Targeting LRRC15 Inhibits Metastatic Dissemination of Ovarian Cancer

Muscone restores anoikis sensitivity in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells by suppressing TOP2A via the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is the main obstacle faced by glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. Muscone, one of the primary active pharmacological ingredients of Shexiang (Moschus), can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is being investigated as an antineoplastic medication. However, muscone treatment for GBM has received little research, and its possible mechanisms are still unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aims to evaluate the effect and the potential molecular mechanism of muscone on TMZ-resistant GBM cells.

METHODS

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TMZ-resistant GBM cells and TMZ-sensitive GBM cells were screened using GEO2R. By progressively raising the TMZ concentration, a relatively stable TMZ-resistant human GBM cell line was established. The drug-resistance traits of U251-TR cells were assessed via the CCK-8 assay and Western Blot analysis of MGMT and TOP2A expression. Cell viability, cell proliferation, cell migration ability, and drug synergism were detected by the CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, and drug interaction relationship test, respectively. Anoikis was quantified by Calcein-AM/EthD-1 staining, MTT assay, and flow cytometry. Measurements of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were performed using cell cycle staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI labeling, JC-1 assay, and ROS assay, respectively. DNA damage was measured by TUNEL assay, alkaline comet assay, and γ-H2AX foci assay. GEPIA was used to investigate the link between the anoikis marker (FAK)/drug resistance gene and critical proteins in the EGFR/Integrin β1 signaling pathway. Molecular docking was used to anticipate the probable targets of muscone. The intracellular co-localization and expression of EGFR and FAK were shown using immunofluorescence. The U251-TR cell line stably overexpressing EGFR was constructed using lentiviral transduction to assess the involvement of EGFR-related signaling in anoikis resistance. Western Blot was employed to detect the expression of migration-related proteins, cyclins, anoikis-related proteins, DNA damage/repair-related proteins, and associated pathway proteins.

RESULTS

DEGs analysis identified 97 deregulated chemotherapy-resistant genes and 3779 upregulated genes in TMZ-resistant GBM cells. Subsequent experiments verified TMZ resistance and the hyper-expression of DNA repair-related genes (TOP2A and MGMT) in continuously low-dose TMZ-induced U251-TR cells. Muscone exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of U251-TR cell migration and proliferation, and its co-administration with TMZ showed the potential for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. By downregulating FAK, muscone reduced anoikis resistance in anchorage-independent U251-TR cells. It also caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase by upregulating p21 and downregulating CDK1, CDK2, and Cyclin E1. Muscone-induced anoikis was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, ROS production, an increase in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as elevated levels of Cytochrome c (Cyt c), cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3. These findings indicated that muscone might trigger mitochondrial-dependent anoikis via ROS generation. Moreover, significant DNA damage, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), the formation of γ-H2AX foci, and a reduction in TOP2A expression are also associated with muscone-induced anoikis. Overexpression of EGFR in U251-TR cells boosted the expression of Integrin β1, FAK, β-Catenin, and TOP2A, whereas muscone suppressed the expression levels of EGFR, Integrin β1, β-Catenin, FAK, and TOP2A. Muscone may influence the expression of the key DNA repair enzyme, TOP2A, by suppressing the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK pathway.

CONCLUSION

We first demonstrated that muscone suppressed TOP2A expression through the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK pathway, hence restoring anoikis sensitivity in TMZ-resistant GBM cells. These data suggest that muscone may be a promising co-therapeutic agent for enhancing GBM treatment, particularly in cases of TMZ-resistant GBM with elevated TOP2A expression.

Construction of ROS-Responsive Hyaluronic Acid Modified Paclitaxel and Diosgenin Liposomes and Study on Synergistic Enhancement of Anti-Ovarian Cancer Efficacy

Purpose

Ovarian cancer is a fatal gynecologic malignancy with a high rate of abdominal metastasis. Chemotherapy still has a poor clinical prognosis for ovarian cancer patients, with cell proliferation and angiogenesis leading to invasion, migration, and recurrence. To overcome these obstacles, we constructed a novel HA-modified paclitaxel and diosgenin liposome (PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs) using two novel functional materials, DSPE-PEG2000-HA and DSPE-PEG2000-TK-PEG5000, to specifically deliver the drugs to the tumor site in order to reduce OC cell proliferation and anti-angiogenic generation, thereby inhibiting invasion and migration.

Methods and Results

PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs were prepared by film dispersion, with ideal physicochemical properties and exhibits active targeting for enhanced cellular uptake. The ZIP synergy score for PTX and Dios was calculated using the online SynergyFinder software to be 3.15, indicating synergy. In vitro results showed that PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs were highly cytotoxic to ID8 cells, induced ID8 cell apoptosis, and inhibited ID8 cell migration and invasion. In vivo studies showed that PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs could prolong the circulation time in the blood, accumulate significantly in the tumor site, and effectively fight against angiogenesis with significant anti-tumor effects.

Conclusion

The production of PEG-TK-HA-PDLPs is an effective strategy for the treatment of OC.

Unlocking Overexpressed Membrane Proteins to Guide Breast Cancer Precision Medicine

Breast cancer (BC) is a prevalent form of cancer affecting women worldwide. However, the effectiveness of current BC drugs is limited by issues such as systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and severe side effects. Consequently, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic targets and improved tumor tracking methods. This study aims to address these challenges by proposing a strategy for identifying membrane proteins in tumors that can be targeted for specific BC therapy and diagnosis. The strategy involves the analyses of gene expressions in breast tumor and non-tumor tissues and other healthy tissues by using comprehensive bioinformatics analysis from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), UALCAN, TNM Plot, and LinkedOmics. By employing this strategy, we identified four transcripts (LRRC15, EFNA3, TSPAN13, and CA12) that encoded membrane proteins with an increased expression in BC tissue compared to healthy tissue. These four transcripts also demonstrated high accuracy, specificity, and accuracy in identifying tumor samples, as confirmed by the ROC curve. Additionally, tissue microarray (TMA) analysis revealed increased expressions of the four proteins in tumor tissues across all molecular subtypes compared to the adjacent breast tissue. Moreover, the analysis of human interactome data demonstrated the important roles of these proteins in various cancer-related pathways. Taken together, these findings suggest that LRRC15, EFNA3, TSPAN13, and CA12 can serve as potential biomarkers for improving cancer diagnosis screening and as suitable targets for therapy with reduced side effects and enhanced efficacy.

A bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis of anoikis from 2003 to 2022

This analysis covers 4494 anoikis-related publications (2003-2022). It explores annual trends, top countries, core journals, leading institutions, keywords, references, authors, and collaborations. Key findings include the United States leading in publications, Chulalongkorn University as the top institution, and Oncogene as the most prolific journal. The Journal of Biological Chemistry holds the highest influence. Burst keywords like "signal transduction," "apoptosis resistance," "metabolism," and "tumor microenvironment" highlight emerging research areas. This study offers a comprehensive overview, aiding researchers in grasping anoikis research trends, contributors, and prospects.

Anoikis related genes may be novel markers associated with prognosis for ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of anoikis related genes (ARGs) in ovarian cancer (OC) and to develop a prognostic signature based on ARG expression. We analyzed cohorts of OC patients and used nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) for clustering. Single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was employed to quantify immune infiltration. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences in survival were determined using the log-rank test. The extent of anoikis modification was quantified using a risk score generated from ARG expression. The analysis of single-cell sequencing data was performed by the Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub (TISCH). Our analyses revealed two distinct patterns of anoikis modification. The risk score was used to evaluate the anoikis modification patterns in individual tumors. Three hub-genes were screened using the LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) method and patients were classified into different risk groups based on their individual score and the median score. The low-risk subtype was characterized by decreased expression of hub-genes and better overall survival. The risk score, along with patient age and gender, were considered to identify the prognostic signature, which was visualized using a nomogram. Our findings suggest that ARGs may play a novel role in the prognosis of OC. Based on ARG expression, we have developed a prognostic signature for OC that can aid in patient stratification and treatment decision-making. Further studies are needed to validate these results and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles facilitate omental metastasis of ovarian cancer by triggering activation of mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND

Omental metastasis is the major cause of ovarian cancer recurrence and shortens patient survival, which can be largely attributed to the dynamic evolution of the fertile metastatic microenvironment driven by cancer cells. Previously, we found that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) undergoing a phenotype shift toward cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) participated in the orchestrated omental premetastatic niche for ovarian cancer. Here, we aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Small extracellular vesicles were isolated from ovarian cancer cell lines (ES-2 and its highly metastatic subline, ES-2-HM) and patient ascites using ultracentrifugation. Functional experiments, including Transwell and EdU assays, and molecular detection, including Western blot, immunofluorescence, and RT-qPCR, were performed to investigate the activation of ADSCs in vitro. High-throughput transcriptional sequencing and functional assays were employed to identify the crucial functional molecules inducing CAF-like activation of ADSCs and the downstream effector of miR-320a. The impact of extracellular vesicles and miR-320a-activated ADSCs on tumor growth and metastasis was assessed in subcutaneous and orthotopic ovarian cancer xenograft mouse models. The expression of miR-320a in human samples was evaluated using in situ hybridization staining.

RESULTS

Primary human ADSCs cocultured with small extracellular vesicles, especially those derived from ES-2-HM, exhibited boosted migration, invasion, and proliferation capacities and elevated α-SMA and FAP levels. Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles increased α-SMA-positive stromal cells, fostered omental metastasis, and shortened the survival of mice harboring orthotopic ovarian cancer xenografts. miR-320a was abundant in highly metastatic cell-derived extracellular vesicles, evoked dramatic CAF-like transition of ADSCs, targeted the 3'-untranslated region of integrin subunit alpha 7 and attenuated its expression. miR-320a overexpression in ovarian cancer was associated with omental metastasis and shorter survival. miR-320a-activated ADSCs facilitated tumor cell growth and omental metastasis. Depletion of integrin alpha 7 triggered CAF-like activation of ADSCs in vitro. Video Abstract CONCLUSIONS: miR-320a in small extracellular vesicles secreted by tumor cells targets integrin subunit alpha 7 in ADSCs and drives CAF-like activation, which in turn facilitates omental metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Signatures of tumor-associated macrophages correlate with treatment response in ovarian cancer patients

Ovarian cancer (OC) ranks as the second leading cause of death among gynecological cancers. Numerous studies have indicated a correlation between the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the clinical response to treatment in OC patients. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a crucial component of the TME, exert influence on invasion, metastasis, and recurrence in OC patients. To delve deeper into the role of TAMs in OC, this study conducted an extensive analysis of single-cell data from OC patients. The aim is to develop a new risk score (RS) to characterize the response to treatment in OC patients to inform clinical treatment. We first identified TAM-associated genes (TAMGs) in OC patients and examined the protein and mRNA expression levels of TAMGs by Western blot and PCR experiments. Additionally, a scoring system for TAMGs was constructed, successfully categorizing patients into high and low RS subgroups. Remarkably, significant disparities were observed in immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy response between the high and low RS subgroups. The findings revealed that patients in the high RS group had a poorer prognosis but displayed greater sensitivity to immunotherapy. Another important finding was that patients in the high RS subgroup had a higher IC50 for chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, further experimental investigations led to the discovery that THEMIS2 could serve as a potential target in OC patients and is associated with EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition). Overall, the TAMGs-based scoring system holds promise for screening patients who would benefit from therapy and provides valuable information for the clinical treatment of OC.

Friend and foe: the regulation network of ascites components in ovarian cancer progression

The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its complex role in cancer progression have been hotspots of cancer research in recent years. Ascites, which occurs frequently in patients with ovarian cancer especially in advanced stages, represents a unique TME. Malignant ascites contains abundant cellular and acellular components that play important roles in tumorigenesis, growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer through complex molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways. As a valuable liquid biopsy sample, ascites fluid is also of great significance for the prognostic analysis of ovarian cancer. The components of ovarian cancer ascites are generally considered to comprise tumor-promoting factors; however, in recent years studies have found that ascites also contains tumor-suppressing factors, raising new perspectives on interactions between ascites and tumors. Malignant ascites directly constitutes the ovarian cancer microenvironment, therefore, the study of its components will aid in the development of new therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the current research on tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing factors and molecular mechanisms of their actions in ovarian cancer-derived ascites and therapeutic strategies targeting ascites, which may provide references for the development of novel therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer in the future.

Cancer-associated mesothelial cells are regulated by the anti-Müllerian hormone axis

Cancer-associated mesothelial cells (CAMCs) in the tumor microenvironment are thought to promote growth and immune evasion. We find that, in mouse and human ovarian tumors, cancer cells express anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) while CAMCs express its receptor AMHR2, suggesting a paracrine axis. Factors secreted by cancer cells induce AMHR2 expression during their reprogramming into CAMCs in mouse and human in vitro models. Overexpression of AMHR2 in the Met5a mesothelial cell line is sufficient to induce expression of immunosuppressive cytokines and growth factors that stimulate ovarian cancer cell growth in an AMH-dependent way. Finally, syngeneic cancer cells implanted in transgenic mice with Amhr2-/- CAMCs grow significantly slower than in wild-type hosts. The cytokine profile of Amhr2-/- tumor-bearing mice is altered and their tumors express less immune checkpoint markers programmed-cell-death 1 (PD1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4). Taken together, these data suggest that the AMH/AMHR2 axis plays a critical role in regulating the pro-tumoral function of CAMCs in ovarian cancer.

Prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on anoikis-related genes: immune landscape analysis and prediction of drug sensitivity

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a complex ailment characterized by an unfavorable prognosis in advanced stages. The involvement of immune cells in HCC progression is of significant importance. Moreover, metastasis poses a substantial impediment to enhanced prognostication for HCC patients, with anoikis playing an indispensable role in facilitating the distant metastasis of tumor cells. Nevertheless, limited investigations have been conducted regarding the utilization of anoikis factors for predicting HCC prognosis and assessing immune infiltration. This present study aims to identify hepatocellular carcinoma-associated anoikis-related genes (ANRGs), establish a robust prognostic model for HCC, and delineate distinct immune characteristics based on the anoikis signature. Cell migration and cytotoxicity experiments were performed to validate the accuracy of the ANRGs model.

Methods

Consensus clustering based on ANRGs was employed in this investigation to categorize HCC samples obtained from both TCGA and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts. To assess the differentially expressed genes, Cox regression analysis was conducted, and subsequently, prognostic gene signatures were constructed using LASSO-Cox methodology. External validation was performed at the International Cancer Genome Conference. The tumor microenvironment (TME) was characterized utilizing ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms, while machine learning techniques facilitated the identification of potential target drugs. The wound healing assay and CCK-8 assay were employed to evaluate the migratory capacity and drug sensitivity of HCC cell lines, respectively.

Results

Utilizing the TCGA-LIHC dataset, we devised a nomogram integrating a ten-gene signature with diverse clinicopathological features. Furthermore, the discriminative potential and clinical utility of the ten-gene signature and nomogram were substantiated through ROC analysis and DCA. Subsequently, we devised a prognostic framework leveraging gene expression data from distinct risk cohorts to predict the drug responsiveness of HCC subtypes.

Conclusion

In this study, we have established a promising HCC prognostic ANRGs model, which can serve as a valuable tool for clinicians in selecting targeted therapeutic drugs, thereby improving overall patient survival rates. Additionally, this model has also revealed a strong connection between anoikis and immune cells, providing a potential avenue for elucidating the mechanisms underlying immune cell infiltration regulated by anoikis.

A signature based on anoikis-related genes for the evaluation of prognosis, immunoinfiltration, mutation, and therapeutic response in ovarian cancer

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly lethal and aggressive gynecologic cancer, with an overall survival rate that has shown little improvement over the decades. Robust models are urgently needed to distinguish high-risk cases and predict reliable treatment options for OC. Although anoikis-related genes (ARGs) have been reported to contribute to tumor growth and metastasis, their prognostic value in OC remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to construct an ARG pair (ARGP)-based prognostic signature for patients with OC and elucidate the potential mechanism underlying the involvement of ARGs in OC progression.

Methods

The RNA-sequencing and clinical information data of OC patients were obtained from The Center Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. A novel algorithm based on pairwise comparison was utilized to select ARGPs, followed by the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox analysis to construct a prognostic signature. The predictive ability of the model was validated using an external dataset, a receiver operating characteristic curve, and stratification analysis. The immune microenvironment and the proportion of immune cells were analyzed in high- and low-risk OC cases using seven algorithms. Gene set enrichment analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of ARGs in OC occurrence and prognosis.

Results

The 19-ARGP signature was identified as an important prognostic predictor for 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival of patients with OC. Gene function enrichment analysis showed that the high-risk group was characterized by the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells and the enrichment of adherence-related signaling pathway, suggesting that ARGs were involved in OC progression by mediating immune escape and tumor metastasis.

Conclusion

We constructed a reliable ARGP prognostic signature of OC, and our findings suggested that ARGs exerted a vital interplay in OC immune microenvironment and therapeutic response. These insights provided valuable information regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease and potential targeted therapies.

Oxr1a prevents the premature ovarian failure by regulating oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in zebrafish

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is characterized as the ovarian dysfunction and defective oocyte development. In POF patients, ROS level is reported to be significantly higher than normal individuals. However, the involvement of oxidative stress in POF and the regulatory mechanisms underlying the antioxidative process in oocyte development remain largely unknown. Here, we discover that oxidation resistance 1a (Oxr1a), the ortholog of mammalian Oxr1, protects the oocytes of female zebrafish against oxidative stress and thus represses the POF phenotype. Oxr1a was widely expressed in oocytes at different developmental stages, of which the mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated upon follicle activation and oocyte maturation. Oxr1a knockout exacerbated the POF phenotype, as evidenced by the decreased number and quality of oocytes. Moreover, the oocytes of oxr1a knockout zebrafish exhibited excessive ROS, increased mitochondrial DNA damage, reduced mitochondria, and abnormal morphology. Mechanistically, instead of decomposing ROS directly, Oxr1a participated in the process of oxidative stress through regulating the mRNA expression levels of the key antioxidant enzymes Cat and Sod1. Moreover, treatment with antioxidant N-Acetyl-l-cysteine attenuated the mitochondrial oxidative damage and improved the fertility of mutant females, indicating that Oxr1a may mediates the Sod1/Cat pathway to metabolize the intracellular ROS and avoid the mitochondrial oxidative damage, thus ensuring the normal development and maturation of oocytes. Taken together, these findings are useful for the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying the oxidative damage in oocytes and beneficial to the clinical therapeutics of POF.

Nanotechnology-integrated ovarian cancer metastasis therapy: Insights from the metastatic mechanisms into administration routes and therapy strategies

Ovarian cancer is a kind of malignant tumour which locates in the pelvic cavity without typical clinical symptoms in the early stages. Most patients are diagnosed in the late stage while about 60 % of them have suffered from the cancer cells spreading in the abdominal cavity. The high recurrence rate and mortality seriously damage the reproductive needs and health of women. Although recent advances in therapeutic regimes and other adjuvant therapies improved the overall survival of ovarian cancer, overcoming metastasis has still been a challenge and is necessary for achieving cure of ovarian cancer. To present potential targets and new strategies for curbing the occurrence of ovarian metastasis and the treatment of ovarian cancer after metastasis, the first section of this paper explained the metastatic mechanisms of ovarian cancer comprehensively. Nanomedicine, not limited to drug delivery, offers opportunities for metastatic ovarian cancer therapy. The second section of this paper emphasized the advantages of various administration routes of nanodrugs in metastatic ovarian cancer therapy. Furthermore, the third section of this paper focused on advances in nanotechnology-integrated strategies for targeting metastatic ovarian cancer based on the metastatic mechanisms of ovarian cancer. Finally, the challenges and prospects of nanotherapeutics for ovarian cancer metastasis therapy were evaluated. In general, the greatest emphasis on using nanotechnology-based strategies provides avenues for improving metastatic ovarian cancer outcomes in the future.

Development and verification of a 7-lncRNA prognostic model based on tumor immunity for patients with ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Both immune-reaction and lncRNAs play significant roles in the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of ovarian cancer (OC). In this study, we aimed to construct an immune-related lncRNA risk model for patients with OC.

METHOD

Single sample GSEA (ssGSEA) algorithm was used to analyze the proportion of immune cells in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the hclust algorithm was used to conduct immune typing according to the proportion of immune cells for OC patients. The stromal and immune scores were computed utilizing the ESTIMATE algorithm. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analyses were utilized to detect immune cluster-related lncRNAs. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was conducted for lncRNA selection. The selected lncRNAs were used to construct a prognosis-related risk model, which was then validated in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and in vitro validation.

RESULTS

We identify two subtypes based on the ssGSEA analysis, high immunity cluster (immunity_H) and low immunity cluster (immunity_L). The proportion of patients in immunity_H cluster was significantly higher than that in immunity_L cluster. The ESTIMATE related scores are relative high in immunity_H group. Through WGCNA and LASSO analyses, we identified 141 immune cluster-related lncRNAs and found that these genes were mainly enriched in autophagy. A signature consisting of 7 lncRNAs, including AL391832.3, LINC00892, LINC02207, LINC02416, PSMB8.AS1, AC078788.1 and AC104971.3, were selected as the basis for classifying patients into high- and low-risk groups. Survival analysis and area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the signature pointed out that this risk model had high accuracy in predicting the prognosis of patients with OC. We also conducted the drug sensitive prediction and found that rapamycin outperformed in patient with high risk score. In vitro experiments also confirmed our prediction.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified 7 immune-related prognostic lncRNAs that effectively predicted survival in OC patients. These findings may offer a valuable indicator for clinical stratification management and personalized therapeutic options for these patients.

Tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer peritoneal metastasis

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. The peritoneum is one of the most common metastatic sites in ovarian cancer, involving large amounts of ascites. However, its mechanism is unclear. The peritoneal microenvironment composed of peritoneal effusion and peritoneum creates favorable conditions for ovarian cancer progression and metastasis. Here, we reviewed the peritoneal metastasis patterns and molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer, as well as major components of the peritoneal microenvironment, peritoneal effusion, and immune microenvironment, and investigated the relationship between the peritoneal microenvironment and ovarian cancer metastasis.

Single-cell analysis reveals the COL11A1+ fibroblasts are cancer-specific fibroblasts that promote tumor progression

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumor progression through extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and extensive communication with other cells in tumor microenvironment. However, most CAF-targeting strategies failed in clinical trials due to the heterogeneity of CAFs. Hence, we aimed to identify the cluster of tumor-promoting CAFs, elucidate their function and determine their specific membrane markers to ensure precise targeting. Methods: We integrated multiple single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets across different tumors and adjacent normal tissues to identify the tumor-promoting CAF cluster. We analyzed the origin of these CAFs by pseudotime analysis, and tried to elucidate the function of these CAFs by gene regulatory network analysis and cell-cell communication analysis. We also performed cell-type deconvolution analysis to examine the association between the proportion of these CAFs and patients' prognosis in TCGA cancer cohorts, and validated that through IHC staining in clinical tumor tissues. In addition, we analyzed the membrane molecules in different fibroblast clusters, trying to identify the membrane molecules that were specifically expressed on these CAFs. Results: We found that COL11A1+ fibroblasts specifically exist in tumor tissues but not in normal tissues and named them cancer-specific fibroblasts (CSFs). We revealed that these CSFs were transformed from normal fibroblasts. CSFs represented a more activated CAF cluster and may promote tumor progression through the regulation on ECM remodeling and antitumor immune responses. High CSF proportion was associated with poor prognosis in bladder cancer (BCa) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and IHC staining of COL11A1 confirmed their specific expression in tumor stroma in clinical BCa samples. We also identified that CSFs specifically express the membrane molecules LRRC15, ITGA11, SPHK1 and FAP, which could distinguish CSFs from other fibroblasts. Conclusion: We identified that CSFs is a tumor specific cluster of fibroblasts, which are in active state, may promote tumor progression through the regulation on ECM remodeling and antitumor immune responses. Membrane molecules LRRC15, ITGA11, SPHK1 and FAP could be used as therapeutic targets for CSF-targeting cancer treatment.

The origins, roles and therapies of cancer associated fibroblast in liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. It is often preceded by chronic inflammation such as liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Different cell types are believed to give rise to liver-specific cancer associated fibroblast (CAF), these include resident fibroblast, hepatic stellate cell, liver cancer cell, hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell and mesenchymal stromal cell. The abundance of fibroblasts has contributed to the cancer progression, immune modulation and treatment resistance in HCC. In this review, we discussed the origins, subtypes and roles of cancer associated fibroblasts in HCC. Their specific roles in shaping the tumor microenvironment, facilitating cancer growth, and modulating different immune cell types to confer a permissive environment for cancer growth. CAF is now an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment, however specific therapeutic development in HCC is still lacking. Hence, we have included preclinical and clinical development of CAF-specific interventions for other cancer types in this review. However, most CAF-specific therapies have resulted in disappointing clinical outcomes, likely due to the difficulties in differentiating CAF from normal fibroblast. A thorough understanding of the characteristics and functionalities of CAF is warranted to further improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-CAF therapies.

Maggot Extract Inhibits Cell Migration and Tumor Growth by Targeting HSP90AB1 in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, because of metastatic dissemination with poor late clinical therapy. Maggots have been used in traditional Chinese medicine, where they are also known as 'Wu Gu Chong'. Previous studies have indicated that maggot extract (ME) was beneficial for the treatment of gastric cancer when combined with other drugs, but the effect on anti-ovarian cancer and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ME on suppressing the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells, and to clarify the underlying mechanism. In this research, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation assay, and luciferase-positive cell quantification assay were employed to identify the inhibitory effects of ME on cell proliferation. Then, the pro-apoptosis and anti-metastasis effects of ME were explored by Western blot, dual annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (FITC/PI) assay, immunofluorescent staining, and wound-healing assay. We further established a xenograft model by subcutaneously or intraperitoneally injecting BALB/c nude mice with SKOV3 cells stably expressing luciferase, and the mice were treated with ME. The results showed that ME therapy effectively restrained the growth and metastasis of ovarian tumors in vivo. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of cancer factors including heat shock protein 90 alpha family class B member 1 (HSP90AB1), MYC, and insulin like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR assay to explore the possible antitumor mechanisms of ME. Next, HSP90 ATPase activity was inhibited by geldanamycin in A2780, and the cell viability was shown to be dramatically reduced, decreasing further with the combination of ME and cisplatin. In turn, HSP90AB1 overexpression effectively inhibited the effect of ME in suppressing capability for cell viability and migration. In addition, HSP90AB1 overexpression limited the ability of ME to inhibit expression of MYC and IGF1R, while the opposite effect was observed for expression of pro-apoptosis protein caspase3 and BAX. Therefore, this study confirmed the potential roles and mechanisms of ME in inhibiting the growth and metastasis of ovarian tumors and promoting apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting overexpression of HSP90AB1.

Identification and Validation of Hub Genes for Predicting Treatment Targets and Immune Landscape in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease featured by pathological synovial inflammation. Currently, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of RA remain unclear. In the study, we attempted to explore the underlying mechanisms of RA and provide potential targets for the therapy of RA via bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

We downloaded four microarray datasets (GSE77298, GSE55235, GSE12021, and GSE55457) from the GEO database. Firstly, GSE77298 and GSE55457 were identified DEGs by the “limma” and “sva” packages of R software. Then, we performed GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analyses to further analyze the function of DEGs. Hub genes were screened using LASSO analysis and SVM-RFE analysis. To further explore the differences of the expression of hub genes in healthy control and RA patient synovial tissues, we calculated the ROC curves and AUC. The expression levels of hub genes were verified in synovial tissues of normal and RA rats by qRT-PCR and western blot. Furthermore, the CIBERSORTx was implemented to assess the differences of infiltration in 22 immune cells between normal and RA synovial tissues. We explored the association between hub genes and infiltrating immune cells.

Results

CRTAM, CXCL13, and LRRC15 were identified as RA's potential hub genes by machine learning and LASSO algorithms. In addition, we verified the expression levels of three hub genes in the synovial tissue of normal and RA rats by PCR and western blot. Moreover, immune cell infiltration analysis showed that plasma cells, T follicular helper cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, and gamma delta T cells may be engaged in the development and progression of RA.

Conclusions

In brief, our study identified and validated that three hub genes CRTAM, CXCL13, and LRRC15 might involve in the pathological development of RA, which could provide novel perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment with RA.

Development of Anti-LRRC15 Small Fragments for Imaging Purposes Using a Phage-Display ScFv Approach

The human leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 15 (LRRC15) is a membrane protein identified as a marker of CAF (cancer-associated fibroblast) cells whose overexpression is positively correlated with cancer grade and outcome. Nuclear molecular imaging (i.e., SPECT and PET) to track LRRC15 expression could be very useful in guiding further therapeutic strategies. In this study, we developed an ScFv mouse phage-display library to obtain small fragment antibodies against human LRRC15 for molecular imaging purposes. Mice were immunized with recombinant human LRRC15 (hLRRC15), and lymph node cells were harvested for ScFv (single-chain variable fragment) phage-display analysis. The built library was used for panning on cell lines with constitutive or induced expression after transfection. The choice of best candidates was performed by screening various other cell lines, using flow cytometry. The selected candidates were reformatted into Cys-ScFv or Cys-diabody by addition of cysteine, and cloned in mammalian expression vectors to obtain batches of small fragments that were further used in site-specific radiolabeling tests. The obtained library was 1.2 × 107 cfu/µg with an insertion rate >95%. The two panning rounds performed on cells permittedenrichment of 2 × 10−3. Screening with flow cytometry allowed us to identify 28 specific hLRRC15 candidates. Among these, two also recognized murine LRCC15 and were reformatted into Cys-ScFv and Cys-diabody. They were expressed transiently in a mammalian system to obtain 1.0 to 4.5 mg of Cys fragments ready for bioconjugation and radiolabeling. Thus, in this paper, we demonstrate the relevance of the phage-display ScFv library approach for the fast-track development of small antibodies for imaging and/or immunotherapy purposes.

Efficacy evaluation of multi-immunotherapy in ovarian cancer: From bench to bed

Ovarian cancer, one of the most common gynecological malignancies, is characterized by high mortality and poor prognosis. Cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy remain the mainstay of ovarian cancer treatment, and most women experience recurrence after standard care therapies. There is compelling evidence that ovarian cancer is an immunogenic tumor. For example, the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is associated with increased survival, while increases in immunosuppressive regulatory T cells are correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, immunotherapies targeting components of the tumor microenvironment have been gradually integrated into the existing treatment options, including immune checkpoint blockade, adoptive cell therapy, and cancer vaccines. Immunotherapies have changed guidelines for maintenance treatment and established a new paradigm in ovarian cancer treatment. Despite single immunotherapies targeting DNA repair mechanisms, immune checkpoints, and angiogenesis bringing inspiring efficacy, only a subset of patients can benefit much from it. Thus, the multi-immunotherapy investigation remains an active area for ovarian cancer treatment. The current review provides an overview of various clinically oriented forms of multi-immunotherapy and explores potentially effective combinational therapies for ovarian cancer.

Identification of leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59 (LRRC59) located in the endoplasmic reticulum as a novel prognostic factor for urothelial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The biological heterogeneity of UCs causes considerable difficulties in predicting treatment outcomes and usually leads to clinical mismanagement. The identification of more sensitive and efficient predictive biomarkers is important in the diagnosis and classification of UCs. Herein, we report leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59 (LRRC59) located in the endoplasmic reticulum as a novel predictive factor and potential therapeutic target for UCs.

METHODS

Using whole-slide image analysis in our cohort of 107 UC samples, we performed immunohistochemistry to evaluate the prognostic value of LRRC59 expression in UCs. In vitro experiments using RNAi were conducted to explore the role of LRRC59 in promoting UC cell proliferation and migration.

RESULTS

A significant correlation between LRRC59 and unfavorable prognosis of UCs in our cohort was demonstrated. Subsequent clinical analysis also revealed that elevated expression levels of LRRC59 were significantly associated with higher pathological grades and advanced stages of UC. Subsequently, knockdown of LRRC59 in UM-UC-3 and T24 cells using small interfering RNA significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration, resulting in cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. Conversely, the overexpression of LRRC59 in UC cells enhanced cell proliferation and migration. An integrated bioinformatics analysis revealed a significant functional network of LRRC59 involving protein misfolding, ER stress, and ubiquitination. Finally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that LRRC59 modulates ER stress signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

LRRC59 expression was significantly correlated with UC prognosis. LRRC59 might not only serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for risk stratification of patients with UC but also exhibit as a potential therapeutic target in UC that warrants further investigation.

DNA barcoded competitive clone-initiating cell analysis reveals novel features of metastatic growth in a cancer xenograft model

A problematic feature of many human cancers is a lack of understanding of mechanisms controlling organ-specific patterns of metastasis, despite recent progress in identifying many mutations and transcriptional programs shown to confer this potential. To address this gap, we developed a methodology that enables different aspects of the metastatic process to be comprehensively characterized at a clonal resolution. Our approach exploits the application of a computational pipeline to analyze and visualize clonal data obtained from transplant experiments in which a cellular DNA barcoding strategy is used to distinguish the separate clonal contributions of two or more competing cell populations. To illustrate the power of this methodology, we demonstrate its ability to discriminate the metastatic behavior in immunodeficient mice of a well-established human metastatic cancer cell line and its co-transplanted LRRC15 knockdown derivative. We also show how the use of machine learning to quantify clone-initiating cell (CIC) numbers and their subsequent metastatic progeny generated in different sites can reveal previously unknown relationships between different cellular genotypes and their initial sites of implantation with their subsequent respective dissemination patterns. These findings underscore the potential of such combined genomic and computational methodologies to identify new clonally-relevant drivers of site-specific patterns of metastasis.

Mechanisms of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Endocrine-Related Cancers: A Concise Outlook

Chemotherapy is a critical treatment for endocrine-related cancers; however, chemoresistance and disease recurrence remain a challenge. The interplay between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment via cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) promotes drug resistance, known as cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR). CAMs are cell surface molecules that facilitate cell-to-cell or cell-to-extracellular matrix binding. CAMs exert an adhesion effect and trigger intracellular signaling that regulates cancer cell stemness maintenance, survival, proliferation, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and drug resistance. To understand these mechanisms, this review focuses on the role of CD44, cadherins, selectins, and integrins in CAM-DR in endocrine-related cancers.