H-ras-targeted genetic therapy remarkably surpassed docetaxel treatment in inhibiting chemically induced hepatic tumors in rats.

AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. But its chemotherapeutic options are far from expectation. We here compared H-ras targeted genetic therapy to a commercial docetaxel formulation (DXT) in inhibiting HCC in rats. MAIN METHODS: After the physicochemical characterization of phosphorothioate-antisense oligomer (PS-ASO) against H-ras mutated gene, the PS-ASO-mediated in vitro hemolysis, in vivo hepatic uptake, its pharmacokinetic profile, tissue distribution in some highly perfused organs, its effect in normal rats, antineoplastic efficacy in carcinogen-induced HCC in rats were evaluated and compared against DXT treatment. Mutated H-ras expression by in situ hybridization, hep-par-I, CK-7, CD-15, p53 expression patterns by immunohistochemical methods, scanning electron microscopic evaluation of hepatic architecture, various hepatic marker enzyme levels and caspase-3/9 apoptotic enzyme activities were also carried out in the experimental rats. KEY FINDINGS: PS-ASO showed low in vitro hemolysis (<3 %), and had a sustained PS-ASO blood residence time in vivo compared to DTX, with a time-dependent hepatic uptake. It showed no toxic manifestations in normal rats. PS-ASO distribution was although initially less in the lung than liver and kidney, but at 8 h it accumulated more in lung than kidney. Antineoplastic potential of PS-ASO (treated for 6 weeks) excelled in inhibiting chemically induced tumorigenesis compared to DTX in rats, by inhibiting H-ras gene expression, some immonohistochemical modulations, and inducing caspase-3/9-mediated apoptosis. It prevented HCC-mediated lung metastatic tumor in the experimental rats. SIGNIFICANCE: PS-ASO genetic therapy showed potential to inhibit HCC far more effectively than DXT in rats.

Increasing the radiation-induced cytotoxicity by silver nanoparticles and docetaxel in prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy is utilized for treatment of localized prostate cancer. Nevertheless, cancerous cells frequently develop radiation resistance. While higher radiation doses have not always been effective, radiosensitizers have been extensively studied for their ability to enhance the cytotoxic effects of radiation. So, this study aims to evaluate the possible radiosensitization effects of docetaxel (DTX) and silver nanoparticles (SNP) in LNCaP cells. METHODS: The cytotoxic effects of DTX, SNP and 2 Gy of X-Ray radiation treatments were assessed in human LNCaP cell line using the MTT test after 24 h. Moreover, the effects of DTX, SNP and radiation on Epidermal growth factor (EGF), Caspase 3, inducible nitric oxide synthase and E-cadherin gene expression were analyzed using the Real-time PCR method. The level of Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an oxidative stress marker, was also detected 24 h after various single and combined treatments. RESULTS: The combinations of SNP (in low toxic concentration) and/or DTX (0.25× IC50 and 0.5 × IC50 concentrations for triple and double combinations respectively) with radiation induced significant cytotoxicity in LNCaP cells in comparison to monotherapies. These cytotoxic effects were associated with the downregulation of EGF mRNA. Additionally, H2O2 levels increased after Radiation + SNP + DTX triple combination and double combinations including Radiation + SNP and Radiation + DTX versus single treatments. The triple combination treatment also increased Caspase 3 and and E-cadherin mRNA levels in compared to single treatments in LNCaP cells. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the combination of SNP and DTX with radiation induces significant anti-cancer effects. Upregulation of Caspase 3 and E-cadherin gene expression, and decreased mRNA expression level of EGF may be exerted specifically by use of this combination versus single treatments.

Suppression of N-Glycosylation of Zinc Finger Protein 471 Affects Proliferation, Invasion, and Docetaxel Sensitivity of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Regulation of c-Myc.

Zinc finger protein 471 (ZNF471) is a member of the Krüppel-related domain zinc finger protein family, and has recently attracted attention because of its anti-cancer effects. N-glycosylation regulates expression and functions of the protein. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ZNF471 N-glycosylation on the proliferation, invasion, and docetaxel sensitivity of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). It analyzed the expression, function, and prognostic significance of ZNF471 in TSCC using bioinformatics techniques such as gene differential expression analysis, univariate Cox regression analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis. Using site-specific mutagenesis, this study generated three mutant sites for ZNF471 N-glycosylation to determine the effect of N-glycosylation on ZNF471 protein levels and function. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry tests confirmed the down-regulation of ZNF471 expression in TSCC. Low expression of ZNF471 is associated with poor prognosis of patients with TSCC. Overexpression of ZNF471 in vitro retarded the proliferation of TSCC cells and suppressed cell invasion and migration ability. Asparagine 358 was identified as a N-glycosylation site of ZNF471. Suppressing N-glycosylation of ZNF471 enhanced the protein stability and promoted the translocation of protein to the cell nucleus. ZNF471 binding to c-Myc gene promoter suppressed oncogene c-Myc expression, thereby playing the anti-cancer effect and enhancing TSCC sensitivity to docetaxel. In all, N-glycosylation of ZNF471 affects the proliferation, invasion, and docetaxel sensitivity of TSCC via regulation of c-Myc.

Dual pH/redox-responsive hyperbranched polymeric nanocarriers with TME-trigger size shrinkage and charge reversible ability for amplified chemotherapy of breast cancer.

A novel pH/redox-responsive hyperbranched MeO-PEG-b-(NIPAAm-co-PBAE) nanoparticles (NPs) were designed with size shrinkage and charge-reversible potential for targeted delivery of docetaxel (DTX) to MDA-MB-231 cell lines. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), amine protonation induces charge reversal and disulfide bond cleavage under high TME GSH concentration causing size shrinkage, improved deep tumor penetration, and active targeting of the therapeutic agents. These nano drug delivery systems (NDDSs) significantly promoted cancer cell uptake (~ 100% at 0.5 h), facilitating site-specific delivery and deep tumor penetration. The MTT assay revealed significantly higher cytotoxicity (P value < 0.0001) for DTX-loaded NPs compared to free DTX. Cell cycle analysis revealed G2/M (58.3 ± 2.1%) and S (21.5 ± 1.3%) arrest for DTX-loaded NPs, while free DTX caused G2/M (67.9 ± 1.1%) and sub-G1 (10.3 ± 0.8%) arrest. DTX-loaded NPs induced higher apoptosis (P value < 0.001) in MDA-MB-231 cells (71.5 ± 2.8%) compared to free DTX (42.3 ± 3.1%). Western blotting and RT-PCR assays confirmed significant up-regulation of protein levels and apoptotic genes by DTX-loaded NPs compared to free DTX. In conclusion, TME-responsive charge reversal and size-shrinkable smart NDDSs designed based on low pH, and high glutathione (GSH), offer more effective site-specific delivery of therapeutic agents to tumors.

Co-transcriptional R-loops-mediated epigenetic regulation drives growth retardation and docetaxel chemosensitivity enhancement in advanced prostate cancer.

R-loops are prevalent three-stranded nucleic acid structures, comprising a DNA-RNA hybrid and a displaced single-stranded DNA, that frequently form during transcription and may be attributed to genomic stability and gene expression regulation. It was recently discovered that RNA modification contributes to maintain the stability of R-loops such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A). Yet, m6A-modified R-loops in regulating gene transcription remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs) recognize R-loops in an m6A-dependent way. Consequently, IGF2BPs overexpression leads to increased overall R-loop levels, cell migration inhibition, and cell growth retardation in prostate cancer (PCa) via precluding the binding of DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1) to semaphorin 3 F (SEMA3F) promoters. Moreover, the K homology (KH) domains of IGF2BPs are required for their recognition of m6A-containing R-loops and are required for tumor suppressor functions. Overexpression of SEMA3F markedly enhanced docetaxel chemosensitivity in prostate cancer via regulating Hippo pathway. Our findings point to a distinct R-loop resolution pathway mediated by IGF2BPs, emphasizing the functional importance of IGF2BPs as epigenetic R-loop readers in transcriptional genetic regulation and cancer biology.The manuscript summarizes the new role of N6-methyladenosine in epigenetic regulation, we introduce the distinct R-loop resolution mediated by IGF2BP proteins in an m6A-dependent way, which probably lead to the growth retardation and docetaxel chemotherapy resistance in prostate cancer. Moreover, our findings first emphasized the functional importance of IGF2BPs as epigenetic R-loop readers in transcriptional genetic regulation and cancer biology. In addition, our research provides a novel RBM15/IGF2BPs/DNMT1 trans-omics regulation m6A axis, indicating the new crosstalk between RNA m6A methylation and DNA methylation in prostate cancer.

The Ability of Clinically Relevant Chemotherapeutics to Induce Immunogenic Cell Death in Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a crucial mechanism for triggering the adaptive immune response in cancer patients. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are critical factors in the detection of ICD. Chemotherapeutic drugs can cause ICD and the release of DAMPs. The aim of this study was to assess the potential for paclitaxel and platinum-based chemotherapy regimens to induce ICD in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines. In addition, we examined the immunostimulatory effects of clinically relevant chemotherapeutic regimens utilized in the treatment of SCC. METHODS: We screened for differentially expressed ICD markers in the supernatants of three SCC cell lines following treatment with various chemotherapeutic agents. The ICD markers included Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), Calreticulin (CRT), Annexin A1 (ANXA 1), High Mobility Group Protein B1 (HMGB1), and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70). A vaccination assay was also employed in C57BL/6J mice to validate our in vitro findings. Lastly, the levels of CRT and HMGB1 were evaluated in Serum samples from SCC patients. RESULTS: Addition of the chemotherapy drugs cisplatin (DDP), carboplatin (CBP), nedaplatin (NDP), oxaliplatin (OXA) and docetaxel (DOC) increased the release of ICD markers in two of the SCC cell lines. Furthermore, mice that received vaccinations with cervical cancer cells treated with DDP, CBP, NDP, OXA, or DOC remained tumor-free. Although CBP induced the release of ICD-associated molecules in vitro, it did not prevent tumor growth at the vaccination site in 40% of mice. In addition, both in vitro and in vivo results showed that paclitaxel (TAX) and LBP did not induce ICD in SCC cells. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that chemotherapeutic agents can induce an adjuvant effect leading to the extracellular release of DAMPs. Of the agents tested here, DDP, CBP, NDP, OXA and DOC had the ability to act as inducers of ICD.

Integrated aerobic exercise with LDE-docetaxel treatment: a novel approach to combat prostate cancer progression.

The variability in response to conventional prostate cancer (PC) therapies, coupled with the emergent issue of drug resistance, underscores the critical need for innovative treatment strategies. Aerobic physical exercise reduced incidence of several cancers, but the mechanism underlying these effects associated the nanoemulsion not fully understood. The application of a lipid nanoemulsion (LDE) delivery system for docetaxel (DTX), showing marked enhancement in therapeutic efficacy when combined with aerobic physical exercise. This novel intervention potentiates the antitumor activity of LDE-delivered DTX by augmenting nanoparticle internalization and inducing cell cycle arrest. Our findings reveal that this synergistic treatment not only significantly reduces prostate weight and mitigates adenocarcinoma proliferation but also attenuates anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein expression. Concurrently, it elevates pro-apoptotic proteins and diminishes inflammatory markers. Metabolic profiling of the combined therapy group disclosed additional benefits, such as reduced lipid and plasma glucose levels. Collectively, our data illuminate the profound impact of integrating LDE-mediated DTX delivery with structured physical exercise, which together spearhead a dual-front assault on PC. This multimodal approach heralds a new paradigm in PC management, accentuating the promise of combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to elevate tumor suppressor protein activity and refine patient outcomes.

ELK3 destabilization by speckle-type POZ protein suppresses prostate cancer progression and docetaxel resistance.

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the activity regulation of ELK3, a member of the E26 transformation-specific oncogene family, is critical to regulating cell proliferation, migration, and survival in human cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms of how ELK3 induces chemoresistance in prostate cancer (PCa) have not been elucidated. In this study, we found that SPOP and ELK3 are an interacting partner. The interaction between SPOP and ELK3 resulted in increased ELK3 ubiquitination and destruction, assisted by checkpoint kinase-mediated ELK3 phosphorylation. Notably, the modulation of SPOP-mediated ELK3 protein stability affected the c-Fos-induced cell proliferation and invasion of PCa cells. The clinical involvement of the SPOP-ELK3 axis in PCa development was confirmed by an immunohistochemical assay on 123 PCa tissues, with an inverse correlation between increased ELK3 and decreased SPOP being present in ~80% of the specimens. This observation was supported by immunohistochemistry analysis using a SPOP-mutant PCa specimen. Finally, docetaxel treatment induced cell death by activating checkpoint kinase- and SPOP-mediated ELK3 degradation, while SPOP-depleted or SPOP-mutated PCa cells showed cell death resistance. Notably, this observation was correlated with the protein levels of ELK3. Taken together, our study reveals the precise mechanism of SPOP-mediated degradation of ELK3 and provides evidence that SPOP mutations contribute to docetaxel resistance in PCa.

AS1411 aptamer/RGD dual functionalized theranostic chitosan-PLGA nanoparticles for brain cancer treatment and imaging.

Conventional chemotherapy and poor targeted delivery in brain cancer resulting to poor treatment and develop resistance to anticancer drugs. Meanwhile, it is quite challenging to diagnose/detection of brain tumor at early stage of cancer which resulting in severity of the disease. Despite extensive research, effective treatment with real-time imaging still remains completely unavailable, yet. In this study, two brain cancer cell specific moieties i.e., AS1411 aptamer and RGD are decorated on the surface of chitosan-PLGA nanoparticles to improve targeted co-delivery of docetaxel (DTX) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) for effective brain tumor therapy and real-time imaging. The nanoparticles were developed by a slightly modified emulsion/solvent evaporation method. This investigation also translates the successful synthesis of TPGS-chitosan, TPGS-RGD and TPGS-AS1411 aptamer conjugates for making PLGA nanoparticle as a potential tool of the targeted co-delivery of DTX and UCNP to the brain cancer cells. The developed nanoparticles have shown an average particle size <200 nm, spherical in shape, high encapsulation of DTX and UCNP in the core of nanoparticles, and sustained release of DTX up to 72 h in phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4). AS1411 aptamer and RGD functionalized theranostic chitosan-PLGA nanoparticles containing DTX and UCNP (DUCPN-RGD-AS1411) have achieved greater cellular uptake, 89-fold improved cytotoxicity, enhanced cancer cell arrest even at lower drug conc., improved bioavailability with higher mean residence time of DTX in systemic circulation and brain tissues. Moreover, DUCPN-RGD-AS1411 have greatly facilitated cellular internalization and higher accumulation of UCNP in brain tissues. Additionally, DUCPN-RGD-AS1411 demonstrated a significant suppression in tumor growth in brain-tumor bearing xenograft BALB/c nude mice with no impressive sign of toxicities. DUCPN-RGD-AS1411 has great potential to be utilized as an effective and safe theranostic tool for brain cancer and other life-threatening cancer therapies.

Overcoming the Blood-Brain Tumor Barrier with Docetaxel-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Treatment of Temozolomide-Resistant Glioblastoma.

While temozolomide (TMZ) has been a cornerstone in the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), a significant challenge has been the emergence of resistance to TMZ, which compromises its clinical benefits. Additionally, the nonspecificity of TMZ can lead to detrimental side effects. Although TMZ is capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB), our research addresses the need for targeted therapy to circumvent resistance mechanisms and reduce off-target effects. This study introduces the use of PEGylated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with octyl group modifications (C8-MSN) as a nanocarrier system for the delivery of docetaxel (DTX), providing a novel approach for treating TMZ-resistant GBM. Our findings reveal that C8-MSN is biocompatible in vitro, and DTX@C8-MSN shows no hemolytic activity at therapeutic concentrations, maintaining efficacy against GBM cells. Crucially, in vivo imaging demonstrates preferential accumulation of C8-MSN within the tumor region, suggesting enhanced permeability across the blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB). When administered to orthotopic glioma mouse models, DTX@C8-MSN notably prolongs survival by over 50%, significantly reduces tumor volume, and decreases side effects compared to free DTX, indicating a targeted and effective approach to treatment. The apoptotic pathways activated by DTX@C8-MSN, evidenced by the increased levels of cleaved caspase-3 and PARP, point to a potent therapeutic mechanism. Collectively, the results advocate DTX@C8-MSN as a promising candidate for targeted therapy in TMZ-resistant GBM, optimizing drug delivery and bioavailability to overcome current therapeutic limitations.

Single-cell deconvolution algorithms analysis unveils autocrine IL11-mediated resistance to docetaxel in prostate cancer via activation of the JAK1/STAT4 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel resistance represents a significant obstacle in the treatment of prostate cancer. The intricate interplay between cytokine signalling pathways and transcriptional control mechanisms in cancer cells contributes to chemotherapeutic resistance, yet the underlying molecular determinants remain only partially understood. This study elucidated a novel resistance mechanism mediated by the autocrine interaction of interleukin-11 (IL-11) and its receptor interleukin-11 receptor subunit alpha(IL-11RA), culminating in activation of the JAK1/STAT4 signalling axis and subsequent transcriptional upregulation of the oncogene c-MYC. METHODS: Single-cell secretion profiling of prostate cancer organoid was analyzed to determine cytokine production profiles associated with docetaxel resistance.Analysis of the expression pattern of downstream receptor IL-11RA and enrichment of signal pathway to clarify the potential autocrine mechanism of IL-11.Next, chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) was performed to detect the nuclear localization and DNA-binding patterns of phosphorylated STAT4 (pSTAT4). Coimmunoprecipitation and reporter assays were utilized to assess interaction between pSTAT4 and the cotranscription factor CREB-binding protein (CBP) as well as their role in c-MYC transcriptional activity. RESULTS: Autocrine secretion of IL-11 was markedly increased in docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells. IL-11 stimulation resulted in robust activation of JAK1/STAT4 signalling. Upon activation, pSTAT4 translocated to the nucleus and associated with CBP at the c-MYC promoter region, amplifying its transcriptional activity. Inhibition of the IL-11/IL-11RA interaction or disruption of the JAK1/STAT4 pathway significantly reduced pSTAT4 nuclear entry and its binding to CBP, leading to downregulation of c-MYC expression and restoration of docetaxel sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Our findings identify an autocrine loop of IL-11/IL-11RA that confers docetaxel resistance through the JAK1/STAT4 pathway. The pSTAT4-CBP interaction serves as a critical enhancer of c-MYC transcriptional activity in prostate cancer cells. Targeting this signalling axis presents a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome docetaxel resistance in advanced prostate cancer.

Unleashing a safe and potent pro-senescence anti-tumor strategy.

Inducing senescence in tumor cells can stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Colucci et al. demonstrate that the combination of the RAR agonist Adapalene with the chemotherapy drug Docetaxel enhances tumor-suppressing senescence and activates an anti-tumor immune response through natural killer cells.

Engineered nanomicelles inhibit the tumour progression via abrogating the prostaglandin-mediated immunosuppression.

Cancer treatment is challenged due to immunosuppressive inflammatory tumour microenvironment (TME) caused by infiltration of tumour-promoting and inhibition of tumour-inhibiting immune cells. Here, we report the engineering of chimeric nanomicelles (NMs) targeting the cell proliferation using docetaxel (DTX) and inflammation using dexamethasone (DEX) that alters the immunosuppressive TME. We show that a combination of phospholipid-DTX conjugate and PEGylated-lipid-DEX conjugate can self-assemble to form sub-100 nm chimeric NMs (DTX-DEX NMs). Anti-cancer activities against syngeneic and xenograft mouse models showed that the DTX-DEX NMs are more effective in tumour regression, enhance the survival of mice over other treatment modes, and alter the tumour stroma. DTX-DEX NMs cause a significant reduction in myeloid-derived suppressor cells, alter the polarization of macrophages, and enhance the accumulation of cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumour tissues, along with alterations in cytokine expression. We further demonstrated that these DTX-DEX NMs inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, especially PGE2, by targeting the cyclooxygenase 2 that is partly responsible for immunosuppressive TME. Therefore, this study presents, for the first time, the engineering of lithocholic acid-derived chimeric NMs that affect the prostaglandin pathway, alter the TME, and mitigate tumour progression with enhanced mice survival.

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of galactosamine-docetaxel conjugates.

Docetaxel (DTX) is a semi-synthetic analogue of paclitaxel which has attracted extensive attention in the treatment of cancer. However, the current clinically used DTX formulations display low tumor targeting ability, leading to unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes with adverse effects, which poses significant challenges to the clinical application. In this study, three galactosamine (Gal) and docetaxel conjugates with different linkers were synthesized, namely DTX-(suc-Gal)2, DTX-(DTDPA-Gal)2, and DTX-(DSeDPA-Gal)2. These three conjugates were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and HRMS. The in vitro drug release study shows that DTX-(DTDPA-Gal)2 and DTX-(DSeDPA-Gal)2 exhibit glutathione (GSH)-responsive drug release and DTX-(DSeDPA-Gal)2 displays higher GSH-responsiveness. The in vitro antitumor activity study shows that DTX-(DTDPA-Gal)2 and DTX-(DSeDPA-Gal)2 exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis rate and G2/M phase arrest against HepG2 cells as compared to DTX-(suc-Gal)2, DTX-(DSeDPA-Gal)2 displays the highest cytotoxicity, cell apoptosis rate and G2/M phase arrest among these three conjugates. In addition, DTX-(DSeDPA-Gal)2 exhibits higher selectivity to HepG2 cells as compared to free DTX. The DTX-(DSeDPA-Gal)2 developed in this study has been proven to be an effective DTX conjugate for selective killing hepatoma cells.

Darolutamide does not interfere with OATP-mediated uptake of docetaxel.

The addition of darolutamide, an androgen receptor signalling inhibitor, to therapy with docetaxel has recently been approved as a strategy to treat metastatic prostate cancer. OATP1B3 is an SLC transporter that is highly expressed in prostate cancer and is responsible for the accumulation of substrates, including docetaxel, into tumours. Given that darolutamide inhibits OATP1B3 in vitro, we sought to characterise the impact of darolutamide on docetaxel pharmacokinetics. We investigated the influence of darolutamide on OATP1B3 transport using in vitro and in vivo models. We assessed the impact of darolutamide on the tumour accumulation of docetaxel in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model and on an OATP1B biomarker in patients. Darolutamide inhibited OATP1B3 in vitro at concentrations higher than the reported Cmax. Consistent with these findings, in vivo studies revealed that darolutamide does not influence the pharmacokinetics of Oatp1b substrates, including docetaxel. Docetaxel accumulation in PDX tumours was not decreased in the presence of darolutamide. Metastatic prostate cancer patients had similar levels of OATP1B biomarkers, regardless of treatment with darolutamide. Consistent with a low potential to inhibit OATP1B3-mediated transport in vitro, darolutamide does not significantly impede the transport of Oatp1b substrates in vivo or in patients. Our findings support combined treatment with docetaxel and darolutamide, as no OATP1B3 transporter based drug-drug interaction was identified.

Epigenetic activation of METTL14 promotes docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer by promoting pri-microRNA-129 maturation.

The development of resistance to Docetaxel (DTX) compromises its therapeutic efficacy and worsens the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa), while the underlying regulatory mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, METTL14 was found to be upregulated in DTX-resistant PCa cells and PCa tissues exhibiting progressive disease during DTX therapy. Furthermore, overexpression of METTL14 promoted the development of resistance to DTX in both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, it was observed that the hypermethylation of the E2F1 targeting site within DTX-resistant PCa cells hindered the binding ability of E2F1 to the promoter region of METTL14, thereby augmenting its transcriptional activity. Consequently, this elevated expression level of METTL14 facilitated m6A-dependent processing of pri-miR-129 and subsequently led to an increase in miR-129-5p expression. Our study highlights the crucial role of the E2F1-METTL14-miR-129-5p axis in modulating DTX resistance in PCa, underscoring METTL14 as a promising therapeutic target for DTX-resistant PCa patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Docetaxel plus Ramucirumab for Patients with Pretreated Advanced or Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Focus on Older Patients.

BACKGROUND: Combination therapy with docetaxel (DTX) and ramucirumab (RAM) has been used as a second-line treatment for advanced or recurrent lung cancer. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the safety of angiogenesis inhibitors in older patients. OBJECTIVE: This multicenter retrospective study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of second-line treatment regimens in older patients with advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 145 patients aged ≥ 70 years with advanced or recurrent NSCLC treated with second-line chemotherapy after platinum-based therapy between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2021. Patients were subdivided into the DTX + RAM (n = 38) and single-agent (n = 107) groups. RESULTS: The median time to treatment failure was 6.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.6-9.6) in the DTX + RAM group and 2.3 months (95% CI 1.7-3.0) in the single-agent group (p < 0.01). The median overall survival was 15.9 months (95% CI 12.3-Not Achieved) in the DTX + RAM group and 9.4 months (95% CI 6.9-15.1) in the single-agent group (p = 0.01). Grade ≥ 3 adverse events frequency was not significantly different between the two groups, except for edema. Patients in the DTX + RAM group who did not discontinue treatment owing to adverse events exhibited the most favorable prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the DTX + RAM combination is an effective second-line therapy for older patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC, offering favorable efficacy without treatment discontinuation owing to adverse events.

Manganese as a Possible Anticancer Enhancer in Docetaxel Treatment of Prostate Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer with docetaxel (DOC) often leads to resistance. In this study, we investigated whether manganese (Mn) has the potential to enhance treatment when combined with DOC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PC3 cells were exposed to DOC or Mn individually and in combination and cell viability was analysed in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell toxicity, cell cycle analysis and apoptotic protein levels were determined after 48 h of treatment. RESULTS: Mn in combination with different concentrations of DOC significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect on cell viability. Although the lowest dose did not cause mitotic arrest, DOC increased toxicity, which was reduced when combined with Mn. Protein analyses indicated that Mn compensates for the suppression of death receptors when combined with a low concentration of DOC and induced non-apoptotic pathways when combined with a higher concentration. CONCLUSION: Combining DOC and Mn may allow for a reduction in DOC concentration with the potential to reduce side effects.

Exploiting epigenetic targets to overcome taxane resistance in prostate cancer.

The development of taxane resistance remains a major challenge for castration resistant prostate cancer (CR-PCa), despite the effectiveness of taxanes in prolonging patient survival. To uncover novel targets, we performed an epigenetic drug screen on taxane (docetaxel and cabazitaxel) resistant CR-PCa cells. We identified BRPF reader proteins, along with several epigenetic groups (CBP/p300, Menin-MLL, PRMT5 and SIRT1) that act as targets effectively reversing the resistance mediated by ABCB1. Targeting BRPFs specifically resulted in the resensitization of resistant cells, while no such effect was observed on the sensitive compartment. These cells were successfully arrested at the G2/M phase of cell cycle and underwent apoptosis upon BRPF inhibition, confirming the restoration of taxane susceptibility. Pharmacological inhibition of BRPFs reduced ABCB1 activity, indicating that BRPFs may be involved in an efflux-related mechanism. Indeed, ChIP-qPCR analysis confirmed binding of BRPF1 to the ABCB1 promoter suggesting direct regulation of the ABCB1 gene at the transcriptional level. RNA-seq analysis revealed that BRPF1 knockdown affects the genes enriched in mTORC1 and UPR signaling pathways, revealing potential mechanisms underlying its functional impact, which is further supported by the enhancement of taxane response through the combined inhibition of ABCB1 and mTOR pathways, providing evidence for the involvement of multiple BRPF1-regulated pathways. Beyond clinical attributes (Gleason score, tumor stage, therapy outcome, recurrence), metastatic PCa databases further supported the significance of BRPF1 in taxane resistance, as evidenced by its upregulation in taxane-exposed PCa patients.

Methylation of GPRC5A promotes liver metastasis and docetaxel resistance through activating mTOR signaling pathway in triple negative breast cancer.

AIMS: This study aims to explore the function and mechanism of G Protein-coupled receptor class C group 5 member A (GPRC5A) in docetaxel-resistance and liver metastasis of breast cancer. METHODS: Single-cell RNA transcriptomic analysis and bioinformatic analysis are used to screen relevant genes in breast cancer metastatic hepatic specimens. MeRIP, dual-luciferase analysis and bioinformation were used to detect m6A modulation. Mass spectrometry (MS), co-inmunoprecipitation (co-IP) and immunofluorescence colocalization were executed to explore the mechanism of GPRC5A in breast cancer cells. RESULT: GPRC5A was upregulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and was associated with a poor prognosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that knockdown of GPRC5A alleviated metastasis and resistance to docetaxel in TNBC. Overexpression of GPRC5A had the opposite effects. The m6A methylation of GPRC5A mRNA was modulated by METTL3 and YTHDF1, which facilitates its translation. GPRC5A inhibited the ubiquitination-dependent degradation of LAMTOR1, resulting in the recruitment of mTORC1 to lysosomes and activating the mTORC1/p70s6k signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: METTL3/YTHDF1 axis up-regulates GPRC5A expression by m6A methylation. GPRC5A activates mTORC1/p70s6k signaling pathway by recruiting mTORC1 to lysosomes, consequently promotes docetaxel-resistance and liver metastasis.