Morusin induces paraptosis-like cell death through mitochondrial calcium overload and dysfunction in epithelial ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death among all gynecological cancers. Morusin, a prenylated flavonoid extracted from the root bark of Morus australis, has been reported to exhibit anti-tumor activity against various human cancers except EOC. In the present study, we explored the potential anti-cancer activity of morusin against EOC in vitro and in vivo and possible underlying mechanisms for the first time. We first found that morusin effectively inhibited EOC cell proliferation and survival in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Then we observed that treatment of EOC cells with morusin resulted in paraptosis-like cell death, a novel mode of non-apoptotic programmed cell death that is characterized by extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation due to dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria and lack of apoptotic hallmarks. In addition, we discovered that morusin induced obvious increase in mitochondrial Ca²⁺ levels, accumulation of ER stress markers, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) in EOC cells. Furthermore, pretreatment with 4, 4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), a chemical inhibitor of voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) on the outer mitochondrial membrane, effectively inhibited mitochondrial Ca²⁺ influx, cytoplasmic vacuolation and cell death induced by morusin in EOC cells. Moreover, DIDS pretreatment also suppressed morusin-induced accumulation of ER stress markers, ROS production and depletion of Δψm. Consistently, tumor xenograft assays showed that co-treatment with DIDS partially reversed the inhibitory effects of morusin on tumor growth in vivo and inhibited the increased levels of ER stress markers induced by morusin in tumor tissues. Collectively, our results suggest that VDAC-mediated Ca²⁺ influx into mitochondria and subsequent mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload contribute to mitochondrial swelling and dysfunction, leading to morusin-induced paraptosis-like cell death in EOC. This study may provide alternative therapeutic strategies for EOC exhibiting resistance to apoptosis.

β-Escin Effectively Modulates HUVECS Proliferation and Tube Formation

In the present study we evaluated the anti-angiogenic activities of β-escin (the major active compound of Aesculus hippocastanum L. seeds). Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used as an in vitro model for studying the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-angiogenic effect of β-escin. We investigated the in vitro effects on proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs and in vivo anti-angiogenic activity was evaluated in a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis assay. Moreover, the effect on gene expressions was determined by the RT2 ProfilerTM human angiogenesis PCR Array. It was found that β-escin exerts inhibitory effect on the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced proliferation, migration and tube formation, as well as CAM angiogenesis in vivo. The inhibition of critical steps of angiogenic process observed with β-escin could be partially explained by suppression of Akt activation in response to bFGF. Moreover, the anti-angiogenic effects of β-escin could also be mediated via inhibition of EFNB2 and FGF-1 gene expressions in endothelial cells. In conclusion, β-escin affects endothelial cells as a negative mediator of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo and may therefore be considered as a promising candidate for further research elucidating its underlying mechanism of action.

Plant Secondary Metabolites as Anticancer Agents: Successes in Clinical Trials and Therapeutic Application

Cancer is a multistage process resulting in an uncontrolled and abrupt division of cells and is one of the leading causes of mortality. The cases reported and the predictions for the near future are unthinkable. Food and Drug Administration data showed that 40% of the approved molecules are natural compounds or inspired by them, from which, 74% are used in anticancer therapy. In fact, natural products are viewed as more biologically friendly, that is less toxic to normal cells. In this review, the most recent and successful cases of secondary metabolites, including alkaloid, diterpene, triterpene and polyphenolic type compounds, with great anticancer potential are discussed. Focusing on the ones that are in clinical trial development or already used in anticancer therapy, therefore successful cases such as paclitaxel and homoharringtonine (in clinical use), curcumin and ingenol mebutate (in clinical trials) will be addressed. Each compound’s natural source, the most important steps in their discovery, their therapeutic targets, as well as the main structural modifications that can improve anticancer properties will be discussed in order to show the role of plants as a source of effective and safe anticancer drugs.

Decoding colorectal cancer epigenomics

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is very heterogeneous and presents different types of epigenetic alterations including DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs. These changes are considered as characteristics of various observed clinical phenotypes. Undoubtedly, the discovery of epigenetic pathways with novel epigenetic-related mechanisms constitutes a promising advance in cancer biomarker discovery. In this review, we provide an evidence-based discussing of the current understanding of CRC epigenomics and its role in initiation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis. We also discuss the recent findings regarding the potential clinical perspectives of these alterations as potent biomarkers for CRC diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy in the era of liquid biopsy.

Diagnostic markers for the detection of ovarian cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers

Background

Screening for ovarian cancer (OC) in women at high risk consists of a combination of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and transvaginal ultrasound, despite their low sensitivity and specificity. This could be improved by the combination of several biomarkers, which has been shown in average risk patients but has not been investigated until now in female BRCA mutation carriers.

Methods

Using a multiplex, bead-based, immunoassay system, we analyzed the concentrations of leptin, prolactin, osteopontin, insulin-like growth factor II, macrophage inhibitory factor, CA125 and human epididymis antigen 4 in 26 healthy wild type women, 26 healthy BRCA1 mutation carriers, 28 wildtype OC patients and 26 OC patients with BRCA1 mutation.

Results

Using the ROC analysis, we found a high overall sensitivity of 94.3% in differentiating healthy controls from OC patients with comparable results in the wildtype subgroup (sensitivity 92.8%, AUC = 0.988; p = 5.2e-14) as well as in BRCA1 mutation carriers (sensitivity 95.2%, AUC = 0.978; p = 1.7e-15) at an overall specificity of 92.3%.

The used algorithm also allowed to identify healthy BRCA1 mutation carriers when compared to healthy wildtype women (sensitivity 88.4%, specificity 80.7%, AUC = 0.895; p = 6e-08), while this was less pronounced in patients with OC (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 67.8%, AUC = 0.724; p = 0.00065).

Conclusion

We have developed an algorithm, which can differentiate between healthy women and OC patients and have for the first time shown, that such an algorithm can also be used in BRCA mutation carriers. To clarify a suggested benefit to the existing early detection program, large prospective trials with mainly early stage OC cases are warranted.

Autoantibodies against HSF1 and CCDC155 as Biomarkers of Early-Stage, High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

Background: Tumor-directed circulating autoantibodies (AAb) are a well-established feature of many solid tumor types, and are often observed prior to clinical disease manifestation. As such, they may provide a good indicator of early disease development. We have conducted a pilot study to identify novel AAbs as markers of early-stage HGSOCs.Methods: A rare cohort of patients with early (FIGO stage Ia-c) HGSOCs for IgG, IgA, and IgM-mediated AAb reactivity using high-content protein arrays (containing 9,184 individual proteins). AAb reactivity against selected antigens was validated by ELISA in a second, independent cohort of individual patients.Results: A total of 184 antigens were differentially detected in early-stage HGSOC patients compared with all other patient groups assessed. Among the six most highly detected "early-stage" antigens, anti-IgA AAbs against HSF1 and anti-IgG AAbs CCDC155 (KASH5; nesprin 5) were significantly elevated in patients with early-stage malignancy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis suggested that AAbs against HSF1 provided better detection of early-stage malignancy than CA125 alone. Combined measurement of anti-HSF1, anti-CCDC155, and CA125 also improved efficacy at higher sensitivity.Conclusions: The combined measurement of anti-HSF1, anti-CCDC155, and CA125 may be useful for early-stage HGSOC detection.Impact: This is the first study to specifically identify AAbs associated with early-stage HGSOC. The presence and high frequency of specific AAbs in early-stage cancer patients warrants a larger scale examination to define their value for early disease detection at primary diagnosis and/or recurrence. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(2); 183-92. ©2017 AACR.

Constructing an ovarian cancer metastasis index by dissecting medical records

Globally, ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of gynecological cancer-associated deaths. Metastasis, especially multi-organ metastasis, determines the speed of disease progression. A multicenter retrospective study was performed to identify the factors that drive metastasis, from medical records of 534 patients with OC. The average number of target organs per patient was 3.66, indicating multi-organ metastasis. The most common sites of metastasis were large intestine and greater omentum, which were prone to co-metastasis. Results indicated that ascites and laterality, rather than age and menopausal status, were the potential drivers for multi-organ metastasis. Cancer antigen (CA) 125 (CA-125) and nine other blood indicators were found to show a significant, but weak correlation with multi-organ metastasis. A neural network cascade-multiple linear regression hybrid model was built to create an ovarian cancer metastasis index (OCMI) by integration of six multi-organ metastasis drivers including CA-125, blood platelet count, lymphocytes percentage, prealbumin, ascites, and laterality. In an independent set of 267 OC medical records, OCMI showed a moderate correlation with multi-organ metastasis (Spearman ρ = 0.67), the value being 0.72 in premenopausal patients, and good performance in identifying multi-organ metastasis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.832), implying a potential prognostic marker for OC.

Optimal duration of adjuvant endocrine therapy: how to apply the newest data

Background:

The benefit of 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy for women with hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺) breast cancer (BC) is beyond discussion. Nevertheless, the risk of recurrence of luminal BC persists for 15 years or more after diagnosis. Consequently, approaches of extended adjuvant therapy have been investigated in large clinical trials, with the ultimate aim of further reducing the risk of recurrence in patients with HR⁺ BC.

Methods:

A review of recently published trial data is presented to provide a solid basis for discussion. A discussion of the side effects of long-term endocrine treatment, multigenetic tests aiming to identify patients at particular risk, and an outlook for further promising targets are additional aims of this review.

Conclusion:

Extended adjuvant therapy seems beneficial in reducing distant relapse and contralateral BC for a selected group of patients with HR⁺ BC, particularly if aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are used after initial tamoxifen therapy. However, patients with lower risk of recurrence and initial AI therapy may suffer more from side effects than benefit from extended therapy.

Acacia catechu Ethanolic Seed Extract Triggers Apoptosis of SCC-25 Cells

Background:

Acacia catechu Willd (Fabaceae), commonly known as catechu, cachou, and black cutch, has been studied for its hepatoprotective, antipyretic, antidiarrheal, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antinociceptive, antimicrobial, free radical scavenging, and antioxidant activities.

Objective:

We evaluated the cytotoxic activity of ethanol extract of A. catechu seed (ACS) against SCC-25 human oral squamous carcinoma cell line.

Methods:

Cytotoxic effect of ACS extract was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, using concentrations of 0.1–1000 μg/mL for 24 h. A. catechu ethanol seed extract was treated SCC-25 cells with 25 and 50 μg/mL. At the end of treatment period, apoptotic marker gene expressions such as caspase 8, 9, Bcl-2, Bax, and cytochrome c were evaluated by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Morphological changes of ACS treated SCC-25 cells was evaluated by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) dual staining. Nuclear morphology and DNA fragmentation was evaluated by propidium iodide (PI) staining.

Results:

A. catechu ethanol seed extract treatment caused cytotoxicity in SCC-25 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 100 μg/mL. Apoptotic markers caspases 8 and 9, cytochrome c, Bax gene expressions were significantly increased upon ACS extract treatment indicate the apoptosis induction in SCC-25 cells. This treatment also caused significant downregulation of Bcl-2 gene expression. Staining with AO/EB and PI shows membrane blebbing, and nuclear membrane distortion further confirms the apoptosis induction by ACS treatment in SCC-25 cells.

Conclusion:

The ethanol seed extracts of A. catechu was found to be cytotoxic at lower concentrations and induced apoptosis in human oral squamous carcinoma SCC-25 cells.

SUMMARY

Acacia catechu ethanolic seed extract contains phytochemicals such as epicatechin, rutin, and quercetin

Acacia catechu seed (ACS) extract significantly (P < 0.001) inhibits the active proliferation of human oral squamous carcinoma (SCC-25) cells

ACS extract treatment to SCC-25 cells significantly modulated the gene expressions pertaining to apoptosis and propidium iodide and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining also confirm the apoptosis induction

Antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing activities of ACS extract is correlated with phytochemical contents.

Abbreviations used: ACS: Acacia catechu seed extract; MTT: 3 (4,5 dimethylthiazol 2 yl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; AO/EO: Acridine orange/ethidium bromide; LC MS: Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

A multiplex platform for the identification of ovarian cancer biomarkers

Background

Currently, there are no FDA approved screening tools for detecting early stage ovarian cancer in the general population. Development of a biomarker-based assay for early detection would significantly improve the survival of ovarian cancer patients.

Methods

We used a multiplex approach to identify protein biomarkers for detecting early stage ovarian cancer. This new technology (Proseek^® Multiplex Oncology Plates) can simultaneously measure the expression of 92 proteins in serum based on a proximity extension assay. We analyzed serum samples from 81 women representing healthy, benign pathology, early, and advanced stage serous ovarian cancer patients.

Results

Principle component analysis and unsupervised hierarchical clustering separated patients into cancer versus non-cancer subgroups. Data from the Proseek^® plate for CA125 levels exhibited a strong correlation with current clinical assays for CA125 (correlation coefficient of 0.89, 95% CI 0.83, 0.93). CA125 and HE4 were present at very low levels in healthy controls and benign cases, while higher levels were found in early stage cases, with highest levels found in the advanced stage cases. Overall, significant trends were observed for 38 of the 92 proteins (p < 0.001), many of which are novel candidate serum biomarkers for ovarian cancer. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CA125 was 0.98 and the AUC for HE4 was 0.85 when comparing early stage ovarian cancer versus healthy controls. In total, 23 proteins had an estimated AUC of 0.7 or greater. Using a naïve Bayes classifier that combined 12 proteins, we improved the sensitivity corresponding to 95% specificity from 93 to 95% when compared to CA125 alone. Although small, a 2% increase would have a significant effect on the number of women correctly identified when screening a large population.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that the Proseek^® technology can replicate the results established by conventional clinical assays for known biomarkers, identify new candidate biomarkers, and improve the sensitivity and specificity of CA125 alone. Additional studies using a larger cohort of patients will allow for validation of these biomarkers and lead to the development of a screening tool for detecting early stage ovarian cancer in the general population.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12014-017-9169-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Knockdown of Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein Family Member 3 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in human colorectal cancer

Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein Family Member 3 (TPPP3), a member of the TPPP protein family, has been reported to play important roles in initiation and progression of human cancers. However, the expression and underlying function of TPPP3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not yet been fully clarified. In this study, the mRNA and protein levels of TPPP3 in 96 clinical CRC specimens were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The relation between TPPP3 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Further experiments showed that knockdown of TPPP3 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, TPPP3 silencing resulted in a decrease of angiogenesis and S phase fraction. Thus, our results suggested that TPPP3 played an important role in CRC progress and might serve as novel therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

Anti-angiogenic agents for the treatment of solid tumors: Potential pathways, therapy and current strategies - A review

Recent strategies for the treatment of cancer, other than just tumor cell killing have been under intensive development, such as anti-angiogenic therapeutic approach. Angiogenesis inhibition is an important strategy for the treatment of solid tumors, which basically depends on cutting off the blood supply to tumor micro-regions, resulting in pan-hypoxia and pan-necrosis within solid tumor tissues. The differential activation of angiogenesis between normal and tumor tissues makes this process an attractive strategic target for anti-tumor drug discovery. The principles of anti-angiogenic treatment for solid tumors were originally proposed in 1972, and ever since, it has become a putative target for therapies directed against solid tumors. In the early twenty first century, the FDA approved anti-angiogenic drugs, such as bevacizumab and sorafenib for the treatment of several solid tumors. Over the past two decades, researches have continued to improve the performance of anti-angiogenic drugs, describe their drug interaction potential, and uncover possible reasons for potential treatment resistance. Herein, we present an update to the pre-clinical and clinical situations of anti-angiogenic agents and discuss the most recent trends in this field.

North African Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Cancer Therapy

Background: Cancer is a major cause of mortality worldwide with increasing numbers by the years. In North Africa, the number of cancer patients is alarming. Also shocking is that a huge number of cancer patients only have access to traditional medicines due to several factors, e.g., economic difficulties. In fact, medicinal plants are widely used for the treatment of several pathologies, including cancer. Truthfully, herbalists and botanists in North African countries prescribe several plants for cancer treatment. Despite the popularity and the potential of medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer, scientific evidence on their anticancer effects are still scarce for most of the described plants.

Objective: Bearing in mind the lack of comprehensive and systematic studies, the aim of this review is to give an overview of studies, namely ethnobotanical surveys and experimental evidence of anticancer effects regarding medicinal plants used in North Africa for cancer therapy.

Method: The research was conducted on several popular search engines including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. The research focused primarily on English written papers published between the years 2000 and 2016.

Results: This review on plants traditionally used by herbalists in North Africa highlights that Morocco and Algeria are the countries with most surveys on the use of medicinal plants in folk medicine. Among the plethora of plants used, Nigella sativa and Trigonella foenum-graecum are the most referred ones by herbalists for the treatment of cancer. Moreover, a plethora of scientific evidence qualifies them as candidates for further drug development. Furthermore, we report on the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Conclusion: Overall, this review highlights the therapeutic potential of some medicinal plants as anticancer agents. The North African flora offers a rich source of medicinal plants for a wide array of diseases, including cancer. The elucidation of their modes of action represents an indispensable condition for the rational development of new drugs for cancer treatment. Furthermore, testing the anticancer activity in vivo and in clinical trials are warranted to explore the full therapeutic potential of North African plants for cancer therapy.

Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Epigenetic Modifications in Ovarian Cancer: A Review

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a relatively fatal female reproductive malignancy. Since the underlying causes are uncertain, it brings us to believe that both genetic and external factors contribute toward development of this lethal disorder. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the form of occupational usage of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, plasticizers, cosmetics, and so on is potentially carcinogenic and their ability to cause epigenetic modifications has led us to hypothesize that they may play a catalytic role in OC progression. In response to synthetic chemicals, animal models have demonstrated disturbances in the development of ovaries and steroid hormonal levels but in humans, more research is required. The present review is an attempt to address the impact of EDCs on the hormonal system and gene methylation levels that may lead to malfunctioning of the ovaries which may consequently develop in the form of cancer. It can be concluded that endocrine disruptors do have a potential carcinogenicity and their high proportions in human body may cause epigenetic modifications, prompting ovarian surface epithelium to grow in an abnormal manner.

Prediction of therapy response in ovarian cancer: Where are we now?

Therapy resistance is a major challenge in the management of ovarian cancer (OC). Advances in detection and new technology validation have led to the emergence of biomarkers that can predict responses to available therapies. It is important to identify predictive biomarkers to select resistant and sensitive patients in order to reduce important toxicities, to reduce costs and to increase survival. The discovery of predictive and prognostic biomarkers for monitoring therapy is a developing field and provides promising perspectives in the era of personalized medicine. This review article will discuss the biology of OC with a focus on targetable pathways; current therapies; mechanisms of resistance; predictive biomarkers for chemotherapy, antiangiogenic and DNA-targeted therapies, and optimal cytoreductive surgery; and the emergence of liquid biopsy using recent studies from the Medline database and ClinicalTrials.gov.

Anticancer potential of Trigonella foenum graecum: Cellular and molecular targets

A growing body of evidence supported by numerous studies on tumorigenesis confirms that it is possible to target various hallmarks of cancer. Recent studies have shown that plant-derived molecules may be used in targeting different signaling pathways for cancer drug discovery. The present paper gives an insight into the anticancer potential of fenugreek and lists the existing studies that have been carried out to demonstrate the advantages of the use of fenugreek in cancer treatment and prevention. It also aims at opening up new perspectives in the development of new drugs of natural origins in the future clinical trials. This review article will discuss; (1) the chemical constituents and bioactive compounds of fenugreek; (2) effects on oxidative stress and inflammation; (3) effects on proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion; (4) toxicity of fenugreek; and 5) future directions in cancer drug development. All of the experimental studies discussed in this paper suggest that multiple signaling pathways (hallmarks) are involved in the anticancer activities of fenugreek, but their efficacy is still unclear, which requires further investigation.

Survival rates of homozygotic Tp53 knockout rats as a tool for preclinical assessment of cancer prevention and treatment

Background

The gene that encodes tumor protein p53, Tp53, is mutated or silenced in most human cancers and is recognized as one of the most important cancer drivers. Homozygotic Tp53 knockout mice, which develop lethal cancers early in their lives, are already used in cancer prevention studies, and now Tp53 knockout rats have also been generated. This study assessed feasibility of using homozygous Tp53 knockout rats to evaluate the possible outcome of cancer chemoprevention.

Methods

A small colony of Tp53 knockout rats with a Wistar strain genetic background was initiated and maintained in the animal house at our institution. Tp53 heterozygotic females were bred with Tp53 homozygous knockout males to obtain a surplus of knockout homozygotes. To evaluate the reproducibility of their lifespan, 4 groups of Tp53 homozygous knockout male rats born during consecutive quarters of the year were kept behind a sanitary barrier in a controlled environment until they reached a moribund state. Their individual lifespan data were used to construct quarterly survival curves.

Results

The four consecutive quarterly survival curves were highly reproducible. They were combined into a single “master” curve for use as a reference in intervention studies. The average lifespan of untreated male Tp53 homozygous knockout rats was normally distributed, with a median of 133 days. Sample size vs. effect calculations revealed that confirming a 20% and 30% increase in the lifespan would respectively require a sample size of 18 and 9 animals (when assessed using the t-test with a power of 80% and alpha set at 0.05). As an example, the Tp53 homozygous knockout rat model was used to test the chemopreventive properties of carnosine, a dipeptide with suspected anticancer properties possibly involving modulation of the mTOR pathway. The result was negative.

Conclusion

Further evaluation of the Tp53 homozygous knockout male rat colony is required before it can be confirmed as a viable tool for assessing new methods of cancer prevention or treatment.

Synthetic lethal targeting of RNF20 through PARP1 silencing and inhibition

PURPOSE

The identification of novel therapeutic targets that exploit the aberrant genetics driving oncogenesis is critical to better combat cancer. RNF20 is somatically altered in numerous cancers, and its diminished expression drives genome instability, a driving factor of oncogenesis. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether PARP1 silencing and inhibition could preferentially kill RNF20-deficient cells using a synthetic lethal strategy.

METHODS

RNF20 and PARP1 were silenced using RNAi-based approaches. Direct synthetic lethal tests were performed by silencing RNF20 with and without PARP1 and the impact on cell numbers was evaluated using semi-quantitative imaging microscopy. Next, Olaparib and BMN673 (PARP1 inhibitors) were evaluated for their ability to induce preferential killing in RNF20 silenced cells, while real-time cell analyses were used to distinguish cell cytotoxicity from cell cycle arrest. Finally, quantitative imaging microscopy was employed to evaluate marks associated with DNA double-strand breaks (γ-H2AX) and apoptosis (cleaved Caspase-3).

RESULTS

We found that PARP1 silencing resulted in a decrease in number of RNF20 silenced cells relative to controls. We further found that Olaparib and BMN673 treatments also resulted in fewer RNF20 silenced cells relative to controls. Finally, we found by quantitative imaging microscopy that RNF20 silenced cells treated with BMN673 exhibited significant increases in γ-H2AX and cleaved Caspase-3, suggesting that these treatments induce DNA double-strand breaks that are not adequately repaired within RNF20-silenced cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our data indicate that RNF20 and PARP1 are synthetic lethal interactors, suggesting that cancers with diminished RNF20 expression and/or function may be susceptible to PARP1 inhibitors.

A small plant with big benefits: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.) for disease prevention and health promotion

Plant-derived natural products have long-standing utility toward treating degenerative diseases. It is estimated that about two-thirds of world population depend on traditional medicine for primary medical needs. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.), a short-living annual medicinal plant belonging to Fabaceae family, is used extensively in various parts of the world as herb, food, spice, and traditional medicine. Fenugreek is considered as one of the oldest medicinal plants and its health-promoting effects have been cited in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. The investigations into the chemical composition and pharmacological actions have seen a renaissance in recent years. Extensive preclinical and clinical research have outlined the pharmaceutical uses of fenugreek as antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antiobesity, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, galactogogue and for miscellaneous pharmacological effects, including improving women's health. The pharmacological actions of fenugreek are attributed to diverse array of phytoconstituents. The phytochemical analysis reveals the presence of steroids, alkaloids, saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids, lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and hydrocarbons. This review aims to summarize and critically analyze the current available literature to understand the potential of fenugreek for disease prevention and health improvement with special emphasis on cellular and molecular mechanisms. Current challenges and new directions of research on fenugreek are also discussed.

Antiangiogenic effects of oridonin

Background

Oridonin, the major terpene found in Rabdosia rubescens (Henmsl.) Hara, is widely used as a dietary supplement and therapeutic drug. Oridonin has been proven to possess good anti-tumour activity, but little is known about its effect on angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiangiogenic effects of oridonin in vivo and in vitro and prove that oridonin anti-tumour activity is based on suppressing angiogenesis.

Methods

In vitro, the antiangiogenesis effect was studied by proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and tube formation experiments on human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vivo, using the Tg (fli1: GFP) zebrafish model, the embryonic vasculogenesis and postnatal regeneration were evaluated. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling pathway gene expressions were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the inhibition effects on tumour growth and metastasis were observed using a xenograft zebrafish tumour model and xenograft nude mouse tumour model. Angiogenesis was assayed by immunostaining with cluster of differentiation 31. Importantly, the proteins were identified as being differentially expressed in an in vivo model by two-dimensional electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (2D–MS) and western blot (WB).

Results

The results indicated that oridonin inhibited HUVEC proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation and induced cell apoptosis. Oridonin inhibited zebrafish angiogenesis during embryonic development and tail fin regeneration. RT-PCR showed that oridonin decreased the VEGFA, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3 expressions in zebrafish, while the TP53 expression increased. Moreover, oridonin had strong effects on tumour growth and metastasis in vivo. 2D–MS identified a total of 50 proteins differentially expressed (17 up-expressed, 28 down-expressed). Lastly, WB showed that Claudin 1, Claudin 4, and Claudin 7 were closely related to tumour growth and metastasis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that oridonin could inhibit tumour growth and metastasis, which mainly based on oridonin antiangiogenic effects. Claudin 1, Claudin 4, and Claudin 7 were the main contributors to the mechanism.

Diterpenes and Their Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents

As therapeutic tools, diterpenes and their derivatives have gained much attention of the medicinal scientists nowadays. It is due to their pledging and important biological activities. This review congregates the anticancer diterpenes. For this, a search was made with selected keywords in PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, The American Chemical Society and miscellaneous databases from January 2012 to January 2017 for the published articles. A total 28, 789 published articles were seen. Among them, 240 were included in this study. More than 250 important anticancer diterpenes and their derivatives were seen in the databases, acting in the different pathways. Some of them are already under clinical trials, while others are in the nonclinical and/or pre-clinical trials. In conclusion, diterpenes may be one of the lead molecules in the treatment of cancer. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Traditionally Used Lathyrus Species: Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, Enzyme Inhibitory Properties, Cytotoxic Effects, and in silico Studies of L. czeczottianus and L. nissolia

Members of the genus Lathyrus are used as food and as traditional medicines. In order to find new sources of biologically-active compounds, chemical and biological profiles of two Lathyrus species (L. czeczottianus and L. nissolia) were investigated. Chemical profiles were evaluated by HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ, as well as by their total phenolic and flavonoid contents. In addition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic effects were also investigated. Antioxidant properties were tested by using different assays (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelation). Cholinesterases (AChE and BChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase were used to evaluate enzyme inhibitory effects. Moreover, vitexin (apigenin-8-C-glucoside) and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid were further subjected to molecular docking experiments to provide insights about their interactions at molecular level with the tested enzymes. In vitro cytotoxic effects were examined against human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) by using iCELLigence real time cell analysis system. Generally, L. czeczottianus exhibited stronger antioxidant properties than L. nissolia. However, L. nissolia had remarkable enzyme inhibitory effects against cholinesterase, amylase and glucosidase. HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ analysis revealed that flavonoids were major components in these extracts. On the basis of these results, Lathyrus extracts were rich in biologically active components; thus, these species could be utilized to design new phytopharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.

Natural products against cancer angiogenesis

The process of angiogenesis is quite well-known nowadays. Some medicines and extracts affecting this process are already used routinely in supporting the conventional treatment of many diseases that are considered angiogenic such as cancer. However, we must be aware that the area of currently used drugs of this type is much narrower than the theoretical possibilities existing in therapeutic angiogenesis. Plant substances are a large and diverse group of compounds that are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants. They also have different anticancer properties. The aim of this literature review article is to present the current state of knowledge concerning the molecular targets of tumor angiogenesis and the active substances (polyphenols, alkaloids, phytohormones, carbohydrates, and terpenes) derived from natural sources, whose activity against cancer angiogenesis has been confirmed.