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Liu P, Kong X, Yi S, Chen Y, Luo W. IFIT3 accelerates the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by targeting PD-L1 to activate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. World J Surg Oncol 2024; 22:34. [PMID: 38273364 PMCID: PMC10809513 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-023-03274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence has shown interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (IFIT3) may be predicted to be a candidate oncogene and involved in the onset and progression of cancer, but IFIT3's potential role in cancer, particularly in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), is not well recognized. This study aims to reveal the role of IFIT3 in HNSC and the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS Bioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemical staining, RT-PCR, and Western blotting analysis were used to detect IFIT3 expression in HNSC. CCK-8 assays, colony formation assays, wound-healing assays, transwell assays, and sphere formation were used to explore proliferative, migratory, and invasive activities and cancer stemness of HNSC cells after IFIT3 knockdown and over-expressed. The alterations of EMT markers and PI3K/AKT pathway were detected by Western blotting. Animal studies were performed to analyze the effect of IFIT3 on tumor growth and metastasis of HNSC in vivo. RESULTS In this study, we observed that IFIT3 was highly expressed in HNSC, and its higher expression contributed to poorer survival of patients with clinical stage IV or grade 3. Function assay indicated that IFIT3 promoted malignant behaviors in vitro, as well as tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Meanwhile, PD-L1 knockdown or over-expressed reversed cancer cell stemness, migration, invasion, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway which were regulated by IFIT3. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal that IFIT3 promotes EMT and cancer stemness by targeting PD-L1 to activate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in HNSC, and targeting IFIT3 may be a novel strategy for the treatment of patients with HNSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.
| | - Xin Kong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shijiang Yi
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Wenlong Luo
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.
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Baba SK, Baba SK, Mir R, Elfaki I, Algehainy N, Ullah MF, Barnawi J, Altemani FH, Alanazi M, Mustafa SK, Masoodi T, Akil ASA, Bhat AA, Macha MA. Long non-coding RNAs modulate tumor microenvironment to promote metastasis: novel avenue for therapeutic intervention. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1164301. [PMID: 37384249 PMCID: PMC10299194 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1164301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a devastating disease and the primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with cancer metastasis responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. Cancer metastasis is a multistep process characterized by spreading of cancer cells from the primary tumor and acquiring molecular and phenotypic changes that enable them to expand and colonize in distant organs. Despite recent advancements, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of cancer metastasis is limited and requires further exploration. In addition to genetic alterations, epigenetic changes have been demonstrated to play an important role in the development of cancer metastasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered one of the most critical epigenetic regulators. By regulating signaling pathways and acting as decoys, guides, and scaffolds, they modulate key molecules in every step of cancer metastasis such as dissemination of carcinoma cells, intravascular transit, and metastatic colonization. Gaining a good knowledge of the detailed molecular basis underlying lncRNAs regulating cancer metastasis may provide previously unknown therapeutic and diagnostic lncRNAs for patients with metastatic disease. In this review, we concentrate on the molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNAs in the regulation of cancer metastasis, the cross-talk with metabolic reprogramming, modulating cancer cell anoikis resistance, influencing metastatic microenvironment, and the interaction with pre-metastatic niche formation. In addition, we also discuss the clinical utility and therapeutic potential of lncRNAs for cancer treatment. Finally, we also represent areas for future research in this rapidly developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Khurshid Baba
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir, India
| | - Sadaf Khursheed Baba
- Department of Microbiology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), Soura, Kashmir, India
| | - Rashid Mir
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imadeldin Elfaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naseh Algehainy
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Fahad Ullah
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jameel Barnawi
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal H. Altemani
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research Chair Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Alanazi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Khalid Mustafa
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Human Immunology Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ammira S. Alshabeeb Akil
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity, and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A. Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity, and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Muzafar A. Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir, India
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Mazilu L, Suceveanu AI, Stanculeanu DL, Gheorghe AD, Fricatel G, Negru SM. Tumor microenvironment is not an 'innocent bystander' in the resistance to treatment of head and neck cancers (Review). Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:1128. [PMID: 34466142 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancers are still one of the most common types of cancer in the world. They rank in the leading sixth place in terms of incidence globally, and the incidence continues to rise. The mortality rates remain at high levels. Pathological subclassification places squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) in the first place concerning the histological forms of head and neck cancers; a tumor with extremely aggressive behavior and high mortality rates. The tumor microenvironment is a very complex ecosystem of cellular and non-cellular components, characterized by unique features, that contribute to the appearance of immunosuppression and diminished anticancer immunity, impacting patient prognosis and treatment outcome. Despite many important advances in therapy, resistance to therapy represents a difficult challenge in HNSCC patients. Tumor progression, metastasis, and response to therapy are all influenced by the complex ecosystem represented by the tumor microenvironment and by the interactions between cellular and non-cellular components of this system. Therefore, the tumor microenvironment, in the light of recent data, is not an innocent bystander. In the last few years, there has been a sustained effort to characterize the tumor microenvironment, to identify targets of response and identify other mechanisms of tumor-specific immune responses, or to discover other biomarkers of response. There is an urgent need to understand how to properly select patients, the therapy sequence, and how to use feasible biomarkers that can help to identify the patient who may obtain the most benefit from available therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mazilu
- Department of Oncology, 'Ovidius' University, 900527 Constanţa, Romania
| | | | - Dana-Lucia Stanculeanu
- Department of Oncology, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Gabriela Fricatel
- Department of Oncology, 'Ovidius' University, 900527 Constanţa, Romania
| | - Serban-Mircea Negru
- Department of Oncology, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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