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Fernández-Sainz J, Herrera-Ochoa D, Pacheco-Liñán PJ, Darder M, Albaladejo J, Bravo I, Garzón-Ruiz A. Spectroscopic study on volasertib: Highly stable complexes with albumin and encapsulation into alginate/montmorillonite bionanocomposites. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 322:124823. [PMID: 39033609 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
In the present work, we study different physicochemical properties related to LADME processes of volasertib, a Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor in advanced clinical trials. Firstly, the protonation equilibria, the extent of ionization at the physiological pH and pKa values of this drug are studied combining spectroscopic techniques and computational calculations. Secondly, the binding process of volasertib to the human serum albumin (HSA) protein is analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy. We report a high binding constant to HSA (Ka = 4.10 × 106 M-1) and their pharmacokinetic implications are discussed accordingly. The negative enthalpy and entropy (ΔH0 = -54.49 kJ/mol; ΔS0 = -58.90 J K-1 mol-1) determined for the binding process suggests the implication of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions in the formation of the HSA-volasertib complex. Additionally, volasertib is encapsulated in an alginate/montmorillonite bionanocomposite as a proof of concept for an oral delivery nanocarrier. The physical properties of that nanocomposite as well as volasertib delivery kinetics are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Fernández-Sainz
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - Diego Herrera-Ochoa
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - Pedro J Pacheco-Liñán
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - Margarita Darder
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), CSIC, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Albaladejo
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Camilo José Cela, 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Iván Bravo
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain
| | - Andrés Garzón-Ruiz
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain.
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Smith MA, Houghton PJ, Lock RB, Maris JM, Gorlick R, Kurmasheva RT, Li XN, Teicher BA, Chuang JH, Dela Cruz FS, Dyer MA, Kung AL, Lloyd MW, Mossé YP, Stearns TM, Stewart EA, Bult CJ, Erickson SW. Lessons learned from 20 years of preclinical testing in pediatric cancers. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 264:108742. [PMID: 39510293 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2024] [Revised: 10/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 11/15/2024]
Abstract
Programs for preclinical testing of targeted cancer agents in murine models of childhood cancers have been supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 2004. These programs were established to work collaboratively with industry partners to address the paucity of targeted agents for pediatric cancers compared with the large number of agents developed and approved for malignancies primarily affecting adults. The distinctive biology of pediatric cancers and the relatively small numbers of pediatric cancer patients are major challenges for pediatric oncology drug development. These factors are exacerbated by the division of cancers into multiple subtypes that are further sub-classified by their genomic properties. The imbalance between the large number of candidate agents and small patient populations requires careful prioritization of agents developed for adult cancers for clinical evaluation in children with cancer. The NCI-supported preclinical pediatric programs have published positive and negative results of efficacy testing for over 100 agents to aid the pediatric research community in identifying the most promising candidates to move forward for clinical testing in pediatric oncology. Here, we review and summarize lessons learned from two decades of experience with the design and execution of preclinical trials of antineoplastic agents in murine models of childhood cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm A Smith
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States of America.
| | - Peter J Houghton
- The University of Texas Health at San Antonio, TX, United States of America
| | - Richard B Lock
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John M Maris
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Richard Gorlick
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | | | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University Feiberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | | | - Jeffrey H Chuang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
| | - Filemon S Dela Cruz
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, United States of America
| | - Michael A Dyer
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States of America
| | - Andrew L Kung
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, United States of America
| | - Michael W Lloyd
- The Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME, United States of America
| | - Yael P Mossé
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Timothy M Stearns
- The Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A Stewart
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States of America
| | - Carol J Bult
- The Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME, United States of America
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Herrera-Ochoa D, Bravo I, Garzón-Ruiz A. Monitoring cancer treatments in melanoma cells using a fluorescence lifetime nanoprobe based on a CdSe/ZnS quantum dot functionalized with a peptide containing D-penicillamine and histidine. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2024; 245:114265. [PMID: 39321721 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114265] [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: 07/09/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Anticancer therapies with cisplatin and volasertib (BI-6727) were monitored by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) in live SK-Mel-2 melanoma cells. A CdSe/ZnS quantum dot functionalized with a peptide containing D-penicillamine and histidine (CdSe/ZnS-PH) was used as intracellular pH fluorescent probe. A faster cytosol acidification was observed for cells treated with cisplatin when compared to volasertib. The first changes in the intracellular pH were found after 2 hours of treatment with cisplatin and 8 hours with volasertib. Additionally, the relationship between cytosol acidification and apoptosis was investigated using an innovative methodology based on time-resolved fluorescence measurements. Similar low percentages of apoptotic cells were observed after short incubation periods (2 - 8 hours) with both drugs. In contrast, late apoptosis and death were found for a large fraction of cells during 24-hour incubation with cisplatin but not volasertib. Thus, the early acidification observed in cisplatin treatment could accelerate apoptosis and cell death. Despite volasertib treatment shows slower mechanism of action than cisplatin, similar inhibitory effects were found for both drugs at longer incubation periods (72 hours). This study proves the potential of CdSe/ZnS-PH nanoparticle as a fluorescence lifetime probe in the study of the mechanism of action of antitumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Herrera-Ochoa
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, Albacete 02071, Spain
| | - Iván Bravo
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, Albacete 02071, Spain; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), Unidad Asociada de Biomedicina (UCLM-CSIC), C/ Almansa, 14, Albacete 02008, Spain
| | - Andrés Garzón-Ruiz
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Av. Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez, s/n, Albacete 02071, Spain.
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Gola C, Licenziato L, Accornero P, Iussich S, Morello E, Buracco P, Modesto P, Aresu L, De Maria R. The mitotic regulator polo-like kinase 1 as a potential therapeutic target for c-Myc-overexpressing canine osteosarcomas. Vet Comp Oncol 2022; 20:890-900. [PMID: 36054794 PMCID: PMC9804590 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in dogs, characterized by a locally aggressive and highly metastatic behaviour. Despite the current standards of care, most dogs succumb to the disease, indicating the need for novel treatment strategies. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is dysregulated in a variety of human cancer types, including osteosarcoma, and induces c-Myc accumulation. The crosstalk between the two molecules coordinates cell proliferation, differentiation, self-renewal and apoptosis. Therefore, PLK1 has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic target, mainly in tumours overexpressing c-Myc. BI 2536 is a selective PLK1 inhibitor promoting mitotic arrest and apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. This research aimed at evaluating PLK1 and c-Myc protein expression in 53 appendicular canine osteosarcoma (cOSA) samples and the in vitro effects of BI 2536 on a c-Myc and PLK1-overexpressing cOSA cell line (D17). PLK1 and c-Myc expression in cOSA samples showed no correlation with clinicopathological data. However, c-Myc overexpression was associated with a significantly reduced overall survival (p = .003). Western Blot and RT-qPCR assays revealed that D17 expressed high protein and transcript levels of both PLK1 and MYC. When treated with BI 2536 (range 2.5-15 nM) for 24 h, D17 showed a substantial decrease in cell growth, inducing apoptosis and G2 /M cell cycle arrest. Interestingly, under BI 2536 treatment, D17 showed decreased c-Myc protein levels. Consistent with human OSA, these preliminary data outline the prognostic value of c-Myc expression in cOSA and highlight the potential role of PLK1 as an antiproliferative therapeutic target for tumours overexpressing c-Myc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Gola
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of TurinGrugliascoTOItaly
| | - Luca Licenziato
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of TurinGrugliascoTOItaly
| | - Paolo Accornero
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of TurinGrugliascoTOItaly
| | - Selina Iussich
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of TurinGrugliascoTOItaly
| | - Emanuela Morello
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of TurinGrugliascoTOItaly
| | - Paolo Buracco
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of TurinGrugliascoTOItaly
| | - Paola Modesto
- SC Diagnostica SpecialisticaIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'AostaTurinTOItaly
| | - Luca Aresu
- Department of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of TurinGrugliascoTOItaly
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Ghelli Luserna di Rorà A, Martinelli G, Simonetti G. The balance between mitotic death and mitotic slippage in acute leukemia: a new therapeutic window? J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:123. [PMID: 31771633 PMCID: PMC6880427 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0808-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitosis is the process whereby an eukaryotic cell divides into two identical copies. Different multiprotein complexes are involved in the fine regulation of cell division, including the mitotic promoting factor and the anaphase promoting complex. Prolonged mitosis can result in cellular division, cell death, or mitotic slippage, the latter leading to a new interphase without cellular division. Mitotic slippage is one of the causes of genomic instability and has an important therapeutic and clinical impact. It has been widely studied in solid tumors but not in hematological malignancies, in particular, in acute leukemia. We review the literature data available on mitotic regulation, alterations in mitotic proteins occurring in acute leukemia, induction of prolonged mitosis and its consequences, focusing in particular on the balance between cell death and mitotic slippage and on its therapeutic potentials. We also present the most recent preclinical and clinical data on the efficacy of second-generation mitotic drugs (CDK1-Cyclin B1, APC/CCDC20, PLK, Aurora kinase inhibitors). Despite the poor clinical activity showed by these drugs as single agents, they offer a potential therapeutic window for synthetic lethal combinations aimed to selectively target leukemic cells at the right time, thus decreasing the risk of mitotic slippage events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ghelli Luserna di Rorà
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Giorgia Simonetti
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
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Gatz SA, Aladowicz E, Casanova M, Chisholm JC, Kearns PR, Fulda S, Geoerger B, Schäfer BW, Shipley JM. A Perspective on Polo-Like Kinase-1 Inhibition for the Treatment of Rhabdomyosarcomas. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1271. [PMID: 31824851 PMCID: PMC6882953 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma and are a major cause of death from cancer in young patients requiring new treatment options to improve outcomes. High-risk patients include those with metastatic or relapsed disease and tumors with PAX3-FOXO1 fusion genes that encode a potent transcription factor that drives tumourigenesis through transcriptional reprogramming. Polo-Like Kinase-1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates a wide range of target substrates and alters their activity. PLK1 functions as a pleiotropic master regulator of mitosis and regulates DNA replication after stress. Taken together with high levels of expression that correlate with poor outcomes in many cancers, including rhabdomyosarcomas, it is an attractive therapeutic target. This is supported in rhabdomyosarcoma models by characterization of molecular and phenotypic effects of reducing and inhibiting PLK1, including changes to the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein. However, as tumor re-growth has been observed, combination strategies are required. Here we review preclinical evidence and consider biological rationale for PLK1 inhibition in combination with drugs that promote apoptosis, interfere with activity of PAX3-FOXO1 and are synergistic with microtubule-destabilizing drugs such as vincristine. The preclinical effects of low doses of the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib in combination with vincristine, which is widely used in rhabdomyosarcoma treatment, show particular promise in light of recent clinical data in the pediatric setting that support achievable volasertib doses predicted to be effective. Further development of novel therapeutic strategies including PLK1 inhibition may ultimately benefit young patients with rhabdomyosarcoma and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne A. Gatz
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU), Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ewa Aladowicz
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julia C. Chisholm
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Children and Young People's Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela R. Kearns
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU), Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Birgit Geoerger
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Beat W. Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Janet M. Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
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