scholarly journals Traditional Chinese Medicine and regulatory roles on epithelial–mesenchymal transitions

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Bai ◽  
Wee Chiew Kwok ◽  
Jean-Paul Thiery
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Biological Process ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
The Third ◽  
Organ Fibrosis

Abstract Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical biological process allowing epithelial cells to de-differentiate into mesenchymal cells. Orchestrated signaling pathways cooperatively induce EMT and effect physiological, sometimes pathological outcomes. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been clinically prescribed for thousands of years and recent studies have found that TCM therapies can participate in EMT regulation. In this review, the historical discovery of EMT will be introduced, followed by a brief overview of its major roles in development and diseases. The second section will focus on EMT in organ fibrosis and tissue regeneration. The third section discusses EMT-induced cancer metastasis, and details how EMT contribute to distant dissemination. Finally, new EMT players are described, namely microRNA, epigenetic modifications, and alternative splicing. TCM drugs that affect EMT proven through an evidence-based research approach will be presented in each section.

scholarly journals Inhibition to Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastatic Potential In Colorectal Cancer Cell By Combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulation Jiedu Sangen Decoction and PD-L1 Inhibitor

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153473542097248
Author(s):  
Feiyu Shan ◽  
Leitao Sun ◽  
Leyin Zhang ◽  
Kaibo Guo ◽  
Qingying Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

Background: Jiedu Sangen Decoction (JSD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been widely applied in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, especially in colorectal cancer. Our study mainly aimed to assess the combined efficacy of Jiedu Sangen aqueous extract (JSAE) and a PD-L1 inhibitor (PI) in colon cancer cells migration and invasion, along with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and then provide deep insights into the potential mechanism. Methods: We explored the inhibitory effects on invasion and metastasis and the reverse effect on EMT process in CT-26 colon cancer cell via Transwell migration assay, Matrigel invasion assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, regulation in expression of EMT-related proteins and molecular biomarkers and underlying signal pathway proteins were detected through Western blotting and IHC. Results: The combination of JSD and PD-L1 inhibitor could inhibit migration, invasive ability and EMT of CT-26 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, JSD combined with PD-L1 inhibitor could also remarkably reverse EMT and metastasis in vivo. In addition, the protein expression of N-cadherin, Slug, Snail, Vimentin was down-regulated along with E-cadherin s up-regulation with the combination of JSD and PD-L1 inhibitor, while that of PI3K/AKT was notably down-regulated. Conclusions: These findings indicated that JSAE and a PD-L1 inhibitor could drastically inhibit the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer by reversing EMT through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Pristimerin in Cancer Therapy: Recent Advances

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Run-Ze Chen ◽  
Fei Yang ◽  
Min Zhang ◽  
Zhi-Gang Sun ◽  
Nan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Quinone Methide ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Anti Cancer

Seeking an efficient and safe approach to eliminate tumors is a common goal of medical fields. Over these years, traditional Chinese medicine has attracted growing attention in cancer treatment due to its long history. Pristimerin is a naturally occurring quinone methide triterpenoid used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various cancers. Recent studies have identified alterations in cellular events and molecular signaling targets of cancer cells under pristimerin treatment. Pristimerin induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy to exhibit anti-proliferation effects against tumors. Pristimerin also inhibits the invasion, migration, and metastasis of tumor cells via affecting cell adhesion, cytoskeleton, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cells, and angiogenesis. Molecular factors and pathways are associated with the anti-cancer activities of pristimerin. Furthermore, pristimerin reverses multidrug resistance of cancer cells and exerts synergizing effects with other chemotherapeutic drugs. This review aims to discuss the anti-cancer potentials of pristimerin, emphasizing multi-targeted biological and molecular regulations in cancers. Further investigations and clinical trials are warranted to understand the advantages and disadvantages of pristimerin treatment much better.

scholarly journals Oxidized Phospholipids in Tumor Microenvironment Stimulate Tumor Metastasis via Regulation of Autophagy

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 558
Author(s):  
Jin Kyung Seok ◽  
Eun-Hee Hong ◽  
Gabsik Yang ◽  
Hye Eun Lee ◽  
Sin-Eun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Autophagic Flux ◽  
Oxidized Phospholipids ◽  
Mcf7 Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tumor Tissues

Oxidized phospholipids are well known to play physiological and pathological roles in regulating cellular homeostasis and disease progression. However, their role in cancer metastasis has not been entirely understood. In this study, effects of oxidized phosphatidylcholines such as 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POVPC) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and autophagy were determined in cancer cells by immunoblotting and confocal analysis. Metastasis was analyzed by a scratch wound assay and a transwell migration/invasion assay. The concentrations of POVPC and 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaroyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (PGPC) in tumor tissues obtained from patients were measured by LC-MS/MS analysis. POVPC induced EMT, resulting in increase of migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and human breast cancer cells (MCF7). POVPC induced autophagic flux through AMPK-mTOR pathway. Pharmacological inhibition or siRNA knockdown of autophagy decreased migration and invasion of POVPC-treated HepG2 and MCF7 cells. POVPC and PGPC levels were greatly increased at stage II of patient-derived intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma tissues. PGPC levels were higher in malignant breast tumor tissues than in adjacent nontumor tissues. The results show that oxidized phosphatidylcholines increase metastatic potential of cancer cells by promoting EMT, mediated through autophagy. These suggest the positive regulatory role of oxidized phospholipids accumulated in tumor microenvironment in the regulation of tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Galectin-3: A factotum in carcinogenesis bestowing an archery for prevention

Tumor Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-96
Author(s):  
T. Jeethy Ram ◽  
Asha Lekshmi ◽  
Thara Somanathan ◽  
K. Sujathan
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Therapy Resistance ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Innovative Strategy ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Galectin 3

Cancer metastasis and therapy resistance are the foremost hurdles in oncology at the moment. This review aims to pinpoint the functional aspects of a unique multifaceted glycosylated molecule in both intracellular and extracellular compartments of a cell namely galectin-3 along with its metastatic potential in different types of cancer. All materials reviewed here were collected through the search engines PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar. Among the 15 galectins identified, the chimeric gal-3 plays an indispensable role in the differentiation, transformation, and multi-step process of tumor metastasis. It has been implicated in the molecular mechanisms that allow the cancer cells to survive in the intravascular milieu and promote tumor cell extravasation, ultimately leading to metastasis. Gal-3 has also been found to have a pivotal role in immune surveillance and pro-angiogenesis and several studies have pointed out the importance of gal-3 in establishing a resistant phenotype, particularly through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Additionally, some recent findings suggest the use of gal-3 inhibitors in overcoming therapeutic resistance. All these reports suggest that the deregulation of these specific lectins at the cellular level could inhibit cancer progression and metastasis. A more systematic study of glycosylation in clinical samples along with the development of selective gal-3 antagonists inhibiting the activity of these molecules at the cellular level offers an innovative strategy for primary cancer prevention.

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