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Wang X, Meng F, Mao J. Progress of natural sesquiterpenoids in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1445222. [PMID: 39081717 PMCID: PMC11286475 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1445222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the common malignant tumors of digestive tract, which seriously threatens the life of patients due to its high incidence rate, strong invasion, metastasis, and prognosis. At present, the main methods for preventing and treating HCC include medication, surgery, and intervention, but patients frequently encounter with specific adverse reactions or side effects. Many Traditional Chinese medicine can improve liver function, reduce liver cancer recurrence and have unique advantages in the treatment of HCC because of their acting mode of multi-target, multi-pathway, multi-component, and multi-level. Sesquiterpenoids, a class of natural products which are widely present in nature and exhibit good anti-tumor activity, and many of them possess good potential for the treatment of HCC. This article reviewed the anti-tumor activities, natural resources, pharmacological mechanism of natural sesquiterpenoids against HCC, providing the theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of HCC and a comprehensive understanding of their potential for development of new clinical drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Wang
- Department of Medical Technology, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
| | - Fancheng Meng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingxin Mao
- Department of Medical Technology, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Huang X, Wang M, Zhang D, Zhang C, Liu P. Advances in Targeted Drug Resistance Associated with Dysregulation of Lipid Metabolism in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:113-129. [PMID: 38250308 PMCID: PMC10799627 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s447578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the prevailing malignant neoplasm affecting the liver, often diagnosed at an advanced stage and associated with an unfavorable overall prognosis. Sorafenib and Lenvatinib have emerged as first-line therapeutic drugs for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, improving the prognosis for these patients. Nevertheless, the issue of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance poses a substantial obstacle in the management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis and advancement of hepatocellular carcinoma exhibit a close association with metabolic reprogramming, yet the attention given to lipid metabolism dysregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma development remains relatively restricted. This review summarizes the potential significance and research progress of lipid metabolism dysfunction in Sorafenib and Lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeting hepatocellular carcinoma lipid metabolism holds promising potential as an effective strategy to overcome hepatocellular carcinoma drug resistance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoju Huang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengmeng Wang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Liver Transplant Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pian Liu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
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Pan X, Huang J, Liu S, Shao Y, Xi J, He R, Shi T, Zhuang R, Yu W. pH-Responsive and liver-targeting drug delivery system for combination delivery of artesunate with arsenic trioxide prodrug against hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2023; 49:485-496. [PMID: 37470495 DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2023.2239342] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Arsenic trioxide (ATO) exerts therapeutic effects on various solid tumors, and artesunate (ART) synergizes with antitumor drugs. We herein combined ART and an ATO prodrug (ATOP) in pH-responsive and liver-targeting liposomes to improve targeted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. METHODS 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE)-hydrazone (HYD)-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) (DSPE-HYD-PEG-GA) was synthesized and characterized. The optimal ratio of ART and ATOP was selected. Calcium arsenate nanoparticles (CaAs NPs) and DSPE-HYD-PEG-GA@ART/CaAs NPs liposomes were prepared and their physicochemical properties were characterized. Their intracellular uptake, intracellular localization, uptake pathway identification, cytotoxicity, proapoptotic effects, and relevant mechanisms were studied. RESULTS The DSPE-HYD-PEG-GA was successfully synthesized. The best ratio of ART and ATOP was 7:1. The particle size of CaAs NPs under transmission electron microscopy was 142.39 ± 21.50 nm. Arsenic (As), calcium, and oxygen elements were uniformly distributed in CaAs NPs, and the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of As are 37.28% and 51.40%, respectively. The liposomes were elliptical, and the particle size was 100.91 ± 39.31 nm. The liposome cell intake was significantly increased in Huh-7 cells. The liposomes entered the cell through macropinocytosis and caveolin-mediated endocytosis and were predominantly distributed in the cytoplasm. They exerted an excellent inhibitory effect on Huh-7 cells and promoted tumor cell apoptosis through lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential reduction, and cell-cycle blockage. CONCLUSIONS The pH-responsive and liver-targeting drug delivery system for the combination delivery of ART with ATOP showed promising effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuwang Pan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinsong Huang
- Department of Hepatology, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shourong Liu
- Department of Hepatology, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yidan Shao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianjun Xi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruoyu He
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tingting Shi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rangxiao Zhuang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Affiliated Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenying Yu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Mohamed EH, Abo El-Magd NF, El Gayar AM. Carvacrol enhances anti-tumor activity and mitigates cardiotoxicity of sorafenib in thioacetamide-induced hepatocellular carcinoma model through inhibiting TRPM7. Life Sci 2023; 324:121735. [PMID: 37142088 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Sorafenib (Sora) represents one of the few effective drugs for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while resistance and cardiotoxicity limit its therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated the effect of transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) inhibitor, carvacrol (CARV), on overcoming Sora resistance and cardiotoxicity in thioacetamide (TAA) induced HCC in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS TAA (200 mg/kg/twice weekly, intraperitoneal) was administered for 16 weeks to induce HCC. Rats were treated with Sora (10 mg/Kg/day; orally) and CARV (15 mg/kg/day; orally) alone or in combination, for six weeks after HCC induction. Liver and heart functions, antioxidant capacity, and histopathology were performed. Apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance were assessed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry. KEY FINDINGS CARV/Sora combination significantly improved survival rate, and liver functions, reduced Alpha-Fetoprotein level, and attenuated HCC progression compared with Sora group. CARV coadministration almost obviated Sora-induced changes in cardiac and hepatic tissues. The CARV/Sora combination suppressed drug resistance and stemness by downregulating ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2, NOTCH1, Spalt like transcription factor 4, and CD133. CARV boosted Sora antiproliferative and apoptotic activities by decreasing cyclin D1 and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 and increasing BCL2-Associated X and caspase-3. SIGNIFICANCE CARV/Sora is a promising combination for tumor suppression and overcoming Sora resistance and cardiotoxicity in HCC by modulating TRPM7. To our best knowledge, this study represents the first study to investigate the efficiency of CARV/ Sora on the HCC rat model. Moreover, no previous studies have reported the effect of inhibiting TRPM7 on HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman H Mohamed
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, Damietta 34511, Egypt.
| | - Nada F Abo El-Magd
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Amal M El Gayar
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
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Zhu C, Guo H, Ma Z, Shi S, Zhao X, Zhai D, Zhou X, Jiang P, Xu Q, Cai J. FOXM1 augments sorafenib resistance and promotes progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by epigenetically activating KIF23 expression. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 656:1-9. [PMID: 36940637 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib has been used to enhance the survival outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. But, occurrence resistance to sorafenib subtracts from its therapeutic benefits. Herein, we identified that FOXM1 was markedly upregulated in both tumor samples and sorafenib-resistant HCC tissues. We also demonstrated that patients with decreased FOXM1 expression had longer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in the cohort of sorafenib-treated patients. For HCC cells resistant to sorafenib, the IC50 value of sorafenib and the expression of FOXM1 were increased. In addition, Downregulation of FOXM1 expression alleviated the occurrence of resistance to sorafenib and reduced the proliferative potential and viability of HCC cells. Mechanically, the suppression of the FOXM1 gene resulted in the downregulation of KIF23 levels. Moreover, downregulation of FOXM1 expression reduced the levels of RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) and histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) on the KIF23 promoter, further epigenetically silencing the production of KIF23. More intriguingly, our results similarly revealed that FDI-6, a specific inhibitor of FOXM1, suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells resistant to sorafenib, as well as upregulation of FOXM1 or KIF23 abolished this effect. In addition, we found that FDI-6 combined with sorafenib significantly improved the therapeutic effect of sorafenib. Collectively, the present results revealed that FOXM augments sorafenib resistance and enhances HCC progression by upregulating KIF23 expression via an epigenetic mechanism, and targeting FOXM1 can be an effective treatment for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunle Zhu
- Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China; Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hua Guo
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Zengyan Ma
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shangheng Shi
- Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China; Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiaodan Zhao
- Department of Medical Iconography, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Dongchang Zhai
- Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China; Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Peng Jiang
- Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China; Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qingguo Xu
- Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Jinzhen Cai
- Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
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Li X, Yin X, Bao H, Liu C. Circular RNA ITCH increases sorafenib-sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma via sequestering miR-20b-5p and modulating the downstream PTEN-PI3K/Akt pathway. Mol Cell Probes 2023; 67:101877. [PMID: 36442661 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2022.101877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Sorafenib-resistance leads to poor prognosis and high mortality in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and this study aims to investigate the functional role of a circular RNA ITCH (circITCH) in regulating the sorafenib-resistance of HCC and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS The expression of circITCH in HCC tissues and cell lines were detected by performing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells were transfected with PLCDH-circITCH to upregulate circITCH and intervened with sorafenib, and MTT assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay were used to test the cell viability, apoptosis and migration ability, respectively. The downstream target of circITCH were explored by using bioinformatic analysis, dual luciferase reporter system and Western blot. RESULTS CircITCH was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, compared with their normal counterparts. Especially, in contrast with the sorafenib-sensitive HCC cells, continuous sorafenib treatment decreased the expression levels of circITCH in the sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Overexpression of circITCH increased sorafenib-sensitivity, promoted cell apoptosis and reduced cell migration abilities in the sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Mechanically, circITCH elevated PTEN expression to inactivate the PI3K/Akt signals through negatively regulating miR-20b-5p in HCC, and upregulating miR-20b-5p or inhibiting PTEN abolished the enhancing effect of circITCH overexpression on sorafenib-induced cytotoxicity in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. CONCLUSION Taken together, this study proves that circITCH enhances sorafenib-sensitivity in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells via regulating the miR-20b-5p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling cascade, which highlights the potential value of circITCH as a target for enhancing the sorafenib-sensitivity in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Xuedong Yin
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Heyi Bao
- Department of General Surgery, Qiqihar First Hospital, Qiqihar, 161005, China.
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
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Lai HC, Lin HJ, Jeng LB, Huang ST. Roles of conventional and complementary therapies in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:19-35. [PMID: 36684056 PMCID: PMC9850766 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i1.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. HCC has a reported recurrence rate of 70%-80% after 5 years of follow-up. Controlling tumor recurrence is the most critical factor associated with HCC mortality. Conventional salvage therapies for recurrent HCC include re-hepatectomy or liver transplantation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Y-90, target therapy, and immunotherapy; however, these conventional treatment modalities have yet to achieve consistently favorable outcomes. Meanwhile, previous studies have demonstrated that conventional therapies in combination with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture, moxibustion or dietary supplements could notably benefit patients with HCC recurrence by strengthening and augmenting the overall management strategy. However, systemic reviews related to the interactions between complementary therapies and conventional therapy in recurrent HCC are limited. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of complementary therapies for recurrent HCC, which include augmenting the local control to improve the congestion status of primary tumors and reducing multicentric tumor occurrence via inducing autophagy, apoptosis or cell cycle arrest. TCM and its derivatives may play important roles in helping to control HCC recurrence by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and metastasis, inhibiting cancer stem cells, and ameliorating drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Chun Lai
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Jen Lin
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Long-Bin Jeng
- Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Teng Huang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Cancer Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 709204, Taiwan
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Niu B, Wei S, Sun J, Zhao H, Wang B, Chen G. Deciphering the molecular mechanism of tetrandrine in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma and increasing sorafenib sensitivity by combining network pharmacology and experimental evaluation. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2022; 60:75-86. [PMID: 34962429 PMCID: PMC8725900 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2021.2017468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The mechanism of tetrandrine (TET) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and sorafenib (Sora) chemosensitivity deserves investigation. OBJECTIVE Using network pharmacology approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of TET in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS CCK-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays were used to measure cell phenotypes. BALB/c nude mice were divided into Control, Sora (10 mg/kg), TET (50 mg/kg), and TET + Sora (10 mg/kg Sora plus 50 mg/kg TET) groups to evaluate the antitumor effects of TET for 21 days. Sora and TET were given by intraperitoneal injection or oral gavage. RESULTS For SMMC7721 (IC50 = 22.5 μM) and PLC8024 (IC50 = 18.4 μM), TET (10, 20 μM) reduced colony number (0.68 ± 0.04- and 0.50 ± 0.04-fold, 0.56 ± 0.04- and 0.42 ± 0.02-fold), induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 stage (1.22 ± 0.03- and 1.39 ± 0.07-fold, 1.37 ± 0.06- and 1.55 ± 0.05-fold), promoted apoptosis (2.49 ± 0.26- and 3.63 ± 0.33-fold, 2.74 ± 0.42- and 3.73 ± 0.61-fold), and inactivated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling. Sora (10 μM) decreased cell proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and inhibited PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling, and these effects were further aggravated in the combination group. Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR reversed the effects of TET on cell proliferation and Sora sensitivity. In the combination group, tumour volumes and weights were decreased to 202.3 ± 17.4 mm3 and 151.5 ± 25.8 mg compared with Sora (510.6 ± 48.2 mm3 and 396.7 ± 33.5 mg). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS TET enhances Sora sensitivity by inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR, suggesting the potential of TET as a chemosensitizer in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Niu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sidong Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jianjun Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huibo Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guoyong Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Chen W, Ma Z, Yu L, Mao X, Ma N, Guo X, Yin X, Jiang F, Wang Q, Wang J, Fang M, Lin N, Zhang Y. Preclinical investigation of artesunate as a therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma via impairment of glucosylceramidase-mediated autophagic degradation. EXPERIMENTAL & MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2022; 54:1536-1548. [PMID: 36123535 PMCID: PMC9535011 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00780-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Artesunate (ART) has been indicated as a candidate drug for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Glucosylceramidase (GBA) is required for autophagic degradation. Whether ART regulates autophagic flux by targeting GBA in HCC remains to be defined. Herein, our data demonstrated that the dramatic overexpression of GBA was significantly associated with aggressive progression and short overall survival times in HCC. Subsequent experiments revealed an association between autophagic activity and GBA expression in clinical HCC samples, tumor tissues from a rat model of inflammation-induced HCC and an orthotopic mouse model, and human HCC cell lines. Interestingly, probe labeling identified GBA as an ART target, which was further verified by both a glutathione-S-transferase pulldown assay and surface plasmon resonance analysis. The elevated protein expression of LC3B, the increased numbers of GFP-LC3B puncta and double-membrane vacuoles, and the enhanced expression of SQSTM1/p62 indicated that the degradation of autophagosomes in HCC cells was inhibited by ART treatment. Both the in vitro and in vivo data revealed that autophagosome accumulation through targeting of GBA was responsible for the anti-HCC effects of ART. In summary, this preclinical study identified GBA as one of the direct targets of ART, which may have promising potential to inhibit lysosomal autophagy for HCC therapy. Confirmation that the malaria drug artesunate targets a key enzyme overexpressed in aggressive liver cancer suggests it may be a novel therapeutic option for the disease. High levels of an enzyme called glucosylceramidase (GBA) are associated with poor prognosis in liver cancer, according to research conducted by Yanqiong Zhang and Na Lin at the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, and co-workers. In experiments on rat and mouse models and human cell lines, the team demonstrated that high GBA levels over activated autophagic flux, accelerated the rate at which cellular material may be degraded and recycled in balanced, healthy cells. This disturbance enables liver cancer to progress. The researchers found that artesunate can suppress GBA expression levels and restore normal autophagic flux, boosting the drug’s anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Zhaochen Ma
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Lingxiang Yu
- The Fifth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xia Mao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Nan Ma
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 100700, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Guo
- The Fifth Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xiaoli Yin
- College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Funeng Jiang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jigang Wang
- Artemisinin Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 100700, Beijing, China
| | - Mingliang Fang
- Nanyang Technology University of Singapore, APT11-04, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Na Lin
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yanqiong Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
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Gao Q, Feng J, Liu W, Wen C, Wu Y, Liao Q, Zou L, Sui X, Xie T, Zhang J, Hu Y. Opportunities and challenges for co-delivery nanomedicines based on combination of phytochemicals with chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 188:114445. [PMID: 35820601 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic limitations such as insufficient efficacy, drug resistance, metastasis, and undesirable side effects are frequently caused by the long duration monotherapy based on chemotherapeutic drugs. multiple combinational anticancer strategies such as nucleic acids combined with chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic combinations, chemotherapy and tumor immunotherapy combinations have been embraced, holding great promise to counter these limitations, while still taking including some potential risks. Nowadays, an increasing number of research has manifested the anticancer effects of phytochemicals mediated by modulating cancer cellular events directly as well as the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, these natural compounds exhibited suppression of cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of cancer cells, P-glycoprotein inhibition, decreasing vascularization and activation of tumor immunosuppression. Due to the low toxicity and multiple modulation pathways of these phytochemicals, the combination of chemotherapeutic agents with natural compounds acts as a novel approach to cancer therapy to increase the efficiency of cancer treatments as well as reduce the adverse consequences. In order to achieve the maximized combination advantages of small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs and natural compounds, a variety of functional nano-scaled drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, host-guest supramolecules, supramolecules, dendrimers, micelles and inorganic systems have been developed for dual/multiple drug co-delivery. These co-delivery nanomedicines can improve pharmacokinetic behavior, tumor accumulation capacity, and achieve tumor site-targeting delivery. In that way, the improved antitumor effects through multiple-target therapy and reduced side effects by decreasing dose can be implemented. Here, we present the synergistic anticancer outcomes and the related mechanisms of the combination of phytochemicals with small-molecule anticancer drugs. We also focus on illustrating the design concept, and action mechanisms of nanosystems with co-delivery of drugs to synergistically improve anticancer efficacy. In addition, the challenges and prospects of how these insights can be translated into clinical benefits are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Gao
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Jiao Feng
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Wencheng Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Chengyong Wen
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China
| | - Yihan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Qian Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Liang Zou
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu University, No. 2025, Cheng Luo Road, Chengdu 610106, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinbing Sui
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China.
| | - Tian Xie
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Medical Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China.
| | - Jinming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Yichen Hu
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu University, No. 2025, Cheng Luo Road, Chengdu 610106, Sichuan, China.
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11
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Ma Z, Woon CYN, Liu CG, Cheng JT, You M, Sethi G, Wong ALA, Ho PCL, Zhang D, Ong P, Wang L, Goh BC. Repurposing Artemisinin and its Derivatives as Anticancer Drugs: A Chance or Challenge? Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:828856. [PMID: 35035355 PMCID: PMC8758560 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.828856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has become a global health problem, accounting for one out of six deaths. Despite the recent advances in cancer therapy, there is still an ever-growing need for readily accessible new therapies. The process of drug discovery and development is arduous and takes many years, and while it is ongoing, the time for the current lead compounds to reach clinical trial phase is very long. Drug repurposing has recently gained significant attention as it expedites the process of discovering new entities for anticancer therapy. One such potential candidate is the antimalarial drug, artemisinin that has shown anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. In this review, major molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of artemisinin and its derivatives are summarised. Furthermore, major mechanisms of action and some key signaling pathways of this group of compounds have been reviewed to explore potential targets that contribute to the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Despite its established profile in malaria treatment, pharmacokinetic properties, anticancer potency, and current formulations that hinder the clinical translation of artemisinin as an anticancer agent, have been discussed. Finally, potential solutions or new strategies are identified to overcome the bottlenecks in repurposing artemisinin-type compounds as anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowu Ma
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Clariis Yi-Ning Woon
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chen-Guang Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Jun-Ting Cheng
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Mingliang You
- Hangzhou Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Li-Ann Wong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paul Chi-Lui Ho
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daping Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Peishi Ong
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Boon-Cher Goh
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Yang X, Zheng Y, Liu L, Huang J, Wang F, Zhang J. Progress on the study of the anticancer effects of artesunate. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:750. [PMID: 34539854 PMCID: PMC8436334 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Artesunate (ART) is a derivative of artemisinin that is extracted from the wormwood plant Artemisia annua. ART is an antimalarial drug that has been shown to be safe and effective for clinical use. In addition to its antimalarial properties, ART has been attracting attention over recent years due to its reported inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Therefore, ART has a wider range of potential clinical applications than first hypothesized. The aim of the present review was to summarize the latest research progress on the possible anticancer effects of ART, in order to lay a theoretical foundation for the further development of ART as a therapeutic option for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiulan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Yudong Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Lian Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Jiangrong Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
| | - Fei Wang
- Center of Experiment and Training, Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Jingzhou, Hubei 434020, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, P.R. China
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13
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Liao H, Shi J, Wen K, Lin J, Liu Q, Shi B, Yan Y, Xiao Z. Molecular Targets of Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:985-996. [PMID: 34466409 PMCID: PMC8403010 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s325593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a special form of regulatory cell death caused by the accumulation of intracellular iron and lipid peroxidation. Here, we summarize the research progress on ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), trace the development of the concept of ferroptosis and its key regulatory factors, and discuss the application value of ferroptosis in the treatment of HCC from different perspectives. We believe that exploring the relationship between ferroptosis and HCC and clarifying the metabolism and expression of ferroptosis-specific genes and molecules will accelerate the development of novel ferroptosis-related molecules as HCC markers and therapeutic targets. We hope to provide a theoretical basis for better diagnosis and treatment to effectively improve the prognosis of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Juanyi Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhong Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingchao Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongcong Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyu Xiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
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14
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Xiong Y, Huang J. Anti-malarial drug: the emerging role of artemisinin and its derivatives in liver disease treatment. Chin Med 2021; 16:80. [PMID: 34407830 PMCID: PMC8371597 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-021-00489-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin and its derivatives belong to a family of drugs approved for the treatment of malaria with known clinical safety and efficacy. In addition to its anti-malarial effect, artemisinin displays anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects in vivo and in vitro. Recently, much attention has been paid to the therapeutic role of artemisinin in liver diseases. Several studies suggest that artemisinin and its derivatives can protect the liver through different mechanisms, such as those pertaining to inflammation, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and induction of apoptosis and autophagy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive discussion of the underlying molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of artemisinin and its derivatives in treating liver diseases. Further pharmacological research will aid in determining whether artemisinin and its derivatives may serve as promising medicines for the treatment of liver diseases in the future. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Xiong
- The Department of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jianrong Huang
- The Department of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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15
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Artesunate synergizes with sorafenib to induce ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2021; 42:301-310. [PMID: 32699265 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-0478-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib is the first-line medication for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it can only extend limited survival. It is imperative to find a combination strategy to increase sorafenib efficacy. Artesunate is such a preferred candidate, because artesunate is clinically well-tolerated and more importantly both drugs can induce ferroptosis through different mechanisms. In this study we investigated the combined effect of sorafenib and artesunate in inducing ferroptosis of HCC and elucidated the involved molecular mechanisms. We showed that artesunate greatly enhanced the anticancer effects of low dose of sorafenib against Huh7, SNU-449, and SNU-182 HCC cell lines in vitro and against Huh7 cell xenograft model in Balb/c nude mice. The combination index method confirmed that the combined effect of sorafenib and artesunate was synergistic. Compared with the treatment with artesunate or sorafenib alone, combined treatment induced significantly exacerbated lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis, which was blocked by N-acetyl cysteine and ferroptosis inhibitors liproxstatin-1 and deferoxamine mesylate, but not by inhibitors of other types of cell death (z-VAD, necrostatin-1 and belnacasan). In Huh7 cells, we demonstrated that the combined treatment induced oxidative stress and lysosome-mediated ferritinophagy, two essential aspects of ferroptosis. Sorafenib at low dose mainly caused oxidative stress through mitochondrial impairments and SLC7A11-invovled glutathione depletion. Artesunate-induced lysosome activation synergized with sorafenib-mediated pro-oxidative effects by promoting sequential reactions including lysosomal cathepsin B/L activation, ferritin degradation, lipid peroxidation, and consequent ferroptosis. Taken together, artesunate could be repurposed to sensitize sorafenib in HCC treatment. The combined treatment can be easily translated into clinical applications.
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16
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Yin X, Liu Y, Qin J, Wu Y, Huang J, Zhao Q, Dang T, Tian Y, Yu P, Huang X. Artesunate Suppresses the Proliferation and Development of Estrogen Receptor-α-Positive Endometrial Cancer in HAND2-Dependent Pathway. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:606969. [PMID: 33511117 PMCID: PMC7835542 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.606969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common leading cause of cancer-related death in women, which is associated with the increased level of estrogen in the body. Artesunate (ART), an active compound derived from Artemisia annua L., exerted antitumor properties in several cancer types. However, the role of artesunate and the molecular basis on EC remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of artesunate. Our results identified that estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) was a key factor for the type I EC (ER-α-positive), which might suppress the downstream LKB1/AMPK/mTOR pathway. Besides, we found ART significantly inhibited tumor proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies identified that ART led to tumor cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by downregulating the ER-α expression and activating the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR pathway. In addition, we found ART could increase the expression of heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 2 (HAND2) in the ER-α-positive EC cells, which could interact with ER-α. Through the gain-and loss-function experiments, we showed that over expression of HAND2 repressed the proliferation and migration of ER-α-positive EC cells via inhibition of ER-α expression. HAND2 knockdown increased ER-α expression and alleviated the antitumor effect of ART in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our study first showed that ART could be an effective antitumor agent through modulating ER-α-mediated LKB1/AMPK/mTOR pathway in the HAND2 dependent manner. Our findings provide an effective therapeutic agent for ER-α-positive EC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghua Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiarui Qin
- Department of Urology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yixuan Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiayan Huang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Dang
- Department of Urology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yacui Tian
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ping Yu
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiyue Huang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China
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17
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Zhang BC, Luo BY, Zou JJ, Wu PY, Jiang JL, Le JQ, Zhao RR, Chen L, Shao JW. Co-delivery of Sorafenib and CRISPR/Cas9 Based on Targeted Core-Shell Hollow Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles for Synergistic HCC Therapy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:57362-57372. [PMID: 33301289 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c17660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The rapid development of CRISPR/Cas9 systems has opened up tantalizing prospects to sensitize cancers to chemotherapy using efficient targeted genome editing, but safety concerns and possible off-target effects of viral vectors remain a major obstacle for clinical application. Thus, the construction of novel nonviral tumor-targeting nanodelivery systems has great potential for the safe application of CRISPR/Cas9 systems for gene-chemo-combination therapy. Here, we report a polyamidoamine-aptamer-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticle for the co-delivery of sorafenib and CRISPR/Cas9. The core-shell nanoparticles had good stability, enabled ultrahigh drug loading, targeted delivery, and controlled-release of the gene-drug combination. The nanocomplex showed >60% EGFR-editing efficiency without off-target effects in all nine similar sites, regulating the EGFR-PI3K-Akt pathway to inhibit angiogenesis, and exhibited a synergistic effect on cell proliferation. Importantly, the co-delivery nanosystem achieved efficient EGFR gene therapy and caused 85% tumor inhibition in a mouse model. Furthermore, the nanocomplex showed high accumulation at the tumor site in vivo and exhibited good safety with no damage to major organs. Due to these properties, the nanocomplex provides a versatile delivery approach for efficient co-loading of gene-drug combinations, allowing for precise gene editing and synergistic inhibition of tumor growth without apparent side effects on normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Chen Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
| | - Bang-Yue Luo
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
| | - Jun-Jie Zou
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
| | - Peng-Yu Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
| | - Jia-Li Jiang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
| | - Jing-Qing Le
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
| | - Rui-Rui Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Institute of Oceanography, College of Ocean, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Jing-Wei Shao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
- Institute of Oceanography, College of Ocean, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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18
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Jiawei Z, Min M, Yingru X, Xin Z, Danting L, Yafeng L, Jun X, Wangfa H, Lijun Z, Jing W, Dong H. Identification of Key Genes in Lung Adenocarcinoma and Establishment of Prognostic Mode. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:561456. [PMID: 33195408 PMCID: PMC7653064 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.561456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of human tumors is associated with the abnormal expression of various functional genes, and a massive tumor-based database needs to be deeply mined. Based on a multigene prediction model, access to urgent prognosis of patients has become possible. MATERIALS AND METHODS We selected three RNA expression profiles (GSE32863, GSE10072, and GSE43458) from the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) database of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and normal tissue using GEO2R program. After that, we analyzed the transcriptome data of 479 LUAD samples (54 normal tissue samples and 425 cancer tissue samples) and their clinical follow-up data from the (TCGA) database. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were used to assess the prediction model. Multivariate Cox analysis was used to identify independent predictors. TCGA pancreatic adenocarcinoma datasets were used to establish a nomogram model. RESULTS We found 98 significantly prognosis-related genes using KM and COX analysis, among which six genes were found to be the DEGs in GEO. Using multivariate analysis, it was found that a single gene could not be used as an independent predictor of prognosis. However, the risk score calculated by weighting these six genes could serve as an independent prognosis predictor. COX analysis performed with multiple covariates such as age, gender, tumor stage, and TNM typing showed that risk score could still be utilized as an independent risk factor for patient survival rate (p = 0.013) and had an applicable reliability (area under the curve, AUC = 0.665). By combining risk score and various clinical features, the nomogram model was constructed, which had been proven to have high consistency for the prediction of 3- and 5-year survival rate (concordance = 0.751) and high accuracy as tested by ROC (AUC = 0.71;AUC = 0.708). CONCLUSION We proposed a method to predict the prognosis of LUAD by weighting multiple genes and constructed a nomogram model suitable for the prognostic evaluation of LUAD, which could provide a new tool for the identification of therapeutic targets and the efficacy evaluation of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Jiawei
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Mu Min
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Prevention and Control and Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Xing Yingru
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Zhang Xin
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Li Danting
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Liu Yafeng
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Xie Jun
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Hu Wangfa
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Zhang Lijun
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Wu Jing
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Prevention and Control and Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
| | - Hu Dong
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Prevention and Control and Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, China
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Zhao W, Bai B, Hong Z, Zhang X, Zhou B. Berbamine (BBM), a Natural STAT3 Inhibitor, Synergistically Enhances the Antigrowth and Proapoptotic Effects of Sorafenib on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:24838-24847. [PMID: 33015502 PMCID: PMC7528295 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib (SORA), a multi kinase inhibitor, is the standard first-line targeted therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, emerging evidence from clinical practice indicates that SORA alone has only moderate antitumor effects and could not completely inhibit the progression of the disease. Therefore, it is very necessary and urgent to develop novel combination therapy to improve the clinical outcomes of SORA. The pharmacological study on the chemosensitizing effects of natural products has become a hotspot in recent years, which is commonly thought to be a potential way to improve the effectiveness of drugs in clinical use. Berbamine (BBM) has potential sensitizing effects in multiple chemotherapies and target therapy. However, it remains unclarified whether the combination of BBM and SORA as a treatment could exert a synergistic effect on HCC cell lines. In this study, we first investigated whether BBM can increase the sensitivity of HCC cell lines to SORA. The results revealed that the combination of BBM and SORA could synergistically inhibit the growth of two HCC cell lines and promoted their apoptosis. Mechanistically, our results showed that BBM exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the basal and IL-6-induced STAT3 activation of HCC cell lines. In addition, the combined treatment of BBM and SORA synergistically suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705 and knockdown of STAT3 abolished the sensitization effect of BBM, indicating that BBM's sensitization effect is mainly mediated by its inhibition of STAT3. These findings identify a new type of natural STAT3 inhibitor and provide a novel approach to the enhancement of SORA efficacy by blocking the activation of STAT3.
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Wang Z, Duan X, Lv Y, Zhao Y. Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-targeted lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of sorafenib and Dihydroartemisinin in liver cancers. Life Sci 2019; 239:117013. [PMID: 31678287 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Inspired by the biological structure and function of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in this study, an ApopB-100 based targeted lipid nanoparticles was synthesized to improve the therapeutic efficacy in liver cancer treatment. MAIN METHODS The biological composition of ApopB is similar to LDL which can effectively increase the targeting efficiency of nanoparticles in LDL receptor (LDLR)-overexpressed liver tumors. KEYFINDINGS We have demonstrated that the co-administration of sorafenib (SRF) and Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) could exhibit synergistic anticancer effect in HepG2 liver cancer cells. DHA produced excessive cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced greater apoptosis of cancer cells. LDL-based SRF/DHA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LD-SDN) showed remarkable decrease in the cell viability compared to that of either of single drug treated cancer cells. Combination of SRF+DHA resulted in predominant SubG1 proportion of cells. LD-SDN exhibited the highest SubG1 (%) of cells compared to that of any of the individual drugs. Most importantly, robust antitumor response and delayed tumor growth was observed for LD-SDN treated xenograft tumor model. Ki67 proliferation index of LD-SDN (22.1 ± 5.6%) is significantly lesser compared to that of either control (86.2 ± 6.9%) or SRF (75.4 ± 4.89%) or DHA (69.4 ± 6.9%). SIGNIFICANCES These data provide strong evidence that LDL-mimetic lipid nanoformulations could be utilized as a biocompatible and tumor targeted platform for the delivery of multiple anticancer drugs in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengfeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Xinxin Duan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yinghao Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yongfu Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
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