1
|
Koltai T, Fliegel L. Dichloroacetate for Cancer Treatment: Some Facts and Many Doubts. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:744. [PMID: 38931411 PMCID: PMC11206832 DOI: 10.3390/ph17060744] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rarely has a chemical elicited as much controversy as dichloroacetate (DCA). DCA was initially considered a dangerous toxic industrial waste product, then a potential treatment for lactic acidosis. However, the main controversies started in 2008 when DCA was found to have anti-cancer effects on experimental animals. These publications showed contradictory results in vivo and in vitro such that a thorough consideration of this compound's in cancer is merited. Despite 50 years of experimentation, DCA's future in therapeutics is uncertain. Without adequate clinical trials and health authorities' approval, DCA has been introduced in off-label cancer treatments in alternative medicine clinics in Canada, Germany, and other European countries. The lack of well-planned clinical trials and its use by people without medical training has discouraged consideration by the scientific community. There are few thorough clinical studies of DCA, and many publications are individual case reports. Case reports of DCA's benefits against cancer have been increasing recently. Furthermore, it has been shown that DCA synergizes with conventional treatments and other repurposable drugs. Beyond the classic DCA target, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, new target molecules have also been recently discovered. These findings have renewed interest in DCA. This paper explores whether existing evidence justifies further research on DCA for cancer treatment and it explores the role DCA may play in it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Koltai
- Hospital del Centro Gallego de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 2199, Argentina
| | - Larry Fliegel
- Department of Biochemistry, University Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li Y, Xie Z, Lei X, Yang X, Huang S, Yuan W, Deng X, Wang Z, Tang G. Recent advances in pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitors: Structures, inhibitory mechanisms and biological activities. Bioorg Chem 2024; 144:107160. [PMID: 38301426 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107160] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Metabolism is reprogrammed in a variety of cancer cells to ensure their rapid proliferation. Cancer cells prefer to utilize glycolysis to produce energy as well as to provide large amounts of precursors for their division. In this process, cancer cells inhibit the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) by upregulating the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs). Inhibiting the activity of PDKs in cancer cells can effectively block this metabolic transition in cancer cells, while also activating mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and promoting apoptosis of cancer cells. To this day, the study of PDKs inhibitors has become one of the research hotspots in the field of medicinal chemistry. Novel structures targeting PDKs are constantly being discovered, and some inhibitors have entered the clinical research stage. Here, we reviewed the research progress of PDKs inhibitors in recent years and classified them according to the PDKs binding sites they acted on, aiming to summarize the structural characteristics of inhibitors acting on different binding sites and explore their clinical application value. Finally, the shortcomings of some PDKs inhibitors and the further development direction of PDKs inhibitors are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Li
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Zhizhong Xie
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Xiaoyong Lei
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Sheng Huang
- Jiuzhitang Co., Ltd, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Weixi Yuan
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Xiangping Deng
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Pharmacy, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, China.
| | - Zhe Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Department of Pharmacy, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, China.
| | - Guotao Tang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gan L, Yang Y, Liang Z, Zhang M, He Y, Zhang SL. Targeting the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex/pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDC/PDK) axis to discover potent PDK inhibitors through structure-based virtual screening and pharmacological evaluation. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:116008. [PMID: 38056298 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Proliferating cancer cells are characterized by the Warburg effect, a metabolic alteration in which ATP is generated from cytoplasmic glycolysis instead of oxidative phosphorylation. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex/pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDC/PDK) axis plays a crucial role in this effect and has been identified as a potential target for anticancer drug development. Herein, we present the discovery and pharmacological evaluation of potent PDK inhibitors targeting the PDK/PDC axis. We successfully identified 6 compounds from a small molecule library through a structure-based virtual screening campaign and evaluated their enzymatic inhibitory potencies for PDK1-4. Our results indicated that compound 1 exhibited submicromolar inhibitory activities against PDK1-3 (IC50 = 109.3, 135.8, and 458.7 nM, respectively), but is insensitive to PDK4 (IC50 = 8.67 μM). Furthermore, compound 1 inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells with an EC50 value of 10.7 μM. In addition, compound 1 induced cell apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle at the S phase, and reduced cell invasion and migration, while showing low in vivo toxicity at a high dose. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that compound 1 is a promising anti-PDK1-3 lead that merits further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linling Gan
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, 401331, PR China
| | - Ying Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, PR China
| | - Zizhen Liang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, PR China
| | - Maojie Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, PR China
| | - Yun He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, PR China.
| | - Shao-Lin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou Y, Guo Y, Ran M, Shan W, Granchi C, Giovannetti E, Minutolo F, Peters GJ, Tam KY. Combined inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 and lactate dehydrogenase a induces metabolic and signaling reprogramming and enhances lung adenocarcinoma cell killing. Cancer Lett 2023; 577:216425. [PMID: 37805163 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most prevalent and aggressive types of lung cancer. Metabolic reprogramming plays a critical role in the development and progression of LUAD. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) are two key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, whilst their aberrant expressions are often associated with tumorigenesis. Herein, we investigated the anticancer effects of combined inhibition of PDK1 and LDHA in LUAD in vitro and in vivo and its underlying mechanisms of action. The combination of a PDK1 inhibitor, 64, and a LDHA inhibitor, NHI-Glc-2, led to a synergistic growth inhibition in 3 different LUAD cell lines and more than additively suppressed tumor growth in the LUAD xenograft H1975 model. This combination also inhibited cellular migration and colony formation, while it induced a metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) resulting in mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis in LUAD cells. These effects were related to modulation of multiple cell signaling pathways, including AMPK, RAS/ERK, and AKT/mTOR. Our findings demonstrate that simultaneous inhibition of multiple glycolytic enzymes (PDK1 and LDHA) is a promising novel therapeutic approach for LUAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhou
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
| | - Yizhen Guo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
| | - Maoxin Ran
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
| | - Wenying Shan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
| | - Carlotta Granchi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1081, HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Fondazione Pisana per La Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Minutolo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Godefridus J Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland; Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1081, HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kin Yip Tam
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau.
| |
Collapse
|