NFκB-Mediated Mechanisms Drive PEDF Expression and Function in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Oestrogen Levels in Breast Cancer

Synergy between PEDF and Doxorubicin in Breast Cancer Cells: Effects on Metastatic and Metabolic Pathways

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a serine protease inhibitor (Serpin) family member, shows promise in inhibiting tumour growth. In our study, we explored the effects of PEDF on the efficacy of the frontline chemotherapy agent doxorubicin (Dox) in BC cells. We found that Dox+PEDF treatment significantly reduced glucose uptake in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to the control (p = 0.0005), PEDF (p = 0.0137), and Dox (p = 0.0171) alone but paradoxically increased it in MCF-7 cells. Our findings further revealed that PEDF, Dox, and Dox+PEDF substantially hindered tumour cell migration from tumour spheroids, with Dox+PEDF showing the most significant impact (p < 0.0001). We also observed notable decreases in the expression of metastatic markers (uPAR, uPA, CXCR4, MT1-MMP, TNF-α) across all treatment groups (p < 0.0001) in both cell lines. When it comes to metabolic pathways, PEDF increased phosphorylated IRS-1 (p-IRS1) levels in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 (p < 0.0001), while Dox decreased it, and the combination led to an increase. In MDA-MB-231 cells, treatment with PEDF, Dox, and the combination led to a notable decrease in both phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) and total AKT levels. In MCF-7, while PEDF, Dox, and their combination led to a reduction in p-AKT, total levels of AKT increased in the presence of Dox and Dox+PEDF. Combining PEDF with Dox enhances the targeting of metastatic and metabolic pathways in breast cancer cell lines. This synergy, marked by PEDF's increasing roles in cancer control, may pave the way for more effective cancer treatments.

The Various Roles of PEDF in Cancer

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a natural immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, anti-tumour growth and anti-metastasis factor, which can enhance tumour response to PEDF but can also conversely have pro-cancerous effects. Inflammation is a major cause of cancer, and it has been proven that PEDF has anti-inflammatory properties. PEDF's functional activity can be investigated through measuring metastatic and metabolic biomarkers that will be discussed in this review.

A Cohort Study Investigating Zearalenone Concentrations and Selected Steroid Levels in Patients with Sigmoid Colorectal Cancer or Colorectal Cancer

THE AIM

In this study was to determine if sigmoid colorectal cancer (SCC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) in women (W) and men (M) is accompanied by zearalenone (ZEN) mycotoxicosis and changes in selected steroid levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cohort study was conducted on female and male patients selected from a population based on the presence of SCC or CRC, which was accompanied by the presence or absence (control group) of ZEN in their blood. The control group consisted of 17 patients with symptoms of SCC and CRC, where ZEN and its metabolites were not detected in the peripheral blood. The experimental groups comprised a total of 16 patients with SCC and CRC, where ZEN, but not its metabolites, was detected in their peripheral blood samples.

RESULTS

In groups SCC and CRC, the ZEN levels were very high, in the range from 214 to 289 ng/mL of blood. Considerable variations were observed in the concentrations of steroid hormones. Estradiol (E2) levels ranged from 166.25 (group C) to 325 pg/mL (group CRC) in women and from 98 (group C) to 95.5 pg/mL (group CRC) in men. Progesterone (P4) levels ranged from 12.09 (group C) to 13.64 ng/mL (group SCC) in women and from 6.98 (group CRC) to 12.01 ng/mL (group C) in men.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that post-menopausal women and similarly aged elderly men have a high and individualized demand for estrogen that is relatively effectively met by ZEN, which triggers qualitative changes in estrogen receptors. The shortage of ZEN metabolites (values under the sensitivity of the method) confirmed the high estrogen demand in the studied subjects. The presence or absence of ZEN could have influenced the therapeutic outcomes in the analyzed patients.

Self-Renewal Inhibition in Breast Cancer Stem Cells: Moonlight Role of PEDF in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among females in developed countries. Although the implementation of screening tests and the development of new therapies have increased the probability of remission, relapse rates remain high. Numerous studies have indicated the connection between cancer-initiating cells and slow cellular cycle cells, identified by their capacity to retain long labeling (LT+). In this study, we perform new assays showing how stem cell self-renewal modulating proteins, such as PEDF, can modify the properties, percentage of biomarker-expressing cells, and carcinogenicity of cancer stem cells. The PEDF signaling pathway could be a useful tool for controlling cancer stem cells' self-renewal and therefore control patient relapse, as PEDF enhances resistance in breast cancer patient cells' in vitro culture. We have designed a peptide consisting of the C-terminal part of this protein, which acts by blocking endogenous PEDF in cell culture assays. We demonstrate that it is possible to interfere with the self-renewal capacity of cancer stem cells, induce anoikis in vivo, and reduce resistance against docetaxel treatment in cancer patient cells in in vitro culture. We have also demonstrated that this modified PEDF protein produces a significant decrease in the percentage of expressed cancer stem cell markers.