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Yang J, Qin L, Zhou S, Li J, Tu Y, Mo M, Liu X, Huang J, Qin X, Jiao A, Wei W, Yang P. Network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental study of CEP in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 323:117667. [PMID: 38159821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Stephania cephalantha Hayata is an important traditional medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine to treat cancer. Cepharanthine (CEP) was extracted from the roots of Stephania cephalantha Hayata. It has been found to exhibit anticancer activity in different types of cancer cells. Nevertheless, the activity of CEP against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its underlying mechanism warrant further investigation. AIMS OF THE STUDY NPC is an invasive and highly metastatic malignancy that affects the head and neck region. This research aimed to investigate the pharmacological properties and underlying mechanism of CEP against NPC, aiming to offer novel perspectives on treating NPC using CEP. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro, the pharmacological activity of CEP against NPC was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. To predict and elucidate the anticancer mechanism of CEP against NPC, we employed network pharmacology, conducted molecular docking analysis, and performed Western blot experiments. In vivo validation was performed through a nude mice xenograft model of human NPC, Western blot and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays to confirm pharmacological activity and the mechanism. RESULTS In a dose-dependent manner, the proliferation and clonogenic capacity of NPC cells were significantly inhibited by CEP. Additionally, NPC cell migration was suppressed by CEP. The results obtained from network pharmacology experiments revealed that anti-NPC effect of CEP was associated with 8 core targets, including EGFR, AKT1, PIK3CA, and mTOR. By performing molecular docking, the binding capacity of CEP to the candidate core proteins (EGFR, AKT1, PIK3CA, and mTOR) was predicted, resulting in docking energies of -10.0 kcal/mol for EGFR, -12.4 kcal/mol for PIK3CA, -10.8 kcal/mol for AKT1, and -8.6 kcal/mol for mTOR. The Western blot analysis showed that CEP effectively suppressed the expression of EGFR and the phosphorylation levels of downstream signaling proteins, including PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and ERK. After CEP intervention, a noteworthy decrease in tumor size, without inducing any toxicity, was observed in NPC xenograft nude mice undergoing in vivo treatment. Additionally, IHC analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in the expression levels of EGFR and Ki-67 following CEP treatment. CONCLUSION CEP exhibits significant pharmacological effects on NPC, and its mechanistic action involves restraining the activation of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway. CEP represents a promising pharmaceutical agent for addressing and mitigating NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangping Yang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Liujie Qin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Shouchang Zhou
- Life Sciences Institute, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jixing Li
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Yu Tu
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Minfeng Mo
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xuenian Liu
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jinglun Huang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xiumei Qin
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Aijun Jiao
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China; Life Sciences Institute, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Wei Wei
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Peilin Yang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
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Grossi I, Assoni C, Lorini L, Smussi D, Gurizzan C, Grisanti S, Paderno A, Mattavelli D, Piazza C, Pelisenco IA, De Petro G, Salvi A, Bossi P. Evaluation of DNA methylation levels of SEPT9 and SHOX2 in plasma of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using droplet digital PCR. Oncol Rep 2024; 51:52. [PMID: 38299234 PMCID: PMC10865173 DOI: 10.3892/or.2024.8711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer globally. HNSCC develops from the mucosa of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Methylation levels of septin 9 (SEPT9) and short stature homeobox 2 (SHOX2) genes in circulating cell‑free DNA (ccfDNA) are considered epigenetic biomarkers and have shown predictive value in preliminary reports in HNSCC. Liquid biopsy is a non‑invasive procedure that collects tumor‑derived molecules, including ccfDNA. In the present study, a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)‑based assay was developed to detect DNA methylation levels of circulating SEPT9 and SHOX2 in the plasma of patients with HNSCC. The assay was first set up using commercial methylated and unmethylated DNA. The dynamic changes in the methylation levels of SEPT9 and SHOX2 were then quantified in 20 patients with HNSCC during follow‑up. The results highlighted: i) The ability of the ddPCR‑based assay to detect very low copies of methylated molecules; ii) the significant decrease in SEPT9 and SHOX2 methylation levels in the plasma of patients with HNSCC at the first time points of follow‑up with respect to T0; iii) a different trend of longitudinally DNA methylation variations in small groups of stratified patients. The absolute and precise quantification of SEPT9 and SHOX2 methylation levels in HNSCC may be useful for studies with translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Grossi
- Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudia Assoni
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luigi Lorini
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Davide Smussi
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristina Gurizzan
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Salvatore Grisanti
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Paderno
- Unit of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Davide Mattavelli
- Unit of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Cesare Piazza
- Unit of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Iulia Andreea Pelisenco
- Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppina De Petro
- Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Salvi
- Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Bossi
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy
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Huang Q, Xun Z, Lin J, Xie R, Zhu C, Wang L, Shang H, Wu S, Ou Q, Liu C. A novel microfluidic chip-based digital PCR method for enhanced sensitivity in the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer via mSEPT9. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 554:117781. [PMID: 38224929 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.117781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To enhance the sensitivity of plasma methylated Septin9 gene (mSEPT9) detection in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, we developed a microfluidic chip-based digital PCR (dPCR) method suitable for low-concentration samples, aiming to apply it for mSEPT9 detection in CRC diagnosis. METHODS Our microfluidic chip-based dPCR method utilized specific primers and probes with locked nucleic acids (LNAs) modifications for mSEPT9 detection. We evaluated its performance, including detection limit, specificity, and linear range, comparing it with a commercial qPCR reagent kit using the same samples (95 CRC, 23 non-CRC). RESULTS The LNAs-modified dPCR method showed a linear range of 100-104 copies/μL and a detection limit of 100 copies/μL. Clinical testing revealed that our dPCR method exhibited a sensitivity of 82.11 % and specificity of 95.65 % for CRC diagnosis, outperforming the commercial qPCR kit (sensitivity: 58.95 %, specificity: 91.30 %), particularly in Stage I with a diagnostic sensitivity of 90.91 %. Combining mSEPT9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) improved diagnostic sensitivity to 91.49 %. CONCLUSIONS Our accurate microfluidic chip-based dPCR method, especially in combination with CEA, holds promise for effective CRC screening and timely interventions, offering enhanced mSEPT9 quantification over conventional qPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunfang Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China
| | - Zhen Xun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China; The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China
| | - Junyu Lin
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China
| | - Rubing Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China
| | - Chenggong Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China
| | - Long Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China
| | - Hongyan Shang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China
| | - Songhang Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China
| | - Qishui Ou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China; The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China.
| | - Can Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Gene Diagnosis Research Center, Fujian Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine of Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China; The First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian, China.
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Zhao L, Li M, Zhang S, Liu Y. Plasma-Methylated SEPT9 for the Noninvasive Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11216399. [PMID: 36362627 PMCID: PMC9656015 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11216399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent cancers globally. This study was designed to evaluate the potential performance of plasma SEPT9 methylation (mSEPT9) as a noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of GC. Methods. A total of 182 participants, i.e., 60 patients with GC, 39 with chronic superficial gastritis (CSG), 27 with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 30 with gastric ulcer (GU), and 26 with gastric polys (GP), were recruited. The mSEPT9 level was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results. As a diagnostic target, mSEPT9 (1/3 algorithm) had a sensitivity of 48.33 (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.40–61.48%) and a specificity of 86.89% (95% CI: 79.28–92.09%), and mSEPT9 (2/3 algorithm) had a sensitivity of 33.33 (95% CI: 22.02–46.79%) and a specificity of 98.36% (95% CI: 93.61–99.72%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve of mSEPT9 was 0.698 (95% CI: 0.609–0.787) for the differentiation of GC from benign gastric diseases. The effectiveness of mSEPT9 (1/3 algorithm) was superior to that of CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4. mSEPT9 was positively correlated with T, N, M, and the clinical stage of GC. Conclusions. Plasma mSEPT9 might serve as a useful and noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin 300121, China
| | - Muran Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin 300121, China
| | - Shiwu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin 300121, China
| | - Yandi Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin 300121, China
- Correspondence:
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Zhao J, Xu L, Dong Z, Zhang Y, Cao J, Yao J, Xing J. The LncRNA DUXAP10 Could Function as a Promising Oncogene in Human Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:832388. [PMID: 35186937 PMCID: PMC8850700 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.832388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most prevalent and deadliest diseases globally, with an increasing morbidity of approximately 14 million new cancer cases per year. Identifying novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cancers is important for developing cancer therapeutic strategies and lowering mortality rates. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a group of noncoding RNAs of more than 200 nucleotides that have been shown to participate in the development of human cancers. The novel lncRNA DUXAP10 was newly reported to be abnormally overexpressed in several cancers and positively correlated with poor clinical characteristics of cancer patients. Multiple studies have found that DUXAP10 widely regulates vital biological functions related to the development and progression of cancers, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and stemness, through different molecular mechanisms. The aim of this review was to recapitulate current findings regarding the roles of DUXAP10 in cancers and evaluate the potential of DUXAP10 as a novel biomarker for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lixia Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zihui Dong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yize Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junhua Cao
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiyuan Xing
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jiyuan Xing,
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