YBX1 promotes tumor growth by elevating glycolysis in human bladder cancer

MicroRNA-382 as a tumor suppressor during tumor progression

Despite the recent progresses in therapeutic and diagnostic methods, there is still a significantly high rate of mortality among cancer patients. One of the main reasons for the high mortality rate in cancer patients is late diagnosis, which leads to the failure of therapeutic strategies. Therefore, investigation of cancer biology can lead to the introduction of early diagnostic markers in these patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulation of cellular processes associated with tumor progression. Due to the high stability of miRNAs in body fluids, these factors can be considered as the non-invasive tumor markers. Deregulation of miR-382 has been widely reported in different cancers. Therefore, in this review, we investigated the role of miR-382 during tumor development. It has shown that miR-382 has mainly a tumor suppressive, which inhibits the growth of tumor cells through the regulation of signaling pathways, RNA-binding proteins, and transcription factors. Therefore, miR-382 can be suggested as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker in cancer patients.

YB1 and its role in osteosarcoma: a review

YB1 (Y box binding protein 1), a multifunctional protein capable of binding to DNA/RNA, is present in most cells and acts as a splicing factor. It is involved in numerous cellular processes such as transcription, translation, and DNA repair, significantly affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Abnormal expression of this protein is closely linked to the formation of various malignancies (osteosarcoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, breast cancer, etc.). This review examines the multifaceted functions of YB1 and its critical role in osteosarcoma progression, providing new perspectives for potential therapeutic strategies.

Proteomic insights into breast cancer response to brain cell-secreted factors

The most devastating feature of cancer cells is their ability to metastasize to distant sites in the body. HER2 + and TN breast cancers frequently metastasize to the brain and stay potentially dormant for years until favorable conditions support their proliferation. The sheltered and delicate nature of the brain prevents, however, early disease detection and effective delivery of therapeutic drugs. Moreover, the challenges associated with the acquisition of brain biopsies add compounding difficulties to exploring the mechanistic aspects of tumor development. To provide insights into the determinants of cancer cell behavior at the brain metastatic site, this study was aimed at exploring the early response of HER2 + breast cancer cells (SKBR3) to factors present in the brain perivascular niche. The neural microenvironment was simulated by using the secretome of a set of brain cells that come first in contact with the cancer cells upon crossing the blood brain barrier, i.e., endothelial cells, astrocytes, and microglia. Cytokine microarrays were used to investigate the secretome mediators of intercellular communication, and proteomic technologies for assessing the changes in the behavior of cancer cells upon exposure to the brain cell-secreted factors. The cytokines detected in the brain secretomes were supportive of inflammatory conditions, while the SKBR3 cells secreted numerous cancer-promoting growth factors that were either absent or present in lower abundance in the brain cell cultures, indicating that upon exposure the SKBR3 cells may have been deprived of favorable conditions for optimal growth. Altogether, the results suggest that the exposure of SKBR3 cells to the brain cell-secreted factors altered their growth potential and drove them toward a state of quiescence, with broader overall outcomes that affected cellular metabolism, adhesion and immune response processes. The findings of this study underscore the key role played by the neural niche in shaping the behavior of metastasized cancer cells, provide insights into the cellular cross-talk that may lead cancer cells into dormancy, and highlight novel opportunities for the development of metastatic breast cancer therapeutic strategies.

YBX1 as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma: A comprehensive investigation through bioinformatics analysis and in vitro study

BACKGROUNDS

Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) is a DNA/RNA binding protein known to contribute to the progression of various malignancies, however, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis to investigate YBX1 across a broad spectrum of cancer types has not yet been conducted.

METHODS

We utilized the TIMER database for a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and assessed YBX-1 expression via the TCGA and GEO databases. The relationship between YBX-1 expression and tumor-infiltrating cells was examined using TIMER and the R programming language. To evaluate the prognostic value of YBX1, we performed Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression analyses. Through LinkedOmics, we identified genes significantly correlated with YBX-1. The WEB-based Gene SeT AnaLysis Toolkit was used for KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Additionally, using shRNA-mediated knockdown, we explored the potential role of YBX1 in tumor cell biology.

RESULTS

Our study identifies pronounced overexpression of YBX-1 across multiple cancer types, correlating with adverse outcomes, notably in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). A distinct association between elevated YBX-1 expression and heightened immune cell infiltration suggests YBX-1's potential role in reshaping the tumor microenvironment. Intriguingly, our KEGG pathway analysis indicated a tight nexus between YBX-1 expression and lipid metabolism. Moreover, the suppression of YBX-1 via shRNA revealed diminished cellular proliferation and marked reductions in crucial molecules steering the fatty acid synthesis pathway, implicating YBX-1's potential regulatory role in lipid metabolism within LIHC.

CONCLUSIONS

YBX-1 serves as a favorable prognostic indicator in various cancers, particularly in liver hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeting YBX1 in HCC offers potential therapeutic strategies. This work paves the way for fresh insights into targeted therapeutic approaches for cancers, especially benefiting liver hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

KMT2D-mediated H3K4me1 recruits YBX1 to facilitate triple-negative breast cancer progression through epigenetic activation of c-Myc

BACKGROUND

Lysine methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D) mediates mono-methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1) in mammals. H3K4me1 mark is involved in establishing an active chromatin structure to promote gene transcription. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying the KMT2D-mediated H3K4me1 mark modulates gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression is unresolved.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We recognized Y-box-binding protein 1 (YBX1) as a "reader" of the H3K4me1 mark, and a point mutation of YBX1 (E121A) disrupted this interaction. We found that KMT2D and YBX1 cooperatively promoted cell growth and metastasis of TNBC cells in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of KMT2D and YBX1 were both upregulated in tumour tissues and correlated with poor prognosis for breast cancer patients. Combined analyses of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data indicated that YBX1 was co-localized with KMT2D-mediated H3K4me1 in the promoter regions of c-Myc and SENP1, thereby activating their expressions in TNBC cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that YBX1 activated the expressions of c-Myc and SENP1 in a KMT2D-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that KMT2D-mediated H3K4me1 recruits YBX1 to facilitate TNBC progression through epigenetic activation of c-Myc and SENP1. These results together unveil a crucial interplay between histone mark and gene regulation in TNBC progression, thus providing novel insights into targeting the KMT2D-H3K4me1-YBX1 axis for TNBC treatment.

HIGHLIGHTS

YBX1 is a KMT2D-mediated H3K4me1-binding effector protein and mutation of YBX1 (E121A) disrupts its binding to H3K4me1. KMT2D and YBX1 cooperatively promote TNBC proliferation and metastasis by activating c-Myc and SENP1 expression in vitro and in vivo. YBX1 is colocalized with H3K4me1 in the c-Myc and SENP1 promoter regions in TNBC cells and increased YBX1 expression predicts a poor prognosis in breast cancer patients.

circRNA TATA-box binding protein associated factor 15 acts as an oncogene to facilitate bladder cancer progression through targeting miR-502-5p/high mobility group box 3

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key in regulating bladder cancer progression. This study explored the effects of circRNA TATA-box binding protein associated factor 15 (circTAF15) on bladder cancer progression. We enrolled 80 bladder cancer patients to examine the relationship between circTAF15 expression and clinical features. The function of circTAF15 on bladder cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis was monitored by cell counting kit-8 assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine experiment, Transwell experiment, and glycolysis analysis. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA pull-down assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were used to verify the binding between circTAF15 and miR-502-5p or between miR-502-5p and high mobility group box 3 (HMGB3). circTAF15 effect on in vivo growth of bladder cancer was investigated by xenograft tumor experiment. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were implemented to investigate the expression levels of genes. circTAF15 was upregulated in bladder cancer patients, associated with unfavorable outcomes. circTAF15 knockdown attenuated bladder cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and glycolysis. circTAF15 suppressed miR-502-5p expression, and miR-502-5p inhibited HMGB3 expression. Low miR-502-5p expression was associated with unfavorable outcomes in bladder cancer patients. miR-502-5p silencing and HMGB3 overexpression counteracted the inhibition of circTAF15 knockdown on the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer cells. circTAF15 knockdown attenuated the in vivo growth of bladder cancer cells. circTAF15 enhanced the progression of bladder cancer through upregulating HMGB3 via suppressing miR-502-5p. circTAF15 may be a novel target to treat bladder cancer in the future.

Y-Box Binding Protein 1: Unraveling the Multifaceted Role in Cancer Development and Therapeutic Potential

Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1), a member of the Cold Shock Domain protein family, is overexpressed in various human cancers and is recognized as an oncogenic gene associated with poor prognosis. YBX1's functional diversity arises from its capacity to interact with a broad range of DNA and RNA molecules, implicating its involvement in diverse cellular processes. Independent investigations have unveiled specific facets of YBX1's contribution to cancer development. This comprehensive review elucidates YBX1's multifaceted role in cancer across cancer hallmarks, both in cancer cell itself and the tumor microenvironment. Based on this, we proposed YBX1 as a potential target for cancer treatment. Notably, ongoing clinical trials addressing YBX1 as a target in breast cancer and lung cancer have showcased its promise for cancer therapy. The ramp up in in vitro research on targeting YBX1 compounds also underscores its growing appeal. Moreover, the emerging role of YBX1 as a neural input is also proposed where the high level of YBX1 was strongly associated with nerve cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This review also summarized the up-to-date advanced research on the involvement of YBX1 in pancreatic cancer.

An arrayed CRISPR knockout screen identifies genetic regulators of GLUT1 expression

Glucose, a primary fuel source under homeostatic conditions, is transported into cells by membrane transporters such as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). Due to its essential role in maintaining energy homeostasis, dysregulation of GLUT1 expression and function can adversely affect many physiological processes in the body. This has implications in a wide range of disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and several types of cancers. However, the regulatory pathways that govern GLUT1 expression, which may be altered in these diseases, are poorly characterized. To gain insight into GLUT1 regulation, we performed an arrayed CRISPR knockout screen using Caco-2 cells as a model cell line. Using an automated high content immunostaining approach to quantify GLUT1 expression, we identified more than 300 genes whose removal led to GLUT1 downregulation. Many of these genes were enriched along signaling pathways associated with G-protein coupled receptors, particularly the rhodopsin-like family. Secondary hit validation confirmed that removal of select genes, or modulation of the activity of a corresponding protein, yielded changes in GLUT1 expression. Overall, this work provides a resource and framework for understanding GLUT1 regulation in health and disease.

Proteomic Insights into Metastatic Breast Cancer Response to Brain Cell-Secreted Factors

The most devastating feature of cancer cells is their ability to metastasize to distant sites in the body. HER2+ and triple negative breast cancers frequently metastasize to the brain and stay potentially dormant for years, clinging to the microvasculature, until favorable environmental conditions support their proliferation. The sheltered and delicate nature of the brain prevents, however, early disease detection, diagnosis, and effective delivery of therapeutic drugs. Moreover, the challenges associated with the acquisition of brain tissues and biopsies add compounding difficulties to exploring the mechanistic aspects of tumor development, leading to slow progress in understanding the drivers of disease progression and response to therapy. To provide insights into the determinants of cancer cell behavior at the brain metastatic site, this study was aimed at exploring the growth and initial response of HER2+ breast cancer cells (SKBR3) to factors present in the brain perivascular niche. The neural microenvironment conditions were simulated by using the secretome of a set of brain cells that come first in contact with the cancer cells upon crossing the blood brain barrier, i.e., human endothelial cells (HBEC5i), human astrocytes (NHA) and human microglia (HMC3) cells. Cytokine microarrays were used to investigate the cell secretomes and explore the mediators responsible for cell-cell communication, and proteomic technologies for assessing the changes in the behavior of cancer cells upon exposure to the brain cell-secreted factors. The results of the study suggest that the exposure of SKBR3 cells to the brain secretomes altered their growth potential and drove them towards a state of quiescence. The cytokines, growth factors and enzymes detected in the brain cell-conditioned medium were supportive of mostly inflammatory conditions, indicating a collective functional contribution to cell activation, defense, inflammatory responses, chemotaxis, adhesion, angiogenesis, and ECM organization. The SKBR3 cells, on the other hand, secreted numerous cancer-promoting growth factors that were either absent or present in lower abundance in the brain cell culture media, suggesting that upon exposure the SKBR3 cells were deprived of favorable environmental conditions required for optimal growth. The findings of this study underscore the key role played by the neural niche in shaping the behavior of metastasized cancer cells, providing insights into the cancer-host cell cross-talk that contributes to driving metastasized cancer cells into dormancy and into the opportunities that exist for developing novel therapeutic strategies that target the brain metastases of breast cancer.

Molecular mechanisms of microRNA-216a during tumor progression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as the members of non-coding RNAs family are involved in post-transcriptional regulation by translational inhibiting or mRNA degradation. They have a critical role in regulation of cell proliferation and migration. MiRNAs aberrations have been reported in various cancers. Considering the importance of these factors in regulation of cellular processes and their high stability in body fluids, these factors can be suggested as suitable non-invasive markers for the cancer diagnosis. MiR-216a deregulation has been frequently reported in different cancers. Therefore, in the present review we discussed the molecular mechanisms of the miR-216a during tumor progression. It has been reported that miR-216a mainly functioned as a tumor suppressor through the regulation of signaling pathways and transcription factors. This review paves the way to suggest the miR-216a as a probable therapeutic and diagnostic target in cancer patients.

YBX1 promotes tumor progression via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most commonly seen malignancies of the head and neck, with increasing incidence and mortality. The Y-box-binding protein 1 (YBX1) is a type of oncoprotein which is related to the malignant phenotype of many cancers. It is reported that YBX1 could regulate tumorigenesis, recurrence, and metastasis in multiple cancers. However, little is known about its carcinogenic function and mechanism in LSCC.

METHODS

Firstly, Through Oncomine StarBase, we found that the YBX1 mRNA level was increased in a variety of cancer tissues, including in the LSCC, compared with normal tissues. We silenced YBX1 in LSCC cells using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). Secondly, the biological function of YBX1 in LSCC cells was examined by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry, the wound healing assay, and the transwell assay. Thirdly, the correlation between YBX1 and the PI3K/AKT pathway was verified by the western blot assay.

RESULTS

Expression of YBX1 is higher in a variety of cancer tissues, especially in the head and neck cancers. After transfected with lentiviral vectors, the expression of YBX1 was significantly silenced. Functionally, low expression of YBX1 promoted LSCC cell apoptosis and inhibited LSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The transfection of sh-YBX1 resulted in an obvious decrease in PI3K/AKT signaling molecules in LSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that YBX1 could promote LSCC cell progression through the PI3K/AKT pathway, providing new insights into a potential biomarker and target for LSCC treatment.

Prognostic Value of a Glycolytic Signature and Its Regulation by Y-Box-Binding Protein 1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer as it shows a high capacity for metastasis and poor prognoses. Metabolic reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of cancer, and aberrant glycolysis was reported to be upregulated in TNBC. Thus, identifying metabolic biomarkers for diagnoses and investigating cross-talk between glycolysis and invasiveness could potentially enable the development of therapeutics for patients with TNBC. In order to determine novel and reliable metabolic biomarkers for predicting clinical outcomes of TNBC, we analyzed transcriptome levels of glycolysis-related genes in various subtypes of breast cancer from public databases and identified a distinct glycolysis gene signature, which included ENO1, SLC2A6, LDHA, PFKP, PGAM1, and GPI, that was elevated and associated with poorer prognoses of TNBC patients. Notably, we found a transcription factor named Y-box-binding protein 1 (YBX1) to be strongly associated with this glycolysis gene signature, and it was overexpressed in TNBC. A mechanistic study further validated that YBX1 was upregulated in TNBC cell lines, and knockdown of YBX1 suppressed expression of those glycolytic genes. Moreover, YBX1 expression was positively associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes in breast cancer patients, and suppression of YBX1 downregulated expressions of EMT-related genes and tumor migration and invasion in MDA-MB-231 and BT549 TNBC cells. Our data revealed an YBX1-glycolysis-EMT network as an attractive diagnostic marker and metabolic target in TNBC patients.

Celecoxib Analogues for Cancer Treatment: An Update on OSU-03012 and 2,5-Dimethyl-Celecoxib

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important enzyme involved in prostaglandins biosynthesis from arachidonic acid. COX-2 is frequently overexpressed in human cancers and plays a major tumor promoting function. Accordingly, many efforts have been devoted to efficiently target the catalytic site of this enzyme in cancer cells, by using COX-2 specific inhibitors such as celecoxib. However, despite their potent anti-tumor properties, the myriad of detrimental effects associated to the chronic inhibition of COX-2 in healthy tissues, has considerably limited their use in clinic. In addition, increasing evidence indicate that these anti-cancerous properties are not strictly dependent on the inhibition of the catalytic site. These findings have led to the development of non-active COX-2 inhibitors analogues aiming at preserving the antitumor effects of COX-2 inhibitors without their side effects. Among them, two celecoxib derivatives, 2,5-Dimethyl-Celecoxib and OSU-03012, have been developed and suggested for the treatment of viral (e.g., recently SARS-CoV-2), inflammatory, metabolic diseases and cancers. These molecules display stronger anti-tumor properties than celecoxib and thus may represent promising anti-cancer molecules. In this review, we discuss the impact of these two analogues on cancerous processes but also their potential for cancer treatment alone or in combination with existing approaches.

circ_100984-miR-432-3p axis regulated c-Jun/YBX-1/β-catenin feedback loop promotes bladder cancer progression

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been revealed to participate in BC progression with diverse mechanisms. However, mechanisms of circ_100984 in BC have not been determined. Here, we found that circ_100984 and YBX‐1 were high presented, while miR‐432‐3p was low presented in BC. Silencing of circ_100984 and YBX‐1 repressed BC tumor growth, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we revealed that circ_100984 served as a competing endogenous RNA that sponged miR‐432‐3p to indirectly regulate YBX‐1 and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related molecules. Moreover, we confirmed that YBX‐1 or c‐Jun acted as a transcription regulatory factor for β‐catenin or YBX‐1, respectively, in BC cells. Knockdown of YBX‐1 inhibited the expression of β‐catenin and c‐Jun, whereas downregulated c‐Jun inversely repressed the expression of YBX‐1 and β‐catenin. Our results suggested that circ_100984‐miR‐432‐3p axis regulated c‐Jun/YBX‐1/β‐catenin feedback loop promotes BC progression, providing a potential therapeutic axis for BC progression.

Y box binding protein 1 (YB-1) oncoprotein at the hub of DNA proliferation, damage and cancer progression

The Y Box binding protein 1 (YB-1) belongs to the highly conserved Cold Shock Domain protein family and is a major component of messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) in various organisms and cells. Cold Shock proteins are multifunctional nucleic acids binding proteins involved in a variety of cellular functions. Biological activities of YB-1 range from the regulation of transcription, splicing and translation, to the orchestration of exosomal RNA content. The role of YB-1 in malignant cell transformation and fate transition is the subject of intensive investigation. Besides, emerging evidence indicates that YB-1 participates in several DNA damage repair pathways as a non-canonical DNA repair factor thus pointing out that the protein can allow cancer cells to evade conventional anticancer therapies and avoid cell death. Here, we will attempt to collect and summarize the current knowledge on this subject and provide the basis for further lines of inquiry.

PRMT5-mediated methylation of YBX1 regulates NF-κB activity in colorectal cancer

The multifunctional protein Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1), is a critical regulator of transcription and translation, and is widely recognized as an oncogenic driver in several solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, very little is known about the upstream or downstream factors that underlie YBX1′s regulation and involvement in CRC. Previously, we demonstrated that YBX1 overexpression correlated with potent activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), a well-known transcription factor believed to be crucial in CRC progression. Here, we report a novel interaction between NF-κB, YBX1 and protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). Our findings reveal for the first time that PRMT5 catalyzes methylation of YBX1 at arginine 205 (YBX1-R205me2), an event that is critical for YBX1-mediated NF-κB activation and its downstream target gene expression. Importantly, when WT-YBX1 is overexpressed, this methylation exists under basal (unstimulated) conditions and is further augmented upon interleukin-1β (IL-1β) stimulation. Mechanistically, co-immunoprecipitation studies reveal that the R205 to alanine (A) mutant of YBX1 (YBX1-R205A) interacted less well with the p65 subunit of NF-κB and attenuated the DNA binding ability of p65. Importantly, overexpression of YBX1-R205A significantly reduced cell growth, migration and anchorage-independent growth of CRC cells. Collectively, our findings shed important light on the regulation of a novel PRMT5/YBX1/NF-κB axis through PRMT5-mediated YBX1-R205 methylation. Given the fact that PRMT5, YBX1 and NF-κB are all among top crucial factors in cancer progression, pharmacological disruption of this pivotal axis could serve as the basis for new therapeutics for CRC and other PRMT5/YBX1/NF-κB-associated cancers.

Circ-SAR1A Promotes Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression Through miR-382/YBX1 Axis

Background

Accumulating evidence points to a role for circular RNAs (circRNAs) in important regulatory function in tumor advancement. We explored the effect and function of circ-SAR1A in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods

circ-SAR1A expression in RCC tissues and cell lines was explored by qRT-PCR. The roles of circ-SAR1A on RCC progression were explored by in vitro function assays. Moreover, we determined the underlying mechanism of circ-SAR1A in RCC progression through bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays.

Results

Our data reveal that circ-SAR1A is significantly high in RCC tissues and cell lines. High circ-SAR1A levels are correlated to advanced Fuhrman grade, and lymph-node metastasis in RCC patients. Functional experiments indicate that circ-SAR1A suppression decreased RCC cell growth and invasion abilities in vitro. Mechanistically, circ-SAR1A upregulated YBX1 expression by sponging miR-382, resulting in promoting the growth and invasion in RCC cells.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that the circ-SAR1A/miR-382/YBX1 axis plays a critical role in RCC progression, which serve as a potential novel treatment strategy of RCC.

A Novel Ten-Gene Signature Predicting Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a dismal long-term outcome. We aimed to construct a multi-gene model for prognosis prediction to inform HCC management. The cancer-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using RNA-seq data of paired tumor and normal tissue. A prognostic signature was built by LASSO regression analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to further understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. A 10-gene signature was constructed to stratify the TCGA and ICGC cohorts into high- and low-risk groups where prognosis was significantly worse in the high-risk group across cohorts (P < 0.001 for all). The 10-gene signature outperformed all previously reported models for both C-index and the AUCs for 1-, 3-, 5-year survival prediction (C-index, 0.84 vs 0.67 to 0.73; AUCs for 1-, 3- and 5-year OS, 0.84 vs 0.68 to 0.79, 0.81 to 0.68 to 0.80, and 0.85 vs 0.67 to 0.78, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed risk group and tumor stage to be independent predictors of survival in HCC. A nomogram incorporating tumor stage and signature-based risk group showed better performance for 1- and 3-year survival than for 5-year survival. GSEA revealed enrichment of pathways related to cell cycle regulation among high-risk samples and metabolic processes in the low-risk group. Our 10-gene model is robust for prognosis prediction and may help inform clinical management of HCC.

Long noncoding RNA PRKCQ-AS1 promotes CRC cell proliferation and migration via modulating miR-1287-5p/YBX1 axis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) brings more than 600 000 deaths every year around the globe, making itself the third most frequently occurred carcinoma. The great progress human achieved in diagnosis and treatment of various cancers has failed to reverse this trend. Fortunately, growing evidence has implied the relationship between lncRNAs and cancer progression. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) PRKCQ-AS1 was heightened in CRC cells and tissues and related with dismal prognosis of CRC patients. Knockdown of PRKCQ-AS1 would induce a decrease in proliferative and migrating ability of CRC cells. Also, PRKCQ-AS1 enriched in cytoplasm of CRC cells and negatively regulated miR-1287-5p level. More important, PRKCQ-AS1 could bind to argonaute 2 and function in the RNA-induced silencing complex with miR-1287-5p. Therefore, PRKCQ-AS1 was a competing endogenous RNA for miR-1287-5p. Subsequently, it was validated that miR-1287-5p could suppress the proliferative and migratory functions in CRC. Furthermore, PRKCQ-AS1 could upregulate the mRNA and protein level of YBX1 targeted by miR-1287-5p. And YBX1 expression was elevated in CRC cells and tissues. Rescue assays in vitro and in vivo showed that overexpression of YBX1 could partly offset the effect of CRC progression induced by knocking down PRKCQ-AS1, demonstrating PRKCQ-AS1 mediating CRC progression via miR-1287-5p/YBX1 pathway.

Osteopontin accelerates the development and metastasis of bladder cancer via activating JAK1/STAT1 pathway

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer is the 10th common cancer worldwide. Osteopontin has been found to enhance cell proliferation, metastasis and invasion in various human tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the roles of osteopontin in bladder cancer.

METHODS

The RNA interference and overexpression of osteopontin were performed in bladder cancer cell lines (T24 and SCaBER). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell invasion was determined using transwell assay.

RESULTS

Osteopontin was highly expressed in bladder cancer tissues in comparison with the adjacent normal tissues. Its high expression significantly correlated with high histologic grade, high TNM stage (III and IV) and poor prognosis. For T24 cells with osteopontin interference and SCaBER cells with osteopontin overexpression, cell proliferation was significantly inhibited (3.58-fold vs. 5.62-fold) and enhanced (7.81-fold vs. 5.29-fold), respectively. The apoptosis portion of T24 cells significantly increased from 4.48 to 10.75%, and that of SCaBER cells significantly declined from 7.33 to 4.01%. The invaded T24 and SCaBER cells significantly decreased to 52.0% and increased to 2.0-fold, respectively. Osteopontin overexpression enhanced the expression (1.54-fold and 2.39-fold; 2.33-fold and 2.05-fold) and activation (1.80-fold and 1.96-fold; 2.00-fold and 2.59-fold) of JAK1 and STAT1 in two cell lines of bladder cancer.

CONCLUSION

Osteopontin might enhance proliferation, inhibit apoptosis and accelerate invasion and thus promote the development and metastasis of bladder cancer, and osteopontin's functions might be mediated by activating JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway.

Competitive glucose metabolism as a target to boost bladder cancer immunotherapy

Bladder cancer - the tenth most frequent cancer worldwide - has a heterogeneous natural history and clinical behaviour. The predominant histological subtype, urothelial bladder carcinoma, is characterized by high recurrence rates, progression and both primary and acquired resistance to platinum-based therapy, which impose a considerable economic burden on health-care systems and have substantial effects on the quality of life and the overall outcomes of patients with bladder cancer. The incidence of urothelial tumours is increasing owing to population growth and ageing, so novel therapeutic options are vital. Based on work by The Cancer Genome Atlas project, which has identified targetable vulnerabilities in bladder cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have arisen as an effective alternative for managing advanced disease. However, although ICIs have shown durable responses in a subset of patients with bladder cancer, the overall response rate is only ~15-25%, which increases the demand for biomarkers of response and therapeutic strategies that can overcome resistance to ICIs. In ICI non-responders, cancer cells use effective mechanisms to evade immune cell antitumour activity; the overlapping Warburg effect machinery of cancer and immune cells is a putative determinant of the immunosuppressive phenotype in bladder cancer. This energetic interplay between tumour and immune cells leads to metabolic competition in the tumour ecosystem, limiting nutrient availability and leading to microenvironmental acidosis, which hinders immune cell function. Thus, molecular hallmarks of cancer cell metabolism are potential therapeutic targets, not only to eliminate malignant cells but also to boost the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this sense, integrating the targeting of tumour metabolism into immunotherapy design seems a rational approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs.

Why Be One Protein When You Can Affect Many? The Multiple Roles of YB-1 in Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

Lung cancers and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) have some of the worst 5-year survival rates of all cancer types, primarily due to a lack of effective treatment options for most patients. Targeted therapies have shown some promise in thoracic cancers, although efficacy is limited only to patients harboring specific mutations or target expression. Although a number of actionable mutations have now been identified, a large population of thoracic cancer patients have no therapeutic options outside of first-line chemotherapy. It is therefore crucial to identify alternative targets that might lead to the development of new ways of treating patients diagnosed with these diseases. The multifunctional oncoprotein Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) could serve as one such target. Recent studies also link this protein to many inherent behaviors of thoracic cancer cells such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis and involvement in cancer stem-like cells. Here, we review the regulation of YB-1 at the transcriptional, translational, post-translational and sub-cellular levels in thoracic cancer and discuss its potential use as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Improved survival prognostication of node-positive malignant melanoma patients utilizing shotgun proteomics guided by histopathological characterization and genomic data

Metastatic melanoma is one of the most common deadly cancers, and robust biomarkers are still needed, e.g. to predict survival and treatment efficiency. Here, protein expression analysis of one hundred eleven melanoma lymph node metastases using high resolution mass spectrometry is coupled with in-depth histopathology analysis, clinical data and genomics profiles. This broad view of protein expression allowed to identify novel candidate protein markers that improved prediction of survival in melanoma patients. Some of the prognostic proteins have not been reported in the context of melanoma before, and few of them exhibit unexpected relationship to survival, which likely reflects the limitations of current knowledge on melanoma and shows the potential of proteomics in clinical cancer research.

Cold shock Y-box binding protein-1 acetylation status in monocytes is associated with systemic inflammation and vascular damage

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In dialysis patients, vascular morbidities are highly prevalent and linked to leukocyte extravasation, especially of polarized monocytes. Experimental data demonstrate that phenotypic changes in monocytes require Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) upregulation.

METHODS

We determined YB-1 expression in circulating and vessel-invading monocytes from healthy controls and dialysis patients to correlate results with intima plaque formation and systemic inflammation.

RESULTS

Compared to healthy subjects, dialysis patients have fewer classical and more intermediate and non-classical monocytes. Post-translationally modified YB-1 (lysine 301/304 acetylation) is detected at high levels in the nucleus of adherent and invading CD14⁺CD68⁺ monocytes from umbilical cord and atherosclerosis-prone vessels. The content of non-acetylated YB-1 is significantly decreased (p < 0.001), whereas acetylated YB-1 is correspondingly increased (p < 0.001) throughout all monocyte subpopulations, such that the overall content remains unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

In dialysis patients the YB-1 acetylation status is higher with prevailing diabetes and intima plaque formation. Pro-inflammatory mediators TNFα, IL-6, uPAR, CCL2, M-CSF, progranulin, ANP, and midkine, as well as anti-inflammatory IL-10 are significantly increased in dialysis patients, emphasizing a systemic inflammatory milieu. Strong positive correlations of monocytic YB-1 content are seen with ANP, IP-10, IL-6, and IL-10 serum levels. This is the first study demonstrating an association of cold shock protein YB-1 expression with inflammation in hemodialysis patients.

The Role of YB1 in Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Adhesion

Background: Y-box binding protein 1 (YB1) is a multifunctional protein involved in many processes related to cancer progression and metastasis. Methods: In this study, we constructed YB1 knockdown stable renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell line 786-0. The gene expression profile of 786-0 was performed by DNA microarray analysis to identify genes that were regulated by YB1. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to test the genes and proteins expression. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) activity was detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cell adhesion assay was used to determine RCC cell adhesion ability. Results: Pathway analysis revealed that YB1 knockdown influenced cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). We further verified four genes (CLDN4, NRXN3, ITGB8, and VCAN) related to CAMs by real-time PCR, and confirmed that YB1 regulated the expression of ITGB8 in RCC. Functional assays demonstrated that knockdown of YB1 significantly inhibited the cell adhesion of 786-0 cells in vitro. In addition, YB1 affected TGF-β activation. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that YB1 modulated the adhesion ability of renal cell carcinoma cells by regulating ITGB8 and TGF-β.