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Ang HL, Mohan CD, Shanmugam MK, Leong HC, Makvandi P, Rangappa KS, Bishayee A, Kumar AP, Sethi G. Mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer and its regulation by natural compounds. Med Res Rev 2023. [PMID: 36929669 DOI: 10.1002/med.21948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [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: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex process with a primordial role in cellular transformation whereby an epithelial cell transforms and acquires a mesenchymal phenotype. This transformation plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and self-renewal, and exacerbates resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy. EMT can be initiated and promoted by deregulated oncogenic signaling pathways, hypoxia, and cells in the tumor microenvironment, resulting in a loss-of-epithelial cell polarity, cell-cell adhesion, and enhanced invasive/migratory properties. Numerous transcriptional regulators, such as Snail, Slug, Twist, and ZEB1/ZEB2 induce EMT through the downregulation of epithelial markers and gain-of-expression of the mesenchymal markers. Additionally, signaling cascades such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Sonic hedgehog, nuclear factor kappa B, receptor tyrosine kinases, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Hippo, and transforming growth factor-β pathways regulate EMT whereas they are often deregulated in cancers leading to aberrant EMT. Furthermore, noncoding RNAs, tumor-derived exosomes, and epigenetic alterations are also involved in the modulation of EMT. Therefore, the regulation of EMT is a vital strategy to control the aggressive metastatic characteristics of tumor cells. Despite the vast amount of preclinical data on EMT in cancer progression, there is a lack of clinical translation at the therapeutic level. In this review, we have discussed thoroughly the role of the aforementioned transcription factors, noncoding RNAs (microRNAs, long noncoding RNA, circular RNA), signaling pathways, epigenetic modifications, and tumor-derived exosomes in the regulation of EMT in cancers. We have also emphasized the contribution of EMT to drug resistance and possible therapeutic interventions using plant-derived natural products, their semi-synthetic derivatives, and nano-formulations that are described as promising EMT blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li Ang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Muthu K Shanmugam
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hin Chong Leong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Centre for Materials Interface, Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Anupam Bishayee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, Florida, USA
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Deng S, Leong HC, Datta A, Gopal V, Kumar AP, Yap CT. PI3K/AKT Signaling Tips the Balance of Cytoskeletal Forces for Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1652. [PMID: 35406424 PMCID: PMC8997157 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays essential roles in multiple cellular processes, which include cell growth, survival, metabolism, and motility. In response to internal and external stimuli, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway co-opts other signaling pathways, cellular components, and cytoskeletal proteins to reshape individual cells. The cytoskeletal network comprises three main components, which are namely the microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Collectively, they are essential for many fundamental structures and cellular processes. In cancer, aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling cascade and alteration of cytoskeletal structures have been observed to be highly prevalent, and eventually contribute to many cancer hallmarks. Due to their critical roles in tumor progression, pharmacological agents targeting PI3K/AKT, along with cytoskeletal components, have been developed for better intervention strategies against cancer. In our review, we first discuss existing evidence in-depth and then build on recent advances to propose new directions for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Deng
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (S.D.); (V.G.)
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore;
| | - Hin Chong Leong
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore;
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore;
- Departments of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore
| | - Arpita Datta
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore;
| | - Vennila Gopal
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (S.D.); (V.G.)
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore;
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore;
- Departments of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore
- National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Celestial T. Yap
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore; (S.D.); (V.G.)
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore;
- National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore
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Mirzaei S, Paskeh MDA, Hashemi F, Zabolian A, Hashemi M, Entezari M, Tabari T, Ashrafizadeh M, Raee P, Aghamiri S, Aref AR, Leong HC, Kumar AP, Samarghandian S, Zarrabi A, Hushmandi K. Long non-coding RNAs as new players in bladder cancer: Lessons from pre-clinical and clinical studies. Life Sci 2021; 288:119948. [PMID: 34520771 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The clinical management of bladder cancer (BC) has become an increasing challenge due to high incidence rate of BC, malignant behavior of cancer cells and drug resistance. The non-coding RNAs are considered as key factors involved in BC progression. The long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules and do not encode proteins. They have more than 200 nucleotides in length and affect gene expression at epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional phases. The lncRNAs demonstrate abnormal expression in BC cells and tissues. The present aims to identifying lncRNAs with tumor-suppressor and tumor-promoting roles, and evaluating their roles as regulatory of growth and migration. Apoptosis, glycolysis and EMT are tightly regulated by lncRNAs in BC. Response of BC cells to cisplatin, doxorubicin and gemcitabine chemotherapy is modulated by lncRNAs. LncRNAs regulate immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironment and affect response of BC cells to immunotherapy. Besides, lncRNAs are able to regulate microRNAs, STAT3, Wnt, PTEN and PI3K/Akt pathways in affecting both proliferation and migration of BC cells. Noteworthy, anti-tumor compounds and genetic tools such as siRNA, shRNA and CRISPR/Cas systems can regulate lncRNA expression in BC. Finally, lncRNAs and exosomal lncRNAs can be considered as potential diagnostic and prognostic tools in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farid Hashemi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Zabolian
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Teimour Tabari
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey; Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Pourya Raee
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Aghamiri
- Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Xsphera Biosciences Inc., 6 Tide Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Hin Chong Leong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore; NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore; NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Woo KS, Yip TWC, Chook P, Koon KV, Leong HC, Feng XH, Lee APW, Kwok TCY. Vitamins B-12 and C Supplementation Improves Arterial Reactivity and Structure in Passive Smokers: Implication in Prevention of Smoking-Related Atherosclerosis. J Nutr Health Aging 2021; 25:248-254. [PMID: 33491041 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-020-1529-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis is an important medical problem of modern society. High environmental tobacco smoke in casino is associated with an accelerated atherogenic process. We have previously shown vitamin B12 and C supplementation improves vascular reactivity and may be beneficial in vascular protection. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of vitamin supplementation on atherosclerosis (brachial artery reactivity FMD and carotid intima-media thickness IMT) in subjects exposed to high environmental tobacco smoke. DESIGN Double-blind 2x2 factorial design fashion. SETTING Computer randomization in 4 treatment groups: placebo (n=24), vitamin B12 (n=21), vitamin C (n=23) and vitamin B12+C (n=23) groups. PARTICIPANTS 91 passive-smoking casino employees (19.2% male, mean age 45.0±8.2 years). INTERVENTION Subjects were randomized to receive vitamin B12 (500µg daily), vitamin C (200mg daily), vitamin B12+C or image-matched placebo capsules for 1 year. MEASUREMENT Brachial FMD and carotid IMT (surrogate atherosclerotic markers) were measured by ultrasound at baseline and on completion at 12 months. METHODS 91 passive smoking casino employees (19.2% male, mean age 45.0±8.2 years) were randomized to receive vitamin B12 (500µg daily), vitamin C (200mg daily), vitamin B12+C or image-matched placebo capsules in double-blind 2 x 2 factorial design fashion for 1 year. Brachial FMD and carotid IMT (surrogate atherosclerotic markers) were measured by ultrasound at baseline and 12 months. RESULTS Of the 78 (85.7%) passive-smoking employees completed the study, 11.5% had hypertension, 5.1% diabetes mellitus and 15.4% hypercholesterolemia. There were no significant changes in their blood pressures, lipid profiles, glucose and body mass index after supplementation for 1 year, but mild decrease in DBP (p<0.001) and blood creatinine (p<0.01) after combined vitamin B12 and C, and significant increase in blood B12 after vitamin B12 (p<0.01) and vitamin B12+C supplementations (p<0.001). Brachial FMD and cartotid IMT improved after the 3 vitamin supplementations (p<0.001), but not after placebo, being more significant after combined vitamin supplementations (p<0.0001). No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSION Vitamin B12 or C supplementation in passive smokers improved vascular reactivity and structures at 1 year, with implication in long term atherosclerosis prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Woo
- Professor KS Woo, Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicines and Therapeutics, 4th Floor, Tsang Shiu Tim Building, United College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, , Phone: (852) 26474966
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Banik K, Harsha C, Bordoloi D, Lalduhsaki Sailo B, Sethi G, Leong HC, Arfuso F, Mishra S, Wang L, Kumar AP, Kunnumakkara AB. Therapeutic potential of gambogic acid, a caged xanthone, to target cancer. Cancer Lett 2017; 416:75-86. [PMID: 29246645 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Natural compounds have enormous biological and clinical activity against dreadful diseases such as cancer, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. In spite of the widespread research carried out in the field of cancer therapeutics, cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases with no perfect treatment till date. Adverse side effects and the development of chemoresistance are the imperative limiting factors associated with conventional chemotherapeutics. For this reason, there is an urgent need to find compounds that are highly safe and efficacious for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Gambogic acid (GA) is a xanthone structure extracted from the dry, brownish gamboge resin secreted from the Garcinia hanburyi tree in Southeast Asia and has inherent anti-cancer properties. In this review, the molecular mechanisms underlying the targets of GA that are liable for its effective anti-cancer activity are discussed that reveal the potential of GA as a pertinent candidate that can be appropriately developed and designed into a capable anti-cancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishore Banik
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Choudhary Harsha
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Devivasha Bordoloi
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Bethsebie Lalduhsaki Sailo
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam; Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
| | - Hin Chong Leong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore
| | - Frank Arfuso
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Srishti Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alan P Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Medical Science Cluster, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia; National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore.
| | - Ajaikumar B Kunnumakkara
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study evaluated whether heavy exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking) might damage arterial function in modernized Chinese. BACKGROUND Heavy passive smoking is associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction in Caucasian, but not rural Chinese, subjects. METHODS We studied 20 young (mean age 36.6 +/- 7.0 years) nonsmoking asymptomatic casino workers (9 men) in Macau who were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke for over 8 h/day for at least two years and 20 normal subjects (control subjects). These two groups were carefully matched for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, vessel diameter, cholesterol and glucose levels. Brachial artery diameter was measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound at rest, after flow increase (causing flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation) and after sublingual nitroglycerin (an endothelium-independent dilator). RESULTS Flow-mediated dilation (mean +/- SD% of diameter changes) was significantly lower in passive smokers (6.6 +/- 3.4%) compared with the controls (10.6 +/- 2.3%) (p < 0.0001). Nitroglycerin-induced dilation of the two groups were similar. Upon multivariate analysis, passive smoking exposure was the strongest independent predictor (beta = -0.59; p = 0.0001) for impaired flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation (model R2 = 0.75, F value = 6.1, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS In modernized Chinese, as in Caucasians, exposure to heavy environmental tobacco smoke causes arterial endothelial dysfunction, a key early event in atherosclerosis. This may have serious implications for cardiovascular health in China, currently in a process of rapid modernization.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Woo
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
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Leong HC, Pun WH, Lei SM. [A survey on prevalence of hypertension in Macao area]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 1998; 32:219-21. [PMID: 10322759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the prevalence of hypertension and population blood pressure levels in Macao area. METHODS According to requirements set in "Manual for National Sampling Survey on Hypertension in 1991", 5,171 permanent residents aged more than 15 years in Macao area were investigated and their blood pressure measured with standardized methods and under strict quality control. RESULTS The survey showed that crude prevalence rate of hypertension was 29.46 percent in Macao, 20.45 percent after standardization, and it should be categorized into a hypertension prevalent area based on the domestic criteria for hypertension categorization. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure averaged 17.18 kPa (128.82 mmHg) and 10.86 kPa (81.47 mmHg), respectively, for males and 16.32 kPa (122.38 mmHg) and 10.15 kPa (76.15 mmHg), respectively, for females, higher than those in Guangdong Province and Beijing. Prevalence in males was higher than that in females and it increased more quickly in those more than 35 years old, similar to that in the other areas at home. Prevalence in new immigrants was lower than that in the original residents. CONCLUSION Hypertension was severely prevalent in Macao area and an important issue in public health not to be ignorant. Health education and health promotion should be strengthened to reach the primary and secondary prevention for it.
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