山崎 淳太郎

While the fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) is known to be composed of various differentiated cells such as secretory and ciliated cells, the upstream regulatory mechanisms of cell differentiation that are essential for tissue homeostasis remain under investigation. In this study, we established human FTE organoids and identified quiescent cells within the early organoid formation by observing cellular proliferation heterogeneity. We also analyzed two single-cell transcriptomic data to trace the differentiation trajectory in human FTE, and found that the gene LCN2 serves as a marker gene of early stage of the trajectory. Genetically manipulated FTE organoids indicated that LCN2 inhibits ferroptosis and promotes cell survival under oxidative stress. In addition, the FTE organoids introduced p53 dysfunction, the common genetic characteristics of high-grade serous carcinoma, showed upregulated LCN2 expression and enhanced ferroptosis resistance. This study provides insights into the LCN2-mediated protective mechanism of human FTE quiescent cells and its potential role in tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND: Benzaldehyde (BA) is an aromatic aldehyde found in fruits that has been studied as a potential anticancer agent on the basis of its ability to inhibit transformation in mouse embryo cells and to suppress metastasis in mice. METHODS: We investigated the cytotoxic effects of BA on cancer cells, and probed its effects on intracellular signaling pathways. The anticancer effects of BA in vivo were studied by using a mouse orthotopic transplantation model of pancreatic cancer. RESULTS: BA inhibited the growth of osimertinib- or radiation-resistant cancer cells as well as the interaction between 14-3-3ζ and its client proteins. The interaction of 14-3-3ζ with the Ser28-phosphorylated form of histone H3 (H3S28ph) was implicated in treatment resistance and the transcriptional regulation of genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness, including E2F2, SRSF1, and ID1. Treatment of mice with a BA derivative inhibited pancreatic tumor growth and lung metastasis, as well as suppressed a state of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) of tumor cells. CONCLUSION: The interaction between 14-3-3ζ and H3S28ph plays a key role in EMP and treatment resistance in cancer. The ability of BA to inhibit this and other interactions of 14-3-3ζ offers the potential to overcome treatment resistance and to suppress metastasis.

CD44, a multifunctional cell surface protein, has emerged as a pivotal regulator in cancer stem cell (CSC) biology, orchestrating processes such as stemness, metabolic reprogramming, and therapeutic resistance. Recent studies have identified a critical role of CD44 in ferroptosis resistance by stabilizing SLC7A11 (xCT), a key component of the antioxidant defense system, enabling CSCs to evade oxidative stress and sustain tumorigenic potential. Additionally, CD44 regulates intracellular iron metabolism and redox balance, further supporting CSC survival and adaptation to stressful microenvironments. Therapeutic strategies targeting CD44, including ferroptosis inducers and combination therapies, have shown significant potential in preclinical and early clinical settings. Innovations such as CD44-mediated nanocarriers and metabolic inhibitors present novel opportunities to disrupt CSC-associated resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, the dynamic plasticity of CD44 isoforms governed by transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic regulation underscores the importance of context-specific therapeutic approaches. This review highlights the multifaceted roles of CD44 in CSC biology, focusing on its contribution to ferroptosis resistance, iron metabolism, and redox regulation. Targeting CD44 offers a promising avenue for overcoming therapeutic resistance and improving the outcomes of refractory cancers. Future studies are needed to refine these strategies and enable their clinical translation.

Diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) is a subtype of gastric cancer that is prone to peritoneal dissemination, with poor patient prognosis. Although intercellular adhesion loss between cancer cells is a major characteristic of DGCs, the mechanism underlying the alteration in cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion is unclear. We investigated how DGCs progress and cause peritoneal dissemination through interactions between DGC cells and the tumour microenvironment (TME). p53 knockout and KRASG12V-expressing (GAN-KP) cells and Cdh1-deleted GAN-KP (GAN-KPC) cells were orthotopically transplanted into the gastric wall to mimic peritoneal dissemination. The GAN-KPC tumour morphology was similar to that of human DGCs containing abundant stroma. RNA sequencing revealed that pathways related to Rho GTPases and integrin-ECM interactions were specifically increased in GAN-KPC cells compared with GAN-KP cells. Notably, we found that Rac Family Small GTPase 1 (RAC1) induces Integrin Subunit Alpha 6 (Itga6) trafficking, leading to its enrichment on the GC cell membrane. Fibroblasts activate the FAK/AKT pathway in GC cells by mediating extracellular matrix (ECM)-Itga6 interactions, exacerbating the malignant phenotype. In turn, GC cells induce abnormal expression of fibroblast collagen and its transformation into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), resulting in DGC-like subtypes. These findings indicate that Cdh1 gene loss leads to abnormal expression and changes in the subcellular localization of ITGA6 through RAC1 signalling. The latter, through interactions with CAFs, allows for peritoneal dissemination.