Chromatin modifier Hmga2 promotes adult hematopoietic stem cell function and blood regeneration in stress conditions.

The molecular mechanisms governing the response of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to stress insults remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated effects of conditional knock-out or overexpression of Hmga2 (High mobility group AT-hook 2), a transcriptional activator of stem cell genes in fetal HSCs. While Hmga2 overexpression did not affect adult hematopoiesis under homeostasis, it accelerated HSC expansion in response to injection with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or in vitro treatment with TNF-α. In contrast, HSC and megakaryocyte progenitor cell numbers were decreased in Hmga2 KO animals. Transcription of inflammatory genes was repressed in Hmga2-overexpressing mice injected with 5-FU, and Hmga2 bound to distinct regions and chromatin accessibility was decreased in HSCs upon stress. Mechanistically, we found that casein kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylates the Hmga2 acidic domain, promoting its access and binding to chromatin, transcription of anti-inflammatory target genes, and the expansion of HSCs under stress conditions. Notably, the identified stress-regulated Hmga2 gene signature is activated in hematopoietic stem progenitor cells of human myelodysplastic syndrome patients. In sum, these results reveal a TNF-α/CK2/phospho-Hmga2 axis controlling adult stress hematopoiesis.

A tRNA-specific function for tRNA methyltransferase Trm10 is associated with a new tRNA quality control mechanism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a single homolog of the tRNA methyltransferase Trm10 performs m1G9 modification on 13 different tRNAs. Here we provide evidence that the m1G9 modification catalyzed by S. cerevisiae Trm10 plays a biologically important role for one of these tRNA substrates, tRNATrp Overexpression of tRNATrp (and not any of 38 other elongator tRNAs) rescues growth hypersensitivity of the trm10Δ strain in the presence of the antitumor drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU). Mature tRNATrp is depleted in trm10Δ cells, and its levels are further decreased upon growth in 5FU, while another Trm10 substrate (tRNAGly) is not affected under these conditions. Thus, m1G9 in S. cerevisiae is another example of a tRNA modification that is present on multiple tRNAs but is only essential for the biological function of one of those species. In addition to the effects of m1G9 on mature tRNATrp, precursor tRNATrp species accumulate in the same strains, an effect that is due to at least two distinct mechanisms. The levels of mature tRNATrp are rescued in the trm10Δmet22Δ strain, consistent with the known role of Met22 in tRNA quality control, where deletion of met22 causes inhibition of 5'-3' exonucleases that catalyze tRNA decay. However, none of the known Met22-associated exonucleases appear to be responsible for the decay of hypomodified tRNATrp, based on the inability of mutants of each enzyme to rescue the growth of the trm10Δ strain in the presence of 5FU. Thus, the surveillance of tRNATrp appears to constitute a distinct tRNA quality control pathway in S. cerevisiae.

Specific depletion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells by the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil enhances protective immune response in Paracoccidioidomycosis.

BACKGROUND: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis in Latin America, is regulated by suppressive mechanisms mediated by tolerogenic plasmacytoid-dendritic-cells and regulatory T-cells. Our recent studies revealed that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), are important mediators in PCM. Their suppressive activity on Th1/Th17 immunity was shown to be mediated by inhibitory effect of IL-10, IDO-1 and PD-L1. Studies revealed the chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) as a selective MDSC apoptosis-inducing agent, but its in vivo effect on infectious processes remains poorly investigated. METHODS: MDSCs and other leukocytes were evaluated in the lungs of 5-FU-treated mice after four, six, and eight weeks of P. brasiliensis infection. Disease severity and immunological response were evaluated in MDSCs-depleted. RESULTS: 5-FU treatment caused a significant reduction of pulmonary MDSCs and fungal loads. The specific depletion of MDSCs by 5-FU reduced all pulmonary CD4+ T-cell populations (Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg) resulting in improved tissue pathology and increased survival rates. Importantly, this reduction was concomitant with increased frequencies of Th1/Th17 cells and the increased levels of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines in the lungs and liver of treated mice suggesting an early and efficient protective effect of these cells. Furthermore, the immuneprotection conferred by the specific depletion of MDSCs by 5FU treatment could be reversed by the adoptive transfer of MDSCs. CONCLUSIONS: 5-FU treatment depletes lung-MDSCs of P. brasiliensis-infected mice resulting in enhanced immunity. The protective effect of 5-FU treatment in pulmonary PCM suggests that the specific depletion of MDSCs can be viewed as a potential immunotherapeutic tool for PCM.

The combination of FLCWK with 5-FU inhibits colon cancer and multidrug resistance by activating PXR to suppress the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a preferred chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of colon cancer. Nonetheless, its clinical effectiveness is frequently hampered by suboptimal therapeutic outcomes and the emergence of drug resistance. Therefore, there exists a pressing demand for novel therapeutic agents to circumvent chemoresistance. The pregnane X receptor (PXR) exerts a pivotal regulatory influence on the proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance mechanisms in colon cancer. Activation of PXR drives up the transcription of the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1), thus prompting the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) responsible for conferring tumour resistance. This study scrutinized the potential of Fengliao Changweikang (FLCWK) in augmenting the efficacy of 5-FU in the management of colon cancer. To this end, we engineered colon cancer cells with varied levels of PXR expression via lentiviral transfection, subsequently validating the findings in nude mice. By means of MTT assays, flow cytometry apoptosis analysis, Western blotting and immunofluorescence, we probed into the prospective impacts of FLCWK and 5-FU on cellular viability and resistance. Our results revealed that while upregulation of PXR amplified the therapeutic benefits in colon cancer treatment, it concurrently heightened resistance levels. FLCWK demonstrated a capacity to reduce P-gp expression, with the combined administration of FLCWK and 5-FU effectively reversing resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, activation of PXR was found to impede the IL-6/STAT3 signalling pathway. In an effort to mimic the development of colon cancer, we established an azomethane oxide (AOM)/ dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) mouse model, showing that FLCWK bolstered the inhibitory effects of 5-FU, impeding the progression of colon cancer. In summation, our findings point towards the potential of FLCWK in the treatment of colon cancer, particularly in strengthening the therapeutic efficacy of 5-FU in the prevention and control of the disease.

The rational modulation of autophagy sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluouracil and oxaliplatin.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common and deadliest cancer globally. Regimens using 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and Oxaliplatin (OXA) are the first-line treatment for CRC, but tumor recurrence is frequent. It is plausible to hypothesize that differential cellular responses are triggered after treatments depending on the genetic background of CRC cells and that the rational modulation of cell tolerance mechanisms like autophagy may reduce the regrowth of CRC cells. This study proposes investigating the cellular mechanisms triggered by CRC cells exposed to 5FU and OXA using a preclinical experimental design mimicking one cycle of the clinical regimen (i.e., 48 h of treatment repeated every 2 weeks). To test this, we treated CRC human cell lines HCT116 and HT29 with the 5FU and OXA, combined or not, for 48 h, followed by analysis for two additional weeks. Compared to single-drug treatments, the co-treatment reduced tumor cell regrowth, clonogenicity and stemness, phenotypes associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in clinics. This effect was exerted by the induction of apoptosis and senescence only in the co-treatment. However, a week after treatment, cells that tolerated the treatment had high levels of autophagy features and restored the proliferative phenotype, resembling tumor recurrence. The pharmacologic suppression of early autophagy during its peak of occurrence, but not concomitant with chemotherapeutics, strongly reduced cell regrowth. Overall, our experimental model provides new insights into the cellular mechanisms that underlie the response and tolerance of CRC cells to 5FU and OXA, suggesting optimized, time-specific autophagy inhibition as a new avenue for improving the efficacy of current treatments.

14-3-3σ restricts YY1 to the cytoplasm, promoting therapy resistance, and tumor progression in colorectal cancer.

14-3-3σ functions as an oncogene in colorectal cancer and is associated with therapy resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations are not clear. The results in this report demonstrate that loss of 14-3-3σ in colorectal cancer cells leads to a decrease in tumor formation and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. The increased sensitivity to chemotherapy is due to a decrease in the expression of UPR pathway genes in the absence of 14-3-3σ. 14-3-3σ promotes expression of the UPR pathway genes by binding to the transcription factor YY1 and preventing the nuclear localization of YY1. YY1, in the absence of 14-3-3σ, shows increased nuclear localization and binds to the promoter of the UPR pathway genes, resulting in decreased gene expression. Similarly, a YY1 mutant that cannot bind to 14-3-3σ also shows increased nuclear localization and is enriched on the promoter of the UPR pathway genes. Finally, inhibition of the UPR pathway with genetic or pharmacological approaches sensitizes colon cancer cells to chemotherapy. Our results identify a novel mechanism by which 14-3-3σ promotes tumor progression and therapy resistance in colorectal cancer by maintaining UPR gene expression.

Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase Polymorphism c.2194G>A Screening Is a Useful Tool for Decreasing Gastrointestinal and Hematological Adverse Drug Reaction Risk in Fluoropyrimidine-Treated Patients.

Although the risk of fluoropyrimidine toxicity may be decreased by identifying poor metabolizers with a preemptive dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) test, following international standards, many patients with wild-type (WT) genotypes for classic variations may still exhibit adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Therefore, the safety of fluoropyrimidine therapy could be improved by identifying new DPYD polymorphisms associated with ADRs. This study was carried out to assess whether testing for the underestimated c.2194G>A (DPYD*6 polymorphism, rs1801160) is useful, in addition to other well-known variants, in reducing the risk of ADRs in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This retrospective study included 132 patients treated with fluoropyrimidine-containing regimens who experienced ADRs such as gastrointestinal, dermatological, hematological, and neurological. All subjects were screened for DPYD variants DPYD2A (IVS14+1G>A, c.1905+1G>A, rs3918290), DPYD13 (c.1679T>G, rs55886062), c.2846A>T (rs67376798), c.1236G>A (rs56038477), and c.2194G>A by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In this cohort, the heterozygous c.2194G>A variant was present in 26 patients, while 106 individuals were WT; both subgroups were compared for the incidence of ADRs. This assessment revealed a high incidence of gastrointestinal and hematological ADRs in DPYD6 carriers compared to WT. Moreover, we have shown a higher prevalence of ADRs in females compared to males when stratifying c.2194G>A carrier individuals. Considering that c.2194G>A was linked to clinically relevant ADRs, we suggest that this variant should also be assessed preventively to reduce the risk of fluoropyrimidine-related ADRs.

Integrated analysis reveals a novel 5-fluorouracil resistance-based prognostic signature with promising implications for predicting the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used as a standard first-line treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Although 5-FU-based chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) have achieved success in treating CRC, drug resistance and low response rates remain substantial limitations. Thus, it is necessary to construct a 5-FU resistance-related signature (5-FRSig) to predict patient prognosis and identify ideal patients for chemotherapy and immunotherapy. METHODS: Using bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data, we established and validated a novel 5-FRSig model using stepwise regression and multiple CRC cohorts and evaluated its associations with the prognosis, clinical features, immune status, immunotherapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and drug sensitivity of CRC patients through various bioinformatics algorithms. Unsupervised consensus clustering was performed to categorize the 5-FU resistance-related molecular subtypes of CRC. The expression levels of 5-FRSig, immune checkpoints, and immunoregulators were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR). Potential small-molecule agents were identified via Connectivity Map (CMap) and molecular docking. RESULTS: The 5-FRSig and cluster were confirmed as independent prognostic factors in CRC, as patients in the low-risk group and Cluster 1 had a better prognosis. Notably, 5-FRSig was significantly associated with 5-FU sensitivity, chemotherapy response, immune cell infiltration, immunoreactivity phenotype, immunotherapy efficiency, and drug selection. We predicted 10 potential compounds that bind to the core targets of 5-FRSig with the highest affinity. CONCLUSION: We developed a valid 5-FRSig to predict the prognosis, chemotherapeutic response, and immune status of CRC patients, thus optimizing the therapeutic benefits of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, which can facilitate the development of personalized treatments and novel molecular targeted therapies for patients with CRC.

Dysregulated Amino Acid Sensing Drives Colorectal Cancer Growth and Metabolic Reprogramming Leading to Chemoresistance.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a devastating disease that is highly modulated by dietary nutrients. Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) contributes to tumor growth and limits therapy responses. Growth factor signaling is a major mechanism of mTORC1 activation. However, compensatory pathways exist to sustain mTORC1 activity after therapies that target oncogenic growth factor signaling. Amino acids potently activate mTORC1 via amino acid-sensing GTPase activity towards Rags (GATOR). The role of amino acid-sensing pathways in CRC is unclear. METHODS: Human colon cancer cell lines, preclinical intestinal epithelial-specific GATOR1 and GATOR2 knockout mice subjected to colitis-induced or sporadic colon tumor models, small interfering RNA screening targeting regulators of mTORC1, and tissues of patients with CRC were used to assess the role of amino acid sensing in CRC. RESULTS: We identified loss-of-function mutations of the GATOR1 complex in CRC and showed that altered expression of amino acid-sensing pathways predicted poor patient outcomes. We showed that dysregulated amino acid-sensing induced mTORC1 activation drives colon tumorigenesis in multiple mouse models. We found amino acid-sensing pathways to be essential in the cellular reprogramming of chemoresistance, and chemotherapeutic-resistant patients with colon cancer exhibited de-regulated amino acid sensing. Limiting amino acids in in vitro and in vivo models (low-protein diet) reverted drug resistance, revealing a metabolic vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a critical role for amino acid-sensing pathways in driving CRC and highlight the translational implications of dietary protein intervention in CRC.

Synergistic anti-tumorigenic effect of diosmetin in combination with 5-fluorouracil on human colon cancer xenografts in nude mice.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is frequently used to treat colorectal cancer (CRC), but its clinical application is limited by its toxicity. Natural compounds have been combined with chemotherapeutic drugs to reduce chemotherapy-related toxicity. Diosmetin, a natural flavonoid, has demonstrated anticancer effects against CRC. This study investigated diosmetin's potential in combination with 5-FU using a murine model of HCT-116 colon cancer xenografts in nu/nu nude mice. HCT-116 cells were injected into the right flanks of mice, and once tumors reached a size of 50 mm3, the mice were treated with diosmetin (100 mg/kg), 5-FU (30 mg/kg), or a combination of both at two dose levels (100 + 30 mg/kg and 50 + 15 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Blood and tumors were collected on the final day for further analysis. Mice treated with the higher combination dose exhibited the smallest tumor volume (330.91 ± 88.49 mm3). Biochemistry and histology analysis showed no toxicity or abnormalities in the liver, kidney, and heart with the combination therapy. Immunohistochemistry results revealed a notable reduction in the proliferation marker (Ki67) and inflammation marker (TLR4) in tumors from high-dose combination-treated mice. Moreover, immunofluorescence data indicated increased levels of apoptotic markers (Bax, Caspase-3, p53, p21) and downregulation of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) in the high-dose combination group. The findings suggest that 100 mg/kg of diosmetin combined with 30 mg/kg 5-FU significantly reduced tumor volume and had a less toxic effect on the heart compared to 5-FU monotherapy.

23-Hydroxybetulinic acid attenuates 5-fluorouracil resistance of colorectal cancer by modulating M2 macrophage polarization via STAT6 signaling.

Macrophage polarization is closely associated with the inflammatory processes involved in the development and chemoresistance of colorectal cancer (CRC). M2 macrophages, the predominant subtype of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in a wide variety of malignancies, have been demonstrated to promote the resistance of CRC to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In our study, we investigated the potential of 23-Hydroxybetulinic Acid (23-HBA), a significant active component of Pulsatilla chinensis (P. chinensis), to inhibit the polarization of M2 macrophages induced by IL-4. Our results showed that 23-HBA reduced the expression of M2 specific marker CD206, while downregulating the mRNA levels of M2 related genes (CD206, Arg1, IL-10, and CCL2). Additionally, 23-HBA effectively attenuated the inhibitory effects of the conditioned medium from M2 macrophages on apoptosis in colorectal cancer SW480 cells. Mechanistically, 23-HBA prevented the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the STAT6 protein, resulting in the inhibition of IL-10 release in M2 macrophages. Moreover, it interfered with the activation of the IL-10/STAT3/Bcl-2 signaling pathway in SW480 cells, ultimately reducing M2 macrophage-induced resistance to 5-FU. Importantly, depleting STAT6 expression in macrophages abolished the suppressive effect of 23-HBA on M2 macrophage polarization, while also eliminating its ability to decrease M2 macrophage-induced 5-FU resistance in cancer cells. Furthermore, 23-HBA significantly diminished the proportion of M2 macrophages in the tumor tissues of colorectal cancer mice, simultaneously enhancing the anti-cancer efficacy of 5-FU. The findings presented in this study highlight the capacity of 23-HBA to inhibit M2 macrophage polarization, a process that contributes to reduced 5-FU resistance in colorectal cancer.

Extracellular N6 -isopentenyladenosine (i6A) addition induces cotranscriptional i6A incorporation into ribosomal RNAs.

N6 -isopentenyladenosine (i6A), a modified adenosine monomer, is known to induce cell death upon its addition to the culture medium. However, the molecular fate of extracellularly added i6A has yet to be identified. Here we show that i6A addition to cell culture medium results in i6A incorporation into cellular RNA in several cell lines, including the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line FR2-SAS and its parental 5-FU-sensitive cell line SAS. i6A was predominantly incorporated into 18S and 28S rRNAs, and i6A incorporation into total RNA was mostly suppressed by treating these cell lines with an RNA polymerase I (Pol I) inhibitor. i6A was incorporated into RNA even upon inactivation of TRIT1, the only cellular i6A-modifying enzyme. These results indicate that upon cellular uptake of i6A, it is anabolized to be used for Pol I transcription. Interestingly, at lower i6A concentrations, the cytotoxic effect of i6A was substantially more pronounced in FR2-SAS cells than in SAS cells. Moreover, in FR2-SAS cells, i6A treatment decreased the rate of cellular protein synthesis and increased intracellular protein aggregation, and these effects were more pronounced than in SAS cells. Our work provides insights into the molecular fate of extracellularly applied i6A in the context of intracellular nucleic acid anabolism and suggests investigation of i6A as a candidate for a chemotherapy agent against 5-FU-resistant cancer cells.

The 5-Fluorouracil RNA Expression Viewer (5-FUR) Facilitates Interpreting the Effects of Drug Treatment and RRP6 Deletion on the Transcriptional Landscape in Yeast.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an excellent model to study the effect of external cues on cell division and stress response. 5-Fluorocuracil (5-FU) has been used to treat solid tumors since several decades. The drug was initially designed to interfere with DNA replication but was later found to exert its antiproliferative effect also via RNA-dependent processes. Since 5-FU inhibits the activity of the 3'-5'-exoribonuclease Rrp6 in yeast and mammals, earlier work has compared the effect of 5-FU treatment and RRP6 deletion at the transcriptome level in diploid synchronized yeast cells. To facilitate interpreting the expression data we have developed an improved 5-Fluorouracil RNA (5-FUR) expression viewer. Users can access information via genome coordinates and systematic or standard names for mRNAs and Xrn1-dependent-, stable-, cryptic-, and meiotic unannotated transcripts (XUTs, SUTs, CUTs, and MUTs). Normalized log2-transformed or linear data can be displayed as filled diagrams, line graphs or color-coded heatmaps. The expression data are useful for researchers interested in processes such as cell cycle regulation, mitotic repression of meiotic genes, the effect of 5-FU treatment and Rrp6 deficiency on the transcriptome and expression profiles of sense/antisense loci that encode overlapping transcripts. The viewer is accessible at http://5fur.genouest.org.

Prebiotic fibre mixtures counteract the manifestation of gut microbial dysbiosis induced by the chemotherapeutic 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in a validated in vitro model of the colon.

BACKGROUND: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is used as an antineoplastic agent in distinct cancer types. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota might modulate 5-FU efficacy and toxicity, potentially affecting the patient's prognosis. The current experimental study investigated 5-FU-induced microbiota alterations, as well as the potential of prebiotic fibre mixtures (M1-M4) to counteract these shifts. METHODS: A pooled microbial consortium was derived from ten healthy donors, inoculated in an in vitro model of the colon, and treated with 5-FU, with or without prebiotic fibre mixtures for 72 h. Four different prebiotic fibre mixtures were tested: M1 containing short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (sc GOS), long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS), and low viscosity pectin (lvPect), M2 consisting of arabinoxylan, beta-glucan, pectin, and resistant starch, M3 which was a mixture of scGOS and lcFOS, and M4 containing arabinoxylan, beta-glucan, pectin, resistant starch, and inulin. RESULTS: We identified 5-FU-induced changes in gut microbiota composition, but not in microbial diversity. Administration of prebiotic fibre mixtures during 5-FU influenced gut microbiota composition and taxa abundance. Amongst others, prebiotic fibre mixtures successfully stimulated potentially beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Anaerostipes, Weissella, Olsenella, Senegalimassilia) and suppressed the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria (Klebsiella, Enterobacter) in the presence of 5-FU. The short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) acetate increased slightly during 5-FU, but even more during 5-FU with prebiotic fibre mixtures, while propionate was lower due to 5-FU with or without prebiotic fibre mixtures, compared to control. The SCFA butyrate and valerate did not show differences among all conditions. The branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) iso-butyrate and iso-valerate were higher in 5-FU, but lower in 5-FU + prebiotics, compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that prebiotic fibre mixtures represent a promising strategy to modulate 5-FU-induced microbial dysbiosis towards a more favourable microbiota, thereby possibly improving 5-FU efficacy and reducing toxicity, which should be evaluated further in clinical studies.

Regulation of Hippo-YAP/CTGF signaling by combining an HDAC inhibitor and 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer cells.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors diminish carcinogenesis, metastasis, and cancer cell proliferation by inducing death in cancer cells. Tissue regeneration and organ development are highly dependent on the Hippo signaling pathway. Targeting the dysregulated hippo pathway is an excellent approach for cancer treatment. According to the results of this study, the combination of panobinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapy drug, can act synergistically to induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. The combination of panobinostat and 5-FU was more effective in inhibiting cell viability than either treatment alone by elevating the protein levels of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-9. By specifically targeting E-cadherin, vimentin, and MMP-9, the combination of panobinostat and 5-FU significantly inhibited cell migration. Additionally, panobinostat significantly increased the anticancer effects of 5-FU by activating Hippo signaling (Mst 1 and 2, Sav1, and Mob1) and inhibiting the Akt signaling pathway. As a consequence, there was a decrease in the amount of Yap protein. The combination therapy of panobinostat with 5-FU dramatically slowed the spread of gastric cancer in a xenograft animal model by deactivating the Akt pathway and supporting the Hippo pathway. Since combination treatment exhibits much higher anti-tumor potential than 5-FU alone, panobinostat effectively potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of 5-FU. As a result, it is believed that panobinostat and 5-FU combination therapy will be useful as supplemental chemotherapy in the future.

RhoB expression associated with chemotherapy response and prognosis in colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To examine the role of RhoB expression in relation to chemotherapy response, clinical outcomes and associated signaling pathways in colorectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 5 colon cancer cell lines, zebrafish embryos and 260 colorectal cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin (OXL). The methods consisted of CRISPR/Cas9, reactive oxygen species (ROS), caspase-3 activity, autophagy flux, in-silico RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry. Gene expression analysis and pathway analysis were conducted using RNA-seq data. RESULTS: All cancer lines tested, including SW480, SW480-KO13 (RhoB knockout), SW480-KO55 (RhoB knockout), HCT116 and HCT116-OE (RhoB overexpressed), exhibited cytotoxicity to 5-FU and OXL. RhoB knockout cell lines demonstrated significantly reduced migration compared to the control cell lines. Furthermore, RhoB played a role in caspase-3-dependent apoptosis, regulation of ROS production and autophagic flux. The mRNA sequencing data indicated lower expression levels of oncogenes in RhoB knockout cell lines. The zebrafish model bearing SW480-KO showed a light trend toward tumor regression. RhoB expression by immunohistochemistry in patients was increased from normal mucosa to tumor samples. In patients who received chemotherapy, high RhoB expression was related to worse survival compared to low RhoB expression. Furthermore, the molecular docking analysis revealed that OXL had a higher binding affinity for RhoB than 5-FU, with a binding affinity of -7.8 kcal/mol and HADDOCK predicted molecular interactions between RhoB and caspase 3 protein. Gene-set enrichment analysis supported these findings, showing that enrichment of DNA damage response pathway and p53 signaling in RhoB overexpression treatment group, while the RhoB knockout treatment group exhibited enrichment in the negative regulation pathway of cell migration. CONCLUSION: RhoB was negatively associated with chemotherapy response and survival in colorectal cancers. Therefore, RhoB inhibition may enhance chemotherapeutic responses and patient survival.

Establishment of patient-derived organoids and a characterization based drug discovery platform for treatment of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) encompasses many different histological and molecular subtypes. It is a major driver of cancer mortality because of poor survival and limited treatment options. Personalised medicine in the form of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) represents a promising approach for improving therapeutic outcomes. The goal of this study was to overcome the limitations of current models by ameliorating organoid cultivation. METHODS: Organoids derived from cancer tissue were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, mRNA, and whole-exome sequencing. Three representative chemotherapy drugs, 5-fluorouracil, docetaxel, and oxaliplatin, were compared for their efficacy against different subtypes of gastric organoids by ATP assay and apoptosis staining. In addition, drug sensitivity screening results from two publicly available databases, the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopaedia, were pooled and applied to organoid lines. Once key targeting genes were confirmed, chemotherapy was used in combination with poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP)-targeted therapy. RESULTS: We successfully constructed GC PDOs surgically resected from GC patient tissue. PDOs closely reflected the histopathological and genomic features of the corresponding primary tumours. Whole-exosome sequencing and mRNA analysis revealed that changes to the original tumour genome were maintained during long-term culture. The drugs caused divergent responses in intestinal, poorly differentiated intestinal, and diffuse gastric cancer organoids, which were confirmed in organoid lines. Poorly differentiated intestinal GC patients benefited from a combination of 5-fluorouracil and veliparib. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that combining chemotherapy with PARP targeting may improve the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant tumours.

Sparassis latifolia and exercise training as complementary medicine mitigated the 5-fluorouracil potent side effects in mice with colorectal cancer: bioinformatics approaches, novel monitoring pathological metrics, screening signatures, and innovative management tactic.

BACKGROUND: Prompt identification and assessment of the disease are essential for reducing the death rate associated with colorectal cancer (COL). Identifying specific causal or sensitive components, such as coding RNA (cRNA) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), may greatly aid in the early detection of colorectal cancer. METHODS: For this purpose, we gave natural chemicals obtained from Sparassis latifolia (SLPs) either alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy (5-Fluorouracil to a mouse colorectal tumor model induced by AOM-DSS. The transcription profile of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and their target hub genes was evaluated using qPCR Real-Time, and ELISA techniques. RESULTS: MSX2, MMP7, ITIH4, and COL1A2 were identified as factors in inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to the development of COL. The hub genes listed, upstream regulatory factors such as lncRNA PVT1, NEAT1, KCNQ1OT1, SNHG16, and miR-132-3p have been discovered as biomarkers for prognosis and diagnosis of COL. The SLPs and exercise, effectively decreased the size and quantity of tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This effect may be attributed to the modulation of gene expression levels, including MSX2, MMP7, ITIH4, COL1A2, PVT1, NEAT1, KCNQ1OT1, SNHG16, and miR-132-3p. Ultimately, SLPs and exercise have the capacity to be regarded as complementing and enhancing chemotherapy treatments, owing to their efficacious components.

Folic acid-functionalized and acetyl-terminated dendrimers as nanovectors for co-delivery of sorafenib and 5-fluorouracil.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to investigate the simultaneous association of sorafenib (SF) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with generation 4 (G4) acetyl-terminated poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers conjugated with folic acid (G4ACE-FA). Simulations were conducted under physiological (pH 7.4) and acidic (pH < 5) conditions, representing the environments of healthy and cancerous cells, respectively. The average radius of gyration (Rg) of G4ACE-FA was determined to be approximately 1.85 ± 0.01 nm and 2.31 ± 0.03 nm under physiological and acidic conditions, respectively. Drug loading did not exert a significant influence on the size and conformational compactness of G4ACE-FA at both neutral and low pH. However, a discernible increase in dendrimer size was observed upon simultaneous encapsulation and/or conjugation of both drug molecules. The relaxation times of G4ACE-FA were calculated to be 10.2 ns and 9.6 ns at neutral and low pH, respectively, indicating comparable equilibrium rates under both pH environments. The incorporation of small 5-FU molecules did not demonstrably alter the dendrimer's microstructure. The observed doubling of the relaxation time under acidic conditions can be attributed to the relatively compact structure of the dendrimer at neutral pH and the continuous intrastructural rearrangements occurring at acidic pH. The prolonged relaxation time observed in the G4ACE-FA:5-FU:SF complex is attributed to competitive interactions between 5-FU and SF molecules during simultaneous encapsulation by the dendrimer. Analysis of the unloaded and loaded structures of G4ACE-FA under varying pH conditions revealed a densely packed conformation at neutral pH and a more open, sponge-like structure at low pH. The solvent-accessible surface area (SASA) of the dendrimer was assessed at both pH conditions. At neutral pH, SASA values were approximately 124.0 ± 2.8 nm2, 127.5 ± 2.6 nm2, 131.3 ± 2.6 nm2, and 133.3 ± 2.6 nm2 for unloaded G4ACE-FA and the G4ACE-FA:5-FU, G4ACE-FA:SF, and G4ACE-FA:5-FU:SF complexes, respectively. Drug incorporation had a minimal effect on SASA at neutral pH. At low pH, the corresponding values were 198.2 ± 4.7 nm2, 195.8 ± 4.8 nm2, 212.5 ± 6.1 nm2, and 215.4 ± 4.2 nm2. These findings suggest that 5-FU encapsulation resulted in minimal changes to the dendrimer's surface exposure to the solvent, potentially due to its small size. In contrast, SF interaction led to a more pronounced increase in SASA, indicating structural expansion to accommodate SF conjugation. The equilibrium stoichiometry of the G4ACE-FA:5-FU complex was determined to be 1:11 and 1:3 at neutral and low pH, respectively. Similarly, the G4ACE-FA:SF complex exhibited equilibrium stoichiometries of 1:10 and 1:4 at neutral and low pH. The G4ACE-FA:5-FU:SF complex displayed stoichiometries of 1:11:10 at neutral pH and 1:3:3 at low pH. Collectively, these findings suggest that G4ACE-FA holds promise as a versatile nanovector capable of tightly binding drug molecules at neutral pH and facilitating their release within tumor cells, thereby enabling targeted drug delivery. Furthermore, the co-loading of 5-FU and SF did not compromise the loading capacity of G4ACE-FA. At neutral pH, 5-FU molecules were distributed evenly across the dendrimer surface and within its cavities, with 6 molecules encapsulated internally and 5 conjugated on the surface. At low pH, all bound 5-FU molecules were located at the dendrimer periphery. Similarly, at neutral pH, SF molecules were found both internally (6 molecules) and on the surface (4 molecules). At low pH, 2 SF molecules were found on the surface and 2 were internally complexed. The preferred binding sites of 5-FU and SF remained largely unchanged when co-loaded onto the dendrimer. This suggests that co-delivery of 5-FU and SF using G4ACE-FA could be a promising strategy for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of these chemotherapeutic agents.

Pharmacogenetics of DPYD and treatment-related mortality on fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy for cancer patients: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

BACKGROUND: Fluoropyrimidines are chemotherapy drugs utilized to treat a variety of solid tumors. These drugs predominantly rely on the enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), which is encoded by the DPYD gene, for their metabolism. Genetic mutations affecting this gene can cause DPYD deficiency, disrupting pyrimidine metabolism and increasing the risk of toxicity in cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil. The severity and type of toxic reactions are influenced by genetic and demographic factors and, in certain instances, can result in patient mortality. Among the more than 50 identified variants of DPYD, only a subset has clinical significance, leading to the production of enzymes that are either non-functional or impaired. The study aims to examine treatment-related mortality in cancer patients undergoing fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy, comparing those with and without DPD deficiency. METHODS: The meta-analysis selected and evaluated 9685 studies from Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase and Web of Science databases. Only studies examining the main DPYD variants (DPYD*2A, DPYD p.D949V, DPYD*13 and DPYD HapB3) were included. Statistical Analysis was performed using R, version 4.2.3. Data were examined using the Mantel-Haenszel method and 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. RESULTS: There were 36 prospective and retrospective studies included, accounting for 16,005 patients. Most studies assessed colorectal cancer, representing 86.49% of patients. Other gastrointestinal cancers were evaluated by 11 studies, breast cancer by nine studies and head and neck cancers by five studies. Four DPYD variants were identified as predictors of severe fluoropyrimidines toxicity in literature review: DPYD*2A (rs3918290), DPYD p.D949V (rs67376798), DPYD*13 (rs55886062) and DPYD Hap23 (rs56038477). All 36 studies assessed the DPYD*2A variant, while 20 assessed DPYD p.D949V, 7 assessed DPYD*13, and 9 assessed DPYDHap23. Among the 587 patients who tested positive for at least one DPYD variant, 13 died from fluoropyrimidine toxicity. Conversely, in the non-carrier group there were 14 treatment-related deaths. Carriers of DPYD variants was found to be significantly correlated with treatment-related mortality (OR = 34.86, 95% CI 13.96-87.05; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study improves our comprehension of how the DPYD gene impacts cancer patients receiving fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy. Identifying mutations associated with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency may help predict the likelihood of serious side effects and fatalities. This knowledge can be applied to adjust medication doses before starting treatment, thus reducing the occurrence of these critical outcomes.