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Torrente L, Maan G, Oumkaltoum Rezig A, Quinn J, Jackson A, Grilli A, Casares L, Zhang Y, Kulesskiy E, Saarela J, Bicciato S, Edwards J, Dinkova-Kostova AT, de la Vega L. High NRF2 Levels Correlate with Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer Patients and with Sensitivity to the Kinase Inhibitor AT9283 In Vitro. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1365. [PMID: 32992842 PMCID: PMC7600603 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant hyperactivation of nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2) p45-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a common event in many tumour types and associates with resistance to therapy and poor patient prognosis; however, its relevance in colorectal tumours is not well-established. Measuring the expression of surrogate genes for NRF2 activity in silico, in combination with validation in patients' samples, we show that the NRF2 pathway is upregulated in colorectal tumours and that high levels of nuclear NRF2 correlate with a poor patient prognosis. These results highlight the need to overcome the protection provided by NRF2 and present an opportunity to selectively kill cancer cells with hyperactive NRF2. Exploiting the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we generated colorectal cancer cell lines with hyperactive NRF2 and used them to perform a drug screen. We identified AT9283, an Aurora kinase inhibitor, for its selectivity towards killing cancer cells with hyperactive NRF2 as a consequence to either genetic or pharmacological activation. Our results show that hyperactivation of NRF2 in colorectal cancer cells might present a vulnerability that could potentially be therapeutically exploited by using the Aurora kinase inhibitor AT9283.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Torrente
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; (L.T.); (G.M.); (A.J.); (L.C.); (Y.Z.); (A.T.D.-K.)
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Gunjit Maan
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; (L.T.); (G.M.); (A.J.); (L.C.); (Y.Z.); (A.T.D.-K.)
| | - Asma Oumkaltoum Rezig
- Unit of Gastrointestinal Oncology and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (A.O.R.); (J.Q.); (J.E.)
| | - Jean Quinn
- Unit of Gastrointestinal Oncology and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (A.O.R.); (J.Q.); (J.E.)
| | - Angus Jackson
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; (L.T.); (G.M.); (A.J.); (L.C.); (Y.Z.); (A.T.D.-K.)
| | - Andrea Grilli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; via G, Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Laura Casares
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; (L.T.); (G.M.); (A.J.); (L.C.); (Y.Z.); (A.T.D.-K.)
| | - Ying Zhang
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; (L.T.); (G.M.); (A.J.); (L.C.); (Y.Z.); (A.T.D.-K.)
| | - Evgeny Kulesskiy
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Tukholmankatu 8, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland; (E.K.); (J.S.)
| | - Jani Saarela
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Tukholmankatu 8, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland; (E.K.); (J.S.)
| | - Silvio Bicciato
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; via G, Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Joanne Edwards
- Unit of Gastrointestinal Oncology and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (A.O.R.); (J.Q.); (J.E.)
| | - Albena T. Dinkova-Kostova
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; (L.T.); (G.M.); (A.J.); (L.C.); (Y.Z.); (A.T.D.-K.)
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Laureano de la Vega
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK; (L.T.); (G.M.); (A.J.); (L.C.); (Y.Z.); (A.T.D.-K.)
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Henriques AC, Ribeiro D, Pedrosa J, Sarmento B, Silva PMA, Bousbaa H. Mitosis inhibitors in anticancer therapy: When blocking the exit becomes a solution. Cancer Lett 2018; 440-441:64-81. [PMID: 30312726 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Current microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) remain amongst the most important antimitotic drugs used against a broad range of malignancies. By perturbing spindle assembly, MTAs activate the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), which induces mitotic arrest and subsequent apoptosis. However, besides toxic side effects and resistance, mitotic slippage and failure in triggering apoptosis in various cancer cells are limiting factors of MTAs efficacy. Alternative strategies to target mitosis without affecting microtubules have, thus, led to the identification of small molecules, such as those that target spindle Kinesins, Aurora and Polo-like kinases. Unfortunately, these so-called second-generation of antimitotics, encompassing mitotic blockers and mitotic drivers, have failed in clinical trials. Our recent understanding regarding the mechanisms of cell death during a mitotic arrest pointed out apoptosis as the main variable, providing an opportunity to control the cell fates and influence the effectiveness of antimitotics. Here, we provide an overview on the second-generation of antimitotics, and discuss possible strategies that exploit SAC activity, mitotic slippage/exit and apoptosis induction, in order to improve the efficacy of anticancer strategies that target mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Henriques
- CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada Em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra PRD, Portugal; INEB, Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Diana Ribeiro
- CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada Em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra PRD, Portugal; Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joel Pedrosa
- CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada Em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra PRD, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada Em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra PRD, Portugal; INEB, Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia M A Silva
- CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada Em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra PRD, Portugal
| | - Hassan Bousbaa
- CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada Em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra PRD, Portugal; Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Plano D, Alcolea V, Sanmartín C, Sharma AK. Methods of selecting combination therapy for colorectal cancer patients: a patent evaluation of US20160025730A1. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2017; 27:527-538. [PMID: 28366103 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2017.1315103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. Targeted therapy drugs (TTDs) are a valid treatment, epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors being one of the most commonly used for CRC patients. However, this treatment is only useful for patients with wild-type KRAS (wtKRAS) and is effective only on about 40 to 60% of this subset due to the high plasticity of ErbB network. Areas covered: The invention proposes the use of ErbB protein levels and ErbB receptor dimer formation as biomarkers for selecting, predicting and monitoring CRC patients showing sensitivity to the action of EGFR inhibitors to benefit from the combination therapy of EGFR and HER2 inhibitors. The in vitro data on Lim1215 cells suggest the over-activation of HER3 signaling pathway in response to the use of EGFR inhibitors on monotherapy; the use of HER2 or HER3 or MEK inhibitors in combination with EGFR inhibitors reversed this activation. Expert opinion: To assess the clinical applicability of this invention, further studies are needed since the conclusions are derived solely based on the data obtained from only one CRC cell line (Lim1215). Furthermore, other biofactors/mutations should be considered to assure the potential benefits of the combination therapies proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Plano
- a University of Navarra, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Campus Universitario , Pamplona , Spain.,b IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra , Pamplona , Spain
| | - Verónica Alcolea
- a University of Navarra, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Campus Universitario , Pamplona , Spain.,b IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra , Pamplona , Spain
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- a University of Navarra, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Campus Universitario , Pamplona , Spain.,b IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra , Pamplona , Spain
| | - Arun K Sharma
- c Department of Pharmacology , Penn State Cancer Institute , Hershey , PA , USA
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Moawad EY. Data to establish the optimal standard regimen and predicting the response to docetaxel therapy. Data Brief 2015; 5:439-46. [PMID: 26594654 PMCID: PMC4610957 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2015.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 09/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper contains data to establish the optimal standard regimen and predicting the response to docetaxel therapy (Moawad, 2014) [1]. Docetaxel has been in use for over a decade without demonstrating data indicates a predictable response in the treatment of cancer. Data of puzzling response to docetaxel therapy was due to its cell cycle specific effect. Although several administered schedules were investigated, the relative therapeutic advantage of high versus low doses has not been identified yet. Also the antitumor target of docetaxel has not yet been identified to optimize therapy by predicting the response of patients prior to therapy to provide a protection against treatment failure. In the present paper, we demonstrate the data used to optimize docetaxel therapy and investigate the possibility of predicting for the first time the antitumor target of docetaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Y Moawad
- Department of Engineering, Ain Shams University, 217 Alhegaz Street, Alnozha, 11351 Cairo, Egypt
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