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Miriam Jose A, Rasool M. Choline kinase: An underappreciated rheumatoid arthritis therapeutic target. Life Sci 2022; 309:121031. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Veltri G, Lovisa F, Cortese G, Pillon M, Carraro E, Cesaro S, Provenzi M, Buffardi S, Francescato S, Biffi A, Buldini B, Conter V, Serafin V, Mussolin L. Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals a Different Proteomic Profile in Pediatric Patients With T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma or T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Oncol 2022; 12:913487. [PMID: 35875136 PMCID: PMC9304622 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.913487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) arise from the transformation of precursor T-cells sharing common morphological and immunophenotypic features. Despite this, T-LBL and T-ALL show different genomic/transcriptomic profiles and whether they represent two distinct disease entities or variant manifestations of the same disease is still a matter of debate. In this work, we performed a Reverse Phase Protein Array study on T-LBL and T-ALL samples and demonstrated that they are characterized by a different phosphoproteomic profile. Indeed, T-LBLs showed the hyperactivation of FAK/ERK1/2 and AKT/mTOR pathways, whereas JAK/STAT pathway was significantly hyperphosphorylated in T-ALLs. Moreover, since the only criteria for discriminating T-LBL from T-ALL is blasts’ infiltration below 25% in the bone marrow and lymphoma patients can present with a percentage of blasts close to this cut-off, a biomarker that could help distinguishing the two diseases would be of great help for the clinical diagnosis and treatment decision. Pursuing this aim, we identified a proteomic signature of six proteins whose expression/activation was able to discriminate stage IV T-LBL from T-ALL. Moreover, we demonstrated that AKT hyperphosphorylation alone was able to distinguish stage IV T-LBL from both T-ALL and stage III T-LBL. Concluding, these data demonstrate that T-ALL and T-LBL bear different phosphoproteomic profiles, further sustaining the hypothesis of the two disease as different entities and paving the way for the identification of new biomarkers able to distinguish stage IV T-LBL from T-ALL disease, so far based only on BM involvement criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Veltri
- Maternal and Child Health Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Oncohematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Research Area, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Federica Lovisa
- Oncohematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Research Area, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Giuliana Cortese
- Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marta Pillon
- Clinic of Pediatric Oncohematology, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elisa Carraro
- Clinic of Pediatric Oncohematology, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Cesaro
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Woman and Child Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Massimo Provenzi
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Buffardi
- Pediatric Haemato-Oncology Department, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Biffi
- Maternal and Child Health Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Clinic of Pediatric Oncohematology, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Barbara Buldini
- Maternal and Child Health Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Clinic of Pediatric Oncohematology, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Valentino Conter
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology Unit, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza e Brianza per il Bambino e la sua Mamma (MBBM) Foundation, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Valentina Serafin
- Oncohematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Research Area, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, Oncology and Immunology Section, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Lara Mussolin, ; Valentina Serafin,
| | - Lara Mussolin
- Maternal and Child Health Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Oncohematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy Research Area, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Lara Mussolin, ; Valentina Serafin,
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Xiong H, Zhang HT, Xiao HW, Huang CL, Huang MZ. Serum Metabolomics Coupling With Clinical Laboratory Indicators Reveal Taxonomic Features of Leukemia. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:794042. [PMID: 35721208 PMCID: PMC9204281 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.794042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic abnormality has been considered to be the seventh characteristic in cancer cells. The potential prospect of using serum biomarkers metabolites to differentiate ALL from AML remains unclear. The purpose of our study is to probe whether the differences in metabolomics are related to clinical laboratory-related indicators. We used LC-MS-based metabolomics analysis to study 50 peripheral blood samples of leukemia patients from a single center. Then Chi-square test and T test were used to analyze the clinical characteristics, laboratory indicators and cytokines of 50 patients with leukemia. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between them and the differential metabolites of different types of leukemia. Our study shows that it is feasible to better identify serum metabolic differences in different types and states of leukemia by metabolomic analysis on existing clinical diagnostic techniques. The metabolism of choline and betaine may also be significantly related to the patient’s blood lipid profile. The main enrichment pathways for distinguishing differential metabolites in different types of leukemia are amino acid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. All these findings suggested that differential metabolites and lipid profiles might identify different types of leukemia based on existing clinical diagnostic techniques, and their rich metabolic pathways help us to better understand the physiological characteristics of leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao- Xiong
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Hui-Tao Zhang
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Department of General Practice, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Hong-Wen Xiao
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Chun-Lan Huang
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Mei-Zhou Huang
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Academician (Expert) Workstation of Sichuan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Mei-Zhou Huang,
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Biological Evaluation of New Thienopyridinium and Thienopyrimidinium Derivatives as Human Choline Kinase Inhibitors. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040715. [PMID: 35456549 PMCID: PMC9032693 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to its role in lipid biosynthesis, choline kinase α1 (CKα1) is an interesting target for the development of new antitumor agents. In this work, we present a series of 41 compounds designed based on the well-known and successful strategy of introducing thienopyridine and pyrimidine as bioisosteres of other heterocycles in active antitumor compounds. Notwithstanding the fact that some of these compounds do not show significant enzymatic inhibition, others, in contrast, feature substantially improved enzymatic and antiproliferative inhibition values. This is also confirmed by docking analysis, whereby compounds with longer linkers and thienopyrimidine cationic head have been identified as the most compelling. Among the best compounds is Ff-35, which inhibits the growth of different tumor cells at submicromolar concentrations. Moreover, Ff-35 is more potent in inhibiting CKα1 than other previous biscationic derivatives. Treatment of A549, Hela, and MDA-MB-231 cells with Ff-35 results in their arrest at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, the compound induces cellular apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Altogether, these findings indicate that Ff-35 is a promising new chemotherapeutic agent with encouraging preclinical potential.
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Hoff FW, Horton TM, Kornblau SM. Reverse phase protein arrays in acute leukemia: investigative and methodological challenges. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 18:1087-1097. [PMID: 34965151 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2021.2020655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute leukemia results from a series of mutational events that alter cell growth and proliferation. Mutations result in protein changes that orchestrate growth alterations characteristic of leukemia. Proteomics is a methodology appropriate for study of protein changes found in leukemia. The high-throughput reverse phase protein array (RPPA) technology is particularly well-suited for the assessment of protein changes in samples derived from clinical trials. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the technical, methodological, and analytical issues related to the successful development of acute leukemia RPPAs. EXPERT COMMENTARY To obtain representative protein sample lysates, samples should be prepared from freshly collected blood or bone marrow material. Variables such as sample shipment, transit time, and holding temperature only have minimal effects on protein expression. CellSave preservation tubes are preferred for cells collected after exposure to chemotherapy, and incorporation of standardized guidelines for antibody validation is recommended. A more systematic biological approach to analyze protein expression is desired, searching for recurrent patterns of protein expression that allow classification of patients into risk groups, or groups of patients that may be treated similarly. Comparing RPPA protein analysis between cell lines and primary samples shows that cell lines are not representative of patient proteomic patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fieke W Hoff
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, TX, USA
| | - Terzah M Horton
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Steven M Kornblau
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Schiaffino-Ortega S, Mariotto E, Luque-Navarro PM, Kimatrai-Salvador M, Rios-Marco P, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Marco C, Carrasco-Jimenez MP, Viola G, López-Cara LC. Anticancer and Structure Activity Relationship of Non-Symmetrical Choline Kinase Inhibitors. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091360. [PMID: 34575436 PMCID: PMC8464809 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline kinase inhibitors are an outstanding class of cytotoxic compounds useful for the treatment of different forms of cancer since aberrant choline metabolism is a feature of neoplastic cells. Here, we present the most in-depth structure-activity relationship studies of an interesting series of non-symmetric choline kinase inhibitors previously reported by our group: 3a–h and 4a–h. They are characterized by cationic heads of 3-aminophenol bound to 4-(dimethylamino)- or 4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)pyridinium through several linkers. These derivatives were evaluated both for their inhibitory activity on the enzyme and their antiproliferative activity in a panel of six human tumor cell lines. The compounds with the N-atom connected to the linker (4a–h) show the best inhibitory results, in the manner of results supported by docking studies. On the contrary, the best antiproliferative compounds were those with the O-atom bounded to the linker (3a–h). On the other hand, as was predictable in both families, the inhibitory effect on the enzyme is better the shorter the length of the linker. However, in tumor cells, lipophilicity and choline uptake inhibition could play a decisive role. Interestingly, compounds 3c and 4f, selected for both their ability to inhibit the enzyme and good antiproliferative activity, are endowed with low toxicity in non-tumoral cells (e.g., human peripheral lymphocytes) concerning cancer cells. These compounds were also able to induce apoptosis in Jurkat leukemic cells without causing significant variations of the cell cycle. It is worth mentioning that these derivatives, besides their inhibitory effect on choline kinase, displayed a modest ability to inhibit choline uptake thus suggesting that this mechanism may also contribute to the observed cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Schiaffino-Ortega
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus of Cartuja, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (S.S.-O.); (P.M.L.-N.); (M.K.-S.)
| | - Elena Mariotto
- Laboratory of Oncohematology, Department of Woman’s and Child’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
| | - Pilar María Luque-Navarro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus of Cartuja, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (S.S.-O.); (P.M.L.-N.); (M.K.-S.)
| | - María Kimatrai-Salvador
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus of Cartuja, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (S.S.-O.); (P.M.L.-N.); (M.K.-S.)
| | - Pablo Rios-Marco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (P.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - Ramon Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain;
| | - Carmen Marco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (P.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - María Paz Carrasco-Jimenez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (P.R.-M.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence: (M.P.C.-J.); (G.V.); (L.C.L.-C.); Tel.: +34-958-243-248 (M.P.C.-J.); +34-958-243-849 (L.C.L.-C.)
| | - Giampietro Viola
- Laboratory of Oncohematology, Department of Woman’s and Child’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Correspondence: (M.P.C.-J.); (G.V.); (L.C.L.-C.); Tel.: +34-958-243-248 (M.P.C.-J.); +34-958-243-849 (L.C.L.-C.)
| | - Luisa Carlota López-Cara
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus of Cartuja, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; (S.S.-O.); (P.M.L.-N.); (M.K.-S.)
- Correspondence: (M.P.C.-J.); (G.V.); (L.C.L.-C.); Tel.: +34-958-243-248 (M.P.C.-J.); +34-958-243-849 (L.C.L.-C.)
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ChoK-Full of Potential: Choline Kinase in B Cell and T Cell Malignancies. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13060911. [PMID: 34202989 PMCID: PMC8234087 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060911] [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: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant choline metabolism, characterized by an increase in total choline-containing compounds, phosphocholine and phosphatidylcholine (PC), is a metabolic hallmark of carcinogenesis and tumor progression. This aberration arises from alterations in metabolic enzymes that control PC biosynthesis and catabolism. Among these enzymes, choline kinase α (CHKα) exhibits the most frequent alterations and is commonly overexpressed in human cancers. CHKα catalyzes the phosphorylation of choline to generate phosphocholine, the first step in de novo PC biosynthesis. CHKα overexpression is associated with the malignant phenotype, metastatic capability and drug resistance in human cancers, and thus has been recognized as a robust biomarker and therapeutic target of cancer. Of clinical importance, increased choline metabolism and CHKα activity can be detected by non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging with radiolabeled choline analogs for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of cancer patients. Both choline-based MRS and PET/CT imaging have also been clinically applied for lymphoid malignancies, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and central nervous system lymphoma. However, information on how choline kinase is dysregulated in lymphoid malignancies is very limited and has just begun to be unraveled. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of choline kinase in B cell and T cell malignancies with the goal of promoting future investigation in this area.
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Lacal JC, Zimmerman T, Campos JM. Choline Kinase: An Unexpected Journey for a Precision Medicine Strategy in Human Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:788. [PMID: 34070409 PMCID: PMC8226952 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline kinase (ChoK) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of choline to form phosphorylcholine (PCho) in the presence of ATP and magnesium. ChoK is required for the synthesis of key membrane phospholipids and is involved in malignant transformation in a large variety of human tumours. Active compounds against ChoK have been identified and proposed as antitumor agents. The ChoK inhibitory and antiproliferative activities of symmetrical bispyridinium and bisquinolinium compounds have been defined using quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) and structural parameters. The design strategy followed in the development of the most active molecules is presented. The selective anticancer activity of these structures is also described. One promising anticancer compound has even entered clinical trials. Recently, ChoKα inhibitors have also been proposed as a novel therapeutic approach against parasites, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory processes, and pathogenic bacteria. The evidence for ChoKα as a novel drug target for approaches in precision medicine is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Lacal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, CSIC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Paz, IDIPAZ, 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - Tahl Zimmerman
- Food Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina University, 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA;
| | - Joaquín M. Campos
- Departamento de Química Farmacéutica y Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, c/Campus de Cartuja, s/n, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Instituto Biosanitario de Granada (ibs. GRANADA), SAS-Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Pacheco-Torres J, Penet MF, Mironchik Y, Krishnamachary B, Bhujwalla ZM. The PD-L1 metabolic interactome intersects with choline metabolism and inflammation. Cancer Metab 2021; 9:10. [PMID: 33608051 PMCID: PMC7893974 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-021-00245-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Harnessing the power of the immune system by using immune checkpoint inhibitors has resulted in some of the most exciting advances in cancer treatment. The full potential of this approach has, however, not been fully realized for treating many cancers such as pancreatic and breast cancer. Cancer metabolism influences many aspects of cancer progression including immune surveillance. An expanded understanding of how cancer metabolism can directly impact immune checkpoints may allow further optimization of immunotherapy. We therefore investigated, for the first time, the relationship between the overexpression of choline kinase-α (Chk-α), an enzyme observed in most cancers, and the expression of the immune checkpoint PD-L1. Methods We used small interfering RNA to downregulate Chk-α, PD-L1, or both in two triple-negative human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and SUM-149) and two human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines (Pa09C and Pa20C). The effects of the downregulation were studied at the genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels. The findings were compared with the results obtained by the analysis of public data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program. Results We identified an inverse dependence between Chk-α and PD-L1 at the genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels. We also found that prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) play an important role in this relationship. We independently confirmed this relationship in human cancers by analyzing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program. Conclusions Our data identified previously unknown roles of PD-L1 in cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, and revealed the immunosuppressive increased PD-L1 effect of Chk-α downregulation. These data suggest that PD-L1 regulation of metabolism may be mediated through Chk-α, COX-2, and TGF-β. The observations provide new insights that can be applied to the rational design of combinatorial therapies targeting immune checkpoints and cancer metabolism. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40170-021-00245-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Pacheco-Torres
- Division of Cancer Imaging Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Rm 208C Traylor Building, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Marie-France Penet
- Division of Cancer Imaging Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Rm 208C Traylor Building, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yelena Mironchik
- Division of Cancer Imaging Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Rm 208C Traylor Building, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Balaji Krishnamachary
- Division of Cancer Imaging Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Rm 208C Traylor Building, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Zaver M Bhujwalla
- Division of Cancer Imaging Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Rm 208C Traylor Building, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Serrán-Aguilera L, Mariotto E, Rubbini G, Castro Navas FF, Marco C, Carrasco-Jiménez MP, Ballarotto M, Macchiarulo A, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Viola G, Lopez-Cara LC. Synthesis, biological evaluation, in silico modeling and crystallization of novel small monocationic molecules with potent antiproliferative activity by dual mechanism. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 207:112797. [PMID: 32977218 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Seeking for new anticancer drugs with strong antiproliferative activity and simple molecular structure, we designed a novel series of compounds based on our previous reported pharmacophore model composed of five moieties. Antiproliferative assays on four tumoral cell lines and evaluation of Human Choline Kinase CKα1 enzymatic activity was performed for these compounds. Among tested molecules, those ones with biphenyl spacer showed betters enzymatic and antiproliferative activities (n-v). Docking and crystallization studies validate the hypothesis and confirm the results. The most active compound (t) induces a significant arrest of the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase that ultimately lead to apoptosis, following the mitochondrial pathway, as demonstrated for other choline kinase inhibitors. However additional assays reveal that the inhibition of choline uptake could also be involved in the antiproliferative outcome of this class of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Serrán-Aguilera
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Cartuja S/n. University of Granada, 18010, Granada, Spain
| | - Elena Mariotto
- Department of Woman's and Child's Health, Laboratory of Oncohematology, University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Gianluca Rubbini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Cartuja S/n. University of Granada, 18010, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Fermín Castro Navas
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Cartuja S/n. University of Granada, 18010, Granada, Spain
| | - Carmen Marco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Sciences, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Marco Ballarotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, Perugia, 06123, Italy
| | - Antonio Macchiarulo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via Del Liceo 1, Perugia, 06123, Italy
| | - Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI) and Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzada (LMA), Mariano Esquillor S/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D; Fundacion ARAID, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain; Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Giampietro Viola
- Department of Woman's and Child's Health, Laboratory of Oncohematology, University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa Carlota Lopez-Cara
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Cartuja S/n. University of Granada, 18010, Granada, Spain.
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Zhang P, Ni H, Zhang Y, Xu W, Gao J, Cheng J, Tao L. Ivermectin confers its cytotoxic effects by inducing AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy and DNA damage. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 259:127448. [PMID: 32593828 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ivermectin (IVM), a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug, is widely used in agriculture and animal husbandry. Due to widespread use and little metabolism in animals, the toxicity of IVM has received increasing attention. The accumulation of IVM in animal tissues and the excretion of urine and feces in the environment is the major source of potential toxicity. Human consumption of meat or milk contaminated with livestock can result in exposure to high levels of IVM exposure. The aim of this study was to reveal the cytotoxic mechanism of IVM in model cell HeLa in vitro, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the safe and rational use of IVM. Here we observed the γH2AX and 8-oxodG foci to detect the DNA damage in HeLa cells. As expected, we found that IVM can induce oxidative double-stranded damage in HeLa cells, indicating that IVM has potential genotoxicity to human health. In addition, we observed the formation of LC3-B in HeLa cells, the accumulation of Beclin1, the degradation of p62 and the activation of the AMPK/mTOR signal transduction pathway. This suggests that IVM confers cytotoxicity through autophagy mediated by the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. We conclude that IVM produces genotoxicity and cytotoxicity by inducing DNA damage and AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy, thereby posing a potential risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Hongfei Ni
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wenping Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Jufang Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Jiagao Cheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Liming Tao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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12
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Rubio-Ruiz B, Serrán-Aguilera L, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Conejo-García A. Recent advances in the design of choline kinase α inhibitors and the molecular basis of their inhibition. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:902-927. [PMID: 33103259 DOI: 10.1002/med.21746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Upregulated choline metabolism, characterized by an increase in phosphocholine (PCho), is a hallmark of oncogenesis and tumor progression. Choline kinase (ChoK), the enzyme responsible for PCho synthesis, has consequently become a promising drug target for cancer therapy and as such a significant number of ChoK inhibitors have been developed over the last few decades. More recently, due to the role of this enzyme in other pathologies, ChoK inhibitors have also been used in new therapeutic approaches against malaria and rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we review research results in the field of ChoKα inhibitors from their synthesis to the molecular basis of their binding mode. Strategies for the development of inhibitors and their selectivity on ChoKα over ChoKβ, the plasticity of the choline-binding site, the discovery of new exploitable binding sites, and the allosteric properties of this enzyme are highlighted. The outcomes summarized in this review will be a useful guide to develop new multifunctional potent drugs for the treatment of various human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Rubio-Ruiz
- Department of Medicinal and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Regional Government Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Granada, Spain.,Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), SAS-University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Lucía Serrán-Aguilera
- Department of Medicinal and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzada, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,ARAID Foundation, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Conejo-García
- Department of Medicinal and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), SAS-University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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13
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Butler LM, Perone Y, Dehairs J, Lupien LE, de Laat V, Talebi A, Loda M, Kinlaw WB, Swinnen JV. Lipids and cancer: Emerging roles in pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 159:245-293. [PMID: 32711004 PMCID: PMC7736102 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 285] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of effective tools to study lipids, including mass spectrometry-based lipidomics, lipids are emerging as central players in cancer biology. Lipids function as essential building blocks for membranes, serve as fuel to drive energy-demanding processes and play a key role as signaling molecules and as regulators of numerous cellular functions. Not unexpectedly, cancer cells, as well as other cell types in the tumor microenvironment, exploit various ways to acquire lipids and extensively rewire their metabolism as part of a plastic and context-dependent metabolic reprogramming that is driven by both oncogenic and environmental cues. The resulting changes in the fate and composition of lipids help cancer cells to thrive in a changing microenvironment by supporting key oncogenic functions and cancer hallmarks, including cellular energetics, promoting feedforward oncogenic signaling, resisting oxidative and other stresses, regulating intercellular communication and immune responses. Supported by the close connection between altered lipid metabolism and the pathogenic process, specific lipid profiles are emerging as unique disease biomarkers, with diagnostic, prognostic and predictive potential. Multiple preclinical studies illustrate the translational promise of exploiting lipid metabolism in cancer, and critically, have shown context dependent actionable vulnerabilities that can be rationally targeted, particularly in combinatorial approaches. Moreover, lipids themselves can be used as membrane disrupting agents or as key components of nanocarriers of various therapeutics. With a number of preclinical compounds and strategies that are approaching clinical trials, we are at the doorstep of exploiting a hitherto underappreciated hallmark of cancer and promising target in the oncologist's strategy to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Butler
- Adelaide Medical School and Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Ylenia Perone
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jonas Dehairs
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leslie E Lupien
- Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 037560, USA
| | - Vincent de Laat
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ali Talebi
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Massimo Loda
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - William B Kinlaw
- The Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Johannes V Swinnen
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, KU Leuven Cancer Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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14
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Xu W, Wang Z, Li K, Jin R. Huai Qi Huang Potentiates Dexamethasone-Mediated Lethality in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells by Upregulating Glucocorticoid Receptor α. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e921649. [PMID: 32065117 PMCID: PMC7043341 DOI: 10.12659/msm.921649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glucocorticoids are important components of a number of chemotherapeutic regimens used to treat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A primary cause of treatment failure of ALL is acquired resistance to glucocorticoids. Recently, traditional Chinese medicines were effectively used to treat solid tumors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether Huai Qi Huang (HQH), a traditional Chinese medicine, increased the efficacy of glucocorticoids in the treatment of ALL, and if so, to determine the underlying mechanism. Material/Methods Various concentrations of HQH were used to treat Jurkat and Nalm-6 cells for 24 to 72 hours. Subsequently, cells were co-treated with HQH and the glucocorticoid receptor agonist, dexamethasone (DEX), or a MEK inhibitor (PD98059) to verify the synergistic effects on apoptosis in Jurkat and Nalm-6 cells for 24 hours. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Protein and mRNA expression levels were assessed using western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results The results revealed that cell survival was reduced and apoptosis was increased as the HQH concentration was increased, and this was accompanied with increases in the levels of BAX, cleaved-caspase-3 and glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα) and decreases in the levels of Bcl-2 and phospho-ERK (pERK). Glucocorticoid receptor β (GRβ) and total ERK (t-ERK) had no significant changes. Combined treatment with HQH and DEX or PD98059 increased apoptosis in Jurkat and Nalm-6 cells, and concurrently increased BAX, cleaved-caspase-3, GILZ, NFKBIA, and GRα and decreased Bcl-2 and pERK. Conclusions HQH enhanced the sensitivity of ALL cells to glucocorticoids by increasing the expression of GRα and inhibiting the MEK/ERK pathway, thus providing a rational foundation for the treatment of ALL with HQH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfu Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
| | - Zhujun Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
| | - Kun Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
| | - Runming Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
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15
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Gokhale S, Lu W, Zhu S, Liu Y, Hart RP, Rabinowitz JD, Xie P. Elevated Choline Kinase α-Mediated Choline Metabolism Supports the Prolonged Survival of TRAF3-Deficient B Lymphocytes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 204:459-471. [PMID: 31826940 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Specific deletion of the tumor suppressor TRAF3 from B lymphocytes in mice leads to the prolonged survival of mature B cells and expanded B cell compartments in secondary lymphoid organs. In the current study, we investigated the metabolic basis of TRAF3-mediated regulation of B cell survival by employing metabolomic, lipidomic, and transcriptomic analyses. We compared the polar metabolites, lipids, and metabolic enzymes of resting splenic B cells purified from young adult B cell-specific Traf3 -/- and littermate control mice. We found that multiple metabolites, lipids, and enzymes regulated by TRAF3 in B cells are clustered in the choline metabolic pathway. Using stable isotope labeling, we demonstrated that phosphocholine and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis was markedly elevated in Traf3 -/- mouse B cells and decreased in TRAF3-reconstituted human multiple myeloma cells. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of choline kinase α, an enzyme that catalyzes phosphocholine synthesis and was strikingly increased in Traf3 -/- B cells, substantially reversed the survival phenotype of Traf3 -/- B cells both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results indicate that enhanced phosphocholine and phosphatidylcholine synthesis supports the prolonged survival of Traf3 -/- B lymphocytes. Our findings suggest that TRAF3-regulated choline metabolism has diagnostic and therapeutic value for B cell malignancies with TRAF3 deletions or relevant mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Gokhale
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854.,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Wenyun Lu
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901; and
| | - Sining Zhu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854.,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Ronald P Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901; and.,W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Joshua D Rabinowitz
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544.,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901; and
| | - Ping Xie
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854; .,Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901; and
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16
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Simioni C, Bergamini F, Ferioli M, Rimondi E, Caruso L, Neri LM. New biomarkers and therapeutic strategies in acute lymphoblastic leukemias: Recent advances. Hematol Oncol 2019; 38:22-33. [PMID: 31487068 DOI: 10.1002/hon.2678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies, and it is normally characterized by an aberrant proliferation of immature lymphoid cells. Moreover, dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways that normally regulate cellular transcription, growth, translation, and proliferation is frequently encountered in this malignancy. ALL is the most frequent tumor in childhood, and adult ALL patients still correlate with poor survival. This review focuses on modern therapies in ALL that move beyond standard chemotherapy, with a particular emphasis on immunotherapeutic approaches as new treatment strategies. Bi-specific T-cell Engagers (BiTE) antibodies, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, or CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats [CRISPR]-associated nuclease 9) represent other new innovative approaches for this disease. Target and tailored therapy could make the difference in previously untreatable cases, i.e., precision and personalized medicine. Clinical trials will help to select the most efficient novel therapies in ALL management and to integrate them with existing treatments to achieve durable cures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Simioni
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabio Bergamini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Martina Ferioli
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Erika Rimondi
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,LTTA-Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luca M Neri
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,LTTA-Electron Microscopy Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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17
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Choline Kinase Alpha Inhibition by EB-3D Triggers Cellular Senescence, Reduces Tumor Growth and Metastatic Dissemination in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10100391. [PMID: 30360374 PMCID: PMC6209942 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10100391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline kinase (ChoK) is the first enzyme of the Kennedy pathway leading to the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), the most abundant phospholipid in eukaryotic cell membranes. EB-3D is a novel choline kinase α1 (ChoKα1) inhibitor with potent antiproliferative activity against a panel of several cancer cell lines. ChoKα1 is particularly overexpressed and hyperactivated in aggressive breast cancer. By NMR analysis, we demonstrated that EB-3D is able to reduce the synthesis of phosphocholine, and using flow cytometry, immunoblotting, and q-RT-PCR as well as proliferation and invasion assays, we proved that EB-3D strongly impairs breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. EB-3D induces senescence in breast cancer cell lines through the activation of the metabolic sensor AMPK and the subsequent dephosphorylation of mTORC1 downstream targets, such as p70S6K, S6 ribosomal protein, and 4E-BP1. Moreover, EB-3D strongly synergizes with drugs commonly used for breast cancer treatment. The antitumorigenic potential of EB-3D was evaluated in vivo in the syngeneic orthotopic E0771 mouse model of breast cancer, where it induces a significant reduction of the tumor mass at low doses. In addition, EB-3D showed an antimetastatic effect in experimental and spontaneous metastasis models. Altogether, our results indicate that EB-3D could be a promising new anticancer agent to improve aggressive breast cancer treatment protocols.
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