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Manoharan S, Ying Ying L. Pyrimethamine reduced tumour growth in pre-clinical cancer models: a systematic review to identify potential pre-clinical studies for subsequent human clinical trials. Biol Methods Protoc 2024; 9:bpae021. [PMID: 38618181 PMCID: PMC11014785 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpae021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Pyrimethamine (PYR), a STAT3 inhibitor, has been shown to reduce tumour burden in mouse cancer models. It is unclear how much of a reduction occurred or whether the PYR dosages and route of administration used in mice were consistent with the FDA's recommendations for drug repurposing. Search engines such as ScienceDirect, PubMed/MEDLINE, and other databases, including Google Scholar, were thoroughly searched, as was the reference list. The systematic review includes fourteen (14) articles. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using SYRCLE's guidelines. Due to the heterogeneity of the data, no meta-analysis was performed. According to the RoB assessment, 13/14 studies fall into the moderate RoB category, with one study classified as high RoB. None adhered to the ARRIVE guideline for transparent research reporting. Oral (FDA-recommended) and non-oral routes of PYR administration were used in mice, with several studies reporting very high PYR dosages that could lead to myelosuppression, while oral PYR dosages of 30 mg/kg or less are considered safe. Direct human equivalent dose translation is probably not the best strategy for comparing whether the used PYR dosages in mice are in line with FDA-approved strength because pharmacokinetic profiles, particularly PYR's half-life (t1/2), between humans (t1/2 = 96 h) and mice (t1/2 = 6 h), must also be considered. Based on the presence of appropriate control and treatment groups, as well as the presence of appropriate clinically proven chemotherapy drug(s) for comparison purposes, only one study (1/14) involving liver cancer can be directed into a clinical trial. Furthermore, oesophageal cancer too can be directed into clinical trials, where the indirect effect of PYR on the NRF2 gene may suppress oesophageal cancer in patients, but this must be done with caution because PYR is an investigational drug for oesophageal cancer, and combining it with proven chemotherapy drug(s) is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivananthan Manoharan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Lee Ying Ying
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asia Metropolitan University, Johor Bahru 81750, Johor, Malaysia
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Kohal R, Bisht P, Gupta GD, Verma SK. Targeting JAK2/STAT3 for the treatment of cancer: A review on recent advancements in molecular development using structural analysis and SAR investigations. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107095. [PMID: 38211548 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107095] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is indeed considered a hazardous and potentially life-threatening disorder. The JAK/STAT pathway is an important intracellular signaling cascade essential for many physiological functions, such as immune response, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulation of this pathway aids in the progression and development of cancer. The downstream JAK2/STAT3 signaling cascades are legitimate targets against which newer anticancer drugs can be developed to prevent and treat cancer. Understanding the mechanisms behind JAK2/STAT3 participation in cancer has paved the way for developing innovative targeted medicines with the potential to improve cancer treatment outcomes. This article provides information on the current scenario and recent advancements in the design and development of anticancer drugs targeting JAK2/STAT3, including structural analysis and SAR investigations of synthesized molecules. Numerous preclinical and clinical trials are ongoing on these inhibitors, which are highlighted to gain more insight into the broader development prospects of inhibitors of JAK2/STAT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupali Kohal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142 001, (Punjab), India
| | - Priya Bisht
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142 001, (Punjab), India
| | - Ghanshyam Das Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142 001, (Punjab), India
| | - Sant Kumar Verma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142 001, (Punjab), India.
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Kim HJ, Ahn MH, Shin JA, Choi SJ, Yu HJ, Cho SD. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester: Unveiling its potential as a potent apoptosis inducer for combating hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Rep 2024; 51:21. [PMID: 38099422 PMCID: PMC10777462 DOI: 10.3892/or.2023.8680] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is a relatively rare form of head and neck cancer that is notorious for its poor prognosis and low overall survival rate. This highlights the need for new therapeutic options for this malignancy. The objective of the present study was to examine the ability of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which is an active compound found in propolis, to combat HSCC tumor growth. CAPE exerted its tumor‑suppressive activity in HSCC cell lines through the induction of apoptosis. Mechanistically, the CAPE‑mediated apoptotic process was attributed to the perturbation of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the activation of caspase‑9. CAPE also modulated survivin and X‑linked inhibitor of apoptosis, which are potent members of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family, either through transcriptional or post‑translational regulation, leading to HSCC cell line death. Therefore, the findings of the present study suggested that CAPE is an effective treatment alternative for HSCC via the stimulation of mitochondria‑dependent apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ji Kim
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Hye Ahn
- Chemical Biology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungwon 28116, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Ae Shin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Jung Choi
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ju Yu
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Dae Cho
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
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Li XQ, Yin SQ, Chen L, Tulamaiti A, Xiao SY, Zhang XL, Shi L, Miao XC, Yang Y, Xing X. Identification of a novel m6A-related lncRNAs signature and immunotherapeutic drug sensitivity in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:116. [PMID: 38262966 PMCID: PMC10804632 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11885-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) ranks as the fourth leading cause for cancer-related deaths worldwide. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely related with poor prognosis and immunotherapeutic effect in PDAC. The aim of this study is to construct and validate a m6A-related lncRNAs signature and assess immunotherapeutic drug sensitivity in PDAC. METHODS RNA-seq data for 178 cases of PDAC patients and 167 cases of normal pancreatic tissue were obtained from TCGA and GTEx databases, respectively. A set of 21 m6A-related genes were downloaded based on the previous report. Co-expression network was conducted to identify m6A-related lncRNAs in PDAC. Cox analyses and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression model were used to construct a risk prognosis model. The relationship between signature genes and immune function was explored by single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA). The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score and tumor mutation burden (TMB) were utilized to evaluate the response to immunotherapy. Furthermore, the expression levels of 4 m6A-related lncRNAs on PDAC cell lines were measured by the quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The drug sensitivity between the high- and low-risk groups was validated using PDAC cell lines by Cell-Counting Kit 8 (CCK8). RESULTS The risk prognosis model was successfully constructed based on 4 m6A-related lncRNAs, and PDAC patients were divided into the high- and low-risk groups. The overall survival (OS) of the high-risk groups was more unfavorable compared with the low-risk groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated that the risk prognosis model reasonably predicted the 2-, 3- and 5-year OS of PDAC patients. qPCR analysis confirmed the decreased expression levels of 4 m6A-related lncRNAs in PDAC cells compared to the normal pancreatic cells. Furthermore, CCK8 assay revealed that Phenformin exhibited higher sensitivity in the high-risk groups, while Pyrimethamine exhibited higher sensitivity in the low-risk groups. CONCLUSION The prognosis of patients with PDAC were well predicted in the risk prognosis model based on m6A-related lncRNAs, and selected immunotherapy drugs have potential values for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia-Qing Li
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, 6600 Nanfeng Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi-Qi Yin
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, 6600 Nanfeng Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus, Shanghai, China
| | - Aziguli Tulamaiti
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Yu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Shi
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Cao Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xin Xing
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, 6600 Nanfeng Road, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus, Shanghai, China.
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Knapp K, Verchio V, Coburn-Flynn O, Li Y, Xiong Z, Morrison JC, Shersher DD, Spitz F, Chen X. Exploring cell competition for the prevention and therapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 214:115639. [PMID: 37290594 PMCID: PMC10528900 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is characterized by the development of cancer in the esophageal squamous epithelium through a step-by-step accumulation of genetic, epigenetic, and histopathological alterations. Recent studies have demonstrated that cancer-associated gene mutations exist in histologically normal or precancerous clones of the human esophageal epithelium. However, only a small proportion of such mutant clones will develop ESCC, and most ESCC patients develop only one cancer. This suggests that most of these mutant clones are kept in a histologically normal state by neighboring cells with higher competitive fitness. When some of the mutant cells evade cell competition, they become "super-competitors" and develop into clinical cancer. It is known that human ESCC is composed of a heterogeneous population of cancer cells that interact with and influence their environment and neighbors. During cancer therapy, these cancer cells not only respond to therapeutic agents but also compete with each other. Therefore, competition between ESCC cells within the same ESCC tumor is a constantly dynamic process. However, it remains challenging to fine-tune the competitive fitness of various clones for therapeutic benefits. In this review, we will explore the role of cell competition in carcinogenesis, cancer prevention, and therapy, using NRF2, NOTCH pathway, and TP53 as examples. We believe that cell competition is a research area with promising targets for clinical translation. Manipulating cell competition may help improve the prevention and therapy of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Knapp
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Vincent Verchio
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | | | - Yahui Li
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Zhaohui Xiong
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Jamin C Morrison
- MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - David D Shersher
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Francis Spitz
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Xiaoxin Chen
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA.
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Markelić M, Mojić M, Bovan D, Jelača S, Jović Z, Purić M, Koruga D, Mijatović S, Maksimović-Ivanić D. Melanoma Cell Reprogramming and Awakening of Antitumor Immunity as a Fingerprint of Hyper-Harmonized Hydroxylated Fullerene Water Complex (3HFWC) and Hyperpolarized Light Application In Vivo. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13030372. [PMID: 36770334 PMCID: PMC9918970 DOI: 10.3390/nano13030372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In our recent study, we showed that in vitro treatment of melanoma cells with hyperpolarized light (HPL) as well as with the second derivative of fullerene, hyper-harmonized hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC) reduced viability of cells by decreasing their proliferative capacity and inducing senescence and reprogramming towards a normal, melanocytic phenotype. Therefore, we wanted to determine whether these effects persisted in vivo in the syngeneic mouse melanoma model with a combined treatment of HPL irradiation and 3HFWC per os. Our results demonstrated the potent antitumor effects of 3HFWC nanosubstance assisted by HPL irradiation. These effects were primarily driven by the stimulation of melanoma cell growth arrest, the establishment of a senescent phenotype, and melanocytic differentiation on the one hand, and the awakening of the antitumor immune response on the other. In addition, the combined treatment reduced the protumorigenic activity of immune cells by depleting T regulatory cells, myeloid-derived suppressors, and M2 macrophages. The support of the 3HFWC substance by HPL irradiation may be the axis of the new approach design based on tumor cell reprogramming synchronized with the mobilization of the host's protective immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Markelić
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (D.M.-I.)
| | - Marija Mojić
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”– National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dijana Bovan
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”– National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Jelača
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”– National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | | | - Sanja Mijatović
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”– National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”– National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (D.M.-I.)
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Guo XW, Li SQ, Lei RE, Ding Z, Hu BL, Lin R. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells based TMEscore and related gene signature is associated with the survival of CRC patients and response to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:953321. [PMID: 36110947 PMCID: PMC9468757 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.953321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundTumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) are associated with chemotherapy response. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of a TIIC-related tumor microenvironment score (TMEscore) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who underwent chemotherapy and construct a TMEscore-related gene signature to determine its predictive value.MethodsGene profiles of patients who underwent fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy were collected, and their TIIC fractions were calculated and clustered. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between clusters were used to calculate the TMEscore. The association between the TMEscore, chemotherapy response, and survival rate was analyzed. Machine learning methods were used to identify key TMEscore-related genes, and a gene signature was constructed to verify the predictive value.ResultsTwo clusters based on the TIIC fraction were identified, and the TMEscore was calculated based on the DEGs of the two clusters. The TMEscore was higher in patients who responded to chemotherapy than in those who did not, and was associated with the survival rate of patients who underwent chemotherapy. Three machine learning methods, support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), identified three TMEscore-related genes (ADH1C, SLC26A2, and NANS) associated with the response to chemotherapy. A TMEscore-related gene signature was constructed, and three external cohorts validated that the gene signature could predict the response to chemotherapy. Five datasets and clinical samples showed that the expression of the three TMEscore-related genes was increased in tumor tissues compared to those in control tissues.ConclusionsThe TIIC-based TMEscore was associated with the survival of CRC patients who underwent fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, and predicted the response to chemotherapy. The TMEscore-related gene signature had a better predictive value for response to chemotherapy than for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Wen Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Si-Qi Li
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Rong-E Lei
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhen Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bang-li Hu
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Bang-li Hu, ; Rong Lin,
| | - Rong Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Bang-li Hu, ; Rong Lin,
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