Prenatal diagnosis of neuroblastoma by sonography

Biomolecular fingerprints of the effect of zoledronic acid on prostate cancer stem cells: Comparison of 2D and 3D cell culture models

Revealing the potential of candidate drugs against different cancer types without disrupting normal cells depends on the drug mode of action. In the current study, the drug response of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) to zoledronic acid (ZOL) grown in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) culture systems was compared using Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy which is a vibrational spectroscopic technique, supporting by biochemical assays and imaging techniques. Based on our data, in 2D cell culture conditions, the ZOL treatment of PCSCs isolated according to both C133 and CD44 cell surface properties induced early/late apoptosis and suppressed migration ability. The CD133 gene expression and protein levels were altered, depending on culture systems. CD133 expression was significantly reduced in 2D cells upon ZOL treatment. FT-IR data revealed that the integrity, fluidity, and ordering/disordering states of the cell membrane and nucleic acid content were altered in both 2D and 3D cells after ZOL treatment. Regular protein structures decrease in 2D cells while glycogen and protein contents increase in 3D cells, indicating a more pronounced cytotoxic effect of ZOL for 2D cells. Untreated 3D PCSCs exhibited an even different spectral profile associated with IR signals of lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and glycogen in comparison to untreated 2D cells. Our study revealed significant differences in the drug response and cellular constituents between 2D and 3D cells. Exploring molecular targets and/or drug-action mechanisms is significant in cancer treatment approaches; thus, FT-IR spectroscopy can be successfully applied as a novel drug-screening method in clinical research.

Unveiling diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cervical cancer: biomarker discovery through proteomics approaches and exploring the role of cervical cancer stem cells

Cervical cancer (CC) is a major global health problem and leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. Early detection through screening programs has reduced mortality; however, screening compliance remains low. Identifying non-invasive biomarkers through proteomics for diagnosis and monitoring response to treatment could improve patient outcomes. Here we review recent proteomics studies which have uncovered biomarkers and potential drug targets for CC. Additionally, we explore into the role of cervical cancer stem cells and their potential implications in driving CC progression and therapy resistance. Although challenges remain, proteomics has the potential to revolutionize the field of cervical cancer research and improve patient outcomes.

Anti-cervical cancer mechanism of bioactive compounds from Alangium platanifolium based on the 'compound-target-disease' network

In this study, we analyzed the chemical compositions of Alangium platanifolium (Sieb. et Zucc.) Harms (AP) using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) non-targeted plant metabolomics integration MolNetEnhancer strategy. A total of 75 compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, C21 steroids, among others, were identified by comparing accurate mass-to-charge ratios, MS2 cleavage fragments, retention times, and MolNetenhancer-integrated analytical data, and the cleavage rules of the characteristic compounds were analyzed. A total of 125 potential cervical cancer (CC) therapeutic targets were obtained through Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data mining, differential analysis, and database screening. Hub targets were obtained by constructing protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and CytoNCA topology analysis, including SRC, STAT3, TP53, PIK3R1, MAPK3, and PIK3CA. According to Gene ontology (GO) analysis, AP was primarily against CC by influencing gland development, oxidative stress processes, serine/threonine kinase, and tyrosine kinase activity. Enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) indicated that the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways play a crucial role in AP treatment for CC. The compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) network revealed that quercetin, methylprednisolone, and caudatin may play key roles in the treatment of CC. The results of molecular docking revealed that the core compound could bind significantly to the core target. In this study, the compounds in AP were systematically analyzed qualitatively, and the core components, core targets, and mechanisms of action of AP in the treatment of CC were screened through a combination of network pharmacology tools. Providing a scientific reference for the therapeutic material basis and quality control of AP.

Differences and Similarities between Colorectal Cancer Cells and Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells: Molecular Insights and Implications

Malignant tumors are formed by diverse groups of cancer cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of heterogeneous cells identified in tumors that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate. Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most frequent malignant tumor, is progressively being supported by evidence suggesting that CSCs are crucial in cancer development. We aim to identify molecular differences between CRC cells and CRC CSCs, as well as the effects of those differences on cell behavior in terms of migration, EMT, pluripotency, morphology, cell cycle/control, and epigenetic characteristics. The HT-29 cell line (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) and HT-29 CSCs (HT-29 CD133+/CD44+ cells) were cultured for 72 h. The levels of E-cadherin, KLF4, p53, p21, p16, cyclin D2, HDAC9, and P300 protein expression were determined using immunohistochemistry staining. The migration of cells was assessed by employing the scratch assay technique. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy method was used to examine the morphological features of the cells, and their peripheral/central elemental ratios were compared with the help of EDS. Furthermore, a Muse cell cycle kit was utilized to determine the cell cycle analysis. The HT-29 CSC group exhibited high levels of expression for E-cadherin, p53, p21, p16, cyclin D2, HDAC9, and P300, whereas KLF4 was found to be high in the HT-29. The two groups did not exhibit any statistically significant differences in the percentages of cell cycle phases. The identification of specific CSC characteristics will allow for earlier cancer detection and the development of more effective precision oncology options.

CD73 regulates zoledronate-induced lymphocyte infiltration in triple-negative breast cancer tumors and lung metastases

Introduction

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are bone-protecting osteoclast inhibitors, typically used in the treatment of osteoporosis and skeletal complications of malignancies. When given in the adjuvant setting, these drugs may also prevent relapses and prolong overall survival in early breast cancer (EBC), specifically among postmenopausal patients. Because of these findings, adjuvant nitrogen-containing BPs (N-BPs), such as zoledronate (ZOL), are now the standard of care for high-risk EBC patients, but there are no benefit-associated biomarkers, and the efficacy remains low. BPs have been demonstrated to possess anti-tumor activities, but the mechanisms by which they provide the beneficial effects in EBC are not known.

Methods

We used stably transfected 4T1 breast cancer cells together with suppression of CD73 (sh-CD73) or control cells (sh-NT). We compared ZOL effects on tumor growth and infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) into tumors and lung metastases using two mouse models. B cell depletion was performed using anti-CD20 antibody.

Results

Sh-CD73 4T1 cells were significantly more sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of n-BPs in vitro. However, while ZOL-induced growth inhibition was similar between the tumor groups in vivo, ZOL enhanced B and T lymphocyte infiltration into the orthotopic tumors with down-regulated CD73. A similar trend was detected in lung metastases. ZOL-induced tumor growth inhibition was found to be augmented with B cell depletion in sh-NT tumors, but not in sh-CD73 tumors. As an internal control, ZOL effects on bone were similar in mice bearing both tumor groups.

Discussion

Taken together, these results indicate that ZOL modifies TILs in breast cancer, both in primary tumors and metastases. Our results further demonstrate that B cells may counteract the growth inhibitory effects of ZOL. However, all ZOL-induced TIL effects may be influenced by immunomodulatory characteristics of the tumor.

Circular RNA circSLC7A11 contributes to progression and stemness of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma via sponging miR-877-5p from LASP1

Background

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) belongs to tumors of head and neck. Circular RNA circSLC7A11 functions as oncogenes in various tumors. However, the role of circSLC7A11 in LSCC remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to clarify the circSLC7A11 function in LSCC.

Methods

Relevance between circSLC7A11 expressions and LSCC clinicopathological was checked using chi-square. Relevance between circSLC7A11 expressions and LSCC patients' survival time was validated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. CircSLC7A11 expressions in LSCC tissues and cells were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. CircSLC7A11 functions in LSCC were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU analysis, Western blot, flow cytometry, sphere formation assay, and Transwell analysis. Meanwhile, circSLC7A11 mechanism in LSCC was determined using dual-luciferase reporter analysis, RNA pull-down, RNA Immunoprecipitation.

Results

CircSLC7A11 was highly expressed in LSCC, and high circSLC7A11 expressions were interrelated to the TNM stage. Also, LSCC patients with high circSLC7A11 owned shorter overall survival. Functional studies revealed that circSLC7A11 knockdown reduced LSCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, stemness characteristics, and enhanced cell apoptosis. Mechanistic study data corroborated that circSLC7A11 targeted miR-877-5p, miR-877-5p targeted LASP1. LASP1 was negatively interrelated to miR-877-5p and was positively interrelated to circSLC7A11 in LSCC tissues. Also, circSLC7A11 knockdown reduced the LASP1 levels, and miR-877-5p inhibitor co-transfection reversed this reduction. Rescue assays further demonstrated that circSLC7A11 accelerated LSCC through miR-877-5p/LASP1.

Conclusion

CircSLC7A11 exerted oncogenic functions in LSCC by miR-877-5p/LASP1, hinting that circSLC7A11 was a novel biomarker for LSCC.

Functional role of MicroRNA/PI3K/AKT axis in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary malignant bone tumor that occurs in children and adolescents, and the PI3K/AKT pathway is overactivated in most OS patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved endogenous non-protein-coding RNAs that can regulate gene expression by repressing mRNA translation or degrading mRNA. MiRNAs are enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway, and aberrant PI3K/AKT pathway activation is involved in the development of osteosarcoma. There is increasing evidence that miRNAs can regulate the biological functions of cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. MiRNA/PI3K/AKT axis can regulate the expression of osteosarcoma-related genes and then regulate cancer progression. MiRNA expression associated with PI3K/AKT pathway is also clearly associated with many clinical features. In addition, PI3K/AKT pathway-associated miRNAs are potential biomarkers for osteosarcoma diagnosis, treatment and prognostic assessment. This article reviews recent research advances on the role and clinical application of PI3K/AKT pathway and miRNA/PI3K/AKT axis in the development of osteosarcoma.

Casticin Attenuates Stemness in Cervical Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Regulating Activity and Expression of DNMT1

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether casticin (CAS) suppresses stemness in cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) obtained from human cervical cancer (CCSLCs) and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Spheres from HeLa and CaSki cells were used as CCSLCs. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) activity and mRNA levels, self-renewal capability (Nanog and Sox2), and cancer stem cell markers (CD133 and CD44), were detected by a colorimetric DNMT activity/inhibition assay kit, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, sphere and colony formation assays, and immunoblot, respectively. Knockdown and overexpression of DNMT1 by transfection with shRNA and cDNA, respectively, were performed to explore the mechanism for action of CAS (0, 10, 30, and 100 nmol/L).

RESULTS

DNMT1 activity was increased in CCSLCs compared with HeLa and CaSki cells (P<0.05). In addition, HeLa-derived CCSLCs transfected with DNMT1 shRNA showed reduced sphere and colony formation abilities, and lower CD133, CD44, Nanog and Sox2 protein expressions (P<0.05). Conversely, overexpression of DNMT1 in HeLa cells exhibited the oppositive effects. Furthermore, CAS significantly reduced DNMT1 activity and transcription levels as well as stemness in HeLa-derived CCSLCs (P<0.05). Interestingly, DNMT1 knockdown enhanced the inhibitory effect of CAS on stemness. As expected, DNMT1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of CAS on stemness in HeLa cells.

CONCLUSION

CAS effectively inhibits stemness in CCSLCs through suppression of DNMT1 activation, suggesting that CAS acts as a promising preventive and therapeutic candidate in cervical cancer.

A bifunctional zoledronate sustained-release system in scaffold: Tumor therapy and bone repair

It is of great challenges to repair bone defect and prevent tumor recurrence in bone tumors postoperative treatment. Bone scaffolds loaded with zoledronate (ZOL) are expected to solve these issues due to its osteogenesis and anti-tumor ability. Furthermore, ZOL needs to be sustained release to meet the requirement of long-term therapy. In this study, ZOL was loaded into amination functionalized mesoporous silicon (SBA15NH₂), and then incorporated into poly (L-lactic acid) to prepare PLLA/SBA15NH₂-ZOL scaffold via selective laser sintering technology. On one hand, ZOL of local release not only can inhibit growth and proliferation of bone tumor cells but also inhibit osteoclast differentiation through competitive binding of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kB (RANK) in osteoclast precursors. On the other hand, amination function could change the surface charge of mesoporous silica to positive charge to enhance the absorption of ZOL, mesoporous structure and abundant amino groups of SBA15NH₂ play a barrier role and form hydrogen bond with phosphate groups of ZOL, respectively, thereby achieving its sustained release. The results showed that the loading amount of ZOL was 236.53 mg/g, and the scaffold could sustainedly release ZOL for more than 6 weeks. The scaffold inhibited proliferation of osteosarcoma cells through inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. TRAP staining and F-actin ring formation experiment showed the scaffold inhibited differentiation and mature of osteoclast. Pit formation assay indicated that bone resorption activity was inhibited strongly.

Carvacrol instigates intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis with abrogation of cell cycle progression in cervical cancer cells: Inhibition of Hedgehog/GLI signaling cascade

Recent times have seen a strong surge in therapeutically targeting the hedgehog (HH)/GLI signaling pathway in cervical cancer. HH signaling pathway is reported to be a crucial modulator of carcinogenesis in cervical cancer and is also associated with recurrence and development of chemoresistance. Moreover, our previous reports have established that carvacrol (CAR) inhibited the proliferation of prostate cancer cells via inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway and thus, it was rational to explore its antiproliferative effects in cervical cancer cell lines. Herein, the present study aimed to investigate the anticancer and apoptotic potential of CAR on C33A cervical cancer cells and further explore the underlying mechanisms. We found that CAR significantly suppressed the growth of C33A cells, induced cell cycle arrest, and enhanced programmed cell death along with augmentation in the level of ROS, dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase cascade, and eventually inhibited the HH signaling cascade. In addition, CAR treatment increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bad, Fas-L, TRAIL, FADDR, cytochrome c) and concomitantly reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) in C33A cells. CAR mediates the activation of caspase-9 and -3 (intrinsic pathway) and caspase-8 (extrinsic pathway) accompanied by the cleavage of PARP in cervical cancer cells. Thus, CAR induced apoptosis by both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. CAR efficiently inhibited the growth of cervical cancer cells via arresting the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and modulated the gene expression of related proteins (p21, p27, cyclin D1 and CDK4). Moreover, CAR inhibited the HH/GLI signaling pathway by down regulating the expression of SMO, PTCH and GLI1 proteins in cervical carcinoma cells. With evidence of the above results, our data revealed that CAR treatment suppressed the growth of HPV^-C33A cervical cancer cells and further elucidated the mechanistic insights into the functioning of CAR.

LWJ-M30, a conjugate of DM1 and B6, for the targeted therapy of colorectal cancer with improved therapeutic effects†

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide as well as a significant cause of mortality. The conventional treatment could cause serious side effects and induce drug resistance, recurrence and metastasis of cancers. Hence, specific targeting of cancer cells without affecting the normal tissues is currently an urgent necessity in cancer therapy. The emerging of peptide–drug conjugates (PDC) is regarded as a promising approach to address malignant tumors. LWJ-M30, a conjugate of DM1 and B6 peptide, targeted transferrin receptors (TfRs) on the surface of the CRC cells, showing a powerful anti-cancer effect. LWJ-M30 significantly inhibited the HCT116 cells proliferation and migration in vitro. LWJ-M30 also dramatically decreased the level of polymeric tubulin, while the disruption of microtubules caused the cell cycle to be arrested in the G2/M phase. LWJ-M30 induced the HCT116 cells apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. The results in vivo demonstrated that LWJ-M30 could inhibit the HCT116 growth without affecting the mouse body weight. Taking these results together, our data indicated that LWJ-M30 could improve the therapeutic effects of DM1 while reducing the systemic toxicity in normal tissues.

LWJ-M30 targeted TfR, dramatically decreased the level of polymeric tubulin, while the disruption of microtubules meant the cell cycle was arrested in the G2/M phase and thus caused cells apoptosis.

Antitumor Therapy Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment

The development and progression of tumors in human tissues extensively rely on its surrounding environment, that is, tumor microenvironment which includes a variety of cells, molecules, and blood vessels. These components are modified, organized, and integrated to support and facilitate the growth, invasion, and metabolism of tumor cells, suggesting them as potential therapeutic targets in anticancer treatment. An increasing number of pharmacological agents have been developed and clinically applied to target the oncogenic components in the tumor microenvironment, and in this review, we will summarize these pharmacological agents that directly or indirectly target the cellular or molecular components in the tumor microenvironment. However, difficulties and challenges still exist in this field, which will also be reported in this literature.

ALDH1: A potential therapeutic target for cancer stem cells in solid tumors

Solid tumors can be divided into benign solid tumors and solid malignant tumors in the academic community, among which malignant solid tumors are called cancers. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, and the global incidence of cancer is increasing yearly New cancer patients in China are always the first. After the concept of stem cells was introduced in the tumor community, the CSC markers represented by ALDH1 have been widely studied due to their strong CSC cell characteristics and potential to be the driving force of tumor metastasis. In the research results in the past five years, it has been found that ALDH1 is highly expressed in various solid cancers such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, cervical cancer, esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer, head,and neck cancer. ALDH1 can activate and transform various pathways (such as the USP28/MYC signaling pathway, ALDH1A1/HIF-1α/VEGF axis, wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway), as well as change the intracellular pH value to promote formation and maintenance, resulting in drug resistance in tumors. By targeting and inhibiting ALDH1 in tumor stem cells, it can enhance the sensitivity of drugs and inhibit the proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis of solid tumor stem cells to some extent. This review discusses the relationship and pathway of ALDH1 with various solid tumors. It proposes that ALDH1 may serve as a diagnosis and therapeutic target for CSC, providing new insights and new strategies for reliable tumor treatment.

Recent advances of non-coding RNAs in ovarian cancer prognosis and therapeutics

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common gynecological malignancy with the highest mortality worldwide. OC is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and the standard treatment is surgery combined with platinum or paclitaxel chemotherapy. However, chemoresistance inevitably appears coupled with the easy recurrence and poor prognosis. Thus, early diagnosis, predicting prognosis, and reducing chemoresistance are of great significance for controlling the progression and improving treatment effects of OC. Recently, much insight has been gained into the non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that is employed for RNAs but does not encode a protein, and many types of ncRNAs have been characterized including long-chain non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs. Accumulating evidence indicates these ncRNAs play very active roles in OC progression and metastasis. In this review, we briefly discuss the ncRNAs as biomarkers for OC prognosis. We focus on the recent advances of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets in preventing OC metastasis, chemoresistance, immune escape, and metabolism. The novel strategies for ncRNAs-targeted therapy are also exploited for improving the survival of OC patients.

Zoledronic acid-induced oxidative damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis in human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells

Zoledronic acid, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drug, is used for the treatment of osteoporosis, Paget's disease of bone, and tumor-induced osteolysis. Zoledronic acid has also gained a place in cancer treatment due to its cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects in many cancer cells. Although zoledronic acid is considered safe, kidney damage is still one of the concerns in therapeutic doses. In the study, the aim was to assess the nephrotoxic profiles of zoledronic acid in the human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. Cytotoxicity evaluation was performed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and neutral red uptake tests, while oxidative stress was performed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production via flow cytometry, and the incomprehensible evaluation of ROS-related genes by RT-PCR and apoptosis was performed with Annexin-PI analysis in flow cytometry. The obtained result showed that zoledronic acid inhibited cell viability (IC₅₀ values were determined as 273.16  by MTT) and cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, induced ROS production, caused glutathione depletion, and increased oxidative stress index and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, indicating severe cellular stress. The expression levels of oxidative damage (L-fabp, α-GST, Nrf2, and HMOX1), ER stress (CASP4, IRE1-α, GADD153, and GRP78), and apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt-c, p53, CASP9, CASP3, NF-κB, TNF-α, and JNK) related genes were altered as well as IRE1-α protein levels. Herein, we were the first to show that increased oxidative stress and ER stress resulting in apoptosis are the key molecular pathways in zoledronic acid-induced nephrotoxicity equivalent to clinically administered concentrations.

ITGA7, CD133, ALDH1 are inter-correlated, and linked with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis as well as worse survival in surgical cervical cancer

AIM

Integrin alpha 7 (ITGA7) regulates cancer stemness and metastasis in several malignancies, while its role in cervical cancer is obscure. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the correlation among ITGA7, cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133), and aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1), as well as their relation to tumor features and survival in cervical cancer patients.

METHODS

A total of 133 surgical cervical cancer patients were enrolled. Tumor ITGA7, CD133, and ALDH1 expressions were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Furthermore, the clinicopathological features, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were collected.

RESULTS

ITGA7 expression positively related to CD133 expression (p = 0.040) and ALDH1 expression (p < 0.001). Besides, ITGA7 (p = 0.001), CD133 (p = 0.016), and ALDH1 (p = 0.009) high expressions linked with poor tumor differentiation; meanwhile, ITGA7 (p = 0.010) and ALDH1 (p = 0.004) high expressions correlated with more prevalence of lymph node metastasis. However, ITGA7, CD133, or ALDH1 expression was not associated with other clinicopathological features. Inspiringly, it was worth noting that ITGA7 (p = 0.009), CD133 (p = 0.041), and ALDH1 (p = 0.035) high expressions predicted unfavorable DFS; meanwhile, both ITGA7 (p = 0.021) and ALDH1 (p = 0.023) high expressions but not CD133 expression (p = 0.169) forecasted exasperated OS.

CONCLUSION

ITGA7, CD133, ALDH1 are inter-correlated, and linked with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis as well as worse survival in surgical cervical cancer.

miR-186-3p attenuates the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer via targeting insulin-like growth factor 1 to suppress PI3K-Akt signaling pathway

miR-186-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in various cancers. This study aimed to explore the expression levels of miR-186-3p and its role in cervical cancer. We analyzed the effects of miR-186-3p and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) on the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells in vitro by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In cervical cancer tissues and cells, miR-186-3p was downregulated, and IGF1 was upregulated. In addition, miR-186-3p inhibited cell proliferation and invasion and enhanced apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. Moreover, our results showed that miR-186-3p inversely regulated the mRNA expression of IGF1 through direct contact. Knockdown of IGF1 reversed the results of miR-186-3p inhibitor in cervical cancer cells. In addition, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was activated by the miR-186-3p inhibitor, although partially arrested by IGF1 knockdown. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor suppressed miR-186-3p inhibitor-stimulated cell proliferation in cervical cancer. In conclusion, miR-186-3p inhibits tumorigenesis of cervical cancer by repressing IGF1, which inactivates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, implicating miR-186-3p as a potential new target for the treatment of cervical cancer.

An Overview of Novel Agents for Cervical Cancer Treatment by Inducing Apoptosis: Emerging Drugs Ongoing Clinical Trials and Preclinical Studies

As the leading cause of cancer death, cervical cancer ranks fourth for both incidence and mortality. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates have reportedly decreased over the last decades thanks to extensive screening and widespread vaccination against human papilloma virus. However, there have been no major improvements concerning platinum-based chemotherapy on the survival of advanced cervical cancer. Thus, novel agents are urgently needed for the improvement of therapeutic effect. With the development of molecular biology and genomics, targeted therapy research has achieved a breakthrough development, including anti-angiogenesis, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and other treatments that are efficient for treatment of cervical cancer. Apoptosis is a crucial process for tumor progression. Drugs directed at inducing tumor-cell apoptosis are regarded as important treatment modalities. Besides, a number of novel compounds synthesized or derived from plants or microorganisms exhibited prominent anti-cancer activity by changing the apoptotic balance in cervical cancer. In this review, we summarized new target therapy drugs ongoing clinical trials that are used for treatment of cervical cancer. Further, we classified novel agents with a focus on improvement of therapeutic effect pre-clinically. To summarize, we also discussed application prospects of the new uses of old drugs and drug combinations, to provide researchers with new ideas for cervical cancer treatment.

Cancer Stem Cells: Emerging Key Players in Immune Evasion of Cancers

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are subpopulations of undifferentiated cancer cells within the tumor bulk that are responsible for tumor initiation, recurrence and therapeutic resistance. The enhanced ability of CSCs to give rise to new tumors suggests potential roles of these cells in the evasion of immune surveillance. A growing body of evidence has described the interplay between CSCs and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent data have shown the pivotal role of some major immune cells in driving the expansion of CSCs, which concurrently elicit evasion of the detection and destruction of various immune cells through a number of distinct mechanisms. Here, we will discuss the role of immune cells in driving the stemness of cancer cells and provide evidence of how CSCs evade immune surveillance by exerting their effects on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), dendritic cells (DCs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), T-regulatory (Treg) cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The knowledge gained from the interaction between CSCs and various immune cells will provide insight into the mechanisms by which tumors evade immune surveillance. In conclusion, CSC-targeted immunotherapy emerges as a novel immunotherapy strategy against cancer by disrupting the interaction between immune cells and CSCs in the TME.

Anlotinib exerts anti-cancer efficiency on lung cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo through reducing NF-κB activity

Anlotinib is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Previous studies confirmed that anlotinib exerts anti-cancer efficiency. However, the functional roles of anlotinib on cancer stem cells (CSCs) are yet to be elucidated. In this study, lung CSCs were isolated and identified in vitro, and mouse xenografts were established in vivo. MTT assays, tumour sphere formation assays, TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot were performed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of anlotinib on lung CSCs. The results showed that anlotinib inhibits the growth of lung CSCs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, anlotinib induced apoptosis of these cells along with down-regulated expression level of Bcl-2 whereas up-regulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression. It also sensitized lung CSCs to the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and paclitaxel; the tumour sphere formation and expression levels of multiple stemness-associated markers, such as ALDH1 and CD133, were also decreased. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism indicated that anlotinib reduces the phosphorylated levels of NF-κB p65 and IκB-α in lung CSCs. Taken together, these findings suggested that anlotinib exerts potent anti-cancer effects against lung CSCs through apoptotic induction and stemness phenotypic attenuation. The mechanism could be associated with the suppression of NF-κB activity.

Sonic hedgehog signaling is associated with resistance to zoledronic acid in CD133high/CD44high prostate cancer stem cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a unique population that has been linked to drug resistance and metastasis and recurrence of prostate cancer. The sonic hedgehog (SHH) signal regulates stem cells in normal prostate epithelium by affecting cell behavior, survival, proliferation, and maintenance. Aberrant SHH pathway activation leads to an unsuitable expansion of stem cell lineages in the prostate epithelium and the transformation of prostate CSCs (PCSCs). Zoledronic acid (ZOL), one of the third-generation bisphosphonates, effectively prevented bone metastasis and treated advanced prostate cancer despite androgen deprivation therapy. Despite strong evidence for the involvement of the SHH in human PCSCs survival and drug resistance, the roles of SHH in the PCSCs-related resistance to ZOL remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of the SHH pathway in ZOL resistance of PCSCs in 2D and three 3D cell culture conditions. For this purpose, we isolated CD133^high/ CD44^high PCSCs using a flow cytometer. Following ZOL treatment, mRNA and protein expressions of the components of the SHH signaling pathway in PCSCs and non-CSCs were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Our finding suggested that SHH signaling may be activated by different mechanisms that lead to avoidance of the inhibition effect of ZOL. Thereby, SHH pathways may be associated with the resistance to ZOL developed by prostate CSCs. Inhibition of CSCs-related SHH signaling along with ZOL treatment should be considered to achieve improvement in survival or delayed treatment failure and prevention of the CSCs-related drug resistance.

Ginsenoside-Rg2 affects cell growth via regulating ROS-mediated AMPK activation and cell cycle in MCF-7 cells

BACKGROUND

Ginsenoside-Rg2 (G-Rg2) is a protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside isolated from ginseng. It has been found to exhibit various pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of G-Rg2 on estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer (BC) cells, and the underlying mechanisms involving in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS

Cell viability, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and ROS production were measured following exposure to G-Rg2. The protein expression levels of p-ERK1/2, p-Akt, PARP, p-Rb, cyclin D1, CDK6, and p-AMPK were quantified using western blot analysis. The in vivo activity of G-Rg2 was assessed in a xenograft model. Immunohistochemistry staining for p-Rb and p-AMPK was performed in tumor tissues.

RESULTS

G-Rg2 significantly decreased cell viability but increased cell apoptosis. In MCF-7 cells, G-Rg2 increased ROS production by inhibiting ERK1/2 and Akt activation. G-Rg2-induced ROS induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and AMPK phosphorylation. In the xenograft model, the 5 mg/kg G-Rg2-treated group showed decreased tumor volume and weight, similar to the 5 mg/kg 4-OHT-treated group, compared to the control group. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that G-Rg2 treatment decreased Rb phosphorylation, while increasing AMPK phosphorylation in tumor tissues.

CONCLUSION

G-Rg2 has potential anticancer effects by increasing the ROS-AMPK signaling pathway and inhibiting ERK1/2 and Akt activation-mediated cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in MCF-7 BC cells.

Zoledronic Acid Enhanced the Antitumor Effect of Cisplatin on Orthotopic Osteosarcoma by ROS-PI3K/AKT Signaling and Attenuated Osteolysis

Osteoclasts can interact with osteosarcoma to promote the growth of osteosarcoma. Cisplatin is common in adjuvant chemotherapy of osteosarcoma. However, due to chemoresistance, the efficacy is profoundly limited. Previous studies have found that zoledronic acid (ZA) has osteoclast activation inhibition and antitumor effect. However, the combined effect of ZA and cisplatin on osteosarcoma remains unclear. In vitro, the effects of ZA and cisplatin alone or in combination on 143B cell activity, proliferation, apoptosis, and ROS-PI3K/AKT signaling were detected. At the same time, the effect of ZA and cisplatin on osteoclast formation, survival, and activity was detected by TRAP staining and bone plate absorption test. These were further verified in mice. The results showed that in vitro, compared with the single treatment and control, the combination of ZA and cisplatin could significantly inhibit the activity and proliferation of 143B cells and induced their apoptosis and further promoted the generation of ROS and inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT. ROS scavenger and the agonist of the PI3K/AKT pathway could reverse these results. In addition, cisplatin in synergy with ZA could significantly inhibit osteoclast formation and survival to reduce bone plate absorption. In vivo, compared with the single group, the tumor volume and cell proliferation were significantly reduced, apoptosis and necrosis of tumor cells increased, and TRAP⁺ osteoclasts and osteolysis destruction decreased in the combined group. In conclusion, ZA enhanced the antitumor effect of cisplatin on osteosarcoma by ROS-PI3K/AKT signaling, reducing the chemoresistance and osteoclast activation to enhance chemotherapy and inhibit osteolysis. And this present study raised the possibility that combining ZA and cisplatin may represent a novel strategy against osteosarcoma.

Cucurbitacin B exhibits antitumor effects on CD133+ HepG2 liver cancer stem cells by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a crucial cancer cell subpopulation, possess stemness phenotypic characteristics. Cucurbitacin B (CuB), a tetracyclic triterpenoid isolated from Cucurbitaceae, exerts widely pharmacological activities in many diseases. The aim of this study was to enrich, identify liver CSCs and investigate antitumor effects of CuB as well as explore the underlying molecular mechanisms in these liver CSCs. HepG2 cell lines were used for the enrichment of liver CSCs by serum-free medium culture and magnetic-activated cell sorting. The CSC characteristics were analyzed by immunofluorescent staining, sphere-forming, western blot and xenograft tumorigenicity assay. CuB' antitumor effects and underlying molecular mechanism were measured by cell counting kit-8, colony formation, sphere-forming, cell cycle, xenograft and western blot assay. Our results showed that we could enrich 97.29% CD133+ HepG2 cells, which possessed CSC characteristics including re-renewal capacity, proliferative ability, sorafenib resistance, overexpressed stemness-related molecules and enhanced tumorigenic potential. Furthermore, we also found that CuB inhibited cell viability, sphere formation, colony formation and arrested cell cycle at G2/M phase as well as sensitized CD133+ HepG2 cells to sorafenib in vitro and in vivo. Western blot assay indicated that CuB inhibited expression levels of cyclin B1, CDK1, CD133, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. In conclusion, our findings indicated that CuB could exhibit antitumor effects on CD133+ HepG2 CSCs by inhibiting the Janus kinase 2/signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 signaling pathway, expanding basic and preclinical investigations on liver CSCs.

SOX2 Regulates lncRNA CCAT1/MicroRNA-185-3p/FOXP3 Axis to Affect the Proliferation and Self-Renewal of Cervical Cancer Stem Cells

It has been presented the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cervical cancer (CC). We aim to discuss the effect of sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2)/lncRNA colon cancer-associated transcript-1 (CCAT1)/microRNA-185-3p (miR-185-3p)/forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) on the proliferation and self-renewal ability of CC stem cells. MiR-185-3p, SOX2, CCAT1 and FOXP3 expressions were tested in CC tissues and cells. The relationship between SOX2/CCAT1 expression and clinicopathological features in CC patients was verified. Loss- and gain-of-function investigations were conducted in CD44⁺HeLa cells to discuss biological functions and self-renewal capacity. Finally, the relationships among SOX2, CCAT1, FOXP3 and miR-185-3p were verified. miR-185-3p expression was decreased, while SOX2, CCAT1 and FOXP3 expressions were increased in CC tissues and cells. SOX2 and CCAT1 expressions were linked to tumor size, lymph node metastasis and international federation of gynecology and obstetrics stage of CC. Down-regulating SOX2 or CCAT1 and up-regulating miR-185-3p resulted in inhibition of proliferation, invasion, migration and cell sphere number as well as apoptosis acceleration of CD44⁺HeLa cells. SOX2 could bind to CCAT1 which affected miR-185-3p expression, and FOXP3 was targeted by miR-185-3p.

LGR6 activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and forms a β-catenin/TCF7L2/LGR6 feedback loop in LGR6high cervical cancer stem cells

The leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 6 (LGR6) is considered to be a stem cell marker in many normal tissues and promotes tissue development, regeneration, and repair. LGR6 is also related to the initiation and progression of some malignant tumors. However, the role of LGR6 in cervical cancer has not been reported. Here, immunohistochemistry and western blotting showed that LGR6 was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer, compared with the normal cervix. By analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas database, LGR6 was found to be correlated with a poor prognosis of cervical cancer. Then, a small population of LGR6^high cells isolated by using the fluorescence-activated cell sorting exhibited enhanced properties of cancer stem cells including self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity. Moreover, RNA sequencing revealed that LGR6 was correlated with the Wnt signaling pathway and TOP/FOP, reverse transcription-PCR, and western blotting further proved that LGR6 could activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Interestingly, LGR6 upregulated the expression of TCF7L2 by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Then, TCF7L2 combining with β-catenin in the nucleus enhanced LGR6 transcription by binding the promoter of LGR6, which further activated the Wnt signaling to form a positive feedback loop. Thus, our study demonstrated that LGR6 activated a novel β-catenin/TCF7L2/LGR6-positive feedback loop in LGR6^high cervical cancer stem cells (CSCs), which provided a new therapeutic strategy for targeting cervical CSCs to improve the prognosis of cervical cancer patients.

The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in cervical cancer

Objective

To predict the prognosis of cervical cancer, we constructed a novel model with 5 specific cell types and identified a potential biomarker.

Methods

We employed CIBERSORT and xCell method to evaluate the abundances of 23 cells types in tumor microenvironment. Five specific cell types were filtrated to determine different immunotypes by applying least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression method. The expression of immune checkpoints (ICPs) and effectors were validated by immunohistochemistry. Correlation analysis was performed to examine the relevance between PIK3CA mutational status and ICPs.

Results

Unsupervised clustering of patients on the basis of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and fibroblasts identified patients with shorter overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR]=3.0729; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.5103–6.2522; p=0.0118). An immunoscore (IS) signature consisting of 5 immune cell types infiltrating in tumor core (CD8T, activated NK cells, neutrophils, activated mast cells, macrophages) was constructed using LASSO Cox regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves confirmed that the area under the curve of IS was significantly higher to that of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging alone (0.637 vs. 0.55). Survival analysis revealed patients in high IS group exhibited a poorer OS (HR=3.0113; 95% CI=1.8746–4.8373; p<0.0001). The multivariate analysis indicated the IS was an independent prognostic factor. In addition, the lower IS related to higher expression of ICPs and neoantigen load.

Conclusions

The identification of IS in cervical cancer tissues could facilitate patient risk stratification and selection of immunotherapeutic responses, but more prospective studies are needed to assess its reliability.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of indolylglyoxylamide bisphosphonates, antimitotic microtubule-targeting derivatives of indibulin with improved aqueous solubility

Indibulin (D-24851) derivatives with bisphosphonate fragment connected to the N1 atom of imidazole ring were synthesized by alkylation of (indolyl-3)methylglyoxylates with ethylenebisphosphonate. Biological evaluation of targeted compounds 4a-d using the phenotypic sea urchin embryo assay provided evidence that replacing of p-chlorobenzene ring in indibulin by bisphosphonate group did not eliminate antimitotic microtubule destabilizing activity. The most active molecule, tetraacid 5a, at physiological pH formed tetrasodium salt 6a with aqueous solubility value of at least 10 mg/mL. Molecule 5a was more potent in the sea urchin embryo assay than the parent indibulin. This compound also exhibited pronounced cytotoxicity against A549 lung carcinoma and A375 melanoma cell lines.

Advance in metabolism and target therapy in breast cancer stem cells

Breast cancer, like many other cancers, is believed to be driven by a population of cells that display stem cell properties. Recent studies suggest that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are essential for tumor progression, and tumor relapse is thought to be caused by the presence of these cells. CSC-targeted therapies have also been proposed to overcome therapeutic resistance in breast cancer after the traditional therapies. Additionally, the metabolic properties of cancer cells differ markedly from those of normal cells. The efficacy of metabolic targeted therapy has been shown to enhance anti-cancer treatment or overcome therapeutic resistance of breast cancer cells. Metabolic targeting of breast CSCs (BCSCs) may be a very effective strategy for anti-cancer treatment of breast cancer cells. Thus, in this review, we focus on discussing the studies involving metabolism and targeted therapy in BCSCs.

TM4SF1 promotes EMT and cancer stemness via the Wnt/β-catenin/SOX2 pathway in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1) is upregulated in several epithelial cancers and is closely associated with poor prognosis. However, the role of TM4SF1 and its potential mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain elusive.

METHODS

We investigated the expression of TM4SF1 in the Oncomine, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and confirmed the results by immunohistochemistry (IHC), qPCR and Western blotting (WB) of CRC tissues. The effect of TM4SF1 on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness of CRC cells was investigated by Transwell, wound healing and sphere formation assays. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to reveal the mechanisms by which TM4SF1 modulates EMT and cancer stemness in CRC.

RESULTS

TM4SF1 expression was markedly higher in CRC tissues than in non-tumour tissues and was positively correlated with poor prognosis. Downregulation of TM4SF1 inhibited the migration, invasion and tumour sphere formation of SW480 and LoVo cells. Conversely, TM4SF1 overexpression significantly enhanced the migration, invasion and tumoursphere formation potential of CRC cells, Additionally, TM4SF1 silencing inhibited the EMT mediated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Mechanistically, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) predicted that the Wnt signalling pathway was one of the most impaired pathways in TM4SF1-deficient CRC cells compared to controls. The results were further validated by WB, which revealed that TM4SF1 modulated SOX2 expression in a Wnt/β-catenin activation-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of TM4SF1 suppressed the expression of c-Myc, leading to decreased c-Myc binding to the SOX2 gene promoter. Finally, depletion of TM4SF1 inhibited metastasis and tumour growth in a xenograft mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Our study substantiates a novel mechanism by which TM4SF1 maintains cancer cell stemness and EMT via the Wnt/β-catenin/c-Myc/SOX2 axis during the recurrence and metastasis of CRC.

Zoledronic acid inhibits thyroid cancer stemness and metastasis by repressing M2-like tumor-associated macrophages induced Wnt/β-catenin pathway

AIMS

This study aims to explore the effect and underlying mechanism of zoledronic acid (ZA) on the incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) tumorigenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human mononuclear cells THP-1 were differentiated into M2-like tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) by incubation with PMA followed by additional incubation of IL-4 and IL-13. TC cells TPC-1 and IHH4 were co-cultured with M2-like TAMs. Identification of M2-like TAMs markers were determined by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry. Cell proliferation, stemness and migration/invasion ability were measured by colony, sphere formation assay and transwell assay, respectively. The expression levels of cell stemness, EMT and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related factors were verified by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. A subcutaneous tumor model was established in nude mice to examine the in vivo effects of ZA.

KEY FINDINGS

M2-like TAMs were enriched in TC tissues, and they promoted the colony/sphere formation, accompanied with a down-regulated expression in E-cadherin and an up-regulated expression in N-cadherin, Vimentin and other stemness-associated markers (CD133, Oct4, c-Myc) in TC cells. The effects were suppressed when ZA co-treatment was given, because ZA inhibited the polarization of M2-like TAMs and β-catenin entry into the nucleus. Moreover, in agreement with in vitro data, ZA also limited subcutaneous tumor formation and macrophage enrichment in nude mice.

SIGNIFICANCE

ZA suppressed M2-like TAMs induced TC cell proliferation, stemness and metastasis through inhibiting M2-like TAMs polarization and Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which sheds light on the mechanisms of TC and provides avenues for the development of clinical therapy to TC.

Epothilone B Facilitates Peripheral Nerve Regeneration by Promoting Autophagy and Migration in Schwann Cells

The search for drugs that can facilitate axonal regeneration and elongation following peripheral nerve injury has been an area of increasing interest in recent years. Epothilone B (EpoB) is an FDA-approved antineoplastic agent, which shows the capacity to induce α-tubulin polymerization and to improve the stability of microtubules. Recently, it has been increasingly recognized that EpoB has a regenerative effect in the central nervous system. However, the information currently available regarding the potential therapeutic effect of EpoB on peripheral nerve regeneration is limited. Here, we used a rat sciatic crush injury model system to determine that EpoB strikingly improved axonal regeneration and recovery of function. Also, EpoB (1 nM) did not result in significant apoptosis in Schwann cells (SCs) and showed little effect on their viability either. Interestingly, EpoB (1 nM) significantly enhanced migration in SCs, which was inhibited by autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Since PI3K/Akt signaling has been implicated in regulating autophagy, we further examined the involvement of PI3K/Akt in the process of EpoB-induced SC migration. We found that EpoB (1 nM) significantly inhibited phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt in SCs. Further studies showed that both EpoB-enhanced migration and autophagy were increased/inhibited by inhibition/activation of PI3K/Akt signaling with LY294002 or IGF-1. In conclusion, EpoB can promote axonal regeneration following peripheral nerve injury by enhancing the migration of SCs, with this activity being controlled by PI3K/Akt signaling-mediated autophagy in SCs. This underscores the potential therapeutic value of EpoB in enhancing regeneration and functional recovery in cases of peripheral nerve injury.

Targeted Gene Delivery Therapies for Cervical Cancer

Despite being largely preventable through early vaccination and screening strategies, cervical cancer is the most common type of gynecological malignancy worldwide and constitutes one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. Patients with advanced or recurrent disease have a very poor prognosis; hence, novel therapeutic modalities to improve clinical outcomes in cervical malignancy are needed. In this regard, targeted gene delivery therapy is presented as a promising approach, which leads to the development of multiple strategies focused on different aspects. These range from altered gene restoration, immune system potentiation, and oncolytic virotherapy to the use of nanotechnology and the design of improved and enhanced gene delivery systems, among others. In the present manuscript, we review the current progress made in targeted gene delivery therapy for cervical cancer, the advantages and drawbacks and their clinical application. At present, multiple targeted gene delivery systems have been reported with encouraging preclinical results. However, the translation to humans has not yet shown a significant clinical benefit due principally to the lack of efficient vectors. Real efforts are being made to develop new gene delivery systems, to improve tumor targeting and to minimize toxicity in normal tissues.

DDIT3 modulates cancer stemness in gastric cancer by directly regulating CEBPβ

OBJECTIVES

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified to correlate with the initiation and metastasis of tumours, and DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3) is associated with the poor prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). However, whether DDIT3 mediates CSCs stemness in GC is still unclear.

METHODS

Microarray analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) were conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes in GC tissues from GC patients. The interaction between DDIT3 and CEBPβ was determined using immunoprecipitation (IP) analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Herein, microarray analysis showed that DDIT3 expression is increased in GC tissues. qRT-PCR confirmed that DDIT3 is significantly increased in GC tissues and cancer cell lines compared with healthy tissues and normal cell lines, individually. Genetic overexpression of DDIT3 enhanced GC cell proliferation, colony-forming ability, sphere formation and CSCs stemness. Mechanistically, DDIT3 directly up-regulated the expression of transcription factor CEBPβ, leading to the increased expression of CSCs markers SOX2, NANOG, OCT4 and CD133 in gastric CSCs. Genetic downregulation of CEBPβ significantly abolishes DDIT3-mediated increased cell proliferation, colony-forming ability, sphere formation and CSCs stemness.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that DDIT3 promotes CSCs stemness by up-regulating CEBPβ in GC that provides novel targets for the further GC therapy.

Carbon-Ion Beam Irradiation Alone or in Combination with Zoledronic acid Effectively Kills Osteosarcoma Cells

Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. The overall five-year survival rate for all bone cancers is below 70%; however, when the cancer has spread beyond the bone, it is about 15–30%. Herein, we evaluated the effects of carbon-ion beam irradiation alone or in combination with zoledronic acid (ZOL) on OSA cells. Carbon-ion beam irradiation in combination with ZOL significantly inhibited OSA cell proliferation by arresting cell cycle progression and initiating KHOS and U2OS cell apoptosis, compared to treatments with carbon-ion beam irradiation, X-ray irradiation, and ZOL alone. Moreover, we observed that this combination greatly inhibited OSA cell motility and invasion, accompanied by the suppression of the Pi3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, which are related to cell proliferation and survival, compared to individual treatments with carbon-ion beam or X-ray irradiation, or ZOL. Furthermore, ZOL treatment upregulated microRNA (miR)-29b expression; the combination with a miR-29b mimic further decreased OSA cell viability via activation of the caspase 3 pathway. Thus, ZOL-mediated enhancement of carbon-ion beam radiosensitivity may occur via miR-29b upregulation; co-treatment with the miR-29b mimic further decreased OSA cell survival. These findings suggest that the carbon-ion beam irradiation in combination with ZOL has high potential to increase OSA cell death.

Enhanced and Prolonged Antitumor Effect of Salinomycin-Loaded Gelatinase-Responsive Nanoparticles via Targeted Drug Delivery and Inhibition of Cervical Cancer Stem Cells

Background

Cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs) represent a subpopulation of tumor cells that possess self-renewal capacity and numerous intrinsic mechanisms of resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These cells play a crucial role in relapse and metastasis of cervical cancer. Therefore, eradication of CCSCs is the primary objective in cervical cancer therapy. Salinomycin (Sal) is an agent used for the elimination of cancer stem cells (CSCs); however, the occurrence of several side effects hinders its application. Nanoscale drug-delivery systems offer great promise for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. These systems can be used to reduce the side effects of Sal and improve clinical benefit.

Methods

Sal-loaded polyethylene glycol-peptide-polycaprolactone nanoparticles (Sal NPs) were fabricated under mild and non-toxic conditions. The real-time biodistribution of Sal NPs was investigated through non-invasive near-infrared fluorescent imaging. The efficacy of tumor growth inhibition by Sal NPs was evaluated using tumor xenografts in nude mice. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were used to detect the apoptosis of CSCs after treatment with Sal NPs. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to examine epithelial–mesenchymal transition (epithelial interstitial transformation) signal-related molecules.

Results

Sal NPs exhibited antitumor efficacy against cervical cancers by inducing apoptosis of CCSCs and inhibiting the epithelial–mesenchymal transition pathway. Besides, tumor pieces resected from Sal NP-treated mice showed decreased reseeding ability and growth speed, further demonstrating the significant inhibitory ability of Sal NPs against CSCs. Moreover, owing to targeted delivery based on the gelatinase-responsive strategy, Sal NPs was more effective and tolerable than free Sal.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that CCSC-targeted Sal NPs provide a potential approach to selectively target and efficiently eradicate CCSCs. This renders them a promising strategy to improve the therapeutic effect against cervical cancer.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, a target of miR-222, is expressed at elevated levels in cervical cancer

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of microRNA-222 (miR-222) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in tissues and peripheral blood of cervical cancer patients, and to elucidate their underlying mechanisms of action. Tumor tissues and tumor-adjacent tissues were obtained from 33 cervical cancer patients and peripheral blood was obtained from these patients and 28 healthy subjects. The expression of miR-222 and ALDH1 mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). To examine the levels of ALDH1 protein in tissues and blood, western blotting and ELISA were used. To confirm a direct interaction between miR-222 and ALDH1 mRNA, a dual luciferase reporter assay was performed. HeLA cells were transfected with agomiR-222 and expression of ALDH1 in the cells was measured by RT-qPCR and western blotting. MTT assay was preform to investigate the proliferation of HeLA cells. Expression of ALDH1 mRNA and protein was elevated in cervical cancer tissues and peripheral blood from patients compared with tumor-adjacent tissues and healthy controls, while the expression of miR-222 was reduced. Upregulation of miR-222 inhibited HeLA cell proliferation possibly due to a reduction in the expression of ALDH1. A dual luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-222 can bind with the 3′-untranslated seed region of ALDH1 mRNA to regulate its expression. miR-222 regulation of ALDH1 expression may play a role in the prevention of cervical cancer.

[Simvastatin promotes murine osteoclasts apoptosis in vitro through NFATc1 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism by which simvastatin (SIM) regulates osteoclast apoptosis.

METHODS

Murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells were divided into 5 groups, namely group A (control group), group B (sRANKL+ M-CSF), group C (SIM+sRANKL+M-CSF), group D (VIVIT peptide+sRANKL+ M-CSF), and group E (SIM+VIVIT peptide+sRANKL+M-CSF). WST-1 assay was used to assess the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation activity of the osteoclasts, and flow cytometry was performed to analyze the effects of SIM and VIVIVIT peptide (a NFATc1 pathway inhibitor) on apoptosis of the osteoclasts. The translocation of NFATc1 into the nucleus was investigated using immunofluorescence assay, and Western blotting was employed to assess the effect of SIM on the phosphorylation of NFATc1 in the nucleus.

RESULTS

WST-1 assay showed that SIM (1×10^-6 mol/L) treatment for 24 and 48 h significantly inhibited the proliferation of the osteoclasts (P=0.039 and 0.022, respectively). Compared with the control group, the SIM-treated osteoclasts exhibited significantly reduced cell percentage in G0/G1 phase (P=0.041) and increased cells in sub-G1 phase (P=0.028) with obvious cell apoptosis. DAPI staining and flow cytometry showed that both SIM and VIVIVIT peptide alone significantly promoted osteoclast apoptosis (P=0.002 and 0.015, respectively), and their combination produced a similar pro-apoptosis effect (P=0.08). Immunofluorescence and Western blotting showed that SIM significantly inhibited the intranuclear translocation of NFATc1 and the phosphorylation of NFATc1 pathway protein (P=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

SIM promotes osteoclast apoptosis through NFATc1 signaling pathway.