A novel long-sustaining system of apatinib for long-term inhibition of the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Targeting metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma to overcome therapeutic resistance: A comprehensive review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a heavy burden on human health with high morbidity and mortality rates. Systematic therapy is crucial for advanced and mid-term HCC, but faces a significant challenge from therapeutic resistance, weakening drug effectiveness. Metabolic reprogramming has gained attention as a key contributor to therapeutic resistance. Cells change their metabolism to meet energy demands, adapt to growth needs, or resist environmental pressures. Understanding key enzyme expression patterns and metabolic pathway interactions is vital to comprehend HCC occurrence, development, and treatment resistance. Exploring metabolic enzyme reprogramming and pathways is essential to identify breakthrough points for HCC treatment. Targeting metabolic enzymes with inhibitors is key to addressing these points. Inhibitors, combined with systemic therapeutic drugs, can alleviate resistance, prolong overall survival for advanced HCC, and offer mid-term HCC patients a chance for radical resection. Advances in metabolic research methods, from genomics to metabolomics and cells to organoids, help build the HCC metabolic reprogramming network. Recent progress in biomaterials and nanotechnology impacts drug targeting and effectiveness, providing new solutions for systemic therapeutic drug resistance. This review focuses on metabolic enzyme changes, pathway interactions, enzyme inhibitors, research methods, and drug delivery targeting metabolic reprogramming, offering valuable references for metabolic approaches to HCC treatment.

Malignant Gastrointestinal Neuroectodermal Tumor: A New Kid on the Block?

ABSTRACT

Also referred to as "osteoclast-rich, clear cell sarcoma-like tumor of the gastrointestinal tract (CCSLGT)," malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor is a newly described, rare, aggressive sarcoma that commonly arises in the small bowel, stomach, and colon. Histogenesis is likely from an autonomous nervous system-related primitive cell of neural crest origin. The hallmark genetic finding of EWS-CREB1 or EWS-ATF1 fusion transcripts clinches the diagnosis. Annular constrictive lesions tend to be smaller, show homogenous contrast enhancement on computed tomography, and may present with bowel obstruction. Larger, expansile masses tend to be exophytic and show heterogeneous contrast enhancement. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment. Frequent recurrences, metastases, and death from disease in 75% of patients portend a poor prognosis. Targeted chemotherapy based on specific tumor pathways is being developed.

Shape Designed Implanted Drug Delivery System for In Situ Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy

In this study, an intelligent drug delivery system (DDS) based on implanted triboelectric nanogenerator (iTENG) and red blood cell (RBC) is established for in situ hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. Apatinib (APA), as an oral antitumor drug, which can inhibit the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) is loaded inside RBC, realizing the transform from oral formulation to injection preparation. Multishape designed iTENG adapted for different implant sites and environments can harvest biomechanical energy efficiently. The electric field (EF) generated by the iTENG can increase the release of APA, and the release will decrease quickly when the EF disappears, which shows that the DDS is highly controllable. The controllable DDS demonstrates an exciting killing ability of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo with strikingly reduced APA dosage. After implantation, the self-powered DDS has a prominent therapeutic effect of HCC-bearing rabbits, which is expected to be applied in clinical medicine.

Target Protein for Xklp2 Functions as Coactivator of Androgen Receptor and Promotes the Proliferation of Prostate Carcinoma Cells

The activation of the androgen receptor (AR) pathway is crucial in the progression of human prostate cancer. Results of the present study indicated that the target protein xenopus kinesin-like protein (TPX2) enhanced the transcription activation of AR and promoted the proliferation of LNCaP (ligand-dependent prostate carcinoma) cells. The protein-protein interaction between AR and TPX2 was investigated using coimmunoprecipitation assays. Results of the present study further demonstrated that TPX2 enhanced the transcription factor activation of AR and enhanced the expression levels of the downstream gene prostate-specific antigen (PSA). TPX2 did this by promoting the accumulation of AR in the nucleus and also promoting the recruitment of AR to the androgen response element, located in the promoter region of the PSA gene. Overexpression of TPX2 enhanced both the in vitro and in vivo proliferation of LNCaP cells. By revealing a novel role of TPX2 in the AR signaling pathway, the present study indicated that TPX2 may be an activator of AR and thus exhibits potential as a novel target for prostate carcinoma treatment.

Novel inhibitor of OCT1 enhances the sensitivity of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to antitumor agents

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most fatal malignancies of the digestive system, and shows an especially high incidence in some regions of China. Octamer transcription factors are a family of transcription factors whose DNA-binding domain is a POU domain. OCT transcription factors (OCT-TFs) mediate maintenance of the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. We measured expression of OCT-TFs in ESCC clinical specimens. Among the OCTs tested, OCT1 showed the highest expression in ESCC tissues. Using molecular docking, we discovered a small-molecule inhibitor, which we named "novel inhibitor of OCT1" (NIO-1), for OCT1. Treatment with NIO-1 inhibited recruitment of OCT1 to the promoter region of its downstream genes and, consequently, repressed OCT1 activation. Treatment with NIO-1 enhanced the susceptibility of ESCC cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, OCT1 may be a valuable target for ESCC treatment, and NIO-1 could be a promising therapeutic agent.

Novel Microcrystal Formulations of Sorafenib Facilitate a Long-Acting Antitumor Effect and Relieve Treatment Side Effects as Observed With Fundus Microcirculation Imaging

The tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), including sorafenib, remain one first-line antitumor treatment strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, many problems exist with the current orally administered TKIs, creating a heavy medical burden and causing severe side effects. In this work, we prepared a novel microcrystalline formulation of sorafenib that not only achieved sustainable release and long action in HCC tumors but also relieved side effects, as demonstrated by fundus microcirculation imaging. The larger the size of the microcrystalline formulation of sorafenib particle, the slower the release rates of sorafenib from the tumor tissues. The microcrystalline formulation of sorafenib with the largest particle size was named as Sor-MS. One intratumor injection (once administration) of Sor-MS, but not Sor-Sol (the solution formulation of sorafenib as a control), could slow the release of sorafenib in HCC tumor tissues and in turn inhibited the in vivo proliferation of HCC or the expression of EMT/pro-survival–related factors in a long-acting manner. Moreover, compared with oral administration, one intratumor injection of Sor-MS not only facilitated a long-acting antitumor effect but also relieved side effects of sorafenib, avoiding damage to the capillary network of the eye fundus, as evidenced by fundus microcirculation imaging. Therefore, preparing sorafenib as a novel microcrystal formulation could facilitate a long-acting antitumor effect and relieve drug-related side effects.

CK-3, A Novel Methsulfonyl Pyridine Derivative, Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Proliferation and Invasion by Blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK Pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis that highly expresses phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK). The PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways play a crucial role in HCC tumor formation, cell cycle, apoptosis and survival. However, no effective targeted therapies against these pathways is available, mainly due to the extensive and complex negative feedback loops between them. Here we used CK-3, a dual blocker of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways, against HCC cell lines to verify its anti-tumor activity in vitro. CK-3 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HCC, as demonstrated with MTT and colony formation assays. The anti-metastatic potential of CK-3 was demonstrated with wound healing and cell invasion assays. The ability of CK-3 to block both the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways was also confirmed. CK-3 induced the apoptosis of Hep3B cells, while Bel7402 cells died via mitotic catastrophe (MC). Oral administration of CK-3 also inhibited the subcutaneous growth of BEL7402 cells in nude mice. Simultaneous PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathway inhibition with CK-3 may be superior to single pathway monotherapies by inhibiting their feedback-regulation, and represents a potential treatment for HCC.

Chemo-mechanistic multi-scale model of a three-dimensional tumor microenvironment to quantify the chemotherapy response of cancer

Exploring efficient chemotherapy would benefit from a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its role in tumor progression. As in vivo experimental methods are unable to isolate or control individual factors of the TME, and in vitro models often cannot include all the contributing factors, some questions are best addressed with mathematical models of systems biology. In this study, we establish a multi-scale mathematical model of the TME to simulate three-dimensional tumor growth and angiogenesis and then implement the model for an array of chemotherapy approaches to elucidate the effect of TME conditions and drug scheduling on controlling tumor progression. The hyperglycemic condition as the most common disorder for cancer patients is considered to evaluate its impact on cancer response to chemotherapy. We show that combining antiangiogenic and anticancer drugs improves the outcome of treatment and can decrease accumulation of the drug in normal tissue and enhance drug delivery to the tumor. Our results demonstrate that although both concurrent and neoadjuvant combination therapies can increase intratumoral drug exposure and therapeutic accuracy, neoadjuvant therapy surpasses this, especially against hyperglycemia. Our model provides mechanistic explanations for clinical observations of tumor progression and response to treatment and establishes a computational framework for exploring better treatment strategies.

Novel small molecule inhibitors of the transcription factor ETS-1 and their antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma

The transcription factor ETS-1 (E26 transformation specific sequence 1) is the key regulator for malignant tumor cell proliferation and invasion by mediating the transcription of the invasion/migration related factors, e.g. MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases). This work aims to identify the novel small molecule inhibitors of ETS-1 using a small molecule compound library and to study the inhibitors' antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The luciferase reporter is used to examine the inhibition and activation of ETS-1's transcription factor activity in HCC cells, including a highly invasive HCC cell line, MHCC97-H, and five lines of patient-derived cells. The inhibition of the proliferation of HCC cells is examined using the MTT assay, while the invasion of HCC cells is examined using the transwell assay. The anti-tumor activity of the selected compound on HCC cells is also examined in a subcutaneous tumor model or intrahepatic tumor model in nude mice. The results show that for the first time, four compounds, EI1~EI-4, can inhibit the transcription factor activation of ETS-1 and the proliferation or invasion of HCC cells. Among the four compounds, EI-4 has the best activation. The results from this paper contribute to expanding our understanding of ETS-1 and provide alternative, the safer and more effective, HCC molecular therapy strategies.

Rhamnetin decelerates the elimination and enhances the antitumor effect of the molecular-targeting agent sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the miR-148a/PXR axis

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) mediates the resistance of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by promoting the clearance or elimination of sorafenib via the drug resistance-related downstream genes of the PXR. Previously, we revealed that rhamnetin (a flavonoid functioning as an inhibitor of sirtuin (Sirt)1) could inhibit expression of the downstream gene of the PXR: multidrug resistance 1 (mdr-1). However, how rhamnetin regulates the PXR pathway in HCC cells is not known. Here, we demonstrated that rhamnetin decelerated elimination of the molecular-targeting agent sorafenib in HCC cells via the microRNA (miR)-148a/PXR axis. Rhamnetin treatment decreased expression of the drug resistance-related downstream genes of PXR (cyp3a4 [cytochrome P-450] or mdr-1 [multi-drug resistance 1]), which mediate the metabolism or elimination of sorafenib in HCC cells. Mechanistically, rhamnetin increased expression of miR-148a (which is tumor-suppressive) in a P53-dependent manner, leading to inhibition of PXR expression and decrease in expression of its downstream genes. Rhamnetin enhanced miRNA-148a transcription by repressing Sirt1 activation to enhance acetylation at residue-373 of P53. Rhamnetin treatment decelerated the metabolic clearance of sorafenib in HCC cells and enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib. Our results suggest that rhamnetin could be a potential agent for overcoming sorafenib resistance in HCC treatment.

Anlotinib enhances the antitumor activity of radiofrequency ablation on lung squamous cell carcinoma

Anlotinib is a novel molecular targeted drug that has been approved for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. Currently these agents are rarely used in the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Bronchoscope-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new strategy proposed for the treatment of LSCC that is able to alleviate the obstruction of the respiratory tract caused by LSCC by direct destruction of the tumor tissues. The presence work aims to reveal whether Anlotinib could enhance the antitumor activity of RFA on LSCC cells. The results from real-time PCR (qPCR) confirmed overexpression of targets of anlotinib activity, including receptor tyrosine kinase or the MPAK/PI3K-AKT pathway kinases, in LSCC tissues. Treatment with anlotinib inhibited the survival, in vitro invasion, and migration of LSCC cells. Moreover, the antitumor effects of RFA were investigated using a rodent model of LSCC. The combination of RFA and anlotinib treatment enhanced the antitumor effect of RFA treatment. We propose a combinative strategy of RFA and anlotinib as a novel approach for successful management of LSCC.

Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Hepatic Arterioportal Shunts: Combination Treatment of Transarterial Chemoembolization With Apatinib

Object: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combining with apatinib (TACE-apatinib) and TACE-alone for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatic arterioportal shunts (APS). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the medical records of patients with advanced HCC with APS who underwent TACE-apatinib or TACE-alone from June 2015 to January 2019. The occlusion of the shunt was performed during the TACE procedure. The time to tumor progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of study patients were evaluated. The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) was used to evaluate the treatment response. The apatinib-related adverse events were recorded. Results: Fifty-eight patients were included in this study. Twenty-seven patients underwent the treatment of TACE-apatinib, and 31 received TACE-alone treatment. The median overall survival (OS) and median time of tumor progression (TTP) in the TACE-apatinib group were significantly longer than those of the TACE-alone group (OS: 12.0 vs. 9.0 months, P = 0.000; TTP: 9.0 vs. 5.0 months, P = 0.041). Multivariate analysis revealed that TACE-apatinib was a protective factor for OS, and there was no independent risk factor for TTP. In the TACE-apatinib group, the grade 3 apatinib-related adverse events occurred in four patients. Conclusion: TACE-apatinib was an efficacious and safe treatment for patients with advanced HCC with APS, and apatinib improved the efficacy of TACE in the treatment of these patients.

FBI-1 enhanced the resistance of triple-negative breast cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents via the miR-30c/PXR axis

The factor that binds to the inducer of short transcripts-1 (FBI-1) is a transcription suppressor and an important proto-oncogene that plays multiple roles in carcinogenesis and therapeutic resistance. In the present work, our results indicated that FBI-1 enhanced the resistance of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells to chemotherapeutic agents by repressing the expression of micoRNA-30c targeting the pregnane X receptor (PXR). The expression of FBI-1 was positively related to PXR and its downstream drug resistance-related genes in TNBC tissues. FBI-1 enhanced the expression of PXR and enhanced the activation of the PXR pathway. The miR-30c decreased the expression of PXR by targeting the 3'-UTR of PXR, and FBI-1 increased the expression of PXR by repressing miR-30c's expression. Through the miR-30c/PXR axis, FBI-1 accelerated the clearance or elimination of antitumor agents in TNBC cells (the TNBC cell lines or the patients derived cells [PDCs]) and induced the resistance of cells to antitumor agents. Therefore, the results indicated that the miR-30c/PXR axis participates in the FBI-1-mediated drug-resistance of TNBC cells.

Hsa-miR-4271 downregulates the expression of constitutive androstane receptor and enhances in vivo the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer to gefitinib

The efficacy of molecular targeting agents is dependent on the metabolism or nuclear receptor-mediated clearance of chemotherapy resistance-related factors such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) or ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1). In this study, we revealed the roles of the microRNA-4271/CAR (constitutive androstane receptor) axis in the regulation of the resistance to molecular anticancer targeting agents in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells including two main categories of NSCLC: lung adenocarcinoma (AC) and large cell lung cancer (LCC). The expression of miR-4271 was negatively correlated with CAR expression in NSCLC tissues. MiR-4271 targeted CAR and inhibited the activation of the CAR signaling pathway. Overexpression of CAR in NSCLC enhanced the resistance of NSCLC cells to molecular targeting agents and miR-4271-infected NSCLC cells enhanced their sensitivity to molecular targeting agents such as Gefitinib. The mechanism-data showed that overexpression of miR-4271 decelerated the mechanism or the clearance of molecular targeting agents by targeting the 3'UTR (3' un-translation region). These results suggest that miR-4271 may contribute to the development of more effective strategies for the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

miR-3609 Decelerates the Clearance of Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Targeting EPAS-1 and Reducing the Activation of the Pregnane X Receptor Pathway

Background

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) not only plays an important role in cellular metabolism processes but also induces the resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to molecularly targeted drugs by mediating their metabolism and clearance by these cells. Endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1 (EPAS-1) acts as a coactivator to regulate the transcription factor activity of PXR. In the present study, a microRNA that potentially targets EPAS-1, namely miR-3609, was identified using the miRDB tool.

Methods

The expression of miR-3609 and EPAS-1 was examined by qPCR. Lentiviral particles containing the full-length sequences of miR-3609 (pri-miR-3609) were prepared. The antitumor effect of antitumor agents was examined by the in vitro and in vivo assays.

Results

The expression of miR-3609 was negatively correlated with that of EPAS-1 in both HCC clinical specimens and paired non-tumor specimens, and the effect of miR-3609 on the expression of EPAS-1 was confirmed by Western blot experiments. Overexpression of miR-3609 decreased the expression of EPAS-1 and, in turn, repressed the activation of the PXR pathway. miR-3609 decreased the transcription factor activation of PXR, repressed its recruitment to its target gene promoter regions, and decreased the expression of its target genes CYP3A4 and P-GP. In addition, miR-3609 decelerated the metabolism and clearance of sorafenib in HCC cells and enhanced the antitumor effect of sorafenib in HCC cells.

Conclusion

Therefore, the results indicate that miR-3609 decreases the expression of EPAS-1 and enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib.

Novel mTOR Inhibitor Enhances the Sensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Molecular Targeting Agents

Background

Although molecular-targeted agents are still the first choice for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, the therapeutic efficacy of these agents is not satisfactory. Recently, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is considered to be a promising molecular target that can enhance the sensitivity of HCC cells to antitumor therapy. However, the reported mTOR inhibitors have some shortcomings, and novel mTOR inhibitors need to be developed to enhance the antitumor effect of molecularly targeted agents on advanced HCC.

Methods

In this study, five small-molecular compounds that could serve as potential mTOR-specific inhibitors were identified by virtual screening. The activity of tert-butyl (4-(9-(2-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)ethyl)-6-morpholino-9H-purin-2-yl)phenyl)carbamate (compound 4) was measured by enzyme test and Western blot, and its antitumor effect on HCC was examined in nude mice subcutaneous tumor model.

Results

The results showed that 4 is the most effective one in inhibiting the activation of mTOR kinase (mTOR IC₅₀ = 17.52±3.67 nmol/L) among the five lead compounds. Further research in this study indicated that treatment with 4 enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to the molecular-targeted agents, such as sorafenib, regorafenib, lenvatinib, anlotinib, and apatinib. In addition, this research indicated that mTOR was correlated with the poor prognosis in patients with advanced HCC who received sorafenib.

Conclusion

Our study identified a new type of small-molecular inhibitors of mTOR and confirmed their ability to enhance the antitumor effect of molecular-targeted agents on advanced HCC.

DNA methyltransferase mediates the hypermethylation of the microRNA 34a promoter and enhances the resistance of patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells to molecular targeting agents

DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) participates in the transformation or progression of human cancers by mediating the hypermethylation of cancer suppressors. However, the regulatory role of DNMT in pancreatic cancer cells remains poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that DNMT1 repressed the expression of microRNA 34a (miR-34a) and enhanced the activation of the Notch pathway by mediating the hypermethylation of the miR-34a promoter. In patients with pancreatic cancer, the expression levels of DNMT1 were negatively related with those of miR-34a. Mechanistically, knockdown of DNMT1 decreased the methylation of the miR-34a promoter and enhanced the expression of miR-34a to inhibit the activation of the Notch pathway. Downregulation of the Notch pathway via the DNMT1/miR-34a axis significantly enhanced the sensitivity of pancreatic cells to molecular targeting agents. Therefore, the results of our study suggest that downregulation of DNMT enhances the expression of miR-34a and may be a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

Quantitative examination of the inhibitory activation of molecular targeting agents in hepatocellular carcinoma patient-derived cell invasion via a novel in vivo tumor model

BACKGROUND

The outcomes for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving sorafenib are far from satisfactory because of treatment resistance to sorafenib. However, the exact mechanism of resistance to sorafenib remains unclear and it is valuable to establish a novel mouse model to quantitatively analyze the inhibition rates of sorafenib on the invasive growth of HCC cells in the liver.

METHODS

HCC tissue microblocks derived from patients were cultured and mixed with hydrogel drops. Then, hydrogel drops containing microblocks of HCC tissue were attached onto the surface of the livers of nude mice to form lesions or nodules of HCC. The mice received molecular targeting agents through oral administration. Livers with tumor nodules were harvested for H&E staining (hematoxylin-eosin staining) analysis and H&E staining images were quantitatively analyzed using image J software. The invasive growth of HCC cells into the liver was calculated using the depth of the lesions compared with the total thickness of the liver.

RESULTS

Microblocks containing cells derived from HCC patients can form lesions in the liver of nude mice. Oral administration of molecular targeting agents inhibited the invasive growth of HCC cells in the liver of nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The model established in this study involves the invasive growth of HCC cells in the liver of nude mice, and the model allows for the quantitative analysis of the inhibitory effect of molecular targeting agents on the invasion of HCC cells in vivo.

MicroRNA-3163 targets ADAM-17 and enhances the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to molecular targeted agents

Molecular targeted agents, such as sorafenib, remain the only choice of an antitumor drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Notch signaling pathway plays central roles in regulating the cellular injury/stress response, anti-apoptosis, or epithelial–mesenchymal transition process in HCC cells, and is a promising target for enhancing the sensitivity of HCC cells to antitumor agents. The ADAM metalloprotease domain-17 (ADAM-17) mediates the cleavage and activation of Notch protein. In the present study, microRNA-3163 (miR-3163), which binds to the 3′-untranslated region of ADAM-17, was screened using online methods. miRDB and pre-miR-3163 sequences were prepared into lentivirus particles to infect HCC cells. miR-3163 targeted ADAM-17 and inhibited the activation of the Notch signaling pathway. Infection of HCC cells with miR-3163 enhanced their sensitivity to molecular targeted agents, such as sorafenib. Therefore, miR-3163 may contribute to the development of more effective strategies for the treatment of advanced HCC.

The TGF-β/Smad Pathway Inhibitor SB431542 Enhances The Antitumor Effect Of Radiofrequency Ablation On Bladder Cancer Cells

Background

Despite progress achieved in bladder cancer (BC) treatment, the prognosis of patients with advanced BC (ie, metastasized from the bladder to other organs) is poor. Although mortality in cases of low-grade BC is rare, the treatment, such as a radical cystectomy, often has a serious impact on the quality of life. Thus, research is needed to identify more effective treatment strategies and this work is aiming to examine the potential application of combination of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and SB435142, a inhibitor of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/Smad pathway.

Methods

BC cells were transplanted into nude mice (thymusdeficiency Bal B/c) to form subcutaneous tumors. The mice with subcutaneous tumors were then treated with RFA and oral administration of SB431542, an inhibitor of TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway. The antitumor effect of RFA was measured by tumor proliferation curves and micro-positron emission computed tomography (micro-PET). The effect of SB431542 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related regulators in subcutaneous tumor tissues formed by BC cells were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) experiments.

Results

The SB431542 treatment enhanced the antitumor effect of RFA on subcutaneous growth of BCs. SB431542 also decreased EMT-related regulators in subcutaneous tumor tissues formed by BC cells in nude mice.

Conclusion

SB431542 enhances the effect of RFA on BC.

The multiple-kinase inhibitor lenvatinib inhibits the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

BACKGROUND

Current chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) mainly involves cytotoxic agents such as doxorubicin (DNR), mitoxantrone (Mito) or 2-aminopurine-6-thiol (6-TG). However, because these agents are relatively ineffective, discovering other more effective drugs for AML treatment would be valuable.

METHODS

The in vitro antitumor effect of lenvatinib on AML cells was examined using the colorimetric MTT assay for assessing cell metabolic activity. AML cells mixed with Poloxamer 407 were injected into nude mice to form subcutaneous tumors. Tumor-bearing mice received lenvatinib by oral administration. The antitumor effect of lenvatinib was established by measuring tumor volumes and weights.

RESULTS

Lenvatinib inhibited the growth of AML cells in a dose-dependent manner. We used AML cells to establish subcutaneous tumor tissues by mixing the cell suspension with Poloxamer 407. Poloxamer 407 alone did not influence the subcutaneous growth of AML cells. Treatment of lenvatinib inhibited in vivo tumor growth of AML cells.

CONCLUSION

The multiple-kinase inhibitor lenvatinib inhibits the in vitro proliferation of AML cells, and restricts the in vivo growth of AML tumors.

miR-596 suppresses the expression of Survivin and enhances the sensitivity of osteosarcoma cells to the molecular targeting agent anlotinib

Background

Osteosarcoma (OSA), the most common primary bone malignancy, is characterized by a wide spectrum of complicated pathologies and frequent distal metastasis and causes death in adolescents and young adults worldwide. Antitumor drug treatment strategies include various cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, while molecular targeted therapy for OSA is currently less used. The present work revealed the role played by the miR-596/Survivin axis in affecting the sensitivity of OSA cells to anlotinib, a novel molecular targeting agent.

Methods

By virtual screening, we found that miR-596 might target Survivin by using an online tool (miRDB). RNA levels of miR-596 and Survivin in clinical specimens were examined with qPCR. The effect of miR-596 on anlotinib’s antitumor effect was examined with MTT experiments, the subcutaneous tumor model, or the intramuscular tumor model.

Results

Overexpression of miR-596 via lentiviral particles repressed the protein level of Survivin in U2OS cells. Transfection of miR-596 enhanced the antitumor effect of anlotinib on U2OS cells or five cell lines derived from OSA patients.

Conclusion

miR-596 targets Survivin and enhances the antitumor effect of anlotinib on OSA cells.

MicroRNA-6077 enhances the sensitivity of patients-derived lung adenocarcinoma cells to anlotinib by repressing the activation of glucose transporter 1 pathway

Anlotinib is a novel molecular targeted agent targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, which differs from the other currently available non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) molecular targeted drugs targeting this receptor. Although the application of anlotinib may bring new hope for patients with advanced NSCLC, the cost of treatment is high. The results of this study showed that microRNA-6077 (miR-6077) represses the expression of GLUT1 (glucose transporter 1) and enhances the sensitivity of patient-derived lung adenocarcinoma (AC) cells to anlotinib. The miR-6077, which potentially binds to the 3'untranslated region of GLUT1, was identified and screened by miRDB, an online tool; sequences of miR-6077 were prepared as lentivirus particles. A549 cells (a lung adenocarcinoma cell line) and five patient-derived AC cell lines were infected with control miRNA or miR-6077, and subsequently treated with the indicated concentration of anlotinib. The expression of proteins, such as GLUT1, was determined by western blotting. The antitumor effect of anlotinib was identified through in-vitro (e.g., MTT) or in-vivo methods (e.g., subcutaneous tumor model). Overexpression of miR-6077 repressed the expression of GLUT1 and decreased the glucose uptake, lactate production, or ATP generation in AC cells. In addition, MiR-6077 may enhance the antitumor effect of anlotinib on A549 or patient-derived AC cell lines. Therefore, our results indicated that miR-6077 represses the expression of GLUT1 and enhances the sensitivity of patients-derived lung AC cells to anlotinib.

A temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel of topotecan achieves a long-term sustained antitumor effect on retinoblastoma cells

Background

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is one of the most common malignancies among children. Following early diagnosis and prompt treatment, the clinical outcome or prognosis of Rb is promising. However, the prognosis or survival rates of patients with late-stage Rb remain poor. Current therapeutic strategies for advanced Rb mainly involve the use of advanced chemotherapeutic options. However, the efficacy of these strategies is not satisfactory. Therefore, the development of novel strategies to achieve a more effective antitumor effect on late-stage Rb is of crucial importance.

Methods and materials

Topotecan was dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline and prepared into a temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel (termed Topo-Gel). Moreover, Topo-Gel was injected into tumor tissues formed by Y79 cells (an Rb cell line) in nude mice to examine the long-term release and long-acting antitumor effect of Topo-Gel on Rb tumors.

Results

Topo-Gel transforms from liquid to a hydrogel at near body temperatures (phase-change temperature [T_1/2] was 37.23±0.473 °C), and maintains the slow release of topotecan in Rb tumor tissues. Following the subcutaneous injection of Topo-Gel, the treatment induced long-acting inhibition of tumor growth and relieved the adverse effects associated with topotecan. Topo-Gel, a temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel, is a slow-release system that prolongs the presence of topotecan in Rb tissues, and preserves the efficacy of topotecan in the long term.

Conclusion

Preparation of topotecan into a temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel achieves a long-term sustained antitumor effect on Rb cells, and may be a useful strategy for the treatment of intraocular Rb.

A temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel of tamoxifen achieves the long-acting antitumor activation on breast cancer cells

Background: Breast cancer is one of the foremost threats to female health nowadays. Tamoxifen, an antagonist of estrogen receptor-α (ERα), is the first choice for endocrine-dependent breast cancer (ERα-positive breast cancer) treatment. However, ERα has an important function in the normal physical regulation of estrogen, and current oral administration of tamoxifen has potential side effects on normal endocrine secretion. In the present work, we aim to develop novel approaches to increase the antitumor effect of tamoxifen on breast cancer cells and decrease the potential side effects in the human body during treatment. Methods: A temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel for tamoxifen (Tam-Gel) was generated. After establishing subcutaneous tumors formed by MCF-7, an ERα-positive breast cancer cell line, in nude mice, an intratumoral injection of Tam-Gel was performed to examine whether Tam-Gel facilitated the slow-release or antitumor effect of tamoxifen. A metastatic breast cancer model was established using the intrahepatic growth of MCF-7 cells in immunodeficient rats. Results: Tam-Gel can transform from liquid to hydrogel at room temperature. An intratumoral injection of Tam-Gel facilitated the slow-release or antitumor effect of tamoxifen. Once Tam-Gel, but not Tam-Sol, was administered by intratumoral injection, it significantly decreased the uptake of radionuclide probes (¹⁸F-fluoroestradiol or ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose) by cells in rats' livers and the intrahepatic growth of MCF-7 cells in rats' livers. Conclusion: A novel slow-release system was successfully prepared to facilitate the long-term release of tamoxifen in breast cancer tissues, and achieved an antitumor effect in the long term.