The role and application of vesicles in triple-negative breast cancer: Opportunities and challenges.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry DNA, RNA, protein, and other substances involved in intercellular crosstalk and can be used for the targeted delivery of drugs. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is rich in recurrent and metastatic disease and lacks therapeutic targets. Studies have proved the role of EVs in the different stages of the genesis and development of TNBC. Cancer cells actively secrete various biomolecules, which play a significant part establishing the tumor microenvironment via EVs. In this article, we describe the roles of EVs in the tumor immune microenvironment, metabolic microenvironment, and vascular remodeling, and summarize the application of EVs for objective delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs, immune antigens, and cancer vaccine adjuvants. EVs-based therapy may represent the next-generation tool for targeted drug delivery for the cure of a variety of diseases lacking effective drug treatment.

Hexavalent chromium causes centrosome amplification by inhibiting the binding between TMOD2 and NPM2.

BACKGROUND: Hexavalent chromium can promote centrosome amplification (CA) as well as tumorigenesis. Since CA can lead to tumorigenesis, it is plausible that the chromium promotes the development of cancer via CA. In the present study, we investigated the signaling pathways of the chromium-induced CA. RESULTS: Our results showed that sub-toxic concentration of chromium was able to cause CA in HCT116 cells, and decrease the expression of TMOD2 and NPM2. Furthermore, TMOD2 and NPM2 interacted to each other via their C-terminal and the N-terminal, respectively, which was inhibited by the chromium. Overexpression of TMOD2 and NPM2 increased their binding and significantly attenuated the CA. Moreover, TMOD2 and NPM2 were co-localized with the centrosomes. The chromium inhibited the centrosomeal localization of NPM2, which was reversed by the overexpression of TMOD2, C-terminal of TMOD2, but not the N-terminal of NPM2. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the chromium induces CA via inhibiting the binding between TMOD2 and NPM2 as well as the dissociation of NPM2 from centrosomes.

Mechanisms of drug resistance in breast cancer liver metastases: Dilemmas and opportunities.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females worldwide, and the liver is one of the most common sites of distant metastases in breast cancer patients. Patients with breast cancer liver metastases face limited treatment options, and drug resistance is highly prevalent, leading to a poor prognosis and a short survival. Liver metastases respond extremely poorly to immunotherapy and have shown resistance to treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Therefore, to develop and to optimize treatment strategies as well as to explore potential therapeutic approaches, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms of drug resistance in breast cancer liver metastases patients. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the research of drug resistance mechanisms in breast cancer liver metastases and discuss their therapeutic potential for improving patient prognoses and outcomes.

[Comparative study on content of heavy metals in Chrysanthemum indicum and soil in different areas].

ICP-MS was used to determine the contents of five heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) in Chrysanthemum indicum and soil samples. Pearson correlation and path analysis were used to analyze the effects of latitude and longitude and altitude on the content of heavy metal elements in Ch. indicum. To explore the relationship between geographical location of heavy metal content in Ch. indicum and the content of heavy metal elements in soil. The results showed that the Ch. indicum had high enrichment of Cd and had a synergistic effect on the absorption of five heavy metal elements. Elevation directly affected the accumulation of Pb and Cd in Ch. indicum and was a positive effect. The direct positive effect of latitude acts on the accumulation of Hg and Cu in Ch. indicum. The effect of longitude on the Cd content was the negative effect of longitude. The geographical location had different effects on the accumulation of heavy metal elements in Ch. indicum. There was a certain interaction between direct and indirect effects. Ch. indicum had different absorption and enrichment characteristics for different heavy metal species. When controlling the heavy metal content and medicinal material quality of Ch. indicum, we must fully consider the influence of geographical location on the quality of medicinal materials, select suitable geographic regions to carry out acquisitions, and choose a good ecological environment. Regional establishment of Chinese herbal medicine planting bases, or adopting certain agricultural measures to reduce the absorption of heavy metal elements in Ch. indicum herbs, while conducting research on chemical composition, strengthening the research on the effective forms of heavy metals, and paying attention to the safety of medicinal herbs.