NAMPT Inhibitor and P73 Activator Represses P53 R175H Mutated HNSCC Cell Proliferation in a Synergistic Manner

Decoding the immune landscape: a comprehensive analysis of immune-associated biomarkers in cervical carcinoma and their implications for immunotherapy strategies

Background and aims

Cervical cancer, a prevalent gynecological malignant tumor, poses a significant threat to women's health and lives. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has emerged as a promising avenue for treating cervical cancer. For patients with persistent or recurrent metastatic cervical cancer, If the sequence of dead receptor ligand-1 (PD-L1) is positive, ICI show significant clinical efficacy. PD-L1 expression serves as a valuable biomarker for assessing ICI therapeutic efficacy. However, the complex tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), encompassing immune cell composition and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) status, also exerts a profound influence on tumor immunity and prognosis. Given the remarkable strides made by ICI treatments in improving the survival rates of cervical cancer patients, it becomes essential to identify a comprehensive biomarker that integrates various TIME aspects to enhance the effectiveness of ICI treatment. Therefore, the quest for biomarkers linked to multiple facets of TIME in cervical cancer is a vital pursuit.

Methods

In this study, we have developed an Immune-Associated Gene Prognostic Index (IRGPI) with remarkable prognostic value specifically for cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC). The Cancer Genome Atlas CESC dataset (n = 305) was meticulously analyzed to pinpoint key immune-related genes via weighted gene co-expression network analysis and differential gene expression assays. Subsequently, we employed Cox regression analysis to construct the IRGPI. Furthermore, the composition of immune cells and TIL status were examined using CIBERSORT and TIDE. Tumor expression of Epigen, LCN10, and P73 were determined with immunohistochemistry.

Results

The resulting IRGPI, composed of EPGN, LCN10, and TP73 genes, displayed a strong negative correlation with patient survival. The discovery was validated with a patient cohort from our hospital. The IRGPI not only predicts the composition of immune cell subtypes such as Macrophages M1, NK cells, Mast cells, Plasma cells, Neutrophils, Dendritic cells, T cells CD8, and T cells CD4 within CESC, but also indicates TIL exclusion, dysfunction, and PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. Therefore, the IRGPI emerges as a promising biomarker not only for prognostic assessment but also for characterizing multiple immune features in CESC. Additionally, our results underscored the significant associations between the IRGPI and immune cell composition, TIL exclusion, and dysfunction, along with PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in the TIME.

Conclusion

Consequently, the IRGPI stands out as a biomarker intimately connected to both the survival and TIME status of CESC patients, offering potential insights into immunotherapy strategies for CESC.

Targeting NAD+ Metabolism: Preclinical Insights into Potential Cancer Therapy Strategies

NAD+ is one of the most important metabolites for cellular activities, and its biosynthesis mainly occurs through the salvage pathway using the nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) enzyme. The main nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) consumers, poly-ADP-ribose-polymerases and sirtuins enzymes, are heavily involved in DNA repair and chromatin remodeling. Since cancer cells shift their energy production pathway, NAD levels are significantly affected. NAD's roles in cell survival led to the use of NAD depletion in cancer therapies. NAMPT inhibition (alone or in combination with other cancer therapies, including endocrine therapy and chemotherapy) results in decreased cell viability and tumor burden for many cancer types. Many NAMPT inhibitors (NAMPTi) tested before were discontinued due to toxicity; however, a novel NAMPTi, KPT-9274, is a promising, low-toxicity option currently in clinical trials.

NAD+ associated genes as potential biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays an essential role in cellular metabolism, mitochondrial homeostasis, inflammation, and senescence. However, the role of NAD+-regulated genes, including coding and long non-coding genes in cancer development is poorly understood. We constructed a prediction model based on the expression level of NAD+ metabolism-related genes (NMRGs). Furthermore, we validated the expression of NMRGs in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and cell lines; additionally, β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a precursor of NAD+, was used to treat the GC cell lines to analyze its effects on the expression level of NMRGs lncRNAs and cellular proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). A total of 13 NMRGs-related lncRNAs were selected to construct prognostic risk signatures, and patients with high-risk scores had a poor prognosis. Some immune checkpoint genes were upregulated in the high-risk group. In addition, cell cycle, epigenetics, and senescence were significantly downregulated in the high-risk group. Notably, we found that the levels of immune cell infiltration, including CD8 T cells, CD4 naïve T cells, CD4 memory-activated T cells, B memory cells, and naïve B cells, were significantly associated with risk scores. Furthermore, the treatment of NMN showed increased proliferation of AGS and MKN45 cells. In addition, the expression of SASP factors (IL6, IL8, IL10, TGF-β, and TNF-α) was significantly decreased after NMN treatment. We conclude that the lncRNAs associated with NAD+ metabolism can potentially be used as biomarkers for predicting clinical outcomes of GC patients.

Mutant p53 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Molecular mechanism of gain‑of‑function and targeting therapy (Review)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most widespread malignancies worldwide. p53, as a transcription factor, can play its role in tumor suppression by activating the expression of numerous target genes. However, p53 is one of the most commonly mutated genes, which frequently harbors missense mutations. These missense mutations are nucleotide substitutions that result in the substitution of an amino acid in the DNA binding domain. Most p53 mutations in HNSCC are missense mutations and the mutation rate of p53 reaches 65‑85%. p53 mutation not only inhibits the tumor suppressive function of p53 but also provides novel functions to facilitate tumor recurrence, called gain‑of‑function (GOF). The present study focused on the prevalence and clinical relevance of p53 mutations in HNSCC, and further described how mutant p53 accumulates. Moreover, mutant p53 in HNSCC can interact with proteins, RNA, and exosomes to exert effects on proliferation, migration, invasion, immunosuppression, and metabolism. Finally, several treatment strategies have been proposed to abolish the tumor‑promoting function of mutant p53; these strategies include reactivation of mutant p53 into wild‑type p53, induction of mutant p53 degradation, enhancement of the synthetic lethality of mutant p53, and treatment with immunotherapy. Due to the high frequency of p53 mutations in HNSCC, a further understanding of the mechanism of mutant p53 may provide potential applications for targeted therapy in patients with HNSCC.

The Competition of Yin and Yang: Exploring the Role of Wild-Type and Mutant p53 in Tumor Progression

The protein p53 is a well-known tumor suppressor that plays a crucial role in preventing cancer development [...].

Clustering and machine learning-based integration identify cancer associated fibroblasts genes’ signature in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background: A hallmark signature of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is abundantly infiltration of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which facilitate HNSCC progression. However, some clinical trials showed targeted CAFs ended in failure, even accelerated cancer progression. Therefore, comprehensive exploration of CAFs should solve the shortcoming and facilitate the CAFs targeted therapies for HNSCC.

Methods: In this study, we identified two CAFs gene expression patterns and performed the single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to quantify the expression and construct score system. We used multi-methods to reveal the potential mechanisms of CAFs carcinogenesis progression. Finally, we integrated 10 machine learning algorithms and 107 algorithm combinations to construct most accurate and stable risk model. The machine learning algorithms contained random survival forest (RSF), elastic network (Enet), Lasso, Ridge, stepwise Cox, CoxBoost, partial least squares regression for Cox (plsRcox), supervised principal components (SuperPC), generalised boosted regression modelling (GBM), and survival support vector machine (survival-SVM).

Results: There are two clusters present with distinct CAFs genes pattern. Compared to the low CafS group, the high CafS group was associated with significant immunosuppression, poor prognosis, and increased prospect of HPV negative. Patients with high CafS also underwent the abundant enrichment of carcinogenic signaling pathways such as angiogenesis, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and coagulation. The MDK and NAMPT ligand–receptor cellular crosstalk between the cancer associated fibroblasts and other cell clusters may mechanistically cause immune escape. Moreover, the random survival forest prognostic model that was developed from 107 machine learning algorithm combinations could most accurately classify HNSCC patients.

Conclusion: We revealed that CAFs would cause the activation of some carcinogenesis pathways such as angiogenesis, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and coagulation and revealed unique possibilities to target glycolysis pathways to enhance CAFs targeted therapy. We developed an unprecedentedly stable and powerful risk score for assessing the prognosis. Our study contributes to the understanding of the CAFs microenvironment complexity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and serves as a basis for future in-depth CAFs gene clinical exploration.

Targeting mutant p53-R248W reactivates WT p53 function and alters the onco-metabolic profile

TP53 is the most commonly mutated gene in cancer, and gain-of-function mutations have wide-ranging effects. Efforts to reactivate wild-type p53 function and inhibit mutant functions have been complicated by the variety of TP53 mutations. Identified from a screen, the NSC59984 compound has been shown to restore activity to mutant p53 in colorectal cancer cells. Here, we investigated its effects on esophageal adenocarcinoma cells with specific p53 hot-spot mutations. NSC59984 treatment of cells reactivated p53 transcriptional regulation, inducing mitochondrial intrinsic apoptosis. Analysis of its effects on cellular metabolism demonstrated increased utilization of the pentose phosphate pathway and inhibition of glycolysis at the fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate junction. Furthermore, treatment of cells with NSC59984 increased reactive oxygen species production and decreased glutathione levels; these effects were enhanced by the addition of buthionine sulfoximine and inhibited by N-acetyl cysteine. We found that the effects of NSC59984 were substantially greater in cells harboring the p53 R248W mutation. Overall, these findings demonstrate p53-dependent effects of NSC59984 on cellular metabolism, with increased activity in cells harboring the p53 R248W mutation. This research highlights the importance of defining the mutational status of a particular cancer to create a patient-centric strategy for the treatment of p53-driven cancers.

Visfatin is a multifaceted molecule that exerts regulation effects on inflammation and apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells and mice immune organs

Visfatin, a multifunctional adipocytokine, is particularly important in the regulation of apoptosis and inflammation through an unidentified mechanism. Clarifying the control mechanisms of visfatin on inflammation and apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells and mice immunological organs was the goal of the current investigation. In order to create a pathophysiological model, the RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with 200 ng/mL visfatin and 20 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS), either separately or combined. The effects of exogenous visfatin on inflammation and apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells were investigated by flow cytometry assay, RNA-seq analysis and fluorescence quantitative PCR. According to the findings, exogenous visfatin exhibits dual effects on inflammation by modulating the expression of IL-1α, TNFRSF1B, and LIF as well as taking part in various signaling pathways, including the MAPK and Rap1 signaling pathways. By controlling the expression levels of Bcl2l1, Bcl2a1a, and Fas and primarily participating in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and Hippo signaling pathway, exogenous visfatin can inhibit apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells. The visfatin inhibitor FK866 was used to further confirm the effects of visfatin on inflammation and apoptosis in mice immune organs. Subsequently, mice spleen and thymus were collected. It is interesting to note that in LPS-treated mice, suppression of endogenous visfatin might worsen the immune system's inflammatory response and even result in rapid mortality. Additionally, endogenous visfatin promotes the apoptosis in mice immune organs by regulating the expression levels of Bcl2l1, Fas, Caspase 3, Bcl2a1a, and Bax. Together, these results imply that visfatin is a multifaceted molecule that regulates inflammation and apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells and mice immunological organs by taking part in a variety of biological processes and regulating the amounts of associated cytokines expression. Our findings offer additional understandings of how visfatin affects apoptosis and inflammation.

P63 and P73 Activation in Cancers with p53 Mutation

The members of the p53 family comprise p53, p63, and p73, and full-length isoforms of the p53 family have a tumor suppressor function. However, p53, but not p63 or p73, has a high mutation rate in cancers causing it to lose its tumor suppressor function. The top and second-most prevalent p53 mutations are missense and nonsense mutations, respectively. In this review, we discuss possible drug therapies for nonsense mutation and a missense mutation in p53. p63 and p73 activators may be able to replace mutant p53 and act as anti-cancer drugs. Herein, these p63 and p73 activators are summarized and how to improve these activator responses, particularly focusing on p53 gain-of-function mutants, is discussed.