Galectin-1-Induced Autophagy Facilitates Cisplatin Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cardamom synergizes with cisplatin against human osteosarcoma cells by mTOR-mediated autophagy

Cisplatin (DDP), a frontline chemotherapeutic agent in osteosarcoma (OS) treatment, is frequently paired with other compounds to enhance its therapeutic potency. Cardamom (CAR), a natural flavonoid, exhibits significant inhibitory effects on human OS cells while minimizing toxic side effects. In this study, we combined CAR and DDP to treat OS, revealing that the DDP/CAR combination synergistically inhibits the growth of human OS cells in vitro and in vivo. Network pharmacological analysis indicated that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) may be an important cross-target for DDP/CAR combination. Notably, this combined treatment significantly reduced mTOR phosphorylation and elevated autophagy levels within OS cells. At the mechanistic level, the DDP/CAR regimen enhanced apoptosis and compromised the viability of OS cells by triggering autophagy. This impact was attenuated by the use of the mTOR activator MHY and the autophagy inhibitor hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Furthermore, in DDP-resistant cell lines, CAR was able to mitigate DDP resistance by bolstering autophagy levels. In general, our results suggest that CAR bolstering autophagy levels DDP against OS cells through the induction of mTOR-mediated autophagy.

Antitumor activity of gamma-irradiated Rosa canina L. against lung carcinoma in rat model: a proposed mechanism

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies globally and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Although cisplatin is a widely utilized chemotherapeutic agent, its clinical efficacy is often hampered by significant toxicity and undesirable side effects. Rosa canina, a medicinal plant, has demonstrated a range of beneficial biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and genoprotective effects.

METHODS

This study aimed to investigate the potential of Rosa canina to enhance the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin in a dimethyl benz(a)anthracene-induced lung cancer model using female rats. The animals were administered Rosa canina, cisplatin, or a combination of both treatments. The expression levels of critical signaling molecules were evaluated, including phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF), in addition to various autophagic markers. Furthermore, we assessed the levels of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and apoptotic markers in lung tissue, complemented by histopathological examinations.

RESULTS

The combined treatment of Rosa canina extract and cisplatin significantly inhibited lung cancer cell proliferation by downregulating PARP-1 and the TLR2/MyD88/TRAF6/NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Moreover, this combination therapy promoted autophagy and apoptosis, evidenced by elevated levels of autophagic and apoptotic markers.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that Rosa canina enhances the anticancer effects of cisplatin by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation while simultaneously inducing autophagy and apoptosis. Thus, Rosa can be used as adjuvant to cisplatin chemotherapy to overcome its limitations which may be considered a new approach during lung cancer treatment strategy.

Inhibition of Galectin-1 and Androgen Receptor Axis Enhances Enzalutamide Treatment in Enzalutamide Resistant Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a prevalent and deadly disease, particularly in its advanced stages. Despite various available treatments, resistance to drugs like enzalutamide continues to present significant challenges. This study aimed to investigate the role of Galectin-1 (Gal-1) in enzalutamide-resistant PCa and assess its potential as a therapeutic target to overcome resistance.

METHODS

The study utilized specific siRNA-mediated knockdown of Gal-1 in enzalutamide-resistant PCa cells to evaluate its effects on cell proliferation and response to enzalutamide treatment. An orthotopic mouse model was employed to examine the in vivo impact of Gal-1 knockdown. Pharmacological targeting of Gal-1 was conducted using LLS30, and its effects were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was performed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects.

RESULTS

The findings demonstrated significant upregulation of Gal-1 in enzalutamide-resistant PCa cells. Gal-1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and resensitized resistant cells to enzalutamide treatment in the orthotopic mouse model. Elevated levels of androgen receptor full-length and AR-V7 are key mechanisms under-lying resistance to enzalutamide in PCa. Gal-1 knockdown suppressed AR and AR-V7 expression and their transcriptional activity. Treatment with LLS30 significantly suppressed the growth of enzalutamide-resistant PCa cells and exhibited synergistic effects when combined with enzalutamide. Notably, this combination therapy significantly inhibited the growth of enzalutamide-resistant xenografts in vivo. RNA-seq analysis revealed that LLS30 modulates AR and AR-V7 signaling through the inhibition of associated target genes.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight Gal-1 as a promising therapeutic target for overcoming enzalutamide resistance in PCa. Targeting the Gal-1/AR/AR-V7 axis with LLS30 presents a novel strategy to enhance enzalutamide efficacy and address drug resistance in advanced PCa.

Autophagy-based therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: from standard treatments to combination therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and targeted nanomedicines

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been identified as a significant cause of mortality worldwide. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted to understand the underlying mechanisms of autophagy in the pathogenesis of the disease, with the aim of developing novel therapeutic agents. Targeting autophagy with conventional therapies in invasive HCC has opened up new opportunities for treatment. However, the emergence of resistance and the immunosuppressive tumor environment highlight the need for combination therapy or specific targeting, as well as an efficient drug delivery system to ensure targeted tumor areas receive sufficient doses without affecting normal cells or tissues. In this review, we discuss the findings of several studies that have explored autophagy as a potential therapeutic approach in HCC. We also outline the potential and limitations of standard therapies for autophagy modulation in HCC treatment. Additionally, we discuss how different combination therapies, nano-targeted strategies, and oncolytic virotherapy could enhance autophagy-based HCC treatment in future research.

Regulation of autophagy by Rab27B in colorectal cancer

Autophagy is a cellular recycling process that is associated with tumor growth, anti-tumor immune responses, and therapy resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this report, we identify the small GTPase Rab27B to control the autophagy process in CRC. Depletion of Rab27B showed an abnormal accumulation of autophagy vesicles and increased autophagy markers in CRC cells, indicating autophagy dysregulation. Image analysis indicated that autophagy flux is blocked at the autophagosome/lysosome fusion step when Rab27B is lost. While Rab27B deficient cells are proficient at growth under 2D in vitro conditions, cell growth was significantly impacted in both in vitro 3D growth and in vivo tumorigenesis studies. Together, these results demonstrate a new role of Rab27B in the autophagy trafficking process in CRC and identify Rab27B as a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Mitochondrial protein deacetylation by SIRT3 in osteoclasts promotes bone resorption with aging in female mice

OBJECTIVES

The mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) is necessary for the increased bone resorption and enhanced function of mitochondria in osteoclasts that occur with advancing age; how SIRT3 drives bone resorption remains elusive.

METHODS

To determine the role of SIRT3 in osteoclast mitochondria, we used mice with conditional loss of Sirt3 in osteoclast lineage and mice with germline deletion of either Sirt3 or its known target Pink1.

RESULTS

SIRT3 stimulates mitochondrial quality in osteoclasts in a PINK1-independent manner, promoting mitochondrial activity and osteoclast maturation and function, thereby contributing to bone loss in female but not male mice. Quantitative analyses of global proteomes and acetylomes revealed that deletion of Sirt3 dramatically increased acetylation of osteoclast mitochondrial proteins, particularly ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (ATPIF1), an essential protein for mitophagy. Inhibition of mitophagy via mdivi-1 recapitulated the effect of deletion of Sirt3 or Atpif1 in osteoclast formation and mitochondrial function.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreasing mitophagic flux in osteoclasts may be a promising pharmacotherapeutic approach to treat osteoporosis in older adults.

Autophagy modulation attenuates sorafenib resistance in HCC induced in rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has risen as the villain of cancer-related death globally, with a usual cruel forecasting. Sorafenib was officially approved by the FDA as first-line treatment for advanced HCC. Despite the brilliant promise revealed in research, actual clinical results are limited due to the widespread appearance of drug resistance. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been correlated to pharmacological resistance, implying that existing cellular level strategies may be insufficient to improve therapy success. The role of autophagy in cancer is a two-edged sword. On one hand, autophagy permits malignant cells to overcome stress, such as hypoxic TME and therapy-induced starvation. Autophagy, on the other hand, plays an important role in damage suppression, which can reduce carcinogenesis. As a result, controlling autophagy is certainly a viable technique in cancer therapy. The goal of this study was to investigate at the impact of autophagy manipulation with sorafenib therapy by analyzing autophagy induction and inhibition to sorafenib monotherapy in rats with HCC. Western blot, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and quantitative-PCR were used to investigate autophagy, apoptosis, and the cell cycle. Routine biochemical and pathological testing was performed. Ultracellular features and autophagic entities were observed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Both regimens demonstrated significant reductions in chemotherapeutic resistance and hepatoprotective effects. According to the findings, both autophagic inhibitors and inducers are attractive candidates for combating sorafenib-induced resistance in HCC.

Prognostic Influence of Galectin-1 in Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of the human lectin family, has garnered attention for its association with aggressive behavior in human tumors, prompting research into the development of targeted drugs. This study aims to assess the staining pattern and prognostic significance of Gal-1 immunohistochemical expression in a homogeneous cohort of Western patients with gastric cancer (GC). A total of 149 cases were included and tissue microarrays were constructed. Stromal Gal-1 expression was observed to some extent in most tumors, displaying a cytoplasmic pattern. Cases with stromal Gal-1 overexpression showed significantly more necrosis, lymphovascular invasion, advanced pTNM stages, recurrences, and cancer-related deaths. Epithelial Gal-1 expression was present in 63.8% of the cases, primarily exhibiting a cytoplasmic pattern, and its overexpression was significantly associated with lymphovascular invasion, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration, and tumor-related death. Kaplan/Meier curves for cancer-specific survival (CSS) revealed a significantly worse prognosis for patients with tumors exhibiting stromal or epithelial Gal-1 overexpression. Furthermore, stromal Gal-1 expression stratified stage III patients into distinct prognostic subgroups. In a multivariable analysis, increased stromal Gal-1 expression emerged as an independent prognostic factor for CSS. These findings underscore the prognostic relevance of Gal-1 and suggest its potential as a target for drug development in Western patients with GC.

Autophagy-driven regulation of cisplatin response in human cancers: Exploring molecular and cell death dynamics

Despite the challenges posed by drug resistance and side effects, chemotherapy remains a pivotal strategy in cancer treatment. A key issue in this context is macroautophagy (commonly known as autophagy), a dysregulated cell death mechanism often observed during chemotherapy. Autophagy plays a cytoprotective role by maintaining cellular homeostasis and recycling organelles, and emerging evidence points to its significant role in promoting cancer progression. Cisplatin, a DNA-intercalating agent known for inducing cell death and cell cycle arrest, often encounters resistance in chemotherapy treatments. Recent studies have shown that autophagy can contribute to cisplatin resistance or insensitivity in tumor cells through various mechanisms. This resistance can be mediated by protective autophagy, which suppresses apoptosis. Additionally, autophagy-related changes in tumor cell metastasis, particularly the induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), can also lead to cisplatin resistance. Nevertheless, pharmacological strategies targeting the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis offer promising avenues to enhance cisplatin sensitivity in cancer therapy. Notably, numerous non-coding RNAs have been identified as regulators of autophagy in the context of cisplatin chemotherapy. Thus, therapeutic targeting of autophagy or its associated pathways holds potential for restoring cisplatin sensitivity, highlighting an important direction for future clinical research.

Reversal mechanism of multidrug-resistant cancer cells by lectin as chemo-adjuvant and targeted therapy- a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Cancer is characterized as the leading cause of death, and the susceptibility of cancer cells to develop resistance due to long-term exposure to complementary chemotherapeutic treatment is referred to as multidrug resistance cancer cells (MDRC), which is a significant obstacle in the treatment of malignancies. Since complementary medicine lost its effectiveness, the development of potential alternative and novel therapeutic approaches has been elevated to a top priority in recent years. In this context, a bioactive protein lectin from plant and animal sources exhibits an invaluable source of anticancer agents with vast therapeutic potential.

PURPOSE

This manuscript's primary purpose is to enlighten the evidence-based (from 1986 to 2022) possible molecular mechanism of alternative treatment approaches using lectins over the complementary medicines used for cancer treatment.

METHODS

The PRISMA rules have been followed properly and qualitative and quantitative data are synthesized systematically. Articles were identified based on Clinical and preclinical reports published on lectin that investigated the in-depth cellular mechanisms, of reverse drug integrative oncology, as a nano-carried targeted delivery. Articles were systematically screened from 1986 to 2022 and selected based on electronic database searches, Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, Web of Science, Encyclopaedias, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov database.

RESULTS

The search turned up 4,212 publications from 38 different nations, of which 170 reference articles were used in our analysis, in 16 combination therapy and their mode of action, and 27 clinical trial studies including dosage and mechanism of action were included. Reports from the 30 lectins belonging to 28 different families have been included. The reversal mechanism of lectin and alternative therapy against MDRC is critically screened and according to a few clinical and preclinical reports, lectin can suppress the overexpressing genes like P-53, EGFR, and P-gp, MRP, and ABC transporter proteins associated with intracellular transportation of drugs. Since, the drug efflux mechanism leads to MDRC, in this phenomenon, lectin plays a key role in reversing the efflux mechanism. Few preclinical reports have mentioned that lectin shows synergism in combination with complementary medicine and as a nano drug carrier helps to deliver to the targeted site.

CONCLUSION

We have discussed the alternative therapy using lectin and an in-depth insight into the reversal drug resistance mechanisms to combat MDRC cancer, enhance the efficacy, reduce toxicity and adverse events, and ensure targeted delivery, and their application in the field of cancer diagnosis and prognosis has been discussed. However, further investigation is necessary in drug development and clinical trials which could be helpful to elaborate the reversal mechanism and unlock newer treatment modalities in MDRC cancer.

Combating drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: No awareness today, no action tomorrow

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, is associated with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Patients with early HCC may benefit from surgical resection to remove tumor tissue and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Unfortunately, most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced or distant stage, at which point resection is not feasible. Systemic therapy is now routinely prescribed to patients with advanced HCC; however, drug resistance has become a major obstacle to the treatment of HCC and exploring purported mechanisms promoting drug resistance remains a challenge. Here, we focus on the determinants of drug resistance from the perspective of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), exosomes, ferroptosis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the aim to provide new insights into HCC treatment.

Modulation of the Tumor Microenvironment by Ellagic Acid in Rat Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Potential Target against Hepatic Cancer Stem Cells

The resistance to therapy and relapse in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly attributed to hepatic cancer stem cells (HCSCs). HCSCs are under microenvironment control. This work aimed to assess the systemic effect of ellagic acid (EA) on the HCC microenvironment to decline HCSCs. Fifty Wistar rats were divided into six groups: negative control (CON), groups 2 and 3 for solvents (DMSO), and (OVO). Group 4 was administered EA only. The (HCC-M) group, utilized as an HCC model, administered CCL4 (0.5 mL/kg in OVO) 1:1 v/v, i.p) for 16 weeks. HCC-M rats were treated orally with EA (EA + HCC) 50 mg/kg bw for five weeks. Biochemical, morphological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical studies, and gene analysis using qRT-PCR were applied. Results revealed elevated liver injury biomarkers ALT, AST, ALP, and tumor biomarkers AFP and GGT, and marked nodularity of livers of HCC-M. EA effectively reduced the biomarkers and restored the altered structure of the livers. At the mRNA level, EA downregulated the expression of TGF-α, TGF-β, and VEGF, and restored p53 expression. This induced an increase in apoptotic cells immunostained with caspase3 and decreased the CD44 immunostained HCSCs. EA could modulate the tumor microenvironment in the HCC rat model and ultimately target the HCSCs.

Advances in mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway-related drugs in glioblastoma treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). It is a leading cause of death among patients with intracranial malignant tumors. GBM exhibits intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity, leading to drug resistance and eventual tumor recurrence. Conventional treatments for GBM include maximum surgical resection of glioma tissue, temozolomide administration, and radiotherapy, but these methods do not effectively halt cancer progression. Therefore, development of novel methods for the treatment of GBM and identification of new therapeutic targets are urgently required. In recent years, studies have shown that drugs related to mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways can promote the death of glioblastoma cells by inducing mitochondrial damage, impairing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, and depleting large amounts of ATP. Some studies have also shown that modern nano-drug delivery technology targeting mitochondria can achieve better drug release and deeper tissue penetration, suggesting that mitochondria could be a new target for intervention and therapy. The combination of drugs targeting mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy pathways with nanotechnology is a promising novel approach for treating GBM.This article reviews the current status of drug therapy for GBM, drugs targeting mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways, the potential of mitochondria as a new target for GBM treatment, the latest developments pertaining to GBM treatment, and promising directions for future research.

Galectins and galectin-mediated autophagy regulation: new insights into targeted cancer therapy

Galectins are animal lectins with specific affinity for galactosides via the conserved carbohydrate recognition domains. Increasing studies recently have identified critical roles of galectin family members in tumor progression. Abnormal expression of galectins contributes to the proliferation, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), immunosuppression, radio-resistance and chemoresistance in various cancers, which has attracted cumulative clinical interest in galectin-based cancer treatment. Galectin family members have been reported to participate in autophagy regulation under physiological conditions and in non-tumoral diseases, and implication of galectins in multiple processes of carcinogenesis also involves regulation of autophagy, however, the relationship between galectins, autophagy and cancer remains largely unclear. In this review, we introduce the structure and function of galectins at the molecular level, summarize their engagements in autophagy and cancer progression, and also highlight the regulation of autophagy by galectins in cancer as well as the therapeutic potentials of galectin and autophagy-based strategies. Elaborating on the mechanism of galectin-regulated autophagy in cancers will accelerate the exploitation of galectins-autophagy targeted therapies in treatment for cancer.

Inhibition of galectins in cancer: Biological challenges for their clinical application

Galectins play relevant roles in tumor development, progression and metastasis. Accordingly, galectins are certainly enticing targets for medical intervention in cancer. To date, however, clinical trials based on galectin inhibitors reported inconclusive results. This review summarizes the galectin inhibitors currently being evaluated and discusses some of the biological challenges that need to be addressed to improve these strategies for the benefit of cancer patients.

Biological impact and therapeutic perspective of targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and Challenges

Cancer progression results from activation of various signaling networks. Among these, PI3K/Akt signaling contributes to proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high incidence rate, especially in regions with high prevalence of viral hepatitis infection. Autoimmune disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol consumption, and inflammation can also lead to initiation and development of HCC. The treatment of HCC depends on the identification of oncogenic factors that lead tumor cells to develop resistance to therapy. The present review article focuses on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC progression. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes glucose uptake, favors glycolysis and increases tumor cell proliferation. It inhibits both apoptosis and autophagy while promoting HCC cell survival. PI3K/Akt stimulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increases matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression during HCC metastasis. In addition to increasing colony formation capacity and facilitating the spread of tumor cells, PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates angiogenesis. Therefore, silencing PI3K/Akt signaling prevents aggressive HCC cell behavior. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling can confer drug resistance, particularly to sorafenib, and decreases the radio-sensitivity of HCC cells. Anti-cancer agents, like phytochemicals and small molecules can suppress PI3K/Akt signaling by limiting HCC progression. Being upregulated in tumor tissues and clinical samples, PI3K/Akt can also be used as a biomarker to predict patients' response to therapy.

The battle for autophagy between host and influenza A virus

Influenza A virus (IAV) is an infectious pathogen, threatening the population and public safety with its epidemics. Therefore, it is essential to better understand influenza virus biology to develop efficient strategies against its pathogenicity. Autophagy is an important cellular process to maintain cellular homeostasis by cleaning up the hazardous substrates in lysosome. Accumulating research has also suggested that autophagy is a critical mechanism in host defense responses against IAV infection by degrading viral particles and activating innate or acquired immunity to induce viral clearance. However, IAV has conversely hijacked autophagy to strengthen virus infection by blocking autophagy maturation and further interfering host antiviral signalling to promote viral replication. Therefore, how the battle for autophagy between host and IAV is carried out need to be known. In this review, we describe the role of autophagy in host defence and IAV survival, and summarize the role of influenza proteins in subverting the autophagic process as well as then concentrate on how host utilize antiviral function of autophagy to prevent IAV infection.

Parthenolide and arsenic trioxide co-trigger autophagy-accompanied apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Although arsenic trioxide (ATO) shows a strong anti-tumor effect in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, it does not benefit patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, combination therapy is proposed to enhance the efficacy of ATO. Parthenolide (PTL), a natural compound, selectively eradicates cancer cells and cancer stem cells with no toxicity to normal cells. In this study, we chose PTL and ATO in combination and found that nontoxic dosage of PTL and ATO co-treatment can synergistically inhibit the in vitro and in vivo proliferation activity of HCC cells through suppressing stemness and self-renewal ability and inducing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. More importantly, USP7-HUWE1-p53 pathway is involved in PTL enhancing ATO-induced apoptosis of HCC cell lines. Meanwhile, accompanied by induction of apoptosis, PTL and ATO evoke autophagic activity via inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and consciously controlling autophagy can improve the anti-HCC efficacy of a combination of PTL and ATO. In short, our conclusion represents a novel promising approach to the treatment of HCC.

Mitochondrial adaptation in cancer drug resistance: prevalence, mechanisms, and management

Drug resistance represents a major obstacle in cancer management, and the mechanisms underlying stress adaptation of cancer cells in response to therapy-induced hostile environment are largely unknown. As the central organelle for cellular energy supply, mitochondria can rapidly undergo dynamic changes and integrate cellular signaling pathways to provide bioenergetic and biosynthetic flexibility for cancer cells, which contributes to multiple aspects of tumor characteristics, including drug resistance. Therefore, targeting mitochondria for cancer therapy and overcoming drug resistance has attracted increasing attention for various types of cancer. Multiple mitochondrial adaptation processes, including mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial metabolism, and mitochondrial apoptotic regulatory machinery, have been demonstrated to be potential targets. However, recent increasing insights into mitochondria have revealed the complexity of mitochondrial structure and functions, the elusive functions of mitochondria in tumor biology, and the targeting inaccessibility of mitochondria, which have posed challenges for the clinical application of mitochondrial-based cancer therapeutic strategies. Therefore, discovery of both novel mitochondria-targeting agents and innovative mitochondria-targeting approaches is urgently required. Here, we review the most recent literature to summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial stress adaptation and their intricate connection with cancer drug resistance. In addition, an overview of the emerging strategies to target mitochondria for effectively overcoming chemoresistance is highlighted, with an emphasis on drug repositioning and mitochondrial drug delivery approaches, which may accelerate the application of mitochondria-targeting compounds for cancer therapy.

Is Autophagy Always a Barrier to Cisplatin Therapy?

Cisplatin has long been a first-line chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer, largely for solid tumors. During the course of the past two decades, autophagy has been identified in response to cancer treatments and almost uniformly detected in studies involving cisplatin. There has been increasing recognition of autophagy as a critical factor affecting tumor cell death and tumor chemoresistance. In this review and commentary, we introduce four mechanisms of resistance to cisplatin followed by a discussion of the factors that affect the role of autophagy in cisplatin-sensitive and resistant cells and explore the two-sided outcomes that occur when autophagy inhibitors are combined with cisplatin. Our goal is to analyze the potential for the combinatorial use of cisplatin and autophagy inhibitors in the clinic.

Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Protein Enhances the Efficacy of Gefitinib in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells by Inhibiting Autophagy via Proteasomal Degradation of LC3B

Background: Almost all lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients with EGFR mutant will develop resistance to EGFR-TKIs, which limit the long-term clinical application of these agents. Accumulating evidence shows one of the main reasons for resistance to EGFR-TKIs is induction of autophagy in tumor cells. Our previous study found that circumsporozoite protein (CSP) in Plasmodium can suppress autophagy in host hepatocytes. However, it is unknown whether CSP-mediated inhibition of autophagy could improve the anti-tumor effect of EGFR-TKIs. Methods: We constructed A549 and H1975 cell lines with stable overexpression of CSP (OE-CSP cells). CCK-8, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), flow cytometry, and colony analysis were performed to observe the effect of CSP overexpression on cell viability, apoptosis rate, and colony formation ratio. The sensitizing effect of CSP on gefitinib was evaluated in vivo using a subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice and immunohistochemical assay. The role of CSP in regulation of autophagy was investigated by laser confocal microscopy assay and western blotting. A transcriptome sequencing assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the levels of mRNA for autophagy-related proteins. Cycloheximide (CHX), MG132, TAK-243, and immunoprecipitation assays were used to detect and confirm proteasomal degradation of LC3B. Results: OE-CSP A549 and H1975 cells were more sensitive to gefitinib, demonstrating significant amounts of apoptosis and decreased viability. In the OE-CSP group, autophagy was significantly inhibited, and there was a decrease in LC3B protein after exposure to gefitinib. Cell viability and colony formed ability were recovered when OE-CSP cells were exposed to rapamycin. In nude mice with xenografts of LUAD cells, inhibition of autophagy by CSP resulted in suppression of cell growth, and more marked apoptosis during exposure to gefitinib. CSP promoted ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of LC3B, leading to inhibition of autophagy in LUAD cells after treatment with gefitinib. When LUAD cells were treated with ubiquitin activating enzyme inhibitor TAK-243, cell viability, apoptosis, and growth were comparable between the OE-CSP group and a control group both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: CSP can inhibit gefitinib-induced autophagy via proteasomal degradation of LC3B, which suggests that CSP could be used as an autophagy inhibitor to sensitize EGFR-TKIs.

Galectin-1 confers resistance to doxorubicin in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through modulation of P-glycoprotein expression

Galectin-1 (GAL1), a β-galactoside-binding protein abundantly expressed in the tumor microenvironment, has emerged as a key mechanism of chemoresistance developed by different tumors. Although increased expression of GAL1 is a hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, aggressiveness and metastasis, limited information is available on the role of this endogenous lectin in HCC resistance to chemotherapy. Moreover, the precise mechanisms underlying this effect are uncertain. HCC has evolved different mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy including those involving the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump, which controls intracellular drug concentration. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying GAL1-mediated chemoresistance in HCC cells, particularly the involvement of P-gp in this effect. Our results show that GAL1 protected HepG2 cells from doxorubicin (DOX)- and sorafenib-induced cell death in vitro. Accordingly, GAL1-overexpressing HepG2 cells generated DOX-resistant tumors in vivo. High expression of GAL1 in HepG2 cells reduced intracellular accumulation of DOX likely by increasing P-gp protein expression rather than altering its membrane localization. GAL1-mediated increase of P-gp expression involved activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. Moreover, 'loss-of-function' experiments revealed that P-gp mediates GAL1-driven resistance to DOX, but not to sorafenib, in HepG2 cells. Conversely, in PLC/PRF/5 cells, P-gp protein expression was undetectable and GAL1 did not control resistance to DOX or sorafenib, supporting the critical role of P-gp in mediating GAL1 effects. Collectively, our findings suggest that GAL1 confers chemoresistance in HCC through mechanisms involving modulation of P-gp, thus emphasizing the role of this lectin as a potential therapeutic target in HCC.

Galectins as Emerging Glyco-Checkpoints and Therapeutic Targets in Glioblastoma

Despite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, glioblastoma (GBM) represents the most common and aggressive brain tumor in the adult population, urging identification of new rational therapeutic targets. Galectins, a family of glycan-binding proteins, are highly expressed in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and delineate prognosis and clinical outcome in patients with GBM. These endogenous lectins play key roles in different hallmarks of cancer by modulating tumor cell proliferation, oncogenic signaling, migration, vascularization and immunity. Additionally, they have emerged as mediators of resistance to different anticancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and antiangiogenic therapy. Particularly in GBM, galectins control tumor cell transformation and proliferation, reprogram tumor cell migration and invasion, promote vascularization, modulate cell death pathways, and shape the tumor-immune landscape by targeting myeloid, natural killer (NK), and CD8⁺ T cell compartments. Here, we discuss the role of galectins, particularly galectin-1, -3, -8, and -9, as emerging glyco-checkpoints that control different mechanisms associated with GBM progression, and discuss possible therapeutic opportunities based on inhibition of galectin-driven circuits, either alone or in combination with other treatment modalities.

Autophagy Drives Galectin-1 Secretion From Tumor-Associated Macrophages Facilitating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a secretory lectin with pro-tumor activities and is associated strongly with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Although Gal-1 is a well-known soluble pro-tumor factor in the tumor microenvironment (TME), the secretion mode of Gal-1 is not clearly defined. On the other hand, in addition to cancer cells, Gal-1 is widely expressed in tumor stromal cells, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs are a significant component of stromal cells in TME; however, their contributions in producing Gal-1 to TME are still not explored. Here we reveal that TAMs can actively secrete Gal-1 in response to stimuli of HCC cells. Gal-1 produced by TAMs leads to an increase of the systemic level of Gal-1 and HCC tumor growth in mice. Mechanistically, TLR2-dependent secretory autophagy is found to be responsible for Gal-1 secretion from TAMs. Gal-1 acts as a cargo of autophagosomes to fuse with multivesicular bodies via Rab11 and VAMP7-mediated vesicle trafficking before being secreted. This autophagy-regulated Gal-1 secretion in TAMs correlates to poor overall survival and progression-free survival rates of HCC patients. Our findings uncover the secretion mode of Gal-1 via secretory autophagy and highlight the pathological role of TAM-produced Gal-1 in HCC progression.

Galectins in Cancer and the Microenvironment: Functional Roles, Therapeutic Developments, and Perspectives

Changes in cell growth and metabolism are affected by the surrounding environmental factors to adapt to the cell’s most appropriate growth model. However, abnormal cell metabolism is correlated with the occurrence of many diseases and is accompanied by changes in galectin (Gal) performance. Gals were found to be some of the master regulators of cell–cell interactions that reconstruct the microenvironment, and disordered expression of Gals is associated with multiple human metabolic-related diseases including cancer development. Cancer cells can interact with surrounding cells through Gals to create more suitable conditions that promote cancer cell aggressiveness. In this review, we organize the current understanding of Gals in a systematic way to dissect Gals’ effect on human disease, including how Gals’ dysregulated expression affects the tumor microenvironment’s metabolism and elucidating the mechanisms involved in Gal-mediated diseases. This information may shed light on a more precise understanding of how Gals regulate cell biology and facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment by targeting the Gal family.

Huxie Huaji Ointment Induced Apoptosis of Liver Cancer Cells In Vivo and In Vitro by Activating the Mitochondrial Pathway

Huxie Huaji (HXHJ) Ointment is a famous traditional Chinese medicinal prescription and is commonly used for the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by boosting immunity and detoxification. However, the scientific evidence for the effect of HXHJ Ointment on hepatocellular carcinoma and the underlying molecular mechanism are lacking. The present study aimed to identify the effects of HXHJ Ointment on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo as well as investigating the mechanistic basis for the anticancer effect of HXHJ ointment. First, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to verify the composition of HXHJ Ointment and quality control. Second, in vitro, Cell Counting Kit (CCK8) cell viability assay and Hoechst 33342 staining assay were performed to explain the cell apoptosis. The protein levels of tumor suppressor protein (p53), B-cell lymphoma 2 gene (Bcl-2), cytochrome C (Cyt-C), and aspartate proteolytic enzyme-3 (caspase-3) were examined by immunofluorescence. Finally, in vivo, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in hepatocellular carcinoma samples. Western blots and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the anticancer properties of HXHJ ointment. The results in vitro showed that 20% HXHJ Ointment serum could significantly inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation, increased tumor suppressor gene p53, downregulated antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, promoted the release of mitochondrial Cyt-C, activated caspase-3, and induced HepG2 cell apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that HXHJ Ointment could effectively inhibit tumor growth in nude mice xenotransplanted with HepG2 cells, changed the morphology of tumor cells, and regulated the expression of apoptosis-related protein pathway p53/Bcl-2/Cyt-C/caspase-3. HXHJ Ointment can significantly inhibit the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of p53/Bcl-2/Cyt-C/caspase-3 signaling pathway to induce cell mitochondrial apoptosis.

Galectin-1 Expression Is Associated with the Response and Survival Following Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Galectin-1 has been found to be involved in therapeutic resistance in a variety of cancers. However, the prognostic significance of galectin-1 expression in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with chemoradiotherapy remains unknown. Immunohistochemically, we observed that galectin-1 overexpression in pretreatment biopsied specimens was significantly associated with a lower pathological complete response rate, worse overall survival and disease-free survival in 93 patients with locally advanced ESCC receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Our findings suggest that galectin-1 may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with ESCC treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Abstract

The galectin-1 has been found to be involved in poor outcomes after treatment of a variety of cancers. To the best of our knowledge, however, the significance of galectin-1 expression in the sensitivity to chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) of patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Expression levels of galectin-1 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and correlated with the treatment outcome in 93 patients with locally advanced ESCC who received preoperative CCRT between 1999 and 2012. Galectin-1 expression was significantly associated with the pathological complete response (pCR). The pCR rates were 36.1% and 13.0% (p = 0.01) in patients with low and high galectin-1 expression, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed that galectin-1 overexpression, clinical 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III and a positive surgical margin were significant factors of worse overall survival and disease-free survival. In multivariate analyses, galectin-1 overexpression and a positive surgical margin represented the independent adverse prognosticators. Therefore, galectin-1 expression both affects the pCR and survival in patients with locally advanced ESCC receiving preoperative CCRT. Our results suggest that galectin-1 may be a potentially therapeutic target for patients with ESCC treated with preoperative CCRT.

Targeting galectins in T cell-based immunotherapy within tumor microenvironment

Over the past few years, tumor immunotherapy has emerged as an innovative tumor treatment and owned incomparable advantages over other tumor therapy. With unique complexity and uncertainty, immunotherapy still need helper to apply in the clinic. Galectins, modulated in tumor microenvironment, can regulate the disorders of innate and adaptive immune system resisting tumor growth. Considering the role of galectins in tumor immunosuppression, combination therapy of targeted anti-galectins and immunotherapy may be a promising tumor treatment. This brief review summarizes the expression and immune functions of different galectins in tumor microenvironment and discusses the potential value of anti-galectins in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in tumor immunotherapy.

Overexpression of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Galectins (Gals) are evolutionarily conserved proteins that bind to β-galactoside containing glycans. Abnormal expression of Gals is associated with the development, progression, and metastasis of different types of cancer. Among the 11 Gals identified in humans, the roles of Gal-1 and Gal-3 have been extensively investigated in various tumors. Here, we summarize the roles of overly expressed Gal-1 and Gal-3 in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The overexpression of Gal-1 and Gal-3 correlates with tumor growth, HCC cell migration and invasion, tumor aggressiveness, metastasis, and poor prognosis. A potentially promising future treatment strategy for HCC may include the combination of immunotherapy with Gal-1 inhibition. Additional research is warranted to investigate targeting Gal-1 and Gal-3 for HCC treatment.

Amide-type local anesthetics may suppress tumor cell proliferation and sensitize Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Cisplatin via upregulation of RASSF1A expression and demethylation

Background: It has been reported that local anesthetics are toxic to various types of cells. Furthermore, several local anesthetics have been confirmed to exert demethylation effects and regulate the proliferation of human cancer cells. Our previous findings suggest that lidocaine may exert potential antitumor activity and enhance the sensitivity of cisplatin to hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. A recent study proved that lidocaine sensitizes breast cancer cells to cisplatin via upregulation of RASSF1A, a promotor of tumor suppressive gene (TSG) demethylation. We sought to determine whether amide-type local anesthetics (lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine) exert growth-inhibitory effects on human hepatoma cells and to determine whether amide-type local anesthetics sensitize human hepatoma cells to cisplatin-mediated cytotoxicity via upregulation of RASSF1A expression.

Methods: Human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and BEL-7402 were incubated with lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine. The viability of local anesthetic-treated cells with or without cisplatin was investigated. Further, we evaluated RASSF1A expression after treatment of HepG2 and BEL-7402 cells with three local anesthetics and determined the influence of RASSF1A expression on the toxicity of cisplatin to these cells.

Results: The viability of HepG2 and BEL-7402 cells was significantly decreased by treatment with amide-type local anesthetics (lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine). In these cells, the combination treatment with cisplatin and local anesthetics exhibited a stronger reduction in viability. Lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine promoted a significant increase in RASSF1A expression and a decrease in RASSF1A methylation. The combined treatment with both local anesthetics and cisplatin resulted in a significantly lower level of HepG2 and BEL-7402 cell viability than that with singular local anesthetics or cisplatin treatment. Moreover, local anesthetics enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin against HepG2 and BEL-7402 cells, accompanied by an increase in RASSF1A expression.

Conclusions: These data indicated that amide-type local anesthetics (lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine) have growth-inhibitory and demethylation effects in human hepatoma cells. We also found that these amide local anesthetics may enhance the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells possibly via upregulation of RASSF1A expression and demethylation.

Sweetening the hallmarks of cancer: Galectins as multifunctional mediators of tumor progression

Hanahan and Weinberg have proposed 10 organizing principles that enable growth and metastatic dissemination of cancer cells. These distinctive and complementary capabilities, defined as the "hallmarks of cancer," include the ability of tumor cells and their microenvironment to sustain proliferative signaling, evade growth suppressors, resist cell death, promote replicative immortality, induce angiogenesis, support invasion and metastasis, reprogram energy metabolism, induce genomic instability and inflammation, and trigger evasion of immune responses. These common features are hierarchically regulated through different mechanisms, including those involving glycosylation-dependent programs that influence the biological and clinical impact of each hallmark. Galectins, an evolutionarily conserved family of glycan-binding proteins, have broad influence in tumor progression by rewiring intracellular and extracellular circuits either in cancer or stromal cells, including immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. In this review, we dissect the role of galectins in shaping cellular circuitries governing each hallmark of tumors, illustrating relevant examples and highlighting novel opportunities for treating human cancer.

Autophagy activated by silibinin contributes to glioma cell death via induction of oxidative stress-mediated BNIP3-dependent nuclear translocation of AIF

Induction of lethal autophagy has become a strategy to eliminate glioma cells, but it remains elusive whether autophagy contributes to cell death via causing mitochondria damage and nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF). In this study, we find that silibinin induces AIF translocation from mitochondria to nuclei in glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, which is accompanied with autophagy activation. In vitro studies reveal that blocking autophagy with 3MA, bafilomycin A1 or by knocking down ATG5 with SiRNA inhibits silibinin-induced mitochondrial accumulation of superoxide, AIF translocation from mitochondria to nuclei and glioma cell death. Mechanistically, silibinin activates autophagy through depleting ATP by suppressing glycolysis. Then, autophagy improves intracellular H2O2 via promoting p53-mediated depletion of GSH and cysteine and downregulation of xCT. The increased H2O2 promotes silibinin-induced BNIP3 upregulation and translocation to mitochondria. Knockdown of BNIP3 with SiRNA inhibits silibinin-induced mitochondrial depolarization, accumulation of mitochondrial superoxide, and AIF translocation from mitochondria to nuclei, as well as prevents glioma cell death. Furthermore, we find that the improved H2O2 reinforces silibinin-induced glycolysis dysfunction. Collectively, autophagy contributes to silibinin-induced glioma cell death via promotion of oxidative stress-mediated BNIP3-dependent nuclear translocation of AIF.

The roles of galectins in hepatic diseases

Hepatic diseases include all diseases that occur in the liver, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. Hepatic diseases worldwide are characterized by high incidences of digestive system diseases, which present with subtle symptoms, are difficult to treat and have high mortality. Galectins are β-galactoside-binding proteins that have been found to be aberrantly expressed during hepatic disease progression. An increasing number of studies have shown that abnormal expression of galectins is extensively involved in hepatic diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver fibrosis. Galectins function as intracellular and extracellular hepatic disease regulators mainly through the binding of their carbohydrate recognition domain to glycoconjugates expressed in hepatocytes. In this review, we summarize current research on the various roles of galectins in cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver fibrosis and HCC, which may provide a preliminary theoretical basis for the exploration of new targets for the treatment of hepatic diseases.

The Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitophagy in Carcinogenesis, Metastasis and Therapy

Mitochondria are key cellular organelles and play vital roles in energy metabolism, apoptosis regulation and cellular homeostasis. Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the varying balance between mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial fusion that plays an important part in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and quality. Mitochondrial malfunction is involved in aging, metabolic disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancers. Mitophagy, a selective autophagy of mitochondria, can efficiently degrade, remove and recycle the malfunctioning or damaged mitochondria, and is crucial for quality control. In past decades, numerous studies have identified a series of factors that regulate mitophagy and are also involved in carcinogenesis, cancer cell migration and death. Therefore, it has become critically important to analyze signal pathways that regulate mitophagy to identify potential therapeutic targets. Here, we review recent progresses in mitochondrial dynamics, the mechanisms of mitophagy regulation, and the implications for understanding carcinogenesis, metastasis, treatment, and drug resistance.

SDC1 promotes cisplatin resistance in hepatic carcinoma cells via PI3K-AKT pathway

This study is to analyze the potential contribution of Syndecan 1 (SDC1) to cisplatin resistance in hepatic carcinoma. Cell proliferation and viability were determined by direct counting and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, respectively. The protein levels of SDC1, p-AKT, AKT and β-actin were quantified by western blotting. The SDC1 transcript abundance was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The relative expression of SDC1 in clinical liver tumor samples was analyzed with immunohistochemistry. SDC1 was up-regulated in cisplatin-resistant HepG2 cells (denoted as HepG2 CR hereafter). SDC1-knockdown re-sensitized HepG2 CR cells to cisplatin treatment. Ectopic over-expression of SDC1 conferred drug resistance to naïve HepG2 cells. PI3K/AKT pathway was over-activated in HepG2 CR cells, and simultaneous administration with PI3K inhibitor greatly surmounted the resistance. We also demonstrated that SDC1 was aberrantly up-regulated in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma samples. Our study highlighted the importance of SDC1-PI3K/AKT signaling in the cisplatin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

An Integrated Meta-Analysis of Secretome and Proteome Identify Potential Biomarkers of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is extremely aggressive, has an unfavorable prognosis, and there are no biomarkers for early detection of the disease or identification of individuals at high risk for morbidity or mortality. The cellular and molecular complexity of PDAC leads to inconsistences in clinical validations of many proteins that have been evaluated as prognostic biomarkers of the disease. The tumor secretome, a potential source of biomarkers in PDAC, plays a crucial role in cell proliferation and metastasis, as well as in resistance to treatments, which together contribute to a worse clinical outcome. The massive amount of proteomic data from pancreatic cancer that has been generated from previous studies can be integrated and explored to uncover secreted proteins relevant to the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. The present study aimed to perform an integrated meta-analysis of PDAC proteome and secretome public data to identify potential biomarkers of the disease. Our meta-analysis combined mass spectrometry data obtained from two systematic reviews of the pancreatic cancer literature, which independently selected 20 studies of the secretome and 35 of the proteome. Next, we predicted the secreted proteins using seven in silico tools or databases, which identified 39 secreted proteins shared between the secretome and proteome data. Notably, the expression of 31 genes of these secretome-related proteins was upregulated in PDAC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) when compared to control samples from TCGA and The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). The prognostic value of these 39 secreted proteins in predicting survival outcome was confirmed using gene expression data from four PDAC datasets (validation set). The gene expression of these secreted proteins was able to distinguish high- and low-survival patients in nine additional tumor types from TCGA, demonstrating that deregulation of these secreted proteins may also contribute to the prognosis in multiple cancers types. Finally, we compared the prognostic value of the identified secreted proteins in PDAC biomarkers studies from the literature. This analysis revealed that our gene signature performed equally well or better than the signatures from these previous studies. In conclusion, our integrated meta-analysis of PDAC proteome and secretome identified 39 secreted proteins as potential biomarkers, and the tumor gene expression profile of these proteins in patients with PDAC is associated with worse overall survival.

Fitter Mitochondria Are Associated With Radioresistance in Human Head and Neck SQD9 Cancer Cells

The clinical management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) commonly involves chemoradiotherapy, but recurrences often occur that are associated with radioresistance. Using human SQD9 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cancer cells as a model, we aimed to identify metabolic changes associated with acquired radioresistance. In a top-down approach, matched radiosensitive and radioresistant SQD9 cells were generated and metabolically compared, focusing on glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ROS production. The cell cycle, clonogenicity, tumor growth in mice and DNA damage-repair were assessed. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced. In a bottom-up approach, matched glycolytic and oxidative SQD9 cells were generated using FACS-sorting, and tested for their radiosensitivity/radioresistance. We found that acquired radioresistance is associated with a shift from a glycolytic to a more oxidative metabolism in SQD9 cells. The opposite was also true, as the most oxidative fraction isolated from SQD9 wild-type cells was also more radioresistant than the most glycolytic fraction. However, neither reduced hexokinase expression nor OXPHOS were directly responsible for the radioresistant phenotype. Radiosensitive and radioresistant cells had similar proliferation rates and were equally efficient for ATP production. They were equally sensitive to redox stress and had similar DNA damage repair, but radioresistant cells had an increased number of mitochondria and a higher mtDNA content. Thus, an oxidative switch is associated with but is not responsible for acquired radioresistance in human SQD9 cells. In radioresistant cells, more abundant and fitter mitochondria could help to preserve mitochondrial functions upon irradiation.

Sweetening the hallmarks of cancer: Galectins as multifunctional mediators of tumor progression

Hanahan and Weinberg have proposed 10 organizing principles that enable growth and metastatic dissemination of cancer cells. These distinctive and complementary capabilities, defined as the "hallmarks of cancer," include the ability of tumor cells and their microenvironment to sustain proliferative signaling, evade growth suppressors, resist cell death, promote replicative immortality, induce angiogenesis, support invasion and metastasis, reprogram energy metabolism, induce genomic instability and inflammation, and trigger evasion of immune responses. These common features are hierarchically regulated through different mechanisms, including those involving glycosylation-dependent programs that influence the biological and clinical impact of each hallmark. Galectins, an evolutionarily conserved family of glycan-binding proteins, have broad influence in tumor progression by rewiring intracellular and extracellular circuits either in cancer or stromal cells, including immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. In this review, we dissect the role of galectins in shaping cellular circuitries governing each hallmark of tumors, illustrating relevant examples and highlighting novel opportunities for treating human cancer.

Mitochondrial Involvement in Cisplatin Resistance

Cisplatin is one of the worldwide anticancer drugs and, despite its toxicity and frequent recurrence of resistance phenomena, it still remains the only therapeutic option for several tumors. Circumventing cisplatin resistance remains, therefore, a major goal for clinical therapy and represents a challenge for scientific research. Recent studies have brought to light the fundamental role of mitochondria in onset, progression, and metastasis of cancer, as well as its importance in the resistance to chemotherapy. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the current knowledge about the implication of mitochondria in cisplatin resistance and on the recent development in this research field. Recent studies have highlighted the role of mitochondrial DNA alterations in onset of resistance phenomena, being related both to redox balance alterations and to signal crosstalk with the nucleus, allowing a rewiring of cell metabolism. Moreover, an important role of the mitochondrial dynamics in the adaptation mechanism of cancer cells to challenging environment has been revealed. Giving bioenergetic plasticity to tumor cells, mitochondria allow cells to evade death pathways in stressful conditions, including chemotherapy. So far, even if the central role of mitochondria is recognized, little is known about the specific mechanisms implicated in the resistance. Nevertheless, mitochondria appear to be promising pharmacological targets for overcoming cisplatin resistance, but further studies are necessary.

Decrease of MLK4 prevents hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through reducing metastasis and inducing apoptosis regulated by ROS/MAPKs signaling

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) results in large amounts of deaths each year worldwide. To develop more effective treatments for HCC, it is very necessary to define the molecular mechanisms in hepatocarcinogenesis. Mixed lineage kinase (MLK)-4 is a member of the MLK family of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases, and modulates different cellular responses. However, its role in the meditation of HCC progression remains unclear. In the study, we found that MLK4 was over-expressed in tumor samples of HCC patients. High MLK4 expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in HCC. Knockdown of MLK4 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and metastasis, which was partly through reducing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, MMP2, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and Vimentin expressions. Apoptosis was significantly induced by MLK4 knockdown in HCC cells via decreasing Bcl-2 and increasing cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Caspase-7 and -3 expression levels. In addition, MLK4 silence led to a significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in liver cancer cells, accompanied with elevated expression of phosphorylated p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and ERK1/2. Notably, reducing ROS generation and blocking MAPKs (p38/JNK/ERK1/2) signaling markedly abrogated MLK4 knockdown-induced apoptosis in HCC cells. Moreover, MLK4 silence-prevented metastasis was also rescued by scavenging ROS generation and repressing MAPKs pathway. In vivo, injection of MLK4 siRNA markedly inhibited liver tumor growth in xenograft models, and MLK4 knockdown reduced HCC lung metastasis. Together, our study indicated the essential function of MLK4 in HCC progression, providing crucial therapeutic hypothesis for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Knockdown of galectin-1 facilitated cisplatin sensitivity by inhibiting autophagy in neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a type of solid extracranial tumor that usually occurs in babies and children. Chemotherapy is a common method for NB treatment, however, the drug resistance exerts during the chemotherapy of NB. Galectin-1 is a member of galectin family and plays a potent role in the development of chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance. However, the effect of galectin-1 on cisplatin resistance in NB remains unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the role of galectin-1 in cisplatin resisitance and the potential mechanism. Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells were treated with cisplatin and/or galectin-1/siRNA targeting galectin-1 (si-Gal-1). The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The IC₅₀ values for cisplatin of neuroblastoma cells were calculated. The expression levels of autophagy markers including microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3B), Beclin-1, and p62 were detected by western blot. We found that cisplatin inhibited cell viability of SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH in a dose-dependent manner. Cisplatin induced the ratio of LC3B-II/LC3B-I and Beclin-1 expression, and inhibited the p62 expression. Knockdown of galectin-1 decreased the IC₅₀ for cisplatin of SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells and inhibited cisplatin-induced autophagy. Moreover, inhibition of autophagy suppressed galectin-1-induced increase in IC₅₀ for cisplatin. In conclusion, galectin-1 knockdown enhanced cisplatin sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells by inhibiting autophagy. The findings might provid a novel therapeutic target to overcome cisplatin resistance in chemotherapy of NB.

Dual role of autophagy on docetaxel-sensitivity in prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the leading causes of death in males. Available treatments often lead to the appearance of chemoresistant foci and metastases, with mechanisms still partially unknown. Within tumour mass, autophagy may promote cell survival by enhancing cancer cells tolerability to different cell stresses, like hypoxia, starvation or those triggered by chemotherapic agents. Because of its connection with the apoptotic pathways, autophagy has been differentially implicated, either as prodeath or prosurvival factor, in the appearance of more aggressive tumours. Here, in three PC cells (LNCaP, PC3, and DU145), we tested how different autophagy inducers modulate docetaxel-induced apoptosis. We selected the mTOR-independent disaccharide trehalose and the mTOR-dependent macrolide lactone rapamycin autophagy inducers. In castration-resistant PC (CRPC) PC3 cells, trehalose specifically prevented intrinsic apoptosis in docetaxel-treated cells. Trehalose reduced the release of cytochrome c triggered by docetaxel and the formation of aberrant mitochondria, possibly by enhancing the turnover of damaged mitochondria via autophagy (mitophagy). In fact, trehalose increased LC3 and p62 expression, LC3-II and p62 (p62 bodies) accumulation and the induction of LC3 puncta. In docetaxel-treated cells, trehalose, but not rapamycin, determined a perinuclear mitochondrial aggregation (mito-aggresomes), and mitochondria specifically colocalized with LC3 and p62-positive autophagosomes. In PC3 cells, rapamycin retained its ability to activate autophagy without evidences of mitophagy even in presence of docetaxel. Interestingly, these results were replicated in LNCaP cells, whereas trehalose and rapamycin did not modify the response to docetaxel in the ATG5-deficient (autophagy resistant) DU145 cells. Therefore, autophagy is involved to alter the response to chemotherapy in combination therapies and the response may be influenced by the different autophagic pathways utilized and by the type of cancer cells.

Prognostic significance of galectin-1 and vasculogenic mimicry in patients with gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the expression of galectin-1 (Gal-1) and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in gastric cancer (GC) and investigated their relationships with the clinicopathological factors and prognostic significance in GC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and CD34-periodic acid-Schiff double stain were used to investigate Gal-1 expression and VM in paraffin-embedded sections from 127 patients with GC of all tumor stages. The relationships between Gal-1 expression and VM, clinicopathological variables, and survival were analyzed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Among the 127 cases, 86 (67.7%) were positive for Gal-1; VM was detected in 29 cases (22.8%). There was a significant association between VM and the Gal-1 IHC staining; all cases with VM were positive for Gal-1 staining. Gal-1 expression and VM in primary GC tissue were associated with tumor size, differentiation, depth of tumor invasion, stage, lymph node metastases, and tumor emboli in microvessels (all, P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the overall survival time was 52.56 ± 2.44 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47.77-57.35) for patients with Gal-1-negative and VM-negative primary GC tissue, 43.83 ± 2.17 months (95% CI: 39.58-48.08) for patients with Gal-1-positive but VM-negative primary GC tissue, and 23.97 ± 2.44 months (95% CI: 19.18-28.76) for patients with Gal-1-positive and VM-positive primary GC tissue (χ2 = 60.21, P < 0.01). Gal-1 expression was positively associated with VM in primary GC tissue.

CONCLUSION

Both Gal-1 expression and VM in primary GC tissue are indicators of poor prognosis for GC after gastrectomy, and Gal-1 may be a novel target for treating VM in GC.

Paclitaxel induces autophagy in gastric cancer BGC823 cells

This paper explores the connection between paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, and gastric cancer cells. In this experiment, it is demonstrated that paclitaxel triggers autophagy and inhibits proliferation of gastric cancer cells. An 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect cell viability and the IC₅₀ of paclitaxel. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of P62, and to measure the protein expression of autophagy. Immunofluorescence was used to reveal the appearance of punctate structures in the cytoplasm-this ultrastructure associated with autophagy was observed by microscopy. Electron microscopy revealed the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes, a typical structure of autophagy. In conclusion, our research indicates that paclitaxel may influence gastric cancer BGC823 cells by way of inducing autophagy.

The emerging role of galectins in high-fatality cancers

Although we witnessed considerable progress in the prevention and treatment of cancer during the past few decades, a number of cancers remain difficult to treat. The main reasons for this are a lack of effective biomarkers necessary for an early detection and inefficient treatments for cancer that are diagnosed at late stages of the disease. Because of their alarmin-like properties and their protumorigenic role during cancer progression, members of the galectin family are uniquely positioned to provide information that could be used for the exploration of possible avenues for the treatment of high fatality cancer (HFC). A rapid overview of studies that examined the expressions and functions of galectins in cancer cells reveals that they play a central role in at least three major features that characterize HFCs: (1) induction of systemic and local immunosuppression, (2) chemoresistance of cancer cells, and (3) increased invasive behavior. Defining the galectinome in HFCs will also lead to a better understanding of tumor heterogeneity while providing critical information that could improve the accuracy of biomarker panels for a more personalized treatment of HFCs. In this review, we discuss the relevance of the galectinome in HFC and its possible contribution to providing potential solutions.

Predictive role of galectin-1 and integrin α5β1 in cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy of bulky squamous cervical cancer

Although galectin-1 and integrin α5β1 confer chemoresistance to certain types of cancer, whether their expression predicts the response to cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in squamous cervical cancer remains unclear. Paired tumor samples (pre- and post-chemotherapy) were obtained from 35 bulky squamous cervical cancer patients treated with cisplatin-based NACT and radical hysterectomy at our hospital between January 2007 and August 2014. The expression of galectin-1 and integrin α5β1 in tumor cells and stromal cells was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between galectin-1/integrin α5β1 and apoptosis-associated markers was investigated by using the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-sequencing data. Seventeen patients were identified as chemotherapy responders and 18 as non-responders. Galectin-1 and integrin α5β1-positive immunostaining was more frequently observed in stromal cells than its in tumor cells. The expression of galectin-1 and integrin α5β1 in stromal and tumor cells was significantly down-regulated in postchemotherapy cervical cancer tissues. High levels of galectin-1 and integrin α5β1 in stromal were associated with a negative chemotherapy response in squamous cervical cancer patients treated with cisplatin-based NACT. Additionally, the expression of galectin-1 and integrin α5 correlated negatively with caspase 3/caspase 8 by using the TCGA RNA-sequencing data. Galectin-1 and integrin α5β1 expression in stromal may serve as a prediction of the responses to cisplatin-based NACT for patients with bulky squamous cervical cancer. Galectin-1 and integrin α5β1 may be implicated in the development of chemoresistance in cervical cancer via suppressing apoptosis.

Tissue and plasma levels of galectins in patients with high grade serous ovarian carcinoma as new predictive biomarkers

Galectins are moving closer to center stage in detecting glycosylation aberration in cancer cells. Here, we have investigated the expression of galectins in ovarian cancer (OC) and examined their potential as biomarkers in tissues and blood plasma samples of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) patients. In tissues, we found that increased protein expression of stromal gal-1 and epithelial gal-8/9 was associated with a poor response to treatment of HGSC patients. Gal-8/9 were both independent predictors of chemoresistance and overall survival (OS), respectively. This galectin signature increased the predictive value of the cancer antigen 125 (CA125) on 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), post-chemotherapy treatment and 5-year OS. In CA125^LOW patients, epithelial gal-9 was associated with a lower 5-year OS while stromal gal-1 and epithelial gal-8 were both associated with a lower 5-year DFS. Such negative predictive value of gal-8 and gal-9 was also found using plasma samples. In both cases, high plasma levels of gal-8 and gal-9 was associated with a lower OS and DFS. Overall, these data suggest that galectins may be promising biomarkers to identify subgroups of HGSC patients with poorer prognosis. Our study also contributes to better define the heterogeneity of the disease.