CDK5RAP3 acts as a tumour suppressor in gastric cancer through the infiltration and polarization of tumour-associated macrophages

Advances in circulating tumor cells for early detection, prognosis and metastasis reduction in lung cancer

Globally, lung cancer stands as the leading type of cancer in terms of incidence and is the major source of mortality attributed to cancer. We have outlined the molecular biomarkers for lung cancer that are available clinically. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) spread from the original location, circulate in the bloodstream, extravasate, and metastasize, forming secondary tumors by invading and establishing a favorable environment. CTC analysis is considered a common liquid biopsy method for lung cancer. We have enumerated both in vivo and ex vivo techniques for CTC separation and enrichment, examined the advantages and limitations of these methods, and also discussed the detection of CTCs in other bodily fluids. We have evaluated the value of CTCs, as well as CTCs in conjunction with other biomarkers, for their utility in the early detection and prognostic assessment of patients with lung cancer. CTCs engage with diverse cells of the metastatic process, interfering with the interaction between CTCs and various cells in metastasis, potentially halting metastasis and enhancing patient prognosis.

Development and verification of a manganese metabolism- and immune-related genes signature for prediction of prognosis and immune landscape in gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) poses a global health challenge due to its widespread prevalence and unfavorable prognosis. Although immunotherapy has shown promise in clinical settings, its efficacy remains limited to a minority of GC patients. Manganese, recognized for its role in the body's anti-tumor immune response, has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of tumor treatment when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Methods

Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases was utilized to obtain transcriptome information and clinical data for GC. Unsupervised clustering was employed to stratify samples into distinct subtypes. Manganese metabolism- and immune-related genes (MIRGs) were identified in GC by univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. We conducted gene set variation analysis, and assessed the immune landscape, drug sensitivity, immunotherapy efficacy, and somatic mutations. The underlying role of NPR3 in GC was further analyzed in the single-cell RNA sequencing data and cellular experiments.

Results

GC patients were classified into four subtypes characterized by significantly different prognoses and tumor microenvironments. Thirteen genes were identified and established as MIRGs, demonstrating exceptional predictive effectiveness in GC patients. Distinct enrichment patterns of molecular functions and pathways were observed among various risk subgroups. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a significantly greater abundance of macrophages and monocytes in the high-risk group. Drug sensitivity analysis identified effective drugs for patients, while patients in the low-risk group could potentially benefit from immunotherapy. NPR3 expression was significantly downregulated in GC tissues. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis indicated that the expression of NPR3 was distributed in endothelial cells. Cellular experiments demonstrated that NPR3 facilitated the proliferation of GC cells.

Conclusion

This is the first study to utilize manganese metabolism- and immune-related genes to identify the prognostic MIRGs for GC. The MIRGs not only reliably predicted the clinical outcome of GC patients but also hold the potential to guide future immunotherapy interventions for these patients.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes as prognostic and immunogenic biomarkers in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The metastasis and aggressive nature of prostate cancer (PCa) has become a major malignancy related threat that concerns men's health. The efficacy of immune monotherapy against PCa is questionable due to its lymphocyte-suppressive nature.

METHOD

Endoplasmic reticulum stress- (ERS-) and PCa-prognosis-related genes were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database and the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The expression, prognosis and immune infiltration values of key genes were explored by "survival R package", "rms", "xCELL algorithm", and univariate-multivariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses. The "consensus cluster plus R package" was used for cluster analysis.

RESULT

As ERS-related genes, ERLIN2 and CDK5RAP3 showed significant expressional, prognostic and clinic-pathologic values. They were defined as the key genes significantly correlated with immune infiltration and response. The nomogram was constructed with T-stage and primary treatment outcome, and the risk-prognostic model was constructed in the following way: Riskscore = (- 0.1918) * ERLIN2 + (0.5254) * CDK5RAP3. Subsequently, prognostic subgroups based on key genes classified the high-risk group as a pro-cancer subgroup that had lower mutation rates of critical genes (SPOP and MUC16), multiple low-expression immune-relevant molecules, and differences in macrophages (M1 and M2) expressions. Finally, ERLIN2 as an anti-oncogene and CDK5RAP3 as a pro-oncogene were further confirmed by cell phenotype assays and immunohistochemistry.

CONCLUSION

We identified ERLIN2 and CDK5RAP3 as ERS-related genes with important prognostic and immunologic values, and classified patients between high- and low-risk subgroups, which provided new prognostic markers, immunotherapeutic targets, and basis for prognostic assessments.

Tumour-associated macrophages in gastric cancer: From function and mechanism to application

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumour, with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The occurrence and development of GC is a complex process involving genetic changes in tumour cells and the influence of the surrounding tumour microenvironment (TME). Accumulative evidence shows that tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a vital role in GC, acting as plentiful and active infiltrating inflammatory cells in the TME.

MAIN BODY

In this review, the different functions and mechanisms of TAMs in GC progression, including the conversion of phenotypic subtypes; promotion of tumour proliferation, invasion and migration; induction of chemoresistance; promotion of angiogenesis; modulation of immunosuppression; reprogramming of metabolism; and interaction with the microbial community are summarised. Although the role of TAMs in GC remains controversial in clinical settings, clarifying their significance in the treatment selection and prognostic prediction of GC could support optimising TAM-centred clinicaltherapy.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we reviewed the the phenotypic polarisation, function and molecular mechanism of TAMs and their potential applications in the treatment selection and prognostic prediction of GC.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer stemness and heterogeneity: updated

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a trans-differentiation program and a key process in tumor progression is linked positively with increased expansion of cancer stem cells and cells with stem-like properties. This is mediated through modulation of critical tumorigenic events and is positively correlated with hypoxic conditions in tumor microenvironment. The presence of cells eliciting diverse phenotypical states inside tumor is representative of heterogeneity and higher tumor resistance to therapy. In this review, we aimed to discuss about the current understanding toward EMT, stemness, and heterogeneity in tumors of solid organs, their contribution to the key tumorigenic events along with major signaling pathway involved, and, finally, to suggest some strategies to target these critical events.