1
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Moein A, Jin JY, Wright MR, Wong H. Quantitative Assessment of Drug Efficacy and Emergence of Resistance in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Using a Longitudinal Exposure-Tumor Growth Inhibition Model: Apitolisib (Dual PI3K/mTORC1/2 Inhibitor) Versus Everolimus (mTORC1 Inhibitor). J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 64:1101-1111. [PMID: 38639108 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2444] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, and despite remarkable advancements in therapeutic strategies, poor tolerability of drugs (causing dose reduction/interruptions) and/or the emergence of drug resistance are major obstacles to successful treatment outcomes. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) accounts for 2% of global cancer diagnoses and deaths. Despite the initial success of targeted therapies in mRCC, challenges remain to overcome drug resistance that limits the long-term efficacy of these treatments. Our analysis aim was to develop a semi-mechanistic longitudinal exposure-tumor growth inhibition model for patients with mRCC to characterize and compare everolimus (mTORC1) and apitolisib's (dual PI3K/mTORC1/2) ability to inhibit tumor growth, and quantitate each drug's efficacy decay caused by emergence of tumor resistance over time. Model-estimated on-treatment tumor growth rate constant was 1.7-fold higher for apitolisib compared to everolimus. Estimated half-life for loss of treatment effect over time for everolimus was 16.1 weeks compared to 7.72 weeks for apitolisib, suggesting a faster rate of tumor re-growth for apitolisib patients likely due to the emergence of resistance. Goodness-of-fit plots including visual predictive check indicated a good model fit and the model was able to capture individual tumor size-time profiles. Based on our knowledge, this is the first clinical report to quantitatively assess everolimus (mTORC1) and apitolisib (PI3K/mTORC1/2) efficacy decay in patients with mRCC. These results highlight the difference in overall efficacy of 2 drugs due to the quantified efficacy decay caused by emergence of resistance, and emphasize the importance of model-informed drug development for targeted cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Moein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jin Y Jin
- Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Matthew R Wright
- Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Harvey Wong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Gupta I, Gaykalova DA. Unveiling the role of PIK3R1 in cancer: A comprehensive review of regulatory signaling and therapeutic implications. Semin Cancer Biol 2024; 106-107:58-86. [PMID: 39197810 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2024.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is responsible for phosphorylating phosphoinositides to generate secondary signaling molecules crucial for regulating various cellular processes, including cell growth, survival, and metabolism. The PI3K is a heterodimeric enzyme complex comprising of a catalytic subunit (p110α, p110β, or p110δ) and a regulatory subunit (p85). The binding of the regulatory subunit, p85, with the catalytic subunit, p110, forms an integral component of the PI3K enzyme. PIK3R1 (phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1) belongs to class IA of the PI3K family. PIK3R1 exhibits structural complexity due to alternative splicing, giving rise to distinct isoforms, prominently p85α and p55α. While the primary p85α isoform comprises multiple domains, including Src homology 3 (SH3) domains, a Breakpoint Cluster Region Homology (BH) domain, and Src homology 2 (SH2) domains (iSH2 and nSH2), the shorter isoform, p55α, lacks certain domains present in p85α. In this review, we will highlight the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing PI3K signaling along with the impact of PIK3R1 alterations on cellular processes. We will further delve into the clinical significance of PIK3R1 mutations in various cancer types and their implications for prognosis and treatment outcomes. Additionally, we will discuss the evolving landscape of targeted therapies aimed at modulating PI3K-associated pathways. Overall, this review will provide insights into the dynamic interplay of PIK3R1 in cancer, fostering advancements in precision medicine and the development of targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Gupta
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daria A Gaykalova
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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3
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Ibanez KR, Huang TT, Lee JM. Combination Therapy Approach to Overcome the Resistance to PI3K Pathway Inhibitors in Gynecological Cancers. Cells 2024; 13:1064. [PMID: 38920692 PMCID: PMC11201409 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121064] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The PI3K signaling pathway plays an essential role in cancer cell proliferation and survival. PI3K pathway inhibitors are now FDA-approved as a single agent treatment or in combination for solid tumors such as renal cell carcinoma or breast cancer. However, despite the high prevalence of PI3K pathway alterations in gynecological cancers and promising preclinical activity in endometrial and ovarian cancer models, PI3K pathway inhibitors showed limited clinical activity in gynecological cancers. In this review, we provide an overview on resistance mechanisms against PI3K pathway inhibitors that limit their use in gynecological malignancies, including genetic alterations that reactivate the PI3K pathway such as PIK3CA mutations and PTEN loss, compensatory signaling pathway activation, and feedback loops causing the reactivation of the PI3K signaling pathway. We also discuss the successes and limitations of recent clinical trials aiming to address such resistance mechanisms through combination therapies.
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4
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Browne IM, Okines AFC. Resistance to Targeted Inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Advanced Oestrogen-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2259. [PMID: 38927964 PMCID: PMC11201395 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway is one of the most frequently activated pathways in breast cancer and also plays a central role in the regulation of several physiologic functions. There are major efforts ongoing to exploit precision medicine by developing inhibitors that target the three kinases (PI3K, AKT, and mTOR). Although multiple compounds have been developed, at present, there are just three inhibitors approved to target this pathway in patients with advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer: everolimus (mTOR inhibitor), alpelisib (PIK3CA inhibitor), and capivasertib (AKT inhibitor). Like most targeted cancer drugs, resistance poses a major problem in the clinical setting and is a factor that has frequently limited the overall efficacy of these agents. Drug resistance can be categorised into intrinsic or acquired resistance depending on the timeframe it has developed within. Whereas intrinsic resistance exists prior to a specific treatment, acquired resistance is induced by a therapy. The majority of patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer will likely be offered an inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway at some point in their cancer journey, with the options available depending on the approval criteria in place and the cancer's mutation status. Within this large cohort of patients, it is likely that most will develop resistance at some point, which makes this an area of interest and an unmet need at present. Herein, we review the common mechanisms of resistance to agents that target the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, elaborate on current management approaches, and discuss ongoing clinical trials attempting to mitigate this significant issue. We highlight the need for additional studies into AKT1 inhibitor resistance in particular.
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5
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Martínez-Pérez J, Torrado C, Domínguez-Cejudo MA, Valladares-Ayerbes M. Targeted Treatment against Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6220. [PMID: 38892410 PMCID: PMC11172446 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116220] [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: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The cancer stem cell (SC) theory proposes that a population of SCs serves as the driving force behind fundamental tumor processes, including metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to therapy. The standard of care for patients with stage III and high-risk stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) includes surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Fluoropyrimidines and their combination with oxaliplatin increased the cure rates, being able to eradicate the occult metastatic SC in a fraction of patients. The treatment for unresectable metastatic CRC is based on chemotherapy, antibodies to VEGF and EGFR, and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Immunotherapy is used in MSI-H tumors. Currently used drugs target dividing cells and, while often effective at debulking tumor mass, these agents have largely failed to cure metastatic disease. SCs are generated either due to genetic and epigenetic alterations in stem/progenitor cells or to the dedifferentiation of somatic cells where diverse signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog, Notch, TGF-β/SMAD, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, DNA damage response, and Hippo-YAP play a key role. Anti-neoplastic treatments could be improved by elimination of SCs, becoming an attractive target for the design of novel agents. Here, we present a review of clinical trials assessing the efficacy of targeted treatment focusing on these pathways in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Martínez-Pérez
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio (HUVR), Avenida de Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio (HUVR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida de Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Carlos Torrado
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - María A. Domínguez-Cejudo
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio (HUVR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida de Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Manuel Valladares-Ayerbes
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio (HUVR), Avenida de Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio (HUVR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida de Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain;
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6
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Shan KS, Bonano-Rios A, Theik NWY, Hussein A, Blaya M. Molecular Targeting of the Phosphoinositide-3-Protein Kinase (PI3K) Pathway across Various Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1973. [PMID: 38396649 PMCID: PMC10888452 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041973] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway can lead to uncontrolled cellular growth and tumorigenesis. Targeting PI3K and its downstream substrates has been shown to be effective in preclinical studies and phase III trials with the approval of several PI3K pathway inhibitors by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the past decade. However, the limited clinical efficacy of these inhibitors, intolerable toxicities, and acquired resistances limit the clinical application of PI3K inhibitors. This review discusses the PI3K signaling pathway, alterations in the PI3K pathway causing carcinogenesis, current and novel PI3K pathway inhibitors, adverse effects, resistance mechanisms, challenging issues, and future directions of PI3K pathway inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khine S. Shan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Memorial Health Care, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, USA; (A.B.-R.); (A.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Amalia Bonano-Rios
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Memorial Health Care, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, USA; (A.B.-R.); (A.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Nyein Wint Yee Theik
- Division of Internal Medicine, Memorial Health Care, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, USA;
| | - Atif Hussein
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Memorial Health Care, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, USA; (A.B.-R.); (A.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Marcelo Blaya
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Memorial Health Care, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028, USA; (A.B.-R.); (A.H.); (M.B.)
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7
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Dubey R, Sharma A, Gupta S, Gupta GD, Asati V. A comprehensive review of small molecules targeting PI3K pathway: Exploring the structural development for the treatment of breast cancer. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107077. [PMID: 38176377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107077] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stands as one of the deadliest diseases, ranking second in terms of its global impact. Despite the presence of numerous compelling theories concerning its origins, none have succeeded in fully elucidating the intricate nature of this ailment. Among the prevailing concerns in today's world, breast cancer proliferation remains a significant issue, particularly affecting females. The abnormal proliferation of the PI3K pathway emerges as a prominent driver of breast cancer, underscoring its role in cellular survival and proliferation. Consequently, targeting this pathway has emerged as a leading strategy in breast cancer therapeutics. Within this context, the present article explores the current landscape of anti-tumour drug development, focusing on structural activity relationships (SAR) in PI3K targeting breast cancer treatment. Notably, certain moieties like triazines, pyrimidine, quinazoline, quinoline, and pyridoxine have been explored as potential PI3K inhibitors for combating breast cancer. Various heterocyclic small molecules are undergoing clinical trials, such as Alpelisib, the first orally available FDA-approved drug targeting PI3K; others include buparlisib, pictilisib, and taselisib, which inhibit class I PI3K. These drugs are used for the treatment of breast cancer but still have various side effects with their high cost. Therefore, the primary goal of this review is to include all current advances in the development of anticancer medicines that target PI3K over-activation in the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Dubey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Anushka Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Shankar Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - G D Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Vivek Asati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.
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8
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He K, Chen M, Liu J, Du S, Ren C, Zhang J. Nanomedicine for cancer targeted therapy with autophagy regulation. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1238827. [PMID: 38239356 PMCID: PMC10794438 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1238827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticles have unique physical and chemical properties and are currently widely used in disease diagnosis, drug delivery, and new drug development in biomedicine. In recent years, the role of nanomedical technology in cancer treatment has become increasingly obvious. Autophagy is a multi-step degradation process in cells and an important pathway for material and energy recovery. It is closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer. Because nanomaterials are highly targeted and biosafe, they can be used as carriers to deliver autophagy regulators; in addition to their favorable physicochemical properties, nanomaterials can be employed to carry autophagy inhibitors, reducing the breakdown of chemotherapy drugs by cancer cells and thereby enhancing the drug's efficacy. Furthermore, certain nanomaterials can induce autophagy, triggering oxidative stress-mediated autophagy enhancement and cell apoptosis, thus constraining the progression of cancer cells.There are various types of nanoparticles, including liposomes, micelles, polymers, metal-based materials, and carbon-based materials. The majority of clinically applicable drugs are liposomes, though other materials are currently undergoing continuous optimization. This review begins with the roles of autophagy in tumor treatment, and then focuses on the application of nanomaterials with autophagy-regulating functions in tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketai He
- Department of Neurology, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingkun Chen
- West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Sichuan, China
| | - Shufang Du
- West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
| | - Changyu Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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9
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Huang YH, Chiu LY, Tseng JS, Hsu KH, Chen CH, Sheu GT, Yang TY. Attenuation of PI3K-Akt-mTOR Pathway to Reduce Cancer Stemness on Chemoresistant Lung Cancer Cells by Shikonin and Synergy with BEZ235 Inhibitor. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:616. [PMID: 38203787 PMCID: PMC10779050 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010616] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is considered the number one cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although current treatments initially reduce the lung cancer burden, relapse occurs in most cases; the major causes of mortality are drug resistance and cancer stemness. Recent investigations have provided evidence that shikonin generates various bioactivities related to the treatment of cancer. We used shikonin to treat multi-resistant non-small lung cancer cells (DOC-resistant A549/D16, VCR-resistant A549/V16 cells) and defined the anti-cancer efficacy of shikonin. Our results showed shikonin induces apoptosis in these ABCB1-dependent and independent chemoresistance cancer sublines. Furthermore, we found that low doses of shikonin inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer stem-like cells by inhibiting spheroid formation. Concomitantly, the mRNA level and protein of stemness genes (Nanog and Oct4) were repressed significantly on both sublines. Shikonin reduces the phosphorylated Akt and p70s6k levels, indicating that the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is downregulated by shikonin. We further applied several signaling pathway inhibitors that have been used in anti-cancer clinical trials to test whether shikonin is suitable as a sensitizer for various signaling pathway inhibitors. In these experiments, we found that low doses shikonin and dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitor (BEZ235) have a synergistic effect that inhibits the spheroid formation from chemoresistant lung cancer sublines. Inhibiting the proliferation of lung cancer stem cells is believed to reduce the recurrence of lung cancer; therefore, shikonin's anti-drug resistance and anti-cancer stem cell activities make it a highly interesting molecule for future combined lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Hsiang Huang
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan; (Y.-H.H.); (L.-Y.C.); (J.-S.T.)
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Yen Chiu
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan; (Y.-H.H.); (L.-Y.C.); (J.-S.T.)
| | - Jeng-Sen Tseng
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan; (Y.-H.H.); (L.-Y.C.); (J.-S.T.)
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsuan Hsu
- Division of Critical Care and Respiratory Therapy, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan;
| | - Chang-Han Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate Institute of Biomedicine and Biomedical Technology, National Chi Nan University, Nantou 545, Taiwan;
- Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
| | - Gwo-Tarng Sheu
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Oncology and Chest Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Ying Yang
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan; (Y.-H.H.); (L.-Y.C.); (J.-S.T.)
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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10
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Zhao H, Han R, Wang Z, Xian J, Bai X. Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Targeted Agents. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2763. [PMID: 38140103 PMCID: PMC10748092 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15122763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Since their discovery, cancer stem cells have become a hot topic in cancer therapy research. These cells possess stem cell-like self-renewal and differentiation capacities and are important factors that dominate cancer metastasis, therapy-resistance and recurrence. Worse, their inherent characteristics make them difficult to eliminate. Colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Targeting colorectal cancer stem cells (CR-CSCs) can inhibit colorectal cancer metastasis, enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce recurrence. Here, we introduced the origin, biomarker proteins, identification, cultivation and research techniques of CR-CSCs, and we summarized the signaling pathways that regulate the stemness of CR-CSCs, such as Wnt, JAK/STAT3, Notch and Hh signaling pathway. In addition to these, we also reviewed recent anti-CR-CSC drugs targeting signaling pathways, biomarkers and other regulators. These will help researchers gain insight into the current agents targeting to CR-CSCs, explore new cancer drugs and propose potential therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haobin Zhao
- Department of General Practice, People’s Hospital of Longhua, 38 Jinglong Jianshe Road, Shenzhen 518109, China; (H.Z.); (J.X.)
- Endocrinology Department, People’s Hospital of Longhua, 38 Jinglong Jianshe Road, Shenzhen 518109, China
| | - Ruining Han
- Obstetric Department, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518033, China;
| | - Zhankun Wang
- Emergency Department, People’s Hospital of Longhua, 38 Jinglong Jianshe Road, Shenzhen 518109, China;
| | - Junfang Xian
- Department of General Practice, People’s Hospital of Longhua, 38 Jinglong Jianshe Road, Shenzhen 518109, China; (H.Z.); (J.X.)
| | - Xiaosu Bai
- Endocrinology Department, People’s Hospital of Longhua, 38 Jinglong Jianshe Road, Shenzhen 518109, China
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11
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Chen X, Chen J, Liu S, Li X. Everolimus-induced hyperpermeability of endothelial cells causes lung injury. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2023; 248:2440-2448. [PMID: 38158699 PMCID: PMC10903245 DOI: 10.1177/15353702231220672] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, everolimus (but not dactolisib), is frequently associated with lung injury in clinical therapies. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Endothelial cell barrier dysfunction plays a major role in the pathogenesis of the lung injury. This study hypothesizes that everolimus increases pulmonary endothelial permeability, which leads to lung injury. We tested the effects of everolimus on human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (HPMEC) permeability and a mouse model of intraperitoneal injection of everolimus was established to investigate the effect of everolimus on pulmonary vascular permeability. Our data showed that everolimus increased human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (HPMEC) permeability which was associated with MLC phosphorylation and F-actin stress fiber formation. Furthermore, everolimus induced an increasing concentration of intracellular calcium Ca2+ leakage in HPMECs and this was normalized with ryanodine pretreatment. In addition, ryanodine decreased everolimus-induced phosphorylation of PKCα and MLC, and barrier disruption in HPMECs. Consistent with in vitro data, everolimus treatment caused a visible lung-vascular barrier dysfunction, including an increase in protein in BALF and lung capillary-endothelial permeability, which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with an inhibitor of PKCα, MLCK, and ryanodine. This study shows that everolimus induced pulmonary endothelial hyper-permeability, at least partly, in an MLC phosphorylation-mediated EC contraction which is influenced in a Ca2+-dependent manner and can lead to lung injury through mTOR-independent mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Pingxiang People's Hospital, Pingxiang 337000, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Clinical College of Gannan Medical University, Pingxiang 337000, China
| | - Jianhui Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Pingxiang People's Hospital, Pingxiang 337000, China
| | - Shuihong Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Pingxiang People's Hospital, Pingxiang 337000, China
| | - Xianfan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Pingxiang People's Hospital, Pingxiang 337000, China
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12
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Singh S, Barik D, Lawrie K, Mohapatra I, Prasad S, Naqvi AR, Singh A, Singh G. Unveiling Novel Avenues in mTOR-Targeted Therapeutics: Advancements in Glioblastoma Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14960. [PMID: 37834408 PMCID: PMC10573615 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mTOR signaling pathway plays a pivotal and intricate role in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma, driving tumorigenesis and proliferation. Mutations or deletions in the PTEN gene constitutively activate the mTOR pathway by expressing growth factors EGF and PDGF, which activate their respective receptor pathways (e.g., EGFR and PDGFR). The convergence of signaling pathways, such as the PI3K-AKT pathway, intensifies the effect of mTOR activity. The inhibition of mTOR has the potential to disrupt diverse oncogenic processes and improve patient outcomes. However, the complexity of the mTOR signaling, off-target effects, cytotoxicity, suboptimal pharmacokinetics, and drug resistance of the mTOR inhibitors pose ongoing challenges in effectively targeting glioblastoma. Identifying innovative treatment strategies to address these challenges is vital for advancing the field of glioblastoma therapeutics. This review discusses the potential targets of mTOR signaling and the strategies of target-specific mTOR inhibitor development, optimized drug delivery system, and the implementation of personalized treatment approaches to mitigate the complications of mTOR inhibitors. The exploration of precise mTOR-targeted therapies ultimately offers elevated therapeutic outcomes and the development of more effective strategies to combat the deadliest form of adult brain cancer and transform the landscape of glioblastoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Debashis Barik
- Center for Computational Natural Science and Bioinformatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad 500032, India
| | - Karl Lawrie
- College of Saint Benedict, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN 56321, USA
| | - Iteeshree Mohapatra
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Sujata Prasad
- MLM Medical Laboratories, LLC, Oakdale, MN 55128, USA
| | - Afsar R. Naqvi
- Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Amar Singh
- Schulze Diabetes Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Gatikrushna Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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13
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Mir SA, Dar A, Alshehri SA, Wahab S, Hamid L, Almoyad MAA, Ali T, Bader GN. Exploring the mTOR Signalling Pathway and Its Inhibitory Scope in Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1004. [PMID: 37513916 PMCID: PMC10384750 DOI: 10.3390/ph16071004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein kinase that regulates cellular growth, development, survival, and metabolism through integration of diverse extracellular and intracellular stimuli. Additionally, mTOR is involved in interplay of signalling pathways that regulate apoptosis and autophagy. In cells, mTOR is assembled into two complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. While mTORC1 is regulated by energy consumption, protein intake, mechanical stimuli, and growth factors, mTORC2 is regulated by insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). mTOR signalling pathways are considered the hallmark in cancer due to their dysregulation in approximately 70% of cancers. Through downstream regulators, ribosomal protein S6 kinase β-1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), mTORC1 influences various anabolic and catabolic processes in the cell. In recent years, several mTOR inhibitors have been developed with the aim of treating different cancers. In this review, we will explore the current developments in the mTOR signalling pathway and its importance for being targeted by various inhibitors in anti-cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Ahmad Mir
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ashraf Dar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Saad Ali Alshehri
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shadma Wahab
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laraibah Hamid
- Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Mohammad Ali Abdullah Almoyad
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences in Khamis Mushyt, King Khalid University, Abha 61412, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tabasum Ali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ghulam Nabi Bader
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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Li J, Goh ELK, He J, Li Y, Fan Z, Yu Z, Yuan P, Liu DX. Emerging Intrinsic Therapeutic Targets for Metastatic Breast Cancer. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:697. [PMID: 37237509 PMCID: PMC10215321 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is now the most common cancer worldwide, and it is also the main cause of cancer-related death in women. Survival rates for female breast cancer have significantly improved due to early diagnosis and better treatment. Nevertheless, for patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer, the survival rate is still low, reflecting a need for the development of new therapies. Mechanistic insights into metastatic breast cancer have provided excellent opportunities for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Although high-throughput approaches have identified several therapeutic targets in metastatic disease, some subtypes such as triple-negative breast cancer do not yet have an apparent tumor-specific receptor or pathway to target. Therefore, exploring new druggable targets in metastatic disease is a high clinical priority. In this review, we summarize the emerging intrinsic therapeutic targets for metastatic breast cancer, including cyclin D-dependent kinases CDK4 and CDK6, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, the insulin/IGF1R pathway, the EGFR/HER family, the JAK/STAT pathway, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP), TROP-2, Src kinases, histone modification enzymes, activated growth factor receptors, androgen receptors, breast cancer stem cells, matrix metalloproteinases, and immune checkpoint proteins. We also review the latest development in breast cancer immunotherapy. Drugs that target these molecules/pathways are either already FDA-approved or currently being tested in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Li
- The Centre for Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, School of Science, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Eyleen L. K. Goh
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Faculty, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Ji He
- The Centre for Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, School of Science, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Yan Li
- The Centre for Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, School of Science, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Zhimin Fan
- Department of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Zhigang Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China;
| | - Peng Yuan
- Department of VIP Medical Services, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Dong-Xu Liu
- The Centre for Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, School of Science, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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15
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Ramzy GM, Norkin M, Koessler T, Voirol L, Tihy M, Hany D, McKee T, Ris F, Buchs N, Docquier M, Toso C, Rubbia-Brandt L, Bakalli G, Guerrier S, Huelsken J, Nowak-Sliwinska P. Platform combining statistical modeling and patient-derived organoids to facilitate personalized treatment of colorectal carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:79. [PMID: 37013646 PMCID: PMC10069117 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02650-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We propose a new approach for designing personalized treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, by combining ex vivo organoid efficacy testing with mathematical modeling of the results. METHODS The validated phenotypic approach called Therapeutically Guided Multidrug Optimization (TGMO) was used to identify four low-dose synergistic optimized drug combinations (ODC) in 3D human CRC models of cells that are either sensitive or resistant to first-line CRC chemotherapy (FOLFOXIRI). Our findings were obtained using second order linear regression and adaptive lasso. RESULTS The activity of all ODCs was validated on patient-derived organoids (PDO) from cases with either primary or metastatic CRC. The CRC material was molecularly characterized using whole-exome sequencing and RNAseq. In PDO from patients with liver metastases (stage IV) identified as CMS4/CRIS-A, our ODCs consisting of regorafenib [1 mM], vemurafenib [11 mM], palbociclib [1 mM] and lapatinib [0.5 mM] inhibited cell viability up to 88%, which significantly outperforms FOLFOXIRI administered at clinical doses. Furthermore, we identified patient-specific TGMO-based ODCs that outperform the efficacy of the current chemotherapy standard of care, FOLFOXIRI. CONCLUSIONS Our approach allows the optimization of patient-tailored synergistic multi-drug combinations within a clinically relevant timeframe.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Ramzy
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, CMU, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maxim Norkin
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne-(EPFL-SV), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Thibaud Koessler
- Department of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lionel Voirol
- Research Center for Statistics, Geneva School of Economics and Management, University of Geneva, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Tihy
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Diagnostic Department, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dina Hany
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, CMU, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thomas McKee
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Diagnostic Department, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Ris
- Translational Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Buchs
- Translational Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mylène Docquier
- iGE3 Genomics Platform, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christian Toso
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Geneva University Hospital, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laura Rubbia-Brandt
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Diagnostic Department, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gaetan Bakalli
- EMLYON Business School, Artificial Intelligence in Management Institute, Ecully, France
| | - Stéphane Guerrier
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Research Center for Statistics, Geneva School of Economics and Management, University of Geneva, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joerg Huelsken
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne-(EPFL-SV), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Patrycja Nowak-Sliwinska
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, CMU, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland.
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Translational Research Center in Oncohaematology, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Chen M, Lan H, Yao S, Jin K, Chen Y. Metabolic Interventions in Tumor Immunity: Focus on Dual Pathway Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072043. [PMID: 37046703 PMCID: PMC10093048 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The metabolism of tumors and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) can affect the fate of cancer and immune responses. Metabolic reprogramming can occur following the activation of metabolic-related signaling pathways, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Moreover, various tumor-derived immunosuppressive metabolites following metabolic reprogramming also affect antitumor immune responses. Evidence shows that intervention in the metabolic pathways of tumors or immune cells can be an attractive and novel treatment option for cancer. For instance, administrating inhibitors of various signaling pathways, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), can improve T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses. However, dual pathway inhibitors can significantly suppress tumor growth more than they inhibit each pathway separately. This review discusses the latest metabolic interventions by dual pathway inhibitors as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Huanrong Lan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Shiya Yao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Ketao Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Xinchang People's Hospital, Affiliated Xinchang Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Xinchang 312500, China
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17
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Bai JW, Qiu SQ, Zhang GJ. Molecular and functional imaging in cancer-targeted therapy: current applications and future directions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:89. [PMID: 36849435 PMCID: PMC9971190 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01366-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted anticancer drugs block cancer cell growth by interfering with specific signaling pathways vital to carcinogenesis and tumor growth rather than harming all rapidly dividing cells as in cytotoxic chemotherapy. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST) system has been used to assess tumor response to therapy via changes in the size of target lesions as measured by calipers, conventional anatomically based imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other imaging methods. However, RECIST is sometimes inaccurate in assessing the efficacy of targeted therapy drugs because of the poor correlation between tumor size and treatment-induced tumor necrosis or shrinkage. This approach might also result in delayed identification of response when the therapy does confer a reduction in tumor size. Innovative molecular imaging techniques have rapidly gained importance in the dawning era of targeted therapy as they can visualize, characterize, and quantify biological processes at the cellular, subcellular, or even molecular level rather than at the anatomical level. This review summarizes different targeted cell signaling pathways, various molecular imaging techniques, and developed probes. Moreover, the application of molecular imaging for evaluating treatment response and related clinical outcome is also systematically outlined. In the future, more attention should be paid to promoting the clinical translation of molecular imaging in evaluating the sensitivity to targeted therapy with biocompatible probes. In particular, multimodal imaging technologies incorporating advanced artificial intelligence should be developed to comprehensively and accurately assess cancer-targeted therapy, in addition to RECIST-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Wen Bai
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Breast Cancer, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast and Thyroid Cancers, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
- Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China
| | - Si-Qi Qiu
- Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Breast Diseases, Clinical Research Center, Shantou Central Hospital, 515041, Shantou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou University Medical College, 515041, Shantou, China
| | - Guo-Jun Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Breast Cancer, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Endocrine-Related Cancer Precision Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Xiamen Research Center of Clinical Medicine in Breast and Thyroid Cancers, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Department of Breast-Thyroid-Surgery and Cancer Center, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
- Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361100, Xiamen, China.
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18
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Ha S, Wang BD. Molecular Insight into Drug Resistance Mechanism Conferred by Aberrant PIK3CD Splice Variant in African American Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1337. [PMID: 36831678 PMCID: PMC9954641 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041337] [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: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting PI3Kδ has emerged as a promising therapy for hematologic and non-hematologic malignancies. Previously, we identified an oncogenic splice variant, PIK3CD-S, conferring Idelalisib resistance in African American (AA) prostate cancer (PCa). In the current study, we employed a comprehensive analysis combining molecular biology, biochemistry, histology, in silico simulation, and in vitro functional assays to investigate the PIK3CD-S expression profiles in PCa samples and to elucidate the drug resistance mechanism mediated by PI3Kδ-S (encoded by PIK3CD-S). The immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot assays first confirmed that PI3Kδ-S is highly expressed in AA PCa. Compared with PCa expressing the full-length PI3Kδ-L, PCa expressing PI3Kδ-S exhibits enhanced drug resistance properties, including a higher cell viability, more antiapoptotic and invasive capacities, and constitutively activated PI3K/AKT signaling, in the presence of PI3Kδ/PI3K inhibitors (Idelalisib, Seletalisib, Wortmannin, and Dactolisib). Molecular docking, ATP-competitive assays, and PI3 kinase assays have further indicated a drastically reduced affinity of PI3Kδ inhibitors with PI3Kδ-S vs. PI3Kδ-L, attributed to the lack of core binding residues in the PI3Kδ-S catalytic domain. Additionally, SRSF2 has been identified as a critical splicing factor mediating exon 20 skipping in PIK3CD pre-mRNA. The inhibition of the SRSF2 activity by SRPIN340 successfully sensitizes AA PCa cells to PI3Kδ inhibitors, suggesting a novel therapeutic option for Idelalisib-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyoung Ha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
| | - Bi-Dar Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
- Hormone Related Cancers Program, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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19
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Raith F, O’Donovan DH, Lemos C, Politz O, Haendler B. Addressing the Reciprocal Crosstalk between the AR and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathways for Prostate Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032289. [PMID: 36768610 PMCID: PMC9917236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The reduction in androgen synthesis and the blockade of the androgen receptor (AR) function by chemical castration and AR signaling inhibitors represent the main treatment lines for the initial stages of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, resistance mechanisms ultimately develop due to alterations in the AR pathway, such as gene amplification or mutations, and also the emergence of alternative pathways that render the tumor less or, more rarely, completely independent of androgen activation. An essential oncogenic axis activated in prostate cancer is the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, as evidenced by the frequent alterations of the negative regulator phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and by the activating mutations in PI3K subunits. Additionally, crosstalk and reciprocal feedback loops between androgen signaling and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade that activate pro-survival signals and play an essential role in disease recurrence and progression have been evidenced. Inhibitors addressing different players of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway have been evaluated in the clinic. Only a limited benefit has been reported in prostate cancer up to now due to the associated side effects, so novel combination approaches and biomarkers predictive of patient response are urgently needed. Here, we reviewed recent data on the crosstalk between AR signaling and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, the selective inhibitors identified, and the most advanced clinical studies, with a focus on combination treatments. A deeper understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms involved in disease progression and treatment resistance is essential to further guide therapeutic approaches with improved outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Raith
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Müllerstr. 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel H. O’Donovan
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Müllerstr. 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Clara Lemos
- Bayer Research and Innovation Center, Bayer US LLC, 238 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Oliver Politz
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Müllerstr. 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernard Haendler
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Müllerstr. 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-2215-41198
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20
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Li Q, Li Z, Luo T, Shi H. Targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK pathways for cancer therapy. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2022; 3:47. [PMID: 36539659 PMCID: PMC9768098 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-022-00110-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK pathways are commonly activated by mutations and chromosomal translocation in vital targets. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is dysregulated in nearly all kinds of neoplasms, with the component in this pathway alternations. RAF/MEK/ERK signaling cascades are used to conduct signaling from the cell surface to the nucleus to mediate gene expression, cell cycle processes and apoptosis. RAS, B-Raf, PI3K, and PTEN are frequent upstream alternative sites. These mutations resulted in activated cell growth and downregulated cell apoptosis. The two pathways interact with each other to participate in tumorigenesis. PTEN alterations suppress RAF/MEK/ERK pathway activity via AKT phosphorylation and RAS inhibition. Several inhibitors targeting major components of these two pathways have been supported by the FDA. Dozens of agents in these two pathways have attracted great attention and have been assessed in clinical trials. The combination of small molecular inhibitors with traditional regimens has also been explored. Furthermore, dual inhibitors provide new insight into antitumor activity. This review will further comprehensively describe the genetic alterations in normal patients and tumor patients and discuss the role of targeted inhibitors in malignant neoplasm therapy. We hope this review will promote a comprehensive understanding of the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathways in facilitating tumors and will help direct drug selection for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingfang Li
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhihui Li
- Department of Oncology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Ting Luo
- Department of Breast, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P. R. China.
| | - Huashan Shi
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P. R. China.
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21
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Hörnschemeyer J, Kirschstein T, Reichart G, Sasse C, Venus J, Einsle A, Porath K, Linnebacher M, Köhling R, Lange F. Studies on Biological and Molecular Effects of Small-Molecule Kinase Inhibitors on Human Glioblastoma Cells and Organotypic Brain Slices. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12081258. [PMID: 36013437 PMCID: PMC9409734 DOI: 10.3390/life12081258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor. Multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations in several major signaling pathways—including the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR and the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway—could be found. We therefore aimed to investigate the biological and molecular effects of small-molecule kinase inhibitors that may interfere with those pathways. For this purpose, patient-derived glioblastoma cells were challenged with dactolisib, ipatasertib, MK-2206, regorafenib, or trametinib. To determine the effects of the small-molecule kinase inhibitors, assays of cell proliferation and apoptosis and immunoblot analyses were performed. To further investigate the effects of ipatasertib on organotypic brain slices harboring glioblastoma cells, the tumor growth was estimated. In addition, the network activity in brain slices was assessed by electrophysiological field potential recordings. Multi-kinase inhibitor regorafenib and both MK-2206 and dactolisib were very effective in all preclinical tumor models, while with respect to trametinib, two cell lines were found to be highly resistant. Only in HROG05 cells, ipatasertib showed anti-tumoral effects in vitro and in organotypic brain slices. Additionally, ipatasertib diminished synchronous network activity in organotypic brain slices. Overall, our data suggest that ipatasertib was only effective in selected tumor models, while especially regorafenib and MK-2206 presented a uniform response pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hörnschemeyer
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Timo Kirschstein
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Gesine Reichart
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Christin Sasse
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Jakob Venus
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Anne Einsle
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Katrin Porath
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael Linnebacher
- Clinic for General Surgery, Molecular Oncology and Immunotherapy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Köhling
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Falko Lange
- Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Correspondence:
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22
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Wanigasooriya K, Barros-Silva JD, Tee L, El-asrag ME, Stodolna A, Pickles OJ, Stockton J, Bryer C, Hoare R, Whalley CM, Tyler R, Sillo T, Yau C, Ismail T, Beggs AD. Patient Derived Organoids Confirm That PI3K/AKT Signalling Is an Escape Pathway for Radioresistance and a Target for Therapy in Rectal Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:920444. [PMID: 35860583 PMCID: PMC9289101 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.920444] [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: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Partial or total resistance to preoperative chemoradiotherapy occurs in more than half of locally advanced rectal cancer patients. Several novel or repurposed drugs have been trialled to improve cancer cell sensitivity to radiotherapy, with limited success. We aimed to understand the mechanisms of resistance to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer using patient derived organoid models. Design To understand the mechanisms underlying this resistance, we compared the pre-treatment transcriptomes of patient-derived organoids (PDO) with measured radiotherapy sensitivity to identify biological pathways involved in radiation resistance coupled with single cell sequencing, genome wide CRISPR-Cas9 and targeted drug screens. Results RNA sequencing enrichment analysis revealed upregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and epithelial mesenchymal transition pathway genes in radioresistant PDOs. Single-cell sequencing of pre & post-irradiation PDOs showed mTORC1 and PI3K/AKT upregulation, which was confirmed by a genome-wide CRSIPR-Cas9 knockout screen using irradiated colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. We then tested the efficiency of dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in improving cancer cell sensitivity to radiotherapy. After irradiation, significant AKT phosphorylation was detected (p=0.027) which was abrogated with dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors and lead to significant radiosensitisation of the HCT116 cell line and radiation resistant PDO lines. Conclusions The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway upregulation contributes to radioresistance and its targeted pharmacological inhibition leads to significant radiosensitisation in CRC organoids, making it a potential target for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun Wanigasooriya
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joao D. Barros-Silva
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Tee
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammed E. El-asrag
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Agata Stodolna
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver J. Pickles
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Stockton
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Bryer
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Hoare
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Celina M. Whalley
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Tyler
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Toritseju Sillo
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Yau
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Tariq Ismail
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Beggs
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Andrew D. Beggs,
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Liu J, Hu X, Feng L, Lin Y, Liang S, Zhu Z, Shi S, Dong C. Carbonic anhydrase IX-targeted H-APBC nanosystem combined with phototherapy facilitates the efficacy of PI3K/mTOR inhibitor and resists HIF-1α-dependent tumor hypoxia adaptation. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:187. [PMID: 35413842 PMCID: PMC9004111 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01394-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Non-redundant properties such as hypoxia and acidosis promote tumor metabolic adaptation and limit anti-cancer therapies. The key to the adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxia is the transcriptional and stable expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α). The phosphorylation-activated tumorigenic signal PI3K/AKT/mTOR advances the production of downstream HIF-1α to adapt to tumor hypoxia. Studies have elucidated that acid favors inhibition of mTOR signal. Nonetheless, carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), overexpressed on membranes of hypoxia tumor cells with pH-regulatory effects, attenuates intracellular acidity, which is unfavorable for mTOR inhibition. Herein, a drug delivery nanoplatform equipped with dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor Dactolisib (NVP-BEZ235, BEZ235) and CAIX inhibitor 4‐(2‐aminoethyl) benzene sulfonamide (ABS) was designed to mitigate hypoxic adaptation and improve breast cancer treatment. Results ABS and PEG-NH2 were successfully modified on the surface of hollow polydopamine (HPDA), while BEZ235 and Chlorin e6 (Ce6) were effectively loaded with the interior of HPDA to form HPDA-ABS/PEG-BEZ235/Ce6 (H-APBC) nanoparticles. The release of BEZ235 from H-APBC in acid microenvironment could mitigate PI3K/mTOR signal and resist HIF-1α-dependent tumor hypoxia adaptation. More importantly, ABS modified on the surface of H-APBC could augment intracellular acids and enhances the mTOR inhibition. The nanoplatform combined with phototherapy inhibited orthotopic breast cancer growth while reducing spontaneous lung metastasis, angiogenesis, based on altering the microenvironment adapted to hypoxia and extracellular acidosis. Conclusion Taken together, compared with free BEZ235 and ABS, the nanoplatform exhibited remarkable anti-tumor efficiency, reduced hypoxia adaptation, mitigated off-tumor toxicity of BEZ235 and solved the limited bioavailability of BEZ235 caused by weak solubility. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01394-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaochun Hu
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Feng
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Lin
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Shujing Liang
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhounan Zhu
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo Shi
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chunyan Dong
- Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
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24
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Perspective on the Use of DNA Repair Inhibitors as a Tool for Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy of Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14071821. [PMID: 35406593 PMCID: PMC8997380 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The current routine treatment for glioblastoma (GB), the most lethal high-grade brain tumor in adults, aims to induce DNA damage in the tumor. However, the tumor cells might be able to repair that damage, which leads to therapy resistance. Fortunately, DNA repair defects are common in GB cells, and their survival is often based on a sole backup repair pathway. Hence, targeted drugs inhibiting essential proteins of the DNA damage response have gained momentum and are being introduced in the clinic. This review gives a perspective on the use of radiopharmaceuticals targeting DDR kinases for imaging in order to determine the DNA repair phenotype of GB, as well as for effective radionuclide therapy. Finally, four new promising radiopharmaceuticals are suggested with the potential to lead to a more personalized GB therapy. Abstract Despite numerous innovative treatment strategies, the treatment of glioblastoma (GB) remains challenging. With the current state-of-the-art therapy, most GB patients succumb after about a year. In the evolution of personalized medicine, targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is gaining momentum, for example, to stratify patients based on specific biomarkers. One of these biomarkers is deficiencies in DNA damage repair (DDR), which give rise to genomic instability and cancer initiation. However, these deficiencies also provide targets to specifically kill cancer cells following the synthetic lethality principle. This led to the increased interest in targeted drugs that inhibit essential DDR kinases (DDRi), of which multiple are undergoing clinical validation. In this review, the current status of DDRi for the treatment of GB is given for selected targets: ATM/ATR, CHK1/2, DNA-PK, and PARP. Furthermore, this review provides a perspective on the use of radiopharmaceuticals targeting these DDR kinases to (1) evaluate the DNA repair phenotype of GB before treatment decisions are made and (2) induce DNA damage via TRT. Finally, by applying in-house selection criteria and analyzing the structural characteristics of the DDRi, four drugs with the potential to become new therapeutic GB radiopharmaceuticals are suggested.
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Sanaei MJ, Razi S, Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Bashash D. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in lung cancer; oncogenic alterations, therapeutic opportunities, challenges, and a glance at the application of nanoparticles. Transl Oncol 2022; 18:101364. [PMID: 35168143 PMCID: PMC8850794 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most common and deadliest human malignancies. The alterations of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway are related to lung cancer progression. PI3K axis regulates proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and EMT of lung cancer. Agents inhibiting components of PI3K axis diminish lung tumor growth and invasion. Low efficacy and off-target toxicity could be improved by nanoparticle application.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway has recently been considered as one of the most altered molecular pathways in this malignancy, few articles reviewed the task. In this review, we aim to summarize the original data obtained from international research laboratories on the oncogenic alterations in each component of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in lung cancer. This review also responds to questions on how aberrant activation in this axis contributes to uncontrolled growth, drug resistance, sustained angiogenesis, as well as tissue invasion and metastatic spread. Besides, we provide a special focus on pharmacologic inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis, either as monotherapy or in a combined-modal strategy, in the context of lung cancer. Despite promising outcomes achieved by using these agents, however, the presence of drug resistance as well as treatment-related adverse events is the other side of the coin. The last section allocates a general overview of the challenges associated with the inhibitors of the PI3K pathway in lung cancer patients. Finally, we comment on the future research aspects, especially in which nano-based drug delivery strategies might increase the efficacy of the therapy in this malignancy.
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26
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Peng Y, Wang Y, Zhou C, Mei W, Zeng C. PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway and Its Role in Cancer Therapeutics: Are We Making Headway? Front Oncol 2022; 12:819128. [PMID: 35402264 PMCID: PMC8987494 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.819128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a severe public health issue that is a leading cause of mortality globally. It is also an impediment to improving life expectancy worldwide. Furthermore, the global burden of cancer incidence and death is continuously growing. Current therapeutic options are insufficient for patients, and tumor complexity and heterogeneity necessitate customized medicine or targeted therapy. It is critical to identify potential cancer therapeutic targets. Aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway has a significant role in carcinogenesis. This review summarized oncogenic PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway alterations in cancer and various cancer hallmarks associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, such as cell proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and chemoresistance. Importantly, this review provided recent advances in PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitor research. Overall, an in-depth understanding of the association between the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and tumorigenesis and the development of therapies targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway will help make clinical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Peng
- Department of Obstetrics, Longhua District Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Cheng Zhou
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wuxuan Mei
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Changchun Zeng
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Shenzhen, China
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27
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Carrabotta M, Laginestra MA, Durante G, Mancarella C, Landuzzi L, Parra A, Ruzzi F, Toracchio L, De Feo A, Giusti V, Pasello M, Righi A, Lollini PL, Palmerini E, Donati DM, Manara MC, Scotlandi K. Integrated Molecular Characterization of Patient-Derived Models Reveals Therapeutic Strategies for Treating CIC-DUX4 Sarcoma. Cancer Res 2022; 82:708-720. [PMID: 34903601 PMCID: PMC9359717 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Capicua-double homeobox 4 (CIC-DUX4)-rearranged sarcomas (CDS) are extremely rare, highly aggressive primary sarcomas that represent a major therapeutic challenge. Patients are treated according to Ewing sarcoma protocols, but CDS-specific therapies are strongly needed. In this study, RNA sequencing was performed on patient samples to identify a selective signature that differentiates CDS from Ewing sarcoma and other fusion-driven sarcomas. This signature was used to validate the representativeness of newly generated CDS experimental models-patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and PDX-derived cell lines-and to identify specific therapeutic vulnerabilities. Annotation analysis of differentially expressed genes and molecular gene validation highlighted an HMGA2/IGF2BP/IGF2/IGF1R/AKT/mTOR axis that characterizes CDS and renders the tumors particularly sensitive to combined treatments with trabectedin and PI3K/mTOR inhibitors. Trabectedin inhibited IGF2BP/IGF2/IGF1R activity, but dual inhibition of the PI3K and mTOR pathways was required to completely dampen downstream signaling mediators. Proof-of-principle efficacy for the combination of the dual AKT/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 (dactolisib) with trabectedin was obtained in vitro and in vivo using CDS PDX-derived cell lines, demonstrating a strong inhibition of local tumor growth and multiorgan metastasis. Overall, the development of representative experimental models (PDXs and PDX-derived cell lines) has helped to identify the unique sensitivity of the CDS to AKT/mTOR inhibitors and trabectedin, revealing a mechanism-based therapeutic strategy to fight this lethal cancer. SIGNIFICANCE This study identifies altered HMGA2/IGF2BP/IGF2 signaling in CIC-DUX4 sarcomas and provides proof of principle for combination therapy with trabectedin and AKT/mTOR dual inhibitors to specifically combat the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Carrabotta
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Durante
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Mancarella
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorena Landuzzi
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Parra
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Ruzzi
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biology of Metastasis, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lisa Toracchio
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra De Feo
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Giusti
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michela Pasello
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Righi
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pier-Luigi Lollini
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biology of Metastasis, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emanuela Palmerini
- Osteoncology, Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Novel Therapy Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Maria Donati
- Third Orthopaedic Clinic and Traumatology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Katia Scotlandi
- Experimental Oncology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
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28
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Treatments on the Horizon: Breast Cancer Patients with Central Nervous System Metastases. Curr Oncol Rep 2022; 24:343-350. [PMID: 35138599 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-022-01206-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The goal of this paper is to provide a review on the current emerging management strategies as described in the literature pertaining to breast cancer and central nervous system metastases. As systemic oncology treatments evolve, so are new approaches to the management of central nervous system metastases from breast cancer. RECENT FINDINGS In this review, we describe how novel treatment strategies have evolved from standard chemotherapy to more targeted approaches, innovative drug delivery methodologies, immunotherapeutics, and radiotherapeutic approaches. We describe innovative treatment strategies on the horizon for breast cancer and central nervous metastases. Future therapeutics may be better able to penetrate through the blood-brain-barrier bypassing limitations from standard therapies. These pioneering strategies will hopefully improve patients' quality of life as well as survival.
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Petroni G, Cantley LC, Santambrogio L, Formenti SC, Galluzzi L. Radiotherapy as a tool to elicit clinically actionable signalling pathways in cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:114-131. [PMID: 34819622 PMCID: PMC9004227 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00579-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A variety of targeted anticancer agents have been successfully introduced into clinical practice, largely reflecting their ability to inhibit specific molecular alterations that are required for disease progression. However, not all malignant cells rely on such alterations to survive, proliferate, disseminate and/or evade anticancer immunity, implying that many tumours are intrinsically resistant to targeted therapies. Radiotherapy is well known for its ability to activate cytotoxic signalling pathways that ultimately promote the death of cancer cells, as well as numerous cytoprotective mechanisms that are elicited by cellular damage. Importantly, many cytoprotective mechanisms elicited by radiotherapy can be abrogated by targeted anticancer agents, suggesting that radiotherapy could be harnessed to enhance the clinical efficacy of these drugs. In this Review, we discuss preclinical and clinical data that introduce radiotherapy as a tool to elicit or amplify clinically actionable signalling pathways in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Petroni
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lewis C Cantley
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Santambrogio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Silvia C Formenti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Wang Y, Tortorella M. Molecular design of dual inhibitors of PI3K and potential molecular target of cancer for its treatment: A review. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 228:114039. [PMID: 34894440 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling network is a key event in many human cancers and therefore enormous efforts have been made in the development of PI3K inhibitors. However, due to intrinsic and acquired resistance as well as poor drug tolerance, limited therapeutic efficacy has been achieved with these agents. In view of the fact that PI3K inhibitors can show synergistic antitumor effects with other cancer agents, namely mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors, dual inhibition of both targets by a single-molecule is regarded as a promising complementary or alternative therapeutic strategy to overcome the drawbacks of just PI3K monotherapy. In this review, we discuss the theoretical foundation for designing PI3K-based dual-target inhibitors and summarize the structure-activity relationships and clinical progress of these dual-binding agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanze Wang
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health - Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510530, PR China.
| | - Micky Tortorella
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health - Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510530, PR China
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31
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Dunn E, Chitcholtan K, Sykes P, Garrill A. The Anti-Proliferative Effect of PI3K/mTOR and ERK Inhibition in Monolayer and Three-Dimensional Ovarian Cancer Cell Models. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020395. [PMID: 35053555 PMCID: PMC8773481 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In ovarian cancer patients the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK kinase signaling pathways are frequently dysregulated, making them potential targets of therapeutic inhibitors. In this study, we used four human ovarian cancer cell lines grown in two- and three-dimensional models to investigate the potential efficacy of combining two inhibitors, which target these pathways, against ovarian cancer. The inhibitor combination was found to have cell line- and model-dependent synergistic antiproliferative effect. Abstract Most ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced stage disease, which becomes unresponsive to chemotherapeutic treatments. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR and the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK kinase signaling pathways are attractive targets for potential therapeutic inhibitors, due to the high frequency of mutations to PTEN, PIK3CA, KRAS and BRAF in several ovarian cancer subtypes. However, monotherapies targeting one of these pathways have shown modest effects in clinical trials. This limited efficacy of the agents could be due to upregulation and increased signaling via the adjacent alternative pathway. In this study, the efficacy of combined PI3K/mTOR (BEZ235) and ERK inhibition (SCH772984) was investigated in four human ovarian cancer cell lines, grown as monolayer and three-dimensional cell aggregates. The inhibitor combination reduced cellular proliferation in a synergistic manner in OV-90 and OVCAR8 monolayers and in OV-90, OVCAR5 and SKOV3 aggregates. Sensitivity to the inhibitors was reduced in three-dimensional cell aggregates in comparison to monolayers. OV-90 cells cultured in large spheroids were sensitive to the inhibitors and displayed a robust synergistic antiproliferative response to the inhibitor combination. In contrast, OVCAR8 spheroids were resistant to the inhibitors. These findings suggest that combined PI3K/mTOR and ERK inhibition could be a useful strategy for overcoming treatment resistance in ovarian cancer and warrants further preclinical investigation. Additionally, in some cell lines the use of different three-dimensional models can influence cell line sensitivity to PI3K/mTOR and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dunn
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Correspondence: (E.D.); (A.G.)
| | - Kenny Chitcholtan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (K.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Peter Sykes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (K.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Ashley Garrill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
- Correspondence: (E.D.); (A.G.)
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Ponatinib, Lestaurtinib and mTOR/PI3K inhibitors are promising repurposing candidates against Entamoeba histolytica. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 66:e0120721. [PMID: 34871094 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01207-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica affects millions of people annually. Current treatment regimens are based on metronidazole to treat invasive parasites combined with paromomycin for luminal parasites. Issues with treatment include significant side effects, inability to easily treat breastfeeding and pregnant women, the use of two sequential agents, and concern that all therapy is based on nitroimidazole agents with no alternatives if clinical resistance emerges. Thus, the need for new drugs against amebiasis is urgent. To identify new therapeutic candidates, we screened the ReFRAME library (11,948 compounds assembled for Repurposing, Focused Rescue, and Accelerated Medchem) against E. histolytica trophozoites. We identified 159 hits in the primary screen at 10 μM and 46 compounds were confirmed in secondary assays. Overall, 26 were selected as priority molecules for further investigation including 6 FDA approved, 5 orphan designation, and 15 which are currently in clinical trials (3 phase III, 7 phase II and 5 phase I). We found that all 26 compounds are active against metronidazole resistant E. histolytica and 24 are able to block parasite recrudescence after drug removal. Additionally, 14 are able to inhibit encystation and 2 (lestaurtinib and LY-2874455) are active against mature cysts. Two classes of compounds are most interesting for further investigations: the Bcr-Abl TK inhibitors, with the ponatinib (EC50 0.39) as most potent and mTOR or PI3K inhibitors with 8 compounds in clinical development, of which 4 have nanomolar potency. Overall, these are promising candidates and represent a significant advance for drug development against E. histolytica.
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Jhanwar-Uniyal M, Dominguez JF, Mohan AL, Tobias ME, Gandhi CD. Disentangling the signaling pathways of mTOR complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, as a therapeutic target in glioblastoma. Adv Biol Regul 2021; 83:100854. [PMID: 34996736 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2021.100854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant signaling of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR' aka mammalian target of rapamycin) is shown to be linked to tumorigenesis of numerous malignancies including glioblastoma (GB). Glioblastoma mTOR is a serine threonine kinase that functions by forming two multiprotein complexes. There complexes are named mTORC1 and mTORC2 and downstream activated substrate execute cellular and metabolic functions. This signaling cascade of PI3K/AKT/mTOR is often upregulated due to frequent loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN, a phosphatase that functions antagonistically to PI3K. mTOR regulates cell growth, motility, and metabolism by forming two multiprotein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which are composed of special binding partners. These complexes are sensitive to distinct stimuli. mTORC1 is sensitive to nutrients and mTORC2 is regulated via PI3K and growth factor signaling. Since rapamycin and it's analogue are less effective in treatment of GB, we used novel ATP-competitive dual inhibitors of mTORC1 and mTORC2, namely, Torin1, Torin2, and XL388. Torin2 caused a concentration dependent pharmacodynamic effects on inhibition of phosphorylation of the mTORC1 substrates S6KSer235/236 and 4E-BP1Thr37/46 as well as the mTORC2 substrate AKTSer473 resulting in suppression of tumor cell proliferation and migration. Torin1 showed similar effects only at higher doses. Another small molecule compound, XL388 suppressed cell proliferation at a higher dose but failed to inhibit cell migration. Torin1 suppressed phosphorylation of PRAS40Thr246, however Torin2 completely abolished it. XL388 treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of PRAS40Thr246 at higher doses only. These findings underscore the use of novel compounds in treatment of cancer. In addition, formulation of third generation mTOR inhibitor "Rapalink-1" may provide new aspects to target mTOR pathways. Numerous inhibitors are currently being used in clinical trials that are aimed to target activated mTOR pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meena Jhanwar-Uniyal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA.
| | - Jose F Dominguez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
| | - Avinash L Mohan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
| | - Michael E Tobias
- Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
| | - Chirag D Gandhi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
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Yu L, Wei J, Liu P. Attacking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway for targeted therapeutic treatment in human cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 85:69-94. [PMID: 34175443 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of human death globally. PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling is one of the most frequently dysregulated signaling pathways observed in cancer patients that plays crucial roles in promoting tumor initiation, progression and therapy responses. This is largely due to that PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling is indispensable for many cellular biological processes, including cell growth, metastasis, survival, metabolism, and others. As such, small molecule inhibitors targeting major kinase components of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway have drawn extensive attention and been developed and evaluated in preclinical models and clinical trials. Targeting a single kinase component within this signaling usually causes growth arrest rather than apoptosis associated with toxicity-induced adverse effects in patients. Combination therapies including PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors show improved patient response and clinical outcome, albeit developed resistance has been reported. In this review, we focus on revealing the mechanisms leading to the hyperactivation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in cancer and summarizing efforts for developing PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors as either mono-therapy or combination therapy in different cancer settings. We hope that this review will facilitate further understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing dysregulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR oncogenic signaling in cancer and provide insights into possible future directions for targeted therapeutic regimen for cancer treatment, by developing new agents, drug delivery systems, or combination regimen to target the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. This information will also provide effective patient stratification strategy to improve the patient response and clinical outcome for cancer patients with deregulated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Yu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | - Pengda Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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Holloway RW, Marignani PA. Targeting mTOR and Glycolysis in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2922. [PMID: 34208071 PMCID: PMC8230691 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to one third of all breast cancers are classified as the aggressive HER2-positive subtype, which is associated with a higher risk of recurrence compared to HER2-negative breast cancers. The HER2 hyperactivity associated with this subtype drives tumor growth by up-regulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activity and a metabolic shift to glycolysis. Although inhibitors targeting the HER2 receptor have been successful in treating HER2-positive breast cancer, anti-HER2 therapy is associated with a high risk of recurrence and drug resistance due to stimulation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway and glycolysis. Combination therapies against HER2 with inhibition of mTOR improve clinical outcomes compared to HER2 inhibition alone. Here, we review the role of the HER2 receptor, mTOR pathway, and glycolysis in HER2-positive breast cancer, along with signaling mechanisms and the efficacy of treatment strategies of HER2-positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola A. Marignani
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada;
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Zhang Z, Richmond A. The Role of PI3K Inhibition in the Treatment of Breast Cancer, Alone or Combined With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:648663. [PMID: 34026830 PMCID: PMC8139556 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.648663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling is highly implicated in tumorigenesis, disease progression, and the development of resistance to the current standard of care treatments in breast cancer patients. This review discusses the role of PI3K pathway in breast cancer and evaluates the clinical development of PI3K inhibitors in both early and metastatic breast cancer settings. Further, this review examines the evidence for the potential synergistic benefit for the combination treatment of PI3K inhibition and immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhizhu Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Ann Richmond
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
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Colardo M, Segatto M, Di Bartolomeo S. Targeting RTK-PI3K-mTOR Axis in Gliomas: An Update. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4899. [PMID: 34063168 PMCID: PMC8124221 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are the most common and challenging malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS), due to their infiltrative nature, tendency to recurrence, and poor response to treatments. Indeed, despite the advances in neurosurgical techniques and in radiation therapy, the modest effects of therapy are still challenging. Moreover, tumor recurrence is associated with the onset of therapy resistance; it is therefore critical to identify effective and well-tolerated pharmacological approaches capable of inducing durable responses in the appropriate patient groups. Molecular alterations of the RTK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway are typical hallmarks of glioma, and several clinical trials targeting one or more players of this axis have been launched, showing disappointing results so far, due to the scarce BBB permeability of certain compounds or to the occurrence of resistance/tolerance mechanisms. However, as RTK/PI3K/mTOR is one of the pivotal pathways regulating cell growth and survival in cancer biology, targeting still remains a strong rationale for developing strategies against gliomas. Future rigorous clinical studies, aimed at addressing the tumor heterogeneity, the interaction with the microenvironment, as well as diverse posology adjustments, are needed-which might unravel the therapeutic efficacy and response prediction of an RTK/PI3K/mTOR-based approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sabrina Di Bartolomeo
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche, IS, Italy; (M.C.); (M.S.)
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Rafsanjani Nejad P, Shahi Thakuri P, Singh S, Lamichhane A, Heiss J, Tavana H. Toxicity of Combinations of Kinase Pathway Inhibitors to Normal Human Cells in a Three-Dimensional Culture. SLAS Technol 2021; 26:255-264. [PMID: 33880947 DOI: 10.1177/24726303211008858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to single-agent chemotherapy and molecularly targeted drugs prevents sustained efficacy of treatments. To address this challenge, combination drug treatments have been used to improve outcomes for patients. Potential toxicity of combination treatments is a major concern, however, and has led to the failure of several clinical trials in different cancers. The use of cell-based models of normal tissues in preclinical studies enables testing and identifying toxic effects of drug combinations and facilitates an informed decision-making process for advancing the treatments to animal models and clinical trials. Recently, we established that combinations of molecular inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathways effectively and synergistically inhibit growth of BRAFmut and KRASmut colorectal tumor spheroids by blocking feedback signaling of downstream kinase pathways. These pathways are important for cell proliferation, however, and their simultaneous inhibition may cause toxicity to normal cells. We used a cellular spheroid model to study toxicities of drug combinations to human bone marrow and colon. Our results indicated that MAPK and PI3K/Akt inhibitors used simultaneously were only moderately toxic to bone marrow cells but significantly more toxic to colon cells. Our molecular analysis of proliferative cell activities and housekeeping proteins further corroborated these results. Overall, our approach to identify toxic effects of combinations of cancer drugs to normal cells in three-dimensional cultures will facilitate more informed treatment selections for subsequent animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sunil Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Astha Lamichhane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Jacob Heiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Hossein Tavana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA
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Olivas-Aguirre M, Torres-López L, Pottosin I, Dobrovinskaya O. Overcoming Glucocorticoid Resistance in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Repurposed Drugs Can Improve the Protocol. Front Oncol 2021; 11:617937. [PMID: 33777761 PMCID: PMC7991804 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.617937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a central component of multi-drug treatment protocols against T and B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which are used intensively during the remission induction to rapidly eliminate the leukemic blasts. The primary response to GCs predicts the overall response to treatment and clinical outcome. In this review, we have critically analyzed the available data on the effects of GCs on sensitive and resistant leukemic cells, in order to reveal the mechanisms of GC resistance and how these mechanisms may determine a poor outcome in ALL. Apart of the GC resistance, associated with a decreased expression of receptors to GCs, there are several additional mechanisms, triggered by alterations of different signaling pathways, which cause the metabolic reprogramming, with an enhanced level of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, apoptosis resistance, and multidrug resistance. Due to all this, the GC-resistant ALL show a poor sensitivity to conventional chemotherapeutic protocols. We propose pharmacological strategies that can trigger alternative intracellular pathways to revert or overcome GC resistance. Specifically, we focused our search on drugs, which are already approved for treatment of other diseases and demonstrated anti-ALL effects in experimental pre-clinical models. Among them are some “truly” re-purposed drugs, which have different targets in ALL as compared to other diseases: cannabidiol, which targets mitochondria and causes the mitochondrial permeability transition-driven necrosis, tamoxifen, which induces autophagy and cell death, and reverts GC resistance through the mechanisms independent of nuclear estrogen receptors (“off-target effects”), antibiotic tigecycline, which inhibits mitochondrial respiration, causing energy crisis and cell death, and some anthelmintic drugs. Additionally, we have listed compounds that show a classical mechanism of action in ALL but are not used still in treatment protocols: the BH3 mimetic venetoclax, which inhibits the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, the hypomethylating agent 5-azacytidine, which restores the expression of the pro-apoptotic BIM, and compounds targeting the PI3K-Akt-mTOR axis. Accordingly, these drugs may be considered for the inclusion into chemotherapeutic protocols for GC-resistant ALL treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Olivas-Aguirre
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Liliana Torres-López
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Igor Pottosin
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Oxana Dobrovinskaya
- Laboratory of Immunobiology and Ionic Transport Regulation, University Center for Biomedical Research, University of Colima, Colima, Mexico
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Sun Y, Wang Z, Qiu S, Wang R. Therapeutic strategies of different HPV status in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:1104-1118. [PMID: 33867833 PMCID: PMC8040311 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.58077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 9th most common malignant tumor in the world. Based on the etiology, HNSCC has two main subtypes: human papillomavirus (HPV) -related and HPV-unrelated. HPV-positive HNSCC is more sensitive to treatment with favorable survival. Due to the different biological behaviors, individual therapy is necessary and urgently required to deduce the therapeutic intensity of HPV-positive disease and look for a more effective and toxicity-acceptable regimen for HPV-negative disease. EGFR amplification and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway aberrant activation are quite common in HPV-positive HNSCC. Besides, HPV infection alters immune cell infiltrating in HNSCC and encompasses a diverse and heterogeneous landscape with more immune infiltration. On the other hand, the chance of HPV-negative cancers harboring mutation on the P53 gene is significantly higher than that of HPV-positive disease. This review focuses on the updated preclinical and clinical data of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC and discusses the therapeutic strategies of different HPV status in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingming Sun
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Sanming 365001, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, P. R. China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomarker High Throughput Screening and Target Translation of Breast and Gastrointestinal Tumor, Dalian University, Dalian 116001, P. R. China
| | - Sufang Qiu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, P.R. China
| | - Ruoyu Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, P. R. China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomarker High Throughput Screening and Target Translation of Breast and Gastrointestinal Tumor, Dalian University, Dalian 116001, P. R. China
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Yin S, Liu L, Gan W. The Roles of Post-Translational Modifications on mTOR Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041784. [PMID: 33670113 PMCID: PMC7916890 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a master regulator of cell growth, proliferation, and metabolism by integrating various environmental inputs including growth factors, nutrients, and energy, among others. mTOR signaling has been demonstrated to control almost all fundamental cellular processes, such as nucleotide, protein and lipid synthesis, autophagy, and apoptosis. Over the past fifteen years, mapping the network of the mTOR pathway has dramatically advanced our understanding of its upstream and downstream signaling. Dysregulation of the mTOR pathway is frequently associated with a variety of human diseases, such as cancers, metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Besides genetic alterations, aberrancies in post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the mTOR components are the major causes of the aberrant mTOR signaling in a number of pathologies. In this review, we summarize current understanding of PTMs-mediated regulation of mTOR signaling, and also update the progress on targeting the mTOR pathway and PTM-related enzymes for treatment of human diseases.
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Barnieh FM, Loadman PM, Falconer RA. Progress towards a clinically-successful ATR inhibitor for cancer therapy. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2021; 2:100017. [PMID: 34909652 PMCID: PMC8663972 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) is now known to play an important role in both cancer development and its treatment. Targeting proteins such as ATR (Ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related) kinase, a major regulator of DDR, has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in cancer treatment, with ATR inhibitors having shown anti-tumour activity not just as monotherapies, but also in potentiating the effects of conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. This review focuses on the biology of ATR, its functional role in cancer development and treatment, and the rationale behind inhibition of this target as a therapeutic approach, including evaluation of the progress and current status of development of potent and specific ATR inhibitors that have emerged in recent decades. The current applications of these inhibitors both in preclinical and clinical studies either as single agents or in combinations with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy are also extensively discussed. This review concludes with some insights into the various concerns raised or observed with ATR inhibition in both the preclinical and clinical settings, with some suggested solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis M. Barnieh
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Paul M. Loadman
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Robert A. Falconer
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
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Rehan M, Shafiullah, Sultanat. Cytotoxicity of oleanane type triterpene from leaf extract of Pterospermum acerifolium (in vitro) and theoretical investigation of inhibitory signaling pathway. CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES 2021; 13:124-130. [PMID: 36117756 PMCID: PMC9476737 DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the cytotoxic activity of taraxerol isolated from the leaves of Pterospermum acerifolium and its EtOH extract against human breast, colon, and lung cancer cell lines and docking studies. Methods The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by several spectroscopic methods such as 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT-135, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC. The extract and isolated compound were analyzed for cytotoxic activity on MDA-MB-231, BT-549, A-549, and SW-480 cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Molecular docking was performed on software such as Chem3D pro 12.0.2.1076, Discovery Studio Visualizer, Auto Dock Tools-1.5.6 and Auto dock vina. Results The extract and isolated compound taraxerol both displayed excellent inhibitory activity (IC50: 80 µg/mL for extract and 160 µg/mL for compound) on breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231). The docking studies show a strong affinity with PI3K (-9.8 Kcal/mol) and mTOR (-10.0 Kcal/mol). Conclusion The results confirm that the extract and compound exhibited strong cytotoxicity on the MDA-MB-231 cancer cell. So, the extract and the compound may be useful in human chemotherapies.
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Discovery of novel quinazoline derivatives as potent PI3Kδ inhibitors with high selectivity. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 208:112865. [PMID: 32987316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of PI3Kδ has been proved to be an efficacious strategy for the treatment of hematological malignancies where the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is hyperactive. Herein, a series of quinazoline derivatives bearing acrylamide fragment were prepared using skeleton-deconstruction strategy. The preliminary bioactivity evaluation resulted in the discovery of lead compound 15c. Compound 15c exhibited excellent enzyme activity against PI3Kδ (IC50 = 27.5 nM) compared with BEZ235 as well as the significant anti-proliferation activities. With the high selectivity over other PI3K isoforms and potent effects on PI3K/Akt pathway, 15c can be identified as a promising PI3Kδ inhibitor worthy of further profiling.
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Management of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer following potent androgen receptor inhibition: a review of novel investigational therapies. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2020; 24:301-309. [PMID: 33168966 DOI: 10.1038/s41391-020-00299-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgen-targeted therapy and chemotherapy are currently the mainstay of treatment in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). When progression occurs despite these therapeutic strategies, additional FDA-approved treatment options are lacking. However, there is a vast amount of emerging data surrounding novel investigational therapies in this space. METHODS We reviewed and summarized the body of literature surrounding the current treatment options for mCRPC. Medline and Pubmed as well as abstracts from international congresses were utilized to gather relevant literature surrounding investigational treatment of mCRPC. We highlight the results of recent trials investigating the use of novel strategies to treat mCRPC. RESULTS Androgen-targeted therapy and chemotherapy will remain foundational in the treatment of mCRPC. However, heavily pretreated patients who have developed resistance may benefit from novel therapeutic strategies. The use of poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) has now gained FDA approval for patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations. Novel androgen receptor (AR) degraders and the use of radioligand therapy (RLT) with Lu-PSMA-617 (Lu-PSMA) are under investigation. Immune-directed therapies, including programmed death (PD-1) inhibition, bi-specific T-cell engager (BiTE) technology, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, have shown promise in early phase trials. Further understanding of resistance mechanisms has led to additional therapeutic targets, including targeting the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway and enhancer of zester homolog 2 (EZH2). CONCLUSIONS Based on our review of the literature, exciting new therapeutic strategies exist for the treatment of mCRPC. In particular, PARPi, AR degraders, PSMA-targeted therapies, immune-directed therapies, and agents targeting resistance mechanisms as monotherapy or in combination could improve patient outcomes. Additional data from randomized trials are necessary to understand the efficacy and tolerability of these treatment strategies.
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Zhu H, Shi Y, Jiao X, Yang G, Wang R, Yuan Y. Synergistic antitumor effect of dual PI3K and mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 in combination with cisplatin on drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:326. [PMID: 33123242 PMCID: PMC7584016 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin resistance is an obstacle for the effective treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The combined use of two or more chemotherapeutic agents displays advantages for the clinical treatment of drug-resistant lung cancer. The present study aimed to assess the synergy of the dual PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 and cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent, on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and protein expression in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC A549/diamminedichloroplatinum resistance (DDP) cells. Cell proliferation was determined by performing Cell Counting Kit 8 and colony formation assays. Combination index (CI) was used to assess the combinatorial effects of NVP-BEZ235 and cisplatin. Cellular apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were detected via flow cytometry. Western blotting was performed to evaluate protein expression levels relative to β-actin. Cisplatin and NVP-BEZ235 displayed the strongest synergy (CI50=0.23) at the mass ratio of 10:1. The half inhibitory concentrations of cisplatin and NVP-BEZ235 at 10:1 were 1.53 and 0.15 µg/ml, respectively. Compared with the control group, the combination of cisplatin and NVP-BEZ235 induced cell apoptosis and inhibited colony formation. Furthermore, compared with the control group, phosphorylation of Akt and p70S6 Kinase was significantly inhibited and cell cycle was arrested at G0G1 phase in the combination treatment group. The expression levels of drug efflux proteins, such as multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 and ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2, were significantly decreased when A549/DDP cells were treated with a combination of cisplatin and NVP-BEZ235 compared with the control group. Collectively, the present study indicated that the combined treatment of cisplatin and NVP-BEZ235 displayed synergistic antitumor effects on drug-resistant A549/DDP cells, by which the antiproliferative effects may occur via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and downregulation of drug efflux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Yuhuan Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Xiuxiu Jiao
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Yongfang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
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47
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Megino-Luque C, Moiola CP, Molins-Escuder C, López-Gil C, Gil-Moreno A, Matias-Guiu X, Colas E, Eritja N. Small-Molecule Inhibitors (SMIs) as an Effective Therapeutic Strategy for Endometrial Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2751. [PMID: 32987790 PMCID: PMC7598629 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common cancer in women. A continued number of low-risk EC patients at diagnosis, as well as patients diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, will experience an aggressive disease. Unfortunately, those patients will present recurrence or overt dissemination. Systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment on advanced, recurrent, or metastatic EC patients has shown poor results, with median survival rates of less than one year, and median progression-free survival rates of four months. Therefore, the search for innovative and alternative drugs or the development of combinatorial therapies involving new targeted drugs and standard regimens is imperative. Over the last few decades, some small-molecule inhibitors have been introduced in the clinics for cancer treatment, but only a few have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for EC treatment. In the present review, we present the current state and future prospects of small-molecule inhibitors on EC treatment, both alone and in combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Megino-Luque
- Oncologic Pathology Group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (C.M.-L.); (C.M.-E.); (X.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (E.C.)
| | - Cristian Pablo Moiola
- Gynecology Department-Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Pg. Vall d’Hebron119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Clara Molins-Escuder
- Oncologic Pathology Group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (C.M.-L.); (C.M.-E.); (X.M.-G.)
| | - Carlos López-Gil
- Gynecology Department-Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Pg. Vall d’Hebron119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Antonio Gil-Moreno
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (E.C.)
- Gynecology Department-Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Pg. Vall d’Hebron119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Xavier Matias-Guiu
- Oncologic Pathology Group, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (C.M.-L.); (C.M.-E.); (X.M.-G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (E.C.)
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Department of Pathology-Hospital, Universitari de Bellvitge, Gran via de l’Hospitalet 199, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Colas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (E.C.)
- Gynecology Department-Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Pg. Vall d’Hebron119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Núria Eritja
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (E.C.)
- Oncologic Pathology Group, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRBLleida), University of Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
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48
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Phillips TJ, Michot JM, Ribrag V. Can Next-Generation PI3K Inhibitors Unlock the Full Potential of the Class in Patients With B-Cell Lymphoma? CLINICAL LYMPHOMA MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2020; 21:8-20.e3. [PMID: 33132100 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2020.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although outcomes after first-line therapy for patients with indolent or aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are continually improving, relapse is still common. Current treatment options for patients with relapsed or refractory disease have limited efficacy, and various targeted therapies are under investigation to help improve outcomes in this patient population. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway was identified as being involved in hematologic malignancies, leading to significant research for potential therapeutic agents. This has led to 3 PI3K inhibitors (idelalisib, copanlisib, and duvelisib) being approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have received at least 2 prior systemic therapies, with reported response rates of 40% to 59%. With potential class-specific and PI3K isoform-related toxicities that may limit clinical utility, the safety of the approved PI3K inhibitors has been carefully evaluated to weigh the risk/benefit ratio of therapy. Currently, there are no approved PI3K inhibitors for patients with aggressive NHL. A number of newer PI3K inhibitors are in clinical development for the treatment of relapsed or refractory NHL, aiming to improve treatment benefit for patients. We discuss a number of attributes that are important to increase the therapeutic potential of newer PI3K inhibitors. More promising results may come from combination trials with these newer PI3K inhibitors, developed to limit toxicities (including long-term adverse events), and other antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vincent Ribrag
- Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
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49
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Chen X, Guo Y, Chen X. iGMDR: Integrated Pharmacogenetic Resource Guide to Cancer Therapy and Research. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2020; 18:150-160. [PMID: 32916316 PMCID: PMC7646137 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2019.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Current pharmacogenetic studies have obtained many genetic models that can predict the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs. Although some of these models are of crucial importance and have been used in clinical practice, these very valuable models have not been well adopted into cancer research to promote the development of cancer therapies due to the lack of integration and standards for the existing data of the pharmacogenetic studies. For this purpose, we built a resource investigating genetic model of drug response (iGMDR), which integrates the models from in vitro and in vivo pharmacogenetic studies with different omics data from a variety of technical systems. In this study, we introduced a standardized process for all integrations, and described how users can utilize these models to gain insights into cancer. iGMDR is freely accessible at https://igmdr.modellab.cn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Chen
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and the First Affiliated Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials and Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and the First Affiliated Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Joint Institute for Genetics and Genome Medicine between Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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50
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Zulkipli NN, Zakaria R, Long I, Abdullah SF, Muhammad EF, Wahab HA, Sasongko TH. In Silico Analyses and Cytotoxicity Study of Asiaticoside and Asiatic Acid from Malaysian Plant as Potential mTOR Inhibitors. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25173991. [PMID: 32887218 PMCID: PMC7504803 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products remain a popular alternative treatment for many ailments in various countries. This study aimed to screen for potential mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors from Malaysian natural substance, using the Natural Product Discovery database, and to determine the IC50 of the selected mTOR inhibitors against UMB1949 cell line. The crystallographic structure of the molecular target (mTOR) was obtained from Protein Data Bank, with Protein Data Bank (PDB) ID: 4DRI. Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, was used as a standard compound for the comparative analysis. Computational docking approach was performed, using AutoDock Vina (screening) and AutoDock 4.2.6 (analysis). Based on our analysis, asiaticoside and its derivative, asiatic acid, both from Centella asiatica, revealed optimum-binding affinities with mTOR that were comparable to our standard compound. The effect of asiaticoside and asiatic acid on mTOR inhibition was validated with UMB1949 cell line, and their IC50 values were 300 and 60 µM, respectively, compared to everolimus (29.5 µM). Interestingly, this is the first study of asiaticoside and asiatic acid against tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) disease model by targeting mTOR. These results, coupled with our in silico findings, should prompt further studies, to clarify the mode of action, safety, and efficacy of these compounds as mTOR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ninie Nadia Zulkipli
- School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia;
| | - Rahimah Zakaria
- School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (R.Z.); (H.A.W.); Tel.: +60-9-7676156 (R.Z.)
| | - Idris Long
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia;
| | - Siti Fadilah Abdullah
- School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia;
| | - Erma Fatiha Muhammad
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang 11800, Malaysia;
| | - Habibah A. Wahab
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang 11800, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (R.Z.); (H.A.W.); Tel.: +60-9-7676156 (R.Z.)
| | - Teguh Haryo Sasongko
- School of Medicine, Perdana University-RCSI, Jalan MAEPS Perdana, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
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