The multi-molecular mechanisms of tumor-targeted drug resistance in precision medicine

Nanocarriers address intracellular barriers for efficient drug delivery, overcoming drug resistance, subcellular targeting and controlled release

The cellular barriers are major bottlenecks for bioactive compounds entering into cells to accomplish their biological functions, which limits their biomedical applications. Nanocarriers have demonstrated high potential and benefits for encapsulating bioactive compounds and efficiently delivering them into target cells by overcoming a cascade of intracellular barriers to achieve desirable therapeutic and diagnostic effects. In this review, we introduce the cellular barriers ahead of drug delivery and nanocarriers, as well as summarize recent advances and strategies of nanocarriers for increasing internalization with cells, promoting intracellular trafficking, overcoming drug resistance, targeting subcellular locations and controlled drug release. Lastly, the future perspectives of nanocarriers for intracellular drug delivery are discussed, which mainly focus on potential challenges and future directions. Our review presents an overview of intracellular drug delivery by nanocarriers, which may encourage the future development of nanocarriers for efficient and precision drug delivery into a wide range of cells and subcellular targets.

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs): Orchestrators of cancer pathogenesis, immunotherapy dynamics, and drug resistance

Protein Arginine Methyltransferases (PRMTs) are a family of enzymes regulating protein arginine methylation, which is a post-translational modification crucial for various cellular processes. Recent studies have highlighted the mechanistic role of PRMTs in cancer pathogenesis, immunotherapy, and drug resistance. PRMTs are involved in diverse oncogenic processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. They exert their effects by methylation of histones, transcription factors, and other regulatory proteins, resulting in altered gene expression patterns. PRMT-mediated histone methylation can lead to aberrant chromatin remodeling and epigenetic changes that drive oncogenesis. Additionally, PRMTs can directly interact with key signaling pathways involved in cancer progression, such as the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways, thereby modulating cell survival and proliferation. In the context of cancer immunotherapy, PRMTs have emerged as critical regulators of immune responses. They modulate immune checkpoint molecules, including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), through arginine methylation. Drug resistance is a significant challenge in cancer treatment, and PRMTs have been implicated in this phenomenon. PRMTs can contribute to drug resistance through multiple mechanisms, including the epigenetic regulation of drug efflux pumps, altered DNA damage repair, and modulation of cell survival pathways. In conclusion, PRMTs play critical roles in cancer pathogenesis, immunotherapy, and drug resistance. In this overview, we have endeavored to illuminate the mechanistic intricacies of PRMT-mediated processes. Shedding light on these aspects will offer valuable insights into the fundamental biology of cancer and establish PRMTs as promising therapeutic targets.

A ferroptosis-related LncRNAs signature for predicting prognoses and screening potential therapeutic drugs in patients with lung adenocarcinoma: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has a high mortality rate. Ferroptosis is linked to tumor initiation and progression.

AIMS

This study aims to develop prognostic models of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs, evaluate the correlation between differentially expressed genes and tumor microenvironment, and identify prospective drugs for managing LUAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, transcriptomic and clinical data were downloaded from the TCGA database, and ferroptosis-related genes were obtained from the FerrDb database. Through correlation analysis, Cox analysis, and the LASSO algorithm for constructing a prognostic model, we found that ferroptosis-related lncRNA-based gene signatures (FLncSig) had a strong prognostic predicting ability in the LUAD patients. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichments reconfirmed that ferroptosis is related to receptor-ligand activity, enzyme inhibitor activity, and the IL-17 signaling pathway. Next, tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithms, and pRRophetic were used to predict immunotherapy response and chemotherapy sensitivity. The IMvigor210 cohort was also used to validate the prognostic model. In the tumor microenvironment, Type_II_IFN_Response and HLA were found to be a group of low-risk pathways, while MHC_class_I was a group of high-risk pathways. Patients in the high-risk subgroup had lower TIDE scores. Exclusion, MDSC, CAF, and TAMM2 were significantly and positively correlated with risk scores. In addition, we found 15 potential therapeutic drugs for LUAD. Finally, differential analysis of stemness index based on mRNA expression (mRNAsi) indicated that mRNAsi was correlated with gender, primary tumor (T), distant metastasis (M), and the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage in LUAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the prognostic model based on FLncSig can alleviate the difficulty in predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy of LUAD patients. The identified FLncSig and the screened drugs exhibit potential for clinical application and provide references for the treatment of LUAD.

Design and Synthesis of Novel α-Methylchalcone Derivatives, Anti-Cervical Cancer Activity, and Reversal of Drug Resistance in HeLa/DDP Cells

In this study, a collection of newly developed α-methylchalcone derivatives were synthesized and assessed for their inhibitory potential against human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, and C33A) as well as normal human cervical epithelial cells (H8). Notably, compound 3k exhibited substantial inhibitory effects on both HeLa and HeLa/DDP cells while demonstrating lower toxicity toward H8 cells. Furthermore, the compound 3k was found to induce apoptosis in both HeLa and HeLa/DDP cells while also inhibiting the G2/M phase, resulting in a decrease in the invasion and migration capabilities of these cells. When administered alongside cisplatin, 3k demonstrated a significant reduction in the resistance of HeLa/DDP cells to cisplatin, as evidenced by a decrease in the resistance index (RI) value from 7.90 to 2.10. Initial investigations into the underlying mechanism revealed that 3k did not impact the expression of P-gp but instead facilitated the accumulation of rhodamine 123 in HeLa/DDP cells. The results obtained from CADD docking analysis demonstrated that 3k exhibits stable binding to microtubule proteins and P-gp targets, forming hydrogen bonding interaction forces. Immunofluorescence analysis further revealed that 3k effectively decreased the fluorescence intensity of α and β microtubules in HeLa and HeLa/DDP cells, resulting in disruptions in cell morphology, reduction in cell numbers, nucleus coagulation, and cell rupture. Additionally, Western blot analysis indicated that 3k significantly reduced the levels of polymerized α and β microtubule proteins in both HeLa and HeLa/DDP cell lines while concurrently increasing the expression of dissociated α and β microtubule proteins. The aforementioned findings indicate a potential correlation between the inhibitory effects of 3k on HeLa and HeLa/DDP cells and its ability to inhibit tubulin and P-gp.

Nano-engineering nanomedicines with customized functions for tumor treatment applications

Nano-engineering with unique "custom function" capability has shown great potential in solving technical difficulties of nanomaterials in tumor treatment. Through tuning the size and surface properties controllablly, nanoparticles can be endoewd with tailored structure, and then the characteristic functions to improve the therapeutic effect of nanomedicines. Based on nano-engineering, many have been carried out to advance nano-engineering nanomedicine. In this review, the main research related to cancer therapy attached to the development of nanoengineering nanomedicines has been presented as follows. Firstly, therapeutic agents that target to tumor area can exert the therapeutic effect effectively. Secondly, drug resistance of tumor cells can be overcome to enhance the efficacy. Thirdly, remodeling the immunosuppressive microenvironment makes the therapeutic agents work with the autoimmune system to eliminate the primary tumor and then prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis. Finally, the development prospects of nano-engineering nanomedicine are also outlined.

Molecular simulations required to target novel and potent inhibitors of cancer invasion

INTRODUCTION

Computer-aided drug design (CADD) is a computational approach used to discover, develop, and analyze drugs and active molecules with similar biochemical properties. Molecular simulation technology has significantly accelerated drug research and reduced manufacturing costs. It is an optimized drug discovery method that greatly improves the efficiency of novel drug development processes.

AREASCOVERED

This review discusses the development of molecular simulations of effective cancer inhibitors and traces the main outcomes of in silico studies by introducing representative categories of six important anticancer targets. The authors provide views on this topic from the perspective of both medicinal chemistry and artificial intelligence, indicating the major challenges and predicting trends.

EXPERT OPINION

The goal of introducing CADD into cancer treatment is to realize a highly efficient, accurate, and desired approach with a high success rate for identifying potent drug candidates. However, the major challenge is the lack of a sophisticated data-filtering mechanism to verify bottom data from mixed-quality references. Consequently, despite the continuous development of algorithms, computer power, and interface optimization, specific data filtering mechanisms will become an urgent and crucial issue in the future.

Circular RNAs in gynecologic cancers: mechanisms and implications for chemotherapy resistance

Chemotherapy resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Increasing evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a significant role in conferring chemoresistance in these cancers. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance in gynecologic malignancies. We also discuss the potential clinical implications of these findings and highlight areas for future research. CircRNAs are a novel class of RNA molecules that are characterized by their unique circular structure, which confers increased stability and resistance to degradation by exonucleases. Recent studies have shown that circRNAs can act as miRNA sponges, sequestering miRNAs and preventing them from binding to their target mRNAs. This can lead to upregulation of genes involved in drug resistance pathways, ultimately resulting in decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy. We discuss several specific examples of circRNAs that have been implicated in chemoresistance in gynecologic cancers, including cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. We also highlight the potential clinical applications of circRNA-based biomarkers for predicting chemotherapy response and guiding treatment decisions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the role of circRNAs in chemotherapy resistance in gynecologic malignancies. By elucidating the underlying mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate drug sensitivity, this work has important implications for improving patient outcomes and developing more effective therapeutic strategies for these challenging cancers.

Design, Synthesis, and Anti-Cervical Cancer and Reversal of Tumor Multidrug Resistance Activity of Novel Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Chalcone Derivatives

This study involved the design and synthesis of 21 new nitrogen-containing heterocyclic chalcone derivatives utilizing the active substructure splicing principle, with glycyrrhiza chalcone serving as the lead compound. The targets of these derivatives were VEGFR-2 and P-gp, and their efficacy against cervical cancer was evaluated. Following preliminary conformational analysis, compound 6f ((E)-1-(2-hydroxy-5-((4-hydroxypiperidin-1-yl)methyl)-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-((4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)methyl)phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one) exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa and SiHa) with IC₅₀ values of 6.52 ± 0.42 and 7.88 ± 0.52 μM, respectively, when compared to other compounds and positive control drugs. Additionally, this compound demonstrated lower toxicity towards human normal cervical epithelial cells (H8). Subsequent investigations have demonstrated that 6f exerts an inhibitory impact on VEGFR-2, as evidenced by its ability to impede the phosphorylation of p-VEGFR-2, p-PI3K, and p-Akt proteins in HeLa cells. This, in turn, results in the suppression of cell proliferation and the induction of both early and late apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, 6f significantly curtails the invasion and migration of HeLa cells. In addition, 6f had an IC₅₀ of 7.74 ± 0.36 μM against human cervical cancer cisplatin-resistant HeLa/DDP cells and a resistance index (RI) of 1.19, compared to 7.36 for cisplatin HeLa cells. The combination of 6f and cisplatin resulted in a significant reduction in cisplatin resistance in HeLa/DDP cells. Molecular docking analyses revealed that 6f exhibited binding free energies of -9.074 and -9.823 kcal·mol^-1 to VEGFR-2 and P-gp targets, respectively, and formed hydrogen bonding forces. These findings suggest that 6f has potential as an anti-cervical cancer agent and may reverse cisplatin-resistant activity in cervical cancer. The introduction of the 4-hydroxy piperidine and 4-methyl piperidine rings may contribute to its efficacy, and its mechanism of action may involve dual inhibition of VEGFR-2 and P-gp targets.

Recent development of multi-target VEGFR-2 inhibitors for the cancer therapy

Vascular epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), as an important tyrosine transmembrane protein, plays an important role in regulating endothelial cell proliferation and migration, regulating angiogenesis and other biological functions. VEGFR-2 is aberrantly expressed in many malignant tumors, and it is also related to the occurrence, development, and growth of tumors and drug resistance. Currently, there are nine VEGFR-2 targeted inhibitors approved by US.FDA for clinical use as anticancer drugs. Due to the limited clinical efficacy and potential toxicity of VEGFR inhibitors, it is necessary to develop new strategies to improve the clinical efficacy of VEGFR inhibitors. The development of multitarget therapy, especially dual-target therapy, has become a hot research field of cancer therapy, which may provide an effective strategy with higher therapeutic efficacy, pharmacokinetic advantages and low toxicity. Many groups have reported that the therapeutic effects could be improved by simultaneously inhibiting VEGFR-2 and other targets, such as EGFR, c-Met, BRAF, HDAC, etc. Therefore, VEGFR-2 inhibitors with multi-targeting capabilities have been considered to be promising and effective anticancer agents for cancer therapy. In this work, we reviewed the structure and biological functions of VEGFR-2, and summarized the drug discovery strategies, and inhibitory activities of VEGFR-2 inhibitors with multi-targeting capabilities reported in recent years. This work might provide the reference for the development of VEGFR-2 inhibitors with multi-targeting capabilities as novel anticancer agents.

Discovery of new symmetrical and asymmetrical nitrile-containing 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives as dual kinases and P-glycoprotein inhibitors: synthesis, in vitro assays, and in silico studies

Two new series of symmetric (1a-h) and asymmetric (2a-l) 1,4-DHP derivatives were designed, synthesised, and evaluated as anticancer agents. In vitro anticancer screening of target compounds via National cancer institute “NCI” revealed that analogues 1g, 2e, and 2l demonstrated antiproliferative action with mean growth inhibition percentage “GI%” = 41, 28, and 64, respectively. The reversal doxorubicin (DOX) effects of compounds 1g, 2e, and 2l were examined and illustrated better cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ =1.12, 3.64, and 3.57 µM, respectively. The most active anticancer analogues, 1g, 2e, and 2l, were inspected for their putative mechanism of action by estimating their epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitory activities. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of target compounds was assessed against six different pathogens, followed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration “MIC” values for the most active analogues. Molecular docking study was achieved to understand mode of interactions between selected inhibitors and different biological targets.

Molecular targeted therapy for anticancer treatment

Since the initial clinical approval in the late 1990s and remarkable anticancer effects for certain types of cancer, molecular targeted therapy utilizing small molecule agents or therapeutic monoclonal antibodies acting as signal transduction inhibitors has served as a fundamental backbone in precision medicine for cancer treatment. These approaches are now used clinically as first-line therapy for various types of human cancers. Compared to conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapeutic agents have efficient anticancer effects with fewer side effects. However, the emergence of drug resistance is a major drawback of molecular targeted therapy, and several strategies have been attempted to improve therapeutic efficacy by overcoming such resistance. Herein, we summarize current knowledge regarding several targeted therapeutic agents, including classification, a brief biology of target kinases, mechanisms of action, examples of clinically used targeted therapy, and perspectives for future development.