A meta-analysis of caspase-8 -652 6N del polymorphism and digestive tract cancer risk

Caspase-8 in inflammatory diseases: a potential therapeutic target

Caspase-8, a renowned cysteine-aspartic protease within its enzyme family, initially garnered attention for its regulatory role in extrinsic apoptosis. With advancing research, a growing body of evidence has substantiated its involvement in other cell death processes, such as pyroptosis and necroptosis, as well as its modulatory effects on inflammasomes and proinflammatory cytokines. PANoptosis, an emerging concept of cell death, encompasses pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, providing insight into the often overlapping cellular mortality observed during disease progression. The activation or deficiency of caspase-8 enzymatic activity is closely linked to PANoptosis, positioning caspase-8 as a key regulator of cell survival or death across various physiological and pathological processes. Aberrant expression of caspase-8 is closely associated with the development and progression of a range of inflammatory diseases, including immune system disorders, neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), sepsis, and cancer. This paper delves into the regulatory role and impact of caspase-8 in these conditions, aiming to elucidate potential therapeutic strategies for the future intervention.

Association of Caspase-8 Genotypes With Oral Cancer Risk in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/AIM

Recently, mounting evidence has shown that caspase-8 (CASP8) rs3834129 (-652, 6N insertion/deletion) polymorphism may serve as a genetic biomarker for personal risk of various cancer types. The contribution of CASP8 rs3834129 polymorphism has been investigated in several oral cancer populations, but not in Taiwan. This study investigated the role of CASP8 rs3834129 polymorphism on oral risk in Taiwan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CASP8 rs3834129 polymorphic genotypes were determined and their associations with oral cancer risk were investigated among 788 patients with oral cancer and 956 age- and gender-matched healthy controls via polymerase chain reaction-restrictive fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. In addition, the interaction of CASP8 rs3834129 genotype with personal behavior and clinicopathological features were also examined.

RESULTS

The frequencies of II, ID and DD genotypes for CASP8 rs3834129 were 57.5, 36.5 and 6.0% in the patient group and 54.0, 39.0 and 7.0% in the healthy control group, respectively (p for trend=0.3052), genotypes were not significantly differentially distributed between the two groups. The comparisons in allelic frequency distribution also supported the findings that the D variant allele may not serve as a determinant of risk for oral cancer. There was no interaction of CASP8 rs3834129 genotype with age, gender, smoking, alcohol or betel quid consumption in regard to oral cancer risk.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the caspase-8 genotype does not appear to play a direct role in personal susceptibility to oral cancer in Taiwan.

Prognostic significance of mRNA expression of CASPs in gastric cancer

Current studies suggest that the cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase/CASP) family may be closely associated with apoptosis. Scientists have suggested that caspases may be a key to the development of more effective anti-cancer therapies. However, the prognostic value of CASP expression in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Using a Kaplan-Meier plotter online database, the predictive prognostic significance of the expression of 12 CASPs genes (CASP1, CASP2, CASP3, CASP4, CASP5, CASP6, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, CASP10, CASP12 and CASP14) to overall survival (OS) in different clinicopathological features, including Lauren classification, pathological stages, therapies employed and differentiation in gastric cancer patients was explored. The present study revealed that higher CASP1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mRNA expression was associated with better OS, whereas higher expression of CASP9, 10, 12 and 14 showed an unfavorable OS in all GC patients. Moreover, CASP1 to 8 were all associated with favorable OS in intestinal type and diffuse type classified by Lauren classification. Therefore, the results of the present study suggested that the CASP family may function as new prognostic indicators in GC and may be helpful in making treatment decisions.