USP14 promotes colorectal cancer progression by targeting JNK for stabilization.

MAPK/JNK signaling is pivotal in carcinogenesis. However, ubiquitin-mediated homeostasis of JNK remains to be verified. Here, with results from RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and luciferase reporter pathway identification, we show that USP14 orchestrates MAPK/JNK signaling and identify USP14 as a deubiquitinase that interacts and stabilizes JNK. USP14 is elevated in colorectal cancer patients and is positively associated with JNK protein and downstream gene expression. USP14 ablation reduces cancer cell proliferation in vitro and colorectal tumorigenesis in vivo by downregulating MAPK/JNK pathway activation. Moreover, USP14 expression is induced by TNF-α, forming a feedback loop with JNK and leading to tumor amplification. Our study suggests that elevated expression of USP14 promotes MAPK/JNK signaling by stabilizing JNK, which in turn augments colorectal carcinogenesis, indicating a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer patients with increased USP14 expression.

ALG3 contributes to the malignancy of non-small cell lung cancer and is negatively regulated by MiR-98-5p.

OBJECTIVE: Alpha-1,3-mannosyltransferase (ALG3) is an oncoprotein associated with multiple malignancies. We aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanisms of ALG3 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We detected the expressions of ALG3 in NSCLC tissues and adjacent tissues by RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between ALG3 expression and pathological paremeters. Then we used shRNA to construct a low expression model of ALG3 in NCI-H292 and NCI-H460. CCK-8 assay and transwell assay were then performed to monitor the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Western blot was to detect the expression of EMT-related indicators. Further, the interaction of miR-98-5p with ALG3 was verified by luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The expression of ALG3 in NSCLC tissues was higher than that in normal tissues, and the increase in ALG3 expression was significantly associated with higher T stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor tissue differentiation. Patients with high ALG3 expression had a worse prognosis. ALG3 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. In addition, the knockdown of ALG3 resulted in increased expression of EMT-related protein E-cadherin, while N-cadherin and Vimentin expression was decreased. Dual luciferase assay confirmed that miR-98-5p can specifically bind to the 3'UTR of ALG3 and reduces its expression and activity. CONCLUSION: ALG3 can promote the progression of NSCLC and is negatively regulated by miR-98-5p.

Therapeutic Effect of First-line Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) Combined with Whole Brain Radiotherapy on Patients with EGFR Mutation-positive Lung Adenocarcinoma and Brain Metastases.

This study compared the therapeutic effect of first-line epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) with that of EGFR-TKI plus whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) on patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma and brain metastases. A total of 139 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and brain metastases treated with first-line EGFRTKI therapy from September 2008 to December 2017 were enrolled in this study. The study endpoints were intracranial time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). The effects of clinical pathological parameters and EGFR gene status on the study endpoints were compared. The results showed that the intracranial TTP was significantly longer in EGFR-TKI plus WBRT group than in EGFR-TKI group (median 30.0 vs.18.2 months, χ2=10.824, P=0.001), but no significant difference in the OS was noted between the two groups (median 48.0 vs. 41.1 months, χ2=0.012, P=0.912). Also, there was no statistically significant difference in the OS between patients treated with early and late radiotherapy (P=0.849) and between those with asymptomatic and those with symptomatic intracranial metastases (P=0.189). The OS and intracranial TTP of patients with intracranial oligometastases (≤3 metastatic sites) were not significantly different from those of patients with multiple intracranial metastases (P=0.104 and P=0.357, respectively), and exon 19 and exon 21 mutations didn't show significant effects on the OS and intracranial TTP of patients (P=0.418 and P=0.386, respectively). In conclusion, there was no statistically significant difference in the OS between the EGFR-TKI alone group and EGFR-TKI plus WBRT group. However, simultaneous use of WBRT was found to significantly prolong intracranial TTP and improve cerebral symptoms, and thus EGFR-TKI and WBRT combined may be clinically beneficial for patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma and brain metastases.

MicroRNA-202-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal carcinoma by directly targeting SMARCC1.

Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been emerged as critical regulators for human diseases and as prognostic markers in several tumors, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Herein, we identified a tumor-suppressive miRNA, miR-202-5p, which may suppress CRC tumorigenesis. SWI/SNF related, matrix associated, actin dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily c member 1 (SMARCC1) is a susceptibility gene in CRC. However, the role of SMARCC1 in CRC tumorigenesis has not been elucidated. In our present study, we demonstrated that miR-202-5p was a tumor-suppressive miRNA in CRC progression. We found that expression of miR-202-5p was obviously decreased in CRC tissues. Down-regulation of miR-202-5p was associated with postoperative survival. Overexpression of miR-202-5p inhibited the growth and metastasis of CRC cells. The SMARCC1 was a direct target of miR-202-5p and promoted the growth and metastasis of CRC cells. Further study showed that SMARCC1 could reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-202-5p on growth and metastasis of CRC cells. In conclusion, our data highlight the key role of miR-202-5p in the progression of CRC. Thus, miR-202-5p may be a potential prognostic marker and of treatment relevance for CRC progression intervention.