Anti-tumor activity of a novel compound-CDF is mediated by regulating miR-21, miR-200, and PTEN in pancreatic cancer

Immunotherapy Enhancement by Targeting Extracellular Tumor pH in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Mouse Model

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, is characterized by a poor prognosis and a very low rate of disease-free and overall survival. In recent years, immunotherapeutic approaches targeting T cell checkpoint molecules, such as cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death1 (PD-1) or its ligand, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), have shown great potential and have been used to treat various cancers as single therapies or in combination with other modalities. However, despite this remarkable progress, patients with TNBC have shown a low response rate to this approach, commonly developing resistance to immune checkpoint blockade, leading to treatment failure. Extracellular acidosis within the tumor microenvironment (also known as the Warburg effect) is one of the factors preventing immune cells from mounting effective responses and contributing to immunotherapy treatment failure. Therefore, reducing tumor acidity is important for increasing cancer immunotherapy effectiveness and this has yet to be realized in the TNBC environment. In this study, the oral administration of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) enhanced the antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 antibody treatment, as demonstrated by generated antitumor immunity, tumor growth inhibition and enhanced survival in 4T1-Luc breast cancer model. Here, we show that NaHCO3 increased extracellular pH (pHe) in tumor tissues in vivo, an effect that was accompanied by an increase in T cell infiltration, T cell activation and IFN-γ, IL2 and IL12p40 mRNA expression in tumor tissues, as well as an increase in T cell activation in tumor-draining lymph nodes. Interestingly, these changes were further enhanced in response to combined NaHCO3 + anti-PD-L1 therapy. In addition, the acidic extracellular conditions caused a significant increase in PD-L1 expression in vitro. Taken together, these results indicate that alkalizing therapy holds potential as a new tumor microenvironment immunomodulator and we hypothesize that NaHCO3 can enhance the antitumor effects of anti-PD-L1 breast cancer therapy. The combination of these treatments may have an exceptional impact on future TNBC immunotherapeutic approaches by providing a powerful personalized medicine paradigm. Therefore, our findings have a great translational potential for improving outcomes in TNBC patients.

Anticancer Activity of Novel Difluorinated Curcumin Analog and Its Inclusion Complex with 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin against Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the primary reason for cancer-related deaths in the US. Genetic mutations, drug resistance, the involvement of multiple signaling pathways, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and desmoplastic stroma, which hinders drug penetrance, contribute to poor chemotherapeutic efficacy. Hence, there is a need to identify novel drugs with improved delivery to improve treatment outcomes. Curcumin is one such compound that can inhibit multiple signaling pathways and CSCs. However, curcumin’s clinical applicability for treating PDAC is limited because of its poor solubility in water and metabolic instability. Hence, we developed a difluorinated curcumin (CDF) analog that accumulates selectively in the pancreas and inhibits PDAC growth in vitro and in vivo. In the present work, we developed its 2-hydroxy-propyl-β-cyclodextrin (HCD) inclusion complex to increase its water solubility and hydrolytic stability. The CDFHCD inclusion complex was characterized by spectroscopic, thermal, and microscopic techniques. The inclusion complex exhibited increased aqueous solubility, hydrolytic stability, and antiproliferative activity compared to parent CDF. Moreover, CDF and CDFHCD inhibited colony and spheroid formation, and induced cell cycle and apoptosis in PDAC cell lines. Hence, CDFHCD self-assembly is an efficient approach to increase water solubility and anticancer therapeutic efficacy, which now warrants advancement towards a clinical proof of concept in PDAC patients.

LncRNA MEG3 promotes cisplatin sensitivity of cervical cancer cells by regulating the miR-21/PTEN axis

Background

Cervical cancer (CC) is a common gynecological malignancy worldwide. Some patients perform serious resistance after chemotherapy, and long-stranded non-coding RNA MEG3 is reported to be involved in the regulation of chemoresistance in many solid tumors. However, its involvement in cervical adenocarcinoma has not been reported.

Methods

Hela cell lines, cisplatin-resistant cell lines (Hela-CR) and nude mice were used in this study. After MEG3 was overexpressed or knocked down in cells by the lentivirus vector, cell growth was detected by the CCK-8 assay, and cell migration was evaluated using Transwell assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine the expression of MEG3, miR-21 and PTEN mRNA. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The targeting relationship between mRNAs was predicted and verified using dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments. Western blot was executed to examine Bax, cleaved-caspase 3, Bcl-2, PTEN and GAPDH expression. Cells were injected into the mice to form xenograft tumors to compare tumorigenesis capacity.

Results

We demonstrated that MEG3 was down-regulated in cervical cancer by analyzing the TCGA database. Moreover, knockdown of MEG3 promoted CC cell proliferation, migration and inhibited the apoptosis. These changes of CC cells were more pronounced under cisplatin treatment. Further studies showed that the MEG3/miR-21/PTEN axis affected cisplatin sensitivity in cervical cancer cells, and these results of recue assay were used to confirm this conclusion.

Conclusions

MEG3 performing as ceRNA promotes cisplatin sensitivity in CC cells through the miR-21/PTEN axis.

Capsaicin Inhibits Inflammation and Gastric Damage during H pylori Infection by Targeting NF-kB–miRNA Axis

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is considered as one of the strongest risk factors for gastric disorders. Infection triggers several host pathways to elicit inflammation, which further proceeds towards gastric complications. The NF-kB pathway plays a central role in the upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines during infection. It also regulates the transcriptional network of several inflammatory cytokine genes. Hence, targeting NF-kB could be an important strategy to reduce pathogenesis. Moreover, treatment of H. pylori needs attention as current therapeutics lack efficacy due to antibiotic resistance, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. In this study, we investigated the effects of capsaicin, a known NF-kB inhibitor in reducing inflammation and gastric complications during H. pylori infection. We observed that capsaicin reduced NF-kB activation and upregulation of cytokine genes in an in vivo mice model. Moreover, it affected NF-kB–miRNA interplay to repress inflammation and gastric damages. Capsaicin reduced the expression level of mir21 and mir223 along with the pro-inflammatory cytokines. The repression of miRNA further affected downstream targets such as e-cadherin and Akt. Our data represent the first evidence that treatment with capsaicin inhibits inflammation and induces antimicrobial activity during H. pylori infection. This alternative approach might open a new avenue in treating H. pylori infection, thus reducing gastric problems.

microRNA-21 Regulates Stemness in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer (PCa) with a low survival rate. microRNAs (miRs) are endogenous, non-coding RNAs that moderate numerous biological processes. miRs have been associated with the chemoresistance and metastasis of PDAC and the presence of a subpopulation of highly plastic "stem"-like cells within the tumor, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, we investigated the role of miR-21, which is highly expressed in Panc-1 and MiaPaCa-2 PDAC cells in association with CSCs. Following miR-21 knockouts (KO) from both MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1 cell lines, reversed expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and CSCs markers were observed. The expression patterns of key CSC markers, including CD44, CD133, CX-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), and aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH1), were changed depending on miR-21 status. miR-21 (KO) suppressed cellular invasion of Panc-1 and MiaPaCa-2 cells, as well as the cellular proliferation of MiaPaCa-2 cells. Our data suggest that miR-21 is involved in the stemness of PDAC cells, may play roles in mesenchymal transition, and that miR-21 poses as a novel, functional biomarker for PDAC aggressiveness.

Upregulated osteoprotegerin expression promotes lung cancer cell invasion by increasing miR-20a expression

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and a major regulatory factor in osteoclast development. OPG has been previously associated with the malignant behavior of various types of cancer, particularly that of cancer metastasis. However, information on the link between the expression profile of OPG and lung cancer metastasis remained elusive. In the present study, the expression levels of OPG in the serum samples of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was measured using ELISA. The expression of miRNAs was assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. A549 or H3122 cell invasion was assessed using Transwell invasion assays. The effect of OPG on the invasiveness of lung cancer cells was evaluated using an experimental mouse lung metastasis model. OPG expression was found to be upregulated in the serum of patients with NSCLC compared with that in healthy individuals. The serum levels of OPG in patients with distant metastasis were observably higher compared with those in patients without metastasis. Functionally, overexpression of OPG in NSCLC cells markedly promoted cell invasion. Mechanistically, increased expression of OPG resulted in upregulation of microRNA (miR)-20a in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, miR-20a promoted NSCLC cell invasion, whilst miR-20a inhibition partially abrogated the effect of OPG on NSCLC cell invasion. Taken together, the present results demonstrated that the OPG/miR-20a axis serve an important role in lung cancer metastasis, which potentially provide an additional novel target for lung cancer treatment.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Mitophagy Closely Cooperate in Neurological Deficits Associated with Alzheimer's Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are known to be correlated in terms of their epidemiology, histopathology, and molecular and biochemical characteristics. The prevalence of T2D leading to AD is approximately 50-70%. Moreover, AD is often considered type III diabetes because of the common risk factors. Uncontrolled T2D may affect the brain, leading to memory and learning deficits in patients. In addition, metabolic disorders and impaired oxidative phosphorylation in AD and T2D patients suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in both diseases. The dysregulation of pathways involved in maintaining mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis and mitophagy are responsible for exacerbating the impact of hyperglycemia on the brain and neurodegeneration under T2D conditions. The first section of this review describes the recent views on mitochondrial dysfunction that connect these two disease conditions, as the pathways are observed to overlap. The second section of the review highlights the importance of different mitochondrial miRNAs (mitomiRs) involved in the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and their association with the pathogenesis of T2D and AD. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy pathways, along with the use of mitomiRs, could be a potent therapeutic strategy for T2D-related AD. The last section of the review highlights the known drugs targeting mitochondrial function for the treatment of both disease conditions.

Radiation-resistance increased by overexpression of microRNA-21 and inhibition of its target PTEN in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective

Overexpression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) increases the radiation resistance of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the molecular mechanism responsible for this action is still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in miR-21-enhanced radiation resistance in patients with ESCC.

Methods

We evaluated the association between miR-21 levels and radiation resistance in patients with ESCC. We also investigated the role of PTEN in the proliferation and apoptosis of ESCC cells transfected with miR-21 inhibitor during irradiation, using PTEN small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Results

MiR-21 levels were significantly higher in radiation-resistant patients. Downregulation of miR-21 during irradiation suppressed the radiation resistance of ESCC cells, demonstrated by decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis. PTEN siRNA attenuated miR-21-induced suppression of radiation resistance in ESCC cells.

Conclusions

These results suggest that miR-21 enhanced the radiation resistance of ESCC by inhibiting PTEN. MiR-21 and PTEN are potential therapeutic biotargets for ESCC.

Regulation of microRNA-21 expression by natural products in cancer

Natural products have been of much interest in research studies owing to their wide pharmacological applications, chemical diversity, low side effects, and multitarget activities. Examples of these compounds include matrine, sulforaphane, silibinin, curcumin, berberin, resveratrol, and quercetin. Some of the present anticancer drugs, such as taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, and doxorubicin are also derived from natural products. The anti-carcinogenic effects of these products are partly mediated through modulation of microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression. To date, numerous downstream targets of miR-21 have been recognized, which include phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), ras homolog gene family member B (RHOB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. These signaling pathways, their regulation by oncomiR-21 in cancer, and the modulating impact of natural products are the main focus of this review.

Human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein-induced upregulation of lysine-specific demethylase 5A promotes cervical cancer progression by regulating the microRNA-424-5p/suppressor of zeste 12 pathway

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and viral protein expression cause several epigenetic alterations that lead to cervical carcinogenesis. Our previous study identified that upregulated lysine-specific demethylase (KDM) 2 A promotes cervical cancer progression by inhibiting mircoRNA (miR)-132 function. However, the roles of histone methylation modifiers in HPV-related cervical cancer remain unclear. In the present study, changes in the expression of 48 histone methylation modifiers were assessed following knockdown of HPV16 E6/E7 in CaSki cells. The dysregulated expression of KDM5A was identified, and its function in cervical cancer was investigated in vitro and in vivo. E7 oncoprotein-induced upregulation of KDM5A promoted cervical cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness in vitro and in vivo, which was correlated with poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. KDM5A was found to physically interact with the promoter region of miR-424-5p, and to suppress its expression by removing the tri- and di-methyl groups from H3K4 at the miR-424-5p locus. Furthermore, miR-424-5p repressed cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness by targeting suppressor of zeste 12 (Suz12). KDM5A upregulation promoted cervical cancer progression by repressing miR-424-5p, which resulted in a decrease in Suz12. Therefore, KDM5A functions as a tumor activator in cervical cancer pathogenesis by binding to the miR-424-5p promoter and inhibiting its tumor-suppressive function. These results indicate a function for KDM5A in cervical cancer progression and suggest its candidacy as a novel prognostic biomarker and target for the clinical management of this malignancy.

HPV16 E6 oncoprotein-induced upregulation of lncRNA GABPB1-AS1 facilitates cervical cancer progression by regulating miR-519e-5p/Notch2 axis

Human papillomaviruses 16 (HPV16) is the primary causative agent of cervical cancer (CC). E6 oncoprotein plays a crucial role in cervical carcinogenesis and commonly cause the dysregulation of the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression. However, the biological function of lncRNAs in HPV16-related CC remains largely unexplored. In the present study HPV16 E6-induced differential expression of lncRNAs, miRNA, and mRNA were identified using microarray-based analysis and verified in tumor r cell lines and tumor tissues, and the function of lncRNA in CC was investigated in vitro and in vivo. We found that an lncRNA, named GABPB1-AS1, was significantly upregulated in HPV16-positive CC tissues and cell lines. GABPB1-AS1 expression in HPV16-positive CC tissues was positively associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and FIGO stage. High expression of GABPB1-AS1 was correlated with a poor prognosis for HPV16-positive CC patients. Functionally, E6-induced GABPB1-AS1 overexpression facilitated CC cells proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, GABPB1-AS1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-519e-5p, resulting in the de-repression of its target gene Notch2 which is well known as an oncogene. Therefore, GABPB1-AS1 functioned as a tumor activator in CC pathogenesis by binding to miR-519e-5p and destroying its tumor suppressive function. Collectively, current results demonstrate that GABPB1-AS1 is associated with CC progression, and may be a promising biomarker or target for the clinical management of CC.

miR-21 promotes growth, invasion and migration of lung cancer cells by AKT/P-AKT/cleaved-caspase 3/MMP-2/MMP-9 signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of miR-21 on the growth, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells A549 in vitro and the possible mechanism.

METHODS

In vitro cell migration and invasion potential were determined by Transwell chamber assays. FACS was used to assess the effect of miR-21 on A549 cell cycle and apoptosis. 4-6 week-old female mice were utilized to establish a lung cancer model. The pathologic biopsy was processed by H&E staining. The expression of the proteins PTEN, RECK and Caspase 3 were detected through immunohistochemy and tumor cell apoptosis was measured by TUNEL.

RESULTS

Transwell chamber assays showed that the cells going through the membrane increased significantly compared to the negative control (P<0.05). The tumor volume resulting from miR-21 mimics was significantly greater than in normal mice. Serum ELISA showed that the protein expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in miR-21 overexpression group were increased significantly. In addition, H&E staining results showed that in miR-21 overexpression tissue, invasion is more severe and immunohistochemical results proved that the miR-21 overexpression group had high expression of Caspase 3 protein but the expression of PTEN and RECK were decreased. TUNEL experiments show that increased the expression of miR-21 can inhibit the apoptosis of tumor cells.

CONCLUSION

MicroRNA-21 promotes the proliferation of lung cancer cells and inhibits the apoptosis of lung cancer cells by the AKT/P-AKT/cleaved-caspase 3/MMP-2/MMP-9 signaling pathway.

miRNA and Gene Expression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a challenging disease that is mostly diagnosed late in the course of the illness. Unlike other cancers in which measurable successes have been achieved with traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and, recently, immunotherapy, PDAC has proved to be poorly responsive to these treatments, with only marginal to modest incremental benefits using conventional cytotoxic therapy. There is, therefore, a great unmet need to develop better therapies based on improved understanding of biology and identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers that would guide therapy. miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate the expression of some key genes by targeting their 3'-untranslated mRNA region. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been linked to the development of various malignancies, including PDAC. A series of miRNAs have been identified as potential tools for early diagnosis, prediction of treatment response, and prognosis of patients with PDAC. In this review, we present a summary of the miRNAs that have been studied in PDAC in the context of disease biology.

Tetrahydrocurcumin, Curcumin, and 5-Fluorouracil Effects on Human Esophageal Carcinoma Cells

Background:

Esophageal cancer responds poorly to traditional therapies, and novel treatments are needed. The phytochemical curcumin is a potential treatment for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC). A curcumin metabolite, tetrahydrocurcumin (THCUR), has anti-cancer effects and greater bioavailability than curcumin.

Objective:

Evaluate THCUR as an anti-cancer agent relative to curcumin and a standard cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), along with treatment interactions.

Materials and Methods:

Assay cell proliferation and viability following individual and combined delivery of the compounds to three ESSC cell lines (TE-1, TE-8, and KY-5) that have different percentages of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs).

Results:

Curcumin was significantly more effective than 5-FU in all three cell lines. It also had the greatest effect on KY-5 cells, which have the highest CSC properties, consistent with the ability of curcumin to target CSCs. Effects on ESCC cell proliferation were not detected from 40µM THCUR, a dosage above the IC50 of curcumin and 5-FU. However, THCUR at this dosage in combination with 5-FU significantly suppressed TE-1 cell proliferation, but 5-FU alone did not. As TE-1 has low CSC properties relative to the two other cell lines, it was expected to have the least resistance to chemotherapeutic treatments. Surprisingly, TE-1 was the most resistant to inhibition by 5-FU.

Conclusion:

These results and the greater stability and water solubility of THCUR than curcumin support further testing of THCUR in combination with standard treatments, particularly for chemoresistant ESCC. In contrast to concerns that curcuminoids taken by patients through diet or diet supplements might interfere with chemotherapy, suppression of 5-FU efficacy by curcumin was not observed.

The molecular mechanisms of curcumin’s inhibitory effects on cancer stem cells

Curcumin is a dietary polyphenol and a bioactive phytochemical that possesses anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and chemopreventive properties, which make it capable of affecting multiple sites along the stem cell pathways to induce apoptosis in these cells. Curcumin’s function is through suppression of cytokine release, especially the secretion of interleukins. Some of the predominant activities of stem cells include regeneration of identical cells and the ability to maintain the proliferation and multipotentiality. However, these cells could be stimulated to differentiate into specific cell types, leading to the development of tumors. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are capable of sustaining tumor formation and differentiation, and are normally characterized by self‐renewal mechanisms. Furthermore, these cells might be responsible for tumor relapse and resistance to therapy. Several studies have focused on the mechanisms of curcumin action in manipulating transcription factors, signaling pathways, CSC markers, microRNAs related to CSCs functions and apoptosis induction in various human cancer cells. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the reported molecular mechanisms of curcumin’s effects on CSCs.

Enhancer Domains in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Regulate KIT Expression and Are Targetable by BET Bromodomain Inhibition

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a mesenchymal neoplasm characterized by activating mutations in the related receptor tyrosine kinases KIT and PDGFRA. GIST relies on expression of these unamplified receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) genes through a large enhancer domain, resulting in high expression levels of the oncogene required for tumor growth. Although kinase inhibition is an effective therapy for many patients with GIST, disease progression from kinase-resistant mutations is common and no other effective classes of systemic therapy exist. In this study, we identify regulatory regions of the KIT enhancer essential for KIT gene expression and GIST cell viability. Given the dependence of GIST upon enhancer-driven expression of RTKs, we hypothesized that the enhancer domains could be therapeutically targeted by a BET bromodomain inhibitor (BBI). Treatment of GIST cells with BBIs led to cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and cell death, with unique sensitivity in GIST cells arising from attenuation of the KIT enhancer domain and reduced KIT gene expression. BBI treatment in KIT-dependent GIST cells produced genome-wide changes in the H3K27ac enhancer landscape and gene expression program, which was also seen with direct KIT inhibition using a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Combination treatment with BBI and TKI led to superior cytotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo, with BBI preventing tumor growth in TKI-resistant xenografts. Resistance to select BBI in GIST was attributable to drug efflux pumps. These results define a therapeutic vulnerability and clinical strategy for targeting oncogenic kinase dependency in GIST. SIGNIFICANCE: Expression and activity of mutant KIT is essential for driving the majority of GIST neoplasms, which can be therapeutically targeted using BET bromodomain inhibitors.

Curcumin analogs: Their roles in pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis

Curcumin is a polyphenolic constituent of turmeric that is known to have various molecular effects in preclinical models, leading to prevention and anticancer properties. In clinical trials, curcumin has failed to demonstrate activity against pancreatic cancer possibly due to its low bioavailability and potency. Using the curcumin molecular model, our group and others have synthesized several analogs with better bioavailability and higher potency in pancreatic cancer in vitro and xenograft models. This mini review summarizes some of the known molecular effects of curcumin analogs and their potential role as novel therapeutics for pancreatic cancer.

Relations between approved platinum drugs and non-coding RNAs in mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma diseases feature an increasing risk due to their severe forms and their association with asbestos exposure. Platinum(II) complexes such as cisplatin and carboplatin are clinically approved for the therapy of mesothelioma often in combination with antimetabolites such as pemetrexed or gemcitabine. It was observed that pathogenic properties of mesothelioma cells and the response of mesothelioma tumors towards platinum-based drugs are strongly influenced by non-coding RNAs, in particular, by small microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). These non-coding RNAs controlled drug sensitivity and the development of tumor resistance towards platinum drugs. An overview of the interactions between platinum drugs and non-coding RNAs is given and the influence of non-coding RNAs on platinum drug efficacy in mesothelioma is discussed. Suitable non-coding RNA-modulating agents with potentially beneficial effects on cisplatin treatment of mesothelioma diseases are mentioned. The understanding of mesothelioma diseases concerning the interactions of non-coding RNAs and platinum drugs will optimize existing therapy schemes and pave the way to new treatment options in future.

Development of asialoglycoprotein receptor directed nanoparticles for selective delivery of curcumin derivative to hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular cellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most challenging liver cancer subtypes. Due to lack of cell surface biomarkers and highly metastatic nature, early detection and targeted therapy of HCC is an unmet need. Galactosamine (Gal) is among the few selective ligands used for targeting HCCs due to its high binding affinity to asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs) overexpressed in HCC. In the present work, we engineered nanoscale G4 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers anchored to galactosamine and loaded with the potent anticancer curcumin derivative (CDF) as a platform for targeted drug delivery to HCC. In vivo targeting ability and bio-distribution of PAMAM-Gal were assessed via its labeling with the clinically used, highly contrast, near infrared (NIR) dye: S0456, with testing of the obtained conjugate in aggressive HCC xenograft model. Our results highlighted the targeted dendrimer PAMAM-Gal ability to achieve selective high cellular uptake via ASGPR mediated endocytosis and significantly enhance the delivery of CDF into the studied HCC cell lines. Cytotoxicity MTT assays in HCC cell lines, interestingly highlighted, the comparative high potency of CDF, where CDF was more potent as a chemotherapeutic anticancer small molecule than the currently in use Doxorubicin, Sorafenib and Cisplatin chemotherapeutic agents. In conclusion the proof-of-concept study using nanoscale PAMAM-Gal dendrimer has demonstrated its competency as an efficient delivery system for selective delivery of potent CDF for HCC anticancer therapy as well as HCC diagnosis via NIR imaging.

AngiomiRs: MicroRNAs driving angiogenesis in cancer (Review)

Angiogenesis is an important hallmark of cancer serving a key role in tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, tumor angiogenesis has become an attractive target for development of novel drug therapies. An increased amount of anti‑angiogenic compounds is currently in preclinical and clinical development for personalized therapies. However, resistance to current angiogenesis inhibitors is emerging, indicating that there is a need to identify novel anti‑angiogenic agents. In the last decade, the field of microRNA biology has exploded revealing unsuspected functions in tumor angiogenesis. These small non‑coding RNAs, which have been dubbed as angiomiRs, may target regulatory molecules driving angiogenesis, such as cytokines, metalloproteinases and growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet‑derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, hypoxia inducible factor‑1, as well as mitogen‑activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3‑kinase and transforming growth factor signaling pathways. The present review discusses the current progress towards understanding the functions of miRNAs in tumor angiogenesis regulation in diverse types of human cancer. Furthermore, the potential clinical application of angiomiRs towards anti‑angiogenic tumor therapy was explored.

Effect of dietary components on miRNA and colorectal carcinogenesis

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers diagnosed and among the commonest causes of cancer-related mortality globally. Despite the various available treatment options, millions of people still suffer from this illness and most of these treatment options have several limitations. Therefore, a less expensive, non-invasive or a treatment that requires the use of dietary products remains a focal point in this review.

Main body

Aberrant microRNA expression has been revealed to have a functional role in the initiation and progression of CRC. These has shown significant promise in the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC, owing to their unique expression profile associated with cancer types and malignancies. Moreover, microRNA therapeutics show a great promise in preclinical studies, and these encourage further development of their clinical use in CRC patients. Additionally, emerging studies show the chemo-preventive potential of dietary components in microRNA modulation using several CRC models. This review examines the dietary interplay between microRNAs and CRC incidence. Improving the understanding of the interactions between microRNAs and dietary components in the carcinogenesis of CRC will assist the study of CRC progression and finally, in developing personalized approaches for cancer prevention and therapy.

Conclusion

Although miRNA research is still at its infancy, it could serve as a promising predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CRC. Given the ever-expanding number of miRNAs, understanding their functional aspects represents a promising option for further research.

HPV16 E7-induced upregulation of KDM2A promotes cervical cancer progression by regulating miR-132-radixin pathway

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and viral proteins expression cause a number of epigenetic alterations leading to cervical carcinogenesis. The recent discovery of a large amount of histone methylation modifiers reveals important roles of these enzymes in regulating tumor progression.

METHODS

The changes in expression of 48 histone methylation modifiers were assessed following knockdown of HPV16 E7 in CaSki cells. Lysine-specific demethylase 2A (KDM2A)-regulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in cervical cancer pathogenesis were disclosed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The function of KDM2A-miRNAs on cervical cancer was investigated in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

Upregulation of KDM2A induced by HPV16 E7 promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation and invasion and is correlated with poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. KDM2A physically interacts with the promoter of miR-132 and suppresses its expression by removing the mono or dimethyl group from H3K36 at the miR-132 locus. Functionally, miR-132 represses cancer cell proliferation and invasion by inhibiting radixin (RDX). Upregulated KDM2A promotes cervical cancer progression by repressing miR-132, which results in a derepression of RDX. Therefore, KDM2A functions as a tumor activator in cervical cancer pathogenesis by binding miR-132 promoter and abrogating its tumor suppressive function.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a function for KDM2A in cervical cancer progression and suggest its candidacy as a new prognostic biomarker and target for clinical management of cervical cancer.

Role of Dietary Cancer-Preventive Phytochemicals in Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells

Purpose of review

This article provides a brief overview of cancer-preventive phytochemicals specifically targeting pancreatic cancer (PC) stem cells for prevention and treatment.

Recent findings

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small proportion of the total cells of a given tumor, and contribute to tumor growth, recurrence, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Many intertwined pathways, including hedgehog, Wnt Signaling, and NOTCH, have been shown to play a role in the formation of CSCs. Recently, numerous chemopreventive agents, such as genistein, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), sulforaphane, curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin, have been shown to target CSCs mediated through the inhibition of multiple signalling pathways, to avoid toxicity and the side effects of chemical compounds.

Summary

A growing body of research suggests that CSCs are the drivers in treatment resistance, cancer recurrence, and metastasis, in addition to tumor initiation and heterogeneity. Patient survival depends on these CSCs, which are one cause of tumor recurrence after surgery and chemotherapy. Therefore, target selection; an improved understanding of CSC biology, the genetic and molecular profiles of CSCs, and their key signaling pathways, and; appropriate clinical trials endpoints that are designed to target CSCs will help in the development of drugs that will specifically target this small population of stem cells.

MicroRNA-30b targets Snail to impede epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer stem cells

Snail-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process plays a fundamental role in facilitating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) stemness and metastasis. In the present study, we revealed that microRNA-30 (miR-30) members, especially miR-30b, were remarkably downregulated in triple-positive (CD24⁺, CD44⁺, EpCAM⁺) pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs). In addition, we revealed that miR-30b suppressed EMT process in PCSCs. Overexpression of miR-30b led to reduced expression of mesenchymal marker N-cadherin and the upregulation of epithelial marker E-cadherin. Moreover, both of TargetScan and PicTar algorithms predicted that miR-30b directly targeted Snail 3'UTR. Luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-30b could specifically reduce the translational activity of Snail wild-type 3'UTR, but not its mutant form. In line with these results, transwell assay demonstrated that overexpression of miR-30b mimic impaired migratory and invasive capacities of PCSCs. Furthermore, miR-30b overexpression suppresses in vivo tumorigenic potential of PDACs. Finally, a negative correlation between the expression of miR-30b and Snail was uncovered. Low level of miR-30b and high Snail expression both predict dismal prognosis in PDAC patients. Taken together, these findings implicate that miR-30b may suppress PCSC phenotype and PDAC metastasis through posttranscriptionally suppressing Snail expression, highlighting that miR-30b may serve as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of PDAC.

CD44 directed nanomicellar payload delivery platform for selective anticancer effect and tumor specific imaging of triple negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive tumor subtype, lacking estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER-2) receptors. Thus, early detection and targeted therapy of TNBC is an urgent need. Herein, we have developed a CD44 targeting Hyaluronic Acid (HA) decorated biocompatible oligomer, containing FDA approved vitamin E TPGS and Styrene Maleic Anhydride (SMA) (HA-SMA-TPGS) for targeting TNBC. The self-assembling HA-SMA-TPGS was encapsulated with poorly water soluble, potent curcumin analogue (CDF) to form nanomicelles (NM), HA-SMA-TPGS-CDF has demonstrated excellent nanoparticle characteristics for parenteral delivery. The targeted NM can selectively kill TNBC cells through CD44 mediated apoptosis pathway. Tumor imaging using phase-2 clinical trial near infrared (NIR)-fluorescent dye (S0456) conjugate, HA-SMA-TPGS-S0456 showed excellent TNBC tumor accumulation with minimum liver and spleen uptake. To our best of knowledge, for the first time, we are reporting a promising platform for CD44 mediated multimodal NIR imaging and cytotoxin delivery to TNBC.

Investigational agents to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy or radiation in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) continues to be a fatal malignancy. With standard treatments having modest impact, alternative courses of actions are being investigated such as enhancing the efficacy of standard treatment through sensitization of PC cells to chemotherapy or radiation. This review emphasizes investigational agents that increase the responses to chemotherapy or radiation in PC models. Our group has extensively investigated on Curcumin (Cur), analogs (EF31, UBS109, and L49H37), nanoparticles and a small molecule Tolfenamic acid (TA) for enhancing therapeutic efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo assays. Cur has a low level of toxicity and promising anti-cancer activity, however, its clinical development has been limited by low bioavailability. Cur analogs and nanoparticles were synthesized to improve Cur's efficacy and bioavailability. These compounds were found to be effective in enhancing the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy in pre-clinical models. Small molecules such as NSAIDs have also been tested for the anti-cancer activity and induction of response of chemotherapy and radiation. Interest in TA, a NSAID, has recently increased due to promising preclinical data demonstrating its anti-cancer properties with minimum toxicity. TA also synergistically increased the response of XRT in PC cells and in an orthotropic mouse model. With strong preclinical evidence, research aimed at developing less toxic therapies for PC using Cur analogues or TA is ready for translation into clinical testing.

Effects of resveratrol, curcumin, berberine and other nutraceuticals on aging, cancer development, cancer stem cells and microRNAs

Natural products or nutraceuticals have been shown to elicit anti-aging, anti-cancer and other health-enhancing effects. A key target of the effects of natural products may be the regulation of microRNA (miR) expression which results in cell death or prevents aging, diabetes, cardiovascular and other diseases. This review will focus on a few natural products, especially on resveratrol (RES), curcumin (CUR) and berberine (BBR). RES is obtained from the skins of grapes and other fruits and berries. RES may extend human lifespan by activating the sirtuins and SIRT1 molecules. CUR is isolated from the root of turmeric (Curcuma longa). CUR is currently used in the treatment of many disorders, especially in those involving an inflammatory process. CUR and modified derivatives have been shown to have potent anti-cancer effects, especially on cancer stem cells (CSC). BBR is also isolated from various plants (e.g., Coptis chinensis) and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat diseases such as adult- onset diabetes. Understanding the benefits of these and other nutraceuticals may result in approaches to improve human health.

Curcumin may serve an anticancer role in human osteosarcoma cell line U-2 OS by targeting ITPR1

The present study aimed to determine the mechanisms of action of curcumin in osteosarcoma. Human osteosarcoma U-2 OS cells was purchased from the Cell Bank of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. RNA sequencing analysis was performed for 2 curcumin-treated samples and 2 control samples using Illumina deep sequencing technology. The differentially expressed genes were identified using Cufflink software. Enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analyses were performed separately using cluster Profiler package and Cytoscape software to identify key genes. Then, the mRNA levels of key genes were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in U-2 OS cells. Finally, cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration and invasion arrays were performed. In total, 201 DEGs were identified in the curcumin-treated group. EEF1A1 (degree=88), ATF7IP, HIF1A, SMAD7, CLTC, MCM10, ITPR1, ADAM15, WWP2 and ATP5C1, which were enriched in 'biological process', exhibited higher degrees than other genes in the PPI network. RT-qPCR demonstrated that treatment with curcumin was able to significantly increase the levels of CLTC and ITPR1 mRNA in curcumin-treated cells compared with control. In addition, targeting ITPR1 with curcumin significantly promoted apoptosis and suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion. Targeting ITPR1 via curcumin may serve an anticancer role by mediating apoptosis, proliferation, migration and invasion in U-2 OS cells.

MicroRNA-320 suppresses colorectal cancer by targeting SOX4, FOXM1, and FOXQ1

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer causing high mortality rates world-wide. Delineating the molecular mechanisms leading to CRC development and progression, including the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), are currently being unravelled at a rapid rate. Here, we report frequent downregulation of the microRNA miR-320 family in primary CRC tissues and cell lines. Lentiviral-mediated re-expression of miR-320c (representative member of the miR-320 family) inhibited HCT116 CRC growth and migration in vitro, sensitized CRC cells to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), and inhibited tumor formation in SCID mice. Global gene expression analysis in CRC cells over-expressing miR-320c, combined with in silico prediction identified 84 clinically-relevant potential gene targets for miR-320 in CRC. Using a series of biochemical assays and functional validation, SOX4, FOXM1, and FOXQ1 were validated as novel gene targets for the miR-320 family. Inverse correlation between the expression of miR-320 members with SOX4, FOXM1, and FOXQ1 was observed in primary CRC patients' specimens, suggesting that these genes are likely bona fide targets for the miR-320 family. Interestingly, interrogation of the expression levels of this gene panel (SOX4, FOXM1, and FOXQ1) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) colorectal cancer data set (319 patients) revealed significantly poor disease-free survival in patients with elevated expression of this gene panel (P-Value: 0.0058). Collectively, our data revealed a novel role for the miR-320/SOX4/FOXM1/FOXQ1 axes in promoting CRC development and progression and suggest targeting those networks as potential therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Emblica officinalis extract downregulates pro-angiogenic molecules via upregulation of cellular and exosomal miR-375 in human ovarian cancer cells

Ovarian cancer (OC) is highly resistant to current treatment strategies based on a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We have recently demonstrated the anti-neoplastic effect of Amla extract (Emblica officinalis, AE) on OC cells in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that AE attenuates growth of OC through microRNA (miR)-regulated mechanism(s). The inhibitory effect of AE on proliferation, migration and invasiveness (P≤0.001) of SKOV3 cells and >90% attenuation of tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model suggested multiple targets. RT-qPCR analysis of microRNAs associated with OC showed a >2,000-fold increase in the expression of miR-375 in AE-treated SKOV3 cells that was blocked by an exogenous miR-375 inhibitor (P≤0.001). AE also decreased the gene and protein expression of IGF1R, a target of miR-375 (P≤0.001), and SNAIL1 (P≤0.002), an EMT-associated transcription factor that represses E-cadherin expression (P≤0.003). AE increased E-cadherin expression (P≤0.001). Treatment of SKOV3 cells with AE resulted in increased miR-375 in exosomes in the medium (P≤0.01). Finally, AE significantly decreased the expression of IGF1R and SNAIL1 proteins during attenuation of SKOV3-derived xenograft tumor. Together, these results show that AE modulates cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment via activation of miR-375 and by targeting IGF1R and SNAIL1 in OC cells.

The Holy Grail of Curcumin and its Efficacy in Various Diseases: Is Bioavailability Truly a Big Concern?

The powdered rhizome of turmeric has been extensively used in India and other South Asian cuisines, and is an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine for a broad range of conditions. In particular, curcumin, a major active component of turmeric, is one of the most studied botanicals for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. Despite its well-documented therapeutic efficacy, for years the limited systemic bioavailability of curcumin has hindered its development as a potential therapeutic agent. However, recent introduction of unique extraction processes and various delivery methods has resulted in the development of new curcumin formulations and significantly improved its bioavailability. While these new formulations will no doubt expand curcumin's therapeutic potential, there are notable inconsistencies surrounding curcumin's bioavailability and corresponding bioactivity, raising some important questions. This article dissects various contributing factors of curcumin bioavailability to identify possible causes for the discrepancies associated with its bioactivity and discuss how these new curcumin formulations could further improve its clinical usefulness.

Synthesis and evaluation of coumarin derivatives against human lung cancer cell lines

Series of novel coumarin derivatives [I (a–d) and II (a–d)] were successfully synthesized and their structures were determined based on infrared 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), HRMS, and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the new synthesized compounds were evaluated to identify the molecular characteristics that contribute to their cytotoxicity, which was tested against SK-LU-1, SPC-A-1 and 95D human lung cancer cell lines, using the MTT assay. The results of this study showed that compounds Ic, Id, IIc, and IId exhibited an efficient percentage of inhibition of cell proliferation.

Recent progress on the effects of microRNAs and natural products on tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process of phenotypic transition of epithelial cells that can promote physiological development as well as tissue healing and repair. In recent years, cancer researchers have noted that EMT is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. When tumor cells undergo EMT, they can develop enhanced migration and local tissue invasion abilities, which can lead to metastatic growth. Nevertheless, two researches in NATURE deny its necessity in specific tumors and that is discussed in this review. The degree of EMT and the detection of EMT-associated marker molecules can also be used to judge the risk of metastasis and to evaluate patients’ prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding small RNAs, which can inhibit gene expression and protein translation through specific binding with the 3′ untranslated region of mRNA. In this review, we summarize the miRNAs that are reported to influence EMT through transcription factors such as ZEB, SNAIL, and TWIST, as well as some natural products that regulate EMT in tumors. Moreover, mutual inhibition occurs between some transcription factors and miRNAs, and these effects appear to occur in a complex regulatory network. Thus, understanding the role of miRNAs in EMT and tumor growth may lead to new treatments for malignancies. Natural products can also be combined with conventional chemotherapy to enhance curative effects.

Folic acid conjugated polymeric micelles loaded with a curcumin difluorinated analog for targeting cervical and ovarian cancers

The current study utilizes folic acid conjugated poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) block copolymer (FA-SMA) to enhance the solubility of a hydrophobic but very potent synthetic curcumin-difluorinated (CDF) analog and its targeted delivery to folate receptor-alpha overexpressing cancers. The nanomicelles showed high aqueous solubility. Importantly, the encapsulation of CDF in nanomicelles resulted in high photo-stability of the otherwise photo-labile drug. When the nanomicelles were tested in folate-receptor overexpressing ovarian and cervical cancer cells they exhibited high anticancer activity causing significant cell population to undergo apoptosis due to upregulation of tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB), which further confirmed the targeting ability and anticancer potentials of folate-targeted formulations.

On-nylon membrane detection of nucleic acid molecules by rolling circle amplification

Positively-charged nylon membrane (NM) is a general solid-phase support for nucleic acid detection due to its convenient immobilization of nucleic acid materials by direct electrostatic adherence and simple UV crosslinking. Rolling circle amplification (RCA) is a widely used isothermal DNA amplification technique for nucleic acid detection. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) is a new fluorescence technique with high sensitivity due to low background. This study developed a simple method for detecting nucleic acid molecules by combining the advantages of NM, RCA and NIRF, named NIRF-based solid phase RCA on nylon membrane (NM-NIRF-sRCA). The detection system of this method only need two kinds of nucleic acid molecules: target-specific probes with a RCA primer (P) at their 3' end and a rolling circle (RC). The detection procedure consists of four steps: (1) immobilizing detected nucleic acids on NM by UV crosslinking; (2) hybridizing NM with specific probes and RC; (3) amplifying by a RCA reaction containing biotin-dUTP; (4) incubating NM with NIRF-labeled streptavidin and imaging with a NIRF imager. The method was fully testified by detecting oligonucleotides, L1 fragments of various HPV subtypes cloned in plasmid, and E.coli genomic DNA. This study thus provides a new facile method for detecting nucleic acid molecules.

MicroRNA-21 as a prognostic biomarker in patients with pancreatic cancer - A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the current knowledge regarding microRNA-21 and to evaluate its prognostic impact in patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

We conducted an electronic literature search to identify all published studies in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar databases from 2000 until August 2016.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies involving 1471 patients met the inclusion criteria for the quantitative synthesis. The microRNA-21 upregulation was significantly associated with poorer overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival. The subgroup analysis revealed that microRNA-21 overexpression has a significant higher prognostic value for patients who receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Increased microRNA-21 was associated with a statistically significant higher rate of metastatic lymph nodes and poorly differentiated tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

MicroRNA-21 upregulation in pancreatic cancer is associated with a significantly poorer overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival. MicroRNA-21 may be a useful prognostic biomarker, allowing stratification for chemotherapy administration, and being a component of precision medicine in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Polyvalent Folate-Dendrimer-Coated Iron Oxide Theranostic Nanoparticles for Simultaneous Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Precise Cancer Cell Targeting

The low therapeutic index of conventional chemotherapy and poor prognosis of patients diagnosed with metastatic cancers are prompting clinicians to adopt newer strategies to simultaneously detect cancer lesions at an early stage and to precisely deliver anticancer drugs to tumor sites. In this study, we employed a novel strategy to engineer a polyvalent theranostic nanocarrier consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle core (SPIONs) decorated with folic acid-polyamidoamine dendrimers surface (FA-PAMAM). In addition, a highly potent hydrophobic anticancer agent 3,4-difluorobenzylidene-curcumin (CDF) was coloaded in the FA-PAMAM dendrimer to increase its solubility and assess its therapeutic potentials. The resulting targeted nanoparticles (SPIONs@FA-PAMAM-CDF) exhibited high MR contrast. When tested on folate receptor overexpressing ovarian (SKOV3) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells, the CDF loaded targeted nanoformulations showed higher accumulation with a better anticancer activity as compared to the nontargeted counterparts, possibly due to multivalent folate receptor binding interaction with cells overexpressing the target. The results were corroborated by observation of a larger population of cells undergoing apoptosis due to upregulation of tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensis homologue (PTEN), caspase 3, and inhibition of NF-κB in groups treated with the targeted formulations, which further confirmed the ability of the multivalent theranostic nanoparticles for simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancers.

Up-regulation of miR-21 decreases chemotherapeutic effect of dendrosomal curcumin in breast cancer cells

OBJECTIVES

Despite the good results of anticancer activities by curcumin, there are some hurdles that limit the use of curcumin as an anticancer agent. Many methods were examined to overcome this defect like the use of the dendrosomal curcumin (DNC). There is increasing evidence that miRNAs play important roles in biological processes. In this study, we focus on the roles of microRNA-21 in the anti-cancer effects of DNC in breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Also, we have used different methods such as MTT, apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, transwell migration assay and RT-PCR to find out more.

RESULTS

We observed that miR-21 decreased apoptotic cells in both cells (from 6.35% to 0.34 % and from 7.72% to 1.32% orderly) and DNC increased it. As well as, our findings indicated that cell migration capacity was increased by miR-21 over expression and was decreased by DNC. The combination of miR-21 vector transfection and DNC treatment showed lower percentage of apoptotic cells or a higher level of penetration through the membrane compared with DNC treatment alone. Furthermore, DNC induced a marked increase in the number of cells in sub G1/G1 phase and a decrease in G2/M phase of the cell cycle in both; but, we observed reverse results compared it, after transfection with miR-21 vector.

CONCLUSION

We observed that miR-21 suppress many aspects of anti-cancer effects of DNC in breast cancer cells, it seems that co-treatment with DNC and mir-21 down-regulation may provide a clinically useful tool for drug-resistance breast cancer cells.

A critical evaluation of neuroprotective and neurodegenerative MicroRNAs in Alzheimer's disease

Currently, 5.4 million Americans suffer from AD, and these numbers are expected to increase up to 16 million by 2050. Despite tremendous research efforts, we still do not have drugs or agents that can delay, or prevent AD and its progression, and we still do not have early detectable biomarkers for AD. Multiple cellular changes have been implicated in AD, including synaptic damage, mitochondrial damage, production and accumulation of Aβ and phosphorylated tau, inflammatory response, deficits in neurotransmitters, deregulation of the cell cycle, and hormonal imbalance. Research into AD has revealed that miRNAs are involved in each of these cellular changes and interfere with gene regulation and translation. Recent discoveries in molecular biology have also revealed that microRNAs play a major role in post-translational regulation of gene expression. The purpose of this article is to review research that has assessed neuroprotective and neurodegenerative characteristics of microRNAs in brain samples from AD transgenic mouse models and patients with AD.

miR-21 and KLF4 jointly augment epithelial‑mesenchymal transition via the Akt/ERK1/2 pathway

miR-21 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells. However, the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. In the present study, high throughput platform was employed to detect the genes that are differential expressed in QBC939 cells transfected with a hsa-miR-21 antagomir or control vectors. The EMT-related Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) gene was down-regulated after miR-21 was knocked down. Overexpression of miR-21 upregulated KLF4, Akt, ERK and mesenchymal cell markers (N-cadherin and vimentin), downregulated the expression of epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and reduced cell migration and invasion. Immunohistochemistry showed that KLF4, pAkt and pERK were upregulated in tumor xenografts transfected with miR-21 mimics. Inhibitors of the PI3K-Akt and ERK1/2 pathways, LY294002 and U0126, significantly suppressed the EMT phenotype. The present data demonstrated that overexpression of miR-21, accompanied with KLF4, augmented the EMT via inactivation of Akt and ERK1/2 pathways. In conclusion, we have identified a novel mechanism that may be targeted in an attempt to relieve the malignant biological behavior of CCA cells.

Targeting miRNAs by polyphenols: Novel therapeutic strategy for cancer

In the recent years, polyphenols have gained significant attention in scientific community owing to their potential anticancer effects against a wide range of human malignancies. Epidemiological, clinical and preclinical studies have supported that daily intake of polyphenol-rich dietary fruits have a strong co-relationship in the prevention of different types of cancer. In addition to direct antioxidant mechanisms, they also regulate several therapeutically important oncogenic signaling and transcription factors. However, after the discovery of microRNA (miRNA), numerous studies have identified that polyphenols, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein, resveratrol and curcumin exert their anticancer effects by regulating different miRNAs which are implicated in all the stages of cancer. MiRNAs are short, non-coding endogenous RNA, which silence the gene functions by targeting messenger RNA (mRNA) through degradation or translation repression. However, cancer associated miRNAs has emerged only in recent years to support its applications in cancer therapy. Preclinical experiments have suggested that deregulation of single miRNA is sufficient for neoplastic transformation of cells. Indeed, the widespread deregulation of several miRNA profiles of tumor and healthy tissue samples revealed the involvement of many types of miRNA in the development of numerous cancers. Hence, targeting the miRNAs using polyphenols will be a novel and promising strategy in anticancer chemotherapy. Herein, we have critically reviewed the potential applications of polyphenols on various human miRNAs, especially which are involved in oncogenic and tumor suppressor pathways.

Curcumin inhibits cancer progression through regulating expression of microRNAs

Curcumin, a major yellow pigment and spice in turmeric and curry, is a powerful anti-cancer agent. The anti-tumor activities of curcumin include inhibition of tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, induction of tumor apoptosis, increase of chemotherapy sensitivity, and regulation of cell cycle and cancer stem cell, indicating that curcumin maybe a strong therapeutic potential through modulating various cancer progression. It has been reported that microRNAs as small noncoding RNA molecules are related to cancer progression, which can be regulated by curcumin. Dysregulated microRNAs play vital roles in tumor biology via regulating expressions of target genes and then influencing multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. In this review, we focused on the inhibition effect of curcumin on various cancer progression by regulating expression of multiple microRNAs. Curcumin-induced dysregulation of microRNAs may activate or inactivate a set of signaling pathways, such as Akt, Bcl-2, PTEN, p53, Notch, and Erbb signaling pathways. A better understanding of the relation between curcumin and microRNAs may provide a potential therapeutic target for various cancers.

microRNA regulation of human pancreatic cancer stem cells

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that function primarily in the post transcriptional regulation of gene expression in plants and animals. Deregulation of miRNA expression in cancer cells, including pancreatic cancer cells, is well documented, and the involvement of miRNAs in orchestrating tumor genesis and cancer progression has been recognized. This review focuses on recent reports demonstrating that miRNAs are involved in regulation of pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). A number of miRNA species have been identified to be involved in regulating pancreatic CSCs, including miR-21, miR-34, miR-1246, miR-221, the miR-17-92 cluster, the miR-200 and let-7 families. Furthermore, the Notch-signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process are associated with miRNA regulation of pancreatic CSCs. Given the significant contribution of CSCs to chemo-resistance and tumor progression, a better understanding of how miRNAs function in pancreatic CSCs could provide novel strategies for the development of therapeutics and diagnostics for this devastating disease.

Effects of mutations in Wnt/β-catenin, hedgehog, Notch and PI3K pathways on GSK-3 activity-Diverse effects on cell growth, metabolism and cancer

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a serine/threonine kinase that participates in an array of critical cellular processes. GSK-3 was first characterized as an enzyme that phosphorylated and inactivated glycogen synthase. However, subsequent studies have revealed that this moon-lighting protein is involved in numerous signaling pathways that regulate not only metabolism but also have roles in: apoptosis, cell cycle progression, cell renewal, differentiation, embryogenesis, migration, regulation of gene transcription, stem cell biology and survival. In this review, we will discuss the roles that GSK-3 plays in various diseases as well as how this pivotal kinase interacts with multiple signaling pathways such as: PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR, Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK, Wnt/beta-catenin, hedgehog, Notch and TP53. Mutations that occur in these and other pathways can alter the effects that natural GSK-3 activity has on regulating these signaling circuits that can lead to cancer as well as other diseases. The novel roles that microRNAs play in regulation of the effects of GSK-3 will also be evaluated. Targeting GSK-3 and these other pathways may improve therapy and overcome therapeutic resistance.

Solubility enhancement and targeted delivery of a potent anticancer flavonoid analogue to cancer cells using ligand decorated dendrimer nano-architectures

Conventional chemotherapy using small molecule drugs is marred by several challenges such as short half-life, low therapeutic index and adverse systemic side effects. In this regard, targeted therapies using ligand directed polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers could be a promising strategy to specifically deliver anticancer drugs to cancer cells overexpressing complementary receptor binding domains. The aim of this study was to utilize folate decorated PAMAM to enhance the aqueous solubility of a highly hydrophobic but very potent anticancer flavonoid analogue, 3,4-difluorobenzylidene diferuloylmethane (CDF) and to deliver it specifically to folate receptor overexpressing cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3). As compared to the non-targeted formulation, the targeted formulation exhibited significant anticancer activity with higher accumulation in folate receptor overexpressing cells, larger population of apoptotic cancer cells, elevated expression of tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) which further confirmed the targeting ability and the promising anticancer activity of the folate based nanoformulation.