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Zhao J, Liu X, Jin X, Dong T, Gao X, Wang J, Li Y, Ma E. Riboflavin protects against pancreatic cancer metastasis by targeting TGF-β receptor 1. Bioorg Chem 2024; 146:107274. [PMID: 38503026 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107274] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The inhibition of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling by targeting TGF-β receptor 1 (TβR1) has been considered as an ideal approach for the prevention of pancreatic cancer metastasis. Utilizing a pharmacophore model for TβR1 inhibitors, candidate compounds with the potential TβR1 binding ability were screened from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) database, and riboflavin (RF) with a highest fit value was chosen to investigate its binding ability to TβR1 and effect on TGF-β1 signaling in pancreatic cancer cells. Molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) proved that RF at pharmacological concentrations could directly bind to TβR1. Further studies showed that pharmacological concentrations of RF in vitro could block TGF-β1 signaling, suppress the migration and invasion, and prevent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of pancreatic cancer cells in the absence or presence of TGF-β1 stimulation, indicating that RF presented anti-metastatic effect in pancreatic cancer cells. Knockdown of TβR1 could significantly attenuate the effects of RF on the migration and EMT process in pancreatic cancer cells, further confirming that the anti-metastatic effect of RF was achieved by blocking TGF-β1 signaling after binding to TβR1. Moreover, in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer metastasis, it was certified that RF administration could block lung and liver metastases, TGF-β1 signaling and EMT process of pancreatic cancer in vivo. In summary, our findings showed that RF could block TGF-β1 signaling by directly binding to TβR1, thereby suppressing the metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting EMT process both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanping Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiaofeng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xinxin Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Tianyi Dong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiong Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Yanchun Li
- GLP Center, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Enlong Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
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Huang H, Zhang Y, Xu X, Liu Y, Zhao J, Ma L, Lei J, Ge W, Li N, Ma E, Li Y, Yuan L. Design and synthesis of dual cathepsin L and S inhibitors and antimetastatic activity evaluation in pancreatic cancer cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 80:129087. [PMID: 36427655 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.129087] [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: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the migration and invasion of cancer cells remain the main factors of poor prognosis in the majority of cancer patients. Developing an effective antimetastatic agent is crucial for cancer therapy. Our recent research revealed that Cat L and S are expressed concurrently in metastatic pancreatic cancer cells. Asperphenamate analog ASPER-29, which exhibits dual Cat L and S inhibitory potency, showed a definite antimetastatic effect on pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cells. To further improve the antimetastatic ability of asperphenamate-type molecules, 24 derivatives were designed and synthesized by a scaffold-hopping strategy. The cathepsin inhibitory activity assay results showed that most of the derivatives exhibited dual inhibitory effects on Cat L and S. Among all derivatives, Compound B1a showed the strongest inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 4.10 ± 0.14 μM and 1.79 ± 0.11 μM, which were 1.5-fold and 2.8-fold more potent than those of positive drugs against Cat L and S, respectively. Further wound-healing and transwell chamber assays demonstrated that B1a presented significant antimetastatic ability in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqiang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- Center for Drug Evaluation, NMPA, Beijing 100022, PR China
| | - Yongzheng Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Juanping Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Lili Ma
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Jie Lei
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Wentao Ge
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Ning Li
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Enlong Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - Yanchun Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
| | - Lei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
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A Review on the Efficacy and Safety of Nab-Paclitaxel with Gemcitabine in Combination with Other Therapeutic Agents as New Treatment Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030327. [PMID: 35330078 PMCID: PMC8953820 DOI: 10.3390/life12030327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among cancers, and a combination of nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine remains the cornerstone of first-line therapy. However, major advances are required to achieve improvements in patient outcomes. For this reason, several research groups have proposed supplementing treatment with other therapeutic agents. Ongoing studies are being conducted to find the optimal treatment in a first-line setting. In this work, we used a search strategy to compare studies on the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine in combination with other therapeutic agents based on the criteria of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. We found seven studies in different clinical phases that met the inclusion criteria. The seven therapeutic agents were ibrutinib, necuparanib, tarextumab, apatorsen, cisplatin, enzalutamide, and momelotinib. Although these therapeutic agents have different mechanisms of action, and molecular biology studies are still needed, the present review was aimed to answer the following question: which formulations of the nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine regimen in combination with other therapeutic agents are safest for patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma? The triple regimen is emerging as the first-line option for patients with pancreatic cancer, albeit with some limitations. Thus, further studies of this regimen are recommended.
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