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Jin X, Wang S, Luo L, Yan F, He Q. Targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer: Potential for advancement. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 227:116463. [PMID: 39102994 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116463] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) are highly prevalent cancers that threaten human health worldwide. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has been reported to play a pivotal role in the carcinogenesis of GICs. Numerous interventions targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in GICs are currently being tested in clinical trials with promising results. Unfortunately, there are no clinically approved drugs that effectively target this pathway. This comprehensive review aims to evaluate the impact of clinical therapies targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in GICs. By integrating data from bioinformatics databases and recent literature from the past five years, we examine the heterogeneous expression and regulatory mechanisms of Wnt/β-catenin pathway genes and proteins in GICs. Specifically, we focus on expression patterns, mutation frequencies, and clinical prognoses to understand their implications for treatment strategies. Additionally, we discuss recent clinical trial efforts targeting this pathway. Understanding the inhibitors currently under clinical investigation may help optimize foundational research and clinical strategies. We hope that elucidating the current status of precision therapeutic stratification for patients targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway will guide future innovations in precision medicine for GICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizhi Jin
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China; Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, PR China
| | - Sijie Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Lihua Luo
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China.
| | - Fangjie Yan
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China; Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, PR China.
| | - Qiaojun He
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China.
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Liu HY, Sun XJ, Xiu SY, Zhang XY, Wang ZQ, Gu YL, Yi CX, Liu JY, Dai YS, Yuan X, Liao HP, Liu ZM, Pang XC, Li TC. Frizzled receptors (FZDs) in Wnt signaling: potential therapeutic targets for human cancers. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1556-1570. [PMID: 38632318 PMCID: PMC11272778 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01270-3] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Frizzled receptors (FZDs) are key contributors intrinsic to the Wnt signaling pathway, activation of FZDs triggering the Wnt signaling cascade is frequently observed in human tumors and intimately associated with an aggressive carcinoma phenotype. It has been shown that the abnormal expression of FZD receptors contributes to the manifestation of malignant characteristics in human tumors such as enhanced cell proliferation, metastasis, chemotherapy resistance as well as the acquisition of cancer stemness. Given the essential roles of FZD receptors in the Wnt signaling in human tumors, this review aims to consolidate the prevailing knowledge on the specific status of FZD receptors (FZD1-10) and elucidate their respective functions in tumor progression. Furthermore, we delineate the structural basis for binding of FZD and its co-receptors to Wnt, and provide a better theoretical foundation for subsequent studies on related mechanisms. Finally, we describe the existing biological classes of small molecule-based FZD inhibitors in detail in the hope that they can provide useful assistance for design and development of novel drug candidates targeted FZDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yu Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Xiao-Jiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Si-Yu Xiu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhi-Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yan-Lun Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Chu-Xiao Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jun-Yan Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Yu-Song Dai
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Xia Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hua-Peng Liao
- Yizhang County People's Hospital, Chenzhou, 424200, China
| | - Zhen-Ming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Xiao-Cong Pang
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Tian-Cheng Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100034, China.
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Zhou L, Gan L, Liu Z. Expression and prognostic value of AIM1L in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34677. [PMID: 37653730 PMCID: PMC10470706 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Absent in melanoma 1-like (AIM1L), also known as crystalline beta gamma domain containing 2. The relationship between AIM1L and tumors has not been fully investigated, and the biological function of AIM1L in different tumors is unknown, so we bioinformatically explored a possible relationship between AIM1L and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS AIM1L mRNA expression was detected by the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE20347, GSE161533, and GSE53625), and protein level expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between AIM1L expression and clinical pathological characteristics was evaluated by the Wilcoxon signed rank test or chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional risk regression model were used to determine the prognostic value of AIM1L in ESCC patients and establish and verify a nomogram. Find genes highly related to the expression of AIM1L, conduct GO and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and conduct GSEA analysis on the gene set. The "CIBERSORT" R package was used to explore the relationship between AIM1L and immune infiltration, and the "OncoPredict" R package was used to explore the relationship between AIM1L and drug sensitivity. RESULTS Compared with the matched adjacent non-cancer tissues, the expression of AIM1L was down-regulated in ESCC tissues, and correlated with tumor grade. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox analysis showed that the low expression of AIM1L was related to the poor prognosis of ESCC patients. Enrichment analysis explained the possible function of AIM1L, GSEA determined the highly correlated signal pathway of AIM1L low expression phenotype, immune infiltration analysis determined that AIM1L was related to activated NK cells and macrophage M2, and drug sensitivity analysis determined that the low expression of AIM1L might be related to EGFR targeted drug resistance. CONCLUSION AIM1L may be a candidate tumor suppressor gene for ESCC and an independent molecular biomarker for the prognosis of ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhou
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lanlan Gan
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zongwen Liu
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Li J, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Zhuang Y, Yan P, Zhou J, Hu S, Deng L, Zhang Z. The effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the Wnt signaling pathway in bovine intestinal epithelial cells is mediated by the DKK2 (dickkopf2) Wnt antagonist. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 231:106319. [PMID: 37149202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2023.106319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in most colorectal cancers. High-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 has anticancer effect by regulating Wnt signal pathway. However, it is not clear whether high-dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 have an effect on normal cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of high-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 on the Wnt signaling pathway in bovine intestinal epithelial cells. The potential mechanism of action was investigated after knockdown and overexpression of the Wnt pathway inhibitor, DKK2, in intestinal epithelial cells by observing the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on proliferation, apoptosis, pluripotency and the expression of genes related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In the present study, we introduced the method of isolation and culture of primary bovine intestinal epithelial cells. After cells were treated with 50ng/mL 1,25(OH)2D3 or DMSO for 48h, total RNA was extracted, and six differentially expressed genes, including SERPINF1, SFRP2, SFRP4, FZD2, WISP1 and DKK2 were identified by transcriptome sequencing, which were related to Wnt signaling pathway. To further explore the mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, we constructed knockdown and overexpression plasmids of DKK2. After transfecting these plasmids into bovine intestinal epithelial cells, we measured the expression of DKK2 mRNA and protein through GFP expression, qRT-PCR and western blot analyses to verify the transfection efficiency. In addition, the CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell proliferation rate after transfection. Subsequently, the transfected cells were treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48h, and the proliferation- (Ki67 and PCNA), apoptosis- (Bcl-2, p53, casp3 and casp8), pluripotency- (Bmi-1, Lrig1, KRT19 and TUFT1) and Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway- related genes (LGR5, DKK2, VDR, β- Catenin, SFRP2, WISP1 and FZD2) were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Our results showed that the expression trend of some genes in bovine intestinal epithelial cells under high-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 was consistent with the sequencing results, including SFRP2 (P<0.001), SFRP4 (P<0.05), FZD2 (P<0.01), WISP1 (P<0.001) and DKK2 (P<0.001). In addition, knockdown of DKK2 inhibited cell proliferation (P<0.01), but DKK2 overexpression promoted cell proliferation (P<0.01). Compared to the control group, 1,25(OH)2D3 promoted the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins in bovine intestinal epithelium, thus maintaining intestinal homeostasis in normal intestinal epithelium. In addition, knockdown and overexpression of DKK2 indicated that 1,25(OH)2D3 weakened the inhibitory effect of DKK2 on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Together, these results suggest that high-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 has no killing effect on normal intestinal epithelial cells and regulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through DKK2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Juntao Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Yalin Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Yujie Zhuang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Penghui Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Saina Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Lixin Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Zhiping Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
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Zhu X, Xu M, Leu NA, Morrisey EE, Millar SE. FZD2 regulates limb development by mediating β-catenin-dependent and -independent Wnt signaling pathways. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049876. [PMID: 36867021 PMCID: PMC10073008 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049876] [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: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Robinow syndrome (RS) and dominant omodysplasia type 2 (OMOD2), characterized by skeletal limb and craniofacial defects, are associated with heterozygous mutations in the Wnt receptor FZD2. However, as FZD2 can activate both canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways, its precise functions and mechanisms of action in limb development are unclear. To address these questions, we generated mice harboring a single-nucleotide insertion in Fzd2 (Fzd2em1Smill), causing a frameshift mutation in the final Dishevelled-interacting domain. Fzd2em1Smill mutant mice had shortened limbs, resembling those of RS and OMOD2 patients, indicating that FZD2 mutations are causative. Fzd2em1Smill mutant embryos displayed decreased canonical Wnt signaling in developing limb mesenchyme and disruption of digit chondrocyte elongation and orientation, which is controlled by the β-catenin-independent WNT5A/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. In line with these observations, we found that disruption of FZD function in limb mesenchyme caused formation of shortened bone elements and defects in Wnt/β-catenin and WNT5A/PCP signaling. These findings indicate that FZD2 controls limb development by mediating both canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways and reveal causality of pathogenic FZD2 mutations in RS and OMOD2 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuming Zhu
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Mingang Xu
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - N. Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward E. Morrisey
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sarah E. Millar
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Functional roles of long noncoding RNA MALAT1 in gynecologic cancers. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2023; 25:48-65. [PMID: 36042115 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02914-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gynecologic cancers are reproductive disorders characterized by pelvic pain and infertility. The identification of new predictive markers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of gynecologic cancers is urgently necessary. One of the recent successes in gynecologic cancers research is identifying the role of signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of the disease. Recent experiments showed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) can be novel therapeutic approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancers. LncRNA are transcribed RNA molecules that play pivotal roles in multiple biological processes by regulating the different steps of gene expression. Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript-1 (MALAT1) is a well-known lncRNA that plays functional roles in gene expression, RNA processing, and epigenetic regulation. High expression of MALAT1 is closely related to numerous human diseases. It is generally believed that MALAT1 expression is associated with cancer cell growth, autophagy, invasion, and metastasis. MALAT1 by targeting multiple signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) could contribute to the pathogenesis of gynecologic cancers. In this review, we will summarize functional roles of MALAT1 in the most common gynecologic cancers, including endometrium, breast, ovary, and cervix.
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Ma RJ, Ma C, Hu K, Zhao MM, Zhang N, Sun ZG. Molecular mechanism, regulation, and therapeutic targeting of the STAT3 signaling pathway in esophageal cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 2022; 61:105. [PMID: 35856449 PMCID: PMC9339493 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2022.5395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common cancer globally, and the overall 5-year survival rate is only 20%. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is aberrantly activated in EC, and its activation is associated with a poor prognosis. STAT3 can be activated by canonical pathways such as the JAK/STAT3 pathway as well as non-canonical pathways including the Wnt/STAT3 and COX2/PGE2/STAT3 pathways. Activated STAT3, present as phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), can be transported into the nucleus to regulate downstream genes, including VEGF, cyclin D1, Bcl-xL, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), to promote cancer cell proliferation and induce resistance to therapy. Non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), play a vital role in regulating the STAT3 signaling pathway in EC. Several miRNAs promote or suppress the function of STAT3 in EC, while lncRNAs and circRNAs primarily promote the effects of STAT3 and the progression of cancer. Additionally, various drugs and natural compounds can target STAT3 to suppress the malignant behavior of EC cells, providing novel insights into potential EC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Jie Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Kang Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Meng-Meng Zhao
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Breast Disease Center, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Gang Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
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Ligand-based and structure-based studies to develop predictive models for SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors through the 3d-qsar.com portal. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2022; 36:483-505. [PMID: 35716228 PMCID: PMC9206107 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-022-00460-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-Cov-2 is the essential enzyme for maturation of functional proteins implicated in viral replication and transcription. The peculiarity of its specific cleavage site joint with its high degree of conservation among all coronaviruses promote it as an attractive target to develop broad-spectrum inhibitors, with high selectivity and tolerable safety profile. Herein is reported a combination of three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationships (3-D QSAR) and comparative molecular binding energy (COMBINE) analysis to build robust and predictive ligand-based and structure-based statistical models, respectively. Models were trained on experimental binding poses of co-crystallized Mpro-inhibitors and validated on available literature data. By means of deep optimization both models’ goodness and robustness reached final statistical values of r2/q2 values of 0.97/0.79 and 0.93/0.79 for the 3-D QSAR and COMBINE approaches respectively, and an overall predictiveness values of 0.68 and 0.57 for the SDEPPRED and AAEP metrics after application to a test set of 60 compounds covered by the training set applicability domain. Despite the different nature (ligand-based and structure-based) of the employed methods, their outcome fully converged. Furthermore, joint ligand- and structure-based structure–activity relationships were found in good agreement with nirmatrelvir chemical features properties, a novel oral Mpro-inhibitor that has recently received U.S. FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) for the oral treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infected patients. The obtained results will guide future rational design and/or virtual screening campaigns with the aim of discovering new potential anti-coronavirus lead candidates, minimizing both time and financial resources. Moreover, as most of calculation were performed through the well-established web portal 3d-qsar.com the results confirm the portal as a useful tool for drug design.
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Chu CY, Wang R, Liu XL. Roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related microRNAs in esophageal cancer. World J Clin Cases 2022; 10:2678-2686. [PMID: 35434118 PMCID: PMC8968815 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i9.2678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded small RNAs that regulate expression of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes and are involved in almost all tumor-related processes. MiRNA dysregulation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer through specific signal pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and is closely related to the malignant characteristics of esophageal cancer. The interaction between miRNAs and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is specifically expressed in esophageal cancer tissues, shows potential as a new biomarker and therapeutic target. This article reviews the role of miRNAs related to the Wnt pathway in the carcinogenesis of esophageal carcinoma and its role in Wnt signal transduction. The content of this review can be used as the basis for formulating or improving the treatment strategy of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yang Chu
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Oncology, Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China
| | - Xian-Li Liu
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, Henan Province, China
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Han Z, Ren H, Sun J, Jin L, Wang Q, Guo C, Tian Z. Integrated weighted gene coexpression network analysis identifies Frizzled 2 (FZD2) as a key gene in invasive malignant pleomorphic adenoma. J Transl Med 2022; 20:15. [PMID: 34986855 PMCID: PMC8734245 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-03204-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Invasive malignant pleomorphic adenoma (IMPA) is a highly malignant neoplasm of the oral salivary glands with a poor prognosis and a considerable risk of recurrence. Many disease-causing genes of IMPA have been identified in recent decades (e.g., P53, PCNA and HMGA2), but many of these genes remain to be explored. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) is a newly emerged algorithm that can cluster genes and form modules based on similar gene expression patterns. This study constructed a gene coexpression network of IMPA via WGCNA and then carried out multifaceted analysis to identify novel disease-causing genes. Methods RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed for 10 pairs of IMPA and normal tissues to acquire the gene expression profiles. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out with the cutoff criteria of |log2 Fold change (FC)|> 1 and adjusted p value < 0.05. Then, WGCNA was applied to systematically identify the hidden diagnostic hub genes of IMPA. Results In this research, a total of 1970 DEGs were screened out in IMPA tissues, including 1056 upregulated DEGs and 914 downregulated DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis was performed for identified DEGs and revealed an enrichment of tumor-associated GO terms and KEGG pathways. We used WGCNA to identify gene module most relevant with the histological grade of IMPA. The gene FZD2 was then recognized as the hub gene of the selected module with the highest module membership (MM) value and intramodule connectivity in protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. According to immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, the expression level of FZD2 was higher in low-grade IMPA than in high-grade IMPA. Conclusion FZD2 shows an expression dynamic that is negatively correlated with the clinical malignancy of IMPA and it plays a central role in the transcription network of IMPA. Thus, FZD2 serves as a promising histological indicator for the precise prediction of IMPA histological stages. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-03204-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyuan Han
- Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Huiping Ren
- Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jingjing Sun
- Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Lihui Jin
- Pediatric Heart Center, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Chuanbin Guo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhen Tian
- Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China.
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11
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Hafezi N, Alizadeh-Navaei R, Golpour M, Zafari P, Ajami A. Role of Frizzled receptor expression on patients' survival with gastrointestinal cancers: A systematic review with meta-analysis. CASPIAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 2022; 13:1-9. [PMID: 35178201 PMCID: PMC8797823 DOI: 10.22088/cjim.13.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frizzled receptors (FZD) play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of a wide array of cancers. Dysregulated expression of FZD receptors is correlated with higher metastasis and invasive potential, as well as short survival in many malignancies. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to verify the prognostic value of FZD receptor expression on patients' survival with different types of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers. METHODS A systematic search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 2000 to November 2020. Fourteen studies, including 2997 patients met our inclusion criteria, in which nine articles were considered FZD7 while the rest were about other FZD members. The fixed-effect model was used to estimate the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale of cohort articles to determine the quality of included studies. RESULTS The results showed that high expression of FZD receptors is associated with the poor survival in patients with GI cancers (HR= 1.83, 95% CI: 1.5-2.17). Moreover, multivariate analysis indicated that FZD receptors could be considered as an independent prognostic factor (HR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.37-2.16). CONCLUSION According to our results, overexpression of FZD receptors predicts a poor prognosis in patients with GI cancers and could be used as a useful therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Hafezi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Reza Alizadeh-Navaei
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Monireh Golpour
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Parisa Zafari
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Abolghasem Ajami
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Smith AJ, Sompel KM, Elango A, Tennis MA. Non-Coding RNA and Frizzled Receptors in Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:712546. [PMID: 34671643 PMCID: PMC8521042 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.712546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled receptors have been long recognized for their role in Wnt/β-catenin signaling, a pathway known for its tumorigenic effects. More recent studies of frizzled receptors include efforts to understand non-coding RNA (ncRNA) regulation of these receptors in cancer. It has become increasingly clear that ncRNA molecules are important for regulating the expression of both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive proteins. The three most commonly described ncRNA molecules are microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Here, we review ncRNA molecules that directly or indirectly affect frizzled protein expression and downstream signaling. Exploring these interactions highlights the potential of incorporating ncRNA molecules into cancer prevention and therapy strategies that target frizzled receptors. Previous investigations of frizzled receptors and ncRNA have established strong promise for a role in cancer progression, but additional studies are needed to provide the substantial pre-clinical evidence required to translate findings to clinical applications.
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13
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Zhou M, Sun X, Zhu Y. Analysis of the role of Frizzled 2 in different cancer types. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:1195-1208. [PMID: 33565732 PMCID: PMC8016138 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Frizzled 2 (FZD2) is an important receptor in the Wnt pathway, which is highly expressed in malignant tumors and helps regulate multiple tumor behaviors. Its expression level is related to prognosis. Here, bioinformatic analysis was performed to understand the expression of FZD2 in different tumors. We examined FZD2 expression using pan‐cancer data of 33 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differential expression analysis (Wilcoxon's test) was used to compare tumor and normal tissues. Univariate Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to compare gene expression and overall patient survival. COSMIC, cBioPortal, and CCLE were used to examine FZD2 mutations in human cancers. Dryness index was calculated using one‐class logistic regression (OCLR). Spearman's correlation was performed based on gene expression and dryness score and used to analyze the correlation between gene expression and stemness score, matrix score, immune score, estimated score, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and drug sensitivity. STRING website was used to construct an FZD2 protein interaction network and identify genes that interact with FZD2. We report that FZD2 is highly expressed in most tumors, differing between cancer types. Expression was related to patient overall survival (OS), disease‐specific survival, disease‐free interval (DFI), mutations, drug sensitivity, tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint gene expression, immunotherapy indicators (TMB, MSI), and tumor cell stemness. FZD2 influenced drug sensitivities, including cobimetinib (r = −0.553, P < 0.001), selumetinib (r = −0.539, P < 0.001), bafetinib (r = −0.538, P < 0.001), tamoxifen (r = −0.523, P < 0.001), alvespimycin (r = −0.520, P < 0.001), and nilotinib (r = −0.502, P < 0.001). FZD2 has the most significant correlation with ROR2 (r = 0.4, P < 0.001), Wnt2 (r = 0.37, P < 0.001), and Wnt4A (r = 0.34, P < 0.001). The results confirm the importance of FZD2 expression in cancer prognosis and treatment, and provide new clues for treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xuezhu Sun
- West Anhui Health Vocational College, Anhui, China
| | - Yunhao Zhu
- West Anhui Health Vocational College, Anhui, China
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Wang J, Feng D, Gao B. An Overview of Potential Therapeutic Agents Targeting WNT/PCP Signaling. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:175-213. [PMID: 34463852 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of the proto-oncogene Wnt1 (Int1) in 1982, WNT signaling has been identified as one of the most important pathways that regulates a wide range of fundamental developmental and physiological processes in multicellular organisms. The canonical WNT signaling pathway depends on the stabilization and translocation of β-catenin and plays important roles in development and homeostasis. The WNT/planar cell polarity (WNT/PCP) signaling, also known as one of the β-catenin-independent WNT pathways, conveys directional information to coordinate polarized cell behaviors. Similar to WNT/β-catenin signaling, disruption or aberrant activation of WNT/PCP signaling also underlies a variety of developmental defects and cancers. However, the pharmacological targeting of WNT/PCP signaling for therapeutic purposes remains largely unexplored. In this review, we briefly discuss WNT/PCP signaling in development and disease and summarize the known drugs/inhibitors targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Di Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bo Gao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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