Applications of CRISPR-Cas9 in gynecological cancer research

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion enhancer of MECOM play a tumor suppressor role in ovarian cancer

MDS1 and EVI1 complex locus (MECOM), a transcription factor encoding several variants, has been implicated in progression of ovarian cancer. The function of regulatory regions in regulating MECOM expression in ovarian cancer is not fully understood. In this study, MECOM expression was evaluated in ovarian cancer cell lines treated with bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) inhibitor JQ-1. Oncogenic phenotypes were assayed using assays of CCK-8, colony formation, wound-healing and transwell. Oncogenic phenotypes were estimated in stable sgRNA-transfected OVCAR3 cell lines. Xenograft mouse model was assayed via subcutaneous injection of enhancer-deleted OVCAR3 cell lines. The results displayed that expression of MECOM is downregulated in cell lines treated with JQ-1. Data from published ChIP-sequencing (H3K27Ac) in 3 ovarian cancer cell lines displayed a potential enhancer around the first exon. mRNA and protein expression were downregulated in OVCAR3 cells after deletion of the MECOM enhancer. Similarly, oncogenic phenotypes both in cells and in the xenograft mouse model were significantly attenuated. This study demonstrates that JQ-1 can inhibit the expression of MECOM and tumorigenesis. Deletion of the enhancer activity of MECOM has an indispensable role in inhibiting ovarian cancer progress, which sheds light on a promising opportunity for ovarian cancer treatment through the application of this non-coding DNA deletion.

Nanoliposomes as nonviral vectors in cancer gene therapy

Nonviral vectors, such as liposomes, offer potential for targeted gene delivery in cancer therapy. Liposomes, composed of phospholipid vesicles, have demonstrated efficacy as nanocarriers for genetic tools, addressing the limitations of off-targeting and degradation commonly associated with traditional gene therapy approaches. Due to their biocompatibility, stability, and tunable physicochemical properties, they offer potential in overcoming the challenges associated with gene therapy, such as low transfection efficiency and poor stability in biological fluids. Despite these advancements, there remains a gap in understanding the optimal utilization of nanoliposomes for enhanced gene delivery in cancer treatment. This review delves into the present state of nanoliposomes as carriers for genetic tools in cancer therapy, sheds light on their potential to safeguard genetic payloads and facilitate cell internalization alongside the evolution of smart nanocarriers for targeted delivery. The challenges linked to their biocompatibility and the factors that restrict their effectiveness in gene delivery are also discussed along with exploring the potential of nanoliposomes in cancer gene therapy strategies by analyzing recent advancements and offering future directions.

Cancer and Trypanosoma cruzi: Tumor induction or protection?

Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, a neglected disease that can be divided, overall, into acute and chronic phases. Understanding the mechanisms underlying its progression is based on the parasite-host interactions occurring during the infection. Although the pathophysiology of the main symptomatic forms of Chagas disease has been the subject of several studies, little is known about their relationship with the development of different types of cancer. Therefore, knowledge regarding the molecular aspects of infection in the host, as well as the influence of the immune response in the parasite and the host, can help to understand the association between Chagas disease and tumor development. This review aims to summarize the main molecular mechanisms related to T. cruzi-dependent carcinogenic development and the mechanisms associated with tumor protection mediated by different parasite components.

Female reproductive dysfunctions and the gut microbiota

The gut microbiome is considered an endocrine organ that can influence distant organs and associated biological pathways. Recent advances suggest that gut microbial homeostasis is essential for reproductive health and that perturbations in the gut microbiota can lead to reproductive pathologies. This review provides an updated overview of the relationship between the gut microbiome and female reproductive diseases. Specifically, we highlight the most recent findings on the gut microbiome in gynecological pathologies including polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and endometrial cancer. Most studies revealed associations between altered gut microbial compositions and these reproductive diseases, though few have suggested cause-effect relationships. Future studies should focus on determining the molecular mechanisms underlying associations between gut microbiota and reproductive diseases. Understanding this bidirectional relationship could lead to the development of novel and effective strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat female reproductive organ-related diseases.

The Off-Target Effect of CRISPR-Cas12a System toward Insertions and Deletions between Target DNA and crRNA Sequences

The CRISPR-Cas12a system is a new type of genome editing tool with high efficiency and targeting. However, other sequences in the genome may also be cleaved nonspecifically, resulting in unavoidable off-target effects. Therefore, it is necessary to learn more about the mechanism of CRISPR-Cas12a to recognize target sequences to avoid its off-target effects. Here, we show that insertion (DNA bubble) or deletion (RNA bubble) of the target dsDNA sequence compared with the crRNA sequence, the CRISPR-Cas12a system can still recognize and cleave the target dsDNA sequence. We conclude that the tolerance of CRISPR-Cas12a to the bubbles is closely related to the location and size of the bubble and the GC base content of crRNA. In addition, we used the unique property of CRISPR-Cas12a to invent a new method to detect mutations and successfully detect the CD41-42(-CTTT) mutation. The detection limit of this method is 0.001%. Overall, our results strongly indicate that in addition to considering off-target effects caused by base mismatches, a comprehensive off-target analysis of the insertion and deletion of the target dsDNA sequence is required, and specific guidelines for effectively reducing potential off-target cleavage are proposed, to improve the safety manual of CRISPR-Cas12a biological application.

FOXM1: A Multifunctional Oncoprotein and Emerging Therapeutic Target in Ovarian Cancer

Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is a member of the conserved forkhead box (FOX) transcription factor family. Over the last two decades, FOXM1 has emerged as a multifunctional oncoprotein and a robust biomarker of poor prognosis in many human malignancies. In this review article, we address the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of regulation and oncogenic functions of FOXM1, particularly in the context of ovarian cancer. FOXM1 and its associated oncogenic transcriptional signature are enriched in >85% of ovarian cancer cases and FOXM1 expression and activity can be enhanced by a plethora of genomic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms. As a master transcriptional regulator, FOXM1 promotes critical oncogenic phenotypes in ovarian cancer, including: (1) cell proliferation, (2) invasion and metastasis, (3) chemotherapy resistance, (4) cancer stem cell (CSC) properties, (5) genomic instability, and (6) altered cellular metabolism. We additionally discuss the evidence for FOXM1 as a cancer biomarker, describe the rationale for FOXM1 as a cancer therapeutic target, and provide an overview of therapeutic strategies used to target FOXM1 for cancer treatment.

Nanoparticle-based applications for cervical cancer treatment in drug delivery, gene editing, and therapeutic cancer vaccines

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of gynecological tumor related deaths worldwide. The applications of conventional approaches such as chemoradiotherapy and surgery are restricted due to their side effects and drug resistances. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as novel choices, their clinical response rates are rather limited. To date there is a lack of effective treatment regimens for patients with metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer. Recently nanomaterials like liposomes, dendrimers, and polymers are considered as promising delivery carriers with advantages of tumor‐specific administration, reduced toxicity, and improved biocompatibility. Here, we review the applications of nanoparticles in the fields of drug delivery, CRISPR based genome‐editing and therapeutic vaccines in cervical cancer treatment.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Novel CRISPR-Cas Systems: An Updated Review of the Current Achievements, Applications, and Future Research Perspectives

According to Darwin's theory, endless evolution leads to a revolution. One such example is the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas system, an adaptive immunity system in most archaea and many bacteria. Gene editing technology possesses a crucial potential to dramatically impact miscellaneous areas of life, and CRISPR-Cas represents the most suitable strategy. The system has ignited a revolution in the field of genetic engineering. The ease, precision, affordability of this system is akin to a Midas touch for researchers editing genomes. Undoubtedly, the applications of this system are endless. The CRISPR-Cas system is extensively employed in the treatment of infectious and genetic diseases, in metabolic disorders, in curing cancer, in developing sustainable methods for fuel production and chemicals, in improving the quality and quantity of food crops, and thus in catering to global food demands. Future applications of CRISPR-Cas will provide benefits for everyone and will save countless lives. The technology is evolving rapidly; therefore, an overview of continuous improvement is important. In this review, we aim to elucidate the current state of the CRISPR-Cas revolution in a tailor-made format from its discovery to exciting breakthroughs at the application level and further upcoming trends related to opportunities and challenges including ethical concerns.

The AKR1B1 inhibitor epalrestat suppresses the progression of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Identifying an effective treatment with fewer side effects is imperative, because all of the current treatments have unique disadvantages. Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1 (AKR1B1) is highly expressed in various cancers and is associated with tumor development, but has not been studied in cervical cancer. In the current study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to establish a stable HeLa cell line with AKR1B1 knockout. In vitro, AKR1B1 knockout inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HeLa cells, providing evidence that AKR1B1 is an innovative therapeutic target. Notably, the clinically used epalrestat, an inhibitor of aldose reductases, including AKR1B1, had the same effect as AKR1B1 knockout on HeLa cells. This result suggests that epalrestat could be used in the clinical treatment of cervical cancer, a prospect that undoubtedly requires further research. Moreover, aiming to determine the underlying regulatory mechanism of AKR1B1, we screened a series of differentially regulated genes (DEGs) by RNA sequencing and verified selected DEGs by quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of the DEGs revealed a correlation between AKR1B1 and cancer. In summary, epalrestat inhibits the progression of cervical cancer by inhibiting AKR1B1, and thus may be a new drug for the clinical treatment of cervical cancer.