SCGB2A1 is a novel prognostic marker for colorectal cancer associated with chemoresistance and radioresistance

Lactylation-related risk model for prognostication and therapeutic responsiveness in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is a prevalent gynecological cancer characterized by varied clinical outcomes and responses to treatment. Developing effective prognostic models is essential for guiding clinical decision-making. Recent research indicates that lactylation-a process impacting gene expression and immune responses-can affect tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion through histone modification. This study introduces a lactylation-related risk model aimed at predicting UCEC prognosis and providing insights into treatment efficacy.

METHODS

We analyzed transcriptomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for UCEC patients and identified two distinct lactylation-related patterns using consensus clustering. A risk model developed using Cox and Lasso regression has been studied for its ability to predict prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and treatment response. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between IGSF1 gene expression and clinical features. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the function of the IGSF1 gene.

RESULTS

Two distinct lactylation-related clusters were identified, along with 156 differentially expressed genes between these clusters that are associated with the prognosis of UCEC. A risk model was developed based on three genes: IGSF1, ZFHX4, and SCGB2A1. This model effectively predicts clinical characteristics of UCEC patients, including immune cell infiltration, genetic variations, drug sensitivity, and response to immunotherapy. Notably, IGSF1 is linked to poor prognosis and is associated with immune activity, tumorigenesis, and cancer metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that the lactylation-related risk model plays a crucial role in predicting prognosis and the efficacy of immunotherapy in UCEC, offering valuable insights for personalized treatment approaches.

A Broad Genome Survey Reveals Widespread Presence of Secretoglobin Genes in Squamate and Archosaur Reptiles that Flowered into Diversity in Mammals

Secretoglobins (SCGBs) are a superfamily of small, dimeric, cytokine-like proteins found originally in the reproductive tracts and airways of mammals. Most SCGB research has focused on respiratory diseases in humans and laboratory animal models but knowledge of their biological functions is sparse. We report here a broad survey of Scgbs, the genes that encode SCGBs, in animal genomes. We tested the view that they are uniquely mammalian in origin and distribution, hoping that understanding their distribution would shed light on their evolutionary history and perhaps point to putative biological functions. Rather than being uniquely mammalian, we found many different SCGBs in turtles, crocodilians, lizards, and birds, suggesting they existed in the Carboniferous Period (∼320 MYA) when the sauropsids evolved in the amniote lineage. We identified no SCGBs in amphibians or fishes, suggesting that this characteristic originated in an amniote ancestor. Amniotes include sauropsid and synapsid lineages, and three subfamilies of SCGBs (SCGB2A, SCGB3A, and SCGB1C) are found in both sauropsid and synapsid lineages. Uteroglobin (SCGB1A), the first identified SCGB protein, is uniquely mammalian, having appeared in monotremes. The SCGB subfamilies including androgen-binding proteins (SCGB1B and SCGB2B) are first seen in metatherians. This complex distribution suggests that there is an as-yet-undiscovered basic function of SCGBs shared by all amniotes.

Radioresistance-related gene signatures identified by transcriptomics characterize the prognosis and immune landscape of pancreatic cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy (RT) is an important means of local treatment of solid tumors, and radioresistance is the main reason for RT failure for tumors, especially pancreatic cancer (PC). It is urgent to distinguish key genes and mechanisms of radioresistance in PC.

METHODS

We acquired the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), obtained the gene modules associated with radioresistance by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and tumor samples. Radioresistance-related genes (RRRGs) were determined with the intersection of WGCNA and DEGs. The hub RRRGs associated with prognosis were distinguished by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. We established a risk score model using multivariate Cox regression. Immune cell infiltration and drug sensitivity were evaluated through the CIBERSORT algorithm and the "OncoPredict" software package, respectively. The association of the key gene RIC3 and PC clinical features was verified in public databases, and its biological behaviors were explored in vitro.

RESULTS

The intersection of DEGs and WGCNA confirmed 14 RRRGs, then six hub RRRGs were identified using LASSO. A key four genes (DUSP4, ADORA2B, SCGB2A1, and RIC3) risk score model was constructed and proved to be capable of independently estimating the prognosis of PC. There is no significant difference between risk score groups in various immune cell infiltration and response to immunotherapy. Although the low-risk group seemed to exhibit greater sensitivity to antitumor drugs, the four drugs (5-fluorouracil [5-FU], leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) currently used for PC patients had no statistical difference for the low- and high- group. The overexpression of RIC3 had a synergy effect with irradiation on inhibited malignant biological properties of PC cells, which was verified by detecting the proliferation ability, apoptosis rate, cell cycle distribution, and migration ability of PANC-1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We herein presented signature genes correlated with radioresistance in PC and established a risk score model competent in estimating patients' clinical outcomes and response to antitumor drugs. The above evidence could contribute to comprehending the mechanisms of radioresistance and identifying the underlying therapy targeting.

Proteins in scalp hair of preschool children

Background

(1)Early childhood experiences have long-lasting effects on subsequent mental and physical health, education, and employment. Measurement of these effects relies on insensitive behavioral signs, subjective assessments by adult observers, neuroimaging or neurophysiological studies, or retrospective epidemiologic outcomes. Despite intensive search, the underlying mechanisms for these long-term changes in development and health status remain unknown.

Methods

(2)We analyzed scalp hair from healthy children and their mothers using an unbiased proteomics platform using tandem mass spectrometry, ultra-performance liquid chromatography, and collision induced dissociation to reveal commonly observed hair proteins with spectral count of 3 or higher.

Results

(3)We observed 1368 non-structural hair proteins in children, 1438 non-structural hair proteins in mothers, with 1288 proteins showing individual variability. Mothers showed higher numbers of peptide spectral matches and hair proteins compared to children, with important age-related differences between mothers and children. Age-related differences were also observed in children, with differential protein expression patterns between younger (2 years and below) and older children (3-5 years). We observed greater similarity in hair protein patterns between mothers and their biological children as compared to mothers and unrelated children. The top 5% proteins driving population variability represent biological pathways associated with brain development, immune signaling, and stress response regulation.

Conclusion

(4)Non-structural proteins observed in scalp hair include promising biomarkers to investigate the long-term developmental changes and health status associated with early childhood experiences.

Identification of hypoxia-related gene signatures based on multi-omics analysis in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer and one of the malignancies with the highest incidence rate and mortality worldwide. Hypoxia is a typical feature of tumour microenvironment (TME), which affects the progression of LUAD from multiple molecular levels. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms behind LUAD hypoxia are not fully understood. In this study, we estimated the level of hypoxia by calculating a score based on 15 hypoxia genes. The hypoxia scores were relatively high in LUAD patients with poor prognosis and were bound up with tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage, tumour size, lymph node, age and gender. By comparison of high hypoxia score group and low hypoxia score group, 1820 differentially expressed genes were identified, among which up-regulated genes were mainly about cell division and proliferation while down-regulated genes were primarily involved in cilium-related biological processes. Besides, LUAD patients with high hypoxia scores had higher frequencies of gene mutations, among which TP53, TTN and MUC16 had the highest mutation rates. As for DNA methylation, 1015 differentially methylated probes-related genes were found and may play potential roles in tumour-related neurobiological processes and cell signal transduction. Finally, a prognostic model with 25 multi-omics features was constructed and showed good predictive performance. The area under curve (AUC) values of 1-, 3- and 5-year survival reached 0.863, 0.826 and 0.846, respectively. Above all, our findings are helpful in understanding the impact and molecular mechanisms of hypoxia in LUAD.

Effective inhibition of breast cancer stem cell properties by quercetin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles via reduction of Smad2/Smad3 phosphorylation and β-catenin signaling pathway in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is a major cause of resistance to cancer therapy and recurrence. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype that responds poorly to therapy, making it a significant global health issue. Quercetin (QC) has been shown to affect CSC viability, but its low bioavailability limits its clinical use. This study aims to increase the effectiveness of QC in inhibiting CSC generation by using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in MDA-MB231 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After treating MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells with 18.9 μM and 13.4 μM of QC and QC-SLN for 48 h, respectively, cell viability, migration, sphere formation, protein expression of β-catenin, p-Smad 2 and 3, and gene expression of EMT and CSC markers were evaluated.

RESULTS

The QC-SLN with particle size of 154 nm, zeta potential of -27.7 mV, and encapsulation efficacy of 99.6% was found to be the most effective. Compared to QC, QC-SLN significantly reduced cell viability, migration, sphere formation, protein expression of β-catenin and p-Smad 2 and 3, and gene expression of CD₄₄, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), vimentin, while increasing the gene expression of E-cadherin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that SLNs improve the cytotoxic effect of QC in MDA-MB231 cells by increasing its bioavailability and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby effectively inhibiting CSC generation. Therefore, SLNs could be a promising new treatment for TNBC, but more in vivo studies are needed to confirm their efficacy.

In silico analysis to identify miR-1271-5p/PLCB4 (phospholipase C Beta 4) axis mediated oxaliplatin resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is the first-line chemotherapy drug for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), and the emergence of drug resistance is a major clinical challenge. Although there have been numerous studies on OXA resistance, but its underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. This study aims to identify key regulatory genes and pathways associated with OXA resistance. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) GSE42387 dataset containing gene expression profiles of parental and OXA-resistant LoVo cells was applied to explore potential targets. GEO2R, STRING, CytoNCA (a plug-in of Cytoscape), and DAVID were used to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs), protein-protein interactions (PPIs), hub genes in PPIs, and gene ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. R2 online platform was used to run a survival analysis of validated hub genes enriched in KEGG pathways. The ENCORI database predicted microRNAs for candidate genes. A survival analysis of those genes was performed, and validated using the OncoLnc database. In addition, the 'clusterProfiler' package in R was used to perform gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). We identified 395 DEGs, among which 155 were upregulated and 240 were downregulated. In total, 95 DEGs were screened as hub genes after constructing the PPI networks. Twelve GO terms and three KEGG pathways (steroid hormone biosynthesis, malaria, and pathways in cancer) were identified as being significant in the enrichment analysis of hub genes. Twenty-one hub genes enriched in KEGG pathways were defined as key genes. Among them AKT3, phospholipase C Beta 4 (PLCB4), and TGFB1 were identified as OXA-resistance genes through the survival analysis. High expressions of AKT3 and TGFB1 were each associated with a poor prognosis, and lower expression of PLCB4 was correlated with worse survival. Further, high levels of hsa-miR-1271-5p, which potentially targets PLCB4, were associated with poor overall survival in patients with CRC. Finally, we found that PLCB4 low expression was associated with MAPK signaling pathway and VEGF signaling pathway in CRC. Our results demonstrated that hsa-miR-1271-5p/PLCB4 in the pathway in cancer could be a new potential therapeutic target for mCRC with OXA resistance.

HiFENS: high-throughput FISH detection of endogenous pre-mRNA splicing isoforms

Splicing factors play an essential role in regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing. While much progress has been made in delineating the mechanisms of the splicing machinery, the identity of signal transduction pathways and upstream factors that regulate splicing factor activity is largely unknown. A major challenge in the discovery of upstream regulatory factors of pre-mRNA splicing is the scarcity of functional genomics screening methods to monitor splicing outcomes of endogenous genes. Here, we have developed HiFENS (high throughput FISH detection of endogenous splicing isoforms), a high-throughput imaging assay based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and used HiFENS to screen for cellular factors that regulate alternative splicing of endogenous genes. We demonstrate optimized detection with high specificity of endogenous splicing isoforms and multiplexing of probes for accurate detection of splicing outcomes with single cell resolution. As proof-of-principle, we perform an RNAi screen of 702 human kinases and identify potential candidate upstream splicing regulators of the FGFR2 gene. HiFENS should be a useful tool for the unbiased delineation of cellular pathways involved in alternative splicing regulation.

Identification of Six Genes as Diagnostic Markers for Colorectal Cancer Detection by Integrating Multiple Expression Profiles

Background

Many studies have demonstrated the promising utility of DNA methylation and miRNA as biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC) early detection. However, mRNA is rarely reported. This study aimed to identify novel fecal-based mRNA signatures.

Methods

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were first determined between CRCs and matched normal samples by integrating multiple datasets. Then, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used to reduce the number of candidates of aberrantly expressed genes. Next, the potential functions were investigated for the candidate signatures and their ability to detect CRC and pan-cancers was comprehensively evaluated.

Results

We identified 1841 common DEGs in two independent datasets. Functional enrichment analysis revealed they were mainly related to extracellular structure, biosynthesis, and cell adhesion. The CRC classifier was established based on six genes screened by LASSO regression. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CRC detection were 79.30%, 80.40%, and 0.85 (0.76–0.92) in the training set, and these indexes achieved 93.20%, 41.80%, and 0.73 (0.65–0.83) in the testing set. For validation set, the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 98.90%, 98.00%, and 0.97 (0.94–0.99). The average sensitivities exceeded 90.00% for CRCs with different clinical features. For adenomas detection, the sensitivity and specificity were 74.50% and 64.00%. Besides, the six genes obtained an average AUC of 0.855 for pan-cancer detection.

Conclusion

The six-gene signatures showed ability to detect CRC and pan-cancer samples, which could be served as potential diagnostic markers.

To Waste or Not to Waste: Questioning Potential Health Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastics with a Focus on Their Ingestion and Potential Carcinogenicity

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are recognized as emerging contaminants, especially in food, with unknown health significance. MNPs passing through the gastrointestinal tract have been brought in context with disruption of the gut microbiome. Several molecular mechanisms have been described to facilitate tissue uptake of MNPs, which then are involved in local inflammatory and immune responses. Furthermore, MNPs can act as potential transporters ("vectors") of contaminants and as chemosensitizers for toxic substances ("Trojan Horse effect"). In this review, we summarize current multidisciplinary knowledge of ingested MNPs and their potential adverse health effects. We discuss new insights into analytical and molecular modeling tools to help us better understand the local deposition and uptake of MNPs that might drive carcinogenic signaling. We present bioethical insights to basically re-consider the "culture of consumerism." Finally, we map out prominent research questions in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Secretoglobins in the big picture of immunoregulation in airway diseases

The proteins of the secretoglobin (SCGB) family are expressed by secretory tissues of barrier organs. They are embedded in immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory processes of airway diseases. This review particularly illustrates the immune regulation of SCGBs by cytokines and their implication in the pathophysiology of airway diseases. The biology of SCGBs is a complex topic of increasing importance, as they are highly abundant in the respiratory tract and can also be detected in malignant tissues and as elements of immune control. In addition, SCGBs react to cytokines, they are embedded in Th1 and Th2 immune responses, and they are expressed in a manner dependent on cell maturation. The big picture of the SCGB family identifies these factors as critical elements of innate immune control at the epithelial barriers and highlights their potential for diagnostic assessment of epithelial activity. Some members of the SCGB family have so far only been superficially examined, but have high potential for translational research.

Mammaglobin B may be a prognostic biomarker of uterine corpus endometrial cancer

Mammaglobin B, also referred to as secretoglobin family 2A member 1 (SCGB2A1), has been reported to be highly expressed in uterine corpus endometrial cancer (UCEC) compared with in the normal endometrium. However, the prognostic value of SCGB2A1 in UCEC remains unclear. The Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium databases were used to explore the differential expression of SCGB2A1. Furthermore, data of patients with UCEC were downloaded from TCGA, and logistic regression analysis, survival analysis, univariate and multivariate analyses, and nomogram construction were performed to identify its prognostic value in UCEC. Additionally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was utilized to estimate the mechanisms of SCGB2A1 in UCEC. Finally, immune infiltration of SCGB2A1 in UCEC was analyzed using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource. Decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of SCGB2A1 were significantly associated with poor prognostic clinicopathological characteristics (all P<0.05). Additionally, low expression levels of SCGB2A1 were associated with decreased survival of patients with UCEC compared with high expression levels of SCGB2A1. Furthermore, the independent prognostic value of SCGB2A1 in UCEC was identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. A nomogram based on 6 variables, including SCGB2A1 expression, was developed for the estimation of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival probability in UCEC. Additionally, GSEA suggested that the vascular endothelial growth factor, PTEN, platelet-derived growth factor, DNA repair, KRAS signaling, and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathways were differentially enriched in the low SCGB2A1 expression phenotype. Finally, high infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells were associated with SCGB2A1 in UCEC and this was associated with prognosis. The present results indicated that SCGB2A1 may be a promising independent prognostic factor in UCEC. These signaling pathways may be crucial for the regulation of UCEC via SCGB2A1.

Cancer Chemopreventive Activities of Silibinin on Colorectal Cancer through Regulation of E-Cadherin/β-Catenin Pathway

PURPOSE

Silibinin is the most active flavonolignan constituent of Silymarin, the extract of milk thistle seeds. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties and molecular mechanisms of silibinin on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

METHODS

HCT-116 cells were used to investigate the effects of silibinin on proliferation, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stem cells (CSCs), apoptosis and signaling pathways underlying these functions by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assay, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot, Acridine orange/propidium iodide double staining, migration and sphere formation assay.

RESULTS

Silibinin significantly suppressed HCT-116 cells proliferation and migration and induced the apoptosis via increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Silibinin down-regulated cancer stemness markers; prominin-1 (CD133), CD44, BMI1, Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), and doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) of HCT-116 cell line. Silibinin attenuated EMT through decreased expression of N- cadherin and vimentin and increased expression of (E-cadherin). Furthermore, silibinin decreased the β-catenin gene and protein expression.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that silibinin maintains various antitumor activities such as induction of apoptosis, suppression of migration, elimination of CSCs and attenuation of EMT related markers in CRC cells. These underlying anti-tumor mechanisms of silibinin are likely to act through the blockage of the β-catenin signaling pathway, which is the key component of Wnt signaling pathway, one of the hallmarks of CRC development.

Syntenin-1 promotes colorectal cancer stem cell expansion and chemoresistance by regulating prostaglandin E2 receptor

Background

The protein syntenin-1 is expressed by a variety of cell types, and is upregulated in various malignancies, including melanoma, breast cancer and glioma. Although the mechanism by which elevated syntenin-1 expression contributes to cancer has been described, the exact pathway has not been elucidated.

Methods

To investigate the involvement of syntenin-1 in colorectal cancer (CRC), we performed immunohistochemical analysis of 139 CRC surgical specimens. We also examined syntenin-1 knockdown in CRC cell lines.

Results

High syntenin-1 expression was associated with less differentiated histologic grade and poor prognosis, and was an independent prognostic indicator in CRC. Syntenin-1 knockdown in CRC cells reduced the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), oxaliplatin chemoresistance and migration. DNA microarray analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed decreased prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (PTGER2) expression in syntenin-1-knockdown cells. PTGER2 knockdown in CRC cells yielded the same phenotype as syntenin-1 knockdown. Celecoxib, which has anti-inflammatory effects by targeting cyclooxygenase-2, reduced CSCs and decreased chemoresistance, while prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) had the opposite effect.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that syntenin-1 enhanced CSC expansion, oxaliplatin chemoresistance and migration capability through regulation of PTGER2 expression. Syntenin-1 may be a promising new prognostic factor and target for anti-cancer therapies.

The LINC00365/SCGB2A1 (Mammaglobin B) Axis Down-Regulates NF-κB Signaling and Is Associated with the Progression of Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE

A lack of early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets has led to poor prognosis for gastric cancer patients. However, the analysis of cancer-associated genomic data has been shown to be effective in identifying potential markers. Recently, the long non-coding RNA LINC00365 and SCGB2A1 gene (as known as mammaglobin B) were predicted to be co-expressed in gastric cancer based on the Gene Expression Omnibus database. However, their precise role in gastric cancer tumors is still not clear.

METHODS

The expressions of LINC00365 and SCGB2A1 in gastric cancer tissues were investigated using qPCR and their expressions were detected in a gastric cancer tissue microarray by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining. The functions of LINC00365 in BGC-823 and MGC-803 gastric cancer cells were tested using the MTT assay, flow cytometry, colony formation assay, EDU staining, immunofluorescence and luciferase assay.

RESULTS

We found that LINC00365 and SCGB2A1 mRNA were both expressed at low levels in 30 cases of gastric cancer. Gastric cancer tissue microarray analysis indicated that LINC00365 and SCGB2A1 were expressed at low levels in tumor tissue, and low expression of both factors correlated with shorter survival time. Functional studies showed that LINC00365 overexpression significantly inhibited gastric cancer cell viability through the impairment of proliferation rather than the promotion of apoptosis. Furthermore, overexpressed LINC00365 upregulated SCGB2A1 in gastric cancer cell lines. Immuno-fluorescence and luciferase assay analysis indicated that LINC00365 overexpression inhibited the NF-κB pro-survival signaling pathway. Consistent with the effects of LINC00365, SCGB2A1 upregulation also reduced cell survival and inactivated NF-κB.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our findings revealed that SCGB2A1 may be the target coding protein regulated by LINC00365 in gastric cancer. LINC00365 and SCGB2A1 may function as tumor suppressors and may serve as potential prognostic and therapeutic markers in gastric cancer treatment.

LINC00365-SCGB2A1 axis inhibits the viability of breast cancer through targeting NF-κB signaling

Breast cancer is the most common high-grade malignancy in women. The lack of therapeutic targets has limited the treatment of breast cancer. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be dysregulated in various types of cancer. However, the specific mechanisms by which lncRNAs influence breast cancer have remained largely unclear. To bridge this research gap, the present study focused on the lncRNA LINC00365, which is expressed at a low level in breast cancer. Secretoglobin family 2A member 1 (SCGB2A1) was identified as a potential target protein regulated by LINC00365. The results of the present study demonstrated that the overexpression of LINC00365 and SCGB2A1 inhibited cell viability and induced cell apoptosis through the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway in breast cancer cells. These findings indicated that LINC00365 may serve a crucial role in breast cancer and may be considered as a novel target for the clinical treatment of breast cancer.

Zerumbone inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells properties by inhibiting the β-catenin pathway through miR-200c

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal and rampant human malignancies in the world. Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene isolated from subtropical ginger, has been found to exhibit an antitumor effect in various cancer types. However, the effect of Zerumbone on the biological properties of CRC, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the inhibitory action of Zerumbone on the EMT process, CSC markers, and the β-catenin signaling pathway in the presence or absence of miR-200c. The effect of Zerumbone on HCT-116 and SW-48 cells viability was examined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The effects of Zerumbone on EMT-related genes, CSCs markers, cell migration, invasion, sphere-forming, and β-catenin signaling pathway were explored. To evaluate the role of miR-200c in anticancer effects by Zerumbone, miR-200c was downregulated by LNA-anti-miR-200c. Zerumbone significantly inhibited cell viability, migration, invasion, and sphere-forming potential in HCT-116 and SW-48 cell lines. Zerumbone significantly suppressed the EMT and CSC properties as well as downregulated the β-catenin. Silencing of miR200c reduced the inhibitory effects of Zerumbone on EMT and CSCs in CRC cells. These data indicated that Zerumbone may be a promising candidate for reducing the risk of CRC progression by suppressing the β-catenin pathway via miR-200c.

Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A is a key regulator of hypoxic adaptation in colorectal cancer cells and involved in treatment resistance and poor prognosis

Hypoxia is an essential feature of cancer malignancy, but there are no methods for the routine detection of hypoxia-inducible prognostic factors and potential therapeutic targets. We reported previously that the hypoxic tumor cells of metastatic liver tissue from patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) could be used as an 'in vivo' hypoxia culture model. Several potential hypoxia-inducible genes were identified using this model. Among them, one glycolytic enzyme was of special interest. There is currently increasing attention on glycolytic enzymes as potential therapeutic targets due to their association with cancer-specific metabolism. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of cancer malignancy, we investigated the expression of fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A (ALDOA) and its relationship with cancer metabolism. We found that ALDOA was induced by hypoxia in CRC-derived cell lines, and univariate and multivariate analyses of microarray data from the resected CRC samples of 222 patients revealed that ALDOA was an independent prognostic factor for CRC. We also analyzed the malignant potential of ALDOA in vitro using overexpression and knockdown assays. We found that ALDOA was negatively related to chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity and positively associated with proliferation, sphere formation and invasion in both normoxia and hypoxia. These associations were due to the roles of ALDOA in regulating glycolysis, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the cell cycle. These findings demonstrate that ALDOA is a hypoxia-inducible prognostic factor that is closely related to CRC malignancy, and also provide new insights into the importance of ALDOA and glycolysis in cancer and suggest new targets for anticancer therapies.

Cancer Stem-like Properties in Colorectal Cancer Cells with Low Proteasome Activity

PURPOSE

One of the main reasons for cancer treatment resistance is the existence of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). Here, we elucidated the relationship between low proteasome activity cells (LPACs) and CSCs.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116, SW480, DLD1, and KM12SM were engineered to stably express a green fluorescent molecule fused to the degron of ornithine decarboxylase, resulting in an accumulation of the fluorescence in LPACs. LPACs were isolated by flow cytometry. Treatment resistance (radio- and chemotherapy) and the capacity of LPACs to act as CSCs were analyzed. Microarray analysis was performed to reveal genes related to treatment resistance. The prognostic impact of potent genes was examined in 190 patients with colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

LPACs had a significantly increased capacity for radioresistance and chemoresistance (5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin), significantly lower reactive oxygen species activity, and significantly increased sphere formation capacity compared with non-LPACs. The number of cells in the G0-G1 phase was significantly higher among LPACs. Subcutaneous injection of as few as 20 LPACs led to tumor formation in immunologically incompetent mice. Microarray analysis revealed that the expression of EP300-interacting inhibitor of differentiation 3 (EID3) was significantly increased in LPACs. In vitro assay revealed that EID3 positively controlled cell proliferation and treatment resistance. The high expression of EID3 was an adverse prognostic indicator in patients with colorectal cancer (P = 0.0400).

CONCLUSIONS

LPACs have characteristic treatment resistance and act as CSCs in colorectal cancer. In addition, EID3 is one of the potential regulators of treatment resistance in colorectal cancer and may be a potential therapeutic target. Clin Cancer Res; 22(21); 5277-86. ©2016 AACR.

Sanguisorba officinalis L synergistically enhanced 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells by promoting a reactive oxygen species-mediated, mitochondria-caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway

Sanguisorba officinalis L. radix is a widely used herb called DiYu (DY) in China and has an extensive range of bioactivities, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative activities. However, there is little evidence to support its anti-cancer effects against colorectal cancer (CRC). The first-line chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is used to treat CRC, but its efficiency is hampered by acquired drug resistance. This study found that a water extract of DY exerted anti-proliferative effects against two CRC cell lines (HCT-116 and RKO), and it sensitized CRC cells to 5-FU therapy by activating a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated, mitochondria-caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Co-treatment of DY and 5-FU significantly elevated ROS levels, up-regulated Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, followed by a release of cytochrome c and up-regulation of proteins such as cleaved-caspase-9/3 and cleaved-PARP. Additionally, the induction of autophagy may be involved in mediating synergism of DY in HCT-116 cells. Gallic acid (GA), catechinic acid (CA) and ellagic acid (EA) were identified as the potential chief constituents responsible for the synergistic effects of DY. In conclusion, co-treatment of DY, specifically GA, CA and EA, with 5-FU may be a potential alternative therapeutic strategy for CRC by enhancing an intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

A review of the carcinogenic potential of bisphenol A

The estrogenic properties of bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous synthetic monomer that can leach into the food and water supply, have prompted considerable research into exposure-associated health risks in humans. Endocrine-disrupting properties of BPA suggest it may impact developmental plasticity during early life, predisposing individuals to disease at doses below the oral reference dose (RfD) established by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1982. Herein, we review the current in vivo literature evaluating the carcinogenic properties of BPA. We conclude that there is substantial evidence from rodent studies indicating that early-life BPA exposures below the RfD lead to increased susceptibility to mammary and prostate cancer. Based on the definitions of "carcinogen" put forth by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Toxicology Program, we propose that BPA may be reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen in the breast and prostate due to its tumor promoting properties.

Identification of secretaglobin Scgb2a1 as a target for developmental reprogramming by BPA in the rat prostate

Secretoglobins are a superfamily of secreted proteins thought to participate in inflammation, tissue repair, and tumorigenesis. Secretoglobin family 2A member 1 (Scgb2a1) is a component of prostatein, a major androgen-binding protein secreted by the rat prostate. Using a rat model for developmental reprogramming of susceptibility to prostate carcinogenesis, we identified, by RNA-seq, that Scgb2a1 is significantly upregulated (>100-fold) in the prostate of adult rats neonatally exposed to bisphenol A (BPA), with increased gene expression confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation for histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation. Bisulfite analysis of both CpG islands located within 10 kb of the Scgb2a1 promoter identified significant hypomethylation of the CpG island upstream of the transcription start site of this gene in the reprogrammed prostate. These data suggest that expression of Scgb2a1 in the adult prostate could be epigenetically reprogrammed by BPA exposure during prostate development, with potential implications for cancer risk and response to chemotherapeutics associated with prostatein binding.

Nonlinear quantitative radiation sensitivity prediction model based on NCI-60 cancer cell lines

We proposed a nonlinear model to perform a novel quantitative radiation sensitivity prediction. We used the NCI-60 panel, which consists of nine different cancer types, as the platform to train our model. Important radiation therapy (RT) related genes were selected by significance analysis of microarrays (SAM). Orthogonal latent variables (LVs) were then extracted by the partial least squares (PLS) method as the new compressive input variables. Finally, support vector machine (SVM) regression model was trained with these LVs to predict the SF2 (the surviving fraction of cells after a radiation dose of 2 Gy γ-ray) values of the cell lines. Comparison with the published results showed significant improvement of the new method in various ways: (a) reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) of the radiation sensitivity prediction model from 0.20 to 0.011; and (b) improving prediction accuracy from 62% to 91%. To test the predictive performance of the gene signature, three different types of cancer patient datasets were used. Survival analysis across these different types of cancer patients strongly confirmed the clinical potential utility of the signature genes as a general prognosis platform. The gene regulatory network analysis identified six hub genes that are involved in canonical cancer pathways.