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Fleming AM, Gehle DB, Freitas JP, Hendrick LE, Yakoub D, Abdelhafeez H, Nezakatgoo N, Deneve JL, Langham MR, Glazer ES, Shibata D, Merchant NB, Dickson PV, Murphy AJ. CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations in metastatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas. J Surg Oncol 2024. [PMID: 39155692 DOI: 10.1002/jso.27808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas demonstrates an indolent disease course; however, some patients present with a "malignant" phenotype, including distant metastases resistant to chemotherapy. This analysis identifies molecular drivers of metastatic SPN using the world's largest clinicogenomics database. METHODS The American Association for Cancer Research Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange was queried for primary and metastatic SPN samples. Sample-level genomic alterations were compared. A pan-pancreatic cancer analysis assessed relevant mutations among all metastatic pancreatic malignancies. RESULTS Among 28 SPN samples identified (n = 17 primary, n = 11 metastatic), the most commonly mutated gene was CTNNB1, (24/28 samples; 85.7%). Most mutations were missense (21/24; 87.5%) or in-frame deletions (3/24; 12.5%). The most common CTNNB1 mutations in primary SPN were exon 3 S37F/C missense mutations (6/16 profiled patients, 37.5%), contrasting exon 3 D32N/Y/H missense mutations in metastatic samples (6/11 profiled patients, 54.5%). Metastatic SPN had higher rates of CTNNB1 mutations than metastases from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (72.7% vs. 1.1%; q < 0.0001), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (72.7% vs. 2.5%; q < 0.0001), and pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (72.7% vs. 11.5%; q = 0.0254). CONCLUSIONS Missense mutations along exon 3 of CTNNB1 predominate metastatic SPN, differentiating these patients from those with metastases from analogous pancreatic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Fleming
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Daniel B Gehle
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Julia Pedo Freitas
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Leah E Hendrick
- Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Danny Yakoub
- Department of Surgery, Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Hafeez Abdelhafeez
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nosratollah Nezakatgoo
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jeremiah L Deneve
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Max R Langham
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Evan S Glazer
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - David Shibata
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nipun B Merchant
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Health System, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Paxton V Dickson
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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2
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Sun F, Chen H, Dai X, Hou Y, Li J, Zhang Y, Huang L, Guo B, Yang D. Liposome-lentivirus for miRNA therapy with molecular mechanism study. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:329. [PMID: 38858736 PMCID: PMC11165871 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02534-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in the occurrence, maintenance, and recurrence of solid tumors. Although, miR-145-5p can inhibit CSCs survival, poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms hamperes further therapeutic optimization for patients. Lentivirus with remarkable transduction efficiency is the most commonly used RNA carrier in research, but has shown limited tumor-targeting capability. METHODS We have applied liposome to decorate lentivirus surface thereby yielding liposome-lentivirus hybrid-based carriers, termed miR-145-5p-lentivirus nanoliposome (MRL145), and systematically analyzed their potential therapeutic effects on liver CSCs (LCSCs). RESULTS MRL145 exhibited high delivery efficiency and potent anti-tumor efficacy under in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the overexpressed miR-145-5p can significantly suppress the self-renewal, migration, and invasion abilities of LCSCs by targeting Collagen Type IV Alpha 3 Chain (COL4A3). Importantly, COL4A3 can promote phosphorylating GSK-3β at ser 9 (p-GSK-3β S9) to inactivate GSK3β, and facilitate translocation of β-catenin into the nucleus to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thereby promoting self-renewal, migration, and invasion of LCSCs. Interestingly, COL4A3 could attenuate the cellular autophagy through modulating GSK3β/Gli3/VMP1 axis to promote self-renewal, migration, and invasion of LCSCs. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new insights in mode of action of miR-145-5p in LCSCs therapy and indicates that liposome-virus hybrid carriers hold great promise in miRNA delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fen Sun
- Institute of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Huaqing Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiaoyong Dai
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Precision Medicine and Healthcare Research Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Yibo Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jing Li
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yinghe Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Carbon Materials Research and Comprehensive Application, School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Laiqiang Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Bing Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Carbon Materials Research and Comprehensive Application, School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Dongye Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The University of Hongkong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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3
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Kim EJ, Lee M, Yum MS. Specific inhibitor of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway can alter behavioral responses in young rats with malformed cortices. Behav Brain Res 2024; 460:114801. [PMID: 38070690 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway plays a crucial role in regulating cellular processes and has been implicated in neural activity-dependent learning as well as anxiety. However, the role of this pathway in young children with abnormal cortical development is unknown. Cortical malformations at early development, behavioral abnormalities, and a susceptibility to seizures have been reported in rats prenatally exposed to methylazoxymethanol. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether we could improve the behavioral deficits in young rats with malformed cerebral cortices by modulation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. We found a small molecule Wnt/beta-catenin inhibitor (CWP) that increased exploratory behavior in the open field test (P9, CWP 100 ug treatment, peripheral exploration, P = 0.011) and social behavior test (P12, CWP 250 ug treatment, distance traveled in center, P = 0.033) and decreased anxiety in fear conditioning. However, it did not reduce the susceptibility to seizures. After high dose (250 ug) CWP treatment at P12, phosphocreatine and glutathione (GSH) were decreased in the cortex at P15 (P = 0.021). These findings suggest that the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in exploratory behavior and anxiety during early development warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jin Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea; Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Minyoung Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea; Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Mi-Sun Yum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, 88 Olympic-ro, Songpa-ku, Seoul 05505, South Korea.
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4
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da Silva AM, Yevdokimova V, Benoit YD. Sam68 is a druggable vulnerability point in cancer stem cells. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:441-456. [PMID: 37792222 PMCID: PMC11016129 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10145-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Sam68 (Src associated in mitosis of 68 kDa) is an RNA-binding and multifunctional protein extensively characterized in numerous cellular functions, such as RNA processing, cell cycle regulation, kinase- and growth factor signaling. Recent investigations highlighted Sam68 as a primary target of a class of reverse-turn peptidomimetic drugs, initially developed as inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin mediated transcription. Further investigations on such compounds revealed their capacity to selectively eliminate cancer stem cell (CSC) activity upon engaging Sam68. This work highlighted previously unappreciated roles for Sam68 in the maintenance of neoplastic self-renewal and tumor-initiating functions. Here, we discuss the implication of Sam68 in tumorigenesis, where central findings support its contribution to chromatin regulation processes essential to CSCs. We also review advances in CSC-targeting drug discovery aiming to modulate Sam68 cellular distribution and protein-protein interactions. Ultimately, Sam68 constitutes a vulnerability point of CSCs and an attractive therapeutic target to impede neoplastic stemness in human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Mendes da Silva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Veronika Yevdokimova
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Yannick D Benoit
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
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5
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Gajos-Michniewicz A, Czyz M. WNT/β-catenin signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: The aberrant activation, pathogenic roles, and therapeutic opportunities. Genes Dis 2024; 11:727-746. [PMID: 37692481 PMCID: PMC10491942 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.02.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver cancer, highly heterogeneous both at the histopathological and molecular levels. It arises from hepatocytes as the result of the accumulation of numerous genomic alterations in various signaling pathways, including canonical WNT/β-catenin, AKT/mTOR, MAPK pathways as well as signaling associated with telomere maintenance, p53/cell cycle regulation, epigenetic modifiers, and oxidative stress. The role of WNT/β-catenin signaling in liver homeostasis and regeneration is well established, whereas in development and progression of HCC is extensively studied. Herein, we review recent advances in our understanding of how WNT/β-catenin signaling facilitates the HCC development, acquisition of stemness features, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. We outline genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to activated WNT/β-catenin signaling in HCC. We discuss the pivotal roles of CTNNB1 mutations, aberrantly expressed non-coding RNAs and complexity of crosstalk between WNT/β-catenin signaling and other signaling pathways as challenging or advantageous aspects of therapy development and molecular stratification of HCC patients for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gajos-Michniewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 92-215, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Czyz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 92-215, Poland
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6
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Al-Hamaly MA, Cox AH, Haney MG, Zhang W, Arvin EC, Sampathi S, Wimsett M, Liu C, Blackburn JS. Zebrafish drug screening identifies Erlotinib as an inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and self-renewal in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:116013. [PMID: 38104416 PMCID: PMC10833092 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway's significance in cancer initiation, progression, and stem cell biology underscores its therapeutic potential. However, the clinical application of Wnt inhibitors remains limited due to challenges posed by off-target effects and complex cross-talk of Wnt signaling with other pathways. In this study, we leveraged a zebrafish model to perform a robust and rapid drug screening of 773 FDA-approved compounds to identify Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors with minimal toxicity. Utilizing zebrafish expressing a Wnt reporter, we identified several drugs that suppressed Wnt signaling without compromising zebrafish development. The efficacy of the top hit, Erlotinib, extended to human cells, where it blocked Wnt/β-catenin signaling downstream of the destruction complex. Notably, Erlotinib treatment reduced self-renewal in human T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia cells, which rely on active β-catenin signaling for maintenance of leukemia-initiating cells. Erlotinib also reduced leukemia-initiating cell frequency and delayed disease formation in zebrafish models. This study underscores zebrafish's translational potential in drug discovery and repurposing and highlights a new use for Erlotinib as a Wnt inhibitor for cancers driven by aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majd A Al-Hamaly
- Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, United States; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Anna H Cox
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, United States
| | - Meghan G Haney
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
| | - Wen Zhang
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, United States
| | - Emma C Arvin
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, United States
| | - Shilpa Sampathi
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, United States
| | - Mary Wimsett
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
| | - Chunming Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, United States
| | - Jessica S Blackburn
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, United States.
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7
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Peri SS, Narayanaa Y K, Hubert TD, Rajaraman R, Arfuso F, Sundaram S, Archana B, Warrier S, Dharmarajan A, Perumalsamy LR. Navigating Tumour Microenvironment and Wnt Signalling Crosstalk: Implications for Advanced Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5847. [PMID: 38136392 PMCID: PMC10741643 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapeutics face significant challenges due to drug resistance and tumour recurrence. The tumour microenvironment (TME) is a crucial contributor and essential hallmark of cancer. It encompasses various components surrounding the tumour, including intercellular elements, immune system cells, the vascular system, stem cells, and extracellular matrices, all of which play critical roles in tumour progression, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, drug resistance, and relapse. These components interact with multiple signalling pathways, positively or negatively influencing cell growth. Abnormal regulation of the Wnt signalling pathway has been observed in tumorigenesis and contributes to tumour growth. A comprehensive understanding and characterisation of how different cells within the TME communicate through signalling pathways is vital. This review aims to explore the intricate and dynamic interactions, expressions, and alterations of TME components and the Wnt signalling pathway, offering valuable insights into the development of therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shraddha Shravani Peri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.P.); (K.N.Y.); (T.D.H.); (R.R.)
| | - Krithicaa Narayanaa Y
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.P.); (K.N.Y.); (T.D.H.); (R.R.)
| | - Therese Deebiga Hubert
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.P.); (K.N.Y.); (T.D.H.); (R.R.)
| | - Roshini Rajaraman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.P.); (K.N.Y.); (T.D.H.); (R.R.)
| | - Frank Arfuso
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Sandhya Sundaram
- Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.); (B.A.)
| | - B. Archana
- Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.); (B.A.)
| | - Sudha Warrier
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India;
| | - Arun Dharmarajan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.P.); (K.N.Y.); (T.D.H.); (R.R.)
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Lakshmi R. Perumalsamy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; (S.S.P.); (K.N.Y.); (T.D.H.); (R.R.)
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8
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Zaarour RF, Ribeiro M, Azzarone B, Kapoor S, Chouaib S. Tumor microenvironment-induced tumor cell plasticity: relationship with hypoxic stress and impact on tumor resistance. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1222575. [PMID: 37886168 PMCID: PMC10598765 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1222575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of tumor interaction with stromal components during carcinogenesis is crucial for the design of efficient cancer treatment approaches. It is widely admitted that tumor hypoxic stress is associated with tumor aggressiveness and thus impacts susceptibility and resistance to different types of treatments. Notable biological processes that hypoxia functions in include its regulation of tumor heterogeneity and plasticity. While hypoxia has been reported as a major player in tumor survival and dissemination regulation, the significance of hypoxia inducible factors in cancer stem cell development remains poorly understood. Several reports indicate that the emergence of cancer stem cells in addition to their phenotype and function within a hypoxic tumor microenvironment impacts cancer progression. In this respect, evidence showed that cancer stem cells are key elements of intratumoral heterogeneity and more importantly are responsible for tumor relapse and escape to treatments. This paper briefly reviews our current knowledge of the interaction between tumor hypoxic stress and its role in stemness acquisition and maintenance. Our review extensively covers the influence of hypoxia on the formation and maintenance of cancer stem cells and discusses the potential of targeting hypoxia-induced alterations in the expression and function of the so far known stem cell markers in cancer therapy approaches. We believe that a better and integrated understanding of the effect of hypoxia on stemness during carcinogenesis might lead to new strategies for exploiting hypoxia-associated pathways and their targeting in the clinical setting in order to overcome resistance mechanisms. More importantly, at the present time, efforts are oriented towards the design of innovative therapeutical approaches that specifically target cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- RF. Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - M. Ribeiro
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - B. Azzarone
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - S. Kapoor
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - S. Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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9
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Li YR, Fang Y, Lyu Z, Zhu Y, Yang L. Exploring the dynamic interplay between cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment: implications for novel therapeutic strategies. J Transl Med 2023; 21:686. [PMID: 37784157 PMCID: PMC10546755 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04575-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as key contributors to tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis. In addition, CSCs play a significant role in inducing immune evasion, thereby compromising the effectiveness of cancer treatments. The reciprocal communication between CSCs and the tumor microenvironment (TME) is observed, with the TME providing a supportive niche for CSC survival and self-renewal, while CSCs, in turn, influence the polarization and persistence of the TME, promoting an immunosuppressive state. Consequently, these interactions hinder the efficacy of current cancer therapies, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches to modulate the TME and target CSCs. In this review, we highlight the intricate strategies employed by CSCs to evade immune surveillance and develop resistance to therapies. Furthermore, we examine the dynamic interplay between CSCs and the TME, shedding light on how this interaction impacts cancer progression. Moreover, we provide an overview of advanced therapeutic strategies that specifically target CSCs and the TME, which hold promise for future clinical and translational studies in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ruide Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Ying Fang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Zibai Lyu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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10
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Al-Hamaly MA, Cox AH, Haney MG, Zhang W, Arvin EC, Sampathi S, Wimsett M, Liu C, Blackburn JS. Zebrafish Drug Screening Identifies Erlotinib as an Inhibitor of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Self-Renewal in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.28.555200. [PMID: 37693603 PMCID: PMC10491167 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.28.555200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway's significance in cancer initiation, progression, and stem cell biology underscores its therapeutic potential, yet clinical application of Wnt inhibitors remains limited due to challenges posed by off-target effects and complex crosstalk with other pathways. In this study, we leveraged the zebrafish model to perform a robust and rapid drug screening of 773 FDA-approved compounds to identify Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors with minimal toxicity. Utilizing zebrafish expressing a Wnt reporter, we identified several drugs that suppressed Wnt signaling without compromising zebrafish development. The efficacy of the top hit, Erlotinib, extended to human cells, where it blocked Wnt/β-catenin signaling downstream of the destruction complex. Notably, Erlotinib treatment reduced self-renewal in human T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia cells, which are known to rely on active β-catenin signaling for maintenance of leukemia-initiating cells. Erlotinib also reduced leukemia-initiating cell frequency and delayed disease formation in zebrafish models. This study underscores zebrafish's translational potential in drug discovery and repurposing, and highlights a new use for Erlotinib as a Wnt inhibitor for cancers driven by aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Highlights Zebrafish-based drug screening offers an inexpensive and robust platform for identifying compounds with high efficacy and low toxicity in vivo . Erlotinib, an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, emerged as a potent and promising Wnt inhibitor with effects in both zebrafish and human cell-based Wnt reporter assays.The identification of Erlotinib as a Wnt inhibitor underscores the value of repurposed drugs in developing targeted therapies to disrupt cancer stemness and improve clinical outcomes.
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11
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Ebrahimi N, Afshinpour M, Fakhr SS, Kalkhoran PG, Shadman-Manesh V, Adelian S, Beiranvand S, Rezaei-Tazangi F, Khorram R, Hamblin MR, Aref AR. Cancer stem cells in colorectal cancer: Signaling pathways involved in stemness and therapy resistance. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 182:103920. [PMID: 36702423 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.103920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third cause of cancer death worldwide. Although, in some cases, treatment can increase patient survival and reduce cancer recurrence, in many cases, tumors can develop resistance to therapy leading to recurrence. One of the main reasons for recurrence and therapy resistance is the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs possess a self-renewal ability, and their stemness properties lead to the avoidance of apoptosis, and allow a new clone of cancer cells to emerge. Numerous investigations inidicated the involvment of cellular signaling pathways in embryonic development, and growth, repair, and maintenance of tissue homeostasis, also participate in the generation and maintenance of stemness in colorectal CSCs. This review discusses the role of Wnt, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Sonic hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways in colorectal CSCs, and the possible modulating drugs that could be used in treatment for resistant CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Ebrahimi
- Division of Genetics, Department of cell and molecular & microbiology, Faculty of Science and technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Maral Afshinpour
- Department of chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University (SDSU), Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Siavash Seifollahy Fakhr
- Department of Biotechnology; Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Campus Hamar, Norway
| | - Paniz Ghasempour Kalkhoran
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology_Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vida Shadman-Manesh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Adelian
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Sheida Beiranvand
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rezaei-Tazangi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Roya Khorram
- Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa.
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Xsphera Biosciences, Translational Medicine Group, 6 Tide Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA.
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12
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Jeng KS, Chang CF, Sheen IS, Jeng CJ, Wang CH. Cellular and Molecular Biology of Cancer Stem Cells of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:1417. [PMID: 36674932 PMCID: PMC9861908 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death globally. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) of HCC are responsible for tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, recurrence, chemoresistance, target therapy resistance and radioresistance. The reported main surface markers used to identify liver CSCs include epithelial cell adhesion/activating molecule (EpCAM), cluster differentiation 90 (CD90), CD44 and CD133. The main molecular signaling pathways include the Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factors-β (TGF-β), sonic hedgehog (SHH), PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Notch. Patients with EpCAM-positive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-positive HCC are usually young but have advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages. CD90-positive HCCs are usually poorly differentiated with worse prognosis. Those with CD44-positive HCC cells develop early metastases. Those with CD133 expression have a higher recurrence rate and a shorter overall survival. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway triggers angiogenesis, tumor infiltration and metastasis through the enhancement of angiogenic factors. All CD133+ liver CSCs, CD133+/EpCAM+ liver CSCs and CD44+ liver CSCs contribute to sorafenib resistance. SHH signaling could protect HCC cells against ionizing radiation in an autocrine manner. Reducing the CSC population of HCC is crucial for the improvement of the therapy of advanced HCC. However, targeting CSCs of HCC is still challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Shyang Jeng
- Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Fang Chang
- Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan
| | - I-Shyang Sheen
- Department of Hepato Gastroenterology, Linkou Medical Center, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan City 33305, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Juei Jeng
- Postgraduate of Institute of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsuan Wang
- Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan
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13
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The functions and molecular mechanisms of Tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3) implicated in the pathophysiology of cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 114:109581. [PMID: 36527874 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Currently, cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death worldwide, and at the same time, the burden of cancer continues to increase. The underlying molecular pathways involved in the initiation and development of cancer are the subject of considerable research worldwide. Further understanding of these pathways may lead to new cancer treatments. Growing data suggest that Tribble's homolog 3 (TRIB3) is essential in oncogenesis in many types of cancer. The mammalian tribbles family's proteins regulate various cellular and physiological functions, such as the cell cycle, stress response, signal transduction, propagation, development, differentiation, immunity, inflammatory processes, and metabolism. To exert their activities, Tribbles proteins must alter key signaling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways. Recent evidence supports that TRIB3 dysregulation has been linked to various diseases, including tumor development and chemoresistance. It has been speculated that TRIB3 may either promote or inhibit the onset and development of cancer. However, it is still unclear how TRIB3 performs this dual function in cancer. In this review, we present and discuss the most recent data on the role of TRIB3 in cancer pathophysiology and chemoresistance. Furthermore, we describe in detail the molecular mechanism TRIB3 regulates in cancer.
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14
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Chen Y, Chen M, Deng K. Blocking the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway to treat colorectal cancer: Strategies to improve current therapies (Review). Int J Oncol 2022; 62:24. [PMID: 36579676 PMCID: PMC9854240 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2022.5472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumor types occurring in the digestive system. The incidence of CRC has exhibits yearly increases and the mortality rate among patients with CRC is high. The Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway, which is associated with carcinogenesis, is abnormally activated in CRC. Most patients with CRC have adenomatous polyposis coli mutations, while half of the remaining patients have β‑catenin gene mutations. Therefore, targeting the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway for the treatment of CRC is of clinical value. In recent years, with in‑depth research on the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway, inhibitors have been developed that are able to suppress or hinder the development and progression of CRC. In the present review, the role of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway in CRC is summarized, the research status on Wnt/β‑catenin pathway inhibitors is outlined and potential targets for inhibition of this pathway are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China,The Laboratory of Sichuan University-Oxford University Huaxi Gastrointestinal Cancer Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Mo Chen
- Department of Gerontology, Tibetan Chengdu Branch Hospital of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China,Department of Gerontology, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China,Professor Mo Chen, Department of Gerontology, Tibetan Chengdu Branch Hospital of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 20 Ximianqiao Cross Street, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China, E-mail:
| | - Kai Deng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China,The Laboratory of Sichuan University-Oxford University Huaxi Gastrointestinal Cancer Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China,Correspondence to: Professor Kai Deng, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China, E-mail:
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15
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Drug Repurposing at the Interface of Melanoma Immunotherapy and Autoimmune Disease. Pharmaceutics 2022; 15:pharmaceutics15010083. [PMID: 36678712 PMCID: PMC9865219 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have a remarkable ability to evade recognition and destruction by the immune system. At the same time, cancer has been associated with chronic inflammation, while certain autoimmune diseases predispose to the development of neoplasia. Although cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized antitumor treatment, immune-related toxicities and adverse events detract from the clinical utility of even the most advanced drugs, especially in patients with both, metastatic cancer and pre-existing autoimmune diseases. Here, the combination of multi-omics, data-driven computational approaches with the application of network concepts enables in-depth analyses of the dynamic links between cancer, autoimmune diseases, and drugs. In this review, we focus on molecular and epigenetic metastasis-related processes within cancer cells and the immune microenvironment. With melanoma as a model, we uncover vulnerabilities for drug development to control cancer progression and immune responses. Thereby, drug repurposing allows taking advantage of existing safety profiles and established pharmacokinetic properties of approved agents. These procedures promise faster access and optimal management for cancer treatment. Together, these approaches provide new disease-based and data-driven opportunities for the prediction and application of targeted and clinically used drugs at the interface of immune-mediated diseases and cancer towards next-generation immunotherapies.
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16
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Tornesello ML, Tornesello AL, Starita N, Cerasuolo A, Izzo F, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM. Telomerase: a good target in hepatocellular carcinoma? An overview of relevant preclinical data. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:767-780. [PMID: 36369706 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2147062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Noemy Starita
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerasuolo
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Izzo
- Hepatobiliary Surgical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale-IRCCS di Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Franco Maria Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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17
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Koelman EMR, Yeste-Vázquez A, Grossmann TN. Targeting the interaction of β-catenin and TCF/LEF transcription factors to inhibit oncogenic Wnt signaling. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 70:116920. [PMID: 35841828 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is crucially involved in embryonic development, stem cell maintenance and tissue renewal. Hyperactivation of this pathway is associated with the development and progression of various types of cancers. The transcriptional coactivator β-catenin represents a pivotal component of the pathway and its interaction with transcription factors of the TCF/LEF family is central to pathway activation. Inhibition of this crucial protein-protein interaction via direct targeting of β-catenin is considered a promising strategy for the inactivation of oncogenic Wnt signaling. This review summarizes advances in the development of Wnt antagonists that have been shown to directly bind β-catenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M R Koelman
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL, The Netherlands
| | - Alejandro Yeste-Vázquez
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL, The Netherlands
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL, The Netherlands.
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18
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Weina T, Ying L, Yiwen W, Huan-Huan Q. What we have learnt from Drosophila model organism: the coordination between insulin signaling pathway and tumor cells. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09957. [PMID: 35874083 PMCID: PMC9304707 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer development is related to a variety of signaling pathways which mediate various cellular processes including growth, survival, division and competition of cells, as well as cell-cell interaction. The insulin signaling pathway interacts with different pathways and plays a core role in the regulations of all these processes. In this study, we reviewed recent studies on the relationship between the insulin signaling pathway and tumors using the Drosophila melanogaster model. We found that on one hand, the insulin pathway is normally hyperactive in tumor cells, which promotes tumor growth, and on the other hand, tumor cells can suppress the growth of healthy tissues via inhibition of their insulin pathway. Moreover, systematic disruption in glucose homeostasis also facilitates cancer development by different mechanisms. The studies on how the insulin network regulates the behaviors of cancer cells may help to discover new therapeutic treatments for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tang Weina
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Li Ying
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Wang Yiwen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiao Huan-Huan
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China
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19
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Kadian LK, Arora M, Prasad CP, Pramanik R, Chauhan SS. Signaling pathways and their potential therapeutic utility in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 24:1014-1032. [PMID: 34990001 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-021-02763-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is a complex gastrointestinal malignancy with an extremely poor outcome. Approximately 80% of cases of this malignancy in Asian countries including India are of squamous cell origin, termed Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC).The five-year survival rate in ESCC patients is less than 20%. Neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (NACRT) followed by surgical resection remains the major therapeutic strategy for patients with operable ESCC. However, resistance to NACRT and local recurrence after initial treatment are the leading cause of dismal outcomes in these patients. Therefore, an alternative strategy to promote response to the therapy and reduce the post-operative disease recurrence is highly needed. At the molecular level, wide variations have been observed in tumor characteristics among different populations, nevertheless, several common molecular features have been identified which orchestrate disease progression and clinical outcome in the malignancy. Therefore, determination of candidate molecular pathways for targeted therapy remains the mainstream idea of focus in ESCC research. In this review, we have discussed the key signaling pathways associated with ESCC, i.e., Notch, Wnt, and Nrf2 pathways, and their crosstalk during disease progression. We further discuss the recent developments of novel agents to target these pathways in the context of targeted cancer therapy. In-depth research of the signaling pathways, gene signatures, and a combinatorial approach may help in discovering targeted therapy for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Kadian
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - M Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - C P Prasad
- Department of Medical Oncology (Lab), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - R Pramanik
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S S Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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20
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Huldani H, Jasim SA, Sergeenva KN, Bokov DO, Abdelbasset WK, Turakulov R, Al-Gazally ME, Ahmadzadeh B, Jawhar ZH, Siahmansouri H. Mechanisms of cancer stem cells drug resistance and the pivotal role of HMGA2. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 234:153906. [PMID: 35468338 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays, the focus of researchers is on perceiving the heterogeneity observed in a tumor. The researchers studied the role of a specific subset of cancer cells with high resistance to traditional treatments, recurrence, and unregulated metastasis. This small population of tumor cells that have stem-cell-like specifications was named Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs). The unique features that distinguish this type of cancer cell are self-renewing, generating clones of the tumor, plasticity, recurrence, and resistance to therapies. There are various mechanisms that contribute to the drug resistance of CSCs, such as CSCs markers, Epithelial mesenchymal transition, hypoxia, other cells, inflammation, and signaling pathways. Recent investigations have revealed the primary role of HMGA2 in the development and invasion of cancer cells. Importantly, HMGA2 also plays a key role in resistance to treatment through their function in the drug resistance mechanisms of CSCs and challenge it. Therefore, a deep understanding of this issue can provide a clearer perspective for researchers in the face of this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huldani Huldani
- Department of Physiology, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Borneo, Indonesia
| | - Saade Abdalkareem Jasim
- Medical Laboratory Techniques Department, Al-Maarif University College, Al-Anbar-Ramadi, Iraq
| | - Klunko Nataliya Sergeenva
- Department of post-graduate and doctoral programs, Russian New University, Building 5, Radio Street, Moscow City, Russian Federation
| | - Dmitry Olegovich Bokov
- Institute of Pharmacy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 8 Trubetskaya St., Bldg. 2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Walid Kamal Abdelbasset
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physical Therapy, Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Rustam Turakulov
- Department of Internal diseases, Tashkent Medical Academy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | | | - Behnam Ahmadzadeh
- Doctoral School of the University of Szczecin, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Zanko Hassan Jawhar
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Lebanese French University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Homayoon Siahmansouri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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21
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Masibag AN, Bergin CJ, Haebe JR, Zouggar A, Shah MS, Sandouka T, Mendes da Silva A, Desrochers FM, Fournier-Morin A, Benoit YD. Pharmacological targeting of Sam68 functions in colorectal cancer stem cells. iScience 2021; 24:103442. [PMID: 34877499 PMCID: PMC8633986 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are documented to play a key role in tumorigenesis and therapy resistance. Despite significant progress in clinical oncology, CSC reservoirs remain elusive and difficult to eliminate. Reverse-turn peptidomimetics were characterized as disruptors of CBP/beta-Catenin interactions and represent a promising avenue to curb hyperactive canonical Wnt/beta-Catenin signaling in CSCs. Recent studies suggested Sam68 as a critical mediator of reverse-turn peptidomimetics response in CSC populations. Using computational and biochemical approaches we confirmed Sam68 as a primary target of reverse-turn peptidomimetics. Furthermore, we executed an in silico drug discovery pipeline to identify yet uncharacterized reverse-turn peptidomimetic structures displaying superior anti-CSC activity in transformed pluripotent and colorectal cancer cell models. Thus, we identified YB-0158 as a reverse-turn peptidomimetic small molecule with enhanced translational potential, altering key hallmarks of human colorectal CSCs in patient-derived ex vivo organoids and in vivo serial tumor transplantation. Sam68 is a direct protein target of reverse-turn peptidomimetic small molecules YB-0158 is a peptidomimetic structure with high predicted affinity for Sam68 YB-0158 elicits a cancer-selective response impeding main cancer stem cell hallmarks YB-0158 blocks cancer stem cell activity in tumor organoids and in vivo systems
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelique N Masibag
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Christopher J Bergin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Joshua R Haebe
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Aïcha Zouggar
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Muhammad S Shah
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Tamara Sandouka
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Amanda Mendes da Silva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - François M Desrochers
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Aube Fournier-Morin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Yannick D Benoit
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
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22
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The Small-Molecule Wnt Inhibitor ICG-001 Efficiently Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Stemness and Metastasis by Suppressing MEIS1 Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413413. [PMID: 34948208 PMCID: PMC8704261 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrence and metastasis remain major obstacles in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Recent studies suggest that a small subpopulation of cells with a self-renewal ability, called cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), promotes recurrence and metastasis in CRC. Unfortunately, no CSC inhibitor has been demonstrated to be more effective than existing chemotherapeutic drugs, resulting in a significant unmet need for effective CRC therapies. In this study, transcriptomic profiling of metastatic tumors from CRC patients revealed significant upregulation in the Wnt pathway and stemness genes. Thus, we examined the therapeutic effect of the small-molecule Wnt inhibitor ICG-001 on cancer stemness and metastasis. The ICG-001 treatment efficiently attenuated self-renewal activity and metastatic potential. Mechanistically, myeloid ecotropic viral insertion site 1 (MEIS1) was identified as a target gene of ICG-001 that is transcriptionally regulated by Wnt signaling. A series of functional analyses revealed that MEIS1 enhanced the CSC behavior and metastatic potential of the CRC cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that ICG-001 efficiently inhibits CRC stemness and metastasis by suppressing MEIS1 expression. These results provide a basis for the further clinical investigation of ICG-001 as a targeted therapy for CSCs, opening a new avenue for the development of novel Wnt inhibitors for the treatment of CRC metastasis.
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23
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Abstract
Liver metastasis, originating either from a primary liver or other cancer types, represent a large cancer-related burden. Therefore, studies that add to better understanding of its molecular basis are needed. Herein, the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in liver metastasis is outlined. Its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), motility, migration, metastasis formation, and other steps of the metastatic cascade are presented. Additionally, the roles of the Wnt signaling pathway in the liver metastasis formation of colorectal, breast, gastric, lung, melanoma, pancreatic, and prostate cancer are explored. The special emphasis is given to the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in the communication between the many of the components of the primary and secondary cancer microenvironment that contribute to the metastatic outgrowth in the liver. The data presented herein are a review of the most recent publications and advances in the field that add to the idea that the Wnt pathway is among the drivers of liver metastasis and that its targeting could potentially relieve liver metastasis–related complications.
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24
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Park SY, Kim JY, Jang GB, Choi JH, Kim JH, Lee CJ, Lee S, Baek JH, Park KK, Kim JM, Chang HJ, Cho NC, Nam JS. Aberrant activation of the CD45-Wnt signaling axis promotes stemness and therapy resistance in colorectal cancer cells. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:8755-8770. [PMID: 34522210 PMCID: PMC8419050 DOI: 10.7150/thno.63446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Chemoradiation (CRT) is commonly used as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, resistant cells manage to survive and propagate after CRT, increasing the risk of recurrence. Thus, better understanding the mechanism of resistant cancer cells is required to achieve better clinical outcomes. Methods: Here, we explored gene expression profiling of CRC patient tumors to identify therapy resistance genes and discovered that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C (PTPRC), which encodes CD45, was increased in remnant tumor tissues after CRT and correlated with metastasis. Through multiple validations using patient tumors and CRC cell lines, we found for the first time the increase of CD45 expression in CRC (EpCAM+) epithelial cells surviving after CRT. Thus, we investigated the biological role and downstream events of CD45 were explored in human CRC cells and CRC mouse models. Results: Increased CD45 expression in cancer cells in pretreated primary tumors accounts for poor regression and recurrence-free survival in CRT-treated patients. High CD45 expression promotes CRC cell survival upon 5-fluorouracil or radiation treatment, while CD45 depletion sensitizes CRC cells to CRT. Intriguingly, CD45 is preferentially expressed in cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), as determined by spheroid culture and the expression of CSC markers, and is required for the distinct functions of CSCs, such as cancer initiation, repopulation, and metastasis. Mechanistically, CD45 phosphatase activity promotes Wnt transcriptional activity by stabilizing the β-catenin protein, which collectively enhances stemness and the therapy-resistant phenotype. Conclusions: Our results highlight a novel function of CD45 as a mediator of CRT resistance and provide a potential therapy strategy for CRC therapy.
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Yu F, Yu C, Li F, Zuo Y, Wang Y, Yao L, Wu C, Wang C, Ye L. Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancers and targeted therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:307. [PMID: 34456337 PMCID: PMC8403677 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00701-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been broadly implicated in human cancers and experimental cancer models of animals. Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is tightly linked with the increment of prevalence, advancement of malignant progression, development of poor prognostics, and even ascendence of the cancer-associated mortality. Early experimental investigations have proposed the theoretical potential that efficient repression of this signaling might provide promising therapeutic choices in managing various types of cancers. Up to date, many therapies targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancers have been developed, which is assumed to endow clinicians with new opportunities of developing more satisfactory and precise remedies for cancer patients with aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, current facts indicate that the clinical translations of Wnt/β-catenin signaling-dependent targeted therapies have faced un-neglectable crises and challenges. Therefore, in this study, we systematically reviewed the most updated knowledge of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancers and relatively targeted therapies to generate a clearer and more accurate awareness of both the developmental stage and underlying limitations of Wnt/β-catenin-targeted therapies in cancers. Insights of this study will help readers better understand the roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancers and provide insights to acknowledge the current opportunities and challenges of targeting this signaling in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanyuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Endodontics, West China Stomatology Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Changhao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Endodontics, West China Stomatology Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Feifei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanqin Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Endodontics, West China Stomatology Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yitian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Endodontics, West China Stomatology Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chenzhou Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chenglin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Endodontics, West China Stomatology Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Endodontics, West China Stomatology Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Lin J, Ruan J, Zhu H, Chen Z, Chen J, Yu H. Tenacissoside H Induces Autophagy and Radiosensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway. Dose Response 2021; 19:15593258211011023. [PMID: 34035782 PMCID: PMC8127767 DOI: 10.1177/15593258211011023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Tenacissoside H (TEH), which has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects, is a major active ingredient extracted from the stem of Marsdenia tenacissima. However, the effect of TEH on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as the underlying mechanisms are still indistinct. Presently, HCC cells (including Huh-7 and HepG2) were dealt with different concentrations of TEH. The proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells were determined via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay and flow cytometry. In addition, Western blot was conducted to evaluate the expressions of autophagy—and apoptosis-related proteins. Tissue immunofluorescence was carried out to evaluate LC3B expression in the tumor tissues. The data showed that TEH suppressed the growth of HCC cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Besides, TEH enhanced radiosensitivity and promoted the apoptosis of HCC cells. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of autophagy-related genes (LC3-II/LC2-I, ATG5, Beclin-1) were significantly promoted by TEH. Mechanistically, TEH attenuated the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. However, inhibition of PI3 K pathway abolished the anti-tumor effects of TEH in HCC cells. Collectively, this study suggested that TEH increases the radiosensitivity of HCC cells via inducing autophagy and apoptosis through downregulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiatian Lin
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiyin Ruan
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Zhu
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zaizhong Chen
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Junhui Chen
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongjian Yu
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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Interplay of autophagy and cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:3695-3717. [PMID: 33893928 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06334-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. The most common type of liver cancers is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy is the cellular digestion of harmful components by sequestering the waste products into autophagosomes followed by lysosomal degradation for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. The impairment of autophagy is highly associated with the development and progression of HCC although autophagy may be involved in tumour-suppressing cellular events. In regards to its protecting role, autophagy also shelters the cells from anoikis- a programmed cell death in anchorage-dependent cells detached from the surrounding extracellular matrix which facilitates metastasis in HCC. Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) have the ability for self-renewal and differentiation and are associated with the development and progression of HCC by regulating stemness, resistance and angiogenesis. Interestingly, autophagy is also known to regulate normal stem cells by promoting cellular survival and differentiation and maintaining cellular homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the basal autophagic mechanisms and double-faceted roles of autophagy as both tumour suppressor and tumour promoter in HCC, as well as its association with and contribution to self-renewal and differentiation of LCSCs.
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28
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Liu Z, Wang P, Wold EA, Song Q, Zhao C, Wang C, Zhou J. Small-Molecule Inhibitors Targeting the Canonical WNT Signaling Pathway for the Treatment of Cancer. J Med Chem 2021; 64:4257-4288. [PMID: 33822624 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Canonical WNT signaling is an important developmental pathway that has attracted increased attention for anticancer drug discovery. From the production and secretion of WNT ligands, their binding to membrane receptors, and the β-catenin destruction complex to the expansive β-catenin transcriptional complex, multiple components have been investigated as drug targets to modulate WNT signaling. Significant progress in developing WNT inhibitors such as porcupine inhibitors, tankyrase inhibitors, β-catenin/coactivators, protein-protein interaction inhibitors, casein kinase modulators, DVL inhibitors, and dCTPP1 inhibitors has been made, with several candidates (e.g., LGK-974, PRI-724, and ETC-159) in human clinical trials. Herein we summarize recent progress in the drug discovery and development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting the canonical WNT pathway, focusing on their specific target proteins, in vitro and in vivo activities, physicochemical properties, and therapeutic potential. The relevant opportunities and challenges toward maintaining the balance between efficacy and toxicity in effectively targeting this pathway are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqing Liu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, College of Food Science and Technology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Pingyuan Wang
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Eric A Wold
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Qiaoling Song
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, College of Food Science and Technology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, College of Food Science and Technology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Changyun Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, College of Food Science and Technology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
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Ni CJ, Qin XS, Huang ZS. Role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2021; 29:190-196. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v29.i4.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that the occurrence and development of liver cancer are related to a variety of signaling pathways. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in all stages of liver disease progression, from initial liver damage to inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, as well as the occurrence and progression of tumors. Abnormal Wnt/β-catenin signaling promotes the development and progression of different liver diseases, including cancer. This review introduces the activation, biological function, and regulatory mechanism of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, discusses the role of ngthis pathway in the occurrence and progression of liver cancer, and describes factors that can inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, such as small molecule inhibitors, traditional Chinese medicine extracts, and microRNAs, with an aim to provide reference for the basic and clinical research of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai-Ju Ni
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xiao-Shan Qin
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China,Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zan-Song Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China,Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
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30
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Zhu GX, Gao D, Shao ZZ, Chen L, Ding WJ, Yu QF. Wnt/β‑catenin signaling: Causes and treatment targets of drug resistance in colorectal cancer (Review). Mol Med Rep 2020; 23:105. [PMID: 33300082 PMCID: PMC7723170 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor in humans. Chemotherapy is used for the treatment of CRC. However, the effect of chemotherapy remains unsatisfactory due to drug resistance. Growing evidence has shown that the presence of highly metastatic tumor stem cells, regulation of non-coding RNAs and the tumor microenvironment contributes to drug resistance mechanisms in CRC. Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediates the chemoresistance of CRC in these three aspects. Therefore, the present study analyzed the abundant evidence of the contribution of Wnt/β-catenin signaling to the development of drug resistance in CRC and discussed its possible role in improving the chemosensitivity of CRC, which may provide guidelines for its clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Xian Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Dian Gao
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zhao-Zhao Shao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Jie Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qiong-Fang Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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31
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Zhang T, Ahn K, Emerick B, Modarai SR, Opdenaker LM, Palazzo J, Schleiniger G, Fields JZ, Boman BM. APC mutations in human colon lead to decreased neuroendocrine maturation of ALDH+ stem cells that alters GLP-2 and SST feedback signaling: Clue to a link between WNT and retinoic acid signalling in colon cancer development. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239601. [PMID: 33112876 PMCID: PMC7592776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
APC mutations drive human colorectal cancer (CRC) development. A major contributing factor is colonic stem cell (SC) overpopulation. But, the mechanism has not been fully identified. A possible mechanism is the dysregulation of neuroendocrine cell (NEC) maturation by APC mutations because SCs and NECs both reside together in the colonic crypt SC niche where SCs mature into NECs. So, we hypothesized that sequential inactivation of APC alleles in human colonic crypts leads to progressively delayed maturation of SCs into NECs and overpopulation of SCs. Accordingly, we used quantitative immunohistochemical mapping to measure indices and proportions of SCs and NECs in human colon tissues (normal, adenomatous, malignant), which have different APC-zygosity states. In normal crypts, many cells staining for the colonic SC marker ALDH1 co-stained for chromogranin-A (CGA) and other NEC markers. In contrast, in APC-mutant tissues from familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients, the proportion of ALDH+ SCs progressively increased while NECs markedly decreased. To explain how these cell populations change in FAP tissues, we used mathematical modelling to identify kinetic mechanisms. Computational analyses indicated that APC mutations lead to: 1) decreased maturation of ALDH+ SCs into progenitor NECs (not progenitor NECs into mature NECs); 2) diminished feedback signaling by mature NECs. Biological experiments using human CRC cell lines to test model predictions showed that mature GLP-2R+ and SSTR1+ NECs produce, via their signaling peptides, opposing effects on rates of NEC maturation via feedback regulation of progenitor NECs. However, decrease in this feedback signaling wouldn't explain the delayed maturation because both progenitor and mature NECs are depleted in CRCs. So the mechanism for delayed maturation must explain how APC mutation causes the ALDH+ SCs to remain immature. Given that ALDH is a key component of the retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathway, that other components of the RA pathway are selectively expressed in ALDH+ SCs, and that exogenous RA ligands can induce ALDH+ cancer SCs to mature into NECs, RA signaling must be attenuated in ALDH+ SCs in CRC. Thus, attenuation of RA signaling explains why ALDH+ SCs remain immature in APC mutant tissues. Since APC mutation causes increased WNT signaling in FAP and we found that sequential inactivation of APC in FAP patient tissues leads to progressively delayed maturation of colonic ALDH+ SCs, the hypothesis is developed that human CRC evolves due to an imbalance between WNT and RA signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, DE, United States of America
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Koree Ahn
- Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, DE, United States of America
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Brooks Emerick
- Center for Applications of Mathematics in Medicine, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
| | - Shirin R. Modarai
- Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, DE, United States of America
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
| | - Lynn M. Opdenaker
- Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, DE, United States of America
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
| | - Juan Palazzo
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Gilberto Schleiniger
- Center for Applications of Mathematics in Medicine, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
| | | | - Bruce M. Boman
- Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute, Newark, DE, United States of America
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- Center for Applications of Mathematics in Medicine, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States of America
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Dzobo K, Senthebane DA, Ganz C, Thomford NE, Wonkam A, Dandara C. Advances in Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells within the Tumor Microenvironment: An Updated Review. Cells 2020; 9:E1896. [PMID: 32823711 PMCID: PMC7464860 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite great strides being achieved in improving cancer patients' outcomes through better therapies and combinatorial treatment, several hurdles still remain due to therapy resistance, cancer recurrence and metastasis. Drug resistance culminating in relapse continues to be associated with fatal disease. The cancer stem cell theory posits that tumors are driven by specialized cancer cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are a subpopulation of cancer cells known to be resistant to therapy and cause metastasis. Whilst the debate on whether CSCs are the origins of the primary tumor rages on, CSCs have been further characterized in many cancers with data illustrating that CSCs display great abilities to self-renew, resist therapies due to enhanced epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) properties, enhanced expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane transporters, activation of several survival signaling pathways and increased immune evasion as well as DNA repair mechanisms. CSCs also display great heterogeneity with the consequential lack of specific CSC markers presenting a great challenge to their targeting. In this updated review we revisit CSCs within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and present novel treatment strategies targeting CSCs. These promising strategies include targeting CSCs-specific properties using small molecule inhibitors, immunotherapy, microRNA mediated inhibitors, epigenetic methods as well as targeting CSC niche-microenvironmental factors and differentiation. Lastly, we present recent clinical trials undertaken to try to turn the tide against cancer by targeting CSC-associated drug resistance and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Wernher and Beit Building (South), UCT Medical Campus, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (D.A.S.); (C.G.)
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Dimakatso Alice Senthebane
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Wernher and Beit Building (South), UCT Medical Campus, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (D.A.S.); (C.G.)
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Chelene Ganz
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Wernher and Beit Building (South), UCT Medical Campus, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (D.A.S.); (C.G.)
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Nicholas Ekow Thomford
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology and Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (N.E.T.); (A.W.); (C.D.)
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology and Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (N.E.T.); (A.W.); (C.D.)
| | - Collet Dandara
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology and Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (N.E.T.); (A.W.); (C.D.)
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Dai Y, Guo X, Yang C. Effect of bortezomib on proliferation and apoptosis of myeloma cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:1295-1299. [PMID: 32724371 PMCID: PMC7377063 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Effect of bortezomib on proliferation and apoptosis of myeloma cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was investigated. Myeloma cells RPMI-8226 treated with different concentrations of bortezomib were used as experimental groups, and the untreated cells were used as the control group. The proliferation and apoptosis in all groups of cells were detected, as well as the expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, β-catenin and c-Myc. The results revealed that bortezomib could inhibit the proliferation of myeloma cells. The apoptotic rates of RPMI-8226 cells in the groups treated with 20, 50 and 80 nmol/l of bortezomib were 12.08±0.61, 35.97±3.11 and 57.22±5.47%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in the control group (8.28±0.39%) (P<0.05). The expression levels of β-catenin and c-Myc in the experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Bortezomib can reduce the expression level of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, β-catenin and c-Myc, and may inhibit cell proliferation and accelerate apoptosis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Dai
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Chuxiong Medical College, Chuxiong, Yunnan 675000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomin Guo
- School of Nursing, Chuxiong Medical College, Chuxiong, Yunnan 675000, P.R. China
| | - Chunyan Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Chuxiong Medical College, Chuxiong, Yunnan 675000, P.R. China
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Liu YC, Yeh CT, Lin KH. Cancer Stem Cell Functions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061331. [PMID: 32466488 PMCID: PMC7349579 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality owing to resistance to traditional treatments and tumor recurrence after therapy, which leads to poor therapeutic outcomes. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a small subset of tumor cells with the capability to influence self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. A number of surface markers for liver cancer stem cell (LCSC) subpopulations (EpCAM, CD133, CD44, CD13, CD90, OV-6, CD47, and side populations) in HCC have been identified. LCSCs play critical roles in regulating HCC stemness, self-renewal, tumorigenicity, metastasis, recurrence, and therapeutic resistance via genetic mutations, epigenetic disruption, signaling pathway dysregulation, or alterations microenvironment. Accumulating studies have shown that biomarkers for LCSCs contribute to diagnosis and prognosis prediction of HCC, supporting their utility in clinical management and development of therapeutic strategies. Preclinical and clinical analyses of therapeutic approaches for HCC using small molecule inhibitors, oncolytic measles viruses, and anti-surface marker antibodies have demonstrated selective, efficient, and safe targeting of LCSC populations. The current review focuses on recent reports on the influence of LCSCs on HCC stemness, tumorigenesis, and multiple drug resistance (MDR), along with LCSC-targeted therapeutic strategies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Kwang-Huei Lin
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +886-3-211-8263
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Tang Q, Yin D, Wang Y, Du W, Qin Y, Ding A, Li H. Cancer Stem Cells and Combination Therapies to Eradicate Them. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 26:1994-2008. [PMID: 32250222 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200406083756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) show self-renewal ability and multipotential differentiation, like normal stem or progenitor cells, and which proliferate uncontrollably and can escape the effects of drugs and phagocytosis by immune cells. Traditional monotherapies, such as surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, cannot eradicate CSCs, however, combination therapy may be more effective at eliminating CSCs. The present review summarizes the characteristics of CSCs and several promising combination therapies to eradicate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tang
- College of Pharmacy and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China.,Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dan Yin
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Wang
- College of Pharmacy and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenxuan Du
- College of Pharmacy and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuhan Qin
- College of Pharmacy and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Anni Ding
- College of Pharmacy and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hanmei Li
- College of Pharmacy and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
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Yang L, Shi P, Zhao G, Xu J, Peng W, Zhang J, Zhang G, Wang X, Dong Z, Chen F, Cui H. Targeting cancer stem cell pathways for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:8. [PMID: 32296030 PMCID: PMC7005297 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0110-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 946] [Impact Index Per Article: 236.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since cancer stem cells (CSCs) were first identified in leukemia in 1994, they have been considered promising therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. These cells have self-renewal capacity and differentiation potential and contribute to multiple tumor malignancies, such as recurrence, metastasis, heterogeneity, multidrug resistance, and radiation resistance. The biological activities of CSCs are regulated by several pluripotent transcription factors, such as OCT4, Sox2, Nanog, KLF4, and MYC. In addition, many intracellular signaling pathways, such as Wnt, NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB), Notch, Hedgehog, JAK-STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription), PI3K/AKT/mTOR (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin), TGF (transforming growth factor)/SMAD, and PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor), as well as extracellular factors, such as vascular niches, hypoxia, tumor-associated macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts, cancer-associated mesenchymal stem cells, extracellular matrix, and exosomes, have been shown to be very important regulators of CSCs. Molecules, vaccines, antibodies, and CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T cell) cells have been developed to specifically target CSCs, and some of these factors are already undergoing clinical trials. This review summarizes the characterization and identification of CSCs, depicts major factors and pathways that regulate CSC development, and discusses potential targeted therapy for CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Pengfei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Gaichao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiayi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaowen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhen Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China.
- Cancer Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, 400716, Chongqing, China.
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Wnt Signaling in the Regulation of Immune Cell and Cancer Therapeutics. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111380. [PMID: 31684152 PMCID: PMC6912555 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is one of the important pathways to play a major role in various biological processes, such as embryonic stem-cell development, tissue regeneration, cell differentiation, and immune cell regulation. Recent studies suggest that Wnt signaling performs an essential function in immune cell modulation and counteracts various disorders. Nonetheless, the emerging role and mechanism of action of this signaling cascade in immune cell regulation, as well as its involvement in various cancers, remain debatable. The Wnt signaling in immune cells is very diverse, e.g., the tolerogenic role of dendritic cells, the development of natural killer cells, thymopoiesis of T cells, B-cell-driven initiation of T-cells, and macrophage actions in tissue repair, regeneration, and fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the current therapeutic targets in (and the prospects of) Wnt signaling, as well as the potential suitability of available modulators for the development of cancer immunotherapies. Although there are several Wnt inhibitors relevant to cancer, it would be worthwhile to extend this approach to immune cells.
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Pak S, Park S, Kim Y, Park JH, Park CH, Lee KJ, Kim CS, Ahn H. The small molecule WNT/β-catenin inhibitor CWP232291 blocks the growth of castration-resistant prostate cancer by activating the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:342. [PMID: 31387608 PMCID: PMC6685284 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1342-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgen receptor (AR)-targeted treatments improve the survival of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients; however, secondary resistance to these agents ultimately occurs in virtually all patients. Therefore, alternative therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Since growing evidence demonstrates that WNT/β-catenin signaling plays an important role in CRPC, the antitumor activity and mechanism of action of CWP232291, a small molecule β-catenin inhibitor, were investigated in prostate cancer. METHODS We assessed the antitumor activity of CWP232291 in prostate cancer cell lines and primary cells derived from CRPC patients. The effect of CWP232291 on apoptotic cell death, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, cell viability, and WNT/β-catenin signaling was evaluated by flow cytometry, western blotting, luciferase reporter assay, and fluorescence microscopy. Antitumor efficacy was assessed in two CRPC xenograft mouse models. RESULTS CWP232291 induced ER stress, resulting in upregulation of the proapoptotic protein CHOP and activation of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. In addition, CWP232291 suppressed the expression of β-catenin by affecting WNT-dependent transcriptional activity, and downregulated AR and its splice variants in prostate cancer cells. Antitumor activity was observed in prostate cancer cells in vitro and ex vivo, and antitumor efficacy was observed in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Beyond providing preclinical evidence of therapeutic efficacy for the novel small molecule β-catenin inhibitor CWP232291 in CRPC, our results show that inducing ER stress and targeting WNT/β-catenin signaling may be a novel strategy against CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahyun Pak
- Department of Urology, Center for Urologic Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Sejun Park
- Department of Urology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Yunlim Kim
- Department of Urology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung-Hyuck Park
- Drug Discovery Center, JW Pharmaceutical Corporation, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chan-Hee Park
- Drug Discovery Center, JW Pharmaceutical Corporation, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Choung-soo Kim
- Department of Urology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hanjong Ahn
- Department of Urology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
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Hoyt A, Moran A, Granger C, Sedani A, Saigh S, Brown J, Galoian K. PRP‑1 significantly decreases the ALDHhigh cancer stem cell population and regulates the aberrant Wnt/β‑catenin pathway in human chondrosarcoma JJ012 cells. Oncol Rep 2019; 42:103-114. [PMID: 31180539 PMCID: PMC6549102 DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chondrosarcomas are malignant bone tumors refractory to chemotherapy and radiation treatment; thus, novel therapeutic strategies are required. Proline‑rich polypeptide 1 (PRP‑1) has previously demonstrated antitumor properties in chondrosarcoma. To further investigate the role of PRP‑1 in chondrosarcoma cells, its effects on cancer stem cell (CSC) populations were determined by analyzing aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, an established marker of CSCs, in association with regulation of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling. A significant decrease in ALDHhigh CSCs was observed following treatment of chondrosarcoma JJ012 cells with PRP‑1. For RT2 profiler PCR array analysis of Wnt/β‑catenin signaling genes, cells were sorted into: i) Bulk JJ012 cells; ii) ALDHhigh cells sorted from untreated JJ012 cells (ALDHhigh‑untreated); and iii) ALDHlow cells sorted from PRP‑1‑treated JJ012 cells (ALDHlow‑PRP‑1). The expression levels of Wnt/β‑catenin signaling genes were determined to be downregulated in the ALDHhigh‑untreated cells and upregulated in ALDHlow‑PRP‑1 cells when compared to the bulk JJ012 cells. Additionally, two important oncogenes involved in this pathway, MMP7 and CCND2, were found to be downregulated in the ALDHlow‑PRP‑1 cells. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the localization of β‑catenin in the nuclei of the PRP‑1‑treated cells. Western blotting indicated increased β‑catenin expression in the ALDHlow‑PRP‑1 cells compared with the bulk JJ012 cells. Analysis of the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of cells treated with increasing concentrations of PRP‑1 and β‑catenin nuclear translocation inhibitor CGP57380, suggested the nuclear translocation of β‑catenin following PRP‑1 treatment. In addition, treatment of JJ012 cells with a specific ALDH inhibitor, diethylaminobenzaldehyde, and PRP‑1 resulted in a significant decrease in cytoplasmic β‑catenin protein expression. This indicated that ALDH inactivation may be associated with the nuclear translocation of β‑catenin. Derivation of sarcomas from mesenchymal stem cells via inactivation of the Wnt pathway has been previously documented. The findings of the present study support the notion that Wnt/β‑catenin activation may serve a differential role in sarcomas, limiting tumor progression in association with decreased CSC activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A.K. Hoyt
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - A. Moran
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - C. Granger
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - A. Sedani
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - S. Saigh
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Flow Cytometry Shared Facility, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - J. Brown
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - K.A. Galoian
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Smigiel JM, Taylor SE, Bryson BL, Tamagno I, Polak K, Jackson MW. Cellular plasticity and metastasis in breast cancer: a pre- and post-malignant problem. JOURNAL OF CANCER METASTASIS AND TREATMENT 2019; 5:47. [PMID: 32355893 PMCID: PMC7192216 DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2019.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
As a field we have made tremendous strides in treating breast cancer, with a decline in the past 30 years of overall breast cancer mortality. However, this progress is met with little affect once the disease spreads beyond the primary site. With a 5-year survival rate of 22%, 10-year of 13%, for those patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), our ability to effectively treat wide spread disease is minimal. A major contributing factor to this ineffectiveness is the complex make-up, or heterogeneity, of the primary site. Within a primary tumor, secreted factors, malignant and pre-malignant epithelial cells, immune cells, stromal fibroblasts and many others all reside alongside each other creating a dynamic environment contributing to metastasis. Furthermore, heterogeneity contributes to our lack of understanding regarding the cells' remarkable ability to undergo epithelial/non-cancer stem cell (CSC) to mesenchymal/CSC (E-M/CSC) plasticity. The enhanced invasion & motility, tumor-initiating potential, and acquired therapeutic resistance which accompanies E-M/CSC plasticity implicates a significant role in metastasis. While most work trying to understand E-M/CSC plasticity has been done on malignant cells, recent evidence is emerging concerning the ability for pre-malignant cells to undergo E-M/CSC plasticity and contribute to the metastatic process. Here we will discuss the importance of E-M/CSC plasticity within malignant and pre-malignant populations of the tumor. Moreover, we will discuss how one may potentially target these populations, ultimately disrupting the metastatic cascade and increasing patient survival for those with mBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M. Smigiel
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Sarah E. Taylor
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Bryson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ilaria Tamagno
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Kelsey Polak
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Mark W. Jackson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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Aghajani M, Mansoori B, Mohammadi A, Asadzadeh Z, Baradaran B. New emerging roles of CD133 in cancer stem cell: Signaling pathway and miRNA regulation. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:21642-21661. [PMID: 31102292 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) are rare immortal cells within a tumor that are able to initiate tumor progression, development, and resistance. Advances studies show that, like normal stem cells, CSCs can be both self-renewed and given rise to many cell types, therefore form tumors. A number of cell surface markers, such as CD44, CD24, and CD133 are frequently used to identify CSCs. CD133, a transmembrane glycoprotein, either alone or in collaboration with other markers, has been mainly considered to identify CSCs from different solid tumors. However, the exactness of CD133 as a cancer stem cell biomarker has not been approved yet. The clinical importance of CD133 is as a CSC marker in many cancers. Also, it contributes to shorter survival, tumor progression, and tumor recurrence. The expression of CD133 is controlled by many extracellular or intracellular factors, such as tumor microenvironment, epigenetic factors, signaling pathways, and miRNAs. In this study, it was attempted to determine: 1) CD133 function; 2) the role of CD133 in cancer; 3) CD133 regulation; 4) the therapeutic role of CD133 in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Aghajani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Mansoori
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ali Mohammadi
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Zahra Asadzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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SERPINB2 Is a Novel Indicator of Cancer Stem Cell Tumorigenicity in Multiple Cancer Types. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040499. [PMID: 30965654 PMCID: PMC6520756 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is one of the major characteristics of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and a mechanism of tumor recurrence. Therefore, selectively targeting CSCs may be an effective therapeutic strategy to overcome cancer recurrence. In the present study, we found that exposure to tumorigenic compounds significantly increased the growth potential and stem-cell-like properties of various CSCs. Early-response genes involved in tumorigenesis can be used as specific markers to predict potential tumorigenicity. Importantly, for the first time we identified, a labile tumorigenic response gene—SERPINB2—and showed that tumorigenic compound exposure more profoundly affected its expression in CSCs than in non-stem cancer cells, although both cells exhibit basal expression of SERPINB2 in multiple cancer types. Our data also revealed a strong relationship between the significantly enhanced expression of SERPINB2 and metastatic progression in multiple cancer types. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to focus on the functions of SERPINB2 in the tumorigenicity of various CSCs and these findings will facilitate the development of promising tumorigenicity test platforms.
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Sonbol MB, Ahn DH, Bekaii-Saab T. Therapeutic Targeting Strategies of Cancer Stem Cells in Gastrointestinal Malignancies. Biomedicines 2019; 7:biomedicines7010017. [PMID: 30857342 PMCID: PMC6466109 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines7010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be a distinct population of cells within a tumor mass that are capable of asymmetric division and known to have chemoresistant characteristics. The description and identification of CSC models in cancer growth and recurrence has inspired the design of novel treatment strategies to overcome treatment resistance by targeting both CSCs and non-CSC tumor cells. Several cellular signaling pathways have been described as playing a role in the induction and maintenance of stemness in CSCs, such as the Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, STAT3, and Hedgehog pathways. In this review, we aim to review some of the ongoing CSC therapeutic targeting strategies in gastrointestinal malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel H Ahn
- Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA.
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Hua F, Shang S, Yang YW, Zhang HZ, Xu TL, Yu JJ, Zhou DD, Cui B, Li K, Lv XX, Zhang XW, Liu SS, Yu JM, Wang F, Zhang C, Huang B, Hu ZW. TRIB3 Interacts With β-Catenin and TCF4 to Increase Stem Cell Features of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Tumorigenesis. Gastroenterology 2019; 156:708-721.e15. [PMID: 30365932 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Activation of Wnt signaling to β-catenin contributes to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Expression of tribbles pseudo-kinase 3 (TRIB3) is increased in some colorectal tumors and associated with poor outcome. We investigated whether increased TRIB3 expression promotes stem cell features of CRC cells and tumor progression by interacting with the Wnt signaling pathway. METHODS We performed studies with C57BL/6J-ApcMin/J mice injected with an adeno-associated virus vector that expresses a small hairpin RNA against Trib3 mRNA (ApcMin/J-Trib3KD) or a control vector (ApcMin/J-Ctrl). We created BALB/c mice that overexpress TRIB3 from an adeno-associated virus vector and mice with small hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of β-catenin. The mice were given azoxymethane followed by dextran sodium sulfate to induce colitis-associated cancer. Intestinal tissues were collected and analyzed by histology, gene expression profiling, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5)-positive (LGR5Pos) and LGR5-negative (LGR5Neg) HCT-8 CRC cells, with or without knockdown or transgenic expression of TRIB3, were sorted and analyzed in sphere-formation assays. We derived organoids from human and mouse colorectal tumors to analyze the function of TRIB3 and test the effect of a peptide inhibitor. Wnt signaling to β-catenin was analyzed in dual luciferase reporter, chromatin precipitation, immunofluorescence, and immunoblot assays. Proteins that interact with TRIB3 were identified by immunoprecipitation. CRC cell lines were grown in nude mice as xenograft tumors. RESULTS At 10 weeks of age, more than half the ApcMin/J-Ctrl mice developed intestinal high-grade epithelial neoplasia, whereas ApcMin/J-Trib3KD mice had no intestinal polyps and normal histology. Colon tissues from ApcMin/J-Trib3KD mice expressed lower levels of genes regulated by β-catenin and genes associated with cancer stem cells. Mice with overexpression of Trib3 developed more tumors after administration of azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate than BALB/c mice. Mice with knockdown of β-catenin had a lower tumor burden after administration of azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate, regardless of Trib3 overexpression. Intestinal tissues from mice with overexpression of Trib3 and knockdown of β-catenin did not have activation of Wnt signaling or expression of genes regulated by β-catenin. LGR5Pos cells sorted from HCT-8 cells expressed higher levels of TRIB3 than LGR5Neg cells. CRC cells that overexpressed TRIB3 had higher levels of transcription by β-catenin and formed larger spheroids than control CRC cells; knockdown of β-catenin prevented the larger organoid size caused by TRIB3 overexpression. TRIB3 interacted physically with β-catenin and transcription factor 4 (TCF4). TRIB3 overexpression increased, and TRIB3 knockdown decreased, recruitment of TCF4 and β-catenin to the promoter region of genes regulated by Wnt. Activated β-catenin increased expression of TRIB3, indicating a positive-feedback loop. A peptide (P2-T3A6) that bound β-catenin disrupted its interaction with TRIB3 and TCF4. In primary CRC cells and HCT-8 cells, P2-T3A6 decreased expression of genes regulated by β-catenin and genes associated with cancer stem cells and decreased cell viability and migration. Injection of C57BL/6J-ApcMin/J mice with P2-T3A6 decreased the number and size of tumor nodules and colon expression of genes regulated by β-catenin. P2-T3A6 increased 5-fluorouracil-induced death of CRC cells and survival times of mice with xenograft tumors. CONCLUSION TRIB3 interacts with β-catenin and TCF4 in intestine cells to increase expression of genes associated with cancer stem cells. Knockdown of TRIB3 decreases colon neoplasia in mice, migration of CRC cells, and their growth as xenograft tumors in mice. Strategies to block TRIB3 activity might be developed for treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Hua
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Shang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Wei Yang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Zeng Zhang
- Institute of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Lei Xu
- Institute of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao-Jiao Yu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhou
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Cui
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Xi Lv
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Wei Zhang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan-Shan Liu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Mei Yu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Wang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Huang
- Institute of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuo-Wei Hu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Abstract
The canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway is a complex, evolutionarily conserved signalling mechanism that regulates fundamental physiological and pathological processes. Wnt-β-catenin signalling tightly controls embryogenesis, including hepatobiliary development, maturation and zonation. In the mature healthy liver, the Wnt-β-catenin pathway is mostly inactive but can become re-activated during cell renewal and/or regenerative processes, as well as in certain pathological conditions, diseases, pre-malignant conditions and cancer. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), the two most prevalent primary liver tumours in adults, Wnt-β-catenin signalling is frequently hyperactivated and promotes tumour growth and dissemination. A substantial proportion of liver tumours (mainly HCC and, to a lesser extent, CCA) have mutations in genes encoding key components of the Wnt-β-catenin signalling pathway. Likewise, hepatoblastoma, the most common paediatric liver cancer, is characterized by Wnt-β-catenin activation, mostly as a result of β-catenin mutations. In this Review, we discuss the most relevant molecular mechanisms of action and regulation of Wnt-β-catenin signalling in liver development and pathophysiology. Moreover, we highlight important preclinical and clinical studies and future directions in basic and clinical research.
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Li N, Zhu Y. Targeting liver cancer stem cells for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2019; 12:1756284818821560. [PMID: 30719075 PMCID: PMC6348509 DOI: 10.1177/1756284818821560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and prognosis remains poor. It has been increasingly recognized that liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are responsible for the carcinogenesis, recurrence, metastasis and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Targeting LCSCs is promising to be a new direction for the treatment of HCC. Herein, we summarize the potentially therapeutic targets in LCSCs at the level of genes, molecules and cells, such as knockout of oncogenes or oncoproteins, restoring the silent tumor suppressor genes, inhibition of the transcription factors and regulation of noncoding RNAs (including microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs) in LCSCs at the genetic level; inhibition of markers and blockade of the key signaling pathways of LCSCs at the molecular level; and inhibiting autophagy and application of oncolytic adenoviruses in LCSCs at the cellular level. Moreover, we analyze the potential targets in LCSCs to eliminate chemoresistance of HCC. Thereinto, the suppression of autophagy and Nanog by chloroquine and shRNA respectively may be the most promising targeting approaches. These targets may provide novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HCC by targeting LCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Wang N, Wang S, Li MY, Hu BG, Liu LP, Yang SL, Yang S, Gong Z, Lai PBS, Chen GG. Cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma: an overview and promising therapeutic strategies. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2018; 10:1758835918816287. [PMID: 30622654 PMCID: PMC6304707 DOI: 10.1177/1758835918816287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The poor clinical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is ascribed to the resistance of HCC cells to traditional treatments and tumor recurrence after curative therapies. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified as a small subset of cancer cells which have high capacity for self-renewal, differentiation and tumorigenesis. Recent advances in the field of liver CSCs (LCSCs) have enabled the identification of CSC surface markers and the isolation of CSC subpopulations from HCC cells. Given their central role in cancer initiation, metastasis, recurrence and therapeutic resistance, LCSCs constitute a therapeutic opportunity to achieve cure and prevent relapse of HCC. Thus, it is necessary to develop therapeutic strategies to selectively and efficiently target LCSCs. Small molecular inhibitors targeting the core stemness signaling pathways have been actively pursued and evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. Other alternative therapeutic strategies include targeting LCSC surface markers, interrupting the CSC microenvironment, and altering the epigenetic state. In this review, we summarize the properties of CSCs in HCC and discuss novel therapeutic strategies that can be used to target LCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuozhou Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of
Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR,
China
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck
Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of
Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ming-Yue Li
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong,
China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Bao-guang Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The
Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, Shandong,
China
| | - Li-ping Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas
Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University (Shenzhen
People’s Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sheng-li Yang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical
College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shucai Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Pingshan
District People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province,
China
| | - Zhongqin Gong
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of
Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR,
China
| | - Paul B. S. Lai
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University
of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
SAR, China
| | - George G. Chen
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University
of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
SAR, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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48
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Cheng X, Xu X, Chen D, Zhao F, Wang W. Therapeutic potential of targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in colorectal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 110:473-481. [PMID: 30530050 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 280] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has often been reported in different cancers, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC), and this signaling cascade is central to carcinogenesis. Approximately 80% of CRC cases harbor mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene, and half of the remaining cases feature mutations in the β-catenin gene that affect the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Unsurprisingly, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has potential value as a therapeutic target in the treatment of CRC. Several inhibitors of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway have been developed for CRC treatment, but so far no molecular therapeutic targeting this pathway has been incorporated into oncological practice. In this review, we discuss the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in CRC and its potential as a target of innovative therapeutic approaches for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Cheng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangming Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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Park SY, Kim JY, Choi JH, Kim JH, Lee CJ, Singh P, Sarkar S, Baek JH, Nam JS. Inhibition of LEF1-Mediated DCLK1 by Niclosamide Attenuates Colorectal Cancer Stemness. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 25:1415-1429. [PMID: 30446587 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Niclosamide, an FDA-approved anthelmintic drug, has been characterized as a potent Wnt inhibitor that can suppress tumor growth and cancer stem-like cell (CSC) populations. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine how Wnt inhibition by niclosamide preferentially targets CSCs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The mechanistic role of niclosamide in CSC inhibition was examined in public databases, human colorectal cancer cells, colorectal cancer xenografts, and azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced colorectal cancer model. RESULTS Niclosamide suppresses CSC populations and their self-renewal activities in colorectal cancer cells, and this CSC-targeting effect leads to irreversible disruption of tumor-initiating potential in vivo. Mechanistically, niclosamide downregulates multiple signaling components of the Wnt pathway, specifically lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) expression, which is critical for regulating stemness. Subsequently, we identified that the doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1)-B is a target of LEF1 and upregulates cancer stemness in colorectal cancer cells. We first documented that niclosamide blocks the transcription of DCLK1-B by interrupting the binding of LEF1 to DCLK1-B promoter. DCLK1-B depletion impairs cancer stemness resulting in reduced survival potential and increased apoptosis, thus sensitizing colorectal cancer to chemoradiation. CONCLUSIONS Disruption of the LEF1/DCLK1-B axis by niclosamide eradicates cancer stemness and elicits therapeutic effects on colorectal cancer initiation, progression, and resistance. These findings provide a preclinical rationale to broaden the clinical evaluation of niclosamide for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Yeon Park
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.,Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Young Kim
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwnagju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang-Hyun Choi
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee-Heun Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong-Jae Lee
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Pomila Singh
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Shubhashish Sarkar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Jeong-Heum Baek
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Seok Nam
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea. .,Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.,Silver Health Bio Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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50
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Emerging functional markers for cancer stem cell-based therapies: Understanding signaling networks for targeting metastasis. Semin Cancer Biol 2018; 53:90-109. [PMID: 29966677 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is one of the most challenging issues in cancer patient management, and effective therapies to specifically target disease progression are missing, emphasizing the urgent need for developing novel anti-metastatic therapeutics. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) gained fast attention as a minor population of highly malignant cells within liquid and solid tumors that are responsible for tumor onset, self-renewal, resistance to radio- and chemotherapies, and evasion of immune surveillance accelerating recurrence and metastasis. Recent progress in the identification of their phenotypic and molecular characteristics and interactions with the tumor microenvironment provides great potential for the development of CSC-based targeted therapies and radical improvement in metastasis prevention and cancer patient prognosis. Here, we report on newly uncovered signaling mechanisms controlling CSC's aggressiveness and treatment resistance, and CSC-specific agents and molecular therapeutics, some of which are currently under investigation in clinical trials, gearing towards decisive functional CSC intrinsic or surface markers. One special research focus rests upon subverted regulatory pathways such as insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor signaling and its interactors in metastasis-initiating cell populations directly related to the gain of stem cell- and EMT-associated properties, as well as key components of the E2F transcription factor network regulating metastatic progression, microenvironmental changes, and chemoresistance. In addition, the study provides insight into systems biology tools to establish complex molecular relationships behind the emergence of aggressive phenotypes from high-throughput data that rely on network-based analysis and their use to investigate immune escape mechanisms or predict clinical outcome-relevant CSC receptor signaling signatures. We further propose that customized vector technologies could drastically enhance systemic drug delivery to target sites, and summarize recent progress and remaining challenges. This review integrates available knowledge on CSC biology, computational modeling approaches, molecular targeting strategies, and delivery techniques to envision future clinical therapies designed to conquer metastasis-initiating cells.
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