Knockdown of PSMC2 contributes to suppression of cholangiocarcinoma development by regulating CDK1

Transcriptome insights into newcastle disease virus-mediated eradication of cholangiocarcinoma cells

Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) has emerged as a promising oncolytic viral therapy for various human cancers; however, its effectiveness against cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remains unexplored. This study presents the capability of the lentogenic LaSota strain of NDV to eliminate two CCA cell lines, KKU-055 and KKU-100, as well as the potential molecular mechanisms underlying this effect. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis revealed alterations in gene expression within several pathways in CCA cells following exposure to the LaSota strain NDV, including those involved in TNF-alpha signaling via NF-kB, interferon alpha response, apoptosis, and IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways. We remarkably observed a contrasting alteration in the expression of CXCR4, GRAMD1B, IGFBP4, and TGM2 genes in KKU-055 and KKU-100 cells. In addition, gene network analysis highlighted CCNA2, CDK1, DDX58, DHX58, EXO1, GBP1, IFIH1, IFIT1, IFIT2, IFIT3, IRF7, ISIG15, MX1, OAS1, OAS2, PARP9, TOP2A and XAF1 as potential hub genes influencing the response of CCA cells to NDV LaSota strain. Our findings offer evidence supporting the promise of NDV-based therapies as potential strategies for eliminating CCA cells.

Pan-cancer analysis identifies proteasome 26S subunit, ATPase (PSMC) family genes, and related signatures associated with prognosis, immune profile, and therapeutic response in lung adenocarcinoma

Background: Proteasome 26S subunit, ATPase gene (PSMC) family members play a critical role in regulating protein degradation and are essential for tumor development. However, little is known about the integrative function and prognostic significance of the PSMC gene family members in lung cancer. Methods: First, we assessed the expression and prognostic features of six PSMC family members in pan-cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Hence, by focusing on the relationship between PSMC genes and the prognostic, genomic, and tumor microenvironment features in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a PSMC-based prognostic signature was established using consensus clustering and multiple machine learning algorithms, including the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression, CoxBoost, and survival random forest analysis in TCGA and GSE72094. We then validated it in three independent cohorts from GEO and estimated the correlation between risk score and clinical features: genomic features (alterations, tumor mutation burden, and copy number variants), immune profiles (immune score, TIDE score, tumor-infiltrated immune cells, and immune checkpoints), sensitivity to chemotherapy (GDSC, GSE42127, and GSE14814), and immunotherapy (IMvigor210, GSE63557, and immunophenoscore). Twenty-one patients with LUAD were included in our local cohort, and tumor samples were submitted for evaluation of risk gene and PD-L1 expression. Results: Nearly all six PSMC genes were overexpressed in pan-cancer tumor tissues; however, in LUAD alone, they were all significantly correlated with overall survival. Notably, they all shared a positive association with increased TMB, TIDE score, expression of immune checkpoints (CD276 and PVR), and more M1 macrophages but decreased B-cell abundance. A PSMC-based prognostic signature was established based on five hub genes derived from the differential expression clusters of PSMC genes, and it was used to dichotomize LUAD patients into high- and low-risk groups according to the median risk score. The area under the curve (AUC) values for predicting survival at 1, 3, and 5 years in the training cohorts were all >.71, and the predictive accuracy was also robust and stable in the GSE72094, GSE31210, and GSE13213 datasets. The risk score was significantly correlated with advanced tumor, lymph node, and neoplasm disease stages as an independent risk factor for LUAD. Furthermore, the risk score shared a similar genomic and immune feature as PSMC genes, and high-risk tumors exhibited significant genomic and chromosomal instability, a higher TIDE score but lower immune score, and a decreased abundance of B and CD8⁺ T cells. Finally, high-risk patients were suggested to be less sensitive to immunotherapy but had a higher possibility of responding to platinum-based chemotherapy. The LUAD samples from the local cohort supported the difference in the expression levels of these five hub genes between tumor and normal tissues and the correlation between the risk score and PD-L1 expression. Conclusion: Overall, our results provide deep insight into PSMC genes in LUAD, especially the prognostic effect and related immune profile that may predict therapeutic responses.

MLN2238 exerts its anti-tumor effects via regulating ROS/JNK/mitochondrial signaling pathways in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background: Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a highly malignant tumor with limited treatment options that contributes largely to cancer-related deaths worldwide. Compared with traditional transcriptomic analysis, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is emerging as a more advanced and popular tool for the in-depth exploration of cellular diversity and molecular complexity. As a next-generation proteasome inhibitor, MLN2238 presents better pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic responses in various cancers. However, its effects and mechanisms of action in iCCA remain unknown. Methods: iCCA tumor heterogeneity was determined based on 4,239 qualified scRNA-seq data from 10 iCCA samples. The potential biological roles of proteasome-related genes in iCCA were investigated using a pseudo-trajectory reconstruction. The effect of MLN2238 on iCCA cell proliferation was estimated using the CCK-8, EdU, and clone formation assays. Flow cytometry was used to examine the effect of added MLN2238 on cell cycle and apoptosis levels. Autophagic flux was detected using AdPlus-mCherry-GFP-LC3B cells. ROS levels and mitochondrial membrane potential were determined using DCFH-DA probing and JC-1 staining. JNK activation and mitochondrial apoptosis were observed using western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy, respectively. Finally, we used a tumor-bearing mouse model to validate its efficacy in vivo for iCCA treatment. Results: Proteasome-related genes were dysregulated in iCCA progression and expressed at higher levels in tumor tissues. MLN2238 suppressed cell proliferation, blocked the cell cycle in the G2/M phase, promoted apoptosis, and induced cytoprotective autophagy in iCCA cells. Furthermore, MLN2238 increased ROS levels and activated the JNK signaling pathway. Inhibition of ROS and JNK activation by NAC and SP600125 significantly reversed MLN2238-induced apoptosis. MLN2238 also suppressed the growth of iCCA tumors in vivo. Conclusion: Proteasome-related genes play pivotal roles in iCCA development. MLN2238, as a proteasome inhibitor, induces apoptosis in iCCA cells through ROS/JNK/mitochondrial signaling pathways, and hence, making MLN2238 a potential therapeutic choice for iCCA.

A review on the role of cyclin dependent kinases in cancers

The Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) class of serine/threonine kinases has crucial roles in the regulation of cell cycle transition and is mainly involved in the pathogenesis of cancers. The expression of CDKs is controlled by a complex regulatory network comprised of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, which are dysregulated during the progression of cancer. The abnormal activation of CDKs results in uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation and the induction of cancer stem cell characteristics. The levels of CDKs can be utilized to predict the prognosis and treatment response of cancer patients, and further understanding of the function and underlying mechanisms of CDKs in human tumors would pave the way for future cancer therapies that effectively target CDKs. Defects in the regulation of cell cycle and mutations in the genes coding cell-cycle regulatory proteins lead to unrestrained proliferation of cells leading to formation of tumors. A number of treatment modalities have been designed to combat dysregulation of cell cycle through affecting expression or activity of CDKs. However, effective application of these methods in the clinical settings requires recognition of the role of CDKs in the progression of each type of cancer, their partners, their interactions with signaling pathways and the effects of suppression of these kinases on malignant features. Thus, we designed this literature search to summarize these findings at cellular level, as well as in vivo and clinical levels.