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Wang Y, Zhou Q, Liu C, Zhang R, Xing B, Du J, Dong L, Zheng J, Chen Z, Sun M, Yao X, Ren Y, Zhou X. Targeting IL-6/STAT3 signaling abrogates EGFR-TKI resistance through inhibiting Beclin-1 dependent autophagy in HNSCC. Cancer Lett 2024; 586:216612. [PMID: 38211653 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216612] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is featured by notorious EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance attributable to activation of parallel pathways. The numerous phase I/II trials have rarely shown encouraging clinical outcomes of EGFR-TKIs during treatment in HNSCC patients with advanced tumors. A unique IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis is reported to regulate multiple cancer-related pathways, but whether this signaling is correlated with reduced EGFR-TKI responsiveness is unclear. Here, we found that STAT3 signaling is compensatorily upregulated after EGFR-TKI exposure and confers anti-EGFR therapy resistance during HNSCC therapy. Targeting STAT3 using small molecule inhibitors promotes complete recovery or sustained elimination of HNSCC tumors through combination with EGFR-TKIs both in vitro and in diverse animal models. Mechanistically, phosphorylated STAT3 was proven to enhance oncogenic autophagic flux, protecting cancer cells and preventing EGFR-TKI-induced tumor apoptosis. Thus, blockade of STAT3 signaling simultaneously disrupts several key interactions during tumor progression and remodels the autophagic degradation system, thereby rendering advanced HNSCC eradicable through combination with EGFR-TKI therapy. These findings provide a clinically actionable strategy and suggest STAT3 as a predictive biomarker with therapeutic potential for EGFR-TKI resistant HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Qianqian Zhou
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Ruizhe Zhang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Bofan Xing
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Jiang Du
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Lin Dong
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Jianwei Zheng
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Mengyu Sun
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yao
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Yu Ren
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Tianjin' s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China; Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China; National Key Laboratory of Druggability Evaluation and Systematic Translational Medicine, Tianjin, 300060, China.
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Aye L, Wang Z, Chen F, Xiong Y, Zhou J, Wu F, Hu L, Wang D. Circadian Regulator-Mediated Molecular Subtypes Depict the Features of Tumor Microenvironment and Indicate Prognosis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Immunol Res 2023; 2023:9946911. [PMID: 37342762 PMCID: PMC10279500 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9946911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Circadian rhythm is involved in multiple biological activities and implicated in cancer development. However, the role of circadian rhythm in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been fully interpreted yet. Herein, the present study set out to explore the significance of circadian regulator genes (CRGs) in HNSCC. Materials and Methods The molecular landscape and clinical significance of 13 CRGs in HNSCC were explored based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The biological functions of PER3, a key CRG, were validated by cellular experiments. The correlation of CRGs with microenvironment, pathway activities, and prognosis was determined by bioinformatic algorithms. A novel circadian score was introduced to evaluate the circadian modification pattern of each patient and further validated in an independent cohort from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. Results CRGs presented high heterogeneity in HNSCC at both genomic and transcriptomic levels. Specifically, PER3 indicated a better prognosis and inhibited HNSCC cell proliferation. Moreover, HNSCC tissues displayed three circadian regulator patterns with distinct clinical outcomes, transcriptomic characteristics, and microenvironment features. Circadian score was an independent risk factor and exhibited excellent predictive efficiency in both the training cohort from the TCGA database and the validation cohort from the GEO database. Conclusions CRGs played an indispensable role in HNSCC development. An in-depth exploration of circadian rhythm would improve the understanding of HNSCC carcinogenesis and confer novel insights for future clinical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Aye
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhanying Wang
- Five-Year Program Clinical Medicine, Grade of 2019, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, China
| | - Fanghua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yujun Xiong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaying Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Feizhen Wu
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Li Hu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dehui Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
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Quah HS, Cao EY, Suteja L, Li CH, Leong HS, Chong FT, Gupta S, Arcinas C, Ouyang JF, Ang V, Celhar T, Zhao Y, Tay HC, Chan J, Takahashi T, Tan DSW, Biswas SK, Rackham OJL, Iyer NG. Single cell analysis in head and neck cancer reveals potential immune evasion mechanisms during early metastasis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1680. [PMID: 36973261 PMCID: PMC10042873 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37379-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Profiling tumors at single-cell resolution provides an opportunity to understand complexities underpinning lymph-node metastases in head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma. Single-cell RNAseq (scRNAseq) analysis of cancer-cell trajectories identifies a subpopulation of pre-metastatic cells, driven by actionable pathways including AXL and AURK. Blocking these two proteins blunts tumor invasion in patient-derived cultures. Furthermore, scRNAseq analyses of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T-lymphocytes show two distinct trajectories to T-cell dysfunction, corroborated by their clonal architecture based on single-cell T-cell receptor sequencing. By determining key modulators of these trajectories, followed by validation using external datasets and functional experiments, we uncover a role for SOX4 in mediating T-cell exhaustion. Finally, interactome analyses between pre-metastatic tumor cells and CD8 + T-lymphocytes uncover a putative role for the Midkine pathway in immune-modulation and this is confirmed by scRNAseq of tumors from humanized mice. Aside from specific findings, this study demonstrates the importance of tumor heterogeneity analyses in identifying key vulnerabilities during early metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Sheng Quah
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Academic Clinical Program in Oncology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elaine Yiqun Cao
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lisda Suteja
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Constance H Li
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Academic Clinical Program in Oncology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Sun Leong
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fui Teen Chong
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shilpi Gupta
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Camille Arcinas
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Academic Clinical Program in Oncology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - John F Ouyang
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vivian Ang
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Teja Celhar
- HuNIT platform, Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yunqian Zhao
- HuNIT platform, Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Chen Tay
- HuNIT platform, Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jerry Chan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Takeshi Takahashi
- Laboratory Animal Research Department, Central Institute for Experimental Animals (CIEA), Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Daniel S W Tan
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Academic Clinical Program in Oncology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Subhra K Biswas
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Owen J L Rackham
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library, London, United Kingdom
| | - N Gopalakrishna Iyer
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
- Academic Clinical Program in Oncology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
- Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
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Long Z, Grandis JR, Johnson DE. Emerging tyrosine kinase inhibitors for head and neck cancer. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2022; 27:333-344. [PMID: 36131561 PMCID: PMC9987561 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2022.2125954] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Conventional regimens for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are limited in efficacy and are associated with adverse toxicities. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved molecular targeting agents include the HER1 (EGFR)-directed monoclonal antibody cetuximab and the immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab. However, clinical benefit is only seen in roughly 15-20% of HNSCC patients treated with these agents. New molecular targeting agents are needed that either act with monotherapeutic activity against HNSCC tumors or enhance the activities of current therapies, particularly immunotherapy. Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) represent a viable option toward this goal. AREAS COVERED This review provides an update on TKIs currently under investigation in HNSCC. We focus our review on data obtained and trials underway in HNSCC, including salivary gland cancers and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, but excluding thyroid cancer and esophageal cancer. EXPERT OPINION While some emerging TKIs have shown clinical benefit, the positive effects have, largely, been modest. The design of clinical trials of TKIs has been hampered by a lack of understanding of biomarkers that can be used to define patient populations most likely to respond. Further preclinical and translational studies to define biomarkers of TKI response will be critically important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Long
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jennifer R. Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Daniel E. Johnson
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Furqan M, Fayyaz A, Firdous F, Raza H, Bilal A, Saleem RSZ, Shahzad-Ul-Hussan S, Wang D, Youssef FS, Al Musayeib NM, Ashour ML, Hussain H, Faisal A. Identification and Characterization of Natural and Semisynthetic Quinones as Aurora Kinase Inhibitors. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2022; 85:1503-1513. [PMID: 35687347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Aurora kinases (Aurora A, B, and C) are a family of serine/threonine kinases that play critical roles during mitotic initiation and progression. Aurora A and B kinases are ubiquitously expressed, and their overexpression and/or amplification in many cancers have been associated with poor prognosis. Several inhibitors that target Aurora kinases A, B, or both have been developed during the past decade with efficacy in different in vitro and in vivo models for a variety of cancers. Recent studies have also identified Aurora A as a synthetic lethal target for different tumor suppressors, including RB1, SMARCA4, and ARID1A, which signifies the need for Aurora-A-selective inhibitors. Here, we report the screening of a small library of quinones (nine naphthoquinones, one orthoquinone, and one anthraquinone) in a biochemical assay for Aurora A kinase that resulted in the identification of several quinones as inhibitors. IC50 determination against Aurora A and B kinases revealed the inhibition of both kinases with selectivity toward Aurora A. Two of the compounds, natural quinone naphthazarin (1) and a pseudo anthraquinone, 2-(chloromethyl)quinizarin (11), potently inhibited the proliferation of various cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.16 ± 0.15 to 1.7 ± 0.06 and 0.15 ± 0.04 to 6.3 ± 1.8 μM, respectively. Treatment of cancer cells with these compounds for 24 h resulted in abrogated mitosis and apoptotic cell death. Direct binding of both the compounds with Aurora A kinase was also confirmed through STD NMR analysis. Docking studies predicted the binding of both compounds to the ATP binding pocket of Aurora A kinase. We have, therefore, identified quinones as Aurora kinase inhibitors that can serve as a lead for future drug discovery endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Furqan
- Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
| | - Alishba Fayyaz
- Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
| | - Farhat Firdous
- Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
| | - Hadeeqa Raza
- Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
| | - Aishah Bilal
- Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
| | - Rahman Shah Zaib Saleem
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
| | - Syed Shahzad-Ul-Hussan
- Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
| | - Daijie Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Key Laboratory for Applied Technology of Sophisticated Analytical Instruments of Shandong Province, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
| | - Fadia S Youssef
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain-Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Nawal M Al Musayeib
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed L Ashour
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain-Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Hidayat Hussain
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Weinberg 3, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Amir Faisal
- Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
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Lee JY, Yang H, Kim D, Kyaw KZ, Hu R, Fan Y, Lee SK. Antiproliferative Activity of a New Quinazolin-4(3H)-One Derivative via Targeting Aurora Kinase A in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060698. [PMID: 35745617 PMCID: PMC9228987 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common lung cancer subtype. Although chemotherapy and targeted therapy are used for the treatment of patients with NSCLC, the survival rate remains very low. Recent findings suggested that aurora kinase A (AKA), a cell cycle regulator, is a potential target for NSCLC therapy. Previously, we reported that a chemical entity of quinazolin-4(3H)-one represents a new template for AKA inhibitors, with antiproliferative activity against cancer cells. A quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivative was further designed and synthesized in order to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and antiproliferation activity against NSCLC cell lines. The derivative, BIQO-19 (Ethyl 6-(4-oxo-3-(pyrimidin-2-ylmethyl)-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-6-yl)imidazo [1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxylate), exhibited improved solubility and antiproliferative activity in NSCLC cells, including epidermal growth factor receptor–tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI)-resistant NSCLC cells. BIQO-19 effectively inhibited the growth of the EGFR-TKI-resistant H1975 NSCLC cells, with the suppression of activated AKA (p-AKA) expression in these cells. The inhibition of AKA by BIQO-19 significantly induced G2/M phase arrest and subsequently evoked apoptosis in H1975 cells. In addition, the combination of gefitinib and BIQO-19 exhibited synergistic antiproliferative activity in NSCLC cells. These findings suggest the potential of BIQO-19 as a novel therapeutic agent for restoring the sensitivity of gefitinib in EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yun Lee
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (J.Y.L.); (D.K.); (K.Z.K.); (R.H.)
| | - Huarong Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China;
| | - Donghwa Kim
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (J.Y.L.); (D.K.); (K.Z.K.); (R.H.)
| | - Kay Zin Kyaw
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (J.Y.L.); (D.K.); (K.Z.K.); (R.H.)
| | - Ruoci Hu
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (J.Y.L.); (D.K.); (K.Z.K.); (R.H.)
| | - Yanhua Fan
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China;
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
- Correspondence: (Y.F.); (S.K.L.); Tel.: +82-2-880-2475 (S.K.L.)
| | - Sang Kook Lee
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (J.Y.L.); (D.K.); (K.Z.K.); (R.H.)
- Correspondence: (Y.F.); (S.K.L.); Tel.: +82-2-880-2475 (S.K.L.)
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7
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Aurora Kinases as Therapeutic Targets in Head and Neck Cancer. Cancer J 2022; 28:387-400. [PMID: 36165728 PMCID: PMC9836054 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Aurora kinases (AURKA and AURKB) have attracted attention as therapeutic targets in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Aurora kinases were first defined as regulators of mitosis that localization to the centrosome (AURKA) and centromere (AURKB), governing formation of the mitotic spindle, chromatin condensation, activation of the core mitotic kinase CDK1, alignment of chromosomes at metaphase, and other processes. Subsequently, additional roles for Aurora kinases have been defined in other phases of cell cycle, including regulation of ciliary disassembly and DNA replication. In cancer, elevated expression and activity of Aurora kinases result in enhanced or neomorphic locations and functions that promote aggressive disease, including promotion of MYC expression, oncogenic signaling, stem cell identity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and drug resistance. Numerous Aurora-targeted inhibitors have been developed and are being assessed in preclinical and clinical trials, with the goal of improving head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treatment.
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Mock A, Plath M, Moratin J, Tapken MJ, Jäger D, Krauss J, Fröhling S, Hess J, Zaoui K. EGFR and PI3K Pathway Activities Might Guide Drug Repurposing in HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancers. Front Oncol 2021; 11:678966. [PMID: 34178665 PMCID: PMC8226088 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.678966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While genetic alterations in Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and PI3K are common in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), their impact on oncogenic signaling and cancer drug sensitivities remains elusive. To determine their consequences on the transcriptional network, pathway activities of EGFR, PI3K, and 12 additional oncogenic pathways were inferred in 498 HNSCC samples of The Cancer Genome Atlas using PROGENy. More than half of HPV-negative HNSCC showed a pathway activation in EGFR or PI3K. An amplification in EGFR and a mutation in PI3KCA resulted in a significantly higher activity of the respective pathway (p = 0.017 and p = 0.007). Interestingly, both pathway activations could only be explained by genetic alterations in less than 25% of cases indicating additional molecular events involved in the downstream signaling. Suitable in vitro pathway models could be identified in a published drug screen of 45 HPV-negative HNSCC cell lines. An active EGFR pathway was predictive for the response to the PI3K inhibitor buparlisib (p = 6.36E-03) and an inactive EGFR and PI3K pathway was associated with efficacy of the B-cell lymphoma (BCL) inhibitor navitoclax (p = 9.26E-03). In addition, an inactive PI3K pathway correlated with a response to multiple Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC) inhibitors. These findings require validation in preclinical models and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Mock
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Translational Medical Oncology, NCT Heidelberg, German Cancer Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michaela Plath
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julius Moratin
- Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Johanna Tapken
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Jäger
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krauss
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Fröhling
- Division of Translational Medical Oncology, NCT Heidelberg, German Cancer Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Hess
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karim Zaoui
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Aurora kinases shed light on resistance to EGFR inhibition in head and neck cancer. EBioMedicine 2021; 65:103257. [PMID: 33639398 PMCID: PMC7918271 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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