The Crosstalk Between Cell Adhesion and Cancer Metabolism

PPM1G and its diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential in HCC (Review)

Global statistics indicate that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer‑related death. Protein phosphatase Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1G (PPM1G, also termed PP2Cγ) is one of the 17 members of the PPM family. The enzymatic activity of PPM1G is highly reliant on Mg2+ or Mn2+ and serves as a dephosphorylation regulator for numerous key proteins. PPM1G, functioning as a phosphatase, is involved in a number of significant biological processes such as the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, DNA damage response, cell cycle and apoptosis, cell migration ability, cell survival and embryonic nervous system development. Additionally, PPM1G serves a role in regulating various signaling pathways. In recent years, further research has increasingly highlighted PPM1G as an oncogene in HCC. A high expression level of PPM1G is closely associated with the occurrence, progression and poor prognosis of HCC, offering notable diagnostic and therapeutic value for this patient population. In the present review, the regulatory role of PPM1G in diverse biological processes and signaling pathway activation in eukaryotes is evaluated. Furthermore, its potential application as a biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of HCC is assessed, and future prospects for HCC treatment strategies centered on PPM1G are discussed.

Spatial Transcriptomics in a Case of Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Reveals Clone-Specific Dysregulation of Genes Regulating Extracellular Matrix in the Invading Front

Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is recognized by its ability to invade the tumor capsule and blood vessels, although the exact molecular signals orchestrating this phenotype remain elusive. In this study, the spatial transcriptional landscape of an FTC is detailed with comparisons between the invasive front and histologically indolent central core tumor areas. The Visium spatial gene expression platform allowed us to interrogate and visualize the whole transcriptome in 2D across formalin-fixated paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. Four different 6 × 6 mm areas of an FTC were scrutinized, including regions with capsular and vascular invasion, capsule-near area without invasion, and a central core area of the tumor. Following successful capturing and sequencing, several expressional clusters were identified with regional variation. Most notably, invasive tumor cell clusters were significantly over-expressing genes associated with pathways interacting with the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Subsets of these genes (POSTN and DPYSL3) were additionally validated using immunohistochemistry in an independent cohort of follicular thyroid tumors showing a clear gradient pattern from the core to the periphery of the tumor. Moreover, the reconstruction of the evolutionary tree identified the invasive clones as late events in follicular thyroid tumorigenesis. To our knowledge, this is one of the first 2D global transcriptional mappings of FTC using this platform to date. Invasive FTC clones develop in a stepwise fashion and display significant dysregulation of genes associated with the ECM and EMT - thus highlighting important molecular crosstalk for further investigations.

The role of long noncoding RNA DGCR5 in cancers: Focus on molecular targets

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are major components of cellular transcripts that are emerging as important players in various biological pathways. Due to their specific expression and functional diversity in a variety of cancers, lncRNAs have promising applications in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. Studies have shown that lncRNA DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 5 (DGCR5) with high specificity and accuracy has the potential to become biomarkers in cancers. LncRNA DGCR5 can be noninvasively extracted from body fluids, tissues, and cells, and can be used as independent or auxiliary biomarkers to improve the accuracy of diagnosis or prognosis. Now, the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs such as DGCR5 were explored as therapeutic targets, which have been investigated in clinical trials of several cancers. The DGCR5 lacks an appropriate animal model, which is necessary to gain greater knowledge of their functions. While some studies on the uses of DGCR5 have been carried out, the small sample size makes them unreliable. In this review, we presented a compilation of recent publications addressing the potential of lncRNA DGCR5 that could be considered as biomarkers or therapeutic targets, with the hopes of providing promised implications for future cancer therapy.

Tension-induced adhesion mode switching: the interplay between focal adhesions and clathrin-containing adhesion complexes

Integrin-based adhesion complexes are crucial in various cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and motility. While the dynamics of canonical focal adhesion complexes (FAs) have been extensively studied, the regulation and physiological implications of the recently identified clathrin-containing adhesion complexes (CCACs) are still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal mechanoregulations of FAs and CCACs in a breast cancer model. Employing single-molecule force spectroscopy coupled with live-cell fluorescence microscopy, we discovered that FAs and CCACs are mutually exclusive and inversely regulated complexes. This regulation is orchestrated through the modulation of plasma membrane tension, in combination with distinct modes of actomyosin contractility that can either synergize with or counteract this modulation. Our findings indicate that increased membrane tension promotes the association of CCACs at integrin αVβ5 adhesion sites, leading to decreased cancer cell proliferation, spreading, and migration. Conversely, lower membrane tension promotes the formation of FAs, which correlates with the softer membranes observed in cancer cells, thus potentially facilitating cancer progression. Our research provides novel insights into the biomechanical regulation of CCACs and FAs, revealing their critical and contrasting roles in modulating cancer cell progression.

HOMER3 promotes liver hepatocellular carcinoma cancer progression by -upregulating EZH2 and mediating miR-361/GPNMB axis

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is among the most lethal human cancers. Studies have shown that Homer scaffold protein 3 (HOMER3) plays important roles in various diseases and cancers, but its biological function and molecular mechanism in LIHC have never been investigated. Our study discovered the aberrantly high expression of HOMER3 and its promising diagnostic and prognostic significance in LIHC. Functionally, HOMER3 knockdown inhibited the proliferative and migrative abilities of LIHC cells and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanically, HOMER3 mediated the aggressiveness of LIHC cells via GPNMB. Meanwhile, miR-361 directly targeted GPNMB and attenuated LIHC progression by suppressing GPNMB expression. The regulatory effect of HOMER3 during LIHC progression was exerted through the miR-361/GPNMB axis. Furthermore, EZH2 supplementation or miR-361 depletion effectively abated the tumor-suppressive effect of HOMER3 knockdown on LIHC progression. In conclusion, HOMER3 mediated LIHC progression through the EZH2/miR-361/GPNMB axis.

Phospholysine phosphohistidine inorganic pyrophosphate phosphatase suppresses insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor expression to inhibit cell adhesion and proliferation in gastric cancer

Phospholysine phosphohistidine inorganic pyrophosphate phosphatase (LHPP) has recently emerged as a novel tumor suppressor. Researchers have observed that LHPP plays a crucial role in inhibiting proliferation, growth, migration, invasion, and cell metabolism across various cancers. Nevertheless, the specific functions and underlying mechanisms of LHPP as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer (GC) require further exploration. The expression of LHPP was assessed in human GC specimens and cell lines. Various assays were employed to evaluate the impact of LHPP on GC cells. RNA sequencing and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were conducted to unravel the mechanism through which LHPP regulates GC cell behavior. Additionally, xenograft nude mouse models were utilized to investigate the in vivo effects of LHPP. The findings indicate that LHPP, functioning as a tumor suppressor, is downregulated in both GC tissues and cells. LHPP emerges as an independent risk factor for GC patients, and its expression level exhibits a positive correlation with patient prognosis. LHPP exerts inhibitory effects on the adhesion and proliferation of GC cells by suppressing the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and modulating downstream signaling pathways. Consequently, LHPP holds potential as a biomarker for targeted therapy involving IGF1R inhibition in GC patients.

[Extracellular Matrix Stiffness Induces Mitochondrial Morphological Heterogeneity via AMPK Activation]

Objective

To investigate the mechanical responses of mitochondrial morphology to extracellular matrix stiffness in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the regulation of mitochondrial mechanoresponses.

Methods

Two polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels, a soft one with a Young's modulus of 1 kPa and a stiff one of 20 kPa, were prepared by changing the monomer concentrations of acrylamide and bis-acrylamide. Then, hMSCs were cultured on the soft and stiff PAAm hydrogels and changes in mitochondrial morphology were observed using a laser confocal microscope. Western blot was performed to determine the expression and activation of AMPK, a protein associated with mitochondrial homeostasis. Furthermore, the activation of AMPK was regulated on the soft and stiff matrixes by AMPK activator A-769662 and the inhibitor Compound C, respectively, to observe the morphological changes of mitochondria.

Results

The morphology of the mitochondria in hMSCs showed heterogeneity when there was a change in gel stiffness. On the 1 kPa soft matrix, 74% mitochondria exhibited a dense, elongated filamentous network structure, while on the 20 kPa stiff matrix, up to 63.3% mitochondria were fragmented or punctate and were sparsely distributed. Western blot results revealed that the phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK)/AMPK ratio on the stiff matrix was 1.6 times as high as that on the soft one. Immunofluorescence assay results revealed that the expression of p-AMPK was elevated on the hard matrix and showed nuclear localization, which indicated that the activation of intracellular AMPK increased continuously along with the increase in extracellular matrix stiffness. When the hMSCs on the soft matrix were treated with A-769662, an AMPK activator, the mitochondria transitioned from a filamentous network morphology to a fragmented morphology, with the ratio of filamentous network decreasing from 74% to 9.5%. Additionally, AMPK inhibition with Compound C promoted mitochondrial fusion on the stiff matrix and significantly reduced the generation of punctate mitochondria.

Conclusion

Extracellular matrix stiffness regulates mitochondrial morphology in hMSCs through the activation of AMPK. Stiff matrix promotes the AMPK activation, resulting in mitochondrial fission and the subsequent fragmentation of mitochondria. The impact of matrix stiffness on mitochondrial morphology can be reversed by altering the level of AMPK phosphorylation.

Cancer Cell-Type-Dependent Modifications of Metastatic Parameters by SLIT2-ROBO1 and RHOA cAMP Signaling in Response to TGFβ1 and FGF2

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a multistep process involving structural and functional alterations that are required for cancer metastasis, as well as loss of epithelial markers (e.g., E-cadherin/CDH1) and gain of mesenchymal markers (e.g., N-cadherin/CDH2, vimentin/VIM). Pathological events modify cell-cell interactions, cell-matrix adhesion and extra cellular matrix integrity leading to cell migration, evasion from the primary tumor and augmented invasiveness in the metastatic niche. This transformation is modulated by multiple paracrine factors (e.g., chemokines, growth factor), as well as SLIT2-ROBO1 signaling that collectively regulate expression of RHO GTPases (e.g., RHOA) and EMT marker genes. Yet, the roles of SLIT proteins in cancer remain enigmatic. In some cancer types, SLIT2 is anti-tumorigenic, while in other cancers it contributes towards the metastatic phenotype. Here we investigated the ambivalent metastatic activity of SLIT2 by analyzing how cAMP/RHOA signal transduction modulates SLIT-ROBO controlled metastatic parameters in response to the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) and paracrine factors (TGF-β/TGFβ1 and FGF2). Upon SLIT2 administration cell migration and proliferation increases in colon cancer cells and decreases in cervical cancer cells, while altering cell morphology and proliferation in both cancer types. These effects are reinforced by TGF-β/TGFβ1 and FGF2, but attenuated by elevation of cAMP with IBMX, depending on the cancer cell type. Our data indicate that SLIT2 represents a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

Machine learning-based approach for efficient prediction of diagnosis, prognosis and lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma using adhesion signature selection

The association between adhesion function and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is increasingly recognized; however, the precise role of adhesion function in the pathogenesis and prognosis of PTC remains unclear. In this study, we employed the robust rank aggregation algorithm to identify 64 stable adhesion-related differentially expressed genes (ARDGs). Subsequently, using univariate Cox regression analysis, we identified 16 prognostic ARDGs. To construct PTC survival risk scoring models, we employed Lasso Cox and multivariate + stepwise Cox regression methods. Comparative analysis of these models revealed that the Lasso Cox regression model (LPSRSM) displayed superior performance. Further analyses identified age and LPSRSM as independent prognostic factors for PTC. Notably, patients classified as low-risk by LPSRSM exhibited significantly better prognosis, as demonstrated by Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Additionally, we investigated the potential impact of adhesion feature on energy metabolism and inflammatory responses. Furthermore, leveraging the CMAP database, we screened 10 drugs that may improve prognosis. Finally, using Lasso regression analysis, we identified four genes for a diagnostic model of lymph node metastasis and three genes for a diagnostic model of tumor. These gene models hold promise for prognosis and disease diagnosis in PTC.

Regulation of Soluble E-Cadherin Signaling in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Nicotine, BDNF, and β-Adrenergic Receptor Ligands

The ectodomain of the transmembrane protein E-cadherin can be cleaved and released in a soluble form referred to as soluble E-cadherin, or sE-cad, accounting for decreased E-cadherin levels at the cell surface. Among the proteases implicated in this cleavage are matrix metalloproteases (MMP), including MMP9. Opposite functions have been reported for full-length E-cadherin and sE-cad. In this study, we found increased MMP9 levels in the media of two non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, A549 and H1299, treated with BDNF, nicotine, or epinephrine that were decreased upon cell treatment with the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol. Increased MMP9 levels correlated with increased sE-cad levels in A549 cell media, and knockdown of MMP9 in A549 cells led to downregulation of sE-cad levels in the media. Previously, we reported that A549 and H1299 cell viability increased with nicotine and/or BDNF treatment and decreased upon treatment with propranolol. In investigating the function of sE-cad, we found that immunodepletion of sE-cad from the media of A549 cells untreated or treated with BDNF, nicotine, or epinephrine reduced activation of EGFR and IGF-1R, decreased PI3K and ERK1/2 activities, increased p53 activation, decreased cell viability, and increased apoptosis, while no effects were found using H1299 cells under all conditions tested.

Human nasal mucosa ectomesenchymal stem cells derived extracellular vesicles loaded omentum/chitosan composite scaffolds enhance skull defects regeneration

Engineered bone tissue that can promote osteogenic differentiation is considered an ideal substitute for materials to heal bone defects. Extracellular vesicle (EV)-based cell-free regenerative therapies represent an emerging promising alternative for bone tissue engineering. We hypothesized that EVs derived from human nasal mucosa-derived ectomesenchymal stem cells (hEMSCs) can promote bone tissue regeneration. Herein, hEMSCs were cultured with osteogenic induction medium or normal medium to generate two types of EVs. We first demonstrated that the two EVs exhibited strong potential to promote rat suture mesenchymal stem cell (SMSC) osteogenesis by transferring TG2 to SMSCs and regulating extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Next, we developed a composite hydrogel made of porcine omentum and chitosan into which EVs were adsorbed to enable the effective delivery of EVs with sustained release kinetics. Implantation of the EV-loaded hydrogels in a critical-size rat cranial defect model significantly promoted bone regeneration. Therefore, we suggest that our hEMSC-derived EV-loading system can serve as a new therapeutic paradigm for promoting bone tissue regeneration in the clinic.

Curcumin in cancer therapy: Exploring molecular mechanisms and overcoming clinical challenges

Cancer poses a significant global health burden, necessitating the widespread use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as conventional frontline interventions. Although targeted therapy and immunotherapy have shown remarkable advancements, the challenges of resistance development and severe side effects persist in cancer treatment. Consequently, researchers have actively sought more effective alternatives with improved safety profiles. In recent years, curcumin, a natural polyphenolic phytoalexin, has garnered considerable attention due to its broad spectrum of biological effects. This concise review provides valuable insights into the role of curcumin in cancer therapy, with a focus on elucidating its molecular mechanisms in inducing programmed cell death of tumor cells and suppressing tumor cell metastasis potential. Additionally, we discuss the challenges associated with the clinical application of curcumin and explore current endeavors aimed at overcoming these limitations. By shedding light on the promising potential of curcumin, this review contributes to the advancement of cancer treatment strategies.

Integrative analysis of mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming in early-stage colon and liver cancer

Gastrointestinal malignancies, including colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), remain leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of these cancers and identify potential therapeutic targets, we analyzed publicly accessible Cancer Genome Atlas datasets of COAD and LIHC. Our analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during early tumorigenesis were associated with cell cycle regulation. Additionally, genes related to lipid metabolism were significantly enriched in both COAD and LIHC, suggesting a crucial role for dysregulated lipid metabolism in their development and progression. We also identified a subset of DEGs associated with mitochondrial function and structure, including upregulated genes involved in mitochondrial protein import and respiratory complex assembly. Further, we identified mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGCS2) as a crucial regulator of cancer cell metabolism. Using a genome-scale metabolic model, we demonstrated that HMGCS2 suppression increased glycolysis, lipid biosynthesis, and elongation while decreasing fatty acid oxidation in colon cancer cells. Our study highlights the potential contribution of dysregulated lipid metabolism, including ketogenesis, to COAD and LIHC development and progression and identifies potential therapeutic targets for these malignancies.

A novel glycolysis-related gene signature for predicting the prognosis of multiple myeloma

Background: Metabolic reprogramming is an important hallmark of cancer. Glycolysis provides the conditions on which multiple myeloma (MM) thrives. Due to MM's great heterogeneity and incurability, risk assessment and treatment choices are still difficult. Method: We constructed a glycolysis-related prognostic model by Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis. It was validated in two independent external cohorts, cell lines, and our clinical specimens. The model was also explored for its biological properties, immune microenvironment, and therapeutic response including immunotherapy. Finally, multiple metrics were combined to construct a nomogram to assist in personalized prediction of survival outcomes. Results: A wide range of variants and heterogeneous expression profiles of glycolysis-related genes were observed in MM. The prognostic model behaved well in differentiating between populations with various prognoses and proved to be an independent prognostic factor. This prognostic signature closely coordinated with multiple malignant features such as high-risk clinical features, immune dysfunction, stem cell-like features, cancer-related pathways, which was associated with the survival outcomes of MM. In terms of treatment, the high-risk group showed resistance to conventional drugs such as bortezomib, doxorubicin and immunotherapy. The joint scores generated by the nomogram showed higher clinical benefit than other clinical indicators. The in vitro experiments with cell lines and clinical subjects further provided convincing evidence for our study. Conclusion: We developed and validated the utility of the MM glycolysis-related prognostic model, which provides a new direction for prognosis assessment, treatment options for MM patients.

Identification of the hub genes associated with prostate cancer tumorigenesis

Introduction

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the male urogenital system; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. This study integrated two cohort profile datasets to elucidate the potential hub genes and mechanisms in PCa.

Methods and Results

Gene expression profiles GSE55945 and GSE6919 were filtered from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to obtain 134 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (14 upregulated and 120 downregulated) in PCa. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery, showing that these DEGs were mainly involved in biological functions such as cell adhesion, extracellular matrix, migration, focal adhesion, and vascular smooth muscle contraction. The STRING database and Cytoscape tools were used to analyze protein-protein interactions and identify 15 hub candidate genes. Violin plot, boxplot, and prognostic curve analyses were performed using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, which identified seven hub genes, including upregulated expressed SPP1 and downregulated expressed MYLK, MYL9, MYH11, CALD1, ACTA2, and CNN1 in PCa compared with normal tissue. Correlation analysis was performed using the OmicStudio tools, which showed that these hub genes were moderately to strongly correlated with each other. Finally, quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting were performed to validate the hub genes, showing that the abnormal expression of the seven hub genes in PCa was consistent with the analysis results of the GEO database.

Discussion

Taken together, MYLK, MYL9, MYH11, CALD1, ACTA2, SPP1, and CNN1 are hub genes significantly associated with PCa occurrence. These genes are abnormally expressed, leading to the formation, proliferation, invasion, and migration of PCa cells and promoting tumor neovascularization. These genes may serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in patients with PCa.

Metabolic reprogramming in response to cell mechanics

Much attention has been dedicated to understanding how cells sense and respond to mechanical forces. The types of forces cells experience as well as the repertoire of cell surface receptors that sense these forces have been identified. Key mechanisms for transmitting that force to the cell interior have also emerged. Yet, how cells process mechanical information and integrate it with other cellular events remains largely unexplored. Here we review the mechanisms underlying mechanotransduction at cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions, and we summarize the current understanding of how cells integrate information from the distinct adhesion complexes with cell metabolism.

RPL21 interacts with LAMP3 to promote colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis by regulating focal adhesion formation

BACKGROUND

Metastasis is the leading cause of death among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, it is important to explore the molecular mechanisms of metastasis to develop effective therapeutic targets for CRC. In the present study, ribosomal protein L21 (RPL21) was considered as being involved in promoting CRC metastasis, yet the underlying mechanism requires further investigation.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed to measure the expression of RPL21 and lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3) in CRC tissues and cells. Wound healing, transwell migration, and invasion assays were performed to study the migration and invasion of cultured CRC cells. An orthotopic CRC mouse model was developed to investigate the metastatic ability of CRC. Transcriptome sequencing was conducted to identify the genes related to RPL21. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to determine the transcriptional activity of transcription factor EB (TFEB). The GST/His pull-down assay was performed to investigate the specific binding sites of RPL21 and LAMP3. The cell adhesion assay was performed to determine the adhesion ability of CRC cells. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to observe focal adhesions (FAs).

RESULTS

RPL21 was highly expressed in CRC, contributing to tumor invasiveness and poor patient prognosis. Functionally, RPL21 promoted the migration and invasion of CRC cells in vitro and tumor metastasis in vivo. Moreover, LAMP3 was identified as being highly related to RPL21 and was essential in promoting the migration and invasion of CRC cells. Mechanistically, RPL21 activated the transcriptional function of TFEB to upregulate LAMP3 expression. RPL21 directly bound to the aa 341-416 domain of LAMP3 via its aa 1-40 and aa 111-160 segments. The combination of RPL21 and LAMP3 enhanced the stability of the RPL21 protein by suppressing the degradation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Furthermore, RPL21 and LAMP3 promoted the formation of immature FAs by activating the FAK/paxillin/ERK signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

RPL21 promoted invasion and metastasis by regulating FA formation in a LAMP3-dependent manner during CRC progression. The interaction between RPL21 and LAMP3 may function as a potential therapeutic target against CRC.

Adverse Human Health Effects of Chromium by Exposure Route: A Comprehensive Review Based on Toxicogenomic Approach

Heavy metals are defined as metals with relatively high density and atomic weight, and their various applications have raised serious concerns about the environmental impacts and potential human health effects. Chromium is an important heavy metal that is involved in biological metabolism, but Cr exposure can induce a severe impact on occupational workers or public health. In this study, we explore the toxic effects of Cr exposure through three exposure routes: dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion. We propose the underlying toxicity mechanisms of Cr exposure based on transcriptomic data and various bioinformatic tools. Our study provides a comprehensive understanding of the toxicity mechanisms of different Cr exposure routes by diverse bioinformatics analyses.

Correlation between the Warburg effect and progression of triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is ineligible for hormonal therapy and Her-2-targeted therapy due to the negative expression of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. Although targeted therapy and immunotherapy have been shown to attenuate the aggressiveness of TNBC partially, few patients have benefited from them. The conventional treatment for TNBC remains chemotherapy. Chemoresistance, however, impedes therapeutic progress over time, and chemotherapy toxicity increases the burden of cancer on patients. Therefore, introducing more advantageous TNBC treatment options is a necessity. Metabolic reprogramming centered on glucose metabolism is considered a hallmark of tumors. It is described as tumor cells tend to convert glucose to lactate even under normoxic conditions, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Similar to Darwinian evolution, its emergence is attributed to the selective pressures formed by the hypoxic microenvironment of pre-malignant lesions. Of note, the Warburg effect does not disappear with changes in the microenvironment after the formation of malignant tumor phenotypes. Instead, it forms a constitutive expression mediated by mutations or epigenetic modifications, providing a robust selective survival advantage for primary and metastatic lesions. Expanding evidence has demonstrated that the Warburg effect mediates multiple invasive behaviors in TNBC, including proliferation, metastasis, recurrence, immune escape, and multidrug resistance. Moreover, the Warburg effect-targeted therapy has been testified to be feasible in inhibiting TNBC progression. However, not all TNBCs are sensitive to glycolysis inhibitors because TNBC cells flexibly switch their metabolic patterns to cope with different survival pressures, namely metabolic plasticity. Between the Warburg effect-targeted medicines and the actual curative effect, metabolic plasticity creates a divide that must be continuously researched and bridged.

Quantifying F-actin patches in single melanoma cells using total-internal reflection fluorescence microscopy

Total-internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscope is a unique technique for selective excitation of only those fluorophore molecules in a cellular environment, which are located at the sub-diffraction axial distance of a cell's contact-area. Despite this prominent feature of the TIRF microscope, making quantitative use of this technique has been a challenge, since the excitation intensity strongly depends on the axial position of a fluorophore molecule. Here, we present an easy-implemented data analysis method to quantitatively characterize the fluorescent signal, without considering the intensity-value. We use F-actin patches in single-melanoma cells as an example and define two quantities of elongation and surface density for F-actin patches at the contact-area of a melanoma cell. The elongation parameter can evaluate the dispersion of F-actin patches at the contact-area of a cell and is useful to classify the attaching, spreading, and expanding stages of a cell. Following that, we present the profile of the surface density of F-actin patches as a quantity to probe the spatio-temporal distribution of the F-actin patches at the contact-area of a cell. The data analysis methods that are proposed here will also be applicable in the image analysis of the other advanced optical microscopic methods.

An enhancer RNA-based risk model for prediction of bladder cancer prognosis

Background

Bladder cancer patients have a high recurrence and poor survival rates worldwide. Early diagnosis and intervention are the cornerstones for favorable prognosis. However, commonly used predictive tools cannot meet clinical needs because of their insufficient accuracy.

Methods

We have developed an enhancer RNA (eRNA)-based signature to improve the prediction for bladder cancer prognosis. First, we analyzed differentially expressed eRNAs in gene expression profiles and clinical data for bladder cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Then, we constructed a risk model for prognosis of bladder cancer patients, and analyzed the correlation between this model and tumor microenvironment (TME). Finally, regulatory network of downstream genes of eRNA in the model was constructed by WGCNA and enrichment analysis, then Real-time quantitative PCR verified the differentiation of related genes between tumor and adjacent tissue.

Results

We first constructed a risk model composed of eight eRNAs, and found the risk model could be an independent risk factor to predict the prognosis of bladder cancer. Then, the log-rank test and time-dependent ROC curve analysis shown the model has a favorable ability to predict prognosis. The eight risk eRNAs may participate in disease progression by regulating cell adhesion and invasion, and up-regulating immune checkpoints to suppress the immunity in TME. mRNA level change in related genes further validated regulatory roles of eRNAs in bladder cancer. In summary, we constructed an eRNA-based risk model and confirmed that the model could predict the prognosis of bladder cancer patients.

Phospholipase A/acyltransferase 4 is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in pancreatic cancer

Background

Phospholipase A/acyltransferase (PLAAT) family exhibits O- and N-acyltransferase activity and biosynthesize N-acylated ethanolamine phospholipids. Previously, PLAAT4 was seen as a tumor suppressor, but the exact function of PLAAT4 in pancreatic cancer was still unknown. In this study, we investigated the relationship of PLAAT4 and pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Using the data from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets we compared the expression of PLAAT4 in normal and tumor tissues and analyzed the connections between PLAAT4 and several clinicopathological factors. Further, we conducted Gene ontology (GO) analysis, Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and estimate analysis to explore the association between PLAAT4 and biological function and immune infiltration. In addition, Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were used to explore the association between PLAAT4 and prognosis. In addition, we plotted a nomogram according to the multivariate cox analysis visualizing the predictive ability of PLAAT4 on prognosis. In addition, we explore the influence of PLAAT4 on malignant behaviors of the pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

Results

After comparing the expression of PLAAT4 in normal and tumor tissues, we found that the expression of PLAAT4 was significantly high in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) samples. In addition, the results of GO and GSEA found that the expression of PLAAT4 was related to cell cycle checkpoints, M phase, regulation by p53, cell cycle mitotic and etc. Further, ssGSEA has shown that PLAAT4 was positively related to the abundance of aDC, Th1 cells, Th2 cells and negatively related to the Th17 cells. Subsequently, KM analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were used to analyze the correlation between PLAAT4 and prognosis. Additionally, we found that higher expression of PLAAT4 was related to T stage, N stage, histologic grade, etc (P < 0.05) and has a significant correlation with poor Overall Survival (OS), Disease-Specific Survival (DSS) and Progression-Free Interval (PFI). At last, we proved that PLAAT4 contributed to the malignant behaviors of the pancreatic cancer cells.

Conclusion

This study indicated PLAAT4 as a novel prognostic biomarker and an important molecular that mediated immune response in pancreatic cancer.

Critical Investigation of the Usability of Hepatoma Cell Lines HepG2 and Huh7 as Models for the Metabolic Representation of Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Metabolic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are fundamental for the development of diagnostic screening and therapeutic intervention since energy metabolism plays a central role in differentiated hepatocytes. In HCC research, hepatoma cell lines (HCLs) like HepG2 and Huh7 cells are still the gold standard. In this study, we characterized the metabolic profiles of primary human hepatoma cells (PHCs), HCLs and primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) to determine their differentiation states. PHCs and PHHs (HCC-PHHs) were isolated from surgical specimens of HCC patients and their energy metabolism was compared to PHHs from non-HCC patients and the HepG2 and Huh7 cells at different levels (transcript, protein, function). Our analyses showed successful isolation of PHCs with a purity of 50–73% (CK18+). The transcript data revealed that changes in mRNA expression levels had already occurred in HCC-PHHs. While many genes were overexpressed in PHCs and HCC-PHHs, the changes were mostly not translated to the protein level. Downregulated metabolic key players of PHCs revealed a correlation with malign transformation and were predominantly pronounced in multilocular HCC. Therefore, HCLs failed to reflect these expression patterns of PHCs at the transcript and protein levels. The metabolic characteristics of PHCs are closer to those of HCC-PHHs than to HCLs. This should be taken into account for future optimized tumor metabolism research.

Identification of N7-methylguanosine-related IncRNA signature as a potential predictive biomarker for colon adenocarcinoma

N⁷-Methylguanosine (m7G) is an RNA modification serving as a key part of colon cancer development. Thus, a comprehensive analysis was executed to explore prognostic roles and associations with the immune status of the m7G-related lncRNA (m7G-RNAs) in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). Identification of m7G-RNAs was achieved via Pearson’s correlation analysis of lncRNAs in the TCGA-COAD dataset and m7G regulators. A prognostic signature was developed via LASSO analyses. ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA algorithms were utilized to assess immune infiltration between different risk groups. Survival analysis suggested the high-risk group possesses poor outcomes compared with the low-risk group. According to the ROC curves, the m7G-RNAs signature exhibited a reliable capability of prediction (AUCs at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.770, 0.766, and 0.849, respectively). Multivariate hazard analysis proved that the signature was an independent predictive indicator for OS. Moreover, the risk score was related to infiltration levels of naïve B cells, CD4⁺ memory T cells, and resting NK cells. The result revealed the prognostic value of m7G modification in COAD and provided a novel perspective on personalized immunotherapy strategies.

Development and validation of a necroptosis-related gene prognostic score to predict prognosis and efficiency of immunotherapy in gastric cancer

Necroptosis is a novel type of regulated cell death that is intimately associated with a variety of tumors. However, how necroptosis affects the identification of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Here we seek to find new potential necroptosis-related biomarkers to predict GC prognosis and immunotherapy effect. We used Cox analysis to obtain shared prognostic markers related to necroptosis from five datasets (TCGA and four GEO datasets). Then, a necroptosis-related gene prognostic score (NRGPS) system was constructed using LASSO Cox regression, NRGPS consisting of three necroptosis-related mRNAs (AXL, RAI14, and NOX4) was identified, 31 pairs of GC and adjacent normal tissues from the Second Hospital of Harbin Medical University were collected and Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the relative expression levels of the three necroptosis-related mRNAs, and external validation was performed on four GEO datasets (GSE84437, GSE26901, GSE62254 and GSE15459). In this study, Overall survival (OS) in the high-NRGPS group was significantly lower than in the low-NRGPS group. Cox regression analyses showed that NRGPS was an independent prognostic variable. Tumor-mutation-burden (TMB), tumor microenvironment (TME), microsatellite instability (MSI), and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) scoring were used as predictors of the immunotherapy response. A cancer-friendly immune microenvironment, a high TIDE score, a low TMB, and a low MSI were all characteristics of the high-NRGPS group, and they all consistently showed that the issues seen there are related to immune escape in GC. The combination of three candidate genes may be an effective method for diagnostic assessment of GC prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy.

Review article epithelial to mesenchymal transition‑associated microRNAs in breast cancer

Despite major advances, breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed carcinoma and remains a deadly disease among women worldwide. Many researchers point toward an important role of an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BC development and promoting metastasis. Here, will be discussed that how functional changes of transcription factors, signaling pathways, and microRNAs (miRNA) in BC promote EMT. A thorough understanding the EMT biology can be important to determine reversing the process and design treatment approaches. There are frequent debates as to whether EMT is really relevant to BC in vivo, in which due to the intrinsic heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, given the importance of EMT in cancer progression and metastasis, the implementation of therapies against cancer-associated EMT will continue to help us develop and test potential treatments.

Robust Validation and Comprehensive Analysis of a Novel Signature Derived from Crucial Metabolic Pathways of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a malignant tumor with a dismal prognosis. PDAC have extensively reprogrammed metabolic characteristics influenced by interactions with normal cells, the effects of the tumor microenvironment and oncogene-mediated cell-autonomous pathways. In this study, we found that among all cancer hallmarks, metabolism played an important role in PDAC. Subsequently, a 16-gene prognostic signature was established with genes derived from crucial metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, bile acid metabolism, cholesterol homeostasis and xenobiotic metabolism (gbcx). The signature was used to distinguish overall survival in multiple cohorts from public datasets as well as a validation cohort followed up by us at Shanghai Cancer Center. Notably, the gbcx-related risk score (gbcxMRS) also accurately predicted poor PDAC subtypes, such as pure-basal-like and squamous types. At the same time, it also predicted PDAC recurrence. The gbcxMRS was also associated with immune cells, especially CD8 T cells, Treg cells. Furthermore, a high gbcxMRS may indicate high drug sensitivity to irinotecan and docetaxel and CTLA4 inhibitor immunotherapy. Taken together, these results indicate a robust and reproducible metabolic-related signature based on analysis of the overall pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, which may have excellent prognostic and therapeutic implications for PDAC.

Untargeted Metabolomics Showed Accumulation of One-Carbon Metabolites to Facilitate DNA Methylation during Extracellular Matrix Detachment of Cancer Cells

Tumor cells detached from the extracellular matrix (ECM) undergo anoikis resistance and metabolic reprogramming to facilitate cancer cell survival and promote metastasis. During ECM detachment, cancer cells utilize genomic methylation to regulate transcriptional events. One-carbon (1C) metabolism is a well-known contributor of SAM, a global substrate for methylation reactions, especially DNA methylation. DNA methylation-mediated repression of NK cell ligands MICA and MICB during ECM detachment has been overlooked. In the current work, we quantitated the impact of ECM detachment on one-carbon metabolites, expression of 1C regulatory pathway genes, and total methylation levels. Our results showed that ECM detachment promotes the accumulation of one-carbon metabolites and induces regulatory pathway genes and total DNA methylation. Furthermore, we measured the expression of well-known targets of DNA methylation in NK cell ligands in cancer cells, namely, MICA/B, during ECM detachment and observed low expression compared to ECM-attached cancer cells. Finally, we treated the ECM-detached cancer cells with vitamin C (a global methylation inhibitor) and observed a reduction in the promoter methylation of NK cell ligands, resulting in MICA/B re-expression. Treatment with vitamin C was also found to reduce global DNA methylation levels in ECM-detached cancer cells.

Metabolic tricks of cancer cells

One of the characteristics of cancer cells important for tumorigenesis is their metabolic plasticity. Indeed, in various stress conditions, cancer cells can reshape their metabolic pathways to support the increased energy request due to continuous growth and rapid proliferation. Moreover, selective pressures in the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, acidosis, and competition for resources, force cancer cells to adapt by complete reorganization of their metabolism. In this review, we highlight the characteristics of cancer metabolism and discuss its clinical significance, since overcoming metabolic plasticity of cancer cells is a key objective of modern cancer therapeutics and a better understanding of metabolic reprogramming may lead to the identification of possible targets for cancer therapy.

RNF135 Promoter Methylation Is Associated With Immune Infiltration and Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

RING finger protein 135 has an important role in the occurrence of many cancers; however its regulation and function of RNF135 in hepatocellular carcinoma remains unknown. The promoter methylation status and mRNA expression of RNF135 was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and real-time quantitative PCR in HCC tissues and cell lines, and further analyzed from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Wound healing assay, transwell migration, cell viability, and colony formation assay were performed to investigate the function of RNF135. GSEA analysis, TIMER database, and ESTIMATE algorithm were used to decipher the associated pathway and immune infiltration. The survival analysis was applied to assess the prognostic value of RNF135. RNF135 expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and 5 of 8 HCC cell lines, and was negatively correlated with its promoter hypermethylation. Demethylating regent decitabine restored RNF135 expression on the cellular level. Knockdown of RNF135 expression enhanced the migration of HCC cells, while RNF135 overexpression and decitabine treatment repressed cell migration. Bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed a positive relationship between RNF135 expression and six immune cell infiltrates (B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells). Survival analysis disclosed that RNF135 hypermethylation is independently associated with poor clinical outcomes in HCC. Decreased RNF135 expression driven by promoter hypermethylation frequently occurred in HCC and associated with prognosis of HCC. RNF135 functions as a tumor suppressor and is involved in tumor immune microenvironment in HCC.

Nano-Hydroxyapatite Bone Scaffolds with Different Porous Structures Processed by Digital Light Processing 3D Printing

The morphologies and structures of the scaffold have a significant influence on their mechanical and biological properties. In this work, different types of porous structures: Triply periodic minimal surface-Schwarz primitive (P), body-centered cubic, and cubic pore-shaped (CPS) hydroxyapatite scaffolds with ~70% porosity were fabricated through digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technology. The compressive properties and in vitro cell evaluations such as cell proliferation and attachment morphology of these scaffolds were systematically compared. The results showed that the CPS scaffolds exhibited the highest compressive strength (~22.5 MPa) and modulus (~400 MPa). In addition, the CPS scaffolds also performed the most active cell metabolisms as compared to other two structures, which may account for the larger pore size and smaller curvature of the substrate. This study provides a general guidance for the fabrication and selection of porous bone scaffolds processed by DLP 3D printing.

Metabolic Reprogramming and Cell Adhesion in Acute Leukemia Adaptation to the CNS Niche

Involvement of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in acute leukemia confers poor prognosis and lower overall survival. Existing CNS-directed therapies are associated with a significant risk of short- or long-term toxicities. Leukemic cells can metabolically adapt and survive in the microenvironment of the CNS. The supporting role of the CNS microenvironment in leukemia progression and dissemination has not received sufficient attention. Understanding the mechanism by which leukemic cells survive in the nutrient-poor and oxygen-deprived CNS microenvironment will lead to the development of more specific and less toxic therapies. Here, we review the current literature regarding the roles of metabolic reprogramming in leukemic cell adhesion and survival in the CNS.

The multifaceted roles of mitochondria at the crossroads of cell life and death in cancer

Mitochondria are the cytoplasmic organelles mostly known as the "electric engine" of the cells; however, they also play pivotal roles in different biological processes, such as cell growth/apoptosis, Ca²⁺ and redox homeostasis, and cell stemness. In cancer cells, mitochondria undergo peculiar functional and structural dynamics involved in the survival/death fate of the cell. Cancer cells use glycolysis to support macromolecular biosynthesis and energy production ("Warburg effect"); however, mitochondrial OXPHOS has been shown to be still active during carcinogenesis and even exacerbated in drug-resistant and stem cancer cells. This metabolic rewiring is associated with mutations in genes encoding mitochondrial metabolic enzymes ("oncometabolites"), alterations of ROS production and redox biology, and a fine-tuned balance between anti-/proapoptotic proteins. In cancer cells, mitochondria also experience dynamic alterations from the structural point of view undergoing coordinated cycles of biogenesis, fusion/fission and mitophagy, and physically communicating with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), through the Ca²⁺ flux, at the MAM (mitochondria-associated membranes) levels. This review addresses the peculiar mitochondrial metabolic and structural dynamics occurring in cancer cells and their role in coordinating the balance between cell survival and death. The role of mitochondrial dynamics as effective biomarkers of tumor progression and promising targets for anticancer strategies is also discussed.

PAK1 and PAK2 in cell metabolism regulation

P21-activated kinases (PAKs) regulate processes associated with cytoskeletal rearrangements, such as cell division, adhesion, and migration. The possible regulatory role of PAKs in cell metabolism has not been well explored, but increasing evidence suggests that a cell metabolic phenotype is related to cell interactions with the microenvironment. We analyzed the impact of PAK inhibition by small molecule inhibitors, small interfering RNA, or gene knockout on the rates of mitochondrial respiration and aerobic glycolysis. Pharmacological inhibition of PAK group I by IPA-3 induced a strong decrease in metabolic rates in human adherent cancer cell lines, leukemia/lymphoma cell lines, and primary leukemia cells. The immediate effect of FRAX597, which inhibits PAK kinase activity, was moderate, indicating that PAK nonkinase functions are essential for cell metabolism. Selective downregulation or deletion of PAK2 was associated with a shift toward oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, PAK1 knockout resulted in increased glycolysis. However, the overall metabolic capacity was not substantially reduced by PAK1 or PAK2 deletion, possibly due to partial redundancy in PAK1/PAK2 regulatory roles or to activation of other compensatory mechanisms.

Role of cell-free network communication in alcohol-associated disorders and liver metastasis

The aberrant use of alcohol is a major factor in cancer progression and metastasis. Contributing mechanisms include the systemic effects of alcohol and the exchange of bioactive molecules between cancerous and non-cancerous cells along the brain-gut-liver axis. Such interplay leads to changes in molecular, cellular, and biological functions resulting in cancer progression. Recent investigations have examined the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer mechanisms in addition to their contribution as diagnostic biomarkers. Also, EVs are emerging as novel cell-free mediators in pathophysiological scenarios including alcohol-mediated gut microbiome dysbiosis and the release of nanosized EVs into the circulatory system. Interestingly, EVs in cancer patients are enriched with oncogenes, miRNA, lipids, and glycoproteins whose delivery into the hepatic microenvironment may be enhanced by the detrimental effects of alcohol. Proof-of-concept studies indicate that alcohol-associated liver disease is impacted by the effects of exosomes, including altered immune responses, reprogramming of stromal cells, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Moreover, the culmination of alcohol-related changes in the liver likely contributes to enhanced hepatic metastases and poor outcomes for cancer patients. This review summarizes the numerous aspects of exosome communications between organs with emphasis on the relationship of EVs in alcohol-associated diseases and cancer metastasis. The potential impact of EV cargo and release along a multi-organ axis is highly relevant to the promotion of tumorigenic mechanisms and metastatic disease. It is hypothesized that EVs target recipient tissues to initiate the formation of prometastatic niches and cancer progression. The study of alcohol-associated mechanisms in metastatic cancers is expected to reveal a better understanding of factors involved in the growth of secondary malignancies as well as novel approaches for therapeutic interventions.

Machine-Learning-Based m5C Score for the Prognosis Diagnosis of Osteosarcoma

Background

Osteosarcoma is a common and highly metastatic malignant tumor, and m5C RNA methylation regulates various biological processes. The purpose of this study was to explore the prognostic role of m5C in osteosarcoma using machine learning.

Methods

Osteosarcoma gene data and the corresponding clinical information were downloaded from the GEO database. Machine learning methods were used to screen m5C-related genes and construct m5C scores. In addition, the clusterProfiler package was used to predict the m5C-related functional pathways. xCell and CIBERSORT were used to calculate the immune microenvironment cells. GSVA was applied to analyze different categories of m5C genes, and the correlation between the GSVA and m5C scores was evaluated.

Results

Twenty m5C genes were identified, and 54 related genes were screened. The m5C score was constructed based on the PCA score. With an increase in the m5C score, the expression of m5C genes and their related genes changed. Functional analysis indicated that the focal adhesion, cell-substrate adherens junction, cell adhesion molecule binding, and E2F targets might change with the m5C score. The naive B cells and CD4⁺ memory T cell also changed with the m5C score. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the m5C score was significantly correlated with the reader and eraser genes.

Conclusion

The m5C score might be a prognostic index for osteosarcoma.

High Expression of SLC16A1 as a Biomarker to Predict Poor Prognosis of Urological Cancers

Objective

Tumor metabolism has always been the focus of cancer research. SLC16A1, as a key factor in catalysis of monocarboxylate transport across the plasma membrane, has been found to be associated with the occurrence and metastasis of a variety of cancers, but its prognostic significance and mechanism in different tumors are still unclear.

Methods

Based on the gene expression matrix and clinical information of human cancer tissues acquired from TCGA and GTEX databases, the differential expression of SLC16A1 in different tumors and normal tissues was analyzed. To confirm the association between its expression, the mutation of MMRS gene, and the expression level of DNMTs. Univariate Cox regression was applied to analyze the association between SLC16A1 expression and patient prognosis. The effect of SLC16A1 expression on patient survival was examined by Kaplan Meier analysis. GSEA was used to identify related signaling pathways.

Results

The expression of SLC16A1 was differentially expressed in most tumors, especially in the urinary tract where it is commonly highly expressed, and differential expression of SLC16A1 in different clinical stages. SLC16A1 expression was significantly positively correlated with MMRS gene mutation and DNMTS expression. Moreover, high SLC16A1 expression was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in urological cancers. In particular, the results of the enrichment analysis showed that SLC16A1 was associated with processes such as cell adhesion and many signaling pathways affecting cell cycle were significantly enriched in the group with high-expressed SLC16A1.

Conclusion

SLC16A1 expression was upregulated in urological cancer. SLC16A1 may promote tumor development by regulating the epigenetic process of urological cancer and demonstrated a great potential as a prognostic biomarker of urological cancer patients.

ADAM15 correlates with prognosis, immune infiltration and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

ADAM15 is highly expressed in malignant tumors and is correlated with tumor progression. However, the role of ADAM15 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In the study, our results indicated that ADAM15 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells compared with corresponding tissues and liver cells. Overexpression of ADAM15 was linked to poor prognosis, and was an independent risk factor for HCC prognosis. Besides, analysis of immune infiltration indicated that ADAM15 expression was related to tumor infiltrating lymphocytes based on the TIMER, TISIDB and GEPIA databases. Many immune checkpoint gene expression was associated with ADAM15 expression. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that apoptosis, cell adhesion was enriched. ADAM15 knockdown promoted apoptosis and suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of liver cancer cells. The findings of western blot showed that ADAM15 knockdown reduced the expression of Bcl-2, Vimentin, N-Cadherin and Snail, and elevated the expression of Bax, E-cadherin and ZO-1. However, overexpression of ADAM15 had the opposite results. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that ADAM15 was connected with poor prognosis of HCC patients, and could be considered as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Pathophysiological Roles of Histamine Receptors in Cancer Progression: Implications and Perspectives as Potential Molecular Targets

High levels of histamine and histamine receptors (HRs), including H1R~H4R, are found in many different types of tumor cells and cells in the tumor microenvironment, suggesting their involvement in tumor progression. This review summarizes the latest evidence demonstrating the pathophysiological roles of histamine and its cognate receptors in cancer biology. We also discuss the novel therapeutic approaches of selective HR ligands and their potential prognostic values in cancer treatment. Briefly, histamine is highly implicated in cancer development, growth, and metastasis through interactions with distinct HRs. It also regulates the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor sites, exerting an immunomodulatory function. Moreover, the effects of various HR ligands, including H1R antagonists, H2R antagonists, and H4R agonists, on tumor progression in many different cancer types are described. Interestingly, the expression levels of HR subtypes may serve as prognostic biomarkers in several cancers. Taken together, HRs are promising targets for cancer treatment, and HR ligands may offer novel therapeutic potential, alone or in combination with conventional therapy. However, due to the complexity of the pathophysiological roles of histamine and HRs in cancer biology, further studies are warranted before HR ligands can be introduced into clinical settings.

Cancer cell metabolic plasticity in migration and metastasis

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer metastasis in which cancer cells manipulate their metabolic profile to meet the dynamic energetic requirements of the tumor microenvironment. Though cancer cell proliferation and migration through the extracellular matrix are key steps of cancer progression, they are not necessarily fueled by the same metabolites and energy production pathways. The two main metabolic pathways cancer cells use to derive energy from glucose, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, are preferentially and plastically utilized by cancer cells depending on both their intrinsic metabolic properties and their surrounding environment. Mechanical factors in the microenvironment, such as collagen density, pore size, and alignment, and biochemical factors, such as oxygen and glucose availability, have been shown to influence both cell migration and glucose metabolism. As cancer cells have been identified as preferentially utilizing glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation based on heterogeneous intrinsic or extrinsic factors, the relationship between cancer cell metabolism and metastatic potential is of recent interest. Here, we review current in vitro and in vivo findings in the context of cancer cell metabolism during migration and metastasis and extrapolate potential clinical applications of this work that could aid in diagnosing and tracking cancer progression in vivo by monitoring metabolism. We also review current progress in the development of a variety of metabolically targeted anti-metastatic drugs, both in clinical trials and approved for distribution, and highlight potential routes for incorporating our recent understanding of metabolic plasticity into therapeutic directions. By further understanding cancer cell energy production pathways and metabolic plasticity, more effective and successful clinical imaging and therapeutics can be developed to diagnose, target, and inhibit metastasis.

Metabolic Drivers of Invasion in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is a primary malignant brain tumor with a median survival under 2 years. The poor prognosis glioblastoma caries is largely due to cellular invasion, which enables escape from resection, and drives inevitable recurrence. While most studies to date have focused on pathways that enhance the invasiveness of tumor cells in the brain microenvironment as the primary driving forces behind GBM’s ability to invade adjacent tissues, more recent studies have identified a role for adaptations in cellular metabolism in GBM invasion. Metabolic reprogramming allows invasive cells to generate the energy necessary for colonizing surrounding brain tissue and adapt to new microenvironments with unique nutrient and oxygen availability. Historically, enhanced glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen (the Warburg effect) has dominated glioblastoma research with respect to tumor metabolism. More recent global profiling experiments, however, have identified roles for lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism in tumor growth and invasion. A thorough understanding of the metabolic traits that define invasive GBM cells may provide novel therapeutic targets for this devastating disease. In this review, we focus on metabolic alterations that have been characterized in glioblastoma, the dynamic nature of tumor metabolism and how it is shaped by interaction with the brain microenvironment, and how metabolic reprogramming generates vulnerabilities that may be ripe for exploitation.

The septin complex links the catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton for establishing epithelial cell polarity

Cell polarity is essential for spatially regulating of physiological processes in metazoans by which hormonal stimulation‒secretion coupling is precisely coupled for tissue homeostasis and organ communications. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial cell polarity establishment remain elusive. Here, we show that septin cytoskeleton interacts with catenin complex to organize a functional domain to separate apical from basal membranes in polarized epithelial cells. Using polarized epithelial cell monolayer as a model system with transepithelial electrical resistance as functional readout, our studies show that septins are essential for epithelial cell polarization. Our proteomic analyses discovered a novel septin‒catenin complex during epithelial cell polarization. The functional relevance of septin‒catenin complex was then examined in three-dimensional (3D) culture in which suppression of septins resulted in deformation of apical lumen in cysts, a hallmark seen in polarity-deficient 3D cultures and animals. Mechanistically, septin cytoskeleton stabilizes the association of adherens catenin complex with actin cytoskeleton, and depletion or disruption of septin cytoskeleton liberates adherens junction and polarity complexes into the cytoplasm. Together, these findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for septin cytoskeleton in the polarization of the apical‒basal axis and lumen formation in polarized epithelial cells.

Associated anisotropy of intrinsic NAD(P)H for monitoring changes in the metabolic activities of breast cancer cells (4T1) in three-dimensional collagen matrix

The majority of in vitro studies of living cells are routinely conducted in a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture. Recent studies, however, suggest that 2D cell culture promotes specific types of aberrant cell behaviors due to the growth on non-physiologically stiff surfaces and the lack of the tissue-based extracellular matrix. Here, we investigate the sensitivity of the two-photon (2P) rotational dynamics of the intrinsic reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate), NAD(P)H, to changes in the metabolic state of the metastatic murine breast cancer cells (4T1) in 2D monolayer and three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix cultures. Time-resolved 2P-associated anisotropy measurements reveal that the rotational dynamics of free and enzyme-bound NAD(P)H in 4T1 cells are correlated to changes in the metabolic state of 2D and 3D cell cultures. In addition to the type of cell culture, we also investigated the metabolic response of 4T1 cells to treatment with two metabolic inhibitors (MD1 and TPPBr). The statistical analyses of our results enabled us to identify which of the fitting parameters of the observed time-resolved associate anisotropy of cellular NAD(P)H were significantly sensitive to changes in the metabolic state of 4T1 cells. Using a black-box model, the population fractions of free and bound NAD(P)H were used to estimate the corresponding equilibrium constant and the standard Gibbs free energy changes that are associated with underlying metabolic pathways of 4T1 cells in 2D and 3D cultures. These rotational dynamics analyses are in agreement with the standard 2P-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) measurements on the same cell line, cell cultures, and metabolic inhibition. These studies represent an important step towards the development of a noninvasive, time-resolved associated anisotropy to complement 2P-FLIM in order to elucidate the underlying cellular metabolism and metabolic plasticity in more complex in vivo, tumor-like models using intrinsic NADH autofluorescence.

Transcriptome sequencing identifies genes associated with invasion of ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To identify key genes in ovarian cancer using transcriptome sequencing in two cell lines: MCV152 (benign ovarian epithelial tumour) and SKOV-3 (ovarian serous carcinoma).

METHODS

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SKOV-3 and MCV152 were identified. Candidate genes were assessed for enrichment in gene ontology function and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes pathway. Candidate gene expression in SKOV-3 and MCV152 cells was validated using Western blots.

RESULTS

A total of 2020 upregulated and 1673 downregulated DEGs between SKOV3 and MCV152 cells were identified that were significantly enriched in the cell adhesion function. Upregulated DEGs, such as angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT2), CD19 molecule (CD19), collagen type IV alpha 3 chain (COL4A3), fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18), integrin subunit beta 4 (ITGB4), integrin subunit beta 8 (ITGB8), laminin subunit alpha 3 (LAMA3), laminin subunit gamma 2 (LAMC2), protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit Bgamma (PPP2R2C) and spleen associated tyrosine kinase (SYK) were significantly involved in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway. Downregulated DEGs, such as AKT serine/threonine kinase 3 (AKT3), collagen type VI alpha 1 chain (COL6A1), colony stimulating factor 3 (CSF3), fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1), integrin subunit alpha 2 (ITGA2), integrin subunit alpha 11 (ITGA11), MYB proto-oncogene, transcription factor (MYB), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2, mitochondrial (PCK2), placental growth factor (PGF), phosphoinositide-3-kinase adaptor protein 1 (PIK3AP1), serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and tumour protein p53 (TP53) were involved in PI3K-Akt signalling. Expression of these DEGs was confirmed by Western blot analyses.

CONCLUSION

Candidate genes enriched in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and PI3K-Akt signalling pathways were identified that may be closely associated with ovarian cancer invasion and potential targets for ovarian cancer treatment.

CRKL promotes hepatocarcinoma through enhancing glucose metabolism of cancer cells via activating PI3K/Akt

Abnormal glucose metabolism may contribute to cancer progression. As a member of the CRK (v-crk sarcoma virus CT10 oncogene homologue) adapter protein family, CRKL (CRK-like) associated with the development and progression of various tumours. However, the exact role and underlying mechanism of CRKL on energy metabolism remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of CRKL on glucose metabolism of hepatocarcinoma cells. CRKL and PI3K were found to be overexpressed in both hepatocarcinoma cells and tissues; meanwhile, CRKL up-regulation was positively correlated with PI3K up-regulation. Functional investigations revealed that CRKL overexpression promoted glucose uptake, lactate production and glycogen synthesis of hepatocarcinoma cells by up-regulating glucose transporters 1 (GLUT1), hexokinase II (HKII) expression and down-regulating glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) expression. Mechanistically, CRKL promoted glucose metabolism of hepatocarcinoma cells via enhancing the CRKL-PI3K/Akt-GLUT1/HKII-glucose uptake, CRKL-PI3K/Akt-HKII-glucose-lactate production and CRKL-PI3K/Akt-Gsk3β-glycogen synthesis. We demonstrate CRKL facilitates HCC malignancy via enhancing glucose uptake, lactate production and glycogen synthesis through PI3K/Akt pathway. It provides interesting fundamental clues to CRKL-related carcinogenesis through glucose metabolism and offers novel therapeutic strategies for hepatocarcinoma.

Establishment and validation of an RNA binding protein-associated prognostic model for ovarian cancer

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological malignant tumors worldwide, with high mortality and a poor prognosis. As the early symptoms of malignant ovarian tumors are not obvious, the cause of the disease is still unclear, and the patients’ postoperative quality of life of decreases. Therefore, early diagnosis is a problem requiring an urgent solution.

Methods

We obtained the gene expression profiles of ovarian cancer and normal samples from TCGA and GTEx databases for differential expression analysis. From existing literature reports, we acquired the RNA-binding protein (RBP) list for the human species. Utilizing the online tool Starbase, we analyzed the interaction relationship between RBPs and their target genes and selected the modules of RBP target genes through Cytoscape. Finally, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to determine the prognostic RBP signature.

Results

We obtained 527 differentially expressed RBPs, which were involved in many important cellular events, such as RNA splicing, the cell cycle, and so on. We predicted several target genes of RBPs, constructed the interaction network of RBPs and their target genes, and obtained many modules from the Cytoscape analysis. Functional enrichment of RBP target genes also includes these important biological processes. Through Cox regression analysis, OC prognostic RBPs were identified and a 10-RBP model constructed. Further analysis showed that the model has high accuracy and sensitivity in predicting the 3/5-year survival rate.

Conclusions

Our study identified differentially expressed RBPs and their target genes in OC, and the results promote our understanding of the molecular mechanism of ovarian cancer. The current study could develop novel biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of OC and provide new ideas and prospects for future clinical research.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13048-021-00777-1.

Recent advances in understanding the roles of sialyltransferases in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis

Abnormal glycosylation is a common characteristic of cancer cells and there is a lot of evidence that glycans can regulate the biological behavior of tumor cells. Sialylation modification, a form of glycosylation modification, plays an important role in cell recognition, cell adhesion and cell signal transduction. Abnormal sialylation on the surface of tumor cells is related to tumor migration and invasion, with abnormal expression of sialyltransferases being one of the main causes of abnormal sialylation. Recent studies provide a better understanding of the importance of the sialyltransferases, and how they influences cancer cell angiogenesis, adhesion and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). The present review will provide a direction for future studies in determining the roles of sialyltransferases in cancer metastasis, and abnormal sialyltransferases are likely to be potential biomarkers for cancer.

Role of Cadherins in Cancer-A Review

Cadherins play an important role in tissue homeostasis, as they are responsible for cell-cell adhesion during embryogenesis, tissue morphogenesis, differentiation and carcinogenesis. Cadherins are inseparably connected with catenins, forming cadherin-catenin complexes, which are crucial for cell-to-cell adherence. Any dysfunction or destabilization of cadherin-catenin complex may result in tumor progression. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a mechanism in which epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) expression is lost during tumor progression. However, during tumorigenesis, many processes take place, and downregulation of E-cadherin, nuclear β-catenin and p120 catenin (p120) signaling are among the most critical. Additional signaling pathways, such as Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), Rho GTPases, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Hippo affect cadherin cell-cell adhesion and also contribute to tumor progression and metastasis. Many signaling pathways may be activated during tumorigenesis; thus, cadherin-targeting drugs seem to limit the progression of malignant tumor. This review discusses the role of cadherins in selected signaling mechanisms involved in tumor growth. The clinical importance of cadherin will be discussed in cases of human and animal cancers.

PINCH-1 regulates mitochondrial dynamics to promote proline synthesis and tumor growth

Reprograming of proline metabolism is critical for tumor growth. Here we show that PINCH-1 is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma and promotes proline synthesis through regulation of mitochondrial dynamics. Knockout (KO) of PINCH-1 increases dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) expression and mitochondrial fragmentation, which suppresses kindlin-2 mitochondrial translocation and interaction with pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1), resulting in inhibition of proline synthesis and cell proliferation. Depletion of DRP1 reverses PINCH-1 deficiency-induced defects on mitochondrial dynamics, proline synthesis and cell proliferation. Furthermore, overexpression of PYCR1 in PINCH-1 KO cells restores proline synthesis and cell proliferation, and suppresses DRP1 expression and mitochondrial fragmentation. Finally, ablation of PINCH-1 from lung adenocarcinoma in mouse increases DRP1 expression and inhibits PYCR1 expression, proline synthesis, fibrosis and tumor growth. Our results identify a signaling axis consisting of PINCH-1, DRP1 and PYCR1 that regulates mitochondrial dynamics and proline synthesis, and suggest an attractive strategy for alleviation of tumor growth.

Together we stand, apart we fall: how cell-to-cell contact/interplay provides resistance to ferroptosis

Contextualisation of the new type of cell death called “ferroptosis” opened a completely new avenue for the development of anti-cancer therapies. Cumulative fundamental research dating back to the mid-20th century, crowned by the extraordinary work of the group led by Dr. Stockwell from Columbia University in 2012, finally got its candidature to be applied in the clinical settings. Although the potential for clinical importance is undoubtedly growing every day, as showed by the increasing number of papers dealing with ferroptosis and its applications, long experience of cancer research and treatment taught us that caution is still necessary. The plasticity of the tumour cells, particularly acute, along with its involvement in the resistance mechanisms, that have been seen, to greater or lesser extent, for almost all currently used therapies, represents the biggest fascinations in biomedical research field and also the biggest challenge to achieving cures in cancer patients. Accordingly, the main features of fundamental research have to be vigilance and anticipation. In this review, we tried to summarize the literature data, accumulated in the past couple of years, which point out the pitfalls in which “ferroptosis inducers” can fall if used prematurely in the clinical settings, but at the same time can provide a great advantage in the exhausting battle with cancer resistance. This is the first comprehensive review focusing on the effects of the cell-to-cell contact/interplay in the development of resistance to ferroptosis, while the contribution of cell-born factors has been summarized previously so here we just listed them.