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Frattaruolo L, Lauria G, Aiello F, Carullo G, Curcio R, Fiorillo M, Campiani G, Dolce V, Cappello AR. Exploiting Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Licorice) Flavanones: Licoflavanone's Impact on Breast Cancer Cell Bioenergetics. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7907. [PMID: 39063149 PMCID: PMC11276871 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147907] [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: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Research on the energy metabolism of cancer cells is becoming a central element in oncology, and in recent decades, it has allowed us to better understand the mechanisms underlying the onset and chemoresistance of oncological pathologies. Mitochondrial bioenergetic processes, in particular, have proven to be fundamental for the survival of tumor stem cells (CSC), a subpopulation of tumor cells responsible for tumor recurrence, the onset of metastasis, and the failure of conventional anticancer therapies. Over the years, numerous natural products, in particular flavonoids, widely distributed in the plant kingdom, have been shown to interfere with tumor bioenergetics, demonstrating promising antitumor effects. Herein, the anticancer potential of Licoflavanone, a flavanone isolated from the leaves of G. glabra, was explored for the first time in breast cancer cells. The results obtained highlighted a marked antitumor activity that proved to be greater than that mediated by Glabranin or Pinocembrin, flavanones isolated from the same plant matrix. Furthermore, the investigation of Licoflavanone's effects on breast cancer energy metabolism highlighted the inhibitory activity of this natural product on tumor bioenergetics, a mechanism that could underlie its ability to reduce tumor proliferation, invasiveness, and stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Frattaruolo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Graziantonio Lauria
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Francesca Aiello
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Rosita Curcio
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Marco Fiorillo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Vincenza Dolce
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Cappello
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
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Musa S, Amara N, Selawi A, Wang J, Marchini C, Agbarya A, Mahajna J. Overcoming Chemoresistance in Cancer: The Promise of Crizotinib. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2479. [PMID: 39001541 PMCID: PMC11240740 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance is a major obstacle in cancer treatment, often leading to disease progression and poor outcomes. It arises through various mechanisms such as genetic mutations, drug efflux pumps, enhanced DNA repair, and changes in the tumor microenvironment. These processes allow cancer cells to survive despite chemotherapy, underscoring the need for new strategies to overcome resistance and improve treatment efficacy. Crizotinib, a first-generation multi-target kinase inhibitor, is approved by the FDA for the treatment of ALK-positive or ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), refractory inflammatory (ALK)-positive myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) and relapsed/refractory ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Crizotinib exists in two enantiomeric forms: (R)-crizotinib and its mirror image, (S)-crizotinib. It is assumed that the R-isomer is responsible for the carrying out various processes reviewed here The S-isomer, on the other hand, shows a strong inhibition of MTH1, an enzyme important for DNA repair mechanisms. Studies have shown that crizotinib is an effective multi-kinase inhibitor targeting various kinases such as c-Met, native/T315I Bcr/Abl, and JAK2. Its mechanism of action involves the competitive inhibition of ATP binding and allosteric inhibition, particularly at Bcr/Abl. Crizotinib showed synergistic effects when combined with the poly ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARP), especially in ovarian cancer harboring BRCA gene mutations. In addition, crizotinib targets a critical vulnerability in many p53-mutated cancers. Unlike its wild-type counterpart, the p53 mutant promotes cancer cell survival. Crizotinib can cause the degradation of the p53 mutant, sensitizing these cancer cells to DNA-damaging substances and triggering apoptosis. Interestingly, other reports demonstrated that crizotinib exhibits anti-bacterial activity, targeting Gram-positive bacteria. Also, it is active against drug-resistant strains. In summary, crizotinib exerts anti-tumor effects through several mechanisms, including the inhibition of kinases and the restoration of drug sensitivity. The potential of crizotinib in combination therapies is emphasized, particularly in cancers with a high prevalence of the p53 mutant, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaa Musa
- Department of Nutrition and Natural Products, Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
| | - Noor Amara
- Department of Nutrition and Natural Products, Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
| | - Adan Selawi
- Department of Nutrition and Natural Products, Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
| | - Junbiao Wang
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Abed Agbarya
- Oncology Department, Bnai Zion MC, Haifa 31048, Israel
| | - Jamal Mahajna
- Department of Nutrition and Natural Products, Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
- Department of Biotechnology, Tel-Hai College, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
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Lim SH, Lee H, Lee HJ, Kim K, Choi J, Han JM, Min DS. PLD1 is a key player in cancer stemness and chemoresistance: Therapeutic targeting of cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:1479-1487. [PMID: 38945955 PMCID: PMC11297275 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01260-9] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of chemoresistance is a major challenge in the treatment of several types of cancers in clinical settings. Stemness and chemoresistance are the chief causes of poor clinical outcomes. In this context, we hypothesized that understanding the signaling pathways responsible for chemoresistance in cancers is crucial for the development of novel targeted therapies to overcome drug resistance. Among the aberrantly activated pathways, the PI3K-Akt/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is clinically implicated in malignancies such as colorectal cancer (CRC) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Aberrant dysregulation of phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in several malignancies, and oncogenic activation of this pathway facilitates tumor proliferation, stemness, and chemoresistance. Crosstalk involving the PLD and Wnt/β-catenin pathways promotes the progression of CRC and GBM and reduces the sensitivity of cancer cells to standard therapies. Notably, both pathways are tightly regulated and connected at multiple levels by upstream and downstream effectors. Thus, gaining deeper insights into the interactions between these pathways would help researchers discover unique therapeutic targets for the management of drug-resistant cancers. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which PLD signaling stimulates stemness and chemoresistance in CRC and GBM. Thus, the current review aims to address the importance of PLD as a central player coordinating cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways and proposes the possibility of targeting these pathways to improve cancer therapy and overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Hun Lim
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyesung Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ji Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Kuglae Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Junjeong Choi
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Min Han
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
- POSTECH Biotech Center, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Do Sik Min
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea.
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Kulus M, Farzaneh M, Bryja A, Zehtabi M, Azizidoost S, Abouali Gale Dari M, Golcar-Narenji A, Ziemak H, Chwarzyński M, Piotrowska-Kempisty H, Dzięgiel P, Zabel M, Mozdziak P, Bukowska D, Kempisty B, Antosik P. Phenotypic Transitions the Processes Involved in Regulation of Growth and Proangiogenic Properties of Stem Cells, Cancer Stem Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:967-979. [PMID: 38372877 PMCID: PMC11087301 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10691-w] [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] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial process with significance in the metastasis of malignant tumors. It is through the acquisition of plasticity that cancer cells become more mobile and gain the ability to metastasize to other tissues. The mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) is the return to an epithelial state, which allows for the formation of secondary tumors. Both processes, EMT and MET, are regulated by different pathways and different mediators, which affects the sophistication of the overall tumorigenesis process. Not insignificant are also cancer stem cells and their participation in the angiogenesis, which occur very intensively within tumors. Difficulties in effectively treating cancer are primarily dependent on the potential of cancer cells to rapidly expand and occupy secondarily vital organs. Due to the ability of these cells to spread, the concept of the circulating tumor cell (CTC) has emerged. Interestingly, CTCs exhibit molecular diversity and stem-like and mesenchymal features, even when derived from primary tumor tissue from a single patient. While EMT is necessary for metastasis, MET is required for CTCs to establish a secondary site. A thorough understanding of the processes that govern the balance between EMT and MET in malignancy is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kulus
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Artur Bryja
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mojtaba Zehtabi
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shirin Azizidoost
- Atherosclerosis Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mahrokh Abouali Gale Dari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Golcar-Narenji
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hanna Ziemak
- Veterinary Clinic of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Mikołaj Chwarzyński
- Veterinary Clinic of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Hanna Piotrowska-Kempisty
- Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Piotr Dzięgiel
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Zabel
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- Division of Anatomy and Histology, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Paul Mozdziak
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Physiology Graduate Faculty, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Dorota Bukowska
- Department of Diagnostics and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Bartosz Kempisty
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland.
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
- Physiology Graduate Faculty, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Paweł Antosik
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
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Saliu TP, Seneviratne NN, Faizan M, Rajagopalan U, Perera DC, Adhikari A, Senathilake KS, Galhena P, Tennekoon KH, Samarakoon SR. In silico identification and in vitro validation of alpha-hederin as a potent inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in breast cancer stem cells. In Silico Pharmacol 2024; 12:31. [PMID: 38617708 PMCID: PMC11014832 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-024-00199-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in metastasis, recurrence and chemoresistance in breast cancer. β-catenin, which is a frequently over activated protein in CSCs, binds to T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (Tcf/Lef) family transcription factors leading to ectopic expression of Wnt pathway responsive genes necessary for the maintenance and action of CSCs. With the aim of identifying a small molecules that can effectively eliminate CSCs, molecular docking studies were performed against the Tcf/Lef binding hotspot on β-catenin using a library of 100 natural or synthetic small molecules. Small molecule ligands giving docking energy better than - 7 kcal/mol were further investigated by binding interactions analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. These compounds were then investigated in vitro, for cytotoxicity against CSCs isolated from MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cells. Alpha-hederin (AH) was identified as the only compound in the selected library that has cytotoxicity against breast CSCs. AH was further investigated for it's ability to regulate Wnt pathway target genes (Cyclin D1 and CD44)and the tumor suppressor p53by real-time quantitative PCR. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity properties of the AH was predicted in silico. AH significantly down regulated the transcription of Cyclin D1 and CD44 while up-regulating the transcription of p53. AH was predicted to have acceptable drug likeness. Although AH is currently known to inhibit the growth of various cancer cells in vitro, present study demonstrated for the first time that it is a potent inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and induce apoptosis in breast CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tolulope Peter Saliu
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Nirwani Natasha Seneviratne
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Mishal Faizan
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Umapriyatharshini Rajagopalan
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Damith Chathuranga Perera
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Achyut Adhikari
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Kanishka Sithira Senathilake
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Prasanna Galhena
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Kamani Hemamala Tennekoon
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
| | - Sameera Ranganath Samarakoon
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, CumaratungaMunidasaMawatha, Colombo, 03 Sri Lanka
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Attem J, Narayana RVL, Manukonda R, Kaliki S, Vemuganti GK. Small extracellular vesicles loaded with carboplatin effectively enhance the cytotoxicity of drug-resistant cells from Y79 cells-in vitro. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116403. [PMID: 38490156 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116403] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance (DR) is one of the challenges in treating retinoblastoma (Rb) that warrants novel approaches. With the emerging evidence on the role of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) as a drug-delivery carrier system, in this study, we derived the drug-resistant (DR) clones of Y79 cells and evaluated the efficacy of sEVs-loaded with carboplatin (sEVs-CPT) to reverse the chemoresistance. Drug-resistant clones of Y79 cells (DR-Y79) were systematically developed through sequential exposure to carboplatin (CPT), showcasing a sixfold increase in inhibitory concentration when compared to parental Y79 cells (IC50: 41.4 µg/mL and 6.2 µg/mL) (P<0.0001). These DR-Y79 cells show higher expression of ABCG2 and higher expression of DR genes than parental Y79 cells (P<0.0001). The sEVs were isolated from the conditioned media of Y79 cells using ultracentrifugation (UC) and characterized. Further, the sEVs were loaded with CPT and achieved higher encapsulation efficiency at one hour, and drug release of sEVs-CPT was highest at ∼80% at pH 5.0. The cytotoxicity of sEVs-CPT on Y79 cells and DR-Y79 was higher when compared to the CPT (IC50: 3.5 µg/mL vs 6.2 µg/mL; 23.1 µg/mL vs 41.2 µg/mL) (p<0.0001). This study demonstrates that sequential exposure to CPT generates DR clones of Y79 cells, which could serve as an appropriate model to evaluate the efficacy of drugs. The sEVs-CPT were highly effective in enhancing cytotoxicity in DR-Y79 cells, and appear to hold promise as a novel complimentary drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyothi Attem
- School of Medical Sciences, Science Complex, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500046, India
| | - Revu V L Narayana
- School of Medical Sciences, Science Complex, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500046, India
| | - Radhika Manukonda
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034, India; Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad 500034, India
| | - Swathi Kaliki
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034, India; Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad 500034, India
| | - Geeta K Vemuganti
- School of Medical Sciences, Science Complex, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500046, India.
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Zhang X, Li H, Wang Y, Zhao H, Wang Z, Chan FL. Nuclear receptor NURR1 functions to promote stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer via its targeting of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:234. [PMID: 38531859 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06621-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulated activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a frequent or common event during advanced progression of multiple cancers. With this signaling activation, it enhances their tumorigenic growth and facilitates metastasis and therapy resistance. Advances show that this signaling pathway can play dual regulatory roles in the control of cellular processes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness in cancer progression. Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is shown to be common in prostate cancer and also castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, the transcriptional regulators of this pathway in prostate cancer are still not well characterized. NURR1 (NR4A2) is an orphan nuclear receptor and plays an important role in the development of dopaminergic neurons. Previously, we have shown that NURR1 exhibits an upregulation in isolated prostate cancer stem-like cells (PCSCs) and a xenograft model of CRPC. In this study, we further confirmed that NURR1 exhibited an upregulation in prostate cancer and also enhanced expression in prostate cancer cell lines. Functional and molecular analyses showed that NURR1 could act to promote both in vitro (cancer stemness and EMT) and also in vivo oncogenic growth of prostate cancer cells (metastasis and castration resistance) via its direct transactivation of CTNNB1 (β-catenin) and activation of β-catenin to mediate the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, we also demonstrated that NURR1 activity in prostate cancer cells could be modulated by small molecules, implicating that NURR1 could be a potential therapeutic target for advanced prostate cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Haolong Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urology, The People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen, 518109, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhu Wang
- Department of Urology, The People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen, 518109, Guangdong, China.
| | - Franky Leung Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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8
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Zeng B, Chen X, Zhang L, Gao X, Gui Y. Norcantharidin in cancer therapy - a new approach to overcoming therapeutic resistance: A review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37394. [PMID: 38428865 PMCID: PMC10906652 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance in cancer remains a dilemma that scientists and oncologists are eager to solve. Despite several preclinical and clinical studies dedicated to overcoming therapeutic resistance, they often do not yield the expected outcomes. This is primarily due to the multifactorial phenomenon of therapeutic resistance. Norcantharidin (NCTD) is an artificial compound derived from cantharidin that has significant anticancer efficacy without incurring serious side effects. Intriguingly, extensive research suggests that NCTD is essential for boosting anticancer efficacy and reversing treatment resistance. This review article presents a full description of how NCTD can effectively overcome cancer resistance to standard treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. We also discuss the potential prospects and challenges associated with using NCTD as a therapeutic strategy for reversing resistance to cancer therapy. We anticipate that our review will serve as a valuable reference for researchers and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beilei Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
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Khan SU, Fatima K, Aisha S, Malik F. Unveiling the mechanisms and challenges of cancer drug resistance. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:109. [PMID: 38347575 PMCID: PMC10860306 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01302-1] [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: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment faces many hurdles and resistance is one among them. Anti-cancer treatment strategies are evolving due to innate and acquired resistance capacity, governed by genetic, epigenetic, proteomic, metabolic, or microenvironmental cues that ultimately enable selected cancer cells to survive and progress under unfavorable conditions. Although the mechanism of drug resistance is being widely studied to generate new target-based drugs with better potency than existing ones. However, due to the broader flexibility in acquired drug resistance, advanced therapeutic options with better efficacy need to be explored. Combination therapy is an alternative with a better success rate though the risk of amplified side effects is commonplace. Moreover, recent groundbreaking precision immune therapy is one of the ways to overcome drug resistance and has revolutionized anticancer therapy to a greater extent with the only limitation of being individual-specific and needs further attention. This review will focus on the challenges and strategies opted by cancer cells to withstand the current therapies at the molecular level and also highlights the emerging therapeutic options -like immunological, and stem cell-based options that may prove to have better potential to challenge the existing problem of therapy resistance. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer Ullah Khan
- Division of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar-190005, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India.
| | - Kaneez Fatima
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar-190005, Jammu and Kashmir, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India
| | - Shariqa Aisha
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar-190005, Jammu and Kashmir, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India
| | - Fayaz Malik
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar-190005, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India.
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10
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Maleki EH, Bahrami AR, Matin MM. Cancer cell cycle heterogeneity as a critical determinant of therapeutic resistance. Genes Dis 2024; 11:189-204. [PMID: 37588236 PMCID: PMC10425754 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Intra-tumor heterogeneity is now arguably one of the most-studied topics in tumor biology, as it represents a major obstacle to effective cancer treatment. Since tumor cells are highly diverse at genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic levels, intra-tumor heterogeneity can be assumed as an important contributing factor to the nullification of chemotherapeutic effects, and recurrence of the tumor. Based on the role of heterogeneous subpopulations of cancer cells with varying cell-cycle dynamics and behavior during cancer progression and treatment; herein, we aim to establish a comprehensive definition for adaptation of neoplastic cells against therapy. We discuss two parallel and yet distinct subpopulations of tumor cells that play pivotal roles in reducing the effects of chemotherapy: "resistant" and "tolerant" populations. Furthermore, this review also highlights the impact of the quiescent phase of the cell cycle as a survival mechanism for cancer cells. Beyond understanding the mechanisms underlying the quiescence, it provides an insightful perspective on cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their dual and intertwined functions based on their cell cycle state in response to treatment. Moreover, CSCs, epithelial-mesenchymal transformed cells, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs), which are mostly in a quiescent state of the cell cycle are proved to have multiple biological links and can be implicated in our viewpoint of cell cycle heterogeneity in tumors. Overall, increasing our knowledge of cell cycle heterogeneity is a key to identifying new therapeutic solutions, and this emerging concept may provide us with new opportunities to prevent the dreadful cancer recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim H. Maleki
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (JCET), Jagiellonian University, 31-007 Krakow, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ahmad Reza Bahrami
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Industrial Biotechnology Research Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maryam M. Matin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Novel Diagnostics and Therapeutics Research Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, 9177948974 Mashhad, Iran
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Khorasan Razavi Branch, 917751376 Mashhad, Iran
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11
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Rismanbaf A. Improving targeted small molecule drugs to overcome chemotherapy resistance. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e1945. [PMID: 37994401 PMCID: PMC10809209 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1945] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conventional cancer treatments face the challenge of therapeutic resistance, which causes poor treatment outcomes. The use of combination therapies can improve treatment results in patients and is one of the solutions to overcome this challenge. Chemotherapy is one of the conventional treatments that, due to the non-targeted and lack of specificity in targeting cancer cells, can cause serious complications in the short and long-term for patients by damaging healthy cells. Also, the employment of a wide range of strategies for chemotherapy resistance by cancer cells, metastasis, and cancer recurrence create serious problems to achieve the desired results of chemotherapy. Accordingly, targeted therapies can be used as a combination treatment with chemotherapy to both cause less damage to healthy cells, which as a result, they reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, and by targeting the factors that cause therapeutic challenges, can improve the results of chemotherapy in patients. RECENT FINDINGS Small molecules are one of the main targeted therapies that can be used for diverse targets in cancer treatment due to their penetration ability and characteristics. However, small molecules in cancer treatment are facing obstacles that a better understanding of cancer biology, as well as the mechanisms and factors involved in chemotherapy resistance, can lead to the improvement of this type of major targeted therapy. CONCLUSION In this review article, at first, the challenges that lead to not achieving the desired results in chemotherapy and how cancer cells can be resistant to chemotherapy are examined, and at the end, research areas are suggested that more focusing on them, can lead to the improvement of the results of using targeted small molecules as an adjunctive treatment for chemotherapy in the conditions of chemotherapy resistance and metastasis of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Rismanbaf
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
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12
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Harrer DC, Lüke F, Pukrop T, Ghibelli L, Reichle A, Heudobler D. Addressing Genetic Tumor Heterogeneity, Post-Therapy Metastatic Spread, Cancer Repopulation, and Development of Acquired Tumor Cell Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:180. [PMID: 38201607 PMCID: PMC10778239 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The concept of post-therapy metastatic spread, cancer repopulation and acquired tumor cell resistance (M-CRAC) rationalizes tumor progression because of tumor cell heterogeneity arising from post-therapy genetic damage and subsequent tissue repair mechanisms. Therapeutic strategies designed to specifically address M-CRAC involve tissue editing approaches, such as low-dose metronomic chemotherapy and the use of transcriptional modulators with or without targeted therapies. Notably, tumor tissue editing holds the potential to treat patients, who are refractory to or relapsing (r/r) after conventional chemotherapy, which is usually based on administering a maximum tolerable dose of a cytostatic drugs. Clinical trials enrolling patients with r/r malignancies, e.g., non-small cell lung cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis and acute myelocytic leukemia, indicate that tissue editing approaches could yield tangible clinical benefit. In contrast to conventional chemotherapy or state-of-the-art precision medicine, tissue editing employs a multi-pronged approach targeting important drivers of M-CRAC across various tumor entities, thereby, simultaneously engaging tumor cell differentiation, immunomodulation, and inflammation control. In this review, we highlight the M-CRAC concept as a major factor in resistance to conventional cancer therapies and discusses tissue editing as a potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Christoph Harrer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (D.C.H.); (F.L.); (T.P.); (D.H.)
| | - Florian Lüke
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (D.C.H.); (F.L.); (T.P.); (D.H.)
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, 30625 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Pukrop
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (D.C.H.); (F.L.); (T.P.); (D.H.)
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lina Ghibelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Albrecht Reichle
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (D.C.H.); (F.L.); (T.P.); (D.H.)
| | - Daniel Heudobler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (D.C.H.); (F.L.); (T.P.); (D.H.)
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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13
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Liu Q, Guo Z, Li G, Zhang Y, Liu X, Li B, Wang J, Li X. Cancer stem cells and their niche in cancer progression and therapy. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:305. [PMID: 38041196 PMCID: PMC10693166 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03130-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
High recurrence and metastasis rates and poor prognoses are the major challenges of current cancer therapy. Mounting evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in cancer development, chemoradiotherapy resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Therefore, targeted CSC therapy has become a new strategy for solving the problems of cancer metastasis and recurrence. Since the properties of CSCs are regulated by the specific tumour microenvironment, the so-called CSC niche, which targets crosstalk between CSCs and their niches, is vital in our pursuit of new therapeutic opportunities to prevent cancer from recurring. In this review, we aim to highlight the factors within the CSC niche that have important roles in regulating CSC properties, including the extracellular matrix (ECM), stromal cells (e.g., associated macrophages (TAMs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)), and physiological changes (e.g., inflammation, hypoxia, and angiogenesis). We also discuss recent progress regarding therapies targeting CSCs and their niche to elucidate developments of more effective therapeutic strategies to eliminate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuping Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Zongliang Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital, Affiliated of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030013, Shanxi, China
| | - Guoyin Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Yunxia Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Bing Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Jinping Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanxi Province People's Hospital, Taiyuan, 030012, Shanxi, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of blood transfusion, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, Shanxi, China.
- Department of central laboratory, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, Shanxi, China.
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14
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Hussen BM, Abdullah KH, Abdullah SR, Majeed NM, Mohamadtahr S, Rasul MF, Dong P, Taheri M, Samsami M. New insights of miRNA molecular mechanisms in breast cancer brain metastasis and therapeutic targets. Noncoding RNA Res 2023; 8:645-660. [PMID: 37818447 PMCID: PMC10560790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain metastases in breast cancer (BC) patients are often associated with a poor prognosis. Recent studies have uncovered the critical roles of miRNAs in the initiation and progression of BC brain metastasis, highlighting the disease's underlying molecular pathways. miRNA-181c, miRNA-10b, and miRNA-21, for example, are all overexpressed in BC patients. It has been shown that these three miRNAs help tumors grow and metastasize by targeting genes that control how cells work. On the other hand, miRNA-26b5p, miRNA-7, and miRNA-1013p are all downregulated in BC brain metastasis patients. They act as tumor suppressors by controlling the expression of genes related to cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and invasion. Therapeutic miRNA targeting has considerable promise in treating BC brain metastases. Several strategies have been proposed to modulate miRNA expression, including miRNA-Mimics, antagomirs, and small molecule inhibitors of miRNA biogenesis. This review discusses the aberrant expression of miRNAs and metastatic pathways that lead to the spread of BC cells to the brain. It also explores miRNA therapeutic target molecular mechanisms and BC brain metastasis challenges with advanced strategies. The targeting of certain miRNAs opens a new door for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashdar Mahmud Hussen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq
- Department of Clinical Analysis, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Khozga Hazhar Abdullah
- Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Lebanese French University, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Snur Rasool Abdullah
- Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Lebanese French University, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
| | | | - Sayran Mohamadtahr
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Mohammed Fatih Rasul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Basic Science, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Peixin Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Samsami
- Cancer Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Guo Z, Wang G, Yun Z, Li Y, Huang B, Jin Q, Chen Y, Xu L, Lv W. Global research trends in tumor stem cell-derived exosomes and tumor microenvironment: visualization biology analysis. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:17581-17595. [PMID: 37914951 PMCID: PMC10657319 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05450-2] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BANKGROUND The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an internal environment composed of various cells and an extracellular matrix. Cancer stem cell-derived exosomes (CSC-Exos), as essential messengers involved in various tumor processes, are important carriers for bidirectional communication between the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells and play an important role in the tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, few bibliometric analyses have been systematically studied in this field. METHODS Therefore, we aimed to visualize the research hotspots and trends in this field through bibliometrics to comprehend the future evolution of fundamental and clinical research, as well as to offer insightful information and fresh viewpoints. The Scopus database was used to search the research literature related to exosomes and tumor microenvironments after the establishment of this repository. CiteSpace (version 5.8.R3) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.16) were used for visualization and analysis. RESULTS In this study, a total of 2077 articles and reviews were included, with the number of articles on exosomes and tumor microenvironments significantly increasing yearly. Recent trends showed that the potential value of exosomes as "tumor diagnostics" and "the application prospect of exosomes as therapeutic agents and drug delivery carriers" will receive more attention in the future. CONCLUSIONS We revealed the current status and hotspots of tumor stem cell-derived exosomes and tumor microenvironments globally through bibliometrics. The prospect of the regulatory role of CSC-Exos in TME, the potential value of diagnosis, and the application of drug delivery vectors will all remain cutting-edge research areas in the field of tumor therapy. Meanwhile, this study provided a functional literature analysis for related researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Guo
- Department of Infection, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guang' anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhangjun Yun
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yanbo Li
- Department of Infection, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guang' anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bohao Huang
- Guang' anmen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Jin
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Luchun Xu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenliang Lv
- Department of Infection, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guang' anmen Hospital, Beijing, China.
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16
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Passalacqua MI, Ciappina G, Di Pietro M, Spagnolo CC, Squeri A, Granata B, Muscolino P, Santarpia M. Therapeutic strategies for HER2-positive breast cancer with central nervous system involvement: a literature review and future perspectives. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:3179-3197. [PMID: 38130295 PMCID: PMC10731379 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-1126] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objective Brain metastases (BMs) are present in approximately 55% of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer (HER2+ BC). The introduction of anti-HER2 agents has radically changed the prognosis of these patients by prolonging overall survival. Methods In this review, we describe the biology of central nervous system (CNS) spreading in patients with HER2+ BC. We also provide a literature review of current treatment strategies of brain metastatic BC, focusing on HER2+ disease, and future perspectives. Key Content and Findings Treatment of symptomatic BMs includes traditionally neurosurgery and/or radiotherapy, depending on the number of metastases, performance status and systemic disease control. Local treatments, such as surgical excision of BM and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), when feasible, are preferred over whole-brain radiotherapy, because of related cognitive impairment. These treatments can lead to a local control of the disease, however, systemic relapses can affect the prognosis of these patients. Recently, new anti-HER2 agents have demonstrated to be effective on BMs, thereby leading to improved survival outcomes with an acceptable quality of life. Despite the clinical benefit of these approaches, BMs still represent a cause of death and effective therapeutic strategies are needed. Conclusions Different targeted agents have demonstrated significant efficacy with tolerable safety profiles in HER2+ BC patients with BM, and have already been approved for clinical use in this setting. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset of BMs could suggest novel targeted approaches in order to prevent CNS localization or delay progression to CNS in HER-2 metastatic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martina Di Pietro
- Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, Medical Oncology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Calogera Claudia Spagnolo
- Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, Medical Oncology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Andrea Squeri
- Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, Medical Oncology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Barbara Granata
- Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, Medical Oncology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Paola Muscolino
- Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, Medical Oncology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Wang H, Zhang Z, Ruan S, Yan Q, Chen Y, Cui J, Wang X, Huang S, Hou B. Regulation of iron metabolism and ferroptosis in cancer stem cells. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1251561. [PMID: 37736551 PMCID: PMC10509481 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1251561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of cancer stem cells (CSCs) to self-renew, differentiate, and generate new tumors is a significant contributor to drug resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Therefore, the targeting of CSCs for treatment is particularly important. Recent studies have demonstrated that CSCs are more susceptible to ferroptosis than non-CSCs, indicating that this could be an effective strategy for treating tumors. Ferroptosis is a type of programmed cell death that results from the accumulation of lipid peroxides caused by intracellular iron-mediated processes. CSCs exhibit different molecular characteristics related to iron and lipid metabolism. This study reviews the alterations in iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and lipid peroxide scavenging in CSCs, their impact on ferroptosis, and the regulatory mechanisms underlying iron metabolism and ferroptosis. Potential treatment strategies and novel compounds targeting CSC by inducing ferroptosis are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailiang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Weihai Central Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Weihai, China
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongyan Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
| | - Shiye Ruan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
| | - Qian Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
| | - Yubin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
| | - Jinwei Cui
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
| | - Xinjian Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Weihai Central Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Weihai, China
| | - Shanzhou Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
- Department of General Surgery, South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baohua Hou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
- Department of General Surgery, South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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18
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Cierpikowski P, Leszczyszyn A, Bar J. The Role of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cells 2023; 12:2083. [PMID: 37626893 PMCID: PMC10453169 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162083] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading malignancy worldwide, with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Molecularly targeted therapies for HNSCC are still lacking. However, recent reports provide novel insights about many molecular alterations in HNSCC that may be useful in future therapies. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers that may provide a better prediction of the disease and promising targets for personalized therapy. The poor response of HNSCC to therapy is attributed to a small population of tumor cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). Growing evidence indicates that the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of head and neck tissues. The HH pathway is normally involved in embryogenesis, stem cell renewal, and tissue regeneration. However, abnormal activation of the HH pathway is also associated with carcinogenesis and CSC regulation. Overactivation of the HH pathway was observed in several tumors, including basal cell carcinoma, that are successfully treated with HH inhibitors. However, clinical studies about HH pathways in HNSCC are still rare. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and recent advances regarding the HH pathway in HNSCC and discuss its possible implications for prognosis and future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Cierpikowski
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital, Osiedle Zlotej Jesieni 1, 31-826 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Leszczyszyn
- Dental Surgery Outpatient Clinic, 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Weigla 5, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Julia Bar
- Department of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Bujwida 44, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland
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Du Y, Gupta P, Qin S, Sieber M. The role of metabolism in cellular quiescence. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs260787. [PMID: 37589342 PMCID: PMC10445740 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260787] [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] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular quiescence is a dormant, non-dividing cell state characterized by significant shifts in physiology and metabolism. Quiescence plays essential roles in a wide variety of biological processes, ranging from microbial sporulation to human reproduction and wound repair. Moreover, when the regulation of quiescence is disrupted, it can drive cancer growth and compromise tissue regeneration after injury. In this Review, we examine the dynamic changes in metabolism that drive and support dormant and transiently quiescent cells, including spores, oocytes and adult stem cells. We begin by defining quiescent cells and discussing their roles in key biological processes. We then examine metabolic factors that influence cellular quiescence in both healthy and disease contexts, and how these could be leveraged in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipeng Du
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, MC9040 ND13.214, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Parul Gupta
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, MC9040 ND13.214, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Shenlu Qin
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, MC9040 ND13.214, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Matthew Sieber
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, MC9040 ND13.214, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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20
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Safarpour A, Ebrahimi M, Fazeli SAS, Amoozegar MA. A phenol amine molecule from Salinivenus iranica acts as the inhibitor of cancer stem cells in breast cancer cell lines. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12669. [PMID: 37542193 PMCID: PMC10403564 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39736-9] [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: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the anticancer properties of metabolites from halophilic microorganisms have received a lot of attention. Twenty-nine halophilic bacterial strains were selected from a culture collection to test the effects of their supernatant metabolites on stem cell-like properties of six human cancer cell lines. Human fibroblasts were used as normal control. Sphere and colony formation assay were done to assess the stem cell-like properties. invasion and migration assay, and tumor development in mice model were done to assess the anti-tumorigenesis effect in vitro and in vivo. The metabolites from Salinivenus iranica demonstrated the most potent cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cell lines (IC50 = 100 µg/mL) among all strains, with no effect on normal cells. In MDA-MB-231 cells, the supernatant metabolites enhanced both early and late apoptosis (approximately 9.5% and 48.8%, respectively) and decreased the sphere and colony formation ability of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, after intratumor injection of metabolites, tumors developed in the mice models reduced dramatically, associated with increased pro-apoptotic caspase-3 expression. The purified cytotoxic molecule, a phenol amine with a molecular weight of 1961.73 Dalton (IC50 = 1 µg/mL), downregulated pluripotency gene SRY-Box Transcription Factor 2 (SOX-2) expression in breast cancer cells which is associated with resistance to conventional anticancer treatment. In conclusion, we suggested that the phenol amine molecule from Salinivenus iranica could be a potential anti-breast cancer component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Safarpour
- Extremophiles Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, School of Biology and Center of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, 19395-4644, Iran
| | - Marzieh Ebrahimi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, 19395-4644, Iran.
| | - Seyed Abolhassan Shahzadeh Fazeli
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Amoozegar
- Extremophiles Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, School of Biology and Center of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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21
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Farhana A, Alsrhani A, Khan YS, Rasheed Z. Cancer Bioenergetics and Tumor Microenvironments-Enhancing Chemotherapeutics and Targeting Resistant Niches through Nanosystems. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3836. [PMID: 37568652 PMCID: PMC10416858 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is an impending bottleneck in the advanced scientific workflow to achieve diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic success. Most cancers are refractory to conventional diagnostic and chemotherapeutics due to their limited targetability, specificity, solubility, and side effects. The inherent ability of each cancer to evolve through various genetic and epigenetic transformations and metabolic reprogramming underlies therapeutic limitations. Though tumor microenvironments (TMEs) are quite well understood in some cancers, each microenvironment differs from the other in internal perturbations and metabolic skew thereby impeding the development of appropriate diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, and therapies. Cancer associated bioenergetics modulations regulate TME, angiogenesis, immune evasion, generation of resistant niches and tumor progression, and a thorough understanding is crucial to the development of metabolic therapies. However, this remains a missing element in cancer theranostics, necessitating the development of modalities that can be adapted for targetability, diagnostics and therapeutics. In this challenging scenario, nanomaterials are modular platforms for understanding TME and achieving successful theranostics. Several nanoscale particles have been successfully researched in animal models, quite a few have reached clinical trials, and some have achieved clinical success. Nanoparticles exhibit an intrinsic capability to interact with diverse biomolecules and modulate their functions. Furthermore, nanoparticles can be functionalized with receptors, modulators, and drugs to facilitate specific targeting with reduced toxicity. This review discusses the current understanding of different theranostic nanosystems, their synthesis, functionalization, and targetability for therapeutic modulation of bioenergetics, and metabolic reprogramming of the cancer microenvironment. We highlight the potential of nanosystems for enhanced chemotherapeutic success emphasizing the questions that remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Farhana
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Alsrhani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yusuf Saleem Khan
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zafar Rasheed
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6655, Buraidah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
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22
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Hsu TW, Su YH, Chen HA, Liao PH, Shen SC, Tsai KY, Wang TH, Chen A, Huang CY, Shibu MA, Wang WY, Shen SC. Galectin-1-mediated MET/AXL signaling enhances sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by escaping ferroptosis. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:6503-6525. [PMID: 37433225 PMCID: PMC10373977 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting several tyrosine kinase pathways, is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, not all patients with HCC respond well to sorafenib, and 30% of patients develop resistance to sorafenib after short-term treatment. Galectin-1 modulates cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and plays a crucial role in HCC progression. However, whether Galectin-1 regulates receptor tyrosine kinases by sensitizing HCC to sorafenib remains unclear. Herein, we established a sorafenib-resistant HCC cell line (Huh-7/SR) and determined that Galectin-1 expression was significantly higher in Huh-7/SR cells than in parent cells. Galectin-1 knockdown reduced sorafenib resistance in Huh-7/SR cells, whereas Galectin-1 overexpression in Huh-7 cells increased sorafenib resistance. Galectin-1 regulated ferroptosis by inhibiting excessive lipid peroxidation, protecting sorafenib-resistant HCC cells from sorafenib-mediated ferroptosis. Galectin-1 expression was positively correlated with poor prognostic outcomes for HCC patients. Galectin-1 overexpression promoted the phosphorylation of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) and MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase (MET) signaling, which increased sorafenib resistance. MET and AXL were highly expressed in patients with HCC, and AXL expression was positively correlated with Galectin-1 expression. These findings indicate that Galectin-1 regulates sorafenib resistance in HCC cells through AXL and MET signaling. Consequently, Galectin-1 is a promising therapeutic target for reducing sorafenib resistance and sorafenib-mediated ferroptosis in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tung-Wei Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hao Su
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center for Digestive Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-An Chen
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center for Digestive Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hsiang Liao
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
| | - Shih Chiang Shen
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center for Digestive Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Metabolic and Weight Management Center, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
| | - Kuei-Yen Tsai
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hsuan Wang
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
| | - Alvin Chen
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Huang
- Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan
- Center of General Education, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Hualien 97002, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | | | - Wan-Yu Wang
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan
| | - Shing-Chuan Shen
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- International Master/PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
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23
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Hall RC, Vaidya AM, Schiemann WP, Pan Q, Lu ZR. RNA-Seq Analysis of Extradomain A and Extradomain B Fibronectin as Extracellular Matrix Markers for Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050685. [PMID: 36899821 PMCID: PMC10000746 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050685] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternatively spliced forms of fibronectin, called oncofetal fibronectin, are aberrantly expressed in cancer, with little to no expression in normal tissue, making them attractive biomarkers to exploit for tumor-targeted therapeutics and diagnostics. While prior studies have explored oncofetal fibronectin expression in limited cancer types and limited sample sizes, no studies have performed a large-scale pan-cancer analysis in the context of clinical diagnostics and prognostics to posit the utility of these biomarkers across multiple cancer types. In this study, RNA-Seq data sourced from the UCSC Toil Recompute project were extracted and analyzed to determine the correlation between the expression of oncofetal fibronectin, including extradomain A and extradomain B fibronectin, and patient diagnosis and prognosis. We determined that oncofetal fibronectin is significantly overexpressed in most cancer types relative to corresponding normal tissues. In addition, strong correlations exist between increasing oncofetal fibronectin expression levels and tumor stage, lymph node activity, and histological grade at the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, oncofetal fibronectin expression is shown to be significantly associated with overall patient survival within a 10-year window. Thus, the results presented in this study suggest oncofetal fibronectin as a commonly upregulated biomarker in cancer with the potential to be used for tumor-selective diagnosis and treatment applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C. Hall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Amita M. Vaidya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - William P. Schiemann
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Quintin Pan
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Zheng-Rong Lu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-216-368-0187; Fax: +1-216-368-4969
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24
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Identity matters: cancer stem cells and tumour plasticity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Expert Rev Mol Med 2023; 25:e8. [PMID: 36740973 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2023.4] [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: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents frequent yet aggressive tumours that encompass complex ecosystems of stromal and neoplastic components including a dynamic population of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Recently, research in the field of CSCs has gained increased momentum owing in part to their role in tumourigenicity, metastasis, therapy resistance and relapse. We provide herein a comprehensive assessment of the latest progress in comprehending CSC plasticity, including newly discovered influencing factors and their possible application in HNSCC. We further discuss the dynamic interplay of CSCs within tumour microenvironment considering our evolving appreciation of the contribution of oral microbiota and the pressing need for relevant models depicting their features. In sum, CSCs and tumour plasticity represent an exciting and expanding battleground with great implications for cancer therapy that are only beginning to be appreciated in head and neck oncology.
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25
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Merhi M, Ahmad F, Taib N, Inchakalody V, Uddin S, Shablak A, Dermime S. The complex network of transcription factors, immune checkpoint inhibitors and stemness features in colorectal cancer: A recent update. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 89:1-17. [PMID: 36621515 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunity is regulated by several mechanisms that include co-stimulatory and/or co-inhibitory molecules known as immune checkpoints expressed by the immune cells. In colorectal cancer (CRC), CTLA-4, LAG3, TIM-3 and PD-1 are the major co-inhibitory checkpoints involved in tumor development and progression. On the other hand, the deregulation of transcription factors and cancer stem cells activity plays a major role in the development of drug resistance and in the spread of metastatic disease in CRC. In this review, we describe how the modulation of such transcription factors affects the response of CRC to therapies. We also focus on the role of cancer stem cells in tumor metastasis and chemoresistance and discuss both preclinical and clinical approaches for targeting stem cells to prevent their tumorigenic effect. Finally, we provide an update on the clinical applications of immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC and discuss the regulatory effects of transcription factors on the expression of the immune inhibitory checkpoints with specific focus on the PD-1 and PD-L1 molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maysaloun Merhi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Fareed Ahmad
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nassiba Taib
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varghese Inchakalody
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Alaaeldin Shablak
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Said Dermime
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
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26
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Mori L, Ben Amar M. Stochasticity and Drug Effects in Dynamical Model for Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030677. [PMID: 36765635 PMCID: PMC9913339 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cancer Stem Model allows for a dynamical description of cancer colonies which accounts for the existence of different families of cells, namely stem cells, highly proliferating and quasi-immortal, and differentiated cells, both undergoing cellular processes under numerous activated pathways. In the present work, we investigate a dynamical model numerically, as a system of coupled differential equations, and include a plasticity mechanism, of differentiated cells turning into a stem state if the stem concentration drops low. We are particularly interested in the stability of the model once we introduce stochastically evolving parameters, associated with environmental and cellular intrinsic variabilities, as well as the response of the model after introducing a drug therapy. As long as we stay within the characteristic time scale of the system, defined on the base of the needed time for the trajectories to converge on stable states, we observe that the system remains stable for the main parameters evolving stochastically according to white noise. As for the drug treatments, we discuss a model both for the kinetics and the dynamics of the substance in the organism, and then consider the impact of different types of therapies in a few particular examples, outlining some interesting mechanisms, such as the tumor growth paradox, that possibly impact the outcome of therapy significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovico Mori
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Martine Ben Amar
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie, Faculté de Médecine, Sorbonne Université, 91 Bd de l’Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
- Correspondence:
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27
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Eid RA, Alaa Edeen M, Shedid EM, Kamal ASS, Warda MM, Mamdouh F, Khedr SA, Soltan MA, Jeon HW, Zaki MSA, Kim B. Targeting Cancer Stem Cells as the Key Driver of Carcinogenesis and Therapeutic Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021786. [PMID: 36675306 PMCID: PMC9861138 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging concept of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as the key driver behind carcinogenesis, progression, and diversity has displaced the prior model of a tumor composed of cells with similar subsequently acquired mutations and an equivalent capacity for renewal, invasion, and metastasis. This significant change has shifted the research focus toward targeting CSCs to eradicate cancer. CSCs may be characterized using cell surface markers. They are defined by their capacity to self-renew and differentiate, resist conventional therapies, and generate new tumors following repeated transplantation in xenografted mice. CSCs' functional capabilities are governed by various intracellular and extracellular variables such as pluripotency-related transcription factors, internal signaling pathways, and external stimuli. Numerous natural compounds and synthetic chemicals have been investigated for their ability to disrupt these regulatory components and inhibit stemness and terminal differentiation in CSCs, hence achieving clinical implications. However, no cancer treatment focuses on the biological consequences of these drugs on CSCs, and their functions have been established. This article provides a biomedical discussion of cancer at the time along with an overview of CSCs and their origin, features, characterization, isolation techniques, signaling pathways, and novel targeted therapeutic approaches. Additionally, we highlighted the factors endorsed as controlling or helping to promote stemness in CSCs. Our objective was to encourage future studies on these prospective treatments to develop a framework for their application as single or combined therapeutics to eradicate various forms of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Refaat A. Eid
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Alaa Edeen
- Cell Biology, Histology & Genetics Division, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
- Correspondence: (M.A.E.); (B.K.)
| | - Eslam M. Shedid
- Biotechnology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Al Qalyubia Governorate, Banha 13511, Egypt
| | - Al Shaimaa S. Kamal
- Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Al Qalyubia Governorate, Banha 13511, Egypt
| | - Mona M. Warda
- Biotechnology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Al Qalyubia Governorate, Banha 13511, Egypt
| | - Farag Mamdouh
- Biotechnology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Al Qalyubia Governorate, Banha 13511, Egypt
| | - Sohila A. Khedr
- Industrial Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31733, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, Ismailia 41611, Egypt
| | - Hee Won Jeon
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohamed Samir A. Zaki
- Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha P.O. Box 62529, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 31527, Egypt
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (M.A.E.); (B.K.)
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Ryan AL, Northcote-Smith J, McKeon A, Roe A, O'Dowd P, Twamley B, Ní Chonghaile T, Suntharalingam K, Griffith DM. A trans-Pt(II) hedgehog pathway inhibitor complex with cytotoxicity towards breast cancer stem cells and triple negative breast cancer cells. Dalton Trans 2022; 51:18127-18135. [PMID: 36382541 DOI: 10.1039/d2dt02865d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The first example of a Pt complex of GANT61, a hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitor is reported. Reaction of cis-[Pt(II)Cl2(dmso)2] with one equivalent of 4-pyridine carboxaldehyde (4-PCA, control ligand) or one equivalent of GANT61 (Hh pathway inhibitor) in acetone at rt for 30 minutes afforded trans-[Pt(II)Cl2(dmso)(4-PCA)] (1) and trans-[Pt(II)Cl2(dmso)(GANT61)] (2) respectively, where 4-PCA and GANT61 are N-donor ligands. The structures of 1 and 2 were fully characterised by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. 1 and 2 undergo isomerisation from trans- to cis-in solution and therefore the biological activity of 2 is also associated with the cis-configuration. The in vitro cytotoxicity data show that 2 is a potent inhibitor of the growth of breast CSC-depleted HMLER and breast CSC-enriched HMLER-shEcad cells. Furthermore 2 markedly reduced the size and viability and significantly reduced the number of CSC-enriched HMLER-shEcad mammospheres formed. 2 also induced apoptosis with low micromolar IC50 values against two triple negative breast cancer lines, MDA-MB-231 (MDA231) and BT549. 2, which possesses the Hh pathway inhibitor GANT61 as an N donor ligand exhibits far superior anti-CSC activity including in the CSC-enriched mammosphere model and activity against TNBC cells as compared to its control analogue, the trans-Pt(II) 4-PCA complex 1. The trans-Pt GANT61 complex 2 has also been shown to cause DNA damage and inhibit the Hh pathway at the level of GLI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling L Ryan
- Department of Chemistry, RCSI, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,SSPC, Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre, Ireland
| | | | - Aoife McKeon
- Department of Chemistry, RCSI, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Andrew Roe
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul O'Dowd
- Department of Chemistry, RCSI, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,SSPC, Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre, Ireland
| | - Brendan Twamley
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Triona Ní Chonghaile
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Darren M Griffith
- Department of Chemistry, RCSI, 123 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,SSPC, Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre, Ireland
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29
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Nayak A, Warrier NM, Kumar P. Cancer Stem Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment: Targeting the Critical Crosstalk through Nanocarrier Systems. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2209-2233. [PMID: 35876959 PMCID: PMC9489588 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10426-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The physiological state of the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a central role in cancer development due to multiple universal features that transcend heterogeneity and niche specifications, like promoting cancer progression and metastasis. As a result of their preponderant involvement in tumor growth and maintenance through several microsystemic alterations, including hypoxia, oxidative stress, and acidosis, TMEs make for ideal targets in both diagnostic and therapeutic ventures. Correspondingly, methodologies to target TMEs have been investigated this past decade as stratagems of significant potential in the genre of focused cancer treatment. Within targeted oncotherapy, nanomedical derivates-nanocarriers (NCs) especially-have emerged to present notable prospects in enhancing targeting specificity. Yet, one major issue in the application of NCs in microenvironmental directed therapy is that TMEs are too broad a spectrum of targeting possibilities for these carriers to be effectively employed. However, cancer stem cells (CSCs) might portend a solution to the above conundrum: aside from being quite heavily invested in tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance, CSCs also show self-renewal and fluid clonogenic properties that often define specific TME niches. Further scrutiny of the relationship between CSCs and TMEs also points towards mechanisms that underly tumoral characteristics of metastasis, malignancy, and even resistance. This review summarizes recent advances in NC-enabled targeting of CSCs for more holistic strikes against TMEs and discusses both the current challenges that hinder the clinical application of these strategies as well as the avenues that can further CSC-targeting initiatives. Central role of CSCs in regulation of cellular components within the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aadya Nayak
- Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Neerada Meenakshi Warrier
- Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Praveen Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.
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Harbiyeli IFC, Burtea DE, Ivan ET, Streață I, Nicoli ER, Uscatu D, Șerbănescu MS, Ioana M, Vilmann P, Săftoiu A. Assessing Putative Markers of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells: From Colonoscopy to Gene Expression Profiling. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12102280. [PMID: 36291969 PMCID: PMC9601164 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12102280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are proposed to be involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation, growth, and metastasis. The aim of our pilot study was to assess possible correlations between the clinicopathological characteristics of CRC patients and CSCs gene expression patterns, in order to provide insight into new methods for patient stratification and targeted therapeutic strategies. Our study involved 60 CRC patients, and the following three specific CSC genes were targeted: PROM1/CD133, ALCAM/CD166 and HCAM /CD44. Data are presented as relative mRNA expression of target genes to GAPDH. The expression of total CD133 and CD166 was assessed in paired samples of CRC tumors and adjacent tissue, while CD44 was assessed in similar samples. The qRT-PCR analysis detected all three targeted genes to different extents, in both normal and tumor tissue. In nine cases (15.69%), total CD133 had a higher expression in tumor tissue, whilst in 28 cases (47.06%) the expression was higher in non-malignant peritumor tissue. The total CD166 expression was increased in tumor tissue compared with paired non-invaded peritumor samples in eight cases (13.73%), whilst in eight cases (13.73%) the expression was higher in non-malignant peritumor tissue. Total CD44 expression was higher in tumor tissue compared with paired non-invaded peritumor samples in 47 cases (78.95%). In the remaining cases the difference between paired samples was biologically insignificant. In conclusion, our study suggests that qRT-PCR is feasible in assessing the gene expression profiles of CSCs from CRC, and a promising pathway to be followed for determining how often a person needs screening by colonoscopy and at which age to start. This could improve CRC diagnosis and early patient stratification, and open the way for new oncologic treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Florina Cherciu Harbiyeli
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Daniela Elena Burtea
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Elena Tatiana Ivan
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Ioana Streață
- Human Genomics Laboratory, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Elena Raluca Nicoli
- Human Genomics Laboratory, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Daniel Uscatu
- Human Genomics Laboratory, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Mircea-Sebastian Șerbănescu
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Mihai Ioana
- Human Genomics Laboratory, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
| | - Peter Vilmann
- Gastro Unit, Division of Endoscopy, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Adrian Săftoiu
- Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Mosleh-Shirazi S, Abbasi M, Moaddeli MR, Vaez A, Shafiee M, Kasaee SR, Amani AM, Hatam S. Nanotechnology Advances in the Detection and Treatment of Cancer: An Overview. Nanotheranostics 2022; 6:400-423. [PMID: 36051855 PMCID: PMC9428923 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.74613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last few years, progress has been made across the nanomedicine landscape, in particular, the invention of contemporary nanostructures for cancer diagnosis and overcoming complexities in the clinical treatment of cancerous tissues. Thanks to their small diameter and large surface-to-volume proportions, nanomaterials have special physicochemical properties that empower them to bind, absorb and transport high-efficiency substances, such as small molecular drugs, DNA, proteins, RNAs, and probes. They also have excellent durability, high carrier potential, the ability to integrate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds, and compatibility with various transport routes, making them especially appealing over a wide range of oncology fields. This is also due to their configurable scale, structure, and surface properties. This review paper discusses how nanostructures can function as therapeutic vectors to enhance the therapeutic value of molecules; how nanomaterials can be used as medicinal products in gene therapy, photodynamics, and thermal treatment; and finally, the application of nanomaterials in the form of molecular imaging agents to diagnose and map tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sareh Mosleh-Shirazi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Milad Abbasi
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad reza Moaddeli
- Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Shafiee
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Reza Kasaee
- Shiraz Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Amani
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeid Hatam
- Assistant Lecturer, Azad University, Zarghan Branch, Shiraz, Iran
- ExirBitanic, Science and Technology Park of Fars, Shiraz, Iran
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Le Minh G, Reginato MJ. Role of O-GlcNAcylation on cancer stem cells: Connecting nutrient sensing to cell plasticity. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 157:195-228. [PMID: 36725109 PMCID: PMC9895886 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.06.002] [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] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tumor growth and metastasis can be promoted by a small sub-population of cancer cells, termed cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). While CSCs possess capability in self-renewing and differentiating, the hierarchy of CSCs during tumor growth is highly plastic. This plasticity in CSCs fate and function can be regulated by signals from the tumor microenvironment. One emerging pathway in CSCs that connects the alteration in microenvironment and signaling network in cancer cells is the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). The final product of HBP, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), is utilized for glycosylating of membrane and secreted proteins, but also nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins by the post-translational modification O-GlcNAcylation. O-GlcNAcylation and its enzyme, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), are upregulated in nearly all cancers and been linked to regulate many cancer cell phenotypes. Recent studies have begun to connect OGT and O-GlcNAcylation to regulation of CSCs. In this review, we will discuss the emerging role of OGT and O-GlcNAcylation in regulating fate and plasticity of CSCs, as well as the potential in targeting OGT/O-GlcNAcylation in CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giang Le Minh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mauricio J Reginato
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Masciale V, Banchelli F, Grisendi G, D’Amico R, Maiorana A, Stefani A, Morandi U, Stella F, Dominici M, Aramini B. Cancer Stem Cells and Cell Cycle Genes as Independent Predictors of Relapse in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Study. Stem Cells Transl Med 2022; 11:797-804. [PMID: 35674389 PMCID: PMC9397651 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szac040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are described as resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It has been shown that CSCs influence disease-free survival in patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer (NCT04634630). We recently described an overexpression of CSCs recurrence-related genes (RG) in lung cancer. This study aims to investigate CSC frequency and RG expression as predictors of disease-free survival in lung cancer. Experimental Design This secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study involved 22 surgical tumor specimens from 22 patients harboring early (I-II) and locally advanced (IIIA) stages ACL and SCCL. Cell population frequency analysis of ALDHhigh (CSCs) and ALDHlow (cancer cells) was performed on each tumor specimen. In addition, RG expression was assessed for 31 target genes separately in ALDHhigh and ALDHlow populations. CSCs frequency and RG expression were assessed as predictors of disease-free survival by Cox analysis. Results CSCs frequency and RG expression were independent predictors of disease-free survival. CSC frequency was not related to disease-free survival in early-stage patients (HR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.53-1.33, P = .454), whereas it was a risk factor for locally advanced-stage patients (HR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.09-1.35, P = .000). RG expression—if measured in CSCs—was related to a higher risk of recurrence (HR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.03-1.39, P = .021). The effect of RG expression measured in cancer cells on disease-free survival was lower and was not statistically significant (HR = 1.12, 95%CI = 0.94-1.33, P = .196). Conclusions CSCs frequency and RG expression are independent predictors of relapse in lung cancer. Considering these results, CSCs and RG may be considered for both target therapy and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roberto D’Amico
- Center of Medical Statistics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonino Maiorana
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Stefani
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Uliano Morandi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Franco Stella
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine—DIMES of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni—L. Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | | | - Beatrice Aramini
- Corresponding author: Beatrice Aramini, MD, PhD, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine—DIMES of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni—L. Pierantoni Hospital, 34 Carlo Forlanini Street, 47121 Forlì, Italy.
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Aramini B, Masciale V, Arienti C, Dominici M, Stella F, Martinelli G, Fabbri F. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Their Interplay with Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs): A New World of Targets and Treatments. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102408. [PMID: 35626011 PMCID: PMC9139858 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The world of small molecules in solid tumors as cancer stem cells (CSCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) continues to be under-debated, but not of minor interest in recent decades. One of the main problems in regard to cancer is the development of tumor recurrence, even in the early stages, in addition to drug resistance and, consequently, ineffective or an incomplete response against the tumor. The findings behind this resistance are probably justified by the presence of small molecules such as CSCs, CTCs and CAFs connected with the tumor microenvironment, which may influence the aggressiveness and the metastatic process. The mechanisms, connections, and molecular pathways behind them are still unknown. Our review would like to represent an important step forward to highlight the roles of these molecules and the possible connections among them. Abstract The importance of defining new molecules to fight cancer is of significant interest to the scientific community. In particular, it has been shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cells within tumors with capabilities of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity; on the other side, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) seem to split away from the primary tumor and appear in the circulatory system as singular units or clusters. It is becoming more and more important to discover new biomarkers related to these populations of cells in combination to define the network among them and the tumor microenvironment. In particular, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the tumor microenvironment with different functions, including matrix deposition and remodeling, extensive reciprocal signaling interactions with cancer cells and crosstalk with immunity. The settings of new markers and the definition of the molecular connections may present new avenues, not only for fighting cancer but also for the definition of more tailored therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Aramini
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine—DIMES of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni—L. Pierantoni Hospital, 47121 Forlì, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Valentina Masciale
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41122 Modena, Italy; (V.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Chiara Arienti
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (C.A.); (G.M.); (F.F.)
| | - Massimo Dominici
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41122 Modena, Italy; (V.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Franco Stella
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine—DIMES of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni—L. Pierantoni Hospital, 47121 Forlì, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (C.A.); (G.M.); (F.F.)
| | - Francesco Fabbri
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (C.A.); (G.M.); (F.F.)
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Saito S, Ku CC, Wuputra K, Pan JB, Lin CS, Lin YC, Wu DC, Yokoyama KK. Biomarkers of Cancer Stem Cells for Experimental Research and Clinical Application. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12050715. [PMID: 35629138 PMCID: PMC9147761 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12050715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of biomarkers in cancer diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis has been highly effective over several decades. Studies of biomarkers in cancer patients pre- and post-treatment and during cancer progression have helped identify cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their related microenvironments. These analyses are critical for the therapeutic application of drugs and the efficient targeting and prevention of cancer progression, as well as the investigation of the mechanism of the cancer development. Biomarkers that characterize CSCs have thus been identified and correlated to diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. However, CSCs demonstrate elevated levels of plasticity, which alters their functional phenotype and appearance by interacting with their microenvironments, in response to chemotherapy and radiotherapeutics. In turn, these changes induce different metabolic adaptations of CSCs. This article provides a review of the most frequently used CSCs and stem cell markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Saito
- Saito Laboratory of Cell Technology, Yaita 329-1571, Japan
- Horus Co., Ltd., Nakano, Tokyo 164-0001, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (D.-C.W.); (K.K.Y.); Tel.: +886-7312-1001 (ext. 2729) (K.K.Y.); Fax: +886-7313-3849 (K.K.Y.)
| | - Chia-Chen Ku
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.); (J.-B.P.); (C.-S.L.)
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Kenly Wuputra
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.); (J.-B.P.); (C.-S.L.)
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Bin Pan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.); (J.-B.P.); (C.-S.L.)
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Shen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.); (J.-B.P.); (C.-S.L.)
| | - Ying-Chu Lin
- School of Dentistry, Department of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Deng-Chyang Wu
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (D.-C.W.); (K.K.Y.); Tel.: +886-7312-1001 (ext. 2729) (K.K.Y.); Fax: +886-7313-3849 (K.K.Y.)
| | - Kazunari K. Yokoyama
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.); (J.-B.P.); (C.-S.L.)
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (D.-C.W.); (K.K.Y.); Tel.: +886-7312-1001 (ext. 2729) (K.K.Y.); Fax: +886-7313-3849 (K.K.Y.)
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Kciuk M, Gielecińska A, Budzinska A, Mojzych M, Kontek R. Metastasis and MAPK Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073847. [PMID: 35409206 PMCID: PMC8998814 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. In many cases, the treatment of the disease is limited due to the metastasis of cells to distant locations of the body through the blood and lymphatic drainage. Most of the anticancer therapeutic options focus mainly on the inhibition of tumor cell growth or the induction of cell death, and do not consider the molecular basis of metastasis. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive review focusing on cancer metastasis and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway (ERK/JNK/P38 signaling) as a crucial modulator of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Kciuk
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Lodz, Banacha Street 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha St., 90-237 Lodz, Poland; (A.G.); (R.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Adrianna Gielecińska
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha St., 90-237 Lodz, Poland; (A.G.); (R.K.)
| | - Adrianna Budzinska
- Laboratory of Mitochondrial Biochemistry, Department of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Mariusz Mojzych
- Department of Chemistry, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, 3 Maja 54, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland;
| | - Renata Kontek
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha St., 90-237 Lodz, Poland; (A.G.); (R.K.)
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Zhu S, Yang N, Niu C, Wang W, Wang X, Bai J, Qiao Y, Deng S, Guan Y, Chen J. The miR-145–MMP1 axis is a critical regulator for imiquimod-induced cancer stemness and chemoresistance. Pharmacol Res 2022; 179:106196. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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