Chidamide and mitomycin C exert synergistic cytotoxic effects against bladder cancer cells in vitro and suppress tumor growth in a rat bladder cancer model

Discovery of novel and potent dual-targeting AXL/HDAC2 inhibitors for colorectal cancer treatment via structure-based pharmacophore modelling, virtual screening, and molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation studies, and biological evaluation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Nowadays, owing to the complex mechanism of tumorigenesis, simultaneous inhibition of multiple targets is an important anticancer strategy. Recent studies have demonstrated receptor tyrosine kinase AXL (AXL) and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) are closely associated with colorectal cancer. Herein, we identified five hit compounds concurrently targeting AXL and HDAC2 using virtual screening. Inhibitory experiments revealed these hit compounds potently inhibited AXL and HDAC2 in the nanomolar range. Among them, Hit-3 showed the strongest inhibitory effects which were better than that of the positive control groups. Additionally, MD assays showed that Hit-3 could bind stably to the AXL and HDAC2 active pockets. Further MTT assays demonstrated that Hit-3 showed potent anti-proliferative activity. Most importantly, Hit-3 exhibited significant in vivo antitumor efficacy in xenograft models. Collectively, this study is the first discovery of dual-targeting AXL/HDAC2 inhibitors for colorectal cancer treatment.

Preclinical models for bladder cancer therapy research

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Bladder cancer (BC) is a highly heterogenous disease comprising tumours of various molecular subtypes and histologic variants. This heterogeneity represents a major challenge for the development of novel therapeutics. Preclinical models that closely mimic in vivo tumours and reflect their diverse biology are indispensable for the identification of therapies with specific activity in various BC subtypes. In this review, we summarize efforts and progress made in this context during the last 24 months.

RECENT FINDINGS

In recent years, one main focus was laid on the development of patient-derived BC models. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were demonstrated to widely recapitulate the molecular and histopathological characteristics, as well as the drug response profiles of the corresponding tumours of origin. These models, thus, represent promising tools for drug development and personalized medicine. Besides PDXs, syngenic in vivo models are of growing importance. Since these models are generated using immunocompetent hosts, they can, amongst others, be used to develop novel immunotherapeutics and to evaluate the impact of the immune system on drug response and resistance.

SUMMARY

In the past two years, various in vivo and in vitro models closely recapitulating the biology and heterogeneity of human bladder tumours were developed.

Crebanine, an aporphine alkaloid, induces cancer cell apoptosis through PI3K-Akt pathway in glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most prevalent and lethal primary central nervous system malignancies. GBM is notorious for its high rates of recurrence and therapy resistance and the PI3K/Akt pathway plays a pivotal role in its malignant behavior. Crebanine (CB), an alkaloid capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB), has been shown to have inhibitory effects on proinflammatory molecules and multiple cancer cell lines via pathways such as PI3K/Akt. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of CB treatment on GBM. It is the first study to elucidate the anti-tumor role of CB in GBM, providing new possibilities for GBM therapy. Through a series of experiments, we demonstrate the significant anti-survival, anti-clonogenicity, and proapoptotic effects of CB treatment on GBM cell lines. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is also conducted and provides a complete list of significant changes in gene expression after treatment, including genes related to apoptosis, the cell cycle, FoxO, and autophagy. The subsequent protein expressions of the upregulation of apoptosis and downregulation of PI3K/Akt are further proved. The clinical applicability of CB to GBM treatment could be high for its BBB-penetrating feature, significant induction of apoptosis, and blockage of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Future research is needed using in vivo experiments and other therapeutic pathways shown in NGS for further clinical or in vivo studies.

Melatonin exhibits partial protective effects against gemcitabine- and cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries in mice

Cisplatin has the potential to cause kidney and reproductive organ injuries, prompting the search for protective agents against cisplatin-induced toxicity. Melatonin, an antioxidant hormone, has shown promise in mitigating oxidative stress in various organs. However, its protective effects on cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries have not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to explore the potential protective effects of melatonin on cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries when administered in combination with gemcitabine in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a seven-week treatment with gemcitabine plus cisplatin, with or without melatonin intervention. The testis, epididymis, and kidney were assessed through histological analysis and measurement of blood parameters. Treatment with cisplatin led to a significant reduction in testicular weight, histological abnormalities, and alterations in reproductive hormone levels. Melatonin exhibited a slight protective effect on the testis, with higher doses of melatonin yielding better outcomes. However, melatonin did not reverse the effects of cisplatin on the epididymis. Administration of melatonin before and during treatment with cisplatin plus gemcitabine in mice demonstrated a modest protective effect on testicular injuries, while showing limited effects on epididymal injuries. Serum creatinine levels in the group treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin treatment and high-dose melatonin approached those of the control group, indicating a protective effect on the kidney. These findings underscore the potential of melatonin as a protective agent against cisplatin-induced kidney and reproductive injuries and emphasize the need for further research to optimize its dosage and evaluate its long-term effects.

Hyaluronic Acid-Conjugated Fluorescent Probe-Shielded Polydopamine Nanomedicines for Targeted Imaging and Chemotherapy of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the urinary system, with high risk of recurrence and progression. However, the difficulty in detecting small tumor lesions and the lack of selectivity of intravesical treatment seriously affect the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. In the present work, a nanoparticle-based delivery system with tumor targeting, high biocompatibility, simple preparation, and the ability to synergize imaging and therapy was fabricated. Specifically, this nanosystem consisted of the core of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded polydopamine nanoparticles (PDD NPs) and the shell of hyaluronic acid (HA)-conjugated IR780 (HA-IR780). The HA-IR780-covered PDD NPs (HR-PDD NPs) demonstrated tumor targeting and visualization both in vitro and in vivo with properties of promoted cancer cell endocytosis and lysosomal escape, efficiently delivering drugs to the target site and exerting a killing effect on tumor cells. Encouragingly, intravesical instillation of HR-PDD NPs improved drug retention in the bladder and promoted its accumulation in tumor tissue, resulting in better tumor proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in an orthotopic bladder cancer model in rats. This study provides a promising strategy for the diagnosis and therapy of bladder cancer.

PNU-74654 Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Inhibits EMT Progression in Pancreatic Cancer

Background and Objectives: PNU-74654, a Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor, has an antiproliferative effect on many cancer types; however, its therapeutic role in pancreatic cancer (PC) has not yet been demonstrated. Here, the effects of PNU-74654 on proliferation and cell cycle phase distribution were studied in PC cell lines. Materials and Methods: The cancer-related molecular pathways regulated by PNU-74654 were determined by a proteome profiling oncology array and confirmed by western blotting. Results: The cell viability and proliferative ability of PC cells were decreased by PNU-74654 treatment. G1 arrest was observed, as indicated by the downregulation of cyclin E and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and the upregulation of p27. PNU-74654 inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as determined by an increase in E-cadherin and decreases in N-cadherin, ZEB1, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α). PNU-74654 also suppressed cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin and impaired the NF-κB pathway. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that PNU-74654 modulates G1/S regulatory proteins and inhibits the EMT, thereby suppressing PC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The synergistic effect of PNU-74654 and chemotherapy or the exclusive use of PNU-74654 may be therapeutic options for PC and require further investigation.

A multi-omics analysis reveals CLSPN is associated with prognosis, immune microenvironment and drug resistance in cancers

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy is effective only in limited patients. It is urgent to discover a novel biomarker to predict immune cells infiltration status and immunotherapy response of different cancers. CLSPN has been reported to play a pivotal role in various biological processes. However, a comprehensive analysis of CLSPN in cancers has not been conducted.

METHODS

To show the whole picture of CLSPN in cancers, a pan-cancer analysis was conducted in 9125 tumor samples across 33 cancer types by integrating transcriptomic, epigenomic and pharmacogenomics data. Moreover, the role of CLSPN in cancer was validated by CCK-8, EDU, colony formation and flow cytometry in vitro and tumor cell derived xenograft model in vivo.

RESULTS

CLSPN expression was generally upregulated in most cancer types and was significantly associated with prognosis in different tumor samples. Moreover, elevated CLSPN expression was closely correlated with immune cells infiltration, TMB (tumor mutational burden), MSI (microsatellite instability), MMR (mismatch repair), DNA methylation and stemness score across 33 cancer types. Enrichment analysis of functional genes revealed that CLSPN participated in the regulation of numerous signaling pathways involved in cell cycle and inflammatory response. The expression of CLSPN in LUAD patients were further analyzed at the single-cell level. Knockdown CLSPN significantly inhibited cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle related cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family and Cyclin family expression in LUAD (lung adenocarcinoma) both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Finally, we conducted structure-based virtual screening by modelling the structure of CHK1 kinase domain and Claspin phosphopeptide complex. The top five hit compounds were screened and validated by molecular docking and Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our multi-omics analysis offers a systematic understanding of the roles of CLSPN in pan-cancer and provides a potential target for future cancer treatment.

ARHGAP6 inhibits bladder cancer cell viability, migration, and invasion via β-catenin signaling and enhances mitomycin C sensitivity

The Rho/ROCK pathway regulates diverse cellular processes and contributes to the development and advancement of several types of human cancers. This study investigated the role of specific Rho GTPase-activating proteins (RhoGAP), ARHGAP6, in bladder cancer (BC). In this study, ARHGAP6 expression in BC and its clinical significance were investigated. In vitro and in vivo assays were used to explore the tumor-related function and the underlying molecular mechanism ARHGAP6 of in BC. The mRNA and protein levels of ARHGAP6 significantly reduced in human BC tissues and cell lines compared with corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues and normal urothelial cells. In vitro, ARHGAP6 overexpression markedly decreased the viability, migration, and invasion of BC cells. Interestingly, low ARHGAP6 expression in BC strongly correlated with poor patient survival and was highly associated with metastasis and β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, ARHGAP6 expression strongly influenced the sensitivity of BC cells to mitomycin C treatment. Together, our results demonstrate that ARHGAP6 plays critical roles in regulating the proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis of BC cells possibly via the modulation of β-catenin and strongly influences the chemosensitivity of BC cells.

Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins as therapeutic targets in bladder cancer

Evasion from apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer. Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) contribute to this hallmark by suppressing the induction of cell death. IAPs were found to be overexpressed in cancerous tissues and to contribute to therapeutic resistance. The present review focuses on the IAP members cIAP1, cIAP2, XIAP, Survivin and Livin and their importance as potential therapeutic targets in bladder cancer.

The Therapeutic Role of PNU-74654 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma May Involve Suppression of NF-κB Signaling

Background and Objectives: PNU-74654, a Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor, has reported antitumor activities; however, the therapeutic potential of PNU-74654 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was to clarify the cytotoxic effects of PNU-74654 against HCC and to uncover its molecular mechanism. Materials and Methods: HepG2 and Huh7 liver cancer cell lines were selected to determine the antitumor properties of PNU-74654. Survival of the liver cancer cells in response to PNU-74654 was assessed by cell viability assays, and the apoptosis effect of PNU-74654 was analyzed by flow cytometry and visualized by Hoechst staining. An oncology array was used to explore the underlying molecular routes of PNU-74654 action in the cells. The migration properties were examined with a wound healing assay, and western blotting was conducted to evaluate protein expression. Results: Treatment with PNU-74654 decreased cell viability and inhibited cell migration. The cell cycle analysis and Hoechst staining revealed an increase in the population of cells at the sub-G1 stage and apoptotic morphological changes in the nucleus. The oncology array identified 84 oncology-related proteins and a suppressed expression of Bcl-xL and survivin. Western blotting showed that PNU-74654 could interfere with cell cycle-related proteins through the NF-κB pathway. Conclusions: PNU-74654 shows antiproliferative and antimigration effects against HepG2 and Huh7 cells, and its antitumor activity may be attributable to its interference in cell cycle regulation and the NF-κB pathway.

LncRNA ENST869 Targeting Nestin Transcriptional Region to Affect the Pharmacological Effects of Chidamide in Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer is one of the leading threats to the health of women. It has the highest incidence and mortality in women worldwide. Although progress has been made in the development and application of anti-breast cancer drugs such as Chidamide and others, the occurrence of drug resistance limits the effective application of chemotherapies. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of LncRNA in the pharmacological effect of Chidamide in breast cancer therapy. The human breast cancer MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 cells were used as the research cell models. The RNA library screening and high-throughput sequencing comparative analysis was conducted. The binding of LncRNA and its downstream target genes in RNA and protein levels was tested. The results showed that the expression of LncRNA ENST869 in cells treated with Chidamide increased significantly, as demonstrated by real-time PCR and cell viability assay. RNAplex analysis showed that LncRNA ENST869 and Nestin mRNA may interact. RNA interference and Western blot analysis indicated that LncRNA ENST869 could target and regulate the expression of Nestin. Luciferase assay and RNA-protein pulldown showed that LncRNA ENST869 affected Nestin transcription. There might be a highly active binding region of LncRNA ENST869 in regulating Nestin transcriptional activity within the site of 250 bp upstream of the transcription starting point of Nestin. In addition, LncRNA ENST869 did not directly interact with Nestin protein to affect its activity. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that LncRNA ENST869 could affect the function of Nestin in breast cancer cells treated with Chidamide. Nestin is a key player in influencing the pharmacological activity of Chidamide and an essential factor in drug resistance of breast cancer cells.