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Li X, Yang X, Guo W, Li H, Sun W, Lin X, Ma Z, Li X, Liu Z. Natural products as inhibitors against pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion: possible mechanisms. Am J Cancer Res 2024; 14:2695-2713. [PMID: 39005683 PMCID: PMC11236794 DOI: 10.62347/xlzx8935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the gastrointestinal tumors with the lowest survival rate and the worst prognosis. At the time of diagnosis, the majority of patients have missed the opportunity for radical surgical resection and opt for chemotherapy as their primary treatment choice. And drug resistance emerges during the application of the most widely used chemotherapeutic regimens such as modified FOLFIRINOX regimen, gemcitabine monotherapy or 5-Fluorouracil combination therapy, which further reduces the therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, it is urgent to explore better treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer. In recent years, more and more studies have found that natural products have significant anti-pancreatic cancer properties. In this paper, we reviewed the possible mechanisms by which natural products inhibit the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, including the possible mechanisms of targeting the inhibition of the growth and proliferation regulatory pathways of pancreatic cancer cells, inducing apoptosis and autophagy of pancreatic cancer cells, inhibiting the EMT process of pancreatic cancer cells, and inhibiting the angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Meanwhile, natural products have also hindered the progress of their basic and clinical research due to the complexity of their composition and the limitation of biological extraction technology. Further exploration of the specific molecular mechanisms of natural products to inhibit the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, optimization of purification and preparation techniques, and enrichment of basic and clinical trials to verify their efficacy and safety may be the future direction of natural products in the field of anti-pancreatic cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Xu Yang
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Weiqing Sun
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Xingda Lin
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Zuoxin Ma
- Medical Laboratory, Liaoning Province Hospital Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Xuan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Liaoning Province Hospital Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China
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2
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Hagi T, Vangveravong S, Takchi R, Gong Q, Goedegebuure SP, Tiriac H, Van Tine BA, Powell MA, Hawkins WG, Spitzer D. The novel drug candidate S2/IAPinh improves survival in models of pancreatic and ovarian cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6373. [PMID: 38493257 PMCID: PMC10944456 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56928-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer selective apoptosis remains a therapeutic challenge and off-target toxicity has limited enthusiasm for this target clinically. Sigma-2 ligands (S2) have been shown to enhance the cancer selectivity of small molecule drug candidates by improving internalization. Here, we report the synthesis of a novel drug conjugate, which was created by linking a clinically underperforming SMAC mimetic (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases; LCL161), an inhibitor (antagonist) of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPinh) with the sigma-2 ligand SW43, resulting in the new chemical entity S2/IAPinh. Drug potency was assessed via cell viability assays across several pancreatic and ovarian cancer cell lines in comparison with the individual components (S2 and IAPinh) as well as their equimolar mixtures (S2 + IAPinh) both in vitro and in preclinical models of pancreatic and ovarian cancer. Mechanistic studies of S2/IAPinh-mediated cell death were investigated in vitro and in vivo using syngeneic and xenograft mouse models of murine pancreatic and human ovarian cancer, respectively. S2/IAPinh demonstrated markedly improved pharmacological activity in cancer cell lines and primary organoid cultures when compared to the controls. In vivo testing demonstrated a marked reduction in tumor growth rates and increased survival rates when compared to the respective control groups. The predicted mechanism of action of S2/IAPinh was confirmed through assessment of apoptosis pathways and demonstrated strong target degradation (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins-1 [cIAP-1]) and activation of caspases 3 and 8. Taken together, S2/IAPinh demonstrated efficacy in models of pancreatic and ovarian cancer, two challenging malignancies in need of novel treatment concepts. Our data support an in-depth investigation into utilizing S2/IAPinh for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaomi Hagi
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Suwanna Vangveravong
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Rony Takchi
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Qingqing Gong
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - S Peter Goedegebuure
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Herve Tiriac
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA, San Diego, USA
| | - Brian A Van Tine
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Matthew A Powell
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - William G Hawkins
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Dirk Spitzer
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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3
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Liu S, Yang P, Wang L, Zou X, Zhang D, Chen W, Hu C, Xiao D, Ren H, Zhang H, Cai S. Targeting PAK4 reverses cisplatin resistance in NSCLC by modulating ER stress. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:36. [PMID: 38238316 PMCID: PMC10796919 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01798-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance poses a significant impediment to effective treatments for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). P21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) has been implicated in NSCLC progression by invasion and migration. However, the involvement of PAK4 in cisplatin resistance is not clear. Here, we presented a comprehensive investigation into the involvement of PAK4 in cisplatin resistance within NSCLC. Our study revealed enhanced PAK4 expression in both cisplatin-resistant NSCLC tumors and cell lines. Notably, PAK4 silencing led to a remarkable enhancement in the chemosensitivity of cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cells. Cisplatin evoked endoplasmic reticulum stress in NSCLC. Furthermore, inhibition of PAK4 demonstrated the potential to sensitize resistant tumor cells through modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress. Mechanistically, we unveiled that the suppression of the MEK1-GRP78 signaling pathway results in the sensitization of NSCLC cells to cisplatin after PAK4 knockdown. Our findings establish PAK4 as a promising therapeutic target for addressing chemoresistance in NSCLC, potentially opening new avenues for enhancing treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixin Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, and Minister of Education Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Institute of Precision Cancer Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Pingshan Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - Lu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, and Minister of Education Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Institute of Precision Cancer Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiaofang Zou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, Meizhou, China
| | - Dongdong Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - Wenyou Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - Chuang Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - Duqing Xiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China
| | - Hongzheng Ren
- Department of Pathology, Gongli Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200135, China.
- Department of Pathology, Heping Hospital, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 000465, China.
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, and Minister of Education Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Institute of Precision Cancer Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou; The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
| | - Songwang Cai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Road West, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
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Hong P, Wu M, Wei X, Xu X, Wu P, Gan L, Wu R, Jin J, Zhang K, Li D, Chen M, Wong W, Liu W, Zheng X. Inhibitory effect of liriopesides B in combination with gemcitabine on human pancreatic cancer cells. Bioorg Chem 2024; 142:106937. [PMID: 37913583 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Gemcitabine (GEM) is a standard chemotherapeutic agent for patients with pancreatic cancer; however, GEM-based chemotherapy has a high rate of toxicity. A combination of GEM and active constituents from natural products may enhance its therapeutic efficacy and reduce its toxicity. This study investigated the synergistic effects of the combination of liriopesides B (LirB) from Liriope spicata var. prolifera and GEM on human pancreatic cancer cells. The results of our study showed that the combination of LirB and GEM synergistically decreased the viability of pancreatic cancer cells. The combination also caused a strong increase in apoptosis and a strong decrease in cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, LirB combined with GEM had potent inhibitory effects on pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). Studies on the mechanisms of action showed that the combination more potently inhibited protein kinase B (Akt) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), as well as the downstream antiapoptotic molecules B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and survivin than either agent used alone. The results of this study suggest that the combination of LirB with GEM may improve the efficacy of GEM for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Hong
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Mengshuo Wu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Xingchuan Wei
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xuetao Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Panpan Wu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Lishe Gan
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Rihui Wu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Jingwei Jin
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Dongli Li
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Min Chen
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Wingleung Wong
- Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China
| | - Wenfeng Liu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China.
| | - Xi Zheng
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529020, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China.
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Hu X, Peng X, Zhang Y, Fan S, Liu X, Song Y, Ren S, Chen L, Chen Y, Wang R, Peng J, Shen X, Chen Y. Shikonin reverses cancer-associated fibroblast-induced gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells by suppressing monocarboxylate transporter 4-mediated reverse Warburg effect. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155214. [PMID: 38134861 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gemcitabine is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer (PC); however, most patients who receive adjuvant gemcitabine rapidly develop resistance and recurrence. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a crucial component of the tumor stroma that contribute to gemcitabine-resistance. There is thus an urgent need to find a novel therapeutic strategy to improve the efficacy of gemcitabine in PC cells under CAF-stimulation. PURPOSE To investigate if shikonin potentiates the therapeutic effects of gemcitabine in PC cells with CAF-induced drug resistance. METHODS PC cell-stimulated fibroblasts or primary CAFs derived from PC tissue were co-cultured with PC cells to evaluate the ability of shikonin to improve the chemotherapeutic effects of gemcitabine in vitro and in vivo. Glucose uptake assay, ATP content analysis, lactate measurement, real-time PCR, immunofluorescence staining, western blot, and plasmid transfection were used to investigate the underlying mechanism. RESULTS CAFs were innately resistant to gemcitabine, but shikonin suppressed the PC cell-induced transactivation and proliferation of CAFs, reversed CAF-induced resistance, and restored the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine in the co-culture system. In addition, CAFs underwent a reverse Warburg effect when co-cultured with PC cells, represented by enhanced aerobic glycolytic metabolism, while shikonin reduced aerobic glycolysis in CAFs by reducing their glucose uptake, ATP concentration, lactate production and secretion, and glycolytic protein expression. Regarding the mechanism underlying these sensitizing effects, shikonin suppressed monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) expression and cellular membrane translocation to inhibit aerobic glycolysis in CAFs. Overexpression of MCT4 accordingly reversed the inhibitory effects of shikonin on PC cell-induced transactivation and aerobic glycolysis in CAFs, and reduced its sensitizing effects. Furthermore, shikonin promoted the effects of gemcitabine in reducing the growth of tumors derived from PC cells and CAF co-inoculation in BALB/C mice, with no significant systemic toxicity. CONCLUSION These results indicate that shikonin reduced MCT4 expression and activation, resulting in inhibition of aerobic glycolysis in CAFs and overcoming CAF-induced gemcitabine resistance in PC. Shikonin is a promising chemosensitizing phytochemical agent when used in combination with gemcitabine for PC treatment. The results suggest that disrupting the metabolic coupling between cancer cells and stromal cells might provide an attractive strategy for improving gemcitabine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Hu
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Peng
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Shuangqin Fan
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Xing Liu
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yuxuan Song
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Shuang Ren
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Lin Chen
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Yi Chen
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Rong Wang
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China
| | - Jianqing Peng
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China.
| | - Xiangchun Shen
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China.
| | - Yan Chen
- The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Union Key Laboratory of Guiyang City-Guizhou Medical University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China; The Key Laboratory of Optimal Utilization of Natural Medicine Resources, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, University Town, Guian New District, 550025, Guizhou, China.
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Lu J, Wu XJ, Hassouna A, Wang KS, Li Y, Feng T, Zhao Y, Jin M, Zhang B, Ying T, Li J, Cheng L, Liu J, Huang Y. Gemcitabine‑fucoxanthin combination in human pancreatic cancer cells. Biomed Rep 2023; 19:46. [PMID: 37324167 PMCID: PMC10265583 DOI: 10.3892/br.2023.1629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer treatment. It has also been demonstrated to inhibit human pancreatic cancer cell lines, MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the suppressive effect of fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid, in combination with gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer cells. MTT assays and cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry were performed to study the mechanism of action. The results revealed that combining a low dose of fucoxanthin with gemcitabine enhanced the cell viability of human embryonic kidney cells, 293, while a high dose of fucoxanthin enhanced the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine on the cell viability of this cell line. In addition, the enhanced effect of fucoxanthin on the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine on PANC-1 cells was significant (P<0.01). Fucoxanthin combined with gemcitabine also exerted significant enhancement of the anti-proliferation effect in MIA PaCa-2 cells in a concentration dependent manner (P<0.05), compared with gemcitabine treatment alone. In conclusion, fucoxanthin improved the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine on human pancreatic cancer cells at concentrations that were not cytotoxic to non-cancer cells. Thus, fucoxanthin has the potential to be used as an adjunct in pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Lu
- College of Perfume and Aroma Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, P.R. China
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518071, P.R. China
- College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, P.R. China
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Xiaowu Jenifer Wu
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Amira Hassouna
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11956, Egypt
| | - Kelvin Sheng Wang
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Yan Li
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Tao Feng
- College of Perfume and Aroma Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, P.R. China
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P.R. China
| | - Minfeng Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, P.R. China
| | - Baohong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P.R. China
| | - Tianlei Ying
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Jinyao Li
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830046, P.R. China
| | - Lufeng Cheng
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
| | - Johnson Liu
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Yue Huang
- Shanghai Business School, Fengxian, Shanghai 201499, P.R. China
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Mozibullah M, Junaid M. Biological Role of the PAK4 Signaling Pathway: A Prospective Therapeutic Target for Multivarious Cancers. ARAB J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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8
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Li X, Li F. p21-Activated Kinase: Role in Gastrointestinal Cancer and Beyond. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194736. [PMID: 36230657 PMCID: PMC9563254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194736] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Gastrointestinal tumors are the most common tumors with a high mortality rate worldwide. Numerous protein kinases have been studied in anticipation of finding viable tumor therapeutic targets, including PAK. PAK is a serine/threonine kinase that plays an important role in the malignant phenotype of tumors. The function of PAK in tumors is highlighted in cell proliferation, survival, motility, tumor cell plasticity and the tumor microenvironment, therefore providing a new possible target for clinical tumor therapy. Based on the current research works of PAK, we summarize and analyze the PAK features and signaling pathways in cells, especially the role of PAK in gastrointestinal tumors, thereby hoping to provide a theoretical basis for both the future studies of PAK and potential tumor therapeutic targets. Abstract Gastrointestinal tumors are the most common tumors, and they are leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, but their mechanisms are still unclear, which need to be clarified to discover therapeutic targets. p21-activating kinase (PAK), a serine/threonine kinase that is downstream of Rho GTPase, plays an important role in cellular signaling networks. According to the structural characteristics and activation mechanisms of them, PAKs are divided into two groups, both of which are involved in the biological processes that are critical to cells, including proliferation, migration, survival, transformation and metabolism. The biological functions of PAKs depend on a large number of interacting proteins and the signaling pathways they participate in. The role of PAKs in tumors is manifested in their abnormality and the consequential changes in the signaling pathways. Once they are overexpressed or overactivated, PAKs lead to tumorigenesis or a malignant phenotype, especially in tumor invasion and metastasis. Recently, the involvement of PAKs in cellular plasticity, stemness and the tumor microenvironment have attracted attention. Here, we summarize the biological characteristics and key signaling pathways of PAKs, and further analyze their mechanisms in gastrointestinal tumors and others, which will reveal new therapeutic targets and a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.
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Nishimoto A. Effective combinations of anti-cancer and targeted drugs for pancreatic cancer treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:3637-3643. [PMID: 36161054 PMCID: PMC9372808 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i28.3637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive and lethal. Due to the lack of effective methods for detecting the disease at an early stage, pancreatic cancer is frequently diagnosed late. Gemcitabine has been the standard chemotherapy drug for patients with pancreatic cancer for over 20 years, but its anti-tumor effect is limited. Therefore, FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan, oxaliplatin) as well as combination therapies using gemcitabine and conventional agents, such as cisplatin and capecitabine, has also been administered; however, these have not resulted in complete remission. Therefore, there is a need to develop novel and effective therapies for pancreatic cancer. Recently, some studies have reported that combinations of gemcitabine and targeted drugs have had significant anti-tumor effects on pancreatic cancer cells. As gemcitabine induced DNA damage response, the proteins related to DNA damage response can be suitable additional targets for novel gemcitabine-based combination therapy. Furthermore, KRAS/ RAF/MEK/ERK signaling triggered by oncogenic mutated KRAS and autophagy are frequently activated in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, these characteristics of pancreatic cancer are potential targets for developing effective novel therapies.
In this minireview, combinations of gemcitabine and targeted drugs to these characteristics, combinations of targeted drugs, combinations of natural products and anti-cancer agents, including gemcitabine, and combinations among natural products are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arata Nishimoto
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Science, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sanyo-Onoda City University, Sanyo-Onoda City 756-0884, Yamaguchi, Japan
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Ji W, Sun X, Gao Y, Lu M, Zhu L, Wang D, Hu C, Chen J, Cao P. Natural Compound Shikonin Is a Novel PAK1 Inhibitor and Enhances Efficacy of Chemotherapy against Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:2747. [PMID: 35566098 PMCID: PMC9102431 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Shikonin is the main component of root extracts from the Chinese herbal medicine Lithospermum erythrorhizon, which is commonly used for the treatment of various diseases including cancer. Previous research showed that shikonin suppressed pancreatic cancer growth; nevertheless, its molecular targets and mechanisms have not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the interaction and regulatory mechanisms of shikonin on its potential target p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). Through a labchip-based screening method, shikonin was identified as a potential bioactive PAK1 inhibitor. Molecular docking technology was used to detect the interaction sites of shikonin and PAK1 kinase. Western blot was performed to validate the mechanism. MTT and flow cytometry were practiced to investigate the effect of shikonin against pancreatic cancer cells. The results show that shikonin significantly inhibited the activity of PAK1 kinase with IC50 value of 7.252 ± 0.054 μM. Molecular docking studies showed that shikonin binds to the ATP-binding pocket of the PAK1 kinase domain. Moreover, shikonin inhibited PAK1 activation and its downstream signaling pathway proteins, while reducing proliferation and inducing apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. Further studies showed that the treatment of shikonin sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. These results suggest that shikonin, a potential natural inhibitor targeting PAK1 kinase, has promising potent applications in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and chemotherapy sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Ji
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China;
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
| | - Yang Gao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
| | - Man Lu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
| | - Lingxia Zhu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
| | - Dawei Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
| | - Chunping Hu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
| | - Jiao Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
| | - Peng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China; (X.S.); (Y.G.); (M.L.); (L.Z.); (D.W.); (C.H.)
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11
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He H, Dumesny C, Ang CS, Dong L, Ma Y, Zeng J, Nikfarjam M. A novel PAK4 inhibitor suppresses pancreatic cancer growth and enhances the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine. Transl Oncol 2022; 16:101329. [PMID: 34973571 PMCID: PMC8724943 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over 95% of Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDA) carry mutations in the oncogene KRas which has been proven to be a difficult drug target. P21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), acts downstream of KRas, and is overexpressed in PDA contributing to its growth and chemoresistance, and thus becomes an attractive therapeutic target. We have developed a new PAK4 inhibitor, PAKib and tested its effect on pancreatic cancer (PC) cell growth in vitro and in a syngeneic mouse model of PC. PAKib suppressed PC cell growth by inducing cell death and cycle arrest. PAKib inhibited PC growth and enhanced the inhibition by gemcitabine of PC in cell culture and in PC mouse model. PAKib acted through multiple signaling pathways involved in cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, cell junction, and focal adhesion. These proof-of-concept studies demonstrated the anti-cancer effect of PAKib alone and in combination with gemcitabine and warrant a further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong He
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd., Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia.
| | - Chelsea Dumesny
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd., Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Li Dong
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd., Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Yi Ma
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd., Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Jun Zeng
- Pakinax Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd., Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia.
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p21-Activated kinase 1 (PAK1) in aging and longevity: An overview. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 71:101443. [PMID: 34390849 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) belong to serine/threonine kinases family, regulated by ∼21 kDa small signaling G proteins RAC1 and CDC42. The mammalian PAK family comprises six members (PAK1-6) that are classified into two groups (I and II) based on their domain architecture and regulatory mechanisms. PAKs are implicated in a wide range of cellular functions. PAK1 has recently attracted increasing attention owing to its involvement in oncogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis as well as several life-limiting diseases and pathological conditions. In Caenorhabditis elegans, PAK1 functions limit the lifespan under basal conditions by inhibiting forkhead transcription factor DAF-16. Interestingly, PAK depletion extended longevity and attenuated the onset of age-related phenotypes in a premature-aging mouse model and delayed senescence in mammalian fibroblasts. These observations implicate PAKs as not only oncogenic but also aging kinases. Therefore, PAK-targeting genetic and/or pharmacological interventions, particularly PAK1-targeting, could be a viable strategy for developing cancer therapies with relatively no side effects and promoting healthy longevity. This review describes PAK family proteins, their biological functions, and their role in regulating aging and longevity using C. elegans. Moreover, we discuss the effect of small-molecule PAK1 inhibitors on the lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans.
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Lu C, Fan L, Zhang PF, Tao WW, Yang CB, Shang EX, Chen FY, Che CT, Cheng HB, Duan JA, Zhao M. A novel P38α MAPK activator Bruceine A exhibits potent anti-pancreatic cancer activity. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3437-3450. [PMID: 34194669 PMCID: PMC8220105 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bruceine A displays potent anti-pancreatic cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Phosphoproteomic analyses identify bruceine A induces phosphorylation of p38α MAPK. Octet system and microscale thermophoresis reveal p38α MAPK has high affinity for bruceine A. Molecular simulations illustrate determinants of bruceine A binding with p38α MAPK.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the cancers with the poorest prognosis bearing an overall 5-year survival rate of about 5%. Efficient new chemotherapic drugs are still highly desired. Here, bruceine A, a quassinoid identified from the dried fruits of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr., displayed the most potent anti-proliferation activity against pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed p38α MAPK phosphorylation was involved in bruceine A’s action in MIA PaCa-2 cells. Utilizing fortebio octet system and microscale thermophoresis, we found p38α MAPK had high affinity for bruceine A. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations showed that bruceine A widely bound to residues (Leu171, Ala172, Met179, Thr180, Val183) in P-loop of p38α MAPK. Key determinants of bruceine A binding with P-loop of p38α MAPK were 19-C
Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019
]]>O, 22-CH3, 32-CH3, and 34-CH3. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that bruceine A binds directly to p38α MAPK, which can be used to probe the role of p38α MAPK phosphorylation in pancreatic cancer progression, and as a novel lead compound for pancreatic cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai Lu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lu Fan
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng-Fei Zhang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wei-Wei Tao
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Cheng-Bin Yang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Er-Xin Shang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fei-Yan Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chun-Tao Che
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Hai-Bo Cheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Jiangsu Province of Cancer Prevention and Treatment of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jin-Ao Duan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
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14
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Ellis T, Eze E, Raimi-Abraham BT. Malaria and Cancer: a critical review on the established associations and new perspectives. Infect Agent Cancer 2021; 16:33. [PMID: 33985540 PMCID: PMC8117320 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-021-00370-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Cancer and malaria both have high incidence rates and are leading causes of mortality worldwide, especially in low and middle-income countries with reduced access to the quality healthcare. The objective of this critical review was to summarize key associations and new perspectives between the two diseases as is reported in existing literature. Methods A critical review of research articles published between 1st January 2000 – 1st July 2020 which yielded 1753 articles. These articles were screened based on a precise inclusion criteria. Eighty-nine eligible articles were identified and further evaluated. Results Many articles reported anti-cancer activities of anti-malarial medicines, including Artemisinin and its derivatives. Other articles investigated the use of chemotherapy in areas burdened by malaria, treatment complications that malaria may cause for cancer patients as well as ways to circumvent cancer related drug resistance. Potential novel targets for cancer treatment, were identified namely oncofoetal chondroitin sulphate and haem, as well as the use of circumsporozoite proteins. A number of articles also discussed Burkitt lymphoma or febrile neutropenia. Conclusions Overall, excluding for Burkitt lymphoma, the relationship between cancer and malaria requires further extensive research in order to define association. There great potential promising new novel anti-cancer therapies using anti-malarial drugs. Graphical abstract Created using BioRender![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Ellis
- King's College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Guy's Campus, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Elvis Eze
- Malaria no More UK, The Foundry, 17 Oval Way, Vauxhall, London, SE11 5RR, UK
| | - Bahijja Tolulope Raimi-Abraham
- King's College London, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Waterloo Campus, Franklin Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
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15
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Biba V, Kunjiraman S, Rajam SSN, Anil S. The Apoptotic Properties of Leaf Extracts of Simarouba glauca against Human Leukemic Cancer Cells. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2021; 22:1305-1312. [PMID: 33906326 PMCID: PMC8325137 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.4.1305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objective: Simarouba glauca is a plant belonging to the family of Simaroubaceae. It is a potent source of secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the apoptotic properties of leaf extracts of Simarouba glauca against human leukemic cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity of Simarouba glauca was assessed in the leaf extract of petroleum ether against leukemic cells by MTT assay. To detect the apoptotic features, fluorescence microscopy analysis was done with dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescent staining and Hoechst staining. To determine the externalization of phosphatidylserine, annexin v staining was done. Mitochondrial or death receptor activation was confirmed by caspase 3 analysis by flow cytometry. Results: This study revealed that Simarouba glauca was able to treat leukemia. Among the four extracts, petroleum ether extract showed a higher order of in vitro anticancer activity. The petroleum ether extract strongly inhibited the proliferation of K562 cell lines with IC50 values of 186 µg/ml. Dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescent staining and Hoechst staining revealed the characteristic features of apoptosis. Annexin V confirmed early and late stage apoptosis. Caspase-3 analysis revealed that cell death was due to mitochondrial or death receptor activation in mitochondrial pathway. Conclusion: These findings suggested that Simarouba glauca leaf extracts inhibited leukemic cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner either through mitochondrial or death receptor activation. The leaf extracts of Simarouba glauca was found to be nontoxic to lymphocytes. It can be concluded that Simarouba glauca is an important source of phytochemicals posing efficacy against leukemic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Biba
- Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | | | | | - Sukumaran Anil
- Department of Dentistry, Oral Health Institute, Hamad Medical corporation, Doha, Qatar.,College of Dental Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Anti-Cancer Effects of Glaucarubinone in the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line Huh7 via Regulation of the Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition-Associated Transcription Factor Twist1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041700. [PMID: 33567682 PMCID: PMC7915236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. As HCC has a high mortality rate and its incidence is increasing worldwide, understanding and treating HCC are crucial for resolving major public health concerns. In the present study, wound healing screening assays were performed using natural product libraries to identify natural chemicals that can inhibit cancer cell migration. Glaucarubinone (GCB) showed a high potential for inhibiting cell migration. The anti-cancer effects of GCB were evaluated using the HCC cell line, Huh7. GCB showed anti-cancer effects, as verified by wound healing, cell migration, invasion, colony formation, and three-dimensional spheroid invasion assays. In addition, cells treated with GCB showed suppressed matrix metalloproteinase activities. Immunoblotting analyses of intracellular signaling pathways revealed that GCB regulated the levels of Twist1, a crucial transcription factor associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and mitogen-activated protein kinase. The invasive ability of cancer cells was found to be decreased by the regulation of Twist1 protein levels. Furthermore, GCB downregulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. These results indicate that GCB exhibits anti-metastatic properties in Huh7 cells, suggesting that it could be used to treat HCC.
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Li M, Guo H, Wang Q, Chen K, Marko K, Tian X, Yang Y. Pancreatic stellate cells derived exosomal miR-5703 promotes pancreatic cancer by downregulating CMTM4 and activating PI3K/Akt pathway. Cancer Lett 2020; 490:20-30. [PMID: 32585413 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Exosomes play important role in tumor microenvironment, and mediate the crosstalk between pancreatic cancer (PC) cells and matrix components including pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) to regulate pancreatic cancer progression. Here we isolated primary PSCs from PC patients, and demonstrated that PSC-derived exosomes could be internalized by PC cells to promote cell proliferation. Furthermore, we identified that miR-5703 in the exosomes acted as a driver of cell proliferation and its inhibitor suppressed the function of exosomes to promote PC cell proliferation. miR-5703 directly bound to the 3'UTR of CMTM4 and downregulated its expression. CMTM4 knockdown promoted PC cell proliferation, while overexpression of CMTM4 suppressed PC cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we revealed that CMTM4 suppressed PI3K/Akt pathway via downregulating PAK4. In conclusion, our results suggest that PSC-derived exosomal miR-5703 could target CMTM4 in PC cells and promote cell proliferation due to PAK4 activated PI3K/Akt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhe Li
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Huahu Guo
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Kornmann Marko
- Clinic of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, 89081, Germany.
| | - Xiaodong Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Yinmo Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
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Clayton NS, Ridley AJ. Targeting Rho GTPase Signaling Networks in Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:222. [PMID: 32309283 PMCID: PMC7145979 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
As key regulators of cytoskeletal dynamics, Rho GTPases coordinate a wide range of cellular processes, including cell polarity, cell migration, and cell cycle progression. The adoption of a pro-migratory phenotype enables cancer cells to invade the stroma surrounding the primary tumor and move toward and enter blood or lymphatic vessels. Targeting these early events could reduce the progression to metastatic disease, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Rho GTPases play a key role in the formation of dynamic actin-rich membrane protrusions and the turnover of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesions required for efficient cancer cell invasion. Here, we discuss the roles of Rho GTPases in cancer, their validation as therapeutic targets and the challenges of developing clinically viable Rho GTPase inhibitors. We review other therapeutic targets in the wider Rho GTPase signaling network and focus on the four best characterized effector families: p21-activated kinases (PAKs), Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs), atypical protein kinase Cs (aPKCs), and myotonic dystrophy kinase-related Cdc42-binding kinases (MRCKs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha S Clayton
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Anne J Ridley
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Inhibition of PAK1 suppresses pancreatic cancer by stimulation of anti-tumour immunity through down-regulation of PD-L1. Cancer Lett 2019; 472:8-18. [PMID: 31857154 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapies have not yielded significant clinical benefits for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) because of the existence of an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) characterized by a desmoplastic stroma containing infiltrated immune cells and activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). This study aims to investigate the involvement of PAK1 in anti-tumour immunity. In PDA patients, low PAK1 expression, low activation of PSC and high CD8+ T cell/PAK1 ratios correlated with longer overall survival. In a murine PDA model, PAK1 knockout increased intra-tumoral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, inhibited PSCs activation and extended survival. Inhibition of PAK1 reduced PSC-stimulated PDA cell proliferation and migration, blocked PSC-mediated protection of PDA cells from killing by cytotoxic lymphocytes and decreased intrinsic and PSC-stimulated PD-L1 expression in PDA cells, which further sensitized PDA cells to cytotoxic lymphocytes. Inhibition of PAK1 stimulates anti-tumour immunity by increasing intra-tumoral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and by sensitizing PDA cells to killing by cytotoxic lymphocytes via down-regulation of intrinsic and PSC-stimulated PD-L1 expression. PAK1 inhibitors, especially in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors may result in improved efficacy of immunotherapy of PDA.
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Shahinozzaman M, Ishii T, Ahmed S, Halim MA, Tawata S. A computational approach to explore and identify potential herbal inhibitors for the p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:3514-3526. [PMID: 31448698 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1659855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The oncogenic kinase PAK1 (p21-activated kinase 1) is involved in developing many diseases including cancers, neurofibromatosis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes (type 2), and hypertension. Thus, it is thought to be a prominent therapeutic target, and its selective inhibitors have a huge market potential. Recently, herbal PAK1 inhibitors have gained immense interest over synthetic ones mainly due to their non-toxic effects. Till date, many herbal compounds have been suggested to inhibit PAK1, but their information on selectivity, bioavailability, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties, and molecular interactions with PAK1 has not been explored. Hence, this study was designed with computational approaches to explore and identify the best herbal PAK1-blockers showing good ADMET properties, druggable features and binding affinity with PAK1. Herbal inhibitors reported here were initially filtered with Lipinski's rule of five (RO5). Then, molecular docking between these inhibitors and PAK1 catalytic sites was performed using AutoDock Vina and GOLD suite to determine the binding affinity and interactions. Finally, 200 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on three top-ranked inhibitors including cucurbitacin I (C-I), nymphaeol A (NA), and staurosporine (SPN) were carried out. The binding free energies and interactions revealed that NA can strongly bind with the PAK1 catalytic cleft. PASS prediction and ADMET profiling supported that NA is appeared to be a more selective and safer inhibitor than C-I and SPN. These results conform to the previous experimental evidences, and therefore, NA from Okinawa propolis could be a promising inhibitor for treating PAK1-dependent illnesses.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Shahinozzaman
- PAK Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.,Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ishii
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Sinthyia Ahmed
- Division of Computer Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad A Halim
- Department of Physical Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Smith, AR, USA
| | - Shinkichi Tawata
- PAK Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.,Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
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Wang K, Baldwin GS, Nikfarjam M, He H. Antitumor effects of all-trans retinoic acid and its synergism with gemcitabine are associated with downregulation of p21-activated kinases in pancreatic cancer. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2019; 316:G632-G640. [PMID: 30844294 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00344.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been used as an antistromal agent in PDA, and its antitumor effect has also been reported in various kinds of cancer, including PDA. Inhibition of p21-activated kinases (PAKs) is associated with decreased tumor growth and increased gemcitabine sensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of ATRA alone and in combination with gemcitabine on cell growth and migration of wild-type and gemcitabine-resistant PDA cells and the potential mechanism(s) involved. Human (MiaPaCa-2) and murine (TB33117) PDA cell lines were incubated in increasing concentrations of gemcitabine to establish resistant clones. Cell growth, clonogenicity, and migration/invasion were determined using a sulforhodamine B assay, a colony formation assay, and a Boyden chamber assay, respectively. Protein expression was measured by Western blotting. ATRA reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration/invasion in both wild-type and gemcitabine-resistant cell lines. PAK1 expression was significantly increased in resistant cells. Cells treated with ATRA showed decreased expression of PAK1, PAK2, PAK4, and α-smooth muscle actin. The combination of ATRA and gemcitabine synergistically reduced cell growth in both wild-type and gemcitabine-resistant cell lines. Depletion of PAK1 enhanced ATRA sensitivity in MiaPaCa-2 cells. In conclusion, the antitumor effects of ATRA and its synergism with gemcitabine are associated with downregulation of PAKs. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The inhibitory effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration/invasion was associated with downregulation of p21-activated kinases (PAKs), and depletion of PAK1 enhanced ATRA sensitivity in MiaPaCa-2 cells. The combination of ATRA and gemcitabine synergistically reduced cell growth in both wild-type and gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. As an important prognostic marker, α-smooth muscle actin also can be downregulated by ATRA in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
| | - Graham S Baldwin
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria , Australia
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22
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Symeonidis N, Lambropoulou M, Pavlidis E, Anagnostopoulos C, Tsaroucha A, Kotini A, Nikolaidou C, Kiziridou A, Simopoulos C. PAK1 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Significance. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-ONCOLOGY 2019; 13:1179554919831990. [PMID: 30799970 PMCID: PMC6379789 DOI: 10.1177/1179554919831990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Improvement of the management of pancreatic cancer requires a better
understanding of the genetic and molecular changes responsible for the
development of the disease. The family of p21-activated kinases (PAKs) and
especially PAK1 appears to mediate many cellular processes that contribute
to the development and progression of pancreatic cancer, but the clinical
relevance of PAK1 expression with the disease still remains unclear. Aim of
the study was to assess the clinical value and the potential prognostic
significance of PAK1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: We investigated the relationship between the PAK1 expression and the clinical
and histopathologic characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients and the
potential significance of PAK1 on survival. We examined tissue samples from
51 patients operated for pancreatic cancer. PAK1 expression was investigated
with immunohistochemistry and correlated to clinicopathological
parameters. Results: PAK1 was detected in all tumor samples and high expression was found in most
patients. High PAK1 expression was also associated with younger age and
well-differentiated tumors, but no association was found between PAK1
expression and Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage as well as deceased or alive
status on follow-up. Moderate to high PAK1 expression favored higher 6-month
and 1-year survival and low PAK1 expression 2-year survival but without
statistical significance. Conclusions Our results indicate that PAK1 could potentially be used as a prognostic
marker in pancreatic cancer. Further studies could clarify whether
utilization of PAK1 in therapeutic protocols for the treatment of pancreatic
cancer will render them more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Symeonidis
- Postgraduate Program in Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.,2nd Surgical Propedeutic Department, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Lambropoulou
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Efstathios Pavlidis
- Postgraduate Program in Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | | | - Alexandra Tsaroucha
- 2nd Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Surgery-Postgraduate Program in Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Athanasia Kotini
- Laboratory of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Christina Nikolaidou
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Anastasia Kiziridou
- Department of Pathology, Theagenio Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Constantinos Simopoulos
- 2nd Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Surgery-Postgraduate Program in Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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23
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P21 activated kinase signaling in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 54:40-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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25
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Glaucarubinone sensitizes KB cells to paclitaxel by inhibiting ABC transporters via ROS-dependent and p53-mediated activation of apoptotic signaling pathways. Oncotarget 2018; 7:42353-42373. [PMID: 27304668 PMCID: PMC5173140 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is considered to be the major contributor to failure of chemotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This study was aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of glaucarubinone (GLU), one of the major quassinoids from Simarouba glauca DC, in potentiating cytotoxicity of paclitaxel (PTX), an anticancer drug in KB cells. Our data showed that the administration of GLU pre-treatment significantly enhanced PTX anti-proliferative effect in ABCB1 over-expressing KB cells. The Rh 123 drug efflux studies revealed that there was a significant transport function inhibition by GLU-PTX treatment. Interestingly, it was also found that this enhanced anticancer efficacy of GLU was associated with PTX-induced cell arrest in the G2/M phase of cell cycle. Further, the combined treatment of GLU-PTX had significant decrease in the expression levels of P-gp, MRPs, and BCRP in resistant KB cells at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, the combination treatments showed significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, chromatin condensation and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in resistant KB cells. The results from DNA fragmentation analysis also demonstrated the GLU induced apoptosis in KB cells and its synergy with PTX. Importantly, GLU and/or PTX triggered apoptosis through the activation of pro-apoptotic proteins such as p53, Bax, and caspase-9. Our findings demonstrated for the first time that GLU causes cell death in human oral cancer cells via the ROS-dependent suppression of MDR transporters and p53-mediated activation of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Additionally, the present study also focussed on investigation of the protective effect of GLU and combination drugs in human normal blood lymphocytes. Normal blood lymphocytes assay indicated that GLU is able to induce selective toxicity in cancer cells and in silico molecular docking studies support the choice of GLU as ABC inhibitor to enhance PTX efficacy. Thus, GLU has the potential to enhance the activity of PTX and hence can be a good alternate treatment strategy for the reversal of PTX resistance.
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26
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Pati ML, Niso M, Spitzer D, Berardi F, Contino M, Riganti C, Hawkins WG, Abate C. Multifunctional thiosemicarbazones and deconstructed analogues as a strategy to study the involvement of metal chelation, Sigma-2 (σ 2) receptor and P-gp protein in the cytotoxic action: In vitro and in vivo activity in pancreatic tumors. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 144:359-371. [PMID: 29287249 PMCID: PMC5801006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer urgently requires more efficient treatment options. Because the sigma-2 (σ2) receptor was recently proposed as a promising target for pancreatic cancer therapy, we explored our previously developed multifunctional thiosemicarbazones, designed to synergistically impair cell energy levels, by targeting σ2 and P-gp proteins and chelating Iron. A deconstruction approach was herein applied by removing one function at a time from the potent multifunctional thiosemicarbazones 1 and 2, to investigate the contribution to cytotoxicity of each target involved. The results from in vitro (panel of pancreatic tumor cells) and in vivo experiments (C57BL/6 bearing KP02 tumor), suggest that while the multifunctional activity was not required for the antitumor activity of these thiosemicarbazones, σ2-targeting appeared to allow alternative tumor cell death mechanisms, leading to potent and less toxic off-targets toxicities compared to other thiosemicarbazones devoid of σ2-targeting.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/antagonists & inhibitors
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/metabolism
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Cell Death/drug effects
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Chelating Agents/chemical synthesis
- Chelating Agents/chemistry
- Chelating Agents/pharmacology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Female
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Molecular Structure
- Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Receptors, sigma/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, sigma/metabolism
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Thiosemicarbazones/chemical synthesis
- Thiosemicarbazones/chemistry
- Thiosemicarbazones/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Pati
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy; Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mauro Niso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Dirk Spitzer
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Francesco Berardi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Marialessandra Contino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Dipartimento di Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Santena 5/bis, I-10153 Torino, Italy
| | - William G Hawkins
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carmen Abate
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.
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27
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Ohman KA, Hashim YM, Vangveravong S, Nywening TM, Cullinan DR, Goedegebuure SP, Liu J, Van Tine BA, Tiriac H, Tuveson DA, DeNardo DG, Spitzer D, Mach RH, Hawkins WG. Conjugation to the sigma-2 ligand SV119 overcomes uptake blockade and converts dm-Erastin into a potent pancreatic cancer therapeutic. Oncotarget 2018; 7:33529-41. [PMID: 27244881 PMCID: PMC5085100 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-selective drug delivery is an important concept in improving treatment while minimizing off-site toxicities, and sigma-2 receptors, which are overexpressed in solid tumors, represent attractive pharmacologic targets. Select sigma-2 ligands have been shown to be rapidly internalized selectively into cancer cells while retaining the capacity to deliver small molecules as drug cargoes. We utilized the sigma-2-based drug delivery concept to convert Erastin, a clinically underperforming drug, into a potent pancreatic cancer therapeutic. The Erastin derivative des-methyl Erastin (dm-Erastin) was chemically linked to sigma-2 ligand SV119 to create SW V-49. Conjugation increased the killing capacity of dm-Erastin by nearly 35-fold in vitro and reduced the size of established tumors and doubled the median survival in syngeneic and patient-derived xenograft models when compared to non-targeted dm-Erastin. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated that cell death was associated with robust reactive oxygen species production and could be efficiently antagonized with antioxidants. Mass spectrometry was employed to demonstrate selective uptake into pancreatic cancer cells. Thus, targeted delivery of dm-Erastin via conjugation to the sigma-2 ligand SV119 produced efficient tumor control and prolonged animal survival with minimal off-target toxicities, and SW V-49 represents a promising new therapeutic with the potential to advance the fight against pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerri A Ohman
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yassar M Hashim
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Suwanna Vangveravong
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Timothy M Nywening
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Darren R Cullinan
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - S Peter Goedegebuure
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jingxia Liu
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Division of Public Health Sciences, Section of Oncologic Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian A Van Tine
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Herve Tiriac
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - David G DeNardo
- Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Dirk Spitzer
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robert H Mach
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William G Hawkins
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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28
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Wang K, Huynh N, Wang X, Baldwin G, Nikfarjam M, He H. Inhibition of p21 activated kinase enhances tumour immune response and sensitizes pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine. Int J Oncol 2017; 52:261-269. [PMID: 29115428 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2017.4193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the major types of cancer that exhibit high mortality worldwide because of the late diagnosis and the lack of effective treatment. Immunotherapy appears to be ineffective in PDA treatment due to the existence of a unique immune-suppressive microenvironment in PDA. Gemcitabine-based therapy is still the most commonly used chemotherapy to treat PDA patients with only marginal increased survival rates. This prompted us to continue the search for more effective therapy for PDA treatment. The effects of p21 activated kinases (PAKs) on tumour immune response and gemcitabine response were examined in PDA. An orthotopic murine PDA model, in which pancreatic cancer cells were injected to the tail of pancreas, was used. The mice were treated with PAK inhibitor, PF‑3758309, plus or minus gemcitabine. Tumour growth was measured by volume and weight. Tumour immune response was determined by flow cytometry analysis of splenic cells and immunohistochemical staining of intratumoural lymphocytes. Inhibition of PAKs by PF‑3758309, not only suppressed tumour growth, but also stimulated tumour immune response by increasing the numbers of splenic and intratumoural T lymphocytes. Furthermore, inhibition of PAKs decreased PDA cell growth synergistically with gemcitabine in vitro and in vivo. The dual effects of inhibition of PAKs make PAK-targeted therapy more potent for the treatment of PDA. The combination of PAK inhibitors with gemcitabine may be a more effective therapeutic approach in PDA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3048, Australia
| | - Nhi Huynh
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3048, Australia
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3048, Australia
| | - Graham Baldwin
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3048, Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3048, Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3048, Australia
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29
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Yeo D, Phillips P, Baldwin GS, He H, Nikfarjam M. Inhibition of group 1 p21-activated kinases suppresses pancreatic stellate cell activation and increases survival of mice with pancreatic cancer. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:2101-2111. [PMID: 28109008 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal of all solid tumors. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are primarily responsible for the fibrosis that constitutes the stroma and p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) may have a role in signalling pathways involving PSCs. This study aimed to examine the role of PAK1 in PSCs and in the interaction of PSCs with pancreatic cancer cells. Human PSCs were isolated using the modified outgrowth method. The effect of inhibiting PAK1 with group 1 PAK inhibitor, FRAX597, on cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro was measured by thymidine incorporation and annexin V assays, respectively. The effect of depleting host PAK1 on the survival of mice with pancreatic Pan02 cell tumors was evaluated using PAK1 knockout (KO) mice. PAK1 was expressed in isolated PSCs. FRAX597 reduced the activation of PSCs, inhibited PSC proliferation, and increased PSC apoptosis at least in partial by inhibiting PAK1 activity. The decreased expression and activity of PAK1 in PAK1 KO mice tumors was associated with an increased mouse survival. These results implicate PAK1 as a regulator of PSC activation, proliferation and apoptosis. Targeting stromal PAK1 could increase therapeutic response and survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannel Yeo
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Phoebe Phillips
- Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Group, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Graham S Baldwin
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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30
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Natural Products as Adjunctive Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:8412508. [PMID: 28232946 PMCID: PMC5292383 DOI: 10.1155/2017/8412508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a type of common malignant tumors with high occurrence in the world. Most patients presented in clinic had pancreatic cancer at advanced stages. Furthermore, chemotherapy or radiotherapy had very limited success in treating pancreatic cancer. Complementary and alternative medicines, such as natural products/herbal medicines, represent exciting adjunctive therapies. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of using natural products/herbal medicines, such as Chinese herbal medicine, in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents to treat pancreatic cancer in preclinical and clinical trials.
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31
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Hashim YM, Vangveravong S, Sankpal NV, Binder PS, Liu J, Goedegebuure SP, Mach RH, Spitzer D, Hawkins WG. The Targeted SMAC Mimetic SW IV-134 is a strong enhancer of standard chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2017; 36:14. [PMID: 28095907 PMCID: PMC5240213 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0470-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Pancreatic cancer is a lethal malignancy that frequently acquires resistance to conventional chemotherapies often associated with overexpression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). We have recently described a novel means to deliver second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) mimetics selectively to cancer cells employing the sigma-2 ligand/receptor interaction. The intrinsic death pathway agonist SMAC offers an excellent opportunity to counteract the anti-apoptotic activity of IAPs. SMAC mimetics have been used to sensitize several cancer types to chemotherapeutic agents but cancer-selective delivery and appropriate cellular localization have not yet been considered. In our current study, we tested the ability of the sigma-2/SMAC drug conjugate SW IV-134 to sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. Methods Using the targeted SMAC mimetic SW IV-134, inhibition of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (XIAP) was induced pharmacologically and its impact on cell viability was studied alone and in combination with gemcitabine. Pathway analyses were performed by assessing caspase activation, PARP cleavage and membrane blebbing (Annexin-V), key components of apoptotic cell death. Single-agent treatment regimens were compared with combination therapy in a preclinical mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Results The sensitizing effect of XIAP interference toward gemcitabine was confirmed via pharmacological intervention using our recently designed, targeted SMAC mimetic SW IV-134 across a wide range of commonly used pancreatic cancer cell lines at concentrations where the individual drugs showed only minimal activity. On a mechanistic level, we identified involvement of key components of the apoptosis machinery during cell death execution. Furthermore, combination therapy proved superior in decreasing the tumor burden and extending the lives of the animals in a preclinical mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Conclusion We believe that the strong sensitizing capacity of SW IV-134 in combination with clinically relevant doses of gemcitabine represents a promising treatment option that warrants clinical evaluation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-016-0470-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassar M Hashim
- Department of Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Present Address: Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8215-NT, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Suwanna Vangveravong
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Narendra V Sankpal
- Department of Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Pratibha S Binder
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jingxia Liu
- Department of Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Division of Public Health Sciences, Section of Oncologic Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - S Peter Goedegebuure
- Department of Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robert H Mach
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dirk Spitzer
- Department of Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - William G Hawkins
- Department of Surgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Box 8109, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA. .,Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Pati ML, Hornick JR, Niso M, Berardi F, Spitzer D, Abate C, Hawkins W. Sigma-2 receptor agonist derivatives of 1-Cyclohexyl-4-[3-(5-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl)propyl]piperazine (PB28) induce cell death via mitochondrial superoxide production and caspase activation in pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:51. [PMID: 28086830 PMCID: PMC5237291 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-3040-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite considerable efforts by scientific research, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related mortalities. Sigma-2 receptors, which are overexpressed in several tumors, represent promising targets for triggering selective pancreatic cancer cells death. Methods We selected five differently structured high-affinity sigma-2 ligands (PB28, PB183, PB221, F281 and PB282) to study how they affect the viability of diverse pancreatic cancer cells (human cell lines BxPC3, AsPC1, Mia PaCa-2, and Panc1 and mouse Panc-02, KCKO and KP-02) and how this is reflected in vivo in a tumor model. Results Important cytotoxicity was shown by the compounds in the aggressive Panc02 cells, where cytotoxic activity was caspase-3 independent for four of the five compounds. However, both cytotoxicity and caspase-3 activation involved generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which could be partially reverted by the lipid antioxidant α-tocopherol, but not by the hydrophilic N-acetylcysteine (NAC) indicating crucial differences in the intracellular sites exposed to oxidative stress induced by sigma-2 receptor ligands. Importantly, all the compounds strongly increased the production of mitochondrial superoxide radicals except for PB282. Despite a poor match between in vitro and the in vivo efficacy, daily treatment of C57BL/6 mice bearing Panc02 tumors resulted in promising effects with PB28 and PB282 which were similar compared to the current standard-of-care chemotherapeutic gemcitabine without showing signs of systemic toxicities. Conclusions Overall, this study identified differential sensitivities of pancreatic cancer cells to structurally diverse sigma-2 receptor ligands. Of note, we identified the mitochondrial superoxide pathway as a previously unrecognized sigma-2 receptor-activated process, which encourages further studies on sigma-2 ligand-mediated cancer cell death for the targeted treatment of pancreatic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Pati
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125, Bari, Italy
| | - John R Hornick
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mauro Niso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Berardi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Dirk Spitzer
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carmen Abate
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, I-70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - William Hawkins
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Aboukameel A, Muqbil I, Senapedis W, Baloglu E, Landesman Y, Shacham S, Kauffman M, Philip PA, Mohammad RM, Azmi AS. Novel p21-Activated Kinase 4 (PAK4) Allosteric Modulators Overcome Drug Resistance and Stemness in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:76-87. [PMID: 28062705 PMCID: PMC5221563 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is a key downstream effector of the Rho family GTPases and is found to be overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells but not in normal human pancreatic ductal epithelia (HPDE). Gene copy number amplification studies in PDAC patient cohorts confirmed PAK4 amplification making it an attractive therapeutic target in PDAC. We investigated the antitumor activity of novel PAK4 allosteric modulators (PAM) on a panel of PDAC cell lines and chemotherapy-resistant flow-sorted PDAC cancer stem cells (CSC). The toxicity and efficacy of PAMs were evaluated in multiple subcutaneous mouse models of PDAC. PAMs (KPT-7523, KPT-7189, KPT-8752, KPT-9307, and KPT-9274) show antiproliferative activity in vitro against different PDAC cell lines while sparing normal HPDE. Cell growth inhibition was concurrent with apoptosis induction and suppression of colony formation in PDAC. PAMs inhibited proliferation and antiapoptotic signals downstream of PAK4. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed disruption of PAK4 complexes containing vimentin. PAMs disrupted CSC spheroid formation through suppression of PAK4. Moreover, PAMs synergize with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in vitro KPT-9274, currently in a phase I clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT02702492), possesses desirable pharmacokinetic properties and is well tolerated in mice with the absence of any signs of toxicity when 200 mg/kg daily is administered either intravenously or orally. KPT-9274 as a single agent showed remarkable antitumor activity in subcutaneous xenograft models of PDAC cell lines and CSCs. These proof-of-concept studies demonstrated the antiproliferative effects of novel PAMs in PDAC and warrant further clinical investigations. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(1); 76-87. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amro Aboukameel
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Irfana Muqbil
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Philip A Philip
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Ramzi M Mohammad
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Asfar S Azmi
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan.
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Fu ZZ, Li K, Peng Y, Zheng Y, Cao LY, Zhang YJ, Sun YM. Efficacy and toxicity of different concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimens in the treatment of advanced cervical cancer: A network meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2017; 96:e5853. [PMID: 28079819 PMCID: PMC5266181 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000005853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of different concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) regimens in the treatment of advanced cervical cancer (CC) by adopting a network meta-analysis. METHODS We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library from the inception of these databases to September 2016, and all cohort studies (CSs) related to different CCRT regimens in the treatment of CC were included. A network analysis was adopted to compare the combination of direct and indirect evidence, to analyze the odds ratio (OR), and to draw a surface under the cumulative ranking curve of the efficacy and toxicity of different CCRT regimens for CC. Cluster analyses were used to group each category based on similar treatment regimens. RESULTS Nineteen CSs were enrolled in this network meta-analysis, including 12 CCRT regimens (radiotherapy [RT], CCRT [cisplatin], CCRT [vinorelbine], CCRT [paclitaxel], CCRT [hydroxyurea], CCRT [cisplatin + FU], CCRT [cisplatin + gemcitabine], CCRT [cisplatin + docetaxel], CCRT [cisplatin + paclitaxel], CCRT [cisplatin + amifostine], CCRT [cisplatin + FU + hydroxyurea], and CCRT [cisplatin + vincristine + bleomycin]). The results of the network meta-analysis showed that regarding efficacy, the overall response rate of CCRT (cisplatin + docetaxel) was higher than RT, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of CCRT (cisplatin + FU + hydroxyurea) was relatively higher than CCRT (hydroxyurea). As for toxicity, CCRT (cisplatin) had a lower incidence of leukopenia than CCRT (hydroxyurea), CCRT (cisplatin + FU) and CCRT (cisplatin + paclitaxel), and the incidences of diarrhea and vomiting in CCRT (cisplatin) were lower than those in CCRT (cisplatin + gemcitabine). Additionally, the cluster analysis showed that CCRT (cisplatin) had relatively lower incidences of both hematotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity, and CCRT (paclitaxel) had lower gastrointestinal toxicity than other regimens. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that CCRT (cisplatin + docetaxel) might be the best choice of CCRT regimens in the treatment of CC, and the 5-year OS rate of CCRT (cisplatin + FU + hydroxyurea) might be the highest among these different regimens. CCRT (cisplatin) might have the lowest toxicity among all the CCRT regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Zhao Fu
- Department of Radiotherapy, the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao
| | | | - Yong Peng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yanshan University
| | | | - Li-Yan Cao
- Department of Radiotherapy, the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao
| | - Yun-Jie Zhang
- Department of Radiotherapy, the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao
| | - Yong-Mei Sun
- Department of Gynaecology, the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, P.R. China.
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Be Tu PT, Nguyen BCQ, Tawata S, Yun CY, Kim EG, Maruta H. The serum/PDGF-dependent "melanogenic" role of the minute level of the oncogenic kinase PAK1 in melanoma cells proven by the highly sensitive kinase assay. Drug Discov Ther 2016; 10:314-322. [PMID: 27746419 DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2016.01062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that the oncogenic kinase PAK4, which both melanomas and normal melanocytes express at a very high level, is essential for their melanogenesis. In the present study, using the highly sensitive "Macaroni-Western" (IP-ATP-Glo) kinase assay, we investigated the melanogenic potential of another oncogenic kinase PAK1, which melanoma (B16F10) cells express only at a very minute level. After transfecting melanoma cells with PAK1-shRNA for silencing PAK1 gene, melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and kinase activity of PAK1 were compared between the wild-type and transfectants. We found that (i) PAK1 is significantly activated by melanogenic hormones such as IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine) and α-MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), (ii) silencing the endogenous PAK1 gene in melanoma cells through PAK1-specific shRNA reduces both melanin content and tyrosinase activity in the presence of both serum and melanogenic hormones to the basal level, (iii) the exogenously added wild-type PAK1 in the melanoma cells boosts the α-MSH-inducible melanin level by several folds without affecting the basal, and (iv) α-MSH/IBMX-induced melanogenesis hardly takes place in the absence of either serum or PAK1, clearly indicating that PAK1 is essential mainly for serum- and α-MSH/IBMX-dependent melanogenesis, but not the basal, in melanoma cells. The outcome of this study might provide the first scientific basis for explaining why a wide variety of herbal PAK1-blockers such as CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester), curcumin and shikonin in cosmetics are useful for skin-whitening.
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Jagadeeshan S, Subramanian A, Tentu S, Beesetti S, Singhal M, Raghavan S, Surabhi RP, Mavuluri J, Bhoopalan H, Biswal J, Pitani RS, Chidambaram S, Sundaram S, Malathi R, Jeyaraman J, Nair AS, Venkatraman G, Rayala SK. P21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) signaling influences therapeutic outcome in pancreatic cancer. Ann Oncol 2016; 27:1546-56. [PMID: 27117533 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdw184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is attributed to various cellular mechanisms and signaling molecules that influence as a single factor or in combination. DESIGN In this study, utilizing in vitro p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) overexpression and knockdown cell line models along with in vivo athymic mouse tumor xenograft models and clinical samples, we demonstrate that Pak1 is a crucial signaling kinase in gemcitabine resistance. RESULTS Pak1 kindles resistance via modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and activation of pancreatic stellate cells. Our results from gemcitabine-resistant and -sensitive cell line models showed that elevated Pak1 kinase activity is required to confer gemcitabine resistance. This was substantiated by elevated levels of phosphorylated Pak1 and ribonucleotide reductase M1 levels in the majority of human PDAC tumors when compared with normal. Delineation of the signaling pathway revealed that Pak1 confers resistance to gemcitabine by preventing DNA damage, inhibiting apoptosis and regulating survival signals via NF-κB. Furthermore, we found that Pak1 is an upstream interacting substrate of transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1-a molecule implicated in gemcitabine resistance. Molecular mechanistic studies revealed that gemcitabine docks with the active site of Pak1; furthermore, gemcitabine treatment induces Pak1 kinase activity both in vivo and in cell-free system. Finally, results from athymic mouse tumor models illustrated that Pak1 inhibition by IPA-3 enhances the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine and brings about pancreatic tumor regression. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first study illustrating the mechanistic role of Pak1 in causing gemcitabine resistance via multiple signaling crosstalks, and hence Pak1-specific inhibitors will prove to be a better adjuvant with existing chemotherapy modality for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jagadeeshan
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai Department of Genetics, University of Madras, Chennai
| | - A Subramanian
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
| | - S Tentu
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
| | - S Beesetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
| | - M Singhal
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
| | - S Raghavan
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
| | | | - J Mavuluri
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
| | | | - J Biswal
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi
| | | | | | - S Sundaram
- Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai
| | - R Malathi
- Department of Genetics, University of Madras, Chennai
| | - J Jeyaraman
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi
| | - A S Nair
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | | | - S K Rayala
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
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Yeo D, Huynh N, Beutler JA, Baldwin GS, He H, Nikfarjam M. Glaucarubinone Combined with Gemcitabine Improves Pancreatic Cancer Survival in an Immunocompetent Orthotopic Murine Model. J INVEST SURG 2016; 29:366-372. [PMID: 27027695 DOI: 10.3109/08941939.2016.1160167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer continues to have a poor survival rate with an urgent need for improved treatments. Glaucarubinone, a natural product first isolated from the seeds of the tree Simarouba glauca, has recently been recognized as having anti-cancer properties that may be particularly applicable to pancreatic cancer. METHODS The effect of glaucarubinone on the growth and migration of murine pancreatic cancer cells was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. The survival impact of glaucarubinone alone and in combination with gemcitabine chemotherapy was assessed using an immunocompetent orthotopic murine model of pancreatic cancer. RESULTS Glaucarubinone inhibited the growth of the murine pancreatic cancer cell lines LM-P and PAN02. Treatment with either glaucarubinone or gemcitabine reduced proliferation in vitro and the combination was synergistic. The combination treatment improved survival two-fold compared to gemcitabine treatment alone (p = 0.046) in PAN02 cells. CONCLUSIONS The synergistic inhibition by glaucarubinone and gemcitabine observed in vitro and the improved survival in vivo suggest that glaucarubinone may be a useful adjunct to current chemotherapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannel Yeo
- a Department of Surgery , University of Melbourne, Austin Health , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - Nhi Huynh
- a Department of Surgery , University of Melbourne, Austin Health , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - John A Beutler
- b Molecular Targets Laboratory, National Cancer Institute , Frederick , MD
| | - Graham S Baldwin
- a Department of Surgery , University of Melbourne, Austin Health , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - Hong He
- a Department of Surgery , University of Melbourne, Austin Health , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- a Department of Surgery , University of Melbourne, Austin Health , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
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Kumar R, Li DQ. PAKs in Human Cancer Progression: From Inception to Cancer Therapeutic to Future Oncobiology. Adv Cancer Res 2016; 130:137-209. [PMID: 27037753 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Since the initial recognition of a mechanistic role of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) in breast cancer invasion, PAK1 has emerged as one of the widely overexpressed or hyperactivated kinases in human cancer at-large, allowing the PAK family to make in-roads in cancer biology, tumorigenesis, and cancer therapeutics. Much of our current understanding of the PAK family in cancer progression relates to a central role of the PAK family in the integration of cancer-promoting signals from cell membrane receptors as well as function as a key nexus-modifier of complex, cytoplasmic signaling network. Another core aspect of PAK signaling that highlights its importance in cancer progression is through PAK's central role in the cross talk with signaling and interacting proteins, as well as PAK's position as a key player in the phosphorylation of effector substrates to engage downstream components that ultimately leads to the development cancerous phenotypes. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the recent advances in PAK cancer research and its downstream substrates in the context of invasion, nuclear signaling and localization, gene expression, and DNA damage response. We discuss how a deeper understanding of PAK1's pathobiology over the years has widened research interest to the PAK family and human cancer, and positioning the PAK family as a promising cancer therapeutic target either alone or in combination with other therapies. With many landmark findings and leaps in the progress of PAK cancer research since the infancy of this field nearly 20 years ago, we also discuss postulated advances in the coming decade as the PAK family continues to shape the future of oncobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Kumar
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States; Rajiv Gandhi Center of Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
| | - D-Q Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Epigenetics in Shanghai, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Shao YG, Ning K, Li F. Group II p21-activated kinases as therapeutic targets in gastrointestinal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:1224-1235. [PMID: 26811660 PMCID: PMC4716033 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i3.1224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
P21-activated kinases (PAKs) are central players in various oncogenic signaling pathways. The six PAK family members are classified into group I (PAK1-3) and group II (PAK4-6). Focus is currently shifting from group I PAKs to group II PAKs. Group II PAKs play important roles in many fundamental cellular processes, some of which have particular significance in the development and progression of cancer. Because of their important functions, group II PAKs have become popular potential drug target candidates. However, few group II PAKs inhibitors have been reported, and most do not exhibit satisfactory kinase selectivity and “drug-like” properties. Isoform- and kinase-selective PAK inhibitors remain to be developed. This review describes the biological activities of group II PAKs, the importance of group II PAKs in the development and progression of gastrointestinal cancer, and small-molecule inhibitors of group II PAKs for the treatment of cancer.
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40
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Yeo D, He H, Patel O, Lowy AM, Baldwin GS, Nikfarjam M. FRAX597, a PAK1 inhibitor, synergistically reduces pancreatic cancer growth when combined with gemcitabine. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:24. [PMID: 26774265 PMCID: PMC4715347 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2057-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains one of the most lethal of all solid tumours. Treatment options are limited and gemcitabine-based chemotherapy remains the standard of care. Although growing evidence shows that p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) plays a crucial role in pancreatic cancer, its role has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to characterise the expression and functional relevance of PAK1 in pancreatic cancer. METHODS PAK1 expression was measured in pancreatic cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry and in pancreatic cancer cell lines by western blotting. The effect of inhibition of PAK1 by either shRNA knock-down (KD), or by a selective inhibitor, FRAX597, alone or in combination with gemcitabine, on cell proliferation and migration/invasion was measured by thymidine uptake and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. The effect on tumour growth and survival was assessed in orthotopic murine models. RESULTS PAK1 was expressed in all human pancreatic cancer samples tested, an7d was upregulated in all pancreatic cancer cell lines tested. PAK1 KD inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth and survival, and increased sensitivity to gemcitabine treatment. AKT activity and HIF1α expression were also inhibited. FRAX597 inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, survival, and migration/invasion. When combined with gemcitabine, FRAX597 synergistically inhibited pancreatic cancer proliferation in vitro and inhibited tumour growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These results implicate PAK1 as a regulator of pancreatic cancer cell growth and survival. Combination of a PAK1 inhibitor such as FRAX597 with cytotoxic chemotherapy deserves further study as a novel therapeutic approach to pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannel Yeo
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
| | - Oneel Patel
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
| | - Andrew M Lowy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California at San Diego, Moores Cancer, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Graham S Baldwin
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
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LeJeune TM, Tsui HY, Parsons LB, Miller GE, Whitted C, Lynch KE, Ramsauer RE, Patel JU, Wyatt JE, Street DS, Adams CB, McPherson B, Tsui HM, Evans JA, Livesay C, Torrenegra RD, Palau VE. Mechanism of Action of Two Flavone Isomers Targeting Cancer Cells with Varying Cell Differentiation Status. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142928. [PMID: 26606169 PMCID: PMC4659548 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis can be triggered in two different ways, through the intrinsic or the extrinsic pathway. The intrinsic pathway is mediated by the mitochondria via the release of cytochrome C while the extrinsic pathway is prompted by death receptor signals and bypasses the mitochondria. These two pathways are closely related to cell proliferation and survival signaling cascades, which thereby constitute possible targets for cancer therapy. In previous studies we introduced two plant derived isomeric flavonoids, flavone A and flavone B which induce apoptosis in highly tumorigenic cancer cells of the breast, colon, pancreas, and the prostate. Flavone A displayed potent cytotoxic activity against more differentiated carcinomas of the colon (CaCo-2) and the pancreas (Panc28), whereas flavone B cytotoxic action is observed on poorly differentiated carcinomas of the colon (HCT 116) and pancreas (MIA PaCa). Apoptosis is induced by flavone A in better differentiated colon cancer CaCo-2 and pancreatic cancer Panc 28 cells via the intrinsic pathway by the inhibition of the activated forms of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and pS6, and subsequent loss of phosphorylation of Bcl-2 associated death promoter (BAD) protein, while apoptosis is triggered by flavone B in poorly differentiated colon cancer HCT 116 and MIA PaCa pancreatic cancer cells through the extrinsic pathway with the concomitant upregulation of the phosphorylated forms of ERK and c-JUN at serine 73. These changes in protein levels ultimately lead to activation of apoptosis, without the involvement of AKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M. LeJeune
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Hei Yin Tsui
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Laura B. Parsons
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Gerald E. Miller
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Crystal Whitted
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Kayla E. Lynch
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Robert E. Ramsauer
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Jasmine U. Patel
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Jarrett E. Wyatt
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Doris S. Street
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Carolyn B. Adams
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Brian McPherson
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Hei Man Tsui
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Julie A. Evans
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | - Christopher Livesay
- Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
| | | | - Victoria E. Palau
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, James Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37614, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Yang G, Zhang X, Shi J. MiR-98 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of non-small cell carcinoma lung cancer by targeting PAK1. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015; 8:20135-20145. [PMID: 26884926 PMCID: PMC4723771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A family of small non-coding RNAs, ~22 nt in length, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), regulating ~30% of all human gene expression, have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of a number of types of cancers, including non-small cell carcinoma lung cancer (NSCLC). P21-activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1) is a clinical biomarker of Non-small carcinoma lung cancer. Here, we found that miR-98 is down-regulated, whereas PAK1 is highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells. We demonstrated that miR-98 directly targets the 3'UTR of PAK1 and down-regulates its expression at the mRNA and protein level. Also, miR-98 inhibited and PAK1 stimulated proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of NSCLC cells. In agreement, PAK1 over-expression counteracted the inhibitory effect of miR-98. This current study suggests that exogenous miR-98 may serve as novel potential maker for NSCLC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxia Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical UniversityJining City, Shandong Province, 272000, P.R. China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical UniversityJining City, Shandong Province, 272000, P.R. China
| | - Jikui Shi
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Jining NO. 1 People’s HospitalJining City, Shandong Province, 272011, P.R. China
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p21-activated kinase 4: a druggable target in the elusive oncogenic KRAS pathway? Future Med Chem 2015; 7:5-7. [PMID: 25582328 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.14.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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Marada VVVR, Flörl S, Kühne A, Burckhardt G, Hagos Y. Interaction of human organic anion transporter polypeptides 1B1 and 1B3 with antineoplastic compounds. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 92:723-31. [PMID: 25618019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Antineoplastic compounds are used in the treatment of a variety of cancers. The effectiveness of an antineoplastic compound to exert its activity is largely dependent on transport proteins involved in the entry of the compound into the cells, and those which drive it out of the cell. Organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3), belonging to the SLCO family of proteins, are specifically expressed in the sinusoidal membranes of the liver, and are known to interact with a variety of drugs. The present study deals with the interaction of these proteins with antineoplastic compounds routinely used in cancer chemotherapy. The proteins OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 were functionally characterized in stably transfected human embryonic kidney cells using [(3)H] labeled estrone 3-sulfate and [(3)H] labeled cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) as substrates, respectively. Substrate uptake experiments performed in the presence of antineoplastic compounds showed that vinblastine and paclitaxel strongly interacted with the OATP1B1 with Ki values of 10.2 μM and 0.84 μM, respectively. OATP1B3 showed highly significant interactions with a variety of antineoplastic compounds including chlorambucil, mitoxantrone, vinblastine, vincristine, paclitaxel and etoposide, with Ki values of 40.6 μM, 3.2 μM, 15.9 μM, 30.6 μM, 1.8 μM and 13.5 μM, respectively. We report several novel interactions of the transporter proteins OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 highlighting the need to investigate their role in drug-drug interactions and cancer chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata V V R Marada
- Institut für Vegetative Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Saskia Flörl
- PortaCellTec Biosciences GmbH, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Annett Kühne
- PortaCellTec Biosciences GmbH, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Gerhard Burckhardt
- Institut für Vegetative Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Yohannes Hagos
- Institut für Vegetative Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; PortaCellTec Biosciences GmbH, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
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Nguyen BCQ, Be Tu PT, Tawata S, Maruta H. Combination of immunoprecipitation (IP)-ATP_Glo kinase assay and melanogenesis for the assessment of potent and safe PAK1-blockers in cell culture. Drug Discov Ther 2015; 9:289-95. [DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2015.01041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Binh Cao Quan Nguyen
- PAK Research Center
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Bioscience, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
| | - Pham Thi Be Tu
- PAK Research Center
- Department of Biochemistry and Applied Bioscience, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
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Marada VVVR, Flörl S, Kühne A, Müller J, Burckhardt G, Hagos Y. Interaction of human organic anion transporter 2 (OAT2) and sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) with antineoplastic drugs. Pharmacol Res 2014; 91:78-87. [PMID: 25481222 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ability of an antineoplastic drug to exert its cytostatic effect depends largely on the balance between its uptake into and extrusion from the cancer cells. ATP driven efflux transporter proteins drive the export of antineoplastic drugs and play a pivotal role in the development of chemoresistance. As regards uptake transporters, comparably less is known on their impact in drug action. In the current study, we characterized the interactions of two uptake transporter proteins, expressed mainly in the liver; the organic anion transporter 2 (OAT2, encoded by the SLC22A7 gene) and the sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP, encoded by the SLC10A1 gene), stably transfected in human embryonic kidney cells, with some antineoplastic agents that are routinely being used in cancer chemotherapy. Whereas NTCP did not show any strong interactions with the cytostatics tested, we observed a very strong inhibition of OAT2 mediated [(3)H] cGMP uptake in the presence of bendamustine, irinotecan and paclitaxel. The Ki values of OAT2 for bendamustine, irinotecan and paclitaxel were determined to be 43.3±4.33μM, 26.4±2.34μM and 10.4±0.45μM, respectively. Incubation of bendamustine with OAT2 expressing cells increased the caspase-3 activity, and this increase was inhibited by simultaneous incubation with bendamustine and probenecid, a well-known inhibitor of OATs, suggesting that bendamustine is a substrate of OAT2. A higher accumulation of irinotecan was observed in OAT2 expressing cells compared to control pcDNA cells by HPLC analysis of cell lysates. The accumulation was diminished in the presence of cGMP, the substrate we used to functionally characterize OAT2, suggesting specificity of this uptake and the fact that OAT2 mediates uptake of irinotecan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata V V R Marada
- Institut für Vegetative Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Universitätmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Saskia Flörl
- PortaCellTec biosciences GmbH, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Annett Kühne
- PortaCellTec biosciences GmbH, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Judith Müller
- Institut für Vegetative Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Universitätmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Gerhard Burckhardt
- Institut für Vegetative Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Universitätmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Yohannes Hagos
- Institut für Vegetative Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Universitätmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; PortaCellTec biosciences GmbH, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Goettingen, Germany.
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Glaucarubinone inhibits colorectal cancer growth by suppression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and β-catenin via a p-21 activated kinase 1-dependent pathway. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2014; 1853:157-65. [PMID: 25409929 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2014.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
p-21-Activated kinase 1 (PAK1) enhances colorectal cancer (CRC) progression by stimulating Wnt/β-catenin, ERK and AKT pathways. PAK1 also promotes CRC survival via up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), a key player in cancer survival. Glaucarubinone, a quassinoid natural product, inhibits pancreatic cancer growth by down-regulation of PAK1. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of glaucarubinone on CRC growth and metastasis, and the mechanism involved. Cell proliferation was measured in vitro by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation and in vivo by volume of tumor xenografts. Protein concentrations were measured by Western blotting of cell extracts. We report here that glaucarubinone inhibited CRC growth both in vitro and in vivo. The potency of glaucarubinone as an inhibitor of cell proliferation was negatively correlated to PAK1 expression in CRC cells. Glaucarubinone suppressed the expression of HIF-1α and β-catenin. Knockdown of PAK1 by shRNA enhanced inhibition by glaucarubinone while constitutively active PAK1 blocked the inhibitory effect. Our findings indicate that glaucarubinone inhibited CRC growth by down-regulation of HIF-1α and β-catenin via a PAK1-dependent pathway.
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Han J, Wang F, Yuan SQ, Guo Y, Zeng ZL, Li LR, Yang J, Wang DS, Liu MY, Zhao H, Liu KY, Liao JW, Zou QF, Xu RH. Reduced expression of p21-activated protein kinase 1 correlates with poor histological differentiation in pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:650. [PMID: 25182632 PMCID: PMC4242600 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND P21-activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1), a main downstream effector of small Rho GTPases, is overexpressed in many malignancies. PAK1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in some tumor types, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, the expression and clinical relevance of PAK1 expression in human pancreatic cancer remains unknown. METHODS The present study investigated the clinical and prognostic significance of PAK1 expression in pancreatic carcinoma. We examined and scored the expression of PAK1 by immunohistochemistry in 72 primary pancreatic carcinoma samples and 20 liver metastatic samples. The relationships between PAK1 and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer were analyzed. RESULTS Among the total 92 cases, primary pancreatic cancer samples had a significantly higher rate (38/72, 52.8%) of high PAK1 expression than liver metastatic samples (5/20, 25.0%) (P=0.028). Among the 72 primary pancreatic cancer patients, high PAK1 expression was associated with younger age (P=0.038) and moderately or well differentiated tumor (P=0.007). Moreover, a positive relationship was found between high PAK1 expression and overall survival (OS) (P<0.005). Patients with high PAK1 expression had a better OS than those with low PAK1 expression. Univariate and multivariate analysis by Cox regression including PAK1 and other prognostic pathological markers demonstrated high PAK1 immunostaining as a prognostic factor for survival in pancreatic cancer patients (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS We report for the first time that PAK1 is a novel prognostic marker for pathologically confirmed human pancreatic cancer. Reduced expression of PAK1 correlates with poor histological differentiation in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qing-feng Zou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, China.
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