Dihydropyrimidinase Like 2 Promotes Bladder Cancer Progression via Pyruvate Kinase M2-Induced Aerobic Glycolysis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Tetramerization of pyruvate kinase M2 attenuates graft-versus-host disease by inhibition of Th1 and Th17 differentiation

Lethal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the major complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT). Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is essential for CD4+ T-cell differentiation. Using the well-characterized mouse models of Allo-HSCT, we explored the effects of TEPP-46-induced PKM2 tetramerization on GVHD and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity. TEPP-46 administration significantly improved the survival rate of GVHD. The severity of GVHD and histopathological damage of GVHD-targeted organs were obviously alleviated by PKM2 tetramerization. Additionally, tetramerized PKM2 inhibited the activation of NF-κB pathway and decreased the inflammation level of GVHD mice. PKM2 tetramerization blocked Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17). Meanwhile, differentiation of Treg cells and IL-10 secretion were promoted by tetramerized PKM2. These findings demonstrated that PKM2 enhanced the augment of Th1 and Th17 cells to accelerate the progression of GVHD, and allosteric activation of PKM2 targeted Th1 and Th17 cells attenuated GVHD. Furthermore, we also confirmed that TEPP-46 administration did not compromise GVL activity and resulted in slightly improvement of leukemia-free survive. Thus, targeting Th1 and Th17 cell response with PKM2 allosteric activator may be a promising therapeutic strategy for GVHD prevention while preserving the GVL activity in patients receiving Allo-HSCT.

Construction of endothelial cell signatures for predicting the diagnosis, prognosis and immunotherapy response of bladder cancer via machine learning

We subtyped bladder cancer (BC) patients based on the expression patterns of endothelial cell (EC) -related genes and constructed a diagnostic signature and an endothelial cell prognostic index (ECPI), which are useful for diagnosing BC patients, predicting the prognosis of BC and evaluating drug sensitivity. Differentially expressed genes in ECs were obtained from the Tumour Immune Single-Cell Hub database. Subsequently, a diagnostic signature, a tumour subtyping system and an ECPI were constructed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus. Associations between the ECPI and the tumour microenvironment, drug sensitivity and biofunctions were assessed. The hub genes in the ECPI were identified as drug candidates by molecular docking. Subtype identification indicated that high EC levels were associated with a worse prognosis and immunosuppressive effect. The diagnostic signature and ECPI were used to effectively diagnose BC and accurately assess the prognosis of BC and drug sensitivity among patients. Three hub genes in the ECPI were extracted, and the three genes had the closest affinity for doxorubicin and curcumin. There was a close relationship between EC and BC. EC-related genes can help clinicians diagnose BC, predict the prognosis of BC and select effective drugs.

Identification of multiple organ metastasis-associated hub mRNA/miRNA signatures in non-small cell lung cancer

Metastasis remains major cause of treatment failure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A comprehensive characterization of the transcriptomic landscape of NSCLC-cells with organ-specific metastatic potentials would advance our understanding of NSCLC metastasis process. In this study, we established NSCLC bone-metastatic (BoM), brain-metastatic (BrM), and lymph-metastatic (LnM) cells by an in vivo spontaneous metastatic model. Subsequently, by analyzing the entire transcriptomic profiles of BoM, BrM, LnM, LuM, in comparison with their parental cell line L9981, we identified miR-660-5p as a key driver that is associated with NSCLC progression and distant metastasis, potentially through its targeting of LIMCH1, SMARCA5 and TPP2. In addition, a six-gene signature (ADRB2, DPYSL2, IL7R, LIMCH1, PIK3R1, and SOX2) was subsequently established to predict NSCLC metastasis based on differentially expressed genes, three of which (DPYSL2, PIK3R1, LIMCH1) along with the transcriptional factors RB1 and TP63, were ultimately validated by experiments. Taken together, aberrant gene signature and miRNA can serve as biomarkers for predicting NSCLC distant metastasis, and targeting them could potentially contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Identification and validation of a dysregulated TME-related gene signature for predicting prognosis, and immunological properties in bladder cancer

Background

During tumor growth, tumor cells interact with their tumor microenvironment (TME) resulting in the development of heterogeneous tumors that promote tumor occurrence and progression. Recently, there has been extensive attention on TME as a possible therapeutic target for cancers. However, an accurate TME-related prediction model is urgently needed to aid in the assessment of patients' prognoses and therapeutic value, and to assist in clinical decision-making. As such, this study aimed to develop and validate a new prognostic model based on TME-associated genes for BC patients.

Methods

Transcriptome data and clinical information for BC patients were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and IMvigor210 databases, along with the MSigDB, were utilized to identify genes associated with TMEs (TMRGs). A consensus clustering approach was used to identify molecular clusters associated with TMEs. LASSO Cox regression analysis was conducted to establish a prognostic TMRG-related signature, with verifications being successfully conducted internally and externally. Gene ontology (GO), KEGG, and single-sample gene set enrichment analyses (ssGSEA) were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. The potential response to ICB therapy was estimated using the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithm and Immunophenoscore (IPS). Additionally, it was found that the expression level of certain genes in the model was significantly correlated with objective responses to anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 treatment in the IMvigor210, GSE111636, GSE176307, or Truce01 (registration number NCT04730219) cohorts. Finally, real-time PCR validation was performed on 10 paired tissue samples, and in vitro cytological experiments were also conducted on BC cell lines.

Results

In BC patients, 133 genes differentially expressed that were associated with prognosis in TME. Consensus clustering analysis revealed three distinct clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes. A novel prognostic model based on nine TMRGs (including C3orf62, DPYSL2, GZMA, SERPINB3, RHCG, PTPRR, STMN3, TMPRSS4, COMP) was identified, and a TMEscore for OS prediction was constructed, with its reliable predictive performance in BC patients being validated. MultiCox analysis showed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. A nomogram was developed to facilitate the clinical viability of TMEscore. Based on GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, biological processes related to ECM and collagen binding were significantly enriched among high-risk individuals. In addition, the low-risk group, characterized by a higher number of infiltrating CD8+ T cells and a lower burden of tumor mutations, demonstrated a longer survival time. Our study also found that TMEscore correlated with drug susceptibility, immune cell infiltration, and the prediction of immunotherapy efficacy. Lastly, we identified SERPINB3 as significantly promoting BC cells migration and invasion through differential expression validation and in vitro phenotypic experiments.

Conclusion

Our study developed a prognostic model based on nine TMRGs that accurately and stably predicted survival, guiding individual treatment for patients with BC, and providing new therapeutic strategies for the disease.

Establishment of prognostic model of bladder cancer based on apoptosis-related genes, in which P4HB promotes BLCA progression

BACKGROUND

A variety of apoptosis genes have been confirmed to be related to the occurrence and development of bladder cancer patients, but few studies have paid attention to their significance in the prognosis of bladder cancer. Therefore, this study explored the value of apoptosis-related genes in the prognosis of BLCA by using the data in TCGA database.

METHODS

We downloaded the mRNA expression profiles and corresponding clinical data of bladder cancer patients from TCGA database, and obtained 2411 apoptosis-related genes from Deathbase database. Screening out differentially expressed apoptosis-related genes. Cox regression was used to determine the prognostic value of apoptosis-related genes, and then a prognostic risk model was developed. A nomogram based on risk model was constructed to predict the prognosis of bladder cancer patients. At the same time, immune infiltration correlation analysis of genes in the prognosis model.

RESULTS

A prognostic model composed of 12 apoptosis-related genes was constructed. According to the risk score calculated by the model, patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group. There are significant differences in the expression of immune cells, immune function and immune checkpoint molecules between high-risk group and low-risk group. P4HB may promote bladder cancer progression.

CONCLUSION

Based on the differential expression of apoptosis-related genes, we established a risk model to predict the prognosis of bladder cancer patients, in which P4HB promotes BLCA progression.

MicroRNA-145-5p suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in upper tract urothelial carcinoma by targeting 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), including renal, pelvic, and ureteral carcinoma, has a high incidence rate in Taiwan, which is different from that in Western countries. Therefore, it is imperative to elucidate the mechanisms underlying UTUC growth and metastasis. To explore the function of miR-145-5p in UTUC, we transfected the BFTC909 cell line with miR-145-5p mimics and analyzed the differences in protein levels by performing two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to analyze 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/inositol monophosphate cyclohydrolase (ATIC) messenger RNA and protein levels. A dual-luciferase assay was performed to identify the target of miR-145-5p in ATIC. The effects of miR-145-5p and ATIC expression by cell transfection on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were also assessed. miR-145-5p downregulated ATIC protein expression. High ATIC expression is associated with tumor stage, metastasis, recurrence, and a poor prognosis in patients with UTUC. Cell function assays revealed that ATIC knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasive abilities of UTUC cells. In contrast, miR-145-5p affected the proliferation, migration, and invasive abilities of UTUC cells by directly targeting the 3'-untranslated regions of ATIC. Furthermore, we used RNA sequencing and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis to identify possible downstream genes regulated by ATIC and found that miR-145-5p regulated the protein levels of fibronectin 1, Slug, cyclin A2, cyclin B1, P57, and interferon-induced transmembrane 1 via ATIC. ATIC may be a valuable predictor of prognosis and a potential therapeutic target for UTUC.

New insight in urological cancer therapy: From epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to application of nano-biomaterials

A high number of cancer-related deaths (up to 90) are due to metastasis and simple definition of metastasis is new colony formation of tumor cells in a secondary site. In tumor cells, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) stimulates metastasis and invasion, and it is a common characteristic of malignant tumors. Prostate cancer, bladder cancer and renal cancer are three main types of urological tumors that their malignant and aggressive behaviors are due to abnormal proliferation and metastasis. EMT has been well-documented as a mechanism for promoting invasion of tumor cells and in the current review, a special attention is directed towards understanding role of EMT in malignancy, metastasis and therapy response of urological cancers. The invasion and metastatic characteristics of urological tumors enhance due to EMT induction and this is essential for ensuring survival and ability in developing new colonies in neighboring and distant tissues and organs. When EMT induction occurs, malignant behavior of tumor cells enhances and their tend in developing therapy resistance especially chemoresistance promotes that is one of the underlying reasons for therapy failure and patient death. The lncRNAs, microRNAs, eIF5A2, Notch-4 and hypoxia are among common modulators of EMT mechanism in urological tumors. Moreover, anti-tumor compounds such as metformin can be utilized in suppressing malignancy of urological tumors. Besides, genes and epigenetic factors modulating EMT mechanism can be therapeutically targeted for interfering malignancy of urological tumors. Nanomaterials are new emerging agents in urological cancer therapy that they can improve potential of current therapeutics by their targeted delivery to tumor site. The important hallmarks of urological cancers including growth, invasion and angiogenesis can be suppressed by cargo-loaded nanomaterials. Moreover, nanomaterials can improve chemotherapy potential in urological cancer elimination and by providing phototherapy, they mediate synergistic tumor suppression. The clinical application depends on development of biocompatible nanomaterials.

CRMP2 derived from cancer associated fibroblasts facilitates progression of ovarian cancer via HIF-1α-glycolysis signaling pathway

As the predominant stroma cells of tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are robust tumor player of different malignancies. However, less is known about the regulatory mechanism of CAFs on promoting progression of ovarian cancer (OvCA). In the present study, the conditioned medium of primary CAFs (CAF-CM) from OvCA was used to culture cell lines of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and showed a potent role in promoting proliferation, migration and invasion of cancer cells. Mass spectrum (MS) analysis identified that Collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP2), a microtubule-associated protein involved in diverse malignancies, derived from CAFs was a key regulator responsible for mediating these cell events of OvCA. In vitro study using recombinant CRMP2 (r-CRMP2) revealed that the protein promoted proliferation, invasion, and migration of OvCA cells through activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α-glycolysis signaling pathway. The CRMP2 was abundantly expressed in OvCA, with a well correlation with metastasis and poor prognosis, as analyzed from 118 patients' samples. Inhibition of the CRMP2 derived from CAFs by neutralizing antibodies significantly attenuated the tumor size, weights, and metastatic foci numbers of mice in vivo. Our finding has provided a novel therapeutic clue for OvCA based on TME.

CDKN3 Overcomes Bladder Cancer Cisplatin Resistance via LDHA-Dependent Glycolysis Reprogramming

Background

Aerobic glycolysis plays an important role in bladder cancer (BLCA) progression and chemoresistance. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor-3 (CDKN3), a dual-specificity protein tyrosine phosphatase, has aberrant upregulation in multiple cancer types and is associated with tumorigenesis. However, the role of CDKN3 in BLCA progression and glycolysis has not been elucidated.

Purpose

In this study, we investigated the effect and underlying mechanisms of CDKN3 on bladder cancer chemoresistance.

Results

This study confirmed that CDKN3 was overexpressed in BLCA tissues and promoted proliferation and migration. Additionally, our results showed a CDKN3-dependent mechanism on chemoresistance; chemoresistance cells were transformed into chemosensitivity cells by CDKN3 knockdown. Additionally, we showed that CDKN3 knockdown decreased glycolysis by inhibiting LDHA expression in BLCA chemoresistance cells. The results also proved that LDHA was an important mediator of CDKN3-regulated BLCA resistance. LDHA overexpression reversed glycolysis inhibition and chemosensitivity induced by CDKN3 downregulation.

Conclusion

These data collectively identified a vital role of CDKN3 in glycolysis and chemoresistance by regulating LDHA expression in BLCA cells, providing a possible therapeutic strategy for treating BLCA.