Teaching the basics of cancer metabolism: Developing antitumor strategies by exploiting the differences between normal and cancer cell metabolism

Hypoxic conditions by Raman microspectroscopy - Reprogramming of fatty acids and glucose metabolism during colon cancer progression

Cellular respiration is the primary metabolic process for producing the energy (ATP) needed for survival. Disruptions in this process can lead to various diseases, including colon cancer. This paper reviews the current understanding of how excess fatty acids (FAs) and glucose (Glc) alter metabolic pathways. We focused on the impact of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), linoleic acid (LA)), saturated fatty acid (SFA) (palmitic acid (PA)), and glucose on healthy human colon cells (CCD-18 Co) and cancerous colon cells (Caco-2) using Raman microspectroscopy. Our study examined the metabolic abnormalities in mitochondria and lipid droplets caused by the external intake of FAs and glucose. The results indicate that the peaks at 750 cm-1, 1004 cm-1, 1256 cm-1, 1444 cm-1, and 1656 cm-1 can serve as Raman biomarkers for monitoring metabolic pathways in colon cancer. We proved that oxidative metabolism towards glycolysis allows maintaining redox homeostasis and enables the survival and proliferation of cancer cells in hypoxic conditions. Our findings show that comparing control cells with cells supplemented with UFAs, SFA, and glucose can help detect metabolic abnormalities. Specifically, supplementation with UFAs reduces the intensity of the bands at 750 cm-1 and 1004 cm-1, while SFA and glucose increase their intensity. For the bands at 1256 cm-1, 1444 cm-1, and 1656 cm-1, palmitic acid and glucose decrease the intensity, whereas linoleic acid increases it. This paper introduces new experimental techniques, such as Raman microspectroscopy and imaging, to track and understand the metabolic changes in colon cells caused by FAs and glucose under hypoxic conditions.

Peptides of corn oligopeptides improve Aβ1-42-injured SHSY5Y cells

BACKGROUND

There are more and more Alzheimer's patients. The formation of plaques of Aβ1-42 in the brain is one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease. Corn oligopeptides have natural antioxidant effects. It is aimed to develop functional corn oligopeptides to prevent Alzheimer's disease through antioxidation.

METHODS

According to previous laboratory studies, peptides of corn oligopeptides were screened by biological activity score and ADMET prediction, and molecular docking technology was used to screen the peptides that had high binding energy with Aβ1-42. The protective effects of the selected peptides were evaluated against oxidative stress in Aβ1-42-injured SHSY5Y cells, and the mechanism of the effects in the protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-mediated signaling pathway was investigated, which is closely related to neurodegenerative and neurological diseases.

RESULTS

The results showed that three peptides (GL, FA and FQ) significantly increased the cell viability of Aβ1-42-induced cells and mitochondrial intensity and decreased extracellular lactate dehydrogenase content. They also improved intracellular oxidative stress caused by Aβ1-42, including reducing the overproduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and increasing the content of lipid oxidation, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, western blot showed that treatment with GL, FA and FQ significantly increased the expression of PKA, CREB and BDNF, whereas cells injured with Aβ1-42 decreased the expression of these signaling proteins.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that peptides of corn oligopeptides can effectively improve Aβ1-42-induced Alzheimer's disease, and may improve oxidative stress response to protective nerve cells by up-regulating the protein expression of the PKA/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Proposed Comprehensive Methodology Integrated with Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Prediction of Possible Biomarkers in Metabolomics Panel of Plasma Samples for Breast Cancer Detection

Aim: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer in women, accounting for more than 30% of new female cancers each year. Although various treatments are available for BC, most cancer-related deaths are due to incurable metastases. Therefore, the early diagnosis and treatment of BC are crucial before metastasis. Mammography and ultrasonography are primarily used in the clinic for the initial identification and staging of BC; these methods are useful for general screening but have limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Omics-based biomarkers, like metabolomics, can make early diagnosis much more accurate, make tracking the disease's progression more accurate, and help make personalized treatment plans that are tailored to each tumor's specific molecular profile. Metabolomics technology is a feasible and comprehensive method for early disease detection and biomarker identification at the molecular level. This research aimed to establish an interpretable predictive artificial intelligence (AI) model using plasma-based metabolomics panel data to identify potential biomarkers that distinguish BC individuals from healthy controls. Methods: A cohort of 138 BC patients and 76 healthy controls were studied. Plasma metabolites were examined using LC-TOFMS and GC-TOFMS techniques. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), and Random Forest (RF) were evaluated using performance metrics such as Receiver Operating Characteristic-Area Under the Curve (ROC AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score. ROC and Precision-Recall (PR) curves were generated for comparative analysis. The SHapley Additive Descriptions (SHAP) analysis evaluated the optimal prediction model for interpretability. Results: The RF algorithm showed improved accuracy (0.963 ± 0.043) and sensitivity (0.977 ± 0.051); however, LightGBM achieved the highest ROC AUC (0.983 ± 0.028). RF also achieved the best Precision-Recall Area under the Curve (PR AUC) at 0.989. SHAP search found glycerophosphocholine and pentosidine as the most significant discriminatory metabolites. Uracil, glutamine, and butyrylcarnitine were also among the significant metabolites. Conclusions: Metabolomics biomarkers and an explainable AI (XAI)-based prediction model showed significant diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity in the detection of BC. The proposed XAI system using interpretable metabolite data can serve as a clinical decision support tool to improve early diagnosis processes.

Disparity Between Functional and Structural Recovery of Placental Mitochondria After Exposure to Hypoxia

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects 5-10% of pregnancies with placental hypoxia, playing a key role as a common pathophysiological pathway of different etiologies. Despite the high metabolic rate of the placenta and its "gatekeeper" role in protecting the fetus from hypoxia, the response of placental mitochondria to hypoxic stress is not well understood. This study tested the hypothesis that transient exposure to hypoxia leads to a loss of placental mitochondria and affects their function. Human villous trophoblastic (JEG-3) cells were cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions for 24 h. Mitochondrial content was determined by flow cytometry before and after hypoxic exposure and after 24 h of normoxic recovery. Parameters of oxidative phosphorylation were assessed using a respirometric analyzer before hypoxic exposure and after normoxic recovery. Mitochondrial content decreased significantly from 88.5% to 26.7% during hypoxic incubation. Although it had increased to 84.2% after 24 h of normoxic recovery, oxidative phosphorylation parameters were still significantly suppressed to 1/2 to 1/3 of the pre-incubation levels. The results underscore the ability of placental cells to adapt mitochondrial content to O2 supply. Despite rapid recovery under normoxia, respiratory function remains suppressed, which may result in persistent impairment of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent synthetic and transport functions.

Recent advances in glutathione fluorescent probes based on small organic molecules and their bioimaging

Glutathione (GSH), as one of the most important biological mercaptans, is involved in a variety of biological processes and is considered an important biomarker in early diagnosis, treatment and disease stage monitoring. Rapid and accurate detection of GSH in complex biological systems is of great significance for pathological analysis. Fluorescence imaging technology is widely used because of its advantages of high sensitivity, high resolution and non-destructiveness. In this paper, the latest research progress on GSH-responsive organic small molecule fluorescence probes in the last five years is summarized, and their response mechanisms are classified and discussed. In addition, the probe design strategy, sensing mechanism and biological application are discussed in this review. Finally, the challenges and future research directions of developing new GSH probes are presented.

TGF-β secreted by cancer cells-platelets interaction activates cancer metastasis potential by inducing metabolic reprogramming and bioenergetic adaptation

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and poses a treatment challenge. Although studies have shown the importance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metabolic reprogramming during cancer metastasis, the link between EMT and metabolic reprogramming, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms by which both mediate cancer cell invasion and metastasis have not been elucidated. Here, we observed that interactions between platelets and cancer cells promote the secretion of TGF-β, thereby initiating EMT, promoting the invasion, and altering the metastatic and metabolic potential of colon cancer cells. TGF-β activates the AKT signaling pathway to enhance HK1 and HK2 expression in cancer cells, leading to increased glucose consumption, ATP production, and precise modulation of cell cycle distribution. In an energy-deficient model induced by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) inhibition with oligomycin A, TGF-β-induced highly metastatic HCT116 (H-HCT116) cells adapt by upregulating HK expression and glycolytic metabolism, while concurrently decreasing cell proliferation to conserve energy for survival. Mechanistically, H-HCT116 cells regulate cell division rates by downregulating CDK2, CDK4, and Cyclin D1 protein expression and upregulating p21 expression. Furthermore, H-HCT116 cells display enhanced motility, which is linked to increased mitochondrial metabolic activity. These findings indicated that cancer cells-platelets interaction secreted TGF-β activates cancer metastasis potential by inducing metabolic reprogramming and bioenergetic adaptation. The present study provides new insights into the adaptive strategies of highly metastatic cancer cells under adverse conditions and indicates that targeting glycolysis and metabolic reprogramming could serve as a viable approach to prevent cancer metastasis.

Metabolomic Profiling of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Its Clinical Values

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) are a group of lesions carrying the risk of developing into cancer. The gold standard to predict which lesions are more likely to undergo malignant transformation is the presence of dysplasia histologically. However, not all dysplastic lesions progress, and non-dysplastic lesions may also undergo malignant transformation. Oral carcinogenesis is a complex molecular process that involves somatic alterations and the deregulation of transcriptions, protein expression, and metabolite levels. Metabolomics, which is the scientific study of metabolites, has emerged as a promising high-throughput approach to investigate the metabolic changes of small molecules in biological pathways. In this review, we summarize the data relating to the metabolomic profiling of OPMDs, which will help elucidate the complex process of oral carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we identify that among all metabolites, citrate, pyruvate, and glutamate may serve as potential biomarkers for oral leukoplakia (OLK). Notably, metformin and gluconate have been shown to target glutamate and citrate, respectively, in cancer cells. Based on these findings, we propose that targeting these metabolites in patients with OPMD could be a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate OPMD progression and potentially reduce the risk of malignant transformation. We also discuss the limitations and future directions of metabolomics in OPMD. Understanding these important metabolites is crucial for early detection and monitoring of oral cancer progression.

Machine learning-assisted pattern recognition and imaging of multiplexed cancer cells via a porphyrin-embedded dendrimer array

Early cancer detection plays a vital role in improving the survival rate of cancer patients, underscoring the importance of developing cancer detection methods. However, it is a great challenge to achieve simple, rapid, and accurate methods for simultaneously discerning various cancers. Herein we developed a 5-element porphyrin-embedded dendrimer-based sensor array, targeting the parallel discrimination of multiple cancers. The porphyrin-embedded dendrimers were modified with various functional groups to generate differentiated interactions with diverse cancer cells, which has been validated by fluorescence responses and laser confocal microscopy imaging. The dual-channel, five-element array, featuring ten signal outputs, achieved 100% accuracy in distinguishing between one human normal cell and six human cancerous cells, as well as in differentiating among mixed cells. Moreover, the screen 6-channel array can accurately distinguish 9 cells from mice and humans in minutes through optimization by multiple machine learning algorithms, including two normal cells and 7 cancerous cells with only 1000 cells, highlighting the significant potential of a porphyrin-embedded dendrimer-based parallel discriminating platform in early cancer diagnosis.

Cytochrome c and cancer cell metabolism: A new perspective

Cytochrome c is a vital electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. When the outer membrane of mitochondria becomes permeable, cytochrome c is discharged into the cytoplasm, where it initiates the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. The complex interaction between cytochrome c and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) leads to the formation of the apoptosome and activation of a cascade of caspases, highlighting the critical role of cytochrome c in controlling cell death mechanisms. Additionally, cytochrome c undergoes post-translational modifications, especially phosphorylation, which intricately regulate its roles in both respiration and apoptosis. These modifications add layers of complexity to how cytochrome c effectively controls cellular functions. cytochrome c becomes a lighthouse in the intricate web of cancer, its expression patterns providing hints about prognosis and paths toward treatment. Reduced levels of cytochrome c have been observed in cancer tissues, indicating a potential inhibition of apoptosis. For instance, in glioma tissues, cytochrome c levels were lower compared to healthy tissues, and this reduction became more pronounced in advanced stages of the disease. However, the role of cytochrome c in cancer becomes more intricate as it becomes intertwined with the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells. This suggests that cytochrome c plays a crucial role in tumor progression and resistance to treatment. Viewing cytochrome c as a molecular mosaic reveals that it is not merely a protein, but also a central player in determining cellular fate. This realization opens up exciting avenues for potential advancements in cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. Despite the advancements made, the narrative surrounding cytochrome c remains incomplete, urging further exploration into its complexities and the biological implications linked to cancer. cytochrome c stands as a beacon of hope and a promising target for therapy in the battle against cancer, particularly due to its significant involvement in tumor metabolism. It holds the potential for a future where innovative solutions can be developed to address the intricate challenges of cellular fate. In this review, we have endeavored to illuminate the multifaceted domain of cytochrome c drawing connections among apoptosis, metabolic reprogramming, and the Warburg effect in the context of cancer.

The synergistic anti-Warburg efficacy of temozolomide, metformin and epigallocatechin gallate in glioblastoma

An important hallmark of glioblastoma aggressiveness is its altered metabolism of glucose. This metabolic shift wherein the tumor cells employ aerobic glycolysis regardless of oxygen availability via reprogramming of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is known as the Warburg effect. Previous literatures have linked this metabolic reprograming to tumor progression and glioblastoma cell proliferation making it a key target for targeted drug therapy. Based on this lacuna, the current study aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy of the triple-drug combination of temozolomide, metformin and epigallocatechin gallate in attenuating Warburg effect and glucose uptake in glioblastoma both in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that the triple-drug combination had significantly reduced glucose uptake and reversed the Warburg effect in glioblastoma cells and in the glioma-induced xenograft rat model. Thus, the triple-drug combination would serve as an effective therapeutic regime to hamper glioblastoma progression via altering glucose metabolism and improving the overall prognosis in patient setting.

Agent-based modeling for the tumor microenvironment (TME)

Cancer is a disease that arises from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal (tumor) cells in an organ and their subsequent spread into other parts of the body. If tumor cells spread to surrounding tissues or other organs, then the disease is life-threatening due to limited treatment options. This work applies an agent-based model to investigate the effect of intra-tumoral communication on tumor progression, plasticity, and invasion, with results suggesting that cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions affect tumor cell behavior. Additionally, the model suggests that low initial healthy cell densities and ECM protein densities promote tumor progression, cell motility, and invasion. Furthermore, high ECM breakdown probabilities of tumor cells promote tumor invasion. Understanding the intra-tumoral communication under cellular stress can potentially lead to the design of successful treatment strategies for cancer.

Melanocortin-4 receptor antagonist TCMCB07 alleviates chemotherapy-induced anorexia and weight loss in rats

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often experience anorexia and weight loss that substantially deteriorates overall health, reduces treatment tolerance and quality of life, and worsens oncologic outcomes. There are currently few effective therapeutic options to mitigate these side effects. The central melanocortin system, which plays a pivotal role in regulating appetite and energy homeostasis, presents a logical target for treating anorexia and weight loss. In this preclinical study, we evaluated the efficacy of TCMCB07, a synthetic antagonist of the melanocortin-4 receptor, in mitigating anorexia and weight loss in several rat models of chemotherapy: cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and a combination of irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil. Our results indicate that peripheral administration of TCMCB07 improved appetite, stabilized body weight, preserved fat and heart mass, and slightly protected lean mass after multiple cycles of chemotherapy. Furthermore, combining TCMCB07 with a growth differentiation factor 15 antibody enhanced treatment effectiveness. Similar effects from TCMCB07 treatment were observed in a rat tumor model following combination chemotherapy. No notable adverse effects nor increased chemotherapy-related toxicities were observed with TCMCB07 treatment. These findings suggest that peripheral administration of TCMCB07 holds promise as a therapeutic approach for alleviating chemotherapy-induced anorexia and weight loss, potentially benefiting numerous patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Assessing spatial distribution of bioindicator elements in various cutaneous tumors using correlative imaging with laser-ablation-based analytical methods

Correlative imaging of cutaneous tumors provides additional information to the standard histopathologic examination. However, the joint progress in the establishment of analytical techniques, such as Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in clinical practice is still limited. Their combination provides complementary information as it is also shown in our study in terms of major biotic (Ca, Mg, and P) and trace (Cu and Zn) elements. To elucidate changes in the elemental composition in tumors, we have compiled a set of malignant tumors (Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Malignant Melanoma, and Epithelioid Angiosarcoma), one benign tumor (Pigmented Nevus) and one healthy-skin sample. The data processing was based on a methodological pipeline involving binary image registration and affine transformation. Thus, our paper brings a feasibility study of a practical methodological concept that enables us to compare LIBS and LA-ICP-MS results despite the mutual spatial distortion of original elemental images. Moreover, we also show that LIBS could be a sufficient pre-screening method even for a larger number of samples according to the speed and reproducibility of the analyses. Whereas LA-ICP-MS could serve as a ground truth and reference technique for preselected samples.

SPINK4 modulates inhibition of glycolysis against colorectal cancer progression

Dysregulation of glycolysis is frequently linked to aggressive tumor activity in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although serine peptidase inhibitor, Kazal type 4 (SPINK4) has been linked to CRC, its exact linkage to glycolytic processes and gene expression remains unclear. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from two CRC-related datasets (GSE32323 and GSE141174), followed by expression and prognostic analysis of SPINK4. In vitro techniques such as flow cytometry, western blotting, transwell assay, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to assess SPINK4 expression in CRC cells. Its effects on apoptosis, glycolysis, and the cell cycle were also investigated. Finally, the impact of SPINK4 overexpression on tumor development was assessed using a xenograft model, while histological and immunohistochemical analyses characterized SPINK4 expression patterns in CRC tissues. SPINK4 expression was downregulated in CRC, correlating with poor patient prognosis. In vitro assays confirmed that overexpression of SPINK4 reduced CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, while its knockdown promoted these processes and caused G1 arrest. SPINK4 also regulated apoptosis by altering caspase activation and Bcl-2 expression. Besides, SPINK4 overexpression altered glycolytic activity, reduced 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) absorption, and controlled critical glycolytic enzymes, resulting in alterations in metabolic pathways, whereas SPINK4 knockdown reversed this effect. SPINK4 overexpression significantly reduced tumor volume in vivo, indicating its inhibitory role in carcinogenesis. Moreover, high expression of SPINK4, hexokinase 2 (HK2), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was observed in CRC tissues. As a key inhibitor of glycolytic metabolism in CRC, SPINK4 promises metabolic intervention in CRC therapy due to its impact on tumor growth and cell proliferation.

Selective Inhibition of Deamidated Triosephosphate Isomerase by Disulfiram, Curcumin, and Sodium Dichloroacetate: Synergistic Therapeutic Strategies for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Jurkat Cells

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a challenging childhood cancer to treat, with limited therapeutic options and high relapse rates. This study explores deamidated triosephosphate isomerase (dTPI) as a novel therapeutic target. We hypothesized that selectively inhibiting dTPI could reduce T-ALL cell viability without affecting normal T lymphocytes. Computational modeling and recombinant enzyme assays revealed that disulfiram (DS) and curcumin (CU) selectively bind and inhibit dTPI activity without affecting the non-deamidated enzyme. At the cellular level, treatment with DS and CU significantly reduced Jurkat T-ALL cell viability and endogenous TPI enzymatic activity, with no effect on normal T lymphocytes, whereas the combination of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) with DS or CU showed synergistic effects. Furthermore, we demonstrated that dTPI was present and accumulated only in Jurkat cells, confirming our hypothesis. Finally, flow cytometry confirmed apoptosis in Jurkat cells after treatment with DS and CU or their combination with DCA. These findings strongly suggest that targeting dTPI represents a promising and selective target for T-ALL therapy.

Systematic Review and Clinical Insights: The Role of the Ketogenic Diet in Managing Glioblastoma in Cancer Neuroscience

Recent scientific research has shown that the ketogenic diet may have potential benefits in a variety of medical fields, which has led to the diet receiving a substantial amount of attention. Clinical and experimental research on brain tumors has shown that the ketogenic diet has a satisfactory safety profile. This safety profile has been established in a variety of applications, including the management of obesity and the treatment of drug-resistant epileptic cases. However, in human studies, the impact of ketogenic therapy on the growth of tumors and the life expectancy of patients has not provided results that are well characterized. Consequently, our purpose is to improve the comprehension of these features by succinctly presenting the developments and conclusions that have been gained from the most recent study that pertains to this non-pharmacological technique. According to the findings of our study, patients with brain tumors who stick to a ketogenic diet are more likely to experience improved survival rates. However, it is required to conduct additional research on humans in order to more accurately define the anti-tumor efficiency of this diet as well as the underlying processes that support the therapeutic effects of this dieting regimen.

Pharmacological control of angiogenesis by regulating phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2

BACKGROUND

Control of angiogenesis is widely considered a therapeutic strategy, but reliable control methods are still under development. Phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2 (MLC2), which regulates actin-myosin interaction, is critical to the behavior of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) during angiogenesis. MLC2 is phosphorylated by MLC kinase (MLCK) and dephosphorylated by MLC phosphatase (MLCP) containing a catalytic subunit PP1. We investigated the potential role of MLC2 in the pharmacological control of angiogenesis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We exposed transgenic zebrafish Tg(fli1a:Myr-mCherry)ncv1 embryos to chemical inhibitors and observed vascular development. PP1 inhibition by tautomycetin increased length of intersegmental vessels (ISVs), whereas MLCK inhibition by ML7 decreased it; these effects were not accompanied by structural dysplasia. ROCK inhibition by Y-27632 also decreased vessel length. An in vitro angiogenesis model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) showed that tautomycetin increased vascular cord formation, whereas ML7 and Y-27632 decreased it. These effects appear to be influenced by regulation of cell morphology rather than cell viability or motility. Actin co-localized with phosphorylated MLC2 (pMLC2) was abundant in vascular-like elongated-shaped ECs, but poor in non-elongated ECs. pMLC2 was associated with tightly arranged actin, but not with loosely arranged actin. Moreover, knockdown of MYL9 gene encoding MLC2 reduced total MLC2 and pMLC2 protein and inhibited angiogenesis in HUVECs.

CONCLUSION

The present study found that MLC2 is a pivotal regulator of angiogenesis. MLC2 phosphorylation may be involved in the regulation of of cell morphogenesis and cell elongation. The functionally opposite inhibitors positively or negatively control angiogenesis, probably through the regulating EC morphology. These findings may provide a unique therapeutic target for angiogenesis.

Reactive Oxygen Species Modulation in the Current Landscape of Anticancer Therapies

Significance: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, and are tightly controlled through homeostatic mechanisms to maintain intracellular redox, regulating growth and proliferation in healthy cells. However, ROS production is perturbed in cancers where abnormal accumulation of ROS leads to oxidative stress and genomic instability, triggering oncogenic signaling pathways on one hand, while increasing oxidative damage and triggering ROS-dependent death signaling on the other. Recent Advances: Our review illuminates how critical interactions between ROS and oncogenic signaling, the tumor microenvironment, and DNA damage response (DDR) pathways have led to interest in ROS modulation as a means of enhancing existing anticancer strategies and developing new therapeutic opportunities. Critical Issues: ROS equilibrium exists via a delicate balance of pro-oxidant and antioxidant species within cells. "Antioxidant" approaches have been explored mainly in the form of chemoprevention, but there is insufficient evidence to advocate its routine application. More progress has been made via the "pro-oxidant" approach of targeting cancer vulnerabilities and inducing oxidative stress. Various therapeutic modalities have employed this approach, including direct ROS-inducing agents, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, DDR therapies, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Finally, emerging delivery systems such as "nanosensitizers" as radiotherapy enhancers are currently in development. Future Directions: While approaches designed to induce ROS have shown considerable promise in selectively targeting cancer cells and dealing with resistance to conventional therapies, most are still in early phases of development and challenges remain. Further research should endeavor to refine treatment strategies, optimize drug combinations, and identify predictive biomarkers of ROS-based cancer therapies.

Complex Interplay between DNA Damage and Autophagy in Disease and Therapy

Cancer, a multifactorial disease characterized by uncontrolled cellular proliferation, remains a global health challenge with significant morbidity and mortality. Genomic and molecular aberrations, coupled with environmental factors, contribute to its heterogeneity and complexity. Chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin (Dox) have shown efficacy against various cancers but are hindered by dose-dependent cytotoxicity, particularly on vital organs like the heart and brain. Autophagy, a cellular process involved in self-degradation and recycling, emerges as a promising therapeutic target in cancer therapy and neurodegenerative diseases. Dysregulation of autophagy contributes to cancer progression and drug resistance, while its modulation holds the potential to enhance treatment outcomes and mitigate adverse effects. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests a potential link between autophagy, DNA damage, and caretaker breast cancer genes BRCA1/2, highlighting the interplay between DNA repair mechanisms and cellular homeostasis. This review explores the intricate relationship between cancer, Dox-induced cytotoxicity, autophagy modulation, and the potential implications of autophagy in DNA damage repair pathways, particularly in the context of BRCA1/2 mutations.

Imaging the elemental distribution within human malignant melanomas using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The diagnosis of malignant melanoma, often an inconspicuous but highly aggressive tumor, is most commonly done by histological examination, while additional diagnostic methods on the level of elements and molecules are constantly being developed. Several studies confirmed differences in the chemical composition of healthy and tumor tissue. Our study presents the potential of the LIBS (Laser-Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy) technique as a diagnostic tool in malignant melanoma (MM) based on the quantitative changes in elemental composition in cancerous tissue. Our patient group included 17 samples of various types of malignant melanoma and one sample of healthy skin tissue as a control. To achieve a clear perception of results, we have selected two biogenic elements (calcium and magnesium), which showed a dissimilar distribution in cancerous tissue from its healthy surroundings. Moreover, we observed indications of different concentrations of these elements in different subtypes of malignant melanoma, a hypothesis that requires confirmation in a more extensive sample set. The information provided by the LIBS Imaging method could potentially be helpful not only in the diagnostics of tumor tissue but also be beneficial in broadening the knowledge about the tumor itself.

Immunometabolism in cancer: basic mechanisms and new targeting strategy

Maturing immunometabolic research empowers immune regulation novel approaches. Progressive metabolic adaptation of tumor cells permits a thriving tumor microenvironment (TME) in which immune cells always lose the initial killing capacity, which remains an unsolved dilemma even with the development of immune checkpoint therapies. In recent years, many studies on tumor immunometabolism have been reported. The development of immunometabolism may facilitate anti-tumor immunotherapy from the recurrent crosstalk between metabolism and immunity. Here, we discuss clinical studies of the core signaling pathways of immunometabolism and their inhibitors or agonists, as well as the specific functions of these pathways in regulating immunity and metabolism, and discuss some of the identified immunometabolic checkpoints. Understanding the comprehensive advances in immunometabolism helps to revise the status quo of cancer treatment. An overview of the new landscape of immunometabolism. The PI3K pathway promotes anabolism and inhibits catabolism. The LKB1 pathway inhibits anabolism and promotes catabolism. Overactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and IDO, IL4I1, ACAT, Sirt2, and MTHFD2 promote immunosuppression of TME formation, as evidenced by increased Treg and decreased T-cell proliferation. The LKBI-AMPK pathway promotes the differentiation of naive T cells to effector T cells and memory T cells and promotes anti-tumor immunity in DCs.

Unravelling the Triad of Lung Cancer, Drug Resistance, and Metabolic Pathways

Lung cancer, characterized by its heterogeneity, presents a significant challenge in therapeutic management, primarily due to the development of resistance to conventional drugs. This resistance is often compounded by the tumor's ability to reprogram its metabolic pathways, a survival strategy that enables cancer cells to thrive in adverse conditions. This review article explores the complex link between drug resistance and metabolic reprogramming in lung cancer, offering a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms and treatment strategies. It emphasizes the interplay between drug resistance and changes in metabolic pathways, crucial for developing effective lung cancer therapies. This review examines the impact of current treatments on metabolic pathways and the significance of considering metabolic factors to combat drug resistance. It highlights the different challenges and metabolic alterations in non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer, underlining the need for subtype-specific treatments. Key signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, and AMPK, have been discussed for their roles in promoting drug resistance and metabolic changes, alongside the complex regulatory networks involved. This review article evaluates emerging treatments targeting metabolism, such as metabolic inhibitors, dietary management, and combination therapies, assessing their potential and challenges. It concludes with insights into the role of precision medicine and metabolic biomarkers in crafting personalized lung cancer treatments, advocating for metabolic targeting as a promising approach to enhance treatment efficacy and overcome drug resistance. This review underscores ongoing advancements and hurdles in integrating metabolic considerations into lung cancer therapy strategies.

Circular RNA circTATDN3 promotes the Warburg effect and proliferation in colorectal cancer

As one of the key metabolic enzymes in the glycolytic pathway, lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) might be linked to tumor proliferation by driving the Warburg effect. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are widely implicated in tumor progression. Here, we report that circTATDN3, a circular RNA that interacts with LDHA, plays a critical role in proliferation and energy metabolism in CRC. We found that circTATDN3 expression was increased in CRC cells and tumor tissues and that high circTATDN3 expression was positively associated with poor postoperative prognosis in CRC patients. Additionally, circTATDN3 promoted the proliferation of CRC cells in vivo and vitro. Mechanistically, circTATDN3 was shown to function as an adaptor molecule that enhances the binding of LDHA to FGFR1, leading to increased LDHA phosphorylation and consequently promoting the Warburg effect. Moreover, circTATDN3 increased the expression of LDHA by sponging miR-511-5p, which synergistically promoted CRC progression and the Warburg effect. In conclusion, circTATDN3 may be a target for the treatment of CRC.

[Fourteenth Jesús Culebras Lecture. Ketogenic diet, a half-discovered treatment]

Introduction

The ketogenic diet was an amazing approach to treating epilepsy from its beginning. The body undergoes a change in obtaining energy, going from depending on carbohydrates to depending on fats, and then a whole series of biochemical routes are launched that, independently but also complementary, give rise to a set of effects that benefit the patient. This search for its mechanism of action, of devising how to improve compliance and take advantage of it for other diseases has marked its trajectory. This article briefly reviews these aspects, emphasizing the importance of continuing to carry out basic and clinical research so that this treatment can be applied with solid scientific bases.

1,25(OH)2 D3 inhibits Lewis lung cancer cell migration via NHE1-sensitive metabolic reprograming

High prevalence and metastasis rates are characteristics of lung cancer. Glycolysis provides energy for the development and metastasis of cancer cells. The 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2 D3 ) has been linked to reducing cancer risk and regulates various physiological functions. We hypothesized that 1,25(OH)2 D3 could be associated with the expression and activity of Na+ /H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) of Lewis lung cancer cells, thus regulating glycolysis as well as migration by actin reorganization. Followed by online public data analysis, Vitamin D3 receptor, the receptor of 1,25(OH)2 D3 has been proved to be abundant in lung cancers. We demonstrated that 1,25(OH)2 D3 treatment suppressed transcript levels, protein levels, and activity of NHE1 in LLC cells. Furthermore, 1,25(OH)2 D3 treatment resets the metabolic balance between glycolysis and OXPHOS, mainly including reducing glycolytic enzymes expression and lactate production. In vivo experiments showed the inhibition effects on tumor growth as well. Therefore, we concluded that 1,25(OH)2 D3 could amend the NHE1 function, which leads to metabolic reprogramming and cytoskeleton reconstruction, finally inhibits the cell migration.

LncRNA ANRIL Promotes Glucose Metabolism and Proliferation of Colon Cancer in a High-Glucose Environment and is Associated with Worse Outcome in Diabetic Colon Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

The potential involvement of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a risk factor for colon cancer (CC) has been previously reported. Epigenetic changes, such as deregulation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and microRNA (miR), have been linked to the advancement of CC; however, the effects of high glucose levels on their deregulation and, in turn, colon cancer remain unexplored.

METHODS

Fifty patients had a dual diagnosis of CC and T2DM, and 60 patients with CC without diabetes mellitus were included in the study. qRT-PCR was used to examine the expression of lncRNA ANRIL and miR-186-5p in tissue samples. ANRIL, miR-186-5p, and their downstream target genes HIF-1α, PFK, HK, Bcl-2, and Bax were also determined in CC cell lines under various glucose conditions. Glucose uptake, lactate production and cells proliferation were estimated in CC cell lines.

RESULTS

A significant upregulation of ANRIL expression levels (p<0.001) and a significant downregulation of miR-186-5p expression (p<0.001) in diabetic colon cancer specimens compared to those in non-diabetic colon cancer group were observed. MiR-186-5p expression levels were inversely correlated with ANRIL expression levels, blood glucose levels and HbA1c%. Concerning in vitro model, a significant upregulation of ANRIL, downregulation of miR-186-5p, upregulation of HIF-1α, glycolytic enzymes and activation of antiapoptotic pathway was detected in higher glucose concentrations than lower one. There was a significant increase of glucose uptake, lactate accumulation and proliferation of the Caco2 and SW620 cell lines in a dose dependent manner of glucose concentrations. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between glucose uptake and ANRIL expression was shown.

CONCLUSIONS

A high-glucose environment can increase the tumor-promoting effect of ANRIL. ANRIL can promote glucose metabolism and colon cancer proliferation by downregulating miR-186-5p with subsequent upregulation of glycolysis enzymes expression and inhibition of apoptosis.

Antidiabetic Drugs in Breast Cancer Patients

Diabetes is one of the leading chronic conditions worldwide, and breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. The linkage between diabetes and its ability to increase the risk of breast cancer should always be analyzed in patients. This review focuses on the impact of antihyperglycemic therapy in breast cancer patients. Patients with diabetes have a higher risk of developing cancer than the general population. Moreover, diabetes patients have a higher incidence and mortality of breast cancer. In this review, we describe the influence of antidiabetic drugs from insulin and metformin to the current and emerging therapies, incretins and SGLT-2 inhibitors, on breast cancer prognosis. We also emphasize the role of obesity and the metastasis process in breast cancer patients who are treated with antidiabetic drugs.

Bioengineered Smart Nanocarriers for Breast Cancer Treatment: Adorned Carbon-Based Nanocomposites with Silver and Palladium Complexes for Efficient Drug Delivery

Biocompatible and bioactive carbon-based nanocomposites are ingeniously designed and fabricated with the aim of enhancing drug delivery applicability in breast cancer treatment. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are utilized as nanocarriers for increasing penetrability into cells and the loading capacity. What sets our study apart is the strategic incorporation of the two different complexes of silver (AgL2) and palladium (PdL2) with the carboxamide-based ligand C9H7N3OS (L), which have been synthesized and decorated on nanocarriers alongside doxorubicin (DOX) for stabilizing DOX by π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding. Although DOX is a well-known cancer therapy agent, the efficacy of DOX is hindered owing to drug resistance, poor internalization, and limited site specificity. Aside from stabilizing DOX on nanocarriers, our carbon-based nanocarriers are tailored to act as a precision-guided missile, strategically by adorning with target-sensitive complexes. Based on the literature, carboxamide ligands can connect to overexpressed receptors on cancerous cells and inhibit them from proliferation signaling. Also, the complexes have an antibacterial activity that can control the infection caused by decreasing white blood cells and necrosis of cancerous cells. A high-concentration cytotoxicity assay revealed that decorating PdL2 on a DOX-containing nanocarrier not only increased cytotoxicity to breast cancerous cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) but also revealed higher cell viability on a normal cell line (MCF-10A). The drug release screening results showed that the presence of PdL2 led to 72 h correlate release behavior in acidic and physiological pH profiles, while the AgL2-containing nanocomposite showed an analogue behavior for just 6 h and the release of DOX continued and after about 100 h hit the top.

A Ru(II)-Strained Complex with 2,9-Diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline Ligand Induces Selective Photoactivatable Chemotherapeutic Activity on Human Alveolar Carcinoma Cells via Apoptosis

[Ru(bipy)2(dpphen)]Cl2 (where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine and dpphen = 2,9-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (complex 1) is a sterically strained compound that exhibits promising in vitro photocytotoxicity on an array of cell lines. Since lung adenocarcinoma cancer remains the most common lung cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths, the current study aims to evaluate the plausible effect and uptake of complex 1 on human alveolar carcinoma cells (A549) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and assess its cytotoxicity in vitro while considering its effect on cell morphology, membrane integrity and DNA damage. MSC and A549 cells showed similar rates of complex 1 uptake with a plateau at 12 h. Upon photoactivation, complex 1 exhibited selective, potent anticancer activity against A549 cells with phototoxicity index (PI) values of 16, 25 and 39 at 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. This effect was accompanied by a significant increase in A549-cell rounding and detachment, loss of membrane integrity and DNA damage. Flow cytometry experiments confirmed that A549 cells undergo apoptosis when treated with complex 1 followed by photoactivation. In conclusion, this present study suggests that complex 1 might be a promising candidate for photochemotherapy with photoproducts that possess selective anticancer effects in vitro. These results are encouraging to probe the potential activity of this complex in vivo.

Nanostrategy of Targeting at Embryonic Trophoblast Cells Using CuO Nanoparticles for Female Contraception

Effective contraceptives have been comprehensively adopted by women to prevent the negative consequences of unintended pregnancy for women, families, and societies. With great contributions of traditional hormonal drugs and intrauterine devices (IUDs) to effective female contraception by inhibiting ovulation and deactivating sperm, their long-standing side effects on hormonal homeostasis and reproductive organs for females remain concerns. Herein, we proposed a nanostrategy for female contraceptives, inducing embryonic trophoblast cell death using nanoparticles to prevent embryo implantation. Cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were adopted in this work to verify the feasibility of the nanostrategy and its contraceptive efficacy. We carried out the in vitro assessment on the interaction of CuO NPs with trophoblast cells using the HTR8/SVneo cell line. The results showed that the CuO NPs were able to be preferably uptaken into cells and induced cell damage via a variety of pathways including oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, DNA damage, and cell cycle arrest to induce cell death of apoptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis. Moreover, the key regulatory processes and the key genes for cell damage and cell death caused by CuO NPs were revealed by RNA-Seq. We also conducted in vivo experiments using a rat model to examine the contraceptive efficacy of both the bare CuO NPs and the CuO/thermosensitive hydrogel nanocomposite. The results demonstrated that the CuO NPs were highly effective for contraception. There was no sign of disrupting the homeostasis of copper and hormone, or causing inflammation and organ damage in vivo. In all, this nanostrategy exhibited huge potential for contraceptive development with high biosafety, efficacy, clinical translation, nonhormonal style, and on-demand for women.

Cancer Metabolism as a Therapeutic Target and Review of Interventions

Cancer is amenable to low-cost treatments, given that it has a significant metabolic component, which can be affected through diet and lifestyle change at minimal cost. The Warburg hypothesis states that cancer cells have an altered cell metabolism towards anaerobic glycolysis. Given this metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, it is possible to target cancers metabolically by depriving them of glucose. In addition to dietary and lifestyle modifications which work on tumors metabolically, there are a panoply of nutritional supplements and repurposed drugs associated with cancer prevention and better treatment outcomes. These interventions and their evidentiary basis are covered in the latter half of this review to guide future cancer treatment.

The Effect of Different Glucose Concentrations on the Antiproliferative Activity of Metformin in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

The glucose-lowering drug metformin has been reported to have anticancer properties through unknown mechanisms. Other unknown factors that may influence its anticancer potential include the glycemic status of the patient. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the effect of different glucose environments on the antiproliferative potency and the cellular mechanism of action of metformin. Human breast cancer cells, MCF-7, were incubated in low, normal, elevated, and high glucose environments and treated with metformin. The antiproliferative potential of metformin and its effect on protein expression as well as its ability to induce cellular apoptosis and autophagy under different glucose environments, were determined using different molecular techniques. Metformin significantly inhibited cellular proliferation in a time- and glucose-concentration-dependent manner. In comparison to elevated glucose, low normal glucose alone induced a significant level of autophagy that was further increased in the presence of metformin. While glucose concentration did not appear to have an effect on the antiproliferative potency of metformin, the cellular basis of action was shown to be glucose-dependent. The antiproliferative mechanism of action of metformin in elevated and low normal glucose environments is mTOR-dependent, whereas, in the high glucose environment, the antiproliferative mechanism is independent of mTOR. This is the first study to report that both the antiproliferative potency and the cellular mechanism of action aredependent on the concentration of glucose.

GLUL gene knockdown and restricted glucose level show synergistic inhibitory effect on the luminal subtype breast cancer MCF7 cells' proliferation and metastasis

The glutamine synthetase path is one of the most important metabolic pathways in luminal breast cancer cells, which plays a critical role in supplying glutamine as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of amino acids and nucleotides. On the other hand, glycolysis and its dominant substrate, glucose, are the most critical players in cancer metabolism. Accordingly, targeting these two critical paths might be more efficient in luminal-type breast cancer treatment. MCF7 cells were cultivated in media containing 4.5, 2, and 1 g/L glucose to study its effects on GLUL (Glutamate Ammonia Ligase) expression. Followingly, high and low glucose cell cultures were transfected with 220 pM of siGLUL and incubated for 48 h at 37 ºC. The cell cycle progression and apoptosis were monitored and assessed by flow cytometry. Expression of GLUL, known as glutamine synthetase, was evaluated in mRNA and protein levels by qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. To examine the migration and invasion capacity of studied cells exploited from wound healing assay and subsequent expression studies of glutathione-S-transferase Mu3 (GSTM3) and alfa-enolase (ENO1). Expression of GLUL significantly decreased in cells cultured at lower glucose levels compared to those at higher glucose levels. siRNA-mediated knockdown of GLUL expression in low glucose cultures significantly reduced growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion of the MCF7 cells and enhanced their apoptosis compared to the controls. Based on the results, GLUL suppression down-regulated GSTM3, a main detoxifying enzyme, and up-regulated Bax. According to the role of glycolysis as a ROS suppressor, decreased amounts of glucose could be associated with increased ROS; it can be considered an efficient involved mechanism in this study. Also, increased expression of Bax could be attributable to mTOR/AKT inhibition following GLUL repression. In conclusion, utilizing GLUL and glycolysis inhibitors might be a more effective strategy in luminal-type breast cancer therapy. See also Figure 1(Fig. 1).

Cancer chemotherapy and beyond: Current status, drug candidates, associated risks and progress in targeted therapeutics

Cancer is an abnormal state of cells where they undergo uncontrolled proliferation and produce aggressive malignancies that causes millions of deaths every year. With the new understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of disease progression, our knowledge about the disease is snowballing, leading to the evolution of many new therapeutic regimes and their successive trials. In the past few decades, various combinations of therapies have been proposed and are presently employed in the treatment of diverse cancers. Targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and personalized medicines are now largely being employed, which were not common a few years back. The field of cancer discoveries and therapeutics are evolving fast as cancer type-specific biomarkers are progressively being identified and several types of cancers are nowadays undergoing systematic therapies, extending patients' disease-free survival thereafter. Although growing evidence shows that a systematic and targeted approach could be the future of cancer medicine, chemotherapy remains a largely opted therapeutic option despite its known side effects on the patient's physical and psychological health. Chemotherapeutic agents/pharmaceuticals served a great purpose over the past few decades and have remained the frontline choice for advanced-stage malignancies where surgery and/or radiation therapy cannot be prescribed due to specific reasons. The present report succinctly reviews the existing and contemporary advancements in chemotherapy and assesses the status of the enrolled drugs/pharmaceuticals; it also comprehensively discusses the emerging role of specific/targeted therapeutic strategies that are presently being employed to achieve better clinical success/survival rate in cancer patients.

A metabolism targeting three-pronged attack significantly attenuates breast cancer stem cell related markers toward therapeutic application

Tumor metabolism has provided researchers with a promising window to cancer therapy. The metabolic pathways adopted by cancer cells are different from those of normal cells. Thus, metabolism can be considered a linchpin in targeted cancer therapy. Glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, and mitochondria represent three critical metabolic spots with important roles in cancer cell survival and proliferation. In the present study, we aimed to target these pathways using three different inhibitors: 2-deoxyglucose, 6-aminonicotinamide, and doxycycline, separately and in combination. Accordingly, cell viability, lactate production, cell cycle profile, apoptotic profile, and expression of surface and molecular markers of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were investigated under adherent and sphere conditions. Our results from our set conditions indicated various inhibitory effects of these compounds on the breast cancer cell lines. Based on this all-around attack, the combination of drugs demonstrated the most effective inhibitory action compared to separate usage. This study suggests the combined application of these drugs in future investigations and more experimental settings in order to introduce this therapeutic strategy as an efficient anti-cancer treatment.

A Proposed Association between Improving Energy Metabolism of HepG2 Cells by Plant Extracts and Increasing Their Sensitivity to Doxorubicin

Increasing cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy by amending aberrant metabolism using plant extracts represents a promising strategy to lower chemotherapy doses while retaining the same therapeutic outcome. Here, we incubated HepG2 cells with four plant extracts that were selected based on an earlier assessment of their cytotoxicity, viz asparagus, green tea, rue, and avocado, separately, before treatment with doxorubicin. MTT assays elucidated a significant decrease in doxorubicin-IC₅₀ following HepG2 incubation with each extract, albeit to a variable extent. The investigated extract's ultra-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS and GC/MS) revealed several constituents with anticancer activity. Biochemical investigation displayed several favorable effects, including the inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor1α (HIF1α), c-Myc, pyruvate kinase-M2 (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDH-A), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and glutaminase by asparagus and rue extracts. To less extent, HIF1α, c-Myc, PKM2, and LDH-A were partially inhibited by green tea extract, and HIF1α and glutaminase activity was inhibited by avocado oil. Undesirably, green tea extract increased glutaminase; avocado oil rose c-Myc, and both increased G6PD. In conclusion, our study confirms the potential cytotoxic effects of these plant extracts. It highlights a strong association between the ability of asparagus, green tea, rue, and avocado to sensitize HepG2 cells to doxorubicin and their power to amend cell metabolism, suggesting their use as add-on agents that might aid in clinically lowering the doxorubicin dose.

Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidant MitoQ-Mediated Autophagy: A Novel Strategy for Precise Radiation Protection

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most effective cancer treatments. However, successful radiation protection for normal tissue is a clinical challenge. Our previous study observed that MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, was adsorbed to the inner mitochondrial membrane and remained the cationic moiety in the intermembrane space. The positive charges in MitoQ restrained the activity of respiratory chain complexes and decreased proton production. Therefore, a pseudo-mitochondrial membrane potential (PMMP) was developed via maintenance of exogenous positive charges. This study identified that PMMP constructed by MitoQ could effectively inhibit mitochondrial respiration within normal cells, disrupt energy metabolism, and activate adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling to induce autophagy. As such, it could not lead to starvation-induced autophagy among tumor cells due to the different energy phenotypes between normal and tumor cells (normal cells depend on mitochondrial respiration for energy supply, while tumor cells rely on aerobic glycolysis). Therefore, we successfully protected the normal cells from radiation-induced damage without affecting the tumor-killing efficacy of radiation by utilizing selective autophagy. MitoQ-constructed PMMP provides a new therapeutic strategy for specific radiation protection.

Mushroom-Derived Compounds as Metabolic Modulators in Cancer

Cancer is responsible for lifelong disability and decreased quality of life. Cancer-associated changes in metabolism, in particular carbohydrate, lipid, and protein, offer a new paradigm of metabolic hits. Hence, targeting the latter, as well as related cross-linked signalling pathways, can reverse the malignant phenotype of transformed cells. The systemic toxicity and pharmacokinetic limitations of existing drugs prompt the discovery of multi-targeted and safe compounds from natural products. Mushrooms possess biological activities relevant to disease-fighting and to the prevention of cancer. They have a long-standing tradition of use in ethnomedicine and have been included as an adjunct therapy during and after oncological care. Mushroom-derived compounds have also been reported to target the key signature of cancer cells in in vitro and in vivo studies. The identification of metabolic pathways whose inhibition selectively affects cancer cells appears as an interesting approach to halting cell proliferation. For instance, panepoxydone exerted protective mechanisms against breast cancer initiation and progression by suppressing lactate dehydrogenase A expression levels and reinducing lactate dehydrogenase B expression levels. This further led to the accumulation of pyruvate, the activation of the electron transport chain, and increased levels of reactive oxygen species, which eventually triggered mitochondrial apoptosis in the breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of hexokinase 2 by neoalbaconol induced selective cytotoxicity against nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines, and these effects were also observed in mouse models. Finally, GL22 inhibited hepatic tumour growth by downregulating the mRNA levels of fatty acid-binding proteins and blocking fatty acid transport and impairing cardiolipin biosynthesis. The present review, therefore, will highlight how the metabolites isolated from mushrooms can target potential biomarkers in metabolic reprogramming.

The long noncoding RNA HOXA11-AS promotes lung adenocarcinoma proliferation and glycolysis via the microRNA-148b-3p/PKM2 axis

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy in the world and a growing number of researches have focused on its metabolic characteristics. Studies have shown that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOXA11-AS is aberrantly expressed in many tumors. However, the role of HOXA11-AS in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) glycolysis and other energy metabolism pathways has not been characterized.

METHOD

The mRNA levels of HOXA11-AS, microRNA-148b-3p (miR-148b-3p), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) were detected using qRT-PCR. The expression levels of proteins were measured using immunohistochemistry and western blot. The CCK-8, EdU, and colony formation assays were used to assess proliferation. Glycolytic changes were assessed by measuring lactate production, ATP production, and ¹⁸ F-FDG uptake. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to characterize the relationship between HOXA11-AS, miR-148b-3p, and PKM2. Proliferation and glycolytic changes were analyzed in xenograft tumor experiments using Micro-PET imaging after downregulation of HOXA11-AS in vivo.

RESULTS

The expression of HOXA11-AS was markedly increased in LUAD, and was strongly associated with a poor prognosis. In addition, HOXA11-AS promoted proliferation and glycolysis in LUAD, and miR-148b-3p inhibited proliferation and glycolysis in LUAD. Mechanistically, HOXA11-AS positively regulated PKM2 expression by binding to miR-148b-3p, thereby promoting LUAD proliferation and glycolysis. In addition, HOXA11-AS inhibited LUAD xenograft growth and glycolysis via upregulation of miR-148b-3p expression and downregulation of PKM2 expression in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that HOXA11-AS enhanced LUAD proliferation and glycolysis via the miR-148b-3p/PKM2 axis. The findings in this paper expanded our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of LUAD tumorigenesis and glycolysis and showed that HOXA11-AS could be useful as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for LUAD. ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/CT can be used to visually evaluate the therapeutic effect of targeting HOXA11-AS.

Association of altered metabolic profiles and long non-coding RNAs expression with disease severity in breast cancer patients: analysis by 1H NMR spectroscopy and RT-q-PCR

INTRODUCTION

Globally, one of the major causes of cancer related deaths in women is breast cancer. Although metabolic pattern is altered in cancer patients, robust metabolic biomarkers with a potential to improve the screening and disease monitoring are lacking. A complete metabolome profiling of breast cancer patients may lead to the identification of diagnostic/prognostic markers and potential targets.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze the metabolic profile in the serum from 43 breast cancer patients and 13 healthy individuals.

MATERIALS & METHODS

We used ¹H NMR spectroscopy for the identification and quantification of metabolites. q-RT-PCR was used to examine the relative expression of lncRNAs.

RESULTS

Metabolites such as amino acids, lipids, membrane metabolites, lipoproteins, and energy metabolites were observed in the serum from both patients and healthy individuals. Using unsupervised PCA, supervised PLS-DA, supervised OPLS-DA, and random forest classification, we observed that more than 25 metabolites were altered in the breast cancer patients. Metabolites with AUC value > 0.9 were selected for further analysis that revealed significant elevation of lactate, LPR and glycerol, while the level of glucose, succinate, and isobutyrate was reduced in breast cancer patients in comparison to healthy control. The level of these metabolites (except LPR) was altered in advanced-stage breast cancer patients in comparison to early-stage breast cancer patients. The altered metabolites were also associated with over 25 signaling pathways related to metabolism. Further, lncRNAs such as H19, MEG3 and GAS5 were dysregulated in the breast tumor tissue in comparison to normal adjacent tissue.

CONCLUSION

The study provides insights into metabolic alteration in breast cancer patients. It also provides an avenue to examine the association of lncRNAs with metabolic patterns in patients.

A glycolysis-related gene signatures in diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma predicts prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of lymphoma which that highly aggressive and heterogeneous. Glycolysis has been implicated in the regulation of tumor microenvironment (TME) and development. In this study, we aimed to establish a glycolysis-related prognostic model for the risk stratification, prognosis prediction, and immune landscape evaluation in patients with DLBCL. Methods: Three independent datasets GSE181063, GSE10846, and GSE53786 containing gene expression profiles and clinical data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The glycolysis-related prognostic model was developed with Cox and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selector Operation (LASSO) regression and validated. A nomogram integrating clinical factors and glycolytic risk scores was constructed. The composition of the TME was analyzed with the ESTIMATE algorithm and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Results: A glycolytic risk model containing eight genes was developed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year was 0.718, 0.695, and 0.688, respectively. Patients in the high-risk group had significantly lower immune scores, elevated tumor purity, and poorer survival compared with those in the low-risk group. The nomogram constructed based on glycolytic risk score, age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS), use of rituximab, and cell of origin (COO) displayed better prediction performance compared with the International Prognostic Index (IPI) in DLBCL. The glycolytic risk score was negatively correlated with the infiltration level of activated CD8 T cells, activated dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages and immune checkpoint molecules including PD-L2, CTLA4, TIM-3, TIGIT, and B7-H3. Conclusion: These results suggested that the glycolytic risk model could accurately and stably predict the prognosis of patients with DLBCL and might unearth the possible explanation for the glycolysis-related poor prognosis.

SAR-guided development of indole-matrine hybrids as potential anticancer agents via mitochondrial stress/cytochrome c/caspase 3 signaling pathway

Matrine is a clinically used adjuvant anticancer drug, yet its mild potency limited its application. To improve the anticancer activity of matrine, a total of 31 indole-matrine hybrids were constructed in four rounds of SAR-guided iterative structural optimization process. All of the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against a panel of four human cancer cell lines (Hela, MCF-7, SGC-7901, HepG2) and two normal cell lines (GES-1, LO2). The most active hybrid 8g exhibited the anticancer IC₅₀ values of 0.9 to 1.2 μM, which was 3-magnitude of orders more potent than matrine. 8g also showed better selectivity towards cancer cells with the selectivity index value raised from 1.5 to 6.2. Mechanistic studies demonstrated a mitochondrial distribution for 8g by intracellular click chemistry approaches, which led to the discovery that 8g strongly induced mitochondrial stress, as evidenced by impaired energy metabolism, depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, overload of mitochondrial calcium and escalated ROS production. 8g-induced mitochondrial stress further led to the release of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of caspase 3, which significantly promoted cellular death and inhibited colony formation.

Targeting cancer-specific metabolic pathways for developing novel cancer therapeutics

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease characterized by various genetic and phenotypic aberrations. Cancer cells undergo genetic modifications that promote their proliferation, survival, and dissemination as the disease progresses. The unabated proliferation of cancer cells incurs an enormous energy demand that is supplied by metabolic reprogramming. Cancer cells undergo metabolic alterations to provide for increased energy and metabolite requirement; these alterations also help drive the tumor progression. Dysregulation in glucose uptake and increased lactate production via "aerobic glycolysis" were described more than 100 years ago, and since then, the metabolic signature of various cancers has been extensively studied. However, the extensive research in this field has failed to translate into significant therapeutic intervention, except for treating childhood-ALL with amino acid metabolism inhibitor L-asparaginase. Despite the growing understanding of novel metabolic alterations in tumors, the therapeutic targeting of these tumor-specific dysregulations has largely been ineffective in clinical trials. This chapter discusses the major pathways involved in the metabolism of glucose, amino acids, and lipids and highlights the inter-twined nature of metabolic aberrations that promote tumorigenesis in different types of cancer. Finally, we summarise the therapeutic interventions which can be used as a combinational therapy to target metabolic dysregulations that are unique or common in blood, breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.

2,4-Dinitrophenol as an Uncoupler Augments the Anthracyclines Toxicity against Prostate Cancer Cells

One of the strategies for the treatment of advanced cancer diseases is targeting the energy metabolism of the cancer cells. The compound 2,4-DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol) disrupts the cell energy metabolism through the ability to decouple oxidative phosphorylation. The aim of the study was to determine the ability of 2,4-DNP to sensitize prostate cancer cells with different metabolic phenotypes to the action of known anthracyclines (doxorubicin and epirubicin). The synergistic effect of the anthracyclines and 2,4-DNP was determined using an MTT assay, apoptosis detection and a cell cycle analysis. The present of oxidative stress in cancer cells was assessed by CellROX, the level of cellular thiols and DNA oxidative damage. The study revealed that the incubation of LNCaP prostate cancer cells (oxidative phenotype) with epirubicin and doxorubicin simultaneously with 2,4-DNP showed the presence of a synergistic effect for both the cytostatics. Moreover, it contributes to the increased induction of oxidative stress, which results in a reduced level of cellular thiols and an increased number of AP sites in the DNA. The synergistic activity may consist of an inhibition of ATP synthesis and the simultaneous production of toxic amounts of ROS, destroying the mitochondria. Additionally, the sensitivity of the LNCaP cell line to the anthracyclines is relatively higher compared to the other two (PC-3, DU-145).

Ketogenic Diet in the Treatment of Gliomas and Glioblastomas

In recent years, scientific interest in the use of the ketogenic diet (KD) as a complementary approach to the standard cancer therapy has grown, in particular against those of the central nervous system (CNS). In metabolic terms, there are the following differences between healthy and neoplastic cells: neoplastic cells divert their metabolism to anaerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect), they alter the normal mitochondrial functioning, and they use mainly certain amino acids for their own metabolic needs, to gain an advantage over healthy cells and to lead to a pro-oncogenetic effect. Several works in literature speculate which are the molecular targets of KD used against cancer. The following different mechanisms of action will be explored in this review: metabolic, inflammatory, oncogenic and oncosuppressive, ROS, and epigenetic modulation. Preclinical and clinical studies on the use of KD in CNS tumors have also increased in recent years. An interesting hypothesis emerged from the studies about the possible use of a ketogenic diet as a combination therapy along with chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) for the treatment of cancer. Currently, however, clinical data are still very limited but encouraging, so we need further studies to definitively validate or disprove the role of KD in fighting against cancer.

Metabolic reprogramming and crosstalk of cancer-related fibroblasts and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment

It is notorious that cancer cells alter their metabolism to adjust to harsh environments of hypoxia and nutritional starvation. Metabolic reprogramming most often occurs in the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME is defined as the cellular environment in which the tumor resides. This includes surrounding blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, signaling molecules and the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is increasingly recognized that cancer cells, fibroblasts and immune cells within TME can regulate tumor progression through metabolic reprogramming. As the most significant proportion of cells among all the stromal cells that constitute TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are closely associated with tumorigenesis and progression. Multitudinous studies have shown that CAFs participate in and promote tumor metabolic reprogramming and exert regulatory effects via the dysregulation of metabolic pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated that curbing the substance exchange between CAFs and tumor cells can dramatically restrain tumor growth. Emerging studies suggest that CAFs within the TME have emerged as important determinants of metabolic reprogramming. Metabolic reprogramming also occurs in the metabolic pattern of immune cells. In the meanwhile, immune cell phenotype and functions are metabolically regulated. Notably, immune cell functions influenced by metabolic programs may ultimately lead to alterations in tumor immunity. Despite the fact that multiple previous researches have been devoted to studying the interplays between different cells in the tumor microenvironment, the complicated relationship between CAFs and immune cells and implications of metabolic reprogramming remains unknown and requires further investigation. In this review, we discuss our current comprehension of metabolic reprogramming of CAFs and immune cells (mainly glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism) and crosstalk between them that induces immune responses, and we also highlight their contributions to tumorigenesis and progression. Furthermore, we underscore potential therapeutic opportunities arising from metabolism dysregulation and metabolic crosstalk, focusing on strategies targeting CAFs and immune cell metabolic crosstalk in cancer immunotherapy.

Combinatorial approaches to effective therapy in glioblastoma (GBM): Current status and what the future holds

The aggressive and recurrent nature of glioblastoma is multifactorial and has been attributed to its biological heterogeneity, dysfunctional metabolic signaling pathways, rigid blood-brain barrier, inherent resistance to standard therapy due to the stemness property of the gliomas cells, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, hypoxia and neoangiogenesis which are very well orchestrated and create the tumor's own highly pro-tumorigenic milieu. Once the relay of events starts amongst these components, eventually it becomes difficult to control the cascade using only the balanced contemporary care of treatment consisting of maximal resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolamide. Over the past few decades, implementation of contemporary treatment modalities has shown benefit to some extent, but no significant overall survival benefit is achieved. Therefore, there is an unmet need for advanced multifaceted combinatorial strategies. Recent advances in molecular biology, development of innovative therapeutics and novel delivery platforms over the years has resulted in a paradigm shift in gliomas therapeutics. Decades of research has led to emergence of several treatment molecules, including immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade, oncolytic virotherapy, adoptive cell therapy, nanoparticles, CED and BNCT, each with the unique proficiency to overcome the mentioned challenges, present research. Recent years are seeing innovative combinatorial strategies to overcome the multifactorial resistance put forth by the GBM cell and its TME. This review discusses the contemporary and the investigational combinatorial strategies being employed to treat GBM and summarizes the evidence accumulated till date.

Tumor metabolic reprogramming in lung cancer progression

Metabolic reprogramming is an important characteristic of tumor cells. Tumor cells reprogram their metabolic pathways to meet the material, energy and redox force needs for rapid proliferation. Metabolic reprogramming changes the level or type of specific metabolites inside and outside cells, and promotes tumor growth by affecting gene expression, cell state and the tumor microenvironment. Glucose metabolism, glutamine metabolism and lipid metabolism are significant metabolic pathways in tumors. Targeting metabolic reprogramming can significantly inhibit tumor growth and induce apoptosis. Metabolic reprogramming also plays an important role in maintaining the growth advantage of tumor cells and enhancing the chemotherapy tolerance of lung cancer. This review summarizes abnormal changes in the metabolism of glucose, fat and amino acids in lung cancer, and the underlying molecular mechanism, with the aim of providing novel ideas for the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Understanding Myocardial Metabolism in the Context of Cardio-Oncology

Cardiovascular events, ranging from arrhythmias to decompensated heart failure, are common during and after cancer therapy. Cardiovascular complications can be life-threatening, and from the oncologist's perspective, could limit the use of first-line cancer therapeutics. Moreover, an aging population increases the risk for comorbidities and medical complexity among patients who undergo cancer therapy. Many have established cardiovascular diagnoses or risk factors before starting these therapies. Therefore, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive cardiovascular events in patients with cancer and to identify new therapeutic targets that may prevent and treat these 2 diseases. This review will discuss the metabolic interaction between cancer and the heart and will highlight current strategies of targeting metabolic pathways for cancer treatment. Finally, this review highlights opportunities and challenges in advancing our understanding of myocardial metabolism in the context of cancer and cancer treatment.

Therapeutic Targeting of Tumor Cells and Tumor Immune Microenvironment Vulnerabilities

Therapeutic targeting of tumor vulnerabilities is emerging as a key area of research. This review is focused on exploiting the vulnerabilities of tumor cells and the immune cells in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), including tumor hypoxia, tumor acidity, the bidirectional proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) of lactate, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and redox enzymes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Cancer cells use glucose for energy even under normoxic conditions. Although cancer cells predominantly rely on glycolysis, many have fully functional mitochondria, suggesting that mitochondria are a vulnerable target organelle in cancer cells. Thus, one key distinction between cancer and normal cell metabolism is metabolic reprogramming. Mitochondria-targeted small molecule inhibitors of OXPHOS inhibit tumor proliferation and growth. Another hallmark of cancer is extracellular acidification due lactate accumulation. Emerging results show that lactate acts as a fuel for mitochondrial metabolism and supports tumor proliferation and growth. Metabolic reprogramming occurs in glycolysis-deficient tumor phenotypes and in kinase-targeted, drug-resistant cancers overexpressing OXPHOS genes. Glycolytic cancer cells located away from the vasculature overexpress MCT4 transporter to prevent overacidification by exporting lactate, and the oxidative cancer cells located near the vasculature express MCT1 transporter to provide energy through incorporation of lactate into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. MCTs are, therefore, a vulnerable target in cancer metabolism. MCT inhibitors exert synthetic lethality in combination with metformin, a weak inhibitor of OXPHOS, in cancer cells. Simultaneously targeting multiple vulnerabilities within mitochondria shows synergistic antiproliferative and antitumor effects. Developing tumor-selective, small molecule inhibitors of OXPHOS with a high therapeutic index is critical to fully exploiting the mitochondrial vulnerabilities. We and others developed small-molecule inhibitors containing triphenylphosphonium cation that potently inhibit OXPHOS in tumor cells and tissues. Factors affecting tumor cell vulnerabilities also impact immune cells in the TIME. Glycolytic tumor cells supply lactate to the tumor-suppressing regulatory T cells overexpressing MCTs. Therapeutic opportunities for targeting vulnerabilities in tumor cells and the TIME, as well as the implications on cancer health disparities and cancer treatment, are addressed.