Clostridium butyricum inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition of intestinal carcinogenesis through downregulating METTL3

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is related to gut microbiota dysbiosis, especially butyrate-producing bacteria reduction. Our previous study suggested that administration of Clostridium butyricum, a butyrate-producing bacterium, exerts a crucial effect against CRC, however the potential mechanism is not clear. We first found that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) showed a positive correlation with proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), DNA repair, metastasis, and invasion in a database analysis. The expression of METTL3 gradually increased from human normal colon tissue, to adenoma, and carcinoma, and was positively correlated with E-cadherin and CD34 levels. Overexpression of METTL3 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells and induced vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation. Clostridium butyricum could downregulate METTL3 expression in CRC cells and decrease the expression of vimentin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 to reduce EMT and VM formation. Clostridium butyricum alleviated the pro-oncogenic effect of METTL3 overexpressing plasmid in CRC cells. The anti-EMT effect on METTL3 reduction of C. butyricum could be blunted by knocking down G-protein coupled receptor 43. Moreover, C. butyricum prevented EMT and VM and inhibited tumor metastasis in nude mice. Accordingly, C. butyricum could inhibit EMT and VM formation of intestinal carcinogenesis through downregulating METTL3. These findings broaden our understanding of probiotics supplement in CRC prevention and treatment.     

Curcumin inhibits tumor proliferation induced by neutrophil elastase through the upregulation of α1-antitrypsin in lung cancer

Lung carcinogenesis is a complex process in an unregulated inflammatory environment. Curcumin has been extensively investigated as a multi-target anti-tumor and anti-inflammation compound. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel inflammation-related mechanism for curcumin-induced inhibition of lung tumor growth. We found that neutrophil elastase, an important regulator of inflammatory processes, directly triggered tumor cell proliferation in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, and curcumin could completely suppress the excess tumor proliferation induced by neutrophil elastase. α1-antitrypsin is synthesized by tumor cells and is the natural inhibitor of neutrophil elastase. We found that curcumin counteracted the decrease of α1-antitrypsin induced by neutrophil elastase by inducing the promoter activity of α1-antitrypsin and promoting its expression in A549 cells. The inhibition of neutrophil elastase-induced proliferation by curcumin was dependent on the PI3K/Akt pathway. Knockdown of α1-antitrypsin by siRNA further enhanced the tumor cell proliferation induced by neutrophil elastase and significantly blocked the anti-proliferation effect of curcumin against neutrophil elastase. Curcumin remarkably inhibited the primary tumor growth of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) in C57BL/6 mice. We further showed that curcumin upregulated the level of α1-antitrypsin in primary tumor tissue by promoting its local expression, and the protein level of neutrophil elastase in tumor tissue was obviously decreased in mice treated with curcumin. Overall, our results suggest that neutrophil elastase and α1-antitrypsin play important roles in modulating lung tumor proliferation in inflammatory microenvironment and curcumin inhibits neutrophil elastase-induced tumor proliferation via upregulating α1-antitrypsin expression in vitro and in vivo.     

Opposing effects of bortezomib-induced nuclear factor-κB inhibition on chemical lung carcinogenesis

Since recent evidence indicates a requirement for epithelial nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling in lung tumorigenesis, we investigated the impact of the NF-κB inhibitor bortezomib on lung tumor promotion and growth. We used an experimental model in which wild-type mice or mice expressing an NF-κB reporter received intraperitoneal urethane (1 g/kg) followed by twice weekly bortezomib (1 mg/kg) during distinct periods of tumor initiation/progression. Mice were serially assessed for lung NF-κB activation, inflammation and carcinogenesis. Short-term proteasome inhibition with bortezomib did not impact tumor formation but retarded the growth of established lung tumors in mice via effects on cell proliferation. In contrast, long-term treatment with bortezomib resulted in significantly increased lung tumor number and size. This tumor-promoting effect of prolonged bortezomib treatment was associated with perpetuation of urethane-induced inflammation and chronic upregulation of interleukin-1β and proinflammatory C-X-C motif chemokine ligands (CXCL) 1 and 2 in the lungs. In addition to airway epithelium, bortezomib inhibited NF-κB in pulmonary macrophages in vivo, presenting a possible mechanism of tumor amplification. In this regard, RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to bortezomib showed increased expression of interleukin-1β, CXCL1 and CXCL2. In conclusion, although short-term bortezomib may exert some beneficial effects, prolonged NF-κB inhibition accelerates chemical lung carcinogenesis by perpetuating carcinogen-induced inflammation. Inhibition of NF-κB in pulmonary macrophages appears to play an important role in this adverse process.     

A case of non–small cell lung cancer with danazol-dependent aplastic anemia induced by pembrolizumab

Programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibitor is an effective treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Although hematological immune-related adverse events induced by antiprogrammed-cell-death-protein-1 immunotherapy have been reported, they are rare, and there remain many unknowns. We report the case of a 77-year-old woman with non–small cell lung cancer and pembrolizumab-induced danazol-dependent aplastic anemia. Sixteen days after she received pembrolizumab with carboplatin and pemetrexed as first-line treatments, she developed pancytopenia, including severe thrombocytopenia (1 × 10⁹/L) with oral bleeding, epistaxis, and systemic purpura. We initially diagnosed immune-related thrombocytopenia based on an elevated level of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (922ng/10⁷ cells), but her thrombocytopenia was refractory to prednisolone (1mg/kg) and thrombopoietin receptor agonists. We eventually diagnosed aplastic anemia based on the findings of bone marrow hypoplasia. Treatment with cyclosporine and danazol 300mg (7.5mg/kg) was initiated. Eighteen days later, her blood cell count increased, and we reduced danazol to 100mg. Twenty-four days after the reduction of danazol, her platelet count dropped again to 14 × 10⁹/L; subsequently, increasing danazol improved her platelet count in a few days. Although aplastic anemia was recovered, she died owing to lung cancer progression. In this case, the thrombocytopenia was noticeable initially; however, pancytopenia appeared a month later, and we diagnosed her with aplastic anemia. Platelet counts improved rapidly with the use of danazol. No effective treatment has yet been established for aplastic anemia induced by antiprogrammed-cell-death-protein-1 immunotherapy, but our case suggests that danazol is an effective therapy.     

The role of stromal fibroblasts in lung carcinogenesis: A target for chemoprevention?

The tumour microenvironment plays an essential role in the development and spread of cancers. Tumour cells interact with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), embedded within which, are a variety of non‐cancer cells including cells of the vasculature, immune system and fibroblasts. The essential role of fibroblasts in the cultivation and maintenance of an environment in which tumour cells are able to maintain their aggressive phenotypic traits is becoming increasingly well documented. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts are able to secrete a vast array of ECM‐modulating factors, meaning that they have potential for a functional role in every step of the carcinogenic process. In particular, they are likely to have a role in early tumour‐initiating inflammatory events, and so may provide a potential target for chemopreventive intervention. This review summarises the known interactions between lung tumour cells and surrounding reactive fibroblasts, highlighting the need to further investigate cancer‐associated fibroblasts as therapeutic targets in lung cancer chemoprevention strategies.     

Management of aromatase inhibitor–induced arthralgia

Aromatase inhibitors (ais) are commonly used as adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive early breast cancer. With both steroidal and nonsteroidal ais, ai-induced arthralgia is frequently observed. The mechanism of ai-induced arthralgia remains unknown, and the data available from clinical trails using ais are limited. We review the pertinent information from a clinical perspective, including an algorithm to treat ai-induced arthralgia.     

Hsp27 overexpression inhibits doxorubicin–induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

Previously we demonstrated that heat shock protein 27 (hsp27) overexpression confers resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin in MDA–MB–231 breast cancer cells. Since induction of apoptosis is one underlying mechanism of chemotherapeutic drug action, we investigated the effect of hsp27 overexpression on doxorubicin–induced apoptosis, finding that hsp27 protects MDA–MB–231 cells from apoptosis. We also examined expression of the doxorubicin target, topoisomerase II (topo II), in control and hsp27–overexpressing stable transfectants, as topo II expression is important for both drug sensitivity and the initiation of apoptosis by doxorubicin. The relative levels of both topo II and were higher in the controls than the hsp27–overexpressing clones, suggesting that the apoptotic protective effect of hsp27 overexpression in MDA–MB–231 cells is associated with altered topo II expression.abstract     

Protein kinase C δ is a downstream effector of oncogenic K-ras in lung tumors

Oncogenic activation of K-ras occurs commonly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but strategies to therapeutically target this pathway have been challenging to develop. Information about downstream effectors of K-ras remains incomplete, and tractable targets are yet to be defined. In this study, we investigated the role of protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) in K-ras-dependent lung tumorigenesis by using a mouse carcinogen model and human NSCLC cells. The incidence of urethane-induced lung tumors was decreased by 69% in PKCδ-deficient knockout (δKO) mice compared with wild-type (δWT) mice. δKO tumors are smaller and showed reduced proliferation. DNA sequencing indicated that all δWT tumors had activating mutations in KRAS, whereas only 69% of δKO tumors did, suggesting that PKCδ acts as a tumor promoter downstream of oncogenic K-ras while acting as a tumor suppressor in other oncogenic contexts. Similar results were obtained in a panel of NSCLC cell lines with oncogenic K-ras but which differ in their dependence on K-ras for survival. RNA interference-mediated attenuation of PKCδ inhibited anchorage-independent growth, invasion, migration, and tumorigenesis in K-ras-dependent cells. These effects were associated with suppression of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation. In contrast, PKCδ attenuation enhanced anchorage-independent growth, invasion, and migration in NSCLC cells that were either K-ras-independent or that had WT KRAS. Unexpectedly, our studies indicate that the function of PKCδ in tumor cells depends on a specific oncogenic context, as loss of PKCδ in NSCLC cells suppressed transformed growth only in cells dependent on oncogenic K-ras for proliferation and survival.     

Epithelial nuclear factor-κB signaling promotes lung carcinogenesis via recruitment of regulatory T lymphocytes

The mechanisms by which chronic inflammatory lung diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, confer enhanced risk for lung cancer are not well-defined. To investigate whether nuclear factor (NF)-κB, a key mediator of immune and inflammatory responses, provides an interface between persistent lung inflammation and carcinogenesis, we utilized tetracycline-inducible transgenic mice expressing constitutively active IκB kinase β in airway epithelium (IKTA (IKKβ trans-activated) mice). Intraperitoneal injection of ethyl carbamate (urethane), or 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was used to induce lung tumorigenesis. Doxycycline-treated IKTA mice developed chronic airway inflammation and markedly increased numbers of lung tumors in response to urethane, even when transgene expression (and therefore epithelial NF-κB activation) was begun after exposure to carcinogen. Studies using a separate tumor initiator/promoter model (MCA+BHT) indicated that NF-κB functions as an independent tumor promoter. Enhanced tumor formation in IKTA mice was preceded by increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis of alveolar epithelium, resulting in increased formation of premalignant lesions. Investigation of inflammatory cells in lungs of IKTA mice revealed a substantial increase in macrophages and lymphocytes, including functional CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3+ regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs). Importantly, Treg depletion using repetitive injections of anti-CD25 antibodies limited excessive tumor formation in IKTA mice. At 6 weeks following urethane injection, antibody-mediated Treg depletion in IKTA mice reduced the number of premalignant lesions in the lungs in association with an increase in CD8 lymphocytes. Thus, persistent NF-κB signaling in airway epithelium facilitates carcinogenesis by sculpting the immune/inflammatory environment in the lungs.     

The cyclooxygenase-2/thromboxane A2 pathway: a bridge from rheumatoid arthritis to lung cancer?

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) appear to be at a higher risk of lung cancer (LC). Although the connection between RA and LC has been an active area of research for many years, the molecular pathogenesis of the disease process remains unclear. The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2/thromboxane A2 (TxA2) pathway has been shown to play a potential role in LC development through an auto-regulatory feedback loop. An increased level of TxA2 has been found in RA patients, and intriguingly, the positive feedback loop for the COX-2/TxA2 pathway was shown to have a potential function in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS). Thus, the molecular basis of LC development in patients with RA has been at least in partly described. It is possible that COX-2-derived TxA2 could be monitored for the early detection of LC in RA patients, and targeting this molecular pathway may decrease the risk of LC in patients with RA.     

Trametinib overcomes KRAS-G12V–induced osimertinib resistance in a leptomeningeal carcinomatosis model of EGFR-mutant lung cancer

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) occurs frequently in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and is associated with acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). However, the mechanism by which LMC acquires resistance to osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR-TKI, is unclear. In this study, we elucidated the resistance mechanism and searched for a novel therapeutic strategy. We induced osimertinib resistance in a mouse model of LMC using an EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell line (PC9) via continuous oral osimertinib treatment and administration of established resistant cells and examined the resistance mechanism using next-generation sequencing. We detected the Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS)-G12V mutation in resistant cells, which retained the EGFR exon 19 deletion. Experiments involving KRAS knockdown in resistant cells and KRAS-G12V overexpression in parental cells revealed the involvement of KRAS-G12V in osimertinib resistance. Cotreatment with trametinib (a MEK inhibitor) and osimertinib resensitized the cells to osimertinib. Furthermore, in the mouse model of LMC with resistant cells, combined osimertinib and trametinib treatment successfully controlled LMC progression. These findings suggest a potential novel therapy against KRAS-G12V–harboring osimertinib-resistant LMC in EGFR-mutant NSCLC.     

No involvement of APC gene mutations in ulcerative colitis–associated rat colon carcinogenesis induced by 1-hydroxyanthraquinone and methylazoxymethanol acetate

A rat model for human ulcerative colitis (UC) has been developed by using 1-hydroxyanthraquinone (1-HA) to cause severe inflammation of colonic mucosa. 1-HA also has synergistic effects on the carcinogenicity of methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate in the rat colon. In this study, four adenomas and 16 adenocarcinomas induced in male F344 rats by 1-HA and MAM acetate were examined for mutations in the entire coding regions and introns flanking coding exons of the APC gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and PCR-restriction-SSCP analyses. No mutations were found. These results, together with our previous observations of a relative lack of Ki-ras gene mutations in the same tumors, are similar to those found in human UC-associated colon cancer, suggest a common pathway in these two systems, although they are different in their implication of p53 mutations. Therefore, this model may have some relevance and application to the study of colon cancer in human inflammatory bowel disease, which is not associated with APC mutations or with Ki-ras or p53 mutations. Mol. Carcinog. 20:389–393, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of gastrin and histamine on gastric carcinogenesis induced in rats by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

The effects of gastrin and histamine on the incidence and histology of gastric cancer induced by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were investigated in Wistar strain rats.It was found that prolonged administration of gastrin or histamine after treatment with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the glandular stomach. Histological examination showed that unlike the highly differentiated adenocarcinomas with a typical glandular structure in the control group and the histamine-treated group, the adenocarcinomas that did develop in rats after prolonged administration of gastrin had little or no typical glandular structure.These results showed that both gastrin and histamine were related to reduction in the incidence of adenocarcinomas in the glandular stomach, whereas the histological type of adenocarcinoma was affected only by gastrin.     

The role of TGF-β1–miR-21–ROS pathway in bystander responses induced by irradiated non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Background:

Many studies have indicated an important implication of radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) in cancer radiotherapy, but the detailed signalling remains unclear.

Methods:

The roles of tumour growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) and miR-21 in medium-mediated RIBEs in H1299 non-small-cell lung cancer cells were investigated using DNA damage, changes in proliferation and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as end points. SB431542, a specific inhibitor of TGF-β type 1 receptor kinases, was used to inhibit TGF-β1 pathways in irradiated and bystander cells. Exogenous miR-21 regulation was achieved through inhibitor or mimic transfection.

Results:

Compared with relative sham-radiation-conditioned medium, radiation-conditioned medium (RCM) from irradiated cells 1 h post radiation (1-h RCM) caused an increase in ROS levels and DNA damage in bystander cells, while 18-h RCM induced cell cycle delay and proliferation inhibition. All these effects were eliminated by TGF-βR1 inhibition. One-hour RCM upregulated miR-21 expression in bystander cells, and miR-21 inhibitor abolished bystander oxidative stress and DNA damage. Eighteen-hour RCM downregulated miR-21 of bystander cells, and miR-21 mimic eliminated bystander proliferation inhibition. Furthermore, the dysregulation of miR-21 was attenuated by TGF-βR1 inhibition.

Conclusions:

The TGF-β1–miR-21–ROS pathway of bystander cells has an important mediating role in RIBEs in H1299 cells.     

Dose–response meta-analysis of silica and lung cancer

Objective  To examine the association between occupational exposure to silica and lung cancer from a systematic review (and meta-analysis) of the epidemiologic literature, with special reference to the methodological quality of observational studies. Methods  We searched Medline, Toxline, BIOSIS, and Embase (1966–December 2007) for original articles published in any language. Observational studies (cohort and case–control studies) were selected if they reported the result of dose–response analyses relating lung cancer to occupational exposure to silica after appropriate adjustment for smoking. Results  Ten studies (4 cohort studies and 6 case–control studies) met the inclusion criteria of the meta-analysis, nine of which contributing to the main analysis (dose–response analysis, no lag time). We found increasing risk of lung cancer with increasing cumulative exposure to silica, with heterogeneity across studies however. Posthoc analyses identified a set of seven more homogeneous studies. Their meta-analysis resulted in a dose–response curve that was not different from that obtained in the main analysis. Conclusion  Silica is a lung carcinogen. This increased risk is particularly apparent when the cumulative exposure to silica is well beyond that resulting from exposure to the recommended limit concentration for a prolonged period of time.     

RPL34-AS1–induced RPL34 inhibits cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis via the MDM2-P53 pathway

Ribosomal proteins (RPs) are important components of ribosomes and related to the occurrence and development of tumors. However, little is known about the effects of the RP network on cervical cancer (CC). In this study, we screened differentially expressed RPL34 in CC by high-throughput quantitative proteome assay. We found that RPL34 acted as a tumor suppressor and was downregulated in CC and inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of CC cells. Next, we verified that RPL34 regulated the CC through the MDM2-P53 pathway by using Act D medicine, MDM2 inhibitor, and a series of western blotting（WB）assays. Moreover, an antisense lncRNA, RPL34-AS1, regulated the expression of RPL34 and participated in the tumorigenesis of CC. RPL34 can reverse the effect of RPL34-AS1 in CC cells. Finally, by RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay we found that eukaryotic initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3), which binds to RPL34-AS1, regulated RPL34-AS1 expression in CC. Therefore, our findings indicate that RPL34-AS1–induced RPL34 inhibits CC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through modulation of the MDM2-P53 signaling pathway, which provides a meaningful target for the early diagnosis and treatment of CC.     

Management of egfr tki–induced dermatologic adverse events

Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) pathway has become standard practice for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Compared with chemotherapy, egfr tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tkis) have been associated with improved efficacy in patients with an EGFR mutation. Together with the increase in efficacy comes an adverse event (ae) profile different from that of chemotherapy. That profile includes three of the most commonly occurring dermatologic aes: acneiform rash, stomatitis, and paronychia. Currently, no randomized clinical trials have evaluated the treatments for the dermatologic aes that patients experience when taking egfr tkis. Based on the expert opinion of the authors, some basic strategies have been developed to manage those key dermatologic aes. Those strategies have the potential to improve patient quality of life and compliance and to prevent inappropriate dose reductions.     

Management of stage III non–small cell lung cancer

Optimal management of patients with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer remains challenging in the context of this heterogeneous disease. Despite aggressive therapeutic approaches, survival benefits are still unsatisfactory for what might be viewed as a localized malignancy. A combined modality approach offers patients superior outcomes, especially because technological advances and refined surgical procedures now provide better results with fewer complications. Nevertheless, several features of therapy remain controversial and lack formal prospective data. Traditional cytotoxic chemoradiation therapy may have reached a plateau and future perspectives opting to integrate molecularly targeted agents and immunotherapy might be the way to improve outcomes in this disease subset.