Inhibition of DNMT1 potentiates antitumor immunity in oral squamous cell carcinoma

DNMT1 promotes bladder cancer progression and immune escape by inhibiting MYH11 expression by methylating its promoter

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) is a fatal malignancy of the urinary tract with limited effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This paper delved into the mechanism of MYH11 and DNMT1 in BC progression.

METHODS

Differential genes obtained from the GSE3167 dataset were analyzed by the R language limma package. RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were carried out to assess MYH11 and DNMT1 expression in BC cell lines and BC tissues. Cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis were detected by Transwell assay, CCK-8, and TUNEL after different lentiviral vector treatments. MB49 cells with different infections were administered into mice to monitor tumor growth and immune escape. Flow cytometry detected the rate of CD45+CD4+-positive cells in the tumor tissues and PD-1 and TIM-3 expression in CD4+ T cells. MYH11 methylation was analyzed using the qMSP assay. ChIP and dual-luciferase assay were used for regulatory assays.

RESULTS

MYH11 was lowly expressed in BC. Overexpression of MYH11 inhibited the malignant progression of BC cells, promoted anti-tumor immune responses of CD4+ T cells, and inhibited immune escape and tumor development in mice. DNMT1 inhibited MYH11 expression by elevating MYH11 promoter methylation. DNMT1 inhibition impeded the immune escape of BC cells, which was reversed by silencing MYH11. DNMT1 silencing prevented immune escape via transcriptional activation of MYH11 and hindered tumor growth in mice.

CONCLUSION

DNMT1 promotes immune escape and malignant progression of BC by methylating the promoter of MYH11.

Bifunctional probe propelling multipath strand displacement amplification tandem CRISPR/Cas12a for ultrasensitive and robust assay of DNA methyltransferase activity

BACKGROUND

DNA methylation catalyzed by various DNA methyltransferases (DNA MTases) is one of the important epigenetic regulations in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Therefore, the detection of DNA MTase activity is a vital target and direction in the study of methylation-related diseases.

RESULTS

In this study, an ultrasensitive and robust strategy was developed for DNA MTase activity sensing based on bifunctional probe propelling multipath strand displacement amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a techniques. First, a bifunctional hairpin probe (bHpDNA) was designed instead of a conventional single-function probe. In the presence of DNA MTase, the bHpDNA was methylated and cleaved by a restriction endonuclease into two independent primers, both of which bind with the templates to trigger strand displacement amplification and produce the active DNA of CRISPR/Cas12a. Second, annealing-assisted binding instead of free diffusion adhesion was used to improve hybridization efficiency between the primers and templates. Finally, the CRISPR/Cas12a system was used to achieve fluorescence signal output to analyze DNA MTase activity. If targets were absent, there was no signal because no primers were released from the bHpDNA. To verify the reliability of the method, two key DNA MTases, Dam and M. SssI, were analyzed, and their limits of detection were 2.458 × 10-3 and 3.820 × 10-3 U/mL, respectively, which were lower than those of most reported fluorescence methods.

SIGNIFICANCE

This method was successfully used in the evaluation of DNA MTase inhibitors and the detection of DNA MTase activity in complex biological systems with good recoveries and relative standard deviation at low spiked concentrations (0.1-1 U/mL), which all indicate that this method is an ultrasensitive and robust strategy in DNA MTase activity assay and has great potential in biomedical and clinical detection.

PAK2 as a therapeutic target in cancer: Mechanisms, challenges, and future perspectives

P21-activated kinases (PAKs) are crucial regulators within cellular signaling pathways and have been implicated in a range of human diseases, including cancer. Among the PAK family, PAK2 is widely expressed across various tissues and has emerged as a significant driver of cancer progression. However, systematic studies on PAK2 remain limited. This review provides a comprehensive overview of PAK2's role in cancer, focusing on its involvement in processes such as angiogenesis, metastasis, cell survival, metabolism, immune response, and drug resistance. We also explore its function in key cancer signaling pathways and the potential of small-molecule inhibitors targeting PAK2 for therapeutic purposes. Despite promising preclinical data, no PAK2 inhibitors have reached clinical practice, underscoring challenges related to their specificity and therapeutic application. This review highlights the biological significance of PAK2 in cancer and its interactions with critical signaling pathways, offering valuable insights for future research. We also discuss the major obstacles in developing PAK inhibitors and propose strategies to overcome these barriers, paving the way for their clinical translation.

DNA hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes among oral squamous cell carcinoma patients: a prominent diagnostic biomarker

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a globally revealing form of oral malignancy. Epigenetics, which studies genetic modifications in gene expression without altering the sequence of DNA, is crucial for understanding OSCC. Key epigenetic modifications such as histone modifications, DNA methylation, and microRNA regulation play significant roles in Oral carcinoma. Aberrant methylation of DNA of tumor suppressor genes which leads to their inactivation, promoting cancer development, and specific methylation patterns are emerging as biomarkers for early OSCC detection.Current treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy often fall short, prompting research into epigenetic therapies. Agents like DNMT and HDAC inhibitors demonstrate the potential for reversing aberrant epigenetic patterns, perhaps reactivating silenced TSGs, and suppressing oncogenes. Despite early promise, the development of effective combination medicines and the identification of reliable biomarkers continue to present challenges.In OSCC, resistance to therapy is also influenced by epigenetic processes. Aberrant DNA methylation and changes in histone modifications impact genes involved in medication metabolism and the survival of cells. Enhancing treatment efficacy and overcoming medication resistance may be possible by recognizing and focusing on these processes. This review explores the interplay between epigenetic changes and OSCC, their role in the disease's initiation and progression, and their impact on diagnosis and treatment. It also discusses the potential of epigenetic drugs (epi-drugs) to improve diagnostic precision and treatment outcomes.

Potential Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Caralluma indica Seed Extract

Background: Plant-derived phytochemicals are crucial in fighting bacterial infections and in cancer therapy. Objective: This study investigates the phytochemical composition of the ethanolic extract obtained from Caralluma indica (C. indica) seeds and assesses its antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant activities. Results: GC-MS analysis found 30 phytochemicals in C. indica seeds, including 5 bioactive compounds that have been shown to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity properties, through in silico evaluation. Phytochemical screening of C. indica identified and measured the phenolic compounds, providing insight into its bioactive potential and therapeutic properties. C. indica exhibited robust antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide, and H2O2 radical scavenging) alongside potent antimicrobial activity against oral pathogen and cytotoxicity activity on a human oral squamous carcinoma cell line (OECM-1) (EC50 of 169.35 µg/mL) and yeast cell Saccharomyces cerevisiae (215.82 µg/mL), with a selective index of 1.27. The subminimum % MBC/MFC of C. indica significantly reduced biofilm formation against oral pathogens (p < 0.05). Molecular docking studies showed a strong correlation (r = 0.862) between antifungal and anticancer targets, suggesting that the antimicrobial agents in C. indica contribute to cancer prevention mechanisms. Conclusions: These findings propose C. indica seeds as promising candidates for combating oral pathogens, inhibiting biofilm formation, and reducing the risk of oral cancer progression.

m5C related-regulator-mediated methylation modification patterns and prognostic significance in breast cancer

5-Methylcytosine (m5C) is closely associated with cancer. However, the role of m5C in breast cancer(BC)remains unclear. This study combined single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and transcriptomics datasets to screen m5C regulators associated with BC progression and analyze their clinical values. Firstly, This study elucidates the mechanisms of the m5C landscape and the specific roles of m5C regulators in BC patients. we found that the dysregulation of m5C regulators with m5Cscore play the essential role of the carcinogenesis and progression in epithelial cells and myeloid cells of BC at single cell level. External validation was conducted using an independent scRNA-Seq datasets. Then, three distinct m5C modification patterns were identified by transcriptomics datasets. Based on the m5C differentially expressed regulators, the m5Cscore was constructed, and used to divide patients with BC into high and low m5Cscore groups. Patients with a high m5Cscore had more abundant immune cell infiltration, stronger antitumor immunity, and better prognoses. Finally, Quantitative real-time (PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used for the in vitro experimental validation, which had extensive prognostic value. In this study, we aimed to assess the expression of m5C regulators involved in BC and investigate their correlation with the tumor microenvironment, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis of BC. The m5C regulators could be used to effectively assess the cell specific regulation prognosis of patients with BC and develop more effective immunotherapy strategies.

Targeted modulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment: Implications for cancer therapy

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) represent a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells originating from the bone marrow, known for their potent immunosuppressive functions that contribute to tumor immune evasion and progression. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted interactions between MDSCs and tumors, exploring their distinct phenotypes and immunosuppressive mechanisms. Key roles of MDSCs in tumor biology are discussed, including their involvement in the formation of the pre-metastatic niche, facilitation of angiogenesis, enhancement of vascular permeability, suppression of tumor cell apoptosis, and promotion of resistance to cancer therapies. Additionally, the review highlights recent advances in the development of MDSC-targeting therapies, with a focus on their potential to enhance anti-tumor immunity. The therapeutic potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in modulating MDSC quantity and function is also explored, suggesting a novel approach to cancer treatment by integrating traditional and modern therapeutic strategies.

B7H4 Role in Solid Cancers: A Review of the Literature

Anti-cancer immunotherapies entirely changed the therapeutic approach to oncological patients. However, despite the undeniable success of anti-PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 antibody treatments, their effectiveness is limited either by certain types of malignancies or by the arising problem of cancer resistance. B7H4 (aliases B7x, B7H4, B7S1, VTCN1) is a member of a B7 immune checkpoint family with a distinct expression pattern from classical immune checkpoint pathways. The growing amount of research results seem to support the thesis that B7H4 might be a very potent therapeutic target. B7H4 was demonstrated to promote tumour progression in immune "cold" tumours by promoting migration, proliferation of tumour cells, and cancer stem cell persistence. B7H4 suppresses T cell effector functions, including inflammatory cytokine production, cytolytic activity, proliferation of T cells, and promoting the polarisation of naïve CD4 T cells into induced Tregs. This review aimed to summarise the available information about B7H4, focusing in particular on clinical implications, immunological mechanisms, potential strategies for malignancy treatment, and ongoing clinical trials.

Research progress of human key DNA and RNA methylation-related enzymes assay

Gene methylation-related enzymes (GMREs) are disfunction and aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers, such as lung, gastric, and pancreatic cancers and have important implications for human health. Therefore，it is critical for early diagnosis and therapy of tumor to develop strategies that allow rapid and sensitive quantitative and qualitative detection of GMREs. With the development of modern analytical techniques and the application of various biosensors, there are numerous methods have been developed for analysis of GMREs. Therefore, this paper provides a systematic review of the strategies for level and activity assay of various GMREs including methyltransferases and demethylase. The detection methods mainly involve immunohistochemistry, colorimetry, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, electrochemistry, etc. Then, this review also addresses the coordinated role of various detection probes, novel nanomaterials, and signal amplification methods. The aim is to highlight potential challenges in the present field, to expand the analytical application of GMREs detection strategies, and to meet the urgent need for future disease diagnosis and intervention.

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.

Implications of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in head and neck cancer: from molecular and cellular mechanisms to early diagnosis and therapy

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, with more than half a million new cases annually. This review focuses on the role of oral dysbiosis and HPV infection in HNCs, presenting the involved taxons, molecular effectors and pathways, as well as the HPV-associated particularities of genetic and epigenetic changes and of the tumor microenvironment occurred in different stages of tumor development. Oral dysbiosis is associated with the evolution of HNCs, through multiple mechanisms such as inflammation, genotoxins release, modulation of the innate and acquired immune response, carcinogens and anticarcinogens production, generation of oxidative stress, induction of mutations. Thus, novel microbiome-derived biomarkers and interventions could significantly contribute to achieving the desideratum of personalized management of oncologic patients, regarding both early diagnosis and treatment. The results reported by different studies are not always congruent regarding the variations in the abundance of different taxons in HNCs. However, there is a consistent reporting of a higher abundance of Gram-negative species such as Fusobacterium, Leptotrichia, Treponema, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella, Bacteroidetes, Haemophilus, Veillonella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacterales, which are probably responsible of chronic inflammation and modulation of tumor microenvironment. Candida albicans is the dominant fungi found in oral carcinoma being also associated with shorter survival rate. Specific microbial signatures (e.g., F. nucleatum, Bacteroidetes and Peptostreptococcus) have been associated with later stages and larger tumor, suggesting their potential to be used as biomarkers for tumor stratification and prognosis. On the other hand, increased abundance of Corynebacterium, Kingella, Abiotrophia is associated with a reduced risk of HNC. Microbiome could also provide biomarkers for differentiating between oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers as well as between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors. Ongoing clinical trials aim to validate non-invasive tests for microbiome-derived biomarkers detection in oral and throat cancers, especially within high-risk populations. Oro-pharyngeal dysbiosis could also impact the HNCs therapy and associated side-effects of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. HPV-positive tumors harbor fewer mutations, as well as different DNA methylation pattern and tumor microenvironment. Therefore, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms by which oral microbiota and HPV infection influence the HNC initiation and progression, screening for HPV infection and vaccination against HPV, adopting a good oral hygiene, and preventing oral dysbiosis are important tools for advancing in the battle with this public health global challenge.

Insights into DNMT1 and programmed cell death in diseases

DNMT1 (DNA methyltransferase 1) is the predominant member of the DNMT family and the most abundant DNMT in various cell types. It functions as a maintenance DNMT and is involved in various diseases, including cancer and nervous system diseases. Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental mechanism that regulates cell proliferation and maintains the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. DNMT1 plays a regulatory role in various types of PCD, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and others. DNMT1 is closely associated with the development of various diseases by regulating key genes and pathways involved in PCD, including caspase 3/7 activities in apoptosis, Beclin 1, LC3, and some autophagy-related proteins in autophagy, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) in ferroptosis, and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1-receptor-interacting protein kinase 3-mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL) in necroptosis. Our study summarizes the regulatory relationship between DNMT1 and different types of PCD in various diseases and discusses the potential of DNMT1 as a common regulatory hub in multiple types of PCD, offering a perspective for therapeutic approaches in disease.

Role of DNA Methylation Profiles as Potential Biomarkers and Novel Therapeutic Targets in Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is associated with high mortality. The main reasons for treatment failure are a low rate of early diagnosis, high relapse rates, and distant metastasis with poor outcomes. These are largely due to a lack of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers in HNSCC. DNA methylation has been demonstrated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HNSCC, and recent studies have also valued DNA methylation as a potential biomarker in HNSCC. This review summarizes the current knowledge on DNA methylation profiles in HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC and how these may contribute to the pathogenesis of HNSCC. It also summarizes the potential value of DNA methylation as a biomarker in the diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of the response to therapy. With the recent immunotherapy era in head and neck treatment, new strategies to improve immune responses by modulating TIMEs have been intensely investigated in early-phase trials. Therefore, this study additionally summarizes the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of TIMEs and potential predictive immunotherapy response biomarkers. Finally, this study reviews ongoing clinical trials using DNA methylation inhibitors in HNSCC.

PD-L1 Downregulation and DNA Methylation Inhibition for Molecular Therapy against Cancer Stem Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous cancer characterized by various cellular subtypes. This study investigates the potential of a combination strategy using immunotherapy and epigenetic reprogramming against HCC. We used a transgenic HCC mouse C57BL/6J-TG(ALB1HBV)44BRI/J to assess the dynamics of the programmed death receptor and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) and DNA methylation markers. In parallel, PD-L1 RNA silencing was performed in various human HCC cell lines, while combination therapy was performed in a co-culture system using long-term exposure of 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) and an anti-PD-L1. Data from the mouse model showed that the expressions of Pdcd1, Pdcd1l1, and DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) were significantly higher in HCC as compared to the wild-type mice (p < 0.01), supported by the high presence of PD-L1 methylated DNA. In HCC cell lines, PD-L1 silencing was accompanied by DNMT1 reduction, mostly noted in aggressive HCC cell lines, followed by the dysregulation of the cancer stem cell marker EpCAM. In combination therapy, the growth of HCC cells and lymphocytes was limited by the PD-L1 antibody, further reduced in the presence of 5-AZA by up to 20% (p < 0.001). The data demonstrated that combination therapy might be an option as a potential treatment for heterogeneous HCC.

Tetraspanin CD63 reduces the progression and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via KRT1-mediated cell cycle arrest

Despite the fact that metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, fundamental questions about the mechanisms that enable or inhibit metastasis remain unanswered. Tetraspanin CD63 has been linked to tumor progression and metastasis. However, few studies have examined the role of CD63 in HNSCC. In this study, we discovered that CD63 levels were abnormally altered in HNSCC tissue compared to adjacent tissue (n = 69 pairs), and that this was linked to prognosis. Through functional in vitro and in vivo experiments, the roles of CD63 in HNSCC were confirmed. Overexpression of CD63 inhibited the progression and metastasis of HNSCC cells. Using mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation assays, we discovered that KRT1 could be a direct interacting partner of CD63. Furthermore, both CD63 and KRT1 expression was significantly decreased in metastatic tissue compared with primary tumor tissue (n = 13 pairs), suggesting that CD63 and KRT1 play a role in reducing the metastasis of HNSCC. In summary, we reveal a previously unrecognized role of CD63 in regulating KRT1-mediated cell cycle arrest in HNSCC cells, and our findings contribute to defining an important mechanism of HNSCC progression and metastasis.

The potential effects and mechanism of echinacoside powder in the treatment of Hirschsprung's Disease

Possible complications, such as intestinal obstruction and inflammation of the intestinal tract, can have a detrimental effect on the prognosis after surgery for Hirschsprung disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential targets and mechanisms of action of echinacoside to improve the prognosis of Hirschsprung disease. Genes related to the disease were obtained through analysis of the GSE96854 dataset and four databases: OMIM, DisGeNET, Genecard and NCBI. The targets of echinacoside were obtained from three databases: PharmMapper, Drugbank and TargetNet. The intersection of disease genes and drug targets was validated by molecular docking. The valid docked targets were further explored for their expression by using immunohistochemistry. In this study, enrichment analysis was used to explore the mechanistic pathways involved in the genes. Finally, we identified CA1, CA2, CA9, CA12, DNMT1, RIMS2, RPGRIP1L and ZEB2 as the core targets. Except for ZEB2, which is predominantly expressed in brain tissue, the remaining seven genes show tissue specificity and high expression in the gastrointestinal tract. RIMS2 possesses a high mutation phenomenon in pan-cancer, while a validated ceRNA network of eight genes was constructed. The core genes are involved in several signaling pathways, including the one-carbon metabolic process, carbonate dehydratase activity and others. This study may help us to further understand the pharmacological mechanisms of echinacoside and provide new guidance and ideas to guide the treatment of Hirschsprung disease.

Epigenetic regulation and therapeutic targets in the tumor microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial to neoplastic processes, fostering proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. Epigenetic regulations, primarily including DNA and RNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNA, have been generally recognized as an essential feature of tumor malignancy, exceedingly contributing to the dysregulation of the core gene expression in neoplastic cells, bringing about the evasion of immunosurveillance by influencing the immune cells in TME. Recently, compelling evidence have highlighted that clinical therapeutic approaches based on epigenetic machinery modulate carcinogenesis through targeting TME components, including normalizing cells' phenotype, suppressing cells' neovascularization and repressing the immunosuppressive components in TME. Therefore, TME components have been nominated as a promising target for epigenetic drugs in clinical cancer management. This review focuses on the mechanisms of epigenetic modifications occurring to the pivotal TME components including the stroma, immune and myeloid cells in various tumors reported in the last five years, concludes the tight correlation between TME reprogramming and tumor progression and immunosuppression, summarizes the current advances in cancer clinical treatments and potential therapeutic targets with reference to epigenetic drugs. Finally, we summarize some of the restrictions in the field of cancer research at the moment, further discuss several interesting epigenetic gene targets with potential strategies to boost antitumor immunity.

Construction of an original anoikis-related prognostic model closely related to immune infiltration in gastric cancer

Background: Anoikis is considered as a particular type of programmed cell death, the weakness or resistance of which contributes greatly to the development and progression of most malignant solid tumors. However, the latent impact of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) on gastric cancer (GC) is still ambiguous. Based on these, this study established an anoikis-related prognostic model of GC to identify the prognosis of patients and provide more effective treatment in clinical practice. Methods: First, we extracted four public datasets containing the gene expression and clinicopathological information of GC, which were worked as the training and validating sets, separately. Then, an anoikis-related survival-predicted model of GC was developed via Lasso and COX regression analyses and verified by using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Next, we assigned GC patients to two groups characterized by the risk score calculated and analyzed somatic mutation, functional pathways, and immune infiltration between the different two groups. Finally, a unique nomogram was offered to clinicians to forecast the personal survival probability of GC patients. Results: Based on seven anoikis-related markers screened and identified, a carcinogenic model of risk score was produced. Patients placed in the high-score group suffered significantly worse overall survival (OS) in four cohorts. Additionally, the model revealed a high sensitivity and specificity to prognosticate the prognoses of GC patients [area under the ROC curve (AUC) at 5-year = 0.713; GSE84437, AUC at 5-year = 0.639; GSE15459, AUC at 5-year = 0.672; GSE62254, AUC at 5-year = 0.616]. Apart from the excellent predictive performance, the model was also identified as an independent prediction factor from other clinicopathological characteristics. Combining anoikis-related prognostic model with GC clinical features, we built a more comprehensive nomogram to foresee the likelihood of survival of GC patients in a given year, showing a well-accurate prediction performance. Conclusion: In summary, this study created a new anoikis-related signature for GC, which has potentially provided new critical insights into survival prediction and individualized therapy development.

Regulation of epigenetic modifications in the head and neck tumour microenvironment

Head and neck tumours are common malignancies that are associated with high mortality. The low rate of early diagnosis and the high rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis are the main reasons for treatment failure. Recent studies have established that the tumour microenvironment (TME) can affect the proliferation and metastasis of head and neck tumours via several mechanisms, including altered expressions of certain genes and cytokines. Increasing evidence has shown that epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, RNA modification, and non-coding RNAs, can regulate the head and neck TME and thereby influence tumour development. Epigenetic modifications can regulate the expression of different genes and subsequently alter the TME to affect the progression of head and neck tumours. In addition, the cell components in the TME are regulated by epigenetic modifications, which, in turn, affect the behaviour of head and neck tumour cells. In this review, we have discussed the functions of epigenetic modifications in the head and neck TME. We have further examined the roles of such modifications in the malignancy and metastasis of head and neck tumours.

Role of the Tumor Microenvironment and the Influence of Epigenetics on the Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Carcinogenesis: Potential Implications

Oral cancer has become a significant problem throughout the world, particularly in countries that are still developing. Recent literature supports the contribution of components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the effect of epigenetic changes happening in the cells of the TME on oral cancer development and progression. In this review, we comprehensively examine the significance of TME in the development of OC along with the current understanding of the epigenetic modifications that regulate the TME and their cohesive impact on tumor traits and their potential as therapeutic targets.