Markers of Cancer Cell Invasion: Are They Good Enough?

Carbon nanotubes conjugated with cisplatin activate different apoptosis signaling pathways in 2D and 3D-spheroid triple-negative breast cancer cell cultures: a comparative study

The type of experimental model for the in vitro testing of drug formulations efficiency represents an important tool in cancer biology, with great attention being granted to three-dimensional (3D) cultures as these offer a closer approximation of the clinical sensitivity of drugs. In this study, the effects induced by carboxyl-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes complexed with cisplatin (SWCNT-COOH-CDDP) and free components (SWCNT-COOH and CDDP) were compared between conventional 2D- and 3D-spheroid cultures of human breast cancer cells. The 2D and 3D breast cancer cultures were exposed to various doses of SWCNT-COOH (0.25-2 μg/mL), CDDP (0.158-1.26 μg/mL) and the same doses of SWNCT-COOH-CDDP complex for 24 and 48 h. The anti-tumor activity, including modulation of cell viability, oxidative stress, proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion potential, was explored by spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods, immunoblotting, optical and fluorescence microscopy. The SWCNT-COOH-CDDP complex proved to have high anti-cancer efficiency on 2D and 3D cultures by inhibiting cell proliferation and activating cell death. A dose of 0.632 μg/mL complex triggered different pathways of apoptosis in 2D and 3D cultures, by intrinsic, extrinsic, and reticulum endoplasmic pathways. Overall, the 2D cultures showed higher susceptibility to the action of complex compared to 3D cultures and SWCNT-COOH-CDDP proved enhanced anti-tumoral activity compared to free CDDP.

Single-Cell Fluidic Force Spectroscopy Reveals Dynamic Mechanical Fingerprints of Malignancy in Breast Cancer

The interplay between cancer cell physical characteristics and metastatic potential highlights the significance of cancer cell mechanobiology. Using fluidic-based single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS), quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), and a model of cells with a spectrum of metastatic potential, we track the progression of biomechanics across the metastatic states by measuring cell-substrate and cell-to-cell adhesion forces, cell spring constant, cell height, and cell viscoelasticity. Compared to highly metastatic cells, cells in the lower spectrum of metastatic ability are found to be systematically stiffer, less viscoelastic, and larger. These mechanical transformations in cells within a cluster correlate with cells' metastatic potential but are significantly absent in single cells. Additionally, the response to chemotherapy is found to be highly dependent on cell viscoelastic properties in terms of both response time and magnitude. Shifts in cell softness and elasticity might serve as mechanoadaptive mechanisms during cancer cell metastasis, contributing to our understanding of metastasis and the effectiveness of potential therapeutic interventions.

An update to experimental and clinical aspects of tumor-associated macrophages in cancer development: hopes and pitfalls

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent one of the most abundant tumor-infiltrating stromal cells, and their normal function in tumor microenvironment (TME) is to suppress tumor cells by producing cytokines which trigger both direct cell cytotoxicity and antibody-mediated immune response. However, upon prolonged exposure to TME, the classical function of these so-called M1-type TAMs can be converted to another type, "M2-type," which are recruited by tumor cells so that they promote tumor growth and metastasis. This is the reason why the accumulation of TAMs in TME is correlated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Both M1- and M2-types have high degree of plasticity, and M2-type cells can be reprogrammed to M1-type for therapeutic purposes. This characteristic introduces TAMs as promising target for developing novel cancer treatments. In addition, inhibition of M2-type cells and blocking their recruitment in TME, as well as their depletion by inducing apoptosis, are other approaches for effective immunotherapy of cancer. In this review, we summarize the potential of TAMs to be targeted for cancer immunotherapy and provide an up-to-date about novel strategies for targeting TAMs.

Chlorogenic Acid and Cinnamaldehyde in Combination Inhibit Metastatic Traits and Induce Apoptosis via Akt Downregulation in Breast Cancer Cells

Most reported breast cancer-associated deaths are directly correlated with metastatic disease. Additionally, the primary goal of treating metastatic breast cancer is to prolong life. Thus, there remains the need for more effective and safer strategies to treat metastatic breast cancer. Recently, more attention has been given to natural products (or phytochemicals) as potential anticancer treatments. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of the combination of the phytochemicals chlorogenic acid and cinnamaldehyde (CGA and CA) toward inhibiting metastasis. The hypothesis was that CGA and CA in combination decrease the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells by inhibiting their invasive and migratory abilities as well as the induction of apoptosis via the downregulation of the Akt, disrupting its signal transduction pathway. To test this, wound-healing and Transwell™ Matrigel™ assays were conducted to assess changes in the migration and invasion properties of the cells; apoptosis was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy for Annexin V/propidium iodide; and immunoblotting and FACSort were performed on markers for the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition status. The results show that CGA and CA significantly downregulated Akt activation by inhibiting phosphorylation. Consequently, increased caspase 3 and decreased Bcl2-α levels were observed, and apoptosis was confirmed. The inhibition of metastatic behavior was demonstrated by the attenuation of N-cadherin, fibronectin, vimentin, and MMP-9 expressions with concomitant increased expressions of E-cadherin and EpCAM. In summary, the present study demonstrated that CGA and CA in combination downregulated Akt activation, inhibited the metastatic potential, and induced apoptosis in different breast cancer cell lines.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal alterations in trophoblasts at invasion sites and disturbed myometrial immune microenvironment in placenta accreta spectrum disorders

BACKGROUND

Placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS) are a severe complication characterized by abnormal trophoblast invasion into the myometrium. The underlying mechanisms of PAS involve a complex interplay of various cell types and molecular pathways. Despite its significance, both the characteristics and intricate mechanisms of this condition remain poorly understood.

METHODS

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), were performed on the tissue samples from four PAS patients, including invasive tissues (ST, n = 3; scRNA-seq, n = 4), non-invasive normal placenta samples (ST, n = 1; scRNA-seq, n = 2). Three healthy term pregnant women provided normal myometrium samples (ST, n = 1; scRNA-seq, n = 2). ST analysis characterized the spatial expression landscape, and scRNA-seq was used to identify specific cellular components in PAS. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to validate the findings.

RESULTS

ST slices distinctly showed the myometrium in PAS was invaded by three subpopulations of trophoblast cells, extravillous trophoblast cells, cytotrophoblasts, and syncytiotrophoblasts, especially extravillous trophoblast cells. The pathways enriched by genes in trophoblasts, smooth muscle cells (SMC), and immune cells of PAS were mainly associated with immune and inflammation. We identified elevated expression of the angiogenesis-stimulating gene PTK2, alongside the cell proliferation-enhancing gene EGFR, within the trophoblasts of PAS group. Trophoblasts mainly contributed the enhancement of HLA-G and EBI3 signaling, which is crucial in establishing immune escape. Meanwhile, SMC regions in PAS exhibited upregulation of immunomodulatory markers such as CD274, HAVCR2, and IDO1, with CD274 expression experimentally verified to be increased in the invasive SMC areas of the PAS group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided information of cellular composition and spatial organization in PAS at single-cell and spatial level. The dysregulated expression of genes in PAS revealed a complex interplay between enhanced immune escape in trophoblasts and immune tolerance in SMCs during invasion in PAS. These findings will enhance our understanding of PAS pathogenesis for developing potential therapeutic strategies.

Contribution of Autophagy to Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Induction during Cancer Progression

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a dedifferentiation process implicated in many physio-pathological conditions including tumor transformation. EMT is regulated by several extracellular mediators and under certain conditions it can be reversible. Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process in which intracellular components such as protein/DNA aggregates and abnormal organelles are degraded in specific lysosomes. In cancer, autophagy plays a controversial role, acting in different conditions as both a tumor suppressor and a tumor-promoting mechanism. Experimental evidence shows that deep interrelations exist between EMT and autophagy-related pathways. Although this interplay has already been analyzed in previous studies, understanding mechanisms and the translational implications of autophagy/EMT need further study. The role of autophagy in EMT is not limited to morphological changes, but activation of autophagy could be important to DNA repair/damage system, cell adhesion molecules, and cell proliferation and differentiation processes. Based on this, both autophagy and EMT and related pathways are now considered as targets for cancer therapy. In this review article, the contribution of autophagy to EMT and progression of cancer is discussed. This article also describes the multiple connections between EMT and autophagy and their implication in cancer treatment.

Towards Understanding the Development of Breast Cancer: The Role of RhoJ in the Obesity Microenvironment

Obesity is a growing pandemic with an increasing risk of inducing different cancer types, including breast cancer. Adipose tissue is proposed to be a major player in the initiation and progression of breast cancer in obese people. However, the mechanistic link between adipogenicity and tumorigenicity in breast tissues is poorly understood. We used in vitro and in vivo approaches to investigate the mechanistic relationship between obesity and the onset and progression of breast cancer. In obesity, adipose tissue expansion and remodeling are associated with increased inflammatory mediator's release and anti-inflammatory mediators' reduction.. In order to mimic the obesity micro-environment, we cultured cells in an enriched pro-inflammatory cytokine medium to which we added a low concentration of beneficial adipokines. Epithelial cells exposed to the obesity micro-environment were phenotypically transformed into mesenchymal-like cells, characterized by an increase in different mesenchymal markers and the acquisition of the major hallmarks of cancerous cells; these include sustained DNA damage, the activation of the ATR-Chk2 pathway, an increase in proliferation rate, cell invasion, and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that several genes, including RhoJ, CCL7, and MMP9, acted as potential major players in the observed phenomenon. The transcriptomics findings were confirmed in vitro using qRT-PCR and in vivo using high-fat-diet-fed mice. Our data suggests RhoJ as a potential novel molecular driver of tumor development in breast tissues and a mediator of cell resistance to conventional chemotherapy through PAK1 activation. These data propose that RhoJ is a potential target for therapeutic interventions in obese breast cancer patients.

Activation of Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy Inhibits the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Function by Degrading This Receptor in Human Lung Epithelial Carcinoma A549 Cells

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and a substrate protein of a Cullin 4B E3 ligase complex responsible for diverse cellular processes. In the lung, this receptor is responsible for the bioactivation of benzo[a]pyrene during tumorigenesis. Realizing that the AHR function is affected by its expression level, we are interested in the degradation mechanism of AHR in the lung. Here, we have investigated the mechanism responsible for AHR degradation using human lung epithelial A549 cells. We have observed that the AHR protein levels increase in the presence of chloroquine (CQ), an autophagy inhibitor, in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), a chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) activator, decreases AHR protein levels in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. This decrease suppresses the ligand-dependent activation of the AHR target gene transcription, and can be reversed by CQ but not MG132. Knockdown of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), but not autophagy-related 5 (ATG5), suppresses the chloroquine-mediated increase in the AHR protein. AHR is resistant to CMA when its CMA motif is mutated. Suppression of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells is observed when the AHR gene is knocked out or the AHR protein level is reduced by 6-AN. Collectively, we have provided evidence supporting that AHR is continuously undergoing CMA and activation of CMA suppresses the AHR function in A549 cells.

Vitamin E in the management of pancreatic cancer: A scoping review

Pancreatic cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Research investigating effective management strategies for pancreatic cancer is ongoing. Vitamin E, consisting of both tocopherol and tocotrienol, has demonstrated debatable effects on pancreatic cancer cells. Therefore, this scoping review aims to summarize the effects of vitamin E on pancreatic cancer. In October 2022, a literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus since their inception. Original studies on the effects of vitamin E on pancreatic cancer, including cell cultures, animal models and human clinical trials, were considered for this review. The literature search found 75 articles on this topic, but only 24 articles met the inclusion criteria. The available evidence showed that vitamin E modulated proliferation, cell death, angiogenesis, metastasis and inflammation in pancreatic cancer cells. However, the safety and bioavailability concerns remain to be answered with more extensive preclinical and clinical studies. More in-depth analysis is necessary to investigate further the role of vitamin E in the management of pancreatic cancers.

A perfusion-based three-dimensional cell culture system to model alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma pathological features

Although a rare disease, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is one of the most common cancers in children the more aggressive and metastatic subtype is the alveolar RMS (ARMS). Survival outcomes with metastatic disease remain dismal and the need for new models that recapitulate key pathological features, including cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, is warranted. Here, we report an organotypic model that captures cellular and molecular determinants of invasive ARMS. We cultured the ARMS cell line RH30 on a collagen sponge in a perfusion-based bioreactor (U-CUP), obtaining after 7 days a 3D construct with homogeneous cell distribution. Compared to static culture, perfusion flow induced higher cell proliferation rates (20% vs. 5%), enhanced secretion of active MMP-2, and upregulation of the Rho pathway, associated with cancer cell dissemination. Consistently, the ECM genes LAMA1 and LAMA2, the antiapoptotic gene HSP90, identified in patient databases as hallmarks of invasive ARMS, were higher under perfusion flow at mRNA and protein level. Our advanced ARMS organotypic model mimics (1) the interactions cells-ECM, (2) the cell growth maintenance, and (3) the expression of proteins that characterize tumor expansion and aggressiveness. In the future, the perfusion-based model could be used with primary patient-derived cell subtypes to create a personalized ARMS chemotherapy screening system.

Multiperspective quantitative tumor-stroma ratio reveals histological areas associated with poor outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma

AIMS

Different regions of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have particular histopathological characteristics, and the individual histological characteristics of the tumors are poorly understood. Therefore, calculating the proportion of tumor cells in different regions that allow assessment of the prognostic outcomes for OSCC patients would be of great clinical significance.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We established an open-source software-based analytic pipeline that defines the inner tumor and invasive tumor front (ITF) in pancytokeratin-stained whole slide images (WSIs) and quantifies the tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) within the two regions. We applied this method to 114 patients with OSCC and predicted patient prognosis by the TSR. The proportion of tumor area in the inner tumor was generally higher than that in the ITF (p < 0.0001). TSR was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (p = 0.016), disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.026), and relapse-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.037) in inner tumor, and TSR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.00052), DFS (p = 0.035), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) (p = 0.038) in the ITF. Tumor-low status was associated with poorer prognosis. There was a significant correlation between the TSR and perineural invasion (PNI) in the inner tumor (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

The histopathological characteristics of different regions of OSCC may be used to develop the potential prognostic markers. The TSR of the inner tumor is more targeted in predicting prognosis and accurately assesses the risk of PNI+.

Cyclic Stretch-Induced Mechanical Stress Applied at 1 Hz Frequency Can Alter the Metastatic Potential Properties of SAOS-2 Osteosarcoma Cells

Recently, there has been an increasing focus on cellular morphology and mechanical behavior in order to gain a better understanding of the modulation of cell malignancy. This study used uniaxial-stretching technology to select a mechanical regimen able to elevate SAOS-2 cell migration, which is crucial in osteosarcoma cell pathology. Using confocal and atomic force microscopy, we demonstrated that a 24 h 0.5% cyclic elongation applied at 1 Hz induces morphological changes in cells. Following mechanical stimulation, the cell area enlarged, developing a more elongated shape, which disrupted the initial nuclear-to-cytoplasm ratio. The peripheral cell surface also increased its roughness. Cell-based biochemical assays and real-time PCR quantification showed that these morphologically induced changes are unrelated to the osteoblastic differentiative grade. Interestingly, two essential cell-motility properties in the modulation of the metastatic process changed following the 24 h 1 Hz mechanical stimulation. These were cell adhesion and cell migration, which, in fact, were dampened and enhanced, respectively. Notably, our results showed that the stretch-induced up-regulation of cell motility occurs through a mechanism that does not depend on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, while the inhibition of ion-stretch channels could counteract it. Overall, our results suggest that further research on mechanobiology could represent an alternative approach for the identification of novel molecular targets of osteosarcoma cell malignancy.

Proteomic Markers for Mechanobiological Properties of Metastatic Cancer Cells

The major cause (more than 90%) of all cancer-related deaths is metastasis, thus its prediction can critically affect the survival rate. Metastases are currently predicted by lymph-node status, tumor size, histopathology and genetic testing; however, all these are not infallible, and obtaining results may require weeks. The identification of new potential prognostic factors will be an important source of risk information for the practicing oncologist, potentially leading to enhanced patient care through the proactive optimization of treatment strategies. Recently, the new mechanobiology-related techniques, independent of genetics, based on the mechanical invasiveness of cancer cells (microfluidic, gel indentation assays, migration assays etc.), demonstrated a high success rate for the detection of tumor cell metastasis propensity. However, they are still far away from clinical implementation due to complexity. Hence, the exploration of novel markers related to the mechanobiological properties of tumor cells may have a direct impact on the prognosis of metastasis. Our concise review deepens our knowledge of the factors that regulate cancer cell mechanotype and invasion, and incites further studies to develop therapeutics that target multiple mechanisms of invasion for improved clinical benefit. It may open a new clinical dimension that will improve cancer prognosis and increase the effectiveness of tumor therapies.

Design, synthesis and anticancer activity studies of 3-(coumarin-3-yl)-acrolein derivatives: Evidenced by integrating network pharmacology and vitro assay

Coumarin derivatives have diverse structures and show various significant biological activities. Aiming to develop more potent coumarin derivatives for cancer treatment, a series of coumarin acrolein hybrids were designed and synthesized by using molecular hybridization approach, and investigated for their antiproliferative activity against A549, KB, Hela and MCF-7 cancer cells as well as HUVEC and LO2 human normal cells. The results indicated that most of the synthesized compounds displayed remarkable inhibitory activity towards cancer cells but low cytotoxicity on normal cells. Among all the compounds, 5d and 6e were the most promising compounds against different cancer cell lines, especially for A549 and KB cells. The preliminary action mechanism studies suggested that compound 6e, the representative compound, was capable of dose-dependently suppressing migration, invasion and inducing significant apoptosis. Furthermore, the combined results of network pharmacology and validation experiments revealed that compound 6e induced mitochondria dependent apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT-mediated Bcl-2 signaling pathway. In summary, our study indicated compound 6e could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promote cell apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells. These findings demonstrated the potential of 3-(coumarin-3-yl)-acrolein derivatives as novel anticancer chemotherapeutic candidates, providing ideas for further development of drugs for clinical use.

How does plasticity of migration help tumor cells to avoid treatment: Cytoskeletal regulators and potential markers

Tumor shrinkage as a result of antitumor therapy is not the only and sufficient indicator of treatment success. Cancer progression leads to dissemination of tumor cells and formation of metastases - secondary tumor lesions in distant organs. Metastasis is associated with acquisition of mobile phenotype by tumor cells as a result of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and further cell migration based on cytoskeleton reorganization. The main mechanisms of individual cell migration are either mesenchymal, which depends on the activity of small GTPase Rac, actin polymerization, formation of adhesions with extracellular matrix and activity of proteolytic enzymes or amoeboid, which is based on the increase in intracellular pressure caused by the enhancement of actin cortex contractility regulated by Rho-ROCK-MLCKII pathway, and does not depend on the formation of adhesive structures with the matrix, nor on the activity of proteases. The ability of tumor cells to switch from one motility mode to another depending on cell context and environmental conditions, termed migratory plasticity, contributes to the efficiency of dissemination and often allows the cells to avoid the applied treatment. The search for new therapeutic targets among cytoskeletal proteins offers an opportunity to directly influence cell migration. For successful treatment it is important to assess the likelihood of migratory plasticity in a particular tumor. Therefore, the search for specific markers that can indicate a high probability of migratory plasticity is very important.

High levels of unfolded protein response component CHAC1 associates with cancer progression signatures in malignant breast cancer tissues

PURPOSE

The aberrant mRNA expression of a UPR component Cation transport regulator homolog 1 (CHAC1) has been reported to be associated with poor survival in breast and ovarian cancer patients, however, the expression of CHAC1 at protein levels in malignant breast tissues is underreported. The following study aimed at analyzing CHAC1 protein expression in malignant breast cancer tissues.

METHODS

Evaluation of CHAC1 expression in invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) with known ER, PR, and HER2 status was carried out using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with CHAC1 specific antibody. The Human breast cancer tissue microarray (TMA, cat# BR1503f, US Biomax, Inc., Rockville, MD) was used to determine CHAC1 expression. The analysis of CHAC1 IHC was done to determine its expression in terms of molecular subtypes of breast cancer, lymph node status, and proliferation index using Qu-Path software. Survival analysis was studied with a Kaplan-Meier plotter.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical analysis of CHAC1 in breast cancer tissues showed significant up-regulation of CHAC1 as compared to the adjacent normal and benign tissues. Interestingly, CHAC1 immunostaining revealed high expression in tumor tissues with high proliferation and positive lymph node metastasis suggesting that CHAC1 might have an important role to play in breast cancer progression. Furthermore, high CHAC1 expression is associated with poor overall survival (OS) in large breast cancer patient cohorts.

CONCLUSION

As a higher expression of CHAC1 was observed in tissue cores with high Ki67 index and positive lymph node metastasis it may be concluded that enhanced CHAC1 expression correlates with proliferation and metastasis. The further analysis of breast cancer patients' survival data through KM plot indicated that high CHAC1 expression is associated with a bad prognosis hinting that CHAC1 may have a possible prognostic significance in breast cancer.

Marine Depsipeptide Nobilamide I Inhibits Cancer Cell Motility and Tumorigenicity via Suppressing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and MMP2/9 Expression

A cyclic depsipeptide, nobilamide I (1), along with the known peptide A-3302-B/TL-119 (2), was isolated from the saline cultivation of the marine-derived bacterium Saccharomonospora sp., strain CNQ-490. The planar structure of 1 was elucidated by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR and MS spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of the amino acids in 1 were assigned by using the C₃ Marfey's analysis and comparing them with those of 2 based on their biosynthetic pathways. Nobilamide I (1) decreased cell motility by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in A549 (lung cancer), AGS (gastric cancer), and Caco2 (colorectal cancer) cell lines. In addition, 1 modulated the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family (MMP2 and MMP9) in the three cell lines.

Neoadjuvant Treatment Lowers the Risk of Mesopancreatic Fat Infiltration and Local Recurrence in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary

After the implementation of an in-depth histopathological pancreas protocol, curative resection rates for pancreatic head cancers have drastically dropped. Standardized extended resections using embryo-anatomic landmarks (MPE), have recently been prooved to increase margin-negative resection rates. The mesopancreatic fat, excised during these extended resections, was infiltrated in the majority of the patients. Neoadjuvant treatment is an emerging topic of interest for pancreatic cancer patients. It remains unclear if these extended resections are still warranted in patients after neoadjuvant treatment. Neoadjuvant treatment lowered the risk for mesopancreatic fat infiltration and patients were less prone to local recurrence and margin positive resections when compared to patients after upfront surgery. However, the majority of the patients are yet diagnosed with mesopancreatic fat infiltration, justifying this extended approach synergistically with the treatment strategies for colorectal cancer.

Abstract

Background: Survival following surgical treatment of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PDAC) remains poor. The recent implementation of the circumferential resection margin (CRM) into standard histopathological evaluation lead to a significant reduction in R0 rates. Mesopancreatic fat infiltration is present in ~80% of PDAC patients at the time of primary surgery and recently, mesopancreatic excision (MPE) was correlated to complete resection. To attain an even higher rate of R0(CRM−) resections in the future, neoadjuvant therapy in patients with a progressive disease seems a promising tool. We analyzed radiographic and histopathological treatment response and mesopancreatic tumor infiltration in patients who received neoadjuvant therapy prior to MPE. The aim of our study was to evaluate the need for MPE following neoadjuvant therapy and if multi-detector computed tomographically (MDCT) evaluated treatment response correlates with mesopancreatic (MP) infiltration. Method: Radiographic, clinicopathological and survival parameters of 27 consecutive patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy prior to MPE were evaluated. The mesopancreatic fat tissue was histopathologically analyzed and the 1 mm-rule (CRM) was applied. Results: In the study collective, both the rate of R0 resection R0(CRM−) and the rate of mesopancreatic fat infiltration was 62.9%. Patients with MP infiltration showed a lower tumor response. Surgical resection status was dependent on MP infiltration and tumor response status. Patients with MDCT-predicted tumor response were less prone to MP infiltration. When compared to patients after upfront surgery, MP infiltration and local recurrence rate was significantly lower after neoadjuvant treatment. Conclusion: MPE remains warranted after neoadjuvant therapy. Mesopancreatic fat invasion was still evident in the majority of our patients following neoadjuvant treatment. MDCT-predicted tumor response did not exclude mesopancreatic fat infiltration.

Multiple Tolerization Subtractive Immunization (MTSI) Protocol: Effects on Mice and Monoclonal Antibody Specificity

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been a valuable tool to elucidate several biological processes, such as stem cell differentiation and cancer, and contributed to virtually all areas of biomedical sciences. Yet, it remains a challenge to obtain mAbs specific to poorly expressed epitopes, or to epitopes that are actually involved in important biological phenomena, such as cell differentiation and metastasis. Drug-induced subtractive immunization, and recently the multiple tolerization subtractive immunization (MTSI) technique, reported by our group, have the potential to level up the field, as they direct the host´s immune response towards these epitopes. However, due to cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment, high mice mortality can be observed, and only a few data are available on how these techniques affect the immune system of mice. Tolerogen and immunogen cells, RWPE-1 and PC-3 cells, respectively, were individually seeded at 2 × 104 cells/cm2, and then adjusted to 2 × 106 cells per mouse before immunization, which was conducted in a subtractive approach (MTSI) with CY. Immunosuppression of mice was recorded via total white blood counting, as well the reactivity of circulating polyclonal antibodies (pAbs). General parameters, including weight, physical appearance, and behavior on mice subjected to three different concentrations of CY were recorded. mAbs were obtained using classical hybridoma techniques, using the spleen of immunized mice. After purification, antibodies were characterized by Western blotting, and Indirect immunofluorescence. In conclusion, all CY dosage were efficient in creating an immunosuppression state, but only the 100 mg/kg body weight was feasible, as the others resulted in extensive mice mortality. pAbs obtained in the peripheral blood of mice showed more reactivity towards tumor cells. MAbs 2-7A50 and 2-5C11 recognized antigens from tumor cells, but not from their non-tumor counterparts, as shown in western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. MTSI technique was successful in generating mAbs that recognize tumor-specific antigens.

Plasma Exosomes of Patients with Breast and Ovarian Tumors Contain an Inactive 20S Proteasome

Exosomes are directly involved in governing of physiological and pathological conditions of an organism through the transfer of information from producing to receiving cells. It can be assumed that exosomes are one of the key players of tumor dissemination since they are very stable and small enough to penetrate from various tissues into biological fluids and then back, thus interacting with tissue target cells. We evaluated the enzymatic activity and the level of 20S proteasome in tissue and exosomes of healthy females (n = 39) and patients with ovarian (n = 50) and breast (n = 108) tumors to reveal the critical role of exosomal cargo in the mediation of different types of metastases. Exosomes from plasma and ascites were isolated and characterized in according to International Society for Extracellular Vesicles guidelines. The level of 20S proteasome in tissue and exosomes was determined using Western blot analysis. Chymotrypsin- and caspase-like (ChTL and CL, respectively) peptidase activities of the proteasomes were determined using fluorogenic Suc-LLVY-AMC and Cbz-LLG-AMC substrates, respectively. We observed increased levels of 20S proteasome in ovarian cancer tissue and luminal B subtype breast cancer tissue as well as in plasma exosomes from cancer patients. Moreover, the level of the 20S proteasome in plasma exosomes and ascites exosomes in patients with ovarian tumors is comparable and higher in ovarian cancer patients with low volume ascites than in patients with moderate and high-volume ascites. We also found increased ChTL and CL activities in breast cancer and ovarian cancer tissues, as well as in peritoneal metastases in ovarian cancer, while proteasomal activity in exosomes from plasma of healthy females and all patients, as well as from ascites of ovarian tumor patients were lower than detection limit of assay. Thus, regardless of the type of tumor metastasis (lymphogenous or peritoneal), the exosomes of cancer patients were characterized by an increased level of 20S proteasome, which do not exhibit enzymatic activity.

Amphiregulin increases migration and proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells by inducing its own expression via PI3-kinase signaling

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many types of cancer, including epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and its expression has been found to correlate with advanced stage and poor prognosis. The EGFR ligand amphiregulin (AREG) has been investigated as a target for human cancer therapy and is known to have an autocrine role in many cancers. A cytokine array identified AREG as one of several cytokines upregulated by EGF in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) dependent manner in EOC cells. To investigate the functional role of AREG in EOC, its effect on cellular migration and proliferation was assessed in two EOC cells lines, OV167 and SKOV3. AREG increased both migration and proliferation of EOC cell line models through activation of PI3-K signaling, but independent of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Through an AREG autocrine loop mediated via PI3-K, upregulation of AREG led to increased levels of both AREG transcript and secreted AREG, while downregulation of endogenous AREG decreased the ability of exogenous AREG to induce cell migration and proliferation. Further, inhibition of endogenous AREG activity or metalloproteinase activity decreased EGF-induced EOC migration and proliferation, indicating a role for soluble endogenous AREG in mediating the functional effects of EGFR in inducing migration and proliferation in EOC.

Cytoplasmic Localization Isoform of Cyclin Y Enhanced the Metastatic Ability of Lung Cancer via Regulating Tropomyosin 4

Cyclin Y (CCNY) is a novel cyclin and highly conserved in metazoan species. Previous studies from our and other laboratory indicate that CCNY play a crucial role in tumor progression. There are two CCNY isoform which has different subcellular distributions, with cytoplasmic isoform (CCNYc) and membrane distribution isoform (CCNYm). However, the expression and function of CCNY isoforms is still unclear. We firstly found CCNYc was expressed in natural lung cancer tissue and cells through the subcellular distribution. Co-IP and immunofluorescence showed that both CCNYm and CCNYc could interact with PFTK1. Further studies illustrated that CCNYc but not CCNYm enhanced cell migration and invasion activity both in vivo and vitro. The function of CCNYc could be inhibited by suppression of PFTK1 expression. In addition, our data indicated that tropomyosin 4 (TPM4), a kind of actin-binding proteins, was down-regulated by suppression of CCNY. F-actin assembly could be controlled by CCNYc as well as PFTK1 and TPM4. As a result, CCNY was mainly expressed in lung cancer. CCNYc could promote cell motility and invasion. It indicated that CCNYc/PFTK1 complex could promote cell metastasis by regulating the formation of F-actin via TPM4.

Inhibition of Aurora kinase A activity enhances the antitumor response of beta-catenin blockade in human adrenocortical cancer cells

Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a rare and aggressive type of endocrine tumor with high risk of recurrence and metastasis. The overall survival of patients diagnosed with ACC is low and treatment for metastatic stages remain limited to mitotane, which has low efficiency in advanced stages of the disease and is associated with high toxicity. Therefore, identification of new biological targets to improve ACC treatment is crucial. Blockade of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway decreased adrenal steroidogenesis and increased apoptosis of NCI-H295 human ACC cells, in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. Aurora kinases play important roles in cell division during the G1-M phase and their aberrant expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in different types of tumors. Hence, we hypothesized that inhibition of aurora kinases activity combined with the beta-catenin pathway blockade would improve the impairment of ACC cell growth in vitro. We studied the combinatorial effects of AMG 900, an aurora kinase inhibitor and PNU-74654, a beta-catenin pathway blocker, on proliferation, survival and tumor progression in multiple ACC cell lines: NCI-H295, CU-ACC1 and CU-ACC2. Exposure of ACC cells to the combination of AMG 900 with PNU-74654 decreased cell proliferation and viability compared to either treatment alone. In addition, AMG 900 inhibited cell invasion and clonogenesis compared to PNU-74654, and the combination showed no greater effects. In contrast, PNU-74654 was more effective in decreasing cortisol secretion. These data suggest that inhibition of aurora kinases activity combined with blockade of the beta-catenin pathway may provide a combinatorial approach for targeting ACC tumors.

Establishment and characterization of a new spontaneously immortalized ER-/PR-/HER2+ human breast cancer cell line, DHSF-BR16

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) constitutes the most frequent malignant cancer endangering women’s health. In this study, a new spontaneously immortalized breast cancer cell line, DHSF-BR16 cells, was isolated from the primary IDC of a 74-years old female patient, treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and disease-free 5-years after adjuvant chemotherapy. Primary breast cancer tissue surgically removed was classified as ER⁻/PR⁻/HER2⁺, and the same phenotype was maintained by DHSF-BR16 cells. We examined DHSF-BR16 cell morphology and relevant biological and molecular markers, as well as their response to anticancer drugs commonly used for breast cancer treatment. MCF-7 cells were used for comparison purposes. The DHSF-BR16 cells showed the ability to form spheroids and migrate. Furthermore, DHSF-BR16 cells showed a mixed stemness phenotype (i.e. CD44⁺/CD24^−/low), high levels of cytokeratin 7, moderate levels of cytokeratin 8 and 18, EpCAM and E-Cadh. Transcriptome analysis showed 2071 differentially expressed genes between DHSF-BR16 and MCF-7 cells (logFC > 2, p-adj < 0.01). Several genes were highly upregulated or downregulated in the new cell line (log2 scale fold change magnitude within − 9.6 to + 12.13). A spontaneous immortalization signature, mainly represented by extracellular exosomes-, plasma membrane- and endoplasmic reticulum membrane pathways (GO database) as well as by metabolic pathways (KEGG database) was observed in DHSF-BR16 cells. Also, these cells were more resistant to anthracyclines compared with MCF-7 cells. Overall, DHSF-BR16 cell line represents a relevant model useful to investigate cancer biology, to identify both novel prognostic and drug response predictive biomarkers as well as to assess new therapeutic strategies.

Natural isoflavonoids in invasive cancer therapy: From bench to bedside

Cancer is a public health problem worldwide, and one of the crucial steps within tumor progression is the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, which are directly related to cancer-associated deaths in patients. Recognizing the molecular markers involved in invasion and metastasis is essential to find targeted therapies in cancer. Interestingly, about 50% of the discovered drugs used in chemotherapy have been obtained from natural sources such as plants, including isoflavonoids. Until now, most drugs are used in chemotherapy targeting proliferation and apoptosis-related molecules. Here, we review recent studies about the effect of isoflavonoids on molecular targets and signaling pathways related to invasion and metastasis in cancer cell cultures, in vivo assays, and clinical trials. This review also reports that glycitein, daidzein, and genistein are the isoflavonoids most studied in preclinical and clinical trials and displayed the most anticancer activity targeting invasion-related proteins such as MMP-2 and MMP-9 and also EMT-associated proteins. Therefore, the diversity of isoflavonoids is promising molecules to be used as chemotherapeutic in invasive cancer. In the future, more clinical trials are needed to validate the effectiveness of the various natural isoflavonoids in the treatment of invasive cancer.

ORAOV1-B Promotes OSCC Metastasis via the NF-κB-TNFα Loop

Metastasis, a powerful prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is chiefly responsible for poor cancer outcomes. Despite an increasing number of studies examining the mechanisms underlying poor outcomes, the development of potent strategies is hindered by insufficient characterization of the crucial regulators. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been gaining interest as significant modulators of OSCC metastasis; however, the detailed mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated OSCC metastasis remain relatively uncharacterized. Here, we identified a novel alternative splice variant of oral cancer overexpressed 1 (ORAOV1), named as ORAOV1-B, which was subsequently validated as an lncRNA and correlated with OSCC lymph node metastasis; significantly increased invasion and migration were observed in ORAOV1-B-overexpressing OSCC cells. RNA pulldown and mass spectrometry identified Hsp90 as a direct target of ORAOV1-B, and cDNA microarrays suggested TNFα as a potential downstream target of ORAOV1-B. ORAOV1-B was shown to directly bind to and stabilize Hsp90, which maintains the function of client proteins, receptor-interaction protein, and IκB kinase beta, thus activating the NF-κB pathway and inducing TNFα. Additionally, TNFα reciprocally enhanced p-NF-κB-p65 and the downstream epithelial-mesenchymal transition. ORAOV1-B effects were reversed by a TNFα inhibitor, demonstrating that TNFα is essential for ORAOV1-B-regulated metastatic ability. Consistent epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the ORAOV1-B group was demonstrated via an orthotopic model. In the metastatic model, ORAOV1-B significantly contributed to OSCC-related lung metastasis. In summary, the novel splice variant ORAOV1-B is an lncRNA, which significantly potentiates OSCC invasion and metastasis by binding to Hsp90 and activating the NF-κB-TNFα loop. These findings demonstrate the versatile role of ORAOV1 family members and the significance of genes located within 11q13 in promoting OSCC. ORAOV1-B might serve as an attractive OSCC metastasis intervention target.

Mutational drivers of cancer cell migration and invasion

Genomic instability and mutations underlie the hallmarks of cancer-genetic alterations determine cancer cell fate by affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis and immune response, and increasing data show that mutations are involved in metastasis, a crucial event in cancer progression and a life-threatening problem in cancer patients. Invasion is the first step in the metastatic cascade, when tumour cells acquire the ability to move, penetrate into the surrounding tissue and enter lymphatic and blood vessels in order to disseminate. A role for genetic alterations in invasion is not universally accepted, with sceptics arguing that cellular motility is related only to external factors such as hypoxia, chemoattractants and the rigidity of the extracellular matrix. However, increasing evidence shows that mutations might trigger and accelerate the migration and invasion of different types of cancer cells. In this review, we summarise data from published literature on the effect of chromosomal instability and genetic mutations on cancer cell migration and invasion.

Molecular landscape of recurrent cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is a major gynecological problem in developing and underdeveloped countries. Despite the significant advancement in early detection and treatment modalities, several patients recur. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms responsible for CC recurrence remains obscure. The patients with CC recurrence often show poor prognosis and significantly high mortality rates. The clinical management of recurrent CC depends on treatment history, site, and extent of the recurrence. Owing to poor prognosis and limited treatment options, recurrent CC often presents a challenge to the clinicians. Several in vitro, in vivo, and patient studies have led to the identification of the critical molecular changes responsible for CC recurrence. Both aberrant genetic and epigenetic modifications leading to altered cell signaling pathways have been reported to impact CC recurrence. Researchers are currently trying to dissect the molecular pathways in CC and translate these findings for better management of disease. This article attempts to review the existing knowledge of disease relapse, accompanying challenges, and associated molecular players in CC.

Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Human Breast, Colorectal, Lung, Ovarian and Prostate Cancers

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are major innate immune cells that constitute up to 50% of the cell mass of human tumors. TAMs are highly heterogeneous cells that originate from resident tissue-specific macrophages and from newly recruited monocytes. TAMs' variability strongly depends on cancer type, stage, and intratumor heterogeneity. Majority of TAMs are programmed by tumor microenvironment to support primary tumor growth and metastatic spread. However, TAMs can also restrict tumor growth and metastasis. In this review, we summarized the knowledge about the role of TAMs in tumor growth, metastasis and in the response to cancer therapy in patients with five aggressive types of cancer: breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancers that are frequently metastasize into distant organs resulting in high mortality of the patients. Two major TAM parameters are applied for the evaluation of TAM correlation with the cancer progression: total amount of TAMs and specific phenotype of TAMs identified by functional biomarkers. We summarized the data generated in the wide range of international patient cohorts on the correlation of TAMs with clinical and pathological parameters of tumor progression including lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis, recurrence, survival, therapy efficiency. We described currently available biomarkers for TAMs that can be measured in patients' samples (tumor tissue and blood). CD68 is the major biomarker for the quantification of total TAM amounts, while transmembrane receptors (stabilin-1, CD163, CD206, CD204, MARCO) and secreted chitinase-like proteins (YKL-39, YKL-40) are used as biomarkers for the functional TAM polarization. We also considered that specific role of TAMs in tumor progression can depend on the localization in the intratumoral compartments. We have made the conclusion for the role of TAMs in primary tumor growth, metastasis, and therapy sensitivity for breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancers. In contrast to other cancer types, majority of clinical studies indicate that TAMs in colorectal cancer have protective role for the patient and interfere with primary tumor growth and metastasis. The accumulated data are essential for using TAMs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets to develop cancer-specific immunotherapy and to design efficient combinations of traditional therapy and new immunomodulatory approaches.

Clinical significance of tumor-associated immune cells in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells and infiltration of tumor-associated immune cells (TAICs) might reflect the tumor biology of head and neck cancer. We aimed to characterize their prognostic roles in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

METHODS

We enrolled 103 OSCC patients who underwent definitive surgery. Immune expression levels of PD-L1, PD-1, CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD68 were assessed in surgically resected specimens. We evaluated the effects of immune marker expression and localization on survival outcomes.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis results adjusted by the pathological stage, resection margin, and extracapsular extension showed that a high number of PD-1⁺ TAICs and intratumoral CD68⁺ TAICs were independent positive and negative prognostic markers (hazard ratio: 0.20 and 4.15, respectively; P = .02 and .01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

PD-1⁺ TAICs in the tumor microenvironment and CD68⁺ TAICs in the intratumoral area could act as novel biomarkers for predicting overall survival outcomes in OSCC patients.

CELSR1 Acts as an Oncogene Regulated by miR-199a-5p in Glioma

Purpose

This study aimed to elucidate the biological function and upstream regulatory mechanism of CELSR1 in glioma.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated the expression of CELSR1 in glioma by TCGA_GEPIA tool, RT-qPCR, and Western blot assays. CCK-8, wound healing, and transwell invasion assays were, respectively, performed to detect the effect of CELSR1 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The upstream regulatory miRNAs of CELSR1 were predicted by TargetScan and validated by luciferase activity reporter assay.

Results

CELSR1 is overexpressed in glioma (P<0.05). CELSR1 promoted glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion (P<0.01). CELSR1 was a direct target of miR-199a-5p. miR199a-5p mimics significantly inhibited CELSR1 mRNA and protein expression (P<0.01). miR199a-5p mimics reversed the effects of CELSR1 on glioma cell behaviors (P<0.01).

Conclusion

CELSR1 acts as an oncogene promoting glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which is regulated by miR199a-5p.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) induce epigenetic alterations and promote human breast cell carcinogenesis in vitro

Gene–environment interactions are involved in the development of breast cancer, the tumor type that accounts for the majority of the cancer-related deaths among women. Here, we demonstrate that exposure to PFOS (10 µM) and PFOA (100 µM)—two contaminants ubiquitously found in human blood—for 72 h induced breast epithelial cell (MCF-10A cell line) proliferation and alteration of regulatory cell-cycle proteins (cyclin D1, CDK6, p21, p53, p27, ERK 1/2 and p38) that persisted after a multitude of cell divisions. The contaminants also promoted cell migration and invasion by reducing the levels of E-cadherin, occludin and β-integrin in the unexposed daughter cells. The compounds further induced an increase in global DNA methylation and differentially altered histone modifications, epigenetic mechanisms implicated in tumorigenesis. This mechanistic evidence for PFOS- and PFOA-induced malignant transformation of human breast cells supports a role of these abundant contaminants in the development and progression of breast cancer. Increased knowledge of contaminant-induced effects and their contribution to breast tumorigenesis is important for a better understanding of gene–environment interactions in the etiology of breast cancer.

Expression of MALAT1 Promotes Trastuzumab Resistance in HER2 Overexpressing Breast Cancers

BACKGROUND

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is associated with cancer progression. Our study examined the role of MALAT1 in breast cancer and the mechanisms involved in the regulation of MALAT1.

METHODS

In vitro cell and in vivo animal models were used to examine the role of MALAT1 in breast cancer. The interaction of FOXO1 (Forkhead Box O1) at the promoter region of MALAT1 was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay.

RESULTS

The data shows an elevated expression of MALAT1 in breast cancer tissues and cells compared to non-cancer tissues and cells. The highest level of MALAT1 was observed in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and trastuzumab-resistant HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) overexpressing (HER2+) cells. Knockdown of MALAT1 in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ cells reversed epithelial to mesenchymal transition-like phenotype and cell invasiveness. It improved the sensitivity of the cell's response to trastuzumab. Furthermore, activation of Akt by phosphorylation was associated with the upregulation of MALAT1. The transcription factor FOXO1 regulates the expression of MALAT1 via the PI3/Akt pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

We show that MALAT1 contributes to HER2+ cell resistance to trastuzumab. Targeting the PI3/Akt pathway and stabilizing FOXO1 translocation could inhibit the upregulation of MALAT1.

The Activity of KIF14, Mieap, and EZR in a New Type of the Invasive Component, Torpedo-Like Structures, Predetermines the Metastatic Potential of Breast Cancer

Intratumor morphological heterogeneity reflects patterns of invasive growth and is an indicator of the metastatic potential of breast cancer. In this study, we used this heterogeneity to identify molecules associated with breast cancer invasion and metastasis. The gene expression microarray data were used to identify genes differentially expressed between solid, trabecular, and other morphological arrangements of tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry was applied to evaluate the association of the selected proteins with metastasis. RNA-sequencing was performed to analyze the molecular makeup of metastatic tumor cells. High frequency of metastases and decreased metastasis-free survival were detected in patients either with positive expression of KIF14 or Mieap or negative expression of EZR at the tips of the torpedo-like structures in breast cancers. KIF14- and Mieap-positive and EZR-negative cells were mainly detected in the torpedo-like structures of the same breast tumors; however, their transcriptomic features differed. KIF14-positive cells showed a significant upregulation of genes involved in ether lipid metabolism. Mieap-positive cells were enriched in genes involved in mitophagy. EZR-negative cells displayed upregulated genes associated with phagocytosis and the chemokine-mediated signaling pathway. In conclusion, the positive expression of KIF14 and Mieap and negative expression of EZR at the tips of the torpedo-like structures are associated with breast cancer metastasis.

Porf-2 Inhibits Tumor Cell Migration Through the MMP-2/9 Signaling Pathway in Neuroblastoma and Glioma

Tumor migration and invasion are key pathological processes that contribute to cell metastasis as well as treatment failure in patients with malignant tumors. However, the mechanisms governing tumor cell migration remain poorly understood. By analyzing the tumor-related database and tumor cell lines, we found that preoptic regulatory factor-2 (Porf-2) is downexpressed in both neuroblastoma and glioma. Using in vitro assays, our data demonstrated that the expression of Porf-2 inhibits tumor cell migration both in neuroblastoma and glioma cell lines. Domain-mutated Porf-2 plasmids were then constructed, and it was found that the GAP domain, which plays a role in the inactivation of Rac1, is the functional domain for inhibiting tumor cell migration. Furthermore, by screening potential downstream effectors, we found that Porf-2 can reduce MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. Overexpression of MMP-2 blocked the inhibitory effect of Porf-2 in tumor cell migration both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, we show for the first time that Porf-2 is capable of suppressing tumor cell migration via its GAP domain and the downregulation of MMP-2/9, suggesting that targeting Porf-2 could be a promising therapeutic strategy for nervous system tumors.

Protein Network Studies on PCOS Biomarkers With S100A8, Druggability Assessment, and RNA Aptamer Designing to Control Its Cyst Migration Effect

The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been gradually increasing among adult females worldwide. Laparoscopy drilling on ovary is the only available temporary solution with a high incidence of reoccurrence. S100A8 with S100A9 complex is believed to facilitate the cyst migration in PCOS condition. The high evident protein interaction network studies between PCOS biomarkers, cancer invasion markers, and the interactors of S100A8 confirm that this protein has strong interaction with other selective PCOS biomarkers, which may be associative in the immature cyst invasion process. Through the network studies, intensive structural and pathway analysis, S100A8 is identified as a targetable protein. In this research, the non-SELEX in silico method is adapted to construct RNA Library based on the consensus DNA sequence of Glucocorticoid Response Element (GRE) and screened the best nucleotide fragments which are bound within the active sites of the target protein. Selected sequences are joined as a single strand and screened the one which competitively binds with minimal energy. In vitro follow-up of this computational research, the designed RNA aptamer was used to infect the MCF7 cell line through Lipofectamine 2000 mediated delivery to study the anti-cell migration effect. Wound Scratch assay confirms that the synthesized 18-mer oligo has significant inhibition activity toward tumor cell migration at the cellular level.

An Extract of Olive Mill Wastewater Downregulates Growth, Adhesion and Invasion Pathways in Lung Cancer Cells: Involvement of CXCR4

Several diet-derived compounds have been reported to exert antioxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects in numerous cancers and could be beneficial in cancer prevention. Olive oil production involves the generation of an aqueous phase defined as olive mill wastewater (OMWW), a polluting effluent rich in soluble polyphenols. Here, we assessed the cancer preventive properties exerted by a purified extract of OMWW (A009) for its activity on lung cancer cell lines. Hydroxytyrosol, the most abundant polyphenol present in our A009 extracts, was used as reference molecule in the assays performed. Extracts from OMWW from two different olive oil cultivars were used. We found that the A009 extracts limit lung cancer cell proliferation in a dose and time dependent manner. These effects were associated with the induction of apoptosis. A009 extracts were effective in inhibiting adhesion capabilities on a fibronectin layer accompanied with a reduction in their ability to generate invasive sprouts in a Matrigel layer. The production of chemokine CXCL12 and CXCR4 receptor were reduced by treatment with the extracts. Also, A009 interfered with the production of proangiogenic and pro-inflammatory VEGF, CXCL8, and CCL2 (as detected by FACS analysis) in the lung cell lines. A009 extracts were able to decrease STAT3 phosphorylation in lung cancer cells. Our results show that A009 extracts reduced activities related to tumor cell behavior in lung cancer cell lines, suggesting that they could have a potential cancer preventive role.

MiR-23b-3p reduces the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cell lines via the reduction of c-Met expression

Malignant transformation and progression in cancer is associated with the altered expression of multiple miRNAs, which are considered as post-transcriptional regulators of genes participating in various cellular processes. Although, it has been proposed that miR-23b-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in cervical cancer (CC), not all the pathways through which it alters the cellular processes have been described. The present study examines whether miR-23b-3p directly represses the c-Met expression and that consequently modifies the proliferation, migration and invasion of C33A and CaSki cells. c-Met has five microRNA response elements (MREs) for miR-23b-3p in the 3′-UTR region. The ectopic overexpression of miR-23b-3p significantly reduces c-Met expression in C33A and CaSki cells. The overexpression of miR-23b-3p reduces proliferation, migration and invasion of CaSki cells and the proliferation and invasion in C33A cells. In CaSki cells, the activation of Gab1 and Fak, downstream of c-Met, is reduced in response to the overexpression of miR-23b-3p. Together, the results in the present study indicate that miR-23b-3p is a tumor suppressor that modulates the progression of CC via post-transcriptional regulation of the c-Met oncogene.

Single Tumor Cells With Epithelial-Like Morphology Are Associated With Breast Cancer Metastasis

Introduction: The identification of tumor cells that can be potential metastatic seeds would reach two key aims—prognosis of metastasis risk and appointment of the optimal adjuvant therapy to prevent metastatic disease. Single tumor cells (STCs) located out of multicellular structures can most likely demonstrate features that are needed to initiate metastasis.

Methods: One-hundred-and-thirty-five patients with invasive breast carcinoma of no special type have been enrolled. Molecular subtypes of breast cancer were categorized according to St. Gallen recommendations. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to identify STCs with epithelial-like morphology (eSTCs) in breast tumors. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to evaluate stemness and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in STCs. The correlation between STCs and recurrence and metastasis-free survival (MFS) was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test.

Results: Distant metastasis was more frequent in eSTC-positive than eSTC-negative patients (28.0% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.007). When tumor types were analyzed separately, distant metastasis tended to be more frequent in eSTC-positive than eSTC-negative patients for HER2-positive cancer [75.0% (3/4) vs. 12.5% (1/8), p = 0.066]. In luminal A [22.7% (5/22) vs. 10.0% (3/30), p = 0.259], luminal B [21.1% (4/19) vs. 6.7% (2/30), p = 0.189], and triple-negative [40.0% (2/5) vs. 11.8% (2/17), p = 0.209] cancers, distance metastasis was not associated with eSTCs. Median MFS was not reached in eSTC-positive and eSTC-negative patients. eSTC-positive patients had a higher risk of breast cancer metastasis [hazard ratio (HR) 3.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46–8.71; p = 0.001]. When tumor types were analyzed separately, a higher risk of breast cancer metastasis occurred only in HER2-positive patients (HR 8.49, 95% CI: 1.29–55.59; p = 0.016). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed mesenchymal-like STCs (mSTCs) and inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity in STCs. There were breast tumors with either eSTCs or mSTCs and tumors with both types of STCs. Both eSTCs and mSTCs were represented by cells with different stem and/or EMT phenotypes.

Conclusions: STCs with epithelial-like morphology contribute to breast cancer metastasis and represent an attractive model for studying mechanisms of metastatic seeding. The assessment of STCs in histological sections of breast tumors can be a simple and effective method for the prediction of metastasis risk.

Stomatin plays a suppressor role in non-small cell lung cancer metastasis

Objective

Metastasis is one of the key causes of high mortality in lung cancer. Aberrant DNA methylation is a common event in metastatic lung cancer. We aimed to identify new epigenetic regulation of metastasis-associated genes and characterize their effects on lung cancer progression.

Methods

We screened genes associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis by integrating datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We obtained epigenetic-regulated candidate genes by analyzing the expression profile of demethylation genes. By overlapping analysis, epigenetically modulated metastasis-associated genes were obtained. Kaplan-Meier plotter (KM plotter) was utilized to assess the overall survival (OS) of stomatin in lung cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was conducted to determine the association between stomatin and metastasis-associated clinical indicators. Both in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to investigate the potential role of stomatin in metastasis. The regulation mechanisms of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) on stomatin were determined by Sequenom MassARRAY quantitative methylation and western blot assays.

Results

A series of bioinformatic analyses revealed stomatin as the metastasis-associated gene regulated by DNA methylation. The KM plotter analysis showed a positive association between stomatin and the OS of lung cancer. IHC analysis indicated that the decreased stomatin expression is linked with advanced TNM stage. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments displayed that stomatin could inhibit the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, TGFβ1 repressed stomatin expression during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The negative correlation between stomatin and TGFβ1 was also validated in advanced stage III lung tumor samples. The underlying mechanism by which TGFβ1 inhibits stomatin is due in part to DNA methylation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that stomatin may be a target for epigenetic regulation and can be used to prevent metastatic diseases.