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Zhang H, Xie F, Yuan XY, Dai XT, Tian YF, Sun MM, Yu SQ, Cai JY, Sun B, Zhang WC, Shan CL. Discovery of a nitroaromatic nannocystin with potent in vivo anticancer activity against colorectal cancer by targeting AKT1. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1044-1059. [PMID: 38326625 PMCID: PMC11053100 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01231-w] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of targeted chemotherapeutic agents against colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most common cancers with a high mortality rate, is in a constant need. Nannocystins are a family of myxobacterial secondary metabolites featuring a 21-membered depsipeptide ring. The in vitro anti-CRC activity of natural and synthetic nannocystins was well documented, but little is known about their in vivo efficacy and if positive, the underlying mechanism of action. In this study we synthesized a nitroaromatic nannocystin through improved preparation of a key fragment, and characterized its in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy against CRC. We first described the total synthesis of compounds 2-4 featuring Heck macrocyclization to forge their 21-membered macrocycle. In a panel of 7 cancer cell lines from different tissues, compound 4 inhibited the cell viability with IC values of 1-6 nM. In particular, compound 4 (1, 2, 4 nM) inhibited the proliferation of CRC cell lines (HCT8, HCT116 and LoVo) in both concentration and time dependent manners. Furthermore, compound 4 concentration-dependently inhibited the colony formation and migration of CRC cell lines. Moreover, compound 4 induced cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 phase, apoptosis and cellular senescence in CRC cell lines. In three patient-derived CRC organoids, compound 4 inhibited the PDO with IC values of 3.68, 28.93 and 11.81 nM, respectively. In a patient-derived xenograft mouse model, injection of compound 4 (4, 8 mg/kg, i.p.) every other day for 12 times dose-dependently inhibited the tumor growth without significant change in body weight. We conducted RNA-sequencing, molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay to elucidate the anti-CRC mechanisms of compound 4, and revealed that it exerted its anti-CRC effect at least in part by targeting AKT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Fei Xie
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Xiao-Ya Yuan
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Xin-Tong Dai
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Yun-Feng Tian
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Ming-Ming Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Si-Qi Yu
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Jia-You Cai
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Bin Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Wei-Cheng Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China.
| | - Chang-Liang Shan
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China.
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Kiran N, Yashaswini C, Maheshwari R, Bhattacharya S, Prajapati BG. Advances in Precision Medicine Approaches for Colorectal Cancer: From Molecular Profiling to Targeted Therapies. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:967-990. [PMID: 38633600 PMCID: PMC11019743 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00008] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Precision medicine is transforming colorectal cancer treatment through the integration of advanced technologies and biomarkers, enhancing personalized and effective disease management. Identification of key driver mutations and molecular profiling have deepened our comprehension of the genetic alterations in colorectal cancer, facilitating targeted therapy and immunotherapy selection. Biomarkers such as microsatellite instability (MSI) and DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) guide treatment decisions, opening avenues for immunotherapy. Emerging technologies such as liquid biopsies, artificial intelligence, and machine learning promise to revolutionize early detection, monitoring, and treatment selection in precision medicine. Despite these advancements, ethical and regulatory challenges, including equitable access and data privacy, emphasize the importance of responsible implementation. The dynamic nature of colorectal cancer, with its tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution, underscores the necessity for adaptive and personalized treatment strategies. The future of precision medicine in colorectal cancer lies in its potential to enhance patient care, clinical outcomes, and our understanding of this intricate disease, marked by ongoing evolution in the field. The current reviews focus on providing in-depth knowledge on the various and diverse approaches utilized for precision medicine against colorectal cancer, at both molecular and biochemical levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelakanta
Sarvashiva Kiran
- Department
of Biotechnology, School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560064, India
| | - Chandrashekar Yashaswini
- Department
of Biotechnology, School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560064, India
| | - Rahul Maheshwari
- School
of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Deemed-to-University, Green Industrial Park, TSIIC,, Jadcherla, Hyderabad 509301, India
| | - Sankha Bhattacharya
- School
of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’S
NMIMS Deemed-to-be University, Shirpur, Maharashtra 425405, India
| | - Bhupendra G. Prajapati
- Shree.
S. K. Patel College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ganpat University, Kherva, Gujarat 384012, India
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Shaw P, Dwivedi SKD, Bhattacharya R, Mukherjee P, Rao G. VEGF signaling: Role in angiogenesis and beyond. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189079. [PMID: 38280470 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189079] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a crucial process for tissue development, repair, and tumor survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key driver secreted by cancer cells, promoting neovascularization. While VEGF's role in angiogenesis is well-documented, its influence on the other aspects in tumor microenvironemt is less discussed. This review elaborates on VEGF's impact on intercellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment, including how VEGF affects pericyte proliferation and migration and mediates interactions between tumor-associated macrophages and cancer cells, resulting in PDL-1-mediated immunosuppression and Nrf2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The review discusses VEGF's involvement in intra-organelle crosstalk, tumor metabolism, stemness, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. It also provides insights into current anti-VEGF therapies and their limitations in cancer treatment. Overall, this review aims to provide a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge concerning VEGF signaling and its impact, not only on angiogenesis but also on various other oncogenic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallab Shaw
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Shailendra Kumar Dhar Dwivedi
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Resham Bhattacharya
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Priyabrata Mukherjee
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Geeta Rao
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
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Sehgal M, Ramu S, Vaz JM, Ganapathy YR, Muralidharan S, Venkatraghavan S, Jolly MK. Characterizing heterogeneity along EMT and metabolic axes in colorectal cancer reveals underlying consensus molecular subtype-specific trends. Transl Oncol 2024; 40:101845. [PMID: 38029508 PMCID: PMC10698572 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101845] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly heterogeneous with variable survival outcomes and therapeutic vulnerabilities. A commonly used classification system in CRC is the Consensus Molecular Subtypes (CMS) based on gene expression patterns. However, how these CMS categories connect to axes of phenotypic plasticity and heterogeneity remains unclear. Here, in our analysis of CMS-specific TCGA data and 101 bulk transcriptomic datasets, we found the epithelial phenotype score to be consistently positively correlated with scores of glycolysis, OXPHOS and FAO pathways, while PD-L1 activity scores positively correlated with mesenchymal phenotype scoring, revealing possible interconnections among plasticity axes. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of patient samples revealed that that CMS2 and CMS3 subtype samples were relatively more epithelial as compared to CMS1 and CMS4. CMS1 revealed two subpopulations: one close to CMS4 (more mesenchymal) and the other closer to CMS2 or CMS3 (more epithelial), indicating a partial EMT-like behavior. Consistent observations were made in single-cell analysis of metabolic axes and PD-L1 activity scores. Together, our results quantify the patterns of two functional interconnected axes of phenotypic heterogeneity - EMT and metabolic reprogramming - in a CMS-specific manner in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas Sehgal
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Soundharya Ramu
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Joel Markus Vaz
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India; School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta 30332, United States
| | | | - Srinath Muralidharan
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | | | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
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Lucarini V, Nardozi D, Angiolini V, Benvenuto M, Focaccetti C, Carrano R, Besharat ZM, Bei R, Masuelli L. Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling in Gastrointestinal Cancer: Role of miRNAs as Biomarkers of Tumor Invasion. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1761. [PMID: 37371856 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061761] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are the most frequent neoplasm, responsible for half of all cancer-related deaths. Metastasis is the leading cause of death from GI cancer; thus, studying the processes that regulate cancer cell migration is of paramount importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms adopted by cancer cells to promote cell migration and the subsequent metastasis formation by highlighting the key role that tumor microenvironment components play in deregulating cellular pathways involved in these processes. We, therefore, provide an overview of the role of different microRNAs in promoting tumor metastasis and their role as potential biomarkers for the prognosis, monitoring, and diagnosis of GI cancer patients. Finally, we relate the possible use of nutraceuticals as a new strategy for targeting numerous microRNAs and different pathways involved in GI tumor invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Lucarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Nardozi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Angiolini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, via di Sant'Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Carrano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Zein Mersini Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
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