Upregulation of estrogen receptor beta protein but not mRNA predicts poor prognosis and may be associated with enhanced translation in non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

METTL3 drives NSCLC metastasis by enhancing CYP19A1 translation and oestrogen synthesis

BACKGROUND

METTL3 plays a significant role as a catalytic enzyme in mediating N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, and its importance in tumour progression has been extensively studied in recent years. However, the precise involvement of METTL3 in the regulation of translation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.

RESULTS

Here we discovered by clinical investigation that METTL3 expression is correlated with NSCLC metastasis. Ablation of METTL3 in NSCLC cells inhibits invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, through translatomics data mining and experimental validation, we demonstrated that METTL3 enhances the translation of aromatase (CYP19A1), a key enzyme in oestrogen synthesis, thereby promoting oestrogen production and mediating the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC. Mechanistically, METTL3 interacts with translation initiation factors and binds to CYP19A1 mRNA, thus enhancing the translation efficiency of CYP19A1 in an m6A-dependent manner. Pharmacological inhibition of METTL3 enzymatic activity or translation initiation factor eIF4E abolishes CYP19A1 protein synthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate the crucial role of METTL3-mediated translation regulation in NSCLC and reveal the significance of METTL3/eIF4E/CYP19A1 signaling as a promising therapeutic target for anti-metastatic strategies against NSCLC.

Estrogens, Cancer and Immunity

Sex hormones are included in many physiological and pathological pathways. Estrogens belong to steroid hormones active in female sex. Estradiol (E2) is the strongest female sex hormone and, with its receptors, contributes to oncogenesis, cancer progression and response to treatment. In recent years, a role of immunosurveillance and suppression of immune response in malignancy has been well defined, forming the basis for cancer immunotherapy. The interplay of sex hormones with cancer immunity, as well as the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, is of interest. In this review, we investigate the impact of sex hormones on natural immune response with respect to main active elements in anticancer immune surveillance: dendritic cells, macrophages, lymphocytes and checkpoint molecules. We describe the main sex-dependent tumors and the contribution of estrogen in their progression, response to treatment and especially modulation of anticancer immune response.

Analysis of Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Prognostic Factors of 106 Breast Cancer Patients With Solitary Pulmonary Nodules

Objective

The clinical features of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) in breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed, and the clinical features of primary lung cancer (PLC) and metastatic pulmonary breast cancer (MBC) in breast cancer patients were compared, and the treatment plan, curative effect and influencing factors were analyzed.

Methods

The clinical data of 106 patients of SPN combined with breast cancer surgery in our hospital from January 2015 to June 2020 were analyzed. There were 65 patients of PLC and 41 patients of MBC. Record the characteristics of the primary breast cancer lesion in our patient, the interval between the initial diagnosis of breast cancer and the appearance of SPN, the previous treatment history of our patient, and the characteristics and surgical method of SPN. The survival status of all patients during the follow-up period was recorded.

Results

The onset age, interval, maximum nodule diameter, ER expression positive rate and radiotherapy history ratio of PLC patients were higher than those of MBC patients, and the lymph node positive rate and triple negative rate were lower than those of MBC patients (P < 0.05). Median survival was 51 months in patients with PLC and 37 months in patients with MBC. The 1, 3, and 5 year overall survival rates in patients with PLC were higher than those in patients with MBC (P < 0.05). Vascular tumor thrombus, SPN type and chemotherapy were all independent factors affecting the prognosis of patients with breast cancer combined with SPN (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

PLC patients and MBC patients have significant differences in pathological characteristics, like the onset age, interval, maximum nodule diameter, ER expression positive rate, radiotherapy history ratio, the lymph node positive rate, and triple negative rate. Septum, vascular tumor thrombus, SPN type, and chemotherapy are all independent factors that affect the curative effect of breast cancer patients with SPN. Based on the nature of SPN, it can provide reference for clinicians to decide the treatment plan, improve patients' quality of life and prolong their survival time.