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Replication-competent adenovirus ( RCAd) has been used extensively in cancer gene therapy, and tumor-selection is critical for the use of replication-competent adenovirus. Here we investigated the anti-tumor characterization of oncolytic virus, whose E1 A gene is under the control of a renal cell carcinoma specific promoter - the G250 promoter. The constructed oncolytic virus G250- Ki67 is armed with transgene of Ki67-si RNA, and G250- ZD55- Ki67 also with E1 B-55 KD deleted. The tumor-specific expression of E1 A and Ki67 was demonstrated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining, and the tumor-specific cytotoxicity was assessed by crystal violet staining and cell viability assays. The G250- Ki67 and G250- ZD55- Ki67 adenoviruses could express E1 A protein in 786- O and OSRC cell lines but not in ACHN and HK-2 cell lines. The expression of Ki67 gene in 786- O and OSRC cell lines were suppressed by these adenoviruses. The cytotoxic effects induced by G250- ZD55- Ki67 and G250- Ki67 were more obvious on the 786- O cell lines than on the OSRC cell lines. Each group of adenoviruses could inhibit the proliferation of the 786- O cells and OSRC cells. However, the effects induced by G250- ZD55- Ki67 and G250- Ki67 on 786- O cells were stronger than on OSRC cells. Moreover, G250- ZD55- Ki67 had enhanced antitumor activities in these renal cancer cells compared with G250- Ki67. G250 promoter-derived CRAds carrying Ki67-si RNA could highly amplify and express Ki67-si RNA in renal cancer cells with expression of G250 antigen, inhibit renal cancer cells proliferation and induce apoptosis. These results demonstrated that the G250-specific oncolytic adenovirus expressing Ki67-si RNA is applicable for human renal clear cell cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(C) Cell invasion was measured following transfection with Rap2c expression plasmids or siRNA (magnification, ×100). **P<0.01 vs. si-Ctrl or Vector. siRNA, small interfering RNA; MMP2, matrix metalloproteinase-2; Ctrl, control; Vector, empty vector. [Extracted from the article]

Cancer exhibits diverse heterogeneity with a complicated molecular basis that usually harbors genetic and epigenetic abnormality, which poses a big challenge for single-target agents. In the current work, we proposed a hybrid strategy by incorporating pharmacophores that bind to the acetylated lysine binding pocket of BET proteins with a typical kinase hinge binder to generate novel polypharmacological inhibitors of BET and kinases. Through elaborating the core structure of 6-(pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-3,4-dihydroquinoxalin-2(1 H )-one, we demonstrated that this rational design can produce high potent inhibitors of CDK9 and BET proteins. In this series, compound 40 was identified as the potential lead compound with balanced activities of BRD4 (IC 50 = 12.7 nM) and CDK9 (IC 50 = 22.4 nM), as well as good antiproliferative activities on a small cancer cell panel. Together, the current study provided a new method for the discovery of bromodomain and kinase dual inhibitors rather than only being discovered by serendipity.

Several studies have reported a significant role of high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) in lung cancer. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the expression of HMGB1 and its correlation with the clinicopathological features of lung cancer. In addition, the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the role of HMGB1 in lung cancer are still unknown. We therefore investigated the clinicopathological and prognostic significance as well as the potential role of HMGB1 in the development and progression of lung cancer. HMGB1 expression in the tumor tissues of the cohort correlated with clinicopathological features. Moreover, lung cell migration and invasion were significantly increased after treatment with HMGB1. The matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and activity were upregulated after treatment with HMGB1, while the upregulated expression of MMP-2 stimulated by HMGB1 in lung cancer cells was significantly reduced with the blockage of si-p65. These results indicated that HMGB1 expression was significantly associated with lung cancer progression. We also showed that HMGB1 promoted lung cancer invasion and metastasis by upregulating the expression and activity of MMP-2 in an NF- κ B-dependent manner. Taken together, these data suggested that HMGB1 may be a potential prognosis and therapeutic marker for lung cancer.

As microtubules have a vital function in the cell cycle, oncologists have developed microtubule inhibitors capable of preventing uncontrolled cell division, as in the case of cancer. The anthelmintic drug albendazole (ABZ) has been demonstrated to inhibit hepatocellular, ovarian and prostate cancer cells via microtubule targeting. However, its activity against human gastric cancer (GC) cells has remained to be determined. In the present study, ABZ was used to treat GC cells (MKN-45, SGC-7901 and MKN-28). A a CCK-8 cell proliferation assay was performed to assess the effects of ABZ on cell viability and cell cycle changes were assessed using flow cytometry. SGC-7901 cells were selected for further study, and flow cytometry was employed to determine the apoptotic rate, immunofluorescence analysis was employed to show changes of the microtubule structure as well as the subcellular localization and expression levels of cyclin B1, and western blot analysis was used to identify the dynamics of microtubule assembly. The expression levels of relevant proteins, including cyclin B1 and Cdc2, the two subunits of mitosis-promoting factor as well as apoptosis-asociated proteins were also assessed by western blot analysis. The results showed that ABZ exerted its anti-cancer activity in GC cell lines by disrupting microtubule formation and function to cause mitotic arrest, which is also associated with the accumulation of cyclin B1, and consequently induces apoptosis.

Metastasis remains the major driver of mortality in patients with cancer. The multistep metastatic process starts with the dissemination of tumor cells from a primary site and leading to secondary tumor development in an anatomically distant location. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular characteristics of metastasis, many questions remain regarding the intracellular mechanisms governing transition through the various metastatic stages. The runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a downstream effector of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, and has critical roles in the regulation of cell death by apoptosis, and in angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell migration and invasion. RUNX3 functions as a bona fide initiator of carcinogenesis by linking the Wnt oncogenic and TGF-β tumor suppressive pathways. RUNX3 is frequently inactivated in human cancer cell lines and cancer samples by hemizygous deletion of the Runx3 gene, hypermethylation of the Runx3 promoter, or cytoplasmic sequestration of RUNX3 protein. Inactivation of RUNX3 makes it a putative tumor suppressor in human neoplasia. In the present review, we summarize the proposed roles of RUNX3 in metastasis and, when applicable, highlight the mechanism by which they function.

Our previous study showed that when glutamate receptor (GluR)6 C terminus-containing peptide conjugated with the human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein (GluR6)-9c is delivered into hippocampal neurons in a brain ischemic model, the activation of mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) is inhibited via GluR6-postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95). In the present study, we investigated whether the recombinant adenovirus (Ad) carrying GluR6c could suppress the assembly of the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module and decrease neuronal cell death induced by kainate in hippocampal CA1 subregion. A seizure model in Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by intraperitoneal injections of kainate. The effect of Ad-Glur6-9c on the phosphorylation of JNK, MLK3 and mitogen-activated kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) was observed with western immunoblots and immunohistochemistry. Our findings revealed that overexpression of GluR6c inhibited the interaction of GluR6 with PSD95 and prevented the kainate-induced activation of JNK, MLK3 and MKK7. Furthermore, kainate-mediated neuronal cell death was significantly suppressed by GluR6c. Taken together, GluR6 may play a pivotal role in neuronal cell death.

Background: Rap2a, a member of the small GTPase superfamily, plays a critical role in regulating the function of integrin and cell adhesion, thereby controlling cell motility and cell/matrix interactions. However, the function of Rap2a in carcinogenesis is still poorly understood. To clone Rap2a cDNA, which belongs to human Ras-related small G protein superfamily, we constructed its eukaryotic expression vector and determined its expression in lung cancer cells. The aim of this study is to explore the role of Rap2a in carcinogenesis., Methods: The levels of endogenous Rap2a protein in lung cancer cells were measured by Western blot. Total RNA of human osteosarcoma cells U2OS was extracted and reverse-transcribed into cDNA by RT-PCR. Then, Rap2a gene was amplified by PCR and inserted into pcDNA3.1(+). The reconstructed plasmid was identified by restricted enzyme digestion and sequencing. pcDNA3.1(+)-Rap2a was transfected into H1299 and A549 cells, the expression of Rap2a was detected by Western blot. In addition, the migratory abilities of lung cancer cells were evaluated by Transwell assay. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 enzyme activity was evaluated by gelatin zymography., Results: Rap2a is significantly upregulated in lung cancer cells. The results of enzyme digestion and sequencing showed that the coding sequence of pcDNA3.1(+)-Rap2a was right and was inserted into the vector correctly. The results of Western blot showed that H1299 and A549 cells were transfected successfully. Transwell assay indicated that the ectopic expression of Rap2a promotes lung cancer cells migration. Correspondly, enzyme activity of MMP2 also increased., Conclusions: Eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)-Rap2a was constructed successfully. Rap2a could be expressed in lung cancer cells efficiently and promotes lung cancer cell migration.