Inhibition of RAF1 kinase activity restores apicobasal polarity and impairs tumour growth in human colorectal cancer

EML4-ALK G1202R and EML4-ALK L1196M mutations induce crizotinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells through activating epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by MDM2/MEK/ERK signal axis

Crizotinib, as the first-generation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, effectively improves the survival time of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, its efficacy is severely limited by drug resistance caused by secondary mutations. G1202R and L1196M are classical mutation sites located in ALK kinase domain. They may hinder the binding of ALK inhibitors to the target kinase domain, resulting in drug resistance in patients. However, the exact mechanism of drug resistance mediated by these mutations remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate how G1202R and L1196M mutations mediate crizotinib resistance. To explore the resistance mechanism, we constructed EML4-ALK G1202R and L1196M mutant cell lines with A549 cells. The results showed that the mutant cells exhibited significant epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis compared to control (A549-vector) or wild type (A549-EML4-ALK) cells. Subsequently, it was found that the occurrence of EMT was correlated to the high expression of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in mutant cells. Down-regulation of MDM2 inhibited the activation of MEK/ERK pathway, thus reversed the EMT process and markedly increased the inhibitory effect of crizotinib on the growth of mutant cells. Collectively, resistance of ALK-positive NSCLC cells to crizotinib is induced by G1202R and L1196M mutations through activation of the MDM2/MEK/ERK signalling axis, promoting EMT process and metastasis. These findings suggest that the combination of MDM2 inhibitors and crizotinib could be a potential therapeutic strategy.

Discovering potential inhibitors of Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase 1: a virtual screening approach towards anticancer drug development

Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase 1 (RAF1 or c-Raf) is a serine/threonine protein kinase crucial in regulating cell growth, differentiation, and survival. Any disruption or overexpression of RAF1 can result in neoplastic transformation and other disorders such as cardiomyopathy, Noonan syndrome, leopard syndrome, etc. RAF1 has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in drug development against various complex diseases, including cancer, due to its remarkable role in disease progression. Here, we carried out a multitier virtual screening study involving different in-silico approaches to discover potential inhibitors of RAF1. After applying the Lipinski rule of five, we retrieved all phytocompounds from the IMPPAT database based on their physicochemical properties. We performed a molecular docking-based virtual screening and got top hits with the best binding affinity and ligand efficiency. Then we screened out the selected hits using the PAINS filter, ADMET properties, and other druglike features. Eventually, PASS evaluation identifies two phytocompounds, Moracin C and Tectochrysin, with appreciable anti-cancerous properties. Finally, all-atom molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) followed by interaction analysis was performed on the elucidated compounds in complex with RAF1 for 200 ns to investigate their time-evolution dynamics and interaction mechanism. Molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) and Dynamical Cross-Correlation Matrix (DCCM) analyses then followed these results from the simulated trajectories. According to the results, the elucidated compounds stabilize the RAF1 structure and lead to fewer conformational alterations. The results of the current study indicated that Moracin C and Tectochrysin could serve as potential inhibitors of RAF1 after required validation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

MicroRNA-605-3p Inhibited the Growth and Chemoresistance of Osteosarcoma Cells via Negatively Modulating RAF1

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the leading cancer-associated mortality in childhood and adolescence. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the key function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in OS development and chemoresistance. Among them, miRNA-605-3p acted as an important tumor suppressor and was frequently down-regulated in multiple cancers. However, the function of miR-650-3p in OS has not been reported.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work is to explore the novel role of miR-605-3p in osteosarcoma and its possible involvement in OS chemotherapy resistance.

METHODS

The expression levels of miR-605-3p in OS tissues and cells were assessed by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The relevance of miR-605-3p with the prognosis of OS patients was determined by the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Additionally, the influence of miR-605-3p on OS cell growth was analyzed using the cell counting kit-8, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression of RAF1 were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. The binding of miR-605-3p with the 3'-UTR of RAF1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

Our results showed that miR-605-3p was markedly decreased in OS tissues and cells. A lower level of miR-605-3p was strongly correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor 5-year overall survival rate of OS patients. In vitro assay found that miR-605-3p suppressed OS cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, the proto-oncogene RAF1 was seen as a target of miR-605-3p and strongly suppressed by miR-605-3p in OS cells. Restoration of RAF1 markedly eliminated the inhibitory effect of miR-605-3p on OS progression, suggesting RAF1 as a key mediator of miR-605-3p. Consistent with the decreased level of RAF1, miR-605-3p suppressed the activation of both MEK and ERK in OS cells, which are the targets of RAF1. Moreover, lower levels of miR-605-3p were found in chemoresistant OS patients, and downregulated miR-605-3p increased the resistance of OS cells to therapeutic agents.

CONCLUSION

Our data revealed that miR-605-3p serves as a tumor suppressor gene by regulating RAF1 and increasing the chemosensitivity of OS cells, which provided the novel working mechanism of miR-605-3p in OS. Engineering stable nanovesicles that could efficiently deliver miR-605-3p with therapeutic activity into tumors could be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of OS.

Targeting CRAF kinase in anti-cancer therapy: progress and opportunities

The RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is commonly dysregulated in human malignancies by processes driven by RAS or RAF oncogenes. Among the members of the RAF kinase family, CRAF plays an important role in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway, as well as in the progression of cancer. Recent research has provided evidence implicating the role of CRAF in the physiological regulation and the resistance to BRAF inhibitors through MAPK-dependent and MAPK-independent mechanisms. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of solely targeting CRAF kinase activity remains controversial. Moreover, the kinase-independent function of CRAF may be essential for lung cancers with KRAS mutations. It is imperative to develop strategies to enhance efficacy and minimize toxicity in tumors driven by RAS or RAF oncogenes. The review investigates CRAF alterations observed in cancers and unravels the distinct roles of CRAF in cancers propelled by diverse oncogenes. This review also seeks to summarize CRAF-interacting proteins and delineate CRAF's regulation across various cancer hallmarks. Additionally, we discuss recent advances in pan-RAF inhibitors and their combination with other therapeutic approaches to improve treatment outcomes and minimize adverse effects in patients with RAF/RAS-mutant tumors. By providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted role of CRAF in cancers and highlighting the latest developments in RAF inhibitor therapies, we endeavor to identify synergistic targets and elucidate resistance pathways, setting the stage for more robust and safer combination strategies for cancer treatment.

Investigation of targets and anticancer mechanisms of covalently acting natural products by functional proteomics

Eriocalyxin B (EB), 17-hydroxy-jolkinolide B (HJB), parthenolide (PN), xanthatin (XT) and andrographolide (AG) are terpenoid natural products with a variety of promising antitumor activities, which commonly bear electrophilic groups (α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups and/or epoxides) capable of covalently modifying protein cysteine residues. However, their direct targets and underlying molecular mechanisms are still largely unclear, which limits the development of these compounds. In this study, we integrated activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) and quantitative proteomics approach to systematically characterize the covalent targets of these natural products and their involved cellular pathways. We first demonstrated the anti-proliferation activities of these five compounds in triple-negative breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics showed all five compounds commonly affected the ubiquitin mediated proteolysis pathways. ABPP platform identified the preferentially modified targets of EB and PN, two natural products with high anti-proliferation activity. Biochemical experiments showed that PN inhibited the cell proliferation through targeting ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 10 (USP10). Together, this study uncovered the covalently modified targets of these natural products and potential molecular mechanisms of their antitumor activities.

LncRNA SOX21-AS1 accelerates endometrial carcinoma progression through the miR-7-5p/RAF1 pathway

BACKGROUND

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the world's typical female reproductive tract malignancies, mostly occurring in postmenopausal women. Many reports have confirmed that long non-coding RNA SOX21 antisense RNA1 (lncRNA SOX21-AS1) is associated with the progressions of various cancer. However, the mechanism of SOX21-AS1 in EC remains unclear. Our study is intended to probe the mechanisms of SOX21-AS1 on EC progression.

METHODS

The CCK-8 assay and colony formation detected cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by transwell analysis. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry assay. Bioinformatics software predicted target binding and confirmed using a luciferase reporter analysis.

RESULTS

SOX21-AS1 expression was upregulated in EC tumor tissues and cells. High expression of SOX21-AS1 was associated with poor overall survival. Silencing of SOX21-AS1 restrained cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and increased apoptosis in HEC-1A and Ishikawa cells. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that SOX21-AS1 modulated RAF1 expression by competitively binding to miR-7-5p. Functionally, silencing of RAF1 reversed the functions of miR-7-5p inhibitor in the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of HEC-1A/sh-SOX21-AS1 and Ishikawa/sh-SOX21-AS1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

SOX21-AS1 promoted the pathological development of EC by regulating the miR-7-5p/RAF1 pathway. This research may provide a novel target for EC therapy.

Tumor-secreted GRP78 induces M2 polarization of macrophages by promoting lipid catabolism

Macrophages in hypoxic regions of advanced colorectal tumors often exhibit M2-type features, but prefer oxygen-consuming lipid catabolism, which is contradictory in oxygen demand and supply. In this study, the results from bioinformatics analysis and intestinal lesions immunohistochemistry of 40 colorectal cancer patients illustrated that glucose-regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) was positively correlated with M2 macrophages. Furthermore, tumor-secreted GRP78 could enter macrophages and polarize them to M2-type. Mechanistically, entered GRP78 located in lipid droplets of macrophages, and elevated protein stabilization of adipose triglyceride lipase ATGL by interacting with it to inhibit its ubiquitination. Increased ATGL promoted the hydrolysis of triglycerides and the production of arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Excessive ARA and DHA interacted with PPARγ to encourage its activation, which mediated the M2 polarization of macrophages. In summary, our study showed that secreted GRP78 in the tumor hypoxic microenvironment mediated the domestication of tumor cells to macrophages and maintained tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment by promoting lipolysis, and the lipid catabolism not only provides energy for macrophages but also plays an important role in maintenance of immunosuppressive properties.

RAF1 contributes to cell proliferation and STAT3 activation in colorectal cancer independently of microsatellite and KRAS status

More than 30% of all human cancers are driven by RAS mutations and activating KRAS mutations are present in 40% of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the two main CRC subgroups, MSS (Microsatellite Stable) and MSI (Microsatellite Instable). Studies in RAS-driven tumors have shown essential roles of the RAS effectors RAF and specifically of RAF1, which can be dependent or independent of RAF's ability to activate the MEK/ERK module. In this study, we demonstrate that RAF1, but not its kinase activity, plays a crucial role in the proliferation of both MSI and MSS CRC cell line-derived spheroids and patient-derived organoids, and independently of KRAS mutation status. Moreover, we could define a RAF1 transcriptomic signature which includes genes that contribute to STAT3 activation, and could demonstrate that RAF1 ablation decreases STAT3 phosphorylation in all CRC spheroids tested. The genes involved in STAT3 activation as well as STAT3 targets promoting angiogenesis were also downregulated in human primary tumors expressing low levels of RAF1. These results indicate that RAF1 could be an attractive therapeutic target in both MSI and MSS CRC regardless of their KRAS status and support the development of selective RAF1 degraders rather than RAF1 inhibitors for clinical use in combination therapies.

Melatonin targeting non-coding RNAs in cancer: Focus on mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets

Despite, melatonin is mainly known as a regulatory factor for circadian rhythm, its notable role in other fundamental biological processes, such as redox homeostasis and programmed cell death, has been found. In this line, a growing body of evidence indicated that melatonin could apply an inhibitory effect on the tumorigenic processes. Hence, melatonin might be considered an efficient adjuvant agent for cancer treatment. Besides, the physiological and pathological functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in various disease, particularly cancers, have been expanded over the past two decades. It is well-established that ncRNAs can modulate the gene expression at various levels, thereby, ncRNAs. can regulate the numerous biological processes, including cell proliferation, cell metabolism, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Recently, targeting the ncRNAs expression provides a novel insight in the therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment. Moreover, accumulating investigations have revealed that melatonin could impact the expression of different ncRNAs in a multiple disorders, including cancer. Therefore, in the precent study, we discuss the potential roles of melatonin in modulating the expression of ncRNAs and the related molecular pathways in different types of cancer. Also, we highlighted its importance in therapeutic application and translational medicine in cancer treatment.

Low-level laser selectively inhibiting colorectal cancer cell metabolic activity and inducing apoptosis for delaying the development of intestinal cancer

Low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) is a novel approach that shows promise for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its biochemical effects and gene expression remain unclear. Here, LLLI (632.8 nm) was used to treat CRC RKO cells and normal small intestinal NCM460 cells. LLLI showed a significant dose- and time-dependent effect on cell viability, in which a single dose of irradiation at 15 J/cm² selectively inhibited the growth of RKO cells but largely unaffected the activity of NCM460 cells. And then, LLLI produced an internal response, effectively reducing the level of H₂O₂ in tumor cells, downregulating the mitochondrial membrane potential, and improving the efficiency of apoptosis in CRC, but no internal response was observed in NCM460 cells under the same conditions. Furthermore, the expression of several important genes in the classical WNT pathway was significantly downregulated, and the pathway was inactivated after LLLI intervention, thereby inhibiting tumor cell growth. Simultaneously, TNF-α was effectively activated to stimulate the caspase family members of the death effector to initiate apoptosis led by the extrinsic pathway. LLLI successfully achieves tumor cell normalization while delivering a potent anticancer effect, expected to be a novel therapeutic modality for CRC.

The sodium channel subunit SCNN1B suppresses colorectal cancer via suppression of active c-Raf and MAPK signaling cascade

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising worldwide. Here, we identified SCNN1B as an outlier down-regulated in CRC and it functions as a tumor suppressor. SCNN1B mRNA and protein expression were down-regulated in primary CRC and CRC cells. In a tissue microarray cohort (N = 153), SCNN1B protein was an independent prognostic factor for favorable outcomes in CRC. Ectopic expression of SCNN1B in CRC cell lines suppressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest, and suppressed cell migration in vitro. Xenograft models validated tumor suppressive function of SCNN1B in vivo. Mechanistically, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that SCNN1B correlates with KRAS signaling. Consistently, MAPK qPCR and kinase arrays revealed that SCNN1B suppressed MAPK signaling. In particular, SCNN1B overexpression suppressed p-MEK/p-ERK expression and SRE-mediated transcription activities, confirming blockade of Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade. Mechanistically, SCNN1B did not affect KRAS activation, instead impairing activation of c-Raf by inducing its inhibitory phosphorylation and targeting active c-Raf for degradation. The ectopic expression of c-Raf fully rescued cell proliferation and colony formation in SCNN1B-overexpressing CRC cells, confirming c-Raf as the principal molecular target of SCNN1B. In summary, we identified SCNN1B as a tumor suppressor by functioning as a c-Raf antagonist, which in turn suppressed oncogenic MEK-ERK signaling.

A special subtype: Revealing the potential intervention and great value of KRAS wildtype pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the predominant form of pancreatic cancer and has devastating consequences on affected families and society. Its dismal prognosis is attributed to poor specificity of symptoms during early stages. It is widely believed that PDAC patients with the wildtype (WT) KRAS gene benefit more from currently available treatments than those with KRAS mutations. The oncogenic genetic changes alternations generally found in KRAS wildtype PDAC are related to either the KRAS pathway or microsatellite instability/mismatch repair deficiency (MSI/dMMR), which enable the application of tailored treatments based on each patient's genetic characteristics. This review focuses on targeted therapies against alternative tumour mechanisms in KRAS WT PDAC.

The Synergistic Cytotoxic Effects of GW5074 and Sorafenib by Impacting Mitochondrial Functions in Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in the United States for incidence or mortality. Surgical resection is the primary treatment for patients at an early stage, while patients with advanced and metastatic CRC receive combined treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy. C-RAF plays a key role in maintaining clonogenic and tumorigenic capacity in CRC cells and it might be a potential therapeutic target for CRC. Sorafenib is a popular oral multi-kinase inhibitor, including a B-RAF inhibitor that targets the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway. Sorafenib, as a single agent, has tumor-suppressing efficacy, but its clinical application is limited due to many complex drug resistance mechanisms and side effects. GW5074 is one of the C-RAF inhibitors and has the potential to enhance the efficacy of existing cancer chemotherapies. In this study, we investigated whether the combination of sorafenib with GW5074 could reduce the dosage of sorafenib and enhance its tumor-suppressive effect in two CRC cell lines, HCT116 and LoVo cells. Our findings demonstrate that GW5074 can potentiate the cytotoxicity of sorafenib and dramatically reduce the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) dose of sorafenib from 17 and 31 µM to 0.14 and 0.01 µM in HCT116 and LoVo cells, respectively. GW5074, similar to sorafenib, suppressed the cellular proliferation and induced cellular apoptosis and cytosolic ROS, but had no further enhancement on the above-mentioned effects when combined with sorafenib. The synergistic effects of GW5074 and sorafenib were mainly found in mitochondrial functions, including ROS generation, membrane potential disruption, and fission–fusion dynamics, which were examined by using the flow cytometry analysis. In summary, the C-RAF inhibitor GW5074 might potentiate the cytotoxicity of the B-RAF inhibitor sorafenib mediated through mitochondrial dysfunctions, suggesting that GW5074 potentially serves as a sensitizer for sorafenib application to reduce the risk of drug resistance of CRC treatment. Our findings also provide novel insights on using C-RAF inhibitors combined with sorafenib, the current CRC therapeutic drug choice, in CRC treatment.

Proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling of shammah induced signaling in oral keratinocytes

Shammah is a smokeless tobacco product often mixed with lime, ash, black pepper and flavorings. Exposure to shammah has been linked with dental diseases and oral squamous cell carcinoma. There is limited literature on the prevalence of shammah and its role in pathobiology of oral cancer. In this study, we developed a cellular model to understand the effect of chronic shammah exposure on oral keratinocytes. Chronic exposure to shammah resulted in increased proliferation and invasiveness of non-transformed oral keratinocytes. Quantitative proteomics of shammah treated cells compared to untreated cells led to quantification of 4712 proteins of which 402 were found to be significantly altered. In addition, phosphoproteomics analysis of shammah treated cells compared to untreated revealed hyperphosphorylation of 36 proteins and hypophosphorylation of 83 proteins (twofold, p-value ≤ 0.05). Bioinformatics analysis of significantly altered proteins showed enrichment of proteins involved in extracellular matrix interactions, necroptosis and peroxisome mediated fatty acid oxidation. Kinase-Substrate Enrichment Analysis showed significant increase in activity of kinases such as ROCK1, RAF1, PRKCE and HIPK2 in shammah treated cells. These results provide better understanding of how shammah transforms non-neoplastic cells and warrants additional studies that may assist in improved early diagnosis and treatment of shammah induced oral cancer.

Tight junctions and their regulation by non-coding RNAs

Tight junction (TJ) is a “zippering up” junction structure located at the uppermost portion of adjacent epithelial/endothelial cells in organs and tissues. TJs maintain the relative stability of intracellular substances and functions by closing or opening intercellular pathways, coordinating the entry and exit of molecules of different sizes and charges, and regulating the permeability of paracellular barrier. TJs also prevent microbial invasion, maintain epithelial/endothelial cell polarity, and regulate cell proliferation. TJs are widely present in the skin and mucosal epithelial barriers, intestinal epithelial barrier, glomerular filtration barrier, bladder epithelial barrier, blood-brain barrier, brain-blood tumor barrier, and blood-testis barrier. TJ dysfunction in different organs can lead to a variety of diseases. In addition to signal pathways, transcription factors, DNA methylation, histone modification, TJ proteins can also be regulated by a variety of non-coding RNAs, such as micro-RNAs, long-noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs, directly or indirectly. This review summarizes the structure of TJs and introduces the functions and regulatory mechanisms of TJs in different organs and tissues. The roles and mechanisms of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of TJs are also highlighted in this review.

CircRNA CDR1as/miR-1287/Raf1 Axis Modulates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression Through MEK/ERK Pathway

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common lethal malignant tumor worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to affect the development of human cancers, including HCC. In this project, we aim to clarify the functional effect of circular CDR1as (circ_CDR1as) on HCC progression.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or Western blot is implemented to detect the expression of circ_CDR1as, microRNA (miR)-1287 and Raf-1 proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (Raf1). Cell proliferation is assessed via colony formation and 3-(4, 5)-dimethylthiazole-2-y1)-2, 5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Cell migration and invasion are measured by Transwell assay. The target relationship between miR-1287 and circ_CDR1as or Raf1 is validated through dual-luciferase reporter assay. The levels of epithelia–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and the MEK/ERK signal pathway-related proteins are examined by Western blot. Model in nude mice is constructed to determine the role of circ_CDR1as in vivo.

Results

Expression of circ_CDR1as and Raf1 is elevated, while miR-1287 expression is decreased in HCC. Depletion of circ_CDR1as or Raf1 could inhibit proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. Besides, circ_CDR1as regulates Raf1 expression by targeting miR-1287. MiR-1287 upregulation or Raf1 depletion could partially counterbalance circ_CDR1as depletion-mediated inhibitory effects on HCC cell behaviors. Moreover, circ_CDR1as depletion represses HCC progression through inactivating MEK/ERK pathway. In addition, circ_CDR1as depletion suppresses tumor growth in vivo via regulating miR-1287/Raf1 pathway.

Conclusion

Circ_CDR1as depletion inhibits HCC cell proliferation and metastasis by miR-1287/Raf1 and MEK/ERK pathways, highlighting a promising molecular target for HCC treatment.

Identification and Characterization of the Copy Number Dosage-Sensitive Genes in Colorectal Cancer

Dosage effect is one of the common mechanisms of somatic copy number alteration in the development of colorectal cancer, yet the roles of dosage-sensitive genes (DSGs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain to be characterized more deeply. In this study, we developed a five-step pipeline to identify DSGs and analyzed their characterization in CRC. Results showed that our pipeline performed better than existing methods, and the result was significantly overlapped between solid tumor and cell line. We also found that the top five DSGs (PSMF1, RAF1, PTPRA, MKRN2, and ELP3) were associated with the progression of CRC. By analyzing the characterization, DSGs were enriched in driver genes and they drove sub-pathways of CRC. In addition, immune-related DSGs are associated with CRC progression. Our results also showed that the CRC samples affected by high microsatellites have fewer DSGs, but a higher overlap with DSGs in microsatellite low instability and microsatellite stable samples. In addition, we applied DSGs to identify potential drug targets, with the results showing that 22 amplified DSGs were more sensitive to four drugs. In conclusion, DSGs play an important role in CRC, and our pipeline is effective to identify them.

Bioinformatic and experimental data decipher the pharmacological targets and mechanisms of plumbagin against hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Plumbagin exerts effective anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) benefits, however, the detailed mechanisms behind these effects are not yet completely elucidated. The pharmacological targets and molecular mechanisms of plumbagin against HCC were revealed through conducting network pharmacology approach before experimentative verification.

METHODS

The web-accessible databases of herbal ingredients' targets (HIT), Swiss-Target-Prediction and Super-Pred were used to predict the therapeutic targets of plumbagin, followed by combined with pathogenic targets of HCC from oncogenomic database of hepatocellular carcinoma (OncoDB.HCC) and Liverome databases to obtain the predominant targets of plumbagin-treating HCC. The database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID) was applied to output the gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment by use of all predominant targets for computerized visualization. The validated data of human and cell culture were subjected to a group of medical imaging, biochemical tests and immunostaining, respectively.

RESULTS

As revealed in bioinformatic data, 19 predominant targets of plumbagin-treating HCC were obtained, and 5 top targets of TP53, MAPK1, MAP2K1, RAF1 and CCND1 were the most important biomolecules in anti-HCC effects exerted by plumbagin. Other identifiable 102 GO items were showed, including 66 biological processes, and 12 cellular components, 24 molecular functions. And 67 KEGG pathways were mainly involved in neoplastic signaling. In human data, HCC sections showed increased expressions of hepatocellular TP53, MAPK1, accompanied with positive clinical imaging results for HCC. In plumbagin-treated HepG2 cells, reduced TP53, MAPK1 protein expressions were observed, accompanied with cell arrest and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, the pharmacological targets and mechanisms of plumbagin-treating HCC were predicted and integrated through the method of network pharmacology, followed by some investigative validations. Interestingly, these 5 predominant biomolecules may be the potential targets for screening and treating HCC.

FBXL19-AS1 exerts oncogenic function by sponging miR-431-5p to regulate RAF1 expression in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Tumor angiogenesis plays a key role in proliferation and metastasis in cancers, and is an essential component in microenvironment. It has been reported that long non-coding RNA FBXL19-AS1 plays an oncogenic role in colorectal cancer. However, the molecular mechanism of FBXL19-AS1 in lung cancer has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that FBXL19-AS1 expression was up-regulated in lung cancer tissues and cell lines. FBXL19-AS1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in lung cancer cells. Molecular mechanism exploration uncovered that FBXL19-AS1 acted as a molecular sponge of miR-431-5p and that RAF1 was a downstream target of miR-431-5p in lung cancer. Moreover, there was a negative association between miR-431-5p expression and FBXL19-AS1 or RAF1 expression in tumor tissues. Through rescue experiments, we discovered that overexpression of RAF1 partially rescued FBXL19-AS1 knockdown-mediated inhibition of angiogenesis and progression in lung cancer. Together, these results indicated that FBXL19-AS1 was involved in progression and angiogenesis in lung cancer by targeting miR-431-5p/RAF1 axis, which provided a new insight into the therapeutic strategies of lung cancer.

SIRT5-mediated deacetylation of LDHB promotes autophagy and tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer

Lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is a glycolytic enzyme that catalyses the conversion of lactate and NAD⁺ to pyruvate, NADH and H⁺. Protons (H⁺) generated by LDHB promote lysosomal acidification and autophagy in cancer, but how this role is regulated has not been defined. In this study, we identified an important post‐translational mechanism by which LDHB is regulated during autophagy in cancer cells. Mass spectrometry revealed that protein sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) is a binding partner of LDHB that deacetylated LDHB at lysine‐329, thereby promoting its enzymatic activity. Deacetylated LDHB increased autophagy and accelerated the growth of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Notably, SIRT5 knockout or inhibition by GW5074 increased LDHB acetylation at K329 and inhibited LDHB activity, which downregulated autophagy and CRC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, the LDHB‐Ac‐K329 staining score in CRC tissues was lower than that in corresponding peritumour tissues. Low LDHB‐Ac‐K329 status was associated with malignant progression of human CRC and served as a potential prognostic indicator for patients with CRC. Altogether, we conclude that SIRT5‐induced deacetylation of LDHB triggers hyperactivation of autophagy, a key event in tumorigenesis. Thus, the SIRT5/LDHB pathway may represent a novel target for treating CRC.

Melatonin Inhibits the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through MicroRNA Let7i-3p Mediated RAF1 Reduction

Melatonin is the main pineal hormone that relays light/dark-cycle information to the circadian system. Recent studies have examined the intrinsic antitumor activity of melatonin in various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary life-threatening malignancy in both sexes in Taiwan. However, the detailed regulatory mechanisms underlying melatonin’s anti-HCC activity remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which the anti-HCC activity of melatonin is regulated. Human hepatoma cell lines were treated with 1 and 2 mM melatonin, and functional assays were used to dissect melatonin’s antitumor effect in HCC; small-RNA sequencing was performed to identify the microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the anti-HCC activity of melatonin; and quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to elucidate how miRNAs regulate melatonin-mediated HCC suppression. Melatonin treatment at both doses strongly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion capacities of Huh7 and HepG2 cell lines, and melatonin treatment markedly induced the expression of the miRNA let7i-3p in cells. Notably, transfection of cells with a let7i-3p mimic drastically reduced RAF1 expression and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling downstream from RAF1, and rescue-assay results demonstrated that melatonin inhibited HCC progression by modulating let7i-3p-mediated RAF1 suppression. Our findings support the view that melatonin treatment holds considerable promise as a therapy for HCC.