Lobaplatin Enhances Radioactive 125I Seed-Induced Apoptosis and Anti-Proliferative Effect in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Suppressing the AKT/mTOR Pathway

Recent progress in radioactive seed implantation brachytherapy of non-small cell lung cancer: a narrative review

Background and Objective

Brachytherapy, a new form of radiation therapy, has been used to treat lung cancer and consists of two main forms of treatment: endobronchial brachytherapy and radioactive seed implantation brachytherapy (RSI-BT), the latter of which is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The use of RSI-BT in the treatment of NSCLC at our centre has yielded some positive results.

Methods

To more fully consider the context of this application, we conducted a search of PubMed from 2018 to March 5, 2023. The search included a combination of the MeSH terms: "brachytherapy" and "lung neoplasm".

Key Content and Findings

The majority of NSCLC patients who received RSI-BT achieved positive benefits. Most patients had a progression-free survival (PFS) of between 12 and 18 months. Additionally, radioactive particle stent implantation as a specific RSI-BT has shown therapeutic potential in the treatment of malignant airway obstruction. With the application of new technologies, RSI-BT will become more precise, efficient and inexpensive.

Conclusions

This review demonstrates that RSI-BT can be therapeutic in the treatment of both early and advanced NSCLC with manageable complications. There have also been reports on the combination of RSI-BT with other therapies, but more research is needed on the combination of RSI-BT with them.

Radioactive 125I Seed Inhibits Cell Migration and Invasion and Promotes Apoptosis by Inactivating the VEGFR2 Signaling Pathway in Cholangiocarcinoma

Objectives

To investigate the potential mechanisms of 125I seed implantation therapeutic treatment on inactivating the VEGFR2/PI3K/AKT pathway in cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods

The human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines HCCC-9810 and HuCCT1 were purchased for in vitro studies. The BALB/c nude mice were obtained for in vivo studies. The proliferation of cells was detected by CCK-8, colony formation, and BrdU staining. The migration and invasion of cells were determined by wound healing assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was utilized for histological evaluation. Protein expression was determined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Results

Compared with the control group, .6 mCi group and .8 mCi group inhibited cholangiocarcinoma cells proliferation, invasion, migration, and promoted apoptosis, the protein expression of p-VEGFR2, VEGFR2, PI3K, p-AKT/AKT, cyclin B1, cyclin A, CDK1, and Bcl-2 was decreased. Similar results were obtained from in vitro experiments. However, when VEGF is overexpressed, the inhibitory effect of .8 mCi was partially significantly reversed on cholangiocarcinoma cells. The in vivo studies further confirmed the inhibitory effects of .6 mCi group and .8 mCi group on cholangiocarcinoma.

Conclusion

125I seed irradiation could inhibit cholangiocarcinoma cells proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote apoptosis through inactivation of the VEGFR2/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Epirubicin Enhances the Anti-Cancer Effects of Radioactive 125I Seeds in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Downregulation of the JAK/STAT1 Pathway

The application and promotion of ¹²⁵I seed implantation technology have increased the safety and effectiveness of the clinical treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epirubicin (EPI) is a traditional anthracycline chemotherapy agent that has minimal side effects and has been widely used in the clinical treatment of HCC. We hypothesized that EPI would enhance the anti-cancer effects of ¹²⁵I seeds via the JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether EPI could enhance the radiosensitivity of HCC cells to ¹²⁵I and determine the underlying molecular mechanism. This basic study was conducted in an animal laboratory at Shandong University. BALB/C male nude mice were used, and all animals were fed and treated according to the standards of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Shandong University. Both in vitro and in vivo models of ¹²⁵I irradiation of HCC cells were created. The anti-cancer effects of ¹²⁵I and the role of EPI in promoting these effects were evaluated using flow cytometry for apoptosis and cell cycle, CCK-8 assay for EPI drug cytotoxicity, and transwell assays for migration and invasion. The potential mediating effect of the JAK/STAT1 pathway was assessed using an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation analysis to identify differentially expressed proteins after ¹²⁵I treatment. Transfection of HCC cells with STAT1-RNAi were performed to determine the effect of STAT1 downregulation on ¹²⁵I and EPI treatment effects. The radiosensitivity concentration of EPI promoted ¹²⁵I-induced anti-cancer effects, including apoptosis, anti-proliferation, and inhibition of migration and invasion. These effects were mediated via the JAK/STAT1 pathway. Downregulation of STAT1 compromised measured anti-cancer effects, which were both confirmed in the in vivo and in vitro models. EPI can promote ¹²⁵I-induced anti-cancer effects in HCC. The JAK/STAT1 pathway may be a potential target for ¹²⁵I seed implantation in the treatment of HCC.

Administration of Iodine-125 Seeds Promotes Apoptosis in Cholangiocarcinoma through the PI3K/Akt Pathway

Purpose. We aimed to examine the effects of 125I seeds on the gene expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and PI3K/Akt pathway components in cholangiocarcinoma cells. Methods. In vitro, human cholangiocarcinoma RBE cells were treated with 125I seeds (0.39 mCi or 0.85 mCi) for 72 h, 120 h, and 168 h. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by RT-PCR, and Western blotting was carried out to explore changes in Akt activity. Result. 125I seeds inhibited the proliferation of RBE cells. The apoptosis rate of the RBE cells in the low-activity group was significantly higher than that in the high-activity group at 120 h and 168 h, while no difference was found between the two groups at 72 h. After 120 h of culture, the gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax decreased in both groups, the ratio of $\text{Bcl}-2/\text{Bax}$ in the low-activity group decreased, and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was inhibited in both groups. Conclusion. 125I seeds affect the proliferation and apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. The therapeutic effect of low-activity 125I seeds on cancer cells may be better. 125I seed brachytherapy may promote the apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and regulating the $\text{Bcl}-2/\text{Bax}$ ratio.

A Novel Tumor Suppressor Gene, ZNF24, Inhibits the Development of NSCLC by Inhibiting the WNT Signaling Pathway to Induce Cell Senescence

Objective

Understanding the characteristics of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) is of great significance for the development of new targeted treatment strategies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, this present article is to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of ZFN24 inhibiting the development of NSCLC.

Methods

We performed RT-PCR and Western blotting for evaluating associated RNA and protein expression. CCK8, colony forming and sphere-forming assays were used to evaluate the proliferation and stemness of NSCLC cells. NSCLC cell senescence was examined by β-galactosidase staining assay. Luciferase assay was performed to evaluate β-catenin transcriptional activity. The effect of ZNF24 on NSCLC cells in vivo was evaluated by the xenograft tumor experiment.

Results

Ectopic expression of ZNF24 significantly inhibited cell viability, colony forming ability, and stemness of NSCLC cells. WNT signaling pathway was inhibited by ZNF24 resulting in NSCLC cell senescence. β-catenin transcriptional activity was significantly inhibited by ZNF24 (P < 0.05). Ectopic expression of ZNF24 significantly inhibited xenotransplant tumors growth in vivo (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

ZNF24 could notably inhibit the development of NSCLC by inhibiting the WNT signaling pathway.

Scutellarin improves the radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells to iodine-125 seeds via downregulating the AKT/mTOR pathway

Background

In our previous study, we indicated that scutellarin (SCU) induced an anticancer effect in A549 cells. However, whether SCU regulates the radiosensitivity of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its related mechanism is still unclear.

Methods

In this study, we explored the anticancer effect induced by iodine‐125 (¹²⁵I) and SCU at a sensitizing concentration in A549 and H1975 cells. Cellular apoptosis and proliferation were detected by flow cytometry, Bcl‐2/Bax expression level, cell cycle, CCK‐8, and EdU staining. A tumor model using nude mice was also carried out to investigate the combined effect of ¹²⁵I and SCU in vivo. In addition, the expression level of AKT/mTOR pathway was detected to investigate whether it is linked to the anticancer effect of ¹²⁵I and SCU.

Results

SCU at a sensitizing concentration promoted the ¹²⁵I‐induced apoptosis and antiproliferative effect in A549 and H1975 cells. Moreover, the same results were obtained in vivo. Based on our findings, the AKT/mTOR pathway was significantly downregulated after combined treatment with ¹²⁵I and SCU.

Conclusions

The results of our study suggested that SCU promotes the anticancer effects induced by ¹²⁵I in NSCLC cells by downregulating the AKT/mTOR pathway and lays a foundation for future application of this combined treatment.