Spred-3 mutation and Ras/Raf/MAPK activation confer acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor in an EGFR mutated NSCLC cell line

SPRED3 regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway in thyroid cancer and promotes the proliferation

SPRED3 (Sprouty-related EVH1 domain containing 3) mutants are depicted in various cancers, however, nothing is known about its biofunction in thyroid cancer (THCA). Bioinformatic analyses were conducted to ascertain the level of SPRED3 expression in THCA tissues and its importance in the prognosis of THCA patients. Flag-SPRED3 plasmid and SPRED3-knockout vector were developed to overexpress or deplete the SPRED3 expression in THCA cells. The function of SPRED3 on THCA cell proliferation was examined using the colony formation assay and CCK8 assay. The effect of SPRED3 expression on the transcriptional activity of NF-κB was also examined using luciferase reporter assays. High SPRED3 expression was associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes, advanced tumor characteristics, and traditional molecular markers of papillary thyroid cancer in THCA patients. Genetic analysis revealed differences in mutation rates in key genes between SPRED3-high and SPRED3-low THCA cases. It is also revealed that SPRED3 influenced the immune microenvironment, with increased stromal and immune scores and altered immune cell infiltration. Functionally, SPRED3 overexpression enhanced THCA cell viability and colony formation, while its depletion reduced cell growth and proliferation. In vivo experiments in mice confirmed the inhibitory effect of SPRED3 depletion on tumor growth. Mechanically, we found that SPRED3 activated the NF-κB signaling. For the first time, we found that SPRED3 promotes THCA cell proliferation via the NF-κB signaling pathway. This finding may provide insight into SPRED3's prognostic potential in thyroid cancer and provide the rationale for SPRED3-targeted druggable interventions.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated silencing of CD44: unveiling the role of hyaluronic acid-mediated interactions in cancer drug resistance

A comprehensive overview of CD44 (CD44 Molecule (Indian Blood Group)), a cell surface glycoprotein, and its interaction with hyaluronic acid (HA) in drug resistance mechanisms across various types of cancer is provided, where CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing was utilized to silence CD44 expression and examine its impact on cancer cell behavior, migration, invasion, proliferation, and drug sensitivity. The significance of the HA-CD44 axis in tumor microenvironment (TME) delivery and its implications in specific cancer types, the influence of CD44 variants and the KHDRBS3 (KH RNA Binding Domain Containing, Signal Transduction Associated 3) gene on cancer progression and drug resistance, and the potential of targeting HA-mediated pathways using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to overcome drug resistance in cancer were also highlighted.

Bioinformatics analysis for the identification of Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 3 expression and its clinical significance in thyroid carcinoma

The poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (THCA) subtype is associated with an aggressive disease course, a less favorable overall prognosis, and an increased risk of distant organ metastasis. In this study, our objective was to explore the potential utility of the Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 3 (SPRED3) as a biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis in THCA patients. The differentially expressed prognostic-related genes associated with THCA were identified by querying The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The difference in the expression of the SPRED3 gene between thyroid carcinoma (THCA) tissues and normal tissues was analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and further validated through immunohistochemistry. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used, along with clinical information from THCA patients, to analyze the prognostic value of the SPRED3 gene in THCA patients. Functional enrichment analysis was subsequently performed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory effects of the SPRED3 gene on thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, we calculated the percentage of infiltrating immune cells in THCA patients and evaluated their correlation with SPRED3 gene expression. Compared with those in noncancerous thyroid tissue, the gene and protein expression levels of SPRED3 were found to be elevated in thyroid carcinoma tissues. Furthermore, the expression of SPRED3 in thyroid carcinoma exhibited significant correlations with tumor location, histological grade, pathological stage, and tumor node metastasis classification (TNM) stage. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards (Cox) regression analyses demonstrated that SPRED3 could serve as an independent prognostic factor for predicting the overall survival of THCA patients. The results of functional enrichment analysis suggested the potential involvement of SPRED3 in the regulation of extracellular matrix organization, epidermal development, signaling receptor activator activity, skin development, receptor ligand activity, glycosaminoglycan binding, neuroactive ligand‒receptor interaction, the IL-17 signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, there were significant correlations between the expression level of the SPRED3 gene and the infiltration of various immune cells (eosinophils, central memory T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and NK cells) within the thyroid tumor microenvironment. SPRED3 can be used as a prognostic biomarker in patients with THCA could potentially be therapeutic target for THCA.

The cell line models to study tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor: A scoping review

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) represents ∼85% of all lung cancers and ∼15-20% of them are characterized by mutations affecting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). For several years now, a class of tyrosine kinase inhibitors was developed, targeting sensitive mutations affecting the EGFR (EGFR-TKIs). To date, the main burden of the TKIs employment is due to the onset of resistance mutations. This scoping review aims to resume the current situation about the cell line models employed for the in vitro evaluation of resistance mechanisms induced by EGFR-TKIs in oncogene-addicted NSCLC. Adenocarcinoma results the most studied NSCLC histotype with the H1650, H1975, HCC827 and PC9 mutated cell lines, while Gefitinib and Osimertinib the most investigated inhibitors. Overall, data collected frame the current advancement of this topic, showing a plethora of approaches pursued to overcome the TKIs resistance, from RNA-mediated strategies to the innovative combination therapies.

Combination of bulk RNA sequencing and scRNA sequencing uncover the molecular characteristics of MAPK signaling in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma

The MAPK signaling pathway significantly impacts cancer progression and resistance; however, its functions remain incompletely assessed across various cancers, particularly in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). Therefore, there is an urgent need for comprehensive pan-cancer investigations of MAPK signaling, particularly within the context of KIRC. In this research, we obtained TCGA pan-cancer multi-omics data and conducted a comprehensive analysis of the genomic and transcriptomic characteristics of the MAPK signaling pathway. For in-depth investigation in KIRC, status of MAPK pathway was quantitatively estimated by ssGSEA and Ward algorithm was utilized for cluster analysis. Molecular characteristics and clinical prognoses of KIRC patients with distinct MAPK activities were comprehensively explored using a series of bioinformatics algorithms. Subsequently, a combination of LASSO and COX regression analyses were utilized sequentially to construct a MAPK-related signature to help identify the risk level of each sample. Patients in the C1 subtype exhibited relatively higher levels of MAPK signaling activity, which were associated with abundant immune cell infiltration and favorable clinical outcomes. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of KIRC samples identified seven distinct cell types, and endothelial cells in tumor tissues had obviously higher MAPK scores than normal tissues. The immunohistochemistry results indicated the reduced expression levels of PAPSS1, MAP3K11, and SPRED1 in KIRC samples. In conclusion, our study represents the first integration of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing to elucidate the molecular characteristics of MAPK signaling in KIRC, providing a solid foundation for precision oncology.

Pathogenesis and prognosis of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma based on microRNAs target genes: a systems biology approach

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent head and neck malignancy, with frequent cervical lymph-node metastasis, leading to a poor prognosis in OSCC patients. The present study aimed to identify potential markers, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes, significantly involved in the etiology of early-stage OSCC. Additionally, the main OSCC's dysregulated Gene Ontology annotations and significant signaling pathways were identified. The dataset GSE45238 underwent multivariate statistical analysis in order to distinguish primary OSCC tissues from healthy oral epithelium. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) with the criteria of p-value < 0.001 and |Log2 fold change| > 1.585 were identified in the two groups, and subsequently, validated targets of DEMs were identified. A protein interaction map was constructed, hub genes were identified, significant modules within the network were illustrated, and significant pathways and biological processes associated with the clusters were demonstrated. Using the GEPI2 database, the hub genes' predictive function was assessed. Compared to the healthy controls, main OSCC had a total of 23 DEMs. In patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), upregulation of CALM1, CYCS, THBS1, MYC, GATA6, and SPRED3 was strongly associated with a poor prognosis. In HNSCC patients, overexpression of PIK3R3, GIGYF1, and BCL2L11 was substantially correlated with a good prognosis. Besides, “proteoglycans in cancer” was the most significant pathway enriched in the primary OSCC. The present study results revealed more possible mechanisms mediating primary OSCC and may be useful in the prognosis of the patients with early-stage OSCC.