Suppression of human colon tumor by EERAC through regulating Notch/DLL4/Hes pathway inhibiting angiogenesis in vivo

The Prediction of DLL4 as a Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Gastric Cancer Using Anti-DLL4 Nanobody

BACKGROUND

Angiogenesis and cancer metastasis depend on the DLL4/Notch signaling pathway. A new approach to treating angiogenesis could inhibit or block this pathway. In the present study, we investigated DLL4 expression as a biomarker capable of predicting survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients using a novel anti-DLL4 Nanobody.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

By using a recently developed anti-DLL4 Nanobody, the expression of DLL4 was evaluated in tissue samples from 135 gastric cancer patients. It was evaluated whether DLL4 expression is related to clinicopathological factors, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

RESULTS

Sixty-five (48%) gastric cancer patients had a positive expression of DLL4 within the tumor tissue. Based on both the univariate and multivariate regression analyses, the expression of DLL4 was strongly associated with RFS (HR, 1.94; p = 0.008) and OS (HR, 2.06; p = 0.004). Moreover, the survival analysis demonstrated that DLL4 expression was a significant independent factor of unfavorable OS (HR, 2.7; p = 0.01) and RFS (HR, 2.3; p = 0.02) in gastric cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

DLL4 expression in gastric cancer patients may predict poor prognosis and survival. Furthermore, the current data demonstrate the potential of Nanobody for detecting DLL4, and it may lead to develop novel therapies and diagnostics for tumors.

Analyzing aberrant DNA methylation in colorectal cancer uncovered intangible heterogeneity of gene effects in the survival time of patients

Colorectal cancer (CRC) involves epigenetic alterations. Irregular gene-methylation alteration causes and advances CRC tumor growth. Detecting differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in CRC and patient survival time paves the way to early cancer detection and prognosis. However, CRC data including survival times are heterogeneous. Almost all studies tend to ignore the heterogeneity of DMG effects on survival. To this end, we utilized a sparse estimation method in the finite mixture of accelerated failure time (AFT) regression models to capture such heterogeneity. We analyzed a dataset of CRC and normal colon tissues and identified 3406 DMGs. Analysis of overlapped DMGs with several Gene Expression Omnibus datasets led to 917 hypo- and 654 hyper-methylated DMGs. CRC pathways were revealed via gene ontology enrichment. Hub genes were selected based on Protein-Protein-Interaction network including SEMA7A, GATA4, LHX2, SOST, and CTLA4, regulating the Wnt signaling pathway. The relationship between identified DMGs/hub genes and patient survival time uncovered a two-component mixture of AFT regression model. The genes NMNAT2, ZFP42, NPAS2, MYLK3, NUDT13, KIRREL3, and FKBP6 and hub genes SOST, NFATC1, and TLE4 were associated with survival time in the most aggressive form of the disease that can serve as potential diagnostic targets for early CRC detection.

Novel specific anti-ESM1 antibodies overcome tumor bevacizumab resistance by suppressing angiogenesis and metastasis

Suppressing tumors through anti-angiogenesis has been established as an effective clinical treatment strategy. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody, is commonly used in various indications. However, two major challenges limit the long-term efficacy of bevacizumab: drug resistance and side effects. Bevacizumab resistance has been extensively studied at the molecular level, but no drug candidates have been developed for clinical use to overcome this resistance. In a previous study conducted by our team, a major finding was that high expression of ESM1 in bevacizumab-resistant tumors is associated with an unfavorable response to treatment. In particular, an increase in ESM1 expression contributes to heightened lung metastasis and microvascular density, which ultimately decreases the tumor's sensitivity to bevacizumab. In contrast, the silencing of ESM1 results in reduced angiogenesis and suppressed tumor growth in tumors resistant to bevacizumab. We put forward the hypothesis that targeting ESM1 could serve as a therapeutic strategy in overcoming bevacizumab resistance. In this study, a variety of anti-ESM1 antibodies with high affinity to human ESM1 were successfully prepared and characterized. Our in vivo study confirmed the establishment of a bevacizumab-resistant human colorectal cancer model and further demonstrated that the addition of anti-ESM1 monoclonal antibodies to bevacizumab treatment significantly improved tumor response while downregulating DLL4 and MMP9. In conclusion, our study suggests that anti-hESM1 monoclonal antibodies have the potential to alleviate or overcome bevacizumab resistance, thereby providing new strategies and drug candidates for clinical research in the treatment of bevacizumab-resistant colorectal cancer.

Exploring the anticancer potential of Actinidia chinensis Planch root extracts (acRoots) on hepatocellular carcinoma: A molecular mechanism study

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ranking as the seventh most prevalent cancer worldwide, poses a significant health challenge. Actinidia chinensis Planch Root extracts (acRoots), a traditional Chinese medicine, has exhibited promising inhibitory effects on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of various cancer cell types. Nevertheless, its specific impact and underlying mechanisms concerning HCC remain unclear. This research aimed to elucidate the anticancer properties and potential molecular mechanisms of acRoots in the HepG2 and LM3 cell lines. Our findings demonstrate that acRoots effectively hampers the in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Furthermore, acRoots induces apoptosis and autophagy by impeding the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, with its inhibitory effects on cells being restored under AKT activator induction. This study, for the first time, elucidates that acRoots can suppress HepG2 and LM3 cell proliferation by blocking the Akt/mTOR pathway, thereby activating apoptosis and autophagy. These results underscore the potential of acRoots as a promising antitumor agent for HCC.

LIM-domain binding protein 2 was down-regulated by miRNA-96-5p inhibited the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of lung cancer H1299 cells

OBJECTIVES

Lung cancer was one of the most common malignancies around the world. It has great significance in to search for the mechanism of occurrence and development of lung cancer. LIM Domain Binding protein 2 (LDB2) belongs to the LIM-domain binding family, it can be used as a binding protein that combined with other transcription factors to form the transcription complex for regulating the expression of target genes. The expression of microRNA-96-5p (miR-96-5p) has been investigated in various tumors. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential role of LDB2 and miR-96-5p in lung cancer.

METHODS

Real-time quantitative PCR was applied to detect the expression of LDB2 and miR-96-5p. The proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of H1299 cells were analyzed by CCK8, transwell, and wound healing assay after LDB2 or miR-96-5p transfection. Luciferase activities assay and western blot were used to reveal the targeted regulation between LDB2 and miR-96-5p.

RESULTS

Here the authors found LDB2 was down-regulated in lung cancer tissues and negatively correlated with miR-96-5p expression, it could promote or inhibit the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of H1299 cells after LDB2 knockdown or overexpression and regulate the expression of cyclinD1, MMP9, Bcl-2, and Bax via ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Furthermore, miR-96-5p exerted its function by directly binding to 3'-UTR of LDB2 and regulating expression of LDB2. miR-96-5p could promote the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of H1299 cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that LDB2 can act as a new regulator to inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and miR-96-5p may be a potential promising molecular by targeting LDB2 in lung cancer.

Endothelial-Specific Molecule 1 Inhibition Lessens Productive Angiogenesis and Tumor Metastasis to Overcome Bevacizumab Resistance

The development of drug resistance in malignant tumors leads to disease progression, creating a bottleneck in treatment. Bevacizumab is widely used clinically, and acts by inhibiting angiogenesis to "starve" tumors. Continuous treatment can readily induce rebound proliferation of tumor blood vessels, leading to drug resistance. Previously, we found that the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region of bevacizumab cooperates with the Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) ligand to induce M2b polarization in macrophages and secrete tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), which promotes immunosuppression, tumor metastasis, and angiogenesis. However, the downstream mechanism underlying TNFα-mediated bevacizumab resistance requires further investigation. Our RNA-Seq analysis results revealed that the expression of endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM1) increased significantly in drug-resistant tumors and promoted metastasis and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, TNFα induced the upregulation of ESM1, which promotes metastasis and angiogenesis and regulates matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and delta-like ligand-4 molecules (DLL4). Accordingly, the curative effect of bevacizumab improved by neutralizing ESM1 with high-affinity anti-ESM1 monoclonal antibody 1-2B7 in bevacizumab-resistant mice. This study provides important insights regarding the molecular mechanism by which TNFα-induced ESM1 expression promotes angiogenesis, which is significant for elucidating the mechanism of bevacizumab drug resistance and possibly identifying appropriate biosimilar molecules.

Advances in neovascularization after diabetic ischemia

With the high incidence of diabetes around the world, ischemic complications cause a serious influence on people’s production and living. Neovascularization plays a significant role in its development. Therefore, neovascularization after diabetic ischemia has aroused attention and has become a hot spot in recent years. Neovascularization is divided into angiogenesis represented by atherosclerosis and arteriogenesis characterized by coronary collateral circulation. When mononuclear macrophages successively migrate to the ischemia anoxic zone after ischemia or hypoxia, they induce the secretion of cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia-inducible factor, activate signaling pathways such as classic Wnt and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathways, trigger oxidative stress response, activate endothelial progenitor cells or enter the glycolysis or lactic acid process and promote the formation of new blood vessels, remodeling them into mature blood vessels and restoring blood supply. However, the hypoglycemic condition has different impacts on neovascularization. Consequently, this review aimed to introduce the mechanisms of neovascularization after diabetic ischemia, increase our un-derstanding of diabetic ischemic complications and their therapies and provide more treatment options for clinical practice and effectively relieve patients’ pain. It is believed that in the near future, neovascularization will bring more benefits and hope to patients with diabetes.

Nanocarriers for Active Ingredients of Chinese Medicine (AIFCM) Used in Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapy

Active ingredients of Chinese medicine (AIFCM) are pharmacological substances taken from traditional Chinese medicine that show promise in treating gastrointestinal cancer. Compared with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, AIFCM have advantages such as multi-target and multi-level treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Nanocarriers have the following advantages, better bioavailability, passive or active targeting of tumor sites and responsive release of drugs. The use of nanocarriers for delivery of AIFCM in treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, can overcome the disadvantages of some AIFCM, such as insolubility and low bioavailability. In this review, we first outline the background on gastrointestinal cancer, main curative factors and conventional therapeutic approaches. Then, the mechanisms for AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer therapy are presented in the following four aspects: gene regulation, immune modulation, cellular pathway transduction, and alteration of intestinal flora. Thirdly, preparation of various nanocarriers and results when combining AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer are presented. Fourth, application of novel targeted nanocarriers and responsive nanocarriers in gastrointestinal tumors is further introduced. Finally, the application of AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer is summarized and prospected, hoping to shed some light on the nanocarrier-bound AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.

Exploring potential targets of Actinidia chinensis Planch root against hepatocellular carcinoma based on network pharmacology and molecular docking and development and verification of immune-associated prognosis features for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignant tumors with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its prognosis remains a challenge. Actinidia chinensis Planch (ACP) root has good efficacy against HCC. This study aimed to explore the link between ACP and potential targets of HCC, and to develop a novel immune-based gene signature to predict HCC patient survival.

Methods

Transcriptome data and clinical information on HCC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; HCC: 374, normal: 50) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database (HCC: 243, normal: 202). Combined with the 2,483 immune-related genes from the Immport database, we used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to construct a prognostic model. Patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups by the median of the risk scores of the TCGA cohort. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate the predictability of the model in HCC prognosis, and carried out external validation based on ICGC cohort. We analyzed the correlation of this model with immune cells and immune checkpoint genes. Finally, molecular docking of these genes and the corresponding ACP components.

Results

We constructed a prognostic model composed of 3 immune-related genes [epidermal growth factor (EGF), baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing protein 5 (BIRC5), and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1)]. And the high-risk group had a lower overall survival (OS) rate compared to the low-risk group (TCGA cohort: P=1.761e-05, ICGC cohort: P=8.716e-04). The outcomes of the AUC of ROC of prognostic risk model to predict for 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS: TCGA cohort: 0.749, 0.710, and 0.653 and ICGC cohort: 0.698, 0.736, and 0.753. Molecular docking results showed that quercetin had good binding activities with SPP1, BIRC5, and EGF, and ursolic acid (UA) and BIRC5 also had this feature.

Conclusions

Our study speculates that ACP root anti-HCC may be involved in the immune regulation of the body by targeting EGF, BIRC5 and SPP1, which possess great potential and value as early warning molecules for HCC. This model may provide a reference for individualized diagnosis and treatment for HCC patients.