Discovery of potent molecular chimera (CM358) to treat human metastatic melanoma

Metastasis diagnosis using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infra-red (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy

The suitability of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as a metastasis prognostic tool has not been reported for some cancer types. Our main aim was to show spectroscopic differences between live un-preprocessed cancer cells of different metastatic levels. Spectra of four cancer cell pairs, including colon cancer (SW480, SW620); human melanoma (WM115, WM266.4); murine melanoma (B16F01, B16F10); and breast cancer (MCF7, MDA-MB-231); each pair having the same genetic background, but different metastatic level were analyzed in the regions 1400-1700 cm-1 and 3100-3500 cm-1 using Principal Component Analysis, curve fitting, multifractal dimension and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The results show spectral markers I1540/I1473, I1652/I1473, [Formula: see text], and multifractal dimension of the spectral images are significantly different for the cells based on their metastatic levels. ROC curve analysis showed good diagnostic performance of the spectral markers in separating cells based on metastatic degree, with areas under the ROC curves having 95% confidence interval lower limits greater than 0.5 for most instances. These spectral features can be important in predicting the probability of metastasis in primary tumors, providing useful guidance for treatment planning. Our markers are effective in differentiating metastatic levels without sample fixation or drying and therefore could be compactible for future use in in-vivo procedures involving spectroscopic cancer diagnosis.

CCNA2 as an Immunological Biomarker Encompassing Tumor Microenvironment and Therapeutic Response in Multiple Cancer Types

Background

Cancer is a major threat to human health worldwide. Although recent innovations and advances in early detection and effective therapies such as targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have saved more lives of cancer patients and improved their quality of life, our knowledge about cancer remains largely unknown. CCNA2 belongs to the cell cyclin family and has been demonstrated to be a tumorigenic gene in multiple solid tumor types. The aim of the present study was to make a comprehensive analysis on the role of CCNA2 at a pancancer level.

Methods

Multidatabases were collected to evaluate the different expression, prognostic value, DNA methylation, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, mismatch repair, tumor immune microenvironment, and drug sensitivity of CCNA2 across pancancer. IHC was utilized to validate the expression and prognostic value of CCNA2 in ccRCC patients from SMMU cohort.

Results

CCNA2 was differentially expressed in most cancer types vs. normal tissues. CCNA2 may significantly influence the prognosis of multiple cancer types, especially clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). CCNA2 was also frequently mutated in most cancer types. Notably, CCNA2 was significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint inhibitory genes. In addition, CCNA2 was also strongly related to drug resistance.

Conclusion

CCNA2 may prove to be a new biomarker for prognostic prediction, tumor immunity assessment, and drug susceptibility evaluation in pancancer level, especially in ccRCC.

A novel, dual action chimera comprising DNA methylating agent and near-IR xanthene-cyanine photosensitizer for combined anticancer therapy

A facile synthesis, biological evaluation and photodynamic properties of novel activatable anticancer molecular hybrids (chimeras) Ch and I-Ch are described. The chimeras consist of DNA methylating methyl triazene moiety and fluorogenic xanthene-cyanine (XCy) or iodinated xanthene-cyanine (I-XCy) photosensitizer. These two anticancer core structures are bound by means of a self-immolative 4-aminobenzyl alcohol linker. The hydrolytic cleavage of the carbamate protecting group promotes activation of both DNA methylating monomethyl triazene and phototoxic xanthene-cyanine dye providing, in addition, a near-IR emission signal for detection of the drug activation events. Preliminary antiproliferative assay demonstrates that the developed chimeras exhibit higher antitumor activity in the breast cancer cell line upon near-IR light irradiation compared to their structural constituents, xanthene-cyanine photosensitizer and monomethyl triazene substance.

4-Amino-1,8-naphthalimide-ferrocene conjugates as potential multi-targeted anticancer and fluorescent cellular imaging agents

Herein we present eight ferrocenyl 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimides. Designed as fluorescent logic gates for acidity and oxidisability, the molecules have been repurposed as anti-proliferation and cellular imaging agents. The compounds were studied in vitro against MCF-7 and K562 cancer cell lines by the MTT method. Compounds with protonable secondary amines tended to exhibit greater cytotoxicity than those with tertiary amines. Compounds with no measurable GI₅₀ values within a 24 hour time window, as well as at shorter exposure times, may be suitable as fluorescent cellular imaging probes.

The Influence of Extracts from Common Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) on the Metabolic Activity of Human Melanoma Cells WM-266-4

Human melanoma cells are known as one of the most aggressive cancer cells, and consequently, melanoma is one of the most incurable cancer diseases. There is intense activity in research and development of potential medicines for malignant diseases, including alternative forms of remedies. Therefore, the purpose of our work was testing extracts from the common houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) grown in Slovenia to establish its impact on human melanoma cells. Namely, we wanted to verify if the extracts inhibit growth of malignant cells and their metabolic activity. Soxhlet, cold solvent, ultrasound, and supercritical extraction methods were applied to obtain S. tectorum extracts. Polyphenols and proanthocyanins content in acquired extracts was determined as well as their antioxidative potential. For a relevant comparison, Chinese (CHI) dried and Slovenian (SLO) lyophilized S. tectorum was used. Results showed that the highest contents of polyphenols and proanthocyanins were yielded from lyophilized material, which also had the highest antioxidative potential. The focus of our work was on analysis of possible inhibition effects of the extracts on human melanoma cells since no past studies were found regarding the possible effects of S. tectorum on metabolic activity of WM-266-4. We established that in a 24-h incubation period, the extracts inhibited metabolic activity of the cells at their concentrations of 20, 10, 4, 2, 1, 0.2, and 0.02 mg/mL. Extract obtained from SLO S. tectorum (ultrasound extraction with acetone as a solvent), which showed promising results of inhibitory effect on the mentioned cells, was further described since the local plant was the focus of our study. CHI S. tectorum extract (Soxhlet extraction with ehtanol:water mixture = 1:1 as a solvent) showed the highest inhibitory effect on human melanoma cells WM-266-4, although both obtained extracts are suitable for their growth inhibition of this specific cell line. Our results suggest inhibitory ability of S. tectorum extracts on the metabolic activity of WM-266-4 metastatic cell line, suggesting their potential use as an anticancer agent.

Drug Combination in Cancer Treatment-From Cocktails to Conjugated Combinations

It is well recognized today that anticancer drugs often are most effective when used in combination. However, the establishment of chemotherapy as key modality in clinical oncology began with sporadic discoveries of chemicals that showed antiproliferative properties and which as a first attempt were used as single agents. In this review we describe the development of chemotherapy from its origins as a single drug treatment with cytotoxic agents to polydrug therapy that includes targeted drugs. We discuss the limitations of the first chemotherapeutic drugs as a motivation for the establishment of combined drug treatment as standard practice in spite of concerns about frequent severe, dose limiting toxicities. Next, we introduce the development of targeted treatment as a concept for advancement within the broader field of small-molecule drug combination therapy in cancer and its accelerating progress that was boosted by recent scientific and technological progresses. Finally, we describe an alternative strategy of drug combinations using drug-conjugates for selective delivery of cytotoxic drugs to tumor cells that potentiates future improvement of drug combinations in cancer treatment. Overall, in this review we outline the development of chemotherapy from a pharmacological perspective, from its early stages to modern concepts of using targeted therapies for combinational treatment.

Designing Chimeric Molecules for Drug Discovery by Leveraging Chemical Biology

After the first seed concept introduced in the 18th century, different disciplines have attributed different names to dual-functional molecules depending on their application, including bioconjugates, bifunctional compounds, multitargeting molecules, chimeras, hybrids, engineered compounds. However, these engineered constructs share a general structure: a first component that targets a specific cell and a second component that exerts the pharmacological activity. A stable or cleavable linker connects the two modules of a chimera. Herein, we discuss the recent advances in the rapidly expanding field of chimeric molecules leveraging chemical biology concepts. This Perspective is focused on bifunctional compounds in which one component is a lead compound or a drug. In detail, we discuss chemical features of chimeric molecules and their use for targeted delivery and for target engagement studies.