Selective Aurora A-TPX2 Interaction Inhibitors Have In Vivo Efficacy as Targeted Antimitotic Agents

An insight into the in vivo antitumor therapeutic potential of indole-(fused) pyri(mi)dine hybrids

Cancer can invade and destroy any part of the body, representing a grand social, public health, and economic challenge. Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in cancer treatment, and in recent decades, hundreds of anticancer chemotherapeutics have been introduced. Nevertheless, multidrug resistance and side effects are the main obstacles to successful cancer therapy, highlighting the pressing requirement for the development of new chemotherapeutics to address the above issues. Indole hybrids not only have the potential to surmount drug resistance and adverse effects caused by individual components but also can enhance efficacy and improve pharmacokinetic characteristics since hybrid molecules can concurrently regulate multiple targets within cancer cells. Moreover, numerous indole hybrids exemplified by mobocertinib (indole-pyrimidine hybrid) and osimertinib (indole-quinazoline hybrid) have already been utilized in clinical cancer treatment. Therefore, indole hybrids have emerged as valuable scaffolds for the treatment and eradication of cancer. This review aims to elucidate the current landscape of indole-(fused) pyri(mi)dine hybrids, including indole-quinolines/quinolinones, indole-pyridines, indole-pyrimidines, and indole-fused pyrimidines, with in vivo antitumor therapeutic potential, offering effective candidates for in-depth preclinical evaluations, encompassing articles published from 2021 onward.

Prognostic Significance of Overexpression of BCL9 and TPX2 in High-Grade Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Markers for Metastasis and Survival

Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a kidney cancer associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Identifying new prognostic markers is crucial. This study investigates the potential of BCL9 and TPX2, two proteins involved in cancer progression, to predict patient outcomes This study analyzed protein abundance data from the CPTAC cohort (110 ccRCC and 84 NAT samples) using LC-MS/MS. BCL9 and TPX2 were validated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) in an independent cohort (52 ccRCC samples). Patients were stratified into high- and low-expression groups based on IHC scores. Survival analyses were conducted, and Reactome pathway enrichment analysis was performed. BCL9 and TPX2 were significantly upregulated in ccRCC compared to NAT. In the validation cohort, high BCL9 levels were associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) but not OS, while high TPX2 levels correlated with shorter overall survival (OS) but not PFS. Pathway analysis linked BCL9 to Wnt signaling and TPX2 to cell cycle regulation. Elevated BCL9 and TPX2 are associated with poor prognosis in ccRCC. These proteins are potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Advances in the design, discovery, and optimization of aurora kinase inhibitors as anticancer agents

INTRODUCTION

Aurora kinases (AKs) play key roles during carcinogenesis and show a close relationship with many cellular effects including mitotic entry, spindle assembly and chromosomal alignment biorientation. Indeed, elevated levels of AKs have been reported in several different tumor types, leading research scientists to investigate ways that we can target AKs for the purpose of developing new anticancer therapeutics.

AREA COVERED

This review examines the design, discovery, and development of Aurora kinase inhibitors (AKIs) as anticancer agents and delineates their roles in cancer progression or development. Various databases like PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, SciFinder were used to search the relevant information. This article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the medicinal chemistry of AKIs including the candidates under clinical development and list of patents filed. In addition, their mechanistic findings, SARs, and in silico studies have also been discussed to offer prospects in this field.

EXPERT OPINION

The integration of artificial intelligence and computational approaches is poised to accelerate the development of AKIs as anticancer agents. However, the associated challenges currently hindering its impact in drug development must be overcome before drugs can successfully translate from early drug development into clinical practice.

NKX6.3 modulation of mitotic dynamics and genomic stability in gastric carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer remains a significant global health challenge, characterized by poor prognosis and high mortality rates. Mitotic integrity and genomic stability are crucial in maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing tumorigenesis. The transcription factor NKX6.3 has emerged as a potential regulator of these processes in gastric epithelial cells, prompting an investigation into its role in gastric cancer development.

METHODS

We employed a combination of in vitro and in vivo techniques to elucidate the impact of NKX6.3 depletion on mitotic dynamics and genomic stability in gastric epithelial cells. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were conducted to assess the expression of mitosis-related genes and proteins. Flow cytometry was utilized to evaluate cell cycle distribution, while immunofluorescence microscopy enabled the visualization of mitotic abnormalities. Statistical analyses, including Student's t-test and ANOVA, were performed to determine the significance of our findings.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrate that NKX6.3 depletion leads to significant mitotic defects, characterized by increased chromosome misalignment and lagging chromosomes during anaphase. These abnormalities corresponded with elevated levels of genomic instability markers, indicating compromised genomic integrity. Furthermore, the loss of NKX6.3 resulted in altered expression of key regulatory proteins involved in mitosis and DNA repair pathways, suggesting a mechanistic link between NKX6.3 and the maintenance of genomic stability in gastric epithelial cells. Depletion of NKX6.3 resulted in accelerated cell cycle progression and the formation of abnormal mitotic figures, leading to genomic instability characterized by increased DNA content and structural abnormalities. In both in vitro and xenograft models, the depletion of NKX6.3 significantly upregulated AurkA and TPX2, which correlated with gains in DNA copy number. An inverse relationship was observed between NKX6.3 expression and the levels of AurkA and TPX2 in human gastric cancer tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the essential role of NKX6.3 in regulating mitotic integrity and genomic stability in gastric carcinogenesis. The findings suggest that targeting NKX6.3 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for improving treatment outcomes in gastric cancer by restoring mitotic fidelity and genomic stability.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was not registered.