TRP Channels Interactome as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Breast Cancer

Exploring therapeutic potential: Targeting TRPM7 in neurodegenerative diseases

The ions Ca2+ and Mg2+, which are both present in the body, have been demonstrated to be crucial in the control of a variety of neuronal processes. Transient melastatin-7 (TRPM7) channel plays an important role in controlling Ca2+ and Mg2+ homeostasis, which is crucial for biological processes. The review will also examine how changes in TRPM7 function or expression can lead to neurodegeneration.Even though eight different TRPM channels have been found so far, the channel properties, activation mechanisms, and physiological responses exhibited by these channels can vary greatly from one another. Only TRPM6 and TRPM7 out of the eight TRPM channels were found to have a high permeability to both Ca2+ and Mg2+. In contrast to TRPM6 channels, which are not highly expressed in neuronal cells, TRPM7 channels are widely distributed throughout the nervous system, so they will be the sole focus of this article. It is possible that, in the future, for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorder new therapeutic drug targets will be developed as a direct result of research into the specific roles played by TRPM7 channels in several different neurodegenerative conditions as well as the factors that are responsible for TRPM7 channel regulation.

Detection and Validation of Organic Metabolites in Urine for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) comprises the majority, approximately 70-80%, of renal cancer cases and often remains asymptomatic until incidentally detected during unrelated abdominal imaging or at advanced stages. Currently, standardized screening tests for renal cancer are lacking, which presents challenges in disease management and improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to identify ccRCC-specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the urine of ccRCC-positive patients and develop a urinary VOC-based diagnostic model.

METHODS

This study involved 233 pretreatment ccRCC patients and 43 healthy individuals. VOC analysis utilized stir-bar sorptive extraction coupled with thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SBSE-TD-GC/MS). A ccRCC diagnostic model was established via logistic regression, trained on 163 ccRCC cases versus 31 controls, and validated with 70 ccRCC cases versus 12 controls, resulting in a ccRCC diagnostic model involving 24 VOC markers.

RESULTS

The findings demonstrated promising diagnostic efficacy, with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.94, 86% sensitivity, and 92% specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the feasibility of using urine as a reliable biospecimen for identifying VOC biomarkers in ccRCC. While further validation in larger cohorts is necessary, this study's capability to differentiate between ccRCC and control groups, despite sample size limitations, holds significant promise.

TRPV3 regulates Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis by EGFR/AKT pathway

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancer types worldwide and the first cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Transient receptor potential vanillin 3 (TRPV3) has been preliminarily discovered to play an important role in various cancers, including BC. Here, we explored the effect of TRPV3 on breast cancer cells and its potential mechanism. TRPV3 level was measured in BC tissue and adjacent noncancerous breast tissue using real-time RT-PCR and Western blot. Wound healing was used to detect cell migration. MTT and EDU were detected cell proliferation. TUNEL and Caspase-3 activity were used to detect cell apoptosis. We found that TRPV3 expression significantly increased in both human BC tissues and breast cells line. TRPV3 siRNA (TRPV3 inhibition) dramatically suppressed cell migration and proliferation, promoted the apoptosis, and decreased [Ca2+]i; whereas Carvacrol (TRPV3 agonist) has opposite effect in MCF-7 cells. We validated EGFR (Epidermal growth factor receptor) is a direct target protein of TRPV3. Mechanism studies have shown that Carvacrol increased phosphorylation levels of EGFR and AKT, and were decreased by suppression of TRPV3. Moreover, Erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor) and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) diminished Carvacrol induced cell migration and proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and increased [Ca2+]i in Carvacrol group. Our results collectively suggest that TRPV3 siRNA inhibits migration and proliferation, and promoted apoptosis in breast cancer cells by EGFR/AKT pathway. These findings indicate that TRPV3 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.

The TRPV6 Calcium Channel and Its Relationship with Cancer

Transient receptor potential vanilloid-6 (TRPV6) is a cation channel belonging to the TRP superfamily, specifically the vanilloid subfamily, and is the sixth member of this subfamily. Its presence in the body is primarily limited to the skin, ovaries, kidney, testes, and digestive tract epithelium. The body maintains calcium homeostasis using the TRPV6 channel, which has a greater calcium selectivity than the other TRP channels. Several pieces of evidence suggest that it is upregulated in the advanced stages of thyroid, ovarian, breast, colon, and prostate cancers. The function of TRPV6 in regulating calcium signaling in cancer will be covered in this review, along with its potential applications as a cancer treatment target.

The TRPV6 Calcium Channel and Its Relationship with Cancer

Transient receptor potential vanilloid-6 (TRPV6) is a cation channel belonging to the TRP superfamily, specifically the vanilloid subfamily, and is the sixth member of this subfamily. Its presence in the body is primarily limited to the skin, ovaries, kidney, testes, and digestive tract epithelium. The body maintains calcium homeostasis using the TRPV6 channel, which has a greater calcium selectivity than the other TRP channels. Several pieces of evidence suggest that it is upregulated in the advanced stages of thyroid, ovarian, breast, colon, and prostate cancers. The function of TRPV6 in regulating calcium signaling in cancer will be covered in this review, along with its potential applications as a cancer treatment target.

Nanotechnology and Cancer Bioelectricity: Bridging the Gap Between Biology and Translational Medicine

Bioelectricity is the electrical activity that occurs within living cells and tissues. This activity is critical for regulating homeostatic cellular function and communication, and disruptions of the same can lead to a variety of conditions, including cancer. Cancer cells are known to exhibit abnormal electrical properties compared to their healthy counterparts, and this has driven researchers to investigate the potential of harnessing bioelectricity as a tool in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In parallel, bioelectricity represents one of the means to gain fundamental insights on how electrical signals and charges play a role in cancer insurgence, growth, and progression. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature in this field, addressing the fundamentals of bioelectricity in single cancer cells, cancer cell cohorts, and cancerous tissues. The emerging role of bioelectricity in cancer proliferation and metastasis is introduced. Based on the acknowledgement that this biological information is still hard to access due to the existing gap between biological findings and translational medicine, the latest advancements in the field of nanotechnologies for cellular electrophysiology are examined, as well as the most recent developments in micro- and nano-devices for cancer diagnostics and therapy targeting bioelectricity.

Transient receptor potential-related risk model predicts prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) protein family shape oncogenic development, but the specific relevance of TRP-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has yet to be defined.

AIM

To investigate the role of TRP genes in HCC, their association with HCC development and treatment was examined.

METHODS

HCC patient gene expression and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, and univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression models were employed to explore the TRP-related risk spectrum. Based on these analyses, clinically relevant TRP family genes were selected, and the association between the key TRP canonical type 1 (TRPC1) gene and HCC patient prognosis was evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, 28 TRP family genes were screened for clinical relevance, with multivariate analyses ultimately revealing three of these genes (TRPC1, TRP cation channel subfamily M member 2, and TRP cation channel subfamily M member 6) to be significantly associated with HCC patient prognosis (P < 0.05). These genes were utilized to establish a TRP-related risk model. Patients were separated into low- and high-risk groups based on the expression of these genes, and high-risk patients exhibited a significantly poorer prognosis (P = 0.001). Functional analyses highlighted pronounced differences in the immune status of patients in these two groups and associated enriched immune pathways. TRPC1 was identified as a candidate gene in this family worthy of further study, with HCC patients expressing higher TRPC1 levels exhibiting poorer survival outcomes. Consistently, quantitative, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analyses revealed increased TRPC1 expression in HCC.

CONCLUSION

These three TRP genes help determine HCC patient prognosis, providing insight into tumor immune status and immunological composition. These findings will help design combination therapies including immunotherapeutic and anti-TRP agents.

Ion channels and their role in chemo-resistance

Ion channels play a crucial role in cellular signaling, homeostasis, and generation of electrical and chemical signals. Aberrant expression and dysregulation of ion channels have been associated with cancer development and resistance to conventional cancer treatment such as chemotherapy. Several molecular mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. Including evasion of apoptosis, decreased drug accumulation in cancer cells, detoxifying and activation of alternative escape pathways such as autophagy. Each of these mechanisms leads to a reduction of the therapeutic efficacy of administered drugs, causing more difficulty in cancer treatment. This review highlights the linkages between ion channels and resistance to chemotherapy. Furthermore, it elaborates their molecular mechanisms and the potential of being therapeutic targets in clinical management.

Realm of proteomics in breast cancer management and drug repurposing to alleviate intricacies of treatment

Breast cancer, a multi-networking heterogeneous disease, has emerged as a serious impediment to progress in clinical oncology. Although technological advancements and emerging cancer research studies have mitigated breast cancer lethality, a precision cancer-oriented solution has not been achieved. Thus, this review will persuade the acquiescence of proteomics-based diagnostic and therapeutic options in breast cancer management. Recently, the evidence of breast cancer health surveillance through imaging proteomics, single-cell proteomics, interactomics, and post-translational modification (PTM) tracking, to construct proteome maps and proteotyping for stage-specific and sample-specific cancer subtyping have outperformed conventional ways of dealing with breast cancer by increasing diagnostic efficiency, prognostic value, and predictive response. Additionally, the paradigm shift in applied proteomics for designing a chemotherapy regimen to identify novel drug targets with minor adverse effects has been elaborated. Finally, the potential of proteomics in alleviating the occurrence of chemoresistance and enhancing reprofiled drugs' effectiveness to combat therapeutic obstacles has been discussed. Owing to the enormous potential of proteomics techniques, the clinical recognition of proteomics in breast cancer management can be achievable and therapeutic intricacies can be surmountable.

TRP Channels in Cancer: Signaling Mechanisms and Translational Approaches

Ion channels play a crucial role in a wide range of biological processes, including cell cycle regulation and cancer progression. In particular, the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of channels has emerged as a promising therapeutic target due to its involvement in several stages of cancer development and dissemination. TRP channels are expressed in a large variety of cells and tissues, and by increasing cation intracellular concentration, they monitor mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli under physiological and pathological conditions. Some members of the TRP superfamily, namely vanilloid (TRPV), canonical (TRPC), melastatin (TRPM), and ankyrin (TRPA), have been investigated in different types of cancer, including breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer. TRP channels are involved in processes such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and drug resistance, all related to cancer progression. Some TRP channels have been mechanistically associated with the signaling of cancer pain. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which TRP channels influence cancer provides new opportunities for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. Selective inhibitors of TRP channels are under initial scrutiny in experimental animals as potential anti-cancer agents. In-depth knowledge of these channels and their regulatory mechanisms may lead to new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment, providing new perspectives for the development of effective targeted therapies.

Chromatin Accessibility Landscape of Human Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines Reveals Variation by Patient Donor Ancestry

African American (AA) women have an excessive risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We employed Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing to characterize differences in chromatin accessibility between nine commonly used TNBC cell lines derived from patients of European and African ancestry. Principal component and chromosome mapping analyses of accessibility peaks with the most variance revealed separation of chromatin profiles by patient group. Motif enrichment and footprinting analyses of disparate open chromatin regions revealed differences in transcription factor activity, identifying 79 with ancestry-associated binding patterns (FDR < 0.01). AA TNBC cell lines exhibited increased accessibility for 62 transcription factors associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer stemness/chemotherapeutic resistance, proliferation, and aberrant p53 regulation, as well as KAISO, which has been previously linked to aggressive tumor characteristics in AA patients with cancer. Differential Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin signal analysis identified 1,596 genes located within promoters of differentially open chromatin regions in AA-derived TNBC, identifying DNA methyltransferase 1 as the top upregulated gene associated with African ancestry. Pathway analyses with these genes revealed enrichment in several pathways, including hypoxia. Culturing cells under hypoxia showed ancestry-specific stress responses that led to the identification of a core set of AA-associated transcription factors, which included members of the Kruppel-like factor and Sp subfamilies, as well as KAISO, and identified ZDHHC1, a gene previously implicated in immunity and STING activation, as the top upregulated AA-specific gene under hypoxia. Together, these data reveal a differential chromatin landscape in TNBC associated with donor ancestry. The open chromatin structure of AA TNBC may contribute to a more lethal disease.

SIGNIFICANCE

We identify an ancestry-associated open chromatin landscape and related transcription factors that may contribute to aggressive TNBC in AA women. Furthermore, this study advocates for the inclusion of diversely sourced cell lines in experimental in vitro studies to advance health equity at all levels of scientific research.

TRP Channels: The Neglected Culprits in Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Resistance?

Breast cancer is a major health concern worldwide, and resistance to therapies remains a significant challenge in treating this disease. In breast cancer, Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are well studied and constitute key players in nearly all carcinogenesis hallmarks. Recently, they have also emerged as important actors in resistance to therapy by modulating the response to various pharmaceutical agents. Targeting TRP channels may represent a promising approach to overcome resistance to therapies in breast cancer patients.

TRPV1 inhibition overcomes cisplatin resistance by blocking autophagy-mediated hyperactivation of EGFR signaling pathway

Cisplatin resistance along with chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain is an important cause of treatment failure for many cancer types and represents an unmet clinical need. Therefore, future studies should provide evidence regarding the mechanisms of potential targets that can overcome the resistance as well as alleviate pain. Here, we show that the emergence of cisplatin resistance is highly associated with EGFR hyperactivation, and that EGFR hyperactivation is arisen by a transcriptional increase in the pain-generating channel, TRPV1, via NANOG. Furthermore, TRPV1 promotes autophagy-mediated EGF secretion via Ca²⁺ influx, which activates the EGFR-AKT signaling and, consequentially, the acquisition of cisplatin resistance. Importantly, TRPV1 inhibition renders tumors susceptible to cisplatin. Thus, our findings indicate a link among cisplatin resistance, EGFR hyperactivation, and TRPV1-mediated autophagic secretion, and implicate that TRPV1 could be a crucial drug target that could not only overcome cisplatin resistance but also alleviate pain in NANOG⁺ cisplatin-resistant cancer.

The Emergence of TRP Channels Interactome as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Integral membrane proteins, known as Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, are cellular sensors for various physical and chemical stimuli in the nervous system, respiratory airways, colon, pancreas, bladder, skin, cardiovascular system, and eyes. TRP channels with nine subfamilies are classified by sequence similarity, resulting in this superfamily's tremendous physiological functional diversity. Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, the development of effective treatment methods for pancreatic cancer has been hindered by the lack of understanding of the pathogenesis, partly due to the difficulty in studying human tissue samples. However, scientific research on this topic has witnessed steady development in the past few years in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie TRP channel disturbance. This brief review summarizes current knowledge of the molecular role of TRP channels in the development and progression of pancreatic ductal carcinoma to identify potential therapeutic interventions.

Function of TRPC1 in modulating hepatocellular carcinoma progression

The liver is the main organ of metabolism in the human body, and it is easy to suffer from hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other diseases, the most serious of which is liver cancer. Worldwide, liver cancer is the most common and deadly malignant tumor, the third leading cause of cancer death in the world. Based on TCGA and ICGC databases, our research discovered the important role of TRPC1 in liver cancer through bioinformatics. The results showed that TRPC1 was over-expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, and the higher the expression level of TRPC1, the worse the OS and the lower the survival rate. TRPC1 was a risk factor affecting the overall survival probability of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. By analyzing the function of the TRP family in liver cancer, TRPC1 might promote the occurrence of liver cancer by up-regulating common signal pathways in tumors such as tumor proliferation signature, and down-regulating important metabolic reactions such as retinol metabolism. In addition, TRPC1 could promote the development of liver cancer by up-regulating the expression of ABI2, MAPRE1, YEATS2, MTA3, TMEM237, MTMR2, CCDC6, AC069544.2, and NCBP2 genes. These results illustrate that TRPC1 is very valuable in the study of liver cancer.

On the modulation of TRPM channels: Current perspectives and anticancer therapeutic implications

The transient melastatin receptor potential (TRPM) ion channel subfamily functions as cellular sensors and transducers of critical biological signal pathways by regulating ion homeostasis. Some members of TRPM have been cloned from cancerous tissues, and their abnormal expressions in various solid malignancies have been correlated with cancer cell growth, survival, or death. Recent evidence also highlights the mechanisms underlying the role of TRPMs in tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, and cancer metabolic reprogramming. These implications support TRPM channels as potential molecular targets and their modulation as an innovative therapeutic approach against cancer. Here, we discuss the general characteristics of the different TRPMs, focusing on current knowledge about the connection between TRPM channels and critical features of cancer. We also cover TRPM modulators used as pharmaceutical tools in biological trials and an indication of the only clinical trial with a TRPM modulator about cancer. To conclude, the authors describe the prospects for TRPM channels in oncology.

Pan-Cancer Analysis of the TRP Family, Especially TRPV4 and TRPC4, and Its Expression Correlated with Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Treatment Sensitivity

BACKGROUND

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are involved in various physiological, pathological, and tumorigenesis-related processes. However, only a few studies have comprehensively analyzed TRP family members and their association with prognosis and tumor microenvironment (TME) in various cancers. Thus, in this study, we focused on TRP channels in pan-cancer and screened two typical TRP channels, TRPV4 and TRPC4, as examples.

METHODS

Based on the latest public databases, we evaluated the expression level and prognostic value of TRP family genes in pan-cancer tissues via various bioinformatic analytical methods, and investigated the relationship between the expression of TRP family genes with TME, stemness score, immune subtype, drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy outcome in pan-cancer tissues.

RESULTS

Pan-cancer analysis revealed that the TRP family genes were differentially expressed in tumor and para-carcinoma tissues. A significant correlation existed between the expression of TRP family genes and prognosis. The expression of TRP family genes was significantly correlated with stromal, immune, RNA stemness, and DNA stemness scores in pan-cancer tissues. Our results indicated that the expression of TRP family genes correlated with the sensitivity to various drugs including PLX-4720, SB-590885, and HYPOTHEMYCIN, immunotherapy outcome, and immune-activation-related genes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant differential expression of TRPV4 in bladder and para-carcinoma tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study elucidated the possible role of TRP family genes in cancer progression and provided insights for further studies on TRP family genes as potential pan-cancer targets to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Molecular subtyping based on TRP family and prognostic assessment for TRP-associated lncRNAs in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have high permeability to Ca2⁺ ions because they are non-selective ion channels. TRP channels have been implicated in tumor onset and progression, proliferation, and migration in recent years. However, the prognostic value of genes related to TRP and their specific mechanism in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) are yet to be understood.

Methods

Public databases such as TCGA and GEO were used to retrieve data on gene expression and clinical information of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma for our study. ConsensusClusterPlus package was used for unsupervised clustering analysis. The microenvironment cell population (MCP)-counter approach was employed to measure the immune cells infiltration status. The Pearson correlation was performed to identify TRP-associated lncRNAs.

Results

Initially, we separated PAAD patients into three clusters depending on TRP-related genes, and of the three clusters, cluster B showed the least immune cell infiltration, which was correlated with poor prognosis. Moreover, GSVA enrichment analysis further revealed that cluster A was subjected to a considerable enrichment in carcinogenic signaling pathways, whereas cluster C was enriched in immune-related pathways. Then, using TRP-associated lncRNAs as a starting point, we constructed a prognostic risk model for PAAD patients that could efficiently predict their prognosis. Further, GSEA revealed that cancer-related pathways, for instance, the cell cycle, p53 signaling pathway, etc. were considerably enriched in the high-risk group. In addition, we looked into the link between the prognostic model and the immunological microenvironment. Lower cytotoxic lymphocytes, NK cells, CD8 T cells, and endothelial cells infiltration were found to be associated with high risk using the MCP-counter algorithm. The expression of CD274, POLE2, MCM6, and LOXL2 was also found to be higher in the high-risk group. TMB was also considerably greater in high-risk individuals, indicating that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy may benefit them more. Lastly, qRT-PCR further confirmed the differential expression of these prognostic TRP-associated lncRNAs, indicating that these lncRNAs play an imperative role in PAAD tumorigenesis.

Conclusion

TRP family genes may represent a new class of candidate molecular markers of the occurrence and progression of PAAD. Risk models based on TRP-associated lncRNAs could provide important new references for immunotargeted therapy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02552-y.

Development and validation of a TRP-related gene signature for overall survival prediction in lung adenocarcinoma

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel is a type of channel protein widely distributed in peripheral and central nervous systems. Genes encoding TRP can be regulated by natural aromatic substances and serve as a therapeutic target for many diseases. However, the role of TRP-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. In this study, we used data from TCGA to screen and identify 17 TRP-related genes that are differentially expressed between LUAD and normal lung tissues. Based on these differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we classified all patients with LUAD into two subtypes. Significant differences in prognosis, clinical features, and immune cell infiltration characteristics were observed between the two subtypes. Subsequently, a prognostic signature with 12 genes was established by applying the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression method, and all patients with LUAD were classified into low- and high-risk groups. Patients with LUAD in the low-risk group had a significantly longer survival time than those in the high-risk group (p < 0.001), which was confirmed by LUAD data from the GSE72094 and GSE68571 validation datasets. Combined with clinical characteristics, the risk score was found to be an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) in patients with LUAD. Additionally, patients with high TRP scores exhibited poorer clinical characteristics and immune status while showing a sensitive response to chemotherapeutic agents. In conclusion, the TRP score is a promising biomarker for determining the prognosis, molecular subtype, tumor microenvironment, and guiding personalized treatment in patients with LUAD.

Comprehensive Analysis of TRP Channel–Related Genes in Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer for Guiding Prognostic Prediction

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a special subtype of breast cancer. Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel superfamily has emerged as a novel and interesting target in a variety of tumors. However, the association of TRP channel–related genes with TNBC is still unclear.

Methods

The The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-TNBC and GSE58812 datasets were downloaded from the public database. The differentially expressed TRP channel–related genes (DETGs) were screened by limma package, and mutations of the above genes were analyzed. Subsequently, new molecular subtypes in TNBC-based DETGs were explored by consensus clustering analysis. In addition, Lasso–Cox regression analysis was used to divide it into two robust risk subtypes: high-risk group and low-risk group. The accuracy and distinguishing ability of above models were verified by a variety of methods, including Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, ROC analysis, calibration curve, and PCA analysis. Meanwhile, CIBERSORT algorithm was used to excavate status of immune-infiltrating cells in TNBC tissues. Last, we explored the therapeutic effect of drugs and underlying mechanisms of risk subgroups by pRRophetic package and GSEA algorithm, respectively.

Results

A total of 19 DETGs were identified in 115 TNBC and 113 normal samples from TCGA database. In addition, missense mutation and SNP were the most common variant classification. According to Lasso–Cox regression analysis, the risky formula performed best when nine genes were used: TRPM5, TRPV2, HTR2B, HRH1, P2RY2, MAP2K6, NTRK1, ADCY6, and PRKACB. Subsequently, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, ROC analysis, calibration curve, and Principal Components Analysis (PCA) analysis showed an excellent accuracy for predicting OS using risky formula in each cohort (P < 0.05). Specifically, high-risk group had a shorter OS compared with low-risk group. In addition, T-cell CD4 memory activated and macrophages M1 were enriched in normal tissues, whereas Tregs were increased in tumor tissues. Note that the low-risk group was better therapeutic effect to docetaxel, doxorubicin, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine than the high-risk group (P < 0.05). Last, in vitro assays, Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) indicated that TRPM5 was significantly highly expressed in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells compared with that in MCF-10A cells (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

We identified a risky formula based on expression of TRP channel–related genes that can predict prognosis, therapeutic effect, and status of tumor microenvironment for patients with TNBC.

The Pan-Cancer Landscape of Crosstalk Between TRP Family and Tumour Microenvironment Relevant to Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response

Background

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel is a kind of channel protein widely distributed in peripheral and central nervous system. They can be regulated by natural aromatic substances and serve as a therapeutic target for many diseases. However, the role and function of the TRP family genes in tumours remain unclear.

Methods

Gene alterations (mutation, copy number, methylation), expression, clinical features, and prognostic value of the TRP family genes were evaluated in pan-cancer using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases. TRP score was calculated by the ssGSEA function of the R package "GSVA". The association of TRP score and the tumour microenvironment (TME), especially the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME), along with immunotherapy response were explored in-depth.

Results

TRP family genes were involved in tumour progression and highly associated with poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. TRP score was positively associated with malignant pathways in pan-cancer, such as IL6-JAK-STAT3 signalling, interferon-gamma response, and inflammatory response. All pathways were closely associated with TIME. Elevated TRP score also correlated with multiple immune-related characteristics of the TIME in pan-cancer. Moreover, the TRP score was a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments in patients with tumours.

Conclusions

TRP family genes play a key role in pan-cancer and are closely associated with TME. Patients with high TRP scores have excellent immune-activated TIME and immunotherapy sensitivity. Therefore, the TRP score could be a potential biomarker for patients with tumours treated with ICI.

TRPM8-Rap1A Interaction Sites as Critical Determinants for Adhesion and Migration of Prostate and Other Epithelial Cancer Cells

Emerging evidence indicates that the TRPM8 channel plays an important role in prostate cancer (PCa) progression, by impairing the motility of these cancer cells. Here, we reveal a novel facet of PCa motility control via direct protein-protein interaction (PPI) of the channel with the small GTPase Rap1A. The functional interaction of the two proteins was assessed by active Rap1 pull-down assays and live-cell imaging experiments. Molecular modeling analysis allowed the identification of four putative residues involved in TRPM8-Rap1A interaction. Point mutations of these sites impaired PPI as shown by GST-pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation, and PLA experiments and revealed their key functional role in the adhesion and migration of PC3 prostate cancer cells. More precisely, TRPM8 inhibits cell migration and adhesion by trapping Rap1A in its GDP-bound inactive form, thus preventing its activation at the plasma membrane. In particular, residues E207 and Y240 in the sequence of TRPM8 and Y32 in that of Rap1A are critical for the interaction between the two proteins not only in PC3 cells but also in cervical (HeLa) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. This study deepens our knowledge of the mechanism through which TRPM8 would exert a protective role in cancer progression and provides new insights into the possible use of TRPM8 as a new therapeutic target in cancer treatment.

The regulatory and modulatory roles of TRP family channels in malignant tumors and relevant therapeutic strategies

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are one primary type of calcium (Ca²⁺) permeable channels, and those relevant transmembrane and intracellular TRP channels were previously thought to be mainly associated with the regulation of cardiovascular and neuronal systems. Nowadays, however, accumulating evidence shows that those TRP channels are also responsible for tumorigenesis and progression, inducing tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the overall underlying mechanisms and possible signaling transduction pathways that TRP channels in malignant tumors might still remain elusive. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the linkage between TRP channels and the significant characteristics of tumors such as multi-drug resistance (MDR), metastasis, apoptosis, proliferation, immune surveillance evasion, and the alterations of relevant tumor micro-environment. Moreover, we also have discussed the expression of relevant TRP channels in various forms of cancer and the relevant inhibitors' efficacy. The chemo-sensitivity of the anti-cancer drugs of various acting mechanisms and the potential clinical applications are also presented. Furthermore, it would be enlightening to provide possible novel therapeutic approaches to counteract malignant tumors regarding the intervention of calcium channels of this type.

Comprehensive Analysis of TRP Channel-Related Genes for Estimating the Immune Microenvironment, Prognosis, and Therapeutic Effect in Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the year 2021 was awarded to Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius for their discoveries of temperature-sensitive receptors (TRP channels) and tactile receptors (Piezo channels), both of which were previously unknown. TRP channels are at the heart of the human ability to detect temperature, and they also play crucial regulatory functions in the occurrence and progression of cancer. Despite this, there have been no research conducted on the prognostic significance of TRP channels in individuals with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In GEO and TCGA cohorts, unsupervised clustering was first conducted based on 18 TRP channel-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) extracted from MSigDB database and KEGG database. Two TRP subtypes were identified and patients in subtype B had the best prognosis among the two subtypes. Significant differences in staging and grading existed among the different subtypes. In GEO cohort, univariate Cox analysis were performed to screen prognosis related genes. A TRP channel-related prognostic signature, which included 7 signature-related genes, was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression. Patients were divided into a high-risk group and low-risk group by the median risk score. In GEO and TCGA cohorts, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, principal component analysis (PCA), and univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed to confirm the validity of signature. Following a more in-depth study of the TME based on the risk signature, it was discovered that the high-risk group had higher immune cell infiltration and lower tumor purity, indicating a bad prognosis. Patients with high risk scores also had increased immune checkpoint expression, indicating that these patients may be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy than other patients. We also found that paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil displayed a better response in treating the low-risk score ESCC patients. This study also adopted GTEx and qRT-PCR to perform experimental verification processes. In summary, we identified a TRP channel-associated prognostic signature. This signature can predict prognosis and immune microenvironment in ESCC.

Ion Channel Involvement in Tumor Drug Resistance

Over 90% of deaths in cancer patients are attributed to tumor drug resistance. Resistance to therapeutic agents can be due to an innate property of cancer cells or can be acquired during chemotherapy. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that regulation of membrane ion channels is an important mechanism in the development of chemoresistance. Here, we review the contribution of ion channels in drug resistance of various types of cancers, evaluating their potential in clinical management. Several molecular mechanisms have been proposed, including evasion of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, decreased drug accumulation in cancer cells, and activation of alternative escape pathways such as autophagy. Each of these mechanisms leads to a reduction of the therapeutic efficacy of administered drugs, causing more difficulty in cancer treatment. Thus, targeting ion channels might represent a good option for adjuvant therapies in order to counteract chemoresistance development.

Targeting Ca2+ signaling: A new arsenal against cancer

The drug resistance of cancer cells is a major concern in medical oncology, resulting in the failure of chemotherapy. Ca²⁺ plays a pivotal role in inducing multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Calcium signaling is a critical regulator of many cancer hallmarks, such as angiogenesis, invasiveness, and migration. In this review, we describe the involvement of Ca²⁺ signaling and associated proteins in cancer progression and in the development of multidrug resistance in cancer cells. We also highlight the possibilities and challenges of targeting the Ca²⁺ channels, transporters, and pumps involved in Ca²⁺ signaling in cancer cells through structure-based drug design. This work will open a new therapeutic window to be used against cancer in upcoming years.

Repurposing hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels as a novel therapy for breast cancer

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are members of the voltage-gated cation channel family known to be expressed in the heart and central nervous system. Ivabradine, a small molecule HCN channel-blocker, is FDA-approved for clinical use as a heart rate-reducing agent. We found that HCN2 and HCN3 are overexpressed in breast cancer cells compared with normal breast epithelia, and the high expression of HCN2 and HCN3 is associated with poorer survival in breast cancer patients. Inhibition of HCN by Ivabradine or by RNAi, aborted breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and suppressed tumour growth in patient-derived tumour xenograft models established from triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tissues, with no evident side-effects on the mice. Transcriptome-wide analysis showed enrichment for cholesterol metabolism and biosynthesis as well as lipid metabolism pathways associated with ER-stress following Ivabradine treatment. Mechanistic studies confirmed that HCN inhibition leads to ER-stress, in part due to disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis, which subsequently triggered the apoptosis cascade. More importantly, we investigated the synergistic effect of Ivabradine and paclitaxel on TNBC and confirmed that both drugs acted synergistically in vitro through ER-stress to amplify signals for caspase activation. Combination therapy could suppress tumour growth of xenografts at much lower doses for both drugs. In summary, our study identified a new molecular target with potential for being developed into targeted therapy, providing scientific grounds for initiating clinical trials for a new treatment regimen of combining HCN inhibition with chemotherapy.