Exploring the mTOR Signalling Pathway and Its Inhibitory Scope in Cancer

A Novel CLTC::RPS6KB1 Fusion in a Poorly Differentiated Carcinoma Involving the Lung and Mediastinum

Cancer genetics studies have dramatically advanced the understanding of the molecular drivers in various types of neoplasms. This progress is also leading to the discovery of more new molecular agents to block those drivers, which has significantly improved cancer patient survival, especially in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, in about 25% of NSCLC tumors molecular drivers are not yet known. Herein, we present a poorly differentiated carcinoma involving lung and mediastinum. Next generation sequencing-based RNAseq identified a novel fusion, CLTC::RPS6KB1, while no other known drivers were present.

Erianin inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells by suppressing mTOR activation and disrupting pyrimidine metabolism

OBJECTIVE

Erianin has potential anticancer activities, especially against lung cancer. The specific mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects, including the molecular targets and signaling pathways in lung cancer, remain poorly understood and necessitate further investigation.

METHODS

Lung cancer cell viability was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to examine the effects of erianin on apoptosis and cell cycle progression. mRNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis were utilized to explore erianin-induced biological changes. Potential targets were identified and validated through molecular docking and Western blot analysis. The roles of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase (CAD) in erianin-induced growth inhibition were studied using gene overexpression/knockdown techniques with uridine and aspartate supplementation confirming pyrimidine metabolism involvement. Additionally, lung cancer-bearing nude mouse models were established to evaluate the anti-lung cancer effects of erianin in vivo.

RESULTS

Erianin significantly inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells, induces apoptosis, and causes G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Integrative analysis of mRNA sequencing and metabolomics data demonstrated that erianin disrupts pyrimidine metabolism in lung cancer cells. Notably, uridine supplementation mitigated the inhibitory effects of erianin, establishing a connection between pyrimidine metabolism and anticancer activity. Network pharmacology analyses identified mTOR as a key target of erianin. Erianin inhibited mTOR phosphorylation, thereby blocking downstream effectors (S6K and CAD), which are essential regulators of pyrimidine metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Erianin is a promising therapeutic candidate for lung cancer. Erianin likely inhibits lung cancer cell growth by disrupting pyrimidine metabolism by suppressing mTOR activation.

Early-Stage Renal Cell Carcinoma: Who Needs Adjuvant Therapy?

Surgery is the oldest modality of kidney cancer therapy and is usually the first step in the treatment process. To improve surgical outcomes, adjuvant therapy is frequently administered to eliminate residual tumors and reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis. However, not all patients require adjuvant treatment. The decision regarding whether to treat or not to treat renal cell carcinoma patients depends on the risk of recurrence, including tumor stage and histology, and clinical, biological, and personal risk factors. This article will address the challenges of treating renal cell carcinoma patients with adjuvant therapy and review the current evidence and ongoing clinical trials.

Exercise: a non-drug strategy of NK cell activation

Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of the innate immune system and one of the immune cells most sensitive to exercise. So far, it is widely believed that moderate exercise can significantly enhance the proliferation and activity of NK cells, strengthening immune function. However, the impact of exercise on NK cells is a dynamic and complex process. In addition to the type of exercise, the frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise are also key factors. This article not only briefly summarizes the activation mechanisms of NK cells but also delves into the potential importance of exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy in modulating NK cell activity and enhancing the immune system. Emerging studies have indicated that the timing and regularity of exercise bouts might also influence NK cell responses. Moreover, the interaction between exercise and other components of the immune system, such as cytokines and chemokines, could further modulate the functionality of NK cells. The above research is of crucial significance for achieving a deeper understanding of the intricate connection between exercise and NK cell function, as well as the development of effective health promotion strategies. In addition, further research is needed to investigate the effects of long-term exercise on NK cell function and the interaction between exercise and NK cell-mediated immune responses. Translating these research findings into precisely tailored exercise programs for specific populations, taking into account factors like age, health status, and genetic predisposition, could potentially offer unprecedented prospects for further advancements in this burgeoning field of study.

Association of Stress Defense System With Fine Particulate Matter Exposure: Mechanism Analysis and Application Prospects

The association between the stress defense system and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a hot topic in the field of environmental health. PM2.5 pollution is an increasingly serious issue, and its impact on health cannot be ignored. The stress defense system is an important biological mechanism for maintaining cell and internal environment homeostasis, playing a crucial role in PM2.5-induced damage and diseases. The association between PM2.5 exposure and activation of the stress defense system has been reported. Moderate PM2.5 exposure rapidly mobilizes the stress defense system, while excessive PM2.5 exposure may exceed its compensatory and coping abilities, resulting in system imbalance and dysfunction that triggers pathological changes in cells and tissues, thereby increasing the risk of chronic diseases, such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This detailed review focuses on the composition, function, and regulatory mechanisms of the antioxidant defense system, autophagy system, ubiquitin-proteasome system, and inflammatory response system, which are all components of the stress defiance system. In particular, the influence of PM2.5 exposure on each of these defense systems and their roles in responding to PM2.5-induced damage was investigated to provide an in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of PM2.5 exposure, accurately assess potential hazards, and formulate prevention and intervention strategies for health damage caused by PM2.5 exposure.

Harnessing natural inhibitors of protein synthesis for cancer therapy: A comprehensive review

Cancer treatment remains a formidable challenge in modern medicine, necessitating a nuanced understanding of its molecular underpinnings and the identification of novel therapeutic modalities. Among the intricate web of cellular pathways implicated in oncogenesis, protein synthesis has emerged as a fundamental process warranting meticulous investigation. This review elucidates the multifaceted role of protein synthesis pathways in tumor initiation and progression, highlighting the potential of targeting key nodes within these pathways as viable therapeutic strategies. Natural products have long served as a source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential owing to their structural diversity and evolutionary honing. Within this framework, we provide a thorough examination of natural inhibitors of protein synthesis as promising candidates for cancer therapy, drawing upon recent advancements and mechanistic insights. By synthesizing current evidence and elucidating key challenges and opportunities, this review aims to galvanize further research into the development of natural product-based anticancer therapeutics, thereby advancing the clinical armamentarium against malignancies.

Insights into medicinal attributes of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives as anticancer agents

Cancer ranks among the most life-threatening diseases worldwide and is continuously affecting all age groups. Consequently, many research studies are being carried out to develop new cancer treatments, but many of them experience resistance and cause severe toxicity to the patients. Therefore, there is a continuous need to design novel anticancer agents that are target-based, have a higher potency, and have minimal toxicity. The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (IP) pharmacophore has been found to be a prominent moiety in the field of medicinal chemistry due to its vast biological properties. Also, it holds immense potential for combating cancer with minimal side effects, depending on the substitution patterns of the core structure. IPs exhibit significant capability in regulating various cellular pathways, offering possibilities for targeted anticancer effects. The present review summarizes the anticancer profile of numerous IP derivatives synthesized and developed by various researchers from 2016 till now, as inhibitors of phosphoinositide-3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/mTOR), protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and tubulin polymerization. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the anticancer activity afforded by the discussed IP compounds, emphasizing the structure-activity-relationships (SARs). The aim is also to underscore the potential therapeutic future of the IP moiety as a potent partial structure for upcoming cancer drug development and to aid researchers in the field of rational drug design.

mTOR Dysregulation, Insulin Resistance, and Hypertension

Worldwide, diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent serious health problems associated with unhealthy diet and sedentarism. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR) and hypertension. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase with key roles in glucose and lipid metabolism, cell growth, survival and proliferation. mTOR hyperactivation disturbs glucose metabolism, leading to hyperglycemia and further to IR, with a higher incidence in the Western population. Metformin is one of the most used hypoglycemic drugs, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumoral properties, having also the capacity to inhibit mTOR. mTOR inhibitors such as rapamycin and its analogs everolimus and temsirolimus block mTOR activity, decrease the levels of glucose and triglycerides, and reduce body weight. The link between mTOR dysregulation, IR, hypertension and mTOR inhibitors has not been fully described. Therefore, the main aim of this narrative review is to present the mechanism by which nutrients, proinflammatory cytokines, increased salt intake and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) dysregulation induce mTOR overactivation, associated further with IR and hypertension development, and also mTOR inhibitors with higher potential to block the activity of this protein kinase.

Interaction of ncRNAs and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway: Implications for osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, and is characterized by high heterogeneity, high malignancy, easy metastasis, and poor prognosis. Recurrence, metastasis, and multidrug resistance are the main problems that limit the therapeutic effect and prognosis of OS. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is often abnormally activated in OS tissues and cells, which promotes the rapid development, metastasis, and drug sensitivity of OS. Emerging evidence has revealed new insights into tumorigenesis through the interaction between the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Therefore, we reviewed the interactions between the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and ncRNAs and their implication in OS. These interactions have the potential to serve as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clinical applications.

Screening for biomarkers of tuberous sclerosis complex-associated epilepsy: a bioinformatics analysis

Background

The optimal biomarkers for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated epilepsy are not yet clear. This study identifies the crucial genes involved in the pathophysiology of TSC-associated epilepsy via a bioinformatics analysis. These genes may serve as novel therapeutic targets.

Methods

Gene chip data sets (GSE62019 and GSE16969) comprising the data of patients with TSC-associated epilepsy and healthy control participants were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the GEO database were identified using the GEO2R gene expression analysis tool. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, Gene Ontology function, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were then conducted. The results were analyzed using R language, and are presented in volcano plots, Venn diagrams, heatmaps, and enrichment pathway bubble charts. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), was conducted to examine the KEGG pathways and crucial genes linked to TSC-associated epilepsy. The potential genes were compared with the genes listed in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database and analyzed against the literature to determine their clinical significance. Finally, the expression of the key genes in the TSC-associated epilepsy mice cerebral cortex was examined through immunohistochemical staining.

Results

The intersection of the GSE62019 and GSE16969 data sets revealed 151 commonly upregulated DEGs. The KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that these DEGs affected the occurrence and development of TSC-associated epilepsy by modulating complement and coagulation cascades, glycosaminoglycans in cancer, and extracellular matrix-receptor interactions. Four high-scoring clusters emerged, and podoplanin (PDPN) was identified as a key gene through the construction of a PPI network of the common DEGs using the Cytoscape software. A GSEA of the DEGs revealed that the common DEG PDPN was enriched in both data sets in pathways related to platelet activation, aggregation, and the glycoprotein VI (GPVI)-mediated activation cascade. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a significant elevation in PDPN expression in the cerebral cortex of mice with TSC-associated epilepsy. Conversely, the control group mice did not display any significantly positive neurons.

Conclusions

The discovery of these crucial genes and signaling pathways extends understanding of the molecular processes underlying the development of TSC-associated epilepsy. Additionally, our findings may provide a theoretical basis for research into targeted clinical treatments.

'Nine Steaming Nine Sun-drying' processing enhanced properties of Polygonatum kingianum against inflammation, oxidative stress and hyperglycemia

BACKGROUND

Polygonatum kingianum Coll. & Hemsl (PK), a prominent medicine and food homology plant, has been consumed as a decoction from boiling water for thousands of years. 'Nine Steaming Nine Sun-drying' processing has been considered an effective method for enriching tonic properties, but studies investigating such impacts on PK and underlying mechanisms are extremely rare.

RESULTS

We first demonstrated substantial improvements in the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemia effects of the Nine Steaming Nine Sun-drying processed PK water extracts compared with crude PK in cell models (i.e., HepG2 and Raw 264.7 cells). We then integrated foodomics and network pharmacology analysis to uncover the key compounds responsible for the improved benefits. A total of 551 metabolites of PK extracts were identified, including polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and organic acids. During processing, 204 metabolites were enhanced, and 32 metabolites were recognized as key constituents of processed PK responsible for the improved health-promoting activities, which may affect PI3K-Akt-, MAPK-, and HIF-1 pathways. We further confirmed the high affinity between identified key constituents of processed PK and their predicted acting targets using molecular docking.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide novel insights into bioactive compounds of processed PK, elaborating the rationality of processing from the perspective of tonic effects. Consuming processed PK could be an efficacious strategy to combat the high prevalence of metabolic diseases that currently affect millions of people worldwide. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Flavonoids as promising molecules in the cancer therapy: An insight

Cancer continues to increase global morbidity and mortality rates. Despite substantial progress in the development of various chemically synthesized anti-cancer drugs, the poor prognosis of the disease still remains a big challenge. The most common drawback of conventional cancer therapies is the emergence of drug resistance eventually leading to the discontinuation of chemotherapy. Moreover, advanced target-specific therapies including immunotherapy and stem cell therapy are expensive enough and are unaffordable for most patients in poorer nations. Therefore, alternative and cheaper therapeutic strategies are needed to complement the current cancer treatment approaches. Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds produced naturally by plants and have great potential in human health and disease. These compounds possess antiproliferative, anti-oxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. Among the phytochemicals, flavonoids are very effective in treating a wide range of diseases from cardiovascular diseases and immunological disorders to cancer. They scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit cancer metastasis, modulate the immune system and induce apoptotic or autophagic cell death in cancers. This review will discuss the potential of various phytochemicals particularly flavonoids in attempts to target various cancers.