavailability and improve drug targeting. Importantly, they can also regulate the TME and deliver large or small therapeutic molecules to decrease the inhibitory effect of the TME on immune cells. Therefore, nanomedicine has great potential for reprogramming immunosuppressive microenvironments and represents a new immunotherapeutic strategy. Therefore, this article reviews strategies for improving the TME and summarizes research on synergistic nanomedicine approaches that enhance the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy.

Non-coding RNA-Mediated N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) deposition: A pivotal regulator of cancer, impacting key signaling pathways in carcinogenesis and therapy response

The emergence of RNA modifications has recently been considered as critical post-transcriptional regulations which governed gene expression. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most abundant type of RNA modification which is mediated by three distinct classes of proteins called m6A writers, readers, and erasers. Accumulating evidence has been made in understanding the role of m6A modification of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cancer. Importantly, aberrant expression of ncRNAs and m6A regulators has been elucidated in various cancers. As the key role of ncRNAs in regulation of cancer hallmarks is well accepted now, it could be accepted that m6A modification of ncRNAs could affect cancer progression. The present review intended to discuss the latest knowledge and importance of m6A epigenetic regulation of ncRNAs including mircoRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, and their interaction in the context of cancer. Moreover, the current insight into the underlying mechanisms of therapy resistance and also immune response and escape mediated by m6A regulators and ncRNAs are discussed.

IGF2BP2-m6A-circMMP9 axis recruits ETS1 to promote TRIM59 transcription in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignancy of the head and neck. Recently, circular RNA (circRNA) has been studied extensively in multisystem diseases. However, there are few research on biological functions and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in LSCC. CircRNA array was used to detect the differentially expressed circRNAs. Kaplan-Meier and cox regression analysis were used to identify survival based on circMMP9. The qRT-PCR, RNase R treatment, sanger sequencing and in situ hybridization were used to verify circMMP9 expression, characteristics and localization in LSCC tissues and cells. Functionally, colony formation, MTS, transwell and in vivo assays were proceeded to detect the biological function of circMMP9 in LSCC progression. The RNA-seq was conducted to identify the molecular targets of circMMP9. Mechanically, MeRIP, RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pulldown, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were carried on to verify the regulatory mechanism of circMMP9. CircMMP9 was discovered upregulated in LSCC tissues and cells, and high level of circMMP9 was associated with poor prognosis, low degree of pathological grading, high TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of LSCC. CircMMP9 knockdown prevented LSCC progression both in vitro and in vivo, whereas, circMMP9 overexpression had the opposite effect. CircMMP9 was stabilized by IGF2BP2 in m6A-dependent manner. TRIM59 was identified as downstream target of circMMP9. CircMMP9 recruited ETS1 to stimulate TRIM59 transcription. Moreover, TRIM59 accelerated LSCC progression via activating the PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Our findings offered a unique regulatory mechanism for circMMP9 in LSCC, as well as a novel proof that circMMP9 may be utilize as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for LSCC patients.

Exosomal non-coding RNAs: Blueprint in colorectal cancer metastasis and therapeutic targets

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as the world's third-most prevalent cancer, and metastatic CRC considerably increases cancer-related fatalities globally. A number of complex mechanisms that are strictly controlled at the molecular level are involved in metastasis, which is the primary reason for death in people with CRC. Recently, it has become clear that exosomes, which are small extracellular vesicles released by non-tumorous and tumorigenic cells, play a critical role as communication mediators among tumor microenvironment (TME). To facilitate communication between the TME and cancer cells, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a crucial role and are recognized as potent regulators of gene expression and cellular processes, such as metastasis and drug resistance. NcRNAs are now recognized as potent regulators of gene expression and many hallmarks of cancer, including metastasis. Exosomal ncRNAs, like miRNAs, circRNAs, and lncRNAs, have been demonstrated to influence a number of cellular mechanisms that contribute to CRC metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms that link exosomal ncRNAs with CRC metastasis are not well understood. This review highlights the essential roles that exosomal ncRNAs play in the progression of CRC metastatic disease and explores the therapeutic choices that are open to patients who have CRC metastases. However, exosomal ncRNA treatment strategy development is still in its early phases; consequently, additional investigation is required to improve delivery methods and find novel therapeutic targets as well as confirm the effectiveness and safety of these therapies in preclinical and clinical contexts.

Novel insight into RNA modifications in tumor immunity: Promising targets to prevent tumor immune escape

An immunosuppressive state is a typical feature of the tumor microenvironment. Despite the dramatic success of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in preventing tumor cell escape from immune surveillance, primary and acquired resistance have limited its clinical use. Notably, recent clinical trials have shown that epigenetic drugs can significantly improve the outcome of ICI therapy in various cancers, indicating the importance of epigenetic modifications in immune regulation of tumors. Recently, RNA modifications (N⁶-methyladenosine [m⁶A], N¹-methyladenosine [m¹A], 5-methylcytosine [m⁵C], etc.), novel hotspot areas of epigenetic research, have been shown to play crucial roles in protumor and antitumor immunity. In this review, we provide a comprehensive understanding of how m⁶A, m¹A, and m⁵C function in tumor immunity by directly regulating different immune cells as well as indirectly regulating tumor cells through different mechanisms, including modulating the expression of immune checkpoints, inducing metabolic reprogramming, and affecting the secretion of immune-related factors. Finally, we discuss the current status of strategies targeting RNA modifications to prevent tumor immune escape, highlighting their potential.

Molecular and biologic biomarkers of Ewing sarcoma: A systematic review

With an annual incidence of less than 1%, Ewing sarcoma mainly occurs in children and young adults. It is not a frequent tumor but is the second most common bone malignancy in children. It has a 5-year survival rate of 65-75%; however, it has a poor prognosis when it relapses in patients. A genomic profile of this tumor can potentially help identify poor prognosis patients earlier and guide their treatment. A systematic review of the articles concerning genetic biomarkers in Ewing sarcoma was conducted using the Google Scholar, Cochrane, and PubMed database. There were 71 articles discovered. Numerous diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers were found. However, more research is necessary to confirm the role of some of the mentioned biomarkers. .

Exploiting the Stemness and Chemoresistance Transcriptome of Ewing Sarcoma to Identify Candidate Therapeutic Targets and Drug-Repurposing Candidates

Outcomes for most patients with Ewing sarcoma (ES) have remained unchanged for the last 30 years, emphasising the need for more effective and tolerable treatments. We have hypothesised that using small-molecule inhibitors to kill the self-renewing chemotherapy-resistant cells (Ewing sarcoma cancer stem-like cells; ES-CSCs) responsible for progression and relapse could improve outcomes and minimise treatment-induced morbidities. For the first time, we demonstrate that ABCG1, a potential oncogene in some cancers, is highly expressed in ES-CSCs independently of CD133. Using functional models, transcriptomics and a bespoke in silico drug-repurposing pipeline, we have prioritised a group of tractable small-molecule inhibitors for further preclinical studies. Consistent with the cellular origin of ES, 21 candidate molecular targets of pluripotency, stemness and chemoresistance were identified. Small-molecule inhibitors to 13 of the 21 molecular targets (62%) were identified. POU5F1/OCT4 was the most promising new therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma, interacting with 10 of the 21 prioritised molecular targets and meriting further study. The majority of small-molecule inhibitors (72%) target one of two drug efflux proteins, p-glycoprotein (n = 168) or MRP1 (n = 13). In summary, we have identified a novel cell surface marker of ES-CSCs and cancer/non-cancer drugs to targets expressed by these cells that are worthy of further preclinical evaluation. If effective in preclinical models, these drugs and drug combinations might be repurposed for clinical evaluation in patients with ES.

Determination of WWOX Function in Modulating Cellular Pathways Activated by AP-2α and AP-2γ Transcription Factors in Bladder Cancer

Following the invention of high-throughput sequencing, cancer research focused on investigating disease-related alterations, often inadvertently omitting tumor heterogeneity. This research was intended to limit the impact of heterogeneity on conclusions related to WWOX/AP-2α/AP-2γ in bladder cancer which differently influenced carcinogenesis. The study examined the signaling pathways regulated by WWOX-dependent AP-2 targets in cell lines as biological replicates using high-throughput sequencing. RT-112, HT-1376 and CAL-29 cell lines were subjected to two stable lentiviral transductions. Following CAGE-seq and differential expression analysis, the most important genes were identified and functionally annotated. Western blot was performed to validate the selected observations. The role of genes in biological processes was assessed and networks were visualized. Ultimately, principal component analysis was performed. The studied genes were found to be implicated in MAPK, Wnt, Ras, PI3K-Akt or Rap1 signaling. Data from pathways were collected, explaining the differences/similarities between phenotypes. FGFR3, STAT6, EFNA1, GSK3B, PIK3CB and SOS1 were successfully validated at the protein level. Afterwards, a definitive network was built using 173 genes. Principal component analysis revealed that the various expression of these genes explains the phenotypes. In conclusion, the current study certified that the signaling pathways regulated by WWOX and AP-2α have more in common than that regulated by AP-2γ. This is because WWOX acts as an EMT inhibitor, AP-2γ as an EMT enhancer while AP-2α as a MET inducer. Therefore, the relevance of AP-2γ in targeted therapy is now more evident. Some of the differently regulated genes can find application in bladder cancer treatment.