Targeting STAT3 with SH-4-54 suppresses stemness and chemoresistance in cancer stem-like cells derived from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Over the years,the numbers of treatment options for colorectal cancer(CRC)have increased,leading to notable improvements in the overall survival of CRC patients.Although therapy may initially yield positive results,the development of drug resistance can result in treatment failure and cancer recurrence.This resistance is often attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells(CSCs).These CSCs not only contribute to therapeutic resistance but also play crucial roles in the initiation and development of tumor metastasis.AIM To investigate the antitumor effects of SH-4-54,which are mediated by targeting CSCs relative to treatment outcomes.METHODS CSCs were enriched by culturing CRC cells in serum-free medium.Hallmarks of stemness and IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling were detected by Western blotting.Indicators of CSC malignancy,including proliferation,invasion,and tumor formation,were measured.RESULTS In this study,we employed SH-4-54,which exhibits anticancer activity in solid tumors through targeting the SH2 domain of both the signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)3 and the STAT5,and evaluated its effects on stemness and chemoresistance in colorectal CSCs.As expected,SH-4-54 treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3(p-STAT3)and decreased the percentage of ALDH1A1-positive CRC cells.The addition of SH-4-54 dissociated colorectal spheroids and decreased the expression of stemness markers,including ALDH1A1,CD44 and Nanog.SH-4-54 treatment decreased IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling by inhibiting p-STAT3 and thus inhibited spheroid formation by SW480 and LoVo cells.Moreover,SH-4-54 treatment inhibited indicators of malignancy,including cell proliferation,invasion,and tumor formation,in CSCs in vitro and in vivo.Notably,SH-4-54 treatment significantly increased chemosensitivity to oxaplatin.CONCLUSION Taken together,these results indicate that SH-4-54 is a promising molecule that exerts antitumor effects on colorectal CSCs by inhibiting STAT3 signaling.

Small cell lung cancer with peripheral neuropathy as the first symptom:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)is the most malignant type of lung cancer.Even in the latent period and early stage of the tumor,SCLC is prone to produce distant metastases with complex and diverse clinical manifestations.SCLC is most closely related to paraneoplastic syndrome,and some cases present as paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy(PPN).PPN in SCLC appears early,lacks specificity,and often occurs before diagnosis of the primary tumor.It is easy to be misdiagnosed as a primary disease of the nervous system,leading to missed diagnosis and delayed diagnosis and treatment.CASE SUMMARY This paper reports two cases of SCLC with limb weakness as the first symptom.The first symptoms of one patient were rash,limb weakness,and abnormal electromyography.The patient was repeatedly referred to the hospital for limb weakness and rash for>1 year,during which time,treatment with hormones and immunosuppressants did not lead to significant improvement,and the condition gradually aggravated.The patient was later diagnosed with SCLC,and the dyskinesia did not worsen as the dermatomyositis improved after antineoplastic and hormone therapy.The second case presented with limb numbness and weakness as the first symptom,but the patient did not pay attention to it.Later,the patient was diagnosed with SCLC after facial edema caused by tumor thrombus invading the vein.However,he was diagnosed with extensive SCLC and died 1 year after diagnosis.CONCLUSION The two cases had PPN and abnormal electromyography,highlighting its correlation with early clinical indicators of SCLC.

Suppressive effects of exercise-conditioned serum on cancer cells:A narrative review of the influence of exercise mode,volume,and intensity

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,and the incidence is increasing,highlighting the need for effective strategies to treat this disease.Exercise has emerged as fundamental therapeutic medicine in the management of cancer,associated with a lower risk of recur-rence and increased survival.Several avenues of research demonstrate reduction in growth,proliferation,and increased apoptosis of cancer cells,including breast,prostate,colorectal,and lung cancer,when cultured by serum collected after exercise in vitro(i.e.,the cultivation of cancer cell lines in an experimental setting,which simplifies the biological system and provides mechanistic insight into cell responses).The underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced cancer suppressive effects may be attributed to the alteration in circulating factors,such as skeletal muscle-induced cytokines(i.e.,myokines)and hormones.However,exercise-induced tumor suppressive effects and detailed information about training interventions are not well investigated,constraining more precise application of exercise medicine within clinical oncology.To date,it remains unclear what role different training modes(i.e.,resistance and aerobic training)as well as volume and intensity have on exercise-condi-tioned serum and its effects on cancer cells.Nevertheless,the available evidence is that a single bout of aerobic training at moderate to vigorous intensity has cancer suppressive effects,while for chronic training interventions,exercise volume appears to be an influential candidate driving cancer inhibitory effects regardless of training mode.Insights for future research investigating training modes,volume and intensity are provided to further our understanding of the effects of exercise-conditioned serum on cancer cells.

Effects of triggers of senescence and senolysis in murine pancreatic cancer cells

Background:The combination of senescence triggers with senolytic drugs is considered a promising new approach to cancer therapy.Here,we studied the efficacy of the genotoxic agent etoposide(Eto)and irradiation in inducing senescence of Panc02 pancreatic cancer cells,and the capability of the Bcl-2 inhibitor navitoclax(ABT-263;Nav)to trigger senolysis.Methods:Panc02 cells were treated with Eto or irradiated with 5–20 Gy before exposure to Nav.Cell survival,proliferation,and senescence were assessed by trypan blue staining,quantification of DNA synthesis,and staining of senescence-associatedβ-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)-positive cells,respectively.Levels of mRNA were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction,and protein expression was analyzed by immunoblotting.Panc02 cells were also grown as pancreatic tumors in mice,which were subsequently treated with Eto and Nav.Results:Eto and irradiation had an antiproliferative effect on Panc02 cells that was significantly or tendentially enhanced by Nav.In vivo,Eto and Nav together,but not Eto alone,significantly reduced the proportion of proliferating cells.The expression of the senescence markerγH2AX and tumor infiltration with T-cells were not affected by the treatment.In vitro,almost all Eto-exposed cells and a significant proportion of cells irradiated with 20 Gy were SA-β-Gal-positive.Application of Nav reduced the percentage of SA-β-Gal-positive cells after irradiation but not after pretreatment with Eto.In response to triggers of senescence,cultured Panc02 cells showed increased protein levels ofγH2AX and the autophagy marker LC3B-II,and higher mRNA levels of Cdkn1a,Mdm2,and PAI-1,while the effects of Nav were variable.Conclusions:In vitro and in vivo,the combination of senescence triggers with Nav inhibited tumor cell growth more effectively than the triggers alone.Our data also provide some evidence for senolytic effects of Nav in vitro.

A comparative in vitro study on the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on chemosensitivity to doxorubicin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Cancer frequently develops resistance to the majority of chemotherapy treatments.This study aimed to examine the synergistic cytotoxic and antitumor effects of SGLT2 inhibitors,specifically Canagliflozin(CAN),Dapagliflozin(DAP),Empagliflozin(EMP),and Doxorubicin(DOX),using in vitro experimentation.The precise combination of CAN+DOX has been found to greatly enhance the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin(DOX)in MCF-7 cells.Interestingly,it was shown that cancer cells exhibit an increased demand for glucose and ATP in order to support their growth.Notably,when these medications were combined with DOX,there was a considerable inhibition of glucose consumption,as well as reductions in intracellular ATP and lactate levels.Moreover,this effect was found to be dependent on the dosages of the drugs.In addition to effectively inhibiting the cell cycle,the combination of CAN+DOX induces substantial modifications in both cell cycle and apoptotic gene expression.This work represents the initial report on the beneficial impact of SGLT2 inhibitor medications,namely CAN,DAP,and EMP,on the responsiveness to the anticancer properties of DOX.The underlying molecular mechanisms potentially involve the suppression of the function of SGLT2.

Impact and mechanism study of dioscin on biological characteristics of colorectal cancer cells

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a considerable global health issue.Dioscin,a compound found in several medicinal plants,has shown potential anticancer effects.AIM To find the relationship between CRC cells(HCT116)and diosgenin and clarified their mechanisms of action.METHODS CRC cell line HCT116 was cultured by dividing cells into control and dioscin groups(dioscin+Jagged 1 group;Jagged 1 group,5μg/mL;and dioscin group,2.5μg/mL).The dioscin groups were given different concentrations of dioscin.Cell Counting Kit-8 was chosen for testing cell viability in different groups.Flow cytometry was established to undiscover the apoptosis rate of human liver cancer cell line 11.Real-time PCR as well as Western blot analyses were applied to reveal the expression levels of caspase-3,Notch,and other proteins.Transwell and scratch experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and invasion abilities.RESULTS This study indicated that dioscin restricted the growth of HCT116 cells,boosted cell apoptosis,and rose the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the expression of Caspase-3.Dioscin also inhibited physiological activities,for instance cell migration,and significantly reduced the expression levels of proteins for instance Notch1(P<0.05).Dioscin partially reversed the effects of Jagged 1.CONCLUSION Dioscin exerts a certain inhibitory effect on HCT116,and its mechanism of action may be linked,with the inhibition of the Notch1 signaling pathway.

The current role of dendritic cells in the progression and treatment of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Dendritic cells(DCs)constitute a heterogeneous group of antigen-presenting cells that are important for initiating and regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.As a crucial component of the immune system,DCs have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of CRC.DCs cross-present tumor-related antigens to activate T cells and trigger an antitumor immune response.However,the antitumor immune function of DCs is impaired and immune tolerance is promoted due to the presence of the tumor microenvironment.This review systematically elucidates the specific characteristics and functions of different DC subsets,as well as the role that DCs play in the immune response and tolerance within the CRC microenvironment.Moreover,how DCs contribute to the progression of CRC and potential therapies to enhance antitumor immunity on the basis of existing data are also discussed,which will provide new perspectives and approaches for immunotherapy in patients with CRC.

UBE2T mediates the stemness properties of breast cancer cells through the mTOR signaling pathway

Objectives:This study aimed to reveal the role and possible mechanism of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 2T(UBE2T)in the biological activities of breast cancer stem cells(BCSCs).Methods:The specific protein and gene expression were quantified by Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,the proportion of BCSCs was examined by flow cytometry,and the self-renewal and proliferation of BCSCs were verified by serial sphere formation and soft agar.Results:Increasing expression of UBE2T was drastically found in breast cancer than that in adjacent tissues.Furthermore,UBE2T overexpression significantly increased the proportion of BCSCs in breast cancer cells and promoted their self-renewal and proliferation.Silent UBE2T exhibited the opposite functions.UBE2T increased the levels of the mammalian target of rapamycin and the phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin.Mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)inhibitor rapamycin inhibited the function of UBE2T in BCSCs.Conclusion:UBE2T plays a role in BCSCs through mTOR pathway and may suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.

Multifaceted role of microRNAs in gastric cancer stem cells: Mechanisms and potential biomarkers

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)have received much attention in the past decade as potential key epigenomic regulators of tumors and cancer stem cells(CSCs).The abnormal expression of miRNAs is responsible for different phenotypes of gastric cancer stem cells(GCSCs).Some specific miRNAs could be used as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the identification of GCSCs.This review summarizes the coding process and biological functions of miRNAs and demon-strates their role and efficacy in gastric cancer(GC)metastasis,drug resistance,and apoptosis,especially in the regulatory mechanism of GCSCs.It shows that the overexpression of onco-miRNAs and silencing of tumor-suppressor miRNAs can play a role in promoting or inhibiting tumor metastasis,apart from the initial formation of GC.It also discusses the epigenetic regulation and potential clinical applications of miRNAs as well as the role of CSCs in the pathogenesis of GC.We believe that this review may help in designing novel therapeutic approaches for GC.

Effect of colorectal cancer stem cells on the development and metastasis of colorectal cancer

The relevant mechanism of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)is discussed,and the application prospects of TAMs in reversing the treatment tolerance of ICIs are discussed to provide a reference for related studies.As a class of drugs widely used in clinical tumor immunotherapy,ICIs can act on regulatory molecules on cells that play an inhibitory role-immune checkpoints-and kill tumors in the form of an immune response by activating a variety of immune cells in the immune system.The sensitivity of patients with different types of colorectal cancer to ICI treatment varies greatly.The phenotype and function of TAMs in the colorectal cancer microenvironment are closely related to the efficacy of ICIs.ICIs can regulate the phenotypic function of TAMs,and TAMs can also affect the tolerance of colorectal cancer to ICI therapy.TAMs play an important role in ICI resistance,and making full use of this target as a therapeutic strategy is expected to improve the immunotherapy efficacy and prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.

MGMT activated by Wnt pathway promotes cisplatin tolerance through inducing slow-cycling cells and nonhomologous end joining in colorectal cancer

Chemotherapy resistance plays a pivotal role in the prognosis and therapeutic failure of patients with colorectal cancer(CRC).Cisplatin(DDP)-resistant cells exhibit an inherent ability to evade the toxic chemotherapeutic drug effects which are characterized by the activation of slow-cycle programs and DNA repair.Among the elements that lead to DDP resistance,O^(6)-methylguanine(O^(6)-MG)-DNA-methyltransferase(MGMT),a DNA-repair enzyme,performs a quintessential role.In this study,we clarify the significant involvement of MGMT in conferring DDP resistance in CRC,elucidating the underlying mechanism of the regulatory actions of MGMT.A notable upregulation of MGMT in DDP-resistant cancer cells was found in our study,and MGMT repression amplifies the sensitivity of these cells to DDP treatment in vitro and in vivo.Conversely,in cancer cells,MGMT overexpression abolishes their sensitivity to DDP treatment.Mechanistically,the interaction between MGMT and cyclin dependent kinase 1(CDK1)inducing slow-cycling cells is attainted via the promotion of ubiquitination degradation of CDK1.Meanwhile,to achieve nonhomologous end joining,MGMT interacts with XRCC6 to resist chemotherapy drugs.Our transcriptome data from samples of 88 patients with CRC suggest that MGMT expression is co-related with the Wnt signaling pathway activation,and several Wnt inhibitors can repress drug-resistant cells.In summary,our results point out that MGMT is a potential therapeutic target and predictive marker of chemoresistance in CRC.

Immunomodulation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in colorectal cancer patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence has shown that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells(ADSCs)are an effective therapeutic approach for managing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19);however,further elucidation is required to determine their underlying immunomodulatory effect on the mRNA expression of T helper cell-related transcription factors(TFs)and cytokine release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).AIM To investigate the impact of ADSCs on the mRNA expression of TFs and cytokine release in PBMCs from colorectal cancer(CRC)patients with severe COVID-19(CRC^(+)patients).METHODS PBMCs from CRC^(+)patients(PBMCs-C+)and age-matched CRC patients(PBMCs-C)were stimulated and cultured in the presence/absence of ADSCs.The mRNA levels of T-box TF TBX21(T-bet),GATA binding protein 3(GATA-3),RAR-related orphan receptor C(RORC),and forkhead box P3(FoxP3)in the PBMCs were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.Culture supernatants were evaluated for levels of interferon gamma(IFN-γ),interleukin 4(IL-4),IL-17A,and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1)using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS Compared with PBMCs-C,PBMCs-C+exhibited higher mRNA levels of T-bet and RORC,and increased levels of IFN-γ and IL-17A.Additionally,a significant decrease in FoxP3 mRNA and TGF-β1,as well as an increase in Tbet/GATA-3,RORC/FoxP3,IFN-γ/IL-4,and IL-17A/TGF-β1 ratios were observed in PBMCs-C+.Furthermore,ADSCs significantly induced a functional regulatory T cell(Treg)subset,as evidenced by an increase in FoxP3 mRNA and TGF-β1 release levels.This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the mRNA levels of T-bet and RORC,release of IFN-γ and IL-17A,and T-bet/GATA-3,RORC/FoxP3,IFN-γ/IL-4,and IL-17A/TGF-β1 ratios,compared with the PBMCs-C+alone.CONCLUSION The present in vitro studies showed that ADSCs contributed to the immunosuppressive effects on PBMCs-C+,favoring Treg responses.Thus,ADSC-based cell therapy could be a beneficial approach for patients with severe COVID-19 who fail to respond to conventional therapies.

Interplay and therapeutic implications of colorectal cancer stem cells,tumor microenvironment,and gut microbiota

This article discusses the interplay between colorectal cancer(CRC)stem cells,tumor microenvironment(TME),and gut microbiota,emphasizing their dynamic roles in cancer progression and treatment resistance.It highlights the adaptability of CRC stem cells,the bidirectional influence of TME,and the multifaceted impact of gut microbiota on CRC.The manuscript proposes innovative therapeutic strategies focusing on these interactions,advocating for a shift towards personalized and ecosystem-targeted treatments in CRC.The conclusion underscores the importance of continued research in these areas for developing effective,personalized therapies.

Prostaglandin D2 regulation of autophagy affects stemness of gastric cancer stem cells

Objective:To explore the effect and mechanism of prostaglandins D2(PGD2)on the stemness of gastric cancer stem cells(GCSCs).Methods:7901-GCSCs were enriched by serum-free culture method;then the positivity rate of CD44,a stemness marker,was detected by flow cytometry in serum-free cultured 7901-GCSCs;the sphere-forming ability was detected by the sphere-forming assay after stimulation with different concentrations of PGD2(2.5,5,10)μg/mL,and the expression of stemness-related indicators(OCT4,CD44)and autophagyrelated proteins(LC3,Beclin-1)after PGD2 stimulation was detected by the western blot assay in different concentrations.The expression of stemness-related indexes(OCT4,CD44)and autophagy-related proteins(LC3,Beclin-1)were detected by Western blot assay after stimulation with different concentrations of PGD2.The expression of autophagy-related proteins after stimulation with different concentrations of CQ(2.5,5,10)μM was detected by Western blot experiment.The protein expression of autophagy-related proteins(LC3,Beclin-1)and stemness-related indexes(OCT4,CD44)was detected by Western blot experiment after PGD2 as well as PGD2+CQ treatment.Results:Flow cytometry results showed that the expression of CD44 positivity was increased in serum-free cultured 7901-GCSCs compared with gastric cancer cells SGC-7901(P<0.05),which fulfilled the needs of subsequent experiments.The results of stem cell spheroid formation assay showed that the spheroid formation ability of 7901-GCSCs in the PGD2 group was significantly weakened compared with that of the DMSO group(P<0.05).Western blot results showed that the protein expression of stemness-related indexes(OCT4,CD44)was down-regulated in the 7901-GCSCs in the PGD2 group compared with that of the DMSO group(P<0.05),and the expression of autophagy-related proteins(LC3,Beclin-1)expression increased(P<0.05).Compared with the DMSO group,the expression of autophagy-related proteins(LC3,Beclin-1)was decreased in the CQ group(P<0.05).Western blot results also showed that the expression of cellular autophagy-related proteins and stemness-related indexes in the PGD2+CQ group was not significantly changed compared with that of the DMSO group(ns:the difference was not significant),suggesting that the CQ could block the effect of PGD2 on the expression of stemness markers in 7901-GCSCs.7901-GCSCs stemness inhibition.Conclusion:PGD2 may affect the stemness of 7901-GCSCs by regulating autophagy.

VX-509 attenuates the stemness characteristics of colorectal cancer stem-like cells by regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Nodal/Smad2/3 signaling

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer stem cells(CCSCs)are heterogeneous cells that can self-renew and undergo multidirectional differentiation in colorectal cancer(CRC)patients.CCSCs are generally accepted to be important sources of CRC and are responsible for the progression,metastasis,and therapeutic resistance of CRC.Therefore,targeting this specific subpopulation has been recognized as a promising strategy for overcoming CRC.AIM To investigate the effect of VX-509 on CCSCs and elucidate the underlying mechanism.METHODS CCSCs were enriched from CRC cell lines by in conditioned serum-free medium.Western blot,Aldefluor,transwell and tumorigenesis assays were performed to verify the phenotypic characteristics of the CCSCs.The anticancer efficacy of VX-509 was assessed in HCT116 CCSCs and HT29 CCSCs by performing cell viability analysis,colony formation,sphere formation,flow cytometry,and western blotting assessments in vitro and tumor growth,immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assessments in vivo.RESULTS Compared with parental cells,sphere cells derived from HCT116 and HT29 cells presented increased expression of stem cell transcription factors and stem cell markers and were more potent at promoting migration and tumori-genesis,demonstrating that the CRC sphere cells displayed CSC features.VX-509 inhibited the tumor malignant biological behavior of CRC-stem-like cells,as indicated by their proliferation,migration and clonality in vitro,and suppressed the tumor of CCSC-derived xenograft tumors in vivo.Besides,VX-509 suppressed the CSC character-istics of CRC-stem-like cells and inhibited the progression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)signaling in vitro.Nodal was identified as the regulatory factor of VX-509 on CRC stem-like cells through analyses of differen-tially expressed genes and CSC-related database information.VX-509 markedly downregulated the expression of Nodal and its downstream phosphorylated Smad2/3 to inhibit EMT progression.Moreover,VX-509 reversed the dedifferentiation of CCSCs and inhibited the progression of EMT induced by Nodal overexpression.CONCLUSION VX-509 prevents the EMT process in CCSCs by inhibiting the transcription and protein expression of Nodal,and inhibits the dedifferentiated self-renewal of CCSCs.

Effects of Quercetin Extracted from Flower Buds of Sophora japonica cv.jinhuai on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

[Objectives]To investigate the effects of quercetin extracted from flower buds of Sophora japonica cv.jinhuai on the proliferation,apoptosis and migration of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.[Methods]MTT assay,inverted microscope observation,hoechst33342 staining,flow cytometry(FCM)and wound healing assay were adopted to investigate the proliferation,morphological changes,apoptosis level and cell migration ability of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells,respectively.[Results]The morphological changes of cells in the treatment groups included gradually decreased number,reduced volume,vague cell contour,loose intercellular connection,uneven cytoplasm distribution and increased cell debris.With the increase of drug concentration,quercetin significantly inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells(P<0.05).The number of apoptotic bodies increased gradually.When the concentration reached 100μmol/L,a large number of nuclear fragments appeared,and the level of apoptosis was statistically different(P<0.05).The mobility and migration ability of cells showed a decreasing trend,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).[Conclusions]This study can provide experimental basis for clinical application of quercetin against breast cancer.

Action of circulating and infiltrating B cells in the immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer by single-cell sequencing analysis

BACKGROUND The complexity of the immune microenvironment has an impact on the treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.In this study,multi-omics and single-cell sequencing techniques were used to investigate the mechanism of action of circulating and infiltrating B cells in CRC.By revealing the heterogeneity and functional differences of B cells in cancer immunity,we aim to deepen our understanding of immune regulation and provide a scientific basis for the development of more effective cancer treatment strategies.AIM To explore the role of circulating and infiltrating B cell subsets in the immune microenvironment of CRC,explore the potential driving mechanism of B cell development,analyze the interaction between B cells and other immune cells in the immune microenvironment and the functions of communication molecules,and search for possible regulatory pathways to promote the anti-tumor effects of B cells.METHODS A total of 69 paracancer(normal),tumor and peripheral blood samples were collected from 23 patients with CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database(https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/).After the immune cells were sorted by multicolor flow cytometry,the single cell transcriptome and B cell receptor group library were sequenced using the 10X Genomics platform,and the data were analyzed using bioinformatics tools such as Seurat.The differences in the number and function of B cell infiltration between tumor and normal tissue,the interaction between B cell subsets and T cells and myeloid cell subsets,and the transcription factor regulatory network of B cell subsets were explored and analyzed.RESULTS Compared with normal tissue,the infiltrating number of CD20+B cell subsets in tumor tissue increased significantly.Among them,germinal center B cells(GCB)played the most prominent role,with positive clone expansion and heavy chain mutation level increasing,and the trend of differentiation into memory B cells increased.However,the number of plasma cells in the tumor microenvironment decreased significantly,and the plasma cells secreting IgA antibodies decreased most obviously.In addition,compared with the immune microenvironment of normal tissues,GCB cells in tumor tissues became more closely connected with other immune cells such as T cells,and communication molecules that positively regulate immune function were significantly enriched.CONCLUSION The role of GCB in CRC tumor microenvironment is greatly enhanced,and its affinity to tumor antigen is enhanced by its significantly increased heavy chain mutation level.Meanwhile,GCB has enhanced its association with immune cells in the microenvironment,which plays a positive anti-tumor effect.

Application of patient-derived tumor models in anticancer drug development and individualized medicine

Malignant tumor is the second leading cause of death due to its high incidence, lack of effective treatment and poor prognosis. The evaluation of anticancer drugs used to based on NCI-60 cell line models, but the limited heterogeneity and the divorce from clinical practice of models lead to extremely low success rate of novel anticancer drugs during clinical trials (less than 10%). In recent years, because of the high heterogeneity and human derived tumor matrix, patient-derived tumor models have been gradually applied to the preclinical evaluation of various antitumor drugs, which shows certain advantages in predicting the clinical efficacy of antitumor drugs. Optimize the drug combination through patient-derived tumor models to achieve individualized medicine has gradually become an indispensable strategy in clinical cancer therapy. The current review summarized the development of patient-derived tumor models, characterized the application, advantages and challenges of them in preclinical antitumor drug evaluation and clinical precise medicine, which will provide a scientific basis and novel insights for further basic research, drug development and clinical application.

Piperlongumine in combination with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of lung cancer cells

Objectives:EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor(EGFR-TKI)therapies such as erlotinib and gefitinib are approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).However,the high incidence of acquired resistance to these EGFR-TKIs may preclude their effectiveness.Piperlongumine(PPL),an extract from the long pepper fruit(Piper longum),has been shown to possess anticancer properties.The purpose of the study was to investigate piperlongumine as an anticancer agent and to study a combination treatment approach with EGFR-TKIs against lung cancer cells.Methods:Anticancer efficacy of PPL,erlotinib(ERL),gefitinib(GEF),and cisplatin(CIS)were investigated in H1299 and H1975 cell lines.Cells were treated with PPL,ERL,GEF,and CIS alone,and in combination,cell viability was determined after 72 h.The mechanism of PPL-induced cytotoxicity was investigated via reactive oxygen species(ROS)induction,and apoptosis induction using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and flow cytometry.The effect of treatment on EGFR-mediated oncogenic signaling was investigated by immunoblotting for mitogenic and apoptotic markers.Results:PPL exhibited a potent cytotoxic effect in H1299 and H1975 cells compared to ERL,GEF,and CIS.Combination treatments of PPL with GEF and ERL showed significant reductions in cancer cells compared to control in both cell lines,which were associated with apoptotic induction,but without significant ROS induction.Compared to control,PPL with GEF significantly increased apoptotic cell death in H1975as confirmed with flow cytometry.Treatment with PPL alone and in combination induced anti-mitogenic and apoptotic responses at the molecular level.Conclusion:PPL sensitized lung cancer cells to EGFR-TKI and induced potent cytotoxic effects at low concentrations.

Limonin inhibits the stemness of cancer stem-like cells derived from colorectal carcinoma cells potentially via blocking STAT3 signaling

BACKGROUND Limonin is one of the most abundant active ingredients of Tetradium ruticarpum.It exerts antitumor effects on several kinds of cancer cells.However,whether limonin exerts antitumor effects on colorectal cancer(CRC)cells and cancer stem-like cells(CSCs),a subpopulation responsible for a poor prognosis,is unclear.AIM To evaluate the effects of limonin on CSCs derived from CRC cells.METHODS CSCs were collected by culturing CRC cells in serum-free medium.The cytotoxicity of limonin against CSCs and parental cells(PCs)was determined by cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 assay.The effects of limonin on stemness were detected by measuring stemness hallmarks and sphere formation ability.RESULTS As expected,limonin exerted inhibitory effects on CRC cell behaviors,including cell proliferation,migration,invasion,colony formation and tumor formation in soft agar.A relatively low concentration of limonin decreased the expression stemness hallmarks,including Nanog andβ-catenin,the proportion of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1-positive CSCs,and the sphere formation rate,indicating that limonin inhibits stemness without presenting cytotoxicity.Additionally,limonin treatment inhibited invasion and tumor formation in soft agar and in nude mice.Moreover,limonin treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 at Y705 but not S727 and did not affect total STAT3 expression.Inhibition of Nanog andβ-catenin expression and sphere formation by limonin was obviously reversed by pretreatment with 2μmol/L colievlin.CONCLUSION Taken together,these results indicate that limonin is a promising compound that targets CSCs and could be used to combat CRC recurrence and metastasis.