PXMP4 promotes gastric cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Peroxisomal membrane protein 4 (PXMP4), a member of the peroxisome membrane protein PXMP2/4 family, participates in the progression of several malignant cancers. Nevertheless, the effect of PXMP4 in the development of gastric cancer (GC) is still unknown. As a result, the focus of this investigation was to elucidate the potential mechanisms of PXMP4 in GC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Firstly, bioinformatics analysis results showed higher expression of PXMP4 in GC tissues. Secondly, clinical analysis of 57 patients with GC revealed correlations between PXMP4 expression and differentiation, depth of invasion, as well as TNM stage. Furthermore, individuals with elevated PXMP4 expression in GC exhibited an unfavorable prognosis. In vitro data showed the involvement of knockdown/overexpression of PXMP4 in the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GC cells, and triggering the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of GC cells through the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. LY294002, a PI3K/AKT inhibitor, inhibited the expression of PI3K/AKT-related proteins but did not affect the expression of PXMP4. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that PXMP4 potentially functions as an upstream molecule in the PI3K/AKT pathway, governing the EMT process in GC.

Formin-like 2 promotes angiogenesis and metastasis of colorectal cancer by regulating the EGFL6/CKAP4/ERK axis.

Increasing evidence indicates that angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in tumor progression. Formin-like 2 (FMNL2) is well-known for promoting metastasis; however, the molecular mechanisms by which FMNL2 promotes angiogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. Here, we found that FMNL2 promotes angiogenesis and metastasis of CRC in vitro and in vivo. The GDB/FH3 domain of FMNL2 directly interacts with epidermal growth factor-like protein 6 (EGFL6). Formin-like 2 promotes EGFL6 paracrine signaling by exosomes to regulate angiogenesis in CRC. Cytoskeleton associated protein 4 (CKAP4) is a downstream target of EGFL6 and is involved in CRC angiogenesis. Epidermal growth factor-like protein 6 binds to the N-terminus of CKAP4 to promote the migration of HUVECs by activating the ERK/MMP pathway. These findings suggest that FMNL2 promotes the migration of HUVECs and enhances angiogenesis and tumorigenesis in CRC by regulating the EGFL6/CKAP4/ERK axis. Therefore, the EGFL6/CKAP4/ERK axis could be a candidate therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

Precision medicine in colorectal cancer: Leveraging multi-omics, spatial omics, and artificial intelligence.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Recent advancements in genomic technologies and analytical approaches have revolutionized CRC research, enabling precision medicine. This review highlights the integration of multi-omics, spatial omics, and artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing precision medicine for CRC. Multi-omics approaches have uncovered molecular mechanisms driving CRC progression, while spatial omics have provided insights into the spatial heterogeneity of gene expression in CRC tissues. AI techniques have been utilized to analyze complex datasets, identify new treatment targets, and enhance diagnosis and prognosis. Despite the tumor's heterogeneity and genetic and epigenetic complexity, the fusion of multi-omics, spatial omics, and AI shows the potential to overcome these challenges and advance precision medicine in CRC. The future lies in integrating these technologies to provide deeper insights and enable personalized therapies for CRC patients.

A comprehensive dataset for digital restoration of Dunhuang murals.

The MuralDH dataset is an invaluable digital resource developed for the conservation and restoration of Dunhuang murals, which are critical components of global cultural heritage facing threats from degradation. This dataset comprises over 5000 high-resolution images tailored to 512 × 512 pixels, emphasizing the preservation of mural integrity and detail. It includes 1000 images with pixel-level damage annotations for segmentation research and 500 images specially processed for super-resolution studies, catering to a wide range of digital restoration needs. While the primary focus of this work is the dataset itself, we also introduce a supportive digital restoration framework. This framework, which encompasses damage segmentation, inpainting, and super-resolution techniques, serves as a secondary validation of MuralDH's utility and versatility. Through MuralDH, technology revives ancient art, embodying the essence of interdisciplinary innovation. By facilitating advanced research in computer vision and artificial intelligence, MuralDH aims to revolutionize the digital preservation practices for murals and other cultural artifacts, demonstrating the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration in safeguarding our cultural legacy.

Dual roles of FAK in tumor angiogenesis: A review focused on pericyte FAK.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), also known as protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2), is a ubiquitously expressed non-receptor tyrosine kinase, that plays a pivotal role in integrin-mediated signal transduction. Endothelial FAK is upregulated in many types of cancer and promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, recent studies have shown that pericyte FAK has the opposite effect. This review article dissects the mechanisms, by which endothelial cells (ECs) and pericyte FAK regulate angiogenesis, with an emphasis on the Gas6/Axl pathway. In particular, this article discusses the role of pericyte FAK loss on angiogenesis during tumorigenesis and metastasis. In addition, the existing challenges and future application of drug-based anti-FAK targeted therapies will be discussed to provide a theoretical basis for further development and use of FAK inhibitors.

[Does bariatric surgery decrease the risk of obesity-related tumor: a meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether bariatric surgery can decrease the incidence of obesity-related tumors in obesity patients. METHODS: Relevant studies comparing the incidence of obesity-related tumors in obesity patients between bariatric surgery and non- bariatric surgery were identified by search of PubMed, Medline, EBSCO, High Wire Press, OVID, EMbase, China hownet (CNKI) and Wanfang databases since the self-built database. In strict accordance with the standard after the screening, literature quality and extracted data were evaluated. Review manager 5.2 software was used to perform meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis. Inverted funnel chart was used to investigate the publication bias. RESULTS: Five articles including 108 954 patients were enrolled in the analysis. Among them, 26 218 cases were bariatric surgery group, and 82 736 cases of non-surgical weight loss were the control group. Meta analysis showed that bariatric surgery could obviously decrease the incidence of postoperative obesity-related tumor(RR=0.60, 95% CI:0.45-0.80, P=0.0005). Subgroup analysis showed that cancer risk difference of obesity-related tumor in male patients was not significant between two group, while the postoperative incidence of obesity-related tumor of female patients in bariatric surgery group was significantly lower compared to those female patients in control group(RR=0.68, 95% CI:0.61-0.77, P<0.01). During follow-up of 1 to 10 years, the incidence of obesity-related tumor in bariatric surgery group was significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05). When follow-up was more than 10 years, the incidence of obesity-related tumors was similar between two groups(P=0.70). CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery can decrease the overall risk of obesity-related cancer, especially for female patients, but with the prolongation of time, such effect of bariatric surgery is not obvious.