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Yang J, Chen Y, He Y, Da M. YTHDF2 promotes gastric cancer progression and enhances chemoradiotherapy resistance. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22179. [PMID: 38616512 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The role of YTHDF2 in gastric cancer (GC) is controversial. Due to the limitations of technical difficulty and experimental period, research on completely knocking out YTHDF2 is rare. Therefore, further investigations are still needed to clarify the YTHDF2's clinical significance and biological function in GC. To carry out the investigation, an analysis was performed on the expression levels of YTHDF2 in both publicly available databases and samples obtained from patients with gastric cancer. Based on the complete knockout of YTHDF2 using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to analyze the effects of YTHDF2 on tumor formation, radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy resistance in GC. Our investigation revealed an increase in YTHDF2 levels in GC tissues, which was found to be associated with a negative prognosis. Under hypoxic conditions, high expression of YTHDF2 enhanced the invasion of gastric cancer cells, and high expression of YTHDF2 was associated with HIF-1a. YTHDF2 facilitated gastric cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the results of the present study demonstrated that YTHDF2 mediated the expression of CyclinD1 and stability of CyclinD1 mRNA. CyclinD1 knockdown inhibited YTHDF2-mediated GC cell proliferation whereas CyclinD1 overexpression ameliorated YTHDF2 knockdown-induced inhibition of GC progression. Furthermore, YTHDF2 also promoted resistance to DDP and CTX chemotherapy, along with radiotherapy treatment for GC cells. The findings suggested that YTHDF2 expression accelerated GC progression through a potential mechanism involving CyclinD1 expression, and enhanced chemoradiotherapy resistance. This indicated that YTHDF2 could be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for individuals diagnosed with GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yawen Chen
- Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yang He
- Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mingxu Da
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China
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Zhou Y, Shen Y, Wang K, Li Y, Zhang J. Effects of hypoxia on the growth of gastric cancer and the chemotherapeutic efficacy of 5-fluorouracil. ZHONG NAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2024; 49:392-399. [PMID: 38970513 PMCID: PMC11208406 DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2024.230492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hypoxia is an important cause of chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer. However, little is known about the growth of gastric cancer under purely hypoxia conditions. This study aims to study the effect of hypoxia on the growth patterns of gastric cancer cells and explore the response of gastric cancer cells to the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a hypoxic environment. METHODS Gastric cancer cells MKN45 were cultured under 1% oxygen hypoxia and conventional air conditions. An intervention group with the addition of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU was also established. The proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells under different oxygen conditions and intervention groups were detected using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential assay, and Annexin-V/PI double staining method. Cell cycle changes were detected by flow cytometry, and mitochondrial changes were detected using electron microscopy. RESULTS In the absence of 5-FU intervention, compared with the normoxia group, the hypoxia group showed higher rates of early and late apoptosis and higher cell death rates as indicated by the JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential assay, Annexin-V/PI double staining, and CCK-8 results. Flow cytometry results showed that the cell cycle was arrested in the G0/G1 phase without progression. Electron microscopy revealed more severe mitochondrial destruction. However, with 5-FU intervention, the hypoxia group showed lower apoptosis rates, more cell cycle progression, and less mitochondrial destruction compared with the normoxia group. CONCLUSIONS Hypoxic environments promote apoptosis and even death in gastric cancer cells, but hypoxia counteracts the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU, which may contribute to 5-FU chemotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Zhou
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030.
| | - Yifei Shen
- Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030
| | - Kai Wang
- Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Dermatology, Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Jingyan Zhang
- Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030.
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Wei Y, Zhu M, Chen Y, Ji Q, Wang J, Shen L, Yang X, Hu H, Zhou X, Zhu Q. Network pharmacology and experimental evaluation strategies to decipher the underlying pharmacological mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine CFF-1 against prostate cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:5387-5411. [PMID: 38484140 PMCID: PMC11006490 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignancy in elderly men. We have applied Traditional Chinese Medicine CFF-1 in clinical treatments for PCa for several years. Here, we aimed to identify the underlying mechanism of CFF-1 on PCa using network pharmacology and experimental validation. Active ingredients, potential targets of CFF-1 were acquired from the public databases. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) and the herbs-active ingredients-target network was constructed. A prognostic model for PCa was also constructed based on key targets. In vitro experiments using PCa cell lines CWR22Rv1 and PC-3 were carried out to validate the potential mechanism of CFF-1 on PCa. A total of 112 bioactive compounds and 359 key targets were screened from public databases. PPI and herbs-active ingredients-target network analysis determined 12 genes as the main targets of CFF-1 on PCa. Molecular docking studies indicated that the primary active ingredients of CFF-1 possess strong binding affinity to the top five hub targets. DNMT3B, RXRB and HPRT1 were found to be involved in immune regulation of PCa. In vitro, CFF-1 was found to inhibit PCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induce apoptosis via PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, TNF, EGFR-TKI resistance and PD-1 checkpoint signaling pathways. This study comprehensively elucidates the underlying molecular mechanism of CFF-1 against PCa, offering a strong rationale for clinical application of CFF-1 in PCa treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wei
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Mingxia Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Ye Chen
- The First Medicine College, Taizhou Campus of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Qianying Ji
- Department of Urology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Urology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Luming Shen
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Haibin Hu
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Suqian First People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian 223812, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Qingyi Zhu
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
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Martinsen E, Jinnurine T, Subramani S, Rogne M. Advances in RNA therapeutics for modulation of 'undruggable' targets. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 204:249-294. [PMID: 38458740 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decades, drug discovery utilizing small pharmacological compounds, fragment-based therapeutics, and antibody therapy have significantly advanced treatment options for many human diseases. However, a major bottleneck has been that>70% of human proteins/genomic regions are 'undruggable' by the above-mentioned approaches. Many of these proteins constitute essential drug targets against complex multifactorial diseases like cancer, immunological disorders, and neurological diseases. Therefore, alternative approaches are required to target these proteins or genomic regions in human cells. RNA therapeutics is a promising approach for many of the traditionally 'undruggable' targets by utilizing methods such as antisense oligonucleotides, RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing, aptamers, and the development of mRNA therapeutics. In the following chapter, we will put emphasis on recent advancements utilizing these approaches against challenging drug targets, such as intranuclear proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, untranslated genomic regions, and targets expressed in inaccessible tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Saranya Subramani
- Pioneer Research AS, Oslo Science Park, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marie Rogne
- Pioneer Research AS, Oslo Science Park, Oslo, Norway; Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Brooks A, Zhang Y, Chen J, Zhao CX. Cancer Metastasis-on-a-Chip for Modeling Metastatic Cascade and Drug Screening. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2302436. [PMID: 38224141 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic chips are valuable tools for studying intricate cellular and cell-microenvironment interactions. Traditional in vitro cancer models lack accuracy in mimicking the complexities of in vivo tumor microenvironment. However, cancer-metastasis-on-a-chip (CMoC) models combine the advantages of 3D cultures and microfluidic technology, serving as powerful platforms for exploring cancer mechanisms and facilitating drug screening. These chips are able to compartmentalize the metastatic cascade, deepening the understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This article provides an overview of current CMoC models, focusing on distinctive models that simulate invasion, intravasation, circulation, extravasation, and colonization, and their applications in drug screening. Furthermore, challenges faced by CMoC and microfluidic technologies are discussed, while exploring promising future directions in cancer research. The ongoing development and integration of these models into cancer studies are expected to drive transformative advancements in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Brooks
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Yali Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Jiezhong Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
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