Ginsenoside Rg3 suppresses vasculogenic mimicry by impairing DVL3-maintained stemness via PAAD cell-derived exosomal miR-204 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Targeting Redox Signaling Through Exosomal MicroRNA: Insights into Tumor Microenvironment and Precision Oncology

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a dual role in cancer progression, acting as both signaling molecules and drivers of oxidative damage. Emerging evidence highlights the intricate interplay between ROS, microRNAs (miRNAs), and exosomes within the tumor microenvironment (TME), forming a regulatory axis that modulates immune responses, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance. In particular, oxidative stress not only stimulates exosome biogenesis but also influences the selective packaging of redox-sensitive miRNAs (miR-21, miR-155, and miR-210) via RNA-binding proteins such as hnRNPA2B1 and SYNCRIP. These miRNAs, delivered through exosomes, alter gene expression in recipient cells and promote tumor-supportive phenotypes such as M2 macrophage polarization, CD8+ T-cell suppression, and endothelial remodeling. This review systematically explores how this ROS-miRNA-exosome axis orchestrates communication across immune and stromal cell populations under hypoxic and inflammatory conditions. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of NADPH oxidases, hypoxia-inducible factors, and autophagy-related mechanisms in regulating exosomal output. In addition, we analyze the therapeutic relevance of natural products and herbal compounds-such as curcumin, resveratrol, and ginsenosides-which have demonstrated promising capabilities to modulate ROS levels, miRNA expression, and exosome dynamics. We further discuss the clinical potential of leveraging this axis for cancer therapy, including strategies involving mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, ferroptosis regulation, and miRNA-based immune modulation. Incorporating insights from spatial transcriptomics and single-cell analysis, this review provides a mechanistic foundation for the development of exosome-centered, redox-modulating therapeutics. Ultimately, this work aims to guide future research and drug discovery efforts toward integrating herbal medicine and redox biology in the fight against cancer.

Rg3 inhibits hypoxia-induced tumor exosomes from boosting pancreatic cancer vasculogenic mimicry through the HIF-1α/LARS1/mTOR axis

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer (PC), characterized by a poor prognosis, can utilize hypoxia to activate vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and facilitate metastasis. Exosomes serve as crucial mediators in this hypoxic environment. Our previous studies demonstrated that Rg3 could counteract VM by modulating the impact of PC-derived exosomes.

AIM

This study focuses on the carcinogenic mechanism of PC in a hypoxic environment.

METHODS

Exosomes from PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells under normoxic or hypoxic conditions were isolated and characterized by western blot (WB) and nanoparticle trafficking analysis. These PC cells' VM potential was assessed through tube formation and WB. Molecular mechanisms were explored using proteomics analysis, bioinformatics analysis, and the gain- and loss-of-function studies, and the efficacy of Rg3 targeting these exosomes was examined in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

Exosomes from PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells enhanced VM formation in PC cells under hypoxic conditions. Proteomics analysis revealed that these exosomes involved the HIF-1α/LARS1/mTOR axis. Hypoxia-activated HIF-1α led to high expression of LARS1 in PC cell exosomes, which were uptaken by recipient PC cells activating the mTOR signaling and promoting VM formation. Interaction between HIF-1α and LARS1 was further confirmed. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that Rg3 can diminish VM formation of PC cells triggered by the LARS1/mTOR axis in PC-derived exosomes under hypoxic conditions, improving the therapeutic effect of Rg3.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed a novel mechanism through which Rg3 inhibits VM in PC by modulating hypoxia-induced tumor exosomes, offering novel experimental insights for PC treatment.

Polo-like kinase 4 accelerates glioma malignant progression and vasculogenic mimicry by phosphorylating EphA2

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), which involved the formation of vascular-like structures by highly invasive tumor cells, had been identified as one of the mechanisms contributing to resistance against anti-angiogenic therapy in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). Therefore, inhibition of VM formation may serve as an effective therapeutic strategy against angiogenesis resistance. Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4), a protein kinase, had been linked to the progression of glioblastoma and was associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The integration of proteomics and phosphoproteomics revealed that PLK4 directly activated the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling cascades by phosphorylating the Ser901 and Ser897 of EphA2. In addition, EphA2 Ser901 phosphorylating catalyzed by PLK4 significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of its own Ser897 site, which is a hallmark of EphA2 activation. The PI3K-Akt signaling was intricately associated with the progression of VM. Thus, PLK4 influenced malignant progression and VM formation via stimulation of the EphA2 signal transduction. Moreover, the expression level of PLK4 protein positively correlated with the level of EphA2 phosphorylation in glioma tissues. These results highlighted the crucial significance of PLK4 phosphorylating EphA2 in the malignant progression and VM formation in GBM.

The Past and Future of Angiogenesis as a Target for Cancer Therapy and Prevention

Cancer growth is dependent on angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, which represents a hallmark of cancer. After this concept was established in the 1970s, inhibition of tumor development and metastases by blocking the neoangiogenic process has been an important approach to the treatment of tumors. However, antiangiogenic therapies are often administered when cancer has already progressed. The key to reducing the cancer burden is prevention. We noticed 20 years ago that a series of possible cancer chemopreventive agents showed antiangiogenic properties when tested in experimental models. This article reviews the relevant advances in the understanding of the rationale for targeting angiogenesis for cancer therapy, prevention, and interception and recently investigated substances with antiangiogenic activity that may be suitable for such strategies. Many compounds, either dietary derivatives or repurposed drugs, with antiangiogenic activity are possible tools for cancer angioprevention. Such molecules have a favorable safety profile and are likely to allow the prolonged duration necessary for an efficient preventive strategy. Recent evidence on mechanisms and possible use is described here for food derivatives, including flavonoids, retinoids, triterpenoids, omega fatty acids, and carotenoids from marine microorganisms. As examples, a number of compounds, including epigallocatechin, resveratrol, xanthohumol, hydroxytyrosol, curcumin, fenretinide, lycopene, fucoxanthin, and repurposed drugs, such as aspirin, β blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors, carnitines, and biguanides, are reviewed.

The vasculogenic mimicry related signature predicts the prognosis and immunotherapy response in renal clear cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Clear cell carcinoma of the kidney is a common urological malignancy characterized by poor patient prognosis and treatment outcomes. Modulation of vasculogenic mimicry in tumor cells alters the tumor microenvironment and the influx of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and the combination of its inducers and immune checkpoint inhibitors plays a synergistic role in enhancing antitumor effects.

METHODS

We downloaded the data from renal clear cell carcinoma samples and vasculogenic mimicry-related genes to establish a new vasculogenic mimicry-related index (VMRI) using a machine learning approach. Based on VMRI, patients with renal clear cell carcinoma were divided into high VMRI and low VMRI groups, and patients' prognosis, clinical features, tumor immune microenvironment, chemotherapeutic response, and immunotherapeutic response were systematically analyzed. Finally, the function of CDH5 was explored in renal clear cell carcinoma cells.

RESULTS

VMRI can be used for prognostic and immunotherapy efficacy prediction in a variety of cancers, which consists of four vasculogenic mimicry-related genes (CDH5, MMP9, MAPK1, and MMP13), is a reliable predictor of survival and grade in patients with clear cell carcinoma of the kidney and has been validated in multiple external datasets. We found that the high VMRI group presented higher levels of immune cell infiltration, which was validated by pathological sections. We performed molecular docking prediction of vasculogenic mimicry core target proteins and identified natural small molecule drugs with the highest affinity for the target protein. Knockdown of CDH5 inhibited the proliferation and migration of renal clear cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The VMRI identified in this study allows for accurate prognosis assessment of patients with renal clear cell carcinoma and identification of patient populations that will benefit from immunotherapy, providing valuable insights for future precision treatment of patients with renal clear cell carcinoma.