Repurposing Drugs for Skin Cancer

Integrative analysis of TROAP with molecular features, carcinogenesis, and related immune and pharmacogenomic characteristics in soft tissue sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is an uncommon malignancy that often carries a grim prognosis. Trophinin-associated protein (TROAP) is augmented in a variety of tumors and can affect tumor proliferation. Nevertheless, the prognostic value and specific functions of TROAP in STS are still vague. Herein, we display that TROAP exhibits an augmented trend in STS, and its elevation correlates with a poor prognosis of STS. Furthermore, its reduction is related to increased immune cell infiltration, enhanced stroma, and elevation of immune activation. Meanwhile, the TROAP-derived genomic signature is validated to predict patient prognosis, immunotherapy, and drug response reliably. A nomogram constructed based on age, metastatic status, and a TROAP-derived risk score of an STS individual could be used to quantify the survival probability of STS. In addition, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that TROAP is overexpressed in STS, and the downregulation of TROAP could affect the proliferation, migration, metastasis, and cell cycle of STS cells. In summary, the TROAP expression is elevated in STS tissues and cells, which is related to the poor prognosis and malignant biological behaviors of STS. It could act as a potential prognostic biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of STS.

Non-self glycan structures as possible modulators of cancer progression: would polysaccharides from Cryptococcus spp. impact this phenomenon?

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are responsible for a large number of annual deaths. Most cases are closely related to patients in a state of immunosuppression, as is the case of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Cancer patients are severely affected by the worrisome proportions that an IFI can take during cancer progression, especially in an already immunologically and metabolically impaired patient. There is scarce knowledge about strategies to mitigate cancer progression in these cases, beyond conventional treatment with antifungal drugs with a narrow therapeutic range. However, in recent years, ample evidence has surfaced describing the possible interferences that IFI may have both on the progression of pre-existing cancers and in the induction of newly transformed cells. The leading gambit for modulation of tumor progression comes from the ability of fungal virulence factors to modulate the host's immune system, since they are found in considerable concentrations in the tumor microenvironment during infection. In this context, cryptococcosis is of particular concern, since the main virulence factor of the pathogenic yeast is its polysaccharide capsule, which carries constituents with high immunomodulatory properties and cytotoxic potential. Therefore, we open a discussion on what has already been described regarding the progression of cryptococcosis in the context of cancer progression, and the possible implications that fungal glycan structures may take in both cancer development and progression.

PTBP1 as a Promising Predictor of Poor Prognosis by Regulating Cell Proliferation, Immunosuppression, and Drug Sensitivity in SARC

Background. Sarcomas (SARC) have been found as rare and heterogeneous malignancies with poor prognosis. PTBP1, belonging to the hnRNPs family, plays an essential role in some biological functions (e.g., pre-mRNA splicing, cell growth, and nervous system development). However, the role of PTBP1 in SARC remains unclear. In this study, the aim was to investigate the potential role of PTBP1 with a focus on SARC. Methods. The expression, prognostic value, possible biological pathways of PTBP1, and its relationship with immune infiltration and drug sensitivity were comprehensively analyzed based on multiple databases. PTBP1 was further validated in osteosarcoma as the most prominent bone SARC. The expression of PTBP1 was investigated through IHC. The prognostic value of PTBP1 was verified in TARGET-OS databases. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PTBP1 knockout HOS human osteosarcoma cell lines were used to assess the effect of PTBP1 on cell proliferation, migration, metastasis and cell cycle by CCK-8, Transwell migration, invasion, and FACS experiment. Result. PTBP1 was highly expressed and significantly correlated with poor prognosis in several cancers, especially in SARC, which was validated in the clinical cohort and osteosarcoma cell lines. The genetic alteration of PTBP1 was found most frequently in SARC. Besides, PTBP1 played a role in oncogenesis and immunity through cell cycle, TGFB, autophagy, and WNT pathways at a pan-cancer level. Knockout of PTBP1 was observed to negatively affect proliferation, migration, metastasis, and cell cycle of osteosarcoma in vitro. Furthermore, PTBP1 was significantly correlated with tumor immune infiltration, DNA methylation, TMB, and MSI in a wide variety of cancers. Moreover, the potential of the expression level of PTBP1 in predicting drug sensitivity was assessed. Conclusions. PTBP1 is highly expressed and correlated with prognosis and plays a vital pathogenic role in oncogenesis and immune infiltration of various cancers, especially for SARC, which suggests that it may be a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target in the future.