Effects of cyclooxygenase-2 gene silencing on the biological behavior of SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells

Self-assembly nanoplatform of platinum (Ⅳ) prodrug for enhanced ovarian cancer therapy

Cisplatin is a metal platinum complex commonly used in the field of anti-tumor and one of the most commonly used drugs in combination chemotherapy. However, chemotherapy with Cisplatin induced overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in tumor cells, which could impair the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy on tumor progression. Here, we presented a novel method for the treatment of ovarian cancer with a self-assembly based nano-system. Cisplatin and tolfenamic acid were each linked to linoleic acid to give them the ability to self-assemble into nanoparticles in water. TPNPs had flexible drug ratio adjustability, homogeneous stability, and high drug loading capacity. Compared with Cisplatin, TPNPs could promote cellular uptake and tumor aggregation, co-induce enhanced apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition by inhibiting COX-2 in the mice xenograft model of human ovarian cancer, and reduce systemic toxicity. Therefore, TPNPs is a promising antitumor drug as a kind of self-assembly nano-prodrug with high drug load.

Gene Therapy for Malignant and Benign Gynaecological Disorders: A Systematic Review of an Emerging Success Story

Simple Summary

This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders, highlighting the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach. It specifically focuses on the gene therapy strategies against major gynaecological malignant disorders, such as ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer, as well as benign disorders, such as uterine leiomyomas, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders. The above therapeutic strategies, which employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation approaches, have yielded promising results over the last decade, setting the grounds for successful clinical trials.

Abstract

Despite the major advances in screening and therapeutic approaches, gynaecological malignancies still present as a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Cervical cancer, although largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening, remains the fourth most common and most lethal cancer type in women, while the available treatment schemes still pose a fertility threat. Ovarian cancer is associated with high morbidity rates, primarily due to lack of symptoms and high relapse rates following treatment, whereas endometrial cancer, although usually curable by surgery, it still represents a therapeutic problem. On the other hand, benign abnormalities, such as fibroids, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders, although not life-threatening, significantly affect women’s life and fertility and have high socio-economic impacts. In the last decade, targeted gene therapy approaches toward both malignant and benign gynaecological abnormalities have led to promising results, setting the ground for successful clinical trials. The above therapeutic strategies employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation. This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders and highlights the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach.

Long non‑coding RNA SNHG3 promotes the development of non‑small cell lung cancer via the miR‑1343‑3p/NFIX pathway

The aim of the present study was to identify the function of long non‑coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 3 (SNHG3) and examine its effects on non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A series of in vitro experiments were employed to evaluate the effects of SNHG3 on the progression of NSCLC, including Cell Counting Kit‑8, 5‑Ethynyl‑2'‑deoxyuridine, flow cytometry, wound healing, Transwell, western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR assays. Bioinformatics analyses and a luciferase reporter assay were performed to identify the target gene of SNHG3 and microRNA (miR)‑1343‑3p. Finally, recuse experiments were conducted to verify the effect of SNHG3 and its target gene on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. The findings indicated that lncRNA SNHG3 was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of lncRNA SNHG3 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and accelerated cell apoptosis in NSCLC cell lines. The results of the bioinformatics analysis and the luciferase reporter assay indicated that lncRNA SNHG3 directly bound to miR‑1343‑3p and that it could downregulate the expression levels of miR‑1343‑3p to promote the progression of NSCLC. Rescue experiments indicated that lncRNA SNHG3 increased nuclear factor IX (NFIX) expression by sequestering miR‑1343‑3p in NSCLC. These results suggested that the SNHG3/miR‑1343‑3p/NFIX axis may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-1 Inhibitors in Cancer: A Review of Oncology and Medicinal Chemistry Literature

Prostaglandins and thromboxane are lipid signaling molecules deriving from arachidonic acid by the action of the cyclooxygenase isoenzymes COX-1 and COX-2. The role of cyclooxygenases (particularly COX-2) and prostaglandins (particularly PGE₂) in cancer-related inflammation has been extensively investigated. In contrast, COX-1 has received less attention, although its expression increases in several human cancers and a pathogenetic role emerges from experimental models. COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms seem to operate in a coordinate manner in cancer pathophysiology, especially in the tumorigenesis process. However, in some cases, exemplified by the serous ovarian carcinoma, COX-1 plays a pivotal role, suggesting that other histopathological and molecular subtypes of cancer disease could share this feature. Importantly, the analysis of functional implications of COX-1-signaling, as well as of pharmacological action of COX-1-selective inhibitors, should not be restricted to the COX pathway and to the effects of prostaglandins already known for their ability of affecting the tumor phenotype. A knowledge-based choice of the most appropriate tumor cell models, and a major effort in investigating the COX-1 issue in the more general context of arachidonic acid metabolic network by using the systems biology approaches, should be strongly encouraged.

Recent Progress in Gene Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy in developed countries. This is due to the lack of specific symptoms that hinder early diagnosis and to the high relapse rate after treatment with radical surgery and chemotherapy. Hence, novel therapeutic modalities to improve clinical outcomes in ovarian malignancy are needed. Progress in gene therapy has allowed the development of several strategies against ovarian cancer. Most are focused on the design of improved vectors to enhance gene delivery on the one hand, and, on the other hand, on the development of new therapeutic tools based on the restoration or destruction of a deregulated gene, the use of suicide genes, genetic immunopotentiation, the inhibition of tumour angiogenesis, the alteration of pharmacological resistance, and oncolytic virotherapy. In the present manuscript, we review the recent advances made in gene therapy for ovarian cancer, highlighting the latest clinical trials experience, the current challenges and future perspectives.

Na7CrCuW11O39.16H2O induces apoptosis in human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells through the p38 signaling pathway

Ovarian carcinoma is a common malignant disease worldwide with a poor therapeutic response. The present study investigated the effects of Na₇CrCuW₁₁O₃₉.16H₂O (CrCuW₁₁) on ovarian cancer cell growth and investigated the mechanisms underlying its actions. The effects of CrCuW₁₁ on cell viability and apoptosis were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and electron microscopy in human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. The expression of bcl-2-like protein 4 (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), cytochrome c, phosphorylated (p)-p38 and p38 was determined by western blot analysis. Caspase-3 activity was measured by caspase-3 activity kit. CrCuW₁₁ concentrations of 1.87×10^-3 mol. l^-1 at 12 h reduced viability induced apoptosis in SKOV3 cells in a concentration-and time-dependent manner. Forced expression of CrCuW₁₁ upregulated the expression of certain proteins (Bax, cytochrome c, and p-p38), and downregulated Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, CrCuW₁₁ also enhanced caspase-3 activity. The p38 inhibitor SB203580 was able to inhibit the activity of CrCuW₁₁. Caspase-3 and p38 signaling pathways were associated with CrCuW₁₁-regulated multiple targets involved in SKOV3 cell proliferation. Therefore, the results of the present study indicated that CrCuW₁₁ may be used as a novel clinical drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Aberrant over-expression of COX-1 intersects multiple pro-tumorigenic pathways in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) is implicated in ovarian cancer. However, patterns of COX expression and function have been unclear and controversial. In this report, patterns of COX-1 and COX-2 gene expression were obtained from RNA-seq data through The Cancer Genome Atlas. Our analysis revealed markedly higher COX-1 mRNA expression than COX-2 in high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) and higher COX-1 expression in HGSOC tumors than 10 other tumor types. High expression of COX-1 in HGSOC tumors was confirmed in an independent tissue microarray. In contrast, lower or similar expression of COX-1 compared to COX-2 was observed in endometrioid, mucinous and clear cell tumors. Stable COX-1 knockdown in HGSOC-representative OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells reduced gene expression in multiple pro-tumorigenic pathways. Functional cell viability, clonogenicity, and migration/invasion assays were consistent with transcriptomic changes. These effects were reversed by stable over-expression of COX-1 in SKOV-3 cells. Our results demonstrate a distinct pattern of COX-1 over-expression in HGSOC tumors and strong association of COX-1 with multiple pro-tumorigenic pathways in ovarian cancer cells. These findings provide additional insight into the role of COX-1 in human ovarian cancer and support further development of methods to selectively target COX-1 in the management of HGSOC tumors.