Epigenetic quantification of circulating immune cells in peripheral blood of triple-negative breast cancer patients

Management of triple-negative breast cancer by natural compounds through different mechanistic pathways

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most severe form of breast cancer, characterized by the loss of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptors. It is caused by various genetic and epigenetic factors, resulting in poor prognosis. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, are the leading mechanisms responsible for TNBC progression and metastasis. This review comprehensively covers the various subtypes of TNBC and their epigenetic causes. In addition, the genetic association of TNBC with all significant genes and signaling pathways linked to the progression of this form of cancer has been enlisted. Furthermore, the possible uses of natural compounds through different mechanistic pathways have also been discussed in detail for the successful management of TNBC.

Identification of cuproptosis-related miRNAs in triple-negative breast cancer and analysis of the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network

Introduction

The close association between cuproptosis and tumor immunity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) allows its monitoring for predicting the prognosis of patients with TNBC. Nevertheless, the biological function and prognostic value of cuproptosis-related miRNAs and their target genes have not been reported.

Purpose

To construct the miRNA and mRNA-based risk models associated with cuproptosis for patients with TNBC.

Methods

Comparison of expression levels for genes associated with cuproptosis was executed between patients in the normal individuals and the TCGA-TNBC cohort. Conducting differential analysis resulted in the identification of differentially expressed miRNA (DE-miRNAs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the TNBC and Control samples. Screening for prognostic miRNAs and biomarkers involved employing univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analyses. These methods were utilized to construct risk models aimed at predicting the survival of patients with TNBC. Based on the median value of risk scores, patients were then stratified into low- and high-risk groups. Functional enrichment analysis was employed to explore the potential function and pathways of prognostic genes. Additionally, independent prognostic analysis was performed through univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Immune infiltration analysis was performed to examine disparities in the infiltration of immune cells between the two risk groups. Finally, the prognostic gene expression was mined in key cell types of TNBC.

Results

We obtained 5213 DEGs and 204 DE-miRNAs related to cuproptosis between TNBC and Control samples. Five prognostic miRNAs (miR-203a-3p, miR-1277-3p, miR-135b-5p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-592) and three biomarkers (DENND5B, IGF1R, and MEF2C) were closely associated with TNBC. Significant differences in the functions of prognostic genes between the two risk groups were observed, encompassing adipogenesis, inflammatory response, and hormone metabolic process. The prognostic gene regulatory network revealed that miR200C-3p regulated ZFPM2 and CFL2, and miR-1277-3p regulated BMP2 and RORA. A nomogram was created based on riskScore, cancer status, and pathologic stage to predict 1/3/5-year survival of patients with TNBC. Immune infiltration analysis indicated that the immune microenvironment may be associated with the progression of TNBC. Interestingly, prognostic genes exhibited higher expression levels in T cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and monocytes compared to other cells.

Conclusions

Five prognostic miRNA (miR-203a-3p, miR-1277-3p, miR-135b-5p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-592) and three biomarkers (DENND5B, IGF1R, and MEF2C) were significantly associated with TNBC, it provides new therapeutic targets for the treatment and prognosis of TNBC.

Nodakenin Induces ROS-Dependent Apoptotic Cell Death and ER Stress in Radioresistant Breast Cancer

Angelica gigas exerts powerful anti-tumor and anti-cancer effects in various cancer cell types. However, there have been few studies regarding the anti-cancer effect of nodakenin, a bioactive compound of Angelica gigas, in vivo and in vitro on breast cancers. I found that nodakenin, in a concentration-dependent manner, inhibits breast cancer cell viability and decreases the tumor volume in mice. Additionally, nodakenin induces caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in breast cancer cells; however, the combination of Z-VAD-FMK and nodakenin suppresses the caspase-3-dependent apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, nodakenin mediates apoptotic cell death via the PERK-mediated signaling pathway and calcium (Ca²⁺) release, and nodakenin combined with thapsigargin induces synergistic cell death by inhibiting sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺-ATPase. However, knockdown of PERK or CHOP inhibits Ca²⁺ generation and caspase-dependent apoptosis in nodakenin-treated breast cancer cells. Nodakenin induces ROS and Ca²⁺ generation, ER stress, and apoptotic cell death; however, the knockdown of Nox4 inhibits ROS generation and ER stress- and caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. In addition, nodakenin combined with radiation overcomes radioresistance in radioresistant breast cancer cells by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotypes, including the decrease in E-cadherin and the increase in N-cadherin and vimentin. Therefore, these findings indicate that nodakenin may be a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancers.