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Abstract
Nupr1 is a small, highly basic and loosely folded multifunctional protein whose expression is induced by several stresses. Its relation to cancer was first suggested by its overexpression in several human malignancies and the association of its expression with breast cancer metastasis. Accordingly, Nupr1 is structurally related to the high-mobility group (HMG) of transcriptional regulators, which play a key role in the stress response and in cancer progression. Nupr1 interacts with numerous partners to regulate cell cycle, programmed cell death, autophagy, chromatin accessibility, and transcription, and its expression is required for regulation of TGFβ activity. Pleiotropic functions accomplished by Nupr1 depend on its molecular partners, its location into the cell, its expression level and on the cell-type. Nupr1 might be a new drug-targetable protein whose blockade would prevent cancer progression and metastasis development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla E Cano
- INSERM Unité 624 Stress Cellulaire, Marseille Cedex9, France
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors activate human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1. We evaluated the contribution of TS expression to determine a treatment method providing an effect from gemcitabine (GEM). METHODS The expression of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and GEM metabolic factors (5-FU: TS, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, orotate phosphoribosyltransferase; GEM: human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1, deoxycytidine kinase, cytidine deaminase, 5'-nucleotidase) were studied in 7 pancreatic cancer cell lines by Western blotting, and drug resistance was evaluated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol]-2,5-dephenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The expression of 5-FU factors was observed immunohistochemically in resected pancreatic cancer specimens. RESULTS Gemcitabine concentrations that inhibited colony formation by 50% correlated with TS protein expression (P = 0.0169). With a 5-FU non-growth-inhibiting dose, GEM concentrations that inhibited colony formation by 50% were significantly reduced by one fourth to one tenth. Knockout of TS expression by small interfering RNA decreased resistance to GEM in the cell lines (P = 0.0019). Immunohistochemically, TS expression related to disease-free survival time of patients treated with GEM (P = 0.0224). A high expression of 5-FU factors was detected: orotate phosphoribosyltransferase: differentiated cases (P = 0.0137), lower T factor (P = 0.0411); dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase: nerve invasion (P = 0.0188), lymph node recurrence (P = 0.0253); TS, positive N factor (P = 0.0061). CONCLUSIONS The expression of TS provides an alternative source of substrate for DNA synthesis and positively correlates with GEM resistance and shortened patient survival.
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Cloning and characterization of p8 homolog cDNA in the Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Biochem Genet 2010; 48:504-15. [PMID: 20454949 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-010-9334-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2009] [Accepted: 01/25/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The p8 gene encodes a transcription factor known to modulate cell growth, division, and apoptosis and influences gene expression. In this study, an Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) homolog of the p8 gene was cloned, sequenced, and characterized. The full-length p8 cDNA consists of 601 bp and encodes 76 amino acids with a molecular mass of 9 kD. The bHLH region is well conserved between Atlantic halibut and other animals. Analysis by RT-PCR showed that the p8 transcript is constitutively expressed in 9 of the 12 tissues tested: pancreas, intestine, stomach, gill, head kidney, heart, liver, ovary, and spleen. A predicted microRNA target site was found in the 3'UTR of Atlantic halibut p8 mRNA. We speculate that the target site may pair to microRNA molecules because the target site resides in a big loop, a space large enough for the binding of microRNA molecules.
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Sun Y, Liu Z, Zhang S. Tissue distribution, developmental expression and up-regulation of p8 transcripts on stress in zebrafish. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2010; 28:549-554. [PMID: 20036747 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2009.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2009] [Revised: 12/10/2009] [Accepted: 12/12/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The p8 is a transcription factor with a basic helix-loop-helix motif and a nuclear localization signal. A zebrafish p8 cDNA, which consists of 732 bp and encodes 75 amino acids, was identified in this paper. Sequence alignment showed that the bHLH region of p8 was well-conserved during the evolution. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that zebrafish p8 was close to its homologous protein in frog, together clustering to the clade of vertebrates. The zebrafish p8 mRNA expression levels varied much among the detected adult tissues, with the obvious higher expression in backbone and liver. During embryogenesis, the expression of zebrafish p8 mRNA was in higher levels in cleavage stage, decreased from blastula to segmentation stage, but sharply elevated at hatching stage. Quantitative real-time PCR assay suggested up-regulation expressions of zebrafish p8 on a wide range of cellular stressors such as starvation, temperature, osmotic pressure and pH value, implying an important role of p8 gene in response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266003, PR China
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Pardo R, Lo Ré A, Archange C, Ropolo A, Papademetrio DL, Gonzalez CD, Alvarez EM, Iovanna JL, Vaccaro MI. Gemcitabine induces the VMP1-mediated autophagy pathway to promote apoptotic death in human pancreatic cancer cells. Pancreatology 2010; 10:19-26. [PMID: 20299819 DOI: 10.1159/000264680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2009] [Accepted: 10/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Autophagy is a degradation process of cytoplasmic cellular constituents. We have described the vacuole membrane protein-1 (VMP1) whose expression triggers autophagy in mammalian cells. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of autophagy in human pancreatic cancer cell death. METHODS/RESULTS Here we show that gemcitabine, the standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, induced autophagy in PANC-1 and MIAPaCa-2 cells, as evidenced by the accumulation of acidic vesicular organelles, the recruitment of microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain-3, and electron microscopy. In addition, gemcitabine treatment induced early expression of VMP1 in cancer cells. Gemcitabine also induced apoptosis detected by morphology, annexin V-positive cells, and cleavage of caspase-3. Surprisingly, 3-methyladenine, an autophagy inhibitor, decreased apoptosis in gemcitabine-treated cells, showing that autophagy leads to cancer cell apoptotic death. Finally, VMP1 knockdown decreased autophagy and apoptosis in gemcitabine-treated cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS The VMP1-autophagy pathway promotes apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and mediates gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity. and IAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Pardo
- Department of Physiology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Humbert M, Castéran N, Letard S, Hanssens K, Iovanna J, Finetti P, Bertucci F, Bader T, Mansfield CD, Moussy A, Hermine O, Dubreuil P. Masitinib combined with standard gemcitabine chemotherapy: in vitro and in vivo studies in human pancreatic tumour cell lines and ectopic mouse model. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9430. [PMID: 20209107 PMCID: PMC2832006 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2009] [Accepted: 02/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tyrosine kinases are attractive targets for pancreatic cancer therapy because several are over-expressed, including PDGFRalpha/beta, FAK, Src and Lyn. A critical role of mast cells in the development of pancreatic cancer has also been reported. Masitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively targets c-Kit, PDGFRalpha/beta, Lyn, and to a lesser extent the FAK pathway, without inhibiting kinases of known toxicities. Masitinib is particularly efficient in controlling the proliferation, differentiation and degranulation of mast cells. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of masitinib in pancreatic cancer, as a single agent and in combination with gemcitabine. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS Proof-of-concept studies were performed in vitro on human pancreatic tumour cell lines and then in vivo using a mouse model of human pancreatic cancer. Molecular mechanisms were investigated via gene expression profiling. Masitinib as a single agent had no significant antiproliferative activity while the masitinib/gemcitabine combination showed synergy in vitro on proliferation of gemcitabine-refractory cell lines Mia Paca2 and Panc1, and to a lesser extent in vivo on Mia Paca2 cell tumour growth. Specifically, masitinib at 10 microM strongly sensitised Mia Paca2 cells to gemcitabine (>400-fold reduction in IC(50)); and moderately sensitised Panc1 cells (10-fold reduction). Transcriptional analysis identified the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway as down-regulated in the cell lines resensitised by the masitinib/gemcitabine combination. CONCLUSIONS These data establish proof-of-concept that masitinib can sensitise gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer cell lines and warrant further in vivo investigation. Indeed, such an effect has been recently observed in a phase 2 clinical study of patients with pancreatic cancer who received a masitinib/gemcitabine combination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sébastien Letard
- Inserm U891, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Signalisation, Hématopoïèse et Mécanismes de l'Oncogenèse, Centre de Référence des Mastocytoses, Marseille, France
- Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
| | | | - Juan Iovanna
- Inserm U624, Stress Cellulaire, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Pascal Finetti
- Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
- Inserm, U891, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - François Bertucci
- Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
- Inserm, U891, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | - Olivier Hermine
- Hôpital Necker, Service d'Hématologie, CNRS UMR 8147, Centre de Référence des Mastocytoses, Université Paris V René Descartes, Paris, France
- * E-mail: (OH); (PD)
| | - Patrice Dubreuil
- Inserm U891, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Signalisation, Hématopoïèse et Mécanismes de l'Oncogenèse, Centre de Référence des Mastocytoses, Marseille, France
- Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
- * E-mail: (OH); (PD)
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Scotti ML, Bamlet WR, Smyrk TC, Fields AP, Murray NR. Protein kinase Ciota is required for pancreatic cancer cell transformed growth and tumorigenesis. Cancer Res 2010; 70:2064-74. [PMID: 20179210 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-2684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with an overall 5-year survival rate of <5%. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common form of pancreatic cancer, is highly resistant to conventional chemotherapies, underscoring the critical need for new molecular targets for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy. The KRAS proto-oncogene is mutated in >90% of PDAC. Protein kinase Ciota (PKCiota) is required for the oncogenic Ras-mediated transformed growth of lung cancer and intestinal epithelial cells. However, little is known about the role of PKCiota in pancreatic cancer. In this study, we evaluated the expression of PKCiota in human pancreatic cancer and the requirement for PKCiota for the transformed growth and tumorigenicity of PDAC cells. We find that PKCiota is significantly overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer, and high PKCiota expression correlates with poor patient survival. Inhibition of PKCiota expression blocks PDAC cell transformed growth in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Inhibition of PKCiota expression in pancreatic tumors also significantly reduces tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Analysis of downstream PKCiota effectors implicates the Rac1-MEK/ERK1/2 signaling axis in PKCiota-mediated transformed growth and cellular invasion. Taken together, our data show a required role for PKCiota in the transformed growth of pancreatic cancer cells and reveal a novel role for PKCiota in pancreatic cancer cell metastasis and angiogenesis in vivo. Our results strongly indicate that PKCiota will be an effective target for pancreatic cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele L Scotti
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA
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Qiu Z, MacRae TH. A Molecular Overview of Diapause in Embryos of the Crustacean, Artemia franciscana. DORMANCY AND RESISTANCE IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-12422-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Wang RS, Liu LX, Gu YH, Lin QF, Guo RH, Shu YQ. The effect of endostatin and gemcitabine combined with HIFU on the animal xenograft model of human pancreatic cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2009; 64:309-12. [PMID: 19942398 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2009.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of the recombinant human endostatin and gemcitabine combined with HIFU on the mouse xenograft model of pancreatic cancer. METHODS Use human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 to set up the mouse xenograft model, then randomized into four arms. Each arm was treated with gemcitabine, endostatin, gemcitabine combined with endostatin and normal saline respectively. Observe the volume of the tumor, the serum VEGF level and MVD in the tumor tissue among the different arms. All mice were treated with HIFU, then pathological examination was done. RESULTS The tumor volume, serum VEGF level and MVD in the combined-therapy arm are all lower than the monotherapy arms and the control arm. The coagulation necrosis occurred in tumors after HIFU treatment. CONCLUSION Endostatin and gemcitabine has better effect than gemcitabine or endostatin monotherapy on the animal xenograft model of human pancreatic cancer. HIFU combined with chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy may enhance the effect for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-sheng Wang
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
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Xia Y, Liu Y, Wan J, Wang M, Rocchi P, Qu F, Iovanna JL, Peng L. Novel Triazole Ribonucleoside Down-Regulates Heat Shock Protein 27 and Induces Potent Anticancer Activity on Drug-Resistant Pancreatic Cancer. J Med Chem 2009; 52:6083-96. [DOI: 10.1021/jm900960v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
- Département de Chimie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, CNRS UPR 3118, 163, Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Jinqiao Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Menghua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Palma Rocchi
- INSERM U624, 163, Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Fanqi Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | | | - Ling Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
- Département de Chimie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, CNRS UPR 3118, 163, Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
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Gemcitabine-based chemogene therapy for pancreatic cancer using Ad-dCK::UMK GDEPT and TS/RR siRNA strategies. Neoplasia 2009; 11:637-50. [PMID: 19568409 DOI: 10.1593/neo.81686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2009] [Revised: 03/26/2009] [Accepted: 04/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gemcitabine is a first-line agent for advanced pancreatic cancer therapy. However, its efficacy is often limited by its poor intracellular metabolism and chemoresistance. To exert its antitumor activity, gemcitabine requires to be converted to its active triphosphate form. Thus, our aim was to improve gemcitabine activation using gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy based on gemcitabine association with the deoxycytidine kinase::uridine monophosphate kinase fusion gene (dCK::UMK) and small interference RNA directed against ribonucleotide reductase (RRM2) and thymidylate synthase (TS). In vitro, cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-3,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and [(3)H]thymidine assays. Apoptosis-related gene expression and activity were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and ELISA. For in vivo studies, the treatment efficacy was evaluated on subcutaneous and orthotopic pancreatic tumor models. Our data indicated that cell exposure to gemcitabine induced a down-regulation of dCK expression and up-regulation of TS and RR expression in Panc1-resistant cells when compared with BxPc3- and HA-hpc2-sensitive cells. The combination of TS/RRM2 small interference RNA with Ad-dCK::UMK induced a 40-fold decrease of gemcitabine IC(50) in Panc1 cells. This strong sensitization was associated to apoptosis induction with a remarkable increase in TRAIL expression and a diminution of gemcitabine-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activity. In vivo, the gemcitabine-based tritherapy strongly reduced tumor volumes and significantly prolonged mice survival. Moreover, we observed an obvious increase of apoptosis and decrease of cell proliferation in tumors receiving the tritherapy regimens. Together, these findings suggest that simultaneous TS/RRM2-gene silencing and dCK::UMK gene overexpression markedly improved gemcitabine's therapeutic activity. Clearly, this combined strategy warrants further investigation.
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Abstract
NUPR1, or p8 or com1, was first identified from rat pancreas during acute pancreatitis and later as a gene whose expression was upregulated in metastatic breast cancer cells. NUPR1 is a molecule whose expression is upregulated in response to stress and is hence influenced by the host microenvironment. While NUPR1 has been implicated in several diseases, there is no singular biochemical pathway that can be attributed to its role in cancer. NUPR1 has been found to aid the establishment of metastasis and to play a key role in the progression of several malignancies including those of breast, thyroid, brain and pancreas. NUPR1 has been implicated in inducing chemoresistance in pancreatic and breast cancer cells, protecting them from apoptosis and making tumor cells genetically unstable. In prostate cancer, however, NUPR1 appears to have tumor suppressive activity. Understanding the mechanism of action of the multifaceted functions of NUPR1 may open up new dimensions towards creating novel therapies against cancer as well as other pathologies. This review draws on several published studies on NUPR1, mainly in cancer biology, and assesses NUPR1 from the perspective of its functional role in making cancer cells resistant to the action of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Wan J, Xia Y, Liu Y, Wang M, Rocchi P, Yao J, Qu F, Neyts J, Iovanna JL, Peng L. Discovery of novel arylethynyltriazole ribonucleosides with selective and effective antiviral and antiproliferative activity. J Med Chem 2009; 52:1144-55. [PMID: 19170598 DOI: 10.1021/jm800927r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Novel ethynyltriazole ribonucleosides were synthesized using a simple and efficient two-step procedure involving Sonogashira coupling and subsequent ammonolysis. Compounds 2f and 3o inhibited hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication efficiently, whereas compound 3f demonstrated potent apoptosis-induced antiproliferative activity against pancreatic cancer MiaPaCa-2 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Most interestingly, the notable selective antiviral and antiproliferative activities were achieved respectively for 2f and 3f by modulating the ribose sugar moiety into deprotected and protected forms while retaining a similar trifluoromethylphenylethynyltriazole as the nucleobase. Preliminary structure-activity relationship study revealed that not only the ribose moiety but also the CF(3) group at the p-position of the phenyl ring and the rigid triple bond functionality contributed critically to the observed antiviral activity of 2f against HCV and antiproliferative activity of 3f against pancreatic cancer. These two compounds constitute therefore promising leads in the search for new antiviral and anticancer candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinqiao Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
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Guillermet-Guibert J, Davenne L, Pchejetski D, Saint-Laurent N, Brizuela L, Guilbeau-Frugier C, Delisle MB, Cuvillier O, Susini C, Bousquet C. Targeting the sphingolipid metabolism to defeat pancreatic cancer cell resistance to the chemotherapeutic gemcitabine drug. Mol Cancer Ther 2009; 8:809-20. [PMID: 19372554 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-1096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Defeating pancreatic cancer resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine remains a challenge to treat this deadly cancer. Targeting the sphingolipid metabolism for improving tumor chemosensitivity has recently emerged as a promising strategy. The fine balance between intracellular levels of the prosurvival sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and the proapoptotic ceramide sphingolipids determines cell fate. Among enzymes that control this metabolism, sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1), a tumor-associated protein overexpressed in many cancers, favors survival through S1P production, and inhibitors of SphK1 are used in ongoing clinical trials to sensitize epithelial ovarian and prostate cancer cells to various chemotherapeutic drugs. We here report that the cellular ceramide/S1P ratio is a critical biosensor for predicting pancreatic cancer cell sensitivity to gemcitabine. A low level of the ceramide/S1P ratio, associated with a high SphK1 activity, correlates with a robust intrinsic pancreatic cancer cell chemoresistance toward gemcitabine. Strikingly, increasing the ceramide/S1P ratio, by using pharmacologic (SphK1 inhibitor or ceramide analogue) or small interfering RNA-based approaches to up-regulate intracellular ceramide levels or reduce SphK1 activity, sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. Conversely, decreasing the ceramide/S1P ratio, by up-regulating SphK1 activity, promoted gemcitabine resistance in these cells. Development of novel pharmacologic strategies targeting the sphingolipid metabolism might therefore represent an interesting promising approach, when combined with gemcitabine, to defeat pancreatic cancer chemoresistance to this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Guillermet-Guibert
- INSERM U858, I2MR, IFR31, CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, UMR5089, Service d'Anatomie-Pathologique, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse, France
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Legoffic A, Calvo EL, Barthet M, Delpero JR, Dagorn JC, Iovanna JL. Identification of genomic alterations associated with the aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer using an ultra-high-resolution CGH array. Pancreatology 2009; 9:267-72. [PMID: 19407481 DOI: 10.1159/000212092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2008] [Accepted: 07/03/2008] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genomic alterations present in pancreatic adenocarcinoma have been described only partially. In addition, the relations between these alterations and the aggressiveness of the phenotype remain unknown. METHODS Genomic DNA and total RNA from 5 pancreatic cell lines, of which 2 have an aggressive phenotype and are gemcitabine-resistant (Mia-Paca2 and Panc-1), and 3 less aggressive and gemcitabine-sensitive (Capan-1, Capan-2 and BxPC3), have been purified. DNA abnormalities have been analyzed using an ultra-high-resolution CGH array and mRNA expression was studied with an Affymetrix GeneChip expression array. RESULTS We identified 573 amplified and 30 deleted genes common to all 5 cell lines. Some of them have already been described, whereas other genes, implicated in signal transduction, apoptosis, cell cycle or cell migration, are described for the first time as being related to this cancer. Comparison of genomic abnormalities between the 2 most aggressive and the 3 less aggressive cell lines led to the identification of 368 genes specifically amplified in the aggressive cell lines. However, no specific gene deletion seems to be associated with the aggressive phenotype. CONCLUSION Using a high-resolution approach, we could precisely describe the genomic alterations associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and determine those associated with an aggressive phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Legoffic
- INSERM U.624, Stress Cellulaire, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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Pan X, Arumugam T, Yamamoto T, Levin PA, Ramachandran V, Ji B, Lopez-Berestein G, Vivas-Mejia PE, Sood AK, McConkey DJ, Logsdon CD. Nuclear factor-kappaB p65/relA silencing induces apoptosis and increases gemcitabine effectiveness in a subset of pancreatic cancer cells. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 14:8143-51. [PMID: 19088029 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-1539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activity may increase survival and protect cancer cells from chemotherapy. Therefore, NFkappaB activity may be prognostic, and inhibition of NFkappaB may be useful for pancreatic cancer therapy. To test these hypotheses, we examined NFkappaB activity and the effects of inhibiting NFkappaB in several pancreatic cancer cell lines with differing sensitivities to gemcitabine. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The gemcitabine sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC-3, L3.6pl, CFPAC-1, MPanc-96, PANC-1, and MIA PaCa-2 were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and fluorescence-activated cell sorting assays. NFkappaB levels were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and reporter assays. The effects of gemcitabine on NFkappaB activity were determined in vitro and in vivo. NFkappaB was inhibited by silencing of the p65/relA subunit using small interfering RNA in vitro and by neutral liposomal delivery of small interfering RNA in vivo, and the effects were evaluated on gemcitabine sensitivity. RESULTS The cell lines L3.6pl, BxPC-3, and CFPAC-1 were sensitive, whereas MPanc-96, PANC-1, and MIA PaCa-2 were resistant to gemcitabine. No significant correlation was observed between basal NFkappaB activity and gemcitabine sensitivity. Gemcitabine treatment did not activate NFkappaB either in vitro or in vivo. Silencing of p65/relA induced apoptosis and increased gemcitabine killing of all gemcitabine-sensitive pancreatic cancer cells. No significant effects, however, were observed on gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines either in vitro or in vivo. CONCLUSIONS NFkappaB activity did not correlate with sensitivity to gemcitabine. Silencing of p65/relA was effective alone and in combination with gemcitabine in gemcitabine-sensitive but not gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cells. Thus, NFkappaB may be a useful therapeutic target for a subset of pancreatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Kano MR, Komuta Y, Iwata C, Oka M, Shirai YT, Morishita Y, Ouchi Y, Kataoka K, Miyazono K. Comparison of the effects of the kinase inhibitors imatinib, sorafenib, and transforming growth factor-beta receptor inhibitor on extravasation of nanoparticles from neovasculature. Cancer Sci 2009; 100:173-80. [PMID: 19037999 PMCID: PMC11158202 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2008.01003.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2008] [Revised: 09/11/2008] [Accepted: 09/14/2008] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There are a number of kinase inhibitors that regulate components of the neovasculature. We previously reported the use of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta inhibitor on neovasculature in stroma-rich tumor models to increase the intratumoral distribution of nanoparticles. Here, we compared the effects of two other kinase inhibitors, imatinib and sorafenib, with TGF-beta inhibitor (LY364947) on extravasation of a modeled nanoparticle, 2 MDa dextran. We first used a mouse model of neoangiogenesis, the Matrigel plug assay, to compare neovasculature formed inside of and around Matrigel plugs (intraplug and periplug regions, respectively). Intraplug vasculature was more strongly pericyte covered, whereas periplug vasculature was less covered. In this model, TGF-beta inhibitor exhibited the most potent effect on intraplug vasculature in increasing the extravasation of dextran, whereas sorafenib had the strongest effect on periplug vasculature. Although imatinib and TGF-beta inhibitor each reduced pericyte coverage, imatinib also reduced the density of endothelium, resulting in a decrease in overall delivery of nanoparticles. These findings were confirmed in two tumor models, the CT26 colon cancer model and the BxPC3 pancreatic cancer model. The vasculature phenotype in the CT26 model resembled that in the periplug region, whereas the latter resembled that in the intraplug region. Consistent with this, sorafenib most potently enhanced the accumulation of nanoparticles in the CT26 model, whereas TGF-beta inhibitor did in the BxPC3 model. In conclusion, the appropriate strategy for optimization of tumor vasculature for nanoparticles may differ depending on tumor type, and in particular on the degree of pericyte coverage around the vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsunobu R Kano
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
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68
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Franko J, Krasinskas AM, Nikiforova MN, Zarnescu NO, Lee KKW, Hughes SJ, Bartlett DL, Zeh HJ, Moser AJ. Loss of heterozygosity predicts poor survival after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Surg 2008; 12:1664-72; discussion 1672-3. [PMID: 18677542 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-008-0577-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2008] [Accepted: 06/04/2008] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging for pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a validated predictor of prognosis but insufficiently discriminates postresection survival. We hypothesized that genetic analysis of resected cancers would correlate with tumor biology and postoperative survival. METHODS Resected pancreatic ductal and ampullary adenocarcinomas (n = 50) were analyzed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 15 markers including 5q(APC), 6q(TBSP2), 9p(p16), 10q(PTEN), 12q(MDM2), 17p(TP53), and 18q(DCC/SMAD4). KRAS exon 1 mutations were detected by sequencing. The primary endpoint of this interim data analysis was survival at 18 month median follow-up. RESULTS Negative margins were achieved in 43 (86%) cases. AJCC stage was: Ia/b (3), IIa (16), IIb (31). KRAS mutations were detected in 31 cases (62%) and LOH in 26 (52%) with mean fractional allelic loss score 23 +/- 16%. Median survival was significantly shorter with LOH (15.2 months versus not reached; p = 0.021) and KRAS mutations (19.6 months versus not reached; p = 0.038). Combining KRAS mutation with LOH was a powerful negative predictor in Cox regression (HR = 10.6, p = 0.006). Stage, nodal and margin status were not predictive of survival. CONCLUSION LOH and KRAS mutations indicate aggressive tumor biology and correlate strongly with survival in resected pancreatic ductal and ampullary carcinomas. Genetic analysis may improve risk stratification in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Franko
- UPMC Pancreatic Cancer Center, Division of Surgical Oncology, 497 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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Li L, Fridley B, Kalari K, Jenkins G, Batzler A, Safgren S, Hildebrandt M, Ames M, Schaid D, Wang L. Gemcitabine and cytosine arabinoside cytotoxicity: association with lymphoblastoid cell expression. Cancer Res 2008; 68:7050-8. [PMID: 18757419 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-0405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Two cytidine analogues, gemcitabine (dFdC) and 1-beta-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (AraC), show significant therapeutic effect in a variety of cancers. However, response to these drugs varies widely. Evidence from tumor biopsy samples shows that expression levels for genes involved in the cytidine transport, metabolism, and bioactivation pathway contribute to this variation in response. In the present study, we set out to test the hypothesis that variation in gene expression both within and outside of this "pathway" might influence sensitivity to gemcitabine and AraC. Specifically, Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChip and cytotoxicity assays were performed to obtain basal mRNA expression and IC(50) values for both drugs in 197 ethnically defined Human Variation Panel lymphoblastoid cell lines. Genes with a high degree of association with IC(50) values were involved mainly in cell death, cancer, cell cycle, and nucleic acid metabolism pathways. We validated selected significant genes by performing real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and selected two representative candidates, NT5C3 (within the pathway) and FKBP5 (outside of the pathway), for functional validation. Those studies showed that down-regulation of NT5C3 and FKBP5 altered tumor cell sensitivity to both drugs. Our results suggest that cell-based model system studies, when combined with complementary functional characterization, may help to identify biomarkers for response to chemotherapy with these cytidine analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA
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70
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Kolbert CP, Chari S, Sreekumar R. Microarray Technologies for Gene Transcript Analysis in Pancreatic Cancer. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2008; 7:55-9. [DOI: 10.1177/153303460800700107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating condition that is most often characterized by a poor prognosis. Microarray technologies are promising screening methods for the identification of potential markers for early diagnosis and chemotherapeutic intervention. In this article, we review the current state of pancreatic cancer research as it relates to the measurement of gene transcript levels by DNA microarray analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - R. Sreekumar
- Clinical Research Unit
- Division of Endocrinology Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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71
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Gene expression in diapause-destined embryos of the crustacean, Artemia franciscana. Mech Dev 2007; 124:856-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2007.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2007] [Revised: 09/02/2007] [Accepted: 09/07/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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72
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Qiu Z, MacRae TH. Developmentally regulated synthesis of p8, a stress-associated transcription cofactor, in diapause-destined embryos of Artemia franciscana. Cell Stress Chaperones 2007; 12:255-64. [PMID: 17915558 PMCID: PMC1971234 DOI: 10.1379/csc-275.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Diapause-destined embryos of the crustacean Artemia franciscana arrest as gastrulae, acquire extreme stress tolerance, and enter profound metabolic dormancy. Among genes upregulated at 2 days postfertilization in these embryos is a homologue of p8, a stress-inducible transcription cofactor. Artemia p8 is smaller than vertebrate homologues but shares a basic helix-loop-helix domain and a bipartite nuclear localization signal. Probing of restriction digested DNA on Southern blots indicated a single Artemia p8 gene and 5'-RACE specified 2 transcription start sites. Several putative cis-acting regulatory sequences, including two heat shock elements, appeared upstream of the p8 transcription start site. Artemia p8 mRNA increased sharply at 1 day postfertilization in diapause-destined embryos and then declined, whereas p8 protein appeared 2 days postfertilization and remained relatively constant throughout development, indicating a stable protein. p8 was not detectable in nauplius-destined (nondiapause) Artemia embryos. Immunofluorescent staining revealed p8 within Artemia nuclei. The results support the idea that p8, a known stressresponsive transcription cofactor, mediates gene expression in diapause-destined Artemia embryos. p8 is the first diapause-related transcription factor identified in crustaceans and 1 of only a small number of such proteins identified in any organism undergoing diapause.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptation, Physiological/genetics
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Artemia/embryology
- Artemia/growth & development
- Artemia/metabolism
- Base Sequence
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/chemistry
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Humans
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neoplasm Proteins/chemistry
- Protein Conformation
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Stress, Physiological/embryology
- Stress, Physiological/genetics
- Stress, Physiological/metabolism
- Stress, Physiological/physiopathology
- Time Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Qiu
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4J1, Canada
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73
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Nakahira S, Nakamori S, Tsujie M, Takahashi Y, Okami J, Yoshioka S, Yamasaki M, Marubashi S, Takemasa I, Miyamoto A, Takeda Y, Nagano H, Dono K, Umeshita K, Sakon M, Monden M. Involvement of ribonucleotide reductase M1 subunit overexpression in gemcitabine resistance of human pancreatic cancer. Int J Cancer 2007; 120:1355-63. [PMID: 17131328 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal of all solid tumors partially because of its chemoresistance. Although gemcitabine is widely used as a first selected agent for the treatment of this disease despite low response rate, molecular mechanisms of gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer still remain obscure. The aim of this study is to elucidate the mechanisms of gemcitabine resistance. The 81-fold gemcitabine resistant variant MiaPaCa2-RG was selected from pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaCa2. By microarray analysis between MiaPaCa2 and MiaPaCa2-RG, 43 genes (0.04%) were altered expression of more than 2-fold. The most upregulated gene in MiaPaCa2-RG was ribonucleotide reductase M1 subunit (RRM1) with 4.5-fold up-regulation. Transfection with RRM1-specific RNAi suppressed more than 90% of RRM1 mRNA and protein expression. After RRM1-specific RNAi transfection, gemcitabine chemoresistance of MiaPaCa2-RG was reduced to the same level of MiaPaCa2. The 18 recurrent pancreatic cancer patients treated by gemcitabine were divided into 2 groups by RRM1 levels. There was a significant association between gemcitabine response and RRM1 expression (p = 0.018). Patients with high RRM1 levels had poor survival after gemcitabine treatment than those with low RRM1 levels (p = 0.016). RRM1 should be a key molecule in gemcitabine resistance in human pancreatic cancer through both in vitro and clinical models. RRM1 may have the potential as predictor and modulator of gemcitabine treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Nakahira
- Department of Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Giroux V, Iovanna J, Dagorn JC. Probing the human kinome for kinases involved in pancreatic cancer cell survival and gemcitabine resistance. FASEB J 2006; 20:1982-91. [PMID: 17012250 DOI: 10.1096/fj.06-6239com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Except for gemcitabine, chemotherapeutic agents are ineffective with pancreatic adenocarcinoma because this cancer is resistant to apoptosis induction. Involvement of specific kinases in such resistance is likely. We developed a systematic strategy to screen the human kinome and select kinases whose inhibition in pancreatic cancer cells can increase 1) spontaneous apoptosis or 2) gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. The pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line MiaPaCa-2 was transfected with 645 pairs of siRNAs directed to all human kinases. The same experiment was conducted in cells treated with 150 microM gemcitabine. Apoptosis was measured after 2 days and the results were normalized for cell viability. A panel of 56 kinases whose inhibition increased spontaneous apoptosis by at least 50% was established. Ten of them gave similar results on Panc1 and BxPC3 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. A panel of 83 kinases whose inhibition increased gemcitabine-induced apoptosis by 50% or more was also established. Twelve kinases appeared in both panels. A cumulative increase in apoptosis was observed when inhibiting simultaneously several kinases. Such a systematic approach allowed characterization of all kinases involved in pancreatic cancer cell survival and resistance to gemcitabine. Inhibitors of these kinases, used alone or in combination, might improve the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Giroux
- INSERM, Unité 624, Stress Cellulaire, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France
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Morimura T, Noda N, Kato Y, Watanabe T, Saitoh T, Yamazaki T, Takada K, Aoki S, Ohta K, Ohshige M, Sakaguchi K, Sugawara F. Identification of Antibiotic Clarithromycin Binding Peptide Displayed by T7 Phage Particles. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2006; 59:625-32. [PMID: 17191677 DOI: 10.1038/ja.2006.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Peptide libraries displayed by T7 phage, which contain random cDNA fragments insets, were screened for their ability to bind to a biotinylated derivative of clarithromycin. Phage particles bound to an immobilized derivative of the antibiotic were isolated and the inserted cDNA was amplified and sequenced. A common selected peptide sequence, composed of 19 amino acids, was obtained and a synthetic peptide with this sequence was produced. Surface plasmon resonance experiments showed that the synthetic peptide immobilized on a sensor chip bound to clarithromycin and the dissociation constant was determined to be 2.1 x 10(-3) M. The dissociation constants of other macrolide antibiotics, erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin and josamycin were also determined to be 5.4 x 10(-3) M, 6.2 x 10(-5) M, 1.1 M and 3.4 x 10(-2) M, respectively. These results indicated that T7 phage display method might be useful to determine relatively weak interactions between small molecule drugs and the selected peptides which could represent a possible binding site conserved in binding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuro Morimura
- Genome and Drug Research Center, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
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