Nifedipine promotes the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells

Association between long-term use of calcium channel blockers (CCB) and the risk of breast cancer: a retrospective longitudinal observational study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Calcium channel blockers (CCB), a commonly prescribed antihypertensive (AHT) medicine, may be associated with increased risk of breast cancer. The proposed study aims to examine whether long-term CCB use is associated with the development of breast cancer and to characterise the dose-response nature of any identified association, to inform future hypertension management.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study will use data from 2 of Australia's largest cohort studies; the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, and the 45 and Up Study, combined with the Rotterdam Study. Eligible women will be those with diagnosed hypertension, no history of breast cancer and no prior CCB use at start of follow-up (2004-2009). Cumulative dose-duration exposure to CCB and other AHT medicines will be captured at the earliest date of: the outcome (a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer); a competing risk event (eg, bilateral mastectomy without a diagnosis of breast cancer, death prior to any diagnosis of breast cancer) or end of follow-up (censoring event). Fine and Gray competing risks regression will be used to assess the association between CCB use and development of breast cancer using a generalised propensity score to adjust for baseline covariates. Time-varying covariates related to interaction with health services will also be included in the model. Data will be harmonised across cohorts to achieve identical protocols and a two-step random effects individual patient-level meta-analysis will be used.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was obtained from the following Human research Ethics Committees: Curtin University (ref No. HRE2022-0335), NSW Population and Health Services Research Ethics Committee (2022/ETH01392/2022.31), ACT Research Ethics and Governance Office approval under National Mutual Acceptance for multijurisdictional data linkage research (2022.STE.00208). Results of the proposed study will be published in high-impact journals and presented at key scientific meetings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05972785.

Use of calcium channel blockers and risk of breast cancer among women aged 55 years and older: a nationwide population-based cohort study

This retrospective cohort study was aimed to compare the incidence of breast cancer among women aged ≥55 who received calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers. We used the 2002-2015 Health and Welfare Database in Taiwan. Women 55 years and older who initiated antihypertensive treatment were included. Breast cancer risk for patients receiving calcium channel blockers was compared to those receiving angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers. Cox proportional hazards models were used to generate adjusted hazard ratios for breast cancer. We found that the risk of breast cancer was similar between calcium channel blockers users and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] and 95% CI = 1.03 [0.80 to 1.34]). No significant risk increase was observed in the stratified analysis by dihydropyridine (aHR = 1.02 [0.78 to 1.33]) and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (aHR = 1.23 [0.48 to 3.20]). No difference in the risk of breast cancer associated with calcium channel blockers exposure was observed in patients who used hormone replacement therapy (aHR = 1.02 [0.29 to 3.58]). The risk for breast cancer was observed to be significantly lower in patients receiving calcium channel blockers than in those receiving angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers at a treatment duration of 5 or more years (aHR = 0.57 [0.33 to 0.98]). In conclusion, the risk for breast cancer is similar for calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blocker users in an Asian population.

Obesity and Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential: Allies in Cardiovascular Diseases and Malignancies

The clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a term used to describe individuals who have detectable somatic mutations in genes commonly found in individuals with hematologic cancers but without any apparent evidence of such conditions. The mortality rate in individuals with CHIP is remarkably higher than the influence ascribed to hematologic malignancies, and it is plausible that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) could elucidate the apparent disparity. Studies have shown that the most frequently altered genes in CHIP are associated with the increased incidence of CVDs, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and myeloid malignancies, as well as obesity. Additionally, multiple research studies have confirmed that obesity is also independently associated with these conditions, particularly the development and progression of atherosclerotic CVD. Considering the shared pathogenetic mechanisms of obesity and CHIP, our objective in this review was to investigate both preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the correlation between obesity and CHIP and the resulting implications of this interaction on the pathophysiology of CVDs and malignancies. The pro-inflammatory condition induced by obesity and CHIP enhances the probability of developing both diseases and increases the likelihood of developing CVDs, T2DM and malignancies, suggesting that a dangerous vicious loop may exist. However, it is vital to conduct additional research that will suggest targeted treatment options for obese individuals with CHIP in order to reduce harmful effects connected to these conditions.

Association between use of antihypertensive drugs and the risk of cancer: a population-based cohort study in Shanghai

BACKGROUND

Previously studies shown a potential risk of antihypertensive medicines in relation to cancer susceptibility, which creating significant debate in the scientific community and public concern. We sought to investigate the relationship between antihypertensive medicines and cancer risk, by drug type and class.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cohort study and enrolled patients diagnosed with hypertension from community healthcare centers in Changning District, Shanghai, China. Antihypertensive drug administration were classified as five common antihypertensive drugs. The main outcomes were incidence of total cancer and by major cancer type.

RESULTS

Between January 2013 and December 2017, a total of 101,370 hypertensive patients were enrolled in this cohort. During a mean follow-up of 5.1 (SD 1.3) years, 4970 cancer cases were newly diagnosed in the cohort. CCBs were the most frequently used antihypertensives which were associated with a moderately increased risk of total cancer (hazard ratio, HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05-1.18). The second commonly used drug ARBs were also associated with increased risk of total cancer (HR = 1.10, 95%CI: 1.03-1.17) as well as lung and thyroid cancers (HR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.05-1.39; HR = 1.62 95%CI: 1.18-2.21, respectively). No significant association was found between cancer and other antihypertensives. Hypertensive patients who use more than one class of antihypertensives drugs had a higher risk of total cancer (HR: 1.22, 95%CI: 1.10-1.35 for two classes; HR: 1.22, 95%CI: 1.03-1.45 for three or more classes), and a possible dose-response relationship was suggested (P for trend < 0.001). The risk of thyroid cancer was higher in hypertensive patients prescribed with three or more antihypertensive classes.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of ARBs or CCBs may be associated with an increased risk of total cancer. Taking more than one class of antihypertensives drugs appeared to have a higher risk for total cancer.

Identification of novel exonic variants contributing to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in west Indian population

Breast and ovarian cancers are the most common cancer types in females worldwide and in India. Patients with these cancers require an early diagnosis which is essential for better prognosis, treatment and improved patient survival. Recently, the utilization of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based screening has accelerated molecular diagnosis of various cancers. In the present study, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 30 patients who had a first or second-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer and are tested negative for BRCA1/2 or other high and moderate-risk genes reported for HBOC. WES data from patients were analyzed and variants were called using bcftools. Functional annotation of variants and variant prioritization was performed by Exomiser. The clinical significance of variants was determined as per ACMG classification using Varsome tool. The functional analysis of genes was determined by STRING analysis and disease association was determined by open target tool. We found novel variants and gene candidates having significant association with HBOC conditions. The genes identified by exomiser (phenotype score > 0.75) are associated with various biological processes such as DNA integrity maintenance, transcription regulation, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis. Our findings provide novel and prevalent gene variants associated with the HBOC condition in the West Indian population which could be further studied for early diagnosis and better prognosis of HBOC.

Drug repositioning in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using gene co-expression and drug–gene interaction networks analysis

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in men and women. This cancer is divided into two main types, namely non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Around 85 to 90 percent of lung cancers are NSCLC. Repositioning potent candidate drugs in NSCLC treatment is one of the important topics in cancer studies. Drug repositioning (DR) or drug repurposing is a method for identifying new therapeutic uses of existing drugs. The current study applies a computational drug repositioning method to identify candidate drugs to treat NSCLC patients. To this end, at first, the transcriptomics profile of NSCLC and healthy (control) samples was obtained from the GEO database with the accession number GSE21933. Then, the gene co-expression network was reconstructed for NSCLC samples using the WGCNA, and two significant purple and magenta gene modules were extracted. Next, a list of transcription factor genes that regulate purple and magenta modules' genes was extracted from the TRRUST V2.0 online database, and the TF–TG (transcription factors–target genes) network was drawn. Afterward, a list of drugs targeting TF–TG genes was obtained from the DGIdb V4.0 database, and two drug–gene interaction networks, including drug-TG and drug-TF, were drawn. After analyzing gene co-expression TF–TG, and drug–gene interaction networks, 16 drugs were selected as potent candidates for NSCLC treatment. Out of 16 selected drugs, nine drugs, namely Methotrexate, Olanzapine, Haloperidol, Fluorouracil, Nifedipine, Paclitaxel, Verapamil, Dexamethasone, and Docetaxel, were chosen from the drug-TG sub-network. In addition, nine drugs, including Cisplatin, Daunorubicin, Dexamethasone, Methotrexate, Hydrocortisone, Doxorubicin, Azacitidine, Vorinostat, and Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, were selected from the drug-TF sub-network. Methotrexate and Dexamethasone are common in drug-TG and drug-TF sub-networks. In conclusion, this study proposed 16 drugs as potent candidates for NSCLC treatment through analyzing gene co-expression, TF–TG, and drug–gene interaction networks.

Antihypertensive medications and risks of recurrence and mortality in luminal, triple-negative, and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer

PURPOSE

Antihypertensives are commonly prescribed medications and their effect on breast cancer recurrence and mortality is not clear, particularly among specific molecular subtypes of breast cancer: luminal, triple-negative (TN), and HER2-overexpressing (H2E).

METHODS

A population-based prospective cohort study of women aged 20-69 diagnosed with a first primary invasive breast cancer between 2004 and 2015 was conducted in the Seattle, Washington and Albuquerque, New Mexico greater metropolitan areas. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risks of breast cancer recurrence, breast cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality associated with hypertension and antihypertensives.

RESULTS

In this sample of 2,383 luminal, 1,559 TN, and 615 H2E breast cancer patients, overall median age was 52 (interquartile range, 44-60). Hypertension and current use of antihypertensives were associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality in each subtype. Current use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with increased risks of both recurrence and breast cancer-specific mortality among luminal patients (HR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.5, 4.3 and HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.0, respectively). Among H2E patients, current use of calcium channel blockers was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer-specific mortality (HR: 1.8; 95% CI: 0.6, 5.4).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that some antihypertensive medications may be associated with adverse breast cancer outcomes among women with certain molecular subtypes. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Ion Channels, Transporters, and Sensors Interact with the Acidic Tumor Microenvironment to Modify Cancer Progression

Solid tumors, including breast carcinomas, are heterogeneous but typically characterized by elevated cellular turnover and metabolism, diffusion limitations based on the complex tumor architecture, and abnormal intra- and extracellular ion compositions particularly as regards acid-base equivalents. Carcinogenesis-related alterations in expression and function of ion channels and transporters, cellular energy levels, and organellar H⁺ sequestration further modify the acid-base composition within tumors and influence cancer cell functions, including cell proliferation, migration, and survival. Cancer cells defend their cytosolic pH and HCO₃^- concentrations better than normal cells when challenged with the marked deviations in extracellular H⁺, HCO₃^-, and lactate concentrations typical of the tumor microenvironment. Ionic gradients determine the driving forces for ion transporters and channels and influence the membrane potential. Cancer and stromal cells also sense abnormal ion concentrations via intra- and extracellular receptors that modify cancer progression and prognosis. With emphasis on breast cancer, the current review first addresses the altered ion composition and the changes in expression and functional activity of ion channels and transporters in solid cancer tissue. It then discusses how ion channels, transporters, and cellular sensors under influence of the acidic tumor microenvironment shape cancer development and progression and affect the potential of cancer therapies.

Association Between Antihypertensive Medication Use and Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The prevalence rate of hypertension and breast cancer increases with advancing age. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs), β-blockers (BBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and diuretics are widely used to treat patients with hypertension. Although, the association between the use of antihypertensive medication and breast cancer has been highly debated, recent evidence supporting this association remains controversial. Objective: To evaluate the association between the use of antihypertensive medication and the risk of breast cancer and its prognosis. Methods: This study was conducted using data from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases retrieved for the period from January 2000 to April 2021. Articles and their references were checked and summary effects were calculated using random- and fixed-effects models. Heterogeneity test and sensitivity analysis were also performed. Results: This meta-analysis included 57 articles, which were all related to breast cancer risk or prognosis. Assessment of breast cancer risk using the pooled data showed that the use of BBs or CCBs or diuretics was associated with increased cancer risk [BB: relative risk (RR) = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-1.32; CCBs: RR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.08; diuretics: RR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11]. Long-term use of diuretic increased the risk of breast cancer (RR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.20), whereas long-term RASIs treatment reduced the risk (RR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.91). In addition, we found that diuretic users may be related to elevated breast cancer-specific mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.18, 95% CI 1.04-1.33], whereas using other antihypertensive medications was not associated with this prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Conclusion: Using CCBs, BBs, and diuretics increased the risk of breast cancer. In addition, diuretics may elevate the risk of breast cancer-specific mortality. The long-term use of RASIs was associated with a significantly lower breast cancer risk, compared with non-users. Thus, this analysis provides evidence to support the benefits of the routine use of RASIs in patients with hypertension, which has important public health implications.

A narrative review on the interaction between genes and the treatment of hypertension and breast cancer

Objective

The aim to discuss the close relationship between the common biological mechanisms of breast cancer and hypertension, inflammation and oxidative stress, breast cancer gene mutations breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA), G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK4), etc. and breast cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, Endocrine therapy, Targeted therapy and anti-angiogenesis drugs. In anti-angiogenesis drugs focusing on the mechanism of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that may activate the rhoa/rock pathway to cause hypertension, as well as the relationship between breast cancer and antihypertensive drugs includes angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and β-blockers (BBs)will be explored.

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and tumors are the two major types of diseases with the highest mortality rates, while hypertension accounts for the largest proportion of CVDs. A large number of the same or similar risk factors are shared between hypertension and tumors, and they influence each other. Many patients, particularly elderly patients, often present with the coexistence of the two diseases. As medical advances have enabled clinicians to cure tumors, many patients with cancer live longer, leading to a gradual increase in the incidence of CVDs, including hypertension. With the second highest incidence among tumors, breast cancer has gradually attracted widespread attention and has been the topic of numerous studies. Studies have confirmed that CVD is one of the causes of death in elderly patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Publications from 1985 to 2020 were retrieved from the Web Of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE database. We used a mix of MeSH and keywords.

Conclusions

Hypertension and cancer may share a common mechanism. The screening and risk assessment of breast cancer in patients with hypertension must be strengthened. Breast cancer cardiology is the interdisciplinary study of oncology and cardiology, and in-depth research in this field may result in long-term improvements in the survival and prognosis of patients with both clinical hypertension and breast cancer.

Efficacy and safety outcomes of one generic nifedipine versus ADALAT long-acting nifedipine for hypertension management

Data regarding the long-term outcomes of generic antihypertensive drugs are limited. This nationwide retrospective database analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a generic versus brand-name nifedipine for hypertension treatment. Patients who were prescribed generic or brand-name nifedipine between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2013, were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. The efficacy outcomes included all-cause mortality and the composite cardiovascular (CV) outcome, including CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, coronary revascularization, and hospitalization for heart failure. Safety outcomes included headache, peripheral edema, constipation, acute kidney injury, hypotension, syncope, new diagnosis of cancer, and cancer death. Among the 98 335 patients who were eligible for analysis, 21 087 (21.4%) were prescribed generic nifedipine. Both the generic and the brand-name groups included 21 087 patients after propensity score matching. At a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, the generic nifedipine was comparable to the brand-name drug with regard to all-cause mortality (7.2% vs. 7.1%; hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95-1.09) and the composite CV outcomes (11.6% vs. 11.9%; HR 0.97; 95% CI 0.92-1.03). The generic nifedipine was associated with higher rates of headache, peripheral edema, and constipation but a modest reduction in the risk of newly diagnosed cancer (7.1% vs. 7.8%; subdistribution HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84-0.97). The risks of acute kidney injury, hypotension, syncope, and cancer death were not significantly different between the two groups. In conclusion, the generic nifedipine was comparable to the brand-name drug with regard to the risks of all-cause mortality and the composite CV outcome. The finding of cancer risk could be chance and should be interpreted with caution.

Calcium Channel Blockers Impair the Antitumor Activity of Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies by Blocking EGR-1 Induction

Direct cell death induction, in addition to immune-effector cell-mediated mechanisms, is one of the key mechanisms of action of anti-CD20 antibodies, and yet the signaling pathways implicated remain poorly investigated. Here we show that the transcription factor EGR-1 is rapidly induced by anti-CD20 antibodies and is a key mediator for CD20-induced cell death. EGR-1 induction results from an increased calcium influx induced by anti-CD20 antibodies. We show that both rituximab and obinutuzumab induce calcium influx, albeit through different mechanisms, and this influx is crucial for cell death induction. Inhibition of the calcium flux with calcium channel blockers (CCB) abolished EGR-1 induction and impaired the efficacy of anti-CD20 antibodies in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models. Finally, we investigated the impact of CCBs in patients treated with anti-CD20 antibodies included in the clinical trials GOYA and REMARC, and found that patients simultaneously receiving CCBs and anti-CD20 therapy have a shorter progression-free survival and overall survival. These results reveal EGR-1 as a key mediator of the direct cytotoxic activity of anti-CD20 antibodies and provide a rationale to evaluate EGR-1 expression as a new biomarker to predict response to anti-CD20 treatment. In addition, our findings show that calcium influx is required for anti-CD20-mediated tumor cell death and suggest that simultaneous administration of calcium channel blocking agents could be deleterious in patients receiving anti-CD20-based immunotherapy.

miRNAs in Health and Disease: A Focus on the Breast Cancer Metastatic Cascade towards the Brain

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that mainly act by binding to target genes to regulate their expression. Due to the multitude of genes regulated by miRNAs they have been subject of extensive research in the past few years. This state-of-the-art review summarizes the current knowledge about miRNAs and illustrates their role as powerful regulators of physiological processes. Moreover, it highlights their aberrant expression in disease, including specific cancer types and the differential hosting-metastases preferences that influence several steps of tumorigenesis. Considering the incidence of breast cancer and that the metastatic disease is presently the major cause of death in women, emphasis is put in the role of miRNAs in breast cancer and in the regulation of the different steps of the metastatic cascade. Furthermore, we depict their involvement in the cascade of events underlying breast cancer brain metastasis formation and development. Collectively, this review shall contribute to a better understanding of the uniqueness of the biologic roles of miRNAs in these processes, to the awareness of miRNAs as new and reliable biomarkers and/or of therapeutic targets, which can change the landscape of a poor prognosis and low survival rates condition of advanced breast cancer patients.

Protective Association Between Calcium Channel Blocker Use and Breast Cancer Recurrence in Postsurgical Women: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Taiwan

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy induces metastasis of residual breast cancers through activation of tumor-associated macrophages. Previous studies have indicated that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) exert anti-inflammatory and antimigratory effects on macrophages via attenuating Ca²⁺ entry into macrophages. However, no existing empirical research has addressed the relationship between previous CCB use and breast cancer recurrence. In this study, 4840 Taiwanese women aged ≥20 years with breast cancer who underwent breast surgery from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2015, were enrolled. The date of cancer recurrence was defined as the index date. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the relationship between previous CCB exposure and cancer recurrence among female patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and tumor-node-metastasis stage, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for CCB exposure within 5 years before the index date in women with recurrence compared with nonrecurrent controls was 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.97). Further analysis revealed that the adjusted OR for CCB exposure between the surgery and index dates in women with recurrence relative to nonrecurrent controls was 0.72 (95%CI, 0.66-0.95). In particular, prior CCB use was significantly associated with a lower risk (34%) of breast cancer recurrence among women 20 to 54 years old (OR, 0.66; 95%CI, 0.47-0.83). This study uncovered a protective association between previous CCB use and breast cancer recurrence.

The Antihypertensive Drug Nifedipine Modulates the Metabolism of Chondrocytes and Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Aging is associated with the development of various chronic diseases, in which both cardiovascular disorders and osteoarthritis are dominant. Currently, there is no effective treatment for osteoarthritis, whereas hypertension is often treated with L-type voltage-operated calcium channel blocking drugs, nifedipine being among the most classical ones. Although nifedipine together with other L-type voltage-operated calcium channel inhibitors plays an important role in controlling hypertension, there are unresolved questions concerning its possible effect on cartilage tissue homeostasis and the development of osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of nifedipine on metabolic processes in human chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. To better understand whether the metabolic effects are mediated specifically through L-type voltage-operated calcium channel, effects of the agonist BayK8644 were analyzed in parallel. Nifedipine downregulated and mitochondrial respiration and ATP production in both cell types. Analysis of cartilage explants by electron microscopy also suggested that a small number of chondrocyte mitochondria's lose their activity in response to nifedipine. Conversely, nifedipine enhanced glycolytic capacity in chondrocytes, suggesting that these cells have the capacity to switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and alter their metabolic activity in response to L-type voltage-operated calcium channel inhibition. Such a metabolic switch was not observed in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Nitric oxide activity was upregulated by nifedipine in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and particularly in chondrocytes, implying its involvement in the effects of nifedipine on metabolism in both tested cell types. Furthermore, stimulation with nifedipine resulted in elevated production of collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans in micromass cultures under chondrogenic conditions. Taken together, we conclude that the antihypertensive drug nifedipine inhibits mitochondrial respiration in both chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and that these effects may be associated with the increased nitric oxide accumulation and pro-inflammatory activity. Nifedipine had positive effects on the production of collagen type II and proteoglycans in both cell types, implying potentially beneficial anabolic responses in articular cartilage. These results highlight a potential link between antihypertensive drugs and cartilage health.

Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling requires glycine to promote angiogenesis

Peripheral vascular occlusive disease (PVOD) is a common manifestation of atherosclerosis, and it has a high rate of morbidity. Therapeutic angiogenesis would re-establish blood perfusion and rescue ischemic tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces angiogenesis and can potentially be used to treat ischemic diseases, yet in clinical trials VEGF has not fulfilled its full potential with side effects. Whether amino acids promote angiogenesis and the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we showed that (1) Glycine significantly promoted angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo and effectively protected mitochondrial function. (2) Activation of glycine transporter 1(GlyT1) induced by VEGF led to an increase in intracellular glycine. (3) Glycine directly bounded to voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) on the mitochondrial outer membrane and inhibited its opening. These original results highlight glycine as a necessary mediator in VEGF signalling via the GlyT1-glycine-mTOR-VDAC1 axis pathway. Therefore, the findings in this study are of significance providing new mechanistic insights into angiogenesis and providing better understanding of glycine function in angiogenesis, which may provide valuable information for development of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of angiogenic vascular disorders.

Ca2+ protein alpha 1D of CaV1.3 regulates intracellular calcium concentration and migration of colon cancer cells through a non-canonical activity

It is generally accepted that voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels, CaV, regulate Ca²⁺ homeostasis in excitable cells following plasma membrane depolarization. Here, we show that the Ca²⁺ protein α1D of CaV1.3 channel is overexpressed in colorectal cancer biopsies compared to normal tissues. Gene silencing experiments targeting α1D reduced the migration and the basal cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration of HCT116 colon cancer cell line and modified the cytosolic Ca²⁺ oscillations induced by the sodium/calcium exchanger NCX1/3 working in its reverse mode. Interestingly, NCX1/3 regulated membrane potential of HCT116 cells only when α1D was silenced, and blocking NCX1/3 increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration and cell migration. However, membrane depolarization did not induce an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺. Patch-clamp experiments clearly showed that the inward Ca²⁺ current was absent. Finally, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence studies showed that α1D protein was localized at the plasma membrane, in cytosol and cell nuclei. Altogether, we uncover a novel signaling pathway showing that α1D is involved in the regulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis and cell migration by a mechanism independent of its plasma membrane canonical function but that involved plasma membrane Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger.

Elevated expression of a pharmacologic Polycomb signature predicts poor prognosis in gastric and breast cancer

AIM

Polycomb Group complexes are epigenetic repressors that silence tumor suppressive genes. Studies demonstrated that pharmacologic inhibition of Polycomb Group complexes with 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNeP) induces cancer cell death by re-expressing silenced genes. Here we evaluate the prognostic significance of DZNeP target genes in gastric and breast cancer. Patients & methods/materials: The prognostic impact of a DZNeP-regulated gene signature was investigated using the KM Plotter and cBio Portal resources containing microarray data from tumor tissue.

RESULTS

We report that elevated expression of DZNeP targets is associated with poor clinical outcome in gastric and breast cancer. In gastric cancer, elevated expression of DZNeP signature is inversely correlated with decreased overall survival. In breast cancer, DZNeP signature predicted poor prognosis in HER2+ tumors but not in HER2^- neoplasms.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that DZNeP target genes are not predictive of better but rather of poor clinical outcome in gastric and breast cancer.

Nifedipine stimulates proliferation and migration of different breast cancer cells by distinct pathways

Nifedipine is widely used to treat high blood pressure and angina. Were nifedipine able to promote the proliferation and migration of breast cancer, it would pose a significant threat for patients. Thus, it is important to determine the effects of nifedipine on breast cancer and the mechanism involved. The present study identified that nifedipine significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells in vitro. The mechanism of nifedipine on different breast cancer cells was investigated and it was identified that the effects of nifedipine on MCF‑7 cells were via the protein kinase B‑endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase‑nitric oxide axis, and on MDA‑MB‑231 cells via activation of the extracellular signal‑regulated kinase pathway. These results identified the distinct pathways in the activation of cell proliferation and migration presented in different cell lines by nifedipine. The present study advises that nifedipine can promote breast cancer and should be avoided for women who suffer from breast cancer and hypertension.

Fendiline inhibits proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by interfering with ADAM10 activation and β-catenin signaling

ADAM10 (A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease Domain 10) affects the pathophysiology of various cancers, and we had shown that inhibition of ADAM10 sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. ADAM10 is activated in response to calcium influx, and here we examined if calcium channel blockers (CCB) would impede ADAM10 activation and affect biology of pancreatic cancer cells. We find that the CCB, fendiline, significantly reduces proliferation, migration, invasion, and anchorage independent growth of pancreatic cancer cells. This was associated with ADAM10 inhibition and its localization at the actin-rich membrane protrusions. Further, fendiline-treated cells formed cadherin-catenin positive tight adherens junctions and elicited defective protein trafficking and recycling. Furthermore, the expression of β-catenin target genes, cyclinD1, c-Myc and CD44, were significantly decreased, suggesting that fendiline might prevent cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting ADAM10 function, cadherin proteolysis and stabilization of cadherin-catenin interaction at the plasma membrane. This will subsequently diminish β-catenin intracellular signaling and repress TCF/LEF target gene expression. Supporting this notion, RNAi-directed downregulation of ADAM10 in cancer cells decreased the expression of cyclinD1, c-Myc and CD44. Furthermore, analysis of human pancreatic tumor tissue microarrays and lysates showed elevated levels of ADAM10, suggesting that aberrant activation of ADAM10 plays a fundamental role in growth and metastasis of PDACs and inhibiting this pathway might be a viable strategy to combat PDACs.

The Use of Antihypertensive Medication and the Risk of Breast Cancer in a Case-Control Study in a Spanish Population: The MCC-Spain Study

INTRODUCTION

The evidence on the relationship between breast cancer and different types of antihypertensive drugs taken for at least 5 years is limited and inconsistent. Furthermore, the debate has recently been fueled again with new data reporting an increased risk of breast cancer among women with a long history of use of antihypertensive drugs compared with nonusers.

METHODS

In this case-control study, we report the antihypertensive drugs-breast cancer relationship in 1,736 breast cancer cases and 1,895 healthy controls; results are reported stratifying by the women's characteristics (i.e., menopausal status or body mass index category) tumor characteristics and length of use of antihypertensive drugs.

RESULTS

The relationship among breast cancer and use of calcium channel blockers (CCB) for 5 or more years had odds ratio (OR) = 1.77 (95% CI, 0.99 to 3.17). Stratifying by BMI, the OR increased significantly in the group with BMI ≥ 25 (OR 2.54, 95% CI, 1.24 to 5.22). CCBs were even more strongly associated with more aggressive tumors, (OR for invasive tumors = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.09 to 3.53; OR for non ductal cancers = 3.97, 95% CI = 1.73 to 9.05; OR for Erbb2+ cancer = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.20 to 7.32). On the other hand, premenopausal women were the only group in which angiotensin II receptor blockers may be associated with breast cancer (OR = 4.27, 95% CI = 1.32 to 13.84) but this could not be identified with any type or stage. Use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers and diuretics were not associated with risk.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large population-based study we found that long term use of calcium channel blockers is associated with some subtypes of breast cancer (and with breast cancer in overweight women).

MicroRNA-323 regulates ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced neuronal cell death by targeting BRI3

PURPOSE

MicroRNA-323 (miR-323) has been reported to be upregulated in Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) injury-treated neuronal cell. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of miR-323 in I/R-induced neuronal cell death remains poorly understood. The current study was aim to investigate the role and molecular basis of miR-323 in I/R-induced neuronal cell.

METHODS

An oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model of hippocampal neuron I/R was produced in vitro. Cell apoptosis, cell survival, and the expression of miR-323 were determined after 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after OGD treatment. The up- or down-regulation of miR-323 was performed by miR-323 mimics or anti-miR-323, respectively.

RESULTS

OGD induced apoptosis and suppressed survival in rat hippocampal neurons. And the expression levels of miR-323 were increased after OGD treatment. Furthermore, the up-regulation of miR-323 promoted apoptosis and suppressed survival, whereas the inhibition of miR-323 suppressed apoptosis and enhanced survival in OGD-treated neurons. Moreover, miR-323 could directly bind to BRI3 3'-UTR. Notably, the knockdown of BRI3 by BRI3 siRNA apparently abrogated cell survival and induced cell apoptosis in rat neurons.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that miR-323 might regulate ischemia/reperfusion-induced rat neuronal cell death via targeting BRI3.

Voltage-gated ion channels in cancer cell proliferation

Changes of the electrical charges across the surface cell membrane are absolutely necessary to maintain cellular homeostasis in physiological as well as in pathological conditions. The opening of ion channels alter the charge distribution across the surface membrane as they allow the diffusion of ions such as K+, Ca++, Cl.