CDK/CCN and CDKI alterations for cancer prognosis and therapeutic predictivity

The Role of Speedy/RINGO Protein in Breast Cancer as a Future Biomarker

Background/Aim

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are proteins that require the binding of regulatory subunits called cyclins and play a key role in cell cycle progression and activation. CDKs play a key role in carcinogenesis of many solid malignancies, and inhibition of these proteins has produced anti-cancer effects demonstrated in preclinical studies. This narrative review was conducted to develop a hypothetical approach to determine whether Speedy/RINGO, a protein associated with CDK2, could be a possible predictive factor in breast cancer patients treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor.

Materials and Methods

A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholars search engines to match the following words: "Speedy/RINGO" or "Spy1" and "CDKs" or "Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs)" and "CDK4/6 inhibitors" and "Regulation" and "Molecular" and "Breast cancer" and "Carcinogenesis". Only articles investigating the relationship between the Speedy/RINGO protein and CDKs at the molecular level were included. Literature information was compiled by trying to establish a relationship with our hypothesis question.

Results

Speedy/RINGO is a tightly regulated proto-oncogenic mammalian protein playing important roles in the somatic cell cycle. Studies have emphasized that although it does not have amino acid sequence homology with cyclins, it can activate CDK2. In addition, results showing molecular compensation of CDK4/6 inhibition through CDK2 activation, also showed that CDK2 can predict drug resistance. Another important finding was that overexpressed Speedy/RINGO, during CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment, could strongly activate CDK2, resulting in a negative response to treatment.

Conclusion

Although many predictive factors have been investigated to indicate response to CDK4/6 inhibitors or determine drug resistance, a consensus biomarker has yet to be established. In light of the information obtained from our review, it can be concluded that the Speedy/RINGO protein may have an important role as a predictive biomarker in terms of response to treatment, continuity of treatment and drug resistance in patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Haplodeficiency of the 9p21 tumor suppressor locus causes myeloid disorders driven by the bone marrow microenvironment

The chromosome 9p21 locus comprises several tumor suppressor genes including MTAP, CDKN2A, and CDKN2B, and its homo- or heterozygous deletion is associated with reduced survival in multiple cancer types. We report that mice with germ line monoallelic deletion or induced biallelic deletion of the 9p21-syntenic locus (9p21s) developed a fatal myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN)-like disease associated with aberrant trabecular bone formation and/or fibrosis in the bone marrow (BM). Reciprocal BM transfers and conditional targeting of 9p21s suggested that the disease originates in the BM stroma. Single-cell analysis of 9p21s-deficient BM stroma revealed the expansion of chondrocyte and osteogenic precursors, reflected in increased osteogenic differentiation in vitro. It also showed reduced expression of factors maintaining hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, including Cxcl12. Accordingly, 9p21s-deficient mice showed reduced levels of circulating Cxcl12 and concomitant upregulation of the profibrotic chemokine Cxcl13 and the osteogenesis- and fibrosis-related multifunctional glycoprotein osteopontin/Spp1. Our study highlights the potential of mutations in the BM microenvironment to drive MDS/MPN-like disease.

Ticlopidine induces embryonic development toxicity and hepatotoxicity in zebrafish by upregulating the oxidative stress signaling pathway

Ticlopidine exerts its anti-platelet effects mainly by antagonizing platelet p2y12 receptors. Previously, a few studies have shown that ticlopidine can induce liver injury, but the exact mechanism of hepatotoxicity remains unclear. Oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, hepatocyte apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory responses can all lead to hepatic liver damage, which can cause hepatotoxicity. In this study, in order to deeply explore the potential molecular mechanisms of ticlopidine -induced hepatotoxicity, we used zebrafish as a model organism to comprehensively evaluate the hepatotoxicity of ticlopidine and its associated mechanism. Three days post-fertilization, zebrafish larvae were exposed to varying concentrations (1.5, 1.75 and 2 μg/mL) of ticlopidine for 72 h, in contrast, adult zebrafish were exposed exposure to 4 μg/mL of ticlopidine for 28 days. Ticlopidine-exposed zebrafish larvae showed changes in liver morphology, shortened body length, and delayed development of the swim bladder development. Liver tissues of ticlopidine-exposed zebrafish larvae and adults stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin revealed vacuolization and increased cellular interstitial spaces in liver tissues. Furthermore, using Oil Red O and periodic acid-Schiff staining methods and evaluating different metabolic enzymes of ticlopidine-exposed zebrafish larvae and adults suggested abnormal liver metabolism and liver injury in both ticlopidine-exposed zebrafish larvae and adults. Ticlopidine also significantly elevated inflammation and oxidative stress and reduced hepatocyte proliferation. During the rescue intervention using N-acetylcysteine, we observed significant improvement in ticlopidine-induced morphological changes in the liver, shortened body length, delayed swim bladder development, and proliferation of liver tissues showed significant improvement. In conclusion, ticlopidine might inhibit normal development and liver proliferation in zebrafish by upregulation of oxidative stress levels, thus leading to embryonic developmental toxicity and hepatotoxicity. In this study, we used zebrafish as a model organism to elucidate the developmental toxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by ticlopidine upregulation of oxidative stress signaling pathway in zebrafish, providing a theoretical basis for clinical application.

Kaempferia galanga L. extract and its main component, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, inhibit the proliferation of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by suppressing TFAM expression

Kaempferia galanga L. shows anti-cancer effects; however, the underling mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanism of the anti-cancer effects of Kaempferia galanga L. Kaempferia galanga L. rhizome extracts (KGEs) suppressed Ehrlich ascites tumor cell (EATC) proliferation by inhibiting S-phase progression. The main component of KGE is ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EMC), which exhibits the same anti-proliferative effect as KGE. Furthermore, EMC induced the downregulation of cyclin D1 and upregulation of p21. EMC also decreased the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) but did not significantly change mitochondrial DNA copy number and membrane potential. Phosphorylation at Ser62 of c-Myc, a transcription factor of TFAM, was decreased by EMC treatment, which might be due to the suppression of H-ras expression. These results indicate that EMC is the active compound responsible for the anti-cancer effect of KGE and suppresses EATC proliferation by regulating the protein expression of cyclin D1 and p21; TFAM may also regulate the expression of these genes. In addition, we investigated the anticancer effects of KGE and EMC in vivo using EATC bearing mice. The volume of ascites fluid was significantly increased by intraperitoneal administration of EATC. However, the increase in the volume of ascites fluid was suppressed by oral administration of EMC and KGE. This study provides novel insights into the association between the anti-cancer effects of natural compounds and TFAM, indicating that TFAM might be a potential therapeutic target.

Therapeutic targeting of hepatocellular carcinoma cells with antrocinol, a novel, dual-specificity, small-molecule inhibitor of the KRAS and ERK oncogenic signaling pathways

Until recently, sorafenib has been the only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Some patients, however, exhibit resistance to this treatment and subsequently experience cancer progression, recurrence, or death. Therefore, identifying a new alternative treatment for patients with little or no response to sorafenib treatment is vital. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanism of antrocinol ((3aS,4R,6aS,10aR)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-7,7-dimethyldecahydro-1H-naphtho[1,8a-c]furan-1-one) in patients with HCC. The results indicated that antrocinol was more therapeutically effective than antrocin, Stivarga, and sorafenib against HCC cell lines. Antrocinol also substantially suppressed the expression of KRAS-GTP, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT in the Huh7 cell line. Additionally, antrocinol-induced apoptosis in the Huh7 cell line, inhibited the formation of tumorspheres, and suppressed the expression of cancer stem cell markers CD133, KLF4, CD44, OCT4, SOX2, and c-Myc. Animal studies revealed that antrocinol alone considerably suppressed tumor growth in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated with Huh7 tumorspheres. It also synergistically enhanced the anticancer effect of sorafenib, resulting in enhanced suppression of tumor growth (p < 0.001) and tumorsphere formation (p < 0.001). In tumor samples resected from mice treated with antrocinol alone or in combination with sorafenib, immunohistochemical analysis revealed an increase in BAX expression and a decrease in ERK and AKT protein expression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the anti-HCC activity of antrocinol. With its higher therapeutic efficacy than that of sorafenib, antrocinol is a candidate drug for patients with HCC who demonstrate little or no response to sorafenib treatment.

Metformin disrupts Danio rerio metabolism at environmentally relevant concentrations: A full life-cycle study

Metformin (MET), an anti-diabetic pharmaceutical of large-scale consumption, is increasingly detected in surface waters. However, current knowledge on the long-term effects of MET on non-target organisms is limited. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of MET in the model freshwater teleost Danio rerio, following a full life-cycle exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations (390 to 14 423 ng/L). Considering that the mode of action (MoA) of MET on non-target organisms remains underexplored and that MET may act through similar human pathways, i.e., lipid and energy metabolisms, biochemical markers were used to determine cholesterol and triglycerides levels, as well as mitochondrial complex I activity in zebrafish liver. Also, the hepatosomatic index as an indication of metabolic disruption, and the expression levels of genes involved in MET's putative MoA, i.e. acaca, acadm, cox5aa, idh3a, hmgcra, prkaa1, were determined, the last by qRT-PCR. A screening of mRNA transcripts, associated with lipid and energy metabolisms, and other signaling pathways potentially involved in MET-induced toxicity were also assessed using an exploratory RNA-seq analysis. The findings here reported indicate that MET significantly disrupted critical biochemical and molecular processes involved in zebrafish metabolism, such as cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis, mitochondrial electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid cycle, concomitantly to changes on the hepatosomatic index. Likewise, MET impacted other relevant pathways mainly associated with cell cycle, DNA repair and steroid hormone biosynthesis, here reported for the first time in a non-target aquatic organism. Non-monotonic dose response curves were frequently detected in biochemical and qRT-PCR data, with higher effects observed at 390 and 2 929 ng/L MET treatments. Collectively, the results suggest that environmentally relevant concentrations of MET severely disrupt D. rerio metabolism and other important biological processes, supporting the need to revise the proposed environmental quality standard (EQS) and predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for MET.

Immune Modulatory Effects of Molecularly Targeted Therapy and Its Repurposed Usage in Cancer Immunotherapy

The fast evolution of anti-tumor agents embodies a deeper understanding of cancer pathogenesis. To date, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are three pillars of the paradigm for cancer treatment. The success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) implies that reinstatement of immunity can efficiently control tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. However, only a fraction of patients benefit from ICI therapy, which turns the spotlight on developing safe therapeutic strategies to overcome the problem of an unsatisfactory response. Molecular-targeted agents were designed to eliminate cancer cells with oncogenic mutations or transcriptional targets. Intriguingly, accumulating shreds of evidence demonstrate the immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive capacity of targeted agents. By virtue of the high attrition rate and cost of new immunotherapy exploration, drug repurposing may be a promising approach to discovering combination strategies to improve response to immunotherapy. Indeed, many clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of the combination of targeted agents and immunotherapy have been completed. Here, we review and discuss the effects of targeted anticancer agents on the tumor immune microenvironment and explore their potential repurposed usage in cancer immunotherapy.

The TRPC1 Channel Forms a PI3K/CaM Complex and Regulates Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Proliferation in a Ca2+-Independent Manner

Dysregulation of the transient receptor canonical ion channel (TRPC1) has been found in several cancer types, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms through which TRPC1 impacts pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell proliferation are incompletely understood. Here, we found that TRPC1 is upregulated in human PDAC tissue compared to adjacent pancreatic tissue and this higher expression correlates with low overall survival. TRPC1 is, as well, upregulated in the aggressive PDAC cell line PANC-1, compared to a duct-like cell line, and its knockdown (KD) reduced cell proliferation along with PANC-1 3D spheroid growth by arresting cells in the G1/S phase whilst decreasing cyclin A, CDK2, CDK6, and increasing p21^CIP1 expression. In addition, the KD of TRPC1 neither affected Ca²⁺ influx nor store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) and reduced cell proliferation independently of extracellular calcium. Interestingly, TRPC1 interacted with the PI3K-p85α subunit and calmodulin (CaM); both the CaM protein level and AKT phosphorylation were reduced upon TRPC1 KD. In conclusion, our results show that TRPC1 regulates PDAC cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by interacting with PI3K-p85α and CaM through a Ca²⁺-independent pathway.

Cyclin-dependent kinases as potential targets for colorectal cancer: past, present and future

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer in the world and its prevalence is increasing in developing countries. Deregulated cell cycle traverse is a hallmark of malignant transformation and is often observed in CRC as a result of imprecise activity of cell cycle regulatory components, viz. cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Apart from cell cycle regulation, some CDKs also regulate processes such as transcription and have also been shown to be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. This article aims to review cyclin-dependent kinases as potential targets for CRC. Furthermore, therapeutic candidates to target CDKs are also discussed.

Targeting Cell Cycle Progression in HER2+ Breast Cancer: An Emerging Treatment Opportunity

The development of HER2-targeted therapies has dramatically improved patient survival and patient management and increased the quality of life in the HER2+ breast cancer patient population. Due to the activation of compensatory pathways, patients eventually suffer from resistance to HER2-directed therapies and develop a more aggressive disease phenotype. One of these mechanisms is the crosstalk between ER and HER2 signaling, especially the CDK4/6-Cyclin D-Rb signaling axis that is commonly active and has received attention for its potential role in regulating tumor progression. CDK 4/6 inhibitors interfere with the binding of cell-cycle-dependent kinases (CDKs) with their cognate partner cyclins, and forestall the progression of the cell cycle by preventing Rb phosphorylation and E2F release that consequentially leads to cancer cell senescence. CDK 4/6 inhibitors, namely, palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib, in combination with anti-estrogen therapies, have shown impressive outcomes in hormonal receptor-positive (HR+) disease and have received approval for this disease context. As an extension of this concept, preclinical/clinical studies incorporating CDK 4/6 inhibitors with HER2-targeted drugs have been evaluated and have shown potency in limiting tumor progression, restoring therapeutic sensitivity, and may improving the management of the disease. Currently, several clinical trials are examining the synergistic effects of CDK 4/6 inhibitors with optimized HER2-directed therapies for the (ER+/-) HER2+ population in the metastatic setting. In this review, we aim to interrogate the burden of HER2+ disease in light of recent treatment progress in the field and examine the clinical benefit of CDK 4/6 inhibitors as a replacement for traditional chemotherapy to improve outcomes in HER2+ breast cancer.

NAP1L1 Functions as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker Associated With Macrophages and Promotes Tumor Progression by Influencing the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as one of the universal cancers in the world. Therefore, our study is based on clinical, molecular mechanism and immunological perspectives to analyze how NAP1L1 affects the progression of HCC. To begin with, the gene expression datasets and clinical data of GSE14520, GSE76427, ICGC, and TCGA are originated from GEO, ICGC, and TCGA databases. Subsequently, DEG screening was performed on data using R studio, and we finally found that 2,145 overlapping DEGs were screened from four datasets at the end. Then, we used R studio to filter the survival-related genes of the GSE76427 and ICGC datasets, and we screened out 101 survival-related genes. Finally, 33 common genes were screened out from 2,145 overlapping DEGs and 101 survival-related genes. Then, NAP1L1 was screened from 33 common genes using the CytoHubba plug-in in Cytoscape software. Furthermore, ground on GEO, ICGC, and TCGA databases, the survival analysis, clinical feature analysis, univariate/multivariate regression analysis, and multiple GSEA were used to study NAP1L1. The Conclusion claimed that HCC patients with higher expression levels of NAP1L1 had a poorer prognosis than those with lower expression levels. Thus, we believe that NAP1L1 is an independent prognostic factor for HCC. In order to shed light on NAP1L1’s molecular mechanism promoting the progression of HCC closely, the GSEA tool was applied to complete the GSEA of the four datasets. Furthermore, the results confirmed that NAP1L1 could promote HCC progression by regulating the G2/M transition of the cell cycle and Wnt signaling pathway. Western blot and flow cytometry were also performed to understand those mechanisms in this study. The result of Western blot showed that NAP1L1 silencing led to downregulation of CDK1 and β-catenin proteins; the result of flow cytometry showed that cell numbers in the G2 phase were significantly increased when NAP1L1 was silenced. Thus, we claimed that NAP1L1 might promote HCC progression by activating the Wnt signaling pathway and promoting cell cycle G2/M transition. In addition, ground on GSE14520 and GSE76427 datasets, and ICGC and TCGA databases, the correlation between NAP1L1 and immune cells was analyzed in HCC patients. At the same time, the TISIDB online database and the TIMER online database were testified to the association between NAP1L1 and immune cells. Hence, the summary shows that NAP1L1 was connected with a certain amount of immune cells. We can speculate that NAP1L1 may influence macrophages to promote HCC progression through some potential mechanisms.

Anticancer Effects and Molecular Target of Theaflavins from Black Tea Fermentation in Vitro and in Vivo

Black tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and numerous epidemiological studies have shown that drinking black tea is good for health. As a natural tea pigment formed during the fermentation of black tea, the content of theaflavins accounts for only 2-6% of the dry weight of black tea, but they have a great impact on the color and taste of black tea soup. Recently, a large number of studies have shown that theaflavins have a significant anticancer effect. In this Perspective, we first state the physical and chemical properties, separation and purification methods, and biological formation pathways of theaflavins and analyze their safety and oral bioavailability and the structure-activity relationship of their antioxidant and anticancer activities; then, we describe in detail their anticancer effect in vitro and in vivo and highlight their various molecular targets involved in cancer inhibition. The anticancer molecular targets of theaflavins are mainly cell-cycle regulatory proteins, apoptosis-related proteins, cell-migration-related proteins, and growth transcription factors. Finally, the possibility of developing new health-care food based on theaflavins is discussed. This Perspective is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the anticancer application of theaflavins in the future.

TR35 Exerts Anti-tumor Effects by Modulating Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and STAT3 Signaling in Lung Cancer Cells

Cancer is a complex disease extremely dependent on its microenvironment and is highly regulated by a variety of stimuli inside and outside the cell. Evidence suggests that active camel whey fraction (TR35) confer anti-tumor effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its exact mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying suppression of NSCLC cell growth and proliferation by TR35. Treatment of A549 and H1299 cells with TR35 suppressed their growth and enhanced apoptosis, as revealed by CCK-8, colony formation and flow cytometric analyses. We find that TR35 suppresses tumor growth in a xenograft nude mouse model without losses in body weight. RNA-seq and KEGG pathway analyses showed that the DEGs were enriched in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Jak-STAT signaling pathways. After test the key factors’ activity associated with these pathways by Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and western blotting, the activation of JNK phosphorylation and inhibition of p38 and STAT3 phosphorylation was observed both in TR35 treated lung cancer cell and tumor tissue. Taken together, these results showed that TR35 play a significant role in the NSCLC progression in the tumor microenvironment via MAPK and Jak-STAT signaling, highlighting TR35 as a potential therapeutic agent against lung cancer.

NOV/CCN3 Promotes Cell Migration and Invasion in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma via miR-92a-3p

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a common type of human cancer with a poor prognosis, and investigating the potential molecular mechanisms that can contribute to gene diagnosis and therapy. Herein, based on the recently concerned vertebrate-specific Cyr61/CTGF/NOV (CCN) gene family because of its important roles in diverse diseases, we obtained NOV/CCN3 to query for its potential roles in tumorigenesis via bioinformatics analysis. Experimental validations confirmed that both NOV mRNA and protein are up-regulated in two ICC cell lines, suggesting that it may promote cell migration and invasion by promoting EMT. To elucidate the detailed regulatory mechanism, miR-92a-3p is screened and identified as a negative regulatory small RNA targeting NOV, and further experimental validation demonstrates that miR-92a-3p contributes to NOV-mediated migration and invasion of ICC via the Notch signaling pathway. Our study reveals that NOV may be a potential target for diagnosing and treating ICC, which will provide experimental data and molecular theoretical foundation for cancer treatment, particularly for future precision medicine.

TRPC1 promotes the genesis and progression of colorectal cancer via activating CaM-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling axis

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are the most prominent nonselective cation channels involved in various diseases. However, the function, clinical significance, and molecular mechanism of TRPCs in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression remain unclear. In this study, we identified that TRPC1 was the major variant gene of the TRPC family in CRC patients. TRPC1 was upregulated in CRC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues and high expression of TRPC1 was associated with more aggressive tumor progression and poor overall survival. TRPC1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, cell-cycle progression, invasion, and migration in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo; whereas TRPC1 overexpression promoted colorectal tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, colorectal tumorigenesis was significantly attenuated in Trpc1^-/- mice. Mechanistically, TRPC1 could enhance the interaction between calmodulin (CaM) and the PI3K p85 subunit by directly binding to CaM, which further activated the PI3K/AKT and its downstream signaling molecules implicated in cell cycle progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Silencing of CaM attenuated the oncogenic effects of TRPC1. Taken together, these results provide evidence that TRPC1 plays a pivotal oncogenic role in colorectal tumorigenesis and tumor progression by activating CaM-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling axis. Targeting TRPC1 represents a novel and specific approach for CRC treatment.

Fraxetin exerts anticancer effect in glioma by suppressing MiR-21-3p

Fraxetin (FXT) exerts anticancer function in multiple cancers, but its function on glioma was ill-defined. This article expounded the mechanism by which FXT exerts an anticancer effect in glioma. The effect of gradient concentration of FXT on the viability of glioma cell lines was determined by cell counting kit 8. Effects of FXT on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle in glioma cell lines were determined by colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33342 staining. Expressions of apoptosis-related gene, cycle-related gene, and glioma-related miRNAs after FXT (25 and 50 μmol/L) treatment were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot as needed. After miR-21-3p overexpression, cell viability and apoptosis of glioma cell lines treated with FXT (50 μmol/L) were tested again. Although 1 μmol/L FXT had no significant effect on cell viability, 5, 10, 25, and 50 μmol/L FXT suppressed cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. FXT inhibited proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase in glioma cell lines. These effects may be achieved by elevated expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and diminished expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, cyclin E1, cyclin D1, and cyclin-dependent kinase-6. FXT attenuated the contents of miR-21-3p and miR-455-3p, and escalated the contents of miR-124-3p and miR-7-5p. The regulation of FXT on cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis was reversed by miR-21-3p overexpression. FXT suppressed the development of glioma cells by downregulating miR-21-3p.

SMYD3 confers cisplatin chemoresistance of NSCLC cells in an ANKHD1-dependent manner

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Up-regulated SMYD3 correlates with worse prognosis and controls DDP resistance of NSCLC.

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ANKHD1 interacts with and is essential for SMYD3-induced DDP resistance.

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CDK2 is identified to be a downstream effector of SMYD3-ANKHD1 in NSCLC.

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SMYD3-ANKHD1 critically regulates the growth DDP-resistant NSCLC cells in vivo.

Background

Cisplatin (DDP) remains the backbone of chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet its clinical efficacy is limited by DDP resistance. We aim to investigate the role of the SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) in DDP resistance of NSCLC.

Methods

Expression pattern of SMYD3 was determined in NSCLC tissues using qRT-PCR, which also validated its correlation with NSCLC clinicopathological stages. Impacts of SMYD3 on DDP resistance were evaluated by knocking down SMYD3 in DDP-resistant cells and overexpressing it in DDP-sensitive cells, and assessed for several phenotypes: IC₅₀ by MTT, long-term proliferation by colony formation, apoptosis and cell-cycle distribution by flow cytometry. The interaction between Ankyrin Repeat and KH Domain Containing 1 (ANKHD1) and SMYD3 was examined by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. The transcriptional regulation of SMYD3 on cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) promoter regions was confirmed using chromatin-immunoprecipitation. The in vivo experiments using DDP-resistant cells with altered SMYD3 and ANKHD1 expression were further performed to verify the SMYD3/ANKHD1 axis.

Results

Highly expressed SMYD3 was observed in NSCLC tissues or cells, acted as a sensitive indicator for NSCLC, correlated with higher TNM stages or resistant to DDP treatment, and shorter overall survival. The promotion of SMYD3 on DDP resistance requires co-regulator, ANKHD1. CDK2 was identified as a downstream effector. In vivo, SMYD3 knockdown inhibited the growth of DDP-resistant NSCLC cells, which was abolished by ANKHD1 overexpression.

Conclusions

SMYD3 confers NSCLC cells chemoresistance to DDP in an ANKHD1-dependent manner, providing novel therapeutic targets to overcome DDP resistance in NSCLC .

Concurrent depletion of Vps37 proteins evokes ESCRT-I destabilization and profound cellular stress responses

Molecular details of how endocytosis contributes to oncogenesis remain elusive. Our in silico analysis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients revealed stage-dependent alterations in the expression of 112 endocytosis-related genes. Among them, transcription of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT)-I component VPS37B was decreased in the advanced stages of CRC. Expression of other ESCRT-I core subunits remained unchanged in the investigated dataset. We analyzed an independent cohort of CRC patients, which also showed reduced VPS37A mRNA and protein abundance. Transcriptomic profiling of CRC cells revealed non-redundant functions of Vps37 proteins. Knockdown of VPS37A and VPS37B triggered p21 (CDKN1A)-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation and sterile inflammatory response driven by the nuclear factor (NF)-κB transcription factor and associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Co-silencing of VPS37C further potentiated activation of these independently induced processes. The type and magnitude of transcriptional alterations correlated with the differential ESCRT-I stability upon individual and concurrent Vps37 depletion. Our study provides novel insights into cancer cell biology by describing cellular stress responses that are associated with ESCRT-I destabilization.

Molecular characteristics of uveal melanoma and intraocular tumors

Malignant melanomas within the eye present different types of metabolic and metastatic behavior. Uveal melanoma (UM) affects a quarter of a million individuals in the USA; however, the molecular pathogenesis is not well understood. Although UV radiation is a risk factor in cutaneous melanomas, it is not crucial for UM progression. Apart from chromosomal abnormalities, numerous major tumorigenic signaling pathways, including the PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, Ras-association domain family 1 isoform A and Yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif signaling pathways, are associated with intraocular tumors. The present review describes the current insights regarding these signaling pathways that regulate the cell cycle and apoptosis, and could be used as potential targets for the treatment of UMs.

Identification of CDK1 as a candidate marker in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by integrated bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a relatively common cancer that accounts for nearly 50% of non-melanoma skin cancer cases. However, the genotypes that are linked with poor prognosis and/or high relapse rates and pathogenic mechanisms of cSCC are not fully understood. To address these points, three gene expression datasets were analyzed to identify candidate biomarker genes in cSCC.

METHODS

The GSE117247, GSE32979, and GSE98767 datasets comprising a total of 32 cSCC samples and 31 normal skin tissue samples were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and underwent pathway enrichment analyses with the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). A putative DEG protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was also established that included hub genes. The expression of CDK1, MAD2L1, BUB1 ans CDC20 were examined in the study.

RESULTS

A total of 335 genes were identified, encompassing 219 found to be upregulated and 116 genes that were downregulated in cSCC, compared to normal tissue. Enriched functions of these DEGs were associated with Ephrin receptor signaling and cell division; cytosol, membrane, and extracellular exosomes; ATP-, poly(A) RNA-, and identical protein binding. We also established a PPI network comprising 332 nodes and identified KIF2C, CDC42, AURKA, MAD2L1, MYC, CDK1, FEN1, H2AFZ, BUB1, BUB1B, CKS2, CDC20, CCT2, ACTR2, ACTB, MAPK14, and HDAC1 as candidate hub genes. The expression of CDK1 are significantly higher in the cSCC tissues than that in normal skin.

CONCLUSIONS

The DEGs identified in this study are potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for cSCC. CDK1 is a gene closely related to the occurrence and development of cSCC, which may play an important role. Bioinformatics analysis shows that it is involved in the important pathway of the pathogenesis of cSCC, and may be recognized and applied as a new biomarker in the future diagnosis and treatment of cSCC.

Chondroprotective Effects of Combination Therapy of Acupotomy and Human Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Knee Osteoarthritis Rabbits via the GSK3β-Cyclin D1-CDK4/CDK6 Signaling Pathway

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are highly chondrogenic and can be used to treat knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by alleviating cartilage defects. Acupotomy, a biomechanical therapy guided by traditional Chinese medicine theory, alleviates cartilage degradation and is widely used in the clinic to treat KOA by correcting abnormal mechanics. However, whether combining acupotomy with ASCs will reverse cartilage degeneration by promoting chondrocyte proliferation in KOA rabbits is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of combination therapy of acupotomy and ASCs on chondrocyte proliferation and to determine the underlying mechanism in rabbits with KOA induced by knee joint immobilization for 6 weeks. After KOA modeling, five groups of rabbits (acupotomy, ASCs, acupotomy + ASCs, model and control groups) received the indicated intervention for 4 weeks. The combination therapy significantly restored the KOA-induced decrease in passive range of motion (PROM) in the knee joint and reduced the elevated serum level of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a marker for cartilage degeneration. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the combination therapy inhibited cartilage injury. The combination therapy also significantly blocked increases in the mRNA and protein expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and decreases in the mRNA and protein expression of cyclin D1/CDK4 and cyclin D1/CDK6 in cartilage. These findings indicated that the combination therapy mitigated knee joint immobility, promoted chondrocyte proliferation and alleviated cartilage degeneration in KOA rabbits, and these effects may be mediated by specifically regulating the GSK3β-cyclin D1-CDK4/CDK6 pathway.

Acquisition of cancer stem cell properties in osteosarcoma cells by defined factors

Background

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be responsible for tumor initiation, formation, and poor prognosis of cancer patients. However, the rarity of CSCs in clinical samples makes it difficult to elucidate characteristics of CSCs, especially in osteosarcoma (OS). The aim of this study is to verify whether it is possible to generate CSC-like cells by transducing defined factors into an OS cell line.

Methods

We retrovirally transduced the Octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (OCT3/4), Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), and SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) genes into the MG-63 human OS cell line (MG-OKS). Parental and GFP-transduced MG-63 cells were used as negative control. We assessed the properties of the generated cells in vitro and in vivo. Multiple comparisons among groups were made using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc testing with Tukey’s procedure.

Results

MG-OKS cells in vitro exhibited the significantly increased mRNA expression levels of CSC markers (CD24, CD26, and CD133), decreased cell growth, increased chemoresistance and cell migration, and enhanced sphere formation. Notably, MG-OKS cells cultured under osteogenic differentiation conditions showed strongly positive staining for both Alizarin Red S and alkaline phosphatase, indicating osteogenesis of the cells. Gene ontology analysis of microarray data revealed significant upregulation of epidermal-related genes. Tumors derived from MG-OKS cells in vivo were significantly larger than those from other cells in μCT analysis, and immunohistochemical staining showed that Ki-67, osteocalcin, and HIF-1α-positive cells were more frequently detected in the MG-OKS-derived tumors.

Conclusions

In this study, we successfully generated OS CSC-like cells with significantly enhanced CSC properties following transduction of defined factors.

Development of a 15-gene signature for predicting prognosis in advanced colorectal cancer

Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of cancer mortality, with a poor prognosis. Here, we identified a novel prognostic signature for predicting survival of advanced CRC. Advanced CRC data were used (training set: n = 267 and validation set: n = 264). The survival analyses were investigated. The functional analysis of the prognostic signature was examined. In this study, our 15-gene signature was established and was an independent prognostic factor of advanced CRC. Stratification analyses also showed that this signature was still powerful for survival prediction in each stratum of age, gender, stage, and metastasis status. In mechanism, our signature involved in DNA replication, DNA damage, and cell cycle. Therefore, our findings suggested that this 15-gene signature has prognostic and predictive value in advanced CRC, which could be further used in personalized therapy for advanced CRC.

Cell Cycle Deficits in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Uncovering Molecular Mechanisms to Drive Innovative Therapeutic Development

Cell cycle dysregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Specialised function obligates neuronal cells to subsist in a quiescent state of cell cycle once differentiated and therefore the circumstances and mechanisms underlying aberrant cell cycle activation in post-mitotic neurons in physiological and disease conditions remains an intriguing area of research. There is a strict requirement of concurrence to cell cycle regulation for neurons to ensure intracellular biochemical conformity as well as interrelationship with other cells within neural tissues. This review deliberates on various mechanisms underlying cell cycle regulation in neuronal cells and underscores potential implications of their non-compliance in neural pathology. Recent research suggests that successful duplication of genetic material without subsequent induction of mitosis induces inherent molecular flaws that eventually assert as apoptotic changes. The consequences of anomalous cell cycle activation and subsequent apoptosis are demonstrated by the increased presence of molecular stress response and apoptotic markers. This review delineates cell cycle events under normal physiological conditions and deficits amalgamated by alterations in protein levels and signalling pathways associated with cell-division are analysed. Cell cycle regulators essentially, cyclins, CDKs, cip/kip family of inhibitors, caspases, bax and p53 have been identified to be involved in impaired cell cycle regulation and associated with neural pathology. The pharmacological modulators of cell cycle that are shown to impart protection in various animal models of neurological deficits are summarised. Greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms that are indispensable to cell cycle regulation in neurons in health and disease conditions will facilitate targeted drug development for neuroprotection.

Isoorientin induces the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of A549 human lung cancer cells via the ROS‑regulated MAPK, STAT3 and NF‑κB signaling pathways

Isoorientin (ISO) is a naturally occurring C‑glycosyl flavone that has various pharmacological properties, such as anti‑bacterial and anti‑inflammatory effects. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms in human lung cancer cells remain unknown. In the present study, the effects of ISO on the induction of apoptosis and relative molecular mechanisms in A549 human lung cancer cells were investigated. The results of Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay (CCK‑8) indicated that ISO exerted significant cytotoxic effects on 3 lung cancer cell lines, but had no obvious side‑effects on normal cells. Moreover, flow cytometry and western blot analysis revealed that ISO induced mitochondrial‑dependent apoptosis by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential. ISO also increased the expression levels of Bax, cleaved‑caspase‑3 (cle‑cas‑3) and poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase (PARP; cle‑PARP), and decreased the expression levels of Bcl‑2 in A549 cells. Furthermore, ISO induced G2/M cell cycle arrest by decreasing the expression levels of cyclin B1 and CDK1/2, and increasing the expression levels of p21 and p27 in A549 cells. As the duration of ISO treatment increased, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in A549 cells also increased. However, pre‑treatment of the cells with the ROS scavenger, N‑acetylcysteine (NAC), inhibited ISO‑induced apoptosis. In addition, ISO increased the expression levels of p‑p38, p‑JNK and IκB‑α; and decreased the expression levels of p‑extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK), p‑signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3, p‑nuclear factor (NF)‑κB, NF‑κB and p‑IκB; these effects were induced by mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors and blocked by NAC. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that ISO induces the apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells via the ROS‑mediated MAPK/STAT3/NF‑κB signaling pathway, and thus may be a potential drug for use in the treatment of lung cancer.

Multi-omic signatures identify pan-cancer classes of tumors beyond tissue of origin

Despite recent advances in treatment, cancer continues to be one of the most lethal human maladies. One of the challenges of cancer treatment is the diversity among similar tumors that exhibit different clinical outcomes. Most of this variability comes from wide-spread molecular alterations that can be summarized by omic integration. Here, we have identified eight novel tumor groups (C1-8) via omic integration, characterized by unique cancer signatures and clinical characteristics. C3 had the best clinical outcomes, while C2 and C5 had poorest. C1, C7, and C8 were upregulated for cellular and mitochondrial translation, and relatively low proliferation. C6 and C4 were also downregulated for cellular and mitochondrial translation, and had high proliferation rates. C4 was represented by copy losses on chromosome 6, and had the highest number of metastatic samples. C8 was characterized by copy losses on chromosome 11, having also the lowest lymphocytic infiltration rate. C6 had the lowest natural killer infiltration rate and was represented by copy gains of genes in chromosome 11. C7 was represented by copy gains on chromosome 6, and had the highest upregulation in mitochondrial translation. We believe that, since molecularly alike tumors could respond similarly to treatment, our results could inform therapeutic action.

Putting the Brakes on Tumorigenesis with Natural Products of Plant Origin: Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Actions and Immune Targets for Bladder Cancer Treatment

Bladder cancer is the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Although the incidence in men is 4 times higher than that in women, the diagnoses are worse for women. Over the past 30 years, the treatment for bladder cancer has not achieved a significant positive effect, and the outlook for mortality rates due to muscle-invasive bladder cancer and metastatic disease is not optimistic. Phytochemicals found in plants and their derivatives present promising possibilities for cancer therapy with improved treatment effects and reduced toxicity. In this study, we summarize the promising natural products of plant origin with anti-bladder cancer potential, and their anticancer mechanisms—especially apoptotic induction—are discussed. With the developments in immunotherapy, small-molecule targeted immunotherapy has been promoted as a satisfactory approach, and the discovery of novel small molecules against immune targets for bladder cancer treatment from products of plant origin represents a promising avenue of research. It is our hope that this could pave the way for new ideas in the fields of oncology, immunology, phytochemistry, and cell biology, utilizing natural products of plant origin as promising drugs for bladder cancer treatment.

Transcription factorIRX5 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and inhibits apoptosis by regulating the p53 signalling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third most frequent cause of cancer-related death. The IRX5 transcription factor plays a different role in multiple cancers and contributes to the development of many tumours. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of IRX5 in HCC. In this study, we found that IRX5 was abnormally upregulated in HCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. IRX5 promoted HCC cell proliferation and upregulated the expression of cyclin D1 and knockdown of IRX5 suppressed tumorigenicity in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of IRX5 increased p53 and Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression. Thus, IRX5 suppressed apoptosis in HCC cells by inhibiting the p53 signalling pathway, indicating its role as a treatment target for HCC. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Our study demonstrated that IRX5 was abnormally upregulated in HCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. IRX5 promoted HCC cell proliferation and upregulated the expression of cyclin D1, and knockdown of IRX5 suppressed tumorigenicity in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of IRX5 increased p53 and Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression. IRX5 suppressed apoptosis in HCC cells by inhibiting the p53 signalling pathway, indicating its role as a treatment target for HCC.

The Role of Upregulated DDX11 as A Potential Prognostic and Diagnostic Biomarker in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) is the main cause of cancer-related mortality in lung cancer patients. DEAD/DEAH box helicase 11 (DDX11) was previously shown to be dysregulated and to exert oncogenic activity in cancer. However, the diagnostic value and clinical significance of DDX11 in ADC remain unknown. Methods: A total of 513 ADC and 59 normal tissue samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the mRNA expression level of DDX11 in ADC was evaluated. Additionally, a meta-analysis of 7 ADC cohorts from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was conducted to validate the DDX11 expression pattern. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the diagnostic power of DDX11 in ADC. A tissue microarray (TMA) comprising 86 ADC specimens and their adjacent normal specimens was applied to indicate DDX11 protein expression status. In addition, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were conducted to validate the prognostic value of DDX11 in ADC. Finally, the molecular mechanism of DDX11 action in ADC was predicted by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results: DDX11 was upregulated in ADC tissues and was associated with worse overall survival (OS). ROC curves of DDX11 showed high values for diagnosis. Additionally, DDX11 expression has remarkable correlations with DNA replication and the cell cycle G1-S phase pathway. Consistently, it was associated with cell cycle genes, such as CCNA2, CCNB1, CCNC, CCND1, CCNE1, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6. Moreover, high CCNA2, CCNB1, CCNE1 and CDK6 expression in ADC patients predicted worse OS and progression-free survival (PFS). Conclusion: DDX11 was significantly upregulated and predicted poor prognosis in ADC. This gene might serve as a potential novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for ADC.

2',4'-Dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone induced apoptosis and G1 cell cycle arrest through PI3K/AKT pathway in BEL-7402/5-FU cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common and the third most lethal cancer worldwide. In recent years, natural flavonoids have drawn great attention as repository for the exploitation of novel antineoplastic agents. 2',4'-Dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone (DMC), a functional chalcone isolated from the buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus, has been reported to exert potent cytotoxicity against multi-drug resistant BEL-7402/5-FU cells. In this study, the precise mechanisms of DMC-mediated growth inhibition in BEL-7402/5-FU cells were further investigated. DMC was found to trigger apoptosis predominantly via the mitochondria-dependent pathway and the enhancement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Meanwhile, DMC induced G1 cell cycle arrest through downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4. Furthermore, DMC increased p53 level and inhibited NF-κB nuclear-localization via suppression of PI3K/AKT signaling axis, which might be the underlying mechanism of DMC-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in BEL-7402/5-FU cells. Collectively, the study elucidated the mechanisms by which DMC may inhibit the growth of BEL-7402/5-FU cells and suggested the possibility that DMC might be a promising candidate therapeutic agent for hepatoma treatment in the future.

lncRNA CADM1-AS1 inhibits cell-cycle progression and invasion via PTEN/AKT/GSK-3β axis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: CADM1-AS1 (cell adhesion molecule 1 antisense RNA 1, long non-coding RNA), was firstly characterized in renal clear cell carcinoma, and exhibits a tumor suppressor role. However, its clinical relevance and exact effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess the clinical significance and function of CADM1-AS1 in HCC. Methods: We detected CADM1-AS1 expression in liver cancer tissue samples and cell lines, and analyzed the association between CADM1-AS1 expression and clinical parameters in 90 liver cancer patients. Moreover, we conducted gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies in liver cancer cell to explore the biological function and molecular mechanism of CADM1-AS1. Results: CADM1-AS1 expression was reduced in HCC. Clinical data showed that this downregulation was associated with advanced tumor stage, high TNM stage and reduced survival in HCC patients. CADM1-AS1 overexpression inhibited HCC cells proliferation, migration and invasion, while inducing G0/G1 phase arrest. Meanwhile, we revealed that CADM1-AS1 inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and GSK-3β. Furthermore, our study showed that CADM1-AS1 decreased the cell cycle associated proteins expression of cyclinD, cyclinE, CDK2 CDK4, CDK6, and enhanced the levels of p15, p21 and p27. More importantly, SC79, a specific activator for AKT;, apparently attenuated the effects of CADM1-AS1 on above cell-cycle associated proteins, confirming that CADM1-AS1 inhibited cell cycles through the AKT signaling pathway. And we also found the CADM1-AS1 has antitumor effect in vivo by a xenograft HCC mouse model. In conclusion, the present findings show that the CADM1-AS1 inhibits proliferation of HCC by inhibiting AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway, then upregulate p15, p21, p27 expression and downregulate cyclin, CDK expression to inhibit the G0/G1 to S phase transition both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: CADM1-AS1 functions as a tumor-suppressive lncRNA. This study reveals a molecular pathway involving PTEN/AKT/GSK-3β which regulates HCC cell-cycle progression.

LATS2 inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis through the Hippo signaling pathway in glioma

As a core kinase in the Hippo pathway, large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) regulates cell proliferation, migration and invasion through numerous signaling pathways. However, its functions on cell proliferation, migration and invasion in glioma have yet to be elucidated. The present study revealed that LATS2 was downregulated in glioma tissues and cells, as determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. In addition, Cell Counting Kit-8, scratch wound healing and Transwell assays revealed that overexpression of LATS2 in U-372 MG cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, western blot analysis indicated that the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)-yes-associated protein and p-tafazzin were increased in cells with LATS2 overexpression. These results indicated that LATS2 is a potential tumor suppressor, and downregulation of LATS2 in glioma may contribute to cancer progression.

Reversine induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via upregulation of the Fas and DR5 signaling pathways in human colorectal cancer cells

Reversine, a 2,6‑diamino‑substituted purine analogue, has been reported to be effective in tumor suppression via induction of cell growth arrest and apoptosis of cancer cells. However, it remains unclear whether reversine exerts anticancer effects on human colorectal cancer cells. In the present study, in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the anticancer properties of reversine in human colorectal cancer cells. The effect of reversine on human colorectal cancer cell lines, SW480 and HCT‑116, was examined using a WST‑1 cell viability assay, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation, small interfering RNA (siRNA) and western blotting. Reversine treatment demonstrated cytotoxic activity in human colorectal cancer cells. It also induced apoptosis by activating poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase, caspase‑3, ‑7 and ‑8, and increasing the levels of the pro‑apoptotic protein second mitochondria‑derived activator of caspase/direct inhibitor of apoptosis‑binding protein with low pI. The pan‑caspase inhibitor Z‑VAD‑FMK attenuated these reversine‑induced apoptotic effects on human colorectal cancer cells. Additionally, reversine treatment induced cell cycle arrest in the subG1 and G2/M phases via increase in levels of p21, p27 and p57, and decrease in cyclin D1 levels. The expression of Fas and death receptor 5 (DR5) signaling proteins in SW480 and HCT116 cells was upregulated by reversine treatment. Reversine‑induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were suppressed by inhibition of Fas and DR5 expression via siRNA. In conclusion, Reversine treatment suppressed tumor progression by the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis via upregulation of the Fas and DR5 signaling pathways in human colorectal cancer cells. The present study indicated that reversine may be used as a novel anticancer agent in human colorectal cancer.

A circular RNA hsa_circ_0079929 inhibits tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose

Most recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) were considered playing regulatory roles in tumor initiation and development. The specific function of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study was designed to detect specific roles of a circRNA hsa_circ_0079299 in HCC.

Methods

The expression of hsa_circ_0079299 in HCC and tumor cell lines was detected using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle and apoptosis after overexpression of the circRNA were measured using cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay, colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, wound healing assay, transwell culture system and flow cytometry. Western blotting assay detected the protein expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and cyclin B1 (CCNB1). Overexpression of the circRNA in vivo was measured by nude mice tumorigenesis.

Results

The expression of hsa_circ_0079299 was lower in HCC tissues. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0079299 suppressed tumor growth in vitro and in vivo, retarded cell cycle progression while had no effect on cell migration and apoptosis. The inhibitory effect of hsa_circ_0079299 was partly mediated by PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Our study shows that tumor suppressive role of hsa_circ_0079299 in HCC provides new recognition of circRNAs in cancers.

CDK4/6 inhibition stabilizes disease in patients with p16-null non-small cell lung cancer and is synergistic with mTOR inhibition

Aberrant activation of CDK4/6 kinase is the most common somatic event in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Palbociclib is a highly specific CDK4/6 inhibitor shown to inhibit cell cycle progression and promote cellular senescence. We conducted a phase 2 clinical trial of palbociclib in 19 previously-treated patients with advanced NSCLC. Only patients with p16-null staining by immunohistochemistry and documented tumor progression were eligible. The primary endpoint was tumor response rate. Palbociclib therapy alone was well-tolerated. Of 16 evaluable patients who received > 1 month of therapy, there were no objective responses. However, 8 patients (50%) with previously progressive NSCLC had stable disease (SD) lasting a range of 4-10.5 months. Median overall survival (OS) for all cases was 5.1 months, and median overall survival for the subset of patients with SD was 16.6 months. We also performed preclinical testing of palbociclib in combination with 13 different targeted or cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents using a cell viability assay. Only the combination of palbociclib and mTOR inhibitors resulted in synergistic growth inhibition, particularly in tumors carrying RAS mutations. Our findings warrant further clinical investigation of the combination of palbociclib and mTOR inhibitors, especially in patients carrying activated RAS mutations.

High methylation of the 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase gene predicts a poor prognosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome

In our previous study, the 4‑aminobutyrate aminotransferase (ABAT) gene was screened and selected as a target gene that may affect the prognosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The present study aimed to determine the prognostic value of ABAT in 152 patients with MDS, 29 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 40 controls, by detecting the expression and methylation levels of the ABAT gene. In patients with MDS, the expression levels of ABAT were significantly reduced compared with in the controls (P<0.0001), and the degree of DNA methylation was increased in MDS subjects (P<0.0001). Age, hemoglobin level, marrow blasts, International Prognostic Scoring System karyotype, and the expression and methylation levels of ABAT were associated with overall survival (OS), as determined by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age, higher marrow blasts and higher methylation percentage were independent risk factors for OS. In addition, a functional study demonstrated that ABAT gene silencing increased cell apoptosis and blocked the G1/S phase in SKM‑1 and THP‑1 human leukemia cells. A γ‑aminobutyrate aminotransferase inhibitor also blocked the G1/S phase; however, it had no effect on cell apoptosis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that ABAT methylation served an essential role in the progression of MDS and therefore may be considered an indicator of poor prognosis for hematological malignancies.

The long non-coding RNA PTTG3P promotes cell growth and metastasis via up-regulating PTTG1 and activating PI3K/AKT signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Dysfunctions of long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) have been associated with the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the clinicopathologic significance and potential role of lncRNA PTTG3P (pituitary tumor-transforming 3, pseudogene) in HCC remains largely unknown.

Methods

We compared the expression profiles of lncRNAs in 3 HCC tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues by microarrays. In situ hybridization (ISH) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were applied to assess the level of PTTG3P and prognostic values of PTTG3P were assayed in two HCC cohorts (n = 46 and 90). Artificial modulation of PTTG3P (down- and over-expression) was performed to explore the role of PTTG3P in tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Involvement of PTTG1 (pituitary tumor-transforming 1), PI3K/AKT signaling and its downstream signals were validated by qRT-PCR and western blot.

Results

We found that PTTG3P was frequently up-regulated in HCC and its level was positively correlated to tumor size, TNM stage and poor survival of patients with HCC. Enforced expression of PTTG3P significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. Conversely, PTTG3P knockdown had opposite effects. Mechanistically, over-expression of PTTG3P up-regulated PTTG1, activated PI3K/AKT signaling and its downstream signals including cell cycle progression, cell apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated genes.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that PTTG3P, a valuable marker of HCC prognosis, promotes tumor growth and metastasis via up-regulating PTTG1 and activating PI3K/AKT signaling in HCC and might represent a potential target for gene-based therapy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12943-018-0841-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

High throughput estimation of functional cell activities reveals disease mechanisms and predicts relevant clinical outcomes

Understanding the aspects of the cell functionality that account for disease or drug action mechanisms is a main challenge for precision medicine. Here we propose a new method that models cell signaling using biological knowledge on signal transduction. The method recodes individual gene expression values (and/or gene mutations) into accurate measurements of changes in the activity of signaling circuits, which ultimately constitute high-throughput estimations of cell functionalities caused by gene activity within the pathway. Moreover, such estimations can be obtained either at cohort-level, in case/control comparisons, or personalized for individual patients. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated in an extensive analysis involving 5640 patients from 12 different cancer types. Circuit activity measurements not only have a high diagnostic value but also can be related to relevant disease outcomes such as survival, and can be used to assess therapeutic interventions.

The tumor-associated YB-1 protein: new player in the circadian control of cell proliferation

Correct spatial and temporal control of cell proliferation is of fundamental importance for tissue homeostasis. Its deregulation has been associated with several pathological conditions. In common with almost every aspect of plant and animal biology, cell proliferation is dominated by day-night rhythms generated by the circadian clock. However, our understanding of the crosstalk between the core clock and cell cycle control mechanisms remains incomplete. In this study, using zebrafish as a vertebrate model system, we show that the nuclear localization of the Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1), a regulator of cyclin expression and a hallmark of certain cancers, is robustly regulated by the circadian clock. We implicate clock-controlled changes in YB-1 SUMOylation as one of the mechanisms regulating its periodic nuclear entry at the beginning of the light phase. Furthermore, we demonstrate that YB-1 nuclear protein is able to downregulate cyclin A2 mRNA expression in zebrafish via its direct interaction with the cyclin A2 promoter. Thus, by acting as a direct target of cyclic posttranslational regulatory mechanisms, YB-1 serves as one bridge between the circadian clock and its cell cycle control.

Curcumol induces cell cycle arrest in colon cancer cells via reactive oxygen species and Akt/ GSK3β/cyclin D1 pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Curcuma kwangsiensis S. G. Lee & C. F. Liang (Guangxi ezhu, in Chinese) belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, has been used as a traditionally Chinese medicine nearly 2000 year. Curcumol is one of the guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid hemiketal isolated from medicine plant Curcuma kwangsiensis S. G. Lee & C. F. Liang, which has been reported possesses anti-cancer effects. Our previous study found that the most contribution to inhibit nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth was curcumol.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the effect of curcumol on cell cycle arrest against human colon cancer cells (CRC) cells (LoVo and SW480) and explore its mechanism in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Curcumol was dissolved in absolute ethyl alcohol. The concentration of absolute ethyl alcohol in the control group or in experimental samples was always 1/500 (v/v) of the final medium volume. LoVo and SW480 cells were treated with different concentrations of curcumol (0, 53, 106, 212 and 424μM). And then the cell cycle of each group was examined by flow cytometry. The protein levels of PI3K, p-Akt, cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK2, CDK4 and GSK3β were determined by Western blot. The mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt, cyclin D1, CDK4, P27, p21, and P16 in the treated cells were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. In addition, the antitumor activity of curcumol was evaluated in nude mice bearing orthotopic tumor implants.

RESULTS

Curcumol induced cell cycle arrest in G1/S phase. RT-qPCR and Western blot data showed that curcumol enhanced the expression of GSK3β, P27, p21 and P16, and decreased the levels of PI3K, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), cyclin D1, CDK4, cyclin E and CDK2. Furthermore, curcumol induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in LoVo cells, and ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reversed curcumol-induced cell growth inhibition. Besides, curcumol also prevented the growth of human colon cancer cells xenografts in nude mouse, accompanied by the reduction of PI3K, Akt, cyclin D1, CDK4, cycln E and significant increase of GSK3β.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumol caused cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase by ROS production and Akt/ GSK3β/cyclin D1 pathways inactivation, indicating the potential of curcumol in the prevention of colon cancer carcinogenesis.

Identification of key pathways and genes with aberrant methylation in prostate cancer using bioinformatics analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa), a multifocal clinically heterogeneous disease, is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous neoplasm in men worldwide. The epigenome of PCa is a typical representation of catastrophic model of epigenetic alterations during tumorigenesis and its progression. Alterations in methylation patterns in tumor suppressors, cell cycle, oncogenes and metabolism-related genes are the most commonly observed epigenetic alterations in PCa. In this study, we have developed a computational strategy to identify methylated biomarker signature panels as potential targets of PCa by screening >160 genes reported to be epigenetically dysregulated, and shortlisted 26 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) that significantly contribute to oncogenesis. The gene ontology and functional enrichment analysis were performed, which showed that identified DMGs contribute to cellular and metabolic processes such as cell communication, cell cycle, response to drugs, apoptosis and p53 signaling. The top hub genes AR, CDH13, CDKN2A, DAPK1, GSTP1, CD44 and RASSF1 identified from protein-protein interaction network construction using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes contributed to hormonal response, inflammatory response, cell cycle, reactive oxygen species activity and receptor kinase activity, which are related to hallmarks of cancer as revealed by their functional enrichment analysis by Cytoscape. These genes were further scrutinized for CpG islands, transcription start sites and positions of methylated cytosines to study their methylation profiles. Our analysis revealed high negative correlation values between methylation frequencies and gene expressions of the hub genes, namely, AR, CDH13, CDKN2A, DAPK1, CD44, GSTP1 and RASSF1, which can be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers for PCa.

Systems Chronotherapeutics

Chronotherapeutics aim at treating illnesses according to the endogenous biologic rhythms, which moderate xenobiotic metabolism and cellular drug response. The molecular clocks present in individual cells involve approximately fifteen clock genes interconnected in regulatory feedback loops. They are coordinated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei, a hypothalamic pacemaker, which also adjusts the circadian rhythms to environmental cycles. As a result, many mechanisms of diseases and drug effects are controlled by the circadian timing system. Thus, the tolerability of nearly 500 medications varies by up to fivefold according to circadian scheduling, both in experimental models and/or patients. Moreover, treatment itself disrupted, maintained, or improved the circadian timing system as a function of drug timing. Improved patient outcomes on circadian-based treatments (chronotherapy) have been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials, especially for cancer and inflammatory diseases. However, recent technological advances have highlighted large interpatient differences in circadian functions resulting in significant variability in chronotherapy response. Such findings advocate for the advancement of personalized chronotherapeutics through interdisciplinary systems approaches. Thus, the combination of mathematical, statistical, technological, experimental, and clinical expertise is now shaping the development of dedicated devices and diagnostic and delivery algorithms enabling treatment individualization. In particular, multiscale systems chronopharmacology approaches currently combine mathematical modeling based on cellular and whole-body physiology to preclinical and clinical investigations toward the design of patient-tailored chronotherapies. We review recent systems research works aiming to the individualization of disease treatment, with emphasis on both cancer management and circadian timing system–resetting strategies for improving chronic disease control and patient outcomes.

Hepatitis B virus X protein-mediated non-coding RNA aberrations in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has an important role in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Accumulated evidence has shown that HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) can induce both genetic alterations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, as well as epigenetic aberrations in HCC pathogens. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) mainly include microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Although ncRNAs cannot code proteins, growing evidence has shown that they have various important biological functions in cell proliferation, cell cycle control, anti-apoptosis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, tumor invasion and metastasis. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms and emerging roles of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC. Accumulated data have shown that ncRNAs regulated by HBx have a crucial role in HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis. The findings of these studies will contribute to more clinical applications of HBV-related ncRNAs as potential diagnostic markers or as molecular therapeutic targets to prevent and treat HBV-related HCC.

Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of recently-developed siRNA nanomedicines

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising drug candidate, expected to have broad therapeutic potentials toward various diseases including viral infections and cancer. With recent advances in bioconjugate chemistry and carrier technology, several siRNA-based drugs have advanced to clinical trials. However, most cases address local applications or diseases in the filtering organs, reflecting remaining challenges in systemic delivery of siRNA. The difficulty in siRNA delivery is in large part due to poor circulation stability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics and biodistribution profiles of siRNA. This review describes the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of siRNA nanomedicines, focusing on those reported in the past 5years, and their pharmacological effects in selected disease models such as hepatocellular carcinoma, liver infections, and respiratory diseases. The examples discussed here will provide an insight into the current status of the art and unmet needs in siRNA delivery.

HBx-related long non-coding RNA DBH-AS1 promotes cell proliferation and survival by activating MAPK signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

Accumulating evidence supports an important role for the hepatitis B virus x protein (HBx) in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear. Here, we identified a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) DBH-AS1 involved in the HBx-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis. The levels of DBH-AS1 were positively correlated with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and tumor size in HCC tissues. Functionally, transgenic expression of DBH-AS1 significantly enhanced cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, whereas short hairpin RNA knockdown of DBH-AS1 caused an inhibition of cell proliferation. Mechanistically, overexpression of DBH-AS1 induced cell cycle progression by accelerating G1/S and G2/M transition concomitantly with upregulation of CDK6, CCND1, CCNE1 and downregulation of p16, p21 and p27. We also found that enhanced DBH-AS1 expression inhibited serum starvation-induced apoptosis of HCC cells. In contrast, suppressed DBH-AS1 expression had opposite effects. Furthermore, DBH-AS1 was shown to activate MAPK pathway. We also provide evidence that DBH-AS1 could be significantly induced by HBx protein and markedly down-regulated by p53. Thus, we concluded that DBH-AS1 can be induced by HBx and inactivated by p53, and consequently promote cell proliferation and cell survival through activation of MAPK signaling in HCC. Our study suggests that DBH-AS1 acts as an oncogene for HCC.

Upregulation of p27Kip1 by demethylation sensitizes cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells

Ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis due to its chemoresistance, and p27Kip1 (p27) has been implicated in tumor prognosis and drug-resistance. However, the regulatory mechanisms of p27 in drug‑resistance in ovarian cancer remain unknown. The current study successfully established chemoresistant cell lines using paclitaxel (TAX), cisplatin (DDP) and carboplatin (CBP) in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. The results indicated that the expression levels of p27 were dramatically downregulated in chemoresistant cells. However, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza) treatment restored p27 expression in DDP-resistant cells, and increased their sensitivity to DDP. In addition, it was observed that the methylation of DDP‑resistant cells, which was downregulated by 5‑aza treatment, was significantly higher compared with SKOV3 cells. Additionally, the overexpression of p27 arrested the cell cycle in S phase and promoted an apoptotic response to DDP. In conclusion, p27 was involved in chemoresistance of SKOV3 cells. Upregulated p27 expression induced by demethylation may enhance sensitivity to DDP through the regulation of the cell cycle.

Pharmacogenomics of Scopoletin in Tumor Cells

Drug resistance and the severe side effects of chemotherapy necessitate the development of novel anticancer drugs. Natural products are a valuable source for drug development. Scopoletin is a coumarin compound, which can be found in several Artemisia species and other plant genera. Microarray-based RNA expression profiling of the NCI cell line panel showed that cellular response of scopoletin did not correlate to the expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters as classical drug resistance mechanisms (ABCB1, ABCB5, ABCC1, ABCG2). This was also true for the expression of the oncogene EGFR and the mutational status of the tumor suppressor gene, TP53. However, mutations in the RAS oncogenes and the slow proliferative activity in terms of cell doubling times significantly correlated with scopoletin resistance. COMPARE and hierarchical cluster analyses of transcriptome-wide mRNA expression resulted in a set of 40 genes, which all harbored binding motifs in their promoter sequences for the transcription factor, NF-κB, which is known to be associated with drug resistance. RAS mutations, slow proliferative activity, and NF-κB may hamper its effectiveness. By in silico molecular docking studies, we found that scopoletin bound to NF-κB and its regulator IκB. Scopoletin activated NF-κB in a SEAP-driven NF-κB reporter cell line, indicating that NF-κB might be a resistance factor for scopoletin. In conclusion, scopoletin might serve as lead compound for drug development because of its favorable activity against tumor cells with ABC-transporter expression, although NF-κB activation may be considered as resistance factor for this compound. Further investigations are warranted to explore the full therapeutic potential of this natural product.

Diagnostic value of cyclin-dependent kinase/cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor expression ratios as biomarkers of locoregional and hematogenous dissemination risks in oral squamous cell carcinoma

The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic value of cell cycle-related genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by examining the expression of the following genes in 77 OSCC tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction: Cyclin genes (CCNA1, CCND1, CCND2 and CCNE1), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) genes (CDK1, CDK2 and CDK4), CDK inhibitor genes (CDKN2A, CDKN1A, CDKN1B and CDKN1C), and integrin and associated genes that we previously reported (ITGA3, ITGB4, CD9 and JUP). The expression ratios of 66 combinations of the 11 cell cycle-related genes were analyzed to examine their associations with major clinical events using Mann-Whitney U and log-rank tests. Three expression ratios (CDK1/CDKN1B, CDK2/CDKN1A and CCNE1/CDK2) showed associations on univariate analyses and their diagnostic value was re-analyzed with integrin gene expression biomarkers (ITGA3/CD9 and ITGB4/JUP) using the Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier estimates. Lymph node metastasis occurred in >90% of double-positive cases (high-ITGA3/CD9 and high-CDK1/CDKN1B) irrespective of tumor size (P<0.0001). Primary site recurrence was found in >30% of double-positive cases (high-ITGA3/CD9 and high-CDK2/CDKN1A) with tumors >20 mm (P=0.003). Triple-positive (high-ITGB4/JUP, high-ITGA3/CD9 and high-CDK2/CDKN1A) was associated with distant metastasis (P<0.0001), but not with other clinical parameters. Disease-specific death occurred in 55% of double-positive cases (high-ITGA3/CD9 and high-CDK2/CDKN1A) (P<0.0001) and a positive surgical margin was a significant factor for fatality in these cases. Reliable prediction of locoregional and hematogenous dissemination risks in OSCC using the four CDK and integrin gene expression ratios is a promising biomarker system. Clinical use of these parameters may improve the control rate with the use of new therapeutic strategies.