Article
Plant Sciences
Alisson A. Almeida, Graziela D. A. Lima, Marines Eiterer, Lais A. Rodrigues, Juliana A. do Vale, Ana C. Zanatta, Gustavo C. Bressan, Leandro L. de Oliveira, Joao P. V. Leite
Summary: Athenaea velutina, a promising Brazilian shrub, contains withanolide-steroids that inhibit cancer cell proliferation through apoptosis and cell cycle blockade mechanisms. This plant shows potential for cancer treatment and conservation strategies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rongze Wang, Yexuan Zhu, Jingyi Chen, Yiliang Wang, Xiaowei Song, Yanting Wu, Fujun Jin, Yifei Wang
Summary: The novel quinazoline derivative 04NB-03 exhibits potent anti-HCC activities by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in an ROS-dependent manner, making it a potential candidate for the development of antitumor drugs targeting HCC.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Suming Pan, Xiangguo Zhang, Yugan Guo, Yin Li
Summary: This study reveals the inhibitory effects of DPCPX on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). By inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway, DPCPX induces Bim-dependent apoptosis and suppresses NPC cell growth. Additionally, DPCPX enhances the antitumor effects of chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, 5-FU, and Paclitaxel.
CELL BIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhenyao Yu, Yixue Hou, Wei Zhou, Zizhen Zhao, Zesheng Liu, Ailing Fu
Summary: Mitochondrial transplantation therapy has been actively researched as a treatment for mitochondria-associated diseases, including malignant melanoma. This study investigated the signal mechanism and gender differences in the anti-tumor activity of healthy mitochondria. The results showed that intact mitochondria significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation and showed anti-tumor effects in melanoma-bearing mice, with female mitochondria demonstrating greater efficiency and a possible stronger mitochondria-nuclear communication than male mitochondria.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Mohamed F. Mohamed, Stephen J. Wood, Ruchi Roy, Jochen Reiser, Timothy M. Kuzel, Sasha H. Shafikhani
Summary: Research has shown that ExoT induces potent apoptotic cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines through two distinct mechanisms and significantly reduces tumor growth in melanoma. ExoT exhibits antiproliferative function in melanoma cells by causing cell cycle arrest in G1 interphase through dampening G1/S checkpoint proteins. Both domains of ExoT contribute to G1 cell cycle arrest in melanoma, with ADPRT likely involving the Crk adaptor protein.
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Silu Hou, Yuqiang Cheng, Zhaofei Wang, Luming Xia, Jian Wang, Hengan Wang, Jianhe Sun, Jingjiao Ma, Yaxian Yan
Summary: This study investigated the toxic effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) on gastric mucosal epithelial cells and found that DON can inhibit cell activity, induce DNA damage, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest. These findings are important for understanding the cytotoxicity and gastric diseases caused by DON.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jia-feng Tang, Guo-li Li, Tao Zhang, Yu-mei Du, Shi-ying Huang, Jian-hua Ran, Jing Li, Di-long Chen
Summary: In this study, it was found that HHT effectively inhibits the proliferation of melanoma cells by inducing DNA damage, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the inhibitory effect of HHT on melanoma, providing evidence for its potential as an anti-melanoma agent.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Akebaier Sulaiman, Jin Lv, Junwei Fan, Reyila Abuliezi, Qian Zhang, Xuefeng Wan
Summary: The study showed that miR-22 may reduce the activity of cutaneous malignant melanoma A375 cells by targeting and inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yayun Li, Pian Yu, Jing Long, Ling Tang, Xu Zhang, Zhe Zhou, DongSheng Cao, Juan Su, Xiang Chen, Cong Peng
Summary: AE007 is a promising therapeutic agent for melanoma by targeting RSK2 and inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells without affecting normal skin cells.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Peijie Liu, Hongrui Zhang, Fulian Qu, Liying Lv, Fengqian Shen, Ning Li, Xiaojing Tie, Yan Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of Sarsasapogenin (SAR), a sapogenin derived from the Chinese herbal medicine Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, on pancreatic cancer. SAR was found to inhibit cell growth and promote apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, SAR was shown to block the JAK/STAT3 pathway and induce mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS AND HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohamed M. Tawfik, Nourhan Eissa, Fayez Althobaiti, Eman Fayad, Ali H. Abu Almaaty
Summary: The study demonstrated the significant cytotoxic effect of Rhopilema nomadica jellyfish venom on liver cancer cells, inducing apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. This is the first scientific evidence of the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by Rhopilema nomadica jellyfish venom.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deniz Cansen Kahraman, Ebru Bilget Guven, Peri S. Aytac, Gamze Aykut, Birsen Tozkoparan, Rengul Cetin Atalay
Summary: This study investigated the cellular bioactivities of a series of triazolothiadiazine derivatives on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The most potent compound, 7b, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells through oxidative stress-induced JNK protein activation. Additionally, 7b showed potential in inhibiting tumor growth, prolonging survival, and reducing HCC cell migration and liver cancer stem cell enrichment.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Suresh Chava, Suresh Bugide, Parmanand Malvi, Romi Gupta
Summary: CDC7 is overexpressed in melanoma and patients with higher expression have shorter survival. Inhibition of CDC7 can inhibit melanoma tumor growth and metastasis. Combination of CDC7 inhibitor with EZH2 or BRPF1/2/3 inhibitors shows stronger growth inhibition effect on melanoma.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruce J. Shenker, Lisa P. Walker, Ali Zekavat, Jonathon Korostoff, Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the mechanism of Cdt-induced periodontitis by using cell lines and primary gingival keratinocytes. The findings showed that Cdt caused G2/M arrest in cells and reduced levels of pAkt and pGSK3 beta. Pre-treatment with GSK3 beta kinase inhibitors reversed the G2/M arrest caused by Cdt. Furthermore, Cdt-treated cells displayed increased phosphorylation of CDK1, which was blocked by GSK3 inhibitors and resulted in reduced total CDK1 levels. This study provides further insights into the potential mechanism(s) contributing to Cdt toxicity and toxin-mediated pathogenesis in periodontitis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Salman Ahmed, Waqas Alam, Khalaf F. Alsharif, Michael Aschner, Fuad M. Alzahrani, Luciano Saso, Haroon Khan
Summary: Malignant melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer, is becoming more common and resistant to treatment. Natural substances, particularly marine peptides, are being researched as alternative and safe treatments for melanoma.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Farzana Ahmed, Hsin-Yi Tseng, Antonio Ahn, Dilini Gunatilake, Sara Alavi, Michael Eccles, Helen Rizos, Stuart J. Gallagher, Jessamy C. Tiffen, Peter Hersey, Abdullah Al Emran
Summary: This study explores the resistance of melanoma to chemotherapy and suggests that melanoma with an inflammatory undifferentiated state may be susceptible to combination therapy. The study also investigates the variation in inflammasomes and death mechanisms in different melanoma, and raises the possibility of using the inflammatory state as biomarkers for inflammasome-targeted therapy.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Youming Zhu, Leu Jin, Ronghua Shi, Jinming Li, Yan Wang, Li Zhang, Chao-Zhao Liang, Vinod K. Narayana, David P. De Souza, Rick F. Thorne, Li Rong Zhang, Xu Dong Zhang, Mian Wu
Summary: This study reveals a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) called gLINC that acts as a backbone for the formation of a metabolon involving glycolytic enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase A. The gLINC metabolon enhances glycolytic flux, ATP production, and cell survival under serine deprivation. Overexpression of gLINC in cancer cells promotes xenograft growth in mice on a serine-deprived diet, suggesting its role in cancer cell adaptation.
Article
Pathology
Andrew J. Colebatch, Chandra Adhikari, Russell J. Diefenbach, Robert V. Rawson, Peter M. Ferguson, Helen Rizos, Georgina V. Long, Stanley W. McCarthy, John F. Thompson, James S. Wilmott, Richard A. Scolyer
Summary: Blue nevi involving lymph nodes are benign and often misdiagnosed as metastatic melanoma. This study provides evidence that these blue nevi have a benign clinical behavior and probably represent so-called benign metastasis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
John J. Park, Ashleigh Stewart, Mal Irvine, Bernadette Pedersen, Zizhen Ming, Matteo S. Carlino, Russell J. Diefenbach, Helen Rizos
Summary: Uveal melanoma, a rare eye cancer, lacks approved therapy for metastatic cases. This study found that the response of uveal melanoma cells to PKC inhibitors varied, and it was not related to the degree of PKC suppression or inhibition of downstream pathways. Instead, uveal melanoma cells showed complex, PKC-independent signaling pathways that contributed to their survival and resistance to targeted therapies.
CANCER GENE THERAPY
(2022)
Letter
Oncology
Su Yin Lim, Bernadette Pedersen, Helen Rizos
PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Russell J. Diefenbach, Jenny H. Lee, Ashleigh Stewart, Alexander M. Menzies, Matteo S. Carlino, Robyn P. M. Saw, Jonathan R. Stretch, Georgina V. Long, Richard A. Scolyer, Helen Rizos
Summary: This study developed a custom panel for detecting TERT promoter mutations in ctDNA from melanoma patients. Analysis of patient samples showed a high detection rate for BRAF, NRAS, and TERT promoter mutations, and the panel demonstrated consistency with tissue biopsies.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haoshi Gao, Stanislav Kan, Zhuyifan Ye, Yuchen Feng, Lei Jin, Xudong Zhang, Jiayin Deng, Ging Chan, Yuanjia Hu, Yongjun Wang, Dongsheng Cao, Yuanhui Ji, Mingtao Liang, Haifeng Li, Defang Ouyang
Summary: siRNA gene silencing therapy has great potential for treating diseases, but the formulation design of siRNA-LNP faces challenges. A novel integrated computer methodology based on machine learning and molecular dynamic simulation was successfully developed for siRNA-LNP formulation design.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Elena Shklovskaya, Bernadette Pedersen, Ashleigh Stewart, Jack O. G. Simpson, Zizhen Ming, Mal Irvine, Richard A. Scolyer, Georgina Long, Helen Rizos
Summary: This study presents a biomarker-driven workflow to generate a mouse melanoma model responsive to anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy. The model recapitulates human immunotherapy-responding tumor phenotypes and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the durability of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Article
Dermatology
Zizhen Ming, Su Yin Lim, Ashleigh Stewart, Bernadette Pedersen, Elena Shklovskaya, Alexander M. Menzies, Matteo S. Carlino, Richard F. Kefford, Jenny H. Lee, Richard A. Scolyer, Georgina V. Long, Helen Rizos
Summary: Immunotherapy targeting PD-1 and/or CTLA4 can lead to durable responses in some melanoma patients. However, treatment resistance and lack of response are common. This study identifies a vulnerability in melanoma driven by immune cell activity, providing potential strategies for combination therapies.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Quintin Lee, Renhua Song, Dang Anh Vu Phan, Natalia Pinello, Jessica Tieng, Anni Su, James M. Halstead, Alex C. H. Wong, Michelle van Geldermalsen, Bob S. -L. Lee, Bowen Rong, Kristina M. Cook, Mark Larance, Renjing Liu, Fei Lan, Jessamy C. Tiffen, Justin J. -L. Wong
Summary: Virilizer-like m(6)A methyltransferase-associated protein (VIRMA) is critical for RNA m(6)A deposition, but its aberrant expression in human diseases is not well understood. We found that VIRMA is amplified and overexpressed in 15-20% of breast cancers. The nuclear-enriched full-length VIRMA promotes m(6)A-dependent breast tumourigenesis, while the cytoplasmic-localised N-terminal VIRMA does not. VIRMA overexpression upregulates the m(6)A-modified long non-coding RNA NEAT1, contributing to breast cancer cell growth.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Hansol Lee, Angela L. Ferguson, Camelia Quek, Ismael A. Vergara, Ines Pires daSilva, Ruth Allen, Tuba Nur Gide, Jordan W. Conway, Lambros T. Koufariotis, Nicholas K. Hayward, Nicola Waddell, Matteo S. Carlino, Alexander M. Menzies, Robyn P. M. Saw, Elena Shklovskaya, Helen Rizos, Serigne Lo, Richard A. Scolyer, Georgina V. Long, Umaimaintha Palendira, James S. Wilmott
Summary: This study characterized intratumoral macrophage populations in melanoma biopsies and investigated the association between CD16-expressing macrophage densities and treatment outcomes for patients receiving anti-PD-1 monotherapy or a combination with anti-CTLA-4. The results showed that patients who responded to combination therapy had higher CD16 macrophage densities compared to those who did not respond. Additionally, patients with high intratumoral densities of CD16 macrophages had a significantly longer progression-free survival. These findings suggest that CD16 macrophages may serve as a potential biomarker for response to combination immunotherapies in metastatic melanoma patients.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Quintin Lee, Renhua Song, Dang Anh Vu Phan, Natalia Pinello, Jessica Tieng, Anni Su, James M. Halstead, Alex C. H. Wong, Michelle van Geldermalsen, Bob S. -L. Lee, Bowen Rong, Kristina M. Cook, Mark Larance, Renjing Liu, Fei Lan, Jessamy C. Tiffen, Justin J. -L. Wong
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Zhen Zeng, Hung Long Ngo, Martina Proctor, Helen Rizos, Riccardo Dolcetti, Jazmina Gonzalez Cruz, James W. Wells, Brian Gabrielli
Summary: Treatment resistance is a common challenge in melanoma patients receiving targeted and immunotherapies. However, a combination of CHK1 inhibitor and LDHU effectively targets replication stress in melanomas and promotes immune responses. Melanoma cell lines resistant to BRAF inhibitor or immune checkpoint inhibitors remain sensitive to the CHK1i + LDHU combination, showing similar sensitivity to parental tumors. In vivo, the same immune response is observed in both BRAFi-resistant and BRAFi-sensitive parental tumors after treatment.
PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jenny H. Lee, Zizhen Ming, Veronica K. Y. Cheung, Bernadette Pedersen, James J. Wykes, Carsten E. Palme, Jonathan J. Clark, Ruta Gupta, Helen Rizos
Summary: The identification and therapeutic targeting of actionable gene mutations in cancer treatment has shown improved response rates in some patients. However, this identification alone is often not enough to ensure long-lasting responses. This study explores the use of functional data in an ex vivo cancer explant model to guide treatment selection and presents a case study demonstrating the accuracy of this approach. The results highlight the potential of functional models in supporting genomic data and guiding treatment decisions in rare cancers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)