Expression and clinical correlation of Survivin and PTEN in gastric cancer patients

Decreased BIRC5-206 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through sponging miR-145-5p

Metastasis significantly contributes to the poor prognosis of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Our prior studies have demonstrated a decrease in BIRC5-206 expression in NPC, which promotes disease progression. However, the role of BIRC5-206 in the invasion and metastasis of NPC has not been fully elucidated. In this study, our objective was to explore the biological function and underlying mechanisms of BIRC5-206 in NPC. Additionally, we established an NPC mouse model of lung invasiveness using C666 cells to assess the impact of BIRC5-206 on NPC metastasis. Our results revealed that silencing BIRC5-206 inhibited apoptosis and enhanced the invasion of NPC cells, whereas its overexpression reversed these effects. Moreover, decreased BIRC5-206 expression significantly increased N-cadherin and Vimentin expression while reducing E-cadherin and occludin levels, both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, silencing BIRC5-206 markedly augmented the formation of invasive foci in lung tissues. Rescue experiments further confirmed that decreased BIRC5-206 expression facilitates NPC metastasis via modulation of the miR-145-5p/CD40 signaling pathway. In summary, our study suggests that BIRC5-206 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in the diagnosis and treatment of NPC.

Survivin (BIRC5): Implications in cancer therapy

Inhibitors of Apoptosis proteins (IAPs) were discovered through experiments aimed at rescuing apoptosis in insects. Classically associated with the inhibition of apoptosis, the IAP member Survivin also regulates cell cycle progression and is an essential component of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC), responsible for chromosomal segregation. Although undetectable in most adult tissues, Survivin is expressed in Adult Stem Cells (ASCs) and plays a crucial role in their maintenance. Survivin is overexpressed in most cancers, contributing to their clonal expansion. As a result, it has been proposed as a possible anticancer target for nearly two decades. In this discussion, we will explore the rationale behind Survivin as a therapeutic target, focusing on common cancer types such as carcinomas, sarcomas, and leukemias. We will delve into the modulation of Survivin by cancer pro-survival cell signaling, the association between SNPs and tumorigenesis, and its regulation by miRNAs. Finally, we will compare cell growth, clonogenic capacity, and apoptosis, along with different strategies for Survivin inhibition, including gene expression and protein activity modulation.

Survivin as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of the progression of precancerous lesions to gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is a common cancer developed in a carcinogenesis process from precancerous lesions including chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia. Survivin, an inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein, is associated with the initiation and progression of gastric cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression patterns of survivin and its relationship with early diagnosis of gastric cancer in Iranian patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective case-control study, immunoexpression of survivin was investigated on sections obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 38 chronic gastritis, 32 intestinal metaplasia, 20 dysplasia, 28 gastric adenocarcinoma, and 22 controls.

RESULTS

Survivin immunoexpression in chronic gastritis was higher than controls, but this difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). However, survivin immunoexpression had a steady significant increase from control and chronic gastritis to intestinal metaplasia to dysplasia to gastric adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of survivin immunohistochemical test for the diagnosis of gastric cancer were 87.5%, 74.4%, and 0.85, respectively. Males had a significantly higher survivin expression than females (P < 0.001). Also, survivin expression was significantly higher in older patients than in younger ones (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

It seems that the steady increase in survivin expression from different precancerous lesions to gastric adenocarcinoma suggests that survivin can be used as a potential biomarker for the prevention and early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Epigenetic disruption of histone deacetylase-2 accelerated apoptotic signaling and retarded malignancy in gastric cells

Background: The objective of this research was to determine whether HDAC2 function is associated with gastric cancer progression. Methods: HDAC2 was knocked out in EPG85.257 cells using CRISPR/Cas9 and tumorigenesis pathways were evaluated. Results: Cell proliferation, colony formation, wound healing and transwell invasion were inhibited in ΔHDAC2:EPG85.257 cells. Quantitative analyses revealed a significant downregulation of MMP1, p53, Bax, MAPK1, MAPK3, pro-Caspase3, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, AKT1/2/3, p-AKT1/2/3, p-NF-κB (p65), Twist, Snail and p-FAK transcripts/proteins, while SIRT1, PTEN, p21 and Caspase3 were upregulated in ΔHDAC2:EPG85.257 cells. Conclusion: These results indicated that HDAC2 enhanced migration, colony formation and transmigration ability. HDAC2 inhibition may improve gastric cancer chemotherapy pathways.

Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Expression of Survivin and its Correlation with qRT-PCR Results as a Useful Diagnostic Marker in Gastric Cancer

Background

Today, survivin is known as one of the most specific cancer proteins; provide unique and practical study opportunities. Clinical value of survivin in gastric cancer (GC) is not yet appointed. To establish the expression level of survivin and its diagnosis value in Iranian patients with GC, we evaluated the association of survivin expression with clinicopathologic factors.

Methods

Overall, 60 matched-normal controls with 60 GC samples including 30 cases with evidence of metastasis at time of our study and 30 cases without evidence of metastasis were recruited, in Tehran, Iran during 2008 to 2018. Survivin expression was evaluated by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) study.

Results

Increased expression of survivin at mRNA and protein levels was found in 86.7% and 71.6% of cases, respectively. Evidence indicated a significant difference in survivin mRNA expression level between tumor and nontumoral (marginal) tissues (P<0.001). The difference in expression of survivin mRNA was not significant between metastatic and non-metastatic tumor tissues (P=0.171). Positive immunoreactivity of survivin was observed to be predominantly in the nucleus of tumor cells. A significant difference in survivin protein expression was detected between tumor and non-tumoral tissues (P<0.001) and between metastatic and non-metastatic tumor tissues (P<0.001). There was no significant association between survivin mRNA expression and clinicopathological variables. However, survivin protein expression was significantly correlated with perineural involvement (P<0.018).

Conclusion

This data could be supportive of using survivin as a useful diagnostic marker in GC. Although, more research is needed in this area.

Evaluation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression in gastric cancer and its relationship with histopathological findings

INTRODUCTION

Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is an important tumour suppressor in multi-step tumorigenesis. To establish the role of PTEN in gastric cancer progression, we examined the PTEN expression degree in gastric cancer tissues. We also explained the connection between PTEN expression and histopathological findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our study was cross-sectional and made up of 50 patients with known gastric cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for PTEN was done on gastric cancer tissues. Tumour behaviour was estimated by histopathological assessments.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven (54%) of the 50 patients had PTEN staining. The evaluation of the connection between PTEN expression and demographic data and tumour behaviours revealed no meaningful relationship between PTEN expression and patients' age, gender, tumour site and size, tumour type, tumour grade and stage, neural, and lymphovascular invasion (P-value>0.05).

CONCLUSION

PTEN expression level is expected to be a significant molecular event in the progression of gastric cancer and may be a predictive marker for gastric cancer behaviours dependent on society.

Identification of GNG7 as a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer via bioinformatic analysis and in vitro experiments

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies with unfavorable prognoses. The present study aimed to identify novel biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets in GC via bioinformatic analysis and in vitro experiments. The Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases were used to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). After protein-protein interaction network construction, both module and prognostic analyses were performed to identify prognosis-related genes in GC. The expression patterns and functions of G protein γ subunit 7 (GNG7) in GC were then visualized in multiple databases and further verified using in vitro experiments. A total of 897 overlapping DEGs were detected and 20 hub genes were identified via systematic analysis. After accessing the prognostic value of the hub genes using the online server Kaplan-Meier plotter, a six-gene prognostic signature was identified, which was also significantly correlated with the process of immune infiltration in GC. The results of open-access database analyses suggested that GNG7 is downregulated in GC; this downregulation was associated with tumor progression. Furthermore, the functional enrichment analysis unveiled that the GNG7-coexpressed genes or gene sets were closely correlated with the proliferation and cell cycle processes of GC cells. Finally, in vitro experiments further confirmed that GNG7 overexpression inhibited GC cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis. As a tumor suppressor gene, GNG7 suppressed the growth of GC cells via cell cycle blockade and apoptosis induction and thus may be used as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.

Berberine for gastric cancer prevention and treatment: Multi-step actions on the Correa's cascade underlie its therapeutic effects

Gastric carcinoma (GC) is a complex multifactorial disease occurring as sequential events commonly referred to as the Correa's cascade, a stepwise progression from non-active or chronic active gastritis, to gastric precancerous lesions, and finally, adenocarcinoma. Therefore, the identification of novel agents with multi-step actions on the Correa's cascade and those functioning as multiple phenotypic regulators are the future direction for drug discovery. Recently, berberine (BBR) has gained traction owing to its pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer, antibacterial, and immunopotentiation activities. In this article, we investigated and summarized the multi-step actions of BBR on Correa's cascade and its underlying regulatory mechanism in gastric carcinogenesis for the first time, along with a discussion on the strength of BBR to prevent and treat GC. BBR was found to suppress H. pylori infection, control mucosal inflammation, and promote ulcer healing. In the gastric precancerous lesion phase, BBR could reverse mucosal atrophy and prevent lesions in intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia by regulating inflammatory cytokines, promoting cell apoptosis, regulating macrophage polarization, and regulating autophagy. Additionally, the therapeutic action of BBR on GC was partly realized through the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis; induction of apoptosis and autophagy, and enhancement of chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity. BBR exerted multi-step actions on the Correa's cascade, thereby halting and even reversing gastric carcinogenesis in some cases. Thus, BBR could be used to prevent and treat GC. In conclusion, the therapeutic strategy underlying BBR's multi-step action in the trilogy of Correa's cascade may include "prevention of gastric mucosal inflammation (Phase 1); reversal of gastric precancerous lesions (Phase 2), and rescue of GC (Phase 3)". The NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways may be the key signaling transduction pathways underlying the treatment of gastric carcinogenesis using BBR. The advantage of BBR over conventional drugs is its multifaceted and long-term effects. This review is expected to provide preclinical evidence for using BBR to prevent gastric carcinogenesis and treat gastric cancer.

Survivin in Breast Cancer: A Review

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and ranks second among causes for cancer-related death in women. Gene technology has led to the recognition that breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease composed of different biological subtypes, and genetic profiling enables the response to chemotherapy to be predicted. This fact emphasizes the importance of selecting sensitive diagnostic and prognostic markers in the early disease stage and more efficient targeted treatments for this disease. One such prognostic marker appears to be survivin. Many studies have shown that survivin is strongly expressed in different types of cancers. Its overexpression has been demonstrated in breast cancer, and high activity of the survivin gene has been associated with a poor prognosis and worse survival rates.

Synergistic effects of Rapamycin and Fluorouracil to treat a gastric tumor in a PTEN conditional deletion mouse model

The tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is essential in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. However, whether the mutation of PTEN gene could induce tumorigenesis and impact the treatment of gastric cancer is still unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the combined treatment of gastric tumorigenesis using Rapamycin and Fluorouracil (5-Fu) through interfering with the Akt/mTOR pathway in a mouse model with PTEN conditional deletion. Three groups of mice were exposed for 5 days to Rapamycin and 5-Fu separately and together. The gene expression of the Akt/mTOR pathway, the protein expression of caspase-3 and p-Akt, p-S6K and p-4EBP1, and the pathological changes in stomachs were analyzed. Our study demonstrates that the conditional PTEN deletion in the cells of glandular stomach induces hyperplastic gastric tumors in mice. The combined Rapamycin administration with 5-Fu resulted in better outcomes than their separate administration for the treatment of gastric cancer by inhibiting the mTOR signal pathway. Our study indicates that Rapamycin has a synergistic interaction with chemotherapeutic 5-Fu, and demonstrates a potential therapeutic combination treatment on glandular stomach tumor with PTEN functional absence or aberrantly activated Akt/mTOR pathway. It provides important insights into the inhibition of the Akt/mTOR pathway in gastric cancer clinical therapy.

Evodiamine Inhibits Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation via PTEN-Mediated EGF/PI3K Signaling Pathway

Aims

In this study, the pharmacological effects and potential molecular mechanisms of evodiamine in treating gastric cancer (GC) were investigated.

Methods

GC cells lines of AGS and BGC-823 were treated with evodiamine at various concentrations for different times (24, 48, and 72 h). Inhibition of the proliferation of AGS and BGC-823 cells was assessed using a CCK-8 assay. The morphology of gastric cancer cells was detected by high-content screening (HCS). The apoptosis-inducing effect of evodiamine on AGS and BGC-823 cells was detected by flow cytometric analysis. Cell migration and invasion were detected by Transwell assay. The relative mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN-mediated EGF/PI3K signaling pathways were investigated via RT-qPCR or western blotting, respectively.

Results

Evodiamine substantially inhibited AGS and BGC-823 cells proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that evodiamine could induce apoptosis of AGS and BGC-823 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, evodiamine inhibited AGS and BGC-823 cell migration and invasion. Mechanistically, the results demonstrated that evodiamine promoted the relative mRNA and protein expression of PTEN and decreased expression of EGF, EGFR, PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, and mTOR. Most importantly, evodiamine could effectively increase the mRNA and protein expression of PTEN and decrease the protein expression of EGF/PI3K pathway, indicating that evodiamine downregulated EGF/PI3K through the activation of PTEN pathway.

Conclusion

Evodiamine inhibited the directional migration and invasion of GC cells by inhibiting PTEN-mediated EGF/PI3K signaling pathway. These findings revealed that evodiamine might serve as a potential candidate for the treatment or prevention of GC.

Development of Multi-Scale X-ray Fluorescence Tomography for Examination of Nanocomposite-Treated Biological Samples

Simple Summary

Metal-oxide nanomaterials enter cancer and normal cells even when not specifically targeted, and often interact with specific cellular structures and biological molecules solely due to their innate physical-chemical properties. This raises concerns for the use of nanoparticles, which can be alleviated only with rigorous studies of nanoparticle–cell interactions, studies independent of post-interaction labeling of nanomaterials. X-ray fluorescence microscopy is an imaging technique that quantifies and maps all chemical elements from the periodic table solely based on their native fluorescence excited by the incoming X-ray. We used two different instruments to interrogate the same sample in 3D at two different resolutions and determine heterogeneity of cell-to-cell interactions with nanomaterials, as well as subcellular nanoparticle distribution. This is the first example of multi-scale 3D X-ray fluorescence imaging. This work begins a new era of study on how nanoparticle-based therapies can be developed to be more predictable and safer for use.

Abstract

Research in cancer nanotechnology is entering its third decade, and the need to study interactions between nanomaterials and cells remains urgent. Heterogeneity of nanoparticle uptake by different cells and subcellular compartments represent the greatest obstacles to a full understanding of the entire spectrum of nanomaterials’ effects. In this work, we used flow cytometry to evaluate changes in cell cycle associated with non-targeted nanocomposite uptake by individual cells and cell populations. Analogous single cell and cell population changes in nanocomposite uptake were explored by X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM). Very few nanoparticles are visible by optical imaging without labeling, but labeling increases nanoparticle complexity and the risk of modified cellular uptake. XFM can be used to evaluate heterogeneity of nanocomposite uptake by directly imaging the metal atoms present in the metal-oxide nanocomposites under investigation. While XFM mapping has been performed iteratively in 2D with the same sample at different resolutions, this study is the first example of serial tomographic imaging at two different resolutions. A cluster of cells exposed to non-targeted nanocomposites was imaged with a micron-sized beam in 3D. Next, the sample was sectioned for immunohistochemistry as well as a high resolution “zoomed in” X-ray fluorescence (XRF) tomography with 80 nm beam spot size. Multiscale XRF tomography will revolutionize our ability to explore cell-to-cell differences in nanomaterial uptake.

Chemopreventive Effect of Metformin on Gastric Cancer Development

Although Helicobacterpylori infection is the most important causative factor for gastric cancer (GC), H. pylori eradication alone does not completely eliminate the GC risk. In addition to H. pylori eradication, other risk factors for GC should be identified and targeted. Diabetes mellitus (DM) confers a 20% increased risk of GC, which could be mediated via several biological mechanisms including the stimulation of cell proliferation via hyperinsulinemia and increased insulin-growth factor production, the promotion of angiogenesis, and DNA damage. With a current global prevalence of 9.3% and a predicted rise to 10.2% by 2030, DM could contribute substantially to the burden of GC cases worldwide. Emerging evidence showed that metformin possesses chemopreventive effects via both direct (e.g., adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation and subsequent inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway) and indirect (e.g., modulation of the interaction between tumor cells and their microenvironment and gut microbiota) pathways. A recent meta-analysis of observational studies showed that metformin use was associated with 24% lower GC risk. However, many available observational studies related to metformin effects suffered from biases including the failure to adjust for the H. pylori infection status and serial glycemic control and time-related biases. Future prospective studies addressing these pitfalls are needed.

MiR-21 in the Cancers of the Digestive System and Its Potential Role as a Diagnostic, Predictive, and Therapeutic Biomarker

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs. They can regulate the expression of their target genes, and thus, their dysregulation significantly contributes to the development of cancer. Growing evidence suggests that miRNAs could be used as cancer biomarkers. As an oncogenic miRNA, the roles of miR-21 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, and its therapeutic applications have been extensively studied. In this review, the roles of miR-21 are first demonstrated via its different molecular networks. Then, a comprehensive review on the potential targets and the current applications as a diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarker and the therapeutic roles of miR-21 in six different cancers in the digestive system is provided. Lastly, a brief discussion on the challenges for the use of miR-21 as a therapeutic tool for these cancers is added.