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Leichtle F, Betzler AC, Eizenberger C, Lesakova K, Ezić J, Drees R, Greve J, Schuler PJ, Laban S, Hoffmann TK, Cordes N, Lavitrano M, Grassilli E, Brunner C. Influence of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Processes and Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) Enrichment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13133. [PMID: 37685940 PMCID: PMC10487612 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Constitutively active kinases play a crucial role in carcinogenesis, and their inhibition is a common target for molecular tumor therapy. We recently discovered the expression of two oncogenic isoforms of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), Btk-p80 and BTK-p65. However, the precise role of BTK in HNSCC remains unclear. Analyses of a tissue microarray containing benign and malignant as well as inflammatory tissue samples of the head and neck region revealed the preferential expression of BTK-p80 in malignant tissue, whereas BTK-p65 expression was confirmed in over 80% of analyzed metastatic head and neck tumor cases. Therefore, processes associated with metastasis, like cancer stem cell (CSC) enrichment and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which in turn depend on an appropriate cytokine milieu, were analyzed. Treatment of HNSCC-derived cell lines cultured under 3D conditions with the BTK inhibitor AVL-292 caused reduced sphere formation, which was accompanied by reduced numbers of ALDH1A1+ CSCs as well as biological changes associated with the EMT. Moreover, we observed reduced NF-κB expression as well as altered NF-κB dependent pro-tumorigenic and EMT-associated cytokine release of IL-6, IFNγ, and TNFα when BTK activity was dampened. Therefore, an autocrine regulation of the oncogenic BTK-dependent process in HNSCC can be suggested, with BTK inhibition expected to be an effective treatment option for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Leichtle
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Annika C. Betzler
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
- Core Facility Immune Monitoring, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Carlotta Eizenberger
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Kristina Lesakova
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Jasmin Ezić
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Robert Drees
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Jens Greve
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Patrick J. Schuler
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Simon Laban
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Thomas K. Hoffmann
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Nils Cordes
- OncoRay–National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Emanuela Grassilli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Cornelia Brunner
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89075 Ulm, Germany (J.E.); (P.J.S.)
- Core Facility Immune Monitoring, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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Rozkiewicz D, Hermanowicz JM, Kwiatkowska I, Krupa A, Pawlak D. Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (BTKIs): Review of Preclinical Studies and Evaluation of Clinical Trials. Molecules 2023; 28:2400. [PMID: 36903645 PMCID: PMC10005125 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and the compounds that target it. BTK is a downstream mediator of the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway and affects B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Evidence demonstrating the expression of BTK on the majority of hematological cells has led to the hypothesis that BTK inhibitors (BTKIs) such as ibrutinib can be an effective treatment for leukemias and lymphomas. However, a growing body of experimental and clinical data has demonstrated the significance of BTK, not just in B-cell malignancies, but also in solid tumors, such as breast, ovarian, colorectal, and prostate cancers. In addition, enhanced BTK activity is correlated with autoimmune disease. This gave rise to the hypothesis that BTK inhibitors can be beneficial in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), allergies, and asthma. In this review article, we summarize the most recent findings regarding this kinase as well as the most advanced BTK inhibitors that have been developed to date and their clinical applications mainly in cancer and chronic inflammatory disease patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Rozkiewicz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Justyna Magdalena Hermanowicz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Iwona Kwiatkowska
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Anna Krupa
- Department of Internal Medicine and Metabolic, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 24a, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Dariusz Pawlak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
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Kaur C, Sharma B, Nepali K. Switch Pocket Kinase: An Emerging Therapeutic Target for the Design of Anticancer Agents. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2022; 22:2662-2670. [PMID: 35379129 DOI: 10.2174/1871520622666220404081302] [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: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases are amongst the most focused enzymes in current century to design, synthesize and formulate drugs ought to be effective in the treatment of various disordered and diseased states involving either overexpression or deficiency situations. The ATP pocket on the kinases is the binding active site for most of the kinase inhibitors. However, the kinase mutations prevent the binding of kinase inhibitors to ATP pocket. The switch pocket site on this enzyme when occupied by switch pocket inhibitors, the enzyme become inactive even in the mutated state. This review comprises the detailed information on various classical protein kinases and switch pocket kinase inhibitors with their mechanism of action so that new molecules can be designed to encounter mutations in the kinase enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charanjit Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar, Punjab, 143002
| | - Bhargavi Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar, Punjab, 143002
| | - Kunal Nepali
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
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Ran F, Liu Y, Xu Z, Meng C, Yang D, Qian J, Deng X, Zhang Y, Ling Y. Recent development of BTK-based dual inhibitors in the treatment of cancers. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 233:114232. [PMID: 35247756 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a promising target in the treatment of various cancers. Despite the early success of BTK inhibitors in the clinic, these single-target drug therapies have limitations in their clinical applications, such as drug resistance. Several alternative strategies have been developed, including the use of dual inhibitors, to maximize the therapeutic potential of anticancer drugs. In this review, we highlight the scientific background and theoretical basis for developing BTK-based dual inhibitors, as well as the status of these agents in preclinical and clinical studies, and discuss further options in this field. We posit that these advances in BTK-based dual inhibitors confirm their feasibility for the treatment of refractory tumors, including those with drug resistance, and provide a framework for future drug design in this field. Accordingly, we anticipate increasingly rapid progress in the development of novel potent dual inhibitors and advanced clinical research on BTK-based dual inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fansheng Ran
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yun Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Zhongyuan Xu
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chi Meng
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Dezhi Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563006, China
| | - Jianqiang Qian
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xuexian Deng
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Yong Ling
- School of Pharmacy and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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Zhou X, Xie X, Liu T, Chen S, Wang Y, Zhang J, Wang S, Wang Y, Dou S, Qi R, Kang N, Zhang D, Jin X, Cui R, Jiang H. REC8 enhances stemness and promotes metastasis of colorectal cancer through BTK/Akt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Transl Oncol 2021; 15:101305. [PMID: 34890967 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are often aberrantly expressed in cancer stem cells (CSCs) which are responsible for tumor metastasis. Rec8 meiotic recombination protein (REC8), a member of CTAs, shares distinct roles in various cancers, while its contribution to CSCs and colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We found that overexpression of REC8 facilitated the migration and invasion of CRC cells (DLD-1 and SW480 cells) in vitro and promoted the liver metastasis of CRC in vivo. Moreover, REC8 is highly expressed in CRC stem-like cells and is required for the maintenance of CSC stemness. Mechanistic studies suggested that REC8 mediated through the activation of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). Inhibition of BTK by ibrutinib not only suppressed the migration and invasion-promoting ability, but also declined the increased expression of p-BTK, p-Akt, β-catenin, and CSC markers upon REC8 overexpression. Importantly, high expression of REC8 in cancerous tissues was related to advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of 62 CRC patients, and REC8 was enriched in the cancerous cells positive for CSC markers. Collectively, our results indicate that REC8 promotes CRC metastasis by increasing cell stemness through BTK/Akt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaoli Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Shengxiong Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jiuna Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Shuling Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yongjuan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Shiying Dou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Ran Qi
- Department of General Practice, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Ning Kang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Dongxuan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaoxu Jin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Ruolin Cui
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Huiqing Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
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Nunes-Xavier CE, Zaldumbide L, Mosteiro L, López-Almaraz R, García de Andoin N, Aguirre P, Emaldi M, Torices L, López JI, Pulido R. Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Neuroblastoma: Emerging Roles as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:811297. [PMID: 34957126 PMCID: PMC8692838 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.811297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer intimately related with early development and differentiation of neuroendocrine cells, and constitutes one of the pediatric cancers with higher incidence and mortality. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are key regulators of cell growth and differentiation by their direct effect on tyrosine dephosphorylation of specific protein substrates, exerting major functions in the modulation of intracellular signaling during neuron development in response to external cues driving cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. We review here the current knowledge on the role of PTPs in neuroblastoma cell growth, survival, and differentiation. The potential of PTPs as biomarkers and molecular targets for inhibition in neuroblastoma therapies is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E. Nunes-Xavier
- Biomarkers in Cancer Unit, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Caroline E. Nunes-Xavier, ; Rafael Pulido,
| | - Laura Zaldumbide
- Department of Pathology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Lorena Mosteiro
- Department of Pathology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain
| | | | | | - Pablo Aguirre
- Department of Pathology, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Maite Emaldi
- Biomarkers in Cancer Unit, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Leire Torices
- Biomarkers in Cancer Unit, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - José I. López
- Biomarkers in Cancer Unit, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Rafael Pulido
- Biomarkers in Cancer Unit, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- *Correspondence: Caroline E. Nunes-Xavier, ; Rafael Pulido,
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Zhu S, Jung J, Victor E, Arceo J, Gokhale S, Xie P. Clinical Trials of the BTK Inhibitors Ibrutinib and Acalabrutinib in Human Diseases Beyond B Cell Malignancies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:737943. [PMID: 34778053 PMCID: PMC8585514 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.737943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The BTK inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib are FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of B cell malignances. Both drugs have demonstrated clinical efficacy and safety profiles superior to chemoimmunotherapy regimens in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Mounting preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that both ibrutinib and acalabrutinib are versatile and have direct effects on many immune cell subsets as well as other cell types beyond B cells. The versatility and immunomodulatory effects of both drugs have been exploited to expand their therapeutic potential in a wide variety of human diseases. Over 470 clinical trials are currently registered at ClinicalTrials.gov to test the efficacy of ibrutinib or acalabrutinib not only in almost every type of B cell malignancies, but also in hematological malignancies of myeloid cells and T cells, solid tumors, chronic graft versus host disease (cGHVD), autoimmune diseases, allergy and COVID-19 (http:www.clinicaltrials.gov). In this review, we present brief discussions of the clinical trials and relevant key preclinical evidence of ibrutinib and acalabrutinib as monotherapies or as part of combination therapies for the treatment of human diseases beyond B cell malignancies. Adding to the proven efficacy of ibrutinib for cGVHD, preliminary results of clinical trials have shown promising efficacy of ibrutinib or acalabrutinib for certain T cell malignancies, allergies and severe COVID-19. However, both BTK inhibitors have no or limited efficacy for refractory or recurrent solid tumors. These clinical data together with additional pending results from ongoing trials will provide valuable information to guide the design and improvement of future trials, including optimization of combination regimens and dosing sequences as well as better patient stratification and more efficient delivery strategies. Such information will further advance the precise implementation of BTK inhibitors into the clinical toolbox for the treatment of different human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sining Zhu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Jaeyong Jung
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Eton Victor
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Johann Arceo
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Samantha Gokhale
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Ping Xie
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
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Farina AR, Cappabianca LA, Zelli V, Sebastiano M, Mackay AR. Mechanisms involved in selecting and maintaining neuroblastoma cancer stem cell populations, and perspectives for therapeutic targeting. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:685-736. [PMID: 34367474 PMCID: PMC8316860 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i7.685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric neuroblastomas (NBs) are heterogeneous, aggressive, therapy-resistant embryonal tumours that originate from cells of neural crest (NC) origin and in particular neuroblasts committed to the sympathoadrenal progenitor cell lineage. Therapeutic resistance, post-therapeutic relapse and subsequent metastatic NB progression are driven primarily by cancer stem cell (CSC)-like subpopulations, which through their self-renewing capacity, intermittent and slow cell cycles, drug-resistant and reversibly adaptive plastic phenotypes, represent the most important obstacle to improving therapeutic outcomes in unfavourable NBs. In this review, dedicated to NB CSCs and the prospects for their therapeutic eradication, we initiate with brief descriptions of the unique transient vertebrate embryonic NC structure and salient molecular protagonists involved NC induction, specification, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and migratory behaviour, in order to familiarise the reader with the embryonic cellular and molecular origins and background to NB. We follow this by introducing NB and the potential NC-derived stem/progenitor cell origins of NBs, before providing a comprehensive review of the salient molecules, signalling pathways, mechanisms, tumour microenvironmental and therapeutic conditions involved in promoting, selecting and maintaining NB CSC subpopulations, and that underpin their therapy-resistant, self-renewing metastatic behaviour. Finally, we review potential therapeutic strategies and future prospects for targeting and eradication of these bastions of NB therapeutic resistance, post-therapeutic relapse and metastatic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Rosella Farina
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Lucia Annamaria Cappabianca
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Veronica Zelli
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Michela Sebastiano
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy
| | - Andrew Reay Mackay
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila 67100, AQ, Italy.
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Grassilli E, Cerrito MG, Bonomo S, Giovannoni R, Conconi D, Lavitrano M. p65BTK Is a Novel Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Solid Tumors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:690365. [PMID: 34164404 PMCID: PMC8215537 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.690365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a non-receptor intracellular kinase playing a key role in the proliferation and survival of normal and malignant B-lymphocytes. Its targeting by Ibrutinib, the first specific inhibitor, represented a turning point for the therapy of certain types of B-cell leukemias/lymphomas and several more BTK inhibitors are today in the clinic or advanced clinical trials. BTK expression was successively found to occur also outside of the hematopoietic compartment. In fact, we identified p65BTK, a novel 65 kDa isoform lacking an N-term stretch of 86 amino acids (compared to the 77 kDa protein expressed in B cells) as highly expressed in colon cancer patients. We demonstrated that p65BTK is a powerful oncogene acting downstream of the RAS/MAPK pathway and necessary for RAS-mediated transformation. Notably, the kinase domain is conserved and therefore inhibited by the available BTK-targeting drugs (Ibrutinib, Spebrutinib, etc.) which we used to demonstrate that p65BTK is an actionable target in drug-resistant colorectal carcinomas. We found p65BTK expressed also in >50% non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and demonstrated that it is an actionable target in KRAS-mutated/EGFR-wild type drug-resistant NSCLC models (for which no targeted therapy is available). We also reported a significant correlation between p65BTK expression and low-grade tumors and overall survival of patients with grade III gliomas and showed that its targeting induced a significant decrease in the viability of in glioma stem cells. Finally, in ovarian cancer patients, p65BTK expression levels correlate with early relapse and shorter progression-free survival, both indicators of resistance to therapy. Remarkably, Ibrutinib is more effective than standard of care (SOC) therapeutics in in vitro and ex vivo settings. On the whole, our preclinical data indicate that, depending on the tumor type, BTK inhibitors used alone can induce cytotoxicity (gliomas), be more effective than SOC chemotherapy (ovarian cancer) or can kill drug-resistant tumor cells when used in combination with SOC chemotherapy (colon cancer and NSCLC) or targeted therapy (NSCLC and ovarian cancer), thus suggesting that p65BTK may be an actionable target in different solid tumors. In addition, our data also give the proof-of-concept for starting clinical trials using BTK inhibitors, alone or in combination, to improve the therapeutic options for solid tumors treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Grassilli
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cerrito
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Sara Bonomo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Donatella Conconi
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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Dong XD, Zhang M, Ma X, Wang JQ, Lei ZN, Teng QX, Li YD, Lin L, Feng W, Chen ZS. Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Inhibitor RN486 Overcomes ABCB1-Mediated Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:865. [PMID: 32984343 PMCID: PMC7481333 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) remains one of the most vital factors leading to multidrug resistance (MDR). It is important to enhance the effect and bioavailability of chemotherapeutic drugs that are substrates of ABCB1 transporter in ABCB1-overexpression cancer cells and reverse ABCB1-mediated MDR. Previous, we uncovered that the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib is a potent reversal agent to overcomes paclitaxel resistance in ABCB1-overexpressing cells and tumors. In this study, we explored whether RN486, another BTK inhibitor, was competent to surmount ABCB1-mediated MDR and promote relevant cancer chemotherapy. We found that RN486 significantly increased the efficacy of paclitaxel and doxorubicin in both drug-selected carcinoma cells and transfected cells overexpressing ABCB1. Mechanistic studies indicated that RN486 dramatically attenuated the drug efflux activity of ABCB1 transporter without altering its expression level or subcellular localization. The ATPase activity of ABCB1 transporter was not affected by low concentrations but stimulated by high concentrations of RN486. Moreover, an interaction between RN486 with ABCB1 substrate-binding and inhibitor binding sites was verified by in silico docking simulation. The results from our study suggest that RN486 could be a reversal agent and could be used in the novel combination therapy with other antineoplastic drugs to conquer MDR-mediated by ABCB1 transporter in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Duo Dong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
- First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiubin Ma
- Cell Research Center, Shenzhen Bolun Institute of Biotechnology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing-Quan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Zi-Ning Lei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Qiu-Xu Teng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Yi-Dong Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Lusheng Lin
- Cell Research Center, Shenzhen Bolun Institute of Biotechnology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiguo Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, United States
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