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Cani M, Epistolio S, Dazio G, Modesti M, Salfi G, Pedrani M, Isella L, Gillessen S, Vogl UM, Tortola L, Treglia G, Buttigliero C, Frattini M, Pereira Mestre R. Antiandrogens as Therapies for COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:298. [PMID: 38254788 PMCID: PMC10814161 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2019, the breakthrough of the coronavirus 2 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), represented one of the major issues of our recent history. Different drugs have been tested to rapidly find effective anti-viral treatments and, among these, antiandrogens have been suggested to play a role in mediating SARS-CoV-2 infection. Considering the high heterogeneity of studies on this topic, we decided to review the current literature. METHODS We performed a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines. A search strategy was conducted on PUBMED and Medline. Only original articles published from March 2020 to 31 August 2023 investigating the possible protective role of antiandrogens were included. In vitro or preclinical studies and reports not in the English language were excluded. The main objective was to investigate how antiandrogens may interfere with COVID-19 outcomes. RESULTS Among 1755 records, we selected 31 studies, the majority of which consisted of retrospective clinical data collections and of randomized clinical trials during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we can state that antiandrogens do not seem to protect individuals from SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity and, thus, their use should not be encouraged in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Cani
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
- Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy;
| | - Samantha Epistolio
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6600 Locarno, Switzerland (M.F.)
| | - Giulia Dazio
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6600 Locarno, Switzerland (M.F.)
| | - Mikol Modesti
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Salfi
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Martino Pedrani
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Isella
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
| | - Silke Gillessen
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland;
| | - Ursula Maria Vogl
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
| | - Luigi Tortola
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
| | - Giorgio Treglia
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland;
- Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Consuelo Buttigliero
- Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy;
| | - Milo Frattini
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6600 Locarno, Switzerland (M.F.)
| | - Ricardo Pereira Mestre
- Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland (S.G.); (U.M.V.)
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland;
- Clinical Research Unit, myDoctorAngel, 6934 Bioggio, Switzerland
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Apalutamide Prevents SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Lung Epithelial Cells and in Human Nasal Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043288. [PMID: 36834705 PMCID: PMC9961850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In early 2020, the novel pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, and rapidly propagated worldwide causing a global health emergency. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein for cell entry, followed by proteolytic cleavage of the Spike (S) protein by the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), allowing fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. Interestingly, TMPRSS2 is a key regulator in prostate cancer (PCa) progression which is regulated by androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Our hypothesis is that the AR signaling may regulate the expression of TMPRSS2 in human respiratory cells and thus influence the membrane fusion entry pathway of SARS-CoV-2. We show here that TMPRSS2 and AR are expressed in Calu-3 lung cells. In this cell line, TMPRSS2 expression is regulated by androgens. Finally, pre-treatment with anti-androgen drugs such as apalutamide significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 entry and infection in Calu-3 lung cells but also in primary human nasal epithelial cells. Altogether, these data provide strong evidence to support the use of apalutamide as a treatment option for the PCa population vulnerable to severe COVID-19.
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