Nuclear transport of phosphorylated LanCL2 promotes invadopodia formation and tumor progression of glioblastoma by activating STAT3/Cortactin signaling.

Introduction: Our previous study showed that the abscisic acid receptor lanthionine synthetase C-like 2 (LanCL2) is a significant prognostic factor for overall survival in young glioblastoma patients. However, the role of LanCL2 in glioblastoma remains unclear yet.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the role of LanCL2 in regulating in-vitro cell invasion and in-vivo tumor progression of glioblastoma and its underlying mechanism.

L-carnitine ameliorates the muscle wasting of cancer cachexia through the AKT/FOXO3a/MaFbx axis.

Background: Recent studies suggest potential benefits of applying L-carnitine in the treatment of cancer cachexia, but the precise mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unknown. This study was conducted to determine the mechanism by which L-carnitine reduces cancer cachexia.

Methods: C2C12 cells were differentiated into myotubes by growing them in DMEM for 24 h (hrs) and then changing the media to DMEM supplemented with 2% horse serum.

Identification of prognostic values defined by copy number variation, mRNA and protein expression of LANCL2 and EGFR in glioblastoma patients.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and lanthionine synthetase C-like 2 (LanCL2) genes locate in the same amplicon, and co-amplification of EGFR and LANCL2 is frequent in glioblastoma. However, the prognostic value of LANCL2 and EGFR co-amplification, and their mRNA and protein expression in glioblastoma remain unclear yet.

Methods: This study analyzed the prognostic values of the copy number variations (CNVs), mRNA and protein expression of LANCL2 and EGFR in 575 glioblastoma patients in TCGA database and 100 glioblastoma patients in tumor banks of the Shenzhen Second People's Hospital and the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.

Combined Anti-Cancer Effects of Platycodin D and Sorafenib on Androgen-Independent and PTEN-Deficient Prostate Cancer.

Castration-resistant (androgen-independent) and PTEN-deficient prostate cancer is a challenge in clinical practice. Sorafenib has been recommended for the treatment of this type of cancer, but is associated with several adverse effects. Platycodin D (PD) is a triterpene saponin with demonstrated anti-cancer effects and a good safety profile.

Synergism between the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p110β isoform inhibitor AZD6482 and the mixed lineage kinase 3 inhibitor URMC-099 on the blockade of glioblastoma cell motility and focal adhesion formation.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive and malignant primary brain tumor, is characterized by rapid growth and extensive infiltration to neighboring normal brain parenchyma. Our previous studies delineated a crosstalk between PI3K/Akt and JNK signaling pathways, and a moderate anti-glioblastoma synergism caused by the combined inhibition of PI3K p110β (PI3Kβ) isoform and JNK. However, this combination strategy is not potent enough.

A robust semi-supervised NMF model for single cell RNA-seq data.

Background: Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology is a powerful tool to study organism from a single cell perspective and explore the heterogeneity between cells. Clustering is a fundamental step in scRNA-seq data analysis and it is the key to understand cell function and constitutes the basis of other advanced analysis. Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) has been widely used in clustering analysis of transcriptome data and achieved good performance.

Ophiopogonin D' induces RIPK1‑dependent necroptosis in androgen‑dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

Ophiopogonin D' (OPD') is a natural compound extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus, which is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Our previous study has indicated that OPD' exhibits antitumor activity against androgen‑independent prostate cancer (PCa), but the effects and the underlying molecular mechanism of action of OPD' in androgen‑dependent PCa were unclear. In the present study, OPD' induced significant necroptosis in androgen‑dependent LNCaP cancer cells by activating receptor‑interacting serine/threonine‑protein kinase 1 (RIPK1).

High expression of immunity-related GTPase family M protein in glioma promotes cell proliferation and autophagy protein expression.

Glioma is the commonest malignant tumor in the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by rapid growth. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the growth remains unclear. Immunity-related GTPase family M protein (IRGM) participates in immune response to pathogen and tumorigenesis.

IRGM promotes glioma M2 macrophage polarization through p62/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway mediated IL-8 production.

Alternatively activated (M2) macrophage promotes glioma progression and immune escape as the most immunocyte in glioma microenvironment. Finding out the key protein regulating M2 macrophage polarization is necessary for improving treatment. Whether immunity related GTPase M (IRGM) is involved in glioma development and M2 macrophage polarization is unknown.

Evaluation of the anticancer and anti-metastasis effects of novel synthetic sodium channel blockers in prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are involved in several cellular processes related to cancer cell growth and metastasis, including adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. We here in investigated the effects of S0154 and S0161, two novel synthetic sodium channel blockers (SCBs), on human prostate cancer cells (PC3, DU145, and LnCaP) and a prostate cancer xenograft model.

Methods: The MTT assay was used to assess the anticancer effects of SCBs in PC3, DU145, and LnCaP cells.

A Multi-targeted Natural Flavonoid Myricetin Suppresses Lamellipodia and Focal Adhesions Formation and Impedes Glioblastoma Cell Invasiveness and Abnormal Motility.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and malignant primary brain tumor characterized by rapid growth and extensive infiltration to neighboring normal brain parenchyma, which contribute to tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. Myricetin is a natural flavonoid with potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities, which may serve as a potential and harmless agent for GBM treatment.

Methods: To investigate the anti-glioblastoma effects of myricetin, GBM cells were treated with myricetin alone or in combination with temozolomide.

Ophiopogonin D', a Natural Product From , Induces and RIPK1-Dependent and Caspase-Independent Apoptotic Death in Androgen-Independent Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of Ophiopogonin D' (OPD', a natural product extracted from a traditional Chinese medicine () against androgen-independent prostate cancer cells and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of action. The CCK-8 assay was used to assess the viability of prostate cancer cells. The cell morphology was examined by an ultrastructural analysis via transmission electron microscopy.

Integrated genomic analysis identifies clinically relevant subtypes of renal clear cell carcinoma.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) account for over 80% of renal malignancies. The most common type of RCC can be classified into three subtypes including clear cell, papillary and chromophobe. ccRCC (the Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma) is the most frequent form and shows variations in genetics and behavior.

Clinical Applications of and Challenges in Single-Cell Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells.

Technological advancements in next-generation sequencing are continually changing the landscape of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic research at the single-cell level. These technologies have been used to detect and analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) at the molecular level and provide a new approach for the management of cancer patients. A series of unanticipated discoveries, including the heterogeneity of cancer cell populations, new driver mutations responsible for the resistance of tumors to chemotherapy, and the mechanism of tumor metastasis, have been made using single CTC sequencing.

Recent advances in the use of PI3K inhibitors for glioblastoma multiforme: current preclinical and clinical development.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant primary tumor in the central nervous system. One of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs for GBM is temozolomide, which is a DNA-alkylating agent and its efficacy is dependent on MGMT methylation status. Little progress in improving the prognosis of GBM patients has been made in the past ten years, urging the development of more effective molecular targeted therapies.

Synthesis of 6-Trichloromethylphenanthridines by Transition Metal-Free Radical Cyclization of 2-Isocyanobiphenyls.

An efficient method for the synthesis of 6-trichloromethylphenanthridines by benzoyl peroxide promoted cyclization reaction of 2-isocyanobiphenyls with carbon tetrachloride is developed. A radical pathway is proposed and evidenced for the reaction mechanism. This reaction tolerates a wide range of functional groups and the resulting 6-trichloromethylphenanthridines can be utilized as a useful synthetic precursor for corresponding 6-substituted phenanthridines.