Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Contributes to Paclitaxel Resistance in Bladder Cancer Cells with Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties

Highlighting function of Wnt signalling in urological cancers: Molecular interactions, therapeutic strategies, and (nano)strategies

Cancer is a complex, multistep process characterized by abnormal cell growth and metastasis as well as the capacity of the tumor cells in therapy resistance development. The urological system is particularly susceptible to a group of malignancies known as urological cancers, where an accumulation of genetic alterations drives carcinogenesis. In various human cancers, Wnt singalling is dysregulated; following nuclear transfer of β-catenin, it promotes tumor progression and affects genes expression. Elevated levels of Wnt have been documented in urological cancers, where its overexpression enhances growth and metastasis. Additionally, increased Wnt singalling contributes to chemoresistance in urological cancers, leading to reduced sensitivity to chemotherapy agents like cisplatin, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel. Wnt upregulation can change radiotherapy response of urological cancers. The regulation of Wnt involves various molecular pathways, including Akt, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, all of which play roles in carcinogenesis. Targeting and silencing Wnt or its associated pathways can mitigate tumorigenesis in urological cancers. Anti-cancer compounds such as curcumin and thymoquinone have shown efficacy in suppressing tumorigenesis through the downregulation of Wnt singalling. Notably, nanoparticles have proven effective in treating urological cancers, with several studies in prostate cancer (PCa) using nanoparticles to downregulate Wnt and suppress tumor growth. Future research should focus on developing small molecules that inhibit Wnt singalling to further suppress tumorigenesis and advance the treatment of urological cancers. Moreover, Wnt can be used as reliable biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of urological cancers.

Targeting Galectin-1 Overcomes Paclitaxel Resistance in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Resistance to paclitaxel poses a major obstacle in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treatment. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying paclitaxel resistance could help identify prognostic biomarkers and improved therapeutic strategies. In this study, we established a patient-derived xenograft model of acquired paclitaxel resistance and used RNA sequencing to identify galectin-1, encoded by LGALS1, as a key mediator of resistance. Integrative analysis of clinical data and physiological studies indicated that serum galectin-1 levels were elevated in resistant patients and correlated with treatment outcomes before and during taxane therapy. Importantly, exposing cells to serum from resistant patients resulted in increased paclitaxel resistance compared to serum from sensitive patients, which was closely associated with galectin-1 concentrations in the serum. The specific clearance of galectin-1 from resistant patient serum significantly restored paclitaxel sensitivity, and inhibiting galectin-1, through knockdown or the pharmacologic inhibitor OTX008, increased sensitivity to paclitaxel. Galectin-1 inhibition reduced the activity of β-catenin, thereby inhibiting stem cell properties induced by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, galectin-1 regulated MDR1 transcription through increased nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, thus increasing resistance to paclitaxel. Combining OTX008 with clinical taxane formulations effectively reversed paclitaxel resistance in vitro and in vivo. Elevated galectin-1 levels thus serve as an indicator of response to paclitaxel therapy in ESCC, offering a therapeutic intervention strategy to overcome drug resistance. Significance: Galectin-1 is a key mediator of paclitaxel resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that can be targeted to improve taxane efficacy, suggesting broad therapeutic potential for treating various cancer types.

Role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer drug resistance: Insights into molecular aspects of major solid tumors

Adaptive resistance to conventional and targeted therapies remains one of the major obstacles in the effective management of cancer. Aberrant activation of key signaling mechanisms plays a pivotal role in modulating resistance to drugs. An evolutionarily conserved Wnt/β-catenin pathway is one of the signaling cascades which regulate resistance to drugs. Elevated Wnt signaling confers resistance to anticancer therapies, either through direct activation of its target genes or via indirect mechanisms and crosstalk over other signaling pathways. Involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer hallmarks like inhibition of apoptosis, promotion of invasion and metastasis and cancer stem cell maintenance makes this pathway a potential target to exploit for addressing drug resistance. Accumulating evidences suggest a critical role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in imparting resistance across multiple cancers including PDAC, NSCLC, TNBC, etc. Here we present a comprehensive assessment of how Wnt/β-catenin pathway mediates cancer drug resistance in majority of the solid tumors. We take a deep dive into the Wnt/β-catenin signaling-mediated modulation of cellular and downstream molecular mechanisms and their impact on cancer resistance.

Blocking the WNT/β-catenin pathway in cancer treatment:pharmacological targets and drug therapeutic potential

The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway plays crucial roles in tumorigenesis and relapse, metastasis, drug resistance, and tumor stemness maintenance. In most tumors, the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is often aberrantly activated. The therapeutic usefulness of inhibition of WNT/β-catenin signaling has been reported to improve the efficiency of different cancer treatments and this inhibition of signaling has been carried out using different methods including pharmacological agents, short interfering RNA (siRNA), and antibodies. Here, we review the WNT-inhibitory effects of some FDA-approved drugs and natural products in cancer treatment and focus on recent progress of the WNT signaling inhibitors in improving the efficiency of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and physical therapy. We also classified these FDA-approved drugs and natural products according to their structure and physicochemical properties, and introduced briefly their potential mechanisms of inhibiting the WNT signaling pathway. The review provides a comprehensive understanding of inhibitors of WNT/β-catenin pathway in various cancer therapeutics. This will benefit novel WNT inhibitor development and optimal clinical use of WNT signaling-related drugs in synergistic cancer therapy.

CTEN-induced TGF-β1 expression facilitates EMT and enhances paclitaxel resistance in bladder cancer cells

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the role of C-terminal tensin-like (CTEN) in mediating chemotherapy resistance via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in bladder cancer (BC) cells, through the regulation of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression.

METHODS

Lentiviral vectors were used to create CTEN overexpression and knockdown constructs, which were then introduced into paclitaxel-resistant BC cell lines. The effects of CTEN manipulation on cell proliferation and drug sensitivity was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, and apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. The expression levels of CTEN, TGF-β1, and EMT markers were quantified by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. The interaction between CTEN and TGF-β1 and its effect on TGF-β1 methylation were studied using bisulfite sequencing PCR and co-immunoprecipitation.

RESULTS

Overexpression of CTEN in BC cells was associated with decreased paclitaxel efficacy, reduced apoptosis, and elevated levels of TGF-β1 and EMT-related proteins. CTEN was found to bind TGF-β1, inhibiting its methylation and thereby promoting TGF-β1 upregulation. This increase in TGF-β1 expression facilitated the EMT process and enhanced drug resistance in BC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The induction of TGF-β1 expression by CTEN promotes EMT and increases chemotherapy resistance in BC cells. Targeting CTEN or the EMT pathway could improve chemosensitivity in treatment-resistant BC, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness.

PDE3B regulates KRT6B and increases the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to copper ionophores

Cuproptosis is a new Cu-dependent programmed cell death manner that has shown regulatory functions in many tumor types, however, its mechanism in bladder cancer remains unclear. Here, we reveal that Phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B), a cuproptosis-associated gene, could reduce the invasion and migration of bladder cancer. PDE3B is downregulated in bladder cancer tissues, which is correlated with better prognosis. Conversely, overexpression of PDE3B in bladder cancer cell could significantly resist invasion and migration, which is consistent with the TCGA database results. Future study demonstrate the anti-cancer effect of PDE3B is mediated by Keratin 6B (KRT6B) which leads to the keratinization. Therefore, PDE3B can reduce KRT6B expression and inhibit the invasion and migration of bladder cancer. Meanwhile, increased expression of PDE3B was able to enhance the sensitivity of Cuproptosis drug thiram. This study show that PDE3B/KRT6B is a potential cancer therapeutic target and PDE3B activation is able to increase the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to copper ionophores.

Breast cancer stem cells as novel biomarkers

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Despite advancements in detection and treatment, it remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are a crucial group of cells responsible for carcinogenesis, metastasis, medication resistance, and tumor recurrence. Identifying and understanding their molecular pathways is essential for developing effective breast cancer therapy. BCSCs are responsible for tumor genesis, development, metastasis, treatment resistance, and recurrence. Biomarkers are essential tools for identifying high-risk patients, improving diagnostic accuracy, developing follow-up programs, assessing treatment susceptibility, and predicting prognostic outcomes. Stem cell intervention therapy can provide specialized tools for precision therapy. Biomarker analysis in cancer patients is crucial to identify cells associated with disease progression and post-therapeutic relapse. However, negative post-therapeutic impacts can enhance cancer stemness by boosting BCSCs plasticity phenotypes, activating stemness pathways in non-BCSCs, and promoting senescence escape, leading to tumor relapse and metastasis. Despite the advancements in precision medicine, challenges persist in identifying stem cell markers, limiting the number of eligible patients for treatment. The diversity of biomedical research hinders the development of individualization-based preventative, monitoring, and treatment strategies, especially in oncology. Integrating and interpreting clinical and scientific data remains challenging. The development of stem cell-related indicators could significantly improve disease precision, enabling stem cell-targeted therapy and personalized treatment plans, although BCSCs are promising for breast cancer treatment optimization, serving as biomarkers for current therapy modalities. This summary discusses recent advancements in breast cancer stem cell research, including biomarkers, identification methods, molecular mechanisms, and tools for studying their biological origin and lineage development for precision medicine.

Mechanical effects modulate drug resistance in MCF-7-derived organoids: Insights into the wnt/β-catenin pathway

Addressing drug resistance poses a significant challenge in cancer treatment, as cancer cells develop diverse mechanisms to evade chemotherapy drugs, leading to treatment failure and disease relapse. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture has emerged as a valuable model for studying drug resistance, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. By obtaining a better understanding of drug resistance within the 3D culture environment, we can develop more effective strategies to overcome it and improve the success of cancer treatments. Notably, the physical structure undergoes notable changes in 3D culture, with mechanical effects believed to play a pivotal role in drug resistance. Hence, our study aimed to explore the influence of mechanical effects on drug resistance by analyzing data related to "drug resistance" and "mechanobiology". Through this analysis, we identified β-catenin and JNK1 as potential factors, which were further examined in MCF-7 cells cultivated under both 2D and 3D culture conditions. Our findings demonstrate that β-catenin is activated through canonical and non-canonical pathways and associated with the drug resistance, particularly in organoids obtained under 3D culture.

Targeted therapies in bladder cancer: signaling pathways, applications, and challenges

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in men. Understanding molecular characteristics via studying signaling pathways has made tremendous breakthroughs in BC therapies. Thus, targeted therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) have markedly improved advanced BC outcomes over the last few years. However, the considerable patients still progress after a period of treatment with current therapeutic regimens. Therefore, it is crucial to guide future drug development to improve BC survival, based on the molecular characteristics of BC and clinical outcomes of existing drugs. In this perspective, we summarize the applications and benefits of these targeted drugs and highlight our understanding of mechanisms of low response rates and immune escape of ICIs, ADCs toxicity, and TKI resistance. We also discuss potential solutions to these problems. In addition, we underscore the future drug development of targeting metabolic reprogramming and cancer stem cells (CSCs) with a deep understanding of their signaling pathways features. We expect that finding biomarkers, developing novo drugs and designing clinical trials with precisely selected patients and rationalized drugs will dramatically improve the quality of life and survival of patients with advanced BC.

Super-enhancer-associated SNHG15 cooperating with FOSL1 contributes to bladder cancer progression through the WNT pathway

Small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 (SNHG15) plays an oncogenic role in many cancers. However, the role of SNHG15 in bladder cancer (BLCA) remains unclear. In this study, the regulation of SNHG15 on the activities of BLCA cells (T24 and RT112) was investigated. In detail, super-enhancers (SEs), differentially expressed genes, and functional enrichment were detected by bioinformatic analyses. Mutant cell lines lacking SNHG15-SEs were established using CRISPR-Cas9. Relative gene expression was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry assays. Cell senescence, apoptosis, viability, and proliferation were measured. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR and luciferase reporter gene assays were conducted to analyze the interactions between genes. A novel super-enhancer of SNHG15 (SNHG15-SEs) was discovered in several BLCA datasets. The deletion of SNHG15-SEs resulted in a significant downregulation of SNHG15. Mechanistically, the core active region of SNHG15-SEs recruited the transcription factor FOSL1 to facilitate the SNHG15 transcription, thereby inducing the proliferation and metastasis of BLCA cells. Deletion of SNHG15-SEs inhibited the growth and metastasis of T24 and RT112 cells by inactivating the WNT/CTNNB1 pathway activation. Overexpression of FOSL1 in SNHG15-SEs restored the cell proliferation and metastasis. Next, a xenograft mouse model showed that SNHG15-SEs deletion inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of BLCA cells in vivo. Collectively, our data indicate that SNHG15-SEs recruit FOSL1 to promote the expression of SNHG15 which interacts with CTNNB1 in the nucleus to activate the transcription of ADAM12, leading to the malignance of BLCA cells.

Unmasking the Deceptive Nature of Cancer Stem Cells: The Role of CD133 in Revealing Their Secrets

Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, and its complexity poses a significant challenge to effective treatment. Cancer stem cells and their markers have become key players in tumor growth and progression. CD133, a marker in various cancer types, is an active research area as a potential therapeutic target. This article explores the role of CD133 in cancer treatment, beginning with an overview of cancer statistics and an explanation of cancer stem cells and their markers. The rise of CD133 is discussed, including its structure, functions, and occurrence in different cancer types. Furthermore, the article covers CD133 as a therapeutic target, focusing on gene therapy, immunotherapy, and approaches to affect CD133 expression. Nanoparticles such as gold nanoparticles and nanoliposomes are also discussed in the context of CD133-targeted therapy. In conclusion, CD133 is a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. As research in this area progresses, it is hoped that CD133-targeted therapies will offer new and effective treatment options for cancer patients in the future.

The Roles of miRNAs in Predicting Bladder Cancer Recurrence and Resistance to Treatment

Bladder cancer (BCa) is associated with significant morbidity, with development linked to environmental, lifestyle, and genetic causes. Recurrence presents a significant issue and is managed in the clinical setting with intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy. In order to address challenges such as a limited supply of BCG and identifying cases likely to recur, it would be advantageous to use molecular biomarkers to determine likelihood of recurrence and treatment response. Here, we review microRNAs (miRNAs) that have shown promise as predictors of BCa recurrence. MiRNAs are also discussed in the context of predicting resistance or susceptibility to BCa treatment.

Wnt signalling in cell division: from mechanisms to tissue engineering

Wnt signalling is an essential player in tissue formation, notably in the regulation of stem cell function. Wnt signalling is best known for its roles in G1/S progression. However, a complex Wnt programme that also mediates mitotic progression and asymmetric cell division (ACD) is emerging. Recent developments in this area have provided mechanistic insights as well as tools to engineer or target Wnt signalling for translational and therapeutic purposes. Here, we discuss the bidirectional relationship between Wnt activity and mitosis. We emphasise how various Wnt-dependent mechanisms control spindle dynamics, chromosome segregation, and ACD. Finally, we illustrate how knowledge about these mechanisms has been successfully employed in tissue engineering for regenerative medicine applications.

Impact of SOX2 function and regulation on therapy resistance in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is a malignant disease with high rates of recurrence and mortality. It is mainly classified as non-muscle-invasive BC and muscle-invasive BC (MIBC). Often, MIBC is chemoresistant, which, according to cancer stem cells (CSCs) theory, is linked to the presence of bladder cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Sex-determining region Y- (SRY) Box transcription factor 2 (SOX2), which is a molecular marker of BCSCs, is aberrantly over-expressed in chemoresistant BC cell lines. It is one of the standalone prognostic factors for BC, and it has an inherently significant function in the emergence and progression of the disease. This review first summarizes the role of SRY-related high-mobility group protein Box (SOX) family genes in BC, focusing on the SOX2 and its significance in BC. Second, it discusses the mechanisms relevant to the regulation of SOX2. Finally, it summarizes the signaling pathways related to SOX2 in BC, suggests current issues to be addressed, and proposes potential directions for future research to provide new insights for the treatment of BC.

MASM inhibits cancer stem cell-like characteristics of EpCAM+ cells via AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling

OBJECTIVES

Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are regarded as the frequent cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) relapse and therapeutic resistance. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is one of the key biomarkers for LCSCs. EpCAM⁺ cells from HCC have been reported to display cancer stem cell-like (CSC-like) properties. Therefore, we aimed to verify the effect of MASM, a novel derivative of matrine, on CSC-like properties of EpCAM⁺ HCC cells.

METHODS

EpCAM⁺ cells were isolated from Hep3B and Huh7 cells using the magnetic-activated cell sorting. The capacity for self-renewal and proliferation of EpCAM⁺ HCC cells was determined by the sphere-formation and cell counting kit 8 assays. After these cell populations were exposed to increasing concentrations of MASM, sphere formation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, resistance to chemotherapy and colony formation were evaluated, respectively. Moreover, the stemness-associated gene expression and underlying mechanisms were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and sphere-forming assay.

RESULTS

MASM significantly inhibited proliferation without inducing apoptosis, down-regulated the expression of stemness-related genes, decreased the percentage of EpCAM⁺ HCC cells and up-regulated mature hepatocyte-related genes. Moreover, MASM suppressed the formation and reduced the size of not only primary spheroids but also subsequent spheroids. Additionally, our results showed that MASM inhibited the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

MASM treatment is effective against EpCAM⁺ cells and may be considered as a novel drug candidate in HCC therapy.

A New Prognostic Signature Constructed with Necroptosis-Related lncRNA in Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) accounts for the most common urologic malignancy, leading to a heavy social burden over the world. We aim to search for a novel prognostic biomarker with necroptosis-related lncRNAs of bladder cancer in this study.

METHODS

We download the RNA-sequencing data and corresponding clinical information of BC patients from TCGA. We performed Pearson correlation analysis to identify necroptosis-related lncRNAs (NRlncRNAs). Then, we used univariate Cox regression, Lasso Cox analysis, and multivariate Cox regression to construct the optimal prognostic model. Next, we used Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, nomogram, and stratified survival analysis to evaluate the capacity of the prognostic signature. Furthermore, gene set enrichments in the signature and the correlation between prognostic signature and necroptosis genes, tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, and immune checkpoints of BC were also explored.

RESULTS

A 7-NRlncRNAs signature comprising FKBP14-AS1, AL731567.1, LINC02178, AC011503.2, LINC02195, AC068196.1, and AL136084.2 was constructed to predict the prognosis of BC in this research. Cox regression analysis showed that the signature could be an independent prognostic factor for BC patients (P < 0.001). Compared to other clinicopathological characteristics, this signature displayed a better capacity of prediction with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.745. Stratified analysis using various clinical variables demonstrated that the prognostic signature has good clinical fitness. GSEA showed that focal adhesion and the WNT signaling pathway were enriched in the high-risk group. Immune infiltration analysis indicated that the signature was significantly inversely correlated with infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ T cells while positively correlated with macrophages and cancer associated fibroblasts. Immune checkpoint analysis revealed that the expressions of protective factors were significantly lower in the high-risk group, while expressions of cancer promotors were significantly higher in this group. The gene expression analysis displayed that necroptosis genes such as FADD, FAS, MYC, STAT3, PLK1, LEF1, EGFR, RIPK3, CASP8, BRAF, ID1, GATA3, MYCN, CD40, and TNFRSF21 were significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The 7-NRlncRNAs signature can predict the overall survival of BC and may provide help for the individualized treatment of BC patients.

Selectively Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells by 8-Quinolinol and Niclosamide

Cancer maintenance, metastatic dissemination and drug resistance are sustained by cancer stem cells (CSCs). Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the breast cancer subtype with the highest number of CSCs and the poorest prognosis. Here, we aimed to identify potential drugs targeting CSCs to be further employed in combination with standard chemotherapy in TNBC treatment. The anti-CSC efficacy of up to 17 small drugs was tested in TNBC cell lines using cell viability assays on differentiated cancer cells and CSCs. Then, the effect of 2 selected drugs (8-quinolinol -8Q- and niclosamide -NCS-) in the cancer stemness features were evaluated using mammosphere growth, cell invasion, migration and anchorage-independent growth assays. Changes in the expression of stemness genes after 8Q or NCS treatment were also evaluated. Moreover, the potential synergism of 8Q and NCS with PTX on CSC proliferation and stemness-related signaling pathways was evaluated using TNBC cell lines, CSC-reporter sublines, and CSC-enriched mammospheres. Finally, the efficacy of NCS in combination with PTX was analyzed in vivo using an orthotopic mouse model of MDA-MB-231 cells. Among all tested drug candidates, 8Q and NCS showed remarkable specific anti-CSC activity in terms of CSC viability, migration, invasion and anchorage independent growth reduction in vitro. Moreover, specific 8Q/PTX and NCS/PTX ratios at which both drugs displayed a synergistic effect in different TNBC cell lines were identified. The sole use of PTX increased the relative presence of CSCs in TNBC cells, whereas the combination of 8Q and NCS counteracted this pro-CSC activity of PTX while significantly reducing cell viability. In vivo, the combination of NCS with PTX reduced tumor growth and limited the dissemination of the disease by reducing circulating tumor cells and the incidence of lung metastasis. The combination of 8Q and NCS with PTX at established ratios inhibits both the proliferation of differentiated cancer cells and the viability of CSCs, paving the way for more efficacious TNBC treatments.

Targeting prolyl isomerase Pin1 as a promising strategy to overcome resistance to cancer therapies

The development of tumor therapeutic resistance is one of the important reasons for the failure of antitumor therapy. Starting with multiple targets and multiple signaling pathways is helpful in understanding the mechanism of tumor resistance. The overexpression of prolyl isomerase Pin1 is highly correlated with the malignancy of cancer, since Pin1 controls many oncogenes and tumor suppressors, as well as a variety of cancer-driving signaling pathways. Strikingly, numerous studies have shown that Pin1 is directly involved in therapeutic resistance. In this review, we mainly summarize the functions and mechanisms of Pin1 in therapeutic resistance of multifarious cancers, such as breast, liver, and pancreatic carcinomas. Furtherly, from the perspective of Pin1-driven cancer signaling pathways including Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, as well as Pin1 inhibitors containing juglone, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO), it is better to demonstrate the important potential role and mechanism of Pin1 in resistance and sensitization to cancer therapies. It will provide new therapeutic approaches for clinical reversal and prevention of tumor resistance by employing synergistic administration of Pin1 inhibitors and chemotherapeutics, implementing combination therapy of Pin1-related cancer signaling pathway inhibitors and Pin1 inhibitors, and exploiting novel Pin1-specific inhibitors.

Changes of intestinal microbiota and microbiota-based treatments in IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has gained increasing attention from researchers in terms of its pathophysiology as a global disease with a growing incidence. Although the exact etiology of IBD is still unknown currently, various studies have made us realize that it is related to the dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and the link between the two may not just be a simple causal relationship, but also a dynamic and complicated one. The intestinal microbiota has been confirmed to be closely related to the occurrence, development, and treatment of IBD. Therefore, this review focuses on the changes in the structure, function, and metabolites of intestinal bacteria, fungi, and viruses in influencing IBD, as well as various approaches to IBD treatment by changing disordered intestinal microbiota. Ultimately, more clinical studies will be needed to focus on the efficacy of intestinal microbiota-based treatments in IBD, because of the existence of both advantages and disadvantages.

Extracts of the Medicinal Plants Pao Pereira and Rauwolfia vomitoria Inhibit Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro

Ovarian cancer has an enrichment of cancer stem cells (CSCs) which contribute to the treatment resistant tumor’s high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Here we investigated 2 plant extracts from the medicinal plants Pao Pereira (Pao) and Rauwolfia vomitoria (Rau) each for their activities against ovarian CSCs. Both Pao and Rau inhibited overall proliferation of human ovarian cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ ranging from 210 to 420 μg/mL and had limited cytotoxicity to normal epithelial cells. Ovarian CSC population was examined using cell surface markers and tumor spheroid formation assays. The results showed that both Pao and Rau treatment significantly reduced the ovarian CSC population. Pao and Rau had similar activities in inhibiting ovarian CSCs, with IC₅₀s of ~120 μg/mL for 24 hours treatment, and ~50 μg/mL for long-term tumor spheroid formation. Nuclear β-catenin levels were decreased, suggesting suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, data here showed that Pao and Rau both inhibited ovarian cancer stem cells, probably in preference to the bulk of tumor cells. Further mechanistic studies and in vivo investigation validating these findings are warranted, given that inhibition of cancer stem cells holds the promise of comprehensively inhibiting cancer metastasis, drug resistance and recurrence.