Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Preston Carey, Ethan Low, Elizabeth Harper, M. Sharon Stack
Summary: Proteases, particularly those of the matrix metalloproteinase family, play a crucial role in ovarian cancer progression and metastasis by enhancing migratory ability, ECM breakdown, and tumor support system development. Upregulation of certain proteases influences angiogenesis for tumor growth and development of metastatic implants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elke Pach, Maike Kuemper, Julia E. Fromme, Jan Zamek, Fabian Metzen, Manuel Koch, Cornelia Mauch, Paola Zigrino
Summary: The deletion of MMP14 in dermal fibroblasts leads to the deposition of an extracellular matrix that inhibits melanoma growth, with collagen XIV identified as a key regulator in melanoma progression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zhihui Liu, Hang Ji, Wenchao Fu, Shuai Ma, Hongtao Zhao, Fang Wang, Jiawei Dong, Xiuwei Yan, Jiheng Zhang, Nan Wang, Jiasheng Wu, Shaoshan Hu
Summary: The IGFBP family members are aberrantly expressed in low-grade glioma (LGG) and strongly associated with poor prognosis. The IGFBPScore can differentiate subtypes of LGG and predict prognosis and treatment sensitivity. High IGFBPScore group is associated with glioblastoma-like mutation pattern, inflammation phenotype, and extracellular matrix phenotype, while low IGFBPScore group is associated with a different mutation pattern and low immune phenotype.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Samantha C. Schwager, Katherine M. Young, Lauren A. Hapach, Caroline M. Carlson, Jenna A. Mosier, Tanner J. McArdle, Wenjun Wang, Curtis Schunk, Anissa L. Jayathilake, Madison E. Bates, Francois Bordeleau, Marc A. Antonyak, Richard A. Cerione, Cynthia A. Reinhart-King
Summary: Weakly migratory cancer cells disseminate from the primary tumor via communication with stromal cells and enhance cancer cell migration and metastasis by releasing microvesicles rich in Tg2.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Cindy J. Farino Reyes, Shantanu Pradhan, John H. Slater
Summary: The study investigates the role of hydrogel properties in regulating the phenotype of triple negative metastatic breast cancer using different cell lines and hydrogel formulations. The results show that hydrogels with varying adhesivity and degradability have different effects on cell growth, dormancy, and other metrics. These findings demonstrate that ECM properties and organ-tropism synergistically regulate cancer cell phenotype and dormancy.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Ruoxi Xu, Peng Yin, Jifu Wei, Qiang Ding
Summary: The significance of matrix stiffness in cancer development, particularly in breast cancer, has been explored. Increased matrix stiffness alters cellular activity and promotes the growth of breast cancer. Studies have shown that increased matrix stiffness is closely linked to breast cancer progression.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Arianna Parnigoni, Paola Moretto, Manuela Viola, Evgenia Karousou, Alberto Passi, Davide Vigetti
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women, and its lethality is mainly due to the ability of tumor cells to invade and seed distant organs. Hormone receptors play a critical role in determining tumor aggressiveness and targeted therapies, but the role of the tumor microenvironment is also evident. This article focuses on the role of the extracellular matrix polysaccharide hyaluronan in relation to hormone receptor expression in breast cancer cells.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Arkadiusz Lepucki, Kinga Orlinska, Aleksandra Mielczarek-Palacz, Jacek Kabut, Pawel Olczyk, Katarzyna Komosinska-Vassev
Summary: The extracellular matrix is a dynamic molecular network composed of various molecules that play a critical role in regulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, influencing cell growth, migration, and differentiation, as well as serving as a reservoir for cytokines and growth factors. The breakdown of normal ECM and its replacement with tumor ECM is a key driver for tumorigenesis and metastasis, affecting the composition of the tumor microenvironment and promoting malignant progression. Abnormal ECM also affects stromal cells, tumor-associated angiogenesis, inflammation, and the immune response. Understanding the role of ECM in breast cancer can help identify disease markers and therapeutic targets.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Tong-Yao Yu, Ge Zhang, Xiao-Xia Chai, Li Ren, Da-Chuan Yin, Chen-Yan Zhang
Summary: This review discusses the biological effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) in breast cancer metastasis and drug resistance, as well as the influence of ECM stiffness on these processes. The article provides an overview of relative signal transduction mechanisms, metastasis models, and targeted drug strategies centered around ECM stiffness, shedding light on the exploration and development of breast cancer treatment.
Article
Cell Biology
Anna Germon, Kate J. Heesom, Reiss Amoah, Josephine C. Adams
Summary: PDIA3 is an isomerase of the endoplasmic reticulum that is correlated with aggressive breast cancers. Inhibition of PDIA3 reduces the effects of promigratory factors secreted by MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells on newly adherent cells, suggesting that PDIA3 may be a potential therapeutic target for basal breast cancer.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen Yang, Xiaochen Wang, Ruipei Xie, Yiyu Zhang, Tie Xia, Ying Lu, Fangfu Ye, Peipei Zhang, Ting Cao, Ye Xu, Qihui Fan
Summary: Constructing a proper in vitro tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is crucial for cancer immune-therapy studies, and the selection of biomaterials is critical. This study constructs a quasi-3D in vitro cell culture model by integrating hydrogel collagen as extracellular matrix to mimic TIME. The research reveals a novel mechanism where the collagen matrix-transmitted tensile force guides the migration of macrophages toward cancer cells, providing a better understanding of the role of collagen fibers in mechanotaxis of macrophages. This has great potential for developing new drug-screening models and clinical strategies for cancer immune-therapy.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Medical Laboratory Technology
Priyanila Magesh, Sanu Thankachan, Thejaswini Venkatesh, Padmanaban S. Suresh
Summary: The fibroblasts in the breast tumor microenvironment are crucial for tumor progression and metastasis, as they provide energy to adjacent cancer cells through metabolic reprogramming and secrete growth factors to promote tumor growth and dissemination. Identifying effective strategies to target the reprogrammed metabolism and communication between fibroblasts and cancer cells could lead to promising anti-cancer therapeutics.
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Brice Chanez, Kevin Ostacolo, Ali Badache, Sylvie Thuault
Summary: The study reveals that the End Binding protein EB1 restricts invadopodia formation and matrix degradation in cancer cells by controlling FAK and spatial regulation of Src activity. This highlights the important role of +TIPs in cancer cell invasion and provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for inhibiting cancer metastasis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eiman Elwakeel, Andreas Weigert
Summary: Activation of the tumor-associated stroma and the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in shaping tumor development are crucial in breast cancer. Understanding the multiple functions of CAFs and developing intervention strategies are important for improving breast cancer therapy. Further research is needed to identify specific subsets of CAFs that can be targeted for therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tokuko Hosoya, Goshi Oda, Tsuyoshi Nakagawa, Iichiroh Onishi, Tadashi Hosoya, Megumi Ishiguro, Toshiaki Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Uetake
Summary: The study found that the levels of DCN in plasma varied at different pathological stages in breast cancer patients, suggesting it could be a biomarker for advanced-stage patients. The results indicate that DCN plays an important regulatory role in the development of breast cancer.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Amarnath Challapalli, Susan Masson, Paul White, Narges Dailami, Sylvia Pearson, Edward Rowe, Anthony Koupparis, Jon Oxley, Ahmed Abdelaziz, Janice Ash-Miles, Alicia Bravo, Emily Foulstone, Claire Perks, Jeff Holly, Raj Persad, Amit Bahl
Summary: The combination of cabazitaxel and cisplatin shows promising efficacy with a higher response rate in neoadjuvant treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The regimen is well-tolerated and may provide improved outcomes compared to conventional cisplatin/gemcitabine therapy. Further evaluation in a phase III study is warranted to confirm these findings.
CLINICAL GENITOURINARY CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Georgina Kingshott, Kalina Biernacka, Alex Sewell, Paida Gwiti, Rachel Barker, Hanna Zielinska, Amanda Gilkes, Kathryn McCarthy, Richard M. Martin, J. Athene Lane, Lucy McGeagh, Anthony Koupparis, Edward Rowe, Jon Oxley, Jeff M. P. Holly, Claire M. Perks
Summary: IGF-II is a potent growth factor implicated in various cancers, sharing its locus with H19. IGF-II and H19 are imprinted genes, with only the maternal copy expressed, while the paternal copy is silenced in many cancers.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Abigail C. Lay, Lorna J. Hale, Holly Stowell-Connolly, Robert J. P. Pope, Viji Nair, Wenjun Ju, Eva Marquez, Ruth Rollason, Jenny A. Hurcombe, Bryony Hayes, Timothy Roberts, Lawrence Gillam, Jonathan Allington, Robert G. Nelson, Matthias Kretzler, Jeff M. P. Holly, Claire M. Perks, Craig A. McArdle, Gavin I. Welsh, Richard J. M. Coward
Summary: This study identified a crucial role of IGFBP-1 in the early development of type 2 diabetic kidney disease by regulating podocyte function, suggesting that maintaining glomerular IGFBP-1 levels could be beneficial in preserving podocyte function in the early stages of DKD.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily Gill, Gurimaan Sandhu, Douglas G. Ward, Claire M. Perks, Richard T. Bryan
Summary: Research has found a positive association between type 2 diabetes and obesity with bladder cancer, as well as potential connections between PLEKHS1 and the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) axis in this relationship.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Reham M. Mashat, Hanna A. Zielinska, Jeff M. P. Holly, Claire M. Perks
Summary: High levels of cholesterol, especially LDL and its metabolite 27-OHC, are associated with increased risks of breast cancer and obesity. This study found that LDL/27-OHC promotes cell proliferation in breast cancer cells through the activation of specific enzymes. The effects of 27-OHC on cell migration and invasion are dependent on ER-alpha in ER-alpha-positive cells and ER-beta in ER-alpha positive and negative cells. Cholesterol increases IGF-I production and IGF-IR abundance in TNBC, and targeting ER-beta may be an alternative approach to control the impact of LDL in breast cancer patients.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel James, Olympia Dimopoulou, Richard M. Martin, Claire M. Perks, Claire Kelly, Louise Mathias, Stefan Brugger, Julian P. T. Higgins, Sarah J. Lewis
Summary: Reducing body fatness may improve insulin sensitivity, but current evidence is insufficient to support its impact on reducing the risk of PCa. More high-quality evidence is needed to determine whether reducing body fatness can lower PCa risk through the insulin signalling pathway.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Reem Magzoub, Elrasheid A. H. Kheirelseid, Claire Perks, Sarah Lewis
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analysis on the impact of metformin on non-obese, infertile women with PCOS, showing that metformin can slightly increase clinical pregnancy rate but also increase the risk of miscarriage.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shin-Ichiro Takahashi, Claire M. Perks
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Claire M. Perks, Sally Radovick, Katherine Samaras
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Claire M. Perks, Antonino Belfiore
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Si M. Fang, James Yarmolinsky, Dipender R. Gill, Caroline G. Bull, Claire Perks, George Davey Smith, Tom Gaunt, Tom Richardson
Summary: This study used drug target Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis to evaluate the impact of drug targets associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) lowering therapies on the risk of prostate cancer (PrCa). The findings suggest that genetically proxied inhibition of PCSK9 is associated with a lower risk of total and early-onset PrCa, potentially through the regulation of Lp(a).
Article
Cell Biology
Rachel Barker, Kalina Biernacka, Georgina Kingshott, Alex Sewell, Paida Gwiti, Richard M. Martin, J. Athene Lane, Lucy McGeagh, Anthony Koupparis, Edward Rowe, Jon Oxley, Claire M. Perks, Jeff M. P. Holly
Summary: This study aims to investigate the associations between transcription factors CTCF and FOXA1 and the androgen receptor (AR), as well as their associations with components of the IGF pathway. The results show a strong correlation between CTCF and AR, IGF-IR, PTEN, and phospho-mTOR. FOXA1 is also correlated with IGF-IR, IGFBP-2, and phosphor-mTOR. The staining for IGF-IR is strongly correlated with AR.
GROWTH HORMONE & IGF RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Abigail J. Harland, Claire M. Perks, Paul White, Kathreena M. Kurian, Hannah R. Barber
Summary: Studies have found that the expression levels of IGFBP-2 and GRP78 are associated with the prognosis of patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. Patients with high IGFBP-2 and low GRP78 protein expression have a shorter survival time, which may serve as adverse prognostic markers for IDH-wildtype glioblastoma.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haruka Furuta, Yina Sheng, Ayaka Takahashi, Raku Nagano, Naoyuki Kataoka, Claire Marie Perks, Rachel Barker, Fumihiko Hakuno, Shin-Ichiro Takahashi
Summary: In this study, it was found that highly expressed IRS-2 promotes the activation of the IGF signaling pathway by enabling the secretion of MMP-9 in PC3 prostate cancer cells, leading to hyperproliferation and malignancy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
K. M. Biernacka, R. Barker, A. Sewell, A. Bahl, C. M. Perks
Summary: Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men, and the progression of the disease may be influenced by alternative splicing of the androgen receptor, particularly the AR variant 7(ARV7). ARV7-positive prostate cancer cells were found to be less sensitive to treatment and exhibited increased cell division, proliferation, and motility compared to ARV7-negative cells. Additionally, protein analysis showed a correlation between ARV7 and insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGFBP-2) and forkhead box protein A1(FOXA1), suggesting an interplay between these factors in the acquisition of an aggressive prostate cancer phenotype.
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)