Systematic Evaluation for the Influences of the SOX17/Notch Receptor Family Members on Reversing Enzalutamide Resistance in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells

Secretase promotes AD progression: simultaneously cleave Notch and APP

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves complex pathological mechanisms. Secretases include membrane protein extracellular structural domain proteases and intramembrane proteases that cleave the topology to type I or type II. Secretases can effectively regulate the activation of Notch and amyloid precursor protein (APP), key factors in the progression of AD and cancer. This article systematically summarizes the intracellular localization, cleavage sites and products, and biological functions of six subtypes of secretases (α-secretase, β-secretase, γ-secretase, δ-secretase, ε-secretase, and η-secretase), and for the first time, elucidates the commonalities and differences between these subtypes of secretases. We found that each subtype of secretase primarily cleaves APP and Notch as substrates, regulating Aβ levels through APP cleavage to impact the progression of AD, while also cleaving Notch receptors to affect cancer progression. Finally, we review the chemical structures, indications, and research stages of various secretase inhibitors, emphasizing the promising development of secretase inhibitors in the fields of cancer and AD.

Effects of Red Sorghum-Derived Deoxyanthocyanidins and Their O-β-D-Glucosides on E-Cadherin Promoter Activity in PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells

Although much less common than anthocyanins, 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DAs) and their glucosides can be found in cereals such as red sorghum. It is speculated that their bioavailability is higher than that of anthocyanins. Thus far, little is known regarding the therapeutic effects of 3-DAs and their O-β-D-glucosides on cancer, including prostate cancer. Thus, we evaluated their potential to decrease cell viability, to modulate the activity of transcription factors such as NFκB, CREB, and SOX, and to regulate the expression of the gene CDH1, encoding E-Cadherin. We found that 4',7-dihydroxyflavylium chloride (P7) and the natural apigeninidin can reduce cell viability, whereas 4',7-dihydroxyflavylium chloride (P7) and 4'-hydroxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyflavylium chloride (P3) increase the activities of NFkB, CREB, and SOX transcription factors, leading to the upregulation of CDH1 promoter activity in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Thus, these compounds may contribute to the inhibition of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells and prevent the metastatic activity of more aggressive forms of androgen-resistant prostate cancer.

Investigating the Role of SNAI1 and ZEB1 Expression in Prostate Cancer Progression and Immune Modulation of the Tumor Microenvironment

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an immunologically cold tumor and the molecular processes that underlie this behavior are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated a primary cohort of intermediate-risk PCa (n = 51) using two NanoString profiling panels designed to study cancer progression and immune response. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways associated with biochemical recurrence (BCR) and clinical risk. Confirmatory analysis was performed using the TCGA-PRAD cohort. Noteworthy DEGs included collagens such as COL1A1, COL1A2, and COL3A1. Changes in the distribution of collagens may influence the immune activity in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, immune-related DEGs such as THY1, IRF5, and HLA-DRA were also identified. Enrichment analysis highlighted pathways such as those associated with angiogenesis, TGF-beta, UV response, and EMT. Among the 39 significant DEGs, 11 (28%) were identified as EMT target genes for ZEB1 using the Harmonizome database. Elevated ZEB1 expression correlated with reduced BCR risk. Immune landscape analysis revealed that ZEB1 was associated with increased immunosuppressive cell types in the TME, such as naïve B cells and M2 macrophages. Increased expression of both ZEB1 and SNAI1 was associated with elevated immune checkpoint expression. In the future, modulation of EMT could be beneficial for overcoming immunotherapy resistance in a cold tumor, such as PCa.

Identification of tumor-agnostic biomarkers for predicting prostate cancer progression and biochemical recurrence

The diverse clinical outcomes of prostate cancer have led to the development of gene signature assays predicting disease progression. Improved prostate cancer progression biomarkers are needed as current RNA biomarker tests have varying success for intermediate prostate cancer. Interest grows in universal gene signatures for invasive carcinoma progression. Early breast and prostate cancers share characteristics, including hormone dependence and BRCA1/2 mutations. Given the similarities in the pathobiology of breast and prostate cancer, we utilized the NanoString BC360 panel, comprising the validated PAM50 classifier and pathway-specific signatures associated with general tumor progression as well as breast cancer-specific classifiers. This retrospective cohort of primary prostate cancers (n=53) was stratified according to biochemical recurrence (BCR) status and the CAPRA-S to identify genes related to high-risk disease. Two public cohort (TCGA-PRAD and GSE54460) were used to validate the results. Expression profiling of our cohort uncovered associations between PIP and INHBA with BCR and high CAPRA-S score, as well as associations between VCAN, SFRP2, and THBS4 and BCR. Despite low levels of the ESR1 gene compared to AR, we found strong expression of the ER signaling signature, suggesting that BCR may be driven by ER-mediated pathways. Kaplan-Meier and univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated the expression of ESR1, PGR, VCAN, and SFRP2 could predict the occurrence of relapse events. This is in keeping with the pathways represented by these genes which contribute to angiogenesis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. It is likely that VCAN works by activating the stroma and remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, SFRP2 overexpression has been associated with increased tumor size and reduced survival rates in breast cancer and among prostate cancer patients who experienced BCR. ESR1 influences disease progression by activating stroma, stimulating stem/progenitor prostate cancer, and inducing TGF-β. Estrogen signaling may therefore serve as a surrogate to AR signaling during progression and in hormone-refractory disease, particularly in prostate cancer patients with stromal-rich tumors. Collectively, the use of agnostic biomarkers developed for breast cancer stratification has facilitated a precise clinical classification of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and highlighted the therapeutic potential of targeting estrogen signaling in prostate cancer.

The Molecular Biology of Prostate Cancer Stem Cells: From the Past to the Future

Prostate cancer (PCa) continues to rank as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in western countries, despite the golden treatment using androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or anti-androgen therapy. With decades of research, scientists have gradually realized that the existence of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) successfully explains tumor recurrence, metastasis and therapeutic failure of PCa. Theoretically, eradication of this small population may improve the efficacy of current therapeutic approaches and prolong PCa survival. However, several characteristics of PCSCs make their diminishment extremely challenging: inherent resistance to anti-androgen and chemotherapy treatment, over-activation of the survival pathway, adaptation to tumor micro-environments, escape from immune attack and being easier to metastasize. For this end, a better understanding of PCSC biology at the molecular level will definitely inspire us to develop PCSC targeted approaches. In this review, we comprehensively summarize signaling pathways responsible for homeostatic regulation of PCSCs and discuss how to eliminate these fractional cells in clinical practice. Overall, this study deeply pinpoints PCSC biology at the molecular level and provides us some research perspectives.

Expression and Significance of Sex-Determining Region Y (SRY)–Box 12 (SOX12) in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a ubiquitous malignancy and is associated with high mortality. Accumulating evidence indicates that transcription factors play a pivotal role in the progression of OSCC. This study was aimed to investigate the expression of SOX12 in OSCC and its significance. SOX12 expression in OSCC tissues was analyzed through TCGA databases and then tested by Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis. Moreover, SOX12 was silenced by RNA interference in OSCC cells (SCC-25 and SCC-4), and the growth ability of OSCC cells was examined using MTT assay. The level of SOX12 was upregulated in OSCC according to the TCGA results, which was further confirmed in the OSCC cell lines. Patients with high SOX12 expression had shorter overall survival (OS) than those with low SOX12 expression. High expression of SOX12 is positively correlated with T stage of OSCC. In addition, MTT analysis indicated that silencing of SOX12 resulted in reduced OSCC cell proliferation. Taken together, the high expression of SOX12 in OSCC indicates that SOX12 gene may play an essential role in OSCC. Our research indicates that SOX12 expression could be a predictive biomarker and is a potential therapeutic target for OSCC.

From Therapy Resistance to Targeted Therapies in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common malignancy among men worldwide. Although early-stage disease is curable, advanced stage PCa is mostly incurable and eventually becomes resistant to standard therapeutic options. Different genetic and epigenetic alterations are associated with the development of therapy resistant PCa, with specific players being particularly involved in this process. Therefore, identification and targeting of these molecules with selective inhibitors might result in anti-tumoral effects. Herein, we describe the mechanisms underlying therapy resistance in PCa, focusing on the most relevant molecules, aiming to enlighten the current state of targeted therapies in PCa. We suggest that selective drug targeting, either alone or in combination with standard treatment options, might improve therapeutic sensitivity of resistant PCa. Moreover, an individualized analysis of tumor biology in each PCa patient might improve treatment selection and therapeutic response, enabling better disease management.

miR-27-3p Enhances the Sensitivity of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells to the Antitumor Agent Olaparib by Targeting PSEN-1, the Catalytic Subunit of Γ-Secretase

Olaparib has been used in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with BRCA mutations. In the present study, we demonstrated the effect of miR-27-3p on the γ-secretase pathway by regulating the sensitivity of TNBC cells to olaparib. miR-27-3p, a microRNA with the potential to target PSEN-1, the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase mediating the second step of the cleavage of the Notch protein, was identified by the online tool miRDB and found to inhibit the expression of PSEN-1 by directly targeting the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of PSEN-1. The overexpression of miR-27-3p inhibited the activation of the Notch pathway via the inhibition of the cleavage of the Notch protein, mediated by γ-secretase, and, in turn, enhanced the sensitivity of TNBC cells to the antitumor agent olaparib. Transfection with PSEN-1 containing mutated targeting sites for miR-27-3p or the expression vector of the Notch protein intracellular domain (NICD) almost completely blocked the effect of miR-27-3p on the Notch pathway or the sensitivity of TNBC cells to olaparib, respectively. Therefore, our results suggest that the miR-27-3p/γ-secretase axis participates in the regulation of TNBC and that the overexpression of miR-27-3p represents a potential approach to enhancing the sensitivity of TNBC to olaparib.