Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kyuho Jeong, James M. Murphy, Jung-Hyun Kim, Pamela Moore Campbell, Hyeonsoo Park, Yelitza Rodriguez, Chungsik Choi, Jun-Sub Kim, Sangwon Park, Hyun Joon Kim, Jonathan G. Scammell, David S. Weber, Richard E. Honkanen, David D. Schlaepfer, Eun-Young Erin Ahn, Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
Summary: This study identified FAK activation as a regulator of SMC dedifferentiation by stabilizing DNMT3A. Inhibition of FAK catalytic activity can suppress DNMT3A expression in injured vessels, maintaining SMC differentiation. The findings suggest that FAK inhibitors may be a potential treatment option to block SMC phenotypic switching during vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
R. Daniel Bonfil, Wei Chen, Semir Vranic, Anjum Sohail, Dongping Shi, Hyejeong Jang, Hyeong-Reh Kim, Marco Prunotto, Rafael Fridman
Summary: The research suggests that the membranous expression level of DDR1 in prostate cancer patients may serve as a potential biomarker for better determination of PCa aggressiveness.
CANCER CELL INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biology
Minseong Kim, Carmen Reinhard, Christof Niehrs
Summary: MET is identified as the kinase responsible for phosphorylating the 4Y motif in ZNRF3, leading to reduced degradation of Wnt receptors and enhanced Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. HGF-MET signaling phosphorylates ZNRF3, while PTPRK dephosphorylates it, regulating ZNRF3 internalization and functioning as a potential therapeutic target for Wnt signaling modulation.
Article
Oncology
Gwenneg Kerdivel, Floriane Amrouche, Marie-Ange Calmejane, Floriane Carallis, Juliette Hamroune, Constanze Hantel, Jerome Bertherat, Guillaume Assie, Valentina Boeva
Summary: Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare and aggressive endocrine cancer of the adrenal gland. The newly described CIMP subtype of adrenocortical carcinoma is associated with poor prognosis, and this study reveals that the increased expression of DNA methyltransferases DNMT1 and DNMT3A, driven by gene copy number gain and cell hyperproliferation, is a key driver of CIMP. Furthermore, CIMP promotes tumor aggressiveness by favoring tumor immune escape, and treatment with demethylating agents such as 5-azacytidine may enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with high CIMP adrenocortical carcinoma.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bihui Cao, Manting Liu, Lu Wang, Kangshun Zhu, Mingyue Cai, Xiaopei Chen, Yunfei Feng, Shuo Yang, Shengyu Fu, Cheng Zhi, Xiaodie Ye, Jian Zhang, Zhiru Zhang, Xin Yang, Ming Zhao, Qingde Wu, Linfeng Xu, Lili Yang, Hui Lian, Qi Zhao, Zhenfeng Zhang
Summary: The complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and lack of tumor-specific targets hinder the application of CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors. AXL, highly expressed in NSCLC but not in normal tissues, might be a target for CAR T cell therapy. Combining microwave ablation and AXL-CAR T cells shows superior antitumor efficacy.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Elizabeth M. Steenkiste, Jason D. Berndt, Carissa Pilling, Christopher Simpkins, Jonathan A. Cooper
Summary: Integrin adhesion complexes regulate cytoskeletal dynamics during cell migration. Cas and BCAR3 cooperate in this process, with BCAR3 requiring Cas for localization and Cas requiring BCAR3 for activation and signal transduction, forming a positive feedback loop. BCAR3 utilizes a specific phosphorylation site for reliable negative feedback by the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
Article
Oncology
Minnatallah Al-Yozbaki, Ibtissam Jabre, Naeem H. Syed, Cornelia M. Wilson
Summary: Despite the static survival rates of NSCLC, epigenetic-based therapies targeting DNMTs and histone-modifying enzymes, as well as the combination of DNMT inhibitors with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, have shown great promise in the treatment of solid tumors. Dietary phytochemicals can also inhibit DNMTs and cancer stem cells, offering a novel and promising approach to cancer prevention and treatment.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Andreas F. Haag, Magdalena Podkowik, Rodrigo Ibarra-Chavez, Francisca Gallego del Sol, Geeta Ram, John Chen, Alberto Marina, Richard P. Novick, Jose R. Penades
Summary: Staphylococcal pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) are mobile chromosomal islands encoding and disseminating toxins, regulated by master repressors and counteracted by helper phage-encoded proteins. SaPI3, an exception, is induced by other SaPIs, enabling its spread through an intracellular regulatory cascade. Bioinformatics analysis identified closely related SEB-encoding SaPI3 relatives controlled by a conserved regulatory module.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vladislav I. Tiurin, Elena V. Preobrazhenskaya, Natalia V. Mitiushkina, Aleksandr A. Romanko, Aleksandra A. Anuskina, Rimma S. Mulkidjan, Evgeniya S. Saitova, Elena A. Krivosheyeva, Elena D. Kharitonova, Mikhail P. Shevyakov, Ilya A. Tryakin, Svetlana N. Aleksakhina, Aigul R. Venina, Tatiana N. Sokolova, Aleksandr S. Martianov, Anna D. Shestakova, Alexandr O. Ivantsov, Aglaya G. Iyevleva, Evgeny N. Imyanitov
Summary: RET-kinase-activating gene rearrangements are found in 1-2% of non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), with reliable detection requiring next-generation sequencing (NGS). A new assay based on the comparison of RNA transcripts of different portions of the RET gene was developed, allowing the detection of RET translocations in NSCLCs. The study found a significant occurrence of RET rearrangements in EGFR/KRAS/ALK/ROS1/BRAF/MET-negative carcinomas and a correlation between RET rearrangement and thymidylate synthase expression in female patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Sivakumar Murugesan, Jayakumar Murugesan, Seedevi Palaniappan, Sivasankar Palaniappan, Tamilselvi Murugan, Shahid S. Siddiqui, Sivakumar Loganathan
Summary: Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer globally, with kinases playing a crucial role in mediating signaling pathways. Inhibiting pathogenic kinases has become a breakthrough development in cancer treatment.
CURRENT CANCER DRUG TARGETS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kirsi J. Rautajoki, Serafiina Jaatinen, Aliisa M. Tiihonen, Matti Annala, Elisa M. Vuorinen, Anni Kivinen, Minna J. Rauhala, Kendra K. Maass, Kristian W. Pajtler, Olli Yli-Harja, Pauli Helen, Joonas Haapasalo, Hannu Haapasalo, Wei Zhang, Matti Nykter
Summary: The study analyzed recurrent oligodendroglioma tumors, finding that patients died after relapse, with some carrying specific gene mutations leading to hypermutated tumors. It also discovered that decreased expression of specific genes in tumors was associated with poor prognosis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Camilla Iannone, Yaroslav Kainov, Anna Zhuravskaya, Fursham Hamid, Takayuki Nojima, Eugene V. Makeyev
Summary: A study found that the RNA-binding protein PTBP1 activates co-transcriptional splicing of hundreds of introns, but some of these introns cannot complete splicing without PTBP1. One intriguing example is the PTBP1-dependent intron retention triggering nonsense-mediated decay of DNMT3B transcripts. This regulation facilitates the natural decline in DNMT3B levels during neuron development and protects differentiation-specific genes from ectopic methylation.
Review
Oncology
Rafael Rosell, Andres Felipe Cardona, Oscar Arrieta, Andres Aguilar, Masaoki Ito, Carlos Pedraz, Jordi Codony-Servat, Mariacarmela Santarpia
Summary: EGFR mutations in lung adenocarcinoma are common driver mutations, and while EGFR TKIs can extend survival, they can also lead to therapeutic resistance and progression. Research focuses on managing the acquisition of EGFR TKI-resistant mutations, but basic principles of cancer evolution have not been fully considered in clinical trials.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nidhi Saini, Ajmer Singh Grewal, Viney Lather, Suresh Kumar Gahlawat
Summary: Phytochemicals contribute to protection and interaction processes by acting as antioxidants, anti-mutagens, anticarcinogens, and antimicrobial agents. In this study, sanguinarine was found to be the most potent inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) compared to erlotinib. Other alkaloids also showed potent inhibition against EGFR, but their stability with EGFR varied. Out of the 31 alkaloids subjected to ADMET prediction, 29 alkaloids followed Lipinski's rule of five and were predicted to have high bioavailability, low toxicity, and ease of synthesis.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Janina Janetzko, Sebastian Oeck, Alexander Schramm
Summary: Lamins, as nuclear proteins, were previously thought to primarily have structural functions. However, recent reports suggest that they also play a broader role in cancer development and progression. These reports indicate that changes in lamin subtype composition can affect various cell processes, such as cellular stiffness and chromatin condensation, which have implications for cancer metastasis. Additionally, studies suggest that cancer cells can manipulate lamin functions to modify chromatin accessibility, cell cycle regulation, and DNA damage response. This comprehensive overview focuses on the role of lamins in lung cancer and the DNA damage response, providing insights into their sometimes-conflicting functions in cancer.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peipei Tu, Bin Huang, Minggang Li, Yaofang Zhang, Shixiang Bao, Na Tu, Yanan Yang, Jingtao Lu
Summary: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex systemic disease that might benefit from treatment with exendin-4, as shown in this study on C57BL/6 J mice. The study investigated epigenetic alterations in pancreatic tissues of diabetic mice and demonstrated an improvement in T2D progression with exendin-4 treatment through modulation of histone acetylation and methylation patterns. Understanding these epigenetic changes may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for T2D.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Hongqiao Cai, Ruobing Wang, Xingren Guo, Meiyu Song, Fei Yan, Bai Ji, Yahui Liu
Summary: The combination of gemcitabine-loaded PLGA nanoparticles with a macrophage membrane coating showed promising results in reducing drug toxicity, improving tumor accumulation, and inhibiting pancreatic cancer cell proliferation through targeting signaling pathways. This approach provides potential synergistic anti-tumor efficacy for treating pancreatic cancer.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cailing Chen, Meiyu Song, Yangyang Du, Ying Yu, Chunguang Li, Yu Han, Fei Yan, Zhan Shi, Shouhua Feng
Summary: Cell-membrane-coated nanoparticles, particularly those derived from tumor-associated macrophages (TAMM), show promise as an antitumor therapeutic strategy. TAMM exhibit unique antigen-homing affinity capacity and immune compatibility, with potential to enhance antitumor immunity efficiency via activation of antigen-presenting cells and production of tumor-specific effector T cells in metastatic tumors. TAM-membrane-based photodynamic immunotherapy offers a new personalized approach to tumor therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lingxiao Zhang, Yue Song, Kunxia Cao, Yangyang Du, Mingda Han, Zhan Shi, Fei Yan, Shouhua Feng
Summary: Despite recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies in acute myeloid leukemia, ferrotherapy using iron-based compounds offers a novel approach to bypass chemoresistance. However, overexpression of ferroportin in cancer cells may limit the efficacy of ferrotherapy and lead to systemic toxic effects. The development of a hepcidin-based nanocomposite shows promise as an epigenetic drug and immunotherapeutic agent for treating leukemia.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kunxia Cao, Yangyang Du, Xin Bao, Mingda Han, Rui Su, Jiuxia Pang, Shujun Liu, Zhan Shi, Fei Yan, Shouhua Feng
Summary: In this study, FTO inhibitor-loaded GSH-bioimprinted nanocomposites were developed to selectively target leukemia cells, especially leukemia stem cells (LSCs), and induce cell death by disrupting intracellular redox status. Additionally, the nanocomposites increased m(6)A RNA modification levels and enhanced the efficacy of immune therapy.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qing Li, Rui Su, Xin Bao, Kunxia Cao, Yangyang Du, Nanya Wang, Jianfeng Wang, Fan Xing, Fei Yan, Keke Huang, Shouhua Feng
Summary: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade immunotherapy is limited by low response rates in many patients. This study developed a nanoplatform that induces immunogenic cell death and enhances tumor immunotherapy through synergistic effects with ferrotherapy. The combination of glycyrrhetinic acid-based nanomaterials and ferumoxytol improved T-cell immune response and showed potential for treating cancer.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xinlun Dai, Xin Li, Yahui Liu, Fei Yan
Summary: This article discusses the progress in anti-tumor immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy and nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT), as well as the pre-clinical trials of combined PTT/ICB therapy. Nanoparticles offer advantages such as increased tumor-targeting ability, high drug-loading capacity, and satisfactory biocompatibility, which can enhance the anti-tumor effects when combined with ICB therapy.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Chen Chen, Aibao Chen, Yanan Yang
Summary: Vector-borne diseases pose major health threats globally, and γδT cells play a crucial role in regulating host-pathogen interactions and disease progression.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Yan Li, Lihong Fan, Jianming Zheng, Xiu Nie, Yu Sun, Qin Feng, Shenyi Lian, Wenqi Bai, Weijing Cai, Yanan Yang, Bo Su, Yanfeng Xi, Dongmei Lin
Summary: This study systematically investigated the pre-screening methods and characterized the genetic and clinical features of Lynch syndrome (LS) colorectal cancers (CRCs) in Asia. The results demonstrated that MMR IHC and MSI testing were effective methods for LS pre-screening and identified previously unreported pathogenic germline variants of MMR genes in LS patients.
CANCER BIOLOGY & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jianhua Liu, Yue Song, Yiqiao Wang, Mingda Han, Chunxi Wang, Fei Yan
Summary: Cancer immunotherapy has shown great potential in treating metastatic tumors and preventing recurrence. However, the limitations of low patient response rates and toxicity have hindered its effectiveness. This study presents a nanoplatform using gold nanorods for enhanced photothermal immunotherapy against prostate cancer by combining NIR-II-mediated photothermal therapy and N-6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) demethylase inhibition. The results show that the nanoplatform specifically targets prostate tumor cells and successfully eliminates tumors under laser irradiation. Mechanistically, the nanoplatform triggers the release of the demethylase inhibitor, leading to increased mRNA methylation and decreased stability of PDL1 transcripts. The study suggests that this synergistic approach could be an effective strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yangyang Du, Xinlun Dai, Mingda Han, Zhihua Wang, Yiqiao Wang, Zhan Shi, Fei Yan, Shouhua Feng
Summary: This article introduces a photothermal immunotherapy method triggered by near-infrared light, which shows promise in cancer treatment. By combining gene expression modification and immune cell activation, the study successfully inhibits primary tumor growth, suppresses metastasis, and prevents tumor recurrence.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue Song, Lingxiao Zhang, Yiqiao Wang, Mingda Han, Zhihua Wang, Ning Wang, Bingru Shao, Runan Li, Kunxia Cao, Meiyu Song, Yangyang Du, Fei Yan
Summary: A bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF)-based biomimetic nanoplatform, AFMMB, is developed for dual epigenetic therapy against cancer. AFMMB selectively targets leukemic cells and leukemia stem cells, thereby enhancing T-cell-mediated immune response through the induction of autophagy and inhibition of DNA methylation. AFMMB also shows potential for suppressing the growth and metastasis of solid tumors, indicating a pan-cancer effect. Clinical validation of AFMMB is warranted.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xinlun Dai, Xin Li, Yangyang Du, Mingda Han, Zhihua Wang, Yiqiao Wang, Fei Yan, Yahui Liu
Summary: A nanoplatform (GSBVVP) combining photothermal therapy (PTT) with dual blockade of VEGF and PD-L1 was designed to enhance the immune response for HCC treatment. This nanoplatform released a PD-L1 inhibitor upon NIR-II triggering, increasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and inhibiting VEGF secretion by tumor cells. Animal studies showed that GSBVVP-mediated photothermal immunotherapy significantly inhibited tumor growth, metastasis, and recurrence.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jianhua Liu, Yue Song, Yiqiao Wang, Mingda Han, Chunxi Wang, Fei Yan
Summary: Cancer immunotherapy has made significant progress in recent years, but low patient response rates and dose-limiting toxicity remain major limitations. Researchers have designed a nanoplatform based on gold nanorods for enhanced photothermal immunotherapy against prostate cancer. The study highlights the importance of synergistic m6A RNA methylation and photothermal therapy in cancer immunotherapy.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Yung-Hung Luo, Han Liu, Jason A. Wampfler, Henry D. Tazelaar, Yalun Li, Tobias Peikert, Dan Liu, Konstantinos Leventakos, Yuh-Min Chen, Yanan Yang, Shih-Hwa Chiou, Ping Yang
Summary: This study demonstrates that osimertinib as a second or subsequent line of treatment in patients previously treated with EGFR-TKIs without identification of T790M mutation showed a lower risk of death compared to those who received first-line or second-generation TKIs without subsequent osimertinib. Patients with EGFR mutations and PD-L1 expression >= 50% had a higher risk of treatment failure with osimertinib and worse overall survival. These results suggest that osimertinib as a second-line or subsequent treatment may be a potential alternative for patients without identification of T790M, while high PD-L1 expression is associated with poor outcomes in patients receiving osimertinib.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)