Long non-coding RNAs play critical roles in tumour progression. Through analysis of publicly available genomic datasets, we found that MIR22HG, the host gene of microRNAs miR-22-3p and miR-22-5p, is ranked among the most dysregulated long non-coding RNAs in glioblastoma. The main purpose of this work was to determine the impact of MIR22HG on glioblastoma growth and invasion and to elucidate its mechanistic function. The MIR22HG/miR-22 axis was highly expressed in glioblastoma as well as in glioma stem-like cells compared to normal neural stem cells. In glioblastoma, increased expression of MIR22HG is associated with poor prognosis. Through a number of functional studies, we show that MIR22HG silencing inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway through loss of miR-22-3p and -5p. This leads to attenuated cell proliferation, invasion and in vivo tumour growth. We further show that two genes, SFRP2 and PCDH15, are direct targets of miR-22-3p and -5p and inhibit Wnt signalling in glioblastoma. Finally, based on the 3D structure of the pre-miR-22, we identified a specific small-molecule inhibitor, AC1L6JTK, that inhibits the enzyme Dicer to block processing of pre-miR-22 into mature miR-22. AC1L6JTK treatment caused an inhibition of tumour growth in vivo. Our findings show that MIR22HG is a critical inducer of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, and that its targeting may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in glioblastoma patients.

3-MA: 3-methyladenine; 4-PBA: 4-phenylbutyrate; AKT: AKT serine/threonine kinase; ATF4: activating transcription factor 4; ATG: autophagy related; CASP3: caspase 3; CCK-8: cell counting kit-8; CDKN1A: cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A; CQ: chloroquine; DDIT3: DNA damage inducible transcript 3; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; EIF2A: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A; EIF2AK3: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; FKB: flavokawain B; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GBM: glioblastoma multiforme; GFP: green fluorescent protein; HSPA5: heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 5; MAP1LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; PARP1: poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; 1RPS6KB1: ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1; SA-GLB1: senescence-associated galactosidase beta 1; siRNA: short interfering RNA; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TRIB3: tribbles pseudokinase 3; TUNEL: deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling.

Tumors are comprised of malignant cancer cells and stromal cells which constitute the tumor microenvironment (TME). Previous studies have shown that cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) in TME is an important promoter of tumor initiation and progression. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which CAFs influence the growth of colorectal cancer cells (CRCs) have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, by using a non-contact co-culture system between human colorectal fibroblasts (CCD-18-co) and CRCs (LoVo, SW480, and SW620), we found that fibroblasts existing in tumor microenvironment positively influenced the metabolism of colorectal cancer cells, through its autophagy and oxidative stress pathway which were initially induced by neighboring tumor cells. Therefore, our data provided a novel possibility to develop fibroblasts as a potential target to treat CRC.

Epidemiologic studies have shown that the treatment of diabetics with metformin reduced the risk of cancer-related mortality. Here, we investigated the chemopreventive effects of metformin on dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in diabetic SD rats following metformin treatment and the effect on Warburg effect involved in this process. Diabetic rat models were induced with high-fat feeding in combination with a low dose of Streptozotocin (STZ) and then induce colorectal cancer with a low dose of DMH. The formation of colorectal Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and the incidence, number and size of the tumor were measured. The proliferation indices of colonic tissues were determined through Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining. Then detect the expression of PK and IDH in colonic tissues using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The enzyme activities of HK and PDH in colonic tissues were measured. The growth and expression of PK and IDH and activity of HK and PDH in cell lines LoVo and HT-29 were measured after metformin treatment. The results showed that metformin treatment significantly inhibited the formation of ACF and tumors. The proliferation index of colonic tissues was significantly decreased following metformin treatment. In addition, metformin inhibited cell growth and decreased the imbalance in the expression of the enzymes involved in glycolysis and the TCA cycle. These findings suggested that metformin might produce a synergistic colon cancer-preventative effect in diabetic patients through the regulation of the enzymes expression involved in glucose metabolism.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant intracranial tumor. Although the affected patients are usually treated with surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the median survival time for GBM patients is still approximately 12–14 months. Identifying the key molecular mechanisms and targets of GBM development may therefore lead to the development of improved therapies for GBM patients. In the present study, the clinical significance and potential function of epithelial membrane protein 1 (EMP1) in malignant gliomas were investigated. Increased EMP1 expression was associated with increasing tumor grade (P<0.001) and worse prognosis in patients (P<0.001) based on TCGA, Rembrandt and CGGA databases for human gliomas. In vitro , gene silencing of EMP1 in U87MG and P3 GBM (primary glioma) cells significantly inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion. In addition, it was revealed that activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is the driving force of EMP1-promoted glioma progression. Finally, it was demonstrated, using an intracranial GBM animal model, that EMP1 knockdown significantly inhibits tumor growth in vivo and increases overall survival in tumor-bearing animals. Our research provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying EMP1 knockdown-mediated inhibition of GBM cell invasion and raises the possibility that targeting of EMP1 may represent a promising strategy for the treatment of GBM.

BackgroundMatrine, a traditional Chinese medicine, has recently been shown to have antitumor properties in diverse cancer cells. Here, we explored the effect of matrine on human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells.MethodsGlioblastoma multiforme cell lines were treated with matrine to assess proliferation and viability using EdU and CCK8 assays. SA‐β‐gal assays were used to evaluate cellular senescence, and a cytokine array and ELISA assay were used to screen for secreted cytokines altered in GBM cells after matrine treatment. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate protein levels in matrine‐treated cell lines and in samples obtained from orthotopic xenografts. Specific activators of AKT and IGF1 were used to identify the pathways mediating the effect.ResultsMatrine potently inhibited growth of GBM cell lines in vitro. Based on in situ assays, growth arrest induced by matrine was primarily achieved through induction of cellular senescence. Matrine treatment led to decreased expression of proteins involved in promoting cell growth, IGF1, PI3K, and pAKT. Exposure of cells to a small molecule activating AKT (SC79) and recombinant IGF1 led to a reduced number of senescent SA‐β‐gal‐positive cells in the presence of matrine. Finally, matrine inhibited growth of orthotopic xenografts established from luciferase‐stable‐U251 or luciferase‐stable‐P3 cells and prolonged overall survival in mice.ConclusionsThese results indicated that matrine arrested cell growth through inhibition of IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling. Matrine warrants further investigation as a potential therapy in the treatment of patients with GBM.

Introduction: Disulfiram (DSF), a drug used in the treatment of alcoholism since 1948, has been shown to have antitumor properties in various tumor types possibly due to the induction of a type cell death, ferroptosis, and the sensitization of cells to chemo-and radiotherapy. In this study, we explored the antitumor properties of DSF in glioblastoma (GBM) and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: GBM cell lines U251 and LN229 were treated with DSF to assess cytotoxicity and activity of the molecule in vitro. Response of cells to treatment was examined using cell viability, flow cytometry, LDH release assay, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Results: DSF inhibited cell growth of GBM U251 and LN229 cell lines in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry demonstrated that DSF caused G0-G1 growth arrest. DSF treatment led to increased ROS and lipid peroxidation levels relative to controls indicating the involvement of ferroptosis. Furthermore, DSF triggered lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), a critical mechanism promoting cell death, in a ROSdependent manner. Finally, DSF enhanced radiosensitivity of U251 and LN229 cells. Discussion: Our findings indicated that DSF induced ferroptosis and LMP and enhanced the radiosensitivity of GBM cells. Therefore, DSF might have efficient antitumor activity in the treatment of human GBM.

Background Microtubes (MTs), cytoplasmic extensions of glioma cells, are important cell communication structures promoting invasion and treatment resistance through network formation. MTs are abundant in chemoresistant gliomas, in particular glioblastomas (GBMs), while they are uncommon in chemosensitive IDH-mutant and 1p/19q co-deleted oligodendrogliomas. The aim of this study was to identify potential signaling pathways involved in MT formation. Methods Bioinformatics analysis of TCGA was performed to analyze differences between GBM and oligodendroglioma. Patient-derived GBM stem cell lines were used to investigate microtube formation under TGF-βstimulation and inhibition in vitro and in vivo in an orthotopic xenograft model. RNA sequencing and proteomics were performed to detect commonalities and differences between GBM cell lines stimulated with TGF-β Results Analysis of TCGA data showed that the TGF-β pathway is highly activated in GBMs compared to oligodendroglial tumors. We demonstrated that TGF-β1 stimulation of GBM cell lines promotes enhanced MT formation and communication via Calcium signaling. Inhibition of the TGF-β pathway significantly reduced MT formation and its associated invasion in vitro and in vivo. Downstream of TGF-β, we identified thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) as a potential mediator of MT formation in GBM through SMAD activation. TSP1 was upregulated upon TGF- β stimulation and enhanced MT formation, which was inhibited by TSP1 shRNAs in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion TGF-β and its downstream mediator TSP1 are important mediators of the MT network in GBM and blocking this pathway could potentially help to break the complex MT driven invasion/ resistance network.