Carcinogenesis最新文献

Globally, the incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has increased over recent decades and is projected to continue to rise, largely driven by increases in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), which is linked to HPV infection. HPV infection is also involved in the development of other cancers (anogenital and cervical), and almost 100% of cervical cancer patients are positive for HPV. OPSCC is the most common HPV-associated cancer in men and has exceeded the incidence of cervical cancer cases in women in the USA. Our knowledge of the carcinogenesis process from HPV infection to OPSCC development has been primarily extrapolated from cervical cancer models. While the cooperation of tobacco smoking and HPV infection is documented in cervical cancer, mechanistic studies to address this interaction in management and control of HNSCC are scarce and are also extrapolated from cervical cancer models. The molecular heterogeneity of HNSCC constitutes a tremendous challenge, and despite advances in several fronts in the management and control of HNSCC, short- and long-term treatment-associated morbidities remain substantial. In addition to deaths directly caused by this disease, survivors of this cancer have the second-highest rate of suicide compared with other cancers survivors. Given the existing gaps in our knowledge and the current clinical challenges, future studies including a number of new conceptual and methodological elements discussed in this review can lead to the discovery of biomarkers for early detection of the disease and novel strategies that will advance our knowledge to intercept and prevent HNSCC.

Cigarette smoking is one of the most important risk factors for lung cancer. Genetic studies have shown that smoking behavior-related genetic variants are directly associated with lung cancer, independent of smoking behavior, mainly in European populations. A recent genome-wide association study in Japan identified five loci associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. This study aimed to evaluate whether these loci are associated with lung cancer risk directly or indirectly through changing smoking behavior. Here, we conducted a case-control study (1427 cases and 5595 controls) and a prospective cohort study (128 incident cases in 10 520 subjects). Using mediation analysis, we decomposed the total effect of the lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at each locus on lung cancer risk into direct and indirect effects. The results of the two studies were pooled using a random-effects model to estimate summary relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Two studies showed that: (i) rs78277894 (EPHX2-CLU, G > A) had a protective direct effect (RR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.93) on lung cancer risk; and (ii) rs56129017 (CYP2A6, C > T) had carcinogenic direct and indirect effects on lung cancer risk (RR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.15-1.39 and RR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00-1.01, respectively). This mediation analysis revealed that two smoking behavior-related SNPs, EPHX2-CLU rs78277894 and CYP2A6 rs56129017, were associated with lung cancer risk through pathways independent of changing smoking behavior. Our findings may contribute to our understanding of lung carcinogenesis pathways that cannot be addressed by changes in smoking behavior.

l-asparaginase (l-ASP) is an important chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, resistance to l-ASP is an unfavorable prognostic factor, and the mechanism underlying l-ASP resistance is not fully understood. Here, we show that activation of the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and induced expression of downstream target asparagine synthetase (ASNS) play a pivotal role in l-ASP resistance of ALL cells. In addition, the G protein pathway suppressor 2 (GPS2) binds to ATF4 and stabilizes ATF4 protein. Mechanistically, GPS2 inhibits ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of ATF4 through impairing the interaction between ATF4 and beta-transducin repeat-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (BTRC), an E3 ligase that triggers proteasomal degradation of ATF4. Moreover, GPS2 knockdown sensitizes ALL cells to l-ASP treatment via repressing the ATF4/ASNS axis in vitro and increases l-ASP efficacy against xenografted ALL tumors in vivo. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that GPS2 positively regulates the ATF4/ASNS axis to confer l-ASP resistance in ALL cells, suggesting a therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway to overcome l-ASP resistance.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most serious gastrointestinal tumors. The survival rate of patients with advanced stages is meager, so it is urgent to identify new diagnostic biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity. tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are an emerging class of small non-coding RNAs that are highly abundant in the blood of cancer patients and are associated with various physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, the clinical value of tsRNAs in diagnosing CRC requires further investigation. In this study, we identified the differential expression profiles of tsRNAs in CRC tissues via Pandora sequencing. We selected 5'-tiRNA-His that were significantly highly expressed in CRC plasma and tissues for further investigation. Interestingly, the expression level of 5'-tiRNA-His was increased dramatically in the plasma of CRC patients and correlated with various clinicopathologic parameters. ROC analysis revealed that 5'-tiRNA-His had good diagnostic value in diagnosing CRC patients, superior to that of CEA, CA199, and CA724, and could significantly differentiate patients with CRC from healthy donors and patients with intestinal polyps. Moreover, 5'-tiRNA-His still had good diagnostic efficacy in the diagnosis of patients with early-stage CRC, and the diagnostic efficacy was further elevated when combined with clinically used tumor markers. In conclusion, our study identified plasma 5'-tiRNA-His as a promising biomarker for diagnosing and screening CRC.

The glycosylation pathway serves as a vital regulatory mechanism in colorectal cancer. However, how genetic variants in these pathways may affect the risk of colorectal cancer is still unknown. To examine the relationships between the risk of colorectal cancer and the presence of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 1150 patients and 1342 controls were included in this case-control study. We found that GALNT2 rs76000797 and rs11576324, GALNT6 rs67726586, FUT8 rs117497405, FUT2 rs111311275, and B4GALT5 rs6125695 were strongly correlated with the risk of colorectal cancer. Moreover, rs111311275 exhibited an expression quantitative trait locus effect on FUT2 in colorectal cancer tissues, which could increase the risk of colorectal cancer by influencing FUT2 expression. GEPIA research and microarray data revealed that FUT2 expression was higher in colorectal cancer tissues than in normal tissues and that individuals with colon cancer with high expression of FUT2 had longer overall survival times. Our study highlights the significant impact of genetic variants on glycosylation pathways and offers novel insights into potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer risk.

Glycolysis is a crucial metabolic process that facilitates the rapid proliferation of cancer cells. Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) is the key rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, with fructose-2,6-diphosphate (F-2,6-BP) acting as its most effective regulator. The levels of F-2,6-BP are closely correlated with the activity of 6-phosphate fructose-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-diphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2, PFKFB). The PFKFB family consists of four isoenzymes: PFKFB1-4. Most evidence suggests that PFKFB activity is essential for activating glycolytic and oncogenic properties in tumor cells. However, previous studies have focused predominantly on PFKFB3 and PFKFB4, with relatively few investigating PFKFB2. The role of PFKFB2 in cancer is complex and multifaceted, encompassing various aspects of tumor metabolism, cell migration, invasion, and the immune response. Consequently, this review aims to summarize the current understanding of the gene structure and biological function of PFKFB2 and to explore its pathogenic mechanisms in different cancers. Additionally, we highlight the metabolic signaling pathways associated with PFKFB2. This review seeks to provide insights into the current status of PFKFB2 and to assist in identifying new targets for cancer therapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of death for cancer patients globally, with an overall 5-year survival rate of only 16%. The molecular mechanisms leading to malignant progression of HCC patients remain largely unclear. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) functions as a tumor-suppressive transcription factor (TF) in HCC. In this study, we aimed to identify functional HCC susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HNF4α-binding sites throughout the human genome. We identified 1274 HNF4α-binding site polymorphisms via a genome-wide screening using TUIFGA (the updated integrative functional genomics approach), which we previously developed to recognize cancer susceptibility SNPs within genome-wide TF-binding sites. Among these SNPs, the DEAF1 rs11246280 SNP was significantly associated with HBV-related HCC susceptibility in several case-control studies. Importantly, the rs11246280 SNP could interrupt HNF4α binding to the DEAF1 promoter and enhance DEAF1 expression. Oncogenic TF DEAF1 binds to the SLC38A3 promoter, elevates glutamine transporter SLC38A3 expression, enhances influx of glutamine and GSH production, leads to reduced ROS levels in cells and, thereby, promotes HCC progression. Our findings highlighted the role of DEAF1 during HCC development via maintaining redox balance, which sheds light on the development of novel cancer therapeutics.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer associated with poor prognosis. While chemotherapy remains the conventional treatment approach, its efficacy is limited and often accompanied by significant toxicity. Advances in precision-targeted therapies have expanded treatment options for TNBC, including immunotherapy, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, androgen receptor inhibitors, cell cycle-dependent kinase inhibitors, and signaling pathway inhibitors. However, the heterogeneous nature of TNBC contributes to variations in treatment outcomes, underscoring the importance of identifying intrinsic molecular subtypes for personalized therapy. Additionally, due to patient-specific variability, the therapeutic response to targeted treatments is inconsistent. This highlights the need to strategize patients based on potential therapeutic targets for targeted drugs to optimize treatment strategies. This review summarizes the classification strategies and immunohistochemical (IHC) biomarkers for TNBC subtypes, along with potential targets for identifying indications for targeted drug therapy. These insights aim to support the development of personalized treatment approaches for TNBC patients.

Gliomas represent a prevalent form of primary brain tumors, with temozolomide (TMZ) serving as the established first-line therapeutic option. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of TMZ is hindered by the development of chemoresistance. Recent investigations have underscored the correlation of homologous recombination repair (HRR), a pivotal mechanism responsible for mending DNA double-strand breaks, with TMZ resistance in glioma treatment. This review centers on elucidating the significance of HRR in the management of gliomas, with a particular emphasis on pivotal molecules implicated in the HRR process, including RAD51, ATM, ATR, and newly identified small molecules that impact HRR. Modulating the expression of these genes can effectively restrain pathways such as ATM/CHK2, ATR/CHK1, and PI3K/AKT, subsequently augmenting the sensitivity of gliomas to TMZ. Noteworthy efforts have been directed towards exploring inhibitors of these pathways in recent research endeavors, culminating in encouraging outcomes. In conclusion, the involvement of HRR in glioma resistance unveils novel therapeutic avenues, with targeting crucial molecules in the HRR pathway, holding promise for enhancing the effectiveness of TMZ therapy.

Our team previously reported that MACC1 levels are closely related to a variety of tumors and the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. However, the predictive value of MACC1 levels for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) immunotherapy has not been studied. This study aimed to investigate the predictive effect of the oncogene MACC1 on ICB reactivity in patients with LUAD. First, the expression patterns and clinical features of MACC1 in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were comprehensively evaluated using R packages. We subsequently assessed the correlations between MACC1 and immunological characteristics in the LUAD tumor microenvironment (TME) using the CIBERSORT algorithm. The results revealed that MACC1 overexpression was significantly correlated with 3 immune checkpoints, 14 tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), 9 immunomodulators, 5 anticancer immune process activities, and 3 effector genes of TIICs in LUAD. Additionally, on the basis of the prognostic genes from LASSO analysis, we developed the MACC1-related Risk Score (MRRS), which can accurately predict the prognosis and response to cancer immunotherapy in LUAD patients (HR = 3.50, AUC at 1, 2, and 3 years = 0.737, 0.744, and 0.724, respectively). Finally, in vivo experiments revealed that the combination of MACC1 silencing and PD-L1 inhibitors significantly inhibits tumor progression. These findings increase our understanding of MACC1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. The MRRS may play a critical role in predicting the response of LUAD patients to ICB therapy.