Imatinib facilitates gemcitabine sensitivity by targeting epigenetically activated PDGFC signaling in pancreatic cancer

In Silico Identification of ANKRD22 as a Theragnostic Target for Pancreatic Cancer and Fostamatinib's Therapeutic Potential

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most tremendously malignant cancers with a poor prognosis, especially when it advances to metastasis. Besides, PC patients have encountered resistance to recent therapeutic approaches. In recent work, we effectively determined ANKRD22 by re-analyzing RNA-seq datasets from cell lines and human tissues deriving from PC. We demonstrated that ANKRD22 expression was remarkably high in the PC group compared to the normal group at both gene expression and protein levels. ANKRD22 resulted in a worse overall survival (OS) rate of PC patients (HR = 1.7, p = 0.0082). Intriguingly, ANKRD22 was statistically highly expressed in the mutated KRAS group relative to the wildtype group (p < 0.05). Similarly, compared to the wildtype TP53, in the mutated TP53, ANKRD22 also significantly expressed (p < 0.05); their concurrent expression, ANKRD22 and KRAS; ANKRD22 and TP53 exacerbated the survival outcome relative to the co-expression of low ANKRD22 and unaltered genes (p < 0.001; HR > 2.6). We explored the potential pathways and biological processes ANKRD22 might not only contribute to promoting PC, including cell-cycle regulation, E2F1 targets, and apoptosis but also foster the dissemination of PC by involve in invasion and migration processes. In the investigation of drugs that might target ANKRD22, we figured out fostamatinib. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation (MDs) techniques provided extensive insights into the binding mode of ANKRD22 and fostamatinib. ANKRD22 exhibited strong binding affinity (ΔG = -7.0 kcal/mol in molecular docking and ∆Gbind = -38.66 ± 6.09 kcal/mol in MDs). Taken together, ANKRD22 could be a promising theragnostic target that might be inhibited by fostamatinib, thereby suppressing PC growth.

Screening of common genomic biomarkers to explore common drugs for the treatment of pancreatic and kidney cancers with type-2 diabetes through bioinformatics analysis

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a crucial risk factor for both pancreatic cancer (PC) and kidney cancer (KC). However, effective common drugs for treating PC and/or KC patients who are also suffering from T2D are currently lacking, despite the probability of their co-occurrence. Taking disease-specific multiple drugs during the co-existence of multiple diseases may lead to adverse side effects or toxicity to the patients due to drug-drug interactions. This study aimed to identify T2D-, PC and KC-causing common genomic biomarkers (cGBs) highlighting their pathogenetic mechanisms to explore effective drugs as their common treatment. We analyzed transcriptomic profile datasets, applying weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis approaches to identify T2D-, PC-, and KC-causing cGBs. We then disclosed common pathogenetic mechanisms through gene ontology (GO) terms, KEGG pathways, regulatory networks, and DNA methylation of these cGBs. Initially, we identified 78 common differentially expressed genes (cDEGs) that could distinguish T2D, PC, and KC samples from controls based on their transcriptomic profiles. From these, six top-ranked cDEGs (TOP2A, BIRC5, RRM2, ALB, MUC1, and E2F7) were selected as cGBs and considered targets for exploring common drug molecules for each of three diseases. Functional enrichment analyses, including GO terms, KEGG pathways, and regulatory network analyses involving transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs, along with DNA methylation and immune infiltration studies, revealed critical common molecular mechanisms linked to PC, KC, and T2D. Finally, we identified six top-ranked drug molecules (NVP.BHG712, Irinotecan, Olaparib, Imatinib, RG-4733, and Linsitinib) as potential common treatments for PC, KC and T2D during their co-existence, supported by the literature reviews. Thus, this bioinformatics study provides valuable insights and resources for developing a genome-guided common treatment strategy for PC and/or KC patients who are also suffering from T2D.

Integration of Machine Learning and Experimental Validation to Identify Anoikis-Related Prognostic Signature for Predicting the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment and Treatment Response

Background/Objectives: Anoikis-related genes (ANRGs) are crucial in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer (BC). The underlying role of ANRGs in the prognosis of breast cancer patients warrants further study. Methods: The anoikis-related prognostic signature (ANRS) was generated using a variety of machine learning methods, and the correlation between the ANRS and the tumor microenvironment (TME), drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy was investigated. Moreover, single-cell analysis and spatial transcriptome studies were conducted to investigate the expression of prognostic ANRGs across various cell types. Finally, the expression of ANRGs was verified by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis (WB), and the expression level of PLK1 in the blood was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The ANRS, consisting of five ANRGs, was established. BC patients within the high-ANRS group exhibited poorer prognoses, characterized by elevated levels of immune suppression and stromal scores. The low-ANRS group had a better response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Single-cell analysis and spatial transcriptomics revealed variations in ANRGs across cells. The results of RT-PCR and WB were consistent with the differential expression analyses from databases. NU.1025 and imatinib were identified as potential inhibitors for SPIB and PLK1, respectively. Additionally, findings from ELISA demonstrated increased expression levels of PLK1 in the blood of BC patients. Conclusions: The ANRS can act as an independent prognostic indicator for BC patients, providing significant guidance for the implementation of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in these patients. Additionally, PLK1 has emerged as a potential blood-based diagnostic marker for breast cancer patients.

Heterogeneity and interplay: the multifaceted role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor and therapeutic strategies

The journey of cancer development is a multifaceted and staged process. The array of treatments available for cancer varies significantly, dictated by the disease's type and stage. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), prevalent across various cancer types and stages, play a pivotal role in tumor genesis, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. The strategy of concurrently targeting cancer cells and CAFs holds great promise in cancer therapy. In this review, we focus intently on CAFs, delving into their critical role in cancer's progression. We begin by exploring the origins, classification, and surface markers of CAFs. Following this, we emphasize the key cytokines and signaling pathways involved in the interplay between cancer cells and CAFs and their influence on the tumor immune microenvironment. Additionally, we examine current therapeutic approaches targeting CAFs. This article underscores the multifarious roles of CAFs within the tumor microenvironment and their potential applications in cancer treatment, highlighting their importance as key targets in overcoming drug resistance and enhancing the efficacy of tumor therapies.

Turning to immunosuppressive tumors: Deciphering the immunosenescence-related microenvironment and prognostic characteristics in pancreatic cancer, in which GLUT1 contributes to gemcitabine resistance

Increasing evidence indicates that the remodeling of immune microenvironment heterogeneity influences pancreatic cancer development, as well as sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, a gap remains in the exploration of the immunosenescence microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. In this study, we identified two immunosenescence-associated isoforms (IMSP1 and IMSP2), with consequential differences in prognosis and immune cell infiltration. We constructed the MLIRS score, a hazard score system with robust prognostic performance (area under the curve, AUC = 0.91), based on multiple machine learning algorithms (101 cross-validation methods). Patients in the high MLIRS score group had worse prognosis (P < 0.0001) and lower abundance of immune cell infiltration. Conversely, the low MLIRS score group showed better sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Additionally, our MLIRS system outperformed 68 other published signatures. We identified the immunosenescence microenvironmental windsock GLUT1 with certain co-expression properties with immunosenescence markers. We further demonstrated its positive modulation ability of proliferation, migration, and gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. To conclude, our study focused on training of composite machine learning algorithms in multiple datasets to develop a robust machine learning modeling system based on immunosenescence and to identify an immunosenescence-related microenvironment windsock, providing direction and guidance for clinical prediction and application.

Research progress in tumor angiogenesis and drug resistance in breast cancer

Angiogenesis is considered a hallmark pathophysiological process in tumor development. Aberrant vasculature resulting from tumor angiogenesis plays a critical role in the development of resistance to breast cancer treatments, via exacerbation of tumor hypoxia, decreased effective drug concentrations within tumors, and immune-related mechanisms. Antiangiogenic therapy can counteract these breast cancer resistance factors by promoting tumor vascular normalization. The combination of antiangiogenic therapy with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer. This review examines the mechanisms associated with angiogenesis and the interactions among tumor angiogenesis, the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, drug distribution, and immune mechanisms in breast cancer. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive summary of specific antiangiogenic drugs, and relevant studies assessing the reversal of drug resistance in breast cancer. The potential mechanisms underlying these interventions are discussed, and prospects for the clinical application of antiangiogenic therapy to overcome breast cancer treatment resistance are highlighted.

Tumor Supplying Artery Injection of Liposome@Sunitinib Could Effectively Inhibit the Progression of Kidney Tumor

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common malignancies in the urinary system and is not sensitive to chemotherapy or radiotherapy in its advanced stages. Sunitinib is recommended as a first-line target drug for unresectable and metastatic RCC by targeting tyrosine kinase-related signaling pathways, but its therapeutic effect is unsatisfactory. Recently, nanomaterials have shown great prospects in the medical field because of their unique physicochemical properties. Particularly, liposomes are considered as ideal drug delivery systems due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ideal drug-loading efficiency. Considering that tumor supplying artery injection can directly distribute drugs into tumor tissues, in this study, liposomes were employed to encapsulate water-insoluble sunitinib to construct the liposome@sunitinib (Lipo@Suni) complex, so that the drug could directly target and distribute into tumor tissue, and effectively trapped in tumor tissues after tumor supplying artery injection for the advantage of the physicochemical properties of liposomes, thereby achieving a better therapeutic effect on advanced RCC. Here, we found that compared with the peripheral intravenous administration, trans-renal arterial administration increases the content and prolongs the retention time of liposomes in tumor tissues; accordingly, more sunitinib is dispersed and retained in tumor tissues. Ultimately, trans-renal arterial administration of Lipo@Suni exerts a better suppressive effect on RCC progression than peripheral intravenous administration, even better than the conventional oral administration of sunitinib.

New 2-oxoindole derivatives as multiple PDGFRα/ß and VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Two new series of N-aryl acetamides 6a-o and benzyloxy benzylidenes 9a-p based 2-oxoindole derivatives were designed as potent antiproliferative multiple kinase inhibitors. The results of one-dose NCI antiproliferative screening for compounds 6a-o and 9a-p elucidated that the most promising antiproliferative scaffolds were 6f and 9f, which underwent five-dose testing. Notably, the amido congener 6f was the most potent derivative towards pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma MDA-PATC53 and PL45 cell lines (IC50 = 1.73 µM and 2.40 µM, respectively), and the benzyloxy derivative 9f was the next potent one with IC50 values of 2.85 µM and 2.96 µM, respectively. Both compounds 6f and 9f demonstrated a favorable safety profile when tested against normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1). Additionally, compound 6f displayed exceptional selectivity as a multiple kinase inhibitor, particularly targeting PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, and VEGFR-2 kinases, with IC50 values of 7.41 nM, 6.18 nM, and 7.49 nM, respectively. In contrast, the reference compound Sunitinib exhibited IC50 values of 43.88 nM, 2.13 nM, and 78.46 nM against the same kinases. The derivative 9f followed closely, with IC50 values of 9.9 nM, 6.62 nM, and 22.21 nM for the respective kinases. Both 6f and 9f disrupt the G2/M cell cycle transition by upregulating p21 and reducing CDK1 and cyclin B1 mRNA levels. The interplay between targeted kinases and these cell cycle regulators underpins the G2/M cell cycle arrest induced by our compounds. Also, compounds 6f and 9f fundamentally resulted in entering MDA-PATC53 cells into the early stage of apoptosis with good percentages compared to the positive control Sunitinib. The in silico molecular-docking outcomes of scaffolds 6a-o and 9a-p in VEGFR-2, PDGFRα, and PDGFRβ active sites depicted their ability to adopt essential binding interactions like the reference Sunitinib. Our designed analogs, specifically 6f and 9f, possess promising antiproliferative and kinase inhibitory properties, making them potential candidates for further therapeutic development.

Clinical and Preclinical Targeting of Oncogenic Pathways in PDAC: Targeted Therapeutic Approaches for the Deadliest Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. It is commonly diagnosed in advanced stages and therapeutic interventions are typically constrained to systemic chemotherapy, which yields only modest clinical outcomes. In this review, we examine recent developments in targeted therapy tailored to address distinct molecular pathway alteration required for PDAC. Our review delineates the principal signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms implicated in the initiation and progression of PDAC. Subsequently, we provide an overview of prevailing guidelines, ongoing investigations, and prospective research trajectories related to targeted therapeutic interventions, drawing insights from randomized clinical trials and other pertinent studies. This review focus on a comprehensive examination of preclinical and clinical data substantiating the efficacy of these therapeutic modalities, emphasizing the potential of combinatorial regimens and novel therapies to enhance the quality of life for individuals afflicted with PDAC. Lastly, the review delves into the contemporary application and ongoing research endeavors concerning targeted therapy for PDAC. This synthesis serves to bridge the molecular elucidation of PDAC with its clinical implications, the evolution of innovative therapeutic strategies, and the changing landscape of treatment approaches.

Epigenetic control of pancreatic cancer metastasis

Surgical resection, when combined with chemotherapy, has been shown to significantly improve the survival rate of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, this treatment option is only feasible for a fraction of patients, as more than 50% of cases are diagnosed with metastasis. The multifaceted process of metastasis is still not fully understood, but recent data suggest that transcriptional and epigenetic plasticity play significant roles. Interfering with epigenetic reprogramming can potentially control the adaptive processes responsible for metastatic progression and therapy resistance, thereby enhancing treatment responses and preventing recurrence. This review will focus on the relevance of histone-modifying enzymes in pancreatic cancer, specifically on their impact on the metastatic cascade. Additionally, it will also provide a brief update on the current clinical developments in epigenetic therapies.

Lycorine inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth and neovascularization by inducing Notch1 degradation and downregulating key vasculogenic genes

Pancreatic cancer is highly metastatic and lethal with an increasing incidence globally and a 5-year survival rate of only 8%. One of the factors contributing to the high mortality is the lack of effective drugs in the clinical setting. We speculated that effective compounds against pancreatic cancer exist in natural herbs and explored active small molecules among traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The small molecule lycorine (MW: 323.77) derived from the herb Lycoris radiata inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth with an IC50 value of 1 μM in a concentration-dependent manner. Lycorine markedly reduced pancreatic cancer cell viability, migration, invasion, neovascularization, and gemcitabine resistance. Additionally, lycorine effectively suppressed tumor growth in mouse xenograft models without obvious toxicity. Pharmacological studies revealed that the levels and half-life of Notch1 oncoprotein in the pancreatic cancer cells Panc-1 and Patu8988 were notably reduced. Moreover, the expression of the key vasculogenic genes Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were also significantly inhibited by lycorine. Mechanistically, lycorine strongly triggered the degradation of Notch1 oncoprotein through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. In conclusion, lycorine effectively inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth, migration, invasion, neovascularization, and gemcitabine resistance by inducing degradation of Notch1 oncoprotein and downregulating the key vasculogenic genes Sema4D and Ang-2. Our findings provide a new therapeutic candidate and treatment strategy against pancreatic cancer.

m6A eraser FTO impairs gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer through influencing NEDD4 mRNA stability by regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND

Gemcitabine resistance has brought great challenges to the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mutation has been shown to have a significant regulatory role in chemosensitivity; however, it is not apparent whether gemcitabine resistance can be regulated by fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO).

METHODS

Cells with established gemcitabine resistance and tissues from pancreatic cancer patients were used to evaluate FTO expression. The biological mechanisms of the effects of FTO on gemcitabine resistant cells were investigated using CCK-8, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and inhibitory concentration 50. Immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry, MeRIP-seq, RNA sequencing and RIP assays, RNA stability, luciferase reporter, and RNA pull down assays were employed to examine the mechanism of FTO affecting gemcitabine resistant pancreatic cancer cells.

RESULTS

The results revealed that FTO was substantially expressed in cells and tissues that were resistant to gemcitabine. Functionally, the gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer could be enhanced by FTO, while its depletion inhibited the growth of gemcitabine resistant tumor cells in vivo. Immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry showed that the FTO protein can be bound to USP7 and deubiquitinated by USP7, leading to the upregulation of FTO. At the same time, FTO knockdown significantly decreased the expression level of NEDD4 in an m6A-dependent manner. RNA pull down and RNA immunoprecipitation verified YTHDF2 as the reader of NEDD4, which promoted the chemoresistance of gemcitabine resistant cells. FTO knockdown markedly increased the PTEN expression level in an NEDD4-dependent manner and influenced the chemosensitivity to gemcitabine through the PI3K/AKT pathway in pancreatic cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we found that gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer can be influenced by FTO that demethylates NEDD4 RNA in a m6A-dependent manner, which then influences the PTEN expression level and thereby affects the PI3K/AKT pathway. We also identified that the FTO level can be upregulated by USP7.

Cancer Stem Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

The first discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in leukaemia triggered active research on stemness in neoplastic tissues. CSCs represent a subpopulation of malignant cells, defined by unique properties: a dedifferentiated state, self-renewal, pluripotency, an inherent resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, the presence of certain epigenetic alterations, as well as a higher tumorigenicity in comparison with the general population of cancer cells. A combination of these features highlights CSCs as a high-priority target during cancer treatment. The presence of CSCs has been confirmed in multiple malignancies, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, an entity that is well known for its dismal prognosis. As the aggressive course of pancreatic carcinoma is partly attributable to treatment resistance, CSCs could contribute to adverse outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize the current information regarding the markers and molecular features of CSCs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and the therapeutic options to remove them.