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Zhang B, Liu H, Wu F, Ding Y, Wu J, Lu L, Bajpai AK, Sang M, Wang X. Identification of hub genes and potential molecular mechanisms related to drug sensitivity in acute myeloid leukemia based on machine learning. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1359832. [PMID: 38650628 PMCID: PMC11033397 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1359832] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of leukemia among adults and is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells. There has been a significant improvement in the treatment of younger patients, however, prognosis in the elderly AML patients remains poor. Methods: We used computational methods and machine learning (ML) techniques to identify and explore the differential high-risk genes (DHRGs) in AML. The DHRGs were explored through multiple in silico approaches including genomic and functional analysis, survival analysis, immune infiltration, miRNA co-expression and stemness features analyses to reveal their prognostic importance in AML. Furthermore, using different ML algorithms, prognostic models were constructed and validated using the DHRGs. At the end molecular docking studies were performed to identify potential drug candidates targeting the selected DHRGs. Results: We identified a total of 80 DHRGs by comparing the differentially expressed genes derived between AML patients and normal controls and high-risk AML genes identified by Cox regression. Genetic and epigenetic alteration analyses of the DHRGs revealed a significant association of their copy number variations and methylation status with overall survival (OS) of AML patients. Out of the 137 models constructed using different ML algorithms, the combination of Ridge and plsRcox maintained the highest mean C-index and was used to build the final model. When AML patients were classified into low- and high-risk groups based on DHRGs, the low-risk group had significantly longer OS in the AML training and validation cohorts. Furthermore, immune infiltration, miRNA coexpression, stemness feature and hallmark pathway analyses revealed significant differences in the prognosis of the low- and high-risk AML groups. Drug sensitivity and molecular docking studies revealed top 5 drugs, including carboplatin and austocystin-D that may significantly affect the DHRGs in AML. Conclusion: The findings from the current study identified a set of high-risk genes that may be used as prognostic and therapeutic markers for AML patients. In addition, significant use of the ML algorithms in constructing and validating the prognostic models in AML was demonstrated. Although our study used extensive bioinformatics and machine learning methods to identify the hub genes in AML, their experimental validations using knock-out/-in methods would strengthen our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fengxia Wu
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuhong Ding
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiarun Wu
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Akhilesh K. Bajpai
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Mengmeng Sang
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinfeng Wang
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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Jin N, Xia Y, Gao Q. Combined PARP inhibitors and small molecular inhibitors in solid tumor treatment (Review). Int J Oncol 2023; 62:28. [PMID: 36601757 PMCID: PMC9851129 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2023.5476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
With the development of precision medicine, targeted therapy has attracted extensive attention. Poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are critical clinical drugs designed to induce cell death and are major antitumor targeted agents. However, preclinical and clinical data have revealed the limitations of PARPi monotherapy. Therefore, their combination with other targeted drugs has become a research hotspot in tumor treatment. Recent studies have demonstrated the critical role of small molecular inhibitors in multiple haematological cancers and solid tumors via cellular signalling modulation, exhibiting potential as a combined pharmacotherapy. In the present review, studies focused on small molecular inhibitors targeting the homologous recombination pathway were summarized and clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of combined treatment were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Jin
- Key Laboratory of The Ministry of Education, Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, P.R. China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, P.R. China
| | - Yu Xia
- Key Laboratory of The Ministry of Education, Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, P.R. China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, P.R. China
| | - Qinglei Gao
- Key Laboratory of The Ministry of Education, Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, P.R. China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, P.R. China
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DeRyckere D, Lee-Sherick AB, Huey MG, Hill AA, Tyner JW, Jacobsen KM, Page LS, Kirkpatrick GG, Eryildiz F, Montgomery SA, Zhang W, Wang X, Frye SV, Earp HS, Graham DK. UNC2025, a MERTK Small-Molecule Inhibitor, Is Therapeutically Effective Alone and in Combination with Methotrexate in Leukemia Models. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:1481-1492. [PMID: 27649555 PMCID: PMC5354980 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: MERTK tyrosine kinase is ectopically expressed in 30% to 50% of acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) and more than 80% of acute myeloid leukemias (AML) and is a potential therapeutic target. Here, we evaluated the utility of UNC2025, a MERTK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for treatment of acute leukemia.Experimental Design: Preclinical in vitro and in vivo assays using cell lines and primary leukemia patient samples were used to evaluate antileukemic effects of UNC2025.Results: UNC2025 potently inhibited prosurvival signaling, induced apoptosis, and reduced proliferation and colony formation in MERTK-expressing ALL and AML cell lines and patient samples. Approximately 30% of primary leukemia patient samples (78 of 261 total) were sensitive to UNC2025. Sensitive samples were most prevalent in the AML, T-ALL, and minimally differentiated (M0) AML subsets. UNC2025 inhibited MERTK in bone marrow leukemia cells and had significant therapeutic effects in xenograft models, with dose-dependent decreases in tumor burden and consistent two-fold increases in median survival, irrespective of starting disease burden. In a patient-derived AML xenograft model, treatment with UNC2025 induced disease regression. In addition, UNC2025 increased sensitivity to methotrexate in vivo, suggesting that addition of MERTK-targeted therapy to current cytotoxic regimens may be particularly effective and/or allow for chemotherapy dose reduction.Conclusions: The broad-spectrum activity mediated by UNC2025 in leukemia patient samples and xenograft models, alone or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy, supports continued development of MERTK inhibitors for treatment of leukemia. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1481-92. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Alisa B Lee-Sherick
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Madeline G Huey
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Amanda A Hill
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jeffrey W Tyner
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon
| | - Kristen M Jacobsen
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Lauren S Page
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Gregory G Kirkpatrick
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Fatma Eryildiz
- Institute of Environmental Health and Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Stephanie A Montgomery
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Weihe Zhang
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Stephen V Frye
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - H Shelton Earp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Douglas K Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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Bisacchi GS, Hale MR. A "Double-Edged" Scaffold: Antitumor Power within the Antibacterial Quinolone. Curr Med Chem 2016; 23:520-77. [PMID: 26695512 PMCID: PMC4997924 DOI: 10.2174/0929867323666151223095839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In the late 1980s, reports emerged describing experimental antibacterial quinolones having significant potency against eukaryotic Type II topoisomerases (topo II) and showing cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines. As a result, several pharmaceutical companies initiated quinolone anticancer programs to explore the potential of this class in comparison to conventional human topo II inhibiting antitumor drugs such as doxorubicin and etoposide. In this review, we present a modern re-evaluation of the anticancer potential of the quinolone class in the context of today's predominantly pathway-based (rather than cytotoxicity-based) oncology drug R&D environment. The quinolone eukaryotic SAR is comprehensively discussed, contrasted with the corresponding prokaryotic data, and merged with recent structural biology information which is now beginning to help explain the basis for that SAR. Quinolone topo II inhibitors appear to be much less susceptible to efflux-mediated resistance, a current limitation of therapy with conventional agents. Recent advances in the biological understanding of human topo II isoforms suggest that significant progress might now be made in overcoming two other treatment-limiting disadvantages of conventional topo II inhibitors, namely cardiotoxicity and drug-induced secondary leukemias. We propose that quinolone class topo II inhibitors could have a useful future therapeutic role due to the continued need for effective topo II drugs in many cancer treatment settings, and due to the recent biological and structural advances which can now provide, for the first time, specific guidance for the design of a new class of inhibitors potentially superior to existing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory S Bisacchi
- Syngene International Ltd., Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore 560099, India.
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Sayan M, Shukla A, MacPherson MB, Macura SL, Hillegass JM, Perkins TN, Thompson JK, Beuschel SL, Miller JM, Mossman BT. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 and cyclic AMP response element binding protein are novel pathways inhibited by vandetanib (ZD6474) and doxorubicin in mesotheliomas. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2015; 51:595-603. [PMID: 24940987 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2013-0373tr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM), lung cancers, and asbestosis are hyperproliferative diseases associated with exposures to asbestos. All have a poor prognosis; thus, the need to develop novel and effective therapies is urgent. Vandetanib (Van) (ZD6474, ZACTIMA) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has shown equivocal results in clinical trials for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. However, tyrosine kinase inhibitors alone have shown no significant clinical activity in phase II trials of patients with unresectable MM. Using epithelioid (HMESO) and sarcomatoid (H2373) human MM lines, the efficacy of tumor cell killing and signaling pathways modulated by Van with and without doxorubicin (Dox) was examined. Van alone reduced total cell numbers in HMESO MM and synergistically increased the toxicity of Dox in HMESO and H2373 cells. Most importantly, we identified two novel cell survival/resistance pathways, ERK5 and cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB), that were inhibited by Van and Dox. After silencing of either ERK5 or CREB, significant decreases in cell numbers in the Dox-resistant sarcomatoid H2373 line were observed. Results suggest that a plethora of cell signaling pathways associated with cell survival are induced by Dox but inhibited by the addition of Van in MM. Data from our study support the combined efficacy of Van and Dox as a novel approach in the treatment of MM that is further enhanced by blocking ERK5 or CREB signaling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutlay Sayan
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
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Bronte G, Bronte E, Novo G, Pernice G, Lo Vullo F, Musso E, Bronte F, Gulotta E, Rizzo S, Rolfo C, Silvestris N, Bazan V, Novo S, Russo A. Conquests and perspectives of cardio-oncology in the field of tumor angiogenesis-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor-based therapy. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2014; 14:253-67. [PMID: 25494575 DOI: 10.1517/14740338.2015.986092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Angiogenesis is fundamental for tumor development and progression. Hence, anti-angiogenic drugs have been developed to target VEGF and its receptors (VEGFRs). Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed over the years and others are still under investigation, each anti-VEGFR TKI showing a different cardiotoxic profile. Knowledge of the cardiac side-effects of each drug and the magnitude of their expression and frequency can lead to a specific approach. AREAS COVERED This work reviews the mechanism of action of anti-VEGFR TKIs and the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to cardiotoxicity, followed by close examination of the most important drugs individually. A literature search was conducted on PubMed selecting review articles, original studies and clinical trials, with a focus on Phase III studies. EXPERT OPINION Side-effects on the cardiovascular system could lead both to the worsening of general health status of cancer patients and to the discontinuation of the cancer treatment affecting its efficacy. Cardiologists often have to face new triggers of heart disease in these patients. They need a specific approach, which must be carried out in cooperation with oncologists. It must start before cancer treatment, continue during it and extend after its completion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Bronte
- University of Palermo, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences , Palermo , Italy
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