Vitamin C enhances co-localization of novel TET1 nuclear bodies with both Cajal and PML bodies in colorectal cancer cells

Deregulation of ten-eleven Translocation protein 1 (TET1) is commonly reported to induce imbalances in gene expression and subsequently to colorectal cancer development (CRC). On the other hand, vitamin C (VitC) improves the prognosis of colorectal cancer by reprogramming the cancer epigenome and limiting chemotherapeutic drug resistance events. In this study, we aimed to characterize TET1-specific subcellular compartments and evaluate the effect of VitC on TET1 compartmentalization in colonic tumour cells. We demonstrated that TET1 is concentrated in coarse nuclear bodies (NB) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in foci in colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, Caco-2, and HT-29). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a novel intracellular localization profile of TET1 and its demethylation marker, 5hmC, in CRC cells. Interestingly, we found that TET1-NBs frequently interacted with Cajal bodies, but not with promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) bodies. In addition, we report that VitC treatment of HCT116 cells induces 5hmC foci biogenesis and triggers 5hmC marks to form active complexes with nuclear body components, including both Cajal and PML proteins. Our data highlight novel NB-concentrating TET1 in CRC cells and demonstrate that VitC modulates TET1-NBs' interactions with other nuclear structures. These findings reveal novel TET1-dependent cellular functions and potentially provide new insights for CRC management.

Immune-like sandwich multiple hotspots SERS biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of NDKA biomarker in serum

Developing the rapid, specific, and sensitive tumor marker NDKA biosensor has become an urgent need in the field of early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with the advantages of high sensitivity, high resolution as well as providing sample fingerprint, enables rapid and sensitive detection of tumor markers. However, many SERS biosensors rely on boosting the quantity of Raman reporter molecules on individual nanoparticle surfaces, which can result in nanoparticle agglomeration, diminishing the stability and sensitivity of NDKA detection. Here, we proposed an immune-like sandwich multiple hotspots SERS biosensor for highly sensitive and stable analysis of NDKA in serum based on molecularly imprinted polymers and NDKA antibody. The SERS biosensor employs an array of gold nanoparticles, which are coated with a biocompatible polydopamine molecularly imprinted polymer as a substrate to specifically capture NDKA. Then the biosensor detects NDKA through Raman signals as a result of the specific binding of NDKA to the SERS nanotag affixed to the capture substrate along with the formation of multiple hotspots. This SERS biosensor not only avoids the aggregation of nanoparticles but also presents a solution to the obstacles encountered in immune strategies for certain proteins lacking multiple antibody or aptamer binding sites. Furthermore, the practical application of the SERS biosensor is validated by the detection of NDKA in serum with the lower limit of detection (LOD) of 0.25 pg/mL, meanwhile can detect NDKA of 10 ng/mL in mixed proteins solution, illustrating high sensitivity and specificity. This immune-like sandwich multiple hotspots biosensor makes it quite useful for the early detection of CRC and also provides new ideas for cancer biomarker sensing strategy in the future.

CircAGFG1 absence decreases PKM2 expression to enhance oxaliplatin sensitivity in colorectal cancer in a miR-7-5p-dependent manner

Circular RNA (circRNA) ArfGAP with FG repeats 1 (circAGFG1) contributes to colorectal cancer (CRC) development. However, whether circAGFG1 regulates the resistance of CRC to oxaliplatin (L-OHP) remains unknown. CircAGFG1, microRNA-7-5p (miR-7-5p) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) RNA expression were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression was detected by western blot assay and immunohistochemistry assay. Glycolysis was analyzed through glucose uptake, lactate production and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration assays. 50% inhibitory concentration of L-OHP was determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. Cell proliferation and apoptotic rate were analyzed by cell colony formation and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the relationship among circAGFG1, miR-7- 5p and PKM2. The effect of circAGFG1 on L-OHP sensitivity in vivo was further evaluated by a xenograft model assay. CircAGFG1 and PKM2 expression were significantly increased, while miR-7-5p was decreased in L-OHP-resistant CRC tissues and cells. High circAGFG1 expression predicted a poor prognosis of CRC. CircAGFG1 knockdown or PKM2 depletion decreased glycolysis and cell proliferation and increased L-OHP sensitivity and cell apoptosis. PKM2 introduction rescued circAGFG1 silencing-induced effects in CRC cells. In terms of mechanism, circAGFG1 bound to miR-7-5p, which was identified to target PKM2. Also, circAGFG1 regulated PKM2 expression by interacting with miR-7-5p. Further, circAGFG1 knockdown improved the sensitivity of tumors to L-OHP in vivo. CircAGFG1 depletion inhibited L-OHP resistance by regulating the miR-7-5p/PKM2 pathway.

Prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in dMMR&MSS colorectal cancer patients and an MSI status predicting model

The inconsistency between mismatch repair (MMR) protein immunohistochemistry (IHC) and microsatellite instability PCR (MSI-PCR) methods has been widely reported. We aim to investigate the prognosis and the effect of immunotherapy in dMMR by IHC but MSS by MSI-PCR (dMMR&MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. A microsatellite instability (MSI) predicting model was established to help find dMMR&MSS patients. MMR and MSI states were detected by the IHC and MSI-PCR in 1622 CRC patients (ZS6Y-1 cohort). Logistic regression analysis was used to screen clinical features to construct an MSI-predicting nomogram. We propose a new nomogram-based assay to find patients with dMMR&MSS, in which the MSI-PCR assay only detects dMMR patients with MSS predictive results. We applied the new strategy to a random cohort of 248 CRC patients (ZS6Y-2 cohort). The consistency of MMR IHC and MSI-PCR in the ZS6Y-1 cohort was 95.7% (1553/1622). Both pMMR&MSS and dMMR&MSS groups experienced significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than those in dMMR by IHC and MSI-H by MSI-PCR (dMMR&MSI-H) group (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.429, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.89-3.116, p < .01; HR = 21.96, 95% CI: 7.24-66.61, p < .01). The dMMR&MSS group experienced shorter OS than the pMMR&MSS group, but the difference did not reach significance (log rank test, p = .0686). In the immunotherapy group, the progression-free survival of dMMR&MSS patients was significantly shorter than that of dMMR&MSI-H patients (HR = 13.83, 95% CI: 1.508-126.8, p < .05). The ZS6Y-MSI-Pre nomogram (C-index = 0.816, 95% CI: 0.792-0.841, already online) found 66% (2/3) dMMR&MSS patients in the ZS6Y-2 cohort. There are significant differences in OS and immunotherapy effect between dMMR&MSI-H and dMMR&MSS patients. Our prediction model provides an economical way to screen dMMR&MSS patients.

Testing region selection and prognostic analysis of MLH1 promoter methylation in colorectal cancer in China

Background

MLH1 promoter methylation analysis is recommended in screening for Lynch syndrome (LS) in patients with MLH1-deficient colorectal cancer (CRC). The study aims to identify specific methylation regions in the MLH1 promoter and to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of and prognosis for patients with MLH1 methylation.

Methods

A total of 580 CRC cases were included. The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression was assessed by using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The methylation status of the Regions A, B, C, D, and E in the MLH1 promoter was tested by using bisulfite sequencing PCR. The specificities of the five regions were calculated. Associations between MLH1 methylation and clinicopathologic characteristics were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier analyses for overall survival (OS) were carried out.

Results

In 580 CRC cases, the specificities of the methylation test in Regions D and E were both 97.8%. In the MLH1-deficient CRCs, the frequencies of MLH1 methylation and BRAFV600E mutation were 52.6% and 14.6%, respectively; BRAFV600E mutation occurred in 27.7% of patients with MLH1-methylated CRC. In the MMR-deficient patients, compared with MLH1 unmethylation, MLH1 methylation was more common in patients who were aged ≥50 years, female, had no family history of LS-related tumors, and had tumors located at the right colon. In the MMR-deficient patients, the MLH1-methylated cases had lower OS rates than the unmethylated cases with a family history of LS-related tumors (P = 0.047).

Conclusions

Regions D and E in the MLH1 promoter are recommended for determining the MLH1 methylation status in screening for LS in MLH1-deficient CRC. In MMR-deficient patients, the MLH1-methylated cases had a worse OS than the unmethylated cases with a family history of LS-related cancer.

Lymph node metastases and recurrence in pT1 colorectal cancer: Prediction with the International Budding Consortium Score-A retrospective, multi-centric study

BACKGROUND

The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting proposes histological tumour type, lymphovascular invasion, tumour grade, perineural invasion, extent, and dimensions of invasion as risk factors for lymph node metastases and tumour progression in completely endoscopically resected pT1 colorectal cancer (CRC).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to propose a predictive and reliable score to optimise the clinical management of endoscopically resected pT1 CRC patients.

METHODS

This multi-centric, retrospective International Budding Consortium (IBC) study included an international pT1 CRC cohort of 565 patients. All cases were reviewed by eight expert gastrointestinal pathologists. All risk factors were reported according to international guidelines. Tumour budding and immune response (CD8+ T-cells) were assessed with automated models using artificial intelligence. We used the information on risk factors and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression to develop a prediction model and generate a score to predict the occurrence of lymph node metastasis or cancer recurrence.

RESULTS

The IBC prediction score included the following parameters: lymphovascular invasion, tumour buds, infiltration depth and tumour grade. The score has an acceptable discrimination power (area under the curve of 0.68 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.61-0.75]; 0.64 [95% CI 0.57-0.71] after internal validation). At a cut-off of 6.8 points to discriminate high-and low-risk patients, the score had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.9 [95% CI 0.8-0.95] and 0.26 [95% 0.22, 0.3], respectively.

CONCLUSION

The IBC score is based on well-established risk factors and is a promising tool with clinical utility to support the management of pT1 CRC patients.

NAMPT-Driven M2 Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Leads to an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a metabolic enzyme with key roles in inflammation. Previous studies have examined the consequences of its upregulated expression in cancer cells themselves, but studies are limited with respect to its role in the other cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) during colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, it is founded that NAMPT is highly expressed in SPP1+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a unique subset of TAMs associated with immunosuppressive activity. A NAMPThigh gene signature in SPP1+ TAMs correlated with worse prognostic outcomes in CRC patients. The effect of Nampt deletion in the myeloid compartment of mice during CRC development is explored. NAMPT deficiency in macrophages resulted in HIF-1α destabilization, leading to reduction in M2-like TAM polarization. NAMPT deficiency caused significant decreases in the efferocytosis activity of macrophages, which enhanced STING signaling and the induction of type I IFN-response genes. Expression of these genes contributed to anti-tumoral immunity via potentiation of cytotoxic T cell activity in the TME. Overall, these findings suggest that NAMPT-initiated TAM-specific genes can be useful in predicting poor CRC patient outcomes; strategies aimed at targeting NAMPT may provide a promising therapeutic approach for building an immunostimulatory TME in CRC progression.

circSKA3 promotes colorectal cancer metastases through miR-1238 and methylation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is becoming one of the most common cancers overworld, which causes a high rate of death in patients. circRNAs are non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs), which have been reported to be involved in the development of many cancers, including CRC. However, the exact mechanism that how circRNAs function through in CRC remains unclear. In this study, we firstly used GEO database and bioinformatic methods to identify the significant changed circRNAs, with circSKA3 being the most significantly upregulated circRNAs in CRC tissues. PCR results further confirmed higher expression of circSKA3 in CRC patients. CCK-8, scratch, and transwell assays indicated that circSKA3 could promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cell lines for cell detection. Dual-luciferase assays were carried out to detect the downstream targets of circSKA3, and a binding site between circSKA3 and miR-1238 was identified and miR-1238 could also combine with YTHDF2. Overexpression of YTHDF2 rescued the decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion caused by miR-1238 overexpression. RIP assay further indicated that YTHDF2 could decrease the methylation of STAT5A. In summary, our study found that circSKA3 was upregulated in CRC tissues comparing with normal tissues. circSKA3 could increase the expression ofYTHDF2 through sponging miR-1238 to decrease the methylation of STAT5A, which could provide a novel target for CRC treatment.

Reduced chemokine C-C motif ligand 1 expression may negatively regulate colorectal cancer progression at liver metastatic sites

Colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis, albeit a stage-IV disease, is completely curable by surgical resection in selected patients. In addressing the molecular basics of this phenomenon, differentially expressed genes at primary and liver metastatic sites were screened by RNA sequencing with the use of paraffin-embedded surgical specimens. Chemokine C-C motif ligand 1 (CCL1), a chemotactic factor for a ligand of the chemokine C-C motif receptor 8 (CCR8), was isolated as one of the differentially expressed genes. Histological analysis revealed that the number of CCL1-positive cells, mainly tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) located in the stroma of CRC, decreased significantly at liver metastatic sites, while the expression level of CCR8 on CRC remained unchanged. To explore the biological significance of the CCL1-CCR8 axis in CRC, CCR8-positive CRC cell line Colo320DM was used to assess the effect of the CCL1-CCR8 axis on major signalling pathways, epithelial mesenchymal transition induction and cell motility. Upon stimulation of recombinant CCL1 (rCCL1), phosphorylation of AKT was observed in Colo320DM cells; on the other hand, the corresponding significant increase in MMP-2 levels demonstrated by RT-qPCR was nullified by siRNA (siCCR8). In the scratch test, rCCL1 treatment significantly increased the motility of Colo320DM cells, which was similarly nullified by siCCR8. Thus, the activation of the CCL1-CCR8 axis is a positive regulator of CRC tumour progression. Reduced CCL1 expression of TAMs at liver metastatic sites may partly explain the unique slow tumour progression of CRC, thus providing for a grace period for radical resection of metastatic lesions.

Exploring the role of sporadic BRAF and KRAS mutations during colorectal cancer pathogenesis: A spotlight on the contribution of the endosome-lysosome system

The highly heterogenous nature of colorectal cancer can significantly hinder its early and accurate diagnosis, eventually contributing to high mortality rates. The adenoma-carcinoma sequence and serrated polyp-carcinoma sequence are the two most common sequences in sporadic colorectal cancer. Genetic alterations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) and tumour protein 53 (TP53) genes are critical in adenoma-carcinoma sequence, whereas v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) and MutL Homolog1 (MLH1) are driving oncogenes in the serrated polyp-carcinoma sequence. Sporadic mutations in these genes contribute differently to colorectal cancer pathogenesis by introducing distinct alterations in several signalling pathways that rely on the endosome-lysosome system. Unsurprisingly, the endosome-lysosome system plays a pivotal role in the hallmarks of cancer and contributes to specialised colon function. Thus, the endosome-lysosome system might be distinctively influenced by different mutations and these alterations may contribute to the heterogenous nature of sporadic colorectal cancer. This review highlights potential connections between major sporadic colorectal cancer mutations and the diverse pathogenic mechanisms driven by the endosome-lysosome system in colorectal carcinogenesis.

The copper (II) complex of salicylate phenanthroline induces immunogenic cell death of colorectal cancer cells through inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress

BACKGROUND

In our previous study, Cu(sal)phen was found to have anti-tumor effects, yet its precise mechanism remains unknown. Research has shown that dying tumor cells release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to promote anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, we have further explored the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of Cu(sal)phen-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) in colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

ELISA and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of Cu(sal)phen treatment on ICD markers. The molecular mechanisms of Cu(sal)phen-induced ICD were investigated through the detection of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro using Western blot and flow cytometry. Additionally, a mouse model was constructed to study the effects of Cu(sal)phen on immune cells and anti-tumor-related cytokines in vivo.

RESULTS

Cu(sal)phen induced the release of calreticulin (CRT), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), the main molecular markers of ICD, by promoting the accumulation of ROS and inducing ERS. Furthermore, Cu(sal)phen promoted the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and activation of CD8+T cells, as well as the secretion of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), while downregulating transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels, thereby activating the anti-tumor immune response.

CONCLUSION

Cu(sal)phen has the potential to induce ICD in tumors and activate the adaptive immune response to achieve anti-tumor effects. This makes Cu(sal)phen a promising candidate for the treatment of CRC.

Expression profiles and gene set enrichment analysis of the transcriptomes from the cancer tissue, white adipose tissue and paracancer tissue with colorectal cancer

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and is related to diet and obesity. Currently, crosstalk between lipid metabolism and CRC has been reported; however, the specific mechanism is not yet understood. In this study, we screened differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs from primary cancer, paracancer, and white adipose tissue of CRC patients. We screened and analyzed the genes differentially expressed between primary and paracancer tissue and between paracancer and white adipose tissue but not between primary and white adipose tissue. According to the results of the biological analysis, we speculated a lncRNA (MIR503HG) that may be involved in the crosstalk between CRC and lipid metabolism through exosome delivery.

Methods

We screened differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs from primary cancer, paracancer, and white adipose tissue of CRC patients. We screened and analyzed the genes differentially expressed between primary and paracancer tissue and between paracancer and white adipose tissue but not between primary and white adipose tissue.

Results

We speculated a lncRNA (MIR503HG) that may be involved in the crosstalk between CRC and lipid metabolism through exosome delivery.

Conclusions

In this study, the findings raise the possibility of crosstalk between lipid metabolism and CRC through the exosomal delivery of lncRNAs.

P4HA2 involved in SLUG-associated EMT predicts poor prognosis of patients with KRAS-positive colorectal cancer

This study aimed to examine the immunohistochemical expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarkers: P4HA2 and SLUG in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) specimens, then to assess their relation to clinicopathological features including KRAS mutations and patients' survival, and finally to study the correlation between them in CRC. The result of this study showed that SLUG and P4HA2 were significantly higher in association with adverse prognostic factors: presence of lympho-vascular invasion, perineural invasion, higher tumor budding, tumor stage, presence of lymph node metastasis, and presence of distant metastasis. CRC specimens with KRAS mutation were associated with significant higher SLUG and P4HA2 expression. High expression of both SLUG and P4HA2 was significantly unfavorable prognostic indicator as regards overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). In KRAS mutated cases, high P4HA2 expression was the only significant poor prognostic indicator as regarding DFS. In conclusions, our data highlight that both SLUG and P4HA2 expression may serve as potentially important poor prognostic biomarkers in CRC and targeting these molecules may be providing a novel therapeutic strategy. In KRAS mutation group, high P4HA2 expression is the only independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence, so it can be suggested to be a novel target for therapy.

The cross talk of ubiquitination and chemotherapy tolerance in colorectal cancer

Ubiquitination, a highly adaptable post-translational modification, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cellular protein homeostasis, encompassing cancer chemoresistance-associated proteins. Recent findings have indicated a potential correlation between perturbations in the ubiquitination process and the emergence of drug resistance in CRC cancer. Consequently, numerous studies have spurred the advancement of compounds specifically designed to target ubiquitinates, offering promising prospects for cancer therapy. In this review, we highlight the role of ubiquitination enzymes associated with chemoresistance to chemotherapy via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cell cycle perturbation. In addition, we summarize the application and role of small compounds that target ubiquitination enzymes for CRC treatment, along with the significance of targeting ubiquitination enzymes as potential cancer therapies.

Bifidobacterium longum suppresses colorectal cancer through the modulation of intestinal microbes and immune function

Colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most common malignancies in the world, urgently requires more treatment strategies. Although there has been much research on probiotics, limited research has been done in treating cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) in the prevention and treatment of CRC. Through Cell Counting Kit-8 and Colony Formation Assays, 8 h and a B. longum count of 1 × 108 CFU/ml were chosen as the best cocultivation conditions with CRC cells. The role of B. longum in inhibiting the progression of CRC cells was verified by a series of functional and immunofluorescence assays. For instance, in vivo assays have verified that B. longum could alleviate CRC progression. In addition, according to the results of in vivo assays and clinical statistical analysis, B. longum could reduce diarrhea symptoms. Mechanistically, by 16S and RNA sequencing, it was found that B. longum could affect the development of CRC by regulating the composition of gut microbes and enhancing immune function. The B. longum might inhibit the occurrence and development of CRC and relieve diarrhea symptoms by regulating intestinal microbes and immune function.

ASB6 as an Independent Prognostic Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer Progression Involves Lymphatic Invasion and Immune Infiltration

Background: ASB6, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, mediates the proteasomal degradation of its substrate proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. ASB6 has been reported to play significant roles in several biological processes, including tumor stemness and endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, the underlying role and mechanism of ASB6 in colorectal cancer, particularly its association with immune infiltration levels and its prognostic significance, remain to be fully elucidated. Methods: We identified key prognostic genes in CRC patients through LASSO-penalized Cox regression, Univariate and Multivariate Cox regression analyses. Subsequently, we comprehensively analyzed the prognostic value of hub genes and constructed a prognostic nomogram. Finally, we identified ASB6 interacting proteins through immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) and constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and performed pathway enrichment analysis to explore the potential mechanisms of ASB6. Meanwhile, we evaluated the functions of ASB6 in CRC cells through in vitro cell experiments. Results: We identified ASB6 as a hub gene in CRC. ASB6 was highly expressed in CRC, and patients with high ASB6 expression had worse Disease-Free Interval (DFI), Disease-Specific Survival (DSS), Overall Survival (OS), and Progression-Free Interval (PFI). Correlation analysis showed that ASB6 expression were positively correlated with lymph node invasion and distal metastasis. Overexpression of ASB6 enhanced the migration ability of CRC cells. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that ASB6 was an independent prognostic factor for OS and DSS in CRC. The nomogram model constructed based on multivariate analysis results had good predictive effects, with C-indexes of 0.811 and 0.934 for OS and DSS, respectively. Furthermore, analysis of immune infiltration levels showed that ASB6 expression were positively correlated with M2-type macrophage infiltration levels in CRC, and patients with high levels of both ASB6 and M2-type macrophages had a worse prognosis. Furthermore, pathway enrichment analysis of ASB6 interacting proteins identified by IP-MS suggested that ASB6 may play a crucial role through the response to unfolded protein pathway and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway. Conclusions: ASB6 is significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and is a risk factor for prognosis in CRC patients. ASB6 enhances the migration ability of CRC cells. Therefore, ASB6 may be an independent prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for CRC patients.

Exploring the clinical significance of IL-38 correlation with PD-1, CTLA-4, and FOXP3 in colorectal cancer draining lymph nodes

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a substantial challenge characterized by unacceptably high mortality and morbidity, primarily attributed to delayed diagnosis and reliance on palliative care. The immune response of the host plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis, with IL-38 emerging as a potential protective factor in CRC. However, the precise involvement of IL-38 among various leucocytes, its interactions with PD-1/PD-L1, and its impact on metastasis require further elucidation.

Results

Our investigation revealed a significant correlation between IL-38 expression and metastasis, particularly concerning survival and interactions among diverse leucocytes within draining lymph nodes. In the mesentery lymph nodes, we observed an inverse correlation between IL-38 expression and stages of lymph node invasions (TNM), invasion depth, distance, and differentiation. This aligns with an overall survival advantage associated with higher IL-38 expression in CRC patients' nodes compared to lower levels, as well as elevated IL-38 expression on CD4+ or CD8+ cells. Notably, a distinct subset of patients characterized by IL-38high/PD-1low expression exhibited superior survival outcomes compared to other combinations.

Discussion

Our findings demonstrate that IL-38 expression in colorectal regional nodes from CRC patients is inversely correlated with PD-1/PD-L1 but positively correlated with infiltrating CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. The combined assessment of IL-38 and PD-1 expression in colorectal regional nodes emerges as a promising biomarker for predicting the prognosis of CRC.

Knockdown of ANP32E inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth and glycolysis by regulating the AKT/mTOR pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common tumor, with an increasing number of deaths worldwide each year. Tremendous advances in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC have significantly improved the outcomes for CRC patients. Additionally, accumulating evidence has hinted the relationship between acidic nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member E (ANP32E) and cancer progression. But the role of ANP32E in CRC remains unclear. In our study, through TCGA database, it was demonstrated that the expression of ANP32E was enhanced in COAD tissues (n = 286). In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of ANP32E was also confirmed to be upregulated in CRC cell lines. Further investigation uncovered that knockdown of ANP32E suppressed cell proliferation and glycolysis, and facilitated cell apoptosis in CRC. Moreover, inhibition of ANP32E inhibited the AKT/mTOR pathway. Through rescue assays, we discovered that the reduced cell proliferation, glycolysis and the enhanced cell apoptosis mediated by ANP32E repression was reversed by SC79 treatment. In summary, ANP32E aggravated the growth and glycolysis of CRC cells by stimulating the AKT/mTOR pathway. This finding suggested that the ANP32E has the potential to be explored as a novel biomarker for CRC treatment.

Plasma Circulating mRNA Profile for the Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer Using NanoString Technologies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in developed countries. Early CRC may have no symptoms and symptoms usually appear with more advanced diseases. Regular screening can identify people who are at increased risk of CRC in order to offer earlier treatment. A cost-effective non-invasive platform for the screening and monitoring of CRC patients allows early detection and appropriate treatment of the disease, and the timely application of adjuvant therapy after surgical operation is needed. In this study, a cohort of 71 plasma samples that include 48 colonoscopy- and histopathology-confirmed CRC patients with TNM stages I to IV were recruited between 2017 and 2019. Plasma mRNA profiling was performed in CRC patients using NanoString nCounter. Normalized data were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U test to determine statistically significant differences between samples from CRC patients and healthy subjects. A multiple-group comparison of clinical phenotypes was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test for statistically significant differences between multiple groups. Among the 27 selected circulating mRNA markers, all of them were found to be overexpressed (gene expression fold change > 2) in the plasma of patients from two or more CRC stages. In conclusion, NanoString-based targeted plasma CRC-associated mRNAs circulating the marker panel that can significantly distinguish CRC patients from a healthy population were developed for the non-invasive diagnosis of CRC using peripheral blood samples.

Solanine induces ferroptosis in colorectal cancer cells through ALOX12B/ADCY4 molecular axis

OBJECTIVES

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Solanine is a phytochemical extracted from traditional Chinese medicine with widely reported anticancer effects. Here, we investigated the potential role of solanine in regulating ferroptosis in CRC cells and scrutinized the molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Cell growth and cytotoxicity were examined using CCK-8 proliferation assay and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Subcellular changes in mitochondria were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Gene and protein expression levels were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Protein-protein interaction was determined by co-immunoprecipitation.

KEY FINDINGS

Solanine arrested cell proliferation in CRC cells and induced typical ferroptotic changes. Solanine treatment promoted ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and cell membrane disruption, while the cellular level of antioxidant GSH was reduced upon solanine treatment. ALOX12B was identified as a molecular mediator of solanine to promote ferroptosis. Solanine treatment upregulated ALOX12B levels and silencing ALOX12B could suppress solanine-induced ferroptosis. Further, ADCY4 was found to physically associate with ALOX12B and maintain ALOX12B protein stability. Silencing ADCY4 destabilized ALOX12B and attenuated solanine-induced ferroptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated the ferroptosis-inducing effect of solanine in CRC cells, and revealed ALOX12B/ADCY4 molecular axis as the ferroptosis mediator of solanine. Solanine may synergize with existing ferroptosis inducer as an anticancer strategy in CRC, which warrants further validation in animal experiments.

Comparing a fecal immunochemical test and circulating tumor DNA blood test for colorectal cancer screening adherence

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs are most effective at reducing disease incidence and mortality through sustained screening participation. A novel blood test modality is being explored for CRC screening, but it is unclear whether it will provide sustained screening participation. This study aimed to investigate whether a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) blood test improved CRC screening re-participation when compared with a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and to define the predictors of sustained CRC screening in an Australian population.

METHODS

South Australians who initially participated in CRC screening using a ctDNA blood test (n = 36) or FIT (n = 547) were offered the same CRC screening test approximately 2 years later through an extended phase of a randomized controlled trial. Surveys collected demographic, psychosocial, and clinical information. Predictors of CRC screening re-participation were explored using chi-square, Wilcoxon tests, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Participants offered a second ctDNA blood test were equally likely to re-participate in CRC screening as those who completed a FIT in the first round and who were offered the same test (61% vs 66% re-participation respectively, P = 0.6). CRC fatalism, health activation, and self-efficacy were associated with repeated screening participation. Test awareness was predictive of repeated FIT-based CRC screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted interventions to improve CRC screening awareness and increase patient health activation may improve CRC screening adherence. A ctDNA blood test may be a suitable CRC screening option to maintain CRC screening adherence in people who do not participate in screening with FIT.

Intratumor tertiary lymphatic structure evaluation predicts the prognosis and immunotherapy response of patients with colorectal cancer

Background

Immune checkpoint therapy, involving the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody, has revolutionized the treatment of cancer. Tertiary lymphatic structure (TLS) serves as an immune indicator to predict the efficacy of PD-1 antibody therapy. However, there is no clear result whether the distribution, quantity, and maturity of TLS can be effective indicators for predicting the clinical efficacy of anti-PD1 immunotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Fifty-seven patients who underwent surgical resection and thirty-nine patients who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemical staining and multiple fluorescence immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the mismatch repair (MMR) subtypes and TLS distribution, quantity, and maturity, respectively.

Results

A comprehensive patient score system was built based on TLS quantity and maturity. We found that the proportion of patients with score >1 was much higher in the deficient mismatch repair(dMMR) group than in the proficient mismatch repair(pMMR) group, and this difference was mainly due to intratumoral TLS. Patient score, based on the TLS evaluation of whole tumor, peritumor, or intratumor, was used to evaluate the efficacy of anti-PD1 immunotherapy. Based only on the intratumor TLS evaluation, the proportion of patients with a score >1 was higher in the response (PR + CR) group than in the non-response (PD) group. Multivariate analysis revealed that patient scores were positively correlated with the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy. Further analysis of immune-related progression-free survival was performed in patients with CRC who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Patients with score >1 based on the intratumor TLS evaluation had significantly better survival.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the patient score based on intratumor TLS evaluation may be a good immune predictive indicator for PD-1 antibody therapy in patients with CRC.

BRAFV600E mutation and DSS treatment synergize to induce cecal tumor formation in mice

BRAF mutation is a driver mutation in colorectal cancer (CRC), and BRAFV600E mutation is found in 10-15 % of all CRCs. BRAF mutant CRCs in patients are primarily localized in the right colon, including the cecum. However, in the Vill-Cre;BRAFV600E/+ mice, adenomas mainly developed in the small intestines of the mice, and no tumor formed in the cecum. The mice model of BRAFV600E-mutant CRC with tumors in the cecum is lacking. Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) treatment induces colitis in mice. Acute DSS treatment does not lead to tumor formation. We show that DSS treatment and BRAFV600E mutation synergistically induced cecal tumorigenesis, and cecal tumors formed within three months after five-day DSS treatment. The location of the adenomas supports the patient relevance of the model. Our BRAFV600E/DSS model provides a valuable in vivo model for future identification and validation of novel therapeutic approaches for treating BRAF-mutant CRC. Our results are consistent with the notion that BRAFV600E mutation is an oncogenic event that can shift controlled regeneration to unrestrained oncogenesis.

Pyrvinium Pamoate Induces Cell Apoptosis and Autophagy in Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

In earlier research, we demonstrated that pyrvinium pamoate (PP) can effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. In the current study, we further explore the possibility of PP, as a potential therapeutic drug in the treatment of CRC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hoechst 33258 staining, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to further investigate the connection between PP and CRC cell apoptosis and autophagy.

RESULTS

We found that PP promoted apoptosis and autophagy of CRC cells. At the protein level, the expression of proteins related to the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway exhibited a negative correlation with the dosage of PP. PP may therefore induce apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our in vitro experiments demonstrated that PP could inhibit the progression of colorectal cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and autophagy. The detailed mechanism needs further investigation.

RSPO2 as Wnt signaling enabler: Important roles in cancer development and therapeutic opportunities

R-spondins are secretory proteins localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi bodies and are processed through the secretory pathway. Among the R-spondin family, RSPO2 has emanated as a novel regulator of Wnt signaling, which has now been acknowledged in numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that proliferates and spreads uncontrollably due to the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic factors that constitutively activate Wnt signaling in various types of cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) begins when cells in the colon and rectum follow an indefinite pattern of division due to aberrant Wnt activation as one of the key hallmarks. Decades-long progress in research on R-spondins has demonstrated their oncogenic function in distinct cancer types, particularly CRC. As a critical regulator of the Wnt pathway, it modulates several phenotypes of cells, such as cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and cancer stem cell properties. Recently, RSPO mutations, gene rearrangements, fusions, copy number alterations, and altered gene expression have also been identified in a variety of cancers, including CRC. In this review, we addressed the recent updates regarding the recurrently altered R-spondins with special emphasis on the RSPO2 gene and its involvement in potentiating Wnt signaling in CRC. In addition to the compelling physiological and biological roles in cellular fate and regulation, we propose that RSPO2 would be valuable as a potential biomarker for prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic use in CRC.

Transcriptional profile and immune infiltration in colorectal cancer reveal the significance of inducible T-cell costimulator as a crucial immune checkpoint molecule

BACKGROUND

Emergence of novel immuno-therapeutics has shown promising improvement in the clinical outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC).

OBJECTIVE

To identify robust immune checkpoints based on expression and immune infiltration profiles of clinical CRC samples.

METHODS

One dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and two from Gene Expression Omnibus were independently employed for the analysis. Genes associated with overall survival were identified, and distribution of each immune checkpoint with respect to different clinical features was determined to explore key immune checkpoints. Multiple staining methods were used to verify the correlation between key immune checkpoint ICOS and clinical pathological features. Differentially expressed mRNA and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) were then detected for gene set enrichment analysis and gene set variation analysis to investigate the differentially enriched biological processes between low- and high-expression groups. Significant immune-related mRNAs and lncRNA were subjected to competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis. Correlation of inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS) and top 10 genes in ceRNA network were further considered for validation.

RESULTS

ICOS was identified from 14 immune checkpoints as the most highly correlated gene with survival and clinical features in CRC. The expression of ICOS protein in the poorly differentiated group was lower than that in the moderately differentiated group, and the expression in different pathological stages was significant. In addition, the expressions of ICOS were negatively correlated with Ki67. A conspicuous number of immune-related pathways were enriched in differentially expressed genes in the ICOS high- and low-expression groups. Integration with immune infiltration data revealed a multitude of differentially expressed immune-related genes enriched for ceRNA network. Furthermore, expression of top 10 genes investigated from ceRNA network showed high correlation with ICOS.

CONCLUSION

ICOS might serve as a robust immune checkpoint for prognosis with several genes being potential targets of ICOS-directed immunotherapy in CRC.

5'-Isoforms of miR-1246 Have Distinct Targets and Stronger Functional Impact Compared with Canonical miR-1246 in Colorectal Cancer Cells In Vitro

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease involving genetic and epigenetic factors, such as miRNAs. Sequencing-based studies have revealed that miRNAs have many isoforms (isomiRs) with modifications at the 3'- and 5'-ends or in the middle, resulting in distinct targetomes and, consequently, functions. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the putative targets and functional role of miR-1246 and its two 5'-isoforms (ISO-miR-1246_a and ISO-miR-1246_G) in vitro. Commercial Caco-2 cells of CRC origin were analyzed for the expression of WT-miR-1246 and its 5'-isoforms using small RNA sequencing data, and the overabundance of the two miR-1246 isoforms was determined in cells. The transcriptome analysis of Caco-2 cells transfected with WT-miR-1246, ISO-miR-1246_G, and ISO-miR-1246_a indicated the minor overlap of the targetomes between the studied miRNA isoforms. Consequently, an enrichment analysis showed the involvement of the potential targets of the miR-1246 isoforms in distinct signaling pathways. Cancer-related pathways were predominantly more enriched in dysregulated genes in ISO-miR-1246_G and ISO-miR-1246_a, whereas cell cycle pathways were more enriched in WT-miR-1246. The functional analysis of WT-miR-1246 and its two 5'-isoforms revealed that the inhibition of any of these molecules had a tumor-suppressive role (reduced cell viability and migration and promotion of early cell apoptosis) in CRC cells. However, the 5'-isoforms had a stronger effect on viability compared with WT-miR-1246. To conclude, this research shows that WT-miR-1246 and its two 5'-isoforms have different targetomes and are involved in distinct signaling pathways but collectively play an important role in CRC pathogenesis.

Would initiating colorectal cancer screening from age of 45 be cost-effective in Germany? An individual-level simulation analysis

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has been shown to be effective and cost-saving. However, the trend of rising incidence of early-onset CRC challenges the current national screening program solely for people ≥50 years in Germany, where extending the screening to those 45-49 years might be justified. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CRC screening strategies starting at 45 years in Germany.

Method

DECAS, an individual-level simulation model accounting for both adenoma and serrated pathways of CRC development and validated with German CRC epidemiology and screening effects, was used for the cost-effectiveness analysis. Four CRC screening strategies starting at age 45, including 10-yearly colonoscopy (COL), annual/biennial fecal immunochemical test (FIT), or the combination of the two, were compared with the current screening offer starting at age 50 years in Germany. Three adherence scenarios were considered: perfect adherence, current adherence, and high screening adherence. For each strategy, a cohort of 100,000 individuals with average CRC risk was simulated from age 20 until 90 or death. Outcomes included CRC cases averted, prevented death, quality-adjusted life-years gained (QALYG), and total incremental costs considering both CRC treatment and screening costs. A 3% discount rate was applied and costs were in 2023 Euro.

Result

Initiating 10-yearly colonoscopy-only or combined FIT + COL strategies at age 45 resulted in incremental gains of 7-28 QALYs with incremental costs of €28,360-€71,759 per 1,000 individuals, compared to the current strategy. The ICER varied from €1,029 to €9,763 per QALYG, and the additional number needed for colonoscopy ranged from 129 to 885 per 1,000 individuals. Among the alternatives, a three times colonoscopy strategy starting at 45 years of age proves to be the most effective, while the FIT-only strategy was dominated by the currently implemented strategy. The findings remained consistent across probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

The cost-effectiveness findings support initiating CRC screening at age 45 with either colonoscopy alone or combined with FIT, demonstrating substantial gains in quality-adjusted life-years with a modest increase in costs. Our findings emphasize the importance of implementing CRC screening 5 years earlier than the current practice to achieve more significant health and economic benefits.

Metagenomic analysis of fecal samples in colorectal cancer Egyptians patients post colectomy: A pilot study

One of the most prevalent malignancies that significantly affects world health is colorectal cancer (CRC). While genetics are involved in a portion of CRC patients, most cases are sporadic. The microbiome composition could be a new source of tumor initiation and progression. This research was conducted to investigate the microbiota composition of CRC patients post colectomy at taxonomic and functional levels. Using a next-generation sequencing approach, using an Illumina Novaseq 6000, the fecal samples of 13 patients were analyzed and the obtained data was subjected to a bioinformatics analysis. The bacterial abundance and uniqueness varied in CRC patients alongside differences in bacterial counts between patients. Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides vulgatus, Escherichia coli, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were among the pro-cancerous microorganisms found. Concurrently, bacteria linked to CRC progression were detected that have been previously linked to metastasis and recurrence. At the same time, probiotic bacteria such as Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Akkermansia muciniphila increased in abundance after colectomies. Additionally, numerous pathways were deferentially enriched in CRC, which emerged from functional pathways based on bacterial shotgun data. CRC-specific microbiome signatures include an altered bacterial composition. Our research showed that microbial biomarkers could be more usefully employed to explore the link between gut microbiota and CRC using metagenomic techniques in the diagnosis, prognosis, and remission of CRC, thereby opening new avenues for CRC treatment.

ATP6AP1 as a potential prognostic biomarker in CRC by comprehensive analysis and verification

The role of ATP6AP1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive despite its observed upregulation in pan-cancer. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the clinical significance of ATP6AP1 and its relationship with the immune infiltration in CRC. Transcriptome data of CRC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and analyzed using the combination of R packages and tumor-related databases, including TIMER2, TISIDB, cBioPortal, and MethSurv. The tissue arrays and immunohistochemical staining were performed to verify the expression and clinical characteristics of ATP6AP1. The results revealed that ATP6AP1 expression was significantly elevated in CRC and associated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated ATP6AP1 expression was correlated with the infiltration of immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the microenvironment of CRC. Moreover, ATP6AP1 was found to be linked to various immune checkpoints and chemokines, with enrichment of cytoplasmic vesicle lumen, endopeptidase regulator activity, and endopeptidase inhibitor activity observed in the high ATP6AP1 expressional group. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that ATP6AP1 upregulation may serve as a biomarker for poor diagnosis in CRC and offer a potential target for immunotherapy in CRC.

Construction of a New Ferroptosis-related Prognosis Model for Survival Prediction in Colorectal Cancer

AIM

This study was designed to develop a ferroptosis-related gene signature for guiding the prognostic prediction in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to explore the potential in the molecular functions of the gene signature.

BACKGROUND

Ferroptosis is mainly characterized by lipid peroxide accumulation on the cell membranes in an iron-dependent manner, resulting in cellular oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, and, ultimately, cell death. This study aimed to develop a prognostic ferroptosis signature in CRC and explore its potential molecular function.

OBJECTIVE

The present work was designed to devise a ferroptosis signature for CRC prognosis and explore its potential molecular function.

METHODS

Single-cell RNA sequencing data GSE161277 and transcriptome sequencing data GSE17537 and TCGA-CRC from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases were downloaded, respectively. Quality control, dimension reduction, clustering, and clustering of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA- seq) data were performed using the Seurat package. A total of 259 ferroptosis-correlated genes from the FerrDb database were acquired. The single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was performed to calculate the scores of genes related to ferroptosis. ESTIMATE was used to calculate immune infiltration. Independent prognostic factors were determined by performing Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), univariate and Cox analyses, and Lasso analyses were used to search for independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS

From the scRNA-seq (GSE161277) dataset, 22 cell clusters were initially identified, and according to immune cell markers, only 8 types of cells (Follicular B, central memory T cell, Epithelial, Natural killer T cell, Plasma B, M1 macrophage, Fibroblasts, and Mast cell) were finally determined to be related to CRC prognosis. The results of the scRNA-seq analysis showed that the score of ferroptosis-related genes was higher in tumour tissues and in 8 types of cells in tumour samples. In the TCGA dataset, CRC samples were divided into ferroptosis-related high scores, ferroptosis-related median scores, and ferroptosis-related low scores. Immune cell analysis revealed that ferroptosis- related high scores had the highest abundance of immune cells. An 11-gene signature was developed by WGCNA, univariate Cox, and Lasso Cox regression. The prediction ability of the signature was successfully validated in the GSE17537 dataset. A comprehensive nomogram combining the 11 signature genes and clinical parameters could effectively predict the overall survival of CRC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The present molecular signature established based on the 11 ferroptosis-related genes performed well in assessing CRC prognosis. The present discoveries could inspire further research on ferroptosis, providing a new direction for CRC management.

The Impact of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts on the Biology and Progression of Colorectal Carcinomas

(1) Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of CRC's tumour microenvironment (TME), but their biological background and interplay with the TME remain poorly understood. This study investigates CAF biology and its impact on CRC progression. (2) The cohort comprises 155 cases, including CRC, with diverse localizations, adenomas, inflammations, and controls. Digital gene expression analysis examines genes associated with signalling pathways (MAPK, PI3K/Akt, TGF-β, WNT, p53), while next-generation sequencing (NGS) determines CRC mutational profiles. Immunohistochemical FAP scoring assesses CAF density and activity. (3) FAP expression is found in 81 of 150 samples, prevalent in CRC (98.4%), adenomas (27.5%), and inflammatory disease (38.9%). Several key genes show significant associations with FAP-positive fibroblasts. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) highlights PI3K and MAPK pathway enrichment alongside the activation of immune response pathways like natural killer (NK)-cell-mediated cytotoxicity via CAFs. (4) The findings suggest an interplay between CAFs and cancer cells, influencing growth, invasiveness, angiogenesis, and immunogenicity. Notably, TGF-β, CDKs, and the Wnt pathway are affected. In conclusion, CAFs play a significant role in CRC and impact the TME throughout development.

Alterations in the gut microbiota and their metabolites in human intestinal epithelial cells of patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The gut microbiota has become one of the main risk factors for the formation and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC intensification may be due to the microbial pathogens' colonization and their released metabolites. Here, we analyzed Bacteroidetes and Clostridia bacteria in CRC patients and studied bacterial metabolome in cancerous tissues compared to their adjacent normal tissues.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The population of selected bacteria in biopsy specimens of 30 patients with CRC was studied by RT-qPCR. The mutagenicity and cytotoxicity effects of microbiota metabolites were evaluated by Ames test and MTT Assay, respectively. Moreover, gene expression in carcinogenic pathways was studied by RT-qPCR, and genes with different expressions in tumor and non-tumor tissues were diagnosed. Based on microbiota analysis, the relative abundance of Clostridia and C. difficile was significantly higher in CRC tissue, whereas C. perfringens showed higher relative abundance in normal tissue. AIMES test confirmed the proliferation and mutagenicity effects of the bacterial metabolites in CRC patients. Significant upregulation of C-Myc, GRB2, IL-8, EGFR, PI3K, and AKT and downregulation of ATM were observed in CRC samples compared to the control.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of bacterial metabolites on inflammation and altered expression of genes in the cell signaling pathways was observed. The findings confirm the role gut microbiota composition and bacterial metabolites as key players in CRC onset and development.

Comparative transcriptomic analyses reveal activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition program in non-metastasizing low grade pseudomyxoma peritonei

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction are essential for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. Low grade mucinous neoplasia of the appendix (LAMN) and its advanced state low grade pseudomyxoma peritonei (lgPMP) show local aggressiveness with very limited metastatic potential as opposed to CRC. To better understand the underlying processes that foster or impede metastatic spread, we compared LAMN, lgPMP, and CRC with respect to their molecular profile with subsequent pathway analysis. LAMN, lgPMP and (mucinous) CRC cases were subjected to transcriptomic analysis utilizing Poly(A) RNA sequencing. Successfully sequenced cases (LAMN n = 10, 77%, lgPMP n = 13, 100% and CRC n = 8, 100%) were investigated using bioinformatic and statistical tests (differential expression analysis, hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis and gene set enrichment analysis). We identified a gene signature of 28 genes distinguishing LAMN, lgPMP and CRC neoplasias. Ontology analyses revealed that multiple pathways including EMT, ECM interaction and angiogenesis are differentially regulated. Fifty-three significantly differentially regulated gene sets were identified between lgPMP and CRC followed by CRC vs. LAMN (n = 21) and lgPMP vs. LAMN (n = 16). Unexpectedly, a substantial enrichment of the EMT gene set was observed in lgPMP vs. LAMN (FDR=0.011) and CRC (FDR=0.004). Typical EMT markers were significantly upregulated (Vimentin, TWIST1, N-Cadherin) or downregulated (E-Cadherin) in lgPMP. However, MMP1 and MMP3 levels, associated with EMT, ECM and metastasis, were considerably higher in CRC. We show that the different tumor biological behaviour and metastatic spread pattern of midgut malignancies is reflected in a different gene expression profile. We revealed a strong activation of the EMT program in non-metastasizing lgPMP vs. CRC. Hence, although EMT is considered a key step in hematogenous spread, successful EMT does not necessarily lead to hematogenous dissemination. This emphasizes the need for further pathway analyses and forms the basis for mechanistic and therapy-targeting research.

A Challenging Correlation between Tumor Cellularity and Somatic Variant Allele Fraction in Lung and Colorectal Cancers-Specimens of Low Tumor Percentage Should Be Analyzed with Caution

Background and aims: The percentage of tumor cells (tumor cellularity) in a cancerous tissue has been assumed to correlate with the variant allele fraction (VAF) of an identified pathogenic variant. Many laboratories use the tumor cellularity as part of a quality criteria for specimen processing and clinical reporting. However, a systematic study of such correlation has yet to be shown. We performed a relatively large-scale study to determine whether pathologist-estimated tumor cellularity is correlated with next-generation sequencing (NGS)-derived VAF. Materials and Methods: A total of 1511 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) specimens, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fine needle aspirated (FNA) tissues, were analyzed by cancer hotspot NGS. For a given specimen, pathogenic variants of BRAF, EGFR, KRAS, and NRAS were identified and the determined VAFs were correlated with the corresponding tissue tumor cellularity. Results: The coefficient of determination R-squared (R2) values were calculated for each correlation. All R2 values were lower than 0.25, indicating poor correlations. Pathogenic variants were found, not uncommonly, in tumor specimens that carried 10% or lower tumor cellularity. There were no apparent differences of R2 values between the FFPE and FNA specimens. Conclusion: In both NSCLC and CRC, the lack of linear relationship between tumor cellularity and VAF was found across a wide range of tumor cell percentages. Caution should be used when using tumor cellularity to triage specimens for NGS testing. The tumor cellularity should be considered in relation to the limit of detection of the specific assay for the proper interpretation of a negative test result.

Breath Fingerprint of Colorectal Cancer Patients Based on the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis

The human body emits a multitude of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) via tissues and various bodily fluids or exhaled breath. These compounds collectively create a distinctive chemical profile, which can potentially be employed to identify changes in human metabolism associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) and, consequently, facilitate the diagnosis of this disease. The main goal of this study was to investigate and characterize the VOCs' chemical patterns associated with the breath of CRC patients and controls and identify potential expiratory markers of this disease. For this purpose, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was applied. Collectively, 1656 distinct compounds were identified in the breath samples provided by 152 subjects. Twenty-two statistically significant VOCs (p-xylene; hexanal; 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane; 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate; hexadecane; nonane; ethylbenzene; cyclohexanone; diethyl phthalate; 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one; tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one; 2-butanone; benzaldehyde; dodecanal; benzothiazole; tetradecane; 1-dodecanol; 1-benzene; 3-methylcyclopentyl acetate; 1-nonene; toluene) were observed at higher concentrations in the exhaled breath of the CRC group. The elevated levels of these VOCs in CRC patients' breath suggest the potential for these compounds to serve as biomarkers for CRC.

Correlation between mismatch repair statuses and the prognosis of stage I-IV colorectal cancer

Background

The role of microsatellite instability (MSI) and prognosis for stage II-III colorectal cancer (CRC) has been described, but the role of MSI in stage I and IV CRC is controversial.

Methods

A total of 2,540 CRC patients were collected from Huzhou Central Hospital, China, from January 2006 to 2016, and 783 cases were excluded. This retrospective study illustrates the correlation between MMR status and prognosis for 1,757 CRC patients as well as the correlation between MSI and prognosis for CRC patients. Two groups were classified as MSI-H and MSI-L&MSS. If the expression of one or more mismatch repair (MMR) proteins was negative, it was considered as microsatellite instability high expression (MSI-H), whereas positive expression was considered as microsatellite instability low expression and microsatellite stability (MSI-L&MSS), as assessed by correlation analyses. Overall and disease-free survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted using Cox regression.

Results

Preoperative serum S-CEA, positive lymph, tumor size, pathologic tumor (Pt) status, node (N) stage, differentiation, chemotherapy, and the 8th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC-8) were significantly correlated with MSI (P=0.028, 0.037, 0.019, 0.007, 0.002, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively), whereas tumor location was not associated with MSI. Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that MSI was an independent factor for CRC. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS, P<0.001) rates differed significantly between the two groups in stages II, III, and IV, whereas stage I did not show a significant difference (P>0.05).

Conclusion

MSI-H was associated with a good prognosis for stages II to IV, whereas stage I did not show any significant correlation. Moreover, MSI expression was an independent prognostic factor.

The Association of Inflammatory Related Markers with the Prognosis in Elderly Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy, especially among older adults. Inflammation has been implicated in cancer progression, making inflammatory indices potential prognostic markers. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte/C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) in older adults with CRC.

Methods

This population-based, retrospective observational study included patients aged ≥ 65 years with colorectal adenocarcinoma who were admitted to Taichung Veterans General Hospital (Chiayi branch) between 2017 and 2022. Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics, and results of inflammatory indices were collected from medical records for all patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the optimal cutoffs of the inflammatory indices in predicting overall mortality. Associations between the inflammatory indices, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were determined using univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, with model performance evaluated using the C-index.

Results

Data of 106 patients were analyzed. After adjusting for confounders, GPS ≥1 (vs 0) significantly predicted poor OS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 3.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-11.10, p= 0.015, C-index= 0.825) and PFS (aHR: 3.19, 95% CI: 1.34-7.57, p= 0.008, C-index= 0.785). CAR ≥1.0 (vs <1) significantly predicted poor OS (aHR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.01-5.48), p=0.046, C-index= 0.825) and PFS (aHR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.14-4.76, p= 0.020, C-index= 0.786).

Conclusion

Among hospitalized older adults with CRC in Taiwan, high GPS and CAR, but not NLR, PLR or LCR, are potentially useful prognostic indicators for poor OS and PFS.

Clinical impact of heterogeneously distributed tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes on the prognosis of colorectal cancer

Background

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) exist in various malignancies, and have been viewed as a promising biomarker to predict the efficacy and outcome of treatment. However, the marked inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of TILs has resulted in some confusion regarding their impact on the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

In this study, 78 CRC patients were enrolled and the CD3+ and CD8+ TILs densities at the tumor center (TC), the invasive margin (IM) and the tumor stroma (TS) were assessed by immunohistochemical staining. Their associations with clinicopathological features and progression free survival (PFS) were analyzed to evaluate the predictive and prognostic values of TILs.

Results

TILs were mainly distributed along the invasive margin. High density of TILs in tumor center and invasive margin was associated with smaller tumor size (CD3+TILsIM), reduced tumor invasion (CD3+TILsIM), absence of lymph node metastasis (CD3+TILsIM and CD8+TILsTC), earlier stage (CD3+TILsIM and CD8+TILsIM), and lower tumor grade (CD3+TILsIM and CD8+TILsTC). However, stromal TILs were not associated with any clinicopathological features. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that high densities of TILs always correlated with prolonged patient survival. The pathological N stage, CD3+ TILsIM and CD8+ TILsTC were found to be independent prognostic indicators. Additionally, early-stage CRC patients who developed recurrence after surgery, showed a higher CD3+/CD8+ TILs ratio in invasive margin. In the present study, it was clarified that CD3+ and CD8+ TILs were heterogeneously distributed in tumor tissues of CRC. The increase in intratumoral and peritumoral TILs had been shown to be strongly predictive of improved clinical outcome. More importantly, the immune signatures enabled to stratify early-stage CRC patients with high risk of recurrence, highlighting the prognostic power of TILs.

Multimodal Management of Colorectal Liver Metastases: State of the Art

Liver is the most common site of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases. Treatment of CRC liver metastases (CRLM) includes different strategies, prevalently based on the clinical and oncological intent. Valid approaches in liver-limited or liver-prevalent disease include surgery, percutaneous ablative procedures (radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation), intra-arterial perfusional techniques (chemo-embolization, radio-embolization) as well as stereotactic radiotherapy. Systemic treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other biological agents, are the only options for patients with no chance of locoregional approaches. The use of chemotherapy in other settings, such as neoadjuvant, adjuvant or conversion therapy of CRLM, is commonly accepted in the clinical practice, although data from several clinical trials have been mostly inconclusive. The optimal integration of all these strategies, when applicable and clinically indicated, should be ever considered in patients affected by CRLM based on clinical evidence and multidisciplinary experience. Here we revised in detail all the possible therapeutic approaches of CRLM focusing on the current evidences, the studies still in progress and the often contradictory data.

Human colorectal cancer: upregulation of the adaptor protein Rai in TILs leads to cell dysfunction by sustaining GSK-3 activation and PD-1 expression

BACKGROUND

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major hurdle for immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies. Hence characterization of the signaling pathways driving T cell exhaustion within TME is a critical need for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and the development of effective therapies. We previously showed that (i) the adaptor protein Rai is a negative regulator of T cell receptor signaling and T helper 1 (Th1)/Th17 cell differentiation; and (ii) Rai deficiency is implicated in the hyperactive phenotype of T cells in autoimmune diseases.

METHODS

The expression level of Rai was measured by qRT-PCR in paired peripheral blood T cells and T cells infiltrating tumor tissue and the normal adjacent tissue in CRC patients. The impact of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α on Rai expression was evaluated in T cells exposed to hypoxia and by performing chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and RNA interference assays. The mechanism by which upregulation of Rai in T cells promotes T cell exhaustion were evaluated by flow cytometric, qRT-PCR and western blot analyses.

RESULTS

We show that Rai is a novel HIF-1α-responsive gene that is upregulated in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes of CRC patients compared to patient-matched circulating T cells. Rai upregulation in T cells promoted Programmed cell Death protein (PD)-1 expression and impaired antigen-dependent degranulation of CD8+ T cells by inhibiting phospho-inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3, a central regulator of PD-1 expression and T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data identify Rai as a hitherto unknown regulator of the TME-induced exhausted phenotype of human T cells.

The impact of SLC10A3 on prognosis and immune microenvironment in colorectal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

SLC10A3, a gene upregulated in pan-cancer, lacks full understanding regarding its prognostic implications and association with immune infiltration in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study comprehensively analyzed SLC10A3 in CRC, evaluating its prognostic significance and influence on the tumor's immune microenvironment.

METHODS

Transcriptomic data from TCGA were obtained to compare SLC10A3 expression in both colorectal cancer (CRC) and normal tissues. Prognostic value was assessed for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI). DNA methylation patterns of SLC10A3 and correlation with DNA mismatch repair (MMR) were explored. Genetic alterations in SLC10A3 were scrutinized. The study also delved into the influence of SLC10A3 on the immune microenvironment of CRC, including immune cell infiltration and chemokines. Involvement of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) was explored. Methylation status of specific CpG islands in the SLC10A3 gene correlated with CRC patient prognosis. CRC tissue microarray was performed to verify the expression of SLC10A3 and its relationship with prognosis.

RESULTS

The research revealed that SLC10A3 is significantly upregulated in CRC and holds promise as a potential diagnostic marker. Elevated SLC10A3 expression was linked to poorer OS, DSS, and PFI. Methylation patterns of SLC10A3 displayed prognostic relevance, and genetic alterations in the gene were identified. SLC10A3 was shown to impact the immune microenvironment, with significant correlations observed between its expression and various immune cell types, chemokines, and markers associated with CAFs. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between SLC10A3 and MMR molecules was established. Methylation status of specific CpG islands within the SLC10A3 gene was associated with CRC patient prognosis. Tissue microarray showed that SLC10A3 was highly expressed in CRC and significantly correlated with poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

The study underscores the importance of elevated SLC10A3 in CRC, associating it with decreased survival and immune infiltration, proposing it as a diagnostic biomarker and appealing immunotherapy target, given its significant overexpression and influence on the immune microenvironment and prognosis through methylation patterns.

The diagnostic yield of colonoscopic surveillance following resection of early age onset colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The primary benefit of post-colorectal cancer (CRC) colonoscopic surveillance is to detect and remove premalignant lesions to prevent metachronous CRC. Current guidelines for long-term colonoscopic surveillance post early age onset CRC (EOCRC) resection are based on limited evidence. The aims of this study were to assess the diagnostic yield of colonoscopic surveillance post-EOCRC resection and identify molecular and clinicopathological risk factors associated with advanced neoplasia.

METHODOLOGY

A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data was conducted at St Mark's hospital, London, United Kingdom, for patients diagnosed with EOCRC who underwent at least one episode of post-CRC colonoscopic surveillance between 1978 and 2022. We collected clinicopathological data including tumour molecular status and neoplasia detection rates.

RESULTS

In total, 908 colonoscopic surveillance procedures were performed in 195 patients over 2581.3 person-years of follow-up. The diagnostic yields of metachronous CRC, advanced adenomas and non-advanced adenomas were 1.76%, 3.41% and 22.69% respectively. Sixteen patients (8.21%) developed metachronous CRC, and the majority (87.5%) were detected more than 3 years post index EOCRC diagnosis. Detection of advanced neoplasia was significantly higher in EOCRC patients with Lynch syndrome (26.15%) compared with those in whom Lynch syndrome was excluded (13.13%) (OR, 2.343; 95% CI, 1.014-5.256; p = 0.0349).

CONCLUSIONS

During colonoscopic surveillance post-EOCRC resection, the long-term risk of developing metachronous advanced neoplasia remains high in the context of Lynch syndrome, but this trend is not as clearly evident when Lynch syndrome has been excluded.

circPPP2R4 promotes colorectal cancer progression and reduces ROS production through the miR-646/FOXK1 axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression. This study aimed to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of circPPP2R4 in CRC. Based on bioinformatic analyses and validation by qRT-PCR, we identified a novel circRNA, circPPP2R4, which was upregulated in CRC tissues. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis implied a high diagnostic value of circPPP2R4 for CRC. Additionally, high circPPP2R4 levels were positively correlated with advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. Functionally, circPPP2R4 overexpression facilitated CRC cells proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas circPPP2R4 knockdown attenuated the malignant behaviors. In mouse models, circPPP2R4 overexpression remarkably promoted tumor growth and lung metastasis. Mechanistically, a series of experiments containing RIP, RNA pull-down, and dual-luciferase reporter assays revealed the circPPP2R4/miR-646/FOXK1 axis in CRC. Further experiments were conducted to verify that circPPP2R4 reduced reactive oxygen species generation to exert its oncogenic function by sponging miR-646 to upregulate FOXK1 expression. For the first time, we identified the regulatory role of circPPP2R4 in CRC pathogenesis, providing a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Reprogramming and multi-lineage transdifferentiation attenuate the tumorigenicity of colorectal cancer cells

Significant advances have been made in reprogramming various somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and in multi-lineage differentiation (transdifferentiation) into different tissues. These manipulable transdifferentiating techniques may be applied in cancer therapy. Limited works have been reported that cancer cell malignancy can be switched to benign phenotypes through reprogramming techniques. Here, we reported that two colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (DLD1, HT29) could be reprogrammed into iPSCs (D-iPSCs, H-iPSCs). D- and H-iPSCs showed reduced tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we successfully induced D- and H-iPSCs differentiation into terminally differentiated cell types such as cardiomyocyte, neuron, and adipocyte-like cells. Impressively, the differentiated cells exhibited further attenuated tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. RNA-Seq further indicated that epigenetic changes occurred after reprogramming and transdifferentiation that caused reduced tumorigenicity. Overall, our study indicated that CRC cells can be reprogrammed and further differentiated into terminally differentiated lineages with attenuation of their malignancy in vitro and in vivo. The current work sheds light on a potential multi-lineage differentiation therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer.

A perspective on emerging therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer: Focusing on molecular medicine and drug resistance

The majority of cancer cases are colorectal cancer, which is also the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Metastasis is the leading cause of death for patients with colorectal cancer. Metastatic colorectal cancer incidence are on the rise due to a tiny percentage of tumors developing resistant to medicines despite advances in treatment tactics. Cutting-edge targeted medications are now the go-to option for customized and all-encompassing CRC care. Specifically, multitarget kinase inhibitors, antivascular endothelial growth factors, and epidermal growth factor receptors are widely used in clinical practice for CRC-targeted treatments. Rare targets in metastatic colorectal cancer are becoming more well-known due to developments in precision diagnostics and the extensive use of second-generation sequencing technology. These targets include the KRAS mutation, the BRAF V600E mutation, the HER2 overexpression/amplification, and the MSI-H/dMMR. Incorporating certain medications into clinical trials has significantly increased patient survival rates, opening new avenues and bringing fresh viewpoints for treating metastatic colorectal cancer. These focused therapies change how cancer is treated, giving patients new hope and better results. These markers can significantly transform and individualize therapy regimens. They could open the door to precisely customized and more effective medicines, improving patient outcomes and quality of life. The fast-growing body of knowledge regarding the molecular biology of colorectal cancer and the latest developments in gene sequencing and molecular diagnostics are directly responsible for this advancement.

Exosomal-miR-522-3p derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts accelerates tumor metastasis and angiogenesis via repression bone morphogenetic protein 5 in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a gastrointestinal tract malignancy. Exosomes secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are reported to participate in tumor progression by delivering noncoding RNA or small proteins. However, the function of exosomal miR-522-3p in CRC remains unclear.

METHODS

CAFs were derived from tumor tissues, and exosomes were identified by western blot or TEM/NTA and originated from CAFs/NFs. The viability, invasion, and migration of HUVECs and CRC cells was examined using MTT, Transwell, and wound healing assays, respectively. The molecular interactions were validated using dual luciferase reporter assay and RIP. Xenograft and lung metastasis mouse models were generated to assess tumor growth and metastasis.

RESULTS

Exosomes extracted from CAFs/NFs showed high expression of CD63, CD81, and TSG101. CAF-derived exosomes significantly increased the viability, angiogenesis, invasion, and migration of HUVECs and CRC cells, thereby aggravating tumor growth, invasion, and angiogenesis in vivo. miR-522-3p was upregulated in CAF-derived exosomes and CRC tissues. Depletion of miR-522-3p reversed the effect of exosomes derived from CAFs in migration, angiogenesis, and invasion of HUVECs and CRC cells. Furthermore, bone morphogenetic protein 5 (BMP5) was identified as a target gene of miR-522-3p, and upregulation of BMP5 reversed the promoting effect of miR-522-3p mimics or CAF-derived exosomes on cell invasion, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs and CRC cells.

CONCLUSION

Exosomal miR-522-3p from CAFs promoted the growth and metastasis of CRC through downregulating BMP5, which might provide new strategies for the treatment of CRC.

Development of a Novel Lipid Metabolism-related Gene Prognostic Signature for Patients with Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to explore the expression profiles of lipid metabolism-related genes in patients with Colorectal Cancer (CRC).

METHODS

The lipid metabolism statuses of CRC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed. Risk characteristics were constructed by univariate Cox regression and minimum Absolute contraction and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression. A histogram was constructed based on factors such as age, sex, TNM stage, T stage, N stage, and risk score to provide a visual tool for clinicians to predict the probability of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS for CRC patients. By determining Area Under Curve (AUC) values, the time-dependent Receiver Operating characteristic Curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the efficiency of our model in predicting prognosis.

RESULTS

A novel risk signal based on lipid metabolism-related genes was constructed to predict the survival of CRC patients. Risk characteristics were shown to be an independent prognostic factor in CRC patients (p <0.001). There were significant differences in the abundance and immune characteristics of tumor-filtering immune cells between high-risk and low-risk groups. The nomogram had a high potential for clinical application and the ROC AUC value was 0.827. Moreover, ROC analysis demonstrated that the nomogram model was more accurate to predict the survival of CRC patients than age, gender, stage and risk score.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we demonstrated a lipid metabolism-related genes prognosis biomarker associated with the tumor immune micro-environment in patients with CRC.