1
|
Implications of a Neuronal Receptor Family, Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors, in Cancer Development and Progression. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182857. [PMID: 36139432 PMCID: PMC9496915 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death, and incidences are increasing globally. Simply defined, cancer is the uncontrolled proliferation of a cell, and depending on the tissue of origin, the cancer etiology, biology, progression, prognosis, and treatment will differ. Carcinogenesis and its progression are associated with genetic factors that can either be inherited and/or acquired and are classified as an oncogene or tumor suppressor. Many of these genetic factors converge on common signaling pathway(s), such as the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. In this review, we will focus on the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) family, an upstream protein that transmits extracellular signals into the cell and has been shown to regulate many aspects of tumor development and progression. We explore the involvement of members of this receptor family in various cancers that include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, glioma, kidney cancer, melanoma, oral cancer, osteosarcoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and T-cell cancers. Intriguingly, depending on the member, mGluRs can either be classified as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, although in general most act as an oncogene. The extensive work done to elucidate the role of mGluRs in various cancers suggests that it might be a viable strategy to therapeutically target glutamatergic signaling.
Collapse
|
2
|
Emerging Roles of the Nervous System in Gastrointestinal Cancer Development. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153722. [PMID: 35954387 PMCID: PMC9367305 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Nerve–cancer cross-talk has increasingly become a focus of the oncology field, particularly in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The indispensable roles of the nervous system in GI tumorigenesis and malignancy have been dissected by epidemiological, experimental animal and mechanistic data. Herein, we review and integrate recent discoveries linking the nervous system to GI cancer initiation and progression, and focus on the molecular mechanisms by which nerves and neural receptor pathways drive GI malignancy. Abstract Our understanding of the fascinating connection between nervous system and gastrointestinal (GI) tumorigenesis has expanded greatly in recent years. Recent studies revealed that neurogenesis plays an active part in GI tumor initiation and progression. Tumor-driven neurogenesis, as well as neurite outgrowth of the pre-existing peripheral nervous system (PNS), may fuel GI tumor progression via facilitating cancer cell proliferation, chemoresistance, invasion and immune escape. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides drive the activation of various oncogenic pathways downstream of neural receptors within cancer cells, underscoring the importance of neural signaling pathways in GI tumor malignancy. In addition, neural infiltration also plays an integral role in tumor microenvironments, and contributes to an environment in favor of tumor angiogenesis, immune evasion and invasion. Blockade of tumor innervation via denervation or pharmacological agents may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy against GI tumors. In this review, we summarize recent findings linking the nervous system to GI tumor progression, set the spotlight on the molecular mechanisms by which neural signaling fuels cancer aggressiveness, and highlight the importance of targeting neural mechanisms in GI tumor therapy.
Collapse
|
3
|
García-Gaytán AC, Hernández-Abrego A, Díaz-Muñoz M, Méndez I. Glutamatergic system components as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer in non-neural organs. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1029210. [PMID: 36457557 PMCID: PMC9705578 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1029210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is one of the most abundant amino acids in the blood. Besides its role as a neurotransmitter in the brain, it is a key substrate in several metabolic pathways and a primary messenger that acts through its receptors outside the central nervous system (CNS). The two main types of glutamate receptors, ionotropic and metabotropic, are well characterized in CNS and have been recently analyzed for their roles in non-neural organs. Glutamate receptor expression may be particularly important for tumor growth in organs with high concentrations of glutamate and might also influence the propensity of such tumors to set metastases in glutamate-rich organs, such as the liver. The study of glutamate transporters has also acquired relevance in the physiology and pathologies outside the CNS, especially in the field of cancer research. In this review, we address the recent findings about the expression of glutamatergic system components, such as receptors and transporters, their role in the physiology and pathology of cancer in non-neural organs, and their possible use as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou W, Chen L, Li C, Huang R, Guo M, Ning S, Ji J, Guo X, Lou G, Jia X, Zhao J, Luo F, Li C, Qu Z, Yu S, Tai S. The multifaceted roles of long noncoding RNAs in pancreatic cancer: an update on what we know. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:41. [PMID: 32042268 PMCID: PMC7003405 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-1126-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to the shortage of effective biomarkers for predicting survival and diagnosing PC, the underlying mechanism is still intensively investigated but poorly understood. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) provide biological functional diversity and complexity in protein regulatory networks. Scientific studies have revealed the emerging functions and regulatory roles of lncRNAs in PC behaviors. It is worth noting that some in-depth studies have revealed that lncRNAs are significantly associated with the initiation and progression of PC. As lncRNAs have good properties for both diagnostic and prognostic prediction due to their translation potential, we herein address the current understanding of the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs as regulators in the molecular mechanism of PC. We also discuss the possibility of using lncRNAs as survival biomarkers and their contributions to the development of targeted therapies based on the literature. The present review, based on what we know about current research findings, may help us better understand the roles of lncRNAs in PC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Zhou
- 1Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Chen
- 2Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Li
- 3Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Rui Huang
- 4Department of Colorectal Surgery, The second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Mian Guo
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shangwei Ning
- 6College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jingjing Ji
- 2Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Guo
- 2Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Ge Lou
- 2Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Xinqi Jia
- 1Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Junjie Zhao
- 1Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Luo
- 1Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Chunlong Li
- 1Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaowei Qu
- 7Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shan Yu
- 2Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Tai
- 1Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 246 XueFu Avenue, Harbin, 150086 People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Han S, Jin X, Liu Z, Xing F, Han Y, Yu X, He G, Qiu F. The long noncoding RNA HOTTIP promotes breast cancer cell migration, invasiveness, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway. Biochem Cell Biol 2019; 97:655-664. [PMID: 30676763 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2018-0313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNA HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip) has recently been reported to have a role in the proliferation of various cancer cells, yet its role in cell migration, invasiveness, and the EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) in breast cancer and the potential mechanisms remain unknown. Breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 were transfected with shRNA (short hairpin RNA) that specifically targeting HOTTIP. We observed a remarkable decrease in migration and invasiveness in these two breast cancer cell lines after knock-down of HOTTIP by shHOTTIP. We also demonstrated that the EMT of these two breast cell lines was suppressed after HOTTIP knock-down, as evidenced by increased E-cadherin levels, and decreased levels of N-cadherin, Snail, and Twist. Moreover, HOTTIP silencing also suppressed tumor metastasis in nude mice in vivo. In addition, we found that the expression of β-catenin was significantly decreased in breast cancer cells after knock-down of HOTTIP. In a further rescue experiment using overexpression of β-catenin, the rates of cell migration, invasiveness, and EMT of HOTTIP-silenced breast cancer cells were promoted, disclosing a potential role of the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway in this process. Overall, we discovered the positive regulatory function of HOTTIP in the migration, invasiveness, and EMT of breast cancer cells, via regulating the Wnt-β-catenin pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Han
- Department of Breast Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Jin
- Department of Endocrinology, Northern Theater Command Airforce Hospital of Chinese PLA, Shenyang 110042, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Xing
- Department of Breast Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Han
- Department of Breast Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Guijin He
- Department of Breast Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Qiu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|