Sox2: A Regulatory Factor in Tumorigenesis and Metastasis

Exosomes derived from BMSCs in osteogenic differentiation promote type H blood vessel angiogenesis through miR-150-5p mediated metabolic reprogramming of endothelial cells

Osteogenesis is tightly coupled with angiogenesis spatiotemporally. Previous studies have demonstrated that type H blood vessel formed by endothelial cells with high expression of CD31 and Emcn (CD31hi Emcnhi ECs) play a crucial role in bone regeneration. The mechanism of the molecular communication around CD31hi Emcnhi ECs and bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the osteogenic microenvironment is unclear. This study indicates that exosomes from bone mesenchymal stem cells with 7 days osteogenic differentiation (7D-BMSCs-exo) may promote CD31hi Emcnhi ECs angiogenesis, which was verified by tube formation assay, qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining and µCT assays etc. in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, by exosomal miRNA microarray and WGCNA assays, we identified downregulated miR-150-5p as the most relative hub gene coupling osteogenic differentiation and type H blood vessel angiogenesis. With bioinformatics assays, dual luciferase reporter experiments, qRT-PCR and Western blot assays, SOX2(SRY-Box Transcription Factor 2) was confirmed as a novel downstream target gene of miR-150-5p in exosomes, which might be a pivotal mechanism regulating CD31hi Emcnhi ECs formation. Additionally, JC-1 immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and seahorse assay results showed that the overexpression of SOX2 could shift metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis to enhance the CD31hi Emcnhi ECs formation. The PI3k/Akt signaling pathway might play a key role in this process. In summary, BMSCs in osteogenic differentiation might secrete exosomes with low miR-150-5p expression to induce type H blood vessel formation by mediating SOX2 overexpression in ECs. These findings might reveal a molecular mechanism of osteogenesis coupled with type H blood vessel angiogenesis in the osteogenic microenvironment and provide a new therapeutic target or cell-free remedy for osteogenesis impaired diseases.

TGF-β1 maintains the developmental potential of embryonic submandibular gland epithelia separated with mesenchyme

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on epithelial development using an ex vivo model of submandibular gland (SMG) epithelial-mesenchymal separation.

Materials and methods

The ex vivo model was established by separating E13 mouse SMG epithelia and mesenchyme, culturing them independently for 24 h, recombining them, and observing branching morphogenesis. Microarray analysis was performed to evaluate the transcriptome of epithelia treated with and without 1 ng/ml TGF-β1. Differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, and protein-protein interaction networks were analyzed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence were employed to validate the mRNA and protein levels.

Results

Recombined SMGs using separated epithelia and mesenchyme that were cultured for 24 h showed a significant inhibition of epithelial development compared to SMGs recombined immediately after separation. The level of TGF-β1 decreased in the SMG epithelia after epithelia-mesenchyme separation. Epithelia that were separated from mesenchyme for 24 h and pretreated with 1 ng/ml TGF-β1 continued to develop after recombination with mesenchyme, while epithelia without 1 ng/ml TGF-β1 treatment did not. Microarray analysis suggested pathway enrichment related to epithelial development and an upregulation of Sox2 in the 1 ng/ml TGF-β1-treated epithelia. Further experiments validated the phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3, upregulation of SOX2 and genes associated with epithelial development, including Prol1, Dcpp1, Bhlha15, Smgc, and Bpifa2. Additionally, 1 ng/ml TGF-β1 inhibited epithelial apoptosis by improving the BCL2/BAX ratio and reducing cleaved caspase 3.

Conclusions

The addition of 1 ng/ml TGF-β1 maintained the developmental potential of embryonic SMG epithelia separated from mesenchyme for 24 h. This suggests that 1 ng/ml TGF-β1 may partially compensate for the role of mesenchyme during the separation phase, although its compensation is limited in extent.

Wnt signaling and tumors (Review)

Wnt signaling is a highly conserved evolutionary pathway that plays a key role in regulation of embryonic development, as well as tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Abnormalities in Wnt signaling are associated with tumorigenesis and development, leading to poor prognosis in patients with cancer. However, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms underlying Wnt signaling and its inhibition in cancer treatment remain unclear. In addition, potential side effects of inhibiting this process are not well understood. Therefore, the present review outlines the role of Wnt signaling in tumorigenesis, development, metastasis, cancer stem cells, radiotherapy resistance and tumor immunity. The present review further identifies inhibitors that target Wnt signaling to provide a potential novel direction for cancer treatment. This may facilitate early application of safe and effective drugs targeting Wnt signaling in clinical settings. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying inhibition of Wnt signaling may improve the prognosis of patients with cancer.

The SOX2/PDIA6 axis mediates aerobic glycolysis to promote stemness in non-small cell lung cancer cells

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an aggressive and rapidly expanding lung cancer. Abnormal upregulation or knockdown of PDIA6 expression can predict poor prognosis in various cancers. This study aimed to investigate the biological function of PDIA6 in NSCLC. SOX2 and PDIA6 expression in NSCLC tissues and regulatory relationship between them were analyzed using bioinformatics. GSEA was performed on the enrichment pathway of PDIA6. qRT-PCR was utilized to examine expression of SOX2 and PDIA6 in NSCLC tissues and cells, and dual-luciferase reporter assay and ChIP experiments were performed to validate their regulatory relationship. CCK-8 experiment was conducted to assess cell viability, western blot was to examine levels of stem cell markers and proteins related to aerobic glycolysis pathway in cells. Cell sphere formation assay was used to evaluate efficiency of cell sphere formation. Reagent kits were used to measure glycolysis levels and glycolysis products. High expression of PDIA6 in NSCLC was linked to aerobic glycolysis. Knockdown of PDIA6 reduced cell viability, expression of stem cell surface markers, and cell sphere formation efficiency in NSCLC. Overexpression of PDIA6 could enhance cell viability and promote aerobic glycolysis, but the addition of 2-DG could reverse this result. Bioinformatics predicted the existence of upstream transcription factor SOX2 for PDIA6, and SOX2 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC, and they had a binding relationship. Further experiments revealed that PDIA6 overexpression restored repressive effect of knocking down SOX2 on aerobic glycolysis and cell stemness. This work revealed that the SOX2/PDIA6 axis mediated aerobic glycolysis to promote NSCLC cell stemness, providing new therapeutic strategies for NSCLC.

Exploiting transcription factors to target EMT and cancer stem cells for tumor modulation and therapy

Transcription factors (TFs) are essential in controlling gene regulatory networks that determine cellular fate during embryogenesis and tumor development. TFs are the major players in promoting cancer stemness by regulating the function of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Understanding how TFs interact with their downstream targets for determining cell fate during embryogenesis and tumor development is a critical area of research. CSCs are increasingly recognized for their significance in tumorigenesis and patient prognosis, as they play a significant role in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. However, traditional therapies have limited effectiveness in eliminating this subset of cells, allowing CSCs to persist and potentially form secondary tumors. Recent studies have revealed that cancer cells and tumors with CSC-like features also exhibit genes related to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT-associated transcription factors (EMT-TFs) like TWIST and Snail/Slug can upregulate EMT-related genes and reprogram cancer cells into a stem-like phenotype. Importantly, the regulation of EMT-TFs, particularly through post-translational modifications (PTMs), plays a significant role in cancer metastasis and the acquisition of stem cell-like features. PTMs, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation, can alter the stability, localization, and activity of EMT-TFs, thereby modulating their ability to drive EMT and stemness properties in cancer cells. Although targeting EMT-TFs holds potential in tackling CSCs, current pharmacological approaches to do so directly are unavailable. Therefore, this review aims to explore the role of EMT- and CSC-TFs, their connection and impact in cellular development and cancer, emphasizing the potential of TF networks as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Deubiquitinase PSMD7 facilitates pancreatic cancer progression through activating Nocth1 pathway via modifying SOX2 degradation

BACKGROUND

Ubiquitination is a critical post-translational modification which can be reversed with an enzyme family known as deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). It has been reported that dysregulation of deubiquitination leads to carcinogenesis. As a member of the DUBs family, proteasome 26 S subunit non-ATPase 7 (PSMD7) serves as an underlying tumour-promoting factor in multiple cancers. However, the clinical significance and biological functions of PSMD7 in pancreatic cancer (PC) remain unclear.

RESULTS

In this study, we first reported frequent overexpression of PSMD7 in PC tissues, and high levels of PSMD7 were markedly linked to shorter survival and a malignant phenotype in PC patients. An array of in vitro and in vivo gain/loss-of-function tests revealed that PSMD7 facilitates the progression of PC cells. Additionally, we found that PSMD7 promotes PC cell progression by activating the Notch homolog 1 (Notch1) signalling. Interestingly, in PC cells, the inhibitory effect of PSMD7 knockdown on cellular processes was comparable to that observed upon Notch1 knockdown. Mechanistically, PSMD7 deubiquitinated and stabilised sex determining region Y (SRY)-box 2 (SOX2), a key mediator of Notch1 signalling. The stabilisation of SOX2, mediated by PSMD7, dramatically increased SOX2 protein levels, subsequently activating the Notch1 pathway. Finally, restoration of SOX2 expression abrogated the PSMD7-silenced antitumour effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our work identifies and validates PSMD7 as a promoter of PC progression through augmentation of the Notch1 signalling pathway mediated by SOX2. This finding suggests that PSMD7 holds promise as a potential therapeutic target for the management of this refractory disease.

Deregulated transcription factors in the emerging cancer hallmarks

Cancer progression is a multifaceted process that entails several stages and demands the persistent expression or activation of transcription factors (TFs) to facilitate growth and survival. TFs are a cluster of proteins with DNA-binding domains that attach to promoter or enhancer DNA strands to start the transcription of genes by collaborating with RNA polymerase and other supporting proteins. They are generally acknowledged as the major regulatory molecules that coordinate biological homeostasis and the appropriate functioning of cellular components, subsequently contributing to human physiology. TFs proteins are crucial for controlling transcription during the embryonic stage and development, and the stability of different cell types depends on how they function in different cell types. The development and progression of cancer cells and tumors might be triggered by any anomaly in transcription factor function. It has long been acknowledged that cancer development is accompanied by the dysregulated activity of TF alterations which might result in faulty gene expression. Recent studies have suggested that dysregulated transcription factors play a major role in developing various human malignancies by altering and rewiring metabolic processes, modifying the immune response, and triggering oncogenic signaling cascades. This review emphasizes the interplay between TFs involved in metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming, evading immune attacks, cellular senescence, and the maintenance of cancer stemness in cancerous cells. The insights presented herein will facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic modalities to tackle the dysregulated transcription factors underlying cancer.

Detection of genetic variation in bovine CRY1 gene and its associations with carcass traits

The biological clock (also known as circadian clock) is closely related to growth and development, metabolism, and diseases in animals. As a part of the circadian clock, the cryptochrome circadian regulator 1 (CRY1) gene is involved in the regulation of biological processes such as osteogenesis, energy metabolism and cell proliferation, however, few studies have been reported on the relationship between this gene and animal carcass traits. Herein, a total of four insertion/deletion (InDel) loci within the CRY1 gene were detected in Shandong Black Cattle Genetic Resource (SDBCGR) population (n = 433). Among them, the P1-6-bp-del locus was polymorphic in population of interest. Moreover, the P1-6-bp-del locus showed two genotypes, with a higher insertion/insertion (II) genotype frequency (0.751) than insertion/deletion (ID) genotype frequency (0.249). Correlation analysis showed that the P1-6-bp-del locus polymorphisms were significantly associated with twenty carcass traits (e.g., slaughter weight, limb weight, and belly meat weight). Individuals with II genotype were significantly better than those with ID genotype for eighteen carcass traits. Therefore, the P1-6-bp-del locus of the CRY1 gene can be used as a molecular marker for beef cattle breeding.

Inactivation of Tumor Suppressor CYLD Inhibits Fibroblast Reprogramming to Pluripotency

CYLD is a tumor suppressor gene coding for a deubiquitinating enzyme that has a critical regulatory function in a variety of signaling pathways and biological processes involved in cancer development and progression, many of which are also key modulators of somatic cell reprogramming. Nevertheless, the potential role of CYLD in this process has not been studied. With the dual aim of investigating the involvement of CYLD in reprogramming and developing a better understanding of the intricate regulatory system governing this process, we reprogrammed control (CYLDWT/WT) and CYLD DUB-deficient (CYLDΔ9/Δ9) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through ectopic overexpression of the Yamanaka factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, c-myc). CYLD DUB deficiency led to significantly reduced reprogramming efficiency and slower early reprogramming kinetics. The introduction of WT CYLD to CYLDΔ9/Δ9 MEFs rescued the phenotype. Nevertheless, CYLD DUB-deficient cells were capable of establishing induced pluripotent colonies with full spontaneous differentiation potential of the three germ layers. Whole proteome analysis (Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD044220) revealed that the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) during the early reprogramming stages was disrupted in CYLDΔ9/Δ9 MEFs. Interestingly, differentially enriched pathways revealed that the primary processes affected by CYLD DUB deficiency were associated with the organization of the extracellular matrix and several metabolic pathways. Our findings not only establish for the first time CYLD's significance as a regulatory component of early reprogramming but also highlight its role as an extracellular matrix regulator, which has profound implications in cancer research.

Upregulation of SOX9 promotes the self-renewal and tumorigenicity of cervical cancer through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Sry-box9 (SOX9) maintains stem cell properties and plays crucial roles in many cancers. However, whether SOX9 is correlated with cervical cancer cell stemness and its detailed mechanism remains obscure. We studied the relationship between SOX9 and prognosis of cervical cancer through public database, and SOX9 was related to poor prognosis of cervical cancer. Elevated SOX9 expression enhanced the self-renewal properties and promotes tumorigenicity in cervical cancer. Overexpression of SOX9 could promote the expression of stem cell-related factors in cervical cancer cells and xenografts. Meanwhile, overexpression of SOX9 could also enhance the expressions of FZD10, β-catenin, and c-Myc in cervical cancer cells and xenografts, while inhibiting the expression of DDK1. The activation of Wnt pathway by chir-99 021 raised the tumor spheroid ability of SOX9 knockdown HeLa cells. In addition, SOX9 could transcriptional inhibit DKK1 and activate FZD10 and MYC by binding to their promoters to affect the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These results demonstrated SOX9 regulated the self-renewal and tumorigenicity of cervical cancer through Wnt/β-catenin pathway by directly transcriptional activation of FZD10, MYC and transcriptional inhibition of DKK1.

Molecular Insight into Prostate Cancer: Preventive Role of Selective Bioactive Molecules

Prostate cancer (CaP) is one of the most prevalent male malignancies, accounting for a considerable number of annual mortalities. However, the prompt identification of early-stage CaP often faces delays due to diverse factors, including socioeconomic inequalities. The androgen receptor (AR), in conjunction with various other signaling pathways, exerts a central influence on the genesis, progression, and metastasis of CaP, with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) serving as the primary therapeutic strategy. Therapeutic modalities encompassing surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal intervention, and radiotherapy have been formulated for addressing early and metastatic CaP. Nonetheless, the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment frequently triggers the activation of signaling pathways, culminating in the emergence of chemoresistance, an aspect to which cancer stem cells (CSCs) notably contribute. Phytochemicals emerge as reservoirs of bioactive agents conferring manifold advantages against human morbidity. Several of these phytochemicals demonstrate potential chemoprotective and chemosensitizing properties against CaP, with selectivity exhibited towards malignant cells while sparing their normal counterparts. In this context, the present review aims to elucidate the intricate molecular underpinnings associated with metastatic CaP development and the acquisition of chemoresistance. Moreover, the contributions of phytochemicals to ameliorating CaP initiation, progression, and chemoresistance are also discussed.

The transcription factor ATF2 promotes gastric cancer progression by activating the METTL3/cyclin D1 pathway

Globally, gastric cancer (GC) is a major cause of cancer death. This study is aimed at investigating the biological functions of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and the underlying mechanism in GC. In the present work, GEPIA, UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas and StarBase databases were adopted to analyze ATF2 expression characteristics in GC tissues and normal gastric tissues, and its relationships with tumor grade and patients' survival time. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method was employed to examine ATF2 mRNA expression in normal gastric tissues, GC tissues, and GC cell lines. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and EdU assays were utilized for detecting GC cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. PROMO database was applied to predict the binding site of ATF2 with the METTL3 promoter region. The binding relationship between ATF2 and the METTL3 promoter region was verified through dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) assay. Western blot was performed to evaluate the effect of ATF2 on METTL3 expression. METTL3-related signaling pathways were predicted using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) in the LinkedOmics database. It was found that, ATF2 level was elevated in GC tissues and cell lines in comparison with normal tissues and correlated with short patients' survival time. ATF2 overexpression facilitated GC cell growth and suppressed the apoptosis, whereas ATF2 knockdown suppressed GC cell proliferation and facilitated the apoptosis. ATF2 bound to the METTL3 promoter region, and ATF2 overexpression promoted the transcription of METTL3, and ATF2 knockdown restrained the transcription of METTL3. METTL3 was associated with cell cycle progression, and ATF2 overexpression enhanced cyclin D1 expression, and METTL3 knockdown reduced cyclin D1 expression. In summary, ATF2 facilitates GC cell proliferation and suppresses the apoptosis via activating the METTL3/cyclin D1 signaling pathway, and ATF2 is promising to be an anti-drug target for GC.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote cancer stemness by inducing expression of the chromatin-modifying protein CBX4 in squamous cell carcinoma

The chromobox-containing protein CBX4 is an important regulator of epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, and has been implicated in several cancer types. The cancer stem cell (CSC) population is a key driver of metastasis and recurrence. The undifferentiated, plastic state characteristic of CSCs relies on cues from the microenvironment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the microenvironment that can influence the CSC population through the secretion of extracellular matrix and a variety of growth factors. Here we show CBX4 is a critical regulator of the CSC phenotype in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and hypopharynx. Moreover, CAFs can promote the expression of CBX4 in the CSC population through the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 activates JAK/STAT3 signaling to increase ∆Np63α-a key transcription factor that is essential for epithelial stem cell function and the maintenance of proliferative potential that is capable of regulating CBX4. Targeting the JAK/STAT3 axis or CBX4 directly suppresses the aggressive phenotype of CSCs and represents a novel opportunity for therapeutic intervention.

SOX2-associated signaling pathways regulate biological phenotypes of cancers

SOX2 is a transcription factor involved in multiple stages of embryonic development. In related reports, SOX2 was found to be abnormally expressed in tumor tissues and correlated with clinical features such as TNM staging, tumor grade, and prognosis in patients with various cancer types. In most cancer types, SOX2 is a tumor-promoting factor that regulates tumor progression and metastasis primarily by maintaining the stemness of cancer cells. In addition, SOX2 also regulates the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, ferroptosis and drug resistance of cancer cells. However, SOX2 acts as a tumor suppressor in some cases in certain cancer types, such as gastric and lung cancer. These key regulatory functions of SOX2 involve complex regulatory networks, including protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions through signaling pathways and noncoding RNA interactions, modulating SOX2 expression may be a potential therapeutic strategy for clinical cancer patients. Therefore, we sorted out the phenotypes related to SOX2 in cancer, hoping to provide a basis for further clinical translation.

Improvement in the performance of an autoantibody panel in combination with heat shock protein 90a for the detection of early‑stage lung cancer

The early diagnosis of lung cancer is closely associated with the decline of mortality. A panel consisting of seven lung cancer-related autoantibodies (7-AABs) has been shown to be a reliable and specific indicator for the early detection of lung cancer, with a specificity of ~90% and a positive predictive value of ~85%. However, its low sensitivity and negative predictive value limit its wide application. To improve its diagnostic value, the diagnostic efficiencies of 7-AABs in combination with non-specific tumor markers were retrospectively investigated for the detection of early-stage lung cancer. A total of 217 patients with small lung nodules who presented with ground-glass opacity or solid nodules as well as 30 healthy controls were studied. The concentrations of 7-AABs and heat shock protein 90a (HSP90a) were assessed using ELISA. Automated flow fluorescence immune analysis was used for the assessment of CEA, CYFRA21-1, CA199 and CA125 levels. The results showed that 7-AABs + HSP90a possessed a remarkably improved diagnostic efficiency for patients with small pulmonary nodules or for patients with lung nodules of different types, which suggested that 7-AABs in combination with HSP90a could have a high clinical value for the improvement of the diagnostic efficiency of early-stage lung cancer.

Immune-related mechanisms and immunotherapy in extragonadal germ cell tumors

Purpose of review

Extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCTs) are relatively rare tumors, accounting for 1%-5% of all GCTs. In this review, we summarize the current research progress regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of EGCTs from an immunology perspective.

Recent findings

The histological origin of EGCTs is related to a gonadal origin, but they are located outside the gonad. They show great variation in morphology and can occur in the cranium, mediastinum, sacrococcygeal bone, and other areas. The pathogenesis of EGCTs is poorly understood, and their differential diagnosis is extensive and challenging. EGCT behavior varies greatly according to patient age, histological subtype, and clinical stage.

Summary

This review provides ideas for the future application of immunology in the fight against such diseases, which is a hot topic currently.

SOX2 como posible biomarcador pronóstico y diana molecular en el cáncer de pulmón: metaanálisis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association of SOX2 with the prognosis in lung cancer, studies providing survival information were selected based on multivariate Cox regression analysis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify eligible studies before June 19, 2021. The hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess the prognostic impact of SOX2 based on multivariate Cox regression analysis. Publication bias was used to assess the risk of bias. Functional analysis of SOX2 was also conducted.

RESULTS

13 studies with a total of 2008 patients with lung cancer were included. SOX2 expression was not correlated with overall survival in lung cancer (10 studies with 1591 cases). Between-study heterogeneity was noted (I²=85.6%, p<0.0001). Subgroup analysis suggested that no correlation was found between SOX2 expression and overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC: eight studies with 1319 cases) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC: two studies with 272 cases). SOX2 expression was significantly associated with worse time-to-progression (two studies with 104 cases: HR=3.50, 95% CI=1.34-9.15) and recurrence-free survival (two studies with 335 cases: HR=1.45, 95% CI=1.12-1.87) in NSCLC. Function analysis demonstrated that SOX2 was involved in DNA repair, cell cycle, regulation of stem cell population maintenance, and Hippo signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

SOX2 may be an independent prognostic factor in time-to-progression and recurrence-free survival and may become a promising therapeutic target. More studies are essential to further our findings.

High expression of HNRNPR in ESCA combined with 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters are novel biomarkers for preoperative diagnosis of ESCA

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the expression and function of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein R (HNRNPR) in esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), the correlation between its expression and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computerized tomography scan (PET/CT)-related parameters. We also investigated whether ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT can be used to predict the expression of HNRNPR in ESCA.

Methods

We analyzed patients with ESCA who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT before surgery, and their tissues were stained with HNRNPR IHC. The associated parameters were derived using the ¹⁸F-FDG PET imaging data, and the correlation with the IHC score was evaluated. The Oncomine, TCGA, and GEO datasets were used to investigate HNRNPR expression in the pan- and esophageal cancers, as well as its relationship with N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and glycolysis. The R software, LinkedOmics, GeneMANIA, and StringOnline tools were used to perform GO/KEGG, GGI, and PPI analyses on the HNRNPR.

Results

HNRNPR is highly expressed in the majority of pan-cancers, including ESCA, and is associated with BMI, weight, and history of reflux in patients with ESCA. HNRNPR is somewhat accurate in predicting the clinical prognosis of ESCA. HNRNPR expression was positively correlated with SUV_max, SUV_mean, and TLG in ESCA (p < 0.05). The combination of these three variables provides a strong predictive value for HNRNPR expression in ESCA. GO/KEGG analysis showed that HNRNPR played a role in the regulation of cell cycle, DNA replication, and the Fannie anemia pathway. The analysis of the TCGA and GEO data sets revealed a significant correlation between HNRNPR expression and m6A and glycolysis-related genes. GSEA analysis revealed that HNRNPR was involved in various m6A and glycolysis related-pathways.

Conclusion

HNRNPR overexpression correlates with ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in ESCA and may be involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, m6A modification, and cell glycolysis. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT-related parameters can predict the diagnostic accuracy of HNRNPR expression in ESCA.

Dissecting Stemness in Aggressive Intracranial Meningiomas: Prognostic Role of SOX2 Expression

Meningiomas are mostly benign tumors that, at times, can behave aggressively, displaying recurrence despite gross-total resection (GTR) and progression to overt malignancy. Such cases represent a clinical challenge, particularly because they are difficult to recognize at first diagnosis. SOX2 (Sex-determining region Y-box2) is a transcription factor with a key role in stem cell maintenance and has been associated with tumorigenesis in a variety of cancers. The purpose of the present work was to dissect the role of SOX2 in predicting the aggressiveness of meningioma. We analyzed progressive/recurrent WHO grade 1−2 meningiomas and WHO grade 3 meningiomas; as controls, non-recurring WHO grade 1 and grade 2 meningioma patients were enrolled. SOX2 expression was evaluated using both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-PCR. The final analysis included 87 patients. IHC was able to reliably assess SOX2 expression, as shown by the good correlation with mRNA levels (Spearman R = 0.0398, p = 0.001, AUC 0.87). SOX2 expression was an intrinsic characteristic of any single tumor and did not change following recurrence or progression. Importantly, SOX2 expression at first surgery was strongly related to meningioma clinical behavior, histological grade and risk of recurrence. Finally, survival data suggest a prognostic role of SOX2 expression in the whole series, both for overall and for recurrence-free survival (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Thus, SOX2 assessment could be of great help to clinicians in informing adjuvant treatments during follow-up.

Prognostic significance of sex determining region Y-box 2, E-cadherin, and vimentin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) can promote squamous cell carcinoma (SSC) because it regulates the migration and invasion of several different types of squamous carcinoma cells. However, few studies have examined the prognostic value of SOX2 and its effect on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in esophageal SSC (ESCC), a cancer characterized by high invasion and rapid metastasis.

AIM

To verify the relationship of SOX2 and the EMT in ESCC and determine the prognostic value and significance of SOX2 and protein markers of the EMT in ESCC.

METHODS

One hundred and eighty-five postsurgical ESCC patients were retrospectively examined. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect SOX2, E-cadherin, and vimentin in ESCC tissues. The chi-square test was used to determine the relationships of the expression of these proteins with clinical data. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate factors associated with overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

SOX2 and vimentin had high expression in ESCC tissues and correlated with the depth of local carcinoma invasion. SOX2 expression had positive correlations with tumor size, vimentin expression, and the EMT, and a negative correlation with E-cadherin expression. Expression of SOX2 and vimentin had negative correlations with OS. SOX2 expression was an independent prognostic risk factor for poor OS in patients with ESCC.

CONCLUSION

SOX2 expression was an independent risk factor for OS in patients with ESCC and its expression had a positive correlation with the expression of vimentin, a classic marker of the EMT. SOX2 promoted the migration and invasion of ESCC, and this may related to its effect on vimentin in promoting the EMT.

lncRNA LUCAT1/ELAVL1/LIN28B/SOX2 Positive Feedback Loop Promotes Cell Stemness in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Background. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as a subtype of breast cancer (BC), features an aggressive nature. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are proved to get involved in the processes of cancers. lncRNA lung cancer associated transcript 1 (LUCAT1) has been reported in multiple cancers. The role of LUCAT1 in TNBC and its latent regulatory mechanism were investigated. Methods. RT-qPCR was performed to examine LUCAT1 expression. Functional experiments were implemented to disclose the role of LUCAT1 in TNBC. The underlying regulatory mechanism of LUCAT1 in TNBC was explored by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), luciferase reporter, and RNA pull-down assays. Results. LUCAT1 is significantly overexpressed in TNBC cells. LUCAT1 interference impedes cell stemness in TNBC cells. SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) is an active transcription factor of LUCAT1. LUCAT1 recruits ELAV-like RNA binding protein 1 (ELAVL1) protein to stabilize lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B) mRNA, thereby further modulating SOX2 expression, which forms a positive feedback loop. Conclusion. The lncRNA LUCAT1/ELAVL1/LIN28B/SOX2 positive feedback loop promotes cell stemness in TNBC. The exploration of the mechanisms underlying TNBC stemness might be beneficial to TNBC treatment.

Exosome-transmitted circVMP1 facilitates the progression and cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer by targeting miR-524-5p-METTL3/SOX2 axis

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important regulatory roles in multiple human malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we explored the role of circRNA vacuole membrane protein 1 (circVMP1) in NSCLC progression and cisplatin (DDP) resistance.

Methods

The DDP resistance, proliferation, sphere formation ability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of NSCLC cells were analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, sphere formation assay, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Methylated RIP-qPCR (MeRIP-qPCR) was conducted to analyze the m⁶A modification level of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2). Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and RNA-pull down assay were performed to confirm the intermolecular interaction. Exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA).

Results

CircVMP1 expression was markedly elevated in DDP-resistant NSCLC cell lines compared with their parental cell lines. CircVMP1 absence restrained the proliferation, sphere formation, migration, invasion, and DDP resistance and promoted the apoptosis of DDP-resistant NSCLC cells. CircVMP1 acted as microRNA-524-5p (miR-524-5p) sponge to up-regulate the expression of methyltransferase 3, N6-adenosine-methyltransferase complex catalytic subunit (METTL3) and SOX2. CircVMP1 silencing restrained the malignant behaviors and DDP resistance of A549/DDP and H1299/DDP cells by targeting miR-524-5p. Exosomal circVMP1 disseminated the malignant properties and DDP resistance to DDP-sensitive cells. Exosomal circVMP1 elevated the DDP resistance of xenograft tumors in vivo. Exosomal circVMP1 was up-regulated in the serum samples of DDP-resistant NSCLC patients compared with DDP-sensitive patients.

Conclusion

Exosome-mediated transmission of circVMP1 promoted NSCLC progression and DDP resistance by targeting miR-524-5p-METTL3/SOX2 axis.

Highlights

CircVMP1 level is up-regulated in DDP-resistant NSCLC cell lines compared with DDP-sensitive cell lines.

CircVMP1 absence restrains the malignant behaviors and DDP resistance of A549/DDP and H1299/DDP cells.

CircVMP1-miR-524-5p/METTL3/SOX2 axis is identified for the first time.

CircVMP1 plays an oncogenic role by targeting miR-524-5p-METTL3/SOX2 axis in A549/DDP and H1299/DDP cells.

Exosomal circVMP1 transmits the malignant properties and DDP resistance to DDP-sensitive cells.

SOX2 knockdown with siRNA reverses cisplatin resistance in NSCLC by regulating APE1 signaling

SOX2 is related to drug resistance in many types of cancer, including lung cancer. Herein, we investigated the role of SOX2 and its regulatory signaling in cisplatin-treated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The effects of SOX2 on cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were evaluated in vitro. Western blotting, real-time quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry, and luciferase reporter assays were used to investigate the underlying mechanism. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were used to assess the relationship between SOX2 expression and patient survival. A549/CDDP cells had marked resistance to cisplatin and stronger colony formation ability than A549 cells. The expression of SOX2 protein or mRNA in A549/CDDP was higher than that in A549. Knockdown of SOX2 in A549/CDDP-induced apoptosis by inhibiting colony formation and decreasing viability, but overexpression of SOX2 reversed these effects. Interestingly, Genomatix software predicted that the APE1 promoter has some SOX2 binding sites, while the SOX2 promoter has no APE1 binding sites. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays proved that SOX2 could bind the promoter of APE1 in 293T cells. We further verified that SOX2 expression was not affected by shAPE1 in A549/CDDP. As expected, colony formation was obviously inhibited and apoptosis was strongly enhanced in A549/CDDP treated with SOX2 siSOX2 alone or combined with CDDP compared with control cells. Meaningfully, patients with low expression of SOX2, and even including its regulating APE1, survived longer than those with high expression of SOX2, and APE1. siSOX2 overcomes cisplatin resistance by regulating APE1 signaling, providing a new target for overcoming cisplatin resistance in NSCLC.

The role of autoantibody detection in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer

Background

Previously, the clinical value of seven autoantibodies (p53, PGP9.5, SOX2, GAGE7, GBU4-5, MAGEA1, and CAGE) has been surveyed in our pilot observation and other published studies. Herein, we aimed to further investigate the role of these autoantibodies in the diagnosis and staging of LC.

Methods

We included a total of 135 individuals, who were divided into a Lung cancer (LC) group and a control group according to the final diagnosis. Seven autoantibody detection kits were used (ELISA method) for the expression measurement. The patients’ demographics information (e.g., age, gender, and smoking history) were also documented.

Results

Among the seven types of autoantibodies, only P53 and GBU4-5 were significantly increased in the LC group compared to the controls. Also, the P53 autoantibody was markedly different among the various subtype groups. Meanwhile, the GBU4-5 level was significantly higher in the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients compared to patients with adenocarcinoma (ADC). Autoantibodies against PGP9.5, SOX2, GBU4-5, and CAGE were found to be associated with stages. Their expressions were notably higher in the advanced stage (IV) versus early stages (I–II). Using logistic regression, the outcomes of LC prediction and stage prediction showed that the area under curve (AUCs) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 0.743 and 0.798, respectively.

Conclusions

In summary, our study confirmed the diagnostic value of tumor-associated autoantibodies, which may be useful as latent tumor markers to facilitate the detection of early LC. Single autoantibody testing is not yet sufficient in LC cancer screening, and the combined detection of autoantibodies can improve the sensitivity of detection compared with single antibody detection, especially for P53, PGP9.5, SOX2, GBU4-5, and CAGE autoantibodies.

SOX2 expression in the pathogenesis of premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix: its histo-topographical distribution distinguishes between low- and high-grade CIN

SOX2 expression in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma is increased compared to that in the normal cervical epithelium. However, data on the expression and histological distribution of SOX2 in squamous epithelium during progression of CIN are largely lacking. We studied SOX2 expression throughout the epithelium in 53 cases of CIN1, 2, and 3. In general, SOX2 expression increased and expanded from basal/parabasal to the intermediate/superficial compartment during early stages of progression of CIN. An unexpected, specific expression pattern was found in areas classified as CIN2 and CIN3. This pattern was characterized by the absence or low expression of SOX2 in the basal/parabasal compartment and variable levels in the intermediate and superficial compartments. It was significantly associated with CIN3 (p = 0.009), not found in CIN1 and only seen in part of the CIN2 lesions. When the different patterns were correlated with the genetic make-up and presence of HPV, the CIN3-related pattern contained HPV-positive cells in the basal/parabasal cell compartment that were disomic. This is in contrast to the areas exhibiting the CIN1 and CIN2 related patterns, which frequently exhibited aneusomic cells. Based on their SOX2 localisation pattern, CIN1 and CIN2 could be delineated from CIN3. These data shed new light on the pathogenesis and dynamics of progression in premalignant cervical lesions, as well as on the target cells in the epithelium for HPV infection.

Wogonoside inhibits TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) mediated-tumor microenvironment and prognosis of pancreatic cancer

Background

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the worst prognostic cancers. Here, we probed the anti-cancer activity of wogonoside (Wog), a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, on PC, as well as potential molecular mechanism.

Methods

Following Wog stimulation, the viability, proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell-like transition, and mesenchymal transition were detected in PC cells. Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify possible signaling pathways involved in the anti-PC activity of Wog. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) was overexpressed and TRAF6 activator IL-1β was used in PC cells to confirm whether Wog exerted anti-PC activity via modulating TRAF6. In vivo, an experiment was conducted to further confirm our supposition.

Results

Wog inhibited PC cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, limited PC cell stem cell-like transition and mesenchymal transition. TNF signaling pathway was activated in PC. Besides, Wog inactivated TRAF6/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 pathway in PC cells. TRAF6, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM1), CD44, and matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) expressions were upregulated in PC tissues and negatively correlated with PC survival and prognosis. Finally, Wog suppressed TRAF6 overexpression-induced PC cell stem cell-like transition and mesenchymal transition in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusions

Wog exerted anti-cancer activity on PC and suppressed the TRAF6 mediated-tumor microenvironment of PC, thereby regulating PC's prognosis.

SOX2 as a prognostic marker and a potential molecular target in cervical cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) has been reported as a potential therapeutic target for cancer. However, the role of SOX2 in cervical cancer remains largely undetermined. This study was performed to evaluate the correlation of SOX2 with clinical characteristics and prognosis in cervical cancer.

METHODS

Multiple databases were systematically searched for eligible publications. The combined odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the effect sizes.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies with 1906 participants were identified. SOX2 expression was higher in cervical cancer than in the normal control group (OR = 10.83, 95% CI = 6.64-17.67, P < 0.001), while no significant difference was observed between cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. SOX2 expression was not associated with age, tumor stage, and lymph node metastasis, but was correlated with tumor grade (grade 2-3 vs. grade 1: OR = 4.59, 95% CI = 2.76-7.62, P < 0.001) and tumor size (≥4 cm vs. ≤4 cm: OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.05-2.60, P = 0.028). Based on multivariate Cox analysis, SOX2 expression was not correlated with overall survival, but was closely associated with poor recurrence-free survival (HR = 5.83, 95% CI = 1.35-25.16, P = 0.018) and progress-free survival HR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.01-5.19, P = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

SOX2 may serve as a novel prognostic factor and a promising molecular target for cervical cancer.

Establishment of a New Cell Line of Canine Mammary Tumor CMT-1026

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) have histopathological, epidemiologic and clinical characteristics similar to those in humans and are known to be one of the best models for human breast cancer (HBC). This research aimed to describe a newly established canine cell line, CMT-1026. Tumor samples were collected from a female dog exhibiting clinical mammary neoplasm, and the adherent cells were cultured. Both the histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of tumor samples were estimated. Cell growth, ultrastructural, cytological and immunocytochemistry (ICC) features of CMT-1026 were examined. CMT-1026 cells were inoculated into 10 female BALB/c nude mice to evaluate oncogenicity and metastatic ability. Hematoxylin-eosin (H.E.) staining of the tumors revealed an epithelial morphology. Electron microscopy was used to detect histological and cytological of smears, and ultrathin sections showed that CMT-1026 cells were polygonal and characterized by atypia and high mitotic index in the tumor, with prominent nucleoli and multinucleated cells. IHC characterization of CMT-1026 indicated ER-, PR-, HER-2, p63+, CK5/6+, and α-SMA+ epithelial cells. ICC characterization of CMT-1026 showed high expression of Claudin-1, Delta-catenin, SOX-2, and KI-67. At 2 weeks after inoculation of the CMT-1026 cells, phyma was found in 100% of the mice. The xenograft cancers showed conservation of the original H.E. features of the female dog cancer. In conclusion, CMT-1026 may be a model of canine mammary cancer that can be used in research on the pathogenesis of both CMT and HBC.

Melatonin reduces inflammation in intestinal cells, organoids and intestinal explants

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic and recurrent diseases that often occur in young people and place a heavy burden on public health in both developed and developing countries. Melatonin has been confirmed to be useful in various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, liver injuries and diseases, and cancers, while its role in IBDs remains unclear. To uncover the function of melatonin in IBDs, three intestinal models, including Caco-2 cells, 3D intestinal organoids and intestinal explants, were used. It was found that different concentrations of melatonin could significantly inhibit the expression levels of NFκB and its downstream cytokines, including IL6 and IL8 in Caco-2 cells (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01), 3D intestinal organoids (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01) and intestinal explants (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01). Melatonin abolished the activation of LPS on the expression levels of NFκB, IL6, and IL8 in three intestinal models (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001). Importantly, the roles of melatonin in the regulation of inflammation was dependent on its receptor (i.e., MTNR1), since it was found that silencing of the melatonin receptor (MTNR1A) abolished the reduction in inflammation induced by melatonin in Caco-2 cells (***P < 0.001) and 3D intestinal organoids (***P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001). Herein, the findings in this study might provide useful information for understanding the pathogenesis of IBDs and developing novel drugs to treat the diseases.

MicroRNA-296-5p inhibits cell proliferation by targeting HMGA1 in colorectal cancer

An increasing body of evidence indicates the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). miR-296-5p was recently identified as a tumor suppressor in a variety of human cancer types; however, its function in CRC remains largely unknown. The present study demonstrated that the expression of miR-296-5p was significantly downregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. The overexpression of miR-296-5p markedly inhibited proliferation, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in CRC cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) may be a target of miR-296-5p in CRC cells. Further experiments showed that miR-296-5p bound the 3'-untranslated region of HMGA1 and decreased its expression in CRC cells. HMGA1 was overexpressed in CRC tissues and was inversely correlated with the expression of miR-296-5p. The restoration of HMGA1 significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-296-5p on the proliferation of CRC cells. Overall, the findings of the present study indicate that miR-296-5p suppressed the progression of CRC, at least partially via targeting HMGA1. Thus, miR-296-5p is a potential target for novel therapies in CRC.

Valproic Acid and Breast Cancer: State of the Art in 2021

Valproic acid (2-propylpentanoic acid, VPA) is a short-chain fatty acid, a member of the group of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs). VPA has been successfully used in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia for over 50 years. Numerous in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical studies suggest that this well-known anticonvulsant drug significantly inhibits cancer cell proliferation by modulating multiple signaling pathways. Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide. Despite significant progress in the treatment of BC, serious adverse effects, high toxicity to normal cells, and the occurrence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) still limit the effective therapy of BC patients. Thus, new agents which improve the effectiveness of currently used methods, decrease the emergence of MDR, and increase disease-free survival are highly needed. This review focuses on in vitro and in vivo experimental data on VPA, applied individually or in combination with other anti-cancer agents, in the treatment of different histological subtypes of BC.

Transcription Factors: The Fulcrum Between Cell Development and Carcinogenesis

Higher eukaryotic development is a complex and tightly regulated process, whereby transcription factors (TFs) play a key role in controlling the gene regulatory networks. Dysregulation of these regulatory networks has also been associated with carcinogenesis. Transcription factors are key enablers of cancer stemness, which support the maintenance and function of cancer stem cells that are believed to act as seeds for cancer initiation, progression and metastasis, and treatment resistance. One key area of research is to understand how these factors interact and collaborate to define cellular fate during embryogenesis as well as during tumor development. This review focuses on understanding the role of TFs in cell development and cancer. The molecular mechanisms of cell fate decision are of key importance in efforts towards developing better protocols for directed differentiation of cells in research and medicine. We also discuss the dysregulation of TFs and their role in cancer progression and metastasis, exploring TF networks as direct or indirect targets for therapeutic intervention, as well as specific TFs' potential as biomarkers for predicting and monitoring treatment responses.

Remodeling cancer stemness by collagen/fibronectin via the AKT and CDC42 signaling pathway crosstalk in glioma

Cancer development is a complex set of proliferative progression, which arises in most cases via multistep pathways associated with various factors, including the tumor microenvironment and extracellular matrix. However, the underlying mechanisms of cancer development remain unclear and this study aimed to explore the role of extracellular matrix in glioma progression.

Methods: The expression of type I collagen and fibronectin in tumor tissues from glioma patients was examined by immunofluorescence staining. The correlations between collagen/fibronectin and glioma progression were then analyzed. A 3D collagen/fibronectin cultured system was established for tumor cells culture in vitro. Quantitative, real-time PCR and western blot were used to detect PI3K/ATK and CDC42 signals associated proteins expression in glioma. We used in vitro Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, and tumorigenesis assays to investigate the function of PI3K/AKT and CDC42 signals associated proteins. A xenograft glioma mice model was also used to study the anticancer effects of integrin inhibitor in vivo.

Results: Our study demonstrated that type I collagen and fibronectin collaborate to regulate glioma cell stemness and tumor growth. In a 3D collagen/fibronectin culture model, glioma cells acquired tumorigenic potential and revealed strengthened proliferative characteristics. More significantly, collagen/fibronectin could facilitate the activation of PI3K/AKT/SOX2 and CDC42/YAP-1/NUPR1/Nestin signaling pathways via integrin αvβ3, eliciting sustained tumor growth and cancer relapse. Combination of the integrin signaling pathway inhibitor and the chemotherapeutic agent efficiently suppressed glioma cell proliferation and tumorigenic ability.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that type I collagen and fibronectin could collaborate to promote glioma progression through PI3K/AKT/SOX2 and CDC42/YAP-1/NUPR1/Nestin signaling pathways. Blockade of the upstream molecular integrin αvβ3 revealed improved outcome in glioma therapy, which provide new insights for eradicating tumors and reducing glioma cancer relapse.

Androgen Deprivation Induces Transcriptional Reprogramming in Prostate Cancer Cells to Develop Stem Cell-Like Characteristics

Enzalutamide, an antiandrogen, is approved for therapy of castration resistant prostate cancer. Clinical applications have shown that approximately 30% of patients acquire resistance after a short period of treatment. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance is not completely understood. To identify transcriptomic signatures associated with acquisition of drug resistance we profiled gene expression of paired enzalutamide sensitive and resistant human prostate cancer LNCaP (lymph node carcinoma of the prostate) and C4-2B cells. Overlapping genes differentially regulated in the enzalutamide resistant cells were ranked by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and their functional validation was performed using ingenuity knowledge database followed by confirmation to correlate transcript with protein expression. Analysis revealed that genes associated with cancer stem cells, such as POU5F1 (OCT4), SOX2, NANOG, BMI1, BMP2, CD44, SOX9, and ALDH1 were markedly upregulated in enzalutamide resistant cells. Amongst the pathways enriched in the enzalutamide-resistant cells were those associated with RUNX2, hedgehog, integrin signaling, and molecules associated with elastic fibers. Further examination of a patient cohort undergoing ADT and its comparison with no-ADT group demonstrated high expression of POU5F1 (OCT4), ALDH1, and SOX2 in ADT specimens, suggesting that they may be clinically relevant therapeutic targets. Altogether, our approach exhibits the potential of integrative transcriptomic analyses to identify critical genes and pathways of antiandrogen resistance as a promising approach for designing novel therapeutic strategies to circumvent drug resistance.

LncRNA DANCR upregulation induced by TUFT1 promotes malignant progression in triple negative breast cancer via miR-874-3p-SOX2 axis

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with poorest survival outcome and is prone to metastasis. TUFT1 and the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), DANCR, play vital roles in metastasis and progression of various cancers. However, the correlation between TUFT1 and DANCR in TNBC and their downstream molecular mechanisms are still undetermined. We demonstrated that upregulation of TUFT1 in TNBC was related to a worse survival in TNBC patients. The TNBC cells invasiveness was augmented by TUFT1 in a dose-dependent manner, while inhibiting TUFT1 repressed the invasiveness. Particularly, the expression of TUFT1 was positively correlated with the expression of DANCR in TNBC tissues. In addition, TUFT1 increased DANCR expression, while silencing DANCR ameliorated the invasiveness of TNBC cells induced by TUFT1. As demonstrated, TUFT1 interacted with miR-874-3p. Subsequently, qRT-PCR together with luciferase reporter further demonstrated that DANCR acted as competing endogenous (ceRNA) for miR-874-3p, thereby regulating the de-repression of SOX2 and advancing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in TNBC. The present research shows that TUFT1 promotes the malignant development in TNBC via enhancing the expression of DANCR. The upregulation of DANCR may contribute to the progression and tumor invasiveness of TNBC, considering that DANCR functions as a miR-874-3p sponge, thus modulating SOX2 positively. Collectively, the present study explored the molecular mechanism underlying TUFT1 in TNBC, raising a TUFT1-mediated therapy for the treatment of patients with TNBC.

Functional characterization of SOX2 as an anticancer target

SOX2 is a well-characterized pluripotent factor that is essential for stem cell self-renewal, reprogramming, and homeostasis. The cellular levels of SOX2 are precisely regulated by a complicated network at the levels of transcription, post-transcription, and post-translation. In many types of human cancer, SOX2 is dysregulated due to gene amplification and protein overexpression. SOX2 overexpression is associated with poor survival of cancer patients. Mechanistically, SOX2 promotes proliferation, survival, invasion/metastasis, cancer stemness, and drug resistance. SOX2 is, therefore, an attractive anticancer target. However, little progress has been made in the efforts to discover SOX2 inhibitors, largely due to undruggable nature of SOX2 as a transcription factor. In this review, we first briefly introduced SOX2 as a transcription factor, its domain structure, normal physiological functions, and its involvement in human cancers. We next discussed its role in embryonic development and stem cell-renewal. We then mainly focused on three aspects of SOX2: (a) the regulatory mechanisms of SOX2, including how SOX2 level is regulated, and how SOX2 cross-talks with multiple signaling pathways to control growth and survival; (b) the role of SOX2 in tumorigenesis and drug resistance; and (c) current drug discovery efforts on targeting SOX2, and the future perspectives to discover specific SOX2 inhibitors for effective cancer therapy.

Roles of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Regulatory Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Pathogenesis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common pathological type of lung cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are promising novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to modulate tumor cells proliferation, cell cycle progression, invasion, and metastasis by regulating gene expression at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels. The oncogenic aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling is prominent in lung cancer, playing a vital role in tumorigenesis, prognosis, and resistance to therapy. Interestingly, compelling studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs exert either oncogenic or tumor suppressor roles by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In this review, we aim to present the current accumulated knowledge regarding the roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling-regulated lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Better understanding of the effects of lncRNAs on Wnt/β-catenin signaling might contribute to the improved understanding of the molecular tumor pathogenesis and to the uncovering of novel therapeutic targets in NSCLC.

SOX2 is a positive regulator of osteoclast differentiation

Elucidating the mechanism underlying osteoclast differentiation is important to improve our understanding of the pathophysiologies related to skeletal diseases and osteolytic metastasis in cancer. Sex-determining region Y-box containing gene 2 (SOX2), a stemness marker, is known to affect osteoblast differentiation and cancer metastasis. However, its role in osteoclastogenesis has not been investigated to date. Here, we report that SOX2 protein and mRNA expression was upregulated during osteoclast differentiation. The overexpression or knockdown of SOX2 in osteoclast precursor cells enhanced or suppressed, respectively, receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation and migration, and nuclear factor of activated T-cell c1 (NFATc1) and factor-associated suicide ligand (FASL) expression. In addition, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation were regulated by SOX2 expression; both EGFR and ERK inhibitors abrogated the SOX2 overexpression-induced increase in osteoclast differentiation and NFATc1 expression under RANKL stimulation. Overall, these results suggest SOX2 as a positive regulatory factor during osteoclast differentiation partly through the EGFR and ERK signaling pathways, highlighting a new potential target for restoring abnormal osteoclast activation.

The Role of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma : Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cutaneous SCC

OPINION STATEMENT

The capacity of cells to modify their phenotypes from epithelial to mesenchymal (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT) and vice versa provides them with a dynamic plasticity essential for human life, from embryogenesis to wound healing. Current knowledge about carcinogenetic mechanisms leaves little doubts on the pivotal participation of these interchangeable processes in cancer development, and their influence has been quite clearly established in the progression of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. A complex and ordered interplay of signals induces the shift between both phenotypes, providing cells with the most suitable state at every moment to face the next step in tumor invasion and dissemination. Some stimulatory triggers have opposite effects according to the biological context and in many cases exert collateral functions. This scenario makes finding an ideal therapeutic target difficult but provides the opportunity to intervene simultaneously at many different levels with small actions such as targeting the tumor environment. In any case, advances in knowledge of the EMT mechanisms and their influence on carcinogenesis and drug resistance will greatly influence the therapeutic strategies for many human tumors, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.