NB compounds are potent and efficacious FOXM1 inhibitors in high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Genetic studies implicate the oncogenic transcription factor Forkhead Box M1 (FOXM1) as a potential therapeutic target in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). We evaluated the activity of different FOXM1 inhibitors in HGSOC cell models. RESULTS: We treated HGSOC and fallopian tube epithelial (FTE) cells with a panel of previously reported FOXM1 inhibitors. Based on drug potency, efficacy, and selectivity, determined through cell viability assays, we focused on two compounds, NB-73 and NB-115 (NB compounds), for further investigation. NB compounds potently and selectively inhibited FOXM1 with lesser effects on other FOX family members. NB compounds decreased FOXM1 expression via targeting the FOXM1 protein by promoting its proteasome-mediated degradation, and effectively suppressed FOXM1 gene targets at both the protein and mRNA level. At the cellular level, NB compounds promoted apoptotic cell death. Importantly, while inhibition of apoptosis using a pan-caspase inhibitor rescued HGSOC cells from NB compound-induced cell death, it did not rescue FOXM1 protein degradation, supporting that FOXM1 protein loss from NB compound treatment is specific and not a general consequence of cytotoxicity. Drug washout studies indicated that FOXM1 reduction was retained for at least 72 h post-treatment, suggesting that NB compounds exhibit long-lasting effects in HGSOC cells. NB compounds effectively suppressed both two-dimensional and three-dimensional HGSOC cell colony formation at sub-micromolar concentrations. Finally, NB compounds exhibited synergistic activity with carboplatin in HGSOC cells. CONCLUSIONS: NB compounds are potent, selective, and efficacious inhibitors of FOXM1 in HGSOC cells and are worthy of further investigation as HGSOC therapeutics.

Meningioma achieves malignancy and erastin-induced ferroptosis resistance through FOXM1-AURKA-NRF2 axis.

The oncogene Aurora kinase A (AURKA) has been implicated in various tumor, yet its role in meningioma remains unexplored. Recent studies have suggested a potential link between AURKA and ferroptosis, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study presented evidence of AURKA upregulation in high grade meningioma and its ability to enhance malignant characteristics. We identified AURKA as a suppressor of erastin-induced ferroptosis in meningioma. Mechanistically, AURKA directly interacted with and phosphorylated kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), thereby activating nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (NFE2L2/NRF2) and target genes transcription. Additionally, forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) facilitated the transcription of AURKA. Suppression of AURKA, in conjunction with erastin, yields significant enhancements in the prognosis of a murine model of meningioma. Our study elucidates an unidentified mechanism by which AURKA governs ferroptosis, and strongly suggests that the combination of AURKA inhibition and ferroptosis-inducing agents could potentially provide therapeutic benefits for meningioma treatment.

The splicing factor WBP11 mediates MCM7 intron retention to promote the malignant progression of ovarian cancer.

Accumulating studies suggest that splicing factors play important roles in many diseases including human cancers. Our study revealed that WBP11, a core splicing factor, is highly expressed in ovarian cancer (OC) tissues and associated with a poor prognosis. WBP11 inhibition significantly impaired the proliferation and mobility of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, FOXM1 transcriptionally activated WBP11 expression by directly binding to its promoter in OC cells. Importantly, RNA-seq and alternative splicing event analysis revealed that WBP11 silencing decreased the expression of MCM7 by regulating intron 4 retention. MCM7 inhibition attenuated the increase in malignant behaviors of WBP11-overexpressing OC cells. Overall, WBP11 was identified as an oncogenic splicing factor that contributes to malignant progression by repressing intron 4 retention of MCM7 in OC cells. Thus, WBP11 is an oncogenic splicing factor with potential therapeutic and prognostic implications in OC.

Activation of the FOXM1/ASF1B/PRDX3 axis confers hyperproliferative and antioxidative stress reactivity to gastric cancer.

Nucleosome assembly during DNA replication is dependent on histone chaperones. Recent studies suggest that dysregulated histone chaperones contribute to cancer progression, including gastric cancer (GC). Further studies are required to explore the prognostic and therapeutic implications of histone chaperones and their mechanisms of action in GC progression. Here we identified histone chaperone ASF1B as a potential biomarker for GC proliferation and prognosis. ASF1B was significantly upregulated in GC, which was associated with poor prognosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the inhibition of ASF1B suppressed the malignant characteristics of GC, while overexpression of ASF1B had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, transcription factor FOXM1 directly bound to the ASF1B-promoter region, thereby regulating its transcription. Treatment with thiostrepton, a FOXM1 inhibitor, not only suppressed ASF1B expression, but also inhibited GC progression. Furthermore, ASF1B regulated the mitochondrial protein peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) transcription in a FOXM1-dependent manner. The crucial role of ASF1B-regulated PRDX3 in GC cell proliferation and oxidative stress balance was also elucidated. In summary, our study suggests that the FOXM1-ASF1B-PRDX3 axis is a potential therapeutic target for treating GC.

HNRNPC Regulates GLUT1/LDHA Pathway by Stabilizing FOXM1 mRNA to Promote the Progression and Aerobic Glycolysis of Multiple Myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a malignant hematological disease. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C1/C2 (HNRNPC) acts as an oncogene in a variety of cancers. However, the role of HNRNPC in MM has not been reported so far. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expressions of HNRN-PC and FOXM1 were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. CCK8, EDU staining, flow cytometry and western blot were used to detect cell viability and cell cycle. The extracellular flux analyzer XF96 was used to detect the production of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Lactic acid and glucose levels in culture medium were detected by lactic acid assay kits and glucose assay kits, respectively. Then, the binding ability of HNRNPC with FOXM1 was detected by RIP and the stability of FOXM1 mRNA was appraised with qRT-PCR. With the application of qRT-PCR and western blot, the transfection efficacy of si-HNRNPC and Oe-FOXM1 was examined. Western blot was applied for the estimation of GLUT1/LDHA signaling pathway-related proteins. RESULTS: The expression of HNRNPC in MM cell line was abnormally elevated. HNRNPC silence significantly inhibited the proliferation, facilitated the apoptosis, induced cycle arrest, and suppressed aerobic glycolysis in MM cells, which were all reversed by FOXM1 overexpression. It was also found that the regulatory effect of HNRNPC is realized by stabilizing FOXM1 mRNA and regulating GLUT1/LDHA pathway. CONCLUSION: HNRNPC regulated GLUT1/LDHA pathway by stabilizing FOXM1 mRNA to promote the progression and aerobic glycolysis of MM.

Peptide mimetic NC114 induces growth arrest by preventing PKCδ activation and FOXM1 nuclear translocation in colorectal cancer cells.

The peptide mimetic, NC114, is a promising anticancer compound that specifically kills colorectal cancer cells without affecting normal colon epithelial cells. In our previous study, we observed that NC114 inhibited the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, with significant downregulation of both Ser 675-phosphorylated ß-catenin and its target genes, cyclin D1 and survivin. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for its cytotoxic effect has not yet been fully characterized. In the present study, we demonstrated that NC114 prevented cell cycle progression from S to G2/M phase by downregulating cell cycle-related gene expression, and also induced growth arrest in SW480 and HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. A novel covariation network analysis combined with transcriptome analysis revealed a series of signaling cascades affected by NC114 treatment, and identified protein kinase C-δ (PKCδ) and forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) as important regulatory factors for NC114-induced growth arrest. NC114 treatment inhibits the activation of PKCδ and its kinase activity, which suppresses MEK/ERK signaling. Attenuated MEK/ERK signaling then results in a reduction in FOXM1 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear translocation of FOXM1 and ß-catenin. Consequently, formation of a T-cell factor-4 (TCF4)/ß-catenin transcription complex in the nucleus is inhibited and transcription of its target genes, such as cell cycle-related genes, is downregulated. The efficacy of NC114 on tumor growth was confirmed in a xenograft model. Collectively, elucidation of the mechanism by which NC114 induces growth arrest in colorectal cancer cells should provide a novel therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer treatment.

Epigenomic analyses identify FOXM1 as a key regulator of anti-tumor immune response in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Unlike most cancer types, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has rapidly escalated in the western world over recent decades. Using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), we identify the transcription factor (TF) FOXM1 as an important epigenetic regulator of EAC. FOXM1 plays a critical role in cellular proliferation and tumor growth in EAC patient-derived organoids and cell line models. We identify ERBB2 as an upstream regulator of the expression and transcriptional activity of FOXM1. Unexpectedly, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) unbiased screen reveals a prominent anti-correlation between FOXM1 and immune response pathways. Indeed, syngeneic mouse models show that FOXM1 inhibits the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor microenvironment. Consistently, FOXM1 suppresses CD8+ T cell chemotaxis in vitro and antigen-dependent CD8+ T cell killing. This study characterizes FOXM1 as a significant EAC-promoting TF and elucidates its novel function in regulating anti-tumor immune response.

PLK1 and FoxM1 expressions positively correlate in papillary thyroid carcinoma and their combined inhibition results in synergistic anti-tumor effects.

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1; also known as serine/threonine-protein kinase PLK1) serves as a central player in cell proliferation, exerting critical regulatory roles in mitotic processes and cell survival. We conducted an analysis of PLK1 protein expression in a large cohort of samples from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients and examined its functional significance in PTC cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. PLK1 overexpression was noted in 54.2% of all PTC and was significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathological parameters; it was also found to be an independent prognostic marker for shorter recurrence-free survival. Given the significant association between PLK1 and forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1), and their concomitant overexpression in a large proportion of PTC samples, we explored their correlation and their combined inhibitions in PTC in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of PLK1 expression indeed suppressed cell proliferation, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in PTC cell lines. Significantly, the downregulation of PLK1 reduced the self-renewal capability of spheroids formed from PTC cells. Immunoprecipitation analysis shows that PLK1 binds to FoxM1 and vice versa in vitro. Mechanistically, PLK1 knockdown suppresses FoxM1 expression, whereas inhibition of FoxM1 does not affect PLK1 expression, which suggests that PLK1 acts through the FoxM1 pathway. The combined treatment of a PLK1 inhibitor (volasertib) and a FoxM1 inhibitor (thiostrepton) demonstrated a synergistic effect in reducing PTC cell growth in vitro and delaying tumor growth in vivo. This study highlights the important role of PLK1 in PTC tumorigenesis and prognosis. It also highlights the synergistic therapeutic potential of dual-targeting PLK1 and FoxM1 in PTC, unveiling a potential innovative therapeutic strategy for managing aggressive forms of PTC.

FOXM1: a new therapeutic target of extramammary Paget disease.

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare skin cancer that primarily affects older individuals predominantly in areas with apocrine sweat glands. Although most early EMPD lesions are indolent, patients with metastatic EMPD have a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective systemic treatment. In this study, we investigated the role of forkhead box M1 (FOXM1), a potent transcription factor, in EMPD and assessed the potential of FOXM1 as a therapeutic target. Immunohistochemistry of 112 primary and 17 metastatic EMPD samples revealed that FOXM1 expression increased with tumor progression. Patients in whom FOXM1 was expressed in more than 10% of tumor cells had significantly shorter disease-specific survival than the other patients (p = 0.0397). In in vitro studies using our newly established EMPD cell line, KS-EMPD-1, we found high expression of FOXM1. Knockdown of FOXM1 impaired tumor cell viability, migration, and invasion. Inhibition of FOXM1 using thiostrepton also reduced tumor cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that FOXM1 is a promising therapeutic target for patients with EMPD.

FOXM1 promote the growth and metastasis of uveal melanoma cells by regulating CDK2 expression.

BACKGROUND: Uveal melanoma (UVM) is an aggressive malignant tumor originating from melanocytes in the eye. Here, we screened the possible genes involved in the development and prognosis of UVM, and identified that FOXM1 and MET were associated with the prognosis of UVM patients. Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of cell cycle-related genes that are necessary for DNA duplication. However, the regulatory mechanism of FOXM1 in UVM was still not clear. Here, we investigated the regulation of FOXM1 in the malignant phenotype of UVM cells and its effect on the prognosis of UVM patients. METHODS: UVM gene expression profiles were obtained using GSE22138 data from the gene expression omnibus (GEO). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct a key module gene for metastasis, which was strongly correlated with UVM prognosis. The latent biological pathways were identified through gene ontology analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and hub shared gene authentication were performed. GEPIA and UALCAN databases were used for the analysis of relationship between candidate genes (FOXM1 or MET) and the prognosis of UVM patients. The abundance of FOXM1 was examined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Colony formation and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays for cell proliferation, wound healing assay for migration, and transwell invasion analysis for invasion were performed. RESULTS: GEO database showed the differentially expressed genes between UVM samples with or without metastasis, and a key module gene for metastasis was constructed by WGCNA. The PPI network revealed that seven candidate genes (VEGFA, KRAS, MET, SRC, EZR, FOXM1, and CCNB1) were closely associated with UVM metastasis. GEPIA and UALCAN analyzes suggested that FOXM1 and MET are related to the prognosis of patients with UVM. These experimental results suggested that FOXM1 was highly expressed in UVM cells. FOXM1 deficiency represses the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of UVM cells. CONCLUSIONS: FOXM1 silencing may hinder UVM cell progression, providing a novel theoretical basis and new insights for UVM treatment.

FOXM1 Participates in Trophoblast Migration and Early Trophoblast Invasion: Potential Role in Blastocyst Implantation.

Successful implantation requires coordinated migration and invasion of trophoblast cells into a receptive endometrium. Reduced forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) expression limits trophoblast migration and angiogenesis in choriocarcinoma cell lines, and in a rat model, placental FOXM1 protein expression was significantly upregulated in the early stages of pregnancy compared to term pregnancy. However, the precise role of FOXM1 in implantation events remains unknown. By analyzing mice blastocysts at embryonic day (E3.5), we have demonstrated that FOXM1 is expressed as early as the blastocyst stage, and it is expressed in the trophectoderm of the blastocyst. Since controlled oxygen tension is determinant for achieving normal implantation and placentation and a chronic hypoxic environment leads to shallow trophoblast invasion, we evaluated if FOXM1 expression changes in response to different oxygen tensions in the HTR-8/SVneo first trimester human trophoblast cell line and observed that FOXM1 expression was significantly higher when trophoblast cells were cultured at 3% O2, which coincides with oxygen concentrations in the uteroplacental interface at the time of implantation. Conversely, FOXM1 expression diminished in response to 1% O2 that resembles a hypoxic environment in utero. Migration and angiogenesis were assessed following FOXM1 knockdown and overexpression at 3% O2 and 1% O2, respectively, in HTR-8/SVneo cells. FOXM1 overexpression increased transmigration ability and tubule formation. Using a 3D trophoblast invasion model with trophospheres from HTR-8/SVneo cells cultured on a layer of MATRIGEL and of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from menstrual fluid, we observed that trophospheres obtained from 3D trophoblast invasion displayed higher FOXM1 expression compared with pre-invasion trophospheres. Moreover, we have also observed that FOXM1-overexpressing trophospheres increased trophoblast invasion compared with controls. HTR-8/SVneo-FOXM1-depleted cells led to a downregulation of PLK4, VEGF, and MMP2 mRNA expression. Our current findings suggest that FOXM1 participates in embryo implantation by contributing to trophoblast migration and early trophoblast invasion, by inducing transcription activation of genes involved in these processes. Maternal-fetal communication is crucial for trophoblast invasion, and maternal stromal cells may induce higher levels of FOXM1 in trophoblast cells.

AKT/FOXM1/STMN1 signaling pathway activation by SMC1A promotes tumor growth in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Upregulation of SMC1A (Structural maintenance of chromosomes 1A) is linked with many types of cancer and its oncogenic function, which has been associated with crucial cellular mechanisms (cell division, cell cycle checkpoints regulation and DNA repair). Recent studies have shown that SMC1A was involved in breast cancer, although the exact mechanisms of SMC1A remain to be determined. METHODS: Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we examined SMC1A expression and its relation to other genes, including FOXM1 and STMN1. Short hairpin RNA was used to subsequently examine the biological roles of SMC1A in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. Bioinformatics were performed to identify the SMC1A-related gene FOXM1. RESULTS: Here, we used the TCGA database to show that SMC1A is overexpressed in breast cancer. Later investigations showed SMC1A's role in breast cancer cell survival, apoptosis and invasion. Using bioinformatics and western blot assays, we confirmed that FOXM1 acted as the downstream of SMC1A, and SMC1A knockdown significantly downregulated the FOXM1 expression via the AKT signal pathway. Interestingly, the inhibition effects induced by SMC1A downregulation could be reversed by FOXM1 overexpression. In the clinic, SMC1A expression is favorably linked with FOXM1 expression in breast cancer tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our results not only enhance our knowledge of SMC1A's molecular pathways in breast cancer, but also suggest a potential new therapeutic target.

Inhibition of LINC00958 hinders the progression of osteoarthritis through regulation of the miR-214-3p/FOXM1 axis.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the impact of the long noncoding RNA LINC00958 on cellular activity and oxidative stress in osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: We performed bioinformatics analysis via StarBase and luciferase reporter assays to predict and validate the interactions between LINC00958 and miR-214-3p and between miR-214-3p and FOXM1. The expression levels of LINC00958, miR-214-3p, and FOXM1 were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting. To assess effects on CHON-001 cells, we performed MTT proliferation assays, evaluated cytotoxicity with a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, and examined apoptosis through flow cytometry. Additionally, we measured the levels of apoptosis-related proteins, including BAX and BCL2, using western blotting. The secretion of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) was measured using ELISA. RESULTS: Our findings confirmed that LINC00958 is a direct target of miR-214-3p. LINC00958 expression was upregulated but miR-214-3p expression was downregulated in both OA cells and IL-1ß-stimulated CHON-001 cells compared to the corresponding control cells. Remarkably, miR-214-3p expression was further reduced after miR-214-3p inhibitor treatment but increased following LINC00958-siRNA stimulation. Silencing LINC00958 significantly decreased its expression, and this effect was reversed by miR-214-3p inhibitor treatment. Notably, LINC00958-siRNA transfection alleviated the IL-1ß-induced inflammatory response, as evidenced by the increased cell viability, reduced LDH release, suppression of apoptosis, downregulated BAX expression, and elevated BCL2 levels. Moreover, LINC00958 silencing led to reduced secretion of inflammatory factors from IL-1ß-stimulated CHON-001 cells. The opposite results were observed in the miR-214-3p inhibitor-transfected groups. Furthermore, in CHON-001 cells, miR-214-3p directly targeted FOXM1 and negatively regulated its expression. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that downregulating LINC00958 mitigates IL-1ß-induced injury in CHON-001 cells through the miR-214-3p/FOXM1 axis. These results imply that LINC00958 plays a role in OA development and may be a valuable therapeutic target for OA.

FOXM1 transcriptional regulation of RacGAP1 activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common gynecological tumor disease in women, which occurs at the junction of cervical squamous columnar epithelium. We investigated the effect and mechanism of transcription factor FOXM1 synergizing RacGAP1 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells. METHODS: Here, we analyzed the correlation between FOXM1 and RacGAP1 and the clinicopathological features of 68 CC patients. RT-qPCR was used to assess FOXM1 and RacGAP1 mRNA expression in CC tissues and cells. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 and EDU assays. Transwell assay was applied to test migration and invasion. Cell apoptosis was evaluated utilizing flow cytometry. ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed the interaction of FOXM1 and RacGAP1. Protein levels of FOXM1 and RacGAP1, as well as PI3K/AKT, were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: FOXM1 expression was correlated with FIGO stage and histological grade, and RacGAP1 expression was correlated with histological grade. FOXM1 and RacGAP1 levels were increased in CC tissues, and higher expressed in human CC cell lines than that in an immortalized HPV-negative skin keratinocyte line (HaCaT). Depleted RacGAP1 suppressed CC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. RacGAP1 was a target gene of FOXM1, and FOXM1 positively regulated RacGAP1 expression. FOXM1 had a synergistic effect with RacGAP1 to exert oncogenic function in CC by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling. CONCLUSION: FOXM1 cooperates with RacGAP1 to induce CC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, inhibit apoptosis, and regulate PI3K/AKT signaling to promote CC progression.

Diminazene aceturate-induced cytotoxicity is associated with the deregulation of cell cycle signaling and downregulation of oncogenes Furin, c-MYC, and FOXM1 in human cervical carcinoma Hela cells.

Diminazene aceturate (DIZE) is an FDA-listed small molecule known for the treatment of African sleeping sickness. In vivo studies showed that DIZE may be beneficial for a range of human ailments. However, there is very limited information on the effects of DIZE on human cancer cells. The current study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic responses of DIZE, using the human carcinoma Hela cell line. WST-1 cell proliferation assay showed that DIZE inhibited the viability of Hela cells in a dose-dependent manner and the observed response was associated with the downregulation of Ki67 and PCNA cell proliferation markers. DIZE-treated cells stained with acridine orange-ethidium and JC-10 dye revealed cell death and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm), compared with DMSO (vehicle) control, respectively. Cellular immunofluorescence staining of DIZE-treated cells showed upregulation of caspase 3 activities. DIZE-treated cells showed downregulation of mRNA for G1/S genes CCNA2 and CDC25A, S-phase genes MCM3 and PLK4, and G2/S phase transition/mitosis genes Aurka and PLK1. These effects were associated with decreased mRNA expression of Furin, c-Myc, and FOXM1 oncogenes. These results suggested that DIZE may be considered for its effects on other cancer types. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the effect of DIZE on human cervical cancer cells.

Abnormal expression of FOXM1 in carcinogenesis of renal cell carcinoma: From experimental findings to clinical applications.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a prevalent malignancy within the genitourinary system. At present, patients with high-grade or advanced RCC continue to have a bleak prognosis. Mounting research have emphasized the significant involvement of Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) in RCC development and progression. Therefore, it is imperative to consolidate the existing evidence regarding the contributions of FOXM1 to RCC tumorigenesis through a comprehensive review. This study elucidated the essential functions of FOXM1 in promoting RCC growth, invasion, and metastasis by regulating cell cycle progression, DNA repair, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Also, FOXM1 might serve as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as well as a therapeutic target for RCC. Clinical findings demonstrated that the expression of FOXM1 was markedly upregulated in RCC samples, while a high level of FOXM1 was found to be associated with a poor overall survival rate of RCC. Furthermore, it is worth noting that FOXM1 may have a significant impact on the resistance of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to radiotherapy. This observation suggests that inhibiting FOXM1 could be a promising strategy to impede the progression of RCC and enhance its sensitivity to radiotherapy. The present review highlighted the pivotal role of FOXM1 in RCC development. FOXM1 has the capacity to emerge as not only a valuable diagnostic and prognostic tool but also a viable therapeutic option for unresectable RCC.

Oncogenic role of FOXM1 in human prostate cancer (Review).

Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer­related mortality among men worldwide. In particular, castration­resistant prostate cancer presents a formidable clinical challenge and emphasizes the need to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is a multifaceted transcription factor that is implicated in the acquisition of the multiple cancer hallmark capabilities in prostate cancer cells, including sustaining proliferative signaling, resisting cell death and the activation of invasion and metastasis. Elevated FOXM1 expression is frequently observed in prostate cancer, and in particular, FOXM1 overexpression is closely associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with prostate cancer. In the present review, recent advances in the understanding of the oncogenic role of deregulated FOXM1 expression in prostate cancer were highlighted. In addition, the molecular mechanisms by which FOXM1 regulates prostate cancer development and progression were described, thereby providing knowledge and a conceptual framework for FOXM1. The present review also provided valuable insight into the inherent challenges associated with translating biomedical knowledge into effective therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.

Small-molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1: Current challenges and future perspectives in cancer treatments.

Forkhead box (FOX) protein M1 (FOXM1) is a critical proliferation-associated transcription factor (TF) that is aberrantly overexpressed in the majority of human cancers and has also been implicated in poor prognosis. A comprehensive understanding of various aspects of this molecule has revealed its role in, cell proliferation, cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. The FOXM1 as a TF directly or indirectly regulates the expression of several target genes whose dysregulation is associated with almost all hallmarks of cancer. Moreover, FOXM1 expression is associated with chemoresistance to different anti-cancer drugs. Several studies have confirmed that suppression of FOXM1 enhanced the drug sensitivity of various types of cancer cells. Current data suggest that small molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1 in combination with anticancer drugs may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for chemo-resistant cancers. In this review, we discuss the clinical utility of FOXM1, further, we summarize and discuss small-molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1 and categorize them according to their mechanisms of targeting FOXM1. Despite great progress, small-molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1 face many challenges, and we present here all small-molecule FOXM1 inhibitors in different stages of development. We discuss the current challenges and provide insights on the future application of FOXM1 inhibition to the clinic.

Comprehensive clinicopathological significance and putative transcriptional mechanisms of Forkhead box M1 factor in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The Forkhead box M1 factor (FOXM1) is a crucial activator for cancer cell proliferation. While FOXM1 has been shown to promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, its transcriptional mechanisms remain incompletely understood. METHODS: We performed an in-house tissue microarray on 313 HCC and 37 non-HCC tissue samples, followed by immunohistochemical staining. Gene chips and high throughput sequencing data were used to assess FOXM1 expression and prognosis. To identify candidate targets of FOXM1, we comprehensively reanalyzed 41 chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) data sets. We predicted FOXM1 transcriptional targets in HCC by intersecting candidate FOXM1 targets with HCC overexpressed genes and FOXM1 correlation genes. Enrichment analysis was employed to address the potential mechanisms of FOXM1 underlying HCC. Finally, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis was performed to confirm the transcriptional activity of FOXM1 on its predicted targets. RESULTS: This study, based on 4235 HCC tissue samples and 3461 non-HCC tissue samples, confirmed the upregulation of FOXM1 in HCC at mRNA and protein levels (standardized mean difference = 1.70 [1.42, 1.98]), making it the largest multi-centered study to do so. Among HCC patients, FOXM1 was increased in Asian and advanced subgroups, and high expression of FOXM1 had a strong ability to differentiate HCC tissue from non-HCC tissue (area under the curve = 0.94, sensitivity = 88.72%, specificity = 87.24%). FOXM1 was also shown to be an independent exposure risk factor for HCC, with a pooled hazard ratio of 2.00 [1.77, 2.26]. The predicted transcriptional targets of FOXM1 in HCC were predominantly enriched in nuclear division, chromosomal region, and catalytic activity acting on DNA. A gene cluster encoding nine transcriptional factors was predicted to be positively regulated by FOXM1, promoting the cell cycle signaling pathway in HCC. Finally, the transcriptional activity of FOXM1 and its targets was supported by single-cell analysis of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study not only confirmed the upregulation of FOXM1 in HCC but also identified it as an independent risk factor. Moreover, our findings enriched our understanding of the complex transcriptional mechanisms underlying HCC pathogenesis, with FOXM1 potentially promoting HCC progression by activating other transcription factors within the cell cycle pathway.

[Forkhead Box M1 Regulates the Proliferation,Invasion,and Drug Resistance of Gastric Cancer Cells via circ_NOTCH1].

Objective To investigate the impacts of forkhead box M1(FOXM1)on the proliferation,invasion,and drug resistance of gastric cancer cells by regulating the circular RNA circ_NOTCH1.Methods Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR were performed to determine the expression of FOXM1 protein and circ_NOTCH1,respectively,in the gastric cancer tissue,para-carcinoma tissue,human normal gastric mucosa epithelial cell line GES-1 and gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803,HGC-27,and BGC-823.BGC-823 cells were classified into the following groups:control,short hairpin RNA FOXM1(sh-FOXM1)and negative control(sh-NC),small interfering RNA circ_NOTCH1(si-circ_NOTCH1)and negative control(si-NC),and sh-FOXM1+circ_NOTCH1 overexpression plasmid(sh-FOXM1+pcDNA-circ_NOTCH1)and sh-FOXM1+negative control(sh-FOXM1+pcDNA).CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay were employed to measure the cell proliferation,and Transwell assay to measure cell invasion.After treatment with 1.0 mg/L adriamycin for 48 h,the cell resistance in each group was analyzed.Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of FOXM1,proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),Bax,multi-drug resistance-associated protein 1(MRP1),and multi-drug resistance gene 1(MDR1).RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation were employed to examine the binding of circ_NOTCH1 to FOXM1 protein.Results Compared with those in the para-carcinoma tissue,the expression levels of FOXM1 protein and circ_NOTCH1 in the gastric cancer tissue were up-regulated(all P<0.001).Compared with GES-1 cells,MGC-803,HGC-27,and BGC-823 cells showed up-regulated expression levels of FOXM1 protein and circ_NOTCH1(all P<0.001).Compared with the control group and sh-NC group,the sh-FOXM1 group with down-regulated expression of FOXM1 protein and circ_NOTCH1 showed decreased optical density value,clone formation rate,cell invasion number,and cell viability,down-regulated expression of PCNA,MRP1,and MDR1,and up-regulated expression of Bax protein in BGC-823 cells(all P<0.001).Compared with the control group and the si-NC group,the si-circ_NOTCH1 group with down-regulated expression of circ_NOTCH1 showed decreased optical density value,clone formation rate,cell invasion number,and cell viability,down-regulated expression of PCNA,MRP1,and MDR1,and up-regulated expression of Bax protein in BGC-823 cells(all P<0.001).Compared with sh-FOXM1 group and sh-FOXM1+pcDNA group,the sh-FOXM1+pcDNA-circ_NOTCH1 group with up-regulated expression of circ_NOTCH1 showed increased optical density value,clone formation rate,cell invasion number,and cell viability,up-regulated expression of PCNA,MRP1,and MDR1,and down-regulated expression of Bax protein(all P<0.001).FOXM1 protein was able to interact with circ_NOTCH1.Conclusion Interference with FOXM1 may inhibit the proliferation,invasion,and drug resistance of gastric cancer cells by silencing circ_NOTCH1 expression.