circPDSS1 Stimulates the Development of Colorectal Cancer via Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

CircPDSS1 promotes the proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT of breast cancer cell via regulating miR-320c/CKAP5 axis

Background

Breast cancer (BC) poses serious threats to women’s health. A large number of reports have proved that circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert vital functions in human cancers, including BC.

Methods

The function of circPDSS1 in BC cells was tested by CCK-8, colony formation, TUNEL, transwell-invasion, wound healing, and IF assays. RNA pull down, luciferase reporter and RIP assays were employed to verify the relationship among circPDSS1, miR-320c and CKAP5.

Results

CircPDSS1 was upregulated in BC cells, and circPDSS1 knockdown repressed BC cell malignant behaviors. Further, circPDSS1 was found to bind to miR-320c in BC cells, and miR-320c overexpression suppressed malignant processes of BC cells. MiR-320c could also bind to CKAP5. Moreover, miR-320c inhibition increased the level of CKAP5, but circPDSS1 downregulation decreased the level of CKAP5. Finally, rescue experiments indicated that CKAP5 knockdown countervailed the promoting effect of miR-320c inhibition on the malignant behaviors of circPDSS1-depleted BC cells.

Conclusions

CircPDSS1 promotes proliferation, invasion, migration as well as EMT of BC cells by modulating miR-320c/CKAP5 axis. Our finding may be useful for researchers to find new potential therapeutic or diagnostic targets for BC.

Therapeutic strategies targeting Wnt/β‑catenin signaling for colorectal cancer (Review)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common carcinomas. Although great progress has been made in recent years, CRC survival remains unsatisfactory due to high metastasis and recurrence. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of CRC tumorigenesis and metastasis has become increasingly important. Recently, aberrant Wnt/β‑catenin signaling has been reported to be strongly associated with CRC tumorigenesis, metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway has potential value as a therapeutic target for CRC. In the present review, the dysregulation of this pathway in CRC and the promoting or suppressing function of therapeutic targets on CRC were explored. In addition, the interaction between this pathway and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell stemness, mutations, metastasis‑related genes and tumor angiogenesis in CRC cells were also investigated. Numerous studies on this pathway may help identify the potential diagnostic and prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for CRC.

Propofol Suppresses Gastric Cancer Progression by Regulating circPDSS1/miR-1324/SOX4 Axis

Background

Propofol is a common intravenous anesthetic that exerts an antitumor role in human cancers. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in the progression of various cancers. However, the relationship between propofol and circRNA decaprenyl diphosphate synthase subunit 1 (circPDSS1) in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear.

Methods

Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, and 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. All protein levels were detected by Western blot assay. The expression levels of circPDSS1, microRNA-1324 (miR-1324), and SRY-box transcription factor 4 (SOX4) mRNA were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The interaction between miR-1324 and circPDSS1 or SOX4 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The mice xenograft model was established to investigate the role of propofol and circPDSS1 in vivo.

Results

Propofol inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induced apoptosis in GC cells, which could be reversed by upregulating circPDSS1. MiR-1324 was a target of circPDSS1, and circPDSS1 promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion and reduced apoptosis in propofol-treated cells by sponging miR-1324. Moreover, SOX4 was a direct target of miR-1324, and miR-1324 exerted anticancer role by targeting SOX4 in propofol-treated cells. CircPDSS1 acted as a sponge of miR-1324 to regulate SOX4 expression. Additionally, circPDSS1 overexpression weakened the anticancer role of propofol in vivo.

Conclusion

Propofol exerted anticancer role in GC through regulating circPDSS1/miR-1324/SOX4 axis, indicating that propofol might be an effective therapeutic medicine for GC treatment.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated regulation of tumor angiogenesis- implications for anti-angiogenesis therapy

Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumour progression. However, anti‐angiogenesis therapy of inhibiting pro‐angiogenic factors failed to meet expectations in certain types of tumour in clinical trials. Recent studies reveal that tumour‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are essential in tumour angiogenesis and anti‐angiogenesis drug resistance. This function has most commonly been attributed to EV contents including proteins and non‐coding RNAs. Here, we summarize the recent findings of tumour‐derived EV contents associated with regulating angiogenesis and illustrate the underlying mechanisms. In addition, the roles of EVs in tumour microenvironmental cells are also illustrated with a focus on how EVs participate in cell‐cell communication, contributing to tumour‐mediated angiogenesis. It will help offer new perspectives on developing targets of anti‐angiogenesis drugs and improve the efficacy of anti‐angiogenesis therapies based on tumour‐derived EVs.

Angiogenesis-Related Functions of Wnt Signaling in Colorectal Carcinogenesis

Simple Summary

Angiogenesis belongs to the most clinical characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) and is strongly linked to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The most prominent factors stimulating constitutive activation of this pathway, and in consequence angiogenesis, are genetic alterations (mainly mutations) concerning APC and the β-catenin encoding gene (CTNNB1), detected in a large majority of CRC patients. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in the basic types of vascularization (sprouting and nonsprouting angiogenesis), vasculogenic mimicry as well as the formation of mosaic vessels. The number of known Wnt/β-catenin signaling components and other pathways interacting with Wnt signaling, regulating angiogenesis, and enabling CRC progression continuously increases. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of the Wnt/Fzd/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of CRC angiogenesis, aiming to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of metastasis as well as improvements in the management of this cancer.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of the Wnt/Fzd/β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the major molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression. On the other hand, one of the most common clinical CRC characteristics include high levels of angiogenesis, which is a key event in cancer cell dissemination and distant metastasis. The canonical Wnt/β-catenin downstream signaling regulates the most important pro-angiogenic molecules including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and chemokines. Furthermore, mutations of the β-catenin gene associated with nuclear localization of the protein have been mainly detected in microsatellite unstable CRC. Elevated nuclear β-catenin increases the expression of many genes involved in tumor angiogenesis. Factors regulating angiogenesis with the participation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling include different groups of biologically active molecules including Wnt pathway components (e.g., Wnt2, DKK, BCL9 proteins), and non-Wnt pathway factors (e.g., chemoattractant cytokines, enzymatic proteins, and bioactive compounds of plants). Several lines of evidence argue for the use of angiogenesis inhibition in the treatment of CRC. In the context of this paper, components of the Wnt pathway are among the most promising targets for CRC therapy. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of the Wnt/Fzd/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of CRC angiogenesis, aiming to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of metastasis as well as improvements in the management of this cancer.