Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy最新文献

Bofanglutide is a novel biweekly (once every two weeks; Q2W) glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of bofanglutide in Chinese adults with overweight or obesity in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06256562). Adults with overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥24, <28 kg/m²) and at least one weight-related comorbidity, or obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m²), were randomly assigned to five dose groups: 12 mg Q2W, 18 mg Q2W, 24 mg Q2W, 48 mg Q2W, and 24 mg once weekly (QW), with randomization to bofanglutide or placebo within each dose group. The primary endpoint was the percentage change in body weight from baseline to week 30. Between June 8, 2023, and June 5, 2024, 340 participants (185 [54.4%] male; mean age, 33.1 years; mean body weight, 95.6 kg; mean BMI, 33.2 kg/m²) were randomized into the following groups: bofanglutide 12 mg Q2W (n = 52), 18 mg Q2W (n = 53), 24 mg Q2W (n = 52), 48 mg Q2W (n = 64), 24 mg QW (n = 53), or placebo (n = 66). Overall, 286 participants (84.1%) completed the trial. The mean percentage change in body weight from baseline to week 30 ranged from -9.75% to -16.69% with bofanglutide, compared with -1.15% with placebo (all p < 0.001 versus placebo). Adverse events occurred in 98.9% (271/274) of the bofanglutide group versus 86.4% (57/66) of the placebo group and were mostly grade 1-2 gastrointestinal events (83.9% [230/274] with bofanglutide and 33.3% [22/66] with placebo). Bofanglutide is generally well tolerated and has a robust ability to reduce body weight.

Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a highly conserved RNA-binding protein with essential roles in RNA processing and genomic stability. While extensively studied in the context of neurodegeneration, its involvement in fibrotic diseases, particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the pathological role of FUS in IPF and assessed its viability as a therapeutic target. Specifically, we examine how FUS dysregulation contributes to fibrotic signaling and evaluate whether therapeutic silencing of FUS offers a rational strategy to modulate disease progression. To assess the effects of FUS overexpression and knockdown, functional assays were performed on primary lung fibroblasts derived from healthy donors and IPF patients. Precision-cut lung slices (PCLs) and 3D alveolosphere cultures from IPF patients were treated with a FUS-targeted antisense oligonucleotide (ASO;ION363). FUS-RNA interactions were mapped via CLIP-Seq, and global transcriptional changes following FUS inhibition were analyzed via RNA sequencing. FUS overexpression in healthy fibroblasts promoted proliferation, whereas FUS knockdown attenuated the hyperproliferative phenotype in IPF fibroblasts. IPF cells demonstrated aberrant cytoplasmic mislocalization of FUS. Standard-of-care treatments (pirfenidone, nintedanib) reduced FUS expression in PCLs. CLIP-Seq revealed that FUS binds to a distinct set of profibrotic RNAs in IPF. ION363 treatment downregulated fibrotic gene programs, including those linked to ECM remodeling, TGFβ signaling, and epithelial dysfunction. In contrast, ION363 promoted functional marker expression and improved morphology in patient-derived 3D alveolospheres. We conclude that FUS is a pivotal regulator of fibrotic signaling in IPF and that targeting FUS via ASO represents a promising therapeutic avenue for IPF.

DNA profiling is an established method for cancer treatment selection, while RNA profiling remains investigational. We explored associations between DNA and RNA alterations and between the number of genes with altered expression and overall survival (OS) using patient data from IMPACT2 (NCT02152254), a randomized study evaluating molecular profiling for guiding cancer therapy across tumor types. Molecular profiling, including DNA next-generation sequencing, was performed on all 829 patients in the IMPACT2 study. RNA profiling was performed by Tempus for 253 of 829 patients. We evaluated the concordance between DNA and RNA profiling, analyzed OS in 217 treated patients with RNA profiling, and assessed PD-L1 status and number of genes with altered expression. Fifty patients exhibited 58 concordant events, i.e., genomic and expression alteration(s) in the same gene, including 38 copy number events, and 41 patients had statistically significant concordance. We identified 123 gene pairs with significant associations between genomic and expression alterations (p < 0.05), including TP53 alterations with VEGFA overexpression. The median OS for patients with 0-2, 3-5, and ≥6 genes with altered expression was 9.8, 11.9, and 6.7 months, respectively (p = 0.03). These results underscore RNA profiling's potential actionability, and altered expression in ≥6 genes was associated with shorter OS. Significant concordance of TP53 alterations with VEGFA overexpression may partially explain tumor response to bevacizumab in TP53-mutant patients.

From a neuroscience perspective, cancer neuroscience has emerged as a subfield of cancer research. Presumable mechanisms underlying cancer-related neuronal activity (termed neurosciences) include the induction and modulation of signaling pathways that govern cell fate determination and emotional responses (anxiety and stress), such as structural molecules (synaptic structures and current transduction) and secretory substances (neurotransmitters, cytokines, hormones and neuropeptides). In the past 3 years, these neuronal activities, which can either promote cancer growth or be hijacked by cancer cells to support tumor survival and invasion, have been widely demonstrated to be closely related to cancer progression. The molecular mechanisms are also being refined. Despite their great promise, translating neuroscientific discoveries into clinically actionable strategies for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment remains a formidable task. In this comprehensive review, we attempt to provide a full account of the intersection between neuroscience and cancer research. From the perspective of cancer neuroscience, we fully discuss the potential signaling molecules and their regulatory mechanisms, as well as targets and emerging therapeutic strategies that control tumor progression via multiomics approaches. Overall, cancer neuroscience may have unprecedented potential for understanding neuronal functions and cancer development, ultimately offering the significantly improved cancer treatment.