Association of positively selected eIF3a polymorphisms with toxicity of platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients

Blocking copper transporter protein-dependent drug efflux with albumin-encapsulated Pt(IV) for synergistically enhanced chemo-immunotherapy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the most prevalent form of lung cancer, exerting a substantial impact on global health. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for NSCLC, but resistance and severe side effects present significant clinical challenges. Recently, novel tetravalent platinum compounds have attracted significant interest. While numerous studies concentrate on their functional modifications and targeted delivery, tumor-induced platinum resistance is frequently overlooked. Previous tetravalent platinum compound demonstrated antitumor activity, yet proved ineffective against cells exhibiting resistance to cisplatin. In order to enhance the efficacy and potential applications of tetravalent platinum in NSCLC, a glutathione (GSH)-responsive albumin nanoquadrivalent platinum (HSA@Pt) have been constructed. In light of previous research into drug conjugation, this study was to develop a combined chemo-immunotherapy approach. The HSA@Pt demonstrated high efficacy and low toxicity, with targeted tumor accumulation. Furthermore, Ammonium Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) has been demonstrated to exert a synergistic inhibitory effect on ATPase Copper Transporting Beta (ATP7B) and Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1), impede platinum efflux, induce cellular stress, and activate antitumor immunity. The findings suggest HSA@Pt's potential for clinical use and a novel chemo-immunotherapy strategy for NSCLC, enhancing the utility of established drugs through synergistic sensitization.

eIF3a function in immunity and protection against severe sepsis by regulating B cell quantity and function through m6A modification

eIF3a is a N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader that regulates mRNA translation by recognizing m6A modifications of these mRNAs. It has been suggested that eIF3a may play an important role in regulating translation initiation via m6A during infection when canonical cap-dependent initiation is inhibited. However, the death of animal model studies impedes our understanding of the functional significance of eIF3a in immunity and regulation in vivo. In this study, we investigated the in vivo function of eIF3a using eIF3a knockout and knockdown mouse models and found that eIF3a deficiency resulted in splenic tissue structural disruption and multi-organ damage, which contributed to severe sepsis induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ectopic eIF3a overexpression in the eIF3a knockdown mice rescued mice from LPS-induced severe sepsis. We further showed that eIF3a maintains a functional and healthy immune system by regulating B cell function and quantity through m6A modification of mRNAs. These findings unveil a novel mechanism underlying sepsis, implicating the pivotal role of B cells in this complex disease process regulated by eIF3a. Furthermore, eIF3a may be used to develop a potential strategy for treating sepsis.

Genetic polymorphisms and platinum-induced hematological toxicity: a systematic review

Background

Platinum-based chemotherapy bring severe hematological toxicity that can lead to dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy. Genetic variations have been reported to influence the risk and extent of hematological toxicity; however, the results are controversial and a comprehensive overview is lacking. This systematic review aimed to identify genetic biomarkers of platinum-induced hematological toxicity.

Method

Pubmed, Embase and Web of science database were systematically reviewed for studies that evaluated the association of genetic variants and platinum-related hematological toxicity in tumor patients with no prior history of chemotherapy or radiation, published from inception to the 28th of January 2022. The studies should have specific toxicity scoring system as well as defined toxicity end-point. The quality of reporting was assessed using the Strengthening the Reporting of Genetic Association Studies (STREGA) checklist. Results were summarized using narrative synthesis.

Results

83 studies were eligible with over 682 single-nucleotide polymorphisms across 110 genes. The results are inconsistent and diverse with methodological issues including insufficient sample size, population stratification, various treatment schedule and toxicity end-point, and inappropriate statistics. 11 SNPs from 10 genes (ABCB1 rs1128503, GSTP1 rs1695, GSTM1 gene deletion, ERCC1 rs11615, ERCC1 rs3212986, ERCC2 rs238406, XPC rs2228001, XPCC1 rs25487, MTHFR rs1801133, MDM2 rs2279744, TP53 rs1042522) had consistent results in more than two independent populations. Among them, GSTP1 rs1695, ERCC1 rs11615, ERCC1 rs3212986, and XRCC1 rs25487 present the most promising results.

Conclusion

Even though the results are inconsistent and several methodological concerns exist, this systematic review identified several genetic variations that deserve validation in well-defined studies with larger sample size and robust methodology.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, identifier CRD42021234164.

Protein translation: biological processes and therapeutic strategies for human diseases

Protein translation is a tightly regulated cellular process that is essential for gene expression and protein synthesis. The deregulation of this process is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. In this review, we discuss how deregulated translation can lead to aberrant protein synthesis, altered cellular functions, and disease progression. We explore the key mechanisms contributing to the deregulation of protein translation, including functional alterations in translation factors, tRNA, mRNA, and ribosome function. Deregulated translation leads to abnormal protein expression, disrupted cellular signaling, and perturbed cellular functions- all of which contribute to disease pathogenesis. The development of ribosome profiling techniques along with mass spectrometry-based proteomics, mRNA sequencing and single-cell approaches have opened new avenues for detecting diseases related to translation errors. Importantly, we highlight recent advances in therapies targeting translation-related disorders and their potential applications in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the growing interest lies in targeted therapies aimed at restoring precise control over translation in diseased cells is discussed. In conclusion, this comprehensive review underscores the critical role of protein translation in disease and its potential as a therapeutic target. Advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms of protein translation deregulation, coupled with the development of targeted therapies, offer promising avenues for improving disease outcomes in various human diseases. Additionally, it will unlock doors to the possibility of precision medicine by offering personalized therapies and a deeper understanding of the molecular underpinnings of diseases in the future.

Impact of genetic factors on platinum-induced gastrointestinal toxicity

Severe gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity is a common side effect after platinum-based chemotherapy. The incidence and severity of GI toxicity vary among patients with the same chemotherapy. Genetic factors involved in platinum transport, metabolism, detoxification, DNA repair, cell cycle control, and apoptosis pathways may account for the interindividual difference in GI toxicity. The influence of gene polymorphisms in the platinum pathway on GI toxicity has been extensively analyzed. Variations in study sample size, ethnicity, design, treatment schedule, dosing, endpoint definition, and assessment of toxicity make it difficult to precisely interpret the results. Hence, we conducted a review to summarize the most recent pharmacogenomics studies of GI toxicity in platinum-based chemotherapy and identify the most promising avenues for further research.

A systematic review and network meta-analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with pancreatic cancer risk

In this meta-analysis, we systematically investigated the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and pancreatic cancer (PC) risk. We searched PubMed, Network Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Wanfang databases up to January 2020 for studies on PC risk-associated SNPs. We identified 45 case-control studies (36,360 PC patients and 54,752 non-cancer individuals) relating to investigations of 27 genes and 54 SNPs for this meta-analysis. Direct meta-analysis followed by network meta-analysis and Thakkinstian algorithm analysis showed that homozygous genetic models for CTLA-4 rs231775 (OR =0.326; 95% CI: 0.218-0.488) and VDR rs2228570 (OR = 1.976; 95% CI: 1.496-2.611) and additive gene model for TP53 rs9895829 (OR = 1.231; 95% CI: 1.143-1.326) were significantly associated with PC risk. TP53 rs9895829 was the most optimal SNP for diagnosing PC susceptibility with a false positive report probability < 0.2 at a stringent prior probability value of 0.00001. This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that TP53 rs9895829, VDR rs2228570, and CTLA-4 rs231775 are significantly associated with PC risk. We also demonstrate that TP53 rs9895829 is a potential diagnostic biomarker for estimating PC risk.

Genetic Variants in DNA Mismatch Repair Pathway predict prognosis of Lung Cancer patients with receiving Platinum-Based Chemotherapy

Objective: To investigate the relationships between genetic variants in DNA mismatch repair pathway genes and the prognosis of platinum-based chemotherapy in lung cancer patients.

Methods: 346 lung cancer patients who received at least two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy were recruited in this study. A total of 35 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 7 DNA mismatch repair genes were genotyped to investigate their associations with platinum-based chemotherapy prognosis.

Result: The results revealed that patients carried MSH2 rs4608577 TT genotype had a significantly shorter progression free survival than patients with GG or GT genotypes (Additive model: P=0.003, OR =0.94, 95% CI =0.33-1.57). Patients with SAPCD1 rs707937 TT genotype had a significantly longer overall survival than patients with GG or GT genotypes (Additive model: P=0.0003, OR=0.75, 95% CI =0.35-1.14). Eight SNPs and fourteen SNPs were related to progression free survival and overall survival in subgroup analyses, respectively.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the MSH2 rs4608577 and SAPCD1 rs707937 may be potential clinical biomarkers for predicting platinum-based chemotherapy prognosis in lung cancer patients.

A perspective profile of ADCY1 in cAMP signaling with drug-resistance in lung cancer

Adenylate cyclase 1 (ADCY1 or AC1) is a member of ADCY superfamily and was primarily found to be expressed in the brain. ADCY1 is responsible for catalyzing ATP to cyclic AMP (cAMP). As a secondary messenger, cAMP can regulate plenty of cellular activities. cAMP can perform its regulation in cellular transport through the binding to cAMP dependent protein kinases (PKAs), cAMP-activated guanine exchange factors (EPACs) and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels functioning in transduction of sensory signals (CNGs). Lung cancer is one of the leading factors of cancer-related death worldwide. Platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for advanced lung cancer patients. In addition, surgical treatment, radiation treatment, and molecular targeted therapy are also therapeutic options for lung cancer patients in clinical settings. However, drug resistance and toxicity are the major obstacles that affect chemotherapy outcome and prognosis of lung cancer patients. And the therapeutic efficiency and adverse effects are varying with each individual. In recent years, investigations based on genetic sequencing have revealed the emerging role of ADCY1 mutations in affecting drug efficiency in various cancers such as lung cancer, esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer. The potential function of ADCY1 in chemotherapy resistance is of great importance to be noticed and investigated.

Circular RNA screening from EIF3a in lung cancer

Eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (EIF3) is one of the largest and most complex translation initiation factors, which consists of 13 subunits named eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit A (EIF3a) to EIF3m. EIF3a is the largest subunit of EIF3. Previous studies suggested that EIF3a is a housekeeping gene, recent results have found that EIF3a is closely related to the tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) derived from biologically important gene can play an important role in gene regulation. However, the mechanism underlying circRNAs’ biological functions is not well understood yet. In this work, we screened 31 EIF3a‐derived circRNAs, in which two circEIF3as were identified to be correlated with cisplatin drug sensitivity in lung cancer. Two circEIF3as were found involved in RNA‐binding proteins‐mediated biological processes and may be related to translational regulation according to bioinformatics analyses. CircEIF3as, the transcriptional initiation factor EIF3a transcribed circRNAs, are associated with both drug sensitivity and translation regulation. These findings mean that they may have a functional synergy effect with EIF3a or be valuable therapeutic targets for treatment like EIF3a. This is the first study that exploits circRNAs screening from EIF3a in lung cancer, our findings provide a novel perspective on the function of EIF3a and circEIF3as in lung cancer.

Gene-gene and gene-environment interaction data for platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Gene-gene (GXG) and gene-environment (GXE) interactions play important roles in pharmacogenetics study. Simultaneously incorporating multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and clinical factors is needed to explore the association of their interactions with drug response and toxicity phenotypes. We genotyped 504 SNPs in a total of 490 Chinese non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and the correlation of GXG and GXE interactions with platinum-based chemotherapeutic efficacy and safety were analyzed. In this data descriptor, we shared our data set which could help others to reuse them. All kinds of file types needed for GXG and GXE analysis were supplied. The process of genotyping and data analysis was also introduced step by step.

Tamoxifen therapy benefit predictive signature combining with prognostic signature in surgical-only ER-positive breast cancer

Tamoxifen treatment is important assistant for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer (BRCA) after resection. This study aimed to identify signatures for predicting the prognosis of patients with BRCA after tamoxifen treatment. Data of gene-specific DNA methylation (DM), as well as the corresponding clinical data for the patients with BRCA, were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and followed by systematic bioinformatics analyses. After mapping these DM CPG sites onto genes, we finally obtained 352 relapse-free survival (RFS) associated DM genes, with which 61,776 gene pairs were combined, including 1,614 gene pairs related to RFS. An 11 gene-pair signature was identified to cluster the 189 patients with BRCA into the surgical low-risk group (136 patients) and high-risk group (53 patients). Then, we further identified a tamoxifen-predictive signature that could classify surgical high-risk patients with significant differences on RFS. Combining surgical-only prognostic signature and tamoxifen-predictive signature, patients were clustered into surgical-only low-risk group, tamoxifen nonbenefit group, and tamoxifen benefit group. In conclusion, we identified that the gene pair PDHA2-APRT could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for patients with BRCA after tamoxifen treatment.

Role of eIF3a in 4-amino-2-trifluoromethyl-phenyl retinate-induced cell differentiation in human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells

4-amino-2-trifluoromethyl-phenyl retinate (ATPR), a novel all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) derivative designed and synthesized by our team, has been demonstrated its anti-tumor effect through inducing differentiation and inhibiting proliferation. Eukaryotic initiation factor 3a (eIF3a) plays a critical role in affecting tumor cell proliferation and differentiation. However, whether eIF3a is implicated in chronic myeloid leukemia cells differentiation remains unclear. Our results demonstrated that eIF3a could be suppressed by ATPR in K562 cells. The results also confirmed that ATPR could arrest cell cycle in G0/G1 phase and induced differentiation. Moreover, over-expression of eIF3a promoted not only protein expression of c-myc and cyclin D1, but also prevented the expression of p-Raf-1, p-ERK and the myeloid differentiation markers CD11b and CD14 and had an influence on inducing the morphologic mature. However, silencing eIF3a expression by small interfering RNA could have an adverse effect on K562 cells. In addition, PD98059 (a MEK inhibitor) could block cell differentiation of CML cells and contributed to the expression of c-myc and cyclin D1. In conclusion, these results indicated that eIF3a played an important role in ATPR-induced cell differentiation in K562 cells, its mechanism might be related to its ability in regulating the activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway in vitro.

[Impairment of DNA damage response and cancer]

Maintaining the genetic integrity is a key process in cell viability and is enabled by a wide network of repair pathways. When this system is defective, it generates genomic instability and results in an accumulation of chromosomal aberrations and mutations that may be responsible for various clinical phenotypes, including susceptibility to develop cancer. Indeed, these defects can promote not only the initiation of cancer, but also allow the tumor cells to rapidly acquire mutations during their evolution. Several genes are involved in these damage repair systems and particular polymorphisms are predictive of the onset of cancer, the best described of them being BRCA. In addition to its impact on carcinogenesis, the DNA damage repair system is now considered as a therapeutic target of choice for cancer treatment, as monotherapy or in combination with other cytotoxic therapies, such as chemotherapies or radiotherapy. PARP inhibitors are nowadays the best known, but other agents are emerging in the field of clinical research. The enthusiasm in this area is coupled with promising results and a successful collaboration between clinicians and biologists would allow to optimize treatment plans in order to take full advantage of the DNA repair system modulation.

Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions influence platinum-based chemotherapy response and toxicity in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Platinum-based chemotherapy is a major therapeutic regimen of lung cancer. Various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reported were associated with platinum-based chemotherapy response and drug toxicity. However, neither of the studies explored this association from SNP-SNP interaction perspective nor taking into effects of SNP-environment consideration simultaneously. We genotyped 504 polymorphisms and explore the association of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions with platinum-based chemotherapy response and toxicity in 490 NSCLC patients. 16 SNPs were found significantly associated with platinum-based chemotherapy, and they were picked out as study object in the validation cohort. We recruited 788 patients in the validation cohort. We found that HSPD1 rs17730989-SUMF1 rs2633851 interaction was associated with platinum-based chemotherapy-induced hematologic toxicity (adjusted OR = 0.233, P = 0.018). In addition, the combined effect of ABCG2 rs2231142-CES5A rs3859104 was significantly associated with overall toxicity (adjusted OR = 8.044, P = 4.350 × 10-5). Besides, the model of ARHGAP26 rs3776332-ERCC6 rs2228528-SLC2A1 rs4658-histology was associated with platinum-based chemotherapeutic response. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions have been identified to contribute to chemotherapy sensitivity and toxicity. They can potentially predict drug response and toxicity of platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.

Association between DNA mismatch repair gene polymorphisms and platinum-based chemotherapy toxicity in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background

Chemotherapy toxicity is a serious problem from which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients suffer. The mismatch repair (MMR) system is associated with platinum-based chemotherapy toxicity in NSCLC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in the MMR pathway and platinum-based chemotherapy toxicity in NSCLC patients.

Methods

A total of 220 Chinese lung cancer patients who received at least two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy were recruited for this study. Toxicity was evaluated in each patient after two cycles of chemotherapy. A total of 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected to investigate their associations with platinum-based chemotherapy toxicity.

Results

MutS homolog 2 (MSH2) rs6544991 [odds ratio (OR) 2.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20–7.40, P = 0.019] was associated with gastrointestinal toxicity in the dominant model; MSH3 rs6151627 (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.23–4.60, P = 0.010), rs6151670 (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.07–3.93, P = 0.031), and rs7709909 (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.23–4.64, P = 0.010) were associated with hematologic toxicity in the dominant model. Additionally, MSH5 rs805304 was significantly associated with overall toxicity (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.19–4.09, P = 0.012), and MSH5 rs707939 was significantly associated with both overall toxicity (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23–0.76, P = 0.004) and gastrointestinal toxicity (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20–0.96, P = 0.038) in the dominant model.

Conclusion

Genetic polymorphisms in the MMR pathway are potential clinical markers for predicting chemotherapy toxicity in NSCLC patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40880-016-0175-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Emerging roles of RAC1 in treating lung cancer patients

The Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1), a member of the Rho family of small guanosine triphosphatases, is critical for many cellular activities, such as phagocytosis, adhesion, migration, motility, cell proliferation, and axonal growth. In addition, RAC1 plays an important role in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and migration, and it has been reported to be related to most cancers, such as breast cancer, gastric cancer, testicular germ cell cancer, and lung cancer. Recently, the therapeutic target of RAC1 in cancer has been investigated. In addition, some investigations have shown that inhibition of RAC1 can reverse drug-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the role of RAC1 in lung cancer and the underlying mechanisms and discuss its value in clinical therapy.

Associations of genetic polymorphisms of the transporters organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1), and ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 2 (ABCC2) with platinum-based chemotherapy response and toxicity in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); it is therefore important to discover biomarkers that can be used to predict the efficacy and toxicity of this treatment. Four important transporter genes are expressed in the kidney, including organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1), ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), and ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 2 (ABCC2), and genetic polymorphisms in these genes may alter the efficacy and adverse effects of platinum drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the association of genetic polymorphisms of these transporters with platinum-based chemotherapy response and toxicity in NSCLC patients.

Methods

A total of 403 Chinese NSCLC patients were recruited for this study. All patients were newly diagnosed with NSCLC and received at least two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. The tumor response and toxicity were evaluated after two cycles of treatment, and the patients’ genomic DNA was extracted. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms in four transporter genes were selected to investigate their associations with platinum-based chemotherapy toxicity and response.

Results

OCT2 rs316019 was associated with hepatotoxicity (P = 0.026) and hematological toxicity (P = 0.039), and MATE1 rs2289669 was associated with hematological toxicity induced by platinum (P = 0.016). In addition, ABCC2 rs717620 was significantly associated with the platinum-based chemotherapy response (P = 0.031). ABCB1 polymorphisms were associated with neither response nor toxicity.

Conclusion

OCT2 rs316019, MATE1 rs2289669, and ABCC2 rs717620 might be potential clinical markers for predicting chemotherapy toxicity and response induced by platinum-based treatment in NSCLC patients.

Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-RNC-12002892

Pharmacogenomics of platinum-based chemotherapy sensitivity in NSCLC: toward precision medicine

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, the therapeutic efficiency varies remarkably among individuals. A large number of pharmacogenomics studies aimed to identify genetic variations which can be used to predict platinum response. Those studies are leading NSCLC treatment to the new era of precision medicine. In the current review, we provided a comprehensive update on the main recent findings of genetic variations which can be used to predict platinum sensitivity in the NSCLC patients.

eIF3a improve cisplatin sensitivity in ovarian cancer by regulating XPC and p27Kip1 translation

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3a (eIF3a) is one of the core subunits of the translation initiation complex eIF3, responsible for ribosomal subunit joining and mRNA recruitment to the ribosome. Our previous study identified that it was correlated with platinum response in lung cancer. The current study aims to test the hypothesis that eIF3a may affect the drug response and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy by regulating xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) and p27^Kip1. Immunohistochemistry and western blot was used to determine the expression of eIF3a in 126 human ovarian cancer tissues followed by association analysis of eIF3a expression with patient's response and survival. Ectopic over-expression and RNA interference knockdown of eIF3a were carried out in A2780/cisplatin (DDP) and its parental A2780 cells, respectively, to determine the effect of altered eIF3a expression on cellular response to cisplatin by employing MTT assay. Western Blot analyses were also carried out to determine the regulation of eIF3a on XPC and p27^Kip1. eIF3a expression was associated with response of ovarian cancer patients to DDP-based chemotherapy and their survival. Overexpression and knockdown of eIF3a increased and decreased the cellular response to cisplatin in A2780/DDP and A2780 cells, respectively. In addition, XPC and p27^Kip1 were down regulated by eIF3a. eIF3a improves ovarian cancer patients' response to DDP-based chemotherapy via down regulating XPC and p27^Kip1.