Signaling Pathway In Carcinogenesis Research Articles

Review of Small Molecule Anticancer NF-κB Inhibitors

Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the world. Th e transcription factor NF-κB plays a key role in various physiological processes including immune response, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis and inflammation. Due to participation of NF-kappa B signaling pathways in carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, and tumor resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, the factor is considered to be the ideal target for pharmacological treatment of cancer. Th e paper presents a literature review of the RSCI, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Chemical Abstracts NCCN databases and other open access data. The carcinogenesis inhibitors were selected from all NF-κB inhibitors found. Inhibitors with antitumor activity of analytical interest include Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, cellular inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (c-IAP), proteasome inhibitors, and one inhibitor of NF-κB translocation to the nucleus. Th e authors analyzed products of diff erent development stages with recorded antitumor activity to varying degrees. NF-κB inhibitors are promising drug candidates, but since NF-κB is involved in most biological processes and the broad spectrum of action can cause side eff ects, the selective action of these compounds is to be explored.

Abstract 638: EPB-53 prevents NASH-HCC transition via regulation of SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO signaling and immune modulation in a murine model

Abstract Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a broad spectrum of disorders, ranging from non-progressive bland steatosis to non-alcoholic hepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and malignant transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) exerts a key role in lipid homeostasis and play a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and NASH. Small molecules like EPB-53 that are activators of heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI) of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) kinase have been synthesized to induce FGF21. Previous study has shown that oral administration of EPB-53 alleviates NASH through increased FGF21 to prevent hepatic steatosis. However, it is unknown whether EPB-53 can prevent NASH-HCC transition. Aim: To investigate the effect of EPB-53 on NASH-HCC transition and the therapeutic mechanism, focusing on the lipid metabolic reprogramming and tumor immune microenvironment (TIM). Methods: NASH-HCC transition model was established in two-week-old male FGF21 knockout (KO) mice and wild type controls (C57BL/6J mice) by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) administration at 40 mg/kg body weight (i.p.). Four weeks after DEN administration, the mice were fed with western-style high fat diet (WSHFD, 60% kcal% fat and 19% kcal% fructose) for 3 months, and gavaged daily with either vehicle, 2% w/v, (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin or EPB-53 (300 mg/kg/day) in vehicle for 4 weeks before sacrifice. The tumor incidence, lipid metabolism, and carcinogenesis signaling pathways were determined. Mass cytometry (CyTOF) analysis was performed to detect the cell subpopulations in the NASH microenvironment and NASH-HCC TIM. Results: Severe NASH with tumor cell detection, aberrant lipid components and HIPPO-YAP signaling were found in liver tissues of FGF21-KO mice compared to the WT controls. The upregulated sphingosine Kinase 1 (SPHK1)/sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in liver subsequently induced YAP dephosphorylation and nuclear localization. EPB-53 treatment prevents NASH-HCC transition evident as decreased HCC incidence in WT mice but not in FGFKO mice. Continuously increased FGF21 production in WT mice contributes to down-regulation of SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO-YAP signaling. Interestingly, EPB-53 treatment can alleviate the compromised function of macrophages/Kupffer cells which render a TIM in the NASH-HCC mice. Conclusion: 1) Lack of FGF21 played a key role in lipid metabolic disorder and SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO signaling to promote NASH-HCC transition; 2) Lack of FGF21 rendered a TIM in NASH liver contributing to the NASH-HCC transition; 3) EPB-53 treatment can not only alleviate NASH, but also prevent NASH-HCC transition via lipid metabolic reprogramming, down-regulation of the SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO axis, and modulation of TIM. Citation Format: Min Tan, Eugenia Pujol, Santiago Vazquez, Jingwen Zhang, Jun Yan, Robert C. Martin, Manuel Vazquez-Carrera, Yan Li. EPB-53 prevents NASH-HCC transition via regulation of SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO signaling and immune modulation in a murine model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 638.

Functional and embedding feature analysis for pan-cancer classification.

With the increasing number of people suffering from cancer, this illness has become a major health problem worldwide. Exploring the biological functions and signaling pathways of carcinogenesis is essential for cancer detection and research. In this study, a mutation dataset for eleven cancer types was first obtained from a web-based resource called cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics, followed by extracting 21,049 features from three aspects: relationship to GO and KEGG (enrichment features), mutated genes learned by word2vec (text features), and protein-protein interaction network analyzed by node2vec (network features). Irrelevant features were then excluded using the Boruta feature filtering method, and the retained relevant features were ranked by four feature selection methods (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, minimum redundancy maximum relevance, Monte Carlo feature selection and light gradient boosting machine) to generate four feature-ranked lists. Incremental feature selection was used to determine the optimal number of features based on these feature lists to build the optimal classifiers and derive interpretable classification rules. The results of four feature-ranking methods were integrated to identify key functional pathways, such as olfactory transduction (hsa04740) and colorectal cancer (hsa05210), and the roles of these functional pathways in cancers were discussed in reference to literature. Overall, this machine learning-based study revealed the altered biological functions of cancers and provided a reference for the mechanisms of different cancers.

Dual role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Unfolded Protein Response Signaling Pathway in Carcinogenesis

Dual role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Unfolded Protein Response Signaling Pathway in Carcinogenesis

Molecular genetic aspects of prostate cancer radioresistance

Radioresistance of prostate cancer is a complex therapeutic problem. Biochemical recurrence after radiation therapy occurs in 22–69% of patients with prostate cancer. Nearly half of these patients progress to a clinical relapse within 15 years, and a third progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer. This review analyzes literature data on radioresistance mechanisms in prostate cancer cells. We searched for literature published in eLibrary, PubMed, and Scopus databases by key words: prostate cancer, radioresistance, markers. In total, 568 foreign and 178 national articles published between 1975 and 2020 were found. Of these publications, 77 articles were selected (published in 2001–2020), which reveal the molecular basis of tumor radioresistance.Modern understanding of the origin of radioresistant cancer cells focuses on processes leading to enhanced DNA repair, activation of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, and a decrease in the level of endogenous and exogenous reactive oxygen species. The state of a tumor microenvironment, autophagy, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition also play an important role in radioresistance. Currently, the mechanisms of resistance to radiation therapy are explained by the existence of tumor stem cells, which provide genetic heterogeneity and activation of carcinogenesis signaling pathways. The tumor can also be protected from radiation by a hypoxic microenvironment. Since cancer stem cells can acquire plasticity in response to radiation therapy, search for markers of radioresistance for screening and identification of radioresistant prostate cancer is relevant.

Genome-Wide Expression Difference of MicroRNAs in Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Distinct expression of the miRNAs has rarely been explored in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of skin, and the regulatory role of miRNAs in BCC development remains quite opaque. Here, we collected control tissues from adjacent noncancerous skin (n = 15; control group) and tissues at tumor centers from patients with cheek BCC (n = 15; BCC group) using punch biopsies. After six small RNA sequencing- (sRNA-seq-) based miRNA expression profiles were generated for both BCC and controls, including three biological replicates, we conducted comparative analysis on the sRNA-seq dataset, discovering 181 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) out of the 1,873 miRNAs in BCCs. In order to validate the sRNA-seq data, expression of 15 randomly selected DEMs was measured using the TaqMan probe-based quantitative real-time PCR. Functional analysis of predicted target genes of DEMs in BCCs shows that these miRNAs are primarily involved in various types of cancers, immune response, epithelial growth, and morphogenesis, as well as energy production and metabolism, indicating that BCC development is caused, at least in part, by changes in miRNA regulation for biological and disease processes. In particular, the “basal cell carcinoma pathways” were found to be enriched by predicted DEM targets, and regulatory relationships between DEMs and their targeted genes in this pathway were further uncovered. These results revealed the association between BCCs and abundant miRNA molecules that regulate target genes, functional modules, and signaling pathways in carcinogenesis.

Tooth agenesis: What do we know and is there a connection to cancer?

Like all developmental processes, odontogenesis is highly complex and dynamically regulated, with hundreds of genes co-expressed in reciprocal networks. Tooth agenesis (missing one or more/all teeth) is a common human craniofacial anomaly and may be caused by genetic variations and/or environmental factors. Variants in PAX9, MSX1, AXIN2, EDA, EDAR, and WNT10A genes are associated with tooth agenesis. Currently, variants in ATF1, DUSP10, CASC8, IRF6, KDF1, GREM2, LTBP3, and components and regulators of WNT signaling WNT10B, LRP6, DKK, and KREMEN1 are at the forefront of interest. Due to the interconnectedness of the signaling pathways of carcinogenesis and odontogenesis, tooth agenesis could be a suitable marker for early detection of cancer predisposition. Variants in genes associated with tooth agenesis could serve as prognostic or therapeutic targets in cancer. This review aims to summarize existing knowledge of development and clinical genetics of teeth. Concurrently, the review proposes possible approaches for future research in this area, with particular attention to roles in monitoring, early diagnosis and therapy of tumors associated with defective tooth development.

Forkhead box M1 over-expression and dachshund homolog 1 down-regulation as novel biomarkers for progression of endometrial carcinoma in Egyptian patients.

IntroductionForkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is considered as a novel anti-cancer target, because it has many essential functions such as mitosis regulation, cell cycle transition, and other carcinogenesis signaling pathways. Dachshund homolog 1 (DACH1) is a member of the Sno/Ski co-repressor family.Material and methodsExpression of DACH1 has been detected in many cancers. Patients and pathologic specimens: 50 patients with endometrial cancer (EC) were included in the study: ten specimens of normal endometrium and twenty specimens of endometrial hyperplasia. All samples underwent processing to investigate FOXM1 and DACH1 expression using immunohistochemistry.ResultsFOXM1 expression was detected in EC tissues more than normal endometrium and endometrial hyperplasia tissues (p = 0.001) and 0.01. Increased FOXM1 expression was positively associated with larger tumor size (p = 0.002), high grade (p = 0.004), myometrial invasion, presence of lymph node metastases, higher Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (p < 0.001), and worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. The expression of DACH1 was lower in EC cells than normal endometrium and endometrial hyperplasia tissues (p = 0.071) and 0.252. Low DACH1 expression was associated with high grade (p = 0.001), presence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.49), higher FIGO stage (p = 0.022), and unfavorable PFS and OS rates (p = 0.037). We found an inverse association between expression of FOXM1 and DACH1 in EC tissues and in non-neoplastic endometrial tissues (p = 0.007).ConclusionsFOXM1 over-expression and DACH1 down-regulation in EC were related to poor clinical and pathological parameters and unfavorable prognosis.

Systemic treatment of advanced or recurrent biliary tract cancer.

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a disease entity comprising diverse epithelial tumors with features of cholangiocyte differentiation, and it includes cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and gallbladder cancer (GBC). Depending on its anatomical location, cholangiocarcinoma is categorized as intrahepatic (iCCA), perihilar (pCCA), or distal (dCCA). Nearly two-thirds of patients with biliary tract cancer present with advanced disease at diagnosis and in 68-86% of resections the cancer eventually recurs either locoregionally or at a distance. Chemotherapy is the first-line therapy for advanced or recurrent BTC. With the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-guided molecular targeted therapy, more options are available for treatment of advanced BTC. Chemotherapy, and especially a triplet regimen based on gemcitabine/cisplatin/nab-paclitaxel, has had the most significant effect, and fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan plus oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) combined with bevacizumab is promising. Molecular targeted therapy should be based on genome sequencing and appears essential to precision medicine. Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) inhibitors are promising emerging targeted therapies mainly for iCCA. Other targeted therapies such as anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) therapies, MEK inhibitors, BRAF inhibitors, and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors had tentatively displayed efficacy. Further evaluations of combination strategies in particular are needed. An immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) alone is less efficacious, but an ICI in addition to chemotherapy or radiotherapy has resulted in a response according to many case series. However, ICIs are still being evaluated in several ongoing studies. Combination therapies have garnered attention because of interactions between signaling pathways of carcinogenesis in BTC.

Abstract 2550: Lack of FGF21 accelerates NASH-HCC transition via up-regulation of hepatic SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO signaling in murine models

Abstract Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) encompasses a broad spectrum of disorders, ranging from non-progressive bland steatosis to non-alcoholic hepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and malignant transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Accumulating evidence indicates that lipid metabolic reprogramming mediates the transition from NASH to HCC, however the NASH related carcinogenesis and role of FGF21 played during NASH-HCC transition are largely unknown. while fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) exerts a key role in lipid homeostasis and play a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Aim: To investigate the effect of FGF21 on lipid metabolic reprogramming during the NASH-HCC carcinogenetic transformation and to reveal the potential NASH-HCC mechanism. Methods: Three NASH-HCC transition models were established in FGF21 knockout (KO) mice, with treatment of DEN at aged 2 weeks at 40 mg/kg body weight (i.p.) and feeding, 1) high fat diet (HFD, 60% kcal% fat); 2) western-style high fat diet (WSHFD, 60% kcal% fat and 19% kcal% fructose); and 3) methionine/choline-deficient diet (MCD). The cellular and molecular events, in turn, de novo lipogenesis, sphingolipid metabolism, white adipose tissue (WAT) lipolysis, insulin resistance (IR), release of free fatty acids (FFAs), metabolites of gut flora, carcinogenesis signaling pathways and NASH-HCC initiation, were determined both in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro studies were performed using shRNA-FGF21 knock down hepatocyte and HCC cell lines. Results: Aberrant lipid components, gut microbiome, hepatic Hippo-YAP and NF-kB signaling were found consistently in the NASH-HCC tissues from FGF21-KO mice with 3 diets treatments, compared to the wild type controls. Increased de novo lipogenesis, FFAs overflow to the liver, and inflammation agents from the metabolites of gut flora upregulated the hepatic sphingosine Kinase 1 (SPHK1) expression and its product sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), subsequently induced YAP dephosphorylation and nuclear localization. rhFGF21 or SPHK1 inhibitor (SKI-II) treatment significantly decreased the tumor volumes via alleviation of FFAs and S1P productions. Use of curcumin to modulate gut microbiota resulted in suppression of NASH-HCC growth in mice. Conclusion: 1) lack of FGF21 played a key role in hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in liver; 2) lack of FGF21 accelerated the SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO signaling promoted NASH-HCC transition; 3) administration of rhFGF21 not only attenuates NASH, but also prevents HCC carcinogenetic transformation via down-regulation of the SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO axis. This work was supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the NIGMS of the National Institutes of Health under grant number P20GM113226. Key Words: Fibroblast growth factor 21; Steatohepatities; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Free fatty acid; Sphingolipid Citation Format: Xiaoju Shi, Robert C. Martin, Youxi Yu, Yujia Chen, Xingtong Wang, Guangyi Wang, Guoyue Lv, Ping Zhang, Yan Li. Lack of FGF21 accelerates NASH-HCC transition via up-regulation of hepatic SPHK1-S1P-HIPPO signaling in murine models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2550.

High Frequency of PIK3CA Mutations in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinomas of Japanese Patients.

The frequency of KRAS/BRAF mutations associated with low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSC)/serous borderline tumors (SBTs) in Japan is unknown. We aimed to identify genetic variations in KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and ERBB2 in LGSC/SBT/serous cystadenomas (SCAs) in a Japanese population. We performed a mutation analysis (by Sanger sequencing) of 33 cases of LGSC/SBT/SCA and 4 cases of LGSC with synchronous SBTs using microdissected paraffin-embedded sections. Immunohistochemistry of p53 and ARID1A was also performed. The frequency of oncogenic mutations in PIK3CA was 60.0% (6/10) in LGSCs, 63.6% (7/11) in SBTs, and 8.3% (1/12) in SCAs. All cases harbored wild-type KRAS. The frequency of BRAF mutations was 20.0% (2/10) in LGSCs, whereas all SBTs and SCAs harbored the wild-type allele. The frequency of ERBB2 mutations was 30.0% (3/10) in LGSCs, 0.0% (0/11) in SBTs, and 16.7% (2/12) in SCAs. ARID1A staining was positive in all cases. p53 staining was positive in 0% (0/10) LGSCs, 9.1% (1/11) SBTs, and 0.0% (0/12) SCAs. One LGSC case had two PIK3CA mutations (G1633A and G3149A) in both LGSC and SBT lesions, but a BRAF mutation was detected only in an LGSC lesion. These results suggest that, compared with the values in Western populations (16–54%), the KRAS mutation frequency in LGSCs/SBTs is lower and that of PIK3CA mutations in LGSCs/SBTs is much higher in Japanese populations. Therefore, the main carcinogenesis signaling pathways may be different between Japanese and Western LGSCs. Molecular therapies targeting the PIK3CA/AKT pathway may be effective in LGSCs in Japan.

Identification of Potential Therapeutic Gene Markers in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Bioinformatics Analysis.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common cancer found in the nasopharynx with high metastatic and invasive nature. Increasing evidences have identified the critical role of gene therapy in NPC treatment. Hence, this study was designed to identify specific gene markers that affected NPC progression through gene expression profile analysis. NPC‐related gene expression data set gene set enrichment (GSE)53819 were retrieved and analyzed to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by determination of their expression in noncancerous tissues and NPC specimens. Next, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted on DEGs to obtain tumor‐associated gene modules. Genes in those modules were intersected with DEGs for gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analysis. Then protein‐protein interaction network of tumor‐associated genes was constructed to select genes most closely linked to NPC. Afterward, expression of chromosome 9 open reading frame 24 (c9orf24), primary ciliary dyskinesia protein 1 (PCDP1), and leucine‐rich repeat‐containing protein 46 (LRRC46) was detected in GSE53819 and further verified in GSE12452 and GSE64634. Differential analysis on GSE53819 found that 2,173 genes were aberrantly expressed in NPC, among which 917 genes are upregulated and 1,256 genes are downregulated. WGCNA showed that genes were enriched in 17 modules and 727 genes exhibited ectopic expression in NPC and enriched in cytokine‐cytokine receptor interaction, cytochrome P450, and chemical carcinogenesis signaling pathways, among which c9orf24, PCDP1, and LRRC46 were poorly expressed in NPC. Therefore, c9orf24, PCDP1, and LRRC46 might serve as prominent diagnostic markers for NPC, which presents new insights for NPC therapy.

Dual role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Unfolded Protein Response Signaling Pathway in Carcinogenesis.

Cancer constitutes a grave problem nowadays in view of the fact that it has become one of the main causes of death worldwide. Poor clinical prognosis is presumably due to cancer cells metabolism as tumor microenvironment is affected by oxidative stress. This event triggers adequate cellular response and thereby creates appropriate conditions for further cancer progression. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurs when the balance between an ability of the ER to fold and transfer proteins and the degradation of the misfolded ones become distorted. Since ER is an organelle relatively sensitive to oxidative damage, aforementioned conditions swiftly cause the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathway. The output of the UPR, depending on numerous factors, may vary and switch between the pro-survival and the pro-apoptotic branch, and hence it displays opposing effects in deciding the fate of the cancer cell. The role of UPR-related proteins in tumorigenesis, such as binding the immunoglobulin protein (BiP) and inositol-requiring enzyme-1α (IRE1α), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) or the protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), has already been specifically described so far. Nevertheless, due to the paradoxical outcomes of the UPR activation as well as gaps in current knowledge, it still needs to be further investigated. Herein we would like to elicit the actual link between neoplastic diseases and the UPR signaling pathway, considering its major branches and discussing its potential use in the development of a novel, anti-cancer, targeted therapy.

Estrogen receptors participate in carcinogenesis signaling pathways by directly regulating NOD-like receptors

Increasing evidence indicates that the NOD-like receptors (NLRs) family may act as critical back-up defenses and provide synergistic responses when confronted with persistent danger. However, the precise regulatory mechanism of NLRs and the contribution of NLRs to cancer are still unknown. In our previous study, we found that estrogen receptors (ERs) have a close connection with NLRs in the inflammatory response. Here, ERs are first identified as NLRs transcription regulation factors, both regulate NLRs expression and promote inflammasome co-localization. Furthermore, we identified that NLRP3 was differentially expressed in colon normal and cancer cells, selective ERα antagonist could significantly decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, suppress proliferation and promote apoptosis by inhibited NLRP3 expression and inflammasome activity. In short, the research demonstrates that ERs participate in the NLR-associated signaling pathway in cancer by directly regulating NLRs. Our results provide novel insight into ERs as therapeutic targets in NLR-related inflammation and cancer.

Positive and Negative Effects of TGF-β Signaling Pathways in Carcinogenesis

Positive and Negative Effects of TGF-β Signaling Pathways in Carcinogenesis

Thymoquinone Inhibits the Migration and Invasive Characteristics of Cervical Cancer Cells SiHa and CaSki In Vitro by Targeting Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Associated Transcription Factors Twist1 and Zeb1.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignant tumors worldwide, for which chemotherapeutic strategies are limited due to their non-specific cytotoxicity and drug resistance. The natural product thymoquinone (TQ) has been reported to target a vast number of signaling pathways in carcinogenesis in different cancers, and hence is regarded as a promising anticancer molecule. Inhibition of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulators is an important approach in anticancer research. In this study, TQ was used to treat the cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and CaSki to investigate its effects on EMT-regulatory proteins and cancer metastasis. Our results showed that TQ has time-dependent and dose-dependent cytotoxic effects, and it also inhibits the migration and invasion processes in different cervical cancer cells. At the molecular level, TQ treatment inhibited the expression of Twist1, Zeb1 expression, and increased E-Cadherin expression. Luciferase reporter assay showed that TQ decreases the Twist1 and Zeb1 promoter activities respectively, indicating that Twist1 and Zeb1 might be the direct target of TQ. TQ also increased cellular apoptosis in some extent, but apoptotic genes/proteins we tested were not significant affected. We conclude that TQ inhibits the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells, probably via Twist1/E-Cadherin/EMT or/and Zeb1/E-Cadherin/EMT, among other signaling pathways.

The IGF-I/IGF-IR Signaling System and Pancreatic Cancer

Ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most common and severely aggressive forms of pancreatic cancer. IGF-I is one of the factors that ensures survival and proliferation of tumor cells, and its increased concentration inside the tumor is a characteristic sign of many malignant formations. The goal of this minireview is to provide an up-to-date insight on the roles of the IGF-I/IGF-IR signaling pathway in carcinogenesis and potential opportunities for pharmacologic targeting of IGF-I/IGF-IR in pancreatic tumors.

Development of Anti-Cancer Stem Cells as Theranostic Agents in the Treatment of Different Cancer Types: An Update

Various unprecedented anti-tumor potential targets that robustly target cancer cells while sparing normal cells have been produced by biomedical research in cancer therapeutic intervention for interrupting disease progression and their cure. Stem cells characterize an accessible cell source for novel cell based clinical therapies by inhibiting tumor progression signalling pathways. They carry distinctive characteristics of isolation and migration to tissue inflammation site, inherited modifiability and protein expression. Stem cells are also used in immune-reconstitution and tissue regeneration. Implication of different types of stem cells as an attractive candidate for targeted delivery of anti-neoplastic agents has emerged as a promising field in anticancer therapy. Mutual interaction between cancer cells and stem cells results in effective and safer clinical therapy for tumors. Keeping in view, this review highlights the potential role of stem cells in the progression of tumor metastasis and also summarizes the role of different signaling pathways in carcinogenesis and their involvement in disease treatment. It also focuses on the current advances in stem cells practice in therapeutics of cancer.

Roles of Signaling Pathways in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process though which an epithelial phenotype can be converted into a phenotype of mesenchymal cells. Under physiological conditions EMT is important for embryogenesis, organ development, wound repair and tissue remodeling. However, EMT may also be activated under pathologic conditions, especially in carcinogenesis and metastatic progression. Major signaling pathways involved in EMT include transforming growth factor β(TGF-β), Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog and other signaling pathways. These pathways are related to several transcription factors, including Twist, Smads and zinc finger proteins snail and slug. These interact with each other to provide crosstalk between the relevant signaling pathways. This review lays emphasis on studying the relationship between EMT and signaling pathways in carcinogenesis and metastatic progression.

Abstract P207: Role of (Pro)Renin Receptor in the Pathogenesis of Colon Cancer

(Pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) is a component of the Wnt receptor complex (Science, 2010). We have recently demonstrated that (P)RR plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma via the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (Shibayama et al. Sci Rep. 2015). Since the patients with colon cancer often show aberrantly activated Wnt/β-catenin-dependent signaling pathway by the mutations of its components, we investigated the possible role of (P)RR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in carcinogenesis of colon cancer. Real-time PCR was used for measuring mRNA levels of (P)RR. Protein levels of (P)RR was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Activated β-catenin levels were determined by Western blotting. Cell proliferative ability was evaluated by counting the cell number in cultured colon cancer cell lines, HCT116 and DLD-1 cells. As compared to normal colon tissues (n=6), mRNA and protein levels of (P)RR were increased by 2.6- and 2.2-fold, respectively, in colon cancer tissues (n=9), which were associated with increased activated β-catenin levels (by 2.8-fold, P&lt;0.05). However, plasma soluble (P)RR levels were not changed in patients with colon cancer (n=9). (P)RR and activated β-catenin levels were also increased in HCT116 (by 2.2- and 2.7-fold, n=5, respectively) and DLD-1 cells (by 1.9- and 2.8-fold, n=5, respectively). In these cells, inhibiting (P)RR with an siRNA attenuated the activity of β-catenin and reduced the proliferative abilities (n=5, P&lt;0.05, respectively). These data suggest that (P)RR contributes to the tumorigenesis of colon cancer through the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.