Exosomal ERp44 derived from ER-stressed cells strengthens cisplatin resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-MMRN1 positive feedback contributes to cisplatin resistance in small cell lung cancer

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% of all lung cancers and presents early metastasis and poor prognosis. Chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) remains one of the standards of care in first-line treatment. However, the emergence of acquired resistance to CDDP causes disease progression and cancer recurrence. A comprehensive understanding of the CDDP-resistant mechanisms aids in defining accurate biomarkers and developing potential strategies.

Methods

The liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) was conducted to analyze the differential exosomal proteins from plasma samples of SCLC patients with non-treatment or resistance to CDDP. The online RNA-seq data with clinicopathological information on SCLC patients were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for further prognostic analysis. The SCLC cell line model of acquired CDDP resistance was established to investigate the role of platelet protein multimerin-1 (MMRN1) in CDDP resistance.

Results

MMRN1 was increased in CDDP-resistant SCLC patients and cell line models. Reduction of MMRN1 recovered the sensitivity to CDDP while overexpression of MMRN1 conferred CDDP resistance. The CDDP-resistant SCLC cells disseminated resistant to the CDDP-sensitive SCLC cells via the exosomal MMRN1. Additionally, CDDP treatment induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and subsequent upregulation of MMRN1. Increasing MMRN1 interacted with binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) in the ER, maintaining the ER stress in SCLC cells.

Conclusions

The present study identified exosomal MMRN1 as a potential biomarker for CDDP resistance in SCLC. MMRN1 sustains ER stress via interaction with BiP and subsequently facilitates CDDP resistance, which might be a promising therapeutic target to overcome CDDP resistance.

Exosomes derived from cancer-associated fibrolasts mediated ciplatin resistance

Objective

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a highly invasive form of head and neck cancer, carries a significant risk of distant metastasis. NPC is particularly prevalent in Asia and has a high incidence in southern China. Cisplatin-diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP), a chemotherapy agent, is commonly employed in NPC treatment. Despite DDP's efficacy, many patients eventually develop resistance to it over the course of their therapy, which significantly hinders treatment outcomes. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor micro-environment and contribute to tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance. Exosomes secreted by CAFs serve as crucial mediators of intercellular communication and participate in modulating diverse biological processes. This study aimed to explore how exosomes derived from CAFs contribute to DDP resistance in NPC.

Material and Methods

An in vitro coculture system was used to simulate the interaction between CAFs and NPC cells, and exosomes secreted by CAFs were isolated and characterized. The expression of autophagy hallmark proteins was detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Autophagy intensity was quantified using monodansylcadaverine staining, and cell proliferation was assessed by colony formation assays and methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium assays. NPC cells were treated with autophagy inducers (rapamycin), and the expression of Ras homologue enriched in brain (Rheb), mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC1), and UNC51-like kinase was detected. Immunofluorescence was used to determine the cellular localization and expression intensity of mTORC1, and the effect on DDP sensitivity was evaluated through cell proliferation rates. In addition, the exosome-mediated resistance mechanism was further validated using an in vivo xenograft tumor model.

Results

Coculture of CAFs with NPC cells significantly promoted the proliferation of NPC cells (P < 0.01), significantly elevated the IC50 value of DDP (P < 0.01), and elevated the resistance of NPC cells to DDP. CAF-derived exosomes elevated autophagy hallmark proteins light chain 3B-II, Beclin, and increased the autophagy intensity (P < 0.01). CAF-derived exosomes promoted autophagy by inhibiting mTORC1 (P < 0.01). In the in vitro model, exosomes promoted the growth of tumor tissues (P < 0.01), and the inhibition of exosome secretion reversed the promotion effect of autophagy (P < 0.01) and elevated the sensitivity of NPC cells to DDP.

Conclusion

CAF-derived exosomes promote protective autophagy in NPC cells through the Rheb/mTOR axis, and result in DDP resistance in NPC.

The role of extracellular vesicles in pyroptosis-mediated infectious and non-infectious diseases

Pyroptosis, a lytic and pro-inflammatory cell death, is important in various pathophysiological processes. Host- and bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), as natural nanocarriers messengers, are versatile mediators of intercellular communication between different types of cells. Recently, emerging research has suggested that EVs exhibit multifaceted roles in disease progression by manipulating pyroptosis. This review focuses on new findings concerning how EVs shape disease progression in infectious and non-infectious diseases by regulating pyroptosis. Understanding the characteristics and activity of EVs-mediated pyroptotic death may conducive to the discovery of novel mechanisms and more efficient therapeutic targets in infectious and non-infectious diseases.

The complexity of extracellular vesicles: Bridging the gap between cellular communication and neuropathology

Brain-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve a prominent role in maintaining homeostasis and contributing to pathology in health and disease. This review establishes a crucial link between physiological processes leading to EV biogenesis and their impacts on disease. EVs are involved in the clearance and transport of proteins and nucleic acids, responding to changes in cellular processes associated with neurodegeneration, including autophagic disruption, organellar dysfunction, aging, and other cell stresses. In neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc.), EVs contribute to the spread of pathological proteins like amyloid β, tau, ɑ-synuclein, prions, and TDP-43, exacerbating neurodegeneration and accelerating disease progression. Despite evidence for both neuropathological and neuroprotective effects of EVs, the mechanistic switch between their physiological and pathological functions remains elusive, warranting further research into their involvement in neurodegenerative disease. Moreover, owing to their innate ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier and their ubiquitous nature, EVs emerge as promising candidates for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The review uniquely positions itself at the intersection of EV cell biology, neurophysiology, and neuropathology, offering insights into the diverse biological roles of EVs in health and disease.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-a key guardian in cancer

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a cellular stress response characterized by excessive contraction of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It is a pathological hallmark of many diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases. In the unique growth characteristic and varied microenvironment of cancer, high levels of stress are necessary to maintain the rapid proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. This process is closely related to ERS, which enhances the ability of tumor cells to adapt to unfavorable environments and promotes the malignant progression of cancer. In this paper, we review the roles and mechanisms of ERS in tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance, cellular metabolism, and immune response. We found that ERS can modulate tumor progression via the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling of IRE1, PERK, and ATF6. Targeting the ERS may be a new strategy to attenuate the protective effects of ERS on cancer. This manuscript explores the potential of ERS-targeted therapies, detailing the mechanisms through which ERS influences cancer progression and highlighting experimental and clinical evidence supporting these strategies. Through this review, we aim to deepen our understanding of the role of ER stress in cancer development and provide new insights for cancer therapy.

Therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles from diverse sources in cancer treatment

Cancer, a prevalent and complex disease, presents a significant challenge to the medical community. It is characterized by irregular cell differentiation, excessive proliferation, uncontrolled growth, invasion of nearby tissues, and spread to distant organs. Its progression involves a complex interplay of several elements and processes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as critical intermediaries in intercellular communication, transporting critical molecules such as lipids, RNA, membrane, and cytoplasmic proteins between cells. They significantly contribute to the progression, development, and dissemination of primary tumors by facilitating the exchange of information and transmitting signals that regulate tumor growth and metastasis. However, EVs do not have a singular impact on cancer; instead, they play a multifaceted dual role. Under specific circumstances, they can impede tumor growth and influence cancer by delivering oncogenic factors or triggering an immune response. Furthermore, EVs from different sources demonstrate distinct advantages in inhibiting cancer. This research examines the biological characteristics of EVs and their involvement in cancer development to establish a theoretical foundation for better understanding the connection between EVs and cancer. Here, we discuss the potential of EVs from various sources in cancer therapy, as well as the current status and future prospects of engineered EVs in developing more effective cancer treatments.

Exploring the potential of thiophene derivatives as dual inhibitors of β-tubulin and Wnt/β-catenin pathways for gastrointestinal cancers in vitro

Background

Gastrointestinal cancer poses a considerable global health risk, encompassing a heterogeneous spectrum of malignancies that afflict the gastrointestinal tract. It is significant to develop efficacious therapeutic agents, as they are indispensable for both the treatment and prevention of this formidable disease.

Methods

In this study, we synthesized a novel thiophene derivative, designated as compound 1312. An assessment was performed to investigate its anti-proliferative activity in several cancer cell lines (GES-1, EC9706, SGC7901, and HT-29). Furthermore, we performed molecular biology techniques to investigate the inhibitory impact of compound 1312 on gastrointestinal cell lines SGC-7901 and HT-29.

Results

Our findings reveal that compound 1312 exhibits significant efficacy in suppressing colony formation of cancer cells. Notably, it triggers cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in gastrointestinal cell lines SGC7901 and HT-29. Compound 1312 was confirmed to exert inhibitory effects on cell migration and invasion in SGC7901. Additionally, the compound elicits apoptotic cell death through the activation of the DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and the caspase signaling cascade. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that compound 1312 effectively suppresses both the β-tubulin cytoskeletal network and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These multifaceted anti-cancer activities highlight the potential of compound 1312 as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.

Conclusion

This study indicates the promising potential of compound 1312 as a prospective candidate agent for gastrointestinal cancer treatment. Further comprehensive investigations are needed to explore its therapeutic efficacy in greater detail.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts secrete FGF5 to inhibit ferroptosis to decrease cisplatin sensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through binding to FGFR2

Cisplatin (DDP)-based chemoradiotherapy is one of the standard treatments for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the sensitivity and side effects of DDP to patients remain major obstacles for NPC treatment. This research aimed to study DDP sensitivity regulated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) through modulating ferroptosis. We demonstrated that DDP triggered ferroptosis in NPC cells, and it inhibited tumor growth via inducing ferroptosis in xenograft model. CAFs secreted high level of FGF5, thus inhibiting DDP-induced ferroptosis in NPC cells. Mechanistically, FGF5 secreted by CAFs directly bound to FGFR2 in NPC cells, leading to the activation of Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. Rescued experiments indicated that FGFR2 overexpression inhibited DDP-induced ferroptosis, and CAFs protected against DDP-induced ferroptosis via FGF5/FGFR2 axis in NPC cells. In vivo data further showed the protective effects of FGF5 on DDP-triggered ferroptosis in NPC xenograft model. In conclusion, CAFs inhibited ferroptosis to decrease DDP sensitivity in NPC through secreting FGF5 and activating downstream FGFR2/Nrf2 signaling. The therapeutic strategy targeting FGF5/FGFR2 axis from CAFs might augment DDP sensitivity, thus decreasing the side effects of DDP in NPC treatment.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis: potential clinical applications in cancer therapy

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained increasing recognition as significant regulators of intercellular communication in various physiological and pathological processes. These vesicles play a pivotal role in cancer progression by facilitating the transfer of diverse cargoes, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Regulated cell death (RCD), the orderly and autonomous death of cells, is controlled by a variety of biomacromolecules and, in turn, influences various biological processes and cancer progression. Recent studies have demonstrated that EV cargoes regulate diverse oncogenes and tumor suppressors to mediate different nonapoptotic forms of RCD, notably ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis. Nevertheless, comprehensive exploration of EV-mediated nonapoptotic RCD forms in the context of cancer has not been performed. This review summarizes the progress regarding the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of EVs in mediating nonapoptotic RCD by delivery of cargoes to regulate tumor progression. Additionally, the review delves into the potential clinical applications of EV-mediated cell death and its significance in the areas of cancer diagnosis and therapy.

The role of exosomes in cancer-related programmed cell death

Cancer arises from the growth and division of uncontrolled erroneous cells. Programmed cell death (PCD), or regulated cell death (RCD), includes natural processes that eliminate damaged or abnormal cells. Dysregulation of PCD is a hallmark of cancer, as cancer cells often evade cell death and continue to proliferate. Exosomes nanoscale extracellular vesicles secreted by different types of cells carrying a variety of molecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, to have indispensable role in the communication between cells, and can influence various cellular processes, including PCD. Exosomes have been shown to modulate PCD in cancer cells by transferring pro- or antideath molecules to neighboring cells. Additionally, exosomes can facilitate the spread of PCD to surrounding cancer cells, making them promising in the treatment of various cancers. The exosomes' diagnostic potential in cancer is also an active area of research. Exosomes can be isolated from a wide range of bodily fluids and tissues, such as blood and urine, and can provide a noninvasive way to monitor cancer progression and treatment response. Furthermore, exosomes have also been employed as a delivery system for therapeutic agents. By engineering exosomes to carry drugs or other therapeutic molecules, they can be targeted specifically to cancer cells, reducing toxicity to healthy tissues. Here, we discussed exosomes in the diagnosis and prevention of cancers, tumor immunotherapy, and drug delivery, as well as in different types of PCD.

The anti-leukemia activity and mechanisms of shikonin: a mini review

Leukemia encompasses a group of highly heterogeneous diseases that pose a serious threat to human health. The long-term outcome of patients with leukemia still needs to be improved and new effective therapeutic strategies continue to be an unmet clinical need. Shikonin (SHK) is a naphthoquinone derivative that shows multiple biological function includes anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects. Numerous studies have reported the anti-leukemia activity of SHK during the last 3 decades and there are studies showing that SHK is particularly effective towards various leukemia cells compared to solid tumors. In this review, we will discuss the anti-leukemia effect of SHK and summarize the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, SHK may be a promising agent to be developed as an anti-leukemia drug.

Exosomes in Cancer Progression and Therapy Resistance: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Opportunities

The development of therapy resistance still represents a major hurdle in treating cancers, leading to impaired treatment success and increased patient morbidity. The establishment of minimally invasive liquid biopsies is a promising approach to improving the early diagnosis, as well as therapy monitoring, of solid tumors. Because of their manifold functions in the tumor microenvironment, tumor-associated small extracellular vesicles, referred to as exosomes, have become a subject of intense research. Besides their important roles in cancer progression, metastasis, and the immune response, it has been proposed that exosomes also contribute to the acquisition and transfer of therapy resistance, mainly by delivering functional proteins and RNAs, as well as facilitating the export of active drugs or functioning as extracellular decoys. Extensive research has focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the occurrence of resistance and translating these into strategies for early detection. With this review, we want to provide an overview of the current knowledge about the (patho-)biology of exosomes, as well as state-of-the-art methods of isolation and analysis. Furthermore, we highlight the role of exosomes in tumorigenesis and cancer treatment, where they can function as therapeutic agents, biomarkers, and/or targets. By focusing on their roles in therapy resistance, we will reveal new paths of exploiting exosomes for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Tumor Cells Transmit Drug Resistance via Cisplatin-Induced Extracellular Vesicles

Cisplatin is a first-line clinical agent used for treating solid tumors. Cisplatin damages the DNA of tumor cells and induces the production of high levels of reactive oxygen species to achieve tumor killing. Tumor cells have evolved several ways to tolerate this damage. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an important mode of information transfer in tumor cells. EVs can be substantially activated under cisplatin treatment and mediate different responses of tumor cells under cisplatin treatment depending on their different cargoes. However, the mechanism of action of tumor-cell-derived EVs under cisplatin treatment and their potential cargoes are still unclear. This review considers recent advances in cisplatin-induced release of EVs from tumor cells, with the expectation of providing a new understanding of the mechanisms of cisplatin treatment and drug resistance, as well as strategies for the combined use of cisplatin and other drugs.

Application of small extracellular vesicles in the diagnosis and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor originating from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. The disease is insidious, and most patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage, resulting in poor prognosis. Early diagnosis is important to reduce NPC mortality. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are rich in a variety of bioactive molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, which can participate in the physiological and pathological regulation of the body by affecting the function of target cells. Numerous studies have shown that some RNAs and proteins in sEVs of tumor origin have a key role in the development of NPC and are potential candidates for malignancy detection. Studying the relationship between the cargoes of these sEVs and NPC may help in the diagnosis of the disease. Here in this review, we summarize the application of sEVs as biomarkers in the diagnosis of NPC and their role in NPC metastasis and prognosis. In addition, we discuss possible future applications and limitations of sEVs as biomarkers.

Emerging roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the cellular plasticity of cancer cells

Cellular plasticity is a well-known dynamic feature of tumor cells that endows tumors with heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance and alters their invasion-metastasis progression, stemness, and drug sensitivity, thereby posing a major challenge to cancer therapy. It is becoming increasingly clear that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a hallmark of cancer. The dysregulated expression of ER stress sensors and the activation of downstream signaling pathways play a role in the regulation of tumor progression and cellular response to various challenges. Moreover, mounting evidence implicates ER stress in the regulation of cancer cell plasticity, including epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity, drug resistance phenotype, cancer stem cell phenotype, and vasculogenic mimicry phenotype plasticity. ER stress influences several malignant characteristics of tumor cells, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stem cell maintenance, angiogenic function, and tumor cell sensitivity to targeted therapy. The emerging links between ER stress and cancer cell plasticity that are implicated in tumor progression and chemoresistance are discussed in this review, which may aid in formulating strategies to target ER stress and cancer cell plasticity in anticancer treatments.

Development of a prognostic prediction model based on a combined multi-omics analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell pyroptosis-related genes

This study aimed to understand the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to develop and validate a prognostic model for HNSCC based on pyroptosis-associated genes (PAGs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to identify differentially expressed PAGs. These genes were analyzed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional annotation analyses and Gene Ontology analyses. The NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1) gene, charged multivesicular body protein 7 (CHMP7) gene, and cytochrome C (CYCS) gene were used to create a prognostic model for HNSCC. The results of the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) and Cox regression analyses indicated that the developed model served as an independent risk factor for HNSCC. According to the K-M analysis, the overall survival of high-risk patients was lower than that of low-risk patients. The hazard ratios corresponding to the risk scores determined using the multivariate and univariate Cox regression analyses were 1.646 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.189–2.278) and 1.724 (95% CI: 1.294–2.298), respectively, and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.621. The potential mechanisms associated with the functions of the identified genes were then identified, and the tumor microenvironment and levels of immune cell infiltration achieved were analyzed. The immune infiltration analysis revealed differences in the distribution of Th cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, follicular helper T cells, adipose-derived cells, interdigitating dendritic cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and B cells. However, validating bioinformatics analyses through biological experiments is still recommended. This study developed a prognostic model for HNSCC that included NLRP1, CHMP7, and CYCS.

Interactions between endoplasmic reticulum stress and extracellular vesicles in multiple diseases

Immune responses can severely perturb endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function. As a protein-folding factory and dynamic calcium storage compartment, the ER plays a pivotal role in resisting pathogens and in the development of autoimmune diseases and various other diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic, and liver-related diseases, metabolic disorders, etc. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in these conditions, suggesting that cells carry out some physiological functions through EVs. The formation of EVs is dependent on the ER. ER stress, as a state of protein imbalance, is both a cause and consequence of disease. ER stress promotes the transmission of pathological messages to EVs, which are delivered to target cells and lead to disease development. Moreover, EVs can transmit pathological messages to healthy cells, causing ER stress. This paper reviews the biological functions of EVs in disease, as well as the mechanisms underlying interactions between ER stress and EVs in multiple diseases. In addition, the prospects of these interactions for disease treatment are described.

Construction and Validation of a UPR-Associated Gene Prognostic Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Our study is aimed at constructing and validating a UPR-associated gene signature to predict HNSCC prognosis. We obtained 544 samples of RNA sequencing data and clinical characteristics from TCGA database and randomly grouped the samples into training and testing cohorts (1 : 1 ratio). After identifying 14 UPR-associated genes with LASSO and univariate Cox regression analysis, HNSCC samples were categorized into low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) subgroups depending on the risk score. Our analyses indicated that low-risk patients had a much better prognosis in the training and testing cohorts. To predict the HNSCC prognosis with the 14 UPR-associated gene signatures, we incorporated the UPR gene risk score, N stage, M stage, and age into a nomogram model. We further explored the sensitivity to anticancer drugs by using the IC50 analysis in two subgroups from the Cancer Genome Project database. The outcomes showed that the AKT inhibitor III and sorafenib were sensitive anticancer drugs in HR and LR patients, respectively. The immune cell infiltration analysis and GSEA provided strong evidence for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of UPR-associated genes affecting HNSCC. In conclusion, the UPR-associated gene risk score, N stage, M stage, and age can serve as a robust model for predicting prognosis and can improve decision-making at the individual patient level.

Extracellular Vesicles in the Progression and Therapeutic Resistance of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy largely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, which is frequently reported in east and southeast Asia. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) originate from the endosome or plasma membrane, which plays a critical role in tumor pathogenesis for their character of cell-cell communication and its cargos, including proteins, RNA, and other molecules that can target recipient cells and affect their progression. To date, numerous studies have indicated that EVs have crucial significance in the progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance of NPC. In this review, we not only summarize the interaction of NPC cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) through EVs, but also explain the role of EVs in radiation and drug resistance of NPC, which poses a severe threat to cancer therapy. Therefore, EVs may show great potential as biomarkers in the early diagnosis of interfered targets of NPC therapy.

Cytotoxic capability and the associated proteomic profile of cell-free coelomic fluid extracts from the edible sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa on HepG2 liver cancer cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer histotype and one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. The identification of compounds that might intervene to restrain neoplastic cell growth appears imperative due to its elevated overall mortality. The marine environment represents a reservoir rich in bioactive compounds in terms of primary and secondary metabolites produced by aquatic animals, mainly invertebrates. In the present study, we determined whether the water-soluble cell-free extract of the coelomic fluid (CFE) of the edible sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa could play an anti-HCC role in vitro by analyzing the viability and locomotory behavior, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and autophagy modulation, mitochondrial function and cell redox state of HepG2 HCC cells. We showed that CFE causes an early block in the cell cycle at the G2/M phase, which is coupled to oxidative stress promotion, autophagosome depletion and mitochondrial dysfunction ultimately leading to apoptotic death. We also performed a proteomic analysis of CFE identifying a number of proteins that are seemingly responsible for anti-cancer effects. In conclusion, H. tubulosa's CFE merits further investigation to develop novel promising anti-HCC prevention and/or treatment agents and also beneficial supplements for formulation of functional foods and food packaging material.

FT-IR Spectral Signature of Sensitive and Multidrug-Resistant Osteosarcoma Cell-Derived Extracellular Nanovesicles

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone cancer in children and adolescents. Despite aggressive treatment regimens, the outcome is unsatisfactory, and multidrug resistance (MDR) is a pivotal process in OS treatment failure. OS-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) promote drug resistance to chemotherapy and target therapy through different mechanisms. The aim of this study was to identify subpopulations of osteosarcoma-EVs by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to define a specific spectral signature for sensitive and multidrug-resistant OS-derived EVs. EVs were isolated from sensitive and MDR OS cells as well as from mesenchymal stem cells by differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation. EVs size, morphology and protein expression were characterized. FT-IR/ATR of EVs spectra were acquired in the region of 400–4000 cm⁻¹ (resolution 4 cm⁻¹, 128 scans). The FT-IR spectra obtained were consistently different in the EVs compared to cells from which they originate. A specific spectral signature, characterized by a shift and a new band (1601 cm⁻¹), permitted to clearly distinguish EVs isolated by sensitive and multidrug-resistant OS cells. Our data suggest that FT-IR spectroscopy allows to characterize and define a specific spectral signature for sensitive and MDR OS-derived EVs.

Relationship between miR-338-3p and Clinicopathological Parameters, Prognosis, and STAT3 mRNA Expression in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective

To investigate the expression of miR-338-3p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its relationship with STAT3 mRNA expression as well as their relationship with clinical pathological parameters and prognosis of patients.

Methods

From September 2016 to September 2018, 71 patients with NPC were selected as the NPC group, and 71 samples of NPC tissues were collected during the operation. A total of 23 patients who underwent biopsy due to chronic nasopharyngitis were selected as the control group and 23 nasopharyngeal mucosal tissues were collected. The expressions of miR-338-3p and STAT3 mRNA in nasopharyngeal tissue of two groups were detected by real-time quantitative PCR, and the relationship between the two was analyzed. To collect clinical data of NPC patients and analyze the relationship between the expressions of miR-338-3p and STAT3 in NPC tissues and clinical pathological parameters of the patients, we followed up the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma for three years to observe the relationship between miR-338-3p, STAT3, and the prognosis of the patients.

Results

The relative expression levels of miR-338-3p in nasopharyngeal tissues of the NPC group and the control group were 0.39 ± 0.05 and 1.01 ± 0.09, respectively (P < 0.05). The relative expression levels of STAT3 mRNA in nasopharyngeal tissues of the NPC group and the control group were 3.82 ± 0.21 and 1.04 ± 0.11, respectively (P > 0.05). miR-338-3p was negatively correlated with the relative expression of STAT3 mRNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (r = 0.038, P > 0.05). The expression of miR-338-3p was related to the age of the patient, clinical TNM stage, T stage, and distant metastasis (all P < 0.05). STAT3 expression was correlated with clinical TNM stage, T stage, and distant metastasis in our patient (P < 0.05). The expressions of miR-338-3p and STAT3 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues from different gender, histological type, N stage, M stage, and degree of differentiation showed no statistical differences (P > 0.05). The survival rate of the group with low miR-338-3p expression was significantly lower than that of the group with high miR-338-3p expression (P > 0.05). The survival rate of patients with the high STAT3 expression group was significantly lower than that of patients with the low STAT3 expression group (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

There is a negative correlation between the low expression of miR-338-3p and the high expression of STAT3 in NPC, which are all related to the TNM stage, T stage, and prognosis of the patient.

Exosomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with a unique geographical distribution, primarily prevalent in East Africa and Asia. Although there is an increased understanding of the pathogenesis and risk factors of NPC, prevention and treatment efforts remain limited. Various studies have indicated that exosomes are actively involved in NPC by delivering biomolecules such as non-coding RNAs and proteins to target cells. In this review, we summarize the biological functions of exosomes in NPC and highlight their prospects as diagnostic biomarkers. In NPC, exosomes can manipulate the tumor microenvironment, participate in chemotherapy and radiation resistance, induce immune suppression, promote pathological angiogenesis, and support metastasis, and thus they could also be promising biomarkers. Because exosomes have essential effects and unusual biological properties, they have a promising future in diagnostic monitoring and prognostic evaluation. Although there are technical issues associated with using exosomes in large-scale applications, they have unparalleled advantages in assisting the clinical management of NPC.