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Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous group of human cancer with distinct genetic, biological and clinicopathological features. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and metastatic type of breast cancer and associated with poor patient survival. However, the role of UV Radiation Resistance-Associated Gene (UVRAG) in TNBC remains unknown. Here, we report that UVRAG is highly upregulated in all TNBC cells and its knockdown leads to the inhibition of cell proliferation, colony formation and progression of cell cycle, which is associated with and reduced expression of cell cycle related protein expression, including Cyclin A2, B1, D1, cdc2 and cdk6 in TNBC cells. Inhibition of UVRAG also suppressed cell motility, migration and invasion of TNBC cells by inhibition of Integrin β1 and β3 and Src activity. Our findings suggest for the first time that UVRAG expression contributes to proliferation, cell cycle progression, motility/migration and invasion of TNBC cells. Thus, targeting UVRAG could be a potential strategy in breast cancer especially against TNBC.

Background Dysregulation of the metabolome is a hallmark of primary brain malignancies. In this work we examined whether metabolic reprogramming through a multi-targeting approach causes enhanced anti-cancer activity in glioblastoma. Methods Preclinical testing of a combined treatment with ONC201/TIC10 and 2-Deoxyglucose was performed in established and primary-cultured glioblastoma cells. Extracellular flux analysis was used to determine real-time effects on OXPHOS and glycolysis. Respiratory chain complexes were analysed by western blotting. Biological effects on tumour formation were tested on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Results ONC201/TIC10 impairs mitochondrial respiration accompanied by an increase of glycolysis. When combined with 2-Deoxyglucose, ONC201/TIC10 induces a state of energy depletion as outlined by a significant decrease in ATP levels and a hypo-phosphorylative state. As a result, synergistic anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects were observed among a broad panel of different glioblastoma cells. In addition, this combinatorial approach significantly impaired tumour formation on the CAM. Conclusion Treatment with ONC201/TIC10 and 2-Deoxyglucose results in a dual metabolic reprogramming of glioblastoma cells resulting in a synergistic anti-neoplastic activity. Given, that both agents penetrate the blood–brain barrier and have been used in clinical trials with a good safety profile warrants further clinical evaluation of this therapeutic strategy., publishedVersion

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous group of human cancer with distinct genetic, biological and clinicopathological features. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and metastatic type of breast cancer and associated with poor patient survival. However, the role of UV Radiation Resistance-Associated Gene (UVRAG) in TNBC remains unknown. Here, we report that UVRAG is highly upregulated in all TNBC cells and its knockdown leads to the inhibition of cell proliferation, colony formation and progression of cell cycle, which is associated with and reduced expression of cell cycle related protein expression, including Cyclin A2, B1, D1, cdc2 and cdk6 in TNBC cells. Inhibition of UVRAG also suppressed cell motility, migration and invasion of TNBC cells by inhibition of Integrin β1 and β3 and Src activity. Our findings suggest for the first time that UVRAG expression contributes to proliferation, cell cycle progression, motility/migration and invasion of TNBC cells. Thus, targeting UVRAG could be a potential strategy in breast cancer especially against TNBC.