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Dong Y, Zhang B, Wei Y, Murashev A, Wang S, Wu Y, Ma W, Liu T. Development of Cas13a-based therapy for cancer treatment. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:94. [PMID: 38194206 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09129-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy has become a major focus of current biomedical research. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Inter spaced Short Palindromic Repeats) systems have been extensively researched for disease treatment applications through genome editing specificity. Compared with Cas9 (CRISPR-associated proteins, Cas), a commonly used tool enzyme for genome editing, Cas13a exhibits RNA-dependent endonuclease activity, including collateral cleavage without obvious potential genetic risks. With its high specificity, Cas13a has significantly improved the sensitivity of viral diagnosis and shown potential to eliminate viruses. However, its efficacy in tumor therapy has not been determined. This review introduces the mechanism and research developments associated with the CRISPR-Cas13a system in tumor treatments and its potential to be used as a new tool for gene therapy. We hope more research would apply Cas13a-based therapy in cancer treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Dong
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai Rd, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Bingyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai Rd, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yi Wei
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai Rd, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Arkady Murashev
- Biological Testing Center of Shamyakin and Ovchimnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Suihai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai Rd, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yingsong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai Rd, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Weifeng Ma
- Department of Microbiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai Rd, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Tiancai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Engineering of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai Rd, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Immune Regulation and Immunotherapy, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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2
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Chen S, Luo X, Yang B, Zhuang J, Guo J, Zhu Y, Mo J. The combined signatures of G protein-coupled receptor family and immune landscape provide a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in endometrial carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:14701-14719. [PMID: 37584707 PMCID: PMC10602984 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05270-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPRs) are one of the largest surface receptor superfamilies, and many of them play essential roles in biological processes, including immune responses. In this study, we aim to construct a GPR- and tumor immune environment (TME-i)-associated risk signature to predict the prognosis of patients with endometrial carcinoma (EC). The GPR score was generated by applying univariate Cox regression and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression in succession. This involved identifying the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Cancer Genome Atlas-Uterine Corpus Endometrioid Carcinoma (TCGA-UCEC) cohort. Simultaneously, the CIBERSORT algorithm was applied to identify the protective immune cells for TME score construction. Subsequently, we combined the GPR and TME scores to establish a GPR-TME classifier for conducting clinical prognosis assessments. Various functional annotation algorithms were used to conduct biological process analysis distinguished by GPR-TME subgroups. Furthermore, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to depict the tumor somatic mutations landscapes. Finally, we compared the immune-related molecules between GPR-TME subgroups and resorted to the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) for immunotherapy response prediction. The mRNA and protein expression of GPR-related gene P2RY14 were, respectively, validated by RT-PCR in clinical samples and HPA database. To conclude, our GPR-TME classifier may aid in predicting the EC patients' prognosis and immunotherapy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyue Chen
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xukai Luo
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Baicai Yang
- Jiaxing University Affiliated Women and Children Hospital, Jiaxing, China
| | - Jingming Zhuang
- Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinshuai Guo
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Jiaxing University Affiliated Women and Children Hospital, Jiaxing, China
| | - Jiahang Mo
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Luo L, Chen X. Exploring the potential of eRNAs in cancer immunotherapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY - ONCOLYTICS 2022; 27:197-199. [PMID: 36381659 PMCID: PMC9647423 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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4
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Panahi-Moghadam S, Hassani S, Farivar S, Vakhshiteh F. Emerging Role of Enhancer RNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Cancer. Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8050066. [PMID: 36287118 PMCID: PMC9607539 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8050066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancers are distal cis-acting elements that are commonly recognized to regulate gene expression via cooperation with promoters. Along with regulating gene expression, enhancers can be transcribed and generate a class of non-coding RNAs called enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). The current discovery of abundant tissue-specific transcription of enhancers in various diseases such as cancers raises questions about the potential role of eRNAs in disease diagnosis and therapy. This review aimed to demonstrate the current understanding of eRNAs in cancer research with a focus on the potential roles of eRNAs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Panahi-Moghadam
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 1411713116, Iran
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
| | - Shokoufeh Hassani
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
- Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran 1417614411, Iran
| | - Shirin Farivar
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
| | - Faezeh Vakhshiteh
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Correspondence:
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5
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Zhang L, Ding D, Liu J, Liu J, Wang N, Liu J. Identification of prognostic and immunotherapy-related eRNA ID2-AS1 in bladder cancer. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e29759. [PMID: 35776987 PMCID: PMC9239636 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000029759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractEnhancer RNAs (eRNAs) can participate in enhancer regulation and target gene transcription, thus affecting the occurrence and development of tumors. In this study, we identified eRNAs closely related to bladder cancer (BLCA). Gene expression profiles and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used in this study. The Atlas of Noncoding RNAs in Cancer (TANRIC) co-expression data was also studied to evaluate correlations between the inferred levels of eRNA and its predicted target genes. Moreover, we evaluated differences in tumor microenvironment between high and low ID2-AS1 expression groups, and predicted the response of high- and low-expression groups to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. Finally, we analyzed the prognostic value of ID2-AS1 in different tumors. ID2-AS1 and ID2 were identified as eRNAs and target genes related to the prognosis of BLCA. Low ID2-AS1 levels were associated with advanced age, low overall survival, high histological grade, and late BLCA staging. ID2-AS1 appeared to regulate epithelial mesenchymal transition, mitotic spindle assembly, and angiogenesis, thereby affecting BLCA progression. The ID2-AS1 high-expression group had better ICI treatment response. In addition, ID2-AS1 also had prognostic value in other cancers. ID2-AS1 helps predict prognostic and immunotherapeutic effects in BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Degang Ding
- Department of Urology, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Department of Urology, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of Urology, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Urology, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Urology, Henan University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Maynard JP, Sfanos KS. P2 purinergic receptor dysregulation in urologic disease. Purinergic Signal 2022; 18:267-287. [PMID: 35687210 PMCID: PMC9184359 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-022-09875-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
P2 purinergic receptors are involved in the normal function of the kidney, bladder, and prostate via signaling that occurs in response to extracellular nucleotides. Dysregulation of these receptors is common in pathological states and often associated with disease initiation, progression, or aggressiveness. Indeed, P2 purinergic receptor expression is altered across multiple urologic disorders including chronic kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease, interstitial cystitis, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder syndrome, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. P2 purinergic receptors are likewise indirectly associated with these disorders via receptor-mediated inflammation and pain, a common characteristic across most urologic disorders. Furthermore, select P2 purinergic receptors are overexpressed in urologic cancer including renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and prostate adenocarcinoma, and pre-clinical studies depict P2 purinergic receptors as potential therapeutic targets. Herein, we highlight the compelling evidence for the exploration of P2 purinergic receptors as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in urologic cancers and other urologic disease. Likewise, there is currently optimism for P2 purinergic receptor-targeted therapeutics for the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with urologic diseases. Further exploration of the common pathways linking P2 purinergic receptor dysregulation to urologic disease might ultimately help in gaining new mechanistic insight into disease processes and therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janielle P Maynard
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Karen S Sfanos
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.,Department of Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Kim KM, An HJ, Kim SH, Kim J, Sim C, Lee J, Park SH, Lee HI, Jang I, Lee S. Therapeutic Effect of Pericytes for Diabetic Wound Healing. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:868600. [PMID: 35647064 PMCID: PMC9135971 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.868600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Numerous attempts have been made to devise treatments for ischemic foot ulcer (IFU), which is one of the most severe and fatal consequences of diabetes mellitus (DM). Pericytes, which are perivascular multipotent cells, are of interest as a treatment option for IFU because they play a critical role in forming and repairing various tissues. In this study, we want to clarify the angiogenic potential of pericytes in DM-induced wounds. Methods We evaluated pericyte stimulation capability for tube formation, angiogenesis, and wound healing (cell migration) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with in-vivo and in-vitro models of high glucose conditions. Results When HUVECs were co-cultured with pericytes, their tube-forming capacity and cell migration were enhanced. Our diabetic mouse model showed that pericytes promote wound healing via increased vascularization. Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that pericytes may enhance wound healing in high glucose conditions, consequently making pericyte transplantation suitable for treating IFUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeong Mi Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, CHA Ilsan Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Goyang-si, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Ju An
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Sang-Hoon Kim
- Department of Cardiology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - JuHee Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Changgon Sim
- CHA Graduate School of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Jaemin Lee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Sin Hyung Park
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University School of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Hyun Il Lee
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Inseok Jang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Soonchul Lee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam-si, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Soonchul Lee
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8
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Wan L, Li W, Meng Y, Hou Y, Chen M, Xu B. Inflammatory Immune-Associated eRNA: Mechanisms, Functions and Therapeutic Prospects. Front Immunol 2022; 13:849451. [PMID: 35514959 PMCID: PMC9063412 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.849451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of multiple high-throughput sequencing technologies has made it possible to explore the critical roles and mechanisms of functional enhancers and enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). The inflammatory immune response, as a fundamental pathological process in infectious diseases, cancers and immune disorders, coordinates the balance between the internal and external environment of the organism. It has been shown that both active enhancers and intranuclear eRNAs are preferentially expressed over inflammation-related genes in response to inflammatory stimuli, suggesting that enhancer transcription events and their products influence the expression and function of inflammatory genes. Therefore, in this review, we summarize and discuss the relevant inflammatory roles and regulatory mechanisms of eRNAs in inflammatory immune cells, non-inflammatory immune cells, inflammatory immune diseases and tumors, and explore the potential therapeutic effects of enhancer inhibitors affecting eRNA production for diseases with inflammatory immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilin Wan
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenchao Li
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Meng
- Department of Urology, Nanjing Lishui District People’s Hospital, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Hou
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Biomedical Informatics and Genomics Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Urology, Nanjing Lishui District People’s Hospital, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Urology, Nanjing Lishui District People’s Hospital, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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9
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Identification of dysregulated pathways and key genes in human retinal angiogenesis using microarray metadata. GENE REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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10
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Roles of enhancer RNAs in sex hormone-dependent cancers. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022; 148:293-307. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03886-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that wildly used in surgical treatment and postoperative medical care for lung cancers. We hypothesized that lidocaine at clinical plasma concentration can inhibit CXCL12/CXCR4 axis-regulated cytoskeletal remodeling thereby reduce the migration of Non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC) cells. METHODS: We determined the effect of lidocaine at clinical plasma concentration on CXCL12-induced cell viability, apoptosis, cell death, monolayer cell wound healing rate, individual cell migration indicators, expression of CXCR4, CD44, and ICAM-1, intracellular Ca2+ level, and filamentous actin level alteration of NSCLC cells A549 and CXCR4-knocked down A549 cells using CCK-8, Bcl-2 ELISA, Cell death ELISA, wound healing assay, chemotaxis assay, western blotting, QPCR, Fura-2-based intracellular Ca2+ assay, and Fluorescein Phalloidin staining respectively. RESULTS: Lidocaine did not affect cell viability, apoptosis, and cell death but inhibited CXCL12-induced migration, intracellular Ca2+ releasing, and filamentous actin increase. Lidocaine decreased expression of CXCR4, increased CD44, but had no effect on ICAM-1. CXCL12 induced the increase of CD44 and ICAM-1 but did not affect CD44 in the presence of lidocaine. The knockdown of CXCR4 eliminated all the effects of lidocaine. The overexpression of CXCR4 promoted migration but the migration was inhibited by lidocaine. CONCLUSION: Lidocaine at clinical plasma concentrations inhibited CXCL12-induced CXCR4 activation, thereby reduced the intracellular Ca2+-dependent cytoskeleton remodeling, resulting in slower migration of A549 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yanan Cui
- Corresponding author: Yanan Cui, Department of Anesthesiology, Heping Hospital Affilicated to Changzhi Medical College, Shanxi 046000, China. E-mail:
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Palaz F, Kalkan AK, Can Ö, Demir AN, Tozluyurt A, Özcan A, Ozsoz M. CRISPR-Cas13 System as a Promising and Versatile Tool for Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Research. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1245-1267. [PMID: 34037380 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in targeted cancer therapy. In precision oncology, molecular profiling of cancer patients enables the use of targeted cancer therapeutics. However, current diagnostic methods for molecular analysis of cancer are costly and require sophisticated equipment. Moreover, targeted cancer therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule drugs may cause off-target effects and they are available for only a minority of cancer driver proteins. Therefore, there is still a need for versatile, efficient, and precise tools for cancer diagnostics and targeted cancer treatment. In recent years, the CRISPR-based genome and transcriptome engineering toolbox has expanded rapidly. Particularly, the RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 system has unique biochemical properties, making Cas13 a promising tool for cancer diagnosis, therapy, and research. Cas13-based diagnostic methods allow early detection and monitoring of cancer markers from liquid biopsy samples without the need for complex instrumentation. In addition, Cas13 can be used for targeted cancer therapy through degrading and manipulating cancer-associated transcripts with high efficiency and specificity. Moreover, Cas13-mediated programmable RNA manipulation tools offer invaluable opportunities for cancer research, identification of drug-resistance mechanisms, and discovery of novel therapeutic targets. Here, we review and discuss the current use and potential applications of the CRISPR-Cas13 system in cancer diagnosis, therapy, and research. Thus, researchers will gain a deep understanding of CRISPR-Cas13 technologies, which have the potential to be used as next-generation cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahreddin Palaz
- Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | | | - Özgür Can
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koc University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Ayça Nur Demir
- Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar 03100, Turkey
| | - Abdullah Tozluyurt
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Ahsen Özcan
- Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli 41470, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Ozsoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Near East University, 10 Mersin, Nicosia, Turkey
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Wang R, Tang Q. Current Advances on the Important Roles of Enhancer RNAs in Molecular Pathways of Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5640. [PMID: 34073237 PMCID: PMC8198447 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancers are critical genomic elements that can cooperate with promoters to regulate gene transcription in both normal and cancer cells. Recent studies reveal that enhancer regions are transcribed to produce a class of noncoding RNAs referred to as enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). Emerging evidence shows that eRNAs play important roles in enhancer activation and enhancer-driven gene regulation, and the expression of eRNAs may be a critical factor in tumorigenesis. The important roles of eRNAs in cancer signaling pathways are also gradually unveiled, providing a new insight into cancer therapy. Here, we review the roles of eRNAs in regulating cancer signaling pathways and discuss the potential of eRNA-targeted therapy for human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qianzi Tang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
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Adhikary S, Roy S, Chacon J, Gadad SS, Das C. Implications of Enhancer Transcription and eRNAs in Cancer. Cancer Res 2021; 81:4174-4182. [PMID: 34016622 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-4010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite extensive progress in developing anticancer therapies, therapy resistance remains a major challenge that promotes disease relapse. The changes that lead to therapy resistance can be intrinsically present or may be initiated during treatment. Genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity in tumors make it more challenging to deal with therapy resistance. Recent advances in genome-wide analyses have revealed that the deregulation of distal gene regulatory elements, such as enhancers, appears in several pathophysiological conditions, including cancer. Beyond the conventional function of enhancers in recruiting transcription factors to gene promoters, enhancer elements are also transcribed into noncoding RNAs known as enhancer RNAs (eRNA). Accumulating evidence suggests that uncontrolled enhancer activity with aberrant eRNA expression promotes oncogenesis. Interestingly, tissue-specific, transcribed eRNAs from active enhancers can serve as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers in several cancer types. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of enhancer transcription and eRNAs as well as their potential roles in cancer and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santanu Adhikary
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India.,Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Siddhartha Roy
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Jessica Chacon
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas
| | - Shrikanth S Gadad
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas. .,Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas.,Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Chandrima Das
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India. .,Homi Bhaba National Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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15
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Ide H, Miyamoto H. Sex Hormone Receptor Signaling in Bladder Cancer: A Potential Target for Enhancing the Efficacy of Conventional Non-Surgical Therapy. Cells 2021; 10:1169. [PMID: 34064926 PMCID: PMC8150801 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been critical problems in the non-surgical treatment for bladder cancer, especially residence to intravesical pharmacotherapy, including BCG immunotherapy, cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Recent preclinical and clinical evidence has suggested a vital role of sex steroid hormone-mediated signaling in the progression of urothelial cancer. Moreover, activation of the androgen receptor and estrogen receptor pathways has been implicated in modulating sensitivity to conventional non-surgical therapy for bladder cancer. This may indicate the possibility of anti-androgenic and anti-estrogenic drugs, apart from their direct anti-tumor activity, to function as sensitizers of such conventional treatment. This article summarizes available data suggesting the involvement of sex hormone receptors, such as androgen receptor, estrogen receptor-α, and estrogen receptor-β, in the progression of urothelial cancer, focusing on their modulation for the efficacy of conventional therapy, and discusses their potential of overcoming therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Ide
- Department of Urology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan;
| | - Hiroshi Miyamoto
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Woods LT, Forti KM, Shanbhag VC, Camden JM, Weisman GA. P2Y receptors for extracellular nucleotides: Contributions to cancer progression and therapeutic implications. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 187:114406. [PMID: 33412103 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purinergic receptors for extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides contribute to a vast array of cellular and tissue functions, including cell proliferation, intracellular and transmembrane ion flux, immunomodulation and thrombosis. In mammals, the purinergic receptor system is composed of G protein-coupled P1 receptors A1, A2A, A2B and A3 for extracellular adenosine, P2X1-7 receptors that are ATP-gated ion channels and G protein-coupled P2Y1,2,4,6,11,12,13 and 14 receptors for extracellular ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP and/or UDP-glucose. Recent studies have implicated specific P2Y receptor subtypes in numerous oncogenic processes, including cancer tumorigenesis, metastasis and chemotherapeutic drug resistance, where G protein-mediated signaling cascades modulate intracellular ion concentrations and activate downstream protein kinases, Src family kinases as well as numerous mitogen-activated protein kinases. We are honored to contribute to this special issue dedicated to the founder of the field of purinergic signaling, Dr. Geoffrey Burnstock, by reviewing the diverse roles of P2Y receptors in the initiation, progression and metastasis of specific cancers with an emphasis on pharmacological and genetic strategies employed to delineate cell-specific and P2Y receptor subtype-specific responses that have been investigated using in vitro and in vivo cancer models. We further highlight bioinformatic and empirical evidence on P2Y receptor expression in human clinical specimens and cover clinical perspectives where P2Y receptor-targeting interventions may have therapeutic relevance to cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas T Woods
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Kevin Muñoz Forti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Vinit C Shanbhag
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jean M Camden
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Gary A Weisman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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Goto T, Miyamoto H. The Role of Estrogen Receptors in Urothelial Cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:643870. [PMID: 33796076 PMCID: PMC8008958 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.643870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological data have indicated that there are some sex-related differences in bladder cancer. Indeed, the incidence of bladder cancer in men has been substantially higher than that in women throughout the world, while women tend to have higher stage disease and poorer prognosis. These gender disparities have prompted to investigate sex hormones and their cognitive receptors in bladder cancer. Specifically, estrogen receptors, including estrogen receptor-α and estrogen receptor-β, have been shown to contribute to urothelial carcinogenesis and cancer progression, as well as to modulating chemosensitivity in bladder cancer, although conflicting findings exist. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical studies in surgical specimens have assessed the expression of estrogen receptors and related proteins as well as its associations with clinicopathologic features of bladder cancer and patient outcomes. This review article summarizes and discusses available data indicating that estrogen receptor signaling plays an important role in urothelial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Goto
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Hiroshi Miyamoto
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Hiroshi Miyamoto,
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Jiang H, Chen H, Wan P, Song S, Chen N. Downregulation of enhancer RNA EMX2OS is associated with poor prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:25865-25877. [PMID: 33234727 PMCID: PMC7803531 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Enhancer RNAs are a subclass of long non-coding RNAs transcribed from enhancer regions that play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of genes. However, their role in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is largely unknown. Herein, we identified the key enhancer RNAs in KIRC via an integrated data analysis method. Gene expression profiles and clinical data of KIRC and 32 other cancer types were acquired using the University of California Santa Cruz Xena platform. Reported enhancer RNAs and genes regulated by them were selected as putative enhancer RNA-target pairs. Kaplan-Meier survival and correlation analyses were performed to identify the key enhancer RNAs. Finally, EMX2OS was identified as the enhancer RNA most associated with survival, with EMX2 as its target. EMX2OS downregulation was significantly associated with higher histological grade, advanced stage, and poorer prognosis. The results were validated in pan-cancer data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and RT-qPCR analysis of 12 pairs of KIRC and normal real-world samples. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that several metabolism-associated signaling pathways were enriched. This study demonstrated that EMX2OS is a key metabolism-associated enhancer RNA in KIRC with a favorable impact on survival and may be a novel therapeutic target in KIRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiming Jiang
- Department of Urology, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, Meizhou 514031, Guangdong Province, P.R. China
| | - Haibin Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, P.R. China
| | - Pei Wan
- Department of Urology, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, Meizhou 514031, Guangdong Province, P.R. China
| | - Shengda Song
- Department of Urology, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, Meizhou 514031, Guangdong Province, P.R. China
| | - Nanhui Chen
- Department of Urology, Meizhou People’s Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, Meizhou 514031, Guangdong Province, P.R. China
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Gohar EY, Kasztan M, Zhang S, Inscho EW, Pollock DM. Role for ovarian hormones in purinoceptor-dependent natriuresis. Biol Sex Differ 2020; 11:52. [PMID: 32928299 PMCID: PMC7490965 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00329-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premenopausal women have a lower risk of hypertension compared to age-matched men and postmenopausal women. P2Y2 and P2Y4 purinoceptor can be considered potential contributors to hypertension due to their emerging roles in regulating renal tubular Na+ transport. Activation of these receptors inhibits epithelial Na+ channel activity (ENaC) via a phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent pathway resulting in natriuresis. We recently reported that activation of P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors in the renal medulla by UTP promotes natriuresis in male and ovariectomized (OVX) rats, but not in ovary-intact females. This led us to hypothesize that ovary-intact females have greater basal renal medullary activity of P2 (P2Y2 and P2Y4) receptors regulating Na+ excretion compared to male and OVX rats. METHODS To test our hypothesis, we determined (i) the effect of inhibiting medullary P2 receptors by suramin (750 μg/kg/min) on urinary Na+ excretion in anesthetized male, ovary-intact female, and OVX Sprague Dawley rats, (ii) mRNA expression and protein abundance of P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors, and (iii) mRNA expression of their downstream effectors (PLC-1δ and ENaCα) in renal inner medullary tissues obtained from these three groups. We also subjected cultured mouse inner medullary collecting duct cells (segment 3, mIMCD3) to different concentrations of 17ß-estradiol (E2, 0, 10, 100, and 1000 nM) to test whether E2 increases mRNA expression of P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors. RESULTS Acute P2 inhibition attenuated urinary Na+ excretion in ovary-intact females, but not in male or OVX rats. We found that P2Y2 and P2Y4 mRNA expression was higher in the inner medulla from females compared to males or OVX. Inner medullary lysates showed that ovary-intact females have higher P2Y2 receptor protein abundance, compared to males; however, OVX did not eliminate this sex difference. We also found that E2 dose-dependently upregulated P2Y2 and P2Y4 mRNA expression in mIMCD3. CONCLUSION These data suggest that ovary-intact females have enhanced P2Y2 and P2Y4-dependent regulation of Na+ handling in the renal medulla, compared to male and OVX rats. We speculate that the P2 pathway contributes to facilitated renal Na+ handling in premenopausal females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Y Gohar
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 20th St S, Kaul 840, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
| | - Malgorzata Kasztan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 20th St S, Kaul 840, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Shali Zhang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 20th St S, Kaul 840, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Edward W Inscho
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 20th St S, Kaul 840, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - David M Pollock
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 20th St S, Kaul 840, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
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Lee JH, Xiong F, Li W. Enhancer RNAs in cancer: regulation, mechanisms and therapeutic potential. RNA Biol 2020; 17:1550-1559. [PMID: 31916476 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2020.1712895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancers are distal genomic elements critical for gene regulation and cell identify control during development and diseases. Many human cancers were found to associate with enhancer malfunction, due to genetic and epigenetic alterations, which in some cases directly drive tumour growth. Conventionally, enhancers are known to provide DNA binding motifs to recruit transcription factors (TFs) and to control target genes. However, recent progress found that most, if not all, active enhancers pervasively transcribe noncoding RNAs that are referred to as enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). Increasing evidence points to functional roles of at least a subset of eRNAs in gene regulation in both normal and cancer cells, adding new insights into the action mechanisms of enhancers. eRNA expression was observed to be widespread but also specific to tumour types and individual patients, serving as opportunities to exploit them as potential diagnosis markers or therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss the brief history of eRNA research, their functional mechanisms and importance in cancer gene regulation, as well as their therapeutic and diagnostic values in cancer. We propose that further studies of eRNAs in cancer will offer a promising 'eRNA targeted therapy' for human cancer intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Hyung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston, TX, USA
| | - Feng Xiong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wenbo Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston, TX, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth , Houston, TX, USA
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