Xiaoyan Chu

Andrographolide suppresses cervical cancer progression by targeting angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis in a CAM-PDX model

Cervical cancer poses significant clinical challenges, particularly in advanced stages. This study explores the therapeutic potential of andrographolide (AND), a bioactive compound derived from Andrographis paniculata, in mitigating cervical cancer progression using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane patient-derived xenograft (CAM-PDX) model. The model was validated through hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry, which confirmed its ability to accurately replicate the histological and molecular characteristics of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), establishing its reliability for therapeutic screening. A dose of 20 mg/kg AND was selected for further evaluation based on preliminary chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay findings. In the CAM-PDX model, AND significantly inhibited tumor growth, primarily by reducing angiogenesis and vessel density. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that AND downregulated key proteins associated with cancer cell proliferation and survival, including Ki67, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), and Erythroblast transformation-specific-related gene (ERG). These results indicate that AND not only disrupts tumor angiogenesis but also induces cell cycle arrest and promotes apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. In summary, this study successfully established a reproducible CAM-PDX model for drug evaluation and highlighted the potential of AND as a promising therapeutic candidate for cervical cancer, warranting further clinical investigation.

Knockdown of ARHGAP30 inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness by suppressing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

The mortality and morbidity rates of ovarian cancer (OC) are high, but the underlying mechanisms of OC have not been characterized. In this study, we determined the role of Rho GTPase Activating Protein 30 (ARHGAP30) in OC progression. We measured ARHGAP30 abundance in OC tissue samples and cells using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-qPCR. EdU, transwell, and annexin V/PI apoptosis assays were used to evaluate proliferation, invasiveness, and apoptosis of OC cells, respectively. The results showed that ARHGAP30 was overexpressed in OC tissue samples and cells. Inhibition of ARHGAP30 suppressed growth and metastasis of OC cells, and enhanced apoptosis. Knockdown of ARHGAP30 in OC cells significantly inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Treatment with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitor buparlisib simulated the effects of ARHGAP30 knockdown on growth, invasiveness, and apoptosis of OC cells. Following buparlisib treatment, the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR were significantly decreased. Furthermore, buparlisib inhibited the effects of ARHGAP30 upregulation on OC cell growth and invasiveness. In conclusion, ARHGAP30 regulated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to promote progression of OC.