Identification and validation of the role of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in cervical cancer

Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of pterostilbene against cervical cancer through an integrated bioinformatics and network pharmacology approach

Pterostilbene (PTE), a natural phenolic compound, has exhibited promising anticancer properties in the preclinical treatment of cervical cancer (CC). This study aims to comprehensively investigate the potential targets and mechanisms underlying PTE's anticancer effects in CC, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for its future clinical application and development. To accomplish this, we employed a range of methodologies, including network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and computer simulation, with specific techniques such as WGCNA, PPI network construction, ROC curve analysis, KM survival analysis, GO functional enrichment, KEGG pathway enrichment, molecular docking, MDS, and single-gene GSEA. Utilizing eight drug target prediction databases, we have identified a total of 532 potential targets for PTE. By combining CC-related genes from the GeneCards disease database with significant genes derived from WGCNA analysis of the GSE63514 dataset, we obtained 7915 unique CC-related genes. By analyzing the intersection of the 7915 CC-related genes and the 2810 genes that impact overall survival time in CC, we identified 690 genes as crucial for CC. Through the use of a Venn diagram, we discovered 36 overlapping targets shared by PTE and CC. We have constructed a PPI network and identified 9 core candidate targets. ROC and KM curve analyses subsequently revealed IL1B, EGFR, IL1A, JUN, MYC, MMP1, MMP3, and ANXA5 as the key targets modulated by PTE in CC. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated significant enrichment of these key targets, primarily in the MAPK and IL-17 signaling pathways. Molecular docking analysis verified the effective binding of PTE to all nine key targets. MDS results showed that the protein-ligand complex between MMP1 and PTE was the most stable among the nine targets. Additionally, GSEA enrichment analysis suggested a potential link between elevated MMP1 expression and the activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study has identified key targets and uncovered the molecular mechanism behind PTE's anticancer activity in CC, establishing a firm theoretical basis for further exploration of PTE's pharmacological effects in CC therapy.

Programmed cell death-index (PCDi) as a prognostic biomarker and predictor of drug sensitivity in cervical cancer: a machine learning-based analysis of mRNA signatures

Purpose: Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries. Despite available treatment strategies, the prognosis for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer and beyond remains poor. Therefore, an accurate prediction model that can reliably forecast prognosis is essential in clinical setting. Programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms are diverse and play a critical role in tumor growth, survival, and metastasis, making PCD a potential reliable prognostic marker for cervical cancer. Methods: In this study, we created a novel prognostic indicator, programmed cell death-index (PCDi), based on a 10-fold cross-validation framework for comprehensive analysis of PCD-associated genes. Results: Our PCDi-based prognostic model outperformed previously published signature models, stratifying cervical cancer patients into two distinct groups with significant differences in overall survival prognosis, tumor immune features, and drug sensitivity. Higher PCDi scores were associated with poorer prognosis. The nomogram survival model integrated PCDi and clinical characteristics, demonstrating higher prognostic prediction performance. Furthermore, our study investigated the immune features of cervical cancer patients and found that those with high PCDi scores had lower infiltrating immune cells, lower potential of T cell dysfunction, and higher potential of T cell exclusion. Patients with high PCDi scores were resistant to classic chemotherapy regimens, including cisplatin, docetaxel, and paclitaxel, but showed sensitivity to the inhibitor SB505124 and Trametinib. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PCD-related gene signature could serve as a useful biomarker to reliably predict prognosis and guide treatment decisions in cervical cancer.

Entrectinib a Plausible Inhibitor for Osteopontin (SPP1) in Cervical Cancer-Integrated Bioinformatic Approach

Cervical cancer is one of the major causes of death in women, especially in developing countries bearing more than a quarter of the global burden. Secreted phosphoprotein-1, also known as OPN (osteopontin), is an integrin-binding glycophosphoprotein that is overexpressed in a variety of tumors. OPN is a chemokine-like calcified ECM-associated protein that plays a crucial role in evaluating the metastatic potential of various cancers. However, the role of SPP1 in the tumor microenvironment and associated signaling pathways in CC is still unclear. In our study, three CC microarray datasets (GSE9750, GSE46857, and GSE67522) were obtained from the GEO database to identify the differentially expressed genes. Enrichment analysis was carried out by Enrichr and ShinyGO and the PPI interaction network was created by using String and Cytoscape. GEPIA datasets were used to validate the top 10 hub genes, and virtual screening, docking, and dynamic simulation studies were used to identify a suitable inhibitor against the OPN protein using MVD, PyRx, and GROMACS respectively. Our results show that a total of 11 DEGs were common for three datasets and gene ontology pathway enrichment analysis revealed that 2 biological processes i.e. programmed cell death and animal organ development commonly affected mechanisms in all three datasets. Docking and dynamic studies revealed that Entrectinib showed excellent binding affinity against OPN protein. Based on the results, we conclude that OPN is one of the most upregulated genes in cervical cancer and Entrectinib emerges to be a promising potential OPN inhibitor to curtail cervical cancer progression. Schematic representation: The schematic representation of methodology steps is illustrated in the graphical abstract. Schematic representation of methodology.

Multidimensional outlook on the pathophysiology of cervical cancer invasion and metastasis

Cervical cancer being one of the primary causes of high mortality rates among women is an area of concern, especially with ineffective treatment strategies. Extensive studies are carried out to understand various aspects of cervical cancer initiation, development and progression; however, invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma has poor outcomes. Moreover, the advanced stages of cervical cancer may involve lymphatic circulation with a high risk of tumor recurrence at distant metastatic sites. Dysregulation of the cervical microbiome by human papillomavirus (HPV) together with immune response modulation and the occurrence of novel mutations that trigger genomic instability causes malignant transformation at the cervix. In this review, we focus on the major risk factors as well as the functionally altered signaling pathways promoting the transformation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. We further elucidate genetic and epigenetic variations to highlight the complexity of causal factors of cervical cancer as well as the metastatic potential due to the changes in immune response, epigenetic regulation, DNA repair capacity, and cell cycle progression. Our bioinformatics analysis on metastatic and non-metastatic cervical cancer datasets identified various significantly and differentially expressed genes as well as the downregulation of potential tumor suppressor microRNA miR-28-5p. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the genomic landscape in invasive and metastatic cervical cancer will help in stratifying the patient groups and designing potential therapeutic strategies.

Identification of novel characteristic biomarkers and immune infiltration profile for the anaplastic thyroid cancer via machine learning algorithms

PURPOSE

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and lethal malignant cancer. In recent years, the application of molecular-driven targeted therapy and immunotherapy has markedly improved the prognosis of ATC. This study aimed to identify characteristic genes for ATC diagnosis and revealed the role of ATC characteristic genes in drug sensitivity and immune cell infiltration.

METHODS

We downloaded ATC RNA-sequencing data from the GEO database. Following the combination and normalization of the dataset, we first divided the combined datasets into the training cohort and the validation cohort. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ATC by differential expression analysis in the training cohort. We used two machine learning algorithms, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) to identify ATC characteristic genes. The CIBERSORT algorithm was performed to calculate the abundance of various immune cells in ATC. Finally, we validated the expression of ATC characteristic genes by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in ATC cell lines and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

A total of 425 DEGs were identified in the training cohort, including 240 upregulated genes and 185 downregulated genes. Four ATC characteristic genes (ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3) were identified, and their diagnostic value was validated in the validation cohort (AUC in ROC analysis > 0.75). We established a practical gene expression-based nomogram to accurately predict the probability of ATC. We also found that ATC characteristic biomarkers are associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and drug sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

ADM, PXDN, MMP1, and TFF3 might serve as potential ATC diagnostic biomarkers and may be helpful for ATC molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Expression of collagenases (matrix metalloproteinase-1, -8, -13) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) in naturally occurring bovine cutaneous fibropapillomas

Bovine cutaneous fibropapillomas are among the most common skin tumors in cattle; their etiology is associated with infection by bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types-1/-2 which are considered oncogenic. Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), especially collagenolysis, is a key event during a series of relevant physiological processes, including tissue remodeling and repair. Various types of proteins are implicated in the regulation of ECM degradation: among these, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a group of zinc-dependent endoenzymes, and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are known to play a major role. Previous studies reported that aberrant expression of collagenolytic MMPs (MMP-1/-8/-13) and unbalancing between MMPs and TIMPs represent a critical step in tumor growth and invasion; however, studies regarding this topic in bovine cutaneous fibropapillomas are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the collagenases MMP-1/-8/-13 and TIMP-3 in naturally occurring fibropapillomas harboring BPV-2 DNA and normal skin samples. Here, by immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis, we demonstrated overexpression of MMP-8/-13 along with a down-regulation of MMP-1, associated with a decrease in TIMP-3 levels in tumor compared with normal skin samples. This is the first study describing MMP-1/-8/-13 and TIMP-3 expression in bovine cutaneous fibropapillomas and our results suggest that an impaired expression of collagenases along with an imbalance between MMPs/TIMPs may contribute to an increased collagenolytic activity, which in turn could be important in ECM changes and tumors development.

MMP1 Overexpression Promotes Cancer Progression and Associates with Poor Outcome in Head and Neck Carcinoma

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) has been reported to play key roles in a variety of cancers by degrading the extracellular matrix. However, its carcinogenic roles have not been shown yet in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to elucidate its expression pattern and functional roles as well as clinical significance in HNSCC. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were utilized to determine the MMP1 expression pattern and the associations between its expression and patients' outcome in HNSCC. Mice tongue squamous cell carcinoma model induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) and siRNA-mediated cellular assay in vitro were utilized to evaluate the oncogenic role of MMP1. The biological functions and cancer-related pathways involved in MMP1-related genes were found through bioinformatics analysis. Both mRNA and protein abundance of MMP1 were highly increased in HNSCC as compared to its non-tumor counterparts. MMP1 overexpression positively correlated with advanced tumor size, cervical node metastasis, and advanced pathological grade and lower patients' survival. In the 4NQO-induced animal model, MMP1 expression increased along with the progression of the disease. In HNSCC cells, siRNA-mediated knockdown of MMP1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and activated apoptosis and epithelia-mesenchymal transition (EMT). GSEA, GO, and KEGG analyses showed that MMP1 expression was significantly related to cancer-related pathways and cancer-related functions. Together, our results demonstrated MMP1 serves as a novel prognostic biomarker and putative oncogene in HNSCC.

Proteases and HPV-Induced Carcinogenesis

Simple Summary

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a sexually transmitted disease with high prevalence worldwide. Although most HPV infections do not lead to cancer, some HPV types are correlated with the majority of cervical cancers, and with some anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Moreover, enzymes known as proteases play an essential role in the pathogenic process in HPV-induced carcinogenesis. This review highlights the role of proteases and recent epidemiological data regarding HPV-dependent carcinogenesis.

Abstract

Persistent infection with Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main etiologic factor for pre-malignant and malignant cervical lesions. Moreover, HPV is also associated with oropharynx and other anogenital carcinomas. Cancer-causing HPV viruses classified as group 1 carcinogens include 12 HPV types, with HPV 16 and 18 being the most prevalent. High-risk HPVs express two oncoproteins, E6 and E7, the products of which are responsible for the inhibition of p53 and pRB proteins, respectively, in human keratinocytes and cellular immortalization. p53 and pRB are pleiotropic proteins that regulate the activity of several signaling pathways and gene expression. Among the important factors that are augmented in HPV-mediated carcinogenesis, proteases not only control processes involved in cellular carcinogenesis but also control the microenvironment. For instance, genetic polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) are associated with carcinoma invasiveness. Similarly, the serine protease inhibitors hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) and -2 (HAI-2) have been identified as prognostic markers for HPV-dependent cervical carcinomas. This review highlights the most crucial mechanisms involved in HPV-dependent carcinogenesis, and includes a section on the proteolytic cascades that are important for the progression of this disease and their impact on patient health, treatment, and survival.

Prognostic and Predictive Models for Left- and Right- Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Bioinformatics Analysis Based on Ferroptosis-Related Genes

Background

Left- and right-sided colorectal cancer (LCRC, RCRC) are significantly different in epidemiology and clinical manifestations and have altered outcomes. However, as a hot tumor prognostic marker, the role of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in LCRC and RCRC is unknown.

Methods

From The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we downloaded the expression profiles of CRC patients. A "DESeq2" package was performed to compare the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of LCRC and RCRC. FRGs were identified using the FerrDb. The prognostic value of differentially expressed FRG (DE-FRG) in left- and right-CRC was assessed separately by Cox regression analysis. Subsequently, functional enrichment analysis, ESTIMATE, and single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) were performed based on LCRC and RCRC samples to reveal the potential function of FRGs-related risk signatures. The differential expression of FRGs in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues were verified by Western blot. The differential expression and prognosis in LCC and RCC were verified by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Based on the identified 14 DE-FRGs, the LCRC prognostic model consisted of NOS2 and IFNG; NOS2 and ALOXE established the prognostic signature that could distinguish RCRC outcomes. In the functional analysis, the DEGs (high risk vs. low risk) of the LCRC and RCRC were significantly enriched in the immune- and lipid-related terms and pathways. ESTIMATE and ssGSEA suggested that these FRGs-related risk signatures were affiliated with the infiltration of immune cell subtypes. Western blotting results showed that NOS2 and ALOXE3 were significantly highly expressed in cancer, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that ALOXE3 was highly expressed in RCC, and those with high expression had a worse prognosis, while NOS2 gene had an effect on the prognosis of both LCC and RCC.

Conclusion

This study constructed a potential prognostic model of LCRC and RCRC, respectively. We also identified the crucial pathways that contribute to elucidating the pathogenesis of CRC.

Approaches Toward Targeting Matrix Metalloproteases for Prognosis and Therapies in Gynecological Cancer: MicroRNAs as a Molecular Driver

Gene expression can be regulated by small non-coding RNA molecules like microRNAs (miRNAs) which act as cellular mediators necessary for growth, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolism. miRNA deregulation is often observed in many human malignancies, acting both as tumor-promoting and suppressing, and their abnormal expression is linked to unrestrained cellular proliferation, metastasis, and perturbation in DNA damage as well as cell cycle. Matrix Metalloproteases (MMPs) have crucial roles in both growth, and tissue remodeling in normal conditions, as well as in promoting cancer development and metastasis. Herein, we outline an integrated interactive study involving various MMPs and miRNAs and also feature a way in which these communications impact malignant growth, movement, and metastasis. The present review emphasizes on important miRNAs that might impact gynecological cancer progression directly or indirectly via regulating MMPs. Additionally, we address the likely use of miRNA-mediated MMP regulation and their downstream signaling pathways towards the development of a potential treatment of gynecological cancers.

Insights Into the Regulation of Gynecological Inflammation-Mediated Malignancy by Metalloproteinases

Gynecological illness accounts for around 4.5% of the global disease burden, which is higher than other key global health concerns such as malaria (1.04%), TB (1.9%), ischemic heart disease (2.2%), and maternal disorders (3.5%). Gynecological conditions in women of reproductive age are linked to both in terms of diagnosis and treatment, especially in low-income economies, which poses a serious social problem. A greater understanding of health promotion and illness management can help to prevent diseases in gynecology. Due to the lack of established biomarkers, the identification of gynecological diseases, including malignancies, has proven to be challenging in most situations, and histological exams remain the gold standard. Metalloproteinases (MMPs, ADAMs, ADAMTSs) and their endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs) modulate the protease-dependent bioavailability of local niche components (e.g., growth factors), matrix turnover, and cellular interactions to govern specific physical and biochemical characteristics of the environment. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase (ADAM), and A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motif (ADAMTS) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that contribute significantly to the disintegration of extracellular matrix proteins and shedding of membrane-bound receptor molecules in several diseases, including arthritis. MMPs are noteworthy genes associated with cancer development, functional angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and immune surveillance evasion. These genes are often elevated in cancer and multiple benign gynecological disorders like endometriosis, according to research. Migration through the extracellular matrix, which involves proteolytic activity, is an essential step in tumor cell extravasation and metastasis. However, none of the MMPs’ expression patterns, as well as their diagnostic and prognostic potential, have been studied in a pan-cancer context. The latter plays a very important role in cell signaling and might be used as a cancer treatment target. ADAMs are implicated in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This review will focus on the contribution of the aforementioned metalloproteinases in regulating gynecological disorders and their subsequent manipulation for therapeutic intervention.

Clinical value of serum biomarkers, squamous cell carcinoma antigen and apolipoprotein C-II in follow-up of patients with locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiation: A multicenter prospective cohort study

There are currently no reliable, established serum biomarkers to predict the prognosis of radiotherapy for advanced cervical cancer. We aimed to identify serum biomarkers for survival after radiotherapy for cervical cancer. In this multicenter prospective cohort study, the usefulness of pre- and posttreatment serum protein levels of potential biomarkers, including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), apolipoprotein C-II (ApoC-II), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, and MMP2, were evaluated together with clinical factors in 145 cervical cancer patients in order to determine their suitability to predict survival. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint, and overall survival (OS), pelvic PFS (PPFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were the secondary endpoints. Blood samples were collected before and 1 month after radiotherapy to measure serum biomarker levels. ApoC-II was measured using a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which was developed for this purpose. Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used for statistical analyses. In multivariate analysis, larger tumor size was independently associated with shorter PFS, OS, PPFS, and DMFS, while longer overall treatment time was independently associated with shorter PPFS. Higher pretreatment SCC-Ag (P < 0.001) was associated with shorter DMFS. Higher posttreatment SCC-Ag (P = 0.017) was also associated with shorter DMFS. Pretreatment ApoC-II was associated with PPFS in univariate analysis (P = 0.048), but not in multivariate analysis. Patients with pretreatment ApoC-II levels ≤ 25.8 μg/ml had shorter PPFS than those with pretreatment ApoC-II levels > 25.8 μg/ml (P = 0.023, log-rank test). Pre- and posttreatment serum SCC-Ag and pretreatment serum ApoC-II levels may be important biomarkers to predict survival outcomes of patients with cervical cancer after radiotherapy. Pre- and posttreatment SCC-Ag and pretreatment ApoC-II might be useful in clinical settings for screening patients to improve treatment strategies in cervical cancer.

Interstitial collagenase MMP-1 and EMMPRIN in cell lines and in clinical specimens of cervical squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to elucidate the features of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases inducer-EMMPRIN (EMN) and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) in cell lines and in clinical samples of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was carried out using RT-PCR, densitometry and immunohistochemical studies (IHC) on commercial cell lines Siha, Caski, transformed with HPV16; HeLa, and C33A transformed with HPV18, line C33A without HPV, and in clinical samples of SCC and morphologically normal tissue adjacent to the tumor.

RESULTS

The data obtained indicate that the expression of mRNA EMN and MMP-1 occurs in all cell lines at different levels. HPV type and number of genes copies had no effect on expression degree both EMN and MMP-1. Gene expression of EMN and MMP-1 has been investigated in tumor and normal tissues. MMP-1 expression in tumor tissue in SCC, as a rule, has been significantly increased (2-6 times) compared to normal tissue. It was found in 90% of tumor samples. It is known, that MMP-1 promotes the development of invasive and metastatic processes. EMN expression was lower in the tumor tissue than in normal tissue in most cases. An increase in EMN expression was noted only in some cases of SCC.

CONCLUSION

The data obtained indicate that MMP-1 can serve as a marker of the invasive potential of SCC. EMN, apparently, is not a major factor responsible for MMP-1 expression in SCC. Data are important for understanding the process of tumor development and may have prognostic value for the patient.

Prognostic Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Cervical Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Studies have published the association between the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the outcome of cervical cancer. However, the prognostic value in cervical cancer remains controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic functions of MMP expression in cervical cancer.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify the eligible studies according to defined selection and excluding criteria and analyzed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Fixed and random effects models were evaluated through the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and progress-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

A total of 18 eligible studies including 1967 patients were analyzed for prognostic value. Totally 16 selected studies including 21 tests were relevant to the cervical cancer OS, 4 studies focused on RFS, and 1 study on PFS. The combined pooled HRs and 95% CIs of OS were calculated with random-effects models (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.65, P = .000). In the subgroup analysis for OS, there was no heterogeneity in MMP-2 (I² = .0%, P = .880), MMP-1 (I² = .0%, P = .587), and MMP-14 (I² = 28.3%, P = .248). In MMP-7 and MMP-9, the heterogeneities were obvious (I² = 99.2% (P = .000) and I² = 77.9% (P = .000), respectively). The pooled HRs and 95% CIs of RFS were calculated with fixed-effects models (HR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.38-3.58, P = .001) and PFS (HR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.14-4.58, P = .035).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that MMP overexpression was associated with shorter OS and RFS in cervical cancer patients. It suggested that MMP overexpression might be a poor prognostic marker in cervical cancer. Research Registry Registration Number: reviewregistry 1159.

Prolonged cadmium exposure alters benign uterine fibroid cell behavior, extracellular matrix components, and TGFB signaling

The heavy metal Cadmium (Cd), a widespread environmental contaminant, poses serious hazards to human health and is considered a metallohormone and carcinogen. In women with uterine fibroids, there is a significant association between blood Cd levels and increased fibroid tumor size. The aim of this study was to determine if benign human uterine leiomyoma (fibroid) cells could be malignantly transformed in vitro by continuous Cd exposure and, if so, explore a molecular mechanism by which this could occur. We found when fibroid cells were exposed to 10 µM CdCl₂ for 8 weeks, a robust and fast‐growing Cd‐Resistant Leiomyoma (CR‐LM) cell culture was established. The CR‐LM cells formed viable colonies in soft agar and had increased cytoplasmic glycogen aggregates, enhanced cell motility, a higher percentage of cells in G2/M phase, and increased expression of the proliferation marker Ki‐67. NanoString analysis showed downregulation of genes encoding for extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as collagens, fibronectins, laminins, and SLRP family proteins, whereas genes involved in ECM degradation (MMP1, MMP3, and MMP10) were significantly upregulated. A volcano plot showed that the top differentially genes favored cancer progression. Functional analysis by ingenuity pathway analysis predicted a significant inhibition of TGFB1 signaling, leading to enhanced proliferation and attenuated fibrosis. Prolonged Cd exposure altered phenotypic characteristics and dysregulated genes in fibroid cells predicative of progression towards a cancer phenotype. Therefore, continuous Cd exposure alters the benign characteristics of fibroid cells in vitro, and Cd exposure could possibly pose a health hazard for women with uterine fibroids.

SNX10 and PTGDS are associated with the progression and prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Cervical cancer (CC) is the primary cause of death in women. This study sought to investigate the potential mechanism and prognostic genes of CC.

Methods

We downloaded four gene expression profiles from GEO. The RRA method was used to integrate and screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CC and normal samples. Functional analysis was performed by clusterprofiler. We built PPI network by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes Database (STRING) and selected hub modules via Molecular COmplex Detection (MCODE). CMap database was used to find molecules with therapeutic potential for CC. The hub genes were validated in GEO datasets, Gene Expession Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), immunohistochemistry, Cox regression analysis, TCGA methylation analysis and ONCOMINE were carried out. ROC curve analysis and GSEA were also performed to describe the prognostic significance of hub genes.

Results

Functional analysis revealed that 147 DEGs were significantly enriched in binding, cell proliferation, transcriptional activity and cell cycle regulation. PPI network screened 30 hub genes, with CDK1 having the strongest connectivity with CC. Cmap showed that apigenin, thioguanine and trichostatin A might be used to treat CC(P < 0.05). Eight genes (APOD, CXCL8, MMP1, MMP3, PLOD2, PTGDS, SNX10 and SPP1) were screened out through GEPIA. Of them, only PTGDS and SNX10 had not appeared in previous studies about CC. The validation in GEO showed that PTGDS showed low expression while SNX10 presented high expression in tumor tissues. Their expression profiles were consistent with the results in immunohistochemistry. ROC curve analysis indicated that the model had a good diagnostic efficiency (AUC = 0.738). GSEA analysis demonstrated that the two genes were correlated with the chemokine signaling pathway (P < 0.05). TCGA methylation analysis showed that patients with lowly-expressed and highly-methylated PTGDS had a worse prognosis than those with highly-expressed and lowly-methylated PTGDS (p = 0.037). Cox regression analysis showed that SNX10 and PTGDS were independent prognostic indicators for OS among CC patients (P = 0.007 and 0.003).

Conclusions

PTGDS and SNX10 showed abnormal expression and methylation in CC. Both genes might have high prognostic value of CC patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08212-w.

A Special View of What Was Almost Forgotten: p38δ MAPK

The p38δ mitogen-activated protein kinase is an important signal transduction enzyme. p38δ has recently emerged as a drug target due to its tissue-specific expression patterns and its critical roles in regulation of cellular processes related to cancer and inflammatory diseases, such as cell proliferation, cell migration, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. However, potent and specific p38δ inhibitors have not been defined so far. Moreover, in cancer disease, p38δ appears to act as a tumor suppressor or tumor promoter according to cancer and cell type studied. In this review, we outline the current understanding of p38δ roles in each cancer type, to define whether it is possible to delineate new cancer therapies based on small-molecule p38δ inhibitors. We also highlight recent advances made in the design of molecules with potential to inhibit p38 isoforms and discuss structural approaches to guide the search for p38δ inhibitors.

Maca Root (Lepidium meyenii) Extract Increases the Expression of MMP-1 and Stimulates Migration of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) extract is a worldwide consumed food supplement for sexual dysfunctions, increasing sperm production and its motility, and alleviating menopausal symptoms. Once maca root has a role in cell proliferation and motility, and its consumption may increase along with age, mainly in menopausal women, we aimed to investigate the plant effects on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines. Standardized maca root powdered extract showed significant cytotoxic activity in both MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T cells, and the IC₅₀s were 2000 μg/ml and 3000 μg/ml, respectively. Both cell lines showed an increase in migratory capacity. Using bioinformatics tools, we established genes involved in the metastatic process, CAV1, LAMA4, and MMP-1, and the mRNAs expression was assessed by qPCR. Comparing the treated cells to the negative control, CAV1 presented a decreased expression by 2-fold in MDA-MB-231. LAMA4 presented a decrease by 4-fold in Hs578T cells. MMP-1 showed substantially increase mRNA expression in MDA-MB-231 by 86-fold and in Hs578T by 5-fold. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study indicating that the human consumption of maca may be dangerous due to the upregulation in MMP-1 expression and the increase in TNBC migrated cells.

A Five-Genes-Based Prognostic Signature for Cervical Cancer Overall Survival Prediction

Aims. This study is aimed at identifying a prognostic signature for cervical cancer. Main Methods. The gene expression data and clinical information of cervical cancer and normal cervical tissues were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas and from three datasets of the Gene Expression Omnibus database. DESeq2 and Limma were employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The overlapping DEGs among all datasets were considered the final DEGs. Then, the functional enrichment analysis was performed. Moreover, the Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to establish a prognostic signature of the DEGs. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was applied to test the model. Relationships between gene expression and clinicopathological parameters in cervical cancer, including age, HPV status, histology, stage, and lymph node metastasis, were analysed by the chi-square test. The somatic mutations of these prognostic genes were assessed through cBioPortal. The robustness of the model was verified in another two independent validation cohorts. Key Findings. In total, 169 overlapping upregulated genes and 29 overlapping downregulated genes were identified in cervical cancer compared with normal cervical tissues. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were mainly enriched in DNA replication, the cell cycle, and the p53 signalling pathway. Finally, a 5-gene- (ITM2A, DSG2, SPP1, EFNA1, and MMP1) based prognostic signature was built. According to this model, each patient was given a prognostic-related risk value. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that a higher risk was related to worse overall survival in cervical cancer, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.811 for 15 years. The validity of this model in the prediction of cervical cancer outcome was verified in another two independent datasets. In addition, our study also found that the low expression of ITM2A was associated with cervical adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, DSG2 was associated with the HPV status of cervical cancer. Significance. Our study constructed a prognostic model in cervical cancer and discovered two novel genes, ITM2A and DSG2, associated with cervical carcinogenesis and survival.

The HPV-18 E7 CKII phospho acceptor site is required for maintaining the transformed phenotype of cervical tumour-derived cells

The Human Papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein plays an essential role in the development and maintenance of malignancy, which it achieves through targeting a number of critical cell control pathways. An important element in the ability of E7 to contribute towards cell transformation is the presence of a Casein Kinase II phospho-acceptor site within the CR2 domain of the protein. Phosphorylation is believed to enhance E7 interaction with a number of different cellular target proteins, and thereby increase the ability of E7 to enhance cell proliferation and induce malignancy. However, there is little information on how important this site in E7 is, once the tumour cells have become fully transformed. In this study, we have performed genome editing of the HPV-18 E7 CKII recognition site in C4-1 cervical tumour-derived cells. We first show that mutation of HPV18 E7 S32/S34 to A32/A34 abolishes CKII phosphorylation of E7, and subsequently we have isolated C4-1 clones containing these mutations in E7. The cells continue to proliferate, but are somewhat more slow-growing than wild type cells, reach lower saturation densities, and are also more susceptible to low nutrient conditions. These cells are severely defective in matrigel invasion assays, partly due to downregulation of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Mechanistically, we find that phosphorylation of E7 plays a direct role in the ability of E7 to activate AKT signaling, which in turn is required for optimal levels of MMP secretion. These results demonstrate that the E7 CKII phospho-acceptor site thus continues to play an important role for E7's activity in cells derived from cervical cancers, and suggests that blocking this activity of E7 could be expected to have therapeutic potential.

Screening responsive or resistant biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors based on online databases

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a promising strategy in the treatment of cancer, especially advanced types. However, not all patients are responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The response rate depends on the immune microenvironment, tumor mutational burden (TMB), expression level of immune checkpoint proteins, and molecular subtypes of cancers. Along with the Cancer Genome Project, various open access databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus, provide large volumes of data, which allow researchers to explore responsive or resistant biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we introduced some methodologies on database selection, biomarker screening, current progress of immune checkpoint blockade in solid tumor treatment, possible mechanisms of drug resistance, strategies of overcoming resistance, and indications for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

ANXA2, PRKCE, and OXT are critical differentially genes in Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM

Identification of prominent genes which are involved in onset and progress of steatosis stage of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the aim of this study.

BACKGROUND

NAFLD is characterized by accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes. The patients with steatosis (the first stage of NAFLD) will come across nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and finally hepatic cirrhosis. There is correlation between cirrhosis and hepatic cancer. However, ultrasonography is used to diagnose NAFLD, biopsy is the precise diagnostic method.

METHODS

Gene expression profiles of 14 steatosis patients and 14 controls are retrieved from gene expression omnibus (GEO) and after statistical validation top 250 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined. The characterized DEGs were included in network analysis and the central DEGs were identified. Gene ontology (GO) performed by ClueGO analysis of DEGs to determine critical biological terms. Role of prominent DEGs in steatosis is discussed in details.

RESULTS

Numbers of 31 significant DEGs including 20 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated ones were determined. Nine biological groups including 27 terms were recognized. Negative regulation of low-density lipoprotein particle receptor catabolic process, TRAM-dependent toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and regulation of hindgut contraction which were related to ANXA2, PRKCE, and OXT respectively were determined as critical biological term groups and DEGS.

CONCLUSION

Deregulation of ANXA2, PRKCE, and OXT is a critical event in steatosis. It seems these three genes are suitable biomarker to diagnosis of steatosis.

HPV16-Immortalized Cells from Human Transformation Zone and Endocervix are More Dysplastic than Ectocervical Cells in Organotypic Culture

A major risk factor for cervical cancer is persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) which can cause cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Greater than 90% of cervical cancers develop in the transformation zone (TZ), a small region of metaplastic squamous epithelium at the squamocolumnar junction between endocervix and ectocervix. However, it is unclear why this region is highly susceptible to malignant progression. We hypothesized that cells from TZ were more susceptible to dysplastic differentiation, a precursor to cervical cancer. We used three-dimensional organotypic culture to compare differentiation of HPV16-immortalized epithelial cell lines derived from ectocervix, TZ, and endocervix. We show that immortal cells from TZ or endocervix form epithelia that are more dysplastic than immortal cells from ectocervix. A higher percentage of immortal cells from TZ and endocervix express the proliferation marker Ki-67 and are positive for phospho-Akt. Immortal cells from TZ and endocervix invade collagen rafts and express increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1. Inhibition of MMP-1 or Akt activity blocks invasion. We conclude that HPV16-immortalized cells cultured from TZ or endocervix are more susceptible to dysplastic differentiation, and this might enhance their susceptibility to cervical cancer.

SMAGP a novel biomarker of cervical cancer development and progression

Introduction

Cervical cancer, one of the most common malignant gynecological tumors, is a significant burden on the health of females worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate genes associated with lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer.

Methods

We report on the lymph node metastasis-associated gene, small cell adhesion glycoprotein (SMAGP), as a key regulator of cervical cancer development and progression. SMAGP expression levels were investigated in 70 cervical squamous cell carcinoma samples and 10 normal cervical squamous epithelium samples.

Results

Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that SMAGP protein levels were significantly elevated in cervical cancer tissue compared with normal cervical squamous epithelium. Silencing of SMAGP induced cell cycle arrest, inhibited the cell proliferation and colony formation ability of cervical cancer cells in vitro and suppressed their tumorigenic potential in nude mice. In addition, SMAGP knockdown reduced expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition-related proteins, including vimentin, β-cadherin, MMP2, and Twist.

Conclusion

Together, our findings demonstrate that SMAGP plays a critical role in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis and could be a new therapeutic target in cervical cancer.

Gene Expression Analysis Identifies Novel Targets for Cervical Cancer Therapy

Although there has been significant progress in prevention and treatment of cervical cancer, this malignancy is still a leading cause of cancer death for women. Anti-angiogenesis and immunotherapy approaches have been providing survival benefits, however, response rates and durability of response need to be improved. There is a clear need for combination therapies that increase effectiveness of these agents and further improve patient outcome. Previous studies have largely focused on gene expression and molecular pathways in untreated cervix cancer. The goal of this study was to evaluate cancer-specific molecular pathways and their correlation with tumor immune profile in recurrent cervical cancer. Tumor and adjacent normal tissues were used to identify potential combination therapy targets. We found that DNA damage repair pathway genes were significantly overexpressed in the tumor. Based on our results and other recent investigations, we suggest that combination immune checkpoint and PARP inhibitor therapy is a high priority consideration for patients with recurrent, previously treated cervical cancer. We also show that multiple epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes, including MAP2K4, ID2, JAK1, FGF2, PIK3R1, AKT3, FGF13, and STAT3 may be potential targets. Interestingly, high-throughput analysis of Cancer Genome Atlas data identified distinct targets, including Fatty acid synthase FASN and Matrix Metallopeptidase 1 MMP1 as novel, promising combination therapy partners.