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Meena D, Jha S. Autophagy in glioblastoma: A mechanistic perspective. Int J Cancer 2024; 155:605-617. [PMID: 38716809 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34991] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most lethal malignancies in humans. Even after surgical resection and aggressive radio- or chemotherapies, patients with GBM can survive for less than 14 months. Extreme inter-tumor and intra-tumor heterogeneity of GBM poses a challenge for resolving recalcitrant GBM pathophysiology. GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits diverse heterogeneity in cellular composition and processes contributing to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Autophagy is such a cellular process; that demonstrates a cell-specific and TME context-dependent role in GBM progression, leading to either the promotion or suppression of GBM progression. Autophagy can regulate GBM cell function directly via regulation of survival, migration, and invasion, or indirectly by affecting GBM TME composition such as immune cell population, tumor metabolism, and glioma stem cells. This review comprehensively investigates the role of autophagy in GBM pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durgesh Meena
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sushmita Jha
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
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Song M, Xu M, Zhang Q, Fan T, Xu J, Hang C, Cheng C, Ou X, Gong C, Lu Q. PPM1G promotes autophagy and progression of pancreatic cancer via upregulating HMGB1. Cell Signal 2024:111342. [PMID: 39121976 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111342] [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: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies worldwide, with a dismal 5-year relative survival rates of only 12%. Therefore, it is urgent to discover the key molecular markers to improve the therapeutic outcomes in pancreatic cancer. Herein, we first demonstrated that PPM1G is upregulated in pancreatic cancer and that PPM1G depletion decreases pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. High PPM1G expression was linked to short overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients, which was further validated in the TCGA database. Moreover, by detecting Beclin 1, LC3-II, and SQSTM1/p62 expressions and observing autolysosome under transmission electron microscope, we discovered that PPM1G is a novel positive regulator of macroautophagy/autophagy. Furthermore, by using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) analysis and following systemic molecular biology experiment, we demonstrated PPM1G promotes the autophagy and proliferation of pancreatic cancer by directly upregulating HMGB1. Additionally, patients with both high PPM1G and high HMGB1 exhibited poorer prognosis in our cohort. This study preliminarily investigated the possibility of PPM1G as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker in pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Min Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tingyu Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jiajia Xu
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Cheng Hang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Jiangsu 215400, China
| | - Cuie Cheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Suzhou 215500, China
| | - Xilong Ou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Chen Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Jiangsu 215400, China.
| | - Qin Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Sharma A, Chowdhury S, Mukherjee S, Chowdhury R. LncRNA HULC augments high glucose-associated pancreatic cancer progression and drug resistance by enhancing YAP activity and autophagy. Biol Cell 2024:e202400034. [PMID: 38949568 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202400034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND INFORMATION One of the confounding factors in pancreatic cancer (PC) pathogenesis is hyperglycemia. The molecular mechanism by which high glucose (HG) influences PC severity is poorly understood. Our investigation delved into the impact of lncRNA highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC) and its interaction with yes-associated protein (YAP) in regulating the fate of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells (PDAC) under HG-induced conditions. PDAC cells were cultured under normal or HG conditions. We thereafter measured the effect of HG on the viability of PDAC cells, their migration potential and drug resistance properties. The lncRNAs putatively dysregulated in PC and diabetes were shortlisted by bioinformatics analysis followed by wet lab validation of function. RESULTS HG led to enhanced proliferation and drug refractoriness in PDAC cells. HULC was identified as one of the major deregulated lncRNAs following bioinformatics analysis. HULC was found to regulate the expression of the potent transcriptional regulator - YAP through selective histone modifications at the YAP promoter. siRNA-mediated ablation of HULC resulted in a concurrent decrease in YAP transcriptional activity. Importantly, HULC and YAP were found to co-operatively regulate the cellular homeostatic process autophagy, thus inculcating drug resistance and proliferative potential in PDAC cells. Moreover, inhibition of autophagy or YAP led to a decrease in HULC levels, suggesting the existence of an inter-regulatory feedback loop. CONCLUSIONS We observed that HG triggers aggressive properties in PDAC cells. Mechanistically, up-regulation of lncRNA HULC resulted in activation of YAP and differential regulation of autophagy coupled to increased proliferation of PDAC cells. SIGNIFICANCE Inhibition of HULC and YAP may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for PDAC. Furthermore, this study portrays the intricate molecular interplay between HULC, YAP and autophagy in PDAC pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Shibasish Chowdhury
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sudeshna Mukherjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Rajdeep Chowdhury
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India
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4
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Zarrabi A, Perrin D, Kavoosi M, Sommer M, Sezen S, Mehrbod P, Bhushan B, Machaj F, Rosik J, Kawalec P, Afifi S, Bolandi SM, Koleini P, Taheri M, Madrakian T, Łos MJ, Lindsey B, Cakir N, Zarepour A, Hushmandi K, Fallah A, Koc B, Khosravi A, Ahmadi M, Logue S, Orive G, Pecic S, Gordon JW, Ghavami S. Rhabdomyosarcoma: Current Therapy, Challenges, and Future Approaches to Treatment Strategies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5269. [PMID: 37958442 PMCID: PMC10650215 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare cancer arising in skeletal muscle that typically impacts children and young adults. It is a worldwide challenge in child health as treatment outcomes for metastatic and recurrent disease still pose a major concern for both basic and clinical scientists. The treatment strategies for rhabdomyosarcoma include multi-agent chemotherapies after surgical resection with or without ionization radiotherapy. In this comprehensive review, we first provide a detailed clinical understanding of rhabdomyosarcoma including its classification and subtypes, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Later, we focus on chemotherapy strategies for this childhood sarcoma and discuss the impact of three mechanisms that are involved in the chemotherapy response including apoptosis, macro-autophagy, and the unfolded protein response. Finally, we discuss in vivo mouse and zebrafish models and in vitro three-dimensional bioengineering models of rhabdomyosarcoma to screen future therapeutic approaches and promote muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye; (A.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - David Perrin
- Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (D.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Mahboubeh Kavoosi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Biotechnology Center, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krzywousty St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Micah Sommer
- Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (D.P.); (M.S.)
- Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Serap Sezen
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
| | - Parvaneh Mehrbod
- Department of Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran;
| | - Bhavya Bhushan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Filip Machaj
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jakub Rosik
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Philip Kawalec
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada
| | - Saba Afifi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Seyed Mohammadreza Bolandi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Peiman Koleini
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Mohsen Taheri
- Genetics of Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 9816743463, Iran;
| | - Tayyebeh Madrakian
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517838695, Iran; (T.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Marek J. Łos
- Biotechnology Center, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krzywousty St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Benjamin Lindsey
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Nilufer Cakir
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
| | - Atefeh Zarepour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye; (A.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran 1419963114, Iran;
| | - Ali Fallah
- Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye;
| | - Bahattin Koc
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
- Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye;
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye
| | - Arezoo Khosravi
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul 34959, Türkiye;
| | - Mazaher Ahmadi
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517838695, Iran; (T.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Susan Logue
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain;
- University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology–UIRMI (UPV/EHU-Fundación Eduardo Anitua), 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Stevan Pecic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA;
| | - Joseph W. Gordon
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Biology of Breathing Theme, Children Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Autophagy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
- Academy of Silesia, Faculty of Medicine, Rolna 43, 40-555 Katowice, Poland
- Research Institutes of Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba-University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
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Ahmad IM, Dafferner AJ, Salloom RJ, Abdalla MY. Heme Oxygenase-1 Inhibition Modulates Autophagy and Augments Arsenic Trioxide Cytotoxicity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2580. [PMID: 37761021 PMCID: PMC10526552 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent form, accounting for more than 90% of all pancreatic malignancies. In a previous study, we found that hypoxia and chemotherapy induced expression of Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in PDAC cells and tissues. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is the first-line chemotherapeutic drug for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). ATO increases the generation of reactive oxidative species (ROS) and induces apoptosis in treated cells. The clinical use of ATO for solid tumors is limited due to severe systemic toxicity. In order to reduce cytotoxic side effects and resistance and improve efficacy, it has become increasingly common to use combination therapies to treat cancers. In this study, we used ATO-sensitive and less sensitive PDAC cell lines to test the effect of combining HO-1 inhibitors (SnPP and ZnPP) with ATO on HO-1 expression, cell survival, and other parameters. Our results show that ATO significantly induced the expression of HO-1 in different PDAC cells through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. ROS production was confirmed using the oxygen-sensitive probes DCFH and DHE, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an ROS scavenger, and oxidized glutathione levels (GSSG). Both ATO and HO-1 inhibitors reduced PDAC cell survival. In combined treatment, inhibiting HO-1 significantly increased ATO cytotoxicity, disrupted the GSH cycle, and induced apoptosis as measured using flow cytometry. ATO and HO-1 inhibition modulated autophagy as shown by increased expression of autophagy markers ATG5, p62, and LC3B in PDAC cells. This increase was attenuated by NAC treatment, indicating that autophagy modulation was through an ROS-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, our work explored new strategies that could lead to the development of less toxic and more effective therapies against PDAC by combining increased cellular stress and targeting autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman M. Ahmad
- Department of Clinical, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Alicia J. Dafferner
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.J.D.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Ramia J. Salloom
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.J.D.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Maher Y. Abdalla
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.J.D.); (R.J.S.)
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6
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Khan SU, Rayees S, Sharma P, Malik F. Targeting redox regulation and autophagy systems in cancer stem cells. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:1405-1423. [PMID: 36473988 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00955-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a dysregulated cellular level pathological condition that results in tumor formation followed by metastasis. In the heterogeneous tumor architecture, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are essential to push forward the progression of tumors due to their strong pro-tumor properties such as stemness, self-renewal, plasticity, metastasis, and being poorly responsive to radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic agents. Cancer stem cells have the ability to withstand various stress pressures by modulating transcriptional and translational mechanisms, and adaptable metabolic changes. Owing to CSCs heterogeneity and plasticity, these cells display varied metabolic and redox profiles across different types of cancers. It has been established that there is a disparity in the levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generated in CSCs vs Non-CSC and these differential levels are detected across different tumors. CSCs have unique metabolic demands and are known to change plasticity during metastasis by passing through the interchangeable epithelial and mesenchymal-like phenotypes. During the metastatic process, tumor cells undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) thus attaining invasive properties while leaving the primary tumor site, similarly during the course of circulation and extravasation at a distant organ, these cells regain their epithelial characteristics through Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition (MET) to initiate micrometastasis. It has been evidenced that levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and associated metabolic activities vary between the epithelial and mesenchymal states of CSCs. Similarly, the levels of oxidative and metabolic states were observed to get altered in CSCs post-drug treatments. As oxidative and metabolic changes guide the onset of autophagy in cells, its role in self-renewal, quiescence, proliferation and response to drug treatment is well established. This review will highlight the molecular mechanisms useful for expanding therapeutic strategies based on modulating redox regulation and autophagy activation to targets. Specifically, we will account for the mounting data that focus on the role of ROS generated by different metabolic pathways and autophagy regulation in eradicating stem-like cells hereafter referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer Ullah Khan
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar, 190005, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sheikh Rayees
- PK PD Toxicology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
| | - Pankaj Sharma
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar, 190005, India
| | - Fayaz Malik
- Division of Cancer Pharmacology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar, 190005, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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7
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Huang Z, Kaller M, Hermeking H. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated inactivation of miR-34a and miR-34b/c in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells: comprehensive characterization after exposure to 5-FU reveals EMT and autophagy as key processes regulated by miR-34. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:2017-2034. [PMID: 37488217 PMCID: PMC10406948 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01193-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The miR-34a and miR-34b/c encoding genes represent direct targets of the p53 transcription factor, and presumably mediate part of the tumor suppressive effects of p53. Here, we sought to determine their functional relevance by inactivating miR-34a and/or miR-34b/c using a CRISPR/Cas9 approach in the colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line HCT116. Concomitant deletion of miR-34a and miR-34b/c resulted in significantly reduced suppression of proliferation after p53 activation, enhanced migration, invasion and EMT, as well as reduced sensitivity to chemotherapeutics, increased stress-induced autophagic flux, decreased apoptosis and upregulation of autophagy-related genes after 5-FU treatment. However, inactivation of singular miR-34a or miR-34b/c had little effects on the aforementioned processes. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that concomitant deletion of miR-34a/b/c caused EMT signature enrichment, impaired gene repression by the p53-DREAM pathway and elevated autophagy after 5-FU treatment. A gene signature comprised of mRNAs significantly upregulated after combined inactivation of miR-34a and miR-34b/c showed a significant association with the invasive colon cancer subtype CMS4 and poor overall survival in two CRC patient cohorts, and with 5-FU resistance in CRC cell lines. In miR-34a/b/c-deficient cells the upregulated miR-34 target FOXM1 directly induced p62 and ATG9A, which increased autophagy and consequently attenuated apoptosis and rendered the miR-34a/b/c-KO cells more resistant to 5-FU. Inhibition of autophagy by depletion of ATG9A or chloroquine re-sensitized miR-34a/b/c-deficient HCT116 cells to 5-FU. In summary, our findings show a complementary role of miR-34a and miR-34b/c in the regulation of EMT and autophagy which may be relevant for CRC therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zekai Huang
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Thalkirchner Str. 36, D-80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Kaller
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Thalkirchner Str. 36, D-80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Heiko Hermeking
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Thalkirchner Str. 36, D-80337, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Ashrafizadeh M, Zhang W, Zou R, Sethi G, Klionsky DJ, Zhang X. A bioinformatics analysis, pre-clinical and clinical conception of autophagy in pancreatic cancer: Complexity and simplicity in crosstalk. Pharmacol Res 2023; 194:106822. [PMID: 37336429 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a serious gastrointestinal tract disease for which the 5-year survival rate is less than 10%, even in developed countries such as the USA. The genomic profile alterations and dysregulated biological mechanisms commonly occur in PC. Macroautophagy/autophagy is a cell death process that is maintained at a basal level in physiological conditions, whereas its level often changes during tumorigenesis. The function of autophagy in human cancers is dual and can be oncogenic and onco-suppressor. Autophagy is a potent controller of tumorigenesis in PC. The supportive autophagy in PC escalates the growth rate of PC cells and its suppression can mediate cell death. Autophagy also determines the metastasis of PC cells, and it can control the EMT in affecting migration. Moreover, starvation and hypoxia can stimulate glycolysis, and glycolysis induction can be mediated by autophagy in enhancing tumorigenesis in PC. Furthermore, protective autophagy stimulates drug resistance and gemcitabine resistance in PC cells, and its inhibition can enhance radiosensitivity. Autophagy can degrade MHC-I to mediate immune evasion and also regulates polarization of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Modulation of autophagy activity is provided by silibinin, ursolic acid, chrysin and huaier in the treatment of PC. Non-coding RNAs are also controllers of autophagy in PC and its inhibition can improve therapy response in patients. Moreover, mitophagy shows dysregulation in PC, which can enhance the proliferation of PC cells. Therefore, a bioinformatics analysis demonstrates the dysregulation of autophagy-related proteins and genes in PC as biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Rongjun Zou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, China; The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong, China
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology and NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Daniel J Klionsky
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xianbin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
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9
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Bano N, Ansari MI, Kainat KM, Singh VK, Sharma PK. Chloroquine synergizes doxorubicin efficacy in cervical cancer cells through flux impairment and down regulation of proteins involved in the fusion of autophagosomes to lysosomes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 656:131-138. [PMID: 36963349 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Drug repurposing holds abundant opportunity in the development of novel anticancer drugs. Chloroquine (CQ), a FDA approved anti-malarial drug, is demonstrated to enhance anticancer efficacy of standard anticancer drugs including doxorubicin (DOX) in several types of cancer cells. Here, we aimed to exploit the chemosensitizing effects of CQ against DOX in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells that remains to be investigated yet. We show that a combination of DOX (40 nM) and CQ (40 μM) resulted in a synergistic cytotoxicity (combination index; CI < 1) in HeLa cells compared to the DOX or CQ alone. Synergistic effect of the combination (DOX + CQ) was associated with the impaired autophagic flux and enhanced apoptosis. Following treatment with the combination (DOX + CQ), the level of p62/SQSTM and LC-3II proteins was increased, while a decrease was noted in the expression of LAMP-2, Syntaxin17, Rab 5, and Rab 7 proteins that play critical roles in the fusion of autophagosomes to lysosomes. Autophagy inhibition by combination (DOX + CQ) enhanced the apoptotic cell death synergistically by increasing the cleavage of procaspase-3 and PARP1. Further, a prior incubation of HeLa cells with Z-VAD-FMK (a pan-caspase inhibitor) for 4 h, suppressed the combination (DOX + CQ)-induced cell death. Our data suggest that a combination of DOX + CQ had a better anti-cancer efficacy in HeLa cells than either of the drugs alone. Thus, CQ, as a repurposed drug, may hold the potential to synergize anticancer effects of DOX in cervical cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuzhat Bano
- Food Drug and Chemical Toxicology Area, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Mohammad Imran Ansari
- Food Drug and Chemical Toxicology Area, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - K M Kainat
- Food Drug and Chemical Toxicology Area, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Vipendra Kumar Singh
- Food Drug and Chemical Toxicology Area, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, 175005, HP, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar Sharma
- Food Drug and Chemical Toxicology Area, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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10
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Rubicon can predict prognosis in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Int J Clin Oncol 2023; 28:576-586. [PMID: 36823392 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-023-02306-0] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite previous therapeutic studies on autophagy in cancer, its role in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains controversial, especially regarding its effect on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and both combined. We focused on RUN domain Beclin-1 interacting and cysteine-rich-containing protein (Rubicon) to reveal its contribution to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after chemoradiotherapy. METHODS To evaluate the clinical significance of Rubicon, immunohistochemistry was performed, and Rubicon expression was analyzed across 81 specimens resected from patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. A gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line was established followed by Rubicon expression and autophagy flux estimation. Finally, gemcitabine sensitivity, invasion ability, and cell viability were evaluated using Rubicon-targeting small interfering RNA. RESULTS Rubicon expression in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma samples after chemoradiotherapy revealed significantly worse overall survival and recurrence-free survival in the Rubicon-high expression group than in the Rubicon-low expression group (overall survival: median [years] 2.02 vs. 3.21, p = 0.0359; recurrence-free survival: median [years] 0.90 vs. 1.90, p = 0.0146). In vitro, gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines exhibited higher Rubicon expression and lower autophagy flux than the parental cell line (p < 0.01). Transduction with small interfering RNA downregulated the expression without affecting gemcitabine sensitivity, but it reduced invasion ability and cell viability (p < 0.01) in the gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line. CONCLUSIONS High Rubicon expression is a significant, unfavorable prognostic factor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Downregulation of Rubicon expression improves invasion ability and cell viability in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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11
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Ahmadi-Dehlaghi F, Mohammadi P, Valipour E, Pournaghi P, Kiani S, Mansouri K. Autophagy: A challengeable paradox in cancer treatment. Cancer Med 2023. [PMID: 36760166 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Autophagy is an intracellular degradation pathway conserved in all eukaryotes from yeast to humans. This process plays a quality-control role by destroying harmful cellular components under normal conditions, maintaining cell survival, and establishing cellular adaptation under stressful conditions. Hence, there are various studies indicating dysfunctional autophagy as a factor involved in the development and progression of various human diseases, including cancer. In addition, the importance of autophagy in the development of cancer has been highlighted by paradoxical roles, as a cytoprotective and cytotoxic mechanism. Despite extensive research in the field of cancer, there are many questions and challenges about the roles and effects suggested for autophagy in cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the paradoxical roles of autophagy in different tumors and related cancer treatment options. METHODS In this study, to find articles, a search was made in PubMed and Google scholar databases with the keywords Autophagy, Autophagy in Cancer Management, and Drug Design. RESULTS According to the investigation, some studies suggest that several advanced cancers are dependent on autophagy for cell survival, so when cancer cells are exposed to therapy, autophagy is induced and suppresses the anti-cancer effects of therapeutic agents and also results in cell resistance. However, enhanced autophagy from using anti-cancer drugs causes autophagy-mediated cell death in several cancers. Because autophagy also plays roles in both tumor suppression and promotion further research is needed to determine the precise mechanism of this process in cancer treatment. CONCLUSION We concluded in this article, autophagy manipulation may either promote or hinder the growth and development of cancer according to the origin of the cancer cells, the type of cancer, and the behavior of the cancer cells exposed to treatment. Thus, before starting treatment it is necessary to determine the basal levels of autophagy in various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Ahmadi-Dehlaghi
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.,Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Mohammadi
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.,Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Valipour
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sarah Kiani
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Kamran Mansouri
- Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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12
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Marchand B, Poulin MA, Lawson C, Tai LH, Jean S, Boucher MJ. Gemcitabine promotes autophagy and lysosomal function through ERK- and TFEB-dependent mechanisms. Cell Death Dis 2023; 9:45. [PMID: 36746928 PMCID: PMC9902516 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01342-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Gemcitabine is a first-line treatment agent for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Contributing to its cytotoxicity, this chemotherapeutic agent is primarily a DNA replication inhibitor that also induces DNA damage. However, its therapeutic effects are limited owing to chemoresistance. Evidence in the literature points to a role for autophagy in restricting the efficacy of gemcitabine. Autophagy is a catabolic process in which intracellular components are delivered to degradative organelles lysosomes. Interfering with this process sensitizes PDAC cells to gemcitabine. It is consequently inferred that autophagy and lysosomal function need to be tightly regulated to maintain homeostasis and provide resistance to environmental stress, such as those imposed by chemotherapeutic drugs. However, the mechanism(s) through which gemcitabine promotes autophagy remains elusive, and the impact of gemcitabine on lysosomal function remains largely unexplored. Therefore, we applied complementary approaches to define the mechanisms triggered by gemcitabine that support autophagy and lysosome function. We found that gemcitabine elicited ERK-dependent autophagy in PDAC cells, but did not stimulate ERK activity or autophagy in non-tumoral human pancreatic epithelial cells. Gemcitabine also promoted transcription factor EB (TFEB)-dependent lysosomal function in PDAC cells. Indeed, treating PDAC cells with gemcitabine caused expansion of the lysosomal network, as revealed by Lysosome associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP1) and LysoTracker staining. More specific approaches have shown that gemcitabine promotes the activity of cathepsin B (CTSB), a cysteine protease playing an active role in lysosomal degradation. We showed that lysosomal function induced by gemcitabine depends on TFEB, the master regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. Interfering with TFEB function considerably limited the clonogenic growth of PDAC cells and hindered the capacity of TFEB-depleted PDAC cells to develop orthotopic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Marchand
- grid.86715.3d0000 0000 9064 6198Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Marc-Antoine Poulin
- grid.86715.3d0000 0000 9064 6198Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Christine Lawson
- grid.86715.3d0000 0000 9064 6198Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Lee-Hwa Tai
- grid.86715.3d0000 0000 9064 6198Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada ,grid.86715.3d0000 0000 9064 6198Member of the Centre de Recherche du CHUS and the Institut de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Steve Jean
- grid.86715.3d0000 0000 9064 6198Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada ,grid.86715.3d0000 0000 9064 6198Member of the Centre de Recherche du CHUS and the Institut de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Boucher
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada. .,Member of the Centre de Recherche du CHUS and the Institut de recherche sur le cancer de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.
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13
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Hara K, Horikoshi Y, Morimoto M, Nakaso K, Sunaguchi T, Kurashiki T, Nakayama Y, Hanaki T, Yamamoto M, Sakamoto T, Fujiwara Y, Matsura T. TYRO3 promotes chemoresistance via increased LC3 expression in pancreatic cancer. Transl Oncol 2022; 28:101608. [PMID: 36577166 PMCID: PMC9803781 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive malignancy with few treatment options, and improved treatment strategies are urgently required. TYRO3, a member of the TAM receptor tyrosine kinase family, is a known oncogene; however, the relationship between TYRO3 expression and PC chemoresistance remains to be elucidated. We performed gain- and loss-of-function experiments on TYRO3 to examine whether it is involved in chemoresistance in PC cells. TYRO3 knockdown decreased cell viability and enhanced apoptosis following treatment of PC cells with gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In contrast, no such effects were observed in TYRO3-overexpressing PC cells. It is known that autophagy is associated with cancer chemoresistance. We then examined effects of TYRO3 on autophagy in PC cells. TYRO3 overexpression increased LC3 mRNA levels and induced LC3 puncta in PC cells. Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine mitigated cell resistance to gemcitabine and 5-FU. In a xenograft mouse model, TYRO3 silencing significantly increased sensitivity of the cells to gemcitabine and 5-FU. To further investigate the involvement of autophagy in patients with PC, we immunohistochemically analyzed LC3 expression in the tissues of patients who underwent pancreatectomy and compared it with disease prognosis and TYRO3 expression. LC3 expression was negatively and positively correlated with prognosis and TYRO3 expression, respectively. Furthermore, LC3- and TYRO3-positive patients had a significantly worse prognosis among patients with PC who received chemotherapy after recurrence. These results indicated that the TYRO3-autophagy signaling pathway confers PC resistance to gemcitabine and 5-FU, and could be a novel therapeutic target to resolve PC chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazushi Hara
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan,Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Yosuke Horikoshi
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan,Corresponding authors.
| | - Masaki Morimoto
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan,Corresponding authors.
| | - Kazuhiro Nakaso
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Teppei Sunaguchi
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan,Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Tatsuyuki Kurashiki
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan,Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Yuji Nakayama
- Division of Radioisotope Science, Research Initiative Center, Organization for Research Initiative and Promotion, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Takehiko Hanaki
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Manabu Yamamoto
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Teruhisa Sakamoto
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Matsura
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan,Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, Yasuda Women's University, Hiroshima, Japan
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14
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Niemann B, Puleo A, Stout C, Markel J, Boone BA. Biologic Functions of Hydroxychloroquine in Disease: From COVID-19 to Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122551. [PMID: 36559044 PMCID: PMC9787624 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroquine (CQ) and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), initially utilized in the treatment of malaria, have now developed a long list of applications. Despite their clinical relevance, their mechanisms of action are not clearly defined. Major pathways by which these agents are proposed to function include alkalinization of lysosomes and endosomes, downregulation of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression, high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) inhibition, alteration of intracellular calcium, and prevention of thrombus formation. However, there is conflicting data present in the literature. This is likely the result of the complex overlapping pathways between these mechanisms of action that have not previously been highlighted. In fact, prior research has focused on very specific portions of particular pathways without describing these in the context of the extensive CQ/HCQ literature. This review summarizes the detailed data regarding CQ/HCQ's mechanisms of action while also providing insight into the overarching themes. Furthermore, this review provides clinical context to the application of these diverse drugs including their role in malaria, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, thrombus formation, malignancies, and viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britney Niemann
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-304-293-1254
| | - Amanda Puleo
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Conley Stout
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Justin Markel
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Brian A. Boone
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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15
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Zhang Z, Chen WQ, Zhang SQ, Bai JX, Liu B, Yung KKL, Ko JKS. Isoliquiritigenin inhibits pancreatic cancer progression through blockade of p38 MAPK-regulated autophagy. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 106:154406. [PMID: 36029643 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer has been characterized by poor prognosis, early metastasis and dissatisfactory treatment outcome. The high basal level of autophagy in tumor cells leads to chemoresistance and tumor progression. Thus, it is imminent to explore novel effective chemotherapeutic adjuvants to increase patients' survival rate. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a bioactive flavonoid obtained from the Traditional Chinese herbal medicine Glycyrrhiza glabra, and it possesses a broad range of pharmacological effects. In this study, the anti-cancer effect of ISL in pancreatic cancer treatment and the underlying mechanism are investigated. METHODS MTT assay, colony formation and EdU analysis were performed to explore the growth inhibition of ISL on pancreatic cancer cells. Apoptosis were analyzed using TUNEL and flow cytometry. The formations of autophagosomes were analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RFP-GFP-LC3B probe was applied to detect the autophagy flux. To assess the structural interaction of ISL with p38 protein, molecular docking assays were performed. The molecular mechanism was elucidated by using western immunoblotting. Subsequently, the inhibition of ISL on tumor growth was determined in vivo using pancreatic tumor mice model. RESULTS ISL inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis, both in vitro and in vivo. ISL caused accumulation of autophagosome through blockade of late stage autophagic flux. Moreover, autophagy inducer rapamycin enhanced ISL-evoked cell growth inhibition and promoted apoptosis, while inhibition of autophagosome formation by siAtg5 attenuated ISL-induced apoptosis. It is remarkable that ISL synergistically sensitized the cytotoxic effect of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil on pancreatic cancer cells as both drugs induced autophagy. Molecular docking analysis has indicated that ISL acted by direct targeting of p38 MAPK, which was confirmed by ISL-induced phosphorylation of p38. The autophagy flux induced by p38 inhibitor SB203580 was blocked by ISL, with further increasing toxicity of ISL in pancreatic cancer cells. CONCLUSION The results have revealed that ISL inhibited pancreatic cancer progression by blockade of autophagy through p38 MAPK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zhang
- Teaching and Research Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; Golden Meditech Centre for NeuroRegeneration Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wen-Qing Chen
- Teaching and Research Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shi-Qing Zhang
- JNU-HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Xuan Bai
- Teaching and Research Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine of Guangzhou Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ken Kin-Lam Yung
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; Golden Meditech Centre for NeuroRegeneration Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Joshua Ka-Shun Ko
- Teaching and Research Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, 7 Baptist University Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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16
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Zhang Z, Yung KKL, Ko JKS. Therapeutic Intervention in Cancer by Isoliquiritigenin from Licorice: A Natural Antioxidant and Redox Regulator. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11071349. [PMID: 35883840 PMCID: PMC9311861 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress could lead to a variety of body dysfunctions, including neurodegeneration and cancer, which are closely associated with intracellular signal transducers such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). It has been suggested that ROS is the upstream regulator of autophagy, and that it provides a negative feedback regulation to remove oxidative damage. Defects in the ROS-autophagic redox homeostasis could lead to the increased production of ROS and the accumulation of damaged organelles that in turn promote metabolic reprogramming and induce tumorigenesis. One significant characteristic of pancreatic cancer is the reprogramming of cellular energy metabolism, which facilitates the rapid growth, invasiveness, and the survival of cancer cells. Thus, the rectification of metabolic dysfunction is essential in therapeutic cancer targeting. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a chalcone obtained from the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, which is a powdered root licorice that has been consumed for centuries in different regions of the world. ISL is known to be a natural antioxidant that possesses diversified functions, including redox regulation in cells. This review contains discussions on the herbal source, biological properties, and anticancer potential of ISL. This is the first time that the anticancer activities of ISL in pancreatic cancer has been elucidated, with a coverage of the involvement of antioxidation, metabolic redox regulation, and autophagy in pancreatic cancer development. Furthermore, some remarks on related compounds of the isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway of ISL will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zhang
- Teaching and Research Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China;
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
- Golden Meditech Centre for Neuroregeneration Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ken Kin-Lam Yung
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
- Golden Meditech Centre for Neuroregeneration Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: (K.K.-L.Y.); (J.K.-S.K.); Tel.: +852-3411-7060 (K.K.-L.Y.); +852-3411-2461 (J.K.-S.K.)
| | - Joshua Ka-Shun Ko
- Teaching and Research Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: (K.K.-L.Y.); (J.K.-S.K.); Tel.: +852-3411-7060 (K.K.-L.Y.); +852-3411-2461 (J.K.-S.K.)
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17
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Rahman MA, Ahmed KR, Rahman MDH, Parvez MAK, Lee IS, Kim B. Therapeutic Aspects and Molecular Targets of Autophagy to Control Pancreatic Cancer Management. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061459. [PMID: 35740481 PMCID: PMC9220066 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) begins within the organ of the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes, and is one of the formidable cancers for which appropriate treatment strategies are urgently needed. Autophagy occurs in the many chambers of PC tissue, including cancer cells, cancer-related fibroblasts, and immune cells, and can be fine-tuned by various promotive and suppressive signals. Consequently, the impacts of autophagy on pancreatic carcinogenesis and progression depend greatly on its stage and conditions. Autophagy inhibits the progress of preneoplastic damage during the initial phase. However, autophagy encourages tumor formation during the development phase. Several studies have reported that both a tumor-promoting and a tumor-suppressing function of autophagy in cancer that is likely cell-type dependent. However, autophagy is dispensable for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) growth, and clinical trials with autophagy inhibitors, either alone or in combination with other therapies, have had limited success. Autophagy’s dual mode of action makes it therapeutically challenging despite autophagy inhibitors providing increased longevity in medical studies, highlighting the need for a more rigorous review of current findings and more precise targeting strategies. Indeed, the role of autophagy in PC is complicated, and numerous factors must be considered when transitioning from bench to bedside. In this review, we summarize the evidence for the tumorigenic and protective role of autophagy in PC tumorigenesis and describe recent advances in the understanding of how autophagy may be regulated and controlled in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Ataur Rahman
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegidong Dongdaemungu, Seoul 02447, Korea; (K.R.A.); (M.H.R.)
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Global Biotechnology & Biomedical Research Network (GBBRN), Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh
- Correspondence: (M.A.R.); (B.K.)
| | - Kazi Rejvee Ahmed
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegidong Dongdaemungu, Seoul 02447, Korea; (K.R.A.); (M.H.R.)
| | - MD. Hasanur Rahman
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegidong Dongdaemungu, Seoul 02447, Korea; (K.R.A.); (M.H.R.)
| | | | - In-Seon Lee
- Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegidong Dongdaemungu, Seoul 02447, Korea; (K.R.A.); (M.H.R.)
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Correspondence: (M.A.R.); (B.K.)
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18
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Marzoog BA, Vlasova TI. Autophagy in Cancer Cell Transformation; A Potential Novel Therapeutic Strategy. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2022; 22:749-756. [DOI: 10.2174/1568009622666220428102741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Abstract:
Basal autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining intracellular homeostasis and prevents the cell from escaping the cell cycle regulation mechanisms and being cancerous. Mitophagy and nucleophagy are essential for cell health. Autophagy plays a pivotal role in cancer cell transformation, where upregulated precancerous autophagy induces apoptosis. Impaired autophagy has been shown to upregulate cancer cell transformation. However, tumor cells upregulate autophagy to escape elimination and survive the unfavorable conditions and resistance to chemotherapy. Cancer cells promote autophagy through modulation of autophagy regulation mechanisms and increase expression of the autophagy-related genes. Whereas, autophagy regulation mechanisms involved microRNAs, transcription factors, and the internalized signaling pathways such as AMPK, mTOR, III PI3K and ULK-1. Disrupted regulatory mechanisms are various as the cancer cell polymorphism. Targeting a higher level of autophagy regulation is more effective, such as gene expression, transcription factors, or epigenetic modification that are responsible for up-regulation of autophagy in cancer cells. Currently, the CRISPR-CAS9 technique is available and can be applied to demonstrate the potential effects of autophagy in cancerous cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basheer Abdullah Marzoog
- National Research Mordovia State University. Address: Bolshevitskaya Street, 68, Saransk, Rep. Mordovia, 430005. Postal address: Mordovia republic, Saransk, Bolshevitskaya Street, 31
| | - Tatyana Ivanovna Vlasova
- National Research Mordovia State University. Address: Bolshevitskaya Street, 68, Saransk, Rep. Mordovia, 430005. Postal address: Mordovia republic, Saransk, Bolshevitskaya Street, 31
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19
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Voronina ES, Bucharskaya AB, Palatova TV, Fomkin RN, Navolokin NA, Maslyakova GN. Significance Of LC3B Autophagy Marker In Recurrent Prostate Adenocarcinoma. RUSSIAN OPEN MEDICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.15275/rusomj.2022.0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective — To compare the expression of the LC3B autophagy marker before and after treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy (HIFU) and combined therapies: androgenic deprivation AD + HIFU, AD + radiation therapy in patients with and without recurrent prostate adenocarcinoma. Material and Methods — The objects of our study were biopsy specimens of prostates obtained from 70 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma before and after treatment. The first group consisted of patients without signs of relapse after treatment, as evidenced by a normal blood PSA level, the results of ultrasound procedure and biopsy. The second group included patients who had a recurrence of adenocarcinoma after treatment. Patients received the following cancer treatments: ultrasound ablation (HIFU), combination therapy: androgenic deprivation AD + HIFU, AD + radiation therapy. An immunohistochemical staining in two groups was performed with an anti-LC3B antibody. Results — In the group of patients without relapse, the expression of the autophagy marker sharply decreased in the tumor tissue after treatment, but it increased in the stroma of muscle connective tissue and the vascular wall. In the group of patients with relapse, the expression of anti-LC3B antibody significantly increased in tumor cells, in stroma of muscle connective tissue, and in vascular wall after treatment. In both groups, the magnitude of the autophagy marker expression did not depend on the treatment method. Conclusion — The autophagy is one of the factors contributing to the survival of prostate adenocarcinoma cells after treatment; the increase in autophagic protein expression after treatment in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma can be used to assess the risk of relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roman N. Fomkin
- V.I. Razumovsky Saratov State Medical University, Saratov, Russia
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20
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Autophagic Schwann cells promote perineural invasion mediated by the NGF/ATG7 paracrine pathway in pancreatic cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:48. [PMID: 35109895 PMCID: PMC8809009 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02198-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Perineural invasion (PNI) and autophagy are two common features in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer (PanCa) and have a negative effect on prognosis. Potential mediator cells and the molecular mechanism underlying their relationships need to be fully elucidated. Methods To investigate the autophagy of Schwann cells (SCs) in PNI, we reproduced the microenvironment of PNI by collecting clinical PNI tissue, performing sciatic nerve injection of nude mice with cancer cells and establishing a Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) coculture system with cancer cell lines. Autophagy was detected by IHC, IF, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and western blotting assays. Apoptosis was detected by IF, TEM and western blotting. NGF targeting molecular RO 08–2750(RO) and the autophagy inhibitor Chloroquine (CQ) were utilized to evaluate the effect on autophagy and apoptosis in SCs and PanCa cells in PNI samples. Results SC autophagy is activated in PNI by paracrine NGF from PanCa cells. Autophagy-activated Schwann cells promote PNI through a) enhanced migration and axon guidance toward PanCa cells and b) increased chemoattraction to PanCa cells. The NGF-targeting reagent RO and autophagy inhibitor CQ inhibited Schwann cell autophagic flux and induced Schwann cell apoptosis. Moreover, RO and CQ could induce PanCa cell apoptosis and showed good therapeutic effects in the PNI model. Conclusions PanCa cells can induce autophagy in SCs through paracrine pathways such as the NGF/ATG7 pathway. Autophagic SCs exert a “nerve-repair like effect”, induce a high level of autophagy of cancer cells, provide a “beacon” for the invasion of cancer cells to nerve fibers, and induce directional growth of cancer cells. Targeting NGF and autophagy for PNI treatment can block nerve infiltration and is expected to provide new directions and an experimental basis for the research and treatment of nerve infiltration in pancreatic cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02198-w.
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21
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Cuyler J, Murthy P, Spada NG, McGuire TF, Lotze MT, Xie XQ. Sequestsome-1/p62-targeted small molecules for pancreatic cancer therapy. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:362-370. [PMID: 34592447 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by heightened autophagy and systemic immune dysfunction. Modest improvements in clinical outcomes have been demonstrated in completed clinical trials targeting autophagy with combination hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chemotherapy. Recent mechanistic insights into the role of autophagy-dependent immune evasion have prompted the need for more precise and druggable targets of autophagy inhibition. Sequestosome-1 (SQSTM-1) is a multidomain scaffold protein with well-established roles in autophagy, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)- and NF-κB-related signaling pathways. SQSTM1 overexpression is frequently observed in PDAC, correlating with clinical stage and outcome. Given the unique molecular structure of SQSTM-1 and its diverse activity, identifying means of limiting SQSTM-1-dependent autophagy to promote an effective immune response in PDAC could be a promising treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Cuyler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Pranav Murthy
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Neal G Spada
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Terence F McGuire
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Michael T Lotze
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Department of Immunology and Bioengineering, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
| | - Xiang-Qun Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Department of Computational Biology and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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22
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Abd El-Aziz YS, Leck LYW, Jansson PJ, Sahni S. Emerging Role of Autophagy in the Development and Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6152. [PMID: 34944772 PMCID: PMC8699656 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process, which is characterized by degradation of damaged proteins and organelles needed to supply the cell with essential nutrients. At basal levels, autophagy is important to maintain cellular homeostasis and development. It is also a stress responsive process that allows the cells to survive when subjected to stressful conditions such as nutrient deprivation. Autophagy has been implicated in many pathologies including cancer. It is well established that autophagy plays a dual role in different cancer types. There is emerging role of autophagy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) development and progression. This review will focus on the role played by autophagy in relation to different aspects of cancer progression and discuss recent studies exploring the role of autophagy in OSCC. It will further discuss potential therapeutic approaches to target autophagy in OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yomna S. Abd El-Aziz
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (Y.S.A.E.-A.); (L.Y.W.L.); (P.J.J.)
- Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW 2064, Australia
- Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
| | - Lionel Y. W. Leck
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (Y.S.A.E.-A.); (L.Y.W.L.); (P.J.J.)
- Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW 2064, Australia
- Cancer Drug Resistance and Stem Cell Program, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Patric J. Jansson
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (Y.S.A.E.-A.); (L.Y.W.L.); (P.J.J.)
- Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW 2064, Australia
- Cancer Drug Resistance and Stem Cell Program, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sumit Sahni
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (Y.S.A.E.-A.); (L.Y.W.L.); (P.J.J.)
- Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW 2064, Australia
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23
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Ma J, Xue H, He LH, Wang LY, Wang XJ, Li X, Zhang L. The Role and Mechanism of Autophagy in Pancreatic Cancer: An Update Review. Cancer Manag Res 2021; 13:8231-8240. [PMID: 34754243 PMCID: PMC8572014 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s328786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer, with high morbidity and mortality rates, is one of the most malignant tumors worldwide. Despite extensive research, the prognosis remains poor. Autophagy, a lysosomal-mediated, highly conserved degradation process that removes abnormal proteins and damaged organelles from the body, is upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Based on differences in the tumor microenvironment and tumor stage, the functions of autophagy in the pathophysiology and treatment of pancreatic cancer differ. In the initial phase, autophagy inhibits the transformation of precancerous lesions to cancer. However, in the progressive stage, autophagy promotes tumor growth. Autophagy is also one of the main mechanisms of drug resistance during treatment. Here, we describe the role of autophagy in pancreatic cancer progression and discuss relevant treatment strategies for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huan Xue
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Hong He
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling-Yun Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Juan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xun Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Transformation Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, People’s Republic of China
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24
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De Lellis L, Veschi S, Tinari N, Mokini Z, Carradori S, Brocco D, Florio R, Grassadonia A, Cama A. Drug Repurposing, an Attractive Strategy in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: Preclinical and Clinical Updates. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3946. [PMID: 34439102 PMCID: PMC8394389 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, since patients rarely display symptoms until an advanced and unresectable stage of the disease. Current chemotherapy options are unsatisfactory and there is an urgent need for more effective and less toxic drugs to improve the dismal PC therapy. Repurposing of non-oncology drugs in PC treatment represents a very promising therapeutic option and different compounds are currently being considered as candidates for repurposing in the treatment of this tumor. In this review, we provide an update on some of the most promising FDA-approved, non-oncology, repurposed drug candidates that show prominent clinical and preclinical data in pancreatic cancer. We also focus on proposed mechanisms of action and known molecular targets that they modulate in PC. Furthermore, we provide an explorative bioinformatic analysis, which suggests that some of the PC repurposed drug candidates have additional, unexplored, oncology-relevant targets. Finally, we discuss recent developments regarding the immunomodulatory role displayed by some of these drugs, which may expand their potential application in synergy with approved anticancer immunomodulatory agents that are mostly ineffective as single agents in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura De Lellis
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Serena Veschi
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Nicola Tinari
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (N.T.); (A.G.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology—CAST, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Zhirajr Mokini
- European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) Mentorship Programme, ESAIC, 24 Rue des Comédiens, BE-1000 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Simone Carradori
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Davide Brocco
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Rosalba Florio
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Antonino Grassadonia
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (N.T.); (A.G.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology—CAST, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cama
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology—CAST, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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25
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Wang Y, Qin C, Yang G, Zhao B, Wang W. The role of autophagy in pancreatic cancer progression. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188592. [PMID: 34274449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Patients with pancreatic cancer have an abysmal survival rate. The poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer is due to the difficulty of making an early diagnosis, high rate of metastasis, and frequent chemoresistance. In recent years, as a self-regulatory procedure within cells, the effect and mechanism of autophagy have been explored. Dysregulated autophagy serves as a double-edged sword in cancer development in which autophagy inhibits cancer initiation but promotes cancer progression. After tumor formation, activation of autophagy can induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition, regulate metabolism, specifically glutamine usage and the glycolytic process, and mediate drug resistance in pancreatic cancer. Multiple genes, RNA molecules, proteins, and certain drugs exert antitumor effects by inhibiting autophagy-mediated drug resistance. Several clinical trials have combined autophagy inhibitors with chemotherapeutic drugs in pancreatic cancer treatment, some of which have shown promising results. In conclusion, autophagy plays a vital role in pancreatic cancer progression and deserves further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China.
| | - Cheng Qin
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Bangbo Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Weibin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China.
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26
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Chaeichi-Tehrani N, Ferns GA, Hassanian SM, Khazaei M, Avan A. The Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Autophagy in The Treatment of Cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 21:725-736. [PMID: 34077348 DOI: 10.2174/1568009621666210601113144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is a mechanism by which unwanted cellular components are degraded through a pathway that involves the lysosomes and contributes to several pathological conditions such as cancer. Gastrointestinal cancers affect the digestive organs from the esophagus to the anus and are among the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally. The modulation of autophagy using pharmacologic agents potentially offers a great potential for cancer therapy. In this review, some commonly used compounds, together with their molecular target and the mechanism through which they stimulate or block the autophagy pathway as well as their therapeutic benefit in treating patients with gastrointestinal cancers, are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Chaeichi-Tehrani
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, United Kingdom
| | - Seyed Mahdi Hassanian
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Metabolic syndrome Research centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Avan
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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27
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Fei N, Wen S, Ramanathan R, Hogg ME, Zureikat AH, Lotze MT, Bahary N, Singhi AD, Zeh HJ, Boone BA. SMAD4 loss is associated with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus hydroxychloroquine in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Sci 2021; 14:1822-1829. [PMID: 34002944 PMCID: PMC8504806 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
SMAD4, a tumor suppressor gene, is lost in up to 60%–90% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDAs). Loss of SMAD4 allows tumor progression by upregulating autophagy, a cell survival mechanism that counteracts apoptosis and allows intracellular recycling of macromolecules. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an autophagy inhibitor. We studied whether HCQ treatment in SMAD4 deficient PDA may prevent therapeutic resistance induced by autophagy upregulation. We retrospectively analyzed the SMAD4 status of patients with PDA enrolled in two prospective clinical trials evaluating pre‐operative HCQ. The first dose escalation trial demonstrated the safety of preoperative gemcitabine with HCQ (NCT01128296). More recently, a randomized trial of gemcitabine/nab‐paclitaxel +/− HCQ evaluated Evans Grade histopathologic response (NCT01978184). The effect of SMAD4 loss on response to HCQ and chemotherapy was studied for association with clinical outcome. Fisher’s exact test and log‐rank test were used to assess response and survival. Fifty‐two patients receiving HCQ with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were studied. Twenty‐five patients had SMAD4 loss (48%). 76% of HCQ‐treated patients with SMAD4 loss obtained a histopathologic response greater than or equal to 2A, compared with only 37% with SMAD4 intact (p = 0.006). Although loss of SMAD4 has been associated with worse outcomes, in the current study, loss of SMAD4 was not associated with a detriment in median overall survival in HCQ‐treated patients (34.43 months in SMAD4 loss vs. 27.27 months in SMAD4 intact, p = 0.18). The addition of HCQ to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with PDA may improve treatment response in those with SMAD4 loss. Further study of the relationship among SMAD4, autophagy, and treatment outcomes in PDA is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Fei
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Sijin Wen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Rajesh Ramanathan
- Department of Surgery, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Melissa E Hogg
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Northshore University Health System, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Amer H Zureikat
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael T Lotze
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nathan Bahary
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Herbert J Zeh
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Brian A Boone
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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Lim SM, Mohamad Hanif EA, Chin SF. Is targeting autophagy mechanism in cancer a good approach? The possible double-edge sword effect. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:56. [PMID: 33743781 PMCID: PMC7981910 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00570-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved cellular process required to maintain homeostasis. The hallmark of autophagy is the formation of a phagophore that engulfs cytosolic materials for degradation and recycling to synthesize essential components. Basal autophagy is constitutively active under normal conditions and it could be further induced by physiological stimuli such as hypoxia, nutrient starvation, endoplasmic reticulum stress,energy depletion, hormonal stimulation and pharmacological treatment. In cancer, autophagy is highly context-specific depending on the cell type, tumour microenvironment, disease stage and external stimuli. Recently, the emerging role of autophagy as a double-edged sword in cancer has gained much attention. On one hand, autophagy suppresses malignant transformation by limiting the production of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage during tumour development. Subsequently, autophagy evolved to support the survival of cancer cells and promotes the tumourigenicity of cancer stem cells at established sites. Hence, autophagy is an attractive target for cancer therapeutics and researchers have been exploiting the use of autophagy modulators as adjuvant therapy. In this review, we present a summary of autophagy mechanism and controlling pathways, with emphasis on the dual-role of autophagy (double-edged sword) in cancer. This is followed by an overview of the autophagy modulation for cancer treatment and is concluded by a discussion on the current perspectives and future outlook of autophagy exploitation for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Min Lim
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, W. Persekutuan, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ezanee Azlina Mohamad Hanif
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, W. Persekutuan, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Siok-Fong Chin
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, W. Persekutuan, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Noncoding RNAs Associated with Therapeutic Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9030263. [PMID: 33799952 PMCID: PMC7998345 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9030263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance is an inevitable impediment towards effective cancer therapies. Evidence accumulated has shown that the signaling pathways and related factors are fundamentally responsible for therapeutic resistance via regulating diverse cellular events, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stemness, cell survival/apoptosis, autophagy, etcetera. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified as essential cellular components in gene regulation. The expression of ncRNAs is altered in cancer, and dysregulated ncRNAs participate in gene regulatory networks in pathological contexts. An in-depth understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of therapeutic resistance is required to refine therapeutic benefits. This review presents an overview of the recent evidence concerning the role of human ncRNAs in therapeutic resistance, together with the feasibility of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.
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TFEB Supports Pancreatic Cancer Growth through the Transcriptional Regulation of Glutaminase. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030483. [PMID: 33513833 PMCID: PMC7865852 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of lysosomal function and autophagy. In addition, TFEB has various physiological roles such as nutrient sensing, cellular stress responses, and immune responses. However, the precise roles of TFEB in pancreatic cancer growth remain unclear. Here, we show that pancreatic cancer cells exhibit a significantly elevated TFEB expression compared with normal tissue samples and that the genetic inhibition of TFEB results in a significant inhibition in both glutamine and mitochondrial metabolism, which in turn suppresses the PDAC growth both in vitro and in vivo. High basal levels of autophagy are critical for pancreatic cancer growth. The TFEB knockdown had no significant effect on the autophagic flux under normal conditions but interestingly caused a profound reduction in glutaminase (GLS) transcription, leading to an inhibition of glutamine metabolism. We observed that the direct binding of TFEB to the GLS and TFEB gene promotors regulates the transcription of GLS. We also found that the glutamate supplementation leads to a significant recovery of the PDAC growth that had been reduced by a TFEB knockdown. Taken together, our current data demonstrate that TFEB supports the PDAC cell growth by regulating glutaminase-mediated glutamine metabolism.
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Gray JP, Uddin MN, Chaudhari R, Sutton MN, Yang H, Rask P, Locke H, Engel BJ, Batistatou N, Wang J, Grindel BJ, Bhattacharya P, Gammon ST, Zhang S, Piwnica-Worms D, Kritzer JA, Lu Z, Bast RC, Millward SW. Directed evolution of cyclic peptides for inhibition of autophagy. Chem Sci 2021; 12:3526-3543. [PMID: 34163626 PMCID: PMC8179393 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc03603j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades it has become increasingly clear that induction of autophagy plays an important role in the development of treatment resistance and dormancy in many cancer types. Unfortunately, chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), two autophagy inhibitors in clinical trials, suffer from poor pharmacokinetics and high toxicity at therapeutic dosages. This has prompted intense interest in the development of targeted autophagy inhibitors to re-sensitize disease to treatment with minimal impact on normal tissue. We utilized Scanning Unnatural Protease Resistant (SUPR) mRNA display to develop macrocyclic peptides targeting the autophagy protein LC3. The resulting peptides bound LC3A and LC3B-two essential components of the autophagosome maturation machinery-with mid-nanomolar affinities and disrupted protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between LC3 and its binding partners in vitro. The most promising LC3-binding SUPR peptide accessed the cytosol at low micromolar concentrations as measured by chloroalkane penetration assay (CAPA) and inhibited starvation-mediated GFP-LC3 puncta formation in a concentration-dependent manner. LC3-binding SUPR peptides re-sensitized platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin treatment and triggered accumulation of the adapter protein p62 suggesting decreased autophagic flux through successful disruption of LC3 PPIs in cell culture. In mouse models of metastatic ovarian cancer, treatment with LC3-binding SUPR peptides and carboplatin resulted in almost complete inhibition of tumor growth after four weeks of treatment. These results indicate that SUPR peptide mRNA display can be used to develop cell-penetrating macrocyclic peptides that target and disrupt the autophagic machinery in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P Gray
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Md Nasir Uddin
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Rajan Chaudhari
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Margie N Sutton
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Hailing Yang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Philip Rask
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Hannah Locke
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston USA
| | - Brian J Engel
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | | | - Jing Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University USA
| | - Brian J Grindel
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Pratip Bhattacharya
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Seth T Gammon
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Shuxing Zhang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - David Piwnica-Worms
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | | | - Zhen Lu
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Robert C Bast
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
| | - Steven W Millward
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center USA
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Triangular Relationship between p53, Autophagy, and Chemotherapy Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238991. [PMID: 33256191 PMCID: PMC7730978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy and radiation often induce a number of cellular responses, such as apoptosis, autophagy, and senescence. One of the major regulators of these processes is p53, an essential tumor suppressor that is often mutated or lost in many cancer types and implicated in early tumorigenesis. Gain of function (GOF) p53 mutations have been implicated in increased susceptibility to drug resistance, by compromising wildtype anti-tumor functions of p53 or modulating key p53 processes that confer chemotherapy resistance, such as autophagy. Autophagy, a cellular survival mechanism, is initially induced in response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and its cytoprotective nature became the spearhead of a number of clinical trials aimed to sensitize patients to chemotherapy. However, increased pre-clinical studies have exemplified the multifunctional role of autophagy. Additionally, compartmental localization of p53 can modulate induction or inhibition of autophagy and may play a role in autophagic function. The duality in p53 function and its effects on autophagic function are generally not considered in clinical trial design or clinical therapeutics; however, ample pre-clinical studies suggest they play a role in tumor responses to therapy and drug resistance. Further inquiry into the interconnection between autophagy and p53, and its effects on chemotherapeutic responses may provide beneficial insights on multidrug resistance and novel treatment regimens for chemosensitization.
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Silva VR, Neves SP, Santos LDS, Dias RB, Bezerra DP. Challenges and Therapeutic Opportunities of Autophagy in Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113461. [PMID: 33233671 PMCID: PMC7699739 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Autophagy is a physiological process characterized by the degradation of the cell components through lysosomes due to stimuli/stress. In this study, we review the challenges and therapeutic opportunities that autophagy presents in the treatment of cancer. We discussed the results of several studies that evaluated autophagy as a therapeutic strategy in cancer, both through the modulation of therapeutic resistance and the death of cancer cells. Moreover, we discussed the role of autophagy in the biology of cancer stem cells and the inhibition of this process as a strategy to overcome resistance and progression of cancer stem cells. Abstract Autophagy is a physiological cellular process that is crucial for development and can occurs in response to nutrient deprivation or metabolic disorders. Interestingly, autophagy plays a dual role in cancer cells—while in some situations, it has a cytoprotective effect that causes chemotherapy resistance, in others, it has a cytotoxic effect in which some compounds induce autophagy-mediated cell death. In this review, we summarize strategies aimed at autophagy for the treatment of cancer, including studies of drugs that can modulate autophagy-mediated resistance, and/or drugs that cause autophagy-mediated cancer cell death. In addition, the role of autophagy in the biology of cancer stem cells has also been discussed.
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34
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Cozzo AJ, Coleman MF, Pearce JB, Pfeil AJ, Etigunta SK, Hursting SD. Dietary Energy Modulation and Autophagy: Exploiting Metabolic Vulnerabilities to Starve Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:590192. [PMID: 33224954 PMCID: PMC7674637 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.590192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells experience unique and dynamic shifts in their metabolic function in order to survive, proliferate, and evade growth inhibition in the resource-scarce tumor microenvironment. Therefore, identification of pharmacological agents with potential to reprogram cancer cell metabolism may improve clinical outcomes in cancer therapy. Cancer cells also often exhibit an increased dependence on the process known as autophagy, both for baseline survival and as a response to stressors such as chemotherapy or a decline in nutrient availability. There is evidence to suggest that this increased dependence on autophagy in cancer cells may be exploitable clinically by combining autophagy modulators with existing chemotherapies. In light of the increased metabolic rate in cancer cells, interest is growing in approaches aimed at "starving" cancer through dietary and pharmacologic interventions that reduce availability of nutrients and pro-growth hormonal signals known to promote cancer progression. Several dietary approaches, including chronic calorie restriction and multiple forms of fasting, have been investigated for their potential anti-cancer benefits, yielding promising results in animal models. Induction of autophagy in response to dietary energy restriction may underlie some of the observed benefit. However, while interventions based on dietary energy restriction have demonstrated safety in clinical trials, uncertainty remains regarding translation to humans as well as feasibility of achieving compliance due to the potential discomfort and weight loss that accompanies dietary restriction. Further induction of autophagy through dietary or pharmacologic metabolic reprogramming interventions may enhance the efficacy of autophagy inhibition in the context of adjuvant or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Nonetheless, it remains unclear whether therapeutic agents aimed at autophagy induction, autophagy inhibition, or both are a viable therapeutic strategy for improving cancer outcomes. This review discusses the literature available for the therapeutic potential of these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J Cozzo
- Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Michael F Coleman
- Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jane B Pearce
- Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alexander J Pfeil
- Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Suhas K Etigunta
- Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Stephen D Hursting
- Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Nutrition Research Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States
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Actively Targeted Nanodelivery of Echinomycin Induces Autophagy-Mediated Death in Chemoresistant Pancreatic Cancer In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082279. [PMID: 32823919 PMCID: PMC7464900 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains a recalcitrant neoplasm associated with chemoresistance and high fatality. Because it is frequently resistant to apoptosis, exploiting autophagic cell death could offer a new treatment approach. We repurpose echinomycin, an antibiotic encapsulated within a syndecan-1 actively targeted nanoparticle, for treatment of pancreatic cancer. Tumor-specific uptake, biodistribution, efficacy of nanodelivered echinomycin, and mechanism of cell death were assessed in aggressive, metastatic models of pancreatic cancer. In these autophagic-dependent pancreatic cancer models, echinomycin treatment resulted in autophagic cell death noted by high levels of LC3 among other autophagy markers, but without hallmarks of apoptosis, e.g., caspase activation and chromatin fragmentation, or necrosis, e.g., plasma membrane degradation and chromatin condensation/degrading. In vivo, biodistribution of syndecan-1-targeted nanoparticles indicated preferential S2VP10 or S2CP9 tumor uptake compared to the liver and kidney (S2VP10 p = 0.0016, p = 0.00004 and S2CP9 p = 0.0009, p = 0.0001). Actively targeted nanodelivered echinomycin resulted in significant survival increases compared to Gemzar (S2VP10 p = 0.0003, S2CP9 p = 0.0017) or echinomycin only (S2VP10 p = 0.0096, S2CP9 p = 0.0073). We demonstrate that actively targeted nanodelivery of echinomycin results in autophagic cell death in pancreatic and potentially other high-autophagy, apoptosis-resistant tumors. Collectively, these findings support syndecan-1-targeted delivery of echinomycin and dysregulation of autophagy to induce cell death in pancreatic cancer.
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Görgülü K, Diakopoulos KN, Kaya-Aksoy E, Ciecielski KJ, Ai J, Lesina M, Algül H. The Role of Autophagy in Pancreatic Cancer: From Bench to the Dark Bedside. Cells 2020; 9:E1063. [PMID: 32344698 PMCID: PMC7226443 DOI: 10.3390/cells9041063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancer types urgently requiring effective therapeutic strategies. Autophagy occurs in several compartments of pancreatic cancer tissue including cancer cells, cancer associated fibroblasts, and immune cells where it can be subjected to a multitude of stimulatory and inhibitory signals fine-tuning its activity. Therefore, the effects of autophagy on pancreatic carcinogenesis and progression differ in a stage and context dependent manner. In the initiation stage autophagy hinders development of preneoplastic lesions; in the progression stage however, autophagy promotes tumor growth. This double-edged action of autophagy makes it a hard therapeutic target. Indeed, autophagy inhibitors have not yet shown survival improvements in clinical trials, indicating a need for better evaluation of existing results and smarter targeting techniques. Clearly, the role of autophagy in pancreatic cancer is complex and many aspects have to be considered when moving from the bench to the bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kıvanç Görgülü
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.N.D.); (E.K.-A.); (K.J.C.); (J.A.); (M.L.)
| | - Kalliope N. Diakopoulos
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.N.D.); (E.K.-A.); (K.J.C.); (J.A.); (M.L.)
| | - Ezgi Kaya-Aksoy
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.N.D.); (E.K.-A.); (K.J.C.); (J.A.); (M.L.)
| | - Katrin J. Ciecielski
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.N.D.); (E.K.-A.); (K.J.C.); (J.A.); (M.L.)
| | - Jiaoyu Ai
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.N.D.); (E.K.-A.); (K.J.C.); (J.A.); (M.L.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Marina Lesina
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.N.D.); (E.K.-A.); (K.J.C.); (J.A.); (M.L.)
| | - Hana Algül
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (K.N.D.); (E.K.-A.); (K.J.C.); (J.A.); (M.L.)
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Sahni S, Gillson J, Park KC, Chiang S, Leck LYW, Jansson PJ, Richardson DR. NDRG1 suppresses basal and hypoxia-induced autophagy at both the initiation and degradation stages and sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to lysosomal membrane permeabilization. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020; 1864:129625. [PMID: 32335136 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2020.129625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is an established stress-response protein. This study investigated the effects of NDRG1 on autophagic degradation and how this can be therapeutically exploited. METHODS Cell culture, western analysis, confocal microscopy, acridine orange staining, cholesterol determination, cellular proliferation assessment and combination index (CI) estimation. RESULTS NDRG1 expression suppressed autophagic degradation and autolysosome formation, measured by increased p62 expression and reduced co-localization between the well-characterized, autophagosomal and lysosomal markers, LC3 and LAMP2, respectively. NDRG1 elicited autophagic suppression at the initiation stage of autophagy. The NDRG1-inducer and anti-cancer agent, di-2-pyridylketone 4,4,-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Dp44mT), was able to induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). Over-expression of NDRG1 further sensitized cells to LMP mediated by both Dp44mT, or the redox active Dp44mT‑copper complex. This sensitization may be mediated via a decrease in cholesterol levels upon NDRG1 expression, as cholesterol stabilizes lysosomal membranes. However, the effect of NDRG1 on cholesterol appeared independent of the key energy homeostasis sensor, 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), whose activation was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by NDRG1. Finally, Dp44mT synergistically potentiated the anti-proliferative activity of Gemcitabine that activates autophagy. In fact, Dp44mT and Gemcitabine (Combination Index (CI): 0.38 ± 0.07) demonstrated higher synergism versus the autophagy inhibitor, Bafilomycin A1 and Gemcitabine (CI: 0.64 ± 0.19). CONCLUSIONS AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Collectively, this study demonstrated a dual-inhibitory mechanism of NDRG1 on autophagic activity, and that NDRG1 expression sensitized cells to Dp44mT-induced LMP. Considering the ability of Dp44mT to inhibit autophagy, studies demonstrated the potential of combination therapy for cancer treatment of Dp44mT with Gemcitabine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Sahni
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building (K25), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
| | - Josef Gillson
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building (K25), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
| | - Kyung Chan Park
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building (K25), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Shannon Chiang
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building (K25), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Lionel Yi Wen Leck
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building (K25), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Cancer Drug Resistance Program, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Patric J Jansson
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building (K25), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Cancer Drug Resistance Program, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Des R Richardson
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, Medical Foundation Building (K25), University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan; Centre for Cancer Cell Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Arpalahti L, Haglund C, Holmberg CI. Proteostasis Dysregulation in Pancreatic Cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1233:101-115. [PMID: 32274754 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-38266-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
The most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), has a dismal 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Radical surgical resection, in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy, provides the best option for long-term patient survival. However, only approximately 20% of patients are resectable at the time of diagnosis, due to locally advanced or metastatic disease. There is an urgent need for the identification of new, specific, and more sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction to improve the treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients. Dysregulation of proteostasis is linked to many pathophysiological conditions, including various types of cancer. In this review, we report on findings relating to the main cellular protein degradation systems, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy, in pancreatic cancer. The expression of several components of the proteolytic network, including E3 ubiquitin-ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes, are dysregulated in PDAC, which accounts for approximately 90% of all pancreatic malignancies. In the future, a deeper understanding of the emerging role of proteostasis in pancreatic cancer has the potential to provide clinically relevant biomarkers and new strategies for combinatorial therapeutic options to better help treat the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Arpalahti
- Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Caj Haglund
- Research Programs Unit, Translational Cancer Medicine Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carina I Holmberg
- Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Zeh HJ, Bahary N, Boone BA, Singhi AD, Miller-Ocuin JL, Normolle DP, Zureikat AH, Hogg ME, Bartlett DL, Lee KK, Tsung A, Marsh JW, Murthy P, Tang D, Seiser N, Amaravadi RK, Espina V, Liotta L, Lotze MT. A Randomized Phase II Preoperative Study of Autophagy Inhibition with High-Dose Hydroxychloroquine and Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel in Pancreatic Cancer Patients. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:3126-3134. [PMID: 32156749 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-4042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We hypothesized that autophagy inhibition would increase response to chemotherapy in the preoperative setting for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We performed a randomized controlled trial to assess the autophagy inhibitor hydroxychloroquine in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. PATIENTS AND METHODS Participants with potentially resectable tumors were randomized to two cycles of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine (PG) alone or with hydroxychloroquine (PGH), followed by resection. The primary endpoint was histopathologic response in the resected specimen. Secondary clinical endpoints included serum CA 19-9 biomarker response and margin negative R0 resection. Exploratory endpoints included markers of autophagy, immune infiltrate, and serum cytokines. RESULTS Thirty-four patients in the PGH arm and 30 in the PG arm were evaluable for the primary endpoint. The PGH arm demonstrated statistically improved Evans grade histopathologic responses (P = 0.00016), compared with control. In patients with elevated CA 19-9, a return to normal was associated with improved overall and recurrence-free survival (P < 0.0001). There were no differences in serious adverse events between arms and chemotherapy dose number was equivalent. The PGH arm had greater evidence of autophagy inhibition in their resected specimens (increased SQSTM1, P = 0.027, as well as increased immune cell tumor infiltration, P = 0.033). Overall survival (P = 0.59) and relapse-free survival (P = 0.55) did not differ between the two arms. CONCLUSIONS The addition of hydroxychloroquine to preoperative gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy in patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma resulted in greater pathologic tumor response, improved serum biomarker response, and evidence of autophagy inhibition and immune activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert J Zeh
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Nathan Bahary
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Brian A Boone
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Daniel P Normolle
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Amer H Zureikat
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Melissa E Hogg
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David L Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kenneth K Lee
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Allan Tsung
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - J Wallis Marsh
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Pranav Murthy
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Daolin Tang
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Natalie Seiser
- HPB and Transplant Institute at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ravi K Amaravadi
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Virginia Espina
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia
| | - Lance Liotta
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia
| | - Michael T Lotze
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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40
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Qin C, Yang G, Yang J, Ren B, Wang H, Chen G, Zhao F, You L, Wang W, Zhao Y. Metabolism of pancreatic cancer: paving the way to better anticancer strategies. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:50. [PMID: 32122374 PMCID: PMC7053123 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01169-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is currently one of the most lethal diseases. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that reprogrammed metabolism may play a critical role in the carcinogenesis, progression, treatment and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Affected by internal or external factors, pancreatic cancer cells adopt extensively distinct metabolic processes to meet their demand for growth. Rewired glucose, amino acid and lipid metabolism and metabolic crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment contribute to unlimited pancreatic tumor progression. In addition, the metabolic reprogramming involved in pancreatic cancer resistance is also closely related to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, and results in a poor prognosis. Reflective of the key role of metabolism, the number of preclinical and clinical trials about metabolism-targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer is increasing. The poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients might be largely improved after employing therapies that regulate metabolism. Thus, investigations of metabolism not only benefit the understanding of carcinogenesis and cancer progression but also provide new insights for treatments against pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qin
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Jinshou Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Bo Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Huanyu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Guangyu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Fangyu Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China. .,Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100023, PR China.
| | - Weibin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China. .,Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100023, PR China.
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, PR China. .,Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100023, PR China.
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41
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Flinck M, Hagelund S, Gorbatenko A, Severin M, Pedraz-Cuesta E, Novak I, Stock C, Pedersen SF. The Vacuolar H + ATPase α3 Subunit Negatively Regulates Migration and Invasion of Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells. Cells 2020; 9:E465. [PMID: 32085585 PMCID: PMC7072798 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased metabolic acid production and upregulation of net acid extrusion render pH homeostasis profoundly dysregulated in many cancers. Plasma membrane activity of vacuolar H+ ATPases (V-ATPases) has been implicated in acid extrusion and invasiveness of some cancers, yet often on the basis of unspecific inhibitors. Serving as a membrane anchor directing V-ATPase localization, the a subunit of the V0 domain of the V-ATPase (ATP6V0a1-4) is particularly interesting in this regard. Here, we map the regulation and roles of ATP6V0a3 in migration, invasion, and growth in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. a3 mRNA and protein levels were upregulated in PDAC cell lines compared to non-cancer pancreatic epithelial cells. Under control conditions, a3 localization was mainly endo-/lysosomal, and its knockdown had no detectable effect on pHi regulation after acid loading. V-ATPase inhibition, but not a3 knockdown, increased HIF-1 expression and decreased proliferation and autophagic flux under both starved and non-starved conditions, and spheroid growth of PDAC cells was also unaffected by a3 knockdown. Strikingly, a3 knockdown increased migration and transwell invasion of Panc-1 and BxPC-3 PDAC cells, and increased gelatin degradation in BxPC-3 cells yet decreased it in Panc-1 cells. We conclude that in these PDAC cells, a3 is upregulated and negatively regulates migration and invasion, likely in part via effects on extracellular matrix degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Flinck
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.F.); (S.H.); (M.S.); (E.P.-C.); (I.N.)
| | - Sofie Hagelund
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.F.); (S.H.); (M.S.); (E.P.-C.); (I.N.)
| | - Andrej Gorbatenko
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
| | - Marc Severin
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.F.); (S.H.); (M.S.); (E.P.-C.); (I.N.)
| | - Elena Pedraz-Cuesta
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.F.); (S.H.); (M.S.); (E.P.-C.); (I.N.)
| | - Ivana Novak
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.F.); (S.H.); (M.S.); (E.P.-C.); (I.N.)
| | - Christian Stock
- Department of Gastroentero-, Hepato- and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Stine Falsig Pedersen
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (M.F.); (S.H.); (M.S.); (E.P.-C.); (I.N.)
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Bahrami A, Bianconi V, Pirro M, Orafai HM, Sahebkar A. The role of TFEB in tumor cell autophagy: Diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. Life Sci 2020; 244:117341. [PMID: 31972208 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved "self-eating" recycling process which removes aggregated or misfolded proteins, or defective organelles, to maintain cellular hemostasis. In the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP), clearance of unwanted debris and materials occurs through the generation of the autophagosome, a complex of double-membrane bounded vesicles that form around cytosolic cargos and catabolize their contents by fusion to lysosomes. In tumors, autophagy has dichotomous functions via preventing tumor initiation but promoting tumor progression. The basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor EB (TFEB) activates the promoters of genes encoding for proteins, which participate in this cellular degradative system by regulating lysosomal biogenesis, lysosomal acidification, lysosomal exocytosis and autophagy. In humans, disturbances of ALP are related to various pathological conditions. Recently, TFEB dysregulation was found to have a crucial pathogenic role in different tumors by modulating tumor cell autophagy. Notably, in renal cell carcinomas, different TFEB gene fusions were reported to promote oncogenic features. In this review, we discuss the role of TFEB in human cancers with a special focus on potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsane Bahrami
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Vanessa Bianconi
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Matteo Pirro
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Hossein M Orafai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ahl Al Bayt, Karbala, Iraq; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zahraa University, Karbala, Iraq
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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43
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Ropolo A, Catrinacio C, Renna FJ, Boggio V, Orquera T, Gonzalez CD, Vaccaro MI. A Novel E2F1-EP300-VMP1 Pathway Mediates Gemcitabine-Induced Autophagy in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Carrying Oncogenic KRAS. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:411. [PMID: 32655498 PMCID: PMC7324546 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily preserved degradation process of cytoplasmic cellular constituents, which participates in cell response to disease. We previously characterized VMP1 (Vacuole Membrane Protein 1) as an essential autophagy related protein that mediates autophagy in pancreatic diseases. We also demonstrated that VMP1-mediated autophagy is induced by HIF-1A (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha) in colon-cancer tumor cell lines, conferring resistance to photodynamic treatment. Here we identify a new molecular pathway, mediated by VMP1, by which gemcitabine is able to trigger autophagy in human pancreatic tumor cell lines. We demonstrated that gemcitabine requires the VMP1 expression to induce autophagy in the highly resistant pancreatic cancer cells PANC-1 and MIAPaCa-2 that carry activated KRAS. E2F1 is a transcription factor that is regulated by the retinoblastoma pathway. We found that E2F1 is an effector of gemcitabine-induced autophagy and regulates the expression and promoter activity of VMP1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that E2F1 binds to the VMP1 promoter in PANC-1 cells. We have also identified the histone acetyltransferase EP300 as a modulator of VMP1 promoter activity. Our data showed that the E2F1-EP300 activator/co-activator complex is part of the regulatory pathway controlling the expression and promoter activity of VMP1 triggered by gemcitabine in PANC-1 cells. Finally, we found that neither VMP1 nor E2F1 are induced by gemcitabine treatment in BxPC-3 cells, which do not carry oncogenic KRAS and are sensitive to chemotherapy. In conclusion, we have identified the E2F1-EP300-VMP1 pathway that mediates gemcitabine-induced autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. These results strongly support that VMP1-mediated autophagy may integrate the complex network of events involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma chemo-resistance. Our experimental findings point at E2F1 and VMP1 as novel potential therapeutic targets in precise treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Ropolo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Alejandro Ropolo
| | - Cintia Catrinacio
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Felipe Javier Renna
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Veronica Boggio
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tamara Orquera
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio D. Gonzalez
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CEMIC University Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria I. Vaccaro
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Abdel-Karim N, Gaber O, Eldessouki I, Bahassi EM, Morris J. Exosomes as a Surrogate Marker for Autophagy in Peripheral Blood, Correlative Data from Phase I Study of Chloroquine in Combination with Carboplatin/Gemcitabine in Advanced Solid Tumors. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2019; 20:3789-3796. [PMID: 31870123 PMCID: PMC7173380 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2019.20.12.3789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autophagy is a catabolic process, utilized constitutionally by body cells to recycle nutrients and to remove unwanted/damaged intracellular constituents. It is enhanced during periods of stress, such as starvation and hypoxia, aiding in cell survival and it is linked to major cellular processes, such as apoptosis and antigen expression. The process has been extensively studied in vitro models or tumor tissue samples with rare application on human subjects. METHODS Plasma samples from 24 advanced solid tumor patients were collected at different time points before and after chemotherapy. Their exosomes were isolate and blotted for microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain-3 (LC-3B) protein as a marker for autophagy. All the subjects received a standard chemotherapy regimen of carboplatin- gemcitabine with chloroquine (CQ)/ hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in chronic doses throughout their treatment period as an autophagy modulator. CQ/HCQ was given in 50 mg increments as guided by their tolerability to treatment. RESULTS A total of 267 plasma samples were obtained for the 24 patients and processed. Each sample corresponds to a single time point. The first group included 6 patients, all received 50 mg of CQ with chemotherapy. LC-3B I was detected in their isolated exosomes, while LC3-BII was not detected in their samples. The second cohort of patients included 3 subjects who re-ceived 100mg of HCQ. They demonstrated both LC3-BI and II on day 15 after chemotherapy in one patient, and on third cycle after 24 hours in the second patient. The third cohort included 3 subjects who received 150 mg of HCQ. All cases demonstrated LC3-BI and II on first cycle of treatment after less than 24 hours. The last cohort included 8 subjects, who received a fixed dose of 100 mg of HCQ with treatment. In this cohort, we were able to detect both LC3-B isoforms on advanced time points of second and third cycles. CONCLUSION Detection of autophagy protein LC3-B in exosomes serves as a dynamic method to monitor autophagy. It can be utilized to study the effects of anti-neoplastic agents on autophagy and mechanisms of drug resistance, however, to standardize our results a larger specimen of patients should be included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagla Abdel-Karim
- Department of Hematology –Oncology, University of Cincinnati, U S A.
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Jiang PC, Bu SR. Clinical value of circular RNAs and autophagy-related miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2019; 18:511-516. [PMID: 31610988 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a special group of long-chain and non-coding RNAs characterized by a closed-loop structure without 3' and 5' polarity. In recent years, studies have demonstrated that circRNAs act as microRNA (miRNA) sponges to regulate the function of miRNAs. Increasing evidence indicates that circRNAs and targeted miRNAs are involved in the development, progression and metastasis of various cancers and drug resistance. A number of miRNAs are known to be associated with the pathogenesis, development and treatment of pancreatic cancer by regulating the autophagic activity. DATA SOURCES A comprehensive literature search was executed in PubMed and EMBASE using the medical subject headings (MeSH) terms "Pancreatic Neoplasms", "autophagy", "RNA, circular" and "microRNA". We also used text terms such as "diagnosis", "prognosis" and "biomarker" to supplement the results. RESULTS Autophagy-related miRNAs is closely related to pancreatic cancer. On basis of the retrieval results, we summarized the synthesis, features and functions of circRNAs and analyzed the association between autophagy-related miRNAs and pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS circRNAs act as the miRNA sponges and there is an association between miRNAs and autophagy, which provides a new concept to broaden the knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the development, progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Additionally, clinical value of circRNAs and autophagy-related miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer would be further verified with in-depth researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Cheng Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Shu-Rui Bu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
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Khan T, Relitti N, Brindisi M, Magnano S, Zisterer D, Gemma S, Butini S, Campiani G. Autophagy modulators for the treatment of oral and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. Med Res Rev 2019; 40:1002-1060. [PMID: 31742748 DOI: 10.1002/med.21646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) exhibit a survival rate of less than 60% and 40%, respectively. Late-stage diagnosis and lack of effective treatment strategies make both OSCC and ESCC a significant health burden. Autophagy, a lysosome-dependent catabolic process, involves the degradation of intracellular components to maintain cell homeostasis. Targeting autophagy has been highlighted as a feasible therapeutic strategy with clinical utility in cancer treatment, although its associated regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. The detection of relevant biomarkers in biological fluids has been anticipated to facilitate early diagnosis and/or prognosis for these tumors. In this context, recent studies have indicated the presence of specific proteins and small RNAs, detectable in circulating plasma and serum, as biomarkers. Interestingly, the interplay between biomarkers (eg, exosomal microRNAs) and autophagic processes could be exploited in the quest for targeted and more effective therapies for OSCC and ESCC. In this review, we give an overview of the available biomarkers and innovative targeted therapeutic strategies, including the application of autophagy modulators in OSCC and ESCC. Additionally, we provide a viewpoint on the state of the art and on future therapeutic perspectives combining the early detection of relevant biomarkers with drug discovery for the treatment of OSCC and ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuhina Khan
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Nicola Relitti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- Department of Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Napoli Federico IL, Napoli, Italy
| | - Stefania Magnano
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Daniela Zisterer
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160, Pearse Street, Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Li L, Ng SR, Colón CI, Drapkin BJ, Hsu PP, Li Z, Nabel CS, Lewis CA, Romero R, Mercer KL, Bhutkar A, Phat S, Myers DT, Muzumdar MD, Westcott PMK, Beytagh MC, Farago AF, Vander Heiden MG, Dyson NJ, Jacks T. Identification of DHODH as a therapeutic target in small cell lung cancer. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:eaaw7852. [PMID: 31694929 PMCID: PMC7401885 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw7852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive lung cancer subtype with extremely poor prognosis. No targetable genetic driver events have been identified, and the treatment landscape for this disease has remained nearly unchanged for over 30 years. Here, we have taken a CRISPR-based screening approach to identify genetic vulnerabilities in SCLC that may serve as potential therapeutic targets. We used a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) library targeting ~5000 genes deemed to encode "druggable" proteins to perform loss-of-function genetic screens in a panel of cell lines derived from autochthonous genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of SCLC, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Cross-cancer analyses allowed us to identify SCLC-selective vulnerabilities. In particular, we observed enhanced sensitivity of SCLC cells toward disruption of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), a key enzyme in this pathway, reduced the viability of SCLC cells in vitro and strongly suppressed SCLC tumor growth in human patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and in an autochthonous mouse model. These results indicate that DHODH inhibition may be an approach to treat SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Li
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sheng Rong Ng
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Caterina I Colón
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Peggy P Hsu
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhaoqi Li
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Christopher S Nabel
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Caroline A Lewis
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rodrigo Romero
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kim L Mercer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Arjun Bhutkar
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sarah Phat
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David T Myers
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mandar Deepak Muzumdar
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Peter M K Westcott
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mary Clare Beytagh
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anna F Farago
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthew G Vander Heiden
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicholas J Dyson
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tyler Jacks
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Chen X, Yu Q, Liu Y, Sheng Q, Shi K, Wang Y, Li M, Zhang Z, He Q. Synergistic cytotoxicity and co-autophagy inhibition in pancreatic tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts by dual functional peptide-modified liposomes. Acta Biomater 2019; 99:339-349. [PMID: 31499197 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly fatal disease with 5-year survival of ∼8.5%. Nanoplatforms such as nab-paclitaxel and nanoliposomal irinotecan demonstrate superiority and utility in treating different progressions of PDA by prolonging the median overall survival by only a few months. Due to the dense surrounding stroma and the high autophagy in pancreatic cancer, integrin ɑvβ3 targeting, acid environmental sensitive, TR peptide-modified liposomal platforms loaded with combined autophagy inhibiting hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and cytotoxic paclitaxel (PTX) were designed (TR-PTX/HCQ-Lip) to accomplish the aim of synergistically killing tumor cells while inhibiting stroma fibrosis. The results showed that TR peptide-modified liposomes (TR-Lip) have superior targeting and penetrating effects both in vitro and in vivo. TR-PTX/HCQ-Lip efficiently inhibited autophagy in pancreatic cells and surrounding cancer-associated fibroblasts. The synergistic anti-fibrosis roles were also confirmed both in vitro and in vivo, all of which contributes to the enhanced curative effects of TR-PTX/HCQ-Lip in both heterogenetic and orthotopic pancreatic cancer models. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Autophagy plays a significant role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially in activating cancer associated fibroblasts which is also related to collagen generation that promotes the formation of dense stroma, which hinder the cytotoxic drugs to target and kill cancer cells. In this study, we designed integrin ɑvβ3 targeting, acid environmental sensitive liposomal platforms to co-loaded paclitaxel and the autophagy inhibitor hydroxychloroquine. The results showed that the muti-functional liposomes can target to the pancreatic tumor and efficiently kill tumor cells and inhibit stroma fibrosis, thus improve the therapeutic effect in orthotopic pancreatic cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Qianwen Yu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yinke Liu
- West China School of Stomotology, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Qinglin Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Kairong Shi
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Man Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Zhirong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China
| | - Qin He
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, PR China.
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A Humanized Yeast Phenomic Model of Deoxycytidine Kinase to Predict Genetic Buffering of Nucleoside Analog Cytotoxicity. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10100770. [PMID: 31575041 PMCID: PMC6826991 DOI: 10.3390/genes10100770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge about synthetic lethality can be applied to enhance the efficacy of anticancer therapies in individual patients harboring genetic alterations in their cancer that specifically render it vulnerable. We investigated the potential for high-resolution phenomic analysis in yeast to predict such genetic vulnerabilities by systematic, comprehensive, and quantitative assessment of drug–gene interaction for gemcitabine and cytarabine, substrates of deoxycytidine kinase that have similar molecular structures yet distinct antitumor efficacy. Human deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) was conditionally expressed in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomic library of knockout and knockdown (YKO/KD) strains, to globally and quantitatively characterize differential drug–gene interaction for gemcitabine and cytarabine. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that autophagy, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and apoptosis-related processes influence gemcitabine specifically, while drug–gene interaction specific to cytarabine was less enriched in gene ontology. Processes having influence over both drugs were DNA repair and integrity checkpoints and vesicle transport and fusion. Non-gene ontology (GO)-enriched genes were also informative. Yeast phenomic and cancer cell line pharmacogenomics data were integrated to identify yeast–human homologs with correlated differential gene expression and drug efficacy, thus providing a unique resource to predict whether differential gene expression observed in cancer genetic profiles are causal in tumor-specific responses to cytotoxic agents.
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50
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Chen CH, Hsieh TH, Lin YC, Liu YR, Liou JP, Yen Y. Targeting Autophagy by MPT0L145, a Highly Potent PIK3C3 Inhibitor, Provides Synergistic Interaction to Targeted or Chemotherapeutic Agents in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11091345. [PMID: 31514441 PMCID: PMC6770340 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticancer therapies reportedly promote pro-survival autophagy in cancer cells that confers drug resistance, rationalizing the concept to combine autophagy inhibitors to increase their therapeutic potential. We previously identified that MPT0L145 is a PIK3C3/FGFR inhibitor that not only increases autophagosome formation due to fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibition but also perturbs autophagic flux via PIK3C3 inhibition in bladder cancer cells harboring FGFR activation. In this study, we hypothesized that combined-use of MPT0L145 with agents that induce pro-survival autophagy may provide synthetic lethality in cancer cells without FGFR activation. The results showed that MPT0L145 synergistically sensitizes anticancer effects of gefitinib and gemcitabine in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells and pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, respectively. Mechanistically, drug combination increased incomplete autophagy due to impaired PIK3C3 function by MPT0L145 as evidenced by p62 accumulation and no additional apoptotic cell death was observed. Meanwhile, drug combination perturbed survival pathways and increased vacuolization and ROS production in cancer cells. In conclusion, the data suggest that halting pro-survival autophagy by targeting PIK3C3 with MPT0L145 significantly sensitizes cancer cells to targeted or chemotherapeutic agents, fostering rational combination strategies for cancer therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Han Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Han Hsieh
- Joint Biobank, Office of Human Research, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Ru Liu
- Joint Biobank, Office of Human Research, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Ping Liou
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Yun Yen
- The Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University Taipei 110, Taiwan.
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