Stage-specific treatment of colorectal cancer: A microRNA-nanocomposite approach

Epigenetic Silencing of miR-218-5p Modulates BIRC5 and DDX21 Expression to Promote Colorectal Cancer Progression

Colorectal cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally. Non-protein coding RNAs, including microRNAs, have emerged as crucial regulators in cancer progression. Herein, we analyzed publicly available datasets for miRNA expression in healthy controls, adenomatous polyps, and colorectal cancer and identified their regulatory networks using HCT116 and HT-29 CRC models. Differentially expressed miRNAs in adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer were identified, highlighting their role in colorectal cancer initiation and progression. Notably, miR-218-5p was significantly downregulated in adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer, suggesting a role in colorectal cancer initiation. Functional investigations revealed a tumor suppressive role for miR-218-5p in HCT116 and HT-29 CRC cell models, affecting cell proliferation and three-dimensional organoid formation and promoting cell death. RNA-Seq and bioinformatics identified BIRC5 and DDX21 as bona fide gene targets for miR-218-5p, validated by reverse transcription quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Further investigation into the genomic location of miR-218-5p, embedded within the SLIT2 and SLIT3 introns on chromosome 4 and chromosome 5, respectively, revealed epigenetic silencing through promoter hypermethylation in colorectal cancer cell models. These findings highlight epigenetic silencing of miR-218-5p in colorectal cancer, suggesting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for early detection and intervention.

Development of a Highly Efficient NIR-II Phototherapeutic Agent for Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Synergistic PTT/PDT/Chemotherapy of Colorectal Cancer

NIR-II-triggered phototherapy presents a noninvasive, resistance-free alternative therapeutic approach with deeper tissue penetration and improved imaging of deep tumors. However, many NIR-II phototherapeutic agents suffer from low fluorescence quantum yields, poor photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), and reduced efficacy due to the upregulation of heat shock protein HSP70. This study develops a small-molecule NIR-II phototherapeutic agent (IRF) with a high fluorescence quantum yield (17.4%), excellent PCE (96.8%) for photothermal therapy (PTT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity. To decrease thermal resistance during phototherapy, IRF and evodiamine (EVO) were loaded onto hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified nanoparticles, creating a multifunctional nanoplatform termed EVO/IRF@HA NPs. EVO/IRF@HA NPs can actively target tumors for NIR-II fluorescence imaging via the HA moiety. Upon 980 nm laser irradiation, IRF increases the temperature and content of reactive oxygen species for synergistic PTT/PDT. Importantly, EVO effectively inhibits the overexpression of HSP70, enabling combined PTT/PDT/chemotherapy for effective colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment.

Integration of MicroRNAs with nanomedicine: tumor targeting and therapeutic approaches

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that play a pivotal role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Over the past decade, they have emerged as key regulators in cancer progression, influencing different cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and immune evasion. Their unique ability to target multiple genes simultaneously makes miRNAs highly attractive as potential therapeutic agents in oncology. However, several challenges have hindered their direct clinical application, most notably their inherent instability in biological fluids, rapid degradation by nucleases, and inefficient delivery to specific tumor sites. Additionally, off-target effects and the potential for toxicity further complicate the therapeutic use of miRNAs. Nanomedicine offers a promising solution to these challenges by enabling the development of advanced platforms for the stable, safe, and targeted delivery of miRNAs. Nanoparticle-based delivery systems, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and inorganic nanocarriers, can protect miRNAs from degradation, improve their bioavailability, and allow for precise tumor targeting through passive or active targeting mechanisms. These nanocarriers can also be engineered to release miRNAs in response to specific stimuli within the tumor microenvironment, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects. This review will explore the integration of miRNAs with nanotechnology, focusing on various nanoparticle formulations and their roles in enhancing miRNA stability, specificity, and function in cancer treatment. In addition, we will discuss current advances in preclinical and clinical applications, highlight promising tumor-targeting strategies, and address the remaining challenges such as toxicity, immunogenicity, and scalability. Future research should focus on overcoming these barriers, ultimately paving the way for the widespread adoption of personalized miRNA-based nanomedicine in cancer therapy.

Fluorescence paper sensor meets magnetic affinity chromatography: discovering potent neuraminidase inhibitors in herbal medicines

Given the inherent complexity of natural medicines, finding a straightforward and efficient method for identifying active ingredients remains a significant challenge, yet it is of paramount importance. Influenza virus neuraminidase (NA), a primary target for anti-influenza drug development, plays a crucial role in the infection process, making it essential to develop rapid and facile methods for screening NA inhibitors. Herein, we developed a novel and efficient analytical technique for the identification of NA inhibitors from complex herbal medicines by integrating dual sensing with affinity chromatography. This approach simplifies the experimental process and highlights the benefits of being quicker, more sensitive, and cost-effective. Regarding the biosensing section, the innovative concept of a 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid-NA-based fluorescence paper sensor strategy enables the rapid detection of NA inhibitors in complex herbal samples. In affinity chromatography, bioactive compounds were precisely captured, separated, and identified. The efficacy and reliability of the developed method were confirmed using both negative and positive controls. Then, the method was applied to screen for NA inhibitors in 20 different herbal medicines. The results revealed that Bupleurum chinense DC. exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effect on NA. Subsequent analysis utilizing affinity chromatography identified three bioactive compounds, namely saikosaponin a, saikosaponin d, and baicalin, as the active agents responsible for this inhibitory effect, with IC50 values of 177.3 μM, 262.9 μM, and 241.4 μM, respectively. Molecular docking studies further indicated that these three bioactive compounds exhibit a strong binding affinity with NA. This research provides novel insights into the screening of enzyme inhibitors within herbal medicines.

The role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer and colitis-associated cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of noncoding single-stranded RNA biomolecules that act in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Their role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colitis-associated cancer (CAC), and colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently under investigation. A few miRNAs present promising results in terms of diagnostic or therapeutic use, for example, miR-21 increases in CRC and inflammation, while also being a possible target for cancer therapy; miR-301a increases in inflammation but only in patients with IBD; miR-31 increases in CRC, especially in advanced stages, namely III-IV in TNM scale; miR-200 family plays a role in carcinogenesis of CRC and other tumors; examined as a group, miR-31-5p, miR-223-3p, and let-7f-5p trigger and exacerbate CAC; miR-19a could potentially be used in therapy and prevention of both CRC and CAC. Here, we discuss available studies and outline future directions concerning the validity of using miRNAs in the diagnosis and/or therapy of IBD, CAC, and CRC. Extensive research confirms that miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of CAC and CRC. Since the significantly altered expression of certain miRNAs is an early prognostic marker for the development of these diseases, miRNAs have the potential to serve as diagnostic tools, enabling quick and straightforward disease detection.

Beyond chemotherapy: Exploring 5-FU resistance and stemness in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health challenge, demanding continuous advancements in treatment strategies. This review explores the complexities of targeting colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the mechanisms contributing to resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The efficacy of 5-FU is enhanced by combination therapies such as FOLFOXIRI and targeted treatments like bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, particularly in KRAS wild-type tumors, despite associated toxicity. Biomarkers like thymidylate synthase (TYMS), thymidine phosphorylase (TP), and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) are crucial for predicting 5-FU efficacy and resistance. Targeting CRC-CSCs remains challenging due to their inherent resistance to conventional therapies, marker variability, and the protective influence of the tumor microenvironment which promotes stemness and survival. Personalized treatment strategies are increasingly essential to address CRC's genetic and phenotypic diversity. Advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and cancer vaccines, along with nanomedicine-based therapies, offer promising targeted drug delivery systems that enhance specificity, reduce toxicity, and provide novel approaches for overcoming resistance mechanisms. Integrating these innovative strategies with traditional therapies may enhance the effectiveness of CRC therapy by addressing the underlying causes of 5-FU resistance in CSCs.

The integrative genomic and functional immunological analyses of colorectal cancer initiating cells to modulate stemness properties and the susceptibility to immune responses

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) initiating cells (CICs) possess self-renewal capabilities and are pivotal in tumor recurrence and resistance to conventional therapies, including immunotherapy. The mechanisms underlying their interaction with immune cells remain unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a multi-omics analysis-encompassing DNA methylation, total RNA sequencing, and microRNAs (miRNAs; N = 800) profiling on primary CICs and differentiated tumor cell lines, including autologous pairs. Functional immunological assays were performed to assess the impact of miRNA modulation.

RESULTS

CICs exhibited distinct methylation patterns, transcriptomic profiles, and miRNA expressions compared to differentiated tumor cells (p < 0.05 or 0.01). Notably, miRNA-15a and -196a were implicated in regulating tumorigenic pathways, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), TGF-β signaling, and immune modulation. The transfection of CICs with miRNA mimics led to the downregulation of oncogenic EMT markers (CRKL, lncRNA SOX2-OT, JUNB, SMAD3) and TGF-β pathway, resulting in a significant reduction of the in vitro proliferation and the tumorigenicity and migration in a zebrafish xenograft model. Additionally, miRNA-15a enhanced the expression of antigen processing machinery and decreased the expression of immune checkpoints (PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4) and immunosuppressive cytokines (IL-4). The co-culture of HLA-matched lymphocytes with CICs overexpressing the miRNA-15a, elicited robust tumor-specific immune responses, characterized by a shift toward central and effector memory T cell phenotypes and prevented their terminal differentiation and exhaustion. The combination of miRNA modulation with Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase blockade and immunomodulating agents further potentiated these effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that the modulation of miRNA-15a in CICs not only suppresses the tumorigenic properties but also enhances their visibility to the immune system by upregulating antigen presentation and reducing immunomodulatory molecules. These findings suggest that combining miRNA modulation with epigenetic or immunomodulatory agents holds significant promise for overcoming treatment resistance in CRC.

PLGA confers upon conventional nonfluorescent molecules luminescent properties to trigger 1O2-induced pyroptosis and immune response in tumors

Pyroptosis, a recently identified cellular demise regulated by gasdermin family proteins, is emerging as a promising avenue in cancer immunotherapy. However, the realm of light-controlled pyroptosis in cancer cells remains largely unexplored. In this study, we took a deliberate approach devoid of any chemical alterations to develop a novel photosensitizer called "pharmaceutical-dots (pharm-dots)" by combining nonemissive polymers (Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid), PLGA) with nonfluorescent invisible molecules like curcumin, berberine, oridonin into PLGA nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs). Initially, our research commenced with a comprehensive mechanistic comparison study, consolidating fragmented information on optical mechanisms. This exploration revealed that surface passivation atoms play a dominant role in governing the fluorescence emission of PLGA-NPs. Remarkably, these new luminophores, composed of two non-inherently luminous components, exhibit a remarkable synergistic boost in photoluminescence through a "0 + 0 > 2" phenomenon. In-depth investigations uncovered that these luminous PLGA-NPs, capable of generating 1O2, induce pyroptosis under photoexcitation conditions through the caspase-3/gasdermin E (GSDME) pathway. Simultaneously, our findings highlight PLGA-NPs as a novel optical formulation suitable for imaging, displaying substantial biological activity when paired with photoirradiation. This discovery holds the potential to facilitate the application of light-controlled pyroptosis in antitumor therapy, marking a promising stride toward innovative approaches in cancer treatment.

An overview of lipid constituents in lipid nanoparticle mRNA delivery systems

mRNA therapeutics have shown great potential for a broad spectrum of disease treatment. However, the challenges of mRNA's inherent instability and difficulty in cellular entry have hindered its progress in the biomedical field. To address the cellular barriers and deliver mRNA to cells of interest, various delivery systems are designed. Among these, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) stand out as the most extensively used mRNA delivery systems, particularly following the clinical approvals of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines. LNPs are comprised of ionizable cationic lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and polyethylene glycol derived lipids (PEG-lipids). In this review, we primarily summarize the recent advancements of the LNP mRNA delivery technology, focusing on the structures of four lipid constituents and their biomedical applications. We delve into structure-activity relationships of the lipids, while also exploring the future prospects and challenges in developing more efficacious mRNA delivery systems. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.

UHPLC-HRMS-based Multiomics to Explore the Potential Mechanisms and Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Understanding the metabolic changes in colorectal cancer (CRC) and exploring potential diagnostic biomarkers is crucial for elucidating its pathogenesis and reducing mortality. Cancer cells are typically derived from cancer tissues and can be easily obtained and cultured. Systematic studies on CRC cells at different stages are still lacking. Additionally, there is a need to validate our previous findings from human serum.

METHODS

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS)-based metabolomics and lipidomics were employed to comprehensively measure metabolites and lipids in CRC cells at four different stages and serum samples from normal control (NR) and CRC subjects. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were applied to select the differential metabolites and lipids between groups. Biomarkers with good diagnostic efficacy for CRC that existed in both cells and serum were screened by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Furthermore, potential biomarkers were validated using metabolite standards.

RESULTS

Metabolite and lipid profiles differed significantly among CRC cells at stages A, B, C, and D. Dysregulation of glycerophospholipid (GPL), fatty acid (FA), and amino acid (AA) metabolism played a crucial role in the CRC progression, particularly GPL metabolism dominated by phosphatidylcholine (PC). A total of 46 differential metabolites and 29 differential lipids common to the four stages of CRC cells were discovered. Eight metabolites showed the same trends in CRC cells and serum from CRC patients compared to the control groups. Among them, palmitoylcarnitine and sphingosine could serve as potential biomarkers with the values of area under the curve (AUC) more than 0.80 in the serum and cells. Their panel exhibited excellent performance in discriminating CRC cells at different stages from normal cells (AUC = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first research to attempt to validate the results of metabolism studies of serum from CRC patients using cell models. The metabolic disorders of PC, FA, and AA were closely related to the tumorigenesis of CRC, with PC being the more critical factor. The panel composed of palmitoylcarnitine and sphingosine may act as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of CRC, aiding in its prevention.

Using machine learning approach for screening metastatic biomarkers in colorectal cancer and predictive modeling with experimental validation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis accounts for the majority of fatalities associated with CRC. Early detection of metastasis is crucial for improving patient outcomes but can be delayed due to a lack of symptoms. In this research, we aimed to investigate CRC metastasis-related biomarkers by employing a machine learning (ML) approach and experimental validation. The gene expression profile of CRC patients with liver metastasis was obtained using the GSE41568 dataset, and the differentially expressed genes between primary and metastatic samples were screened. Subsequently, we carried out feature selection to identify the most relevant DEGs using LASSO and Penalized-SVM methods. DEGs commonly selected by these methods were selected for further analysis. Finally, the experimental validation was done through qRT-PCR. 11 genes were commonly selected by LASSO and P-SVM algorithms, among which seven had prognostic value in colorectal cancer. It was found that the expression of the MMP3 gene decreases in stage IV of colorectal cancer compared to other stages (P value < 0.01). Also, the expression level of the WNT11 gene was observed to increase significantly in this stage (P value < 0.001). It was also found that the expression of WNT5a, TNFSF11, and MMP3 is significantly lower, and the expression level of WNT11 is significantly higher in liver metastasis samples compared to primary tumors. In summary, this study has identified a set of potential biomarkers for CRC metastasis using ML algorithms. The findings of this research may provide new insights into identifying biomarkers for CRC metastasis and may potentially lay the groundwork for innovative therapeutic strategies for treatment of this disease.