Interleukin-6 in bone metastasis and cancer progression

Circulating cytokines associated with clinical outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who received chemoimmunotherapy

Background

Pretreatment and on‐treatment plasma cytokine levels in predicting clinical benefit in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with anti‐programmed death‐1 (PD‐1)‐based chemotherapy is still a matter of debate.

Methods

We measured 12 kind of plasma cytokines in patients with stage III/IV NSCLC before and during treatment with anti‐PD‐1 based chemotherapy. Associations with best overall response, and survival including progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using Chi‐square test and Kaplan–Meier plots with log‐rank test, respectively. Logistic regression and Cox regression were used to determine independent risk factors.

Results

Of a total of 60 patients, high‐level of pretreatment interleukin‐2 was associated with longer PFS (log rank p = 0.049), while high‐level of pretreatment interleukin‐8 was associated with shorter OS (log rank p = 0.006). Increased on‐treatment interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) was associated with both better response (odds ratio [OR] 6.233, 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.451–26.344, p = 0.013) and longer PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.305, 95% CI: 0.127–0.730, p = 0.008). On the contrary, increased on‐treatment interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was associated with a worse response (OR 0.015, 95% CI: 0.001–0.400, p = 0.012), worse PFS (HR 2.639, 95% CI: 1.163–5.991, p = 0.020) and worse OS (HR 2.742, 95% CI: 1.063–7.074, p = 0.037). Increased interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) was found to be associated with better PFS (HR 0.336, 95% CI: 0.153–0.745, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

In patients with advanced NSCLC who received chemoimmunotherapy, on‐treatment increased IL‐1β and IFN‐γ may serve as positive indicator of efficacy, while on‐treatment increased IL‐6 might play a predictive role of worse clinical outcome.

CD1a- and CD83-positive dendritic cells as prognostic markers of metastasis development in early breast cancer patients

PURPOSE

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that play a major role in initiating the antitumor immune response in different types of cancer. However, the prognostic significance of the accumulation of these cells in human early breast tumors is not totally clear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic relevance of CD1a( +) and CD83( +) dendritic cells in early breast cancer patients.

METHODS

We conducted immunohistochemical assays to determine the number of stromal CD1a( +) and CD83( +) DCs in primary tumors from early invasive ductal breast cancer patients, and analyzed their association with clinico-pathological characteristics.

RESULTS

Patients with high CD1a( +) DC number had lower risk of bone metastatic occurrence, as well as, longer disease-free survival (DFS), bone metastasis-free survival (BMFS) and overall survival (OS). Moreover, CD1a( +) DC number was an independent prognostic factor for BMFS and OS. In contrast, we found that patients with high number of CD83( +) DCs had lower risk of mix (bone and visceral)-metastatic occurrence. Likewise, these patients presented better prognosis with longer DFS, mix-MFS and OS. Furthermore, CD83( +) DC number was an independent prognostic factor for DFS and OS.

CONCLUSION

The quantification of the stromal infiltration of DCs expressing CD1a or CD83 in early invasive breast cancer patients serves to indicate the prognostic risk of developing metastasis in a specific site.

The effects of periodontitis associated microbiota on the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Epidemiological data have shown that periodontal bacterial infection, periodontitis, and oral squamous cell carcinoma have close relationship on the disease progress and risk. However, the specific role of periodontal microbes and their mechanism in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma is not yet clear. In our previous work, metagenomic Illumina Mi-seq analysis was used to identify tstructure and abundance of periodontital microbiome. Accoding to the results, we used Porphyromonas.spp. and Fusobacterium.spp. as the periodontitis positive microbiota; Neisseria.spp and Corynebacterium.spp as periodontitis negative microbiota (their average relative abundance were >5%). These representative strains of the above genus were used to infect OSCC cells to explore their effect on tumor cell biology behavior, and detect the expression level of the gene in related to inflammation, migration, invasion and cell cycle. We find that periodontitis positive correlated microbiota had a promoting effect on the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro by regulating mRNA and protein expression of IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9 and Cyclin-D1. Periodontitis negative correlated microbiota had suppression effect on the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro analysis.

IL-6 in the Ecosystem of Head and Neck Cancer: Possible Therapeutic Perspectives

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a highly potent cytokine involved in multiple biological processes. It was previously reported to play a distinct role in inflammation, autoimmune and psychiatric disorders, ageing and various types of cancer. Furthermore, it is understood that IL-6 and its signaling pathways are substantial players in orchestrating the cancer microenvironment. Thus, they appear to be potential targets in anti-tumor therapy. The aim of this article is to elucidate the role of IL-6 in the tumor ecosystem and to review the possible therapeutic approaches in head and neck cancer.

IL-6 downregulates hepatic carboxylesterases via NF-κB activation in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with increased levels of inflammatory factors, which is attributed to the abnormal expression and activity of enzymes and transporters in the liver, affecting drug disposition in vivo. This study aimed to examine the impact of intestinal inflammation on the expression of hepatic carboxylesterases (CESs) in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Two major CESs isoforms, CES1 and CES2, were down-regulated, accompanied by decreases in hepatic microsomal metabolism of clopidogrel and irinotecan. Meanwhile, IL-6 levels significantly increased compared with other inflammatory factors in the livers of UC mice. In contrast, using IL-6 antibody simultaneously reversed the down-regulation of CES1, CES2, pregnane X receptor (PXR), and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in the liver. We further confirmed that treatment with NF-κB inhibitor abolished IL-6-induced down-regulation of CES1, CES2, PXR, and CAR in vitro. Thus, it was concluded that IL-6 represses hepatic CESs via the NF-κB pathway in DSS-induced colitis. These findings indicate that caution should be exercised concerning the proper and safe use of therapeutic drugs in patients with UC.

Prediagnostic Inflammation and Pancreatic Cancer Survival

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation may promote initiation and progression of pancreatic cancer, but no studies have examined the association between inflammation in the period before diagnosis and pancreatic cancer survival.

METHODS

We prospectively examined the association of prediagnostic plasma levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2 with survival among 492 participants from 5 large US prospective cohort studies who developed pancreatic cancer. Using an empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) score, we evaluated whether long-term proinflammatory diets were associated with survival among 1153 patients from 2 of the 5 cohorts. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios for death with adjustment for potential confounders. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS

Higher prediagnostic levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2 were individually associated with reduced survival (Ptrend = .03, .01, and .04, respectively). Compared with patients with a combined inflammatory biomarker score of 0 (all 3 marker levels below medians), those with a score of 3 (all 3 marker levels above medians) had a hazard ratio for death of 1.57 (95% confidence interval = 1.16 to 2.12; Ptrend = .003), corresponding to median overall survival times of 8 vs 5 months. Patients consuming the most proinflammatory diets (EDIP quartile 4) in the prediagnostic period had a hazard ratio for death of 1.34 (95% confidence interval = 1.13 to 1.59; Ptrend = .01), compared with those consuming the least proinflammatory diets (EDIP quartile 1).

CONCLUSION

Prediagnostic levels of inflammatory biomarkers and long-term proinflammatory diets were inversely associated with pancreatic cancer survival.

Tetrandrine Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in IL-6-Induced HCT116 Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Introduction

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) often develop distant metastases, which significantly reduces the 5-year survival rate. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial process for the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Tetrandrine has been reported to inhibit the viability and EMT of CRC cells; however, to the best of our knowledge, the molecular mechanism remains undetermined.

Methods

The MTT assay was used to determine HCT116 cell viability. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to determine that cell migration and invasion, respectively. Western blotting analysis was performed to detect the expression of migration-related genes. Four different lengths of the E-cadherin gene promoter were constructed and cloned into pGL3 reporter plasmids to evaluate E-cadherin gene promoter activity.

Results

The results of the MTT assay revealed that tetrandrine inhibited HCT116 cell viability, with an IC₅₀ value of 7.2 μM following 24 h of treatment. Tetrandrine inhibited IL-6-induced cell migration and invasion, respectively. Tetrandrine regulates the expression of migration-related genes in IL-6-stimulated HCT116 cells. Tetrandrine significantly downregulated the expression and enzyme activity of MMP-2 in IL-6-stimulated HCT116 cells. In addition, tetrandrine restored E-cadherin gene promoter activity.

Conclusion

The findings of the present study suggested that tetrandrine may inhibit EMT in IL-6-stimulated HCT116 cells; therefore, it may represent a potential drug for CRC.

The Relationship between Inflammation Markers (CRP, IL-6, sCD40L) and Colorectal Cancer Stage, Grade, Size and Location

The aim of the study was the evaluation whether in primary colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (n = 55): age, sex, TNM classification results, WHO grade, tumor location (proximal colon, distal colon, rectum), tumor size, platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), mean platelet component (MCP), levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen (CA 19-9), as well as soluble lectin adhesion molecules (L-, E-, and P-selectins) may influence circulating inflammatory biomarkers: IL-6, CRP, and sCD40L. We found that CRP concentration evaluation in routine clinical practice may have an advantage as a prognostic biomarker in CRC patients, as this protein the most comprehensively reflects clinicopathological features of the tumor. Univariate linear regression analysis revealed that in CRC patients: (1) with an increase in PLT by 10 × 10³/μL, the mean concentration of CRP increases by 3.4%; (2) with an increase in CA 19-9 of 1 U/mL, the mean concentration of CRP increases by 0.7%; (3) with the WHO 2 grade, the mean CRP concentration increases 3.631 times relative to the WHO 1 grade group; (4) with the WHO 3 grade, the mean CRP concentration increases by 4.916 times relative to the WHO 1 grade group; (5) with metastases (T1-4N+M+) the mean CRP concentration increases 4.183 times compared to non-metastatic patients (T1-4N0M0); (6) with a tumor located in the proximal colon, the mean concentration of CRP increases 2.175 times compared to a tumor located in the distal colon; (7) in patients with tumor size > 3 cm, the CRP concentration is about 2 times higher than in patients with tumor size ≤ 3 cm. In the multivariate linear regression model, the variables that influence the mean CRP value in CRC patients included: WHO grade and tumor localization. R² for the created model equals 0.50, which indicates that this model explains 50% of the variance in the dependent variable. In CRC subjects: (1) with the WHO 2 grade, the mean CRP concentration rises 3.924 times relative to the WHO 1 grade; (2) with the WHO 3 grade, the mean CRP concentration increases 4.721 times in relation to the WHO 1 grade; (3) with a tumor located in the rectum, the mean CRP concentration rises 2.139 times compared to a tumor located in the distal colon; (4) with a tumor located in the proximal colon, the mean concentration of CRP increases 1.998 times compared to the tumor located in the distal colon; if other model parameters are fixed.

Circular RNA circIKBKB promotes breast cancer bone metastasis through sustaining NF-κB/bone remodeling factors signaling

Background

Breast cancer (BC) has a marked tendency to spread to the bone, resulting in significant skeletal complications and mortality. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to contribute to cancer initiation and progression. However, the function and mechanism of circRNAs in BC bone metastasis (BC-BM) remain largely unknown.

Methods

Bone-metastatic circRNAs were screened using circRNAs deep sequencing and validated using in situ hybridization in BC tissues with or without bone metastasis. The role of circIKBKB in inducing bone pre-metastatic niche formation and bone metastasis was determined using osteoclastogenesis, immunofluorescence and bone resorption pit assays. The mechanism underlying circIKBKB-mediated activation of NF-κB/bone remodeling factors signaling and EIF4A3-induced circIKBKB were investigated using RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter, chromatin isolation by RNA purification and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results

We identified that a novel circRNA, circIKBKB, was upregulated significantly in bone-metastatic BC tissues. Overexpressing circIKBKB enhanced the capability of BC cells to induce formation of bone pre-metastatic niche dramatically by promoting osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanically, circIKBKB activated NF-κB pathway via promoting IKKβ-mediated IκBα phosphorylation, inhibiting IκBα feedback loop and facilitating NF-κB to the promoters of multiple bone remodeling factors. Moreover, EIF4A3, acted acting as a pre-mRNA splicing factor, promoted cyclization of circIKBKB by directly binding to the circIKBKB flanking region. Importantly, treatment with inhibitor eIF4A3-IN-2 reduced circIKBKB expression and inhibited breast cancer bone metastasis effectively.

Conclusion

We revealed a plausible mechanism for circIKBKB-mediated NF-κB hyperactivation in bone-metastatic BC, which might represent a potential strategy to treat breast cancer bone metastasis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12943-021-01394-8.

Appearance of peanut agglutinin in the blood circulation after peanut ingestion promotes endothelial secretion of metastasis-promoting cytokines

Peanut agglutinin (PNA) is a carbohydrate-binding protein in peanuts that accounts for ~0.15% peanut weight. PNA is highly resistant to cooking and digestion and is rapidly detectable in the blood after peanut consumption. Our previous studies have shown that circulating PNA mimics the actions of endogenous galactoside-binding protein galectin-3 by interaction with tumour cell-associated MUC1 and promotes circulating tumour cell metastatic spreading. The present study shows that circulating PNA interacts with micro- as well as macro-vascular endothelial cells and induces endothelial secretion of cytokines MCP-1 (CCL2) and IL-6 in vitro and in vivo. The increased secretion of these cytokines autocrinely/paracrinely enhances the expression of endothelial cell surface adhesion molecules including integrins, VCAM and selectin, leading to increased tumour cell-endothelial adhesion and endothelial tubule formation. Binding of PNA to endothelial surface MCAM (CD146), via N-linked glycans, and subsequent activation of PI3K-AKT-PREAS40 signalling is here shown responsible for PNA-induced secretion of MCP-1 and IL-6 by vascular endothelium. Thus, in addition to its influence on promoting tumour cell spreading by interaction with tumour cell-associated MUC1, circulating PNA might also influence metastasis by enhancing the secretion of metastasis-promoting MCP-1 and IL-6 from the vascular endothelium.

Fas-threshold signalling in MSCs promotes pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) belong to the tumour microenvironment and have been implicated in tumour progression. We found that the number of MSCs significantly increased in tumour-burdened mice driven by Fas-threshold signalling. Consequently, MSCs lacking Fas lost their ability to induce metastasis development in a pancreatic cancer model. Mixing of MSCs with pancreatic cancer cells led to sustained production of the pro-metastatic cytokines CCL2 and IL6 by the stem cells. The levels of these cytokines were dependent on the number of MSCs, linking Fas-mediated MSC-proliferation to their capacity to promote tumour progression. Furthermore, we discovered that CCL2 and IL6 were induced by pancreatic cancer cell-derived IL1. Importantly, analysis of patient transcriptomic data revealed that high FasL expression correlates with high levels of MSC markers as well as increased IL6 and CCL2 levels in pancreatic tumours. Moreover, both FasL and CCL2 are linked to elevated levels of markers specific for monocytes known to possess further pro-metastatic activities. These results confirm our experimental findings of a FasL-MSC-IL1-CCL2/IL6 axis in pancreatic cancer and highlights the role of MSCs in tumour progression.

The levels of IL-6 and soluble IL-33R are increased in the renal vein during surgery for clear cell renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

The main aim was to map serum levels of IL-1/IL-6 family cytokines and relevant receptors from serum samples taken across treatment in patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). Additionally, we explored the possible interactions between these measurements, immunohistochemistry and intratumoral blood flow.

METHODS

We included 40 patients undergoing open surgery for renal tumors. Blood samples were collected before, during (taken simultaneously from a peripheral site and the renal vein (RV) before clamping) and after surgery. Samples were analyzed for IL-6, IL-27, IL-31, OSM, TNF-α, serum (s)-gp130, s-IL-6Rα, s-IL-33R, IL-1Rα and VEGF. All 35 RCC tumors were histologically subtyped as clear cell (CCRCC), papillary or chromophobe. Immunohistochemistry for the CCRCC group included expression of IL-6/IL-6R. Intratumoral blood flow was determined by calculating intratumoral contrast enhancement on preoperative computerized tomography (CT) imaging.

RESULTS

In the CCRCC patients, the intraoperative RV concentration of IL-6 was significantly higher than in both the preoperative and postoperative samples (p = 0.005 and p = 0.032, respectively). Furthermore, the intraoperative ratio showed significantly higher levels of IL-6 in the RV than in the simultaneously drawn peripheral sample. Immunohistochemistry showed general expression of IL-6 (23/24) in both tumor cells and the vasculature (20/23). Moreover, s-IL-6R was expressed in tumor cells in 23/24 studied patients. Increased blood flow in the CCRCC tumors predicted increased IL-6 levels in the RV (p < 0.001). The other cytokines and receptors showed an overall stability across the measurements. However, the intraoperative ratios of IL-33R and gp130 showed significantly higher levels in the RV.

CONCLUSION

Serum levels of IL-6 increased during surgery. Intraoperative IL-6 and s-IL-33R values were higher in the RV compared to the periphery, suggesting secretion from the tumor or tumor microenvironment itself. Supportive of this is an almost general expression of IL-6/s-IL-6R in tumor cells and IL-6 in vasculature in the tumor microenvironment. Other studied cytokines/receptors were remarkably stable across all measurements.

lncRNA MIAT/HMGB1 Axis Is Involved in Cisplatin Resistance via Regulating IL6-Mediated Activation of the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the main first-line treatment strategies for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Unfortunately, resistance is a major obstacle in the clinical management of NPC patients. We prove that the expression level of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is dramatically increased in resistant NPC cells than that in sensitive cells. HMGB1 induces the expression and secretion of IL6, which leads to constitutive autocrine activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and eventually contributes to chemoresistance in NPC cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as key regulators involved in drug resistance. In this study, using GO analysis of the biological process and differential expression analysis, we find 12 significantly altered IncRNAs in NPC cell lines, which may be involved in regulating gene expression. Furthermore, we determine that elevated lncRNA MIAT level upregulates HMGB1 expression, contributing to cisplatin resistance in NPC cells. We find that the deficiency of the lncRNA MIAT/HMGB1 axis, inhibition of JAK2/STAT3, or neutralization of IL6 by antibodies significantly re-sensitizes resistant NPC cells to cisplatin in resistant NPC cells. Moreover, we provide the in vivo evidence that the deficiency of HMGB1 reduces cisplatin-resistant tumor growth. Most importantly, we provide clinical evidence showing that the expression level of the lncRNA MIAT/HMGB1/IL6 axis is elevated in resistant NPC tumors, which is highly correlated with poor clinical outcome. Our findings identify a novel chemoresistance mechanism regulated by the lncRNA MIAT/HMGB1/IL6 axis, which indicates the possibilities for lncRNA MIAT, HMGB1, and IL6 as biomarkers for chemoresistance and targets for developing novel strategies to overcome resistance in NPC patients.

CD44v8-10 is a marker for malignant traits and a potential driver of bone metastasis in a subpopulation of prostate cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Bone metastasis is a clinically important outcome of prostate carcinoma (PC). We focused on the phenotypic and functional characterization of a particularly aggressive phenotype within the androgen-independent bone metastasis-derived PC3 cell line. These cells, originated from the spontaneous conversion of a CD44-negative subpopulation, stably express the CD44v8-10 isoform (CD44v8-10pos) and display stem cell-like features and a marked invasive phenotype in vitro that is lost upon CD44v8-10 silencing.

METHODS

Flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunoassay, immunofluorescence, and Western blot were used for phenotypic and immunologic characterization. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and functional assays were used to assess osteomimicry.

RESULTS

Analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers showed that CD44v8-10pos PC3 cells surprisingly display epithelial phenotype and can undergo osteomimicry, acquiring bone cell phenotypic and behavioral traits. Use of specific siRNA evidenced the ability of CD44v8-10 variant to confer osteomimetic features, hence the potential to form bone-specific metastasis. Moreover, the ability of tumors to activate immunosuppressive mechanisms which counteract effective immune responses is a sign of the aggressiveness of a tumor. Here we report that CD44v8-10pos cells express programmed death ligand 1, a negative regulator of anticancer immunity, and secrete exceptionally high amounts of interleukin-6, favoring osteoclastogenesis and immunosuppression in bone microenvironment. Notably, we identified a novel pathway activated by CD44v8-10, involving tafazzin (TAZ) and likely the Wnt/TAZ axis, known to play a role in upregulating osteomimetic genes.

CONCLUSIONS

CD44v8-10 could represent a marker of a more aggressive bone metastatic PC population exerting a driver role in osteomimicry in bone. A novel link between TAZ and CD44v8-10 is also shown.

Bone Marrow Environment in Metastatic Neuroblastoma

The study of the interactions occurring in the BM environment has been facilitated by the peculiar nature of metastatic NB. In fact: (i) metastases are present at diagnosis; (ii) metastases are confined in a very specific tissue, the BM, suggestive of a strong attraction and possibility of survival; (iii) differently from adult cancers, NB metastases are available because the diagnostic procedures require morphological examination of BM; (iv) NB metastatic cells express surface antigens that allow enrichment of NB metastatic cells by immune-magnetic separation; and (v) patients with localized disease represent an internal control to discriminate specific alterations occurring in the metastatic niche from generic alterations determined by the neoplastic growth at the primary site. Here, we first review the information regarding the features of BM-infiltrating NB cells. Then, we focus on the alterations found in the BM of children with metastatic NB as compared to healthy children and children with localized NB. Specifically, information regarding all the BM cell populations and their sub-sets will be first examined in the context of BM microenvironment in metastatic NB. In the last part, the information regarding the soluble factors will be presented.

The Role of Inflammation in Breast and Prostate Cancer Metastasis to Bone

Tumor metastasis to bone is a common event in multiple forms of malignancy. Inflammation holds essential functions in homeostasis as a defense mechanism against infections and is a strategy to repair injured tissue and to adapt to stress conditions. However, exaggerated and/or persistent (chronic) inflammation may eventually become maladaptive and evoke diseases such as autoimmunity, diabetes, inflammatory tissue damage, fibrosis, and cancer. In fact, inflammation is now considered a hallmark of malignancy with prognostic relevance. Emerging studies have revealed a central involvement of inflammation in several steps of the metastatic cascade of bone-homing tumor cells through supporting their survival, migration, invasion, and growth. The mechanisms by which inflammation favors these steps involve activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), chemokine-mediated homing of tumor cells, local activation of osteoclastogenesis, and a positive feedback amplification of the protumorigenic inflammation loop between tumor and resident cells. In this review, we summarize established and evolving concepts of inflammation-driven tumorigenesis, with a special focus on bone metastasis.

AKT in Bone Metastasis of Solid Tumors: A Comprehensive Review

Simple Summary

Bone metastasis is a frequent complication of solid tumors and leads to a reduced overall survival. Although much progress has been made in the field of tumor therapy in the last years, bone metastasis depicts a stage of the disease with a lack of appropriate therapeutical options. Hence, this review aims to present the role of AKT in bone metastasis of solid tumors to place the spotlight on AKT as a possible therapeutical approach for patients with bone metastases. Furthermore, we intended to discuss postulated underlying molecular mechanisms of the bone metastasis-promoting effect of AKT, especially in highly bone-metastatic breast, prostate, and lung cancer. To conclude, this review identified the AKT kinase as a potential therapeutical target in bone metastasis and revealed remaining questions, which need to be addressed in further research projects.

Abstract

Solid tumors, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, often form bone metastases in the course of the disease. Patients with bone metastases frequently develop complications, such as pathological fractures or hypercalcemia and exhibit a reduced life expectancy. Thus, it is of vital importance to improve the treatment of bone metastases. A possible approach is to target signaling pathways, such as the PI3K/AKT pathway, which is frequently dysregulated in solid tumors. Therefore, we sought to review the role of the serine/threonine kinase AKT in bone metastasis. In general, activation of AKT signaling was shown to be associated with the formation of bone metastases from solid tumors. More precisely, AKT gets activated in tumor cells by a plethora of bone-derived growth factors and cytokines. Subsequently, AKT promotes the bone-metastatic capacities of tumor cells through distinct signaling pathways and secretion of bone cell-stimulating factors. Within the crosstalk between tumor and bone cells, also known as the vicious cycle, the stimulation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts also causes activation of AKT in these cells. As a consequence, bone metastasis is reduced after experimental inhibition of AKT. In summary, AKT signaling could be a promising therapeutical approach for patients with bone metastases of solid tumors.

Drosophila models of metastasis

An important goal in the fight against cancer is to understand how tumors become invasive and metastatic. A crucial early step in metastasis is thought to be the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), the process in which epithelial cells transition into a more migratory and invasive, mesenchymal state. Since the genetic regulatory networks driving EMT in tumors derive from those used in development, analysis of EMTs in genetic model organisms such as the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, can provide great insight into cancer. In this review I highlight the many ways in which studies in the fly are shedding light on cancer metastasis. The review covers both normal developmental events in which epithelial cells become migratory, as well as induced events, whereby normal epithelial cells become metastatic due to genetic manipulations. The ability to make such precise genetic perturbations in the context of a normal, in vivo environment, complete with a working innate immune system, is making the fly increasingly important in understanding metastasis.

Changes in Peripheral Blood Regulatory T Cells and IL-6 and IL-10 Levels Predict Response of Pediatric Medulloblastoma and Germ Cell Tumors With Residual or Disseminated Disease to Craniospinal Irradiation

PURPOSE

Radiation therapy (RT) modulates immune cells and cytokines, resulting in both clinically beneficial and detrimental effects. The changes in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and cytokines during RT for pediatric brain tumors and the association of these changes with therapeutic outcomes have not been well described.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study population consisted of children (n = 83, aged 3~18) with primary brain tumors (medulloblastoma, glioma, germ cell tumors (GCT), and central nervous system embryonal tumor-not otherwise specified), with or without residual or disseminated (R/D) diseases who were starting standard postoperative focal or craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets collected before and 4 weeks after RT were enumerated by flow cytometry. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and IL-17A were measured by cytometric bead array.

RESULTS

Patients with R/D lesions receiving CSI (n = 32) had a post-RT increase in the frequency of CD3+T and CD8+T cells, a decrease in CD4+T cells, and an increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD8+CD28- suppressor cells, which was more predominantly seen in these patients than in other groups. In the CSI group with such R/D lesions, consisting of patients with medulloblastoma and germ cell tumors, 19 experienced a complete response (CR) and 13 experienced a partial response (PR) on imaging at 4 weeks after RT. The post/pre-RT ratio of Tregs (P = .0493), IL-6 (P = .0111), and IL-10 (P = .0070) was lower in the CR group than in the PR group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the post/pre-RT ratios of Treg, IL-6, and IL-10 were independent predictors of CR (P < .0001, P = .018, P < .0001, respectively). The areas under the receiver operating curves and confidence intervals were 0.7652 (0.5831-0.8964), 0.7794 (0.5980-0.9067), and 0.7085 (0.5223-0.8552) for IL-6, IL-10, and Treg, respectively. The sensitivities of IL-6, IL-10, and Treg to predict radiotherapeutic responses were 100%, 92.3%, and 61.5%, and specificity was 52.6%, 57.9%, and 84.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

CSI treatment to those with R/D lesions predominantly exerted an effect on antitumor immune response compared with both R/D lesion-free but exposed to focal or CSI RT and with R/D lesions and exposed to focal RT. Such CSI with R/D lesions group experiencing CR is more likely to have a decrease in immunoinhibitory molecules and cells than patients who only achieve PR. Measuring peripheral blood Treg, IL-6, and IL-10 levels could be valuable for predicting radiotherapeutic responses of pediatric brain tumors with R/D lesions to CSI for medulloblastoma and intracranial germ cell tumors.

Targeting interleukin 6 signaling by monoclonal antibody siltuximab on cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Cholangiocarcinoma has an unimproved prognosis. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has an oncogenic potential in some cancer diseases. However, the role of IL-6 in cholangiocarcinoma carcinogenesis is not well understood. The current study investigated the role of IL-6 signaling in cholangiocarcinoma carcinogenesis and efficacy of siltuximab treatment on cholangiocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

The expression of IL-6 was analyzed on human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines and murine and human cholangiocarcinoma tissues, using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the effect of anti-IL-6 chimeric monoclonal antibody, siltuximab, was investigated in vitro by proliferation, migration, and two-dimensional and three-dimensional invasion assays and in vivo by xenograft mouse model. Western blot was applied to study the molecular alteration.

RESULTS

Our result shows high expression of IL-6 in human cholangiocarcinoma cells, and IL-6 stimulants enhance cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferation. In addition, murine and human cholangiocarcinoma tissues express significantly higher levels of IL-6, compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues. On the cholangiocarcinoma engineered mouse model, IL-6 level is associated with tumor volume. Taken together, our data indicate an oncogenic potential of IL-6 in cholangiocarcinoma carcinogenesis. Siltuximab sufficiently abrogates IL-6 signaling and inhibits cholangiocarcinoma progression in vitro and in vivo. The results additionally indicate a relative alteration of IL-6 signaling and its molecular targets, such as STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin, and mesenchymal markers.

CONCLUSIONS

Interleukin 6 plays an essential role in cholangiocarcinoma carcinogenesis, and siltuximab has the potential to be considered as a new treatment option for cholangiocarcinoma patients.

Fluoropyrimdine therapy induced alterations in interleukins expression in colorectal cancer patients

This study monitored the changes in the expression of inflammatory IL-6 and IL-1β during the treatment period of Fluoropyrimidine (FP) based therapy. RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 102 CRC patients before treatment with FP therapy, and from 48 and 32 patients after 3 and 6 months of treatment, respectively. The genetic transcription of IL-6 and IL-1β was determined by real time PCR. Patients were stratified according to their levels of IL-6 and IL-1β genes expression for subgroup and survival analyses. Baseline CRC patients showed overexpression of IL-6 and IL-1β compared to healthy control. FP therapy significantly induced IL-6 and IL-1β expression. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with right colon tumors had significant elevation in both IL-6 and IL-1β with FP therapy. FP therapy significantly induced IL-1β expression in patients ⩽45 years, smokers, with high baseline level of CA19.9, right colon tumors, low grade pathology, T3 tumors and positive lymph nodes. Survival analysis showed that baseline levels of interleukins expression had insignificant effect on overall survival and event free survival. FP therapy has an impact on the level of interleukins expression declared in certain clinicopathological subgroups of CRC patients, but without a prognostic significance on patients' survival.

Targeting Intercellular Communication in the Bone Microenvironment to Prevent Disseminated Tumor Cell Escape from Dormancy and Bone Metastatic Tumor Growth

Metastasis to the bone is a common feature of many cancers including those of the breast, prostate, lung, thyroid and kidney. Once tumors metastasize to the bone, they are essentially incurable. Bone metastasis is a complex process involving not only intravasation of tumor cells from the primary tumor into circulation, but extravasation from circulation into the bone where they meet an environment that is generally suppressive of their growth. The bone microenvironment can inhibit the growth of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) by inducing dormancy of the DTC directly and later on following formation of a micrometastatic tumour mass by inhibiting metastatic processes including angiogenesis, bone remodeling and immunosuppressive cell functions. In this review we will highlight some of the mechanisms mediating DTC dormancy and the complex relationships which occur between tumor cells and bone resident cells in the bone metastatic microenvironment. These inter-cellular interactions may be important targets to consider for development of novel effective therapies for the prevention or treatment of bone metastases.

Interleukin 6 regulates the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 in thyroid cancer

Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1), inducing T cell exhaustion to facilitate immune escape of tumor cells, is upregulated by interleukin 6 (IL‐6) in T cell lymphoma and ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of IL‐6 and PD‐L1 in thyroid cancer, and whether IL‐6 regulates PD‐L1 expression. As a result, IL‐6 and PD‐L1 were highly expressed in thyroid cancer tissues. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that tumor size, distant metastasis, and risk stratification were significantly associated with IL‐6 expression (P < .05), and multifocality, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, risk stratification, and IL‐6 expression were identified as the independent predictors of PD‐L1 expression (P < .05). The invasiveness of thyroid cancer was significantly enhanced after IL‐6 treatment or PD‐L1 overexpression. PD‐L1 positive rate correlated with IL‐6 expression in cancer tissues (P < .001), and after IL‐6 treatment, the PD‐L1 expression in TPC‐1 and BCPAP significantly increased. The mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway (MAPK) and the Janus‐activated kinase (JAK)–signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways were activated by IL‐6, and the IL‐6–induced PD‐L1 expression decreased after treatment with these two signaling pathway inhibitors. Knockdown of transcription factors c‐Jun and stat3 suppressed the expression of PD‐L1 induced by IL‐6, and these two factors could bind to PD‐L1 gene promoter directly and promote its transcription. It is concluded that IL‐6 and PD‐L1 are overexpressed in thyroid cancer and are related to tumor invasiveness. IL‐6 upregulates PD‐L1 expression through the MAPK and JAK‐STAT3 signaling pathways, which function via transcription factors c‐Jun and stat3.

Targeting inflammatory cytokine storm to fight against COVID-19 associated severe complications

Such testing and trying time probably never seen before in the human history. The novel coronavirus disease abbreviated as COVID-19 is the ongoing health crisis which entered into human life in late December 2019. The ease of transmission between humans and the undetectability in early stage makes COVID-19 frightening and unprecedented. The disease is characterised by pneumonia progressing to breathing difficulty, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure. Clinical studies suggest excessive release of inflammatory mediators leads to cytokine storm, a phenomenon which appears to be potentially life-threatening in COVID-19. Across the globe, when the world authorities are grappling to contain the virus, our review provides a glimpse on structure, pathophysiology of the virus and further sheds light on various clinical complications associated with the disease in order to open up/raise new horizons to explore various possible theoretical targets for COVID-19. The review also portrays a question and debates: Can targeting cytokine storm can be a feasible approach to combat COVID-19?

Surviving host innate immunity: Cancer cells can turn a deadly assault into an advantage

The entry of metastatic cancer cells into the liver can trigger a rapid inflammatory response with increased local production of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). We investigated the molecular mechanisms that protect tumor cells from TNFα-induced apoptosis. A molecular crosstalk between the TNFα/TNFR/NFκB and IGF-IR/PI3-K/AKT pathways was identified that leads to autocrine IL-6/IL-6R/STAT3 signaling, rendering tumor cells resistant to cell death and enabling the metastatic colonization of the liver.

Speed Kills: Advancement in Th17 Cell Adoptive Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors

IL6 is targeted as part of treatment in adoptive cell therapy (ACT) because of its protumor effects and its role in the cytokine release syndrome. However, another major role of IL6 is to polarize naïve CD4⁺ T cells from Tregs to Th17 cells. While Th17 T cells are associated with autoimmunity, they are present around many different solid tumor cancers and their role in tumor microenvironments is unclear. In this issue of Cancer Research, Knochelmann and colleagues show that Th17 cells with less in vitro expansion in IL6-driven Th17 ACT provide greater solid tumor control and robust immune memory, highlighting advancement in the field of ACT application to solid tumor immunotherapy.See related article by Knochelmann et al., p. 3920.

C-reactive protein can predict dose intensity, time to treatment failure and overall survival in HCC treated with lenvatinib

Background and aim

Lenvatinib has become a first line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, continued administration is impossible in many patients due to treatment resistance and severe adverse events. This study aimed to identify predicting factors to select patients likely to benefit from lenvatinib treatment.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 53 patients who were treated with lenvatinib for unresectable HCC. They were divided to two groups; low C-reactive protein (CRP) group with pretreatment serum CRP level < 1.0 mg/dL and high CRP group with serum CRP level ≥ 1.0 mg/dl. Overall survival (OS), total amount administered, and period of treatment were compared between the two groups.

Results

The high CRP group showed a significantly poorer OS than the low CRP group (0.0% vs 71.5%/ 1year, p < 0.01). Multivariate analyses revealed that high CRP was a significant negative factor for OS (HR: 7.69, 95% confidence interval: 2.43–24.3, p < 0.001), and this result was independent of Child-Pugh score and existing tumor factors. Relative dose intensity at 8 weeks was lower (p = 0.01) and time to treatment failure was shorter (P < 0.001) in the high CRP group.

Conclusions

CRP level was associated with OS in HCC patients treated with lenvatinib. CRP could be a useful marker to identify patients most likely to benefit from lenvatinib treatment.

Ipriflavone-Loaded Mesoporous Nanospheres with Potential Applications for Periodontal Treatment

The incorporation and effects of hollow mesoporous nanospheres in the system SiO₂-CaO (nanoMBGs) containing ipriflavone (IP), a synthetic isoflavone that prevents osteoporosis, were evaluated. Due to their superior porosity and capability to host drugs, these nanoparticles are designed as a potential alternative to conventional bioactive glasses for the treatment of periodontal defects. To identify the endocytic mechanisms by which these nanospheres are incorporated within the MC3T3-E1 cells, five inhibitors (cytochalasin B, cytochalasin D, chlorpromazine, genistein and wortmannin) were used before the addition of these nanoparticles labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-nanoMBGs). The results indicate that nanoMBGs enter the pre-osteoblasts mainly through clathrin-dependent mechanisms and in a lower proportion by macropinocytosis. The present study evidences the active incorporation of nanoMBG-IPs by MC3T3-E1 osteoprogenitor cells that stimulate their differentiation into mature osteoblast phenotype with increased alkaline phosphatase activity. The final aim of this study is to demonstrate the biocompatibility and osteogenic behavior of IP-loaded bioactive nanoparticles to be used for periodontal augmentation purposes and to shed light on internalization mechanisms that determine the incorporation of these nanoparticles into the cells.

Exosomal‑miR‑10a derived from colorectal cancer cells suppresses migration of human lung fibroblasts, and expression of IL‑6, IL‑8 and IL‑1β

MicroRNAs (miRs) carried in exosomes serve an important role in the pre‑metastatic microenvironment and in intercellular interactions. However, the function of exosomal‑miR‑10a derived from primary colorectal cancer (CRC) cells on fibroblasts in the lung metastatic microenvironment of patients with CRC remains unclear. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was performed using samples from patients with CRC, and demonstrated that the expression levels of miR‑10a were significantly lower in serum and cancer tissue samples from patients with CRC compared with in serum from healthy individuals and paired non‑cancerous tissues, respectively. In addition, the expression levels of miR‑10a were inversely associated with the invasion depth of CRC. Exosomal‑miR‑10a derived from CRC cells reduced the proliferative and migratory activities of primary normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs), and the expression levels of IL‑6, IL‑8 and IL‑1β in NHLFs. The present study provided insight into the phenotypic alterations of NHLFs induced by exosomal‑miR‑10a derived from CRC cells, which may aid understanding of the mechanism underlying the process of CRC lung metastasis.

Various pathways of zoledronic acid against osteoclasts and bone cancer metastasis: a brief review

Zoledronic acid (ZA) is one of the most important and effective class of anti-resorptive drug available among bisphosphonate (BP), which could effectively reduce the risk of skeletal-related events, and lead to a treatment paradigm for patients with skeletal involvement from advanced cancers. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of its anticancer effects have only recently been identified. In this review, we elaborate the detail mechanisms of ZA through inhibiting osteoclasts and cancer cells, which include the inhibition of differentiation of osteoclasts via suppressing receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) pathway, non-canonical Wnt/Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) pathway, and preventing of macrophage differentiation into osteoclasts, in addition, induction of apoptosis of osteoclasts through inhibiting farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS)-mediated mevalonate pathway, and activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced pathway. Furthermore, ZA also inhibits cancer cells proliferation, viability, motility, invasion and angiogenesis; induces cancer cell apoptosis; reverts chemoresistance and stimulates immune response; and acts in synergy with other anti-cancer drugs. In addition, some new ways for delivering ZA against cancer is introduced. We hope this review will provide more information in support of future studies of ZA in the treatment of cancers and bone cancer metastasis.

Operative invasiveness does not affect the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background

The relationship between operative invasiveness and the prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have undergone surgery has been controversial.

Methods

Clinical data were analyzed for 463 NSCLC patients. Operative invasiveness was defined by wound length, operation time, and the postoperative C-reactive protein (postCRP) level. The operative approach was divided into video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy.

Results

The wound length and operation time were significantly correlated with the postCRP level (correlation coefficient (CC) = 0.39, p <  0.01; CC = 0.54, p <  0.01, respectively). The postCRP level in the VATS group was significantly lower than that in the thoracotomy group (12.2 mg/dl vs 20.58 mg/dl, p <  0.01). The relapse-free survival differed significantly based on wound length (p <  0.01), operation time (p = 0.01), CRP level (p <  0.01), and operative approach (p <  0.01). The carcinoembryonic antigen level (hazard ratio [HR], 1.58; p = 0.02), pathological stage (pStage) (HR, 2.57; p <  0.01), vascular invasion (HR, 1.95; p = 0.01), and preoperative CRP level (preCRP) (HR, 1.91; p <  0.01) were identified as significant prognostic factors for relapse-free survival in a multivariate analysis. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis showed that smoking history (HR, 2.36; p = 0.03), pStage (HR, 3.26; p <  0.01), and preCRP level were significant prognostic factors for overall survival.

Conclusion

Preoperative CRP level was associated with poor prognosis. Although the VATS approach might be less invasive procedure for NSCLC patients, operative invasiveness does not affect the prognosis.

Bone Marrow Adipocytes, Adipocytokines, and Breast Cancer Cells: Novel Implications in Bone Metastasis of Breast Cancer

Accumulating discoveries highlight the importance of interaction between marrow stromal cells and cancer cells for bone metastasis. Bone is the most common metastatic site of breast cancer and bone marrow adipocytes (BMAs) are the most abundant component of the bone marrow microenvironment. BMAs are unique in their origin and location, and recently they are found to serve as an endocrine organ that secretes adipokines, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. It is reasonable to speculate that BMAs contribute to the modification of bone metastatic microenvironment and affecting metastatic breast cancer cells in the bone marrow. Indeed, BMAs may participate in bone metastasis of breast cancer through regulation of recruitment, invasion, survival, colonization, proliferation, angiogenesis, and immune modulation by their production of various adipocytokines. In this review, we provide an overview of research progress, focusing on adipocytokines secreted by BMAs and their potential roles for bone metastasis of breast cancer, and investigating the mechanisms mediating the interaction between BMAs and metastatic breast cancer cells. Based on current findings, BMAs may function as a pivotal modulator of bone metastasis of breast cancer, therefore targeting BMAs combined with conventional treatment programs might present a promising therapeutic option.

The New Era of Cancer Immunotherapy: Targeting Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells to Overcome Immune Evasion

Suppression of antitumor immune responses is one of the main mechanisms by which tumor cells escape from destruction by the immune system. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) represent the main immunosuppressive cells present in the tumor microenvironment (TME) that sustain cancer progression. MDSCs are a heterogeneous group of immature myeloid cells with a potent activity against T-cell. Studies in mice have demonstrated that MDSCs accumulate in several types of cancer where they promote invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis formation and inhibit antitumor immunity. In addition, different clinical studies have shown that MDSCs levels in the peripheral blood of cancer patients correlates with tumor burden, stage and with poor prognosis in multiple malignancies. Thus, MDSCs are the major obstacle to many cancer immunotherapies and their targeting may be a beneficial strategy for improvement the efficiency of immunotherapeutic interventions. However, the great heterogeneity of these cells makes their identification in human cancer very challenging. Since both the phenotype and mechanisms of action of MDSCs appear to be tumor-dependent, it is important to accurately characterized the precise MDSC subsets that have clinical relevance in each tumor environment to more efficiently target them. In this review we summarize the phenotype and the suppressive mechanisms of MDSCs populations expanded within different tumor contexts. Further, we discuss about their clinical relevance for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

CCDC7 Activates Interleukin-6 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor to Promote Proliferation via the JAK-STAT3 Pathway in Cervical Cancer Cells

Objective

Tumor growth is one of the most lethal attributes of human malignancy. The expression of CCDC7, a novel gene which has multiple functions, has been shown to be associated with tumor growth and poor prognosis in patients with cancer. However, the specific functions of CCDC7 remain unclear. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of CCDC7 on proliferation in cervical cancer.

Materials and Methods

The MTT and EdU assays were performed to evaluate the function of CCDC7. The immunohistochemical, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), ELISA and Western blot assay were used to detect the gene and protein expression in tissues and cells. A xenograft test was conducted to detect the impact of CCDC7 on tumor development in vivo .

Results

In immunohistochemical analysis of 193 cases, normal cervical tissue and cervical cancer tissue show that CCDC7 expression is closely correlated with the development of cervical cancer and was positively correlated with the clinical stage and histological grade. Overexpression or knockdown of CCDC7 affected cell proliferation in cervical cancer cells in vitro. In a nude mouse xenograft model in vivo, knockdown of CCDC7 inhibited cell proliferation and tumor growth. Furthermore, CCDC7 overexpression upregulated interleukin (IL)-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at mRNA and protein levels, and treatment with recombinant IL-6 or VEGF proteins also increased CCDC7 expression. In a case set of 80 patients with cervical cancer, we found that CCDC7, IL-6, and VEGF affected patient prognosis. Finally, inhibition of various signaling pathways using specific inhibitors indicated that CCDC7 blocked the decrease in cell proliferation observed following suppression of the JAK-STAT3 pathway, suggesting that CCDC7 functioned via this critical signaling network.

Conclusion

Those findings indicated that CCDC7 may be a novel target for the treatment of cervical cancer and may have applications as a predictive marker for tumor growth in cervical carcinoma.

Effect of Peritumoral Bupivacaine on Primary and Distal Hyperalgesia in Cancer-Induced Bone Pain

Background

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is a debilitating chronic pain condition caused by injury to bone nerve terminals due to primary or metastasized bone tumors. Pain manifests as enhanced sensitivity, not only over the affected bone site but also at distal areas that share common nerve innervation with the tumor. In this study, we aim to understand how tumor-induced primary and distal pain sensitivities are affected by bupivacaine-induced block of bone nerve endings in a rat model of CIBP.

Methods

MRMT-1 breast cancer cells were injected into the proximal segment of tibia in female Sprague–Dawley rats. Radiograms and micro-CT images were obtained to confirm tumor growth. Bupivacaine was injected peritumorally at day 7 or day 14 post-tumor induction, and withdrawal thresholds in response to pressure and punctate mechanical stimulus were recorded from the knee and hind-paw, respectively. Immunohistochemical studies for the determination of ATF3 and GFAP expression in DRG and spinal cord sections were performed.

Results

Rats developed primary and distal hyperalgesia after MRMT-1 administration that was sustained for 2 weeks. Peritumoral administration of bupivacaine in 7-day post-tumor-induced (PTI) rats resulted in a reversal of both primary and distal hyperalgesia for 20–30 mins. However, bupivacaine failed to reverse distal hyperalgesia in 14 day-PTI rats. ATF3 and GFAP expression were much enhanced in 14 day-PTI animals, compared to 7 day-PTI group.

Conclusion

Results from this study strongly suggest that distal hyperalgesia of late-stage CIBP demonstrates differential characteristics consistent with neuropathic pain as compared to early stage, which appears more inflammatory in nature.

Cytokines and Chemokines as Mediators of Prostate Cancer Metastasis

The consequences of prostate cancer metastasis remain severe, with huge impact on the mortality and overall quality of life of affected patients. Despite the convoluted interplay and cross talk between various cell types and secreted factors in the metastatic process, cytokine and chemokines, along with their receptors and signaling axis, constitute important factors that help drive the sequence of events that lead to metastasis of prostate cancer. These proteins are involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, epithelial-mesenchymal-transition, angiogenesis, tumor invasion, premetastatic niche creation, extravasation, re-establishment of tumor cells in secondary organs as well as the remodeling of the metastatic tumor microenvironment. This review presents an overview of the main cytokines/chemokines, including IL-6, CXCL12, TGFβ, CXCL8, VEGF, RANKL, CCL2, CX3CL1, IL-1, IL-7, CXCL1, and CXCL16, that exert modulatory roles in prostate cancer metastasis. We also provide extensive description of their aberrant expression patterns in both advanced disease states and metastatic sites, as well as their functional involvement in the various stages of the prostate cancer metastatic process.

Establishment of a serological molecular model for the early diagnosis and progression monitoring of bone metastasis in lung cancer

Background

The prognosis is very poor for lung cancer patients with bone metastasis. Unfortunately, a suitable method has yet to become available for the early diagnosis of bone metastasis in lung cancer patients. The present work describes an attempt to develop a novel model for the early identification of lung cancer patients with bone metastasis risk.

Methods

As the test group, 205 primary lung cancer patients were recruited, of which 127 patients had bone metastasis; the other 78 patients without bone metastasis were set as the negative control. Additionally, 106 healthy volunteers were enrolled as the normal control. Serum levels of several cytokines in the bone microenvironment (CaN, OPG, PTHrP, and IL-6) and bone turnover markers (tP1NP, β-CTx) were detected in all samples by ECLIA or ELISA assay. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate diagnostic abilities and to assess the attributable risk of bone metastasis for each of these indicators; the diagnostic model was established via logistic regression analysis. The prospective validation group consisted of 44 patients with stage IV primary lung cancer on whom a follow-up of at least 2 years was conducted, during which serum bone biochemical marker concentrations were monitored.

Results

The serological molecular model for the diagnosis of bone metastasis was logit (p). ROC analysis showed that when logit (p) > 0.452, the area under curve of the model was 0.939 (sensitivity: 85.8%, specificity: 89.7%). Model validation demonstrated accuracy with a high degree of consistency (specificity: 85.7%, specificity: 87.5%, Kappa: 0.770). The average predictive time for bone metastasis occurrence of the model was 9.46 months earlier than that of the bone scan diagnosis. Serum OPG, PTHrP, tP1NP, β-CTx, and the diagnostic model logit (p) were all positively correlated with bone metastasis progression (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This diagnostic model has the potential to be a simple, non-invasive, and sensitive tool for diagnosing the occurrence and monitoring the progression of bone metastasis in patients with lung cancer.

Adipocytokines and their relationship to endometrial cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between circulating levels of adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL-6)) and growth factors (insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and II (IGF-II)), and the risk of endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, Medline and Web of Science were searched for English-language manuscripts published between January 2000 and August 2018 using the following string of words: cancer and endometrial and (obesity or BMI) and (adiponectin or TNF* or IGF-I or IGF-II or IL-6 or leptin).

RESULTS

Twenty articles were included in this meta-analysis, which corresponded to 18 studies involving 2921 endometrial carcinoma cases and 5302 controls. Fourteen articles reported circulating levels for adiponectin, seven for leptin, three for TNFα, three for IL-6 and one for IGF-I. No article reported values for IGF-II. Patients with circulating adiponectin levels in the highest tertile had decreased endometrial cancer risk compared to women with levels in the lowest tertile, (summary of odds ratio (SOR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38-0.69, p < 0.00001). Women with circulating leptin concentrations in the highest tertile had increased endometrial cancer risk compared to women with concentrations in the lowest tertile (SOR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.45-3.30, p = 0.0002). There was no difference in cancer risk between participants with the highest TNFα and IL-6 levels compared to the lowest levels (SOR 1.27, 95% CI: 0.88-1.83, p = 0.20 and SOR 1.20, 95% CI: 0.89-1.63, p = 0.23, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Endometrial cancer risk is inversely affected by adiponectin and leptin levels. There appears to be no relationship between TNFα and IL-6 and the overall risk of endometrial cancer.

Molecular mechanisms underlying rheumatoid arthritis and cancer development and treatment

Given recent advances in cancer immune therapy, specifically use of checkpoint inhibitors, understanding the link between autoimmunity and cancer is essential. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the population, and early diagnosis is key to prevent joint damage. Management consists of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs that alter normal immunologic pathways, which could affect malignancy growth and survival. Prolonged immune dysregulation and the resulting inflammatory response associated with development of RA may also lead to increased cancer development risk. RA has long been associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [1] and further evidence supports relationship to lung cancer [2]. This review will address the mechanisms behind cancer development and progression in RA patients, biomarkers and assess cancer risk and early detection.

Tumor Microenvironment in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Role and Prognosis

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents 30-40% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and is a disease with an aggressive behavior. Because about one-third of DLBCL patients will be refractory or resistant to standard therapy, several studies focused on identification of new individual prognostic and risk stratification biomarkers and new potential therapeutic targets. In contrast to other types of cancers like carcinomas, where tumor microenvironment was widely investigated, its role in DLBCL pathogenesis and patient survival is still poorly understood, although few studies had promising results. The composition of TME and its interaction with neoplastic cells may explain the role of several genes (beta2-microglobulin gene, CD58 gene), receptor-like programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), or other cell components (Treg) in tumor evasion of immune surveillance, resulting in tumor progression. Also, it was found that “gene expression profile” of the microenvironmental cells, the phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), the expression of matricellular proteins like SPARC and fibronectin, the overexpression of several types of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) like MMP-2 and MMP-9, or the tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may lead to a favorable or adverse outcome. With this review, we try to highlight the influence of microenvironment components over lymphoid clone progression and their prognostic impact in DLBCL patients.

miR-181b/Oncostatin m axis inhibits prostate cancer bone metastasis via modulating osteoclast differentiation

The activation of osteoblasts is significantly correlated to prostate tumor bone metastasis and bone loss. Oncostatin M (OSM) could promote breast cancer metastasis to bone. However, its role and mechanism in prostate cancer bone metastasis remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) could play important roles in cancers via post-transcriptionally regulating target genes via binding to specific sequences in the 3' UTR of downstream target genes. In the present study, we performed microarray profiling analyses to identify differentially-expressed miRNAs in preosteoclast before and after osteoclast differentiation that could target OSM. miR-181b-5p was downregulated during Raw264.7 cells differentiation into osteoclast. By direct targeting OSM 3' UTR, miR-181b-5p inhibited OSM messenger RNA expression and protein levels, subsequently decreasing IL-6 and AREG and increasing OPG, while OSM overexpression exerted an opposing effect. More importantly, co-culture with miR-181b-5p-overexpressing differentiated Raw264.7 cells suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of mouse prostate cancer RM-1 cells, while co-culture with OSM-overexpressing Raw264.7 cells led to opposing cellular effects. More importantly, the effects of miR-181b-5p on osteoclastogenic factors and RM-1 cells could be significantly reversed by OSM overexpression. In summary, miR-181b-5p/OSM axis could be a viable therapeutic target for patients with surgically removed primary tumors to reduce bone metastasis and prevent bone loss.

Cancer Conditioned Medium Modulates Functional and Phenotypic Properties of Human Decidua Parietalis Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

Background

Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs) from the decidua parietalis (DPMSCs) of human term placenta express several molecules with important biological and immunological properties. DPMSCs induce natural killer cell expression of inflammatory receptors and their cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. These properties make DPMSCs promising therapeutical agent for cancer. The successful development of MSCs as an anti-cancer therapeutic cells rely on their ability to function in a hostile inflammatory and oxidative stress cancer environment. Here, we studied the effects of conditioned medium obtained from the culture of breast cancer cells (CMMDA-231) on the functional and phenotypic properties of DPMSCs.

Methods

DPMSCs were cultured with CMMDA-231 and important functions of DPMSCs were measured. The effect of CMMDA-231 on DPMSC expression of several genes with different functions was also evaluated.

Results

DPMSCs were able to function in response to CMMDA-231, but with reduced proliferative and adhesive potentials. Preconditioning of DPMSCs with CMMDA-231 enhanced their adhesion while reducing their invasion. In addition, CMMDA-231 modulated DPMSC expression of many genes with various functional (i.e., proliferation, adhesion, and invasion) properties. DPMSCs also showed increased expression of genes with anti-cancer property.

Conclusion

These data show the ability of DPMSCs to survive and function in cancer environment. In addition, preconditioning of DPMSCs with CMMDA-231 enhanced their anti-cancer properties and thus demonstrating their potential as an anti-cancer therapeutic agent. However, future studies are essential to reveal the mechanism underlying the effects of MDA-231 on DPMSC functional activities and also to confirm the anti-cancer therapeutic potential of DPMSCs.

Reciprocal regulation of miR-206 and IL-6/STAT3 pathway mediates IL6-induced gefitinib resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancer cells

Persistently activated IL‐6/STAT3 pathway promotes acquired resistance to targeted therapy with epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) in non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. miR‐206 has been verified to be dysregulated and plays as a negative regulator in lung cancer. However, whether miR‐206 may overcome IL6‐induced gefitinib resistance in EGFR‐mutant lung cancer remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the role of miR‐206 in IL6‐induced gefitinib‐resistant EGFR‐mutated lung cancer cell lines. We showed that forced miR‐206 expression restored gefitinib sensitivity in IL6‐induced gefitinib‐resistant EGFR‐mutant lung cancer cells by inhibiting IL6/JAK1/STAT3 pathway. Specifically, mechanistic investigations revealed that miR‐206 blocked IL‐6/STAT3 signalling via directly targeting the 3'‐UTR of intracellular IL‐6 messenger RNA. Moreover, IL‐6 induced miR‐206 down‐regulation by reducing the cropping process of primary miR‐206 (pri‐miR‐206) into the Drosha/DGCR8 complex. Taken together, our findings reveal a direct role of miR‐206 in regulating IL‐6/STAT3 pathway and contrarily activated IL‐6/STAT3 signalling mediates the miR‐206 maturation process in gefitinib‐resistant EGFR‐mutant lung cancer cells.

MicroRNA-181b-5p modulates tumor necrosis factor-α-induced inflammatory responses by targeting interleukin-6 in cementoblasts

Tooth cementum is a bone-like mineralized tissue and serves as a microbial barrier against invasion and destruction. Cementum is also responsible for tooth stability and defending pulp from outside stimuli, which is formed by cementoblasts. Although it is crucial for periodontal and periapical diseases, the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiological changes of cementoblasts and their inflammatory responses remain unclear. MiR-181b is found to modulate vascular inflammation and endotoxin tolerance. In this study, miR-181b-5p was downregulated in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated cementoblasts, whereas proinflammatory molecules increased. The mouse periapical lesions have similar results, which imitate an inflammatory environment for cementoblasts in vivo. The bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase reporter assay suggested that miR-181b-5p targeted interleukin-6 (IL-6). Overexpressing miR-181b-5p negatively regulated IL-6 and proinflammatory chemokine. Western blot analysis and luciferase activity reporter assay verified that miR-181b-5p weakened the NF-κB activity. Hence, miR-181b-5p moderated proinflammatory chemokine production by targeting IL-6 in cementoblasts and NF-κB signaling pathway was involved. Furthermore, miR-181b-5p promoted cementoblast apoptosis, which may enhance the resolution of inflammation. Overall, our data revealed that miR-181b-5p was a negative regulator of TNF-α-induced inflammatory responses in cementoblasts.

Leptin produced by obesity-altered adipose stem cells promotes metastasis but not tumorigenesis of triple-negative breast cancer in orthotopic xenograft and patient-derived xenograft models

Background

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the USA. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a clinically aggressive subtype of breast cancer with high rates of metastasis, tumor recurrence, and resistance to therapeutics. Obesity, defined by a high body mass index (BMI), is an established risk factor for breast cancer. Women with a high BMI have increased incidence and mortality of breast cancer; however, the mechanisms(s) by which obesity promotes tumor progression are not well understood.

Methods

In this study, obesity-altered adipose stem cells (obASCs) were used to evaluate obesity-mediated effects of TNBC. Both in vitro and in vivo analyses of TNBC cell lines were co-cultured with six pooled donors of obASCs (BMI > 30) or ASCs isolated from lean women (lnASCs) (BMI < 25).

Results

We found that obASCs promote a pro-metastatic phenotype by upregulating genes associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and promoting migration in vitro. We confirmed our findings using a TNBC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. PDX tumors grown in the presence of obASCS in SCID/beige mice had increased circulating HLA1⁺ human cells as well as increased numbers of CD44⁺CD24⁻ cancer stem cells in the peripheral blood. Exposure of the TNBC PDX to obASCs also increased the formation of metastases. The knockdown of leptin expression in obASCs suppressed the pro-metastatic effects of obASCs.

Conclusions

Leptin signaling is a potential mechanism through which obASCs promote metastasis of TNBC in both in vitro and in vivo analyses.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-019-1153-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Novel Galiellalactone Analogues Can Target STAT3 Phosphorylation and Cause Apoptosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Aberrant activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been documented in various malignancies including triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). The STAT3 transcription factor can regulate the different important hallmarks of tumor cells, and thus, targeting it can be a potential strategy for treating TNBC, for which only limited therapeutic options are available. In this study, we analyzed the possible effect of (-)-galiellalactone and its novel analogues, SG-1709 and SG-1721, and determined whether these agents exerted their antineoplastic effects by suppressing the STAT3 signaling pathway in TNBC cells. The two analogues, SG-1709 and SG-1721, inhibited both constitutive as well as inducible STAT3 phosphorylation at tyrosine 705 more effectively than (-)-galiellalactone, which indicates that the analogues are more potent STAT3 blockers. Moreover, SG-1721 not only inhibited nuclear translocation and DNA binding of STAT3 but also induced apoptosis, and decreased expression of diverse oncogenic proteins. Interestingly, SG-1721 also exhibited an enhanced apoptotic effect when combined with radiotherapy. Furthermore, in vivo administration of SG-1721 significantly attenuated breast xenograft tumor growth via decreasing levels of p-STAT3. Therefore, SG-1721 may be a promising candidate for further application as a pharmacological agent that can target STAT3 protein in treating TNBC.