Role of Nucleobindin-2 in the Clinical Pathogenesis and Treatment Resistance of Glioblastoma

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer Resistance Against Therapeutics

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are specialized cells that can differentiate into various types of cells. MSCs can be utilized to treat cancer. However, a MSC is considered a double-edged sword, because it can promote tumor progression and support cancer cell growth. Likewise, MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) carry various intracellular materials and transfer them to other cells. MSC-Exos could also cause tumor progression, including brain cancer, breast cancer, hepatic cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer, and develop resistance against therapies, mainly chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. An MSC-Exo promotes tumor development and causes drug resistance in various cancer types. The mechanisms involved in cancer drug resistance vary depending on the cancer cell heterogeneity and complexity. In this article, we have explained the various biomarkers and mechanisms involved in the tumor and resistance development through MSC-Exos in different cancer types.

NUCB2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis by activating the E2F4/PTGR1 axis

Background: The important role of nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) in various cancers has been recently recognized. However, its biological functions and regulatory mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Methods: The expression level of NUCB2 in HCC was assessed using public databases, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. The effects of NUCB2 on cell proliferation and metastasis were investigated using colony formation, EdU, Transwell assays, and an in vivo mouse xenograft model. Regulation of E2F4 by NUCB2 was identified by protein half-life and in vivo ubiquitylation assays. The relationship between E2F4 and prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1) was investigated by qRT-PCR, RT-PCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results: This study found that NUCB2 expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues, and patients with high expression displayed shorter survival rates. Inhibition of NUCB2 reduced the proliferation and metastatic potential of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. NUCB2 depletion reduced PTGR1 expression, which reduced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings suggested that NUCB2 suppressed E2F4 degradation by interacting with E2F4. Additionally, increased E2F4 levels facilitated PTGR1 transcription by directly binding to the PTGR1 promoter. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the oncogenic properties of NUCB2 in HCC and suggested that NUCB2 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating the E2F4/PTGR1 axis.

Predicted factors of surgical site infection in glioblastoma patients: A meta-analysis

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the common postoperative complications after craniotomy for glioblastoma patients. Previous studies have investigated the risk factors for SSI in patients with glioblastoma. Whereas big differences in research results exist, and the correlation coefficients of different research results are quite different. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the risk factors related to surgical site infection in patients with glioblastoma. We searched English databases to collect case-control studies or cohort studies published before 15 October 2023 including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed via Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.1 tool. A total of 4 articles (n = 2222) were selected in this meta-analysis. The following risk factors were presented to be correlated with SSI in glioblastoma: irradiation (OR = 1.88, 95% CI [0.46, 7.60]), more than 3 surgeries (OR = 2.99, 95% CI [1.47, 6.08]). Occurrence of SSI is influenced by a variety of factors. Thus, we should pay close attention to high-risk subjects and take crucial targeted interventions to lower the SSI risk following craniotomy. Owing to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more rigorous studies with adequate sample sizes are needed to verify the conclusion.