An Insight into Survivin in Relevance to Hematological, Biochemical and Genetic Characteristics in Tobacco Chewers with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Construction of a Functional Nucleic Acid-Based Artificial Vesicle-Encapsulated Composite Nanoparticle and Its Application in Retinoblastoma-Targeted Theranostics

Retinoblastoma (RB) is an aggressive tumor of the infant retina. However, the ineffective targeting of its theranostic agents results in poor imaging and therapeutic efficacy, which makes it difficult to identify and treat RB at an early stage. In order to improve the imaging and therapeutic efficacy, we constructed an RB-targeted artificial vesicle composite nanoparticle. In this study, the MnO2 nanosponge (hMNs) was used as the core to absorb two fluorophore-modified DNAzymes to form the Dual/hMNs nanoparticle; after loaded with the artificial vesicle derived from human red blood cells, the RB-targeted DNA aptamers were modified on the surface, thus forming the Apt-EG@Dual/hMNs complex nanoparticle. The DNA aptamer endows this nanoparticle to target the nucleolin-overexpressed RB cell membrane specifically and enters cells via endocytosis. The nanoparticle could release fluorophore-modified DNAzymes and supplies Mn2+ as a DNAzyme cofactor and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent. Subsequently, the DNAzymes can target two different mRNAs, thereby realizing fluorescence/MR bimodal imaging and dual-gene therapy. This study is expected to provide a reliable and valuable basis for ocular tumor theranostics.

Identification of prognostic biomarkers of smoking-related lung cancer

Background

The early diagnosis and effective prognostic treatment measures for lung cancer are still limited, leading to a 5-year survival rate of less than 15% for these patients. Smoking is one of the causes of lung cancer, but it is not the initial carcinogenic factor. It is not clear what specific mechanism cigarette induces lung cancer, and there is a lack of research on the relationship between related genes and the prognosis of patients with smoking lung cancer. The objective of this study was to provide new theoretical evidence and potential therapeutic targets for the mechanisms of smoking-related lung cancer formation.

Methods

The gene expression profile data from the GSE12428 dataset which includes 63 lung cancer and normal tissue pairs were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and data from smokers with lung cancer [both lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC)] from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed. The differential genes in smokers with lung cancer were screened using the linear model for microarray data via R software. The differential gene enrichment analysis was performed using the online analysis software Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). The expression levels of differential genes and their correlation with patient tumor clinical stage were analyzed using gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA). The overall survival rate was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves.

Results

In the GSE12428 dataset, 225 upregulated genes and 565 downregulated genes were identified in cancer tissues; based on smoking status, 1 upregulated gene and 4 downregulated genes were identified. Among smokers who also had lung cancer, 4 genes were downregulated, namely CSH1, BPIFA1, SLPI, and SCGB3A1. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were mainly associated with biological functions such as antibacterial response, humoral immune response, and response to external stimuli. Among them, BPIFA1, SLPI, and SCGB3A1 expression was decreased in lung cancer tissues, with SCGB3A1 showing significant differences. Additionally, high expression of SCGB3A1 was associated with favorable prognosis in patients with lung cancer.

Conclusions

Three genes BPIFA1, SLPI and SCGB3A1, were identified as being associated with smokers with lung cancer, with SCGB3A1 showing a close correlation with patient prognosis. These findings provide potential new targets for the treatment of lung cancer. Certainly, this study needs to more investigate the mechanism of these genes regulation.

Isoliquiritigenin Inhibits Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Overcomes Chemoresistance by Destruction of Survivin

The oncoprotein survivin plays a pivotal role in controlling cell division and preventing apoptosis by inhibiting caspase activation. Its significant contribution to tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance has been well established. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural compound, has been recognized for its powerful inhibitory effects against various tumors. However, whether ISL exerts regulatory effects on survivin and its underlying mechanism in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. Here, we found that ISL inhibited the viability and colony formation of OSCC, and promoted their apoptosis. The immunoblotting data showed that ISL treatment significantly decreased survivin expression. Mechanistically, ISL suppressed survivin phosphorylation on Thr34 by deregulating Akt-Wee1-CDK1 signaling, which facilitated survivin for ubiquitination degradation. ISL inhibited CAL27 tumor growth and decreased p-Akt and survivin expression in vivo. Meanwhile, survivin overexpression caused cisplatin resistance of OSCC cells. ISL alone or combined with cisplatin overcame chemoresistance in OSCC cells. Overall, our results revealed that ISL exerted potent inhibitory effects via inducing Akt-dependent survivin ubiquitination in OSCC cells.