Double-crosser of the Immune System: Macrophages in Tumor Progression and Metastasis

Clinicopathological Significance and Expression Pattern of Bcl2 in Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive in silico and in vitro Study

B-cell lymphoma/leukemia gene-2 (Bcl-2) is the primary proto-oncogene that has been shown to work by preventing apoptosis/programmed cell death. Bcl-2 combines a variety of cell-generated signals associated to the survival and death of cells. In glioma, lung, and breast cancer, Bcl-2 over-expression has been linked to an increase in invasion and migration. Many treatment regimens that target Bcl2 have been established and approved, and thus increasing the survival rates of the patients. The primary goal of this research was to recognize new therapeutic compounds that target Bcl2 and assess Bcl2 expression pattern in BC patients. We used various bioinformatic tools as well as several in vitro assays to look out the expression and inhibition of Bcl2 in BC. Our study depicted that Bcl2 had a strong connection with tumour stroma, notably with suppressor cells originating from myeloid tissues. Moreover, in vitro and in silico research identified Paclitaxel as a promising natural substance that targets Bcl2. Overall, this work shows that Bcl2 overexpression accelerates the development of BC, and that targeting Bcl2 in combination with other drugs will dramatically improve BC patient's response to treatment and prevent the emergence of drug resistance.

Prognostic significance and expression pattern of glucose related genes in breast cancer: A comprehensive computational biology approach

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of malignancy globally and the main reason why women die from tumours. The Warburg effect, a characteristic of tumor, describes how most solid tumour cells acclimatize to their diverse surroundings by relying heavily on aerobic glycolysis for production of energy. In addition to producing key metabolic intermediates that are crucial for the production of macromolecules, which enable cancer cell division, invasiveness, and drug resistance, the transformed energy metabolism also supplies tumor cells with ATP for cellular energy. Here, we evaluated the expression profile, prognostic significance, and clinical relevance of glucose-related genes in BC using a bioinformatic approach. To clarify the significance of glucose-related genes in the development of breast tumours, we also performed a functional enrichment investigation of deregulated genes using the STRING and KEGG portal. The study depicted that of the 61 genes examined, 8 genes had a fold change Collapse

Key Words

• Bioinformatics
• Breast cancer
• Deregulation
• Glucose metabolism
• Prognosis
• Survival analysis
• Warburg effect

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MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Bader Alshehri Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Almajmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia

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Major pathways involved in macrophage polarization in cancer

Macrophages play an important role in tissue homeostasis, tissue remodeling, immune response, and progression of cancer. Consequently, macrophages exhibit significant plasticity and change their transcriptional profile and function in response to environmental, tissue, and inflammatory stimuli resulting in pro- and anti-tumor effects. Furthermore, the categorization of tissue macrophages in inflammatory situations remains difficult; however, there is an agreement that macrophages are predominantly polarized into two different subtypes with pro- and anti-inflammatory properties, the so-called M1-like and M2-like macrophages, respectively. These two macrophage classes can be considered as the extreme borders of a continuum of many intermediate subsets. On one end, M1 are pro-inflammatory macrophages that initiate an immunological response, damage tissue integrity, and dampen tumor progression by fostering robust T and natural killer (NK) cell anti-tumoral responses. On the other end, M2 are anti-inflammatory macrophages involved in tissue remodeling and tumor growth, that promote cancer cell proliferation, invasion, tumor metastasis, angiogenesis and that participate to immune suppression. These decisive roles in tumor progression occur through the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and matrix metalloproteases, as well as by the expression of immune checkpoint receptors in the case of M2 macrophages. Moreover, macrophage plasticity is supported by stimuli from the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) that are relayed to the nucleus through membrane receptors and signaling pathways that result in gene expression reprogramming in macrophages, thus giving rise to different macrophage polarization outcomes. In this review, we will focus on the main signaling pathways involved in macrophage polarization that are activated upon ligand-receptor recognition and in the presence of other immunomodulatory molecules in cancer.

Targeting aurora kinase a (AURKA) in cancer: molecular docking and dynamic simulations of potential AURKA inhibitors

The Aurora family of serine/threonine kinases in mammals are key regulators of mitotic progression and are commonly upregulated in human tumors. Since AURKA's increased expression has been linked to cancer, AURKA inhibitors could reduce AURKA expression and function as potent therapeutic drugs. The study's objective was to find and categorize inhibitors with a stronger affinity for AURKA. This study also aimed to identify AURKA's expression profile and prognostic significance across pan-cancers. We looked into therapeutic compounds that were structurally comparable to MK8745 for their potential to selectively inhibit AURKA. We used drug likeliness analysis, MD simulation studies to evaluate the therapeutic possibility of screened MK8745 analogues. AURKA was found to be strongly upregulated in several cancers and is linked to worse overall and relapse-free survival. The Molecular docking and dynamic analysis revealed two new MK8745 analogues to be potent AURKA inhibitors with higher binding affinities and stabilities than MK8745. Furthermore, MK8745 analogues are potential replacements for MK8745 because they have strong binding affinity, which is consistent with MDS results, and have appropriate ADMET properties. Through basic, clinical, and preclinical research, the identification of novel compounds may open the door for their prospective use in the prevention of cancer.

Natural products and their semi-synthetic derivatives against antimicrobial-resistant human pathogenic bacteria and fungi

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COVID-19 pandemic has traumatized the entire world. During this outbreak, an upsurge in MDR-associated pathogenic microbial organisms has been recorded.

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The increasing human microbial diseases pose a severe danger to global human safety.

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The infectious microbes have developed multiple tolerance strategies to overcome the negative drug impacts.

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Several naturally occurring chemicals produced from bacteria, plants, animals, marine species, and other sources with antimicrobial characteristics have been reviewed.

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These compounds show promise in minimizing the globally increasing microbial diseases.

Human infectious diseases caused by various microbial pathogens, in general, impact a large population of individuals every year. These microbial diseases that spread quickly remain to be a big issue in various health-related domains and to withstand the negative drug impacts, the antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic microbial organisms (pathogenic bacteria and pathogenic fungi) have developed a variety of resistance processes against many antimicrobial drug classes. During the COVID-19 outbreak, there seems to be an upsurge in drug and multidrug resistant-associated pathogenic microbial species. The preponderance of existing antimicrobials isn’t completely effective, which limits their application in clinical settings. Several naturally occurring chemicals produced from bacteria, plants, animals, marine species, and other sources are now being studied for antimicrobial characteristics. These natural antimicrobial compounds extracted from different sources have been demonstrated to be effective against a variety of diseases, although plants remain the most abundant source. These compounds have shown promise in reducing the microbial diseases linked to the development of drug tolerance and resistance. This paper offers a detailed review of some of the most vital and promising natural compounds and their derivatives against various human infectious microbial organisms. The inhibitory action of different natural antimicrobial compounds, and their possible mechanism of antimicrobial action against a range of pathogenic fungal and bacterial organisms, is provided. The review will be useful in refining current antimicrobial (antifungal and antibacterial) medicines as well as establishing new treatment strategies to tackle the rising number of human bacterial and fungal-associated infections.

Manipulation and exploitation of host immune system by pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis for its advantage

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) can become a long-term infection by evading the host immune response. Coevolution of Mtb with humans has resulted in its ability to hijack the host's immune systems in a variety of ways. So far, every Mtb defense strategy is essentially dependent on a subtle balance that, if shifted, can promote Mtb proliferation in the host, resulting in disease progression. In this review, the authors summarize many important and previously unknown mechanisms by which Mtb evades the host immune response. Besides recently found strategies by which Mtb manipulates the host molecular regulatory machinery of innate and adaptive immunity, including the intranuclear regulatory machinery, costimulatory molecules, the ubiquitin system and cellular intrinsic immune components will be discussed. A holistic understanding of these immune-evasion mechanisms is of foremost importance for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and will lead to new insights into tuberculosis pathogenesis and the development of more effective vaccines and treatment regimens.

Targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) in cancer: molecular docking and dynamic simulations of potential CDK1 inhibitors

Cell cycle dysregulation is a characteristic hallmark of malignancies, which results in uncontrolled cell proliferation and eventual tumor formation. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) is a member of the family of cell cycle regulatory proteins involved in cell cycle maintenance. Given that overexpression of CDK1 has been associated with cancer, CDK1 inhibitors may restore equilibrium to the skewed cell cycle system and operate as an effective therapeutic drug. This study aimed to identify and classify inhibitors having a higher affinity for CDK1 and also evaluate the expression pattern and prognostic relevance of CDK1 in a wide range of cancers. We investigated therapeutic molecules structurally similar to dinaciclib for their ability to inhibit CDK1 selectively. To assess the therapeutic potential of screened Dinaciclib analogs, we used drug likeliness analysis, molecular docking, and simulation analysis. CDK1 was found to be highly upregulated across several malignancies and is associated with poor overall and relapse-free survival. Molecular docking and dynamics evaluation identified two novel dinaciclib analogs as potent CDK1 inhibitors with high binding affinity and stability compared to dinaciclib. The results indicate that increased CDK1 expression is associated with decreased OS and RFS. Additionally, dinaciclib analogs are prospective replacements for dinaciclib since they exhibit increased binding affinity, consistent with MDS findings, and have acceptable ADMET qualities. The discovery of new compounds may pave the road for their future application in cancer prevention through basic, preclinical, and clinical research.

Cyclin-dependent kinases in breast cancer: expression pattern and therapeutic implications

Presently, breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed and the leading cause of tumor-related deaths among women worldwide. Cell cycle dysregulation is one of the hallmarks of cancer, resulting in uncontrolled cell proliferation. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are central to the cell cycle control system, and deregulation of these kinases leads to the development of malignancies, including breast cancer. CDKs and cyclins have been reported as crucial components involved in tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Given the aggressive nature, tumor heterogeneity, and chemoresistance, there is an urgent need to explore novel targets and therapeutics to manage breast cancer effectively. Inhibitors targeting CDKs modulate the cell cycle, thus throwing light upon their therapeutic aspect where the progression of tumor cells could be inhibited. This article gives a comprehensive account of CDKs in breast cancer progression and metastasis and recent developments in the modulation of CDKs in treating malignancies. We have also explored the expression pattern and prognostic significance of CDKs in breast cancer patients. The article will also shed light on the Implications of CDK inhibition and TGF-β signaling in breast cancer.

Cryptolepine Targets TOP2A and Inhibits Tumor Cell Proliferation in Breast Cancer Cells - An in vitro and in silico Study

BACKGROUND

DNA Topoisomerase II Alpha (TOP2A), a protein-coding gene, is central to the replication process and has been found deregulated in several malignancies, including breast cancer. Several therapeutic regimens have been developed and approved for targeting TOP2A and have prolonged the survival of cancer patients. However, due to the inherent nature of the tumor cell to evolve, the earlier positive response turns into a refractory chemoresistance in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

The study's main objective was to analyze the expression pattern and prognostic significance of TOP2A in breast cancer patients and screen new therapeutic molecules targeting TOP2A.

METHODS

We utilized an integrated bioinformatic approach to analyze the expression pattern, genetic alteration, immune association, and prognostic significance of TOP2A in breast cancer (BC) and screened natural compounds targeting TOP2A, and performed an in-silico and an in vitro analysis.

RESULTS

Our study showed that TOP2A is highly overexpressed in breast cancer tissues and overexpression of TOP2A correlates with worse overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Moreover, TOP2A showed a high association with tumor stroma, particularly with myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Also, in silico and in vitro analysis revealed cryptolepine as a promising natural compound targeting TOP2A.

CONCLUSION

Cumulatively, this study signifies that TOP2A promotes breast cancer progression, and targeting TOP2A in combination with other therapeutic agents will significantly enhance the response of BC patients to therapy and reduce the development of chemoresistance.

Nanobodies as versatile tools: A focus on targeted tumor therapy, tumor imaging and diagnostics

Monoclonal antibodies and vaccines have widely been studied for the immunotherapy of cancer, though their large size appears to limit their functionality in solid tumors, in large part due to unique properties of tumor microenvironment. Smaller formats of antibodies have been developed to throw such restrictions. These small format antibodies include antigen binding fragments, single-chain variable fragments, single variable domain of camelid antibody (so-called nanobody (Nb) or VHH). Since their serendipitous discovery, nanobodies have been studies at length in the fields of research, diagnostics and therapy. These antigen binding fragments, originating from camelid heavy-chain antibodies, possess unusual hallmarks in terms of (small) size, stability, solubility and specificity, hence allowing cost-effective production and sometimes out performing monoclonal antibodies. In addition, these small camelid heavy-chain antibodies are highly adaptable tools for cancer research as they enable specific modulation of targets, enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins alike. Molecular imaging studies benefit from the rapid, homogeneous tumor accumulation of nanobodies and their fast blood clearance, permitting previously unattainable fast tumor visualization. Moreover, they are endowed with considerable therapeutic potential as inhibitors of receptor-ligand pairs and deliverers of drugs or drug-loaded nanoparticles towards tumors. In this review, we shed light on the current status of nanobodies in diagnosis and imaging of tumor and exploiting nanobodies revert immunosuppressive events, modulation of immune checkpoints, and as deliverers of drugs for targeted tumor therapy.

The tumor microenvironment as driver of stemness and therapeutic resistance in breast cancer: New challenges and therapeutic opportunities

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC), the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths, remains a significant threat to the health and wellness of women worldwide. The tumor microenvironment (TME), comprising cellular components, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune cells, endothelial cells and adipocytes, and noncellular components such as extracellular matrix (ECM), has been recognized as a critical contributor to the development and progression of BC. The interplay between TME components and cancer cells promotes phenotypic heterogeneity, cell plasticity and cancer cell stemness that impart tumor dormancy, enhanced invasion and metastasis, and the development of therapeutic resistance. While most previous studies have focused on targeting cancer cells with a dismal prognosis, novel therapies targeting stromal components are currently being evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies, and are already showing improved efficacies. As such, they may offer better means to eliminate the disease effectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this review, we focus on the evolving concept of the TME as a key player regulating tumor growth, metastasis, stemness, and the development of therapeutic resistance. Despite significant advances over the last decade, several clinical trials focusing on the TME have failed to demonstrate promising effectiveness in cancer patients. To expedite clinical efficacy of TME-directed therapies, a deeper understanding of the TME is of utmost importance. Secondly, the efficacy of TME-directed therapies when used alone or in combination with chemo- or radiotherapy, and the tumor stage needs to be studied. Likewise, identifying molecular signatures and biomarkers indicating the type of TME will help in determining precise TME-directed therapies.

Radiomics, aptamers and nanobodies: New insights in cancer diagnostics and imaging

At present, cancer is a major health issue and the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. Researchers have been working hard on investigating not only improved therapeutics but also on early detection methods, both critical to increasing treatment efficacy and developing methods for disease prevention. Diagnosis of cancers at an early stage can promote timely medical intervention and effective treatment and will result in inhibiting tumor growth and development. Several advances have been made in the diagnostics and imagining technologies for early tumor detection and deciding an effective therapy these include radiomics, nanobodies, and aptamers. Here in this review, we summarize the main applications of radiomics, aptamers, and the use of nanobody-based probes for molecular imaging applications in diagnosis, treatment planning, and evaluations in the field of oncology to develop quantitative and personalized medicine. The preclinical data reported to date are quite promising, and it is predicted that nanobody-based molecular imaging agents will play an important role in the diagnosis and management of different cancer types in near future.

Prognostic significance and targeting tumor-associated macrophages in cancer: new insights and future perspectives

Macrophages are phagocytic sentinel cells of the immune system that are central to both innate and adaptive immune responses and serve as the first line of defense against pathogenic insults to tissues. In the tumor microenvironment, tumor-derived factors induce monocyte polarization towards a pro-tumor phenotype. The pro-tumor macrophages regulate key steps in tumorigenicity including tumor growth, angiogenesis, immune suppression, and metastasis. Macrophage infiltration in solid tumors correlates with poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy in most cancers. Here in this review, we will shed light on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in regulating tumorigenicity and TAMs as a prognostic biomarker. Also, we will review the recent advances in targeting TAMs to increase the prognosis of cancer patients.

Tumor microenvironment promotes breast cancer chemoresistance

Breast cancer is presently the most predominant tumor type and the second leading cause of tumor-related deaths among women. Although advancements in diagnosis and therapeutics have momentously improved, chemoresistance remains an important challenge. Tumors oppose chemotherapeutic agents through a variety of mechanisms, with studies revealing that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is central to this process. The components of TME including stromal cells, immune cells, and non-stromal factors on exposure to chemotherapy promote the acquisition of resistant phenotype. Consequently, limited targeting of tumor cells leads to tumor recurrence after chemotherapy. Here, in this article, we summarize how TME alters chemotherapy responses in breast cancer. Furthermore, the role of different stromal cells viz., CAFs, TAMs, MSCs, endothelial cells, and cancer stem cells (CSC) in breast cancer chemoresistance is discussed in greater detail.