miR-92a promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through the PTEN/Akt signaling pathway

Cancer-specific risk prediction with a serum microRNA signature

We recently derived and validated a serum-based microRNA risk score (miR-score) that predicted colorectal cancer (CRC) occurrence with very high accuracy within 14 years of follow-up in a population-based cohort study from Germany (ESTHER cohort). Here, we aimed to evaluate associations of the CRC-specific miR-score with the risk of developing other common cancers, including female breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC), and prostate cancer (PC), in the ESTHER cohort. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were profiled by quantitative real-time PCR in serum samples collected at baseline from randomly selected incident cases of BC (n = 90), LC (n = 88), and PC (n = 93) and participants without diagnosis of CRC, LC, BC, or PC (controls, n = 181) until the end of the 17-year follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of the miR-score with BC, LC, and PC incidence. The miR-score showed strong inverse associations with BC and LC incidence [odds ratio per 1 standard deviation increase: 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43-0.82), p = 0.0017, and 0.64 (95% CI 0.48-0.84),p = 0.0015, respectively]. Associations with PC were not statistically significant but pointed in the positive direction. Our study highlights the potential of serum-based miRNA biomarkers for cancer-specific risk prediction. Further large cohort studies aiming to investigate, validate, and optimize the use of circulating miRNA signatures for cancer risk assessment are warranted.

Expression level of neutrophil extracellular traps in peripheral blood of patients with chronic heart failure complicated with venous thrombosis and its clinical significance

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have reported that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been identified to be involved in thrombosis, but the clinical value in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with venous thrombosis is unclear. This study focused on the expression level of NETs in the peripheral blood of patients with CHF complicated with venous thrombosis and its clinical value.

METHODS

80 patients with CHF were included and divided into 2 groups according to the occurrence of venous thrombosis, and the expression levels of NETs in peripheral venous blood and lesion veins of the patients were detected through fluorescent staining. Myeloperoxidase-DNA (MPO-DNA) and citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3), markers of NETs, were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of peripheral venous blood NETs in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis in CHF patients, while the relationship between NETs in peripheral and lesion veins was analyzed by a unitary linear regression model.

RESULTS

The results showed that the concentration of NETs, MPO-DNA, and CitH3 in CHF patients combined with venous thrombosis was markedly higher than that in patients without venous thrombosis, and the concentration of NETs, MPO-DNA, and CitH3 in lesion venous blood was notably higher than that in peripheral venous blood. Binary logistics regression analysis showed that NETs in peripheral venous blood were an independent risk factor for venous thrombosis in patients with heart failure. The unitary linear regression model fitted well, indicating a notable positive correlation between NETs concentrations in peripheral and lesion veins. The area under the ROC curve for diagnosing venous thrombosis was 0.85, indicating that peripheral blood NETs concentration levels could effectively predict venous thrombosis in CHF patients.

CONCLUSION

The expression level of NETs was high in the peripheral blood of CHF patients combined with venous thrombosis and was the highest in lesion venous blood. NETs levels in peripheral blood had the value of diagnosing venous thrombosis in CHF patients, and the concentrations of NETs in peripheral and lesion veins are markedly positively correlated.

MicroRNAs as important players in regulating cancer through PTEN/PI3K/AKT signalling pathways

Cancer being the leading cause of mortality has become a great threat worldwide. Current cancer therapeutics lack specificity and have side effects due to a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in carcinogenesis. In recent years, researchers have been focusing on several signalling pathways to pave the way for novel therapeutics. The PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway is one of the important pathways involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis, leading to tumour growth. In addition, the PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis has several downstream pathways that could lead to tumour malignancy, metastasis and chemoresistance. On the other hand, microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of various genes leading to disease pathogenesis. Hence studies of the role of miRNAs in regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis could lead to the development of novel therapeutics for cancer. Thus, in this review, we have focused on various miRNAs involved in the carcinogenesis of various cancer via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis.

Prostate Cancer and microRNAs: New insights into Apoptosis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is known as one of the most prevalent malignancies globally and is not yet curable owing to its progressive nature. It has been well documented that Genetic and epigenetic alterations maintain mandatory roles in PCa development. Apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, has been shown to be involved in a number of physiological processes. Apoptosis disruption is considered as one of the main mechanism involved in lots of pathological conditions, especially malignancy. There is ample of evidence in support of the fact that microRNAs (miRNAs) have crucial roles in several cellular biological processes, including apoptosis. Escaping from apoptosis is a common event in malignancy progression. Emerging evidence revealed miRNAs capabilities to act as apoptotic or anti-apoptotic factors by altering the expression levels of tumor inhibitor or oncogene genes. In the present narrative review, we described in detail how apoptosis dysfunction could be involved in PCa processes and additionally, the mechanisms behind miRNAs affect the apoptosis pathways in PCa. Identifying the mechanisms behind the effects of miRNAs and their targets on apoptosis can provide scientists new targets for PCa treatment.

Paclitaxel and docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer: Molecular mechanisms and possible therapeutic strategies

Prostate cancer is among most malignant tumors around the world and this urological tumor can be developed as result of genomic mutations and their accumulation during progression towards advanced stage. Due to lack of specific symptoms in early stages of prostate cancer, most cancer patients are diagnosed in advanced stages that tumor cells display low response to chemotherapy. Furthermore, genomic mutations in prostate cancer enhance the aggressiveness of tumor cells. Docetaxel and paclitaxel are suggested as well-known compounds for chemotherapy of prostate tumor and they possess a similar function in cancer therapy that is based on inhibiting depolymerization of microtubules, impairing balance of microtubules and subsequent delay in cell cycle progression. The aim of current review is to highlight mechanisms of paclitaxel and docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer. When oncogenic factors such as CD133 display upregulation and PTEN as tumor-suppressor shows decrease in expression, malignancy of prostate tumor cells enhances and they can induce drug resistance. Furthermore, phytochemicals as anti-tumor compounds have been utilized in suppressing chemoresistance in prostate cancer. Naringenin and lovastatin are among the anti-tumor compounds that have been used for impairing progression of prostate tumor and enhancing drug sensitivity. Moreover, nanostructures such as polymeric micelles and nanobubbles have been utilized in delivery of anti-tumor compounds and decreasing risk of chemoresistance development. These subjects are highlighted in current review to provide new insight for reversing drug resistance in prostate cancer.

STAT3 signaling in prostate cancer progression and therapy resistance: An oncogenic pathway with diverse functions

The categorization of cancers demonstrates that prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and it causes high death annually. Prostate cancer patients are diagnosed mainly via biomarkers such as PSA test and patients show poor prognosis. Prostate cancer cells rapidly diffuse into different parts of body and their metastasis is also a reason for death. Current therapies for prostate cancer patients include chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy as well as targeted therapy. The progression of prostate cancer cells is regulated by different factors that STAT3 signaling is among them. Growth factors and cytokines such as IL-6 can induce STAT3 signaling and it shows carcinogenic impact. Activation of STAT3 signaling occurs in prostate cancer and it promotes malignant behavior of tumor cells. Induction of STAT3 signaling increases glycolysis and proliferation of prostate cancer cells and prevents apoptosis. Furthermore, STAT3 signaling induces EMT mechanism in increasing cancer metastasis. Activation of STAT3 signaling stimulates drug resistance and the limitation of current works is lack of experiment related to role of STAT3 signaling in radio-resistance in prostate tumor. Calcitriol, capsazepine and β-elemonic are among the compounds capable of targeting STAT3 signaling and its inhibition in prostate cancer therapy. In addition to natural products, small molecules targeting STAT3 signaling have been developed in prostate cancer therapy.

FOXO3a and Its Regulators in Prostate Cancer

Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) is a member of a subfamily of forkhead transcription factors involved in the basic processes within a cell, including proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and DNA damage. As a transcription factor, FOXO3a is involved in the response to cellular stress, UV radiation, or oxidative stress. Its regulation is based on the modification of proteins as well as regulation by other proteins, e.g., growth factors. FOXO3a is commonly deregulated in cancer cells, and its inactivation is associated with initiation and progression of tumorigenesis, suggesting its role as a tumor suppressor; however, its role is still disputed and seems to be dependent on upstream signaling. Nevertheless, FOXO3a serves as an interesting potential target in therapies as it is regulated during treatment with very common anti-cancer drugs such as paclitaxel, cisplatin, docetaxel, and doxorubicin. This review aims to update the reported role of FOXO3a in prostate cancer (PCa), with a focus on its regulators that might serve as potential therapeutic agents in PCa therapy.