Glut 1 in Cancer Cells and the Inhibitory Action of Resveratrol as A Potential Therapeutic Strategy

Innovative Strategies to Combat 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in Colorectal Cancer: The Role of Phytochemicals and Extracellular Vesicles

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant public health challenge, with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance being a major obstacle to effective treatment. Despite advancements, resistance to 5-FU remains formidable due to complex mechanisms such as alterations in drug transport, evasion of apoptosis, dysregulation of cell cycle dynamics, tumor microenvironment (TME) interactions, and extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated resistance pathways. Traditional chemotherapy often results in high toxicity, highlighting the need for alternative approaches with better efficacy and safety. Phytochemicals (PCs) and EVs offer promising CRC therapeutic strategies. PCs, derived from natural sources, often exhibit lower toxicity and can target multiple pathways involved in cancer progression and drug resistance. EVs can facilitate targeted drug delivery, modulate the immune response, and interact with the TME to sensitize cancer cells to treatment. However, the potential of PCs and engineered EVs in overcoming 5-FU resistance and reshaping the immunosuppressive TME in CRC remains underexplored. Addressing this gap is crucial for identifying innovative therapies with enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicities. This review explores the multifaceted mechanisms of 5-FU resistance in CRC and evaluates the synergistic effects of combining PCs with 5-FU to improve treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Additionally, it investigates engineered EVs in overcoming 5-FU resistance by serving as drug delivery vehicles and modulating the TME. By synthesizing the current knowledge and addressing research gaps, this review enhances the academic understanding of 5-FU resistance in CRC, highlighting the potential of interdisciplinary approaches involving PCs and EVs for revolutionizing CRC therapy. Further research and clinical validation are essential for translating these findings into improved patient outcomes.

Emerging roles of long noncoding RNAs in enzymes related intracellular metabolic pathways in cancer biology

Metabolic reprogramming plays critical roles in the development and progression of tumor by providing cancer cells with a sufficient supply of nutrients and other factors needed for fast-proliferating. Emerging evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the initiation of metastasis via regulating the metabolic reprogramming in various cancers. In this paper, we aim to summarize that lncRNAs could participate in intracellular nutrient metabolism including glucose, amino acid, lipid, and nucleotide, regardless of whether lncRNAs have tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressor function. Meanwhile, modulation of lncRNAs in glucose metabolic enzymes in glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) in cancer is reviewed. We also discuss therapeutic strategies targeted at interfering with enzyme activity to decrease the utilization of glucoses, amino acid, nucleotide acid and lipid in tumor cells. This review focuses on our current understanding of lncRNAs participating in cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, paving the way for further investigation into the combination of such approaches with existing anti-cancer therapies.

The regulatory roles and clinical significance of glycolysis in tumor

Metabolic reprogramming has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the biological behaviors of tumor cells, among which glycolysis is an important form. Recent research has revealed that the heightened glycolysis levels, the abnormal expression of glycolytic enzymes, and the accumulation of glycolytic products could regulate the growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cells and provide a favorable microenvironment for tumor development and progression. Based on the distinctive glycolytic characteristics of tumor cells, novel imaging tests have been developed to evaluate tumor proliferation and metastasis. In addition, glycolytic enzymes have been found to serve as promising biomarkers in tumor, which could provide assistance in the early diagnosis and prognostic assessment of tumor patients. Numerous glycolytic enzymes have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for tumor treatment, and various small molecule inhibitors targeting glycolytic enzymes have been developed to inhibit tumor development and some of them are already applied in the clinic. In this review, we systematically summarized recent advances of the regulatory roles of glycolysis in tumor progression and highlighted the potential clinical significance of glycolytic enzymes and products as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in tumor treatment.

Prodigiosin regulates cancer metabolism through interaction with GLUT1

In contrast to normal cells, cancer cells predominantly utilise glycolysis for ATP generation under aerobic conditions, facilitating proliferation and metastasis. Targeting glycolysis is effective for cancer treatment. Prodigiosin (PDG) is a natural compound with various bioactivities, including anticancer effects. However, the precise action mechanisms and molecular targets of PDG, which has demonstrated efficacy in regulating glucose metabolism in cancer cells, remain elusive. Here, we aimed to investigate the anti-cancer activity of PDG and mechanism in cancer metabolism. PDG regulated cancer metabolism by suppressing intracellular ATP production rate and levels. It inhibited glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, impeding ATP production dependent on both glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. Moreover, it inhibited cellular glucose uptake by directly interacting with glucose transporter 1 without affecting its mRNA or protein levels in HCT116 cells. We provide insights into the anti-cancer effects of PDG mediated via cancer metabolism regulation, suggesting its therapeutic potential for cancer.

Anthropometric indicators may explain the high incidence of follicular lymphoma in Europeans: Results from a bidirectional two-sample two-step Mendelian randomisation

BACKGROUND

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence rates vary between European and Asian populations. The reasons remain unclear. This two-sample two-step Mendelian randomisation (MR) study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between anthropometric indicators (AIs) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) and the possible mediating role of basal metabolic rate (BMR) in Europe.

METHODS

We used the following AIs as exposures: body mass index (BMI), whole-body fat mass (WBFM), whole-body fat-free mass (WBFFM), waist circumference(WC), hip circumference(HC), standing height (SH), and weight(Wt). DLBCL and FL represented the outcomes, and BMR was a mediator. A two-sample MR analysis was performed to examine the association between AIs and DLBCL and FL onset. We performed reverse-MR analysis to determine whether DLBCL and FL interfered with the AIs. A two-step MR analysis was performed to determine whether BMR mediated the causality.

FINDINGS

WBFFM and SH had causal relationships with FL. A causal association between AIs and DLBCL was not observed. Reverse-MR analysis indicated the causal relationships were not bidirectional. Two-step MR suggested BMR may mediate the causal effect of WBFFM and SH on FL.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a causal relationship between WBFFM and SH and the onset of FL in Europeans, Which may explain the high incidence of follicular lymphoma in Europeans.

Tumor biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy

Tumor biomarkers, the substances which are produced by tumors or the body's responses to tumors during tumorigenesis and progression, have been demonstrated to possess critical and encouraging value in screening and early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, recurrence detection, and therapeutic efficacy monitoring of cancers. Over the past decades, continuous progress has been made in exploring and discovering novel, sensitive, specific, and accurate tumor biomarkers, which has significantly promoted personalized medicine and improved the outcomes of cancer patients, especially advances in molecular biology technologies developed for the detection of tumor biomarkers. Herein, we summarize the discovery and development of tumor biomarkers, including the history of tumor biomarkers, the conventional and innovative technologies used for biomarker discovery and detection, the classification of tumor biomarkers based on tissue origins, and the application of tumor biomarkers in clinical cancer management. In particular, we highlight the recent advancements in biomarker-based anticancer-targeted therapies which are emerging as breakthroughs and promising cancer therapeutic strategies. We also discuss limitations and challenges that need to be addressed and provide insights and perspectives to turn challenges into opportunities in this field. Collectively, the discovery and application of multiple tumor biomarkers emphasized in this review may provide guidance on improved precision medicine, broaden horizons in future research directions, and expedite the clinical classification of cancer patients according to their molecular biomarkers rather than organs of origin.

Enhanced Sampling Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Transport Mechanism of Glycoconjugate Drugs through GLUT1

Glucose transporters GLUT1 belong to the major facilitator superfamily and are essential to human glucose uptake. The overexpression of GLUT1 in tumor cells designates it as a pivotal target for glycoconjugate anticancer drugs. However, the interaction mechanism of glycoconjugate drugs with GLUT1 remains largely unknown. Here, we employed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, coupled to steered and umbrella sampling techniques, to examine the thermodynamics governing the transport of glucose and two glycoconjugate drugs (i.e., 6-D-glucose-conjugated methane sulfonate and 6-D-glucose chlorambucil) by GLUT1. We characterized the specific interactions between GLUT1 and substrates at different transport stages, including substrate recognition, transport, and releasing, and identified the key residues involved in these procedures. Importantly, our results described, for the first time, the free energy profiles of GLUT1-transporting glycoconjugate drugs, and demonstrated that H160 and W388 served as important gates to regulate their transport via GLUT1. These findings provide novel atomic-scale insights for understanding the transport mechanism of GLUT1, facilitating the discovery and rational design of GLUT1-targeted anticancer drugs.

2D and 3D anticancer properties of C2-functionalised glucosamine-Pt (IV) prodrugs based on cisplatin scaffold

A series of C2-functionalied Pt (IV) glycoconjugates based on glucosamine have been synthesised, characterised and tested as anticancer agents on a series of different 2D and 3D cancer cell lines. The carbohydrate will act as a targeted delivery system to improve the selectivity, exploiting the Warburg Effect and the GLUTs receptors that are overexpressed in most of the cancer cells. The hydroxyl at C2 of the carbohydrates does not participate in hydrogen bonding with the GLUTs receptors, making C2 an attractive position for drug conjugation as seen in literature. In this study, we use the amino functionality at the C2 position in glucosamine and Copper-catalysed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition "click" (CuAAC) reaction to connect the prodrug Pt (IV) scaffold to the carbohydrate. We have investigated complexes with different linker lengths, as well as acetyl protected and free derivatives. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first series of Pt (IV) glucosamine-conjugates functionalised at C2.

The determinants of metabolic discrepancies in aerobic glycolysis: Providing potential targets for breast cancer treatment

Altered aerobic glycolysis is the robust mechanism to support cancer cell survival and proliferation beyond the maintenance of cellular energy metabolism. Several investigators portrayed the important role of deregulated glycolysis in different cancers, including breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most ubiquitous form of cancer and the primary cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Breast cancer with increased glycolytic flux is hampered to eradicate with current therapies and can result in tumor recurrence. In spite of the low order efficiency of ATP production, cancer cells are highly addicted to glycolysis. The glycolytic dependency of cancer cells provides potential therapeutic strategies to preferentially kill cancer cells by inhibiting glycolysis using antiglycolytic agents. The present review emphasizes the most recent research on the implication of glycolytic enzymes, including glucose transporters (GLUTs), hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA), associated signalling pathways and transcription factors, as well as the antiglycolytic agents that target key glycolytic enzymes in breast cancer. The potential activity of glycolytic inhibitors impinges cancer prevalence and cellular resistance to conventional drugs even under worse physiological conditions such as hypoxia. As a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs, it provides the feasibility of new therapeutic modalities against a wide spectrum of human cancers.

Medical Relevance, State-of-the-Art and Perspectives of "Sweet Metacode" in Liquid Biopsy Approaches

This review briefly introduces readers to an area where glycomics meets modern oncodiagnostics with a focus on the analysis of sialic acid (Neu5Ac)-terminated structures. We present the biochemical perspective of aberrant sialylation during tumourigenesis and its significance, as well as an analytical perspective on the detection of these structures using different approaches for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. We also provide a comparison to other established liquid biopsy approaches, and we mathematically define an early-stage cancer based on the overall prognosis and effect of these approaches on the patient's quality of life. Finally, some barriers including regulations and quality of clinical validations data are discussed, and a perspective and major challenges in this area are summarised.

The Molecular Mechanisms behind Advanced Breast Cancer Metabolism: Warburg Effect, OXPHOS, and Calcium

Altered metabolism represents a fundamental difference between cancer cells and normal cells. Cancer cells have a unique ability to reprogram their metabolism by deviating their reliance from primarily oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis, in order to support their survival. This metabolic phenotype is referred to as the "Warburg effect" and is associated with an increase in glucose uptake, and a diversion of glycolytic intermediates to alternative pathways that support anabolic processes. These processes include synthesis of nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, necessary for the rapidly dividing cancer cells, sustaining their growth, proliferation, and capacity for successful metastasis. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, with the poorest patient outcome due to its high rate of metastasis. TNBC is characterized by elevated glycolysis and in certain instances, low OXPHOS. This metabolic dysregulation is linked to chemotherapeutic resistance in TNBC research models and patient samples. There is more than a single mechanism by which this metabolic switch occurs and here, we review the current knowledge of relevant molecular mechanisms involved in advanced breast cancer metabolism, focusing on TNBC. These mechanisms include the Warburg effect, glycolytic adaptations, microRNA regulation, mitochondrial involvement, mitochondrial calcium signaling, and a more recent player in metabolic regulation, JAK/STAT signaling. In addition, we explore some of the drugs and compounds targeting cancer metabolic reprogramming. Research on these mechanisms is highly promising and could ultimately offer new opportunities for the development of innovative therapies to treat advanced breast cancer characterized by dysregulated metabolism.

Inhibition of glycolysis and SIRT1/GLUT1 signaling ameliorates the apoptotic effect of Leptosidin in prostate cancer cells

Since the silent information regulation 2 homolog-1 (sirtuin, SIRT1) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) are known to modulate cancer cell metabolism and proliferation, the role of SIRT1/GLUT1 signaling was investigated in the apoptotic effect of Leptosidin from Coreopsis grandiflora in DU145 and PC3 human prostate cancer (PCa) cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, cell cycle analysis, Western blotting, cBioportal correlation analysis, and co-immunoprecipitation were used in this work. Leptosidin showed cytotoxicity, augmented sub-G1 population, and abrogated the expression of pro-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (pro-PARP) and pro-cysteine aspartyl-specific protease (pro-caspase3) in DU145 and PC3 cells. Also, Leptosidin inhibited the expression of SIRT1, GLUT1, pyruvate kinase isozymes M2 (PKM2), Hexokinase 2 (HK2), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in DU145 and PC3 cells along with disrupted binding of SIRT1 and GLUT1. Consistently, Leptosidin curtailed lactate, glucose, and ATP in DU145 and PC3 cells. Furthermore, SIRT1 depletion enhanced the decrease of GLUT1, LDHA, and pro-Cas3 by Leptosidin in treated DU145 cells, while pyruvate suppressed the ability of Leptosidin in DU145 cells. These findings suggest that Leptosidin induces apoptosis via inhibition of glycolysis and SIRT1/GLUT1 signaling axis in PCa cells.

Dietary approaches for exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer

Renewed interest in tumor metabolism sparked an enthusiasm for dietary interventions to prevent and treat cancer. Changes in diet impact circulating nutrient levels in the plasma and the tumor microenvironment, and preclinical studies suggest that dietary approaches, including caloric and nutrient restrictions, can modulate tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Cancers are heterogeneous in their metabolic dependencies and preferred energy sources and can be addicted to glucose, fructose, amino acids, or lipids for survival and growth. This dependence is influenced by tumor type, anatomical location, tissue of origin, aberrant signaling, and the microenvironment. This review summarizes nutrient dependencies and the related signaling pathway activations that provide targets for nutritional interventions. We examine popular dietary approaches used as adjuvants to anticancer therapies, encompassing caloric restrictions, including time-restricted feeding, intermittent fasting, fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs), and nutrient restrictions, notably the ketogenic diet. Despite promising results, much of the knowledge on dietary restrictions comes from in vitro and animal studies, which may not accurately reflect real-life situations. Further research is needed to determine the optimal duration, timing, safety, and efficacy of dietary restrictions for different cancers and treatments. In addition, well-designed human trials are necessary to establish the link between specific metabolic vulnerabilities and targeted dietary interventions. However, low patient compliance in clinical trials remains a significant challenge.

Photochemically Controlled Release of the Glucose Transporter 1 Inhibitor for Glucose Deprivation Responses and Cancer Suppression Research

Cancer cells need a greater supply of glucose mainly due to their aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect. Glucose transport by glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is the rate-limiting step for glucose uptake, making it a potential cancer therapeutic target. However, GLUT1 is widely expressed and performs crucial functions in a variety of cells, and its indiscriminate inhibition will cause serious side effects. In this study, we designed and synthesized a photocaged GLUT1 inhibitor WZB117-PPG to suppress the growth of cancer cells in a spatiotemporally controllable manner. WZB117-PPG exhibited remarkable photolysis efficiency and substantial cytotoxicity toward cancer cells under visible light illumination with minimal side effects, ensuring its safety as a potential cancer therapy. Furthermore, our quantitative proteomics data delineated a comprehensive portrait of responses in cancer cells under glucose deprivation, underlining the mechanism of cell death via necrosis rather than apoptosis. We reason that our study provides a potentially reliable cancer treatment strategy and can be used as a spatiotemporally controllable trigger for studying nutrient deprivation-related stress responses.

The roles of epigallocatechin gallate in the tumor microenvironment, metabolic reprogramming, and immunotherapy

Cancer, a disease that modern medicine has not fully understood and conquered, with its high incidence and mortality, deprives countless patients of health and even life. According to global cancer statistics, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million cancer deaths in 2020, with the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of 201.0 and 100.7 per 100,000, respectively. Although remarkable advancements have been made in therapeutic strategies recently, the overall prognosis of cancer patients remains not optimistic. Consequently, there are still many severe challenges to be faced and difficult problems to be solved in cancer therapy today. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a natural polyphenol extracted from tea leaves, has received much attention for its antitumor effects. Accumulating investigations have confirmed that EGCG can inhibit tumorigenesis and progression by triggering apoptosis, suppressing proliferation, invasion, and migration, altering tumor epigenetic modification, and overcoming chemotherapy resistance. Nevertheless, its regulatory roles and biomolecular mechanisms in the immune microenvironment, metabolic microenvironment, and immunotherapy remain obscure. In this article, we summarized the most recent updates about the effects of EGCG on tumor microenvironment (TME), metabolic reprogramming, and anti-cancer immunotherapy. The results demonstrated EGCG can promote the anti-cancer immune response of cytotoxic lymphocytes and dendritic cells (DCs), attenuate the immunosuppression of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and inhibit the tumor-promoting functions of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), and various stromal cells including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells (ECs), stellate cells, and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs). Additionally, EGCG can suppress multiple metabolic reprogramming pathways, including glucose uptake, aerobic glycolysis, glutamine metabolism, fatty acid anabolism, and nucleotide synthesis. Finally, EGCG, as an immunomodulator and immune checkpoint blockade, can enhance immunotherapeutic efficacy and may be a promising candidate for antitumor immunotherapy. In conclusion, EGCG plays versatile regulatory roles in TME and metabolic reprogramming, which provides novel insights and combined therapeutic strategies for cancer immunotherapy.

Glycolytic enzymes in non-glycolytic web: functional analysis of the key players

To survive in the tumour microenvironment, cancer cells undergo rapid metabolic reprograming and adaptability. One of the key characteristics of cancer is increased glycolytic selectivity and decreased oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Apart from ATP synthesis, glycolysis is also responsible for NADH regeneration and macromolecular biosynthesis, such as amino acid biosynthesis and nucleotide biosynthesis. This allows cancer cells to survive and proliferate even in low-nutrient and oxygen conditions, making glycolytic enzymes a promising target for various anti-cancer agents. Oncogenic activation is also caused by the uncontrolled production and activity of glycolytic enzymes. Nevertheless, in addition to conventional glycolytic processes, some glycolytic enzymes are involved in non-canonical functions such as transcriptional regulation, autophagy, epigenetic changes, inflammation, various signaling cascades, redox regulation, oxidative stress, obesity and fatty acid metabolism, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders, and hypoxia. The mechanisms underlying the non-canonical glycolytic enzyme activities are still not comprehensive. This review summarizes the current findings on the mechanisms fundamental to the non-glycolytic actions of glycolytic enzymes and their intermediates in maintaining the tumor microenvironment.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Novel Sugar-Conjugated Platinum(II) Complex Having a Tumor-Targeting Effect

We designed and synthesized a novel platinum complex conjugated with 2-fluorinated 2-deoxyglucoside, named FGC-Pt, to capitalize on the Warburg effect and metabolic trapping properties of [18F]2-deoxy-2-fluoro-d-glucose ([18F]FDG). Then, we conducted comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the effects of FGC-Pt. In vitro cytotoxicity assays using HeLa cells revealed that FGC-Pt exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, even though its cytotoxic effect was less pronounced than that of cisplatin. In the evaluation of in vivo biodistribution in mice, platinum concentration in tumors and major organs (muscle, bone, blood, liver, and kidney) and the ratio of platinum concentration in tumors to major organs following the tail vein injection of FGC-Pt and cisplatin suggest that FGC-Pt is more retained in tumors than in other organs and tends to accumulate in tumors more than cisplatin. Furthermore, an in vivo assessment of the antitumor effect conducted in A549 cell-bearing mice demonstrated that FGC-Pt possesses substantial potential as an antitumor agent. It exhibited a tumor growth-inhibitory effect comparable to that of cisplatin while inducing lower toxicity, as evidenced by lower weight loss after administration. Herein, we successfully produced a novel compound with a tumor-growth-inhibitory effect comparable to that of cisplatin and low toxicity.

Functionalized Nanomaterials for Inhibiting ATP-Dependent Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer Photothermal/Photodynamic Therapy and Combination Therapy

Phototherapies induced by photoactive nanomaterials have inspired and accentuated the importance of nanomedicine in cancer therapy in recent years. During these light-activated cancer therapies, a nanoagent can produce heat and cytotoxic reactive oxygen species by absorption of light energy for photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, PTT is limited by the self-protective nature of cells, with upregulated production of heat shock proteins (HSP) under mild hyperthermia, which also influences PDT. To reduce HSP production in cancer cells and to enhance PTT/PDT, small HSP inhibitors that can competitively bind at the ATP-binding site of an HSP could be employed. Alternatively, reducing intracellular glucose concentration can also decrease ATP production from the metabolic pathways and downregulate HSP production from glucose deprivation. Other than reversing the thermal resistance of cancer cells for mild-temperature PTT, an HSP inhibitor can also be integrated into functionalized nanomaterials to alleviate tumor hypoxia and enhance the efficacy of PDT. Furthermore, the co-delivery of a small-molecule drug for direct HSP inhibition and a chemotherapeutic drug can integrate enhanced PTT/PDT with chemotherapy (CT). On the other hand, delivering a glucose-deprivation agent like glucose oxidase (GOx) can indirectly inhibit HSP and boost the efficacy of PTT/PDT while combining these therapies with cancer starvation therapy (ST). In this review, we intend to discuss different nanomaterial-based approaches that can inhibit HSP production via ATP regulation and their uses in PTT/PDT and cancer combination therapy such as CT and ST.

The Association of miRNA10a and Glucose Transporters in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Diabetes: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well-established post-translational non-coding RNAs that play crucial roles in mRNA degradation and repression. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) showed correlation along with various miRNA, specifically miRNA10a expression in lung cancers. The role of miRNA10a along with glucose upregulation leading to cancer proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of miRNA10a and GLUT1 in OSCC patients with diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

miRNA10a and GLUT1 expression were estimated in OSCC, precancerous, and healthy tissues using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). miRNA10a and GLUT1 expression levels were recorded as fold change. Further, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed to find whether there is any difference in miRNA10a and GLUT1 expression between OSCC, precancerous, and healthy tissues.

RESULTS

The RT-PCR findings revealed an increased expression of miRNA10a and GLUT1 in OSCC compared to precancerous and healthy tissue. There is a positive correlation between miRNA10a and GLUT1 expression levels in both potentially malignant and control tissues, with a marked increase in cancerous tissue. This study demonstrated the significance of upregulated miRNA10a expression, indicating a direct correlation with OSCC proliferation via GLUT1 overexpression. Specifically, miRNA10a exhibited a fold change of 1.2±0.072 in potentially malignant tissue and 1.4±0.05 in cancer tissue, while GLUT1 exhibited a fold change of 1.25±0.092 in potentially malignant tissue and 0.092±0.08 in cancer tissue, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This research highlights the role of miRNA10a in cancer progression by facilitating proliferation through the regulation of GLUT1 in cancerous tissues, particularly in hyperglycemic conditions. This mechanism further contributes to increased glucose transport in cancer patients, which may potentially impede tumor prognosis. These findings underscore the potential significance of targeting miRNA10a and GLUT1 as therapeutic interventions in cancer management.

Evaluations of the combined use of blood- and tissue-based protein biomarkers for pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a low 5-year survival rate. Biomarkers may be of value for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. This study assessed blood- and tumour tissue-based biomarkers associated with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

We studied 61 patients who underwent pancreatic resection. Of these 61 patients, 46 patients had PDAC, and 15 patients had inflammatory tumours. Blood and tumour tissue levels of VEGF, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) were measured.

RESULTS

Blood concentrations of VEGF (p < 0.000001) and HIF-1α (p = 0.000002) were significantly higher in the PDAC group than in the inflammatory tumour group. Tumour tissue concentrations of VEGF (p < 0.000001), HIF-1α (p = 0.000005) and GLUT1 (0.000002) were also significantly higher in the PDAC group. Univariate analyses revealed that age, BMI, and blood levels of CA19-9, VEGF, and HIF-1α were potential predictors of PDAC. Potential predictors of PDAC in tumour tissue were VEGF, HIF-1α and GLUT1. Multivariate analyses found that VEGF was the most powerful independent predictor of PDAC in blood (OR = 1.016; 95% CI: 1.007-1.025; 0.001) and tumour tissue (OR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.008-1.032, p = 0.001). The cut-off point for blood VEGF was 134.56 pg/ml, with a sensitivity of 97.8%, specificity of 86.7%, PPV of 95.7%, and NPV of 92.9%. The cut-off point for tissue tumour VEGF in PDAC was 208.59 pg/mg, with a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 97.7%, 92.9%, 97.7%, and 92.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant differences in blood-based biomarkers for differentiating between PDAC and inflammatory tumours of the pancreas. VEGF was an independent predictor of PDAC independent of its addition to the routinely used tumour marker CA19-9 antigen.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) represses the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) mRNA expression and may be a potential therapeutic agent in psoriasis: a case-control and experimental study

We investigated the whole blood GLUT1 mRNA expression and serum pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fetuin-A, and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) levels in psoriatic patients and tested their correlations with the severity of psoriasis using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score. Also, we tested the GLUT1 mRNA expression after an in vitro treatment of human skin fibroblast (HSF) cell lines with PEDF. The case-control part of the study recruited 74 participants (44 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy volunteers). Whole blood GLUT1 mRNA fold changes were estimated by RT-PCR, and serum PEDF, IL-6, fetuin-A, and PTX3 levels were measured by ELISA kits. In the experimental part, the HSF cell lines were treated with different concentrations of PEDF for different times to test its effect on the GLUT1 mRNA expression. The whole blood GLUT 1 expression significantly increased in psoriatic patients and correlated positively with serum IL-6, fetuin-A, PTX3 levels and with the severity of psoriasis while negatively with serum PEDF levels. The PEDF-treated HSF cell lines showed a time- and dose-dependent decline in the GLUT 1 mRNA expression. The whole blood GLUT 1 mRNA is a non-invasive biomarker that is associated with the severity of psoriasis. PEDF represses GLUT 1 expression and may be a potential therapeutic agent in psoriasis.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04242082.

Metabolic Interplay in the Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for Immune Function and Anticancer Response

Malignant tumors exhibit rapid growth and high metabolic rates, similar to embryonic stem cells, and depend on aerobic glycolysis, known as the "Warburg effect". This understanding has enabled the use of radiolabeled glucose analogs in tumor staging and therapeutic response assessment via PET scans. Traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy target rapidly dividing cells, causing significant toxicity. Despite immunotherapy's impact on solid tumor treatment, gaps remain, leading to research on cancer cell evasion of immune response and immune tolerance induction via interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME, consisting of immune cells, fibroblasts, vessels, and the extracellular matrix, regulates tumor progression and therapy responses. TME-targeted therapies aim to transform this environment from supporting tumor growth to impeding it and fostering an effective immune response. This review examines the metabolic disparities between immune cells and cancer cells, their impact on immune function and therapeutic targeting, the TME components, and the complex interplay between cancer cells and nontumoral cells. The success of TME-targeted therapies highlights their potential to achieve better cancer control or even a cure.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Targeted Delivery Systems of Active Constituents in Natural Medicines for Cancer Treatment

Owing to high efficacy and safety, natural medicines have found their way into the field of cancer therapy over the past few decades. However, the effective ingredients of natural medicines have shortcomings of poor solubility and low bioavailability. Nanoparticles can not only solve the problems above but also have outstanding targeting ability. Targeting preparations can be classified into three levels, which are target tissues, cells, and organelles. On the premise of clarifying the therapeutic purpose of drugs, one or more targeting methods can be selected to achieve more accurate drug delivery and consequently to improve the anti-tumor effects of drugs and reduce toxicity and side effects. The aim of this review is to summarize the research status of natural medicines' nano-preparations in tumor-targeting therapies to provide some references for further accurate and effective cancer treatments.

Versatile function of AMPK signaling in osteosarcoma: An old player with new emerging carcinogenic functions

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling has a versatile role in Osteosarcoma (OS), an aggressive bone malignancy with a poor prognosis, particularly in cases that have metastasized or recurred. This review explores the regulatory mechanisms, functional roles, and therapeutic applications of AMPK signaling in OS. It focuses on the molecular activation of AMPK and its interactions with cellular processes like proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolism. The uncertain role of AMPK in cancer is also discussed, highlighting its potential as both a tumor suppressor and a contributor to carcinogenesis. The therapeutic potential of targeting AMPK signaling in OS treatment is examined, including direct and indirect activators like metformin, A-769662, resveratrol, and salicylate. Further research is needed to determine dosing, toxicities, and molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-osteosarcoma effects of these compounds. This review underscores the complex involvement of AMPK signaling in OS and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of its molecular mechanisms. By elucidating the role of AMPK in OS, the aim is to pave the way for innovative therapeutic approaches that target this pathway, ultimately improving the prognosis and quality of life for OS patients.

Integration with Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveals the In Vitro Cytotoxic Mechanisms of Chinese Poplar Propolis by Triggering the Glucose Metabolism in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Natural products serve as a valuable reservoir of anticancer agents. Chinese poplar propolis (CP) has exhibited remarkable antitumor activities, yet its precise mechanisms of action remain elusive. This study aims to elucidate the in vitro cytotoxic mechanisms of CP in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) through comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Our evidence suggested that CP possesses a great potential to inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells by targeting the glucose metabolism. Notably, CP exhibited a dose- and time-dependent reduction in the viability of HepG2 cells. Transcriptome sequencing unveiled significant alterations in the cellular metabolism, particularly within glucose metabolism pathways. CP effectively restrained glucose consumption and lactic acid production. Moreover, the CP treatment led to a substantial decrease in the mRNA expression levels of key glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT3) and glycolytic enzymes (LDHA, HK2, PKM2, and PFK). Correspondingly, CP suppressed some key protein levels. Cellular metabolomic analysis demonstrated a marked reduction in intermediary products of glucose metabolism, specifically fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and acetyl-CoA, following CP administration. Finally, key compounds in CP were screened, and apigenin, pinobanksin, pinocembrin, and galangin were identified as potential active agents against glycolysis. It indicates that the effectiveness of propolis in inhibiting liver cancer is the result of the combined action of several components. These findings underscore the potential therapeutic value of propolis in the treatment of liver cancer by targeting glycolytic pathways.

Anti-Hyperglycemic Effects of Bioactive Compounds in the Context of the Prevention of Diet-Related Diseases

Diet-related diseases are health conditions primary caused by poor nutrition. These diseases encompass obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer. Functional foods and nutraceuticals offer a promising dietary approach to addressing diet-related diseases across various clinical contexts. The bioactive compounds found in these foods are the subject of intensive studies aimed at discovering their anti-hyperglycemic effects, which are beneficial in alleviating chronic diseases and protecting human health. Hyperglycemia is a common risk factor for metabolic disease and mortality worldwide. Chronic hyperglycemic states can lead to many long-term complications, such as retinopathy, neuropathy, kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. This review explores the potential anti-hyperglycemic effects of bioactive compounds, specifically flavonoids and phenolic acids, and their proposed roles in mitigating chronic diseases and promoting human health. By thoroughly examining the existing literature, we investigated the potential anti-hyperglycemic effects of these bioactive compounds and their proposed roles in managing chronic diseases. The goal of this paper was to enhance our comprehension of how these compounds modulate glucose transporters, with the ultimate aim of identifying effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of diet-related diseases. Overall, this review investigated the use of bioactive compounds from functional foods as potential inhibitors of glucose transporters in the context of prevention/treatment of diet-related diseases.

Resveratrol reverses Palmitic Acid-induced cow neutrophils apoptosis through shifting glucose metabolism into lipid metabolism via Cav-1/ CPT 1-mediated FAO enhancement

Elevated plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) affect neutrophils function and longevity during the periparturient period in dairy cows. Previous research has shown that resveratrol (RSV) may protect cell viability from NEFA-induced damage by regulating energy metabolism. However, it is unclear whether RSV has a protective effect on palmitic acid (PA)-treated neutrophils. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular regulatory mechanism of the protective effect of RSV on neutrophils. The results showed that treatment with high concentrations of RSV (50 μM, 100 μM) maintained neutrophils activity by inhibiting neutrophils apoptosis (P < 0.05). Further analysis showed that high concentrations of RSV enhanced fatty acid oxidation (FAO) to produce ATP by promoting the expression of CAV1, ACSL-1 and CPT1 (P < 0. 05) while inhibiting glycolysis by suppressing PFK1 activity (P < 0. 05) and reducing glucose transport-related protein (GLUT1/GLUT4) expression by inhibiting glucose uptake (P < 0.05). These results suggest that RSV protects neutrophils from PA-induced apoptosis by regulating energy metabolism. Our results revealed that RSV protects neutrophils from PA-induced apoptosis by shifting glucose metabolism to lipid metabolism. This study tenders to a meaningful understanding of the effects of RSV on neutrophils function in periparturient cows suffering from negative energy balance (NEB).

DDQN-based optimal targeted therapy with reversible inhibitors to combat the Warburg effect

We cover the Warburg effect with a three-component evolutionary model, where each component represents a different metabolic strategy. In this context, a scenario involving cells expressing three different phenotypes is presented. One tumour phenotype exhibits glycolytic metabolism through glucose uptake and lactate secretion. Lactate is used by a second malignant phenotype to proliferate. The third phenotype represents healthy cells, which performs oxidative phosphorylation. The purpose of this model is to gain a better understanding of the metabolic alterations associated with the Warburg effect. It is suitable to reproduce some of the clinical trials obtained in colorectal cancer and other even more aggressive tumours. It shows that lactate is an indicator of poor prognosis, since it favours the setting of polymorphic tumour equilibria that complicates its treatment. This model is also used to train a reinforcement learning algorithm, known as Double Deep Q-networks, in order to provide the first optimal targeted therapy based on experimental tumour growth inhibitors as genistein and AR-C155858. Our in silico solution includes the optimal therapy for all the tumour state space and also ensures the best possible quality of life for the patients, by considering the duration of treatment, the use of low-dose medications and the existence of possible contraindications. Optimal therapies obtained with Double Deep Q-networks are validated with the solutions of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation.

Systemic Reduction of Glut1 Normalizes Retinal Dysfunction, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in the Retina of Spontaneous Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Defects in the light-evoked responses of the retina occur early in the sequalae of diabetic retinopathy (DR). These defects, identified through the electroretinogram (ERG), represent dysfunction of retinal neurons and the retinal pigment epithelium and are commonly identifiable at the timing of, or almost immediately following, diabetes diagnosis. Recently, systemic reduction of the facilitated glucose transporter type 1, Glut1, in type 1 diabetic mice was shown to reduce retinal sorbitol accumulation, mitigate ERG defects, and prevent retinal oxidative stress and inflammation. Herein, the study investigated whether systemic reduction of Glut1 also diminished hallmarks of DR in type 2 diabetic mice. Transgenic nondiabetic Leprdb/+ and spontaneously diabetic Leprdb/db mice that expressed wild-type (Glut1+/+) or systemically reduced levels of Glut1 (Glut1+/-) were aged and subjected to standard strobe flash electroretinography and c-wave analysis before evaluation of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress molecules. Although Leprdb/dbGlut1+/- mice still displayed overt obesity and diabetes, no scotopic, photopic, or c-wave ERG defects were present through 16 weeks of age, and expression of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress molecules was also normalized. These findings suggest that systemic reduction of Glut1 is sufficient to prevent functional retinal pathophysiology in type 2 diabetes. Targeted, moderate reductions of Glut1 or inhibition of Glut1 activity in the retina of diabetic patients should be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent development and progression of DR.

Mutual impact of adipocytes and colorectal cancer cells growing in co-culture conditions

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide. CRC cells are situated in an adipocyte-rich microenvironment, which leads to interactions between adipocytes and CRC cells. Upon exposure to cancer cells, adipocytes transform into cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), and as a result, they gain features that promote tumor progression. The aim of this research was to shed more light on the detailed role of interactions between adipocytes and CRC cells associated with cancer progression in the context of these alterations.

METHODS

To implement adipocyte-CRC cell interaction, a co-culture model was applied. The analyses mainly focused on the metabolic modifications within CAAs and CRC cells, as well as the proliferation and migration potential of CRC cells. The impact of CRC on adipocytes was investigated by qRT-PCR analysis and Oil Red O staining. Proliferation and migration of CRC cells upon co-culture were tested with videomicroscopy, XTT, and a wound healing assay. Metabolic changes within CAAs and CRC cells were investigated based on lipid droplet formation, cell cycle analysis, gene and protein expression by qRT-PCR, and western blotting techniques.

RESULTS

CRC cells induced reprogramming of adipocytes into CAAs, which was connected with downregulation of lipid droplet formation in CAAs and alteration in adipocyte features. CAAs showed decreased metabolism-related gene expression, phosphorylation of Akt, ERK kinases, STAT3, and lactate secretion in comparison to the control. CAAs also promoted the migration, proliferation, and lipid droplet accumulation of CRC cells. After co-culturing with adipocytes, there was a shift to the G2/M phase of the cell cycle according to the differences in cyclin expression.

CONCLUSION

There are complex bidirectional interactions between adipocytes and CRC cells that may be connected with the induction of CRC cell progression. Video Abstract.

Tumor metabolism rewiring in epithelial ovarian cancer

The mortality rate of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the first in malignant tumors of the female reproductive system. The characteristics of rapid proliferation, extensive implanted metastasis, and treatment resistance of cancer cells require an extensive metabolism rewiring during the progression of cancer development. EOC cells satisfy their rapid proliferation through the rewiring of perception, uptake, utilization, and regulation of glucose, lipids, and amino acids. Further, complete implanted metastasis by acquiring a superior advantage in microenvironment nutrients competing. Lastly, success evolves under the treatment stress of chemotherapy and targets therapy. Understanding the above metabolic characteristics of EOCs helps to find new methods of its treatment.

Optimized Carbohydrate-Based Nanogel Formulation to Sensitize Hypoxic Tumors

Solid tumors are often poorly vascularized, which impairs oxygen supply and drug delivery to the cells. This often leads to genetic and translational adaptations that promote tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to conventional chemo-/radiotherapy and immunotherapy. A hypoxia-directed nanosensitizer formulation of a hypoxia-activated prodrug (HAP) was developed by encapsulating iodoazomycin arabinofuranoside (IAZA), a 2-nitroimidazole nucleoside-based HAP, in a functionally modified carbohydrate-based nanogel, facilitating delivery and accrual selectively in the hypoxic head and neck and prostate cancer cells. Although IAZA has been reported as a clinically validated hypoxia diagnostic agent, recent studies have pointed to its promising hypoxia-selective anti-tumor properties, which make IAZA an excellent candidate for further exploration as a multimodal theranostic of hypoxic tumors. The nanogels are composed of a galactose-based shell with an inner core of thermoresponsive (di(ethylene glycol) methyl ethyl methacrylate) (DEGMA). Optimization of the nanogels led to high IAZA-loading capacity (≅80-88%) and a slow time-controlled release over 50 h. Furthermore, nanoIAZA (encapsulated IAZA) displayed superior in vitro hypoxia-selective cytotoxicity and radiosensitization in comparison to free IAZA in the head and neck (FaDu) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines. The acute systemic toxicity profile of the nanogel (NG1) was studied in immunocompromised mice, indicating no signs of toxicity. Additionally, growth inhibition of subcutaneous FaDu xenograft tumors was observed with nanoIAZA, demonstrating that this nanoformulation offers a significant improvement in tumor regression and overall survival compared to the control.

Metabolic Effects of New Glucose Transporter (GLUT-1) and Lactate Dehydrogenase-A (LDH-A) Inhibitors against Chemoresistant Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive and resistant tumor. The prognostic role of key effectors of glycolytic metabolism in MM prompted our studies on the cytotoxicity of new inhibitors of glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT-1) and lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDH-A) in relation to ATP/NAD⁺ metabolism, glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. The antiproliferative activity of GLUT-1 (PGL13, PGL14) and LDH-A (NHI-1, NHI-2) inhibitors, alone and in combination, were tested with the sulforhodamine-B assay in peritoneal (MESO-II, STO) and pleural (NCI-H2052 and NCI-H28) MM and non-cancerous (HMEC-1) cells. Effects on energy metabolism were measured by both analysis of nucleotides using RP-HPLC and evaluation of glycolysis and respiration parameters using a Seahorse Analyzer system. All compounds reduced the growth of MM cells in the µmolar range. Interestingly, in H2052 cells, PGL14 decreased ATP concentration from 37 to 23 and NAD⁺ from 6.5 to 2.3 nmol/mg protein. NHI-2 reduced the ATP/ADP ratio by 76%. The metabolic effects of the inhibitors were stronger in pleural MM and in combination, while in HMEC-1 ATP reduction was 10% lower compared to that of the H2052 cells, and we observed a minor influence on mitochondrial respiration. To conclude, both inhibitors showed cytotoxicity in MM cells, associated with a decrease in ATP and NAD⁺, and were synergistic in the cells with the highest metabolic modulation. This underlines cellular energy metabolism as a potential target for combined treatments in selected cases of MM.

Functional importance of glucose transporters and chromatin epigenetic factors in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM): possible therapeutics

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer affecting glial cells and is chemo- and radio-resistant. Glucose is considered the most vital energy source for cancer cell proliferation. During metabolism, hexose molecules will be transported into the cells via transmembrane proteins known as glucose transporter (GLUT). Among them, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 play pivotal roles in glucose transport in GBM. Knockdown studies have established the role of GLUT-1, and GLUT-3 mediated glucose transport in GBM cells, providing insight into GLUT-mediated cancer signaling and cancer aggressiveness. This review focussed on the vital role of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 proteins, which regulate glucose transport. Recent studies have identified the role of GLUT inhibitors in effective cancer prevention. Several of them are in clinical trials. Understanding and functional approaches towards glucose-mediated cell metabolism and chromatin epigenetics will provide valuable insights into the mechanism of cancer aggressiveness, cancer stemness, and chemo-resistance in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). This review summarizes the role of GLUT inhibitors, micro-RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs that aid in inhibiting glucose uptake by the GBM cells and other cancer cells leading to the identification of potential therapeutic, prognostic as well as diagnostic markers. Furthermore, the involvement of epigenetic factors, such as microRNAs, in regulating glycolytic genes was demonstrated.

Relevance of Sugar Transport across the Cell Membrane

Sugar transport through the plasma membrane is one of the most critical events in the cellular transport of nutrients; for example, glucose has a central role in cellular metabolism and homeostasis. The way sugars enter the cell involves complex systems. Diverse protein systems participate in the membrane traffic of the sugars from the extracellular side to the cytoplasmic side. This diversity makes the phenomenon highly regulated and modulated to satisfy the different needs of each cell line. The beautiful thing about this process is how evolutionary processes have diversified a single function: to move glucose into the cell. The deregulation of these entrance systems causes some diseases. Hence, it is necessary to study them and search for a way to correct the alterations and utilize these mechanisms to promote health. This review will highlight the various mechanisms for importing the valuable sugars needed to create cellular homeostasis and survival in all kinds of cells.

Flavonoids attenuate cancer metabolism by modulating Lipid metabolism, amino acids, ketone bodies and redox state mediated by Nrf2

Metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells is a common hallmark of malignant transformation. The preference for aerobic glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation in tumors is a well-studied phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Importantly, metabolic transformation of cancer cells also involves alterations in signaling cascades contributing to lipid metabolism, amino acid flux and synthesis, and utilization of ketone bodies. Also, redox regulation interacts with metabolic reprogramming during malignant transformation. Flavonoids, widely distributed phytochemicals in plants, exert various beneficial effects on human health through modulating molecular cascades altered in the pathological cancer phenotype. Recent evidence has identified numerous flavonoids as modulators of critical components of cancer metabolism and associated pathways interacting with metabolic cascades such as redox balance. Flavonoids affect lipid metabolism by regulating fatty acid synthase, redox balance by modulating nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activity, or amino acid flux and synthesis by phosphoglycerate mutase 1. Here, we discuss recent preclinical evidence evaluating the impact of flavonoids on cancer metabolism, focusing on lipid and amino acid metabolic cascades, redox balance, and ketone bodies.

Integrated Multi-Omics Landscape of Liver Metastases

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Lack of thorough knowledge about the complicated immune microenvironment (IM) within a variety of liver metastases (LMs) leads to inappropriate treatment and unsatisfactory prognosis. We aimed to characterize IM subtypes and investigate potential mechanisms in LMs.

METHODS

Mass cytometry was applied to characterize immune landscape of a primary liver cancers and liver metastases cohort. Transcriptomic and whole-exome sequencing were used to explore potential mechanisms across distinct IM subtypes. Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing, multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry, cell culture, mouse model, Western blot, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry were used for validation.

RESULTS

Five IM subtypes were revealed in 100 LMs and 50 primary liver cancers. Patients featured terminally exhausted (IM1) or rare T-cell-inflamed (IM2 and IM3) immune characteristics showed worse outcome. Increased intratumor heterogeneity, enriched somatic TP53, KRAS, APC, and PIK3CA mutations and hyperactivated hypoxia signaling accounted for the formation of vicious subtypes. SLC2A1 promoted immune suppression and desert via increasing proportion of Spp1⁺ macrophages and their inhibitory interactions with T cells in liver metastatic lesions. Furthermore, SLC2A1 promoted immune escape and LM through inducing regulatory T cells, including regulatory T cells and LAG3⁺CD4⁺ T cells in primary colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provided integrated multi-omics landscape of LM, uncovering potential mechanisms for vicious IM subtypes and confirming the roles of SLC2A1 in regulating tumor microenvironment remodeling in both primary tumor and LM lesions.

The Role of Reprogrammed Glucose Metabolism in Cancer

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet biosynthetic needs and to adapt to various microenvironments. Accelerated glycolysis offers proliferative benefits for malignant cells by generating glycolytic products that move into branched pathways to synthesize proteins, fatty acids, nucleotides, and lipids. Notably, reprogrammed glucose metabolism and its associated events support the hallmark features of cancer such as sustained cell proliferation, hijacked apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Overproduced enzymes involved in the committed steps of glycolysis (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1, and pyruvate kinase) are promising pharmacological targets for cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the role of reprogrammed glucose metabolism in cancer cells and how it can be manipulated for anti-cancer strategies.

dMyc-dependent upregulation of CD98 amino acid transporters is required for Drosophila brain tumor growth

Tumor cells have an increased demand for nutrients to sustain their growth, but how these increased metabolic needs are ensured or how this influences tumor formation and progression remains unclear. To unravel tumor metabolic dependencies, particularly from extracellular metabolites, we have analyzed the role of plasma membrane metabolic transporters in Drosophila brain tumors. Using a well-established neural stem cell-derived tumor model, caused by brat knockdown, we have found that 13 plasma membrane metabolic transporters, including amino acid, carbohydrate and monocarboxylate transporters, are upregulated in tumors and are required for tumor growth. We identified CD98hc and several of the light chains with which it can form heterodimeric amino acid transporters, as crucial players in brat RNAi (brat IR) tumor progression. Knockdown of these components of CD98 heterodimers caused a dramatic reduction in tumor growth. Our data also reveal that the oncogene dMyc is required and sufficient for the upregulation of CD98 transporter subunits in these tumors. Furthermore, tumor-upregulated dmyc and CD98 transporters orchestrate the overactivation of the growth-promoting signaling pathway TOR, forming a core growth regulatory network to support brat IR tumor progression. Our findings highlight the important link between oncogenes, metabolism, and signaling pathways in the regulation of tumor growth and allow for a better understanding of the mechanisms necessary for tumor progression.

Predicting response to neoadjuvant therapy with glucose transporter-1 in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

Glucose transporter-1 is a marker involved in energy transport in cancer cells. It has been shown to be a poor prognostic factor in many cancer types, including breast cancer. However, there is no satisfactory parameter predicting treatment in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. This study investigated the effect of glucose transporter-1 in predicting the treatment response of patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.

METHODS

In this study, glucose transporter-1 immunohistochemistry was applied to tru-cut biopsy of patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer and received neoadjuvant therapy between 2010 and 2021. A built-in scoring system was used to evaluate both the pattern and intensity of glucose transporter-1 immunohistochemistry staining. The relationship between glucose transporter-1 immunohistochemistry staining and other clinicopathological parameters was examined. In addition, the relationship of glucose transporter-1 with response to treatment was investigated.

RESULTS

A relationship was found between high glucose transporter-1 expression and other clinicopathological parameters (such as estrogen and progesterone receptor negativity, high Ki-67, triple-negative, and Her2 status). Cases with high glucose transporter-1 expression had either a complete or a partial pathologic response. The result was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Glucose transporter-1 has the potential to be a biomarker that can be evaluated more objectively as an alternative to Ki-67 labeling index in evaluating the response to treatment in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.

Disorders of cancer metabolism: The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids

Abnormal energy metabolism, as one of the important hallmarks of cancer, was induced by multiple carcinogenic factors and tumor-specific microenvironments. It comprises aerobic glycolysis, de novo lipid biosynthesis, and glutamine-dependent anaplerosis. Considering that metabolic reprogramming provides various nutrients for tumor survival and development, it has been considered a potential target for cancer therapy. Cannabinoids have been shown to exhibit a variety of anticancer activities by unclear mechanisms. This paper first reviews the recent progress of related signaling pathways (reactive oxygen species (ROS), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α), and p53) mediating the reprogramming of cancer metabolism (including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism). Then we comprehensively explore the latest discoveries and possible mechanisms of the anticancer effects of cannabinoids through the regulation of the above-mentioned related signaling pathways, to provide new targets and insights for cancer prevention and treatment.

Glucose Metabolism in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line Is Regulated via Combinational PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway Inhibitors

Background

Metabolism reprogramming is a survival mechanism in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, we investigated the effect of signaling pathway inhibitors on the expression of genes rewired in the metabolic pathway of AML cells.

Methods

HL-60 cells were treated with Idelalisib, MK-2206, and Everolimus, which respectively are selective inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), either individually or in combination. The relative expressions of glucose transporter 1, hexokinase 2, pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1, citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase 2, and hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha were determined by real-time PCR.

Results

The combined treatment of HL-60 cells with Idelalisib, MK-2206, and Everolimus decreased the expression of glucose transporter 1, hexokinase 2, pyruvate kinase M2, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1, citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase 2, and hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha.

Conclusions

A combination of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors regulates the expression of genes involved in glycolysis, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH), and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and interferes with metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion mechanisms of AML leukemic cells. Combinational therapy approaches to block these pathways might be a promising and novel therapeutic strategy for targeting the metabolic requirements of AML cells.

Expression of glucose transporter-1 in follicular lymphoma affected tumor-infiltrating immunocytes and was related to progression of disease within 24 months

OBJECTIVE

Follicular lymphoma (FL) occurring progression within 24 months (POD24) after initial immunochemotherapy has poor prognosis. GLUT1 affects glycolysis within tumor microenvironment (TME) and promotes tumor progression. However, its specific mediated mechanism remains unclear in FL.

METHODS

Baseline GLUT1 expression, infiltrations of M2 macrophage, and CD8+ T-cells were assessed by immunohistochemistry in FL with POD24 and long-term remission respectively. The spatial features of TME were assessed by MIBI-TOF and proteomics. Predictive immunophenotypes for POD24 occurrence was analyzed by random forest algorithm. The lactate production and the induction of M2 macrophages were detected when GLUT1 was transfected or knocked down in DOHH2. The activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in DOHH2 and WSU-FSCCL cells co-cultured with induced inhibitory immunocytes was tracked by western blotting.

RESULTS

The FL with POD24 exhibited higher baseline GLUT1 expression and increased infiltration of various inhibitory immunocytes. Spatial signatures of 69 immunophenotypes could predict POD24 occurrence. The activation of PI3K/ Akt /mTOR signaling pathway was not significant in both groups. The supernatant of DOHH2-GLUT1 cells which had more lactate content could induce more M2-type macrophages than that of DOHH2/siRNA GLUT1 cells. When co-cultured with exhausted CD8+ T cells, M2-type macrophages and Tregs, compared with WSU-FSCCL cells, DOHH2 cells with high GLUT1 expression induced more M2-type macrophages and was triggered activation of PI3K/ Akt /mTOR signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Tumor cells overexpressing GLUT1 could domesticate immunocytes to form an immunosuppressive TME, which promotes occurrence of POD24 and gradually activates PI3K/ Akt /mTOR pathway of tumor cells in FL.

SIGNIFICANCE

Tumor cells overexpressing GLUT1 could domesticate immunocytes to form an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which in turn promoted the growth of tumor cells and was related to the progression of disease within 24 months in FL. Suppressive immunocytes gradually activated PI3K/ Akt /mTOR pathway of tumor cells in later stage. Distinguishing spatial features of immunocytes could well predict POD24 occurrence, hoping to benefit these patients from early anti-metabolism therapy based on GLUT1 in the future.

New horizons in modulating the radio-sensitivity of head and neck cancer - 100 years after Warburg' effect discovery

Tumor radiation resistance along with chemotherapy resistance is one of the main causes of therapeutic failure of radiotherapy-treated head and neck cancers. 100 years after the discovery of the Warburg effect, a process specific to malignant cells to metabolize glucose especially anaerobically even under normoxia condition, its modulation has become a viable therapeutic target for improving the results of cancer therapies. Improving the radio-sensitivity of head and neck tumors by reversing the Warburg effect can increase the rate of local control and reduce the toxicity associated with irradiation. P53 status can be used as a biomarker in the choice of a single agent strategy (cell respiration inhibition with Metformin) or double inhibition, both of respiration and glycolysis. Targeting of enzymes involved in the Warburg effect, such as Hexokinase-II, are strategies with potential to be applied in clinical practice with radio-sensitizing effect for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Even if anti-Warburg therapies tested in clinical trials have been associated with either toxic deaths or a minor clinical benefit, the identification of both potential radio-sensitivity biomarkers and methods of reversing the Warburg effect will play an important role in the radiobiology of head and neck cancers.

An appraisal of the current status of inhibition of glucose transporters as an emerging antineoplastic approach: Promising potential of new pan-GLUT inhibitors

Neoplastic cells displayed altered metabolism with accelerated glycolysis. Therefore, these cells need a mammoth supply of glucose for which they display an upregulated expression of various glucose transporters (GLUT). Thus, novel antineoplastic strategies focus on inhibiting GLUT to intersect the glycolytic lifeline of cancer cells. This review focuses on the current status of various GLUT inhibition scenarios. The GLUT inhibitors belong to both natural and synthetic small inhibitory molecules category. As neoplastic cells express multiple GLUT isoforms, it is necessary to use pan-GLUT inhibitors. Nevertheless, it is also necessary that such pan-GLUT inhibitors exert their action at a low concentration so that normal healthy cells are left unharmed and minimal injury is caused to the other vital organs and systems of the body. Moreover, approaches are also emerging from combining GLUT inhibitors with other chemotherapeutic agents to potentiate the antineoplastic action. A new pan-GLUT inhibitor named glutor, a piperazine-one derivative, has shown a potent antineoplastic action owing to its inhibitory action exerted at nanomolar concentrations. The review discusses the merits and limitations of the existing GLUT inhibitory approach with possible future outcomes.

Anti-tumour effects of a macrolide analog F806 in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting and promoting GLUT1 autolysosomal degradation

Cancer cells are characterized by altered energetic metabolism with increasing glucose uptake. F806, a 16-membered macrodiolide analogue, has anti-tumour effects on oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. However, its precise anti-tumour mechanism remains unclear. Here, metascape analysis of our previous quantitative proteomics data showed that F806 induced glucose starvation response and inhibited energy production in ESCC cells. The reduced glucose uptake and ATP production were further validated by the fluorescent methods, using glucose-conjugated bioprobe Glu-1-O-DCSN, and the bioluminescent methods, respectively. Consistently, under F806 treatment the AMP-activated protein kinase signalling was activated, and autophagy flux was promoted and more autophagosomes were formed. Moreover, live-cell imaging and immunofluorescence analysis showed that F806 induced GLUT1 plasma membrane dissociation and promoted its internalization and autolysosome accumulation and lysosome degradation. Furthermore, molecular docking studies demonstrated that F806 bound to GLUT1 with a comparable binding energy to that of GLUT1's direct interacting inhibitor cytochalasin B. Amino acid mutation was used to test which residues of GLUT1 may participate in F806 mediated-GLUT1 internalization and degradation, and results showed that Thr137, Asn411 and Trp388 were required for GLUT1 internalization and degradation, respectively. Taken together, these findings shed light on a novel anti-tumour mechanism of F806 by targeting and promoting GLUT1 internalization and further autolysosomal degradation.

The long non-sacoding RNA TMEM147-AS1/miR-133b/ZNF587 axis regulates the Warburg effect and promotes prostatic carcinoma invasion and proliferation

BACKGROUND

The Warburg effect is a characteristic tumor cell behavior regarded as one of the cancer hallmarks and promotes tumor progression by promoting glucose uptake and lactate production. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) had been reported to emerge as a vital function in cancer development. The present research is designed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of lncRNA TMEM147 antisense RNA 1 (TMEM147-AS1) on aerobic glycolysis in prostatic carcinoma.

METHODS

lncRNA TMEM147-AS1, miR-133b and ZNF587 levels in prostatic carcinoma tissues and cells were detected by a polymerase chain reaction or western blot assays. Cell viability or invasion was determined by Edu (i.e. 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine), MTT (i.e. 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) or transwell assays. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining were applied for histopathological examination. Tumor xenograft model was employed to investigate tumor growth in vivo. The combinative relationship between TMEM147-AS1 or ZNF587 and miR-133b was confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

TMEM147-AS1 and ZNF587 were up-regulated in prostatic carcinoma tissues and cells. Knockdown of TMEM147-AS1 or ZNF587 within prostate cancer cells significantly restrained cell viability, invasion and aerobic glycolysis in vitro and suppressed the neoplasia of prostatic carcinoma in vivo. miR-133b was directly targeted in both TMEM147-AS1 and ZNF587. Overexpression of miR-133b restrained prostate cancer cell viability, invasion and aerobic glycolysis. TMEM147-AS1 competitively targeted miR-133b, therefore counteracting miR-133b-mediated repression on ZNF587.

CONCLUSIONS

TMEM147-AS1 plays a tumor-promoting action in prostatic carcinoma aerobic glycolysis via affecting the miR-133b/ZNF587 axis, therefore regulating prostatic carcinoma cells invasion and proliferation. These outcomes implied that TMEM147-AS1 could be an effective treatment strategy for further study of prostatic carcinoma.