Search

Transcription-induced chimeric RNAs are an emerging area of research into molecular signatures for disease biomarker and therapeutic target development. Despite their importance, little is known for chimeric RNAs-relevant roles and the underlying mechanisms for cancer pathogenesis and progression. Here we describe a unique ASTN2-PAPPA antisense chimeric RNA (A-P as chiRNA) that could be the first reported chimeric RNA derived from the splicing of exons and intron antisense of two neighboring genes, respectively. Aberrant A-P as chiRNA level in ESCC tissues was associated with tumor progression and patients' outcome. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that A-P as chiRNA aggravated ESCC metastasis and enhanced stemness through modulating OCT4. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ERK5-mediated non-canonical PAF1 activity was required for A-P as chiRNA-induced cancer malignancy. The study defined an undocumented function of chimeric RNAs in aggravating cancer stemness and metastasis., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We previously showed that the in vivo anticancer effects of a combination of manumycin (a farnesyltransferase inhibitor) and paclitaxel (a microtubule inhibitor) against anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) were partially due to inhibition of angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effect of adding minocycline (a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor) to manumycin and paclitaxel against human ATC cells xenografted in nude mice. The triple-drug combination resulted in the lowest average tumor growth rate, and it conferred significantly better survival than manumycin alone, paclitaxel alone, or manumycin plus paclitaxel. In conclusion, this novel combination deserves further investigation in the treatment of ATC.

A novel series of TCM-platinum complexes [Pt(C8H8O5)(NH2R)2] 1-5, designed from incorporating demethylcantharidin, a modified component from a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a platinum moiety was found to circumvent cisplatin resistance in mouse leukemia and human hepatocellular carcinoma. These properties are most likely due to the inclusion of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-inhibiting demethylcantharidin in the novel compounds. We have investigated the potential synergistic effect of combining demethylcantharidin with a platinum-based antitumor agent, such as cisplatin, carboplatin, or oxaliplatin in vitro against L1210 mouse leukemia and SK-Hep-1 human hepatocellular carcinoma, and in vivo against a SK-Hep-1 subcutaneous-inoculated xenograft in nude mice, using median effect analysis. Demethylcantharidin and the platinum antitumor agents were synergistic in all cell lines tested in vitro, and the most effective antiproliferative regimen was when demethylcantharidin was added 24 h before cisplatin. Synergistic antitumor activity was also demonstrated in vivo without undue toxicity; no excessive loss in mouse body weight or overt pathology were observed at the effective doses. The results support a new approach for augmenting cytotoxic effect of established Pt-based drugs with demethylcantharidin in treating human hepatocellular carcinoma and other solid tumors.