Colon Cancer Growth Research Articles

The Dark Knight: Functional Reprogramming of Neutrophils in the Pathogenesis of Colitis-Associated Cancer.

Neutrophils are the primary myeloid cells that are recruited to inflamed tissues, and they are key players during colitis, being also present within the tumor microenvironment during the initiation and growth of colon cancer. Neutrophils fundamentally serve to protect the host against microorganism invasion, but during cancer development, they can become protumoral and lead to tumor initiation, growth, and eventually, metastasis-hence, playing a dichotomic role for the host. Protumoral neutrophils in cancer patients can be immunosuppressive and serve as markers for disease progression but their characteristics are not fully defined. In this review, we explore the current knowledge on how neutrophils in the gut fluctuate between an inflammatory or immunosuppressive state and how they contribute to tumor development. We describe neutrophils' antitumoral and protumoral effects during inflammatory bowel diseases and highlight their capacity to provoke the advent of inflammation-driven colorectal cancer. We present the functional ambivalence of the neutrophil populations within the colon tumor microenvironment, which can be potentially exploited to establish therapies that will prevent, or even reverse, inflammation-dependent colon cancer incidence in high-risk patients.

Potential Oncogenic and Immunosuppressive Roles of Multiple EGF-Like Domains 6 (MEGF6) in Colon Cancer: Insights from Bioinformatic Analysis

Multiple epidermal growth factor-like domains protein 6 (MEGF6) is a high molecular weight protein with several EGF-like domains. Although it has been demonstrated to promote metastasis and chemoresistance in colon cancer cells, its specific oncogenic and immunologic functions remain largely unexplored. This study aims to comprehensively analyze publicly available datasets to define the role of MEGF6 in colon cancer development and immune response modulation. The expression of MEGF6 in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and normal tissues at both mRNA and protein levels was assessed using the GEPIA2 and HPA databases, respectively. The UALCAN database was employed to examine the association between MEGF6 expression and clinicopathological outcomes in COAD patients, and survival analysis was conducted using the KM plotter database. Functional enrichment analysis of MEGF6-correlated genes was performed using the ShinyGO online tool. Additionally, the correlation of MEGF6 with immune cell infiltration and immunosuppressive molecules was explored through the TIMER and TISIDB databases. Our analysis revealed significantly higher mRNA and protein expressions of MEGF6 in COAD tissues compared to normal tissues, with associations to cancer stage, nodal metastasis status, and histological subtype. High MEGF6 expression was correlated with poorer survival outcomes, and genes correlated with MEGF6 were enriched in biological processes related to cellular component organization, cell adhesion, and extracellular matrix interaction. Furthermore, MEGF6 expression demonstrated a significant correlation with immune cell infiltration and the expression of immunosuppressive molecules, particularly CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, TGF-β, and IL-10. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MEGF6 may play an oncogenic role by influencing cell and extracellular matrix interactions. Its overexpression may indicate immunosuppressive properties within the cancer microenvironment. Therefore, MEGF6 holds promise as a potential biomarker for predicting both prognosis and therapeutic responses in colon cancer. HIGHLIGHTS MEGF6 has been shown to involve colon cancer growth and chemotherapeutic resistance. Bioinformatics confirmed a prognostic significance of MEGF6 in colon cancer. MEGF6 may exert its oncogenic effects by influencing cell-matrix interactions. MEGF6 expression is correlated with immunosuppressive properties of cancers. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Ang-1 promotes tumorigenesis and mediates the anti-cancer effects of Artesunate on Choroidal melanoma via the regulation of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

The impact of Ang-1 on tumors remains a subject of contention, with its mechanism of action exhibiting complexity in the progression of diverse tumor types. Ang-1 has been shown to promote the progression of glioma, glioma, esophageal and human cervical cancer, whereas it exerts inhibitory effects on the growth of breast and colon cancer. However, the specific function of Ang-1 in CM has not been clarified. This research aims to explore the function of Ang-1 on CM and the underlying mechanism. WB and qPCR were utilized to measure the expression levels of different factors in CM cells. Clonogenic, CCK-8 and Transwell migration assay were used to probe CM cells’ proliferation and migration ability. Xenograft tumor model was used to testify the effect of Ang-1 and Artesunate (ART) on the growth of CM in vivo. We found Ang-1 promoted CM proliferation and migration, while it was inhibited by ART in vitro. Moreover, both ART treatment and Ang-1 knockdown had the effect of suppressing tumor growth in CM xenograft model. Mechanically, Ang-1 activated Akt/mTOR pathway and induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CM cells. Furthermore, ART regulated Akt/mTOR pathway by decreasing the expression of Ang-1 in CM cells. Ang-1 promotes tumorigenesis of CM by regulating Akt/mTOR pathway, which can be inhibited by ART.

SKAP1 Expression in Cancer Cells Enhances Colon Tumor Growth and Impairs Cytotoxic Immunity by Promoting Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation via the NFATc1/CXCL8 Axis.

The mechanisms underlying the development and progression of colon cancer are not fully understood. Herein, Src kinase associated phosphoprotein 1 (SKAP1), an immune cell adaptor, is identified as a novel colon cancer-related gene. SKAP1 expression is significantly increased in colon cancer cells. High SKAP1 levels are independently predictive of poor survival in patients with colon cancer. Notably, SKAP1 expression in colon cancer cells exerted a significant tumor-promoting effect in vivo rather than in vitro. Screening of tumor-infiltrating immune cells revealed the involvement of neutrophils in SKAP1-induced colon tumor promotion. Enhanced formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is found to be a key downstream event that contributed to the pro-tumor role of SKAP1. In colon cancer cells, SKAP1 increased the expression of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) via nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1). The blockade of CXCL8 or NFATc1 largely attenuated neutrophil infiltration, NET formation, and tumor promotion induced by SKAP1. Furthermore, inhibiting SKAP1-induced NET significantly enhanced the antitumor efficiency of adoptive natural killer cell therapy in colon tumor models. In conclusion, SKAP1 significantly promotes colon cancer growth via the cancer cell/neutrophil NFATc1/CXCL8/NET axis, suggesting that SKAP1 is a potential target for colon cancer therapy.

IDO1 inhibitors are synergistic with CXCL10 agonists in inhibiting colon cancer growth

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is an immune checkpoint that degrades L-tryptophan to kynurenine (Kyn) and enhance immunosuppression, which can be an attractive target for treating colon cancer. IDO1 inhibitors have limited efficacy when used as monotherapies, and their combination approach has been shown to provide synergistic benefits. Many studies have shown that targeting chemokines can promote the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, this study explored the use of IDO1 inhibitors with multiple chemokines to develop a new combination regimen for IDO1 inhibitors. We found that IDO1 inhibitors reduce the secretion of C-X-C motif ligand 10(CXCL10) in cancer cells, and CXCL10 supplementation significantly improved the anticancer effect of IDO1 inhibitors. The combination of the IDO1 inhibitor with CXCL10 or its agonist axitinib had a synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of colon cancer cells and transplanted CT26 tumors. This synergistic effect may be achieved by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, promoting cancer cell apoptosis, promoting CD8+T cell differentiation and decreasing Tregs. Two downstream pathways of IDO1 affect CXCL10 secretion. One being the Kyn-aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway, the other is the general control nonderepressible 2(GCN2). Our study provides a new reference for combination regimens of IDO1 inhibitors.

Ginsenoside Rh1 regulates the immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma via the glucocorticoid receptor

ObjectiveGinsenoside Rh1 (G-Rh1) has been confirmed to inhibit the growth of breast cancer and colon cancer, but its therapeutic effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. This study investigates the therapeutic effect of G-Rh1 on HCC as well as the underlying mechanism. MethodsBioinformatics methods were used to analyze glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and the tumor microenvironment in HCC tissues from HCC patients. The effect of G-Rh1 on HCC cells was investigated in vitro using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. The therapeutic effect of G-Rh1 was investigated in vivo using subcutaneous transplantation models in C57BL/6J and nude mice. Additionally, the proportion of infiltrating immune cells in tumors was analyzed using flow cytometry, the GR and major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression of HCC cells after G-Rh1 treatment was analyzed using Western blotting, and G-Rh1-treated Hepa1-6 cells were cocultured with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and B3Z T cells to further analyze the ability of G-Rh1 to induce dendritic cell (DC) maturation and CD8+ T cell activation. ResultsGR expression was upregulated in HCC tissues, and high GR expression was associated with a worsened immune microenvironment. In vitro studies showed that G-Rh1 had no significant effect on the proliferation of HCC cells, while in vivo studies showed that G-Rh1 exerted antitumor effects in C57BL/6J mice but not in nude mice. Further research revealed that G-Rh1 ameliorated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thereby enhancing the antitumor effects of lenvatinib by increasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, mature DCs, and MHC-I-positive cells. MHC-I was upregulated by G-Rh1 via GR suppression. Moreover, overexpression of GR abolished the G-Rh1-mediated promotion of MHC-I expression in Huh7 cells, as well as the maturation of DCs and the activation of CD8+ T cells. ConclusionG-Rh1 can regulate the immune microenvironment of HCC by targeting GR, thus increasing the antitumor effect of lenvatinib.

Antitumor effect of polyphyllin I (PPI) on colorectal cancer: Evidence from patient-derived organoids and Notch signaling suppression

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor with a high incidence, ranking first among gastrointestinal malignancies. We investigated the impact of polyphyllin I (PPI), a natural compound found in Paris polyphylla, on CRC. PPI has been documented to exhibit anticancer activity against various tumors. This study aimed to assess the effects of PPI on colorectal cancer and explore its potential mechanisms. Our research demonstrated that PPI inhibited proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and induced G2 cell-cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, our results indicated that PPI suppressed Notch signaling by downregulating the Notch1 receptor, its ligand Jagged1, and the downstream target Hes1 expression. Furthermore, we confirmed the antitumor effect of PPI on patient-derived organoids. In conclusion, our study indicates that PPI impedes the growth of colon cancer by suppressing the Notch signaling pathway.

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells modulate innate immune cells and inhibit colon cancer growth.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like T cells that can be activated by microbial antigens and cytokines and are abundant in mucosal tissues including the colon. MAIT cells have cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory functions and have potentials for use as adoptive cell therapy. However, studies into their anti-cancer activity, including their role in colon cancer, are limited. Using an animal model of colon cancer, we showed that peritumoral injection of invivo-expanded MAIT cells into RAG1-/- mice with MC38-derived tumours inhibits tumour growth compared to control. Multiplex cytokine analyses showed that tumours from the MAIT cell-treated group have higher expression of markers for eosinophil-activating cytokines, suggesting a potential association between eosinophil recruitment and tumour inhibition. In a human peripheral leukocyte co-culture model, we showed that leukocytes stimulated with MAIT ligand showed an increase in eotaxin-1 production and activation of eosinophils, associated with increased cancer cell killing. In conclusion, we showed that MAIT cells have a protective role in a murine colon cancer model, associated with modulation of the immune response to cancer, potentially involving eosinophil-associated mechanisms. Our results highlight the potential of MAIT cells for non-donor restricted colon cancer immunotherapy.

Dihydroartemisinin restores the immunogenicity and enhances the anticancer immunosurveillance of cisplatin by activating the PERK/eIF2α pathway

BackgroundImmunosurveillance is pivotal in the effectiveness of anticancer therapies and tumor control. The ineffectiveness of cisplatin in activating the immunosurveillance is attributed to its lack of adjuvanticity resulting from its inability to stimulate endoplasmic reticulum stress. Dihydroartemisinin demonstrates the anti-tumor effects through various mechanisms, including the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study aimed to develop a novel strategy to enhance the immunogenicity of dying tumor cells by combining cisplatin with dihydroartemisinin, thereby triggering effective anti-tumor immunosurveillance and improving the efficacy of cisplatin in clinical practice.MethodsLewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and CT26 colon cancer cell lines and subcutaneous tumor models were used in this study. The importance of immunosurveillance was validated in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mouse models. The ability of dihydroartemisinin and cisplatin therapy to induce immunogenic cell death and tumor growth control in vivo was validated by prophylactic tumor vaccination and therapeutic tumor models. The underlying mechanism was elucidated through the pharmaceutical or genetic intervention of the PERK/eIF2α pathway in vitro and in vivo.ResultsDihydroartemisinin enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species in cisplatin-treated LLC and CT26 cancer cells. The combination treatment of dihydroartemisinin with cisplatin promoted cell death and ensured an optimal release of damage-associated molecular patterns from dying cancer cells, promoting the phagocytosis of dendritic cells. In the tumor vaccination model, we confirmed that dihydroartemisinin plus cisplatin treatment induced immunogenic cell death. Utilizing immunocompetent and immunodeficient mouse models, we further demonstrated that the combination treatment suppressed the tumor growth of CT26 colon cancer and LLC lung cancer, leading to an improved prognosis through the restoration of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and reinstatement of anti-cancer immunosurveillance in vivo. Mechanistically, dihydroartemisinin restored the immunogenicity of cisplatin by activating the adjuvanticity of damage-associated molecular patterns, such as calreticulin exposure, through the PERK/eIF2α pathway. Additionally, the inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation attenuated the anti-tumor efficiency of C + D in vivo.ConclusionsWe highlighted that dihydroartemisinin acts as an immunogenic cell death rescuer for cisplatin, activating anticancer immunosurveillance in a PERK/eIF2α-dependent manner and offering a strategy to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of cisplatin in clinical practice.

MS-20 enhances the gut microbiota-associated antitumor effects of anti-PD1 antibody

ABSTRACT Cancer immunotherapy has been regarded as a promising strategy for cancer therapy by blocking immune checkpoints and evoking immunity to fight cancer, but its efficacy seems to be heterogeneous among patients. Manipulating the gut microbiota is a potential strategy for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy. Here, we report that MS-20, also known as “Symbiota®”, a postbiotic that comprises abundant microbial metabolites generated from a soybean-based medium fermented with multiple strains of probiotics and yeast, inhibited colon and lung cancer growth in combination with an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD1) antibody in xenograft mouse models. Mechanistically, MS-20 remodeled the immunological tumor microenvironment by increasing effector CD8+ T cells and downregulating PD1 expression, which were mediated by the gut microbiota. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from mice receiving MS-20 treatment to recipient mice increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment and significantly improved antitumor activity when combined with anti-PD1 therapy. Notably, the abundance of Ruminococcus bromii, which increased following MS-20 treatment, was positively associated with a reduced tumor burden and CD8+ T-cell infiltration in vivo. Furthermore, an ex vivo study revealed that MS-20 could alter the composition of the microbiota in cancer patients, resulting in distinct metabolic pathways associated with favorable responses to immunotherapy. Overall, MS-20 could act as a promising adjuvant agent for enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint-mediated antitumor therapy.

Intake of Special Amino Acids Mixture Leads to Blunted Murine Colon Cancer Growth In Vitro and In Vivo.

Cancer cells require substantial amounts of energy and substrates for their metabolic hyperactivity, enabling the synthesis of new cells at the expense of healthy ones. Preliminary in vitro data suggest that a mix of free essential amino acids (EAA-mix) can promote cancer cell apoptosis by enhancing autophagy. This study aimed to confirm, both in vitro and in vivo, whether EAA intake could influence the development of colon cancer in mice. We investigated changes in cancer proliferation in CT26 cells treated with EAA-mix and in mice fed with EAA-rich modified diets (EAARD) as compared to those on a standard laboratory diet (StD). CT26 cells were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.). After 21 days, tumors were removed and measured. In vitro data corroborated that EAA-mix impairs cancer growth by inducing apoptosis. In vivo data revealed that mice on StD developed significantly larger (s.c.) and more numerous (i.p.) cancers than those on EAARD. EAA administration appears to influence cancer cell survival with notable antiproliferative properties.

Extracellular Membrane Vesicles of Escherichia coli Induce Apoptosis of CT26 Colon Carcinoma Cells.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is commonly utilized as a vehicle for anti-tumor therapy due to its unique tumor-targeting capabilities and ease of engineering modification. To further explore the role of E. coli in tumor treatment, we consider that E. coli outer membrane vesicles (E. coli-OMVs) play a crucial role in the therapeutic process. Firstly, E. coli-OMVs were isolated and partially purified by filtration and ultracentrifugation, and were characterized using techniques such as nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western Blot (WB). The obtained extracellular nanoparticles, containing OMVs, were found to inhibited the growth of CT26 tumor in mice, while the expression of Bax protein was increased and the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased. In vitro experiments showed that E. coli-OMVs entered CT26 cells and inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration. In addition, in the presence of E. coli-OMVs, we observed an increase in apoptosis rate and a decrease in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. These data indicate that E. coli-OMVs inhibits the growth of CT26 colon cancer by inducing apoptosis of CT26 cells. These findings propose E. coli-OMVs as a promising therapeutic drug for colorectal cancer (CRC), providing robust support for further research in related fields.

SIRT6 suppresses colon cancer growth by inducing apoptosis and autophagy through transcriptionally down-regulating Survivin

SIRT6, an evolutionarily conserved histone deacetylase, has been identified as a novel direct downstream target of Akt/FoxO3a and a tumor suppressor in colon cancer in our previous research. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms through which SIRT6 hinders tumor development remain unclear. To ascertain whether SIRT6 directly impacts Survivin transcription, a ChIP assay was conducted using an anti-SIRT6 antibody to isolate DNA. YM155 was synthesized to explore Survivin’s role in mitochondrial apoptosis, autophagy and tumor progression. Our investigation into the regulation of Survivin involved real-time fluorescence imaging in living cells, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and xenograft mouse assays. In this current study, we delved into the role of SIRT6 in colon cancer and established that activated SIRT6 triggers mitochondrial apoptosis by reducing Survivin expression. Subsequent examinations revealed that SIRT6 directly binds to the Survivin promoter, impeding its transcription. Notably, direct inhibition of Survivin significantly impeded colon cancer proliferation by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis and autophagy both in vitro and in vivo. More interestingly, Survivin inhibition reactivated the Akt/FoxO3a pathway and elevated SIRT6 levels, establishing a positive feedback loop. Our results identify Survivin as a novel downstream transcriptional target of SIRT6 that fosters tumor growth and holds promise as a prospective target for colon cancer therapy.

Intratumoral injection of mRNA encoding survivin in combination with STAT3 inhibitor stattic enhances antitumor effects

Intratumoral delivery of mRNA encoding immunostimulatory molecules can initiate a robust, global antitumor response with little side effects by enhancing local antigen presentation in the tumor and the tumor draining lymph node. Neoantigen-based mRNA nanovaccine can inhibit melanoma growth in mice by intratumoral injection. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) suppress antitumor immune responses by secreting immunosuppressive agents, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Suppression of STAT3 activity by stattic may reduce MDSC-mediated immunosuppression in the TME and promote the antitumor immune responses. In this study, in vitro transcribed mRNA encoding tumor antigen survivin was prepared and injected intratumorally in BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous colon cancer tumors. In vivo studies demonstrated that intratumoral survivin mRNA therapy could induce antitumor T cell response and inhibit tumor growth of colon cancer. Depletion of CD8+ T cells could significantly inhibit survivin mRNA-induced antitumor effects. RT-qPCR and ELISA analysis indicated that survivin mRNA treatment led to increased expression of receptor activator nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). In vitro experiment showed that MDSCs could be induced from mouse bone marrow cells by RANKL and RANKL-induced MDSCs could produce high level of ROS. STAT3 inhibitor stattic suppressed activation of STAT3 and NF-κB signals, thereby inhibiting expansion of RANKL-induced MDSCs. Combination therapy of survivin mRNA and stattic could significantly enhance antitumor T cell response, improve long-term survival and reduce immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment compared to each monotherapy. In addition, combined therapy resulted in a significantly reduced level of tumor cell proliferation and an obviously increased level of tumor cell apoptosis in CT26 colon cancer-bearing mice, which could be conducive to inhibit the tumor growth and lead to immune responses to released tumor-associated antigens. These studies explored intratumoral mRNA therapy and mRNA-based combined therapy to treat colon cancer and provide a new idea for cancer therapy.

Benzofuran-2-Carboxamide Derivatives as Immunomodulatory Agents Blocking the CCL20-Induced Chemotaxis and Colon Cancer Growth.

The correlation between the CCL20/CCR6 axis and autoimmune and non-autoimmune disorders is widely recognized. Inhibition of the CCL20-dependent cell migration represents therefore a promising approach for the treatment of many diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer. We report herein our efforts to explore the biologically relevant chemical space around the benzofuran scaffold of MR120, a modulator of the CCL20/CCR6 axis previously discovered by our group. A functional screening allowed us to identify C4 and C5-substituted derivatives as the most effective inhibitors of the CCL20-induced chemotaxis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Moreover, selected compounds (16 e and 24 b) also proved to potently inhibit the growth of different colon cancer cell lines, with cytotoxic/cytostatic and antiproliferative activity.

Structural characterisation and anti-colon cancer activity of an arabinogalactan RSA-1 from Raphani semen

RSA-1 is a polysaccharide obtained from Raphani semen with a relatively clear structure and anti-colon cancer activity. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were applied to characterise the complex chain structure of RSA-1. Subsequently, the inhibitory effect on colon cancer growth through apoptosis induction in colon cancer cells was explored. The findings indicate that the main chain of RSA-1 consists of →3)-β-D-Galp-(1 → and 3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1 → substituted at C-6 with branched α-L-Araf side chains. RSA-1 disrupts the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and thus inhibits the viability of colon cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, it inhibits colon cancer migration by attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Notably, RSA-1 exhibited negligible impact on the growth of human intestinal epithelial cells within a relevant concentration range. This study establishes a theoretical foundation and provides technical support for the prospective development and application of RSA-1 as a dual-purpose anti-colon cancer drug and functional food.

Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. modulate gut microbiome and bile acid metabolism to inhibit colon cancer progression.

Alterations in the gut microbiome and bile acid metabolism are known to play a role in the development and progression of colon cancer. Medicinal plants like Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (AC) have shown preferable therapeutic effect on cancer therapy, especially digestive tract tumors like colon cancer. However, the precise mechanisms of AC inhibiting colon cancer, particularly in relation to the gut microbiome and bile acid dynamics, are not fully understood. Our research aimed to investigate the anti-tumor properties of AC in mice with CT26 colon cancer and further investigate its underlying mechanism via intestinal microbiota. The size and pathological changes of solid tumors in colon cancer are used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of AC on colon cancer. Metagenomics and 16s rRNA gene sequencing were employed to clarify the dysbiosis in the gut microbiome of colon cancer and its impact on colon cancer. The levels of bile acids (BAs) in the feces of mice from each group were measured using UPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS. AC effectively suppressed the growth of colon cancer and reduced histological damage. Notably, AC treatment led to changes in the gut microbiome composition, with a decrease in pathogenic species like Citrobacter and Candidatus_Arthromitus, and an increase in beneficial microbial populations including Adlercreutzia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001, and Parvibacter. Additionally, AC altered bile acid profiles, resulting in a significant decrease in pro-carcinogenic bile acids such as deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), while increasing the concentration of the cancer-inhibitory bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Tracking and analyzing the data, AC may mainly upregulate FabG and baiA genes by increasing the relative abundance of Adlercreutzia and Parvibacter bacteria, which promoting the metabolism of pro-carcinogenic LCA. These findings provide strong evidence supporting the role of AC in regulating gut microbiome-mediated bile acid metabolism, which is crucial in impeding the progression of colon cancer.

In vivo and in vitro studies on the role of regulating Smac expression in the occurrence and development of colon cancer.

We aimed to explore the role of regulating Smac expression levels in the occurrence and development of colon cancer through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Colon cancer cells HT-29 were cultured and transfected into different groups. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression level of Smac in cells; Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic ability of each group of cells; Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Smac and apoptosis-related factors Survivin and Caspase-3; The nude mouse tumorigenesis experiment was conducted to detect the regulatory effect of regulating Smac expression levels on the growth of colon cancer transplanted tumors in vivo. In comparison to the FHC group, the HT-29 group exhibited a decrease in Smac expression. The si-Smac group, when compared with the si-NC group, showed significant reductions in Smac mRNA and protein levels, weaker cell apoptosis, increased Survivin, and decreased Caspase-3 expression. Contrarily, the oe-Smac group, against the oe-NC group, displayed increased Smac mRNA and protein levels, enhanced apoptosis, reduced Survivin, and elevated Caspase-3 expression. In nude mice tumor transplantation experiments, the LV-sh-Smac group, as opposed to the LV-sh-NC group, had tumors with greater volume and weight, reduced Smac and Caspase-3, and increased Survivin expression. In contrast, the LV-oe-Smac group, compared with the LV-oe-NC group, showed tumors with decreased volume and mass, increased expressions of Smac and Caspase-3, and decreased Survivin. Smac is lowly expressed in colon cancer. Upregulation of Smac expression can inhibit the occurrence and development of colon cancer, possibly by inhibiting Survivin expression and promoting Caspase-3 expression, thereby enhancing the pro-apoptotic function.

ATXN3 functions as a tumor suppressor through potentiating galectin-9-mediated apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma

While the deubiquitinase ATXN3 has been implicated as a potential oncogene in various types of human cancers, its role in colon adenocarcinoma remains understudied. Surprisingly, our findings demonstrate that ATXN3 exerts an anti-tumor effect in human colon cancers through potentiating Galectin-9-induced apoptosis. CRISPR-mediated ATXN3 deletion unexpectedly intensified colon cancer growth both in vitro and in xenograft colon cancers. At the molecular level, we identified ATXN3 as a bona fide deubiquitinase specifically targeting Galectin-9, as ATXN3 interacted with and inhibited Galectin-9 ubiquitination. Consequently, targeted ATXN3 ablation resulted in reduced Galectin-9 protein expression, thereby diminishing Galectin-9-induced colon cancer apoptosis and cell growth arrest. The ectopic expression of Galectin-9 fully reversed the growth of ATXN3-null colon cancer in mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry staining revealed a significant reduction in both ATXN3 and Galectin-9 protein expression, along with a positive correlation between them in human colon cancer. Our study identifies the first Galectin-9-specific deubiquitinase and unveils a tumor-suppressive role of ATXN3 in human colon cancer.

Multifunctional iron oxide‐hydroxide based nanorods for hydrogen sulfide scavenging assisted synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy of colon cancer

The tumor microenvironment responsive multifunctional nanoplatforms with integrated diagnosis and therapy have recently received great attention in anti-cancer treatment. In this study, we developed biocompatible iron oxide-hydroxide-based nanorods (DOX-FPT NRs) for MR imaging and H2S scavenging assisted synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy of colon cancer, which is fabricated by modifying polydopamine (PDA) and transferrin (Tf) on the surface of iron oxide hydroxide (FeOOH) nanorods. The prepared DOX-FPT NRs could precisely target the colon cancer cells through transferrin ligand-receptor-mediated targeting and effectively scavenge endogenous H2S to prohibit the growth of colon cancer. Meanwhile, the considerable drug loading capability and outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency are permitted by the PDA shell modification. In addition, the H2S scavenging assisted photothermal-chemotherapy showed an excellent therapeutic effect on CT26 cells via in vitro cell test. Therefore, the prepared DOX-PFT NRs will be a promising nanoplatform to enhance the therapeutic effect of colon cancer through the treatment strategy of H2S scavenging-assisted synergistic photothermal chemotherapy.