Worldwide trends in esophageal cancer survival, by sub-site, morphology, and sex: an analysis of 696,974 adults diagnosed in 60 countries during 2000-2014 (CONCORD-3)

Targeting leucine-rich PPR motif-containing protein/LRPPRC by 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression

JAK2/STAT3/MYC axis is dysregulated in nearly 70 % of human cancers, but targeting this pathway therapeutically remains a big challenge in cancer therapy. In this study, genes associated with JAK2, STAT3, and MYC were analyzed, and potential target genes were selected. Leucine-rich PPR motif-containing protein (LRPPRC) whose function and regulation are not fully understood, emerged as one of top 3 genes in terms of RNA epigenetic modification. Here, we demonstrate LRPPRC may be an independent prognostic indicator besides JAK2, STAT3, and MYC. Mechanistically, LRPPRC impairs N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of JAK2, STAT3, and MYC to facilitate nuclear mRNA export and expression. Meanwhile, excess LRPPRC act as a scaffold protein binding to JAK2 and STAT3 to enhance stability of JAK2-STAT3 complex, thereby facilitating JAK2/STAT3/MYC axis activation to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression. Furthermore, 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone was verified to bind to LRPPRC, STAT3, and CDK1, dissociating LRPPRC-JAK2-STAT3 and JAK2-STAT3-CDK1 interaction, leading to impaired tumorigenesis in 4-Nitroquinoline N-oxide induced ESCC mouse models and suppressed tumor growth in ESCC patient derived xenograft mouse models. In summary, this study suggests regulation of m6A modification by LRPPRC, and identifies a novel triplex target compound, suggesting that targeting LRPPRC-mediated JAK2/STAT3/MYC axis may overcome JAK2/STAT3/MYC dependent tumor therapeutic dilemma.

Alarmin S100A8 imparts chemoresistance of esophageal cancer by reprogramming cancer-associated fibroblasts

Chemotherapy remains the first-line treatment for advanced esophageal cancer. However, durable benefits are achieved by only a limited subset of individuals due to the elusive chemoresistance. Here, we utilize patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma to investigate chemoresistance mechanisms in preclinical settings. We observe that activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are enriched in the tumor microenvironment of PDXs resistant to chemotherapy. Mechanistically, we reveal that cancer-cell-derived S100A8 triggers the intracellular RhoA-ROCK-MLC2-MRTF-A pathway by binding to the CD147 receptor of CAFs, inducing CAF polarization and leading to chemoresistance. Therapeutically, we demonstrate that blocking the S100A8-CD147 pathway can improve chemotherapy efficiency. Prognostically, we found the S100A8 levels in peripheral blood can serve as an indicator of chemotherapy responsiveness. Collectively, our study offers a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying chemoresistance in esophageal cancer and highlights the potential value of S100A8 in the clinical management of esophageal cancer.

Absence of Hypercoagulation Status after Neoadjuvant Treatment is Associated with Favorable Prognosis in Patients Undergoing Subtotal Esophagectomy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Abnormal activation of the coagulation system is associated with malignant tumor progression. Although neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) for resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the standard of care, the correlation between coagulation status and prognosis of patients undergoing preoperative treatment is insufficiently understood.

METHODS

Patients (n = 200) who underwent radical subtotal esophagectomy after preoperative treatment for ESCC between January 2012 and December 2021were included in the analysis. Plasma D-dimer and fibrinogen levels and their combined indices (non-hypercoagulation; D-dimer and fibrinogen levels within the upper normal limit, or hypercoagulation; D-dimer or fibrinogen levels above the upper normal limit) were determined before and after NAT and correlated to clinicopathological factors and prognosis.

RESULTS

The nonhypercoagulation group achieved superior overall survival (OS) than the hypercoagulation group (5-year OS rates = 89% vs. 55%; hazard ratio 3.62, P = 0.0008) when determined according to coagulation status after NAT. Multivariate analysis showed that hypercoagulation after NAT served as an independent factor for poor postoperative OS (hazard ratio 3.20; P = 0.0028). The nonhypercoagulation group achieved significantly better disease-free survival (76% vs. 54%; P = 0.0065) than the hypercoagulation group that experienced a significantly higher rate of hematogenous metastasis as an initial recurrence (P = 0.0337).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypercoagulation state after NAT served as a valid indicator correlating with postoperative outcomes of patients with ESCC who underwent NAT followed by radical subtotal esophagectomy.

miR-133b Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis

Background

Evaluation of biological changes at the molecular level has important clinical implications for improving the survival rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Therefore, we plan to analyze and elucidate the expression of microRNA-133b (miR-133b), M2 pyruvate kinase (PKM2), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in ESCC and their associated clinicopathological significance.

Methods

The 72 patients with ESCC were selected as the experimental study group. Normal adjacent tissues (NAT) were matched as the control group. In this study, in situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of miR-133b in ESCC, and tissue expressions of PKM2 and STAT3 were detected by immunohistochemistry, and literature review was conducted.

Results

Studies had shown that the positive expression of miR-133b in NAT was significantly higher than that in ESCC (χ2 = 9.007, P = .003). PKM2 and STAT3 in ESCC had a significantly higher positive expression levels than those of NAT (χ2 = 56.523, P = .000; χ2 = 72.939, P = .000). From correlation analysis, there was a negative correlation between miR-133b and PKM2(r = -0.515, P < .001), a negative correlation between miR-133b and STAT3(r = -0.314, P = .007), and a positive correlation between PKM2 and STAT3(r = 0.771, P < .001).

Conclusions

In ESCC, our study demonstrated that downregulation of miR-133b and upregulation of PKM2 and STAT3. We predict that miR-133b may inhibit the STAT3 pathway by downregulating PKM2.