Carcinogenesis最新文献

Cisplatin (DDP)-based combined chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the mainstay treatment for advanced-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but needs improvement due to its severe side effects. Capsaicin (CAP) can enhance the anti-tumor activity of cytotoxic drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-metastasis activity of CAP in combination with DDP in NPC. Herein, CAP and DDP showed synergistic cytotoxic effects on NPC cells. CAP alone and DDP alone inhibited NPC migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo, and the combination of CAP and DDP had the greatest effect. Moreover, CAP upregulated the mRNA and protein expressions of serpin family B member 2 (SERPINB2). Further results showed that both SERPINB2 mRNA and protein expressions were downregulated in NPC cell lines and tissues and SERPINB2 overexpression inhibited NPC migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo, while silencing SERPINB2 acted oppositely. In addition, SERPINB2 was abnormally expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and other multiple cancers, and downregulation of SERPINB2 predicted poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma according to the Cancer Genome Atlas database. We further found that SERPINB2 overexpression inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and the inhibitory effect was enhanced by CAP and DDP. Altogether, our results suggest that the combined inhibition of CAP and DDP on NPC metastasis may be related to the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and ERK signals mediated by SERPINB2, and CAP may help to improve the efficacy of DDP in the treatment of NPC and develop new therapeutic approaches.

As a preventable disease, cervical cancer (cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma - CESC) remains a tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, underscoring the pressing need for effective treatment strategies. This research identified Golgi transport 1B (GOLT1B) as a critical gene involved in the development of cervical cancer. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were investigated to determine the upregulation of GOLT1B in cervical cancer tissue compared to normal tissue. Besides, GOLT1B was found to predict poor prognosis in cervical cancer by utilizing Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). The functional assay indicated that GOLT1B promoted CESC viability and migration in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing results suggested that GOLT1B likely influenced NF-κB pathway. The subsequent western blot and dual luciferase reporter assay revealed the interaction between GOLT1B and TBK1, modulating the NF-κB pathway. More importantly, GOLT1B was also found to regulate immune cells infiltration, suggesting its potential role in tumor microenvironment. In conclusion, GOLT1B promotes CESC progression via interaction with TBK1 and augmentation of NF-κB signaling-mediated cancer-associated inflammation, which provides us a new approach to CESC target therapy.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit beta (EIF2S2) is a protein that controls protein synthesis under various stress conditions and is abnormally expressed in several cancers. However, there is limited insight regarding the expression and molecular role of EIF2S2 in gastric cancer. In this study, we identified the overexpression of EIF2S2 in gastric cancer by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and found a positive correlation between EIF2S2 expression and shorter overall survival and disease-free survival. Functionally, we revealed that EIF2S2 knockdown suppressed gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration, induced cell apoptosis, and caused G2 phase cell arrest. Additionally, EIF2S2 is essential for in vivo tumor formation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that EIF2S2 transcriptionally regulated hypoxia induicible factor-1 alpha (HIF1α) expression by NRF1. The promoting role of EIF2S2 in malignant behaviors of gastric cancer cells depended on HIF1α expression. Furthermore, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling was activated upon EIF2S2 overexpression in gastric cancer. Collectively, EIF2S2 exacerbates gastric cancer progression via targeting HIF1α, providing a fundamental basis for considering EIF2S2 as a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer patients.

Since gastric cancer shows no apparent signs in its early stages, most patients are diagnosed later with a poor prognosis. We therefore seek more sensitive and specific GC biomarkers. Small RNAs formed from tRNAs represent a novel class of non-coding RNAs that are highly abundant in bodily fluids and essential to biological metabolism. This study explores the potential of i-tRF-AsnGTT in gastric cancer diagnostics. To begin with, we sequenced i-tRF-AsnGTT using high-throughput methods. i-tRF-AsnGTT expression levels in GC were determined using real-time fluorescence PCR. Agarose gel electrophoresis, Sanger sequencing, and repeated freezing and thawing were performed to verify molecular properties. A correlation was found between clinical and pathological parameters and i-tRF-AsnGTT expression levels through the χ² test, and ROC was used to analyze its diagnostic value in GC. In serum, i-tRF-AsnGTT has a low and stable expression level. It can differentiate between patients with gastric cancer and gastritis and healthy donors with better diagnostic efficacy. In combination with clinicopathological parameters, i-tRF-AsnGTT correlates with tumor differentiation, infiltration depth of tumors, TNM stage, lymph node metastases, and neural/vascular invasion. Serum i-tRF-AsnGTT expression is low in GC patients. Serum from postoperative patients shows increased i-tRF-AsnGTT expression levels. Potentially, this could be used as a biomarker to help diagnose gastric cancer and monitor its prognosis.

Alkaliptosis, a form of regulated cell death, is characterized by lysosomal dysfunction and intracellular pH alkalinization. The pharmacological induction of alkaliptosis using the small molecule compound JTC801 has emerged as a promising anticancer strategy in various types of cancers, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this study, we investigate a novel mechanism by which macropinocytosis, an endocytic process involving the uptake of extracellular material, promotes resistance to alkaliptosis in human PDAC cells. Through lipid metabolomics analysis and functional studies, we demonstrate that the inhibition of alkaliptosis by fatty acids, such as oleic acid, is not dependent on endogenous synthetic pathways but rather on exogenous uptake facilitated by macropinocytosis. Consequently, targeting macropinocytosis through pharmacological approaches (e.g., using EIPA or EHoP-016) or genetic interventions (e.g., RAC1 knockdown) effectively enhances JTC801-induced alkaliptosis in human PDAC cells. These findings provide compelling evidence that the modulation of macropinocytosis can increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to alkaliptosis inducers.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were involved in tumorigenesis, progression, recurrence and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few miRNAs have been identified and entered clinical practice. We show here that miR-4461 expression is reduced in liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) and predicts the poor prognosis of HCC patients. Knockdown of miR-4461 enhances the self-renewal and tumorigenicity of liver CSCs. Conversely, forced miR-4461 expression inhibits liver CSCs self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Mechanically, miR-4461 directly targets sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) via binding to its 3' untranslated region in liver CSCs. The correlation of miR-4461 and SIRT1 was confirmed in human HCC patients' tissues. Additionally, we found that miR-4461 overexpression hepatoma cells are more sensitive to cisplatin treatment. Patient-derived xenografts also showed that miR-4461 high HCC xenografts are sensitive to cisplatin treatment. Clinical cohort analysis further confirmed that HCC patients with high miR-4461 benefited more from transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment. In conclusion, our findings revealed the crucial role of miR-4461 in liver CSCs expansion and cisplatin response, rendering miR-4461 as an optimal target for the prevention and intervention of HCC.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in 80-90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), making it an ideal target for antibody-drug conjugates. Depatuxizumab mafodotin (ABT-414), is an EGFR-targeting ADC comprised of the monoclonal antibody ABT-806 conjugated to monomethyl auristatin F, a tubulin polymerization inhibitor. This study assessed the in vivo efficacy of ABT-414 in HNSCC. The effects of ABT-414 on HNSCCs were determined using in vitro cytotoxicity assays and in vivo flank xenograft mouse models. The distribution of ABT-414 was assessed ex vivo via optical imaging methods using a conjugate of ABT-414 to the near-infrared agent IRDye800. In vitro treatment of high EGFR-expressing human HNSCC cell lines (UMSCC47 and FaDu) with ABT-414 (0-3.38 nM) resulted in dose-dependent cell death (IC50 values of 0.213 nM and 0.167 nM, respectively). ABT-414 treatment of the FaDu mouse xenografts displayed antitumor activity (P = 0.023) without a change in body mass (P = 0.1335), whereas treatment of UMSCC47 did not generate a significant response (P = 0.1761). Fluorescence imaging revealed ABT-414-IRDye800 accumulation in the tumors of both FaDu and UMSCC47 cell lines, with a signal-to-background ratio of >10. ABT-414 treatment yielded antitumor activity in FaDu tumors, but not in UMSCC47, highlighting the potential for ABT-414 efficacy in high EGFR-expressing tumors. Although ABT-414-IRDye800 localized tumors in both cell lines, the differing antitumor responses highlight the need for further investigation into the role of the tumor microenvironment in drug delivery.

Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death caused by the iron-dependent peroxidation of phospholipids and is related to cell metabolism, redox homeostasis and various signalling pathways related to cancer. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) KB-1460A1.5 acts as a tumour suppressor gene to regulate tumour growth in gliomas, but its molecular network regulatory mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we found that KB-1460A1.5 can induce ferroptosis in glioma and enhance sensitivity to RSL3, a ferroptosis inducer. Tandem mass tag proteomics and nontargeted metabolomics suggest that KB-1460A1.5 affects polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolic processes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based medium- and long-chain fatty acid-targeted metabolomics confirmed that upregulation of KB-1460A1.5 decreased the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid (OA) and palmitoleic acid (PO) in glioma cells. The addition of OA and PO restored KB-1460A1.5-induced cellular ferroptosis. Molecularly, KB-1460A1.5 inhibited the mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway to suppress the expression of downstream sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), thereby attenuating the stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1)-mediated desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Finally, an animal model of subcutaneous glioma confirmed that KB-1460A1.5 could inhibit tumour progression, SREBP-1/SCD1 expression and ferroptosis. In conclusion, increasing the expression level of KB-1460A1.5 in glioma can promote the induction of oxidative stress and ferroptosis in cancer cells through SREBP-1/SCD1-mediated adipogenesis, demonstrating therapeutic potential in preclinical models.

Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) is a protein from the CCN family of matricellular proteins that play diverse regulatory roles in the extracellular matrix. CYR61 is involved in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and senescence. Here, we show that CYR61 induces chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We observed that CYR61 is overexpressed in TNBC patients, and CYR61 expression correlates negatively with the survival of patients who receive chemotherapy. CYR61 knockdown reduced cell migration, sphere formation and the cancer stem cell (CSC) population and increased the chemosensitivity of TNBC cells. Mechanistically, CYR61 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and increased survivin expression, which are associated with chemoresistance, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and CSC-like phenotypes. Altogether, our study demonstrates a novel function of CYR61 in chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer.

Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) do not overlap annotated coding genes and are located in intergenic regions, as opposed to antisense and sense-intronic lncRNAs, located in genic regions. LincRNAs influence gene expression profiles and are thereby key to disease pathogenesis. In this study, we assessed the association between lincRNAs and HPV16-positive cervical cancer (CaCx) pathogenesis using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) with coding genes, comparing differentially expressed lincRNA and coding genes (DElincGs and DEcGs, respectively) in HPV16-positive patients with CaCx (n = 44) with those in HPV-negative healthy individuals (n = 34). Our analysis revealed five DElincG modules, co-expressing and correlating with DEcGs. We validated a substantial number of such module-specific correlations in the HPV16-positive cancer TCGA-CESC dataset. Four such modules, displayed significant correlations with patient traits, such as HPV16 physical status, lymph node involvement and overall survival (OS), highlighting a collaborative effect of all genes within specific modules on traits. Using the DAVID bioinformatics knowledgebase, we identified the underlying biological processes associated with these modules as cancer development and progression-associated pathways. Next, we identified the top 10 DElincGs with the highest connectivity within each functional module. Focusing on the prognostic module hub genes, downregulated CTD-2619J13.13 expression was associated with poor patient OS. This lincRNA gene interacted with 25 coding genes of its module and was associated with such biological processes as keratinization loss and keratinocyte differentiation, reflecting severe disease phenotypes. This study has translational relevance in fighting various cancers with high mortality rates in underdeveloped countries.