Alectinib

Knockdown of the VEGFB/VEGFR1 signaling suppresses pubertal mammary gland development of mice via the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway

Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) has been well demonstrated to play a crucial role in regulating vascular function by binding to the VEGF receptors (VEGFRs). However, the specific role of VEGFB and VEGFRs in pubertal mammary gland development remains unclear. In this study, we observed that blocking the VEGF receptors with Axitinib suppressed the pubertal mammary gland development. Meanwhile, the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells (HC11) was repressed by blocking the VEGF receptors with Axitinib. Additionally, knockdown of VEGFR1 rather than VEGFR2 and NRP1 elicited the inhibition of HC11 proliferation, suggesting the essential role of VEGFR1 during this process. Furthermore, Axitinib or VEGFR1 knockdown led to the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway. However, the inhibition of HC11 proliferation induced by Axitinib and or VEGFR1 knockdown was eliminated by the Akt activator SC79, indicating the involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Finally, the knockdown of VEGFB and VEGFR1 suppressed the pubertal development of mice mammary gland with the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In summary, the results showed that knockdown of the VEGFB/VEGFR1 signaling suppresses pubertal mammary gland development of mice via the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, which provides a new target for the regulation of pubertal mammary gland development.

Natural Product-Based Glycolysis Inhibitors as a Therapeutic Strategy for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Targeted therapy against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a promising treatment approach for NSCLC. However, resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remains a major challenge in its clinical management. EGFR mutation elevates the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha to upregulate the production of glycolytic enzymes, increasing glycolysis and tumor resistance. The inhibition of glycolysis can be a potential strategy for overcoming EGFR-TKI resistance and enhancing the effectiveness of EGFR-TKIs. In this review, we specifically explored the effectiveness of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitors and lactate dehydrogenase A inhibitors in combating EGFR-TKI resistance. The aim was to summarize the effects of these natural products in preclinical NSCLC models to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential therapeutic effects. The study findings suggest that natural products can be promising inhibitors of glycolytic enzymes for the treatment of EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC. Further investigations through preclinical and clinical studies are required to validate the efficacy of natural product-based glycolytic inhibitors as innovative therapeutic modalities for NSCLC.

Rule of five violations among the FDA-approved small molecule protein kinase inhibitors

Because genetic alterations including mutations, overexpression, translocations, and dysregulation of protein kinases are involved in the pathogenesis of many illnesses, this enzyme family is the target of many drug discovery programs in the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, the US FDA has approved 74 small molecule protein kinase inhibitors, nearly all of which are orally effective. Of the 74 approved drugs, forty block receptor protein-tyrosine kinases, eighteen target nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinases, twelve are directed against protein-serine/threonine protein kinases, and four target dual specificity protein kinases. The data indicate that 63 of these medicinals are approved for the management of neoplasms (51 against solid tumors such as breast, colon, and lung cancers, eight against nonsolid tumors such as leukemia, and four against both types of tumors). Seven of the FDA-approved kinase inhibitors form covalent bonds with their target enzymes and they are accordingly classified as TCIs (targeted covalent inhibitors). Medicinal chemists have examined the physicochemical properties of drugs that are orally effective. Lipinski's rule of five (Ro5) is a computational procedure that is used to estimate solubility, membrane permeability, and pharmacological effectiveness in the drug-discovery setting. It relies on four parameters including molecular weight, number of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, and the Log of the partition coefficient. Other important descriptors include the lipophilic efficiency, the polar surface area, and the number of rotatable bonds and aromatic rings. We tabulated these and other properties of the FDA-approved kinase inhibitors. Of the 74 approved drugs, 30 fail to comply with the rule of five.

Pyrrole-based EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of NCSLC: Binding modes and SARs investigations

The treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has made substantial progress due to the rapid development of small molecule targeted therapy, with dramatically prolonged survival. As an effective drug for the treatment of NSCLC, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are currently experiencing issues like severe adverse events and drug resistance. It is urgent to develop novel types of EGFR inhibitors to overcome the abovementioned limitations. Pyrrole always works well as a probe for the creation of novel medication candidates for hard-to-treat conditions like lung cancer. Although the design, synthesis, and biological assays of pyrrole derivatives have been reported, their inhibitory actions against the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) EGFR have not been in-depthly studied. This review highlights the small molecule EGFR inhibitors containing pyrrole heterocyclic pharmacophores in recent years, and the research on their mechanism, biological activity, and structure-activity relationship (SAR).

EML4‑ALK fusion gene in non‑small cell lung cancer (Review)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignant tumor with a high morbidity and mortality rate that is a threat to human health. With the development of molecular targeted research, breakthroughs have been made on the molecular mechanism of lung cancer. The echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) fusion gene is one of the most important pathogenic driver genes of NSCLC discovered thus far. Four generations of targeted drugs for EML4-ALK have been developed, with patients benefiting significantly from these drugs. Therefore, EML4-ALK has become a research hotspot in NSCLC. The aim of the present study is to introduce the current research progress of EML4-ALK and its association with NSCLC.