Synergistic cytotoxicity of the CDK4 inhibitor Fascaplysin in combination with EGFR inhibitor Afatinib against Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

[Role of Ferroptosis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the malignant tumors with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Ferroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death caused by abnormal accumulation of iron-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to lipid peroxidation. It involves the balance between iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, oxygen free radical reaction and lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have found that ferroptosis is closely related to the occurrence and development of NSCLC. Due to the emergence of chemotherapy resistance and radiotherapy resistance in the treatment of NSCLC, there is an urgent need to develop new effective drugs and treatment strategies. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of NSCLC due to its multi-targets and minimal side effects. In this review, we summarize the mechanism of ferroptosis in NSCLC, and discuss the research status of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine, single-herb traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese herbal compounds in the intervention of NSCLC through ferroptosis, in order to provide a new theoretical basis for the research of ferroptosis pathway and the prevention and treatment of NSCLC by targeted ferroptosis of traditional Chinese medicine.
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The cell line models to study tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor: A scoping review

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) represents ∼85% of all lung cancers and ∼15-20% of them are characterized by mutations affecting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). For several years now, a class of tyrosine kinase inhibitors was developed, targeting sensitive mutations affecting the EGFR (EGFR-TKIs). To date, the main burden of the TKIs employment is due to the onset of resistance mutations. This scoping review aims to resume the current situation about the cell line models employed for the in vitro evaluation of resistance mechanisms induced by EGFR-TKIs in oncogene-addicted NSCLC. Adenocarcinoma results the most studied NSCLC histotype with the H1650, H1975, HCC827 and PC9 mutated cell lines, while Gefitinib and Osimertinib the most investigated inhibitors. Overall, data collected frame the current advancement of this topic, showing a plethora of approaches pursued to overcome the TKIs resistance, from RNA-mediated strategies to the innovative combination therapies.

Design, synthesis and anticancer evaluation of polymethoxy aurones as potential cell cycle inhibitors

Background

Cancer is the most fatal disease in humans and the aberrant activity of various cell cycle proteins results in uncontrolled tumor cell proliferation, thus, regulating the cell cycle is an attractive target in cancer therapy.

Objectives

Aurone is a naturally occurring active compound with a wide range of biological activities, of which 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl (TMP) is an important microtubule targeting pharmacophore. Based on the pharmacophore combination principle, we incorporate the TMP pharmacophore into the aurone structure and design a novel polymethoxy derivative that is expected to inhibit tumor cell proliferation through regulating the cell cycle.

Methods

By introducing different substituents on C-4' and C-3', a series of new 4, 5, 6-trimethoxy aurone derivatives have been designed and synthesized. DU145, MCF-7 and H1299 cell lines were selected to evaluate their anticancer activity. The compound with the best cytotoxicity was then selected and the anticancer mechanisms were investigated by network pharmacology, flow cytometry, Western blot, and cell heat transfer assay. ADMET prediction evaluated the draggability of aurone derivatives.

Results

Aurones 1b and 1c have selective anti-proliferative activity against DU145 cells. Among them, the compound 1c have better cytotoxicity against DU145. Compound 1c could bind the active cavity of CyclinB1/CDK1/CKS complex protein and induced G2/M phase arrest of DU145 cells by regulating the expression of CyclinB1 and p21. Compound 1c satisfies the Lipinski rule, is suitable for the absorption and metabolism index, and has a lower risk of cardiac toxicity.

Conclusions

Polymethoxy aurones 1c might function as a CyclinB1/CDK1 inhibitor that deserved to be further developed for the treatment of prostate cancer.

A New Mild Method for Synthesis of Marine Alkaloid Fascaplysin and Its Therapeutically Promising Derivatives

Fascaplysin is a marine alkaloid which is considered to be a lead drug candidate due to its diverse and potent biological activity. As an anticancer agent, fascaplysin holds a great potential due to the multiple targets affected by this alkaloid in cancer cells, including inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and induction of intrinsic apoptosis. At the same time, the studies on structural optimization are hampered by its rather high toxicity, mainly caused by DNA intercalation. In addition, the number of methods for the syntheses of its derivatives is limited. In the current study, we report a new two-step method of synthesis of fascaplysin derivatives based on low temperature UV quaternization for the synthesis of thermolabile 9-benzyloxyfascaplysin and 6-tert-butylfascaplysin. 9-Benzyloxyfascaplysin was used as the starting compound to obtain 9-hydroxyfascaplysin. However, the latter was found to be chemically highly unstable. 6-tert-Butylfascaplysin revealed a significant decrease in DNA intercalation when compared to fascaplysin, while cytotoxicity was only slightly reduced. Therefore, the impact of DNA intercalation for the cytotoxic effects of fascaplysin and its derivatives needs to be questioned.

Marine-Derived Lead Fascaplysin: Pharmacological Activity, Total Synthesis, and Structural Modification

Fascaplysin is a planar structure pentacyclic alkaloid isolated from sponges, which can effectively induce the apoptosis of cancer cells. In addition, fascaplysin has diverse biological activities, such as antibacterial, anti-tumor, anti-plasmodium, etc. Unfortunately, the planar structure of fascaplysin can be inserted into DNA and such interaction also limits the further application of fascaplysin, necessitating its structural modification. In this review, the biological activity, total synthesis and structural modification of fascaplysin will be summarized, which will provide useful information for pharmaceutical researchers interested in the exploration of marine alkaloids and for the betterment of fascaplysin in particular.