BCL2L1 is identified as a target of naringenin in regulating ovarian cancer progression

The role of the natural compound naringenin in AMPK-mitochondria modulation and colorectal cancer inhibition

BACKGROUND

Although AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been extensively studied in cellular processes, the understanding of its substrates, downstream functions, contributions to cell fate and colorectal cancer (CRC) progression remains incomplete.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of naringenin on CRC.

METHODS

The biological and cellular properties of naringenin and its anticancer activity were evaluated in CRC. In addition, the effect of combined treatment with naringenin and 5-fluorouracil on tumor growth in vitro and in vivo was evaluated.

RESULTS

The present study found that naringenin inhibits the proliferation of CRC and promote its apoptosis. Compared with the naringenin group, naringenin combined with 5-fluorouracil had significant effect on inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting its apoptosis. It is showed that naringenin activates AMPK phosphorylation and mitochondrial fusion in CRC. Naringenin combined with 5-fluorouracil significantly reduces cardiotoxicity and liver damage induced by 5-fluorouracil in nude mice bearing subcutaneous CRC tumors, and attenuates colorectal injuries in azoxymethane/DSS dextran sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced CRC. The combination of these two drugs alters mitochondrial function by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), thereby stimulating AMPK/mTOR signaling. Mitochondrial dynamics are thereby regulated by activating the AMPK/p-AMPK pathway, and mitochondrial homeostasis is coordinated through increased mitochondrial fusion and reduced fission to activate apoptosis in cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that naringenin is important for inhibiting CRC proliferation, possibly through the AMPK pathway, to regulate mitochondrial function and induce apoptosis in CRC.

Genome-wide CRISPR screen reveals the synthetic lethality between BCL2L1 inhibition and radiotherapy

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the most commonly used anticancer therapies. However, the landscape of cellular response to irradiation, especially to a single high-dose irradiation, remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed a whole-genome CRISPR loss-of-function screen and revealed temporal inherent and acquired responses to RT. Specifically, we found that loss of the IL1R1 pathway led to cellular resistance to RT. This is in part because of the involvement of radiation-induced IL1R1-dependent transcriptional regulation, which relies on the NF-κB pathway. Moreover, the mitochondrial anti-apoptotic pathway, particularly the BCL2L1 gene, is crucially important for cell survival after radiation. BCL2L1 inhibition combined with RT dramatically impeded tumor growth in several breast cancer cell lines and syngeneic models. Taken together, our results suggest that the combination of an apoptosis inhibitor such as a BCL2L1 inhibitor with RT may represent a promising anticancer strategy for solid cancers including breast cancer.

Naringenin: A potential flavonoid phytochemical for cancer therapy

Naringenin is an important phytochemical which belongs to the flavanone group of polyphenols, and is found mainly in citrus fruits like grapefruits and others such as tomatoes and cherries plus medicinal plants derived food. Available evidence demonstrates that naringenin, as herbal medicine, has important pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancer activities. Collected data from in vitro and in vivo studies show the inactivation of carcinogens after treatment with pure naringenin, naringenin-loaded nanoparticles, and also naringenin in combination with anti-cancer agents in various malignancies, such as colon cancer, lung neoplasms, breast cancer, leukemia and lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate tumors, oral squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer, brain tumors, skin cancer, cervical and ovarian cancer, bladder neoplasms, gastric cancer, and osteosarcoma. Naringenin inhibits cancer progression through multiple mechanisms, like apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis hindrance, and modification of various signaling pathways including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, NF-ĸB, and TGF-β pathways. In this review, we demonstrate that naringenin is a natural product with potential for the treatment of different types of cancer, whether it is used alone, in combination with other agents, or in the form of the naringenin-loaded nanocarrier, after proper technological encapsulation.

The Employment of Genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara Polyphenols for the Reduction of Selected Anti-Cancer Drug Side Effects

Cancer is one of the most widespread diseases globally and one of the leading causes of death. Known cancer treatments are chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted hormonal therapy, or a combination of these methods. Antitumor drugs, with different mechanisms, interfere with cancer growth by destroying cancer cells. However, anticancer drugs are dangerous, as they significantly affect both cancer cells and healthy cells. In addition, there may be the onset of systemic side effects perceived and mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and further carcinogenicity. Many polyphenolic extracts, taken on top of common anti-tumor drugs, can participate in the anti-proliferative effect of drugs and significantly reduce the side effects developed. This review aims to discuss the current scientific knowledge of the protective effects of polyphenols of the genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara on the side effects induced by four known chemotherapy, Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Tamoxifen, and Paclitaxel. In particular, the summarized data will help to understand whether polyphenols can be used as adjuvants in cancer therapy, although further clinical trials will provide crucial information.