Cancer Biology & Therapy最新文献

This study was conducted to investigate the in vitro differences in killing effects and cellular death pathways in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells, human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, human lung squamous carcinoma H520 cells, and human lung small cell carcinoma H446 cells mediated by hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) at 630 nm laser wavelength. Our results showed that the viability of the BEAS-2B, A549, H520, and H446 cells gradually decreased with increasing HPD concentration after HPD-PDT. HPD-PDT induced an increase in intracellular ROS production (p < 0.05), with H520 > A549 > H446 > BEAS-2B. HPD-PDT resulted in intracellular chromatin fixation and dense nuclear staining and induced apoptosis, with apoptosis rates of H520 > A549 > H446 > BEAS-2B. The western blotting (WB) results showed that HPD-PDT could lead to reduced BCL-2 protein levels, upregulate BAX protein expression and activate caspase-3 protein, and induce autophagy, as evidenced by the increased expression of the autophagy-related proteins ATG5, Beclin-1 and LC3B in all cells tested. However, apoptosis-inducing proteins and autophagy proteins were statistically different in these four cell types. Our study confirms that HPD-mediated phototoxicity varied in the different cell lines, indicating that lung cancer cells die due to the interactions of different cell death pathways rather than the same well-defined mechanisms.

Trial registration: Trial no. NCT04821778 registered in ClinicalTrials.gov.

Adipose-derived exosomes (ADEs), a subtype of extracellular vesicles, are critical mediators of communication between adipose tissue and tumors, playing pivotal roles in cancer progression and therapeutic response. These nanoscale vesicles carry microRNAs, proteins, and lipids that influence tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and immune modulation. The dual functions of ADEs - both in promoting and suppressing tumorigenesis - are largely dependent on their cellular origin, molecular cargo, and the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have identified ADEs as potential diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and drug delivery platforms, offering promising avenues for precision oncology. However, significant challenges - such as biological heterogeneity, lack of standardization in production, concerns regarding efficacy and safety, and regulatory constraints - continue to hinder their clinical translation. This review aimed to explore the multifaceted roles of ADEs in cancer pathogenesis, their therapeutic potential, and current limitations, providing insights to guide future research and clinical applications.

Lenvatinib, as a multi-kinase inhibitor, has been approved as a first-line drug for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, can be induced by chemotherapy drugs or certain kinase inhibitors. However, the role of Lenvatinib in inducing pyroptosis in HCC warrants further investigation. Phase contrast microscopy, LDH assays, and gain- and loss-of-function strategies were used to evaluate Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis in HCC cells. GSDME palmitoylation was assessed via the acyl-biotin exchange method. In vivo, a subcutaneous HCC xenograft model in nude mice were established to assess the effects of interfering with GSDME on the sensitivity of HCC to Lenvatinib. Lenvatinib induced pyroptosis in HCC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, Lenvatinib promoted GSDME cleavage, with upregulation of GSDME enhancing pyroptosis and downregulation reducing this effect. The ABE method revealed that GSDME is palmitoylated, and Lenvatinib increased its palmitoylation, promoting plasma membrane localization and enhancing protein stability. Inhibition of GSDME palmitoylation by 2-BP blocked Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis. In vivo, upregulation of GSDME increased HCC sensitivity to Lenvatinib and inhibited tumor growth. Lenvatinib induces pyroptosis in HCC by promoting the palmitoylation of GSDME, enhancing its localization to the plasma membrane and increasing its protein stability. Interfering with GSDME, both in vitro and in vivo, affects Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis, thereby altering the therapeutic sensitivity of HCC to Lenvatinib. Targeting GSDME palmitoylation represents a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC, as it enhances Lenvatinib-induced pyroptosis and improves the therapeutic response.

Abnormally expressed long non-coding (lnc)RNAs are closely associated with the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potential role of SNHG12 in NSCLC. Transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis were conducted to verify NSCLC cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) and mRNA expression levels were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, while protein expression levels were determined using western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. In addition, potential binding sites between miR-326 and SNHG12/SLC7A11 were verified using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cell behavior was detected using flow cytometry, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, and xenograft experiments were conducted to confirm the roles of SNHG12 in NSCLC. H&E staining was used for histological analysis, and each experiment was repeated three times. Results of the present study demonstrated that NSCLC-derived SNHG12 promoted type-2 tumor-associated macrophage (TAM2) polarization. However, the decrease of SNHG12 expression in EVs reduced TAM2 polarization, weakened NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted tumor cell ferroptosis. Moreover, results of the present study revealed that SNHG12 knockdown markedly suppressed tumor growth and the metastasis of NSCLC. In addition, SNHG12 upregulated SLC7A11 expression via binding to miR-326. Overexpressed SLC7A11 promoted tumor aggressiveness and suppressed the ferroptosis of NSCLC cells. Collectively, results of the present study revealed that SNHG12 suppressed ferroptosis and promoted the metastasis of NSCLC, further demonstrating that high SNHG12 expression levels may be indicative of poor clinical outcomes for patients with NSCLC. Thus, the present study highlighted that the SNHG12/miR-326/SLC7A11 axis may exhibit potential as a novel target for the treatment of NSCLC.

Background and purpose: Bone metastasis is common for breast cancer and associated with poor prognosis. Currently, radiotherapy (RT) serves as the standard treatment for patients exhibiting symptoms of bone metastasis to alleviate pain. Whether earlier application of RT will better control bone metastasis remains unclear.

Methods: We utilized a mouse model of breast cancer bone metastasis by intra-femoral injection of 4T1-luc breast tumor cells. The bone metastasis was treated by RT using various doses, timings, and modalities. Tumor growth was assessed through bioluminescence imaging, and lung metastases was quantified following lung tissue fixation. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze alterations in immune cell populations.

Results: Single high-dose RT suppressed tumor growth of bone metastases, but caused severe side effects. Conversely, fractionated RT mitigated tumor growth in bone metastases with fewer adverse effects. Fractioned RT initiated at the early stage of bone metastasis effectively inhibited tumor growth in the bone, suppressed secondary lung metastases, and prolonged mouse survival. In line with the known pro- and anti-metastatic effects of neutrophils and T cells in breast cancer, respectively, earlier fractioned RT consistently decreased the proportions of neutrophils while increased the proportions of T cells in both the bone and the lung tissues.

Conclusion: The data suggest that fractionated RT can inhibit the progression of early stage of bone metastasis and reduce secondary lung metastasis, leading to favorable outcomes. Therefore, these findings provide preclinical evidence to support the application of fractionated RT to treat patients with bone metastasis as earlier as possible.

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of extracellular vesicles derived from lung cancer stem cells (lung CSCs-EVs) in lung cancer and to explore their potential mechanisms.

Methods: Lung CSCs were first isolated and verified using flow cytometry and RT-qPCR assays. Lung CSCs-EVs were extracted through ultracentrifugation and further characterized using transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting. The interaction between lung CSCs-EVs and lung cancer cells was observed through PKH67 staining. Subsequently, we analyzed the differentially expressed genes in lung CSCs using bioinformatics data analysis and evaluated the prognostic value of ZNF280B in lung cancer with the Kaplan-Meier Plotter. RT-qPCR was utilized to assess the mRNA expression levels of these genes, while Western blotting was used to evaluate the protein expression levels of ZNF280B and P53. Next, CCK-8 and colony formation assays were conducted to assess the effects of lung CSCs-EVs and ZNF280B on cancer cell proliferation, migration (via wound healing assay), and invasion (using transwell assay). Additionally, subcutaneous tumor-bearing experiments in nude mice were performed to evaluate the roles of lung CSCs-EVs in lung cancer progression in vivo.

Results: The results indicated that lung CSCs-EVs accelerated the progression of lung cancer. Mechanistically, these lung CSCs-EVs transferred ZNF280B into cancer cells, leading to the inhibition of P53 expression.

Conclusions: In summary, the manuscript first describes the molecular mechanism by which lung CSCs-EVs promote pro-cancer functions in lung cancer through the ZNF280B/P53 axis.

The majority of the pseudogenes are inert in normal transcription. Their transcripts are mostly attributed to non-coding RNAs that play various functions in human tumorigenicity and progression. Distinctively, pseudogene MT2P1 is universally transcribed in hepatocytes and presents a significant decrease in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The effect of MT2P1-RNA on HCC cell proliferation and apoptosis needs investigation. MT2P1-RNA was detected by RT-qPCR assay in HCC tissues and cell lines, combined with the exploration of the public databases. The immunohistochemistry assay was used for testing the expression profile of E2F7 and the parental gene MT2A. The clinicopathological features of the patients were collected and analyzed. Ectopic expression of MT2P1-RNA in HCC cell lines was conducted, and the CCK8 assay and flow cytometry assay were carried out. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and Dual-luciferase reporter assay were, respectively, applied to validate the interaction between MT2P1, E2F7, and microRNA-15b-5p. The downregulation of MT2P1-RNA in HCC is negatively correlated with dismal clinicopathological features. MT2P1-RNA significantly suppressed HCC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. E2F7 depletion sequentially elevated the level of MT2P1-RNA and MT2A, and E2F7 was validated as a suppressive transcription factor of the MT2P1 gene. The direct interactions of either MT2P1/miR-15b-5p or miR-15b-5p/MT2A were, respectively, ascertained, enlightening the ceRNA effect of them. The pseudogene-derived MT2P1-RNA is a suppressor of HCC by exerting the ceRNA effect on preserving MT2A, and its transcription is regulated by the suppressive transcription factor E2F7.

Prostate cancer (PCA) remains a significant health challenge, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies to enhance patient outcomes. Recent research has identified cuproptosis, a copper-dependent programmed cell death mechanism, as a promising target in PCA treatment. Elevated copper levels have been associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. This review synthesizes current findings on the role of copper and cuproptosis in PCA, focusing on the mechanisms underlying cuproptosis, the identification of key biomarkers, and the therapeutic potential of copper complexes and ionophores. The integration of cuproptosis-related biomarkers into clinical practice may facilitate personalized treatment strategies, while ongoing research into copper-based therapies holds promise for overcoming limitations of traditional chemotherapy. Future directions should emphasize elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cuproptosis and optimizing therapeutic applications to improve patient outcomes in PCA.