Unveiling clinical significance and tumor immune landscape of CXCL12 in bladder cancer: Insights from multiple omics analysis

Cathepsin B in urological tumors: unraveling its role and therapeutic potential

Cathepsin B(CTSB) is a key protease within the lysosomal protease family and is recognized as a tumor-promoting factor that exerts a substantial impact on cancer progression. It plays a critical role in the initiation, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis of cancer, significantly advancing the disease. This review offers a concise overview of the structure and biological functions of CTSB, clarifying its relationship with cancer and the role it plays in the disease's progression. Additionally, we discuss the association between CTSB and several common malignant tumors of the urinary system, highlighting its potential role and clinical significance within these tumors, as well as the challenges that remain.

Comprehensive pan-cancer analysis identifies PLAG1 as a key regulator of tumor immune microenvironment and prognostic biomarker

Background

The literature on the role of pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) in malignant tumors is limited. This study aimed to perform pan-cancer analysis of PLAG1.

Methods

The expression of PLAG1 was analyzed by Human Protein Atlas (HPA). The differential expression and prognosis of PLAG1 were analyzed based on TCGA pan-cancer data. The relationship between PLAG1 expression and tumor heterogeneity, stemness and immune infiltration was investigated. The enrichment analysis and biological function of PLAG1 in bladder cancer were analyzed.

Results

The expression of PLAG1 was increased in a variety of tumors and significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients. Their expression levels were associated with key immune checkpoint genes (CD274, HAVCR2), immune infiltration and immune stimulation factors (CD48, CD27). In bladder cancer, functional enrichment analysis indicated that PLAG1 was involved in epidermal related processes and immune pathways. PLAG1 gene expression reduction can significantly inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells.

Conclusions

PLAG1 has the potential to be a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for patients with malignant tumors.

Tracing the Evolution of Sex Hormones and Receptor-Mediated Immune Microenvironmental Differences in Prostate and Bladder Cancers: From Embryonic Development to Disease

The bladder and prostate originate from the urogenital sinus. However, bladder cancer (BC) is usually classified as an immune "hot" tumor, whereas prostate cancer (PCa) is deemed as an immune "cold" tumor according to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and clinical outcomes. To investigate the immune differences between BC and PCa, studies are compared focusing on immune regulation mediated by sex hormones and receptors to identify key genes and pathways responsible for the immune differences. From a developmental perspective, it is shown that PCa and BC activate genes and pathways similar to those in the developmental stage. During prostate development, the differential expression and function of the androgen receptor (AR) across cell types may contribute to its dual role in promoting and inhibiting immunity in different cells. Androgen deprivation therapy affects AR function in different cells within the TME, influencing immune cell infiltration and antitumor function. Additionally, estrogenα and estrogenβ exert contrasting effects in PCa and BC, which may hold the potential for modifying the "cold" and "hot" tumor phenotypes. Future research should target key genes and pathways involved in bladder development to clarify the immune regulatory similarities and differences between BC and PCa.

A pan-cancer analysis of the oncogenic and immunological roles of RGS5 in clear cell renal cell carcinomas based on in vitro experiment validation

BACKGROUND

RGS5, the first gene identified in tumor-resident pericytes, plays a crucial role in angiogenesis. However, its effects on immunology and prognosis in human cancer are still mostly unknown. This study investigates the carcinogenic and immunological roles of RGS5 through a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis.

METHODS

A standardized pan-cancer dataset for RGS5 was obtained from the public database. R software and relevant packages were utilized to analyze the oncogenic and immunological roles. Clinical samples and cellular experiments were conducted to validate RGS5 expression and its biological function in renal cancer.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis revealed that RGS5 is dysregulated in a variety of human malignancies and is significantly associated with patient prognosis. Additionally, RGS5 expression is closely linked to tumor heterogeneity and stemness indicators across different cancer types. Co-expression of RGS5 with genes involved in MHC, immune activation, immunosuppressive proteins, chemokines, and chemokine receptors was observed in various tumors. High expression of RGS5 predicts a good prognosis in patients with renal cancer. In the renal cancer cohort, RGS5 expression strongly correlated with the distribution of tumor-associated fibroblasts. Silencing RGS5 expression can affect the proliferation, migration, and invasion of renal carcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

RGS5 expression in tumors is intricately associated with various clinical features, particularly concerning tumor progression and patient prognosis.

Predicting survival in bladder cancer with a novel apoptotic gene-related prognostic model

BACKGROUND

Apoptosis and apoptotic genes play a critical role in the carcinogenesis and progression of bladder cancer. However, there is no prognostic model established by apoptotic genes.

METHODS

Messenger RNA (mRNA), Expression data, and related clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After extracting the apoptosis-related genes, the survival-related apoptosis genes were screened by univariate Cox regression analysis in the TCGA cohort. Following the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression method, these genes were modeled by multivariate Cox analysis. The predictive abilities of the Apoptosis-Related Gene Model (ARGM) for overall survival (OS) rate, disease-specific survival (DSS) measures, and progression-free survival (PFS) were verified by the Kaplan-Meier(K-M)survival analysis and time-dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Functional enrichment analyses were performed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG). CIBERSORT and Single-Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) were used to calculate the type of immune cell infiltration and immune functions. The model's predictive ability for immunotherapy were evaluated using Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) and the Imvigor210 study.The single-cell sequencing was used to display the expression level of the ARGM.Finally,qRT-PCR was executed to validate the expression level of ARGM.

RESULTS

Several apoptosis genes were identified through the model, including ANXA1, CASP6, CD2, F2, PDGFRB, SATB1, and TSPO. The prognostic value of the model for OS, DSS, and PFS were verified using the TCGA and GEO cohort. The model can predict patient response to immunotherapy treatment as established through the model's score which was linked to different types of immune cell infiltration and identified significant differences in the signal pathways between high-risk and low-risk groups. Nomogram variables, prompted from ARGM and clinical parameters, also generate a high predictive value for patient survival.

CONCLUSION

Ourestablished apoptosis-related gene model (ARGM) has a substantial predictive value for prognosis and immunotherapy of bladder cancer. It may help with clinical consultation, clinical stratification, and treatment selection. The immune infiltration status and signal pathway of different risk groups also provide direction for further research.

GREM1 may be a biological indicator and potential target of bladder cancer

Gremlin 1 (GREM1) can regulate the development of many cancers. However, a few studies have revealed the role of GREM1 in bladder cancer (BC). To evaluate the expression and potential function of GREM1 in bladder cancer, we used R version 3.6.3 and related packages to analyze the data from common databases. Samples from our institution were assessed by immunohistochemical staining (IHC), which was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (K20220830). GREM1 was highly expressed in BC tissues according to the TCGA and IHC data. Data from TCGA, GSE31684, GSE32894, and IHC showed that GREM1 has significant prognostic value for BC patients. GREM1 is involved in immune and metabolism-related pathways. According to the TIDE algorithm, 61.0% of patients with low GREM1 expression responded well to immunotherapy, compared to only 13.3% in the high GREM1 expression group. High GREM1 expression was associated with sensitivity to cisplatin, docetaxel, gemcitabine, and vinblastine. Thus, GREM1 can predict prognosis and responses to immunotherapy and chemotherapy in BC patients, making it a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

Relationship between clonal evolution and drug resistance in bladder cancer: A genomic research review

Bladder cancer stands as a prevalent global malignancy, exhibiting notable sex-based variations in both incidence and prognosis. Despite substantial strides in therapeutic approaches, the formidable challenge of drug resistance persists. The genomic landscape of bladder cancer, characterized by intricate clonal heterogeneity, emerges as a pivotal determinant in fostering this resistance. Clonal evolution, encapsulating the dynamic transformations within subpopulations of tumor cells over time, is implicated in the emergence of drug-resistant traits. Within this review, we illuminate contemporary insights into the role of clonal evolution in bladder cancer, elucidating its influence as a driver in tumor initiation, disease progression, and the formidable obstacle of therapy resistance.

Prognostic significance and immune landscape of a cell cycle progression-related risk model in bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

A greater emphasis has been placed on the part of cell cycle progression (CCP) in cancer in recent years. Nevertheless, the precise connection between CCP-related genes and bladder cancer (BCa) has remained elusive. This study endeavors to establish and validate a reliable risk model incorporating CCP-related factors, aiming to predict both the prognosis and immune landscape of BCa.

METHODS

Clinical information and RNA sequencing data were collected from the GEO and TCGA databases. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to construct a risk model associated with CCP. The performance of the model was assessed using ROC and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Functional enrichment analysis was employed to investigate potential cellular functions and signaling pathways. The immune landscape was characterized using CIBERSORT algorithms. Integration of the risk model with various clinical variables led to the development of a nomogram.

RESULTS

To build the risk model, three CCP-related genes (RAD54B, KPNA2, and TPM1) were carefully chosen. ROC and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis confirm that our model has good performance. About immunological infiltration, the high-risk group showed decreased levels of regulatory T cells and dendritic cells coupled with increased levels of activated CD4 + memory T cells, M2 macrophages, and neutrophils. Furthermore, the nomogram showed impressive predictive power for OS at 1, 3, and 5 years.

CONCLUSION

This study provides new insights into the association between the CCP-related risk model and the prognosis of BCa, as well as its impact on the immune landscape.

Efficiency of bladder-sparing strategies for bladder cancer: an umbrella review

Bladder preservation (BP) has emerged as a clinical alternative to radical cystectomy (RC) for alleviating the substantial physical and psychological burden imposed on localized bladder cancer patients. Nevertheless, disparities persist in the comparative evaluations of BP and RC. We aimed to address the disparities between BP and RC. An umbrella review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore these disparities. We extracted data from meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) selected after searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Review Manager 5.4.0 and R x64 4.1.3 were used to evaluate the collected data. Our study included 11 meta-analyses and 3 RCTs. In terms of progression-free survival, all the meta-analyses reported that patients with localized bladder cancer who underwent BP exhibited outcomes comparable to those who underwent RC. Meta-analyses regarding the outcomes of cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) are controversial. To solve these issues, we conducted a pooled analysis of CSS data, which supported the similarity of CSS between BP and RC with no significant heterogeneity [odds ratio (OR): 1.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-2.02; I2 = 26%]. Similarly, the pooled OS results extracted from three RCTs indicated the comparability of OS between BP and RC with no significant heterogeneity (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 0.41-3.07; I2 = 33%). A combination of umbrella review and meta-analysis results suggested that BP had survival rates comparable to those of RC. We suggest that BP may be a more eligible therapy than RC for patients with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This conclusion warrants further validation through randomized controlled trials.

CD133 significance in glioblastoma development: in silico and in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is among the commonly diagnosed brain malignancies with poor prognosis. CD133 has been introduced as an oncogene in various cancers, like GBM. This study aimed to investigate the significance of CD133 in GBM development using in silico and in vitro techniques.

METHOD

The TCGA-GBM database was analyzed for the correlational and comparative studies. After selecting the U87MG cell line, CD133-siRNA was transfected into U87MG cells and treated with temozolomide. The cell viability, cell cycle, migration, clonogenicity, and apoptosis of groups were investigated using MTT, flow cytometry, wound-healing, colony formation, and annexin V/PI assays. Using qRT-PCR method, the mRNA expression levels of MMP16, SOX2, RAF1, MAP2K1, MAPK3, PIK3CA, AKT3, mTOR, CDK4, and BCL2 were studied.

RESULTS

CD133 silencing improves apoptosis rate, arrests the cell cycle at the sub-G1 phase, suppresses the clonogenicity of U87MG cells, and inhibits the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways via downregulating the RAF1, MAP2K1, MAPK3, PIK3CA, AKT3, and mTOR expression. Besides, combining CD133 silencing with temozolomide treatment considerably inhibits the migration of U87MG cells compared to temozolomide monotherapy.

CONCLUSION

CD133 can regulate the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways and modulate the clonogenicity, apoptosis, and cell cycle of GBM. Combining CD133 silencing with temozolomide treatment considerably increases apoptosis, arrests the cell cycle at the sub-G1, and suppresses migration of U87MG cells compared to temozolomide monotherapy.

A Prognostic Index Derived From LASSO-Selected Preoperative Inflammation and Nutritional Markers for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND

There is an urgent need to identify a robust predictor for BCG response in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We aimed to employ the Lasso regression model for the selection and construction of an index (BCGI) utilizing inflammation and nutrition indicators to predict the response to BCG therapy.

METHODS

After acquiring the ethics approval, we searched the electric medical records in our institution and performed data screening. Then, we developed the BCGI using a Lasso regression model and subsequently evaluated its performance in both the train and internal test datasets through Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis. Then, we also evaluated the prognostic value of BCGI alongside the EAU2021 model.

RESULTS

The training dataset and internal test dataset contained 295 and 196 patients, respectively. Referring to the Lasso results, BCGI consisted of hemoglobin, albumin, and platelet count, which could significantly predict the recurrence of NMIBC patients who accepted BCG in train (P = .012) and test (P = .004) datasets. The BCGI also exhibited statistically prognostic value in no smoking history, World Health Organization high grade, and T1 subgroups, both in train and test datasets. In multivariable analysis, BCGI exhibited independent prognostic value in train (P = .012) and test (P = .012) datasets. Finally, we constructed a nomogram that consisted of smoking history, T stage, World Health Organization grade, tumor size, and BCGI. Then, BCGI demonstrated significant independent prognostic value in NMIBC patients treated with BCG, a result not observed with the EAU2021 score or classification.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results, we reasonably suggest that BCGI may be a useful predictor for NMIBC patients who accepted BCG. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the efficacy of constructing a prognostic index using clinical factors and a Lasso regression model, a versatile approach applicable to various medical conditions.