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Xiong C, Tang Y, Li F, Ye Y, Li X, Lin J, Dai S. 3,3'-Diindolylmethane inhibits the proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells via downregulation of STIM1. Oncol Lett 2024; 28:339. [PMID: 38855503 PMCID: PMC11157662 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a natural phytochemical derived from cruciferous plants that has inhibitory effects on a wide range of tumor cells; however, its relevant effects on esophageal cancer cells have been poorly studied. Therefore, in the present study, a pharmacology network approach was used to predict the possible core targets of DIM acting on esophageal cancer. Subsequently, using in vitro experiments, TE-1 human esophageal cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of DIM (0, 40, 60 and 80 µM) for 24 h. Changes in cell activity were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and changes in the expression levels of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and apoptosis-related proteins, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bax, were assessed by western blotting, followed by the upregulation of STIM1 by thapsigargin (Tg). Network pharmacology analysis showed that there were 39 potential core targets of DIM in esophageal cancer. The results of the in vitro experiments showed that DIM could inhibit the viability of esophageal cancer cells, downregulate the expression of STIM1 and Bcl-2 proteins and upregulate the expression of Bax protein, all in a concentration-dependent manner. The results also demonstrated that toxic carotenoids were agonist against STIM1 protein and upregulated STIM1 and Bax protein expression. After agonizing STIM1 protein expression using Tg, DIM was able to counteract the expression trend of STIM1, Bcl-2 and Bax protein in TE-1 cells. In summary, DIM induced apoptosis and inhibited the viability of esophageal cancer cells by downregulating the expression of STIM1 protein; therefore, the natural phytochemical, DIM, may be a potential substance for the early prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyi Xiong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Yining Tang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Yang Ye
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Science, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Jinxing Lin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Sunxian Dai
- Cell Medicine Laboratory, School of Medicine, Soochow University, Soochow, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
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Xu H, Yang Z, Hu W, Zhou X, Zhang Z, Zhang X. CSPG4P12 polymorphism served as a susceptibility marker for esophageal cancer in Chinese population. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:729. [PMID: 38877481 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12475-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 pseudogene 12 (CSPG4P12) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the CSPG4P12 polymorphism with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCA) risk and to explore the biological impact of CSPG4P12 expression on ESCA cell behavior. METHODS A case-control study was conducted involving 480 ESCA patients and 480 healthy controls to assess the association between the rs8040855 polymorphism and ESCA risk. The CSPG4P12 rs8040855 genotype was identified using the TaqMan-MGB probe method. Logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association of CSPG4P12 SNP with the risk of ESCA by calculating the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI ). The effects of CSPG4P12 overexpression on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were examined in ESCA cell lines. Co-expressed genes were identified via the CBioportal database, with pathway enrichment analyzed using SangerBox. The binding score of CSPG4P12 to P53 was calculated using RNA protein interaction prediction (RPISeq). Additionally, Western Blot analysis was performed to investigate the impact of CSPG4P12 overexpression on the P53/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. RESULTS The presence of at least one rs8040855 G allele was associated with a reduced susceptibility to ESCA compared to the CC genotype (OR = 0.51, 95%CI = 0.28-0.93, P = 0.03). Stratification analysis revealed that the CSPG4P12 rs8040855 C allele significantly decreased the risk of ESCA among younger individuals (≤ 57 years) and non-drinkers (OR = 0.31, 95%CI = 0.12-0.77, P = 0.01; OR = 0.42, 95%CI=0.20-0.87, P = 0.02, respectively). CSPG4P12 expression was found to be downregulated in ESCA tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Overexpression of CSPG4P12 in ESCA cells inhibited their proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities. Furthermore, Western Blot analysis indicated that CSPG4P12 overexpression led to a reduction in PI3K and p-AKT protein expression levels. P53 silencing rescues the inhibitory effect of CSPG4P12 on p-AKT. CONCLUSION The CSPG4P12 rs8040855 variant is associated with reduced ESCA risk and the overexpression of CSPG4P12 inhibited the migration and invasion of ESCA cells by P53/PI3K/AKT pathway. These findings suggest that CSPG4P12 may serve as a novel biomarker for ESCA susceptibility and a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxue Xu
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
- College of Life Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety for Coal Industry, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Zhenbang Yang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Wenqian Hu
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Xianlei Zhou
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Affiliated Tangshan Gongren Hospital , North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.
- College of Life Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety for Coal Industry, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.
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Jia J, Yu L. METTL3-mediated m6A modification of EPPK1 to promote the development of esophageal cancer through regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:2830-2841. [PMID: 38293837 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) has been proved to be involved in the progression of various cancers. In this study, we explored the role of METTL3 and its underlying mechanism in esophageal cancer progression. The mRNA and protein levels of METTL3 and epiplakin1 (EPPK1) were determined using qRT-PCR and western blot. The proliferative ability was evaluated through 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT), colony formation, and EdU assays. Transwell invasion assay and wound-healing assay were employed for detecting cell invasion and migration, respectively. Cell stemness was evaluated by sphere-formation assay. Xenograft tumor experiments and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to explore the effects of METTL3 knockdown on tumor growth in vivo. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of EPPK1 was analyzed using MeRIP. RNA-protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to verify the relationship between EPPK1 and METTL3. METTL3 was upregulated in esophageal cancer tissues and cells, which was related to the poor prognosis of esophageal cancer patients. Knockdown of METTL3 overtly decreased the proliferative, invasive, migrated abilities, and cell stemness of esophageal cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, depletion of METTL3 also observably suppressed the growth of tumor in vivo. EPPK1 was a direct target of METTL3, and METTL3 could mediate the m6A modification of EPPK1. EPPK1 was downregulated in esophageal cancer tissues and cells, and EPPK1 depletion markedly repressed cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and stemness of esophageal cancer cells. The inhibition effects of METTL3 deficiency on these malignant behaviors were harbored by EPPK1 upregulation in esophageal cancer cells. In addition, METTL3 deficiency reduced EPPK1 expression to inactivate the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our results revealed that METTL3 deficiency regulated the m6A modification of EPPK1 to inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby restraining the progression of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanyang First People's Hospital, Nanyang, China
| | - Longhai Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanyang First People's Hospital, Nanyang, China
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Rajendran P, Sekar R, Dhayasankar PS, Ali EM, Abdelsalam SA, Balaraman S, Chellappan BV, Metwally AM, Abdallah BM. PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway Mediated Autophagy in Oral Carcinoma - A Comprehensive Review. Int J Med Sci 2024; 21:1165-1175. [PMID: 38774756 PMCID: PMC11103401 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.94566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer is the most heterogeneous cancer at clinical and histological levels. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was identified as one of the most commonly modulated signals in oral cancer, which regulates major cellular and metabolic activity of the cell. Thus, various proteins of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were used as therapeutic targets for oral cancer, to design more specific drugs with less off-target toxicity. This review sheds light on the regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and its role in controlling autophagy and associated apoptosis during the progression and metastasis of oral squamous type of malignancy (OSCC). In addition, we reviewed in detail the upstream activators and the downstream effectors of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling as potential therapeutic targets for oral cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peramaiyan Rajendran
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600 077, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramya Sekar
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600 077, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, MAHER, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai-600095, India
| | - Prabhu Shankar Dhayasankar
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, MAHER, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai-600095, India
| | - Enas M Ali
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, 12613, Egypt
| | - Salaheldin Abdelraouf Abdelsalam
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Sabarinath Balaraman
- Department of Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, MAHER, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai-600095, India
| | | | - Ashraf M. Metwally
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
| | - Basem M Abdallah
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
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Lei K, Liang R, Liang J, Lu N, Huang J, Xu K, Tan B, Wang K, Liang Y, Wang W, Lin H, Wang M. CircPDE5A-encoded novel regulator of the PI3K/AKT pathway inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by promoting USP14-mediated de-ubiquitination of PIK3IP1. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:124. [PMID: 38658954 PMCID: PMC11040784 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03054-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common gastrointestinal tumor and has become an important global health problem. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays a key role in the development of ESCC. CircRNAs have been reported to be involved in the regulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify protein-coding circRNAs and investigate their functions in ESCC. METHODS Differential expression of circRNAs between ESCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was identified using circRNA microarray analysis. Thereafter, LC-MS/MS was used to identify circPDE5A-encoded novel protein PDE5A-500aa. Molecular biological methods were used to explore the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of circPDE5A and PDE5A-500aa in ESCC. Lastly, circRNA-loaded nanoplatforms were constructed to investigate the therapeutic translation value of circPDE5A. RESULTS We found that circPDE5A expression was down-regulated in ESCC cells and tissues and that it was negatively associated with advanced clinicopathological stages and poorer prognosis in ESCC. Functionally, circPDE5A inhibited ESCC proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo by encoding PDE5A-500aa, a key regulator of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in ESCC. Mechanistically, PDE5A-500aa interacted with PIK3IP1 and promoted USP14-mediated de-ubiquitination of the k48-linked polyubiquitin chain at its K198 residue, thereby attenuating the PI3K/AKT pathway in ESCC. In addition, Meo-PEG-S-S-PLGA-based reduction-responsive nanoplatforms loaded with circPDE5A and PDE5A-500aa plasmids were found to successfully inhibit the growth and metastasis of ESCC in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION The novel protein PDE5A-500aa encoded by circPDE5A can act as an inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to inhibit the progression of ESCC by promoting USP14-mediated de-ubiquitination of PIK3IP1 and may serve as a potential target for the development of therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Lei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Ruihao Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jialu Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Nan Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan, 528200, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Ke Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Binghua Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Kexi Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yicheng Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Wenjian Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Huayue Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Minghui Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
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Du R, Xiao N, Han L, Guo K, Li K, Chen Z, Zhang H, Zhou Z, Huang Y, Zhao X, Bian H. Dexrazoxane inhibits the growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by attenuating SDCBP/MDA-9/syntenin-mediated EGFR-PI3K-Akt pathway activation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9167. [PMID: 38649770 PMCID: PMC11035576 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59665-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Syndecan-binding protein (SDCBP) was reported to stimulate the advancement of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and could potentially be a target for ESCC treatment. There is a growing corpus of research on the anti-tumor effects of iron chelators; however, very few studies have addressed the involvement of dexrazoxane in cancer. In this study, structure-based virtual screening was employed to select drugs targeting SDCBP from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug databases. The sepharose 4B beads pull-down assay revealed that dexrazoxane targeted SDCBP by interacting with its PDZ1 domain. Additionally, dexrazoxane inhibited ESCC cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony formation via SDCBP. ESCC cell apoptosis and G2 phase arrest were induced as measured by the flow cytometry assay. Subsequent research revealed that dexrazoxane attenuated the binding ability between SDCBP and EGFR in an immunoprecipitation assay. Furthermore, dexrazoxane impaired EGFR membrane localization and inactivated the EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway. In vivo, xenograft mouse experiments indicated that dexrazoxane suppressed ESCC tumor growth. These data indicate that dexrazoxane might be established as a potential anti-cancer agent in ESCC by targeting SDCBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijuan Du
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, No. 80, Changjiang Road, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Nan Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Han
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, No. 80, Changjiang Road, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - KeLei Guo
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, No. 80, Changjiang Road, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Li
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, No. 80, Changjiang Road, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiguo Chen
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, No. 80, Changjiang Road, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zijun Zhou
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunlong Huang
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xulin Zhao
- Oncology Department, Nanyang First People's Hospital, Nan Yang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Bian
- Zhang Zhongjing School of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Zhang Zhongjing Formulae and Herbs for Immunoregulation, Nanyang Institute of Technology, No. 80, Changjiang Road, Nanyang, 473004, Henan, People's Republic of China.
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Zheng S, He S, Liang Y, Tan Y, Liu Q, Liu T, Lu X. Understanding PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in squamous cell carcinoma: mutated PIK3CA as an example. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2024; 5:13. [PMID: 38616230 PMCID: PMC11016524 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-024-00176-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Compared with those in adenocarcinoma, PIK3CA mutations are more common in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which arises from stratified squamous epithelia that are usually exposed to adverse environmental factors. Although hotspot mutations in exons 9 and 20 of PIK3CA, including E542K, E545K, H1047L and H1047R, are frequently encountered in the clinic, their clinicopathological meaning remains to be determined in the context of SCC. Considering that few reviews on PIK3CA mutations in SCC are available in the literature, we undertook this review to shed light on the clinical significance of PIK3CA mutations, mainly regarding the implications and ramifications of PIK3CA mutations in malignant cell behavior, prognosis, relapse or recurrence and chemo- or radioresistance of SCC. It should be noted that only those studies regarding SCC in which PIK3CA was mutated were cherry-picked, which fell within the scope of this review. However, the role of mutated PIK3CA in adenocarcinoma has not been discussed. In addition, mutations occurring in other main members of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway other than PIK3CA were also excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shutao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo He
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China.
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Singh H, Chopra H, Singh I, Mohanto S, Ahmed MG, Ghumra S, Seelan A, Survase M, Kumar A, Mishra A, Mishra AK, Kamal MA. Molecular targeted therapies for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: recent developments and clinical implications. EXCLI JOURNAL 2024; 23:300-334. [PMID: 38655092 PMCID: PMC11036065 DOI: 10.17179/excli2023-6489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is a common and potentially fatal type of skin cancer that poses a significant threat to public health and has a high prevalence rate. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin surface increases the risk of cSCC, especially in those with genetic syndromes like xerodermapigmentosum and epidermolysis bullosa. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cSCC is critical for developing personalized treatment approaches that are effective in cSCC. This article provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of cSCC pathogenesis, emphasizing dysregulated signaling pathways and the significance of molecular profiling. Several limitations and challenges associated with conventional therapies, however, are identified, stressing the need for novel therapeutic strategies. The article further discusses molecular targets and therapeutic approaches, i.e., epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, hedgehog pathway inhibitors, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors, as well as emerging molecular targets and therapeutic agents. The manuscript explores resistance mechanisms to molecularly targeted therapies and proposes methods to overcome them, including combination strategies, rational design, and optimization. The clinical implications and patient outcomes of molecular-targeted treatments are assessed, including response rates and survival outcomes. The management of adverse events and toxicities in molecular-targeted therapies is crucial and requires careful monitoring and control. The paper further discusses future directions for therapeutic advancement and research in this area, as well as the difficulties and constraints associated with conventional therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harpreet Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IFTM University, Moradabad, U.P., India, 244102
| | - Hitesh Chopra
- Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai - 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Inderbir Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Sourav Mohanto
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Yenepoya Pharmacy College & Research Center, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Mohammed Gulzar Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Yenepoya Pharmacy College & Research Center, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Shruti Ghumra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sunandan Divatia School of Science, NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Pherozeshah Mehta Rd, Mumbai, India, 400056
| | - Anmol Seelan
- Mahatma Gandhi Mission, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Aurangabad, India
| | - Manisha Survase
- Mahatma Gandhi Mission, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Aurangabad, India
| | - Arvind Kumar
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IFTM University, Moradabad, U.P., India, 244102
| | - Amrita Mishra
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi, India, 110017
| | - Arun Kumar Mishra
- SOS School of Pharmacy, IFTM University, Moradabad, U.P., India, 244102
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh
- Enzymoics, 7 Peterlee Place, Hebersham, NSW 2770; Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Australia
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9
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Morgos DT, Stefani C, Miricescu D, Greabu M, Stanciu S, Nica S, Stanescu-Spinu II, Balan DG, Balcangiu-Stroescu AE, Coculescu EC, Georgescu DE, Nica RI. Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Gastric Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1848. [PMID: 38339127 PMCID: PMC10856016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, with more than 1 million cases diagnosed every year. Helicobacter pylori represents the main risk factor, being responsible for 78% of the cases. Increased amounts of salt, pickled food, red meat, alcohol, smoked food, and refined sugars negatively affect the stomach wall, contributing to GC development. Several gene mutations, including PIK3CA, TP53, ARID1A, CDH1, Ras, Raf, and ERBB3 are encountered in GC pathogenesis, leading to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-PI3K/AKT/mTOR-and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway activation and promoting tumoral activity. Helicobacter pylori, growth factors, cytokines, hormones, and oxidative stress also activate both pathways, enhancing GC development. In clinical trials, promising results have come from monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab and ramucirumab. Dual inhibitors targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways were used in vitro studies, also with promising results. The main aim of this review is to present GC incidence and risk factors and the dysregulations of the two protein kinase complexes together with their specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana-Theodora Morgos
- Discipline of Anatomy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Constantin Stefani
- Department I of Family Medicine and Clinical Base, “Dr. Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Daniela Miricescu
- Discipline of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Maria Greabu
- Discipline of Biochemistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Silviu Stanciu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Silvia Nica
- Emergency Discipline, University Hospital of Bucharest, 050098 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Iulia-Ioana Stanescu-Spinu
- Discipline of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (D.G.B.); (A.-E.B.-S.)
| | - Daniela Gabriela Balan
- Discipline of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (D.G.B.); (A.-E.B.-S.)
| | - Andra-Elena Balcangiu-Stroescu
- Discipline of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (I.-I.S.-S.); (D.G.B.); (A.-E.B.-S.)
| | - Elena-Claudia Coculescu
- Discipline of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Dragos-Eugen Georgescu
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 50474 Bucharest, Romania;
- Department of General Surgery, “Dr. Ion Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, 020475 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Remus Iulian Nica
- Central Military Emergency University Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
- Discipline of General Surgery, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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10
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Wang M, Gao M, Chen Y, Wu J, Wang X, Shu Y. PLCD3 promotes malignant cell behaviors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT/P21 signaling. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:921. [PMID: 37773107 PMCID: PMC10542242 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11409-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phospholipase C Delta 3 (PLCD3) is a member of phospholipase C(PLC) Protein and PLCD3 protein plays a prominent role in many cancers. However, little is known about the role of PLCD3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed PLCD3 mRNA and protein expression in ESCC tissues and cell lines by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR, and western blot. The correlation between PLCD3 expression and clinicopathological characteristics was also analyzed. CCK8, colony formation, wound-healing, and transwell assays were conducted to measure cell functional alternations. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the apoptosis rate and cell cycle caused by PLCD3 knockdown. Xenograft models in nude mice to clarify the role of PLCD3 in ESCC. Key proteins in the PI3K / AKT signaling pathway after treatment of ECA109 and KYSE150 cells with the AKT inhibitor MK2206 were analyzed by western blot. RESULTS PLCD3 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cell lines. PLCD3 expression levels correlated with pathologic stage and lymphatic metastasis. PLCD3 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, promoted apoptosis, and caused the cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. PLCD3 overexpression promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In vivo experiments with xenografts demonstrated that PLCD3 promoted ESCC tumorigenesis. Finally, Overexpression of PLCD3 activated the PI3K / AKT / P21 signaling. CONCLUSION PLCD3 promotes malignant cell behaviors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT/P21 signaling and could serve as a potential target for ESCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mingjun Gao
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225000, China.
| | - Yusheng Shu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225000, China.
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11
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Meng RY, Li CS, Hu D, Kwon SG, Jin H, Chai OH, Lee JS, Kim SM. Inhibition of the interaction between Hippo/YAP and Akt signaling with ursolic acid and 3'3-diindolylmethane suppresses esophageal cancer tumorigenesis. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 27:493-511. [PMID: 37641811 PMCID: PMC10466072 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2023.27.5.493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Hippo/YAP signaling hinders cancer progression. Inactivation of this pathway contributes to the development of esophageal cancer by activation of Akt. However, the possible interaction between Akt and Hippo/YAP pathways in esophageal cancer progression is unclear. In this study, we found that ursolic acid (UA) plus 3'3-diindolylmethane (DIM) efficiently suppressed the oncogenic Akt/Gsk-3β signaling pathway while activating the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway in esophageal cancer cells. Moreover, the addition of the Akt inhibitor LY294002 and the PI3K inhibitor 3-methyladenine enhanced the inhibitory effects of UA plus DIM on Akt pathway activation and further stimulated the Hippo pathway, including the suppression of YAP nuclear translocation in esophageal cancer cells. Silencing YAP under UA plus DIM conditions significantly increased the activation of the tumor suppressor PTEN in esophageal cancer cells, while decreasing p-Akt activation, indicating that the Akt signaling pathway could be down-regulated in esophageal cancer cells by targeting PTEN. Furthermore, in a xenograft nude mice model, UA plus DIM treatment effectively diminished esophageal tumors by inactivating the Akt pathway and stimulating the Hippo signaling pathway. Thus, our study highlights a feedback loop between the PI3K/Akt and Hippo signaling pathways in esophageal cancer cells, implying that a low dose of UA plus DIM could serve as a promising chemotherapeutic combination strategy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo Yu Meng
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Cong Shan Li
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Dan Hu
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Soon-Gu Kwon
- Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hua Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ok Hee Chai
- Department of Anatomy, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Ju-Seog Lee
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Soo Mi Kim
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
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12
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An L, Li M, Jia Q. Mechanisms of radiotherapy resistance and radiosensitization strategies for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:140. [PMID: 37598158 PMCID: PMC10439611 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01839-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with more than half of them occurred in China. Radiotherapy (RT) has been widely used for treating ESCC. However, radiation-induced DNA damage response (DDR) can promote the release of cytokines and chemokines, and triggers inflammatory reactions and changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby inhibiting the immune function and causing the invasion and metastasis of ESCC. Radioresistance is the major cause of disease progression and mortality in cancer, and it is associated with heterogeneity. Therefore, a better understanding of the radioresistance mechanisms may generate more reversal strategies to improve the cure rates and survival periods of ESCC patients. We mainly summarized the possible mechanisms of radioresistance in order to reveal new targets for ESCC therapy. Then we summarized and compared the current strategies to reverse radioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingbo An
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- College of Medical Technology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Mingyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Qingge Jia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
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13
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Xu W, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Jiang Y, Wang Z. Exosomal PIK3CB promotes PD-L1 expression and malignant transformation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Med Oncol 2023; 40:221. [PMID: 37402056 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02093-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which accounts for 90% of esophageal carcinomas, seriously endangers human health. Worse still, the 5-year overall survival of ESCC is approximately 20%. Elucidation of the potential mechanism and exploration of promising drugs for ESCC are urgently needed. In this study, a high level of exosomal PIK3CB protein was found in the plasma of ESCC patients, which might indicate a poor prognosis. Moreover, a significant Pearson's correlation was observed at the protein level between exosomal PIK3CB and exosomal PD-L1. Further study revealed that cancer cell-intrinsic and exosome-derived PIK3CB promoted the transcriptional activity of the PD-L1 promoter in ESCC cells. Moreover, treatment with exosomes with lower levels of exosomal PIK3CB decreased the protein level of the mesenchymal marker β-catenin while increasing that of the epithelial marker claudin-1, indicating the potential regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Consequently, the migratory ability and cancer stemness of ESCC cells and the growth of tumors formed by ESCC cells were decreased with the downregulation of exosomal PIK3CB. Therefore, exosomal PIK3CB plays an oncogenic role by promoting PD-L1 expression and malignant transformation in ESCC. This study may provide new insight into the inherent biological aggressiveness and the poor response to currently available therapies of ESCC. Exosomal PIK3CB may be a promising target for the diagnosis and therapy of ESCC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuequan Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.
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14
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Fan W, Lan S, Yang Y, Liang J. Network pharmacology prediction and molecular docking-based strategy to discover the potential pharmacological mechanism of Huang-Qi-Gui-Zhi-Wu-Wu decoction against deep vein thrombosis. J Orthop Surg Res 2023; 18:475. [PMID: 37391801 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-023-03948-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction (HQGZWWD) has been used to treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in China. However, its potential mechanisms of action remain unclear. This study aimed to utilize network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of action of HQGZWWD in DVT. METHODS We identified the main chemical components of HQGZWWD by reviewing the literature and using a Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. We used GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases to identify the targets of DVT. Herb-disease-gene-target networks using Cytascape 3.8.2 software; a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by combining drug and disease targets on the STRING platform. Additionally, we conducted Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Finally, molecular docking verification of active components and core protein targets was conducted. RESULTS A total of 64 potential targets related to DVT were identified in HQGZWWD, with 41 active components; quercetin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol were the most effective compounds. The PPI network analysis revealed that AKT1, IL1B, and IL6 were the most abundant proteins with the highest degree. GO analysis indicated that DVT treatment with HQGZWWD could involve the response to inorganic substances, positive regulation of phosphorylation, plasma membrane protein complexes, and signaling receptor regulator activity. KEGG analysis revealed that the signaling pathways included pathways in cancer, lipid and atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases/protein kinase B(PI3K-Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. The molecular docking results indicated that quercetin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol exhibited strong binding affinities for AKT1, IL1B, and IL6. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that AKT1, IL1B, and IL6 are promising targets for treating DVT with HQGZWWD. The active components of HQGZWWD likely responsible for its effectiveness against DVT are quercetin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol, they may inhibit platelet activation and endothelial cell apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, slowing the progression of DVT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Fan
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Sichuan Provincial Laboratory of Orthopaedic Engineering, Luzhou, China
| | - Shuangli Lan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunkang Yang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
- Sichuan Provincial Laboratory of Orthopaedic Engineering, Luzhou, China.
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
- Sichuan Provincial Laboratory of Orthopaedic Engineering, Luzhou, China.
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15
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Luo Z, Ding E, Yu L, Wang W, Guo Q, Li X, Wang Y, Li T, Zhang Y, Zhang X. Identification of hub necroptosis-related lncRNAs for prognosis prediction of esophageal carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:204763. [PMID: 37263709 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Necroptosis is a newly identified programmed cell death associated with the biological process of various cancers, including esophageal carcinoma (ESCA). Meanwhile, the dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is greatly implicated in ESCA progression and necroptosis regulation. However, the lncRNAs involved in regulating necroptosis in ESCA are still unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the expression profile of necroptosis-related lncRNAs (NRLs), and evaluate their roles in ESCA prognosis and treatment. In the present study, 198 differentially expressed NRLs were identified between the ESCA and adjacent normal tissues through screening the data extracted from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. And, a prognostic panel consisting of 6 NRLs was constructed using the LASSO algorithm and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The ESCA patients with high risks had a markedly reduced survival time and higher mortality prevalence. Moreover, C-index of 6 NRLs-panel was superior to 48 published prognostic models based on lncRNAs or mRNAs for ESCA. There were significant differences between the high-risk and low-risk groups in tumor-related pathways, genetic mutations, and drug sensitivity responses. In vitro analysis revealed that inhibition of PVT1 impeded the proliferation, migration, and colony formation of ESCA cells, increased the expressions of p-RIP1 and p-MLKL and promoted necroptosis. By contrast, PVT1 overexpression resulted in a decrease in necroptotic cell death events, thus promoting tumor progression. Collectively, the established 6-NRLs panel was a promising biomarker for the prognostic prediction of ESCA. Moreover, our current findings provided potential targets for individualized therapy for ESCA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengdong Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - E Ding
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Longchen Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wenwu Wang
- Hangzhou Lin’an District Fourth People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qining Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xinyang Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
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16
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Richter M, Lalli E, Ruggiero C. Complex and pleiotropic signaling pathways regulated by the secreted protein augurin. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:69. [PMID: 37041625 PMCID: PMC10088197 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01090-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The secreted protein augurin, the product of the tumor suppressor gene Ecrg4, has been identified as a peptide hormone in the human proteome in 2007. Since then, a number of studies have been carried out to highlight its structure and processing and its potential roles in physiopathology. Although augurin has been shown to be implicated in a variety of processes, ranging from tumorigenesis, inflammation and infection to neural stem cell proliferation, hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis regulation and osteoblast differentiation, the molecular mechanisms of its biological effects and the signaling pathways it regulates are still poorly characterized. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of augurin-dependent signal transduction pathways. Because of their secreted nature and the potential to be manipulated pharmacologically, augurin and its derived peptides represent attractive targets for diagnostic development and discovery of new therapeutic agents for the human diseases resulting from the deregulation of the signaling cascades they modulate. From this perspective, the characterization of the precise nature of augurin derived peptides and the identification of the receptor(s) on the cell surface conveying augurin signaling to downstream effectors are crucial to develop agonists and antagonists for this protein. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Richter
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275, Valbonne, France
- Universite Cote d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | - Enzo Lalli
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275, Valbonne, France
- Universite Cote d'Azur, Valbonne, France
- Inserm, Valbonne, France
| | - Carmen Ruggiero
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275, Valbonne, France.
- Universite Cote d'Azur, Valbonne, France.
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17
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Liu WJ, Zhao Y, Chen X, Miao ML, Zhang RQ. Epigenetic modifications in esophageal cancer: An evolving biomarker. Front Genet 2023; 13:1087479. [PMID: 36704345 PMCID: PMC9871503 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1087479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is a widespread cancer of the digestive system that has two main subtypes: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA). In the diverse range of cancer therapy schemes, the side effects of conventional treatments remain an urgent challenge to be addressed. Therefore, the pursuit of novel drugs with multiple targets, good efficacy, low side effects, and low cost has become a hot research topic in anticancer therapy. Based on this, epigenetics offers an attractive target for the treatment of esophageal cancer, where major mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNA regulation, chromatin remodelling and nucleosome localization offer new opportunities for the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer. Recently, research on epigenetics has remained at a high level of enthusiasm, focusing mainly on translating the basic research into the clinical setting and transforming epigenetic alterations into targets for cancer screening and detection in the clinic. With the increasing emergence of tumour epigenetic markers and antitumor epigenetic drugs, there are also more possibilities for anti-esophageal cancer treatment. This paper focuses on esophageal cancer and epigenetic modifications, with the aim of unravelling the close link between them to facilitate precise and personalized treatment of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jian Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xu Chen
- School of Basic Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Man-Li Miao
- School of Basic Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ren-Quan Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China,*Correspondence: Ren-Quan Zhang,
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18
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Alotaibi A, Gadekar VP, Gundla PS, Mandarthi S, Ravi S, Mallya D, Tungekar A, Lavanya BV, Bhagavath AK, Cordero MW, Pitkaniemi J, Seetharam RN, Bepari A, Hebbar P. A comprehensive analysis of mRNA expression profiles of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma reveals downregulation of Desmoglein 1 and crucial genomic targets. Cancer Biomark 2023; 38:465-487. [PMID: 38073377 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-230145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) is a histological subtype of esophageal cancer that begins in the squamous cells in the esophagus. In only 19% of the ESCC-diagnosed patients, a five-year survival rate has been seen. This necessitates the identification of high-confidence biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets for the mitigation of ESCC. METHOD We performed a meta-analysis of 10 mRNA datasets and identified consistently perturbed genes across the studies. Then, integrated with ESCC ATLAS to segregate 'core' genes to identify consequences of primary gene perturbation events leading to gene-gene interactions and dysregulated molecular signaling pathways. Further, by integrating with toxicogenomics data, inferences were drawn for gene interaction with environmental exposures, trace elements, chemical carcinogens, and drug chemicals. We also deduce the clinical outcomes of candidate genes based on survival analysis using the ESCC related dataset in The Cancer Genome Atlas. RESULT We identified 237 known and 18 novel perturbed candidate genes. Desmoglein 1 (DSG1) is one such gene that we found significantly downregulated (Fold Change =-1.89, p-value = 8.2e-06) in ESCC across six different datasets. Further, we identified 31 'core' genes (that either harbor genetic variants or are regulated by epigenetic modifications) and found regulating key biological pathways via adjoining genes in gene-gene interaction networks. Functional enrichment analysis showed dysregulated biological processes and pathways including "Extracellular matrix", "Collagen trimmer" and "HPV infection" are significantly overrepresented in our candidate genes. Based on the toxicogenomic inferences from Comparative Toxicogenomics Database we report the key genes that interacted with risk factors such as tobacco smoking, zinc, nitroso benzylmethylamine, and drug chemicals such as cisplatin, Fluorouracil, and Mitomycin in relation to ESCC. We also point to the STC2 gene that shows a high risk for mortality in ESCC patients. CONCLUSION We identified novel perturbed genes in relation to ESCC and explored their interaction network. DSG1 is one such gene, its association with microbiota and a clinical presentation seen commonly with ESCC hints that it is a good candidate for early diagnostic marker. Besides, in this study we highlight candidate genes and their molecular connections to risk factors, biological pathways, drug chemicals, and the survival probability of ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Alotaibi
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Veerendra P Gadekar
- Mbiomics LLC, Lewes DE, USA
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ashok Kumar Bhagavath
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler, Texas, TX, USA
| | - MaryAnne Wong Cordero
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Janne Pitkaniemi
- Finnish Cancer Registry, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Raviraja N Seetharam
- Manipal Center for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Asmatanzeem Bepari
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Prashantha Hebbar
- Mbiomics LLC, Lewes DE, USA
- Manipal Center for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Meta Biosciences Pvt Ltd., Manipal - GOK Bioincubator, Advanced Research Center, Manipal, India
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Zhou Y, Jiang R, Jiang Y, Fu Y, Manafhan Y, Zhu J, Jia E. Exploration of N6-Methyladenosine Profiles of mRNAs and the Function of METTL3 in Atherosclerosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11192980. [PMID: 36230944 PMCID: PMC9563305 DOI: 10.3390/cells11192980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: N6-methylladenosine (m6A) modification has not been fully studied in atherosclerosis. The objectives of this study were to investigate differentially expressed m6A methylated peaks and mRNAs, along with the regulatory role of methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) in pathological processes of atherosclerosis. Methods: The pathological models of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs) were induced in vitro. The differentially expressed mRNAs and m6A peaks were identified by RNA-Seq and meRIP-Seq. The potential mechanisms were analyzed via bioinformatic assays. Methylases expression was tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) in HCASMCs, and by immunohistochemical assays in 40 human coronary arteries. The knockdown of METTL3 expression in cells was performed by siRNA transfection, and cell proliferation and migration were detected after transfection. Results: We identified 5121 m6A peaks and 883 mRNAs that were expressed differentially in the pathological processes of HCASMCs. Bioinformatic analyses showed that the different m6A peaks were associated with cell growth and cell adhesion, and the 883 genes showed that the extracellular matrix and PI3K/AKT pathway regulate the processes of HCASMCs. Additionally, 10 hub genes and 351 mRNAs with differential methylation and expression levels were found. METTL3 was upregulated in the arteries with atherosclerotic lesions and in the proliferation and migration model of HCASMCs, and pathological processes of HCASMCs could be inhibited by the knockdown of METTL3. The mechanisms behind regulation of migration and proliferation reduced by siMETTL3 are concerned with protein synthesis and energy metabolism. Conclusions: These results revealed a new m6A epigenetic method to regulate the progress of atherosclerosis, which suggest approaches for potential therapeutic interventions that target METTL3 for the prevention and treatment of coronary artery diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqing Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Guangzhou Road 300, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Rongli Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Guangzhou Road 300, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yali Jiang
- The Friendship Hospital of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture,Ili & Jiangsu Joint Institute of Health, Yining 835000, China
| | - Yahong Fu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Guangzhou Road 300, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yerbolat Manafhan
- Department of Hypertension, Yili Friendship Hospital, Stalin Road 92, Yining 835000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.M.); (J.Z.); (E.J.); Tel.: +86-13951623205 (E.J.); +86-13809049659 (J.Z.); +86-13899798859 (Y.M.)
| | - Jinfu Zhu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
- Correspondence: (Y.M.); (J.Z.); (E.J.); Tel.: +86-13951623205 (E.J.); +86-13809049659 (J.Z.); +86-13899798859 (Y.M.)
| | - Enzhi Jia
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Guangzhou Road 300, Nanjing 210029, China
- Correspondence: (Y.M.); (J.Z.); (E.J.); Tel.: +86-13951623205 (E.J.); +86-13809049659 (J.Z.); +86-13899798859 (Y.M.)
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Prognostic Value of GPNMB, EGFR, p-PI3K, and Ki-67 in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2022; 2022:9303081. [PMID: 36090016 PMCID: PMC9452951 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9303081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. GPNMB is a newly discovered tumour-promoting factor that may promote tumour cell progression by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway by EGFR. However, there are insufficient studies about GPNMB in ESCC. This study investigated the relationship between GPNMB and EGFR/PI3K pathway genes in ESCC. Methods. The expression levels of GPNMB, EGFR, p-PI3K, and Ki-67 were examined using immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 22.0 and R. Results. GPNMB mRNA expression is higher in ESCC compared with paracancerous tissues. The expression of EGFR, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, and AKT1 was increased in GPNMB upregulated samples. GPNMB expression was positively correlated with EGFR, p-PI3K, and Ki-67 expression. GPNMB was expressed higher in the AJCC III stage, lymph node metastasis, and moderately poorly differentiated patients. EGFR was higher expressed in patients with vascular invasion; p-PI3K expression in Kazak was higher than that in Han; Ki-67 expression was higher in
. Patients with high expression of GPNMB, p-PI3K, and Ki-67 had worse OS. p-PI3K, Ki-67, nerve invasion, and lymphatic metastasis were independent risk factors, and postoperative adjuvant therapy was a protective factor in ESCC. Conclusion. As a tumour-promoting factor, GPNMB is expected to be a potential target for ESCC.
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Lee YC, Lin CH, Chang WL, Lin WD, Pan JK, Wang WJ, Su BC, Chung HH, Tsai CH, Lin FC, Wang WC, Lu PJ. Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy-Driven Cell Plasticity by miR-200 Family Implicates the Therapeutic Response of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084367. [PMID: 35457185 PMCID: PMC9030842 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common and fatal malignancy with an increasing incidence worldwide. Over the past decade, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with or without surgery is an emerging therapeutic approach for locally advanced ESCC. Unfortunately, many patients exhibit poor response or develop acquired resistance to CCRT. Once resistance occurs, the overall survival rate drops down rapidly and without proper further treatment options, poses a critical clinical challenge for ESCC therapy. Here, we utilized lab-created CCRT-resistant cells as a preclinical study model to investigate the association of chemoradioresistantresistance with miRNA-mediated cell plasticity alteration, and to determine whether reversing EMT status can re-sensitize refractory cancer cells to CCRT response. During the CCRT treatment course, refractory cancer cells adopted the conversion of epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype; additionally, miR-200 family members were found significantly down-regulated in CCRT resistance cells by miRNA microarray screening. Down-regulated miR-200 family in CCRT resistance cells suppressed E-cadherin expression through snail and slug, and accompany with an increase in N-cadherin. Rescuing expressions of miR-200 family members in CCRT resistance cells, particularly in miR-200b and miR-200c, could convert cells to epithelial phenotype by increasing E-cadherin expression and sensitize cells to CCRT treatment. Conversely, the suppression of miR-200b and miR-200c in ESCC cells attenuated E-cadherin, and that converted cells to mesenchymal type by elevating N-cadherin expression, and impaired cell sensitivity to CCRT treatment. Moreover, the results of ESCC specimens staining established the clinical relevance that higher N-cadherin expression levels associate with the poor CCRT response outcome in ESCC patients. Conclusively, miR-200b and miR-200c can modulate the conversion of epithelial–mesenchymal phenotype in ESCC, and thereby altering the response of cells to CCRT treatment. Targeting epithelial–mesenchymal conversion in acquired CCRT resistance may be a potential therapeutic option for ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Cheng Lee
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Cheng-Han Lin
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 35 Xiaodong Rd., Tainan 704, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (W.-L.C.); (W.-D.L.); (J.-K.P.); (C.-H.T.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 840, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Lun Chang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 35 Xiaodong Rd., Tainan 704, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (W.-L.C.); (W.-D.L.); (J.-K.P.); (C.-H.T.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Der Lin
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 35 Xiaodong Rd., Tainan 704, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (W.-L.C.); (W.-D.L.); (J.-K.P.); (C.-H.T.)
| | - Jhih-Kai Pan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 35 Xiaodong Rd., Tainan 704, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (W.-L.C.); (W.-D.L.); (J.-K.P.); (C.-H.T.)
| | - Wei-Jan Wang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan;
| | - Bor-Chyuan Su
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Hsien-Hui Chung
- Preventive Medicine Program, Center for General Education, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan;
- Department of Pharmacy and Master Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung 907, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Hsun Tsai
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 35 Xiaodong Rd., Tainan 704, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (W.-L.C.); (W.-D.L.); (J.-K.P.); (C.-H.T.)
| | - Forn-Chia Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan;
| | - Wen-Ching Wang
- Department of Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, No. 901, Zhonghua Rd., Yongkang Dist., Tainan 710, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (W.-C.W.); (P.-J.L.); Tel.: +886-6-2353535 (ext. 4415) (P.-J.L.); Fax: +886-6-3028162 (P.-J.L.)
| | - Pei-Jung Lu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 35 Xiaodong Rd., Tainan 704, Taiwan; (C.-H.L.); (W.-L.C.); (W.-D.L.); (J.-K.P.); (C.-H.T.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine Research, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (W.-C.W.); (P.-J.L.); Tel.: +886-6-2353535 (ext. 4415) (P.-J.L.); Fax: +886-6-3028162 (P.-J.L.)
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