Redox-responsive glycosylated combretastatin A-4 derivative as novel tubulin polymerization inhibitor for glioma and drug delivery

Recent advances in drug delivery systems for targeting brain tumors

Brain tumor accounts for about 1.6% of incidence and 2.5% of mortality of all tumors, and the median survival for brain tumor patients is only about 20 months. The treatment for brain tumor still faces many challenges, such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB), the overexpressed efflux pumps, the infiltration, invasion, high heterogeneity of tumor cells, drug resistance and immune escape caused by tumor microenvironment (TME) and cancer stem cells (CSC). This review attempts to clarify the challenges for multi-functional nano drug delivery systems (NDDS) to cross the BBB and target the cancer cells or organelles, and also provides a brief description of the different types of targeted multi-functional NDDS that have shown potential for success in delivering drugs to the brain. Further, this review also summarizes the research progress of multi-functional NDDS in the combination therapy of brain tumors from the following sections, the combination of chemotherapy drugs, chemotherapy-chemodynamic combination therapy, chemotherapy-immunization combination therapy, and chemotherapy-gene combination therapy. We also provide an insight into the recent advances in designing multi-functional NDDS for combination therapy.

Dendrimer: An update on recent developments and future opportunities for the brain tumors diagnosis and treatment

A brain tumor is an uncontrolled cell proliferation, a mass of tissue composed of cells that grow and divide abnormally and appear to be uncontrollable by the processes that normally control normal cells. Approximately 25,690 primary malignant brain tumors are discovered each year, 70% of which originate in glial cells. It has been observed that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the distribution of drugs into the tumour environment, which complicates the oncological therapy of malignant brain tumours. Numerous studies have found that nanocarriers have demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy in brain diseases. This review, based on a non-systematic search of the existing literature, provides an update on the existing knowledge of the types of dendrimers, synthesis methods, and mechanisms of action in relation to brain tumours. It also discusses the use of dendrimers in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours and the future possibilities of dendrimers. Dendrimers are of particular interest in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours because they can transport biochemical agents across the BBB to the tumour and into the brain after systemic administration. Dendrimers are being used to develop novel therapeutics such as prolonged release of drugs, immunotherapy, and antineoplastic effects. The use of PAMAM, PPI, PLL and surface engineered dendrimers has proven revolutionary in the effective diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours.

Discovery of Novel Acridane-Based Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors with Anticancer and Potential Immunomodulatory Effects

A series of novel acridane-based tubulin polymerization inhibitors were designed, synthesized, and bioevaluated as anticancer agents. The most potent compound NT-6 exhibited high tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.5 μM) and remarkable antiproliferative potency against four cancer cell lines with an average IC50 of 30 nM, better than colchicine and the hit compound 1f (IC50 of 65 and 126 nM, respectively). In addition, NT-6 (10 mg/kg) exerted excellent antitumor efficacy in a melanoma tumor model with a tumor growth inhibition (TGI) of 65.1% without apparent toxicity. Importantly, the combination of NT-6 with a small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitor NP-19 decreased tumor burden significantly (TGI% = 77.6%). Moreover, the combination of NT-6 with NP-19 enhanced the antitumor immune response, mediated by a decrease of PD-L1 expression levels and increased infiltration of antitumor CD8+ effector T cells in tumor tissues. Collectively, NT-6 represents a novel tubulin polymerization inhibitor with immunopotentiating effects.

pH-redox responsive cascade-targeted liposomes to intelligently deliver doxorubicin prodrugs and lonidamine for glioma

To synergistically treat glioma with a combination chemotherapy, we design and prepare novel cascade-targeted liposomes (Lip-TPGS) using glucose and triphenylphosphonium (TPP) as targeting moieties, which could intelligently deliver redox-sensitive doxorubicin (DOX) prodrugs (SDOX) and chemotherapeutic sensitizer lonidamine (LND). The pH-responsive ligand Chol-TPG modified by PEGylated glucose can overcome the blood-brain barrier and reach tumor cells. Combined with the modification of mitochondria targeting ligand (Chol-TPP), Lip-TPGS are endowed with pH-responsive charge regulation function and multi-stage targeting abilities. After triggered by the excessive glutathione in tumor cells, Lip-TPGS could sufficiently release the parent drugs DOX, which would significantly reduce side effects without compromising anti-glioma efficacy. Therefore, Lip-TPGS possess these characteristics: good pharmacokinetic behavior, superior brain targeting ability, specific tumor recognition and internalization capability, and strong endo/lysosome escaping and mitochondria targeting potential. Furthermore, Lip-TPGS exhibit significant advantages on anti-glioma by inhibiting proliferation, promoting apoptosis, inducing mitochondria dysfunction, inhibiting migration and invasion, prolonging the survival time, narrowing tumor areas, limiting lung metastasis, and reducing toxicity to normal organs. In summary, Lip-TPGS, with cascade targeting abilities from tissue/cell to organelle levels and highly controlled drug release properties, would become a promising drug delivery system for glioma treatment.

MUC21 induces the viability and migration of glioblastoma via the STAT3/AKT pathway

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant tumor with one of the fastest increasing morbidity and mortality rates. As such, more therapeutic targets need to be developed to combat this disease. Mucin 21 (MUC21) is a human counterpart of mouse epiglycanin and mediates multiple cellular functions. However, its possible effects on GBM and its possible mechanism remain unclear. The current study aimed to clarify the role or MUC21 in the progression of GBM by performing a series of in vitro assays, including Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound closure, transwell, and in vivo assays. In the present study, the aberrantly high expression of MUC21 in human GBM tissues and cell lines was observed and it was revealed that it was associated with the clinicopathological feature, tumor recurrence, in patients with GBM. MUC21 promoted the viability and motility of GBM cells in vitro and stimulated tumor growth in vivo. It was further confirmed that MUC21 promoted the progression of GBM via the STAT3/AKT pathway and it was considered that MUC21 could serve as a promising target for the treatment of GBM.

KIF22 promotes bladder cancer progression by activating the expression of CDCA3

Bladder cancer is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality, due to the difficulty in the accurate diagnosis of patients with early‑stage bladder cancer and the lack of effective treatments for patients with advanced bladder cancer. Thus, novel therapeutic targets are urgently required for this disease. Kinesin family member 22 (KIF22) is a kinesin‑like DNA binding protein belonging to kinesin family, and is involved in the regulation of mitosis. KIF22 has also been reported to promote the progression of several types of cancer, such as breast cancer and melanoma. The present study demonstrates the high expression of KIF22 in human bladder cancer tissues. KIF22 was found to be associated with clinical features, including clinical stage (P=0.003) and recurrence (P=0.016), and to be associated with the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. Furthermore, it was found that KIF22 silencing inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer cells in vitro and tumor progression in mice. Additionally, it was noted that KIF22 transcriptionally activated cell division cycle‑associated protein 3 expression, which was also confirmed in tumors in mice. Taken together, the present study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the promotion of bladder cancer by KIF22 and provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of bladder cancer. Introduction.