OBJECTIVE: To explore and verify the effect and potential mechanism of Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion Injection (YDZI) and Shengmai Injection (SMI) on peripheral microcirculation dysfunction in treatment of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: The potential mechanisms of YDZI and SMI were explored through network pharmacology and verified by cellular and clinical experiments. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were cultured for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured for tube formation assay. Twenty healthy volunteers and 97 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients were divided into surgical resection, surgical resection with chemotherapy, and surgical resection with chemotherapy combining YDZI and SMI groups. Forearm skin blood perfusion was measured and recorded by laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Cutaneous vascular conductance and microvascular reactivity parameters were calculated and compared across the groups. RESULTS: After network pharmacology analysis, 4 ingredients, 82 active compounds, and 92 related genes in YDZI and SMI were screened out. β-Sitosterol, an active ingredient and intersection compound of YDZI and SMI, upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, P<0.01), downregulated the expression of caspase 9 (CASP9) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, P<0.01) in HMECs under oxaliplatin stimulation, and promoted tube formation through VEGFA. Chemotherapy significantly impaired the microvascular reactivity in GC patients, whereas YDZI and SMI ameliorated this injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS YDZI and SMI ameliorated peripheral microvascular reactivity in GC patients. β-Sitosterol may improve peripheral microcirculation by regulating VEGFA, PTGS2, ESR1, and CASP9.
Humans ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Emulsions ; Male ; Plant Oils/administration & dosage* ; Brucea/chemistry* ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Drug Combinations ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Injections ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Aged ; Network Pharmacology

OBJECTIVES: The application of photodynamic therapy in solid tumors has attracted increasing attention in recent years, and the efficiency of photosensitizers is a crucial determinant of therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of a novel photosensitizer, PEG-MTPABZ-PyC, in photodynamic therapy against gastric cancer cells. METHODS: Gastric cancer MKN45 cells were treated with PEG-MTPABZ-PyC. A high-content live-cell imaging system was used to assess the cellular uptake kinetics and subcellular localization of the photosensitizer. The cytotoxic effects of PEG-MTPABZ-PyC-mediated photodynamic therapy were examined using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, while the intrinsic cytotoxicity of the photosensitizer alone was verified by the CCK-8 assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation after photodynamic therapy was detected using 2'-7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). RESULTS: PEG-MTPABZ-PyC alone exhibited no cytotoxicity toward MKN45 cells, indicating excellent cytocompatibility. The compound efficiently entered cells within 6 hours and localized predominantly in lysosomes. Upon light irradiation, PEG-MTPABZ-PyC-mediated photodynamic therapy induced significant cytotoxicity compared with the control group (P<0.05) and generated abundant intracellular ROS. CONCLUSIONS The novel photosensitizer PEG-MTPABZ-PyC demonstrates potent photodynamic cytotoxicity against gastric cancer cells, showing promising potential for further development in gastric cancer photodynamic therapy.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Photochemotherapy/methods* ; Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Mesoporphyrins/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between GPSM2 expression level and gastric cancer progression and analyze the functional pathways and action mechanism of GPSM2. METHODS: We analyzed GPSM2 expression levels in gastric cancer tumors based on data from the GEPIA database and the clinical data of 109 patients. Public databases enrichment analysis were used to assess the impact of GPSM2 expression level on survival outcomes and the functional pathways and action mechanism of GPSM2. We further observed the effects of GPSM2 knockdown and overexpression on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of MGC803 cells using CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry and immunoblotting and on the growth of MGC803 cell xenografts in nude mice. RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis and immunohistochemical staining of the clinical specimens both revealed high GPSM2 expressions in gastric cancer (P<0.01). A high GPSM2 expression was significantly correlated with T3-4 stages, N2-3 stages, a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level ≥5 μg/L, and a carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level ≥37 kU/L (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis identified high GPSM2 expression as an independent risk factor affecting 5-year survival of the patients (P<0.05). Gene ontology (GO) analysis suggested that GPSM2 was involved in cell cycle regulation. In MGC803 cells, GPSM2 overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation and G1/S transition and xenograft growth in nude mice. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that GPSM2 executed its biological functions by regulating the p53 signaling pathway, which was confirmed by the results of immunoblotting experiments showing suppression of p53 signaling pathway activity in GPSM2-over expressing MGC803 cells. CONCLUSIONS GPSM2 is highly expressed in gastric cancer to affect patient prognosis by promoting tumor cell proliferation and G1/S transition possibly via inhibiting the p53 pathway.
Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Humans ; Cell Proliferation ; Prognosis ; Animals ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Apoptosis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Cell Movement

OBJECTIVES: To analyze MYO1B expression in gastric cancer, its association with long-term prognosis and its role in regulating biological behaviors of gastric cancer cells. METHODS: We analyzed MYO1B expression in gastric cancer and its correlation with tumor grade, tumor stage, and patient survival using the Cancer Public Database. We also examined MYO1B expression with immunohistochemistry in gastric cancer and paired adjacent tissues from 105 patients receiving radical surgery and analyzed its correlation with cancer progression and postoperative 5-year survival of the patients. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to explore the biological functions of MYO1B and the key pathways. In cultured gastric cancer cells, we examined the changes in cell proliferation, migration and invasion following MYO1B overexpression and knockdown. RESULTS: Data from the Cancer Public Database showed that MYO1B expression was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than in normal tissues with strong correlations with tumor grade, stage and patient prognosis (P<0.05). In the clinical tissue samples, MYO1B was significantly overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues in positive correlation with Ki67 expression (r=0.689, P<0.05) and the parameters indicative of gastric cancer progression (CEA ≥5 μg/L, CA19-9 ≥37 kU/L, G3-4, T3-4, and N2-3) (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that high MYO1B expression was associated with decreased postoperative 5-year survival and was an independent risk factor (HR: 3.522, 95%CI: 1.783-6.985, P<0.05). MYO1B expression level was a strong predictor of postoperative survival (cut-off value: 3.11, AUC: 0.753, P<0.05). GO and KEGG analyses suggested that MYO1B may regulate cell migration and the mTOR signaling pathway. In cultured gastric cancer cells, MYO1B overexpression significantly enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. CONCLUSIONS High MYO1B expression promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells and is correlated with poor patient prognosis.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Prognosis ; Cell Movement ; Myosin Type I/genetics* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Male

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of CDKN3 in gastric cancer and its impact on prognosis of gastric cancer patients. METHODS: We analyzed CDKN3 expression in clinical specimens from 114 gastric cancer patients and assessed its association with 5-year postoperative survival of the patients. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to predict the biological function and possible mechanism of CDKN3. The effects of lentivirus-mediated CDKN3 knockdown on biological behaviors of gastric cancer cells were evaluated using Transwell assay, CCK-8 assay, TUNEL staining, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. RESULTS: CDKN3 expression was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than in the adjacent tissues with significant correlations with CEA level, CA19-9 level, and T and N staging (P<0.05). High CDKN3 expression was an independent risk factor affecting 5-year postoperative survival of the patients and predictive for long-term prognosis (P<0.01). Enrichment analyses suggested a probable association of CDKN3 with apoptosis. In MGC-803 cells, CDKN3 knockdown significantly lowered migration and invasion capacities of the cells, while CDKN3 overexpression produced the opposite effects. TUNEL staining revealed a significantly lower level of cell apoptosis in gastric cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues (P<0.01). CDKN3 knockdown obviously inhibited proliferation and increased apoptosis of MGC-803 cells. CDKN3 overexpression down-regulated the expressions of p53, p21 and Bax and up-regulated the expressions of p-p65 and Bcl-2. CONCLUSIONS CDKN3 is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and affects patient prognosis. CDKN3 overexpression promotes proliferation, invasion and migration and suppressed apoptosis of gastric cancer cells possibly through the p53/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Apoptosis ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Cell Movement ; Cell Line, Tumor ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Proteins/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Male ; Female ; Dual-Specificity Phosphatases

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism through which salidroside inhibits proliferation of gastric cancer (GC) cells focusing on glucose metabolic reprogramming pathways. METHODS: High-throughput sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis was employed to identify the potential targets of salidroside in human GC MGC-803 cells. Liposome-mediated transfection experiments were carried out to validate the functional and mechanistic roles of these targets. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to assess the effects of salidroside on GC cell viability and clonogenic ability. qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and biochemical assay kits were used to analyze the regulatory effects of salidroside on the miR-1343-3p-OGDHL/PDHB enzyme complex-pyruvate metabolic pathway in GC cells. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the tumor-suppressive factor miR-1343-3p negatively regulated the key glycolytic enzyme gene oxoglutarate dehydrogenase-like (OGDHL) in GC cells, and OGDHL and pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit beta (PDHB) were both significantly upregulated in GC tissues, which was close by correlated with reduced survival rates of GC patients. In MGC-803 cells, salidroside treatment significantly enhanced the expression level of miR-1343-3p and downregulated OGDHL expression, resulting in disruption of the stability of PDHB, reduced pyruvate oxidative decarboxylation, and consequently decreased production of acetyl-CoA and ATP. CONCLUSIONS Salidroside inhibits GC cell proliferation possibly by regulating the miR-1343-3p-OGDHL/PDHB enzyme complex-pyruvate metabolic pathway, which provides new insights into its anti-tumor mechanisms and suggests new strategies for targeted therapy for GC.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Glucosides/pharmacology* ; Phenols/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of Shuangshu Decoction (SSD) for inhibiting growth of gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice. METHODS: Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the common targets of SSD and gastric cancer cell ferroptosis, and bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking were used to validate the core targets. In the cell experiment, AGS cells were treated with SSD-medicated serum, Fer-1 (a ferroptosis inhibitor), or both, and the changes in cell viability, ferroptosis markers (ROS, Fe²⁺ and GSH), expressions of P53, SLC7A11 and GPX4, and mitochondrial morphology were examined. In a nude mouse model bearing gastric cancer xenografts, the effects of gavage with SSD, intraperitoneal injection of Fer-1, or their combination on tumor volume/weight, histopathology, and expressions of P53, SLC7A11 and GPX4 levels were evaluated. RESULTS: The active components in SSD (quercetin and wogonin) showed strong binding affinities to P53. In AGS cells, SSD treatment dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation, increased ROS and Fe²⁺ levels, upregulated P53 expression, and downregulated the expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4, but these effects were effectively attenuated by Fer-1 treatment. SSD also induced mitochondrial shrinkage and increased the membrane density, which were alleviated by Fer-1. In the tumor-bearing mouse models, gavage with SSD significantly reduced tumor size and weight, caused tumor cell necrosis, upregulated P53 and downregulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression in the tumor tissue, and these effects were obviously mitigated by Fer-1 treatment. CONCLUSIONS SSD inhibits gastric cancer growth in nude mice by inducing cell ferroptosis via the P53/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis.
Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Amino Acid Transport System y+/metabolism* ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation of PRELID1 with gastric cancer (GC) progression, prognosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 115 patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for GC in our hospital between February, 2018 and March, 2023 to explore the correlation of PRELID1 expression level in GC tissues with tumor progression and patient prognosis. In cultured GC cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated overexpression or interference of PRELID1 were observed on cell migration, invasion and EMT. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining revealed significantly higher PRELID1 expression in GC tissues (P<0.001), whose expression level was positively correlated with CEA ≥5 ng/mL (P=0.007), CA199 ≥37 U/mL (P=0.007), G_3-4 stages (P=0.001), T_3-4 stages (P=0.001), and N_2-3 stages (P=0.020). Univariate and Cox multifactorial analysis showed that high PRELID1 level was an independent risk factor affecting 5-year survival of GC patients (P=0.001). In cultured GC cells, PRELID1 overexpression obviously promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the expressions of MMP2 and MMP9, and interference of PRELID1 produced the opposite changes. PRELID1 overexpression also increased the expressions of N-cadherin and vimentin and reduced the expression of E-cadherin. Mechanistic analyses showed that up-regulation of PRELID1 increased the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR in GC cells, whereas its interference caused the opposite changes; the application of 740 Y-P, a PI3K/AKT pathway activator, significantly enhanced the migration, invasion, and EMT of GC cells with PRELID1 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS PRELID1 is highly expressed in GC and affects prognosis of the patients, and its high expression promotes migration, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition of GC cells possibly by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Prognosis ; Cell Movement ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Signal Transduction ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To study the impact of SURF4 expression level on long-term prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) and biological behaviors of GC cells. METHODS: SURF4 expression level in GC and its association with long-term patient prognosis were analyzed using publicly available databases and in 155 GC patients with low and high SURF4 expressions detected immunohistochemically. The Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze independent prognostic predictors of GC and the 5-year survival rate of the patients with different SURF4 expression levels. Informatics analyses were conducted to explore the correlation of SURF4 expression level with immune cell infiltration in GC, SURF4-related differential genes and their associated pathways. In cultured GC cell line HGC-27, the effects of SURF4 knockdown and overexpression on proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were investigated. RESULTS: Analysis of GEPIA dataset and immunohistochemical results suggested significant SURF4 overexpression in GC (P<0.05), which was associated with shortened 5-year survival time of the patients (χ²=38.749, P<0.001). The prognosis of GC was closely related to tumor stage T3-4, N2-3, CEA≥5 μg/L and CA19-9≥37 kU/L (P<0.05). SURF4 expression level was negatively correlated with activated B cells, NK cells and CD8⁺ effector memory T cells (P<0.05) and positively correlated with CD4⁺ T cells (P<0.05). GO and KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that SUFR4 may participate in GC carcinogenesis by promoting EMT through the tight junction pathway. In HGC-27 cells, SURF4 overexpression significantly decreased E-cadherin expression, increased N-cadherin expression, inhibited ZO-1 and claudin-1 expressions, and promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS SURF4 is highly expressed in GC, and its overexpression is associated with a shortened 5-year survival of the patients possibly by enhancing tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion via inhibiting tight junction proteins and promoting EMT.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Tight Junction Proteins/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Female ; Male

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of high expression of transmembrane and coiled helix structural domain 1 (TMCO1) on prognosis of gastric cancer and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: TMCO1 expression in gastric cancer and its effect on gastric cancer progression and prognosis were analyzed using publicly available databases and clinical data of patients undergoing radical surgery in our hospital, and its possible biological functions were explored using KEGG and GO analyses. In gastric cancer HGC-27 cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated TMCO1 overexpression and TMCO1 silencing on cell apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and migration were examined. RESULTS: TMCO1 expression was significantly elevated in gastric cancer tissues (P<0.05), and its high expression was positively correlated with cancer progression (P<0.001) and a lowered postoperative 5-year survival rate of the patients (P<0.05). Bioinformatic analyses suggested that TMCO1 may affect gastric cancer cell apoptosis via Wnt signaling. In HGC-27 cells, TMCO1 overexpression significantly promoted tumor cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, and enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas TMCO1 silencing produced the opposite effects. Western blotting showed that β-catenin levels were significantly upregulated in TMCO1-overexpressing cells and downregulated in cells with TMCO1 silencing. CONCLUSIONS TMCO1 is overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues, and its high expression promotes gastric cancer progression and affects long-term prognosis of the patients possibly by activating the Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Prognosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic