GSK3β as a novel promising target to overcome chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer

miR-32-5p suppresses the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating the GSK3β/NF-κB signaling

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly fatal form of malignancy that seriously threatens patient survival. The global 5-year survival rate for HCC patients ranges from 15% to 19%, and nearly 80% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of HCC development and identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC are vital. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of noncoding single-stranded RNAs, are 20-24 nucleotides (nt) long. They play pivotal roles in modulating the progression of diverse diseases. The specific role of miR-32-5p in the development of HCC remains unclear. In this study, qRT-PCR is utilized to precisely determine the downregulated expression levels of miR-32-5p in HCC. Subsequently, functional analysis reveals the suppressive role of miR-32-5p in modulating the proliferative and migratory capabilities of HCC cells. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) has emerged as a potential target of miR-32-5p, which is confirmed through a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Notably, the expression of GSK3β in HCC tissue specimens is negatively correlated with the abundance of miR-32-5p, and patients with high GSK3β expression have shorter survival time. Furthermore, the targeted downregulation of GSK3β remarkably impedes the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. This study suggests that miR-32-5p inhibits the proliferation and migration of HCC through regulating the GSK3β/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, this study reveals that miR-32-5p exerts its suppressive effect on HCC progression, suggesting that it is a promising target for both diagnostic and targeted therapeutic interventions against HCC.

Novel dual-targeting PROTAC degraders of GSK-3β and CDK5: A promising approach for pancreatic cancer treatment

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies, characterized by limited therapeutic options and poor prognoses. Here, we report the development of novel dual-targeting PROTAC (proteolysis-targeting chimera) compounds designed to concurrently degrade GSK-3β and CDK5. These bifunctional molecules were systematically designed by integrating three critical components: (1) a ligand that selectively binds GSK-3β and CDK5, (2) an E3 ligase-recruiting motif, and (3) an optimized linker to facilitate target engagement and proteasomal degradation. Our series of compounds (DBMG-01 through DBVR-PTC-02) demonstrated robust and selective target degradation in pancreatic cancer cell lines, achieving nanomolar DC50 values. Among these, the lead compound DBVR-PTC-02 exhibited exceptional potency, with DC50 values of 42 nM (Dmax = 90 %) for GSK-3β and 48 nM (Dmax = 88 %) for CDK5. DBVR-PTC-02 also displayed superior antiproliferative activity compared to single-target PROTACs and conventional kinase inhibitors, with an IC50 of 1.81 ± 0.55 µM in pancreatic cancer cell viability assays. This study establishes a novel framework for dual-targeted protein degradation and highlights the therapeutic potential of DBVR-PTC-02 as a promising candidate for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Metabolic reprogramming shapes the immune microenvironment in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: prognostic implications and therapeutic targets

Introduction

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is characterized by a profoundly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that limits the efficacy of immunotherapy. Emerging evidence suggests that tumor-specific metabolic reprogramming may drive disease progression and shape the immune landscape in PAAD.

Methods

We integrated multi-omics data from TCGA, GEO, and ICGC to identify key metabolism-related genes (MRGs) that influence immune cell infiltration, tumor progression, and patient survival. Based on nine pivotal MRGs (including ANLN, PKMYT1, and HMGA1), we developed and validated a novel metabolic-prognostic index (MPI). Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to elucidate the metabolic pathways associated with different MPI risk groups. In vitro experiments and drug sensitivity analyses were performed to confirm the oncogenic role of selected MRGs and to explore their therapeutic implications.

Results

The MPI effectively stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups. High-MPI scores correlated with poor overall survival, elevated tumor mutation burden (TMB), and an immunosuppressive TME, evidenced by reduced CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration and increased expression of immune checkpoints (PD-L1, TGF-β). Functional enrichment revealed glycolysis and folate biosynthesis as dominant pathways in high-MPI groups, whereas fatty acid metabolism prevailed in low-MPI groups. Experimental validation underscored the role of ANLN in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune evasion via NF-κB signaling. ANLN knockdown significantly reduced glycolytic activity, tumor cell migration, and immune evasion. Drug sensitivity analyses indicated resistance to gemcitabine but sensitivity to afatinib in high-MPI patients. Although TIDE analysis predicted immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) resistance in high-MPI tumors, a subset of patients showed favorable responses to anti-PD-L1 therapy.

Discussion

These findings provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how metabolic reprogramming shapes PAAD's immunosuppressive TME and affects treatment outcomes. By accurately stratifying patients, the MPI serves as a promising tool to guide therapeutic decisions, including targeted therapy selection and immunotherapy prediction, ultimately offering potential for more personalized management of PAAD.

Tumor-Intrinsic Kinome Landscape of Pancreatic Cancer Reveals New Therapeutic Approaches

SIGNIFICANCE

We provide a comprehensive tumor-intrinsic kinome landscape that provides a roadmap for the use of kinase inhibitors in PDAC treatment approaches.

Wnt Pathway-Targeted Therapy in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Integrating Benchside Insights with Bedside Applications

The Wnt signaling pathway is critical in the onset and progression of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Anomalies in this pathway, often stemming from mutations in critical components such as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) or β-catenin, lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and survival. In the case of colorectal cancer, dysregulation of the Wnt pathway drives tumor initiation and growth. Similarly, aberrant Wnt signaling contributes to tumor development, metastasis, and resistance to therapy in other GI cancers, such as gastric, pancreatic, and hepatocellular carcinomas. Targeting the Wnt pathway or its downstream effectors has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for combating these highly aggressive GI malignancies. Here, we review the dysregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of GI cancers and further explore the therapeutic potential of targeting the various components of the Wnt pathway. Furthermore, we summarize and integrate the preclinical evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy of potent Wnt pathway inhibitors with completed and ongoing clinical trials in GI cancers. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of Wnt pathway-targeted therapies in GI cancers to overcome these concerns for effective clinical translation.

The role of acetylation and deacetylation in cancer metabolism

As a hallmark of cancer, metabolic reprogramming adjusts macromolecular synthesis, energy metabolism and redox homeostasis processes to adapt to and promote the complex biological processes of abnormal growth and proliferation. The complexity of metabolic reprogramming lies in its precise regulation by multiple levels and factors, including the interplay of multiple signalling pathways, precise regulation of transcription factors and dynamic adjustments in metabolic enzyme activity. In this complex regulatory network, acetylation and deacetylation, which are important post-translational modifications, regulate key molecules and processes related to metabolic reprogramming by affecting protein function and stability. Dysregulation of acetylation and deacetylation may alter cancer cell metabolic patterns by affecting signalling pathways, transcription factors and metabolic enzyme activity related to metabolic reprogramming, increasing the susceptibility to rapid proliferation and survival. In this review, we focus on discussing how acetylation and deacetylation regulate cancer metabolism, thereby highlighting the central role of these post-translational modifications in metabolic reprogramming, and hoping to provide strong support for the development of novel cancer treatment strategies. KEY POINTS: Protein acetylation and deacetylation are key regulators of metabolic reprogramming in tumour cells. These modifications influence signalling pathways critical for tumour metabolism. They modulate the activity of transcription factors that drive gene expression changes. Metabolic enzymes are also affected, altering cellular metabolism to support tumour growth.

Molecular Signaling Pathways of Quercetin in Alzheimer's Disease: A Promising Arena

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment and memory deficit. Even with extensive research and studies, presently, there is no effective treatment for the management of AD. Besides, most of drugs used in the treatment of AD did not avert the AD neuropathology, and the disease still in a progressive status. For example, acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors are associated with many adverse effects, such as insomnia and nightmares. As well, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors augment cholinergic neurotransmission leading to the development of adverse effects related to high acetylcholine level, such as salivation, rhinorrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and seizure. Furthermore, tacrine has poor bioavailability and causes hepatotoxicity. These commonly used drugs do not manage the original causes of AD. For those reasons, natural products were repurposed for the treatment of AD and neurodegenerative diseases. It has been shown that phytochemicals produce neuroprotective effects against the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases by different mechanisms, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Quercetin (QCN) has been reported to exert an effective neuroprotective effect against AD and other neurodegenerative diseases by lessening oxidative stress. In this review, electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for possible relevant studies and article linking the effect of QCN on AD. Findings from this review highlighted that many studies highlighted different mechanistic signaling pathways regarding the neuroprotective effect of QCN in AD. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanism of QCN in AD was not completely clarified. Consequently, this review aims to discuss the molecular mechanism of QCN in AD.

Anti-Cancer Effect of Sulforaphane in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells Mia PaCa-2

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat early as it has no early symptoms. The presence of sulforaphane (SFN) in cruciferous vegetables has been found to possess anti-cancer effects in gastric and colon cancers. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), a serine/threonine kinase, plays a significant role in pancreatic cancer progression, influencing tumor growth, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Targeting GSK-3β has shown potential to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy. However, the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of SFN on pancreatic cancer through GSK-3β is unclear.

AIMS

In this study, we examined the anticancer effects of SFN in human pancreatic cancer cell line Mia PaCa-2 and evaluated its molecular mechanisms with respect to the GSK-3β-related pathway.

METHODS AND RESULTS

SFN increased the protein expression of the phosphorylated form of GSK3β (Ser9). In the Wingless Int-1 homolog/β-catenin pathway, GSK3β induced apoptosis by phosphorylating β-catenin. However, in mutant Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog-like-dependent cells such as Mia PaCa-2, GSK3β was suppressed and the β-catenin level was increased, thus inducing apoptosis. Indeed, SFN increased the protein expression of β-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Subsequently, we measured the level of cMyc, the target gene of β-catenin. SFN decreased cMyc expression despite an increase in the β-catenin. We measured the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, a downstream factor of GSK3β and an upstream factor of cMyc. SFN decreased the expression of NF-κB and cMyc, indicating that SFN inhibits cell proliferation by suppressing the GSK3β/NF-κB/cMyc pathway. As the suppression of NF-κB results in a decrease in B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) which is the anti-apoptotic gene, we tested the effect of SFN in the expression of BCL-2. SFN inhibited the expression of BCL-2 and increased the ratio of the apoptotic regulator gene BCL-2 associated X (BAX), where SFN induced the cleaved cysteine aspartase-3 and poly-adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that SFN may have therapeutic potential in the inhibition of pancreatic cancer.

A New Strategy for Adult T-Cell Leukemia Treatment Targeting Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β

OBJECTIVES

The role of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is paradoxical and enigmatic. Here, we investigated the role of GSK-3β and its potential as a therapeutic target for ATL.

METHODS

Cell proliferation/survival, cell cycle, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were examined using the WST-8 assay, flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33342 staining, respectively. Expression of GSK-3β and cell cycle/death-related proteins, and survival signals was analyzed using RT-PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and immunoblotting.

RESULTS

HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines showed nuclear accumulation of GSK-3β. GSK-3β knockdown and its inhibition with 9-ING-41 and LY2090314 suppressed cell proliferation/survival. 9-ING-41 induced G2/M arrest by enhancing the expression of γH2AX, p53, p21, and p27, and suppressing the expression of CDK1, cyclin A/B, and c-Myc. It induced caspase-mediated apoptosis by decreasing the expression of Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, XIAP, c-IAP1/2, and survivin, and increasing the expression of Bak and Bax. 9-ING-41 also induced ferroptosis and necroptosis, promoted JNK phosphorylation, and suppressed IKKγ and JunB expression. It inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα, Akt, and STAT3/5, induced ROS production, and reduced glycolysis-derived lactate levels.

CONCLUSION

GSK-3β functions as an oncogene in ATL and could be a potential therapeutic target.

New insight on the potential detrimental effect of metabolic syndrome on the Alzheimer disease neuropathology: Mechanistic role

The metabolic syndrome or syndrome X is a clustering of different components counting insulin resistance (IR), glucose intolerance, visceral obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia. It has been shown that IR and dysregulation of insulin signalling play a critical role in the development of metabolic syndrome by initiating the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome through induction of glucolipotoxicity, impairment of glucose disposal and triggering of pro-inflammatory response. Furthermore, metabolic syndrome unfavourably affects the cognitive function and the development of different neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD) by inducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and brain IR. These changes together with brain IR impair cerebrovascular reactivity leading to cognitive impairment. In addition, metabolic syndrome increases the risk for the development of AD. However, the central mechanisms by which metabolic syndrome amplify AD risk are not completely elucidated. Consequently, this narrative review aims to revise from published articles the association between metabolic syndrome and AD regarding cellular and subcellular pathways. In conclusion, metabolic syndrome is regarded as a potential risk factor for the induction of AD neuropathology by different signalling pathways such as initiation of brain IR, activation of inflammatory signalling pathways and neuroinflammation.

Exosomal microRNAs in cancer metastasis: A bridge between tumor micro and macroenvironment

Malignant tumors are complicated structures of cancer cells that are constantly in communication with their local and distant environment. Exosomes are released by tumor cells and can facilitate the cell-cell interaction within the local microenvironment and the primary tumor. In fact, exosomes are secreted by both tumor and non-tumor cells, to provide a mutual communication network between cells and their micro- and/or macro-environments. Exososmes can contain a variety of biological cargos mostly based on their originated cells. Uptake of these exosomes by their recipient cells results in the alterations that their cargo can exert. MicroRNAs are identified as one of the most critical exosomal components, considering their pivotal regulatory roles in distinct biological process, including metastasis. Release and absorbance of exosomal microRNAs is possible by various cells within the host, and can have distinct biological consequences. Therefore, in this review we will discuss the role of exosomal microRNAs derived from tumor cells and untransformed cells within their micro- and macroenvironment in cancer progression and metastasis.

Estrogen Enhances FDFT1 Expression in Theca Cells of Chicken Hierarchical Ovarian Follicles by Increasing LSD1Ser54p Level Through GSK3β Phosphorylation at 216th Tyrosine

The development of chicken ovarian follicles involves two key stages of primordial follicle recruitment and follicle selection that are tightly regulated by multiple reproductive hormones and cytokines. Our previous study revealed an estrogen-stimulated increase in the phosphorylation level of serine at position 54 of lysine demethylase 1A (LSD1Ser54p) in the theca cells of chicken hierarchical ovarian follicles (Post-TCs). In this study, we further found that the upregulation of LSD1Ser54p by estrogen was performed by glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and that GSK3β promoted LSD1Ser54p levels by directly binding to the SWIRM and AOL1 domains of LSD1. Upon estrogen stimulation, the phosphorylation level of tyrosine at position 216 of GSK3β (GSK3βTyr216p) increased, which enhanced the binding between LSD1 and GSK3β. The subsequent transcriptome sequencing on chicken Post-TCs treated with estrogen and CUT&RUN sequencing against the LSD1Ser54p protein revealed that the expression of the farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1) gene was simultaneously upregulated by estrogen, GSK3β, and LSD1Ser54p. Moreover, the overexpression of FDFT1 further promoted cholesterol biosynthesis in chicken Post-TCs. In short, the findings of this study suggest that estrogen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation at position 216 of GSK3β can upregulate the level of LSD1Ser54p, leading to the activation of FDFT1 expression and subsequently promoting cholesterol biosynthesis in chicken Post-TCs, which may in turn enhance estrogen synthesis.

GSK3B inhibition reduced cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration by modulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Previous studies show that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3B) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its role in cervical cancer is unclear. The present study silenced GSK3B with siRNAs and/or chemical inhibitors to determine its role in HeLa cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration as well as in xenograft tumor growth. Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to determine cell survival and proliferation. Scratch and Transwell® assays were used to evaluate cell migration. Xenograft tumors were used to evaluate the effect of GSK3B on tumor growth. Transcriptomic sequencing was used to clarify the mechanisms underlying the foregoing processes. Public databases and clinical specimens showed that GSK3B was upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and correlated with poor prognosis. In vitro experiments indicated that GSK3B inhibition reduced cell viability, proliferation, and migration. In vivo experiments demonstrated that GSK3B inhibition slowed xenograft tumor growth. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed that GSK3B inhibition modulated the phosphatidylinositol 3-carboxykinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction signaling pathways. GSK3B inhibition decreased the protein levels of phosphorylated PI3K and Akt and the levels of mesenchymal markers but increased those of epithelial markers. An activator of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway counteracted the suppressive effects of GSK3B inhibition on HeLa cell viability and proliferation and on PI3K/Akt signaling. Our data suggested that GSK3B regulated cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration by modulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Identification of a novel GSK3β inhibitor involved in abrogating KRas dependent pancreatic tumors in Wnt/beta-catenin and NF-kB dependent manner

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy with a poor survival rate because it is difficult to diagnose the disease during its early stages. The currently available treatments, which include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, offer only limited survival benefit. Pharmacological interventions to inhibit Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3beta (GSK3β) activity is an important therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer because GSK3β is one of the key factors involved in the onset, progression as well as in the acquisition of chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. Here, we report the identification of MJ34 as a potent GSK3β inhibitor that significantly reduced growth and survival of human mutant KRas dependent pancreatic tumors. MJ34 mediated GSK3β inhibition was seen to induce apoptosis in a β-catenin dependent manner and downregulate NF-kB activity in MiaPaCa-2 cells thereby impeding cell survival and anti-apoptotic processes in these cells as well as in the xenograft model of pancreatic cancer. In vivo acute toxicity and in vitro cardiotoxicity studies indicate that MJ34 is well tolerated without any adverse effects. Taken together, we report the discovery of MJ34 as a potential drug candidate for the therapeutic treatment of mutant KRas-dependent human cancers through pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β.

Kinase activities in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with prognostic and therapeutic avenues

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with a limited number of known driver mutations but considerable cancer cell heterogeneity. Phosphoproteomics provides a direct read-out of aberrant signaling and the resultant clinically relevant phenotype. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and phosphoproteomics were applied to 42 PDAC tumors. Data encompassed over 19 936 phosphoserine or phosphothreonine (pS/T; in 5412 phosphoproteins) and 1208 phosphotyrosine (pY; in 501 phosphoproteins) sites and a total of 3756 proteins. Proteome data identified three distinct subtypes with tumor intrinsic and stromal features. Subsequently, three phospho-subtypes were apparent: two tumor intrinsic (Phos1/2) and one stromal (Phos3), resembling known PDAC molecular subtypes. Kinase activity was analyzed by the Integrative iNferred Kinase Activity (INKA) scoring. Phospho-subtypes displayed differential phosphorylation signals and kinase activity, such as FGR and GSK3 activation in Phos1, SRC kinase family and EPHA2 in Phos2, and EGFR, INSR, MET, ABL1, HIPK1, JAK, and PRKCD in Phos3. Kinase activity analysis of an external PDAC cohort supported our findings and underscored the importance of PI3K/AKT and ERK pathways, among others. Interestingly, unfavorable patient prognosis correlated with higher RTK, PAK2, STK10, and CDK7 activity and high proliferation, whereas long survival was associated with MYLK and PTK6 activity, which was previously unknown. Subtype-associated activity profiles can guide therapeutic combination approaches in tumor and stroma-enriched tissues, and emphasize the critical role of parallel signaling pathways. In addition, kinase activity profiling identifies potential disease markers with prognostic significance.

Investigating underlying molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, emerging therapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a clinically challenging malignancy constitutes a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality, characterized by an inherently poor prognosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by examining its multifaceted etiologies, including genetic mutations and environmental factors. The review explains the complex molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and summarizes current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and emerging modalities such as immunotherapy. Critical molecular pathways driving pancreatic cancer development, including KRAS, Notch, and Hedgehog, are discussed. Current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, are discussed, with an emphasis on their limitations, particularly in terms of postoperative relapse. Promising research areas, including liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, and gene editing, are explored, demonstrating the significant potential for enhancing diagnosis and treatment. While immunotherapy presents promising prospects, it faces challenges related to immune evasion mechanisms. Emerging research directions, encompassing liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and computational intelligence applications, hold promise for refining diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions. By integrating insights from genetic, molecular, and clinical research, innovative strategies that improve patient outcomes can be developed. Ongoing research in these emerging fields holds significant promise for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of this formidable malignancy.

DNMT1-targeting remodeling global DNA hypomethylation for enhanced tumor suppression and circumvented toxicity in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The faithful maintenance of DNA methylation homeostasis indispensably requires DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in cancer progression. We previously identified DNMT1 as a potential candidate target for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, how the DNMT1- associated global DNA methylation is exploited to regulate OSCC remains unclear.

METHODS

The shRNA-specific DNMT1 knockdown was employed to target DNMT1 on oral cancer cells in vitro, as was the use of DNMT1 inhibitors. A xenografted OSCC mouse model was established to determine the effect on tumor suppression. High-throughput microarrays of DNA methylation, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, multiplex immunohistochemistry, functional sphere formation and protein immunoblotting were utilized to explore the molecular mechanism involved. Analysis of human samples revealed associations between DNMT1 expression, global DNA methylation and collaborative molecular signaling with oral malignant transformation.

RESULTS

We investigated DNMT1 expression boosted steadily during oral malignant transformation in human samples, and its inhibition considerably minimized the tumorigenicity in vitro and in a xenografted OSCC model. DNMT1 overexpression was accompanied by the accumulation of cancer-specific DNA hypomethylation during oral carcinogenesis; conversely, DNMT1 knockdown caused atypically extensive genome-wide DNA hypomethylation in cancer cells and xenografted tumors. This novel DNMT1-remodeled DNA hypomethylation pattern hampered the dual activation of PI3K-AKT and CDK2-Rb and inactivated GSK3β collaboratively. When treating OSCC mice, targeting DNMT1 achieved greater anticancer efficacy than the PI3K inhibitor, and reduced the toxicity of blood glucose changes caused by the PI3K inhibitor or combination of PI3K and CDK inhibitors as well as adverse insulin feedback.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeting DNMT1 remodels a novel global DNA hypomethylation pattern to facilitate anticancer efficacy and minimize potential toxic effects via balanced signaling synergia. Our study suggests DNMT1 is a crucial gatekeeper regarding OSCC destiny and treatment outcome.

Salidroside alleviates cholestasis-induced liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cells via activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway and regulating intestinal flora distribution

Salidroside (SAL), a phenylpropanoid bioactive compound, has various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects. However, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action of SAL on cholestatic liver injury are unclear. This study investigated the mechanism and effects of salidroside (SAL) on intestinal flora distribution and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in cholestatic hepatic fibrosis. Bile duct ligation was used to cause cholestasis BALB/c mice. The therapeutic efficacy of SAL in liver fibrosis was assessed via serum/tissue biochemical analyses and liver tissue hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. Inflammation and oxidative stress were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. HSC were activated in vitro using lipopolysaccharide, and the effects of SAL on HSC migration and inflammatory factor expression were detected via scratch, transwell, and western blotting assays. The effects of SAL on the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway in vivo and in vitro were detected using western blotting. 16sRNA sequencing was used to detect the effect of SAL on the diversity of the intestinal flora. Ileal histopathology and western blotting were used to detect the protective effect of SAL on the intestinal mucosal barrier. SAL reduces liver inflammation and oxidative stress and protects against liver fibrosis with cholestasis. It inhibits HSC activation and activates the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, SAL restores the abundance of intestinal flora, which contributes to the repair of the intestinal mucosal barrier, inhibits endotoxin translocation, and indirectly inhibits HSC activation, reversing the course of cholestatic liver fibrosis. SAL inhibits HSC activation through the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway and improves intestinal flora distribution, thereby protecting and reversing the progression of hepatic fibrosis.

Effects of nucleoside analogues, lipophilic prodrugs and elaidic acids on core signaling pathways in cancer cells

OBJECTIVES

Nucleoside analogs such as gemcitabine (GEM; dFdC) and cytarabine (Ara-C) require nucleoside transporters to enter cells, and deficiency in equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) can lead to resistance to these drugs. To facilitate transport-independent uptake, prodrugs with a fatty acid chain attached to the 5'-position of the ribose group of gemcitabine or cytarabine were developed (CP-4126 and CP-4055, respectively). As antimetabolites can activate cellular survival pathways, we investigated whether the prodrugs or their side-chains had similar or decreased effects.

METHODS

Two cell lines A549 (non-small cell lung cancer) and WiDr (colon cancer cells) were exposed for 2-24hr to IC50 concentrations of GEM, Ara-C, CP-4126, CP4055 and elaidic acid (EA) concentrations corresponding to the CP-4126 and CP-4055 IC50. Cells were harvested and analyzed for proteins in cell survival pathways (p-AKT/AKT, p-ERK/ERK, p-P38/P38, GSK-3β/pGSK-3β) by using Western Blotting.

RESULTS

All drugs and their derivatives showed time- and cell-line-dependent effects. In A549 cells, GEM, CP-4126 and EA-4126 decreased the p-AKT/AKT ratio at 2 and 24 hr. For the p-ERK/ERK ratio, GEM, EA-4126, Ara-C, CP-4045 and EA-4055 exposure led to an increase after 6 hr in A549 cells. Interestingly, Ara-C, CP-4055 and EA-4055 decreased p-ERK/ERK ratio in WiDr cells after 4 hr. In A549 cells, the p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio decreased after exposure to Ara-C and CP-4055 but in WiDr cells increased after 24 hr. In A549 cells treatment with Ara-C, CP-4055 and EA-4126 decreased the p-P38/P38 after 6 hr.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that both parent drugs, prodrugs, and the EA chain influence cell survival and signaling pathways.

The role of histone H1.2 in pancreatic cancer metastasis and chemoresistance

AIMS

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly metastatic malignant tumor of the digestive system. Drug resistance frequently occurs during cancer treatment process. This study aimed to explore the link between chemoresistance and tumor metastasis in PC and its possible molecular and cellular mechanisms.

METHODS

A Metastasis and Chemoresistance Signature (MCS) scoring system was built and validated based on metastasis- and chemoresistance-related genes using gene expression data of PC, and the model was applied to single-cell RNA sequencing data. The influence of linker histone H1.2 (H1-2) on PC was explored through in vitro and in vivo experiments including proliferation, invasion, migration, drug sensitivity, rescue experiments and immunohistochemistry, emphasizing its regulation with c-MYC signaling pathway.

RESULTS

A novel MCS scoring system accurately predicted PC patient survival and was linked to chemoresistance and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PC single-cell RNA sequencing data. H1-2 emerged as a significant prognostic factor, with its high expression indicating increased chemoresistance and EMT. This upregulation was mediated by c-MYC, which was also found to be highly expressed in PC tissues.

CONCLUSION

The MCS scoring system offers insights into PC chemoresistance and metastasis potential. Targeting H1-2 could enhance therapeutic strategies and improve PC patient outcomes.

Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Helicobacter Pylori-Infected Gastric Cancer Cells Induce Lymphangiogenesis and Lymphatic Remodeling via Transfer of miR-1246

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a significant barrier to the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive GC patients experience a higher rate of LNM than H. pylori-negative GC patients. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Based on the findings of this study, H. pylori-positive GC patients have greater lymphangiogenesis and lymph node immunosuppression than H. pylori-negative GC patients. In addition, miR-1246 is overexpressed in the plasma small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) of H. pylori-positive GC patients, indicating a poor prognosis. Functionally, sEVs derived from GC cells infected with H. pylori deliver miR-1246 to lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic remodeling. Mechanistically, miR-1246 suppresses GSK3β expression and promotes β-Catenin and downstream MMP7 expression in LECs. miR-1246 also stabilizes programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) by suppressing GSK3β and induces the apoptosis of CD8+ T cells. Overall, miR-1246 in plasma sEVs may be a novel biomarker and therapeutic target in GC-LNM.

Targeting glycogen synthase kinase-3β for Alzheimer's disease: Recent advances and future Prospects

Senile plaques induced by β-amyloid (Aβ) abnormal aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) caused by tau hyperphosphorylation are important pathological manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a conserved kinase; one member GSK-3β is highly expressed in the AD brain and involved in the formation of NFT. Hence, pharmacologically inhibiting GSK-3β activity and expression is a good approach to treat AD. As summarized in this article, multiple GSK-3β inhibitors has been comprehensively summarized over recent five years. However, only lithium carbonate and Tideglusib have been studied in clinical trials of AD. Besides ATP-competitive and non-ATP-competitive inhibitors, peptide inhibitors, allosteric inhibitors and other types of inhibitors have gradually attracted more interest. Moreover, considering the close relationship between GSK-3β and other targets involved in cholinergic hypothesis, Aβ aggregation hypothesis, tau hyperphosphorylation hypothesis, oxidative stress hypothesis, neuro-inflammation hypothesis, etc., diverse multifunctional molecules and multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) have also been disclosed. We hope that these recent advances and critical perspectives will facilitate the discovery of safe and effective GSK-3β inhibitors for AD treatment.

EGFR mediates epithelial‑mesenchymal transition through the Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway to promote liver cancer proliferation and migration

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in various types of cancer and is associated with the malignant biological behavior of cancer cells. In the present study, the expression of EGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and liver cancer cells was detected by immunohistochemical staining, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, a lentivirus was transduced into HepG2 liver cancer cells to knock down EGFR expression. Cell proliferation and migration, and the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were assessed by EdU staining, Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, and western blotting. The results revealed that EGF/EGFR can mediate EMT through the Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/Snail signaling pathway to promote HepG2 cell proliferation and migration. Inhibition of the activation of the EGFR signaling pathway can help to partially reverse the EMT phenotype, and inhibit the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells. In conclusion, the EGFR/Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway serves an important role in HCC progression, and inhibition of the activation of the EGFR signaling pathway may be a valuable strategy in liver cancer treatment.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β: the nexus of chemoresistance, invasive capacity, and cancer stemness in pancreatic cancer

The treatment of pancreatic cancer remains a significant clinical challenge due to the limited number of patients eligible for curative (R0) surgery, failures in the clinical development of targeted and immune therapies, and the pervasive acquisition of chemotherapeutic resistance. Refractory pancreatic cancer is typified by high invasiveness and resistance to therapy, with both attributes related to tumor cell stemness. These malignant characteristics mutually enhance each other, leading to rapid cancer progression. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have produced evidence of the pivotal role of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3β in the progression of over 25 different cancer types, including pancreatic cancer. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge on the pathological roles of aberrant GSK3β in supporting tumor cell proliferation and invasion, as well as its contribution to gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer. Importantly, we discuss the central role of GSK3β as a molecular hub that mechanistically connects chemoresistance, tumor cell invasion, and stemness in pancreatic cancer. We also discuss the involvement of GSK3β in the formation of desmoplastic tumor stroma and in promoting anti-cancer immune evasion, both of which constitute major obstacles to successful cancer treatment. Overall, GSK3β has characteristics of a promising therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.

Overcoming Microbiome-Acquired Gemcitabine Resistance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) are one of the most recurrent diseases in the world. Among all GICs, pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest and continues to disrupt people's lives worldwide. The most frequent pancreatic cancer type is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), representing 90 to 95% of all pancreatic malignancies. PC is one of the cancers with the worst prognoses due to its non-specific symptoms that lead to a late diagnosis, but also due to the high resistance it develops to anticancer drugs. Gemcitabine is a standard treatment option for PDAC, however, resistance to this anticancer drug develops very fast. The microbiome was recently classified as a cancer hallmark and has emerged in several studies detailing how it promotes drug resistance. However, this area of study still has seen very little development, and more answers will help in developing personalized medicine. PC is one of the cancers with the highest mortality rates; therefore, it is crucial to explore how the microbiome may mold the response to reference drugs used in PDAC, such as gemcitabine. In this article, we provide a review of what has already been investigated regarding the impact that the microbiome has on the development of PDAC in terms of its effect on the gemcitabine pathway, which may influence the response to gemcitabine. Therapeutic advances in this type of GIC could bring innovative solutions and more effective therapeutic strategies for other types of GIC, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), due to its close relation with the microbiome.

Lysine demethylase 5B (KDM5B): A key regulator of cancer drug resistance

Chemoresistance, a roadblock in the chemotherapy process, has been impeding its effective treatment. KDM5B, a member of the histone demethylase family, has been crucial in the emergence and growth of malignancies. More significantly, KDM5B has recently been linked closely to cancer's resistance to chemotherapy. In this review, we explain the biological properties of KDM5B, its function in the emergence and evolution of cancer treatment resistance, and our hopes for future drug resistance-busting combinations involving KDM5B and related targets or medications.

New insights into the role of GSK-3β in the brain: from neurodegenerative disease to tumorigenesis

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a serine/threonine kinase widely expressed in various tissues and organs. Unlike other kinases, GSK-3 is active under resting conditions and is inactivated upon stimulation. In mammals, GSK-3 includes GSK-3 α and GSK-3β isoforms encoded by two homologous genes, namely, GSK3A and GSK3B. GSK-3β is essential for the control of glucose metabolism, signal transduction, and tissue homeostasis. As more than 100 known proteins have been identified as GSK-3β substrates, it is sometimes referred to as a moonlighting kinase. Previous studies have elucidated the regulation modes of GSK-3β. GSK-3β is involved in almost all aspects of brain functions, such as neuronal morphology, synapse formation, neuroinflammation, and neurological disorders. Recently, several comparatively specific small molecules have facilitated the chemical manipulation of this enzyme within cellular systems, leading to the discovery of novel inhibitors for GSK-3β. Despite these advancements, the therapeutic significance of GSK-3β as a drug target is still complicated by uncertainties surrounding the potential of inhibitors to stimulate tumorigenesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the intricate mechanisms of this enzyme and evaluates the existing evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of GSK-3β in brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, mood disorders, and glioblastoma.

The ameliorative effect of CangFu Daotan Decoction on polycystic ovary syndrome of rodent model is associated with m6A methylation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Objective: This study investigates the effects of CangFu Daotan Decoction (CDD) on m6A methylation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods: The PCOS rat model was established by letrozole gavage. The rats were fed high-fat chow, and their body weight and blood glucose were recorded. The expressions of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH), and testosterone(T) were quantified by ELISA. Chemical components in CDD were analyzed using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Based on network pharmacology methods, related targets of CDD on PCOS were screened. An enrichment analysis according to Tokyo Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was conducted to predict the potential signaling pathway of CDD in PCOS. The expressions of Wnt-1, β-Catenin, GSK-3β, C-MYC, Beclin1, LC3II, Bax, and PCNA were detected by western blotting. The expressions of Mettl3, Mettl14, Fto, Alkbh5, Ythdf1, and Ythdf2 were monitored by RT-PCR. The expressions of Mettl3, Fto, and Ythdf1 were detected by western blotting.Results: Letrozole and a high-fat diet induced ovarian dysfunction in rats, which was attenuated by CDD. CDD decreased blood glucose, LH, and T concentrations and increased FSH expression in PCOS. After removing duplicates, a total of 71 compounds were identified by UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS, among which terpenoids and flavonoids account for the main proportion. The clustering analysis showed that the active site of CDD might be in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. CDD decreased the expressions of Wnt-1, β-Catenin, GSK-3β, C-MYC, Beclin1, LC3II, and Bax and increased PCNA expression in the ovarian tissue of PCOS rats. CDD decreased the m6A gene expressions of Mettl3, Mettl14, Fto, Alkbh5, Ythdf1, and Ythdf2 in peripheral blood and ovarian tissue of PCOS rats. CDD reduced the m6A proteins expressions of Mettl3, Fto, and Ythdf1 in the ovarian tissue of PCOS rats.Conclusion: CDD can regulate m6A modification and inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in PCOS rats, thereby reducing body weight, lowering blood glucose levels, improving sex hormone disorders, and decreasing autophagy and apoptosis in ovarian tissue to promote the recovery of ovarian morphology.

Lithium chloride induces apoptosis by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress in pancreatic cancer

Lithium compounds, a classic class of metal complex medicine that target GSK 3β and are widely known as mood-stabilizer, have recently been reported as potential anti-tumor drugs. The objective of this investigation was to explore the anticancer potential of lithium chloride (LiCl) and elucidate its mode of action in pancreatic cancer cells. The MTT, colony formation, and Edu assay were used to evaluate the impact of LiCl on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Various methods were employed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of LiCl and its underlying mechanisms. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis detection assays were utilized for in vitro experiments, while the orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of LiCl treatment in vivo. Furthermore, the impact of LiCl on the proliferation of patient-derived organoids was also studied. The results demonstrated that LiCl inhibited the proliferation of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells, induced G2/M phase arrest, and activated apoptosis. Notably, the triggering of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by LiCl was observed, leading to the activation of the PERK/CHOP/GADD34 pathway, which subsequently promoted apoptosis in PC cells. In the future, Lithium compounds could become an essential adjunct in the treatment of human pancreatic cancer.

Post-translational modifications of lysine-specific demethylase 1

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is crucial for regulating gene expression by catalyzing the demethylation of mono- and di-methylated histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) and lysine 9 (H3K9) and non-histone proteins through the amine oxidase activity with FAD+ as a cofactor. It interacts with several protein partners, which potentially contributes to its diverse substrate specificity. Given its pivotal role in numerous physiological and pathological conditions, the function of LSD1 is closely regulated by diverse post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, methylation, and acetylation. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the regulation and function of LSD1 following various PTMs. Specifically, we will focus on the impact of PTMs on LSD1 function in physiological and pathological contexts and discuss the potential therapeutic implications of targeting these modifications for the treatment of human diseases.

PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling transduction pathway and targeted therapies in cancer

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) signaling pathway is a highly conserved signal transduction network in eukaryotic cells that promotes cell survival, cell growth, and cell cycle progression. Growth factor signalling to transcription factors in the PAM axis is highly regulated by multiple cross-interactions with several other signaling pathways, and dysregulation of signal transduction can predispose to cancer development. The PAM axis is the most frequently activated signaling pathway in human cancer and is often implicated in resistance to anticancer therapies. Dysfunction of components of this pathway such as hyperactivity of PI3K, loss of function of PTEN, and gain-of-function of AKT, are notorious drivers of treatment resistance and disease progression in cancer. In this review we highlight the major dysregulations in the PAM signaling pathway in cancer, and discuss the results of PI3K, AKT and mTOR inhibitors as monotherapy and in co-administation with other antineoplastic agents in clinical trials as a strategy for overcoming treatment resistance. Finally, the major mechanisms of resistance to PAM signaling targeted therapies, including PAM signaling in immunology and immunotherapies are also discussed.

The impact of the Hedgehog signal pathway on the tumor immune microenvironment of gastric adenocarcinoma by integrated analysis of scRNA-seq and RNA-seq datasets

The Hedgehog signaling is a highly conserved pathway to regulate cell growth and proliferation, and plays an essential role in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and other cancer types. However, previous studies were primarily conducted in terms of mRNA or vitro cell culture. It would be more convincing to integrate single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data because it is a more precise approach for genomic research. The expression profile, genetic alteration, and activity of the Hedgehog signaling pathway were investigated in both scRNA-seq and RNA-seq datasets of STAD. Communications between cancer cells and fibroblasts were determined by the cell-chat algorithm, and the Hedgehog-related gene signature was constructed to predict the survival of STAD. Patients were categorized into high- and low-risk groups according to the median of the signature. Further analysis explored the difference in survival outcome, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and drug sensitivity between the two groups, aiming to guide the use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in STAD patients. Hedgehog signal pathway was over-activated in STAD. GAS1, GLI1, and SCEBU2 were recognized as hub genes in the prognostic signature of STAD, and served as robust risk factors to induce a poor survival outcome. Patients in the high-risk group demonstrated an exhausted TIME pattern, with rather low sensitivity toward molecular-targeted drugs. This study depicted the influence of the Hedgehog pathway on the survival outcome, TIME, and drug sensitivity of STAD, and provides novel insights for the treatment of STAD.

Advances and Prospects in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant and incurable disease, characterized by its aggressive nature and high fatality rate. The most common type is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which has poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Current treatments for pancreatic cancer mainly encompass surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and combination regimens. However, despite efforts to improve prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains very low. Therefore, it's urgent to explore novel therapeutic approaches. With the rapid development of therapeutic strategies in recent years, new ideas have been provided for treating pancreatic cancer. This review expositions the advancements in nano drug delivery system, molecular targeted drugs, and photo-thermal treatment combined with nanotechnology for pancreatic cancer. It comprehensively analyzes the prospects of combined drug delivery strategies for treating pancreatic cancer, aiming at a deeper understanding of the existing drugs and therapeutic approaches, promoting the development of new therapeutic drugs, and attempting to enhance the therapeutic effect for patients with this disease.

Signaling Switching from Hedgehog-GLI to MAPK Signaling Potentially Serves as a Compensatory Mechanism in Melanoma Cell Lines Resistant to GANT-61

BACKGROUND

Melanoma represents the deadliest skin cancer due to its cell plasticity which results in high metastatic potential and chemoresistance. Melanomas frequently develop resistance to targeted therapy; therefore, new combination therapy strategies are required. Non-canonical signaling interactions between HH-GLI and RAS/RAF/ERK signaling were identified as one of the drivers of melanoma pathogenesis. Therefore, we decided to investigate the importance of these non-canonical interactions in chemoresistance, and examine the potential for HH-GLI and RAS/RAF/ERK combined therapy.

METHODS

We established two melanoma cell lines resistant to the GLI inhibitor, GANT-61, and characterized their response to other HH-GLI and RAS/RAF/ERK inhibitors.

RESULTS

We successfully established two melanoma cell lines resistant to GANT-61. Both cell lines showed HH-GLI signaling downregulation and increased invasive cell properties like migration potential, colony forming capacity, and EMT. However, they differed in MAPK signaling activity, cell cycle regulation, and primary cilia formation, suggesting different potential mechanisms responsible for resistance occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides the first ever insights into cell lines resistant to GANT-61 and shows potential mechanisms connected to HH-GLI and MAPK signaling which may represent new hot spots for noncanonical signaling interactions.

Lysine-Specific Demethylase 1 Promises to Be a Novel Target in Cancer Drug Resistance: Therapeutic Implications

Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are effective against most tumors, but drug resistance remains a barrier to successful treatment. Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), a member of histone demethylation modifications, can regulate invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and immune escape of tumor cells, which are associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Recent studies suggest that LSD1 ablation regulates resensitivity of tumor cells to anticarcinogens containing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) via multiple upstream and downstream pathways. In this review, we describe the recent findings about LSD1 biology and its role in the development and progression of cancer drug resistance. Further, we summarize LSD1 inhibitors that have a reversal or resensitive effect on drug resistance and discuss the possibility of targeting LSD1 in combination with other agents to surmount resistance.

Salt-Tolerant Plants, Halophytes, as Renewable Natural Resources for Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Roles of Phenolics and Flavonoids in Immunomodulation and Suppression of Oxidative Stress towards Cancer Management

Halophytes and xerophytes, plants with adequate tolerance to high salinity with strong ability to survive in drought ecosystem, have been recognized for their nutritional and medicinal values owing to their comparatively higher productions of secondary metabolites, primarily the phenolics, and the flavonoids, as compared to the normal vegetation in other climatic regions. Given the consistent increases in desertification around the world, which are associated with increasing salinity, high temperature, and water scarcity, the survival of halophytes due to their secondary metabolic contents has prioritized these plant species, which have now become increasingly important for environmental protection, land reclamation, and food and animal-feed security, with their primary utility in traditional societies as sources of drugs. On the medicinal herbs front, because the fight against cancer is still ongoing, there is an urgent need for development of more efficient, safe, and novel chemotherapeutic agents, than those currently available. The current review describes these plants and their secondary-metabolite-based chemical products as promising candidates for developing newer cancer therapeutics. It further discusses the prophylactic roles of these plants, and their constituents in prevention and management of cancers, through an exploration of their phytochemical and pharmacological properties, with a view on immunomodulation. The important roles of various phenolics and structurally diverse flavonoids as major constituents of the halophytes in suppressing oxidative stress, immunomodulation, and anti-cancer effects are the subject matter of this review and these aspects are outlined in details.

Construction and validation of an aging-related gene signature predicting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy with a high mortality rate and worse prognosis. Recently, public databases and bioinformatics tools make it easy to develop the prognostic risk model of pancreatic cancer, but the aging-related risk signature has not been reported. The present study aimed to identify an aging-related risk signature with potential prognostic value for pancreatic cancer patients. Method: Gene expression profiling and human clinical information of pancreatic cancer were derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). Aging-related gene sets were downloaded from The Molecular Signatures Database and aging-related genes were obtained from the Human Ageing Genomic Resources database. Firstly, Gene set enrichment analysis was carried out to investigate the role of aging process in pancreatic cancer. Secondly, differentially expressed genes and aging-related prognostic genes were screened on the basis of the overall survival information. Then, univariate COX and LASSO analysis were performed to establish an aging-related risk signature of pancreatic cancer patients. To facilitate clinical application, a nomogram was established to predict the survival rates of PCa patients. The correlations of risk score with clinical features and immune status were evaluated. Finally, potential therapeutic drugs were screened based on the connectivity map (Cmap) database and verified by molecular docking. For further validation, the protein levels of aging-related genes in normal and tumor tissues were detected in the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. Result: The genes of pancreatic cancer were markedly enriched in several aging-associated signaling pathways. We identified 14 key aging-related genes related to prognosis from 9,020 differentially expressed genes and establish an aging-related risk signature. This risk model indicated a strong prognostic capability both in the training set of TCGA cohort and the validation set of PACA-CA cohort and GSE62452 cohort. A nomogram combining risk score and clinical variables was built, and calibration curve and Decision curve analysis (DCA) have proved that it has a good predictive value. Additionally, the risk score was tightly linked with tumor immune microenvironment, immune checkpoints and proinflammatory factors. Moreover, a candidate drug, BRD-A47144777, was screened and verified by molecular docking, indicating this drug has the potential to treat PCa. The protein expression levels of GSK3B, SERPINE1, TOP2A, FEN1 and HIC1 were consistent with our predicted results. Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified an aging-related signature and nomogram with high prediction performance of survival and immune cell infiltration for pancreatic cancer. This signature might potentially help in providing personalized immunotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Implications of cancer stem cells in diabetes and pancreatic cancer

This review provides a detailed study of pancreatic cancer (PC) and the implication of different types of cancers concerning diabetes. The combination of anti-diabetic drugs with other anti-cancer drugs and phytochemicals can help prevent and treat this disease. PC cancer stem cells (CSCs) and how they migrate and develop into malignant tumors are discussed. A detailed explanation of the different mechanisms of diabetes development, which can enhance the pancreatic CSCs' proliferation by increasing the IGF factor levels, epigenetic modifications, DNA damage, and the influence of lifestyle factors like obesity, and inflammation, has been discussed. It also explains how cancer due to diabetes is associated with high mortality rates. One of the well-known diabetic drugs, metformin, can be combined with other anti-cancer drugs and prevent the development of PC and has been taken as one of the prime focus in this review. Overall, this paper provides insight into the relationship between diabetes and PC and the methods that can be employed to diagnose this disease at an earlier stage successfully.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β: A True Foe in Pancreatic Cancer

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase involved in multiple normal and pathological cell functions, including cell signalling and metabolism. GSK-3β is highly expressed in the onset and progression of multiple cancers with strong involvement in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, and chemoresistance. Multiple studies showed pro- and anti-cancer roles of GSK-3β creating confusion about the benefit of targeting GSK-3β for treating cancer. In this mini-review, we focus on the role of GSK-3β in pancreatic cancer. We demonstrate that the proposed anti-cancer roles of GSK-3β are not relevant to pancreatic cancer, and we argue why GSK-3β is, indeed, a very promising therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.

Long non‑coding RNA 01614 hyperactivates WNT/β‑catenin signaling to promote pancreatic cancer progression by suppressing GSK‑3β

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal type of cancer for which effective therapies are limited. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a critical type of regulator category, mediating the tumorigenesis and development of various tumor types, including PC. However, the expression patterns and functions of numerous lncRNAs in PC remain poorly understood. In the present study, linc01614 was identified as a PC-related lncRNA. linc01614 was notably upregulated in PC tissues and cell lines and was associated with the poor disease-free survival of patients with PC according to the analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas-derived datasets. Functionally, linc01614 knockdown suppressed PC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, and inhibited tumor proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, linc01614 overexpression stabilized the level of β-catenin protein to hyperactivate the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in PC cells. Further analyses revealed that linc01614 bound to GSK-3β and perturbed the interaction between GSK-3β and AXIN1, thereby preventing the formation of the β-catenin degradation complex and reducing the degradation of β-catenin. In summary, the present findings reveal that linc01614 may function as an oncogene and promote the progression of PC and may thus be considered as a potential therapeutic target in the future.

Role of drug catabolism, modulation of oncogenic signaling and tumor microenvironment in microbe-mediated pancreatic cancer chemoresistance

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the highest incidence/death ratios among all neoplasms due to its late diagnosis and dominant chemoresistance. Most PDAC patients present with an advanced disease characterized by a multifactorial, inherent and acquired resistance to current anticancer treatments. This remarkable chemoresistance has been ascribed to several PDAC features including the genetic landscape, metabolic alterations, and a heterogeneous tumor microenvironment that is characterized by dense fibrosis, and a cellular contexture including functionally distinct subclasses of cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune suppressive cells, but also a number of bacteria, shaping a specific tumor microbiome microenvironment. Thus, recent studies prompted the emergence of a new research avenue, by describing the role of the microbiome in gemcitabine resistance, while next-generation-sequencing analyses identified a specific microbiome in different tumors, including PDAC. Functionally, the contribution of these microbes to PDAC chemoresistance is only beginning to be explored. Here we provide an overview of the studies demonstrating that bacteria have the capacity to metabolically transform and hence inactivate anticancer drugs, as exemplified by the inhibition of the efficacy of 10 out of 30 chemotherapeutics by Escherichia coli. Moreover, a number of bacteria modulate specific oncogenic pathways, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, affecting autophagy and apoptosis induction by 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin. We hypothesize that improved understanding of how chemoresistance is driven by bacteria could enhance the efficacy of current treatments, and discuss the potential of microbiome modulation and targeted therapeutic approaches as well as the need for more reliable models and biomarkers to translate the findings of preclinical/translational research to the clinical setting, and ultimately overcome PDAC chemoresistance, hence improving clinical outcome.

Circular RNAs regulate parental gene expression: A new direction for molecular oncology research

CircRNAs have been the focus of research in recent years. They are differentially expressed in various human tumors and can regulate oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes expression through various mechanisms. The diversity, stability, evolutionary conservatism and cell- or tissue-specific expression patterns of circRNAs also endow them with important regulatory roles in promoting or inhibiting tumor cells malignant biological behaviors progression. More interestingly, emerging studies also found that circRNAs can regulate not only other genes expression, but also their parental gene expression and thus influence tumors development. Apart from some conventional features, circRNAs have a certain specificity in the regulation of parental gene expression, with a higher proportion affecting parental gene transcription and easier translation into protein to regulate parental gene expression. CircRNAs are generally thought to be unable to produce proteins and therefore the protein-coding ability exhibited by circRNAs in regulating parental gene expression is unique and indicates that the regulatory effects of parental gene expression by circRNAs are not only a competitive binding relationship, but also a more complex molecular relationship between circRNAs and parental gene, which deserves further study. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of circRNAs regulating parental gene expression and their biological roles in tumorigenesis and development, aiming to provide new ideas for the clinical application of circRNAs in tumor-targeted therapy.

Cancer associated fibroblasts secreted exosomal miR-1290 contributes to prostate cancer cell growth and metastasis via targeting GSK3β

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play crucial roles in mediating tumor growth and metastasis via transferring exosomes to neighboring cells, whereas the mechanisms by which CAFs regulate the tumorgenesis of prostate cancer (PC) remain largely unknown. In this study, CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from PC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, respectively. Exosomes (NFs-Exo and CAFs-Exo) were then isolated from the supernatant of NFs and CAFs. Next, the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between NFs-Exo and CAFs-Exo were identified using RNA-sequencing. Cell viability, migration and invasion were detected with CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Protein expression was measured with western blot. We found that CAFs-Exo remarkably enhanced PC cell migration, invasion, stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Significantly, miR-1290 level was upregulated in CAFs-Exo compared to NFs-Exo. In addition, CAFs could transfer exosomes to PC cells, resulting in a marked increase of miR-1290 level in cells. Moreover, exosomal miR-1290 could inhibit GSK3β/β-catenin signaling by binding with the downstream target GSK3β mRNA. Meanwhile, miR-1290 antagomir notably reversed the effects of CAFs-Exo on PC cells through activating GSK3β/β-catenin signaling. Collectively, exosomal miR-1290 from CAFs could promote PC cell growth and metastasis via inhibiting GSK3β/β-catenin signaling, suggesting that miR-1290 may serve as potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PC.

Prospects of targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the worst prognoses among all malignancies. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, a main downstream effector of KRAS is involved in the regulation of key hallmarks of cancer. We here report that whole-genome analyses demonstrate the frequent involvement of aberrant activations of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components in PDAC patients and critically evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence on the application of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway targeting agents. Combinations of these agents with chemotherapeutics or other targeted therapies, including the modulators of cyclin-dependent kinases, receptor tyrosine kinases and RAF/MEK/ERK pathway are also examined. Although human genetic studies and preclinical pharmacological investigations have provided strong evidence on the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in PDAC, clinical studies in general have not been as promising. Patient stratification seems to be the key missing point and with the advent of biomarker-guided clinical trials, targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway could provide valuable assets for treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.

The recombinant defensin/HSA fusion protein that inhibits NF-κb associated with intensive macropinocytosis shows potent efficacy against pancreatic cancer

KRAS mutation and NF-κB both play crucial role in pancreatic cancer; in addition, defensin, the peptide mediator in innate immunity, can inhibit NF-κB. Assuming a strategy that targets both NF-κB and concomitantly the mutated KRAS indirectly via intensive macropinocytosis, we designed and generated a recombinant protein DF2-HSA which consists of two molecules of human beta-defensin 2 (HBD2) and a moiety of human serum albumin (HSA). As shown, the recombinant protein DF2-HSA markedly down-regulated NF-κB in both KRAS mutant MIA PaCa-2 cells and wild type BxPC-3 cells. Determined by confocal microscopy, the uptake of DF2-HSA in MIA PaCa-2 cells was more intense than that in BxPC-3 cells. The uptake was blocked by the specific inhibitor EIPA, indicating that DF2-HSA internalized via macropinocytosis. DF2-HSA displayed more potent cytotoxicity to cancer cells than HBD2. DF2-HSA induced apoptosis in cancer cells. Notably, DF2-HSA inhibited tumor cell spheroid formation, an effect comparable to that of salinomycin. DF2-HSA inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion. As detected with scanning electron microscopy, DF2-HSA strongly depleted filopodia on cell surface; and salinomycin induced similar changes. By in vivo imaging, DF2-HSA displayed intense tumor-site accumulation and lasting retention for over 14 days; however, HBD2 showed much less tumor-site accumulation and a shorter retention time for only 24 h. DF2-HSA suppressed the growth of pancreatic cancer MIA PaCa-2 xenograft in athymic mice; and its combination with gemcitabine achieved higher antitumor efficacy. In summary, the recombinant defensin/HSA fusion protein that inhibits NF-κb associated with intensive macropinocytosis is highly effective against pancreatic cancer.

It Takes Two to Tango: Potential Prognostic Impact of Circulating TGF-Beta and PD-L1 in Pancreatic Cancer

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly devastating disease with rising incidence and poor prognosis. The lack of reliable prognostic biomarkers hampers the individual evaluation of the survival and recurrence potential. Methods: Here, we investigate the value of plasma levels of two potential key players in molecular mechanisms underlying PDAC aggressiveness and immune evasion, soluble TGF-beta (sTGF-beta) and sPD-L1, in both metastatic and radically-resected PDAC. To this aim we prospectively enrolled 38 PDAC patients and performed appropriate statistical analyses in order to evaluate their correlation, and role in the prediction of disease relapse/progression, and patients' outcome. Results: Metastatic patients showed lower levels of circulating sTGF-beta and higher levels of sPD-L1 compared to radically-resected patients. Moreover, a decrease in sTGF-beta levels (but not sPD-L1) was significantly associated with disease relapse in radically-resected patients. We also observed lower sTGF-beta at disease progression after first-line chemotherapy in metastatic patients, though this change was not statistically significant. We found a significant correlation between the levels of sTGF-beta and sPD-L1 before first-line chemotherapy. Conclusions: These findings support the possible interaction of TGF-beta and PD-L1 pathways and suggest that sTGF-beta and sPD-L1 might synergize and be new potential blood-based biomarkers.

Biodegradable Ultrasmall-in-Nano Architectures Loaded with Cisplatin Prodrug in Combination with Ionizing Radiation Induces DNA Damage and Apoptosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Considering the dismal survival rate, novel therapeutic strategies are warranted to improve the outcome of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Combining nanotechnology for delivery of chemotherapeutics-preferably radiosensitizing agents-is a promising approach to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of chemoradiation. We assessed the effect of biodegradable ultrasmall-in-nano architectures (NAs) containing gold ultra-small nanoparticles (USNPs) enclosed in silica shells loaded with cisplatin prodrug (NAs-cisPt) combined with ionizing radiation (IR). The cytotoxic effects and DNA damage induction were evaluated in PDAC cell lines (MIA PaCa2, SUIT2-028) and primary culture (PDAC3) in vitro and in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in ovo model. Unlike NAs, NAs-cisPt affected the cell viability in MIA PaCa2 and SUIT2-028 cells. Furthermore, NAs-cisPt showed increased γH2AX expression up to 24 h post-IR and reduced β-globin amplifications resulting in apoptosis induction at DNA and protein levels. Similarly, combined treatment of NAs-cisPt + IR in PDAC3 and SUIT2-028 CAM models showed enhanced DNA damage and apoptosis leading to tumor growth delay. Our results demonstrate an increased cytotoxic effect of NAs-cisPt, particularly through its release of the cisplatin prodrug. As cisplatin is a well-known radiosensitizer, administration of cisplatin prodrug in a controlled fashion through encapsulation is a promising new treatment approach which merits further investigation in combination with other radiosensitizing agents.

BCAP31 is involved in modulating colorectal cancer cell proliferation via the Emerin/β-catenin axis

Understanding the mechanisms of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is critical for developing innovative treatment strategies. As an endoplasmic reticulum-located protein, B cell receptor-associated protein 31 (BCAP31) has been identified to be highly expressed in multiple cancers. However, its function and molecular mechanism in CRC remain not fully understood. In the present study, BCAP31 expression and its correlation with the clinical stage were analyzed based on TCGA database. We demonstrated that loss of BCAP31 suppressed CRC cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Emerin was an interaction partner and downstream molecule of BCAP31. Knockdown of BCAP31 promoted the nuclear envelope localization of Emerin, leading to a reduction of β-catenin accumulation in the nucleus, which resulted in downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin downstream target genes, including c-Myc, cyclin D1, Survivin, and Mcl-1. Moreover, downregulation of Emerin partially restored the BCAP31 depletion-mediated β-catenin protein level and tumor suppressive effects in CRC cells.Our data highlights the pivotal role of BCAP31 depletion in inhibiting cell proliferation in CRC cells, and mechanistically via Emerin/β-catenin signaling, which may serve as a promising target for CRC treatment.

Molecular docking study of GSK-3β interaction with nomilin, kihadanin B, and related limonoids and triterpenes with a furyl-δ-lactone core

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a target enzyme considered for the treatment of multiple human diseases, from neurodegenerative pathologies to viral infections and cancers. Numerous inhibitors of GSK-3β have been discovered but thus far only a few have reached clinical trials and only one drug, tideglusib (1), has been registered. Natural products targeting GSK-3β have been identified, including the two anticancer limonoids obacunone (5) and gedunin (4), both presenting a furyl-δ-lactone core. To help identifying novel GSK-3β ligands, we have performed a molecular docking study with 15 complementary natural products bearing a furyl-δ-lactone unit (such as limonin (6) and kihadanins A (8) and B (9)) or a closely related structure (such as cedrelone (10) and nimbolide (11)). The formation of GSK-3β-binding complexes for those natural products was compared to reference GSK-3β ATP-competitive inhibitors LY2090314 (3) and AR-A014418 (2). Our in silico analysis led to the identification of two new GSK-3β-binding natural products: kihadanin B (9) and nomilin (7). The latter surpassed the reference compounds in terms of calculated empirical energy of interaction (ΔE). Nomilin (7) can possibly bind to the active site of GSK-3β, notably via the furyl-δ-lactone core and its 1-acetyl group, implicated in the protein interaction. Compound structure-binding relationships are discussed. The study should help the discovery of novel natural products targeting GSK-3β.