ABSTRACT
Background: Apigenin is a natural flavonoid compound with proven antitumor activity. However, its precise underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. Oxaliplatin (OXA) is commonly utilized for cancer treatment as a platinum-based chemotherapy drug. However, the utilization of low-dose OXA carries the risk of inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells and promoting tumor metastasis, thereby giving rise to potential side effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the synergistic inhibitory effect of apigenin and OXA and its potential mechanism. Methods: HSC-3 cells of oral squamous carcinoma cells (OSCCs) were divided into control, apigenin-treated and co-treated groups. A wound healing assay was conducted to assess alterations in cellular motility and migration, an invasion assay was performed to assess invasiveness, and a three-dimensional culture assay was employed to evaluate angiogenic capacity. Cultured cells were utilized for total DNA extraction, followed by reverse transcription. Relative RNA levels were obtained, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis was conducted to assess the efficiency of LINC00857 expression. Results: The administration of a low dose of OXA promoted the migratory, invasive, and angiogenic capabilities of HSC-3 cells, while also regulating EMT-associated molecular markers to facilitate the process of EMT. The inhibitory impact on OSCC proliferation was enhanced by the synergistic effect of apigenin and OXA. Furthermore, the tumor-promoting effects induced by low-dose OXA were notably suppressed through LINC00857. Conclusions: Evidence from this study indicates that apigenin can effectively suppress the metastasis of OSCC cancer cells induced by low-dose OXA through inhibiting the level of LINC00857, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy.
ABSTRACT
Gastric cancer (GC) poses a significant threat to human health and remains a prevalent form of cancer. Despite clinical treatments, the prognosis for Gastric cancer patients is still unsatisfactory, largely due to the development of multidrug resistance. Oxaliplatin (OXA), a second-generation platinum drug, is commonly recommended for adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy in Gastric cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms of acquired resistance to Oxaliplatin in Gastric cancer patients are not yet fully understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of Oxaliplatin resistance in Gastric cancer by employing bioinformatics analysis and conducting in vitro experiments. Specifically, we focused on investigating the role of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3). Our findings revealed that the knockdown of METTL3 significantly impeded the proliferation and migration of Gastric cancer cells. METTL3 knockdown induced apoptosis in OXA-resistant Gastric cancer cells and enhanced their sensitivity to Oxaliplatin. Furthermore, we found that DNA repair pathways were significantly activated in OXA-resistant Gastric cancer cells, and METTL3 knockdown significantly inhibited DNA repair pathways. Another important finding is that METTL3 knockdown and OXA-induced Gastric cancer cell death are additive, and the targeted METTL3 can assist Oxaliplatin treatment. Collectively, our findings suggest that METTL3 knockdown can augment the sensitivity of Gastric cancer cells to Oxaliplatin by impeding DNA repair processes. Consequently, targeting METTL3 holds great promise as a viable adjuvant strategy in the treatment of Gastric cancer patients.
ABSTRACT
@#[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the effects of miR-361-5p on the oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells and its mechanism. Methods: The expression of miR-361-5p in gastric cancer cells (MKN-45, MGC80-3 and SGC-7901) and drug-resistant SGC-7901/OXA cells was detected by qPCR. The SGC-7901/OXA cells were transfected with miR-361-5p mimics/inhibitor or sh-CCND1 by using Liposome transfection technology. Then, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of SGC-7901/OXA cells were measured by CCK-8 assay and Flow cytometry, respectively. The targeting relationship between miR-361-5p and CCND1 was examined by Dual luciferase report gene assay. The expression level of CCND1 in SGC-7901/OXA cells was detected by WB. Results: miR-361-5p was down-regulated in multiple gastric cancer cells and SGC-7901/OXA cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Over-expression of miR-361-5p significantly promoted the apoptosis, induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell proliferation of SGC-7901/OXA cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Dual luciferase reporter gene results verified that miR-361-5p targeted CCND1 and negatively regulated its expression (P<0.01). Further experiments showed that targeted down-regulation of CCND1 induced apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibited CCND1 expression and proliferation of SGC-7901/OXA cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Over-expression of miR-361-5p targetedly down-regulated CCND1 and further promoted cell apoptosis, induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell proliferation of SGC-7901/OXA cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: miR-361-5p over-expression can reverse the resistance of SGC-7901/OXA cells to OXA, and the mechanism may be related to its targeted down-regulation of CCND1 expression.
ABSTRACT
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a severe, toxic side effect that frequently occurs in anticancer treatment and may result in discontinuation of treatment as well as a serious reduction in life quality. The CIPN incidence rate is as high as 85-90%. Unfortunately, there is currently no standard evidence-based CIPN treatment. In several clinical trials, it has been reported that duloxetine can improve CIPN pain induced by oxaliplatin (OXA) and paclitaxel (PTX); thus, The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends duloxetine as the only potential treatment for CIPN. However, this guidance lacks the support of sufficient evidence. Our study shows that duloxetine markedly reduces neuropathic pain evoked by OXA or PTX. Duloxetine acts by inhibiting the activation of p38 phosphorylation, thus preventing the activation and nuclear translocation of the NF-κB transcription factor, reducing the inflammatory response and inhibiting nerve injury by regulating nerve growth factor (NGF). Furthermore, in this study, it is shown that duloxetine does not affect the antitumor activity of OXA or PTX. This study not only provides biological evidence to support the use of duloxetine as the first standard CIPN drug but will also lead to potential new targets for CIPN drug development.
ABSTRACT
@#Objective: To explore the anti-tumor effects of oxaliplatin (OXA) combined with PD-1 antibody on colon cancer. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of PD-L1 in colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 and HT-29. Co-culture method was used to detect the secretion of cytokines and the changes of CD4/CD8 subsets in T-cells that co-cultured with HCT-116 cells, which were pretreated with OXAin combination with/without PD-1 antibody; The CT26 transplanted tumor model of colon cancer in BALB/c mice was established and treated with the combination of OXA and PD-1 to evaluate their anti-tumor efficacy. Meanwhile, CD8 antibody was used to scavenge CD8+ T cells in mice, and to evaluate the role of CD8+ T cells in the anti-tumor effect of OXA in vivo. Results: OXAcould significantly increase the expression of PD-L1 on the surface of colon cancer cells. Compared with pure T-cells, the T cells co-cultured with colon cancer HCT-116 cells that pre-treated by OXA, exhibited significantly reduced IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF levels (all P<0.05) in its culture supernatant and decreased ratio of CD4+memory T cell / CD8+TEMER (P<0.05), whereas there was increased cell proportion of the CD4+ (P>0.05) and CD8+ (P<0.05) naïve T cells. After co-treated with PD-1 antibody, compared with the single treatment of OXA, IFN-γ and IL-10 content (P<0.05) in culture supernatant and the subsets of CD8+ TCM and TEMRA ratio (P>0.05) were increased. In vivo experiments showed that OXAcombined with PD-1 antibody could enhance its anti-tumor activity, the tumor suppression rates were 25.6% (OXA) and 29.1% (αPD-1), respectively, however, the rate of tumor inhibition was increased to 58.2% when combined (P<0.05, compared to OXA or αPD-1 group). After scavenging CD8+T cells in mice, the antitumor activity of OXA dropped from 68.4% to 46.2% (P<0.05). Conclusion: OXA combined with PD-1 antibody had synergistic anti-tumor effect, and CD8+ T cells played an important role in the antitumor activity of OXA.