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Abstract Cancer cells secrete extracellular vesicles (EV) encapsulating bioactive cargoes to facilitate inter-organ communication in vivo and are emerging as critical mediators of tumor progression and metastasis, a condition which is often accompanied by a dysregulated cholesterol metabolism. Whether EVs are involved in the control of cholesterol homeostasis during tumor metastasis is still undefined and warrant further investigation. Here, we find that breast cancer-derived exosomal miR-9-5p induces the expression of HMGCR and CH25H, two enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis and the conversion of 25-hydroxycholesterol from cholesterol by targeting INSIG1, INSIG2 and ATF3 genes in the liver. Notably, in vivo miR-9-5p antagomir treatment and genetic CH25H ablation prevents tumor metastasis in a mouse model of breast cancer. Thus, our findings reveal the regulatory mechanism of tumor-derived miR-9-5p in liver metastasis by linking oxysterol metabolism and Kupffer cell polarization, shedding light on future applications for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic and lethal disease. Gasdermins are primarily associated with necrosis via membrane permeabilization and pyroptosis, a lytic pro‐inflammatory type of cell death. In this study, GSDMC upregulation during PDAC progression is reported. GSDMC directly induces genes related to stemness, EMT, and immune evasion. Targeting Gsdmc in murine PDAC models reprograms the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, rescuing the recruitment of anti‐tumor immune cells through CXCL9. This not only results in diminished tumor initiation, growth and metastasis, but also enhances the response to KRASG12D inhibition and PD‐1 checkpoint blockade, respectively. Mechanistically, it is discovered that ADAM17 cleaves GSDMC, releasing nuclear fragments binding to promoter regions of stemness, metastasis, and immune evasion‐related genes. Pharmacological inhibition of GSDMC cleavage or prevention of its nuclear translocation is equally effective in suppressing GSDMC's downstream targets and inhibiting PDAC progression. The findings establish GSDMC as a potential therapeutic target for enhancing treatment response in this deadly disease.

Objective To perform pre-transfusion examination and major crossmatch test using CD47 anti-idiotypic antibody (CD47 AID) (method 1) and reagent lack of anti-IgG4 anti-human globulin(method 2) in patients treated with CD47 monoclonal antibodies, and evaluate the feasibility of method 1 by comparing the transfusion efficacy of patients after cross matching with two methods. Methods Post-drug samples were collected from 18 clinical subjects treated with CD47 monoclonal antibody in our hospital. Antibody screening and major crossmatch test were performed using method 1 and method 2, and the difference of ΔHb (post-transfusion Hb minus pre-transfusion Hb) was compared after transfusion. The differences in ΔHb after transfusion were analyzed between the test group using method 1 and the control group without CD47 monoclonal antibody using ordinary microcolumn gel method. Results There was no significant difference in ΔHb between the test group using method 1 and test group using method 2 (8.40±0.71 vs 7.36±0.94, P>0.05). No significant difference was noticed in ΔHb between the test group using method 1 and the control group without CD47 monoclonal antibody (8.40±0.71 vs 6.59±0.77, P>0.05). Conclusion In the test group, major crossmatch test with method 1 has the same transfusion efficacy as the test with method 2. Method 1 is simple and easy to operate, and the results are objective and accurate. It is recommended to use method 1 for pre-transfusion antibody screening and major crossmatch tests for patients using CD47 monoclonal antibody.

Abstract Background Immunotherapy has emerged as a potent clinical approach for cancer treatment, but only subsets of cancer patients can benefit from it. Targeting lactate metabolism (LM) in tumor cells as a method to potentiate anti-tumor immune responses represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Methods Public single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-seq) cohorts collected from patients who received immunotherapy were systematically gathered and scrutinized to delineate the association between LM and the immunotherapy response. A novel LM-related signature (LM.SIG) was formulated through an extensive examination of 40 pan-cancer scRNA-seq cohorts. Then, multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms were employed to validate the capacity of LM.SIG for immunotherapy response prediction and survival prognostication based on 8 immunotherapy transcriptomic cohorts and 30 The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer datasets. Moreover, potential targets for immunotherapy were identified based on 17 CRISPR datasets and validated via in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results The assessment of LM was confirmed to possess a substantial relationship with immunotherapy resistance in 2 immunotherapy scRNA-seq cohorts. Based on large-scale pan-cancer data, there exists a notably adverse correlation between LM.SIG and anti-tumor immunity as well as imbalance infiltration of immune cells, whereas a positive association was observed between LM.SIG and pro-tumorigenic signaling. Utilizing this signature, the ML model predicted immunotherapy response and prognosis with an AUC of 0.73/0.80 in validation sets and 0.70/0.87 in testing sets respectively. Notably, LM.SIG exhibited superior predictive performance across various cancers compared to published signatures. Subsequently, CRISPR screening identified LDHA as a pan-cancer biomarker for estimating immunotherapy response and survival probability which was further validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) datasets. Furthermore, experiments demonstrated that LDHA deficiency in pancreatic cancer elevated the CD8+ T cell antitumor immunity and improved macrophage antitumoral polarization, which in turn enhanced the efficacy of immunotherapy. Conclusions We unveiled the tight correlation between LM and resistance to immunotherapy and further established the pan-cancer LM.SIG, holds the potential to emerge as a competitive instrument for the selection of patients suitable for immunotherapy.

Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) poses significant clinical challenges, often presenting as unresectable with limited biopsy options. Here, we show that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) offer a promising alternative, serving as a “liquid biopsy” that enables the generation of in vitro 3D models and highly aggressive in vivo models for functional and molecular studies in advanced PDAC. Within the retrieved CTC pool (median 65 CTCs/5 mL), we identify a subset (median content 8.9%) of CXCR4+ CTCs displaying heightened stemness and metabolic traits, reminiscent of circulating cancer stem cells. Through comprehensive analysis, we elucidate the importance of CTC-derived models for identifying potential targets and guiding treatment strategies. Screening of stemness-targeting compounds identified stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD1) as a promising target for advanced PDAC. These results underscore the pivotal role of CTC-derived models in uncovering therapeutic avenues and ultimately advancing personalized care in PDAC.

Background: Aberrations in MYC underlie a large proportion of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) cases; however, MYC is difficult to target because of its undruggable structure. We aimed to uncover MYC-associated molecular targets to provide new strategies for LIHC treatment. Methods: LIHC transcriptome datasets and clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. A series of bioinformatics analyses were performed for 370 patients who were stratified based on the median MYC expression level (high-MYC group and low-MYC group). Correlation analysis was performed to determine relationships between the expression of key MYC-associated genes and prognosis, DNA promotor methylation, and immune cell infiltration. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway enrichment analyses were performed to elucidate the functions of these genes in LIHC. Their expression and functions in LIHC were further verified using transgenic mice overexpressing c-Myc under control of the hepatocyte-specific promoter (Alb-Cre). Results: AURKB, CCNB2, and CDKN3 were overexpressed in LIHC patients with high MYC expression and were associated with poor prognosis. Upregulation of these 3 genes was significantly correlated with hypomethylated promoter status, advanced T stage, metastasis, and immune cell infiltration in LIHC patients. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that these genes participate in the “p53 signaling pathway” and “cell cycle”. Furthermore, RT-PCR and IHC analysis revealed that their mRNA and protein expression levels were upregulated in an Alb-Cre;cMYClsl/- mouse model. Drugs that target these 3 MYC-related genes were identified. Conclusion: Taken together, our results identify biomarkers of potential utility for managing liver cancer therapy owing to their significance in tumorigenesis, proliferation, and tumor immunity.

Abstract The extensively activated Notch signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer cells is important in carcinogenesis, chemoresistance, and recurrence. Targeting this pathway is a promising therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer; however, few successful approaches have been reported, and currently used molecular inhibitors of this pathway exhibit limited clinical benefits. In this study, we identified a previously uncharacterized microprotein, Notch1 degradation-associated regulatory polypeptide (N1DARP), encoded by LINC00261. N1DARP knockout accelerated tumor progression and enhanced stem cell properties in pancreatic cancer organoids and LSL-Kras, LSL-Trp53, and Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mice. Mechanistically, N1DARP suppressed canonical and non-canonical Notch1 pathways by competitively disrupting the interaction between N1ICD and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10), thereby promoting K11- and K48-linked polyubiquitination of N1ICD. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of N1DARP, we designed a cell-penetrating stapled peptide, SAH-mAH2-5, with a helical structure similar to that of N1DARP that confers remarkable physicochemical stability. SAH-mAH2-5 interacted with and promoted the proteasome-mediated degradation of N1ICD. SAH-mAH2-5 injection provided substantial therapeutic benefits with limited off-target and systemic adverse effects in Notch1-activated pancreatic cancer models. Taken together, these findings confirm that N1DARP acts as a tumor suppressor and chemosensitizer by regulating USP10-Notch1 oncogenic signaling, and suggest a promising therapeutic strategy targeting the N1DARP–N1ICD interaction in Notch1-activated pancreatic cancer.

Abstract Objective Systemic chemotherapy is the first-line therapeutic option for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but it often fails. This study aimed to develop an effective prognostic model for evaluating the therapeutic effects of systemic chemotherapy. Methods This study utilized CRISPR/cas9 whole gene loss-of-function library screening and data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HNSCC patients who have undergone systemic therapy to examine differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A lipid metabolism-related clustered polygenic model called the lipid metabolism related score (LMRS) model was established based on the identified functionally enriched DEGs. The prediction efficiency of the model for survival outcome, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy response was evaluated using HNSCC datasets, the GEO database and clinical samples. Results Screening results from the study demonstrated that genes those were differentially expressed were highly associated with lipid metabolism-related pathways, and patients receiving systemic therapy had significantly different prognoses based on lipid metabolism gene characteristics. The LMRS model, consisting of eight lipid metabolism-related genes, outperformed each lipid metabolism gene-based model in predicting outcome and drug response. Further validation of the LMRS model in HNSCCs confirmed its prognostic value. Conclusion In conclusion, the LMRS polygenic prognostic model is helpful to assess outcome and drug response for HNSCCs and could assist in the timely selection of the appropriate treatment for HNSCC patients. This study provides important insights for improving systemic chemotherapy and enhancing patient outcomes.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remains challenging to diagnose and treat clinically due to its difficult early diagnosis, low surgical resection rate, and high risk of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. SMAD4 is a classical mutated gene in pancreatic cancer and is lost in up to 60%–90 % of PAAD patients, and its mutation often predicts a poor prognosis and treatment resistance. In this study, based on the expression profile data in The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we identified a ceRNA network composed of 2 lncRNAs, 1 miRNA, and 4 mRNAs through differential expression analysis and survival prognosis analysis. Among them, high expression of KLK10/LIPH/PARD6B/SLC52A3 influenced the prognosis and overall survival of PAAD patients. We confirmed the high expression of these target genes in pancreatic tissue of pancreatic-specific SMAD4-deficient mice. In addition, immune infiltration analysis showed that the high expression of these target genes affects the tumor immune environment and contributes to the progression of PAAD. Abnormal overexpression of these target genes may be caused by hypermethylation. In conclusion, we found that KLK10/LIPH/PARD6B/SLC52A3 is a potential prognostic marker for PAAD based on a competing endogenous RNA-mediated mechanism and revealed the potential pathogenic mechanism by which deficient expression of SMAD4 promotes pancreatic cancer progression, which provides a new pathway and theoretical basis for targeted therapy or improved prognosis of pancreatic cancer. These data will help reveal potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer and improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.

Abstract Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy targeting PD-1/PD-L1 has shown durable clinical benefits in lung cancer. However, many patients respond poorly to ICB treatment, underscoring an incomplete understanding of PD-L1 regulation and therapy resistance. Here, we find that MTSS1 is downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma, leading to PD-L1 upregulation, impairment of CD8+ lymphocyte function, and enhanced tumor progression. MTSS1 downregulation correlates with improved ICB efficacy in patients. Mechanistically, MTSS1 interacts with the E3 ligase AIP4 for PD-L1 monoubiquitination at Lysine 263, leading to PD-L1 endocytic sorting and lysosomal degradation. In addition, EGFR-KRAS signaling in lung adenocarcinoma suppresses MTSS1 and upregulates PD-L1. More importantly, combining AIP4-targeting via the clinical antidepressant drug clomipramine and ICB treatment improves therapy response and effectively suppresses the growth of ICB-resistant tumors in immunocompetent mice and humanized mice. Overall, our study discovers an MTSS1-AIP4 axis for PD-L1 monoubiquitination and reveals a potential combinatory therapy with antidepressants and ICB.

Background Improvements in screening and imaging technologies and treatment of liver disease have influenced the trend in diagnosis for stage I liver cancer. In this article, recent trends in age, incidence, tumour size, and survival of different stages of liver cancer are analysed.Methods Surveillance, Epidemiology, and end results data from the National Cancer Institute were used to analyse trends in age-adjusted incidence rate, mean tumour size at diagnosis, age at diagnosis, and 5-year survival probability for stage I liver cancer.Results Stage I cases of liver cancer increased most tremendously over the study period, with a greater increase from 2004 to 2012 following a smaller increase from 2012 to 2015. Moreover, the mean age of stage I liver cancer increased by 1.72 years from 2004 to 2015. The 5-year-overall survival for stage I liver cases worsened from 97.9% to 83.7% from 2004 to 2011, whereas the 10-year survival probability for stage I cases worsened from 97.3% in 2004 to 79.6% in 2006. Comparing with higher stage cases, stage I liver cancer were more likely to be females, be married, live in metro areas, receive chemotherapy, and carry medical insurance.Conclusions The incidence of stage I liver cancer has increased over the study period, with an increase in age of diagnosis, decrease in tumour size, and generally stable overall survival rate with slight decrease. These trends emphasized the importance of early detection of liver cancer and regular screening and better treatment for high-risk populations.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSImprovements in screening and imaging technologies and treatment of liver disease have influenced the trend in diagnosis for liver cancer.Stage I cases of liver cancer increased most tremendously over the study period, with a greater increase from 2004 to 2012 following a smaller increase from 2012 to 2015.These trends emphasized the importance of early detection of liver cancer and regular screening and better treatment for high-risk populations.

Abstract Background circRNA has been established to play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis development in a variety of cancers; nevertheless, the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of hypoxia-induced exosomal circRNAs in pancreatic cancer remain largely unknown. Methods Differentially expressed circRNAs in exosomes between hypoxic exosomes and normoxic exosomes in PC cells were verified by RNA sequencing. The expression of circPDK1 in PC tumors and PC patients was evaluated by qRT-PCR and ISH, and the biological functions of circPDK1 in PC were verified through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Using Western blotting, Co-IP, RNA pull-down, ChIP, RIP, dual-luciferase assays, and rescue experiments, the underlying mechanism of circPDK1 was verified. Results CircPDK1 was highly abundant in PC tumor tissues and serum exosomes and was associated with poor survival. Exosomal circPDK1 significantly promoted PC cell proliferation, migration, and glycolysis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circPDK1 could be activated by HIF1A at the transcriptional level and sponges miR-628-3p to activate the BPTF/c-myc axis. In addition, circPDK1 serves as a scaffold that enhances the interaction between UBE2O and BIN1, inducing the UBE2O-mediated degradation of BIN1. Conclusions We found that circPDK1 was activated by HIF1A at the transcriptional level by modulating the miR-628-3p/BPTF axis and degrading BIN1. Exosomal circPDK1 is a promising biomarker for PC diagnosis and prognosis and represents a potential therapeutic target for PC.

Background: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is derived from the bacterial innate immune system and engineered as a robust gene-editing tool. Due to the higher specificity and efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9, it has been widely applied to many genetic and non-genetic disease, including cancers, genetic hemolytic diseases, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, ocular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, and some X-linked diseases. Furthermore, in terms of the therapeutic strategy of cancers, many researchers used the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to cure or alleviate cancers through different approaches, such as gene therapy and immune therapy. Aim of Review: Here, we conclude the recent application and clinical trials of CRISPR/Cas9 in non-cancerous diseases and cancers and pointed out some of the problems to be solved. Key Scientific Concepts of Review: CRISPR/Cas9, derived from the microbial innate immune system, is developed as a robust gene-editing tool and has been applied widely. Due to its high accuracy and efficiency, CRISPR/Cas9 techniques may provide a great chance to treat some gene-related diseases by disrupting, inserting, correcting, replacing, or blocking genes for clinical application with gene therapy.

Abstract Primary lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. Approximately 60% of lung cancer patients have distant metastasis at the initial diagnosis, so it is necessary to find new tumor markers for early diagnosis and individualized treatment. Tumor markers contribute to the early diagnosis of lung cancer and play important roles in early detection and treatment, as well as in precision medicine, efficacy monitoring, and prognosis prediction. The pathological diagnosis of lung cancer in small biopsy specimens determines whether there are tumor cells in the biopsy and tumor type. Because biopsy is traumatic and the compliance of patients with multiple biopsies is poor, liquid biopsy has become a hot research direction. Liquid biopsies are advantageous because they are nontraumatic, easy to obtain, reflect the overall state of the tumor, and allow for real-time monitoring. At present, liquid biopsies mainly include circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, exosomes, microRNA, circulating RNA, tumor platelets, and tumor endothelial cells. This review introduces the research progress and clinical application prospect of liquid biopsy technology for lung cancer.

Bone is a common site of metastasis in lung cancer, but the regulatory mechanism remains incompletely understood. Osteoclasts are known to play crucial roles in osteolytic bone metastasis by digesting bone matrix and indirectly enhancing tumor colonization. In this study, we found that IL receptor 20 subunit β (IL-20RB) mediated a direct tumoral response to osteoclasts. Tumoral expression of IL-20RB was associated with bone metastasis of lung cancer, and functionally, IL-20RB promoted metastatic growth of lung cancer cells in bone. Mechanistically, tumor cells induced osteoclasts to secrete the IL-20RB ligand IL-19, and IL-19 stimulated IL-20RB–expressing tumor cells to activate downstream JAK1/STAT3 signaling, leading to enhanced proliferation of tumor cells in bone. Importantly, blocking IL-20RB with a neutralizing antibody significantly suppressed bone metastasis of lung cancer. Overall, our data revealed a direct protumor role of osteoclastic niche in bone metastasis and supported IL-20RB–targeting approaches for metastasis treatment.

Drug resistance is a key factor in the treatment failure of clinical non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after adjuvant chemotherapy. Here, our results provide the first evidence that eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2b subunit delta (EIF2B4)-Stratifin (SFN) fusion and increased SFN expression are associated with chemotherapy tolerance and activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in NSCLC patients, suggesting that SFN might have potential prognostic value as a tumor biomarker for the prognosis of patients with NSCLC.

Abstract Background Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are key regulators in the processes of tumor initiation, progression, and recurrence. The mechanism that maintains their stemness remains enigmatic, although the role of several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been highlighted in the pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs). In this study, we first established that PCSCs overexpressing lncRNA NORAD, and then investigated the effects of NORAD on the maintenance of PCSC stemness. Methods Expression of lncRNA NORAD, miR-202-5p and ANP32E in PC tissues and cell lines was quantified after RNA isolation. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down and RIP assays were performed to verify the interactions among NORAD, miR-202-5p and ANP32E. We then carried out gain- and loss-of function of miR-202-5p, ANP32E and NORAD in PANC-1 cell line, followed by measurement of the aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, colony formation, self-renewal ability and tumorigenicity of PC cells. Results LncRNA NORAD and ANP32E were upregulated in PC tissues and cells, whereas the miR-202-5p level was down-regulated. LncRNA NORAD competitively bound to miR-202-5p, and promoted the expression of the miR-202-5p target gene ANP32E thereby promoting PC cell viability, proliferation, and self-renewal ability in vitro, as well as facilitating tumorigenesis of PCSCs in vivo. Conclusion Overall, lncRNA NORAD upregulates ANP32E expression by competitively binding to miR-202-5, which accelerates the proliferation and self-renewal of PCSCs.

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous tumor with an increased incidence worldwide accompanied by high mortality and dismal prognosis. Emerging evidence indicates that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosomes possess protective effects against various human diseases by transporting microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs). We aimed to explore the role of exosomal miR-15a derived from MSCs and its related mechanisms in HCC. Exosomes were isolated from transduced MSCs and co-incubated with Hep3B and Huh7 cells. miR-15a expression was examined by RT-qPCR in HCC cells, MSCs, and secreted exosomes. CCK-8, transwell, and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of miR-15a or spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4) on cell proliferative, migrating, invasive, and apoptotic properties. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to validate the predicted targeting relationship of miR-15a with SALL4. Finally, in vivo experiments in nude mice were implemented to assess the impact of exosome-delivered miR-15a on HCC. The exosomes from MSCs restrained HCC cell proliferative, migrating, and invasive potentials, and accelerated their apoptosis. miR-15a was expressed at low levels in HCC cells and could bind to SALL4, thus curtailing the proliferative, migrating, and invasive abilities of HCC cells. Exosomes successfully delivered miR-15a to HCC cells. Exosomal miR-15a depressed tumorigenicity and metastasis of HCC tumors in vivo. Overall, exosomal miR-15a from MSCs can downregulate SALL4 expression and thereby retard HCC development.

Osteosarcoma, one of the common malignant tumors in the skeletal system, originates in mesenchymal tissue, and the most susceptible area of occurrence is the metaphysis with its abundant blood supply. Tumors are characterized by highly malignant spindle stromal cells that can produce bone-like tissue. Most of the osteosarcoma are primary, and a few are secondary. Osteosarcoma occurs primarily in children and adolescents undergoing vigorous bone growth and development. Most cases involve rapid tumor development and early blood metastasis. In recent years, research has grown in the areas of molecular biology, imaging medicine, biological materials, applied anatomy, surgical techniques, biomechanics, and comprehensive treatment of tumors. With developments in molecular biology and tissue bioengineering, treatment methods have also made great progress, especially in comprehensive limb salvage treatment, which significantly enhances the quality of life after surgery and improves the 5-year survival rate of patients with malignant tumors. This article provides a review of limb salvage, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and targeted therapy from traditional amputation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, providing a reference for current clinical treatments for osteosarcoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most prevalent forms of lung cancer. Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is one of the most frequently deleted tumour suppressor genes in LUAD. The present study aimed to identify a novel PTEN-associated-ceRNA regulatory network and identify potential prognostic markers associated with LUAD. Transcriptome sequencing profiles of 533 patients with LUAD were obtained from TCGA database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened in LUAD samples with PTEN high- (PTENhigh) and low- (PTENlow) expression. Eventually, an important PTEN-related marker was identified, namely, the LINC00460/miR-150-3p axis. Furthermore, the predicted target genes (EME1/HNRNPAB/PLAUR/SEMA3A) were closely related to overall survival and prognosis. The LINC00460/miR-150-3p axis was identified as a clinical prognostic factor through Cox regression analysis. Methylation analyses suggested that abnormal regulation of the predicted target genes might be caused by hypomethylation. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis showed that the LINC00460/miR-150-3p axis could alter the levels of immune infiltration in the tumour immune microenvironment, and promote the clinical progression of LUAD. To specifically induce PTEN deletion in the lungs, we constructed an STP mouse model (SFTPC-rtTA/tetO-cre/Ptenflox/+). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis were used to detect predicted target genes. Therefore, we revealed that the PTEN-related LINC00460/miR-150-3p axis based on ceRNA mechanism plays an important role in the development of LUAD and provides a new direction and theoretical basis for its targeted therapy.

Background: TP53 protein is lost or mutated in about half of all types of human cancers and small molecules to regulate mutant p53 repair, or interrupt ubiquitination degradation of p53 induced by E3-ubiquitin ligase Mdm2 have a potential application in clinical application. Methods: To inhibit the deubiquitinase activity of 19S proteasome and restore the p53 protein level, in this study, we utilized p53 knockout mice to test the anti-cancer effect of a specific USP14 and UCH37 inhibitor b-AP15. Results: Our results show that UCHL5, USP14 and COPS5 are upregulated in p53-related tumors, and higher expression of these genes results in a shorter overall survival in patients with p53 deficiency. Treatment with b-AP15, a UCHL5 and USP14 deubiquitinating activity inhibitor in 19S regulatory subunit, induces tumor regression and prolong the survival period of tumor-loaded mice through down-regulation of COPS5 and its downstream AP-1 and E2F1, and up-regulation of the cell cycle-related proteins p27 and Cyclin E1. Conclusions: Thus, our results suggested that inhibition of UCHL5 and USP14 deubiquitinating activity in 19S proteasome may contribute an extensive approach to preventing tumor progress due to p53 deficiency.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an extremely lethal disease worldwide. High-throughput methods have revealed global transcriptome dysregulation; however, a comprehensive investigation of the complexity and behavioral characteristics of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in HCC is lacking. In this study, we extracted the transcriptome (RNA) sequencing data of 371 HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas platform. With the comparison of the high Myc expression (Mychigh) tumor and low Myc expression (Myclow) tumor groups in HCC, we identified 1,125 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 589 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 93 microRNAs (miRNAs). DE RNAs predicted the interactions necessary to construct an associated Myc ceRNA network, including 19 DE lncRNAs, 5 miRNAs, and 72 mRNAs. We identified a significant signature (long intergenic non-protein-coding [LINC] RNA 2691 [LINC02691] and LINC02499) that effectively predicted overall survival and had protective effects. The target genes of microRNA (miR)-212-3p predicted to intersect with DE mRNAs included SEC14-like protein 2 (SEC14L2) and solute carrier family 6 member 1 (SLC6A1), which were strongly correlated with survival and prognosis. With the use of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis, we constructed a ceRNA network containing four lncRNAs (LINC02691, LINC02499, LINC01354, and NAV2 antisense RNA 4), one miRNA (miR-212-3p), and two mRNAs (SEC14L2 and SLC6A1). Overall, we successfully constructed a mutually regulated ceRNA network and identified potential precision-targeted therapies and prognostic biomarkers.

Cancer accounted for 16% of all death worldwide in 2018. Significant progress has been made in understanding tumor occurrence, progression, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis at the molecular level. However, genomics changes cannot truly reflect the state of protein activity in the body due to the poor correlation between genes and proteins. Quantitative proteomics, capable of quantifying the relatively different protein abundance in cancer patients, has been increasingly adopted in cancer research. Quantitative proteomics has great application potentials, including cancer diagnosis, personalized therapeutic drug selection, real-time therapeutic effects and toxicity evaluation, prognosis and drug resistance evaluation, and new therapeutic target discovery. In this review, the development, testing samples, and detection methods of quantitative proteomics are introduced. The biomarkers identified by quantitative proteomics for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and drug resistance are reviewed. The challenges and prospects of quantitative proteomics for personalized medicine are also discussed.

The present study aimed to define the tumor-suppressive role of microRNA-499 (miR-499) in lung cancer cells and its underlying mechanism. First, qRT-PCR analysis revealed poor expression of miR-499 in clinical samples and cell lines of lung cancer. Next, we performed loss- and gain-of-function experiments for the expression of miR-499 in lung cancer cells exposed to irradiation (IR) to determine the effect of miR-499 expression on cell viability and apoptosis as well as tumor growth. Results showed that overexpression of miR-499 inhibited cell viability, enhanced the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells, and promoted cell apoptosis under IR. Furthermore, CK2α was verified to be a target of miR-499, and miR-499 was identified to repress p65 phosphorylation by downregulating CK2α expression, which ultimately diminished the survival rate of lung cancer cells under IR. Collectively, the key findings of the study illustrate the tumor-inhibiting function of miR-499 and confirmed that miR-499-mediated CK2α inhibition and altered p65 phosphorylation enhances the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to IR.

Previous evidence has highlighted M2 macrophage regulation of cancer cells via exosome shuttling of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs). The current study set out to explore the possible role of M2 macrophage-derived exosomal miR-155-5p in regard to immune escape of colon cancer cells. Experimental data from quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis revealed highly expressed miR-155-5p and interleukin (IL)-6 and poorly expressed ZC3H12B in M2 macrophage-derived exosomes. Additionally, miR-155-5p could be transferred by M2 macrophage-isolated exosomes to colon cancer cells, which targeted ZC3H12B by binding to the 3¢ UTR, as identified by dual luciferase reporter gene. Meanwhile, gain- and loss-of function experimentation on miR-155-5p and ZC3H12B in SW48 and HT29 cells cocultured with M2 macrophage-secreted exosomes demonstrated that miR-155-5p overexpression or ZC3H12B silencing promoted the proliferation and antiapoptosis ability of SW48 and HT29 cells, as well as augmenting the CD3+ T cell proliferation and the proportion of interferon (IFN)-γ+ T cells. Xenograft models confirmed that M2 macrophage-derived exosomal miR-155-5p reduced the ZC3H12B expression to upregulate IL-6, which consequently induced immune escape and tumor formation. Collectively, our findings indicated that M2 macrophage-derived exosomal miR-155-5p can potentially promote the immune escape of colon cancer by impairing ZC3H12B-mediated IL-6 stability reduction, thereby promoting the occurrence and development of colon cancer.

Long-chain non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules with a length greater than 200 nt and no function of encoding proteins. lncRNAs play a precise regulatory function at different levels of transcription and post-transcription, and they interact with various regulatory factors to regulate gene expression, and then participate in cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and other life processes. In recent years, studies have shown that the abnormal expression of lncRNAs is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors, which is expected to become an effective biomarker in tumor diagnosis. The sequencing analysis of mutations in the whole tumor genome suggests that mutations in non-coding regions may play an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. Therefore, in-depth study of lncRNAs is helpful to clarify the molecular mechanism of tumor occurrence and development and to provide new targets for tumor diagnosis and treatment. This review introduces the molecular mechanism and clinical application prospect of lncRNAs affecting tumor development from the perspective of gene expression and regulation.

To systematically evaluate the whole-transcriptome sequencing data of cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL) to gain more insights into the transcriptomic landscape and molecular mechanism of this cancer, we performed whole-transcriptome sequencing based on the tumorous (C) and their corresponding non-tumorous adjacent to the tumors (CP) from eight CHOL patients. Subsequently, differential expression analysis was performed on the C and CP groups, followed by functional interaction prediction analysis to investigate gene-regulatory circuits in CHOL. In addition, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for CHOL data was used to validate the results. In total, 2,895 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (dif-mRNAs), 56 differentially expressed microRNAs (dif-miRNAs), 151 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (dif-lncRNAs), and 110 differentially expressed circular RNAs (dif-circRNAs) were found in CHOL samples compared with controls. Enrichment analysis on those differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA also identified the function of spliceosome. The downregulated hsa-miR-144-3p were significantly enriched in the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) complex network, which also included 7 upregulated and 13 downregulated circRNAs, 7 upregulated lncRNAs, and 90 upregulated and 40 downregulated mRNAs. Moreover, most of the DEGs and a few of the miRNAs (such as hsa-miR-144-3p) were successfully validated by TCGA data. The genes involved in RNA splicing and protein degradation processes and miR-144-3p may play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of CHOL.

Numerous studies have suggested that dysregulated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contributed to the development and progression of many cancers. lncRNA OIP5 antisense RNA 1 (OIP5-AS1) has been reported to be increased in several cancers. However, the roles of OIP5-AS1 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) remain to be investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that OIP5-AS1 was upregulated in LIHC tissue specimens and its overexpression was associated with the poor survival of patients with LIHC. Furthermore, loss-of function experiments indicated that OIP5-AS1 promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, binding sites between OIP5-AS1 and hsa-miR-26a-3p as well as between hsa-miR-26a-3p and EPHA2 were confirmed by luciferase assays. Finally, a rescue assay was performed to prove the effect of the OIP5-AS1/hsa-miR-26a-3p/EPHA2 axis on LIHC cell biological behaviors. Based on all of the above findings, our results suggested that OIP5-AS1 promoted LIHC cell proliferation and invasion via regulating the hsa-miR-26a-3p/EPHA2 axis.

Functional elimination of p53 is a common feature of a large percentage of human malignancies. Here, we report the development of a pharmacological strategy aimed at restoring p53 function and its use for targeted therapy in p53-deficient mice. Specific inhibition of deubiquitinases ubiquitin-specific peptidase 14 (USP14) resulted in durable tumor regressions of autochthonous lymphomas and sarcomas in p53-deficient mice without affecting normal tissues, and therapeutic response was correlated with an increase in the ubiquitination of constitutive photomorphogenesis 9 (COP9) signalosome subunit 5 (COPS5), a key negative regulatory effector for p53. Inhibition of USP14 resulted in durable tumor regression through COPS5 deubiquitilation and a p53-dependent and -independent regulation mechanism by USP14. This series highlights the utility of proteasome deubiquitinating activity inhibition as a novel treatment paradigm for p53-deficient cancers. In addition, it provides preliminary evidence that inhibition of USP14 resulted in durable tumor regression through COPS5 deubiquitilation and p53-dependent and -independent regulation mechanism by USP14. These findings suggest that the deubiquitinating activity of the 19S regulatory particle is a new anticancer drug target for patients with p53 deficiency. Keywords: p53, COPS5, USP14, DUB, ubiquitination

Lung cancer is listed as the most common reason for cancer-related death all over the world despite diagnostic improvements and the development of chemotherapy and targeted therapies. MicroRNAs control both physiological and pathological processes including development and cancer. A microRNA-9 to 1 (miR-9 to 1) overexpression model in lung cancer cell lines was established and miR-9 to 1 was found to significantly suppress the proliferation rate in lung cancer cell lines, colony formation in vitro, and tumorigenicity in nude mice of A549 cells. Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) was then identified to direct target of miR-9 to 1. The inhibition of UHRF1 by miR-9 to 1 causes G1 arrest and p15, p16, and p21 were re-expressed in miR-9 to 1 group in mRNA level and protein level. Silence of UHRF1 expression in A549 cells resulted in the similar re-expression of p15, p16, p21 which is similar with miR-9 to 1 infection. Therefore, we concluded that UHRF1 is a new target for miR-9 to 1 to suppress cell proliferation by re-expression of tumor suppressors p15, p16, and p21 mediated by UHRF1.

As organ-specific three-dimensional cell clusters derived from cancer tissue or cancer-specific stem cells, cancer-derived organoids are organized in the same manner of the cell sorting and spatial lineage restriction in vivo, making them ideal for simulating the characteristics of cancer and the heterogeneity of cancer cells in vivo. Besides the applications as a new in vitro model to study the physiological characteristics of normal tissues and organs, organoids are also used for in vivo cancer cell characterization, anti-cancer drug screening, and precision medicine. However, organoid cultures are not without limitations, i.e., the lack of nerves, blood vessels, and immune cells. As a result, organoids could not fully replicate the characteristics of organs but partially simulate the disease process. This review attempts to provide insights into the organoid models for cancer precision medicine.

Dysfunctional autophagy induces inflammation that contributes to tumorigenesis. Here, the authors show that loss of BRG1 impairs autophagy and enhances reactive oxygen species production to disrupt intestinal barrier integrity, leading to spontaneous colitis and subsequent colorectal cancer development.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, and liver metastasis presents a major cause of CRC-associated death. Extensive genomic analysis has provided valuable insight into the pathogenesis and progression of CRC; however, a comprehensive proteogenomic characterization of CRC liver metastasis (CLM) has yet to be reported. Here, we analyzed the proteomes of 44 paired normal colorectal tissues and CRC tissues with or without liver metastasis, as well as analyzed genomics of CRC characterized previously by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to conduct integrated proteogenomic analyses. We identified a total of 2,170 significantly deregulated proteins associated with CLM, 14.88% of which were involved in metabolic pathways. The mutated peptide number was found to have potential prognosis value, and somatic variants revealed two metabolism-related genes UQCR5 and FDFT1 that frequently mutated only in the liver metastatic cohort and displayed dysregulated protein abundance with biological function and clinical significance in CLM. Proteogenomic characterization and integrative and comparative genomic analysis provides functional context and prognostic value to annotate genomic abnormalities and affords a new paradigm for understanding human colon and rectal cancer liver metastasis. Keywords: CRC, liver metastasis, proteomics, genomics, integrated analysis

Background. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to exhibit important regulatory roles in multiple malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). hsa-miR-497-5p was reported to involve in cancer progression and poor prognosis in many kinds of tumors. However, the expression and its clinical significance of hsa-miR-497-5p in HCC remain unclear. Methods. In the present study, we investigated the expression of hsa-miR-497-5p in HCC and analyzed the correction of clinical features with prognosis. The expression levels of hsa-miR-497-5p and potential target genes were analyzed in HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze hsa-miR-497-5p levels in 328 HCC tissues and 30 paired adjacent noncancer tissues. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with HCC were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Results. The hsa-miR-497-5p expression levels were decreased, and its target genes ACTG1, CSNK1D, PPP1CC, and BIRC5 were upregulated in HCC tissues compared with normal tissues. Lower levels of hsa-miR-497-5p expression and higher levels of the four target genes were significantly associated with higher tumor diameter. Moreover, patients with lower hsa-miR-497-5p expression and higher target genes levels had shorter OS. Conclusion. The expression levels of hsa-miR-497-5p may play an important regulatory role in HCC and are closely correlated with HCC progression and poor prognosis in patients. The hsa-miR-497-5p may be a specific therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and effective biomarkers are still lacking for early detection and prognosis prediction. Here, based on gene expression profiles of LUAD patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), 806 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), 122 microRNAs (miRNAs) and 1269 mRNAs associated with CDK1 were identified. The regulatory axis of LINC00460/LINC00525-hsa-mir-338-FAM111B/ZWINT was determined according to the correlation between gene expression and patient prognosis. The abnormal up-regulation of FAM111B/ZWINT in LUAD was related to hypomethylation. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis suggested FAM111B/ZWINT could affect the development and prognosis of cancer by regulating the LUAD immune microenvironment. EMT feature analysis suggested that FAM111B/ZWINT promoted tumor spread through the EMT process. Functional analysis showed FAM111B/ZWINT was involved in cell cycle events such as DNA replication and chromosome separation. We analyzed the HERB and GSCALite databases to identify potential target medicines that may play a role in the treatment of LUAD. Finally, the expression of LINC00460/LINC00525-hsa-mir-338-FAM111B/ZWINT axis was verified in LUAD cells by RT-qPCR, and these results were consistent with bioinformatics analysis. Overall, we constructed a CDK1-related ceRNA network and revealed the LINC00460/LINC00525-hsa-mir-338-FAM111/ZWINT pathways as potential diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets of LUAD.

Treatment options for denervated skeletal muscle atrophy are limited, in part because the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Unlike previous transcriptomics studies conducted in rodent models of peripheral nerve injury, in the present study, we performed high-throughput sequencing with denervated atrophic biceps muscle and normal (non-denervated) sternocleidomastoid muscle samples obtained from four brachial plexus injury (BPI) patients. We also investigated whether Ficus carica L. (FCL.) extract can suppress denervated muscle atrophy in a mouse model, along with the mechanism of action. We identified 1471 genes that were differentially expressed between clinical specimens of atrophic and normal muscle, including 771 that were downregulated and 700 that were upregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the GO terms “structural constituent of muscle,” “Z disc,” “M band,” and “striated muscle contraction,” as well as “Cell adhesion molecules,” “Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis,” “Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) signaling pathway,” and “P53 signaling pathway.” In experiments using mice, the reduction in wet weight and myofiber diameter in denervated muscle was improved by FCL. extract compared to saline administration, which was accompanied by downregulation of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. Moreover, although both denervated groups showed increased nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and PPARα expression, the degree of NF-κB activation was lower while PPARα and inhibitor of NF-κB IκBα expression was higher in FCL. extract-treated mice. Thus, FCL. extract suppresses denervation-induced inflammation and attenuates muscle atrophy by enhancing PPARα expression and inhibiting NF-κB activation. These findings suggest that FCL. extract has therapeutic potential for preventing denervation-induced muscle atrophy caused by peripheral nerve injury or disease.

Traditional methods of cancer treatment are usually based on the morphological and histological diagnosis of tumors, and they are not optimized according to the specific situation. Precision medicine adjusts the existing treatment regimen based on the patient’s genomic information to make it most suitable for patients. Detection of genetic mutations in tumors is the basis of precise cancer medicine. Through the analysis of genetic mutations in patients with cancer, we can tailor the treatment plan for each patient with cancer to maximize the curative effect, minimize damage to healthy tissues, and optimize resources. In recent years, next-generation sequencing technology has developed rapidly and has become the core technology of precise targeted therapy and immunotherapy for cancer. From early cancer screening to treatment guidance for patients with advanced cancer, liquid biopsy is increasingly used in cancer management. This is as a result of the development of better noninvasive, repeatable, sensitive, and accurate tools used in early screening, diagnosis, evaluation, and monitoring of patients. Cell-free DNA, which is a new noninvasive molecular pathological detection method, often carries tumor-specific gene changes. It plays an important role in optimizing treatment and evaluating the efficacy of different treatment options in clinical trials, and it has broad clinical applications.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common lethal diseases in the world, has a 5-year survival rate of only 7%. Hepatocellular carcinoma has no symptoms in the early stage but obvious symptoms in the late stage, leading to delayed diagnosis and reduced treatment efficacy. In recent years, as the scope of HCC research has increased in depth, the clinical development and application of molecular targeted drugs and immunotherapy drugs have brought new breakthroughs in HCC treatment. Targeted therapy drugs for HCC have high specificity, allowing them to selectively kill tumor cells and minimize damage to normal tissues. At present, these targeted drugs are mainly classified into 3 categories: small molecule targeted drugs, HCC antigen-specific targeted drugs, and immune checkpoint targeted drugs. This article reviews the latest research progress on the targeted drugs for HCC.

As one of the common cancers that threaten human life, the recurrence and metastasis of colorectal cancer seriously affect the prognosis of patients. Although new drugs and comprehensive treatments have been adopted, the current treatment effect on this tumor, especially in advanced colorectal cancer, is still not satisfactory. More and more evidence shows that tumors are likely to be a stem cell disease. In recent years, the rise of cancer stem cell theory has provided a new way for cancer treatment. Studies have found that a small number of special cells in colorectal cancer tissues that induce tumorigenesis, proliferation, and promote tumor migration and metastasis, namely, colorectal cancer stem cells. Colorectal cancer stem cells are defined with a group of cell-surface markers, such as CD44, CD133, CD24, epithelial cell adhesion factor molecule, LGR5, and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. They are highly tumorigenic, aggressive, and chemoresistant and thus are critical in the metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer. Therefore, targeting colorectal cancer stem cells may become an important research direction for the future cure of colorectal cancer.

BackgroundCurrently, active ingredients of herbal extracts that can suppress lipid accumulation in the liver have been considered a potential treatment option for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.MethodsSteatosis rat model was created by high fat and high sucrose diet feeding and treated with oxymatrine (OMT). Serum biochemical parameters, liver histology and lipid profiles were examined. Hepatic differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) which were significantly changed by OMT treatment were identified by iTRAQ analysis. The expressions of representative DEPs, Sirt1 and AMPKα were evaluated by western blotting.ResultsOMT significantly reduced the body weight and liver weight of steatosis animals, decreased the serum levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol as well as the hepatic triglyceride and free fatty acid levels, and effectively alleviated fatty degeneration in the liver. A list of OMT-related DEPs have been screened and evaluated by bioinformatics analysis. OMT significantly decreased the expressions of L-FABP, Plin2, FASN and SCD1 and increased Sirt1 expression and AMPKα phosphorylation in the liver of rats with steatosis.ConclusionThe present study has confirmed the significant efficacy of OMT for improving steatosis and revealed hepatic proteomic changes and Sirt1/AMPK signaling activation by OMT treatment in rats with steatosis.

Tumour microenvironment actively contributes to drug resistance in clinical oncology. Here, the authors show that genotoxic stress induces senescence in human stromal cells, which in turn secrete serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) and promote acquired resistance of cancer cells via EGFR-mediated paracrine signaling.

Abstract Background There is increasing evidence that liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression. MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a significant functional role by directly regulating respective targets in LCSCs-triggered HCC, however, little is known about the function of the miRNA-302 family in LCSCs. Methods MiRNAs microarray was used to detect the miRNAs involved in LCSCs maintenance and differentiation. Biological roles and the molecular mechanism of miRNA-302a/d and its target gene E2F7 were detected in HCC in vitro. The expression and correlation of miRNA-302a/d and E2F7 in HCC patients was evaluated by quantitative PCR and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results We found that the miRNA-302 family was downregulated during the spheroid formation of HCC cells and patients with lower miRNA-302a/d expression had shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Moreover, E2F7 was confirmed to be directly targeted and inhibited by miRNA-302a/d. Furthermore, concomitant low expression of miRNA-302a/d and high expression of E2F7 correlated with a shorter median OS and PFS in HCC patients. Cellular functional analysis demonstrated that miRNA-302a/d negatively regulates self-renewal capability and cell cycle entry of liver cancer stem cells via suppression of its target gene E2F7 and its downstream AKT/β-catenin/CCND1 signaling pathway. Conclusions Our data provide the first evidence that E2F7 is a direct target of miRNA-302a/d and miRNA-302a/d inhibits the stemness of LCSCs and proliferation of HCC cells by targeting the E2F7/AKT/β-catenin/CCND1 signaling pathway.

Abstract Background Proteogenomic characterization and integrative and comparative genomic analysis provide a functional context to annotate genomic abnormalities with prognostic value. Methods Here, we analyzed the proteomes and performed whole exome and transcriptome sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism array profiling for 2 sets of triplet samples comprised of normal colorectal tissue, primary CRC tissue, and synchronous matched liver metastatic tissue. Results We identified 112 CNV-mRNA-protein correlated molecules, including up-regulated COL1A2 and BGN associated with prognosis, and four strongest hot spots (chromosomes X, 7, 16 and 1) driving global mRNA abundance variation in CRC liver metastasis. Two sites (DMRTB1R202H and PARP4V458I) were revealed to frequent mutate only in the liver metastatic cohort and displayed dysregulated protein abundance. Moreover, we confirmed that the mutated peptide number has potential prognosis value and somatic variants displayed increased protein abundance, including high MYH9 and CCT6A expression, with clinical significance. Conclusions Our proteogenomic characterization and integrative and comparative genomic analysis provides a new paradigm for understanding human colon and rectal cancer liver metastasis. Trial registration ClinicalTrials, NCT02917707. Registered 28 September 2016, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02917707.

In cancer the side effects of therapeutic agents can provoke senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which can drive cancer resistance. During the DNA damage response, transcription factor Zscan4 expression is elevated by an ATM-TRAF6-TAK1 axis leading to long term SASP in human stromal cells.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most common malignancies, and there is still a lack of effective biomarkers for early detection and prognostic prediction. Here, we comprehensively analyze the characteristics of. an RNA sequencing data set of LUAD samples. In total, 395 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), 89 microRNAs (miRNAs), and 872 mRNAs associated with c-Myc were identified, which were differentially expressed between tumor and normal tissues. The most relevant pathway was found to be WT1-AS–miR-200a-3p–IGF2BP2 according to the rules of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation. WT1-AS and IGF2BP2 expression were positively correlated and increased in LUAD samples, while miR-200a-3p had relatively low expression. The high expression of WT1-AS and IGF2BP2 was associated with poor prognosis in LUAD patients, while low expression of miR-200a-3p predicted reduced survival (p < 0.05). The analysis of the multi-gene regulation model indicated that the WT1-AS (downregulation)–miR-200a-3p (upregulation)–IGF2BP2 (downregulation) pattern significantly improved the survival of LUAD patients. Finally, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were detected in LUAD cells, and the results are consistent with the bioinformatics analysis. In summary, the WT1-AS/IGF2BP2 axis is a potential prognostic biomarker in LUAD and is expected to become an effective target for diagnosis and treatment.

Malignant gliomas are the most common malignant primary brain tumors and one of the most challenging forms of cancers to treat. Despite advances in conventional treatment, the outcome for patients remains almost universally fatal. This poor prognosis is due to therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence after surgical removal. However, over the past decade, molecular targeted therapy has held the promise of transforming the care of malignant glioma patients. Significant progress in understanding the molecular pathology of gliomagenesis and maintenance of the malignant phenotypes will open opportunities to rationally develop new molecular targeted therapy options. Recently, therapeutic strategies have focused on targeting pro-growth signaling mediated by receptor tyrosine kinase/RAS/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, proangiogenic pathways, and several other vital intracellular signaling networks, such as proteasome and histone deacetylase. However, several factors such as cross-talk between the altered pathways, intratumoral molecular heterogeneity, and therapeutic resistance of glioma stem cells (GSCs) have limited the activity of single agents. Efforts are ongoing to study in depth the complex molecular biology of glioma, develop novel regimens targeting GSCs, and identify biomarkers to stratify patients with the individualized molecular targeted therapy. Here, we review the molecular alterations relevant to the pathology of malignant glioma, review current advances in clinical targeted trials, and discuss the challenges, controversies, and future directions of molecular targeted therapy.

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the expression pattern and prognostic significance of miR-33a in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.MethodsMiR-33aexpression in NSCLC was analyzed in silico using the GEO database and was subsequently confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR in 147 NSCLC biopsies. Among these, 32 of these biopsies were paired with adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. The survival analysis of NSCLC by Kaplan-Meier estimates was stratified based on miR-33a expression. In addition, multivariate survival analysis in corresponding groups of NSCLC patients was conducted by Cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsThe in silico analysis of miR-33a expression in NSCLC resulted to its down-regulation in different tumor types. The expression level of miR-33a was lower in each grade of NSCLC tumor biopsies than in normal lung tissues. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis further established that low miR-33a expression was an important risk factor for overall survival and disease free survival in NSCLC patients.ConclusionOur study implied that miR-33a expression levels may have an essential role in NSCLC progression, and could act as a specific and sensitive biomarker for NSCLC patients who have undergone adjuvant chemotherapy.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in affiliation 5.