Cell Plasticity in a Mouse Model of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Drives Amplification of Androgen-Independent Epithelial Cell Populations Sensitive to Antioxidant Therapy.

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is caused by the nonmalignant enlargement of the transition zone of the prostate gland, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms. Although current medical treatments are unsatisfactory in many patients, the limited understanding of the mechanisms driving disease progression prevents the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. The probasin-prolactin (Pb-PRL) transgenic mouse recapitulates many histopathological features of human BPH. Herein, these alterations parallel urodynamic disturbance reminiscent of lower urinary tract symptoms. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of Pb-PRL mouse prostates revealed that their epithelium mainly includes low-androgen signaling cell populations analogous to Club/Hillock cells enriched in the aged human prostate. These intermediate cells are predicted to result from the reprogramming of androgen-dependent luminal cells. Pb-PRL mouse prostates exhibited increased vulnerability to oxidative stress due to reduction of antioxidant enzyme expression. One-month treatment of Pb-PRL mice with anethole trithione (ATT), a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial ROS production, reduced prostate weight and voiding frequency. In human BPH-1 epithelial cells, ATT decreased mitochondrial metabolism, cell proliferation, and stemness features. ATT prevented the growth of organoids generated by sorted Pb-PRL basal and LSCmed cells, the two major BPH-associated, androgen-independent epithelial cell compartments. Taken together, these results support cell plasticity as a driver of BPH progression and therapeutic resistance to androgen signaling inhibition, and identify antioxidant therapy as a promising treatment of BPH.

The troglitazone derivative EP13 disrupts energy metabolism through respiratory chain complex I inhibition in breast cancer cells and potentiates the antiproliferative effect of glycolysis inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: The metabolism of cancer cells generally differs from that of normal cells. Indeed, most cancer cells have a high rate of glycolysis, even at normal oxygen concentrations. These metabolic properties can potentially be exploited for therapeutic intervention. In this context, we have developed troglitazone derivatives to treat hormone-sensitive and triple-negative breast cancers, which currently lack therapeutic targets, have an aggressive phenotype, and often have a worse prognosis than other subtypes. Here, we studied the metabolic impact of the EP13 compound, a desulfured derivative of Δ2-troglitazone that we synthetized and is more potent than its parent compounds. METHODS: EP13 was tested on two triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T, and on the luminal cell line MCF-7. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of the treated cell lines, Hs578T mammospheres and isolated mitochondria was measured using the XFe24 Seahorse analyser. ROS production was quantified using the MitoSOX fluorescent probe. Glycolytic activity was evaluated through measurement of the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), glucose consumption and lactate production in extracellular medium. The synergistic effect of EP13 with glycolysis inhibitors (oxamate and 2-deoxyglucose) on cell cytotoxicity was established using the Chou-Talalay method. RESULTS: After exposure to EP13, we observed a decrease in the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate in MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T cells. EP13 also modified the maximal OCR of Hs578T spheroids. EP13 reduced the OCR through inhibition of respiratory chain complex I. After 24 h, ATP levels in EP13-treated cells were not altered compared with those in untreated cells, suggesting compensation by glycolysis activity, as shown by the increase in ECAR, the glucose consumption and lactate production. Finally, we performed co-treatments with EP13 and glycolysis inhibitors (oxamate and 2-DG) and observed that EP13 potentiated their cytotoxic effects. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that EP13 inhibits OXPHOS in breast cancer cells and potentiates the effect of glycolysis inhibitors.

The marine-derived HIF-1α inhibitor, Yardenone 2, reduces prostate cancer cell proliferation by targeting HIF-1 target genes.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the second most prevalent cancer in men, with advanced stages posing significant treatment challenges. Given its solid tumor nature, PCa is highly susceptible to hypoxia, a condition associated with resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, metastasis, and unfavorable patient outcomes. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) play a pivotal role in cancer cell adaptation to hypoxic environments, contributing to treatment resistance. Consequently, inhibitors targeting HIFs hold promise for cancer therapy. METHODS: In this study, we aimed to characterize novel HIF-1α inhibitors including Sodwanones A (1), B (2), C (3), G (4) and Yardenone 2 (5) isolated from marine sponges belonging to the Axinella genus. Our investigation evaluated the impact of these compounds on various aspects of HIF-1α regulation, including stabilization, nuclear localization, expression of HIF-1 target genes (while sparing HIF-2 target genes), cellular metabolism, as well as cell proliferation and viability in prostate cells under hypoxic conditions. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that among the compounds tested, Yardenone 2 exhibited notable effects in hypoxia: it destabilized HIF-1α at the protein level, decreased its nuclear localization, selectively altered the expression of HIF-1 target genes, and restrained cell proliferation in aggressive PC3 prostate cancer cells as well as in an MSK-PCa3 patient-derived organoid line. Moreover, it affected the morphology of these organoid. Yardenone 2 was also compared to Docetaxel, a specific microtubule inhibitor and a drug used in the treatment of prostate cancer. The comparison between the two compounds revealed notable differences, such as a lack of specificity to hypoxic cells of Docetaxel. CONCLUSION: These results mark the first demonstration that Yardenone 2 functions as a cytostatic-like inhibitor impacting microtubules, specifically targeting hypoxic cancer cells. This discovery suggests a promising avenue for novel therapeutic interventions in prostate cancer.

Critical Overview on Endocrine Disruptors in Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem in all countries due to its high human and economic burden. Major metabolic alterations are associated with the chronic hyperglycemia that characterizes diabetes and causes devastating complications, including retinopathy, kidney failure, coronary disease and increased cardiovascular mortality. The most common form is type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounting for 90 to 95% of the cases. These chronic metabolic disorders are heterogeneous to which genetic factors contribute, but so do prenatal and postnatal life environmental factors including a sedentary lifestyle, overweight, and obesity. However, these classical risk factors alone cannot explain the rapid evolution of the prevalence of T2D and the high prevalence of type 1 diabetes in particular areas. Among environmental factors, we are in fact exposed to a growing amount of chemical molecules produced by our industries or by our way of life. In this narrative review, we aim to give a critical overview of the role of these pollutants that can interfere with our endocrine system, the so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), in the pathophysiology of diabetes and metabolic disorders.

Identification of oncolytic vaccinia restriction factors in canine high-grade mammary tumor cells using single-cell transcriptomics.

Mammary carcinoma, including triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBC) are tumor-types for which human and canine pathologies are closely related at the molecular level. The efficacy of an oncolytic vaccinia virus (VV) was compared in low-passage primary carcinoma cells from TNBC versus non-TNBC. Non-TNBC cells were 28 fold more sensitive to VV than TNBC cells in which VV replication is impaired. Single-cell RNA-seq performed on two different TNBC cell samples, infected or not with VV, highlighted three distinct populations: naïve cells, bystander cells, defined as cells exposed to the virus but not infected and infected cells. The transcriptomes of these three populations showed striking variations in the modulation of pathways regulated by cytokines and growth factors. We hypothesized that the pool of genes expressed in the bystander populations was enriched in antiviral genes. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that the reduced activity of the virus was associated with a higher mesenchymal status of the cells. In addition, we demonstrated experimentally that high expression of one gene, DDIT4, is detrimental to VV production. Considering that DDIT4 is associated with a poor prognosis in various cancers including TNBC, our data highlight DDIT4 as a candidate resistance marker for oncolytic poxvirus therapy. This information could be used to design new generations of oncolytic poxviruses. Beyond the field of gene therapy, this study demonstrates that single-cell transcriptomics can be used to identify cellular factors influencing viral replication.

Low Doses of PFOA Promote Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells Growth through Different Pathways.

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) are found in everyday products. Widely distributed throughout the environment, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a specific class of EDCs that can accumulate in adipose tissue. Many of them induce adverse effects on human health-such as obesity, fertility disorders and cancers-by perturbing hormone effects. We previously identified many compounds with EDC activity in the circulation of obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery. Herein, we analyzed the effects of four of them (aldrin, BDE28, PFOA and PCB153) on two cancer cell lines of hormone-sensitive organs (prostate and breast). Each cell line was exposed to serial dilutions of EDCs from 10-6 M to 10-12 M; cytotoxicity and proliferation were monitored using the IncuCyte® technology. We showed that none of these EDCs induce cytotoxicity and that PFOA and PCB153, only at very low doses (10-12 M), increase the proliferation of DU145 (prostate cancer) and MCF7 (breast cancer) cells, while the same effects are observed with high concentrations (10-6 M) for aldrin or BDE28. Regarding the mechanistic aspects, PFOA uses two different signaling pathways between the two lines (the Akt/mTORC1 and PlexinD1 in MCF7 and DU145, respectively). Thus, our study demonstrates that even at picomolar (10-12 M) concentrations PFOA and PCB153 increase the proliferation of prostate and breast cancer cell lines and can be considered possible carcinogens.

Hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors promote the development of neointimal hyperplasia in arteriovenous fistula.

KEY POINTS: Patients with end-stage renal failure need arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) to undergo dialysis. However, AVFs present a high rate of failure as a result of excessive venous thickness. Excessive venous thickness may be a consequence of surgical dissection and change in oxygen concentration within the venous wall. We show that venous cells adapt their metabolism and growth depending on oxygen concentration, and drugs targeting the hypoxic response pathway modulate this response in vitro. We used the same drugs on a mouse model of AVF and show that direct or indirect inhibition of the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) help decrease excessive venous thickness. Hypoxia and HIFs can be targets of therapeutic drugs to prevent excessive venous thickness in patients undergoing AVF surgical creation. ABSTRACT: Because the oxygen concentration changes in the venous wall, surrounding tissue and the blood during surgical creation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF), we hypothesized that hypoxia could contribute to AVF failure as a result of neointimal hyperplasia. We postulated that modulation of the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) with pharmacological compounds could promote AVF maturation. Fibroblasts [normal human fibroblasts (NHF)], smooth muscle cells [human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (HUVSMC)] and endothelial cells [human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)], representing the three layers of the venous wall, were tested in vitro for proliferation, cell death, metabolism, reactive oxygen species production and migration after silencing of HIF1/2-α or after treatment with deferioxamine (DFO), everolimus (Eve), metformin (Met), N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and topoisomerase I (TOPO), which modulate HIF-α stability or activity. Compounds that were considered to most probably modify intimal hyperplasia were applied locally to the vessels in a mouse model of aortocaval fistula. We showed, in vitro, that NHF and HUVSMC can adapt their metabolism and thus their growth depending on oxygen concentration, whereas HUVEC appears to be less flexible. siHIF1/2α, DFO, Eve, Met, NAC and TOPO can modulate metabolism and proliferation depending on the cell type and the oxygen concentration. In vivo, siHIF1/2α, Eve and TOPO decreased neointimal hyperplasia by 32%-50%, 7 days after treatment. Within the vascular wall, hypoxia and HIF-1/2 mediate early failure of AVF. Local delivery of drugs targeting HIF-1/2 could inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in a mouse model of AVF. Such compounds may be delivered during the surgical procedure for AVF creation to prevent early AVF failure.

UBTD1 is a mechano-regulator controlling cancer aggressiveness.

Ubiquitin domain-containing protein 1 (UBTD1) is highly evolutionary conserved and has been described to interact with E2 enzymes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. However, its biological role and the functional significance of this interaction remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that depletion of UBTD1 drastically affects the mechanical properties of epithelial cancer cells via RhoA activation and strongly promotes their aggressiveness. On a stiff matrix, UBTD1 expression is regulated by cell-cell contacts, and the protein is associated with ß-catenin at cell junctions. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a major cell mechano-transducer, and we show that UBTD1 is associated with components of the YAP degradation complex. Interestingly, UBTD1 promotes the interaction of YAP with its E3 ubiquitin ligase ß-TrCP Consequently, in cancer cells, UBTD1 depletion decreases YAP ubiquitylation and triggers robust ROCK2-dependent YAP activation and downstream signaling. Data from lung and prostate cancer patients further corroborate the in cellulo results, confirming that low levels of UBTD1 are associated with poor patient survival, suggesting that biological functions of UBTD1 could be beneficial in limiting cancer progression.

Co-culture of human fibroblasts, smooth muscle and endothelial cells promotes osteopontin induction in hypoxia.

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are the preferred vascular access for haemodialysis of patients suffering from end-stage renal disease, a worldwide public health problem. However, they are prone to a high rate of failure due to neointimal hyperplasia and stenosis. This study aimed to determine if osteopontin (OPN) was induced in hypoxia and if OPN could be responsible for driving AVF failure. Identification of new factors that participate in remodelling of AVFs is a challenge. Three cell lines representing the cells of the three layers of the walls of arteries and veins, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, were tested in mono- and co-culture in vitro for OPN expression and secretion in normoxia compared to hypoxia after silencing the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1α, HIF-2α and HIF-1/2α) with siRNA or after treatment with an inhibitor of NF-kB. None of the cells in mono-culture showed OPN induction in hypoxia, whereas cells in co-culture secreted OPN in hypoxia. The changes in oxygenation that occur during AVF maturation up-regulate secretion of OPN through cell-cell interactions between the different cell layers that form AVF, and in turn, these promote endothelial cell proliferation and could participate in neointimal hyperplasia.

Hypoxia protects against the cell death triggered by oxovanadium-galactomannan complexes in HepG2 cells.

BACKGROUND: Polysaccharides from various sources have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. The beneficial pharmacological effects of plant-derived polysaccharides include anti-tumor activity. METHODS: Here, we evaluated the anti-cancer effect of the MSAGM:VO complex under hypoxic conditions (1% oxygen). MSAGM:VO is a complex of the hydrolysate of galactomannan (MSAGM) from Schizolobium amazonicum with oxovanadium (IV/V). The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HepG2 was selected as HCC are one of the most hypoxic solid tumors. RESULTS: Our results showed that the strong apoptotic activity of MSAGM:VO observed in HepG2 cells under normoxic conditions was completely lost under hypoxic conditions. We found a dynamic balance between the pro- and anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family. The expressions of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 and Bcl-XL increased in hypoxia, whereas the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax decreased. MSAGM:VO strongly induced autophagy, which was previously characterized as a pro-survival mechanism in hypoxia. These results demonstrate total elimination of the anti-cancer activity of MSAGM:VO with activation of autophagy under conditions of hypoxia. CONCLUSION: Although this study is a proof-of-concept of the impact of hypoxia on the potential of polysaccharides, further study is encouraged. The anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides could be achieved in normoxia or through raising the activity of the immune system. In addition, combination strategies for therapy with anti-autophagic drugs could be proposed.

Primary Cilium in Cancer Hallmarks.

The primary cilium is a solitary, nonmotile and transitory appendage that is present in virtually all mammalian cells. Our knowledge of its ultrastructure and function is the result of more than fifty years of research that has dramatically changed our perspectives on the primary cilium. The mutual regulation between ciliogenesis and the cell cycle is now well-recognized, as well as the function of the primary cilium as a cellular "antenna" for perceiving external stimuli, such as light, odorants, and fluids. By displaying receptors and signaling molecules, the primary cilium is also a key coordinator of signaling pathways that converts extracellular cues into cellular responses. Given its critical tasks, any defects in primary cilium formation or function lead to a wide spectrum of diseases collectively called "ciliopathies". An emerging role of primary cilium is in the regulation of cancer development. In this review, we seek to describe the current knowledge about the influence of the primary cilium in cancer progression, with a focus on some of the events that cancers need to face to sustain survival and growth in hypoxic microenvironment: the cancer hallmarks.

Protein N-glycosylation alteration and glycolysis inhibition both contribute to the antiproliferative action of 2-deoxyglucose in breast cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Cancer cells often elicit a higher glycolytic rate than normal cells, supporting the development of glycolysis inhibitors as therapeutic agents. 2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG) is used in this context due to its ability to compete with glucose. However, many studies do not take into account that 2-DG inhibits not only glycolysis but also N-glycosylation. Since there are limited publications on 2-DG mechanism of action in breast cancer, we studied its effects in breast cancer cell lines to determine the part played by glycolysis inhibition and N-linked glycosylation interference. METHODS AND RESULTS: 2-Deoxyglucose behaved as an anticancer agent with a similar efficiency on cell number decrease between the hormone-dependent MCF-7 and hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. It also interfered with the N-linked glycosylation process in both cell lines as illustrated by the migration profile of the lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 and calumenin. These results are reinforced by the appearance of an abnormal Man7GlcNAc2 structure both on lipid-linked oligosaccharides and N-linked glycoproteins of 2-DG incubated MDA-MB-231 cells. Besides, 2-DG-induced a transient endoplasmic reticulum stress that was more sustained in MDA-MB-231 cells. Both changes were abrogated by mannose. 2-DG, even in the presence of mannose, decreased glycolysis in both cell lines. Mannose partially reversed the effects of 2-DG on cell numbers with N-linked glycosylation interference accounting for 37 and 47% of 2-DG anti-cancerous effects in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. CONCLUSION: N-linked glycosylation interference and glycolysis disruption both contribute to the anticancer properties of 2-DG in breast cancer cells.

YAP1 modulation of primary cilia-mediated ciliogenesis in 2D and 3D prostate cancer models.

The primary cilium, a non-motile organelle present in most human cells, plays a crucial role in detecting microenvironmental changes and regulating intracellular signaling. Its dysfunction is linked to various diseases, including cancer. We explored the role of ciliated cells in prostate cancer by using Gefitinib and Jasplakinolide compounds to induce ciliated cells in both normal and tumor-like prostate cell lines. We assessed GLI1 and IFT20 expression and investigated YAP1 protein's role, which is implicated in primary cilium regulation. Finally, we examined these compounds in 3D cell models, aiming to simulate in vivo conditions. Our study highlights YAP1 as a potential target for novel genetic models to understand the primary cilium's role in mediating resistance to anticancer treatments.

Targeting cancer and immune cell metabolism with the complex I inhibitors metformin and IACS-010759.

Metformin and IACS-010759 are two distinct antimetabolic agents. Metformin, an established antidiabetic drug, mildly inhibits mitochondrial complex I, while IACS-010759 is a new potent mitochondrial complex I inhibitor. Mitochondria is pivotal in the energy metabolism of cells by providing adenosine triphosphate through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Hence, mitochondrial metabolism and OXPHOS become a vulnerability when targeted in cancer cells. Both drugs have promising antitumoral effects in diverse cancers, supported by preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies. We present evidence of their direct impact on cancer cells and their immunomodulatory effects. In clinical studies, while observational epidemiologic studies on metformin were encouraging, actual trial results were not as expected. However, IACS-01075 exhibited major adverse effects, thereby causing a metabolic shift to glycolysis and elevated lactic acid concentrations. Therefore, the future outlook for these two drugs depends on preventive clinical trials for metformin and investigations into the plausible toxic effects on normal cells for IACS-01075.

Dependence on mitochondrial respiration of malignant T cells reveals a new therapeutic target for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Cancer metabolic reprogramming has been recognized as one of the cancer hallmarks that promote cell proliferation, survival, as well as therapeutic resistance. Up-to-date regulation of metabolism in T-cell lymphoma is poorly understood. In particular, for human angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) the metabolic profile is not known. Metabolic intervention could help identify new treatment options for this cancer with very poor outcomes and no effective medication. Transcriptomic analysis of AITL tumor cells, identified that these cells use preferentially mitochondrial metabolism. By using our preclinical AITL mouse model, mimicking closely human AITL features, we confirmed that T follicular helper (Tfh) tumor cells exhibit a strong enrichment of mitochondrial metabolic signatures. Consistent with these results, disruption of mitochondrial metabolism using metformin or a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor such as IACS improved the survival of AITL lymphoma-bearing mice. Additionally, we confirmed a selective elimination of the malignant human AITL T cells in patient biopsies upon mitochondrial respiration inhibition. Moreover, we confirmed that diabetic patients suffering from T-cell lymphoma, treated with metformin survived longer as compared to patients receiving alternative treatments. Taking together, our findings suggest that targeting the mitochondrial metabolic pathway could be a clinically efficient approach to inhibit aggressive cancers such as peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

[Medulloblastoma: The latest major advances]. / Le médulloblastome : les dernières avancées majeures.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant brain tumor that mainly affects children. It is rarely found in adults. Among the four groups of MB defined today according to molecular characteristics, group 3 is the least favorable with an overall survival rate of 50 %. Current treatments, based on surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, are not sufficiently adapted to the different characteristics of the four MB groups. However, the use of new cellular and animal models has opened new doors to interesting therapeutic avenues. In this review, we detail recent advances in MB research, with a focus on the genes and pathways that drive tumorigenesis, with particular emphasis on the animal models that have been developed to study tumor biology, as well as advances in new targeted therapies.

Persistent organic pollutants promote aggressiveness in prostate cancer.

Increasing evidence points towards a causal link between exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with increased incidence and aggressivity of various cancers. Among these POPs, dioxin and PCB-153 are widely found in our environment and represent a significant source of contamination. Dioxin exposure has already been linked to cancer such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but remains to be more extensively investigated in other cancers. Potential implications of dioxin and PCB-153 in prostate cancer progression spurred us to challenge both ex vivo and in vivo models with low doses of these POPs. We found that dioxin or PCB-153 exposure increased hallmarks of growth and metastasis of prostate cancer cells ex vivo and in grafted NOD-SCID mice. Exposure induced histopathological carcinoma-like patterns in the Ptenpc-/- mice. We identified up-regulation of Acetyl-CoA Acetyltransferase-1 (ACAT1) involved in ketone bodies pathway as a potential target. Mechanistically, genetic inhibition confirmed that ACAT1 mediated dioxin effect on cell migration. Using public prostate cancer datasets, we confirmed the deregulation of ACAT1 and associated gene encoded ketone bodies pathway enzymes such as OXCT1, BDH1 and HMGCL in advanced prostate cancer. To further explore this link between dioxin and ACAT1 deregulation, we analyzed a unique prostate-tumour tissue collection from the USA veterans exposed to agent orange, known to be highly contaminated by dioxin because of industrial production. We found that ACAT1 histoscore is significantly increased in exposed patients. Our studies reveal the implication of dioxin and PCB-153 to induce a prometastatic programme in prostate tumours and identify ACAT1 deregulation as a key event in this process.

Nanoblades allow high-level genome editing in murine and human organoids.

Genome engineering has become more accessible thanks to the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system. However, using this technology in synthetic organs called "organoids" is still very inefficient. This is due to the delivery methods for the CRISPR-Cas9 machinery, which include electroporation of CRISPR-Cas9 DNA, mRNA, or ribonucleoproteins containing the Cas9-gRNA complex. However, these procedures are quite toxic for the organoids. Here, we describe the use of the "nanoblade (NB)" technology, which outperformed by far gene-editing levels achieved to date for murine- and human tissue-derived organoids. We reached up to 75% of reporter gene knockout in organoids after treatment with NBs. Indeed, high-level NB-mediated knockout for the androgen receptor encoding gene and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene was achieved with single gRNA or dual gRNA containing NBs in murine prostate and colon organoids. Likewise, NBs achieved 20%-50% gene editing in human organoids. Most importantly, in contrast to other gene-editing methods, this was obtained without toxicity for the organoids. Only 4 weeks are required to obtain stable gene knockout in organoids and NBs simplify and allow rapid genome editing in organoids with little to no side effects including unwanted insertion/deletions in off-target sites thanks to transient Cas9/RNP expression.

LKB1-SIK2 loss drives uveal melanoma proliferation and hypersensitivity to SLC8A1 and ROS inhibition.

Metastatic uveal melanomas are highly resistant to all existing treatments. To address this critical issue, we performed a kinome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen, which revealed the LKB1-SIK2 module in restraining uveal melanoma tumorigenesis. Functionally, LKB1 loss enhances proliferation and survival through SIK2 inhibition and upregulation of the sodium/calcium (Na+ /Ca2+ ) exchanger SLC8A1. This signaling cascade promotes increased levels of intracellular calcium and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, two hallmarks of cancer. We further demonstrate that combination of an SLC8A1 inhibitor and a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant promotes enhanced cell death efficacy in LKB1- and SIK2-negative uveal melanoma cells compared to control cells. Our study also identified an LKB1-loss gene signature for the survival prognostic of patients with uveal melanoma that may be also predictive of response to the therapy combination. Our data thus identify not only metabolic vulnerabilities but also new prognostic markers, thereby providing a therapeutic strategy for particular subtypes of metastatic uveal melanoma.

Metformin and cancer therapy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To focus on the potential role of metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, in cancer treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: Epidemiological, preclinical and cellular studies have shown in the last 6 years that metformin exerts antitumoral properties. Here, we review the very last findings concerning metformin action in cancer. The results of the first clinical trials as well as the combined action of metformin and chemotherapeutics agents in vitro and in vivo will be discussed. Recent studies show that metformin could also regulate inflammation and, therefore, may play a role in tumor microenvironment. Finally, we will present the latest publications concerning the molecular mechanisms implicated in metformin action, especially the AMP-activated kinase-independent pathways. SUMMARY: The numerous in-vitro and in-vivo studies warrant the ongoing clinical trials, which should definitively help us to determine if metformin could be used in cancer therapy.