CSK-mediated signalling by integrins in cancer

Novel insight into the role of Src family kinases in hepatocellular carcinoma and therapeutic potential

Hepatocellular carcinoma remains a highly aggressive malignancy, with the 5-year survival rate for advanced-stage patients persisting below 20 % despite progress in targeted therapies and immunotherapy. This clinical reality underscores the critical need for identifying novel therapeutic targets. Src family kinases (SFKs), critical regulators of cellular metabolism, coordinate regenerative repair through STAT3/ERK signaling in normal hepatic regeneration and preserve cellular polarity via FAK-mediated mechanisms following hepatic injury. Growing evidence suggests that dysregulation of SFKs expression and activity is closely associated with oxidative stress, inflammation-cancer transition, metabolic reprogramming disorders and microenvironmental remodeling in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the composition and structure of SFKs. We explored in depth the molecular and cellular mechanisms of SFKs in the pathological progression and risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma, including viral hepatitis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and other established risk factors. Herein, we highlight the potential of SFKs as a pharmacological target against hepatocellular in the hope of inspiring translational research and innovative clinical approaches.

Signal Transduction Mechanisms of Focal Adhesions: Src and FAK-Mediated Cell Response

Cell-to-substrate adhesion sites, also known as focal adhesion sites (FAs), are complexes of different proteins on the cell surface. FAs play important roles in communication between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to signal transduction involving different proteins that ultimately produce the cell response. This cell response involves cell adhesion, migration, motility, cell survival, and cell proliferation. The most important component of FAs are integrins. Integrins are transmembrane proteins that receive signals from the ECM and communicate them to the cytoplasm, thus activating several downstream proteins in a signaling cascade. Cellular Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (c-Src) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are non-receptor tyrosine kinases that functionally interact to promote crucial roles in FAs. c-Src is a tyrosine kinase, activated by autophosphorylation and, in turn, activates another important protein, FAK. Activated FAK directly interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of integrin and activates other FA proteins by attaching to them. These proteins activated by FAK then activate other downstream pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt pathways involved in cell proliferation, migration, and cell survival. Src can induce detachment of FAK from the integrin to increase the focal adhesion turnover. As a result, the Src-FAK complex in FAs is critical for cell adhesion and survival mechanisms. Overexpression of FA proteins has been linked to a variety of pathological disorders, including cancers, growth retardation, and bone deformities. FAK and Src are overexpressed in various cancers. This review, which focuses on the roles of two important signaling proteins, c-Src and FAK, attempts to provide a thorough and up-to-date examination of the signal transduction mechanisms mediated by focal adhesions. The author also described that FAK and Src may serve as potential targets for future therapies against diseases associated with their overexpression, such as certain types of cancer.

Advances in Melanoma: From Genetic Insights to Therapeutic Innovations

Advances in melanoma research have unveiled critical insights into its genetic and molecular landscape, leading to significant therapeutic innovations. This review explores the intricate interplay between genetic alterations, such as mutations in BRAF, NRAS, and KIT, and melanoma pathogenesis. The MAPK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways are highlighted for their roles in tumor growth and resistance mechanisms. Additionally, this review delves into the impact of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone changes, on melanoma progression. The tumor microenvironment, characterized by immune cells, stromal cells, and soluble factors, plays a pivotal role in modulating tumor behavior and treatment responses. Emerging technologies like single-cell sequencing, CRISPR-Cas9, and AI-driven diagnostics are transforming melanoma research, offering precise and personalized approaches to treatment. Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors and personalized mRNA vaccines, has revolutionized melanoma therapy by enhancing the body's immune response. Despite these advances, resistance mechanisms remain a challenge, underscoring the need for combined therapies and ongoing research to achieve durable therapeutic responses. This comprehensive overview aims to highlight the current state of melanoma research and the transformative impacts of these advancements on clinical practice.

Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics Modeling for Evaluating Drug-Drug Interactions in Polypharmacy: Development and Challenges

Polypharmacy is commonly employed in clinical settings. The potential risks of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can compromise efficacy and pose serious health hazards. Integrating pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) models into DDIs research provides a reliable method for evaluating and optimizing drug regimens. With advancements in our comprehension of both individual drug mechanisms and DDIs, conventional models have begun to evolve towards more detailed and precise directions, especially in terms of the simulation and analysis of physiological mechanisms. Selecting appropriate models is crucial for an accurate assessment of DDIs. This review details the theoretical frameworks and quantitative benchmarks of PK and PD modeling in DDI evaluation, highlighting the establishment of PK/PD modeling against a backdrop of complex DDIs and physiological conditions, and further showcases the potential of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) in this field. Furthermore, it explores the current advancements and challenges in DDI evaluation based on models, emphasizing the role of emerging in vitro detection systems, high-throughput screening technologies, and advanced computational resources in improving prediction accuracy.

Research on lncRNA CTBP1-DT as a potential therapeutic target to regulate cell function in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer, which originates from the human colon or rectum, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Timely diagnosis and interventional therapy can significantly improve the prognostic survival of colorectal cancer patients, making regular screening and early detection essential.

AIM

To investigate the regulatory function of lncRNA CTBP1-DT (CTBP1-DT) on colorectal cancer cells and to assess its diagnostic significance.

METHODS

A total of 102 patients with colorectal cancer and 92 healthy individuals were selected. The levels of CTBP1-DT and microRNA-30a-5p (miR-30a-5p) in serum and cell samples of the above subjects were compared by RT-qPCR. The effects of CTBP1-DT and miR-30a-5p dysregulation on the biological functions of colorectal cancer cells were analyzed via CCK-8, flow cytometry and Transwell assays. In addition, the ability of CTBP1-DT and miR-30a-5p to early identify colorectal cancer patients was determined through ROC curve.

RESULTS

Serum CTBP1-DT was elevated in patients with colorectal cancer, which was obviously higher than in healthy controls. The expression of serum miR-30a-5p was downregulated in colorectal cancer. Both CTBP1-DT and miR-30a-5p have the value of distinguishing colorectal cancer, and the combined diagnostic ability is higher. Knockdown of CTBP1-DT directly targeted miR-30a-5p to repress cell activity and metastatic ability, whereas deregulation of miR-30a-5p eliminated the above inhibitory effects.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of CTBP1-DT has a certain application potential in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and may be a therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

Clinical Importance of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)-Src and Paxillin Expression in Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The complex focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src and paxillin seem to play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of these proteins in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), considering the immunoreactive score (IRS), the positivity and the intensity, and to find any association with patients' clinical characteristics, histologic type and other pathological features that imply a possible pathophysiological or prognostic role of FAK/Src and paxillin in RCC.

METHODS

Patients with RCC who had undergone partial or radical nephrectomy from January 2009 to September 2010 were eligible for this retrospective cross-sectional study. The immunohistochemical expression of FAK, Src and paxillin proteins in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour tissue was analysed in association with various clinicopathological features.

RESULTS

Out of ninety patients, 58 had clear cell renal carcinoma, 15 had papillary, 11 had chromophobe and six had unclassified RCC. FAK, Src and paxillin were expressed in 55.6%, 32.2% and 18.9% of all cases, respectively. In univariate analysis, FAK positivity and IRS were more likely in patients with papillary and chromophobe histologic type versus clear cell RCC (p<0.005), Src positivity and IRS presented more frequently in stage T3 versus T1 (p<0.005) and paxillin positivity was more likely in patients with stage T3 versus T2 (p=0.021) and grades 3-4 versus grade 2 (p=0.013). Paxillin-IRS was not associated with any clinicopathological features. The same associations were also reproduced in the multifactorial analysis for the FAK and Src positivity and IRS, while it was found that paxillin positivity and IRS were associated with the female gender (p=0.052, p=0.024), and were higher in grades 3-4 versus grade 2 (p=0.022, p=0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that RCC shows immunohistochemical expression of FAK, Src and paxillin proteins, and this expression varies in relation to the histologic type, the stage and the stage/grade/gender, respectively. These findings imply a possible involvement of the FAK/Src signalling pathway in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer in RCC, providing future perspectives for targeted therapies with inhibitors.