2-(2-(2,4-dioxopentan-3-ylidene)hydrazineyl)benzonitrile as novel inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinase and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in glioblastoma

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of imidazothiazole-hydrazone hybrids as dual EGFR and Akt inhibitors for NSCLC therapy

In search of small molecules for targeted therapy of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), an efficient four-step synthetic route was followed for the synthesis of new imidazothiazole-hydrazone hybrids, which were assessed for their cytotoxic effects on human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and human lung fibroblast (CCD-19Lu) cells. Among them, compounds 4, 6, 13, 16, 17 and 21 exhibited selective cytotoxic activity against A549 cell line. In vitro mechanistic studies were performed to assess their effects on apoptosis, caspase-3, cell cycle, EGFR and Akt in A549 cells. Compounds 6, 16, 17 and 21 promoted apoptotic cell death more than erlotinib. According to the in vitro data, it is quite clear that compound 6 promotes apoptosis through caspase-3 activation and arrests the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase in A549 cells. Compounds 16 and 17 arrested the cell cycle at the S phase, whereas compounds 4, 13 and 21 caused the cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. The most effective EGFR inhibitor in this series was found as compound 13, followed by compounds 17 and 16. Furthermore, Akt inhibitory effects of compounds 16 and 17 in A549 cells were close to that of GSK690693. In particular, it can be concluded that the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of compounds 16 and 17 are associated with their inhibitory effects on both EGFR and Akt. Molecular docking studies suggest that compounds 16 and 17 interact with crucial amino acid residues in the binding sites of human EGFR (PDB ID: 1M17) and Akt2 (PDB ID: 3D0E). Based on the in silico data, both compounds are predicted to possess favorable oral bioavailability and drug-likeness. Further studies are required to benefit from these compounds as anticancer agents for targeted therapy of NSCLC.

Current advance of nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment for malignant tumors

Cancer remains a significant risk to human health. Nanomedicine is a new multidisciplinary field that is garnering a lot of interest and investigation. Nanomedicine shows great potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Specifically engineered nanoparticles can be employed as contrast agents in cancer diagnostics to enable high sensitivity and high-resolution tumor detection by imaging examinations. Novel approaches for tumor labeling and detection are also made possible by the use of nanoprobes and nanobiosensors. The achievement of targeted medication delivery in cancer therapy can be accomplished through the rational design and manufacture of nanodrug carriers. Nanoparticles have the capability to effectively transport medications or gene fragments to tumor tissues via passive or active targeting processes, thus enhancing treatment outcomes while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Simultaneously, nanoparticles can be employed in the context of radiation sensitization and photothermal therapy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignant tumors. This review presents a literature overview and summary of how nanotechnology is used in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. According to oncological diseases originating from different systems of the body and combining the pathophysiological features of cancers at different sites, we review the most recent developments in nanotechnology applications. Finally, we briefly discuss the prospects and challenges of nanotechnology in cancer.

Design, synthesis and anticancer evaluation of novel arylhydrazones of active methylene compounds

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor, tropomyosin kinase receptor kinase type A (TrkA) is emerging as an important target for Glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. TrkA is the cancer biomarker majorly involved in tumor invasion and migration into nearby normal tissue. However, currently, available Trk inhibitors exhibit many adverse effects in cancer patients, thus demanding a novel class of ligands to regulate Trk signaling. Here, we exploited the role of TrkA (NTRK1) expression from the 651 datasets of brain tumors. RNA sequence analysis identified overexpression of NTRK1 in GBM, recurrent GBM as well in Oligoastrocytoma patients. Also, TrkA expression tends to increase over the higher grades of GBM. TrkA protein targeting hydrazone derivatives, R48, R142, and R234, were designed and their mode of interaction was studied using molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies. Ligands' stability and binding assessment reveals R48, 2 2-(2-(2-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione, as a potent ligand that interacts well with TrkA's hydrophobic residues, Ile, Phe, Leu, Ala, and Val. R48- TrkA exhibits stable binding potentials with an average RMSD value <0.8 nm. R48 obeyed Lipinski's rule of five and possessed the best oral bioavailability, suggesting R48 as a potential compound with drug-likeness properties. In-vitro analysis also revealed that R48 exhibited a higher cytotoxicity effect for U87 GBM cells than TMZ with the IC50 value of 68.99 μM. It showed the lowest percentage of cytotoxicity to the non-cancerous TrkA expressing MEF cells. However, further SiRNA analysis validates the non-specific binding of R48, necessitating structural alteration for the development of R48-based TrkA inhibitor for GBM therapeutics.

Benzenesulfonamide Analogs: Synthesis, Anti-GBM Activity and Pharmacoprofiling

The tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) emerge as a potential target for glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Benzenesulfonamide analogs were identified as kinase inhibitors possessing promising anticancer properties. In the present work, four known and two novel benzenesulfonamide derivatives were synthesized, and their inhibitory activities in TrkA overexpressing cells, U87 and MEF cells were investigated. The cytotoxic effect of benzenesulfonamide derivatives and cisplatin was determined using trypan blue exclusion assays. The mode of interaction of benzenesulfonamides with TrkA was predicted by docking and structural analysis. ADMET profiling was also performed for all compounds to calculate the drug likeness property. Appropriate QSAR models were developed for studying structure-activity relationships. Compound 4-[2-(4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene)hydrazinyl]-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzenesulfon-amide (AL106) and 4-[2-(1,3-dioxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-inden-2-ylidene)hydrazinyl]-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (AL107) showed acceptable binding energies with the active sites for human nerve growth factor receptor, TrkA. Here, AL106 was identified as a potential anti-GBM compound, with an IC50 value of 58.6 µM with a less toxic effect in non-cancerous cells than the known chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin. In silico analysis indicated that AL106 formed prominent stabilizing hydrophobic interactions with Tyr359, Ser371, Ile374 and charged interactions with Gln369 of TrkA. Furthermore, in silico analysis of all benzenesulfonamide derivatives revealed that AL106 has good pharmacokinetics properties, drug likeness and toxicity profiles, suggesting the compound may be suitable for clinical trial. Thus, benzenesulfonamide analog, AL106 could potentially induce GBM cell death through its interaction with TrkA and might be an attractive strategy for developing a drug targeted therapy to treat glioblastoma.

ATF4-mediated circTDRD3 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by regulating the miR-891b/ITGA2 axis and AKT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is a cancer of the gastrointestinal tract that is highly malignant and has poor prognosis. Circular RNAs are a class of nonclassical RNA molecules that have been determined to be involved in GC malignancy in various ways. However, the underlying function and mechanism of circTDRD3 in gastric cancer remain largely unknown.

METHODS

We analyzed circTDRD3 expression in databases and verified the findings in GC cell lines and tissue specimens. A series of functional gene overexpression and knockdown assays in vivo and in vitro were carried out to investigate the role of circTDRD3 in proliferation and metastasis. Here, we revealed the role of the miR-891b/ITGA2 axis by analyzing bioinformatics datasets. Furthermore, we performed dual-luciferase, fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA pull-down, and functional rescue experiments to examine the relationships between circTDRD3 and its interacting molecules. Western blot confirmed the positive regulatory role of circTDRD3 in the AKT signaling pathway. A promoting effect of ATF4 on circTDRD3 was determined through chromatin immunoprecipitation.

RESULTS

CircTDRD3 was significantly overexpressed in GC tissues compared with adjacent benign tissue, and its expression level was positively correlated with tumor volume and lymph node metastasis. CircTDRD3 promoted GC cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circTDRD3 exerted a tumor-promoting effect by regulating the miR-891b/ITGA2 axis and AKT signaling pathway in a positive feedback manner mediated by the transcription factor ATF4.

CONCLUSIONS

ATF4-mediated circTDRD3 overexpression modulates the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells through the miR-891b/ITGA2 axis in a positive feedback manner.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of a New Series of Hydrazones as Small-Molecule Akt Inhibitors for NSCLC Therapy

In an endeavor to identify small molecules for the management of non-small-cell lung carcinoma, 10 new hydrazone derivatives (3a-j) were synthesized. MTT test was conducted to examine their cytotoxic activities against human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and mouse embryonic fibroblast (L929) cells. Compounds 3a, 3e, 3g, and 3i were determined as selective antitumor agents on A549 cell line. Further studies were conducted to figure out their mode of action. Compounds 3a and 3g markedly induced apoptosis in A549 cells. However, both compounds did not show any significant inhibitory effect on Akt. On the other hand, in vitro experiments suggest that compounds 3e and 3i are potential anti-NSCLC agents acting through Akt inhibition. Furthermore, molecular docking studies revealed a unique binding mode for compound 3i (the strongest Akt inhibitor in this series), which interacts with both hinge region and acidic pocket of Akt2. However, it is understood that compounds 3a and 3g exert their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on A549 cells via different pathway(s).

Characterization of LTr1 derived from cruciferous vegetables as a novel anti-glioma agent via inhibiting TrkA/PI3K/AKT pathway

Malignant glioma is the most fatal, invasive brain cancer with limited treatment options. Our previous studies show that 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,3'-diindolylmethane (LTr1), a major metabolite of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) derived from cruciferous vegetables, produces anti-tumour effect against various tumour cell lines. In this study we characterized LTr1 as a novel anti-glioma agent. Based on screening 134 natural compounds and comparing the candidates' efficacy and toxicity, LTr1 was selected as the lead compound. We showed that LTr1 potently inhibited the viability of human glioma cell lines (SHG-44, U87, and U251) with IC50 values of 1.97, 1.84, and 2.03 μM, respectively. Furthermore, administration of LTr1 (100,300 mg· kg-1 ·d-1, i.g. for 18 days) dose-dependently suppressed the tumour growth in a U87 xenograft nude mouse model. We demonstrated that LTr1 directly bound with TrkA to inhibit its kinase activity and the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway thus inducing significant S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SHG-44 and U87 cells by activating the mitochondrial pathway and inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, LTr1 could cross the blood-brain barrier to achieve the therapeutic concentration in the brain. Taken together, LTr1 is a safe and promising therapeutic agent against glioma through inhibiting TrkA/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Discovery of Small Molecule COX-1 and Akt Inhibitors as Anti-NSCLC Agents Endowed with Anti-Inflammatory Action

Targeted therapies have come into prominence in the ongoing battle against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because of the shortcomings of traditional chemotherapy. In this context, indole-based small molecules, which were synthesized efficiently, were subjected to an in vitro colorimetric assay to evaluate their cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitory profiles. Compounds 3b and 4a were found to be the most selective COX-1 inhibitors in this series with IC₅₀ values of 8.90 µM and 10.00 µM, respectively. In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to evaluate their anti-NSCLC and anti-inflammatory action, respectively. 2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-N'-(4-morpholinobenzylidene)acetohydrazide (3b) showed selective cytotoxic activity against A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells through apoptosis induction and Akt inhibition. The in vivo experimental data revealed that compound 3b decreased the serum myeloperoxidase and nitric oxide levels, pointing out its anti-inflammatory action. Moreover, compound 3b diminished the serum aminotransferase (particularly aspartate aminotransferase) levels. Based on the in vitro and in vivo experimental data, compound 3b stands out as a lead anti-NSCLC agent endowed with in vivo anti-inflammatory action, acting as a dual COX-1 and Akt inhibitor.

A new series of thiazole‐hydrazone hybrids for Akt‐targeted therapy of non‐small cell lung cancer

In an attempt to identify potent antitumor agents for the fight against non-small cell lung cancer, new thiazolyl hydrazones (2a-n) were synthesized and examined for their in vitro cytotoxic effects on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma and L929 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells by means of the MTT assay. Furthermore, the effects of the most potent anticancer agents on apoptosis and Akt inhibition were investigated. 2-[2-((Isoquinolin-5-yl)methylene)hydrazinyl]-4-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)thiazole (2k) (IC₅₀  = 1.43 ± 0.12 µM) and 2-[2-((isoquinolin-5-yl)methylene)hydrazinyl]-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)thiazole (2l) (IC₅₀  = 1.75 ± 0.07 µM) displayed more pronounced anticancer activity than cisplatin (IC₅₀  = 3.90 ± 0.10 µM) on A549 cell lines; 2-[2-((isoquinolin-5-yl)methylene)hydrazinyl]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiazole (2j) (IC₅₀  = 3.93 ± 0.06 µM) showed anticancer activity close to cisplatin. These compounds were found to induce apoptosis in A549 cells. Compound 2j (IC₅₀  = 3.55 ± 0.64 µM) showed stronger Akt inhibitory activity than GSK690693 (IC₅₀  = 4.93 ± 0.06 µM), while compounds 2k and 2l did not cause Akt inhibition at IC₅₀ concentrations (1.43 and 1.75 µM, respectively). To comprehensively elucidate the binding pose of compound 2j and to provide a detailed understanding on the ligand' binding mechanism, induced-fit docking calculations were also conducted. Both in vitro and in silico studies suggest that compound 2j shows its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on A549 cell lines via Akt inhibition. However, it is understood that compounds 2k and 2l exert their strong anticancer effects on A549 cells through different pathways.

Design, synthesis, and cytotoxic activities of isaindigotone derivatives as potential anti-gastric cancer agents

A series of novel derivatives of isaindigotone, which comes from the root of isaits indinatca Fort, were synthesised (Compound 1-26). Four human gastrointestinal cancer cells (HCT116, PANC-1, SMMC-7721, and AGS) were employed to evaluate the anti-proliferative activity. Among them, Compound 6 displayed the most effective inhibitory activity on AGS cells with an IC₅₀ (50% inhibitory concentration) value of 2.2 μM. The potential mechanism study suggested that Compound 6 induced apoptosis in AGS cells. The collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in AGS cells was proved. In docking analysis, good affinity interaction between Compound 6 and AKT1 was discovered. Treatment of AGS cells with Compound 6 also resulted in significant suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. The collapse of MMP and suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway may be responsible for induction of apoptosis. This derivative Compound 6 could be useful as an underlying anti-tumour agent for treatment of gastric cancer.

The amino acid transporter SLC7A11-mediated crosstalk implicated in cancer therapy and the tumor microenvironment

The solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), an amino acid transporter protein is frequently overexpressed in human malignancies. The expression and activity of SLC7A11 is finely regulated by oncogenes and tumor suppressors in tumor cells through various mechanisms and is highly specific for cystine and glutamate. Cystine is mainly transported intracellularly by SLC7A11 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and is involved in GSH synthesis, which leads to ferroptosis resistance in tumor cells and promotes tumorigenesis and progression. The downregulation of SLC7A11 presents a unique drug discovery opportunity for ferroptosis-related diseases. Experimental work has shown that the combination of targeting SLC7A11 and tumor immunotherapy triggers ferroptosis more potently. Moreover, immunotargeting of SLC7A11 increases the chemosensitivity of cancer stem cells to doxorubicin, suggesting that it may act as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. Thus, SLC7A11 could be a promising target to overcome resistance mechanisms in conventional cancer treatments. This review provides an overview of the regulatory network of SLC7A11 in the TME and progress in the development of SLC7A11 inhibitors. In addition, we summarize the cytotoxic effects of blocking SLC7A11 in cancer cells, cancer stem cells and immune cells.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of ethyl 2'-amino-5-bromo-3'-cyano-6'-methyl-2-oxo-spiro-[indoline-3,4'-pyran]-5'-carboxyl-ate

The crystal used for structure determination contained, along with the title compound, C17H14BrN3O4, an admixture [0.0324 (11)] of its 7-bromo isomer. The 2,3-di-hydro-1H-indole ring system is nearly planar, while the conformation of the 4H-pyran ring is close to a flattened boat. The mean planes of these fragments form a dihedral angle of 86.67 (9)°. The carboxyl-ate group lies near the plane of 4H-pyran, its orientation is stabilized by an intra-molecular C-H⋯O contact. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected into layers by N-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (33.1%), O⋯H/H⋯O (16.3%), N⋯H/H⋯N (12.1%), Br⋯H/H⋯Br (11.5%) and C⋯H/H⋯C (10.6%) inter-actions.

Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analyses of 2-amino-4-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-6-oxo-1-phenyl-1,4,5,6-tetra-hydro-pyridine-3-carbo-nitrile hemi-hydrate and 1,6-di-amino-2-oxo-4-phenyl-1,2-di-hydro-pyridine-3,5-dicarbo-nitrile

In 2-amino-4-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-6-oxo-1-phenyl-1,4,5,6-tetra-hydro-pyridine-3-carbo-nitrile hemihydrate, C18H14BrN3O·0.5H2O, (I), pairs of mol-ecules are linked by pairs of N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming dimers with an R 2 2(12) ring motif. The dimers are connected by N-H⋯Br and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, and C-Br⋯π inter-actions, forming layers parallel to the (010) plane. 1,6-Di-amino-2-oxo-4-phenyl-1,2-di-hydro-pyridine-3,5-dicarbo-nitrile, C13H9N5O, (II), crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with two independent mol-ecules (IIA and IIB) in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal of (II), mol-ecules IIA and IIB are linked by inter-molecular N-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into layers parallel to (001). These layers are connected along the c-axis direction by weak C-H⋯N contacts. C-H⋯π and C-N⋯π inter-actions connect adjacent mol-ecules, forming chains along the a-axis direction. In (I) and (II), the stability of the packing is ensured by van der Waals inter-actions between the layers. In (I), Hirshfeld surface analysis showed that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (37.9%), C⋯H/H⋯C (18.4%), Br⋯H/H⋯Br (13.3%), N⋯H/H⋯N (11.5%) and O⋯H/H⋯O (10.0%) inter-actions, while in (II), H⋯H inter-actions are the most significant contributors to the crystal packing (27.6% for mol-ecule IIA and 23.1% for mol-ecule IIB).

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-4-methyl-6-oxo-1-phenyl-1,6-di-hydro-pyridine-3-carbo-nitrile

In the title compound, C19H13BrN2O, the pyridine ring is essentially planar [maximum deviation = 0.024 (4) Å for the N atom] and makes dihedral angles of 74.6 (2) and 65.8 (2)°, respectively, with the phenyl and bromo-phenyl rings, which subtend a dihedral angle of 63.1 (2)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected along the c-axis direction via C-Br⋯π inter-actions, generating zigzag chains parallel to the (010) plane. C-H⋯N and C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions further connect the mol-ecules, forming a three-dimensional network and reinforcing the mol-ecular packing. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (36.2%), C⋯H/H⋯C (21.6%), N⋯H/H⋯N (12.2%), and Br⋯H/H⋯Br (10.8%) inter-actions.

Research Progress on the Regulation Mechanism of Key Signal Pathways Affecting the Prognosis of Glioma

As is known to all, glioma, a global difficult problem, has a high malignant degree, high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. We analyzed and summarized signal pathway of the Hippo/YAP, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, miRNA, WNT/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, TCS/mTORC1 signal pathway, JAK/STAT signal pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, the relationship between BBB and signal pathways and the mechanism of key enzymes in glioma. It is concluded that Yap1 inhibitor may become an effective target for the treatment of glioma in the near future through efforts of generation after generation. Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Shh, Wnt/β-Catenin, and HIF-1α can reduce the migration ability and drug resistance of tumor cells to improve the prognosis of glioma. The analysis shows that Notch1 and Sox2 have a positive feedback regulation mechanism, and Notch4 predicts the malignant degree of glioma. In this way, notch cannot only be treated for glioma stem cells in clinic, but also be used as an evaluation index to evaluate the prognosis, and provide an exploratory attempt for the direction of glioma treatment. MiRNA plays an important role in diagnosis, and in the treatment of glioma, VPS25, KCNQ1OT1, KB-1460A1.5, and CKAP4 are promising prognostic indicators and a potential therapeutic targets for glioma, meanwhile, Rheb is also a potent activator of Signaling cross-talk etc. It is believed that these studies will help us to have a deeper understanding of glioma, so that we will find new and better treatment schemes to gradually conquer the problem of glioma.

Research Progress on the Regulation Mechanism of Key Signal Pathways Affecting the Prognosis of Glioma

As is known to all, glioma, a global difficult problem, has a high malignant degree, high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. We analyzed and summarized signal pathway of the Hippo/YAP, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, miRNA, WNT/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, TCS/mTORC1 signal pathway, JAK/STAT signal pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, the relationship between BBB and signal pathways and the mechanism of key enzymes in glioma. It is concluded that Yap1 inhibitor may become an effective target for the treatment of glioma in the near future through efforts of generation after generation. Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Shh, Wnt/β-Catenin, and HIF-1α can reduce the migration ability and drug resistance of tumor cells to improve the prognosis of glioma. The analysis shows that Notch1 and Sox2 have a positive feedback regulation mechanism, and Notch4 predicts the malignant degree of glioma. In this way, notch cannot only be treated for glioma stem cells in clinic, but also be used as an evaluation index to evaluate the prognosis, and provide an exploratory attempt for the direction of glioma treatment. MiRNA plays an important role in diagnosis, and in the treatment of glioma, VPS25, KCNQ1OT1, KB-1460A1.5, and CKAP4 are promising prognostic indicators and a potential therapeutic targets for glioma, meanwhile, Rheb is also a potent activator of Signaling cross-talk etc. It is believed that these studies will help us to have a deeper understanding of glioma, so that we will find new and better treatment schemes to gradually conquer the problem of glioma.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 4-bromo-2-[3-methyl-5-(2,4,6-tri-methyl-benz-yl)oxazolidin-2-yl]phenol

The title compound, C20H24BrNO2, is chiral at the carbon atoms on either side of the oxygen atom of the oxazolidine ring and crystallizes as a racemate. The 1,3-oxazolidine ring adopts an envelope conformation with the N atom in an endo position. The mean plane of the oxazolidine ring makes dihedral angles of 77.74 (10) and 45.50 (11)°, respectively, with the 4-bromo-phenol and 1,3,5-tri-methyl-benzene rings. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are connected via C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C-H⋯π inter-actions into layers parallel to the (200) plane. The packing is strengthened by van der Waals inter-actions between parallel mol-ecular layers. A Hirshfeld surface analysis shows that H⋯H (58.2%), C⋯H/H⋯C (18.9%), and Br⋯H/H⋯Br (11.5%) inter-actions are the most abundant in the crystal packing.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2,2'-(phenyl-aza-nedi-yl)bis-(1-phenyl-ethan-1-one)

The whole mol-ecule of the title compound, C22H19NO2, is generated by twofold rotational symmetry. The N atom exhibits a trigonal-planar geometry and is located on the twofold rotation axis. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O contacts with R 2 2(12) ring motifs, and C-H⋯π inter-actions, resulting in ribbons along the c-axis direction. van der Waals inter-actions between these ribbons consolidate the mol-ecular packing. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the greatest contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (45.5%), C⋯H/H⋯C (38.2%) and O⋯H/H⋯O (16.0%) inter-actions.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 1-(tert-butyl-amino)-3-mesitylpropan-2-ol hemi-hydrate

The title compound, 2C16H27NO·H2O, crystallizes in the monoclinic P21/c space group with two independent mol-ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, mol-ecules A and B are linked through the water mol-ecules by inter-molecular O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, producing chains along the b-axis direction. These chains are linked with neighboring chains parallel to the (103) plane via C-H⋯π inter-actions, generating ribbons along the b-axis direction. The stability of the mol-ecular packaging is ensured by van der Waals inter-actions between the ribbons. According to the Hirshfeld surface study, H⋯H inter-actions are the most significant contributors to the crystal packing (80.3% for mol-ecule A and 84.8% for mol-ecule B).

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-1-[2,2-di-bromo-1-(4-nitro-phen-yl)ethen-yl]-2-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)diazene

In the title compound, C14H8Br2FN3O2, the 4-fluoro-phenyl ring and the nitro-substituted phenyl ring form a dihedral angle of 64.37 (10)°. Mol-ecules in the crystal are connected by C-H⋯O and C-H⋯F hydrogen bonds into layers parallel to (011). The crystal packing is consolidated by C-Br⋯π and C-F⋯π inter-actions, as well as by π-π stacking inter-actions. According to a Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure, the most significant contributions to the crystal packing are from O⋯H/H⋯O (15.0%), H⋯H (14.3%), Br⋯H/H⋯Br (14.2%), C⋯H/H⋯C (10.1%), F⋯H/H⋯F (7.9%), Br⋯Br (7.2%) and Br⋯C/C⋯Br (5.8%) contacts.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-1-[2,2-di-bromo-1-(2-nitro-phen-yl)ethen-yl]-2-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)diazene

In the title compound, C14H8Br2FN3O2, the nitro-substituted benzene ring and the 4-fluoro-phenyl ring form a dihedral angle of 65.73 (7)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into chains by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds running parallel to the c-axis direction. The crystal packing is consolidated by C-F⋯π inter-actions and π-π stacking inter-actions, and short Br⋯O [2.9828 (13) Å] contacts are observed. The Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (17.4%), O⋯H/H⋯O (16.3%), Br⋯H/H⋯Br (15.5%), Br⋯C/C⋯Br (10.1%) and F⋯H/H⋯F (8.1%) contacts.

E3 ligases: a potential multi-drug target for different types of cancers and neurological disorders

Ubiquitylation is a posttranslational modification of proteins that is necessary for a variety of cellular processes. E1 ubiquitin activating enzyme, E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, and E3 ubiquitin ligase are all involved in transferring ubiquitin to the target substrate to regulate cellular function. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of different aspects of E3 ubiquitin ligases that can lead to major biological system failure in several deadly diseases. The first part of this review covers the important characteristics of E3 ubiquitin ligases and their classification based on structural domains. Further, the authors provide some online resources that help researchers explore the data relevant to the enzyme. The following section delves into the involvement of E3 ubiquitin ligases in various diseases and biological processes, including different types of cancer and neurological disorders.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 3-[2-(3,5-di-methyl-phen-yl)hydrazinyl-idene]benzo-furan-2(3H)-one

In the title compound, C16H14N2O2, the 2,3-di-hydro-1-benzo-furan ring system is essentially planar and makes a dihedral angle of 3.69 (7)° with the di-methyl-phenyl ring. The mol-ecular conformation is stabilized by an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond with an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected by C-H⋯π and π-π stacking inter-actions, forming a layer lying parallel to the (11) plane. One methyl group is disordered over two orientations, with occupancies of 0.67 (4) and 0.33 (4). Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (51.2%), O⋯H/H⋯O (17.9%), C⋯H/H⋯C (15.2%) and C⋯C (8.1%) contacts.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-1-[2,2-di-chloro-1-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)ethen-yl]-2-(2,4-di-chloro-phen-yl)diazene

In the title compound, C14H7Cl4FN2, the dihedral angle between the 4-fluoro-phenyl ring and the 2,4-di-chloro-phenyl ring is 46.03 (19)°. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯N inter-actions along the a-axis direction, forming a C(6) chain. The mol-ecules are further connected by C-Cl⋯π inter-actions and face-to-face π-π stacking inter-actions, forming ribbons along the a-axis direction. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the greatest contributions to the crystal packing are from Cl⋯H/H⋯Cl (35.1%), H⋯H (10.6%), C⋯C (9.7%), Cl⋯Cl (9.4%) and C⋯H/H⋯C (9.2%) inter-actions.

Molecular interaction of HIC, an agonist of P2Y1 receptor, and its role in prostate cancer apoptosis

Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous, slow growing asymptomatic cancer that predominantly affects man. A purinergic G-protein coupled receptor, P2Y1R, is targeted for its therapeutic value since it plays a crucial role in many key molecular events of cancer progression and invasion. Our previous study demonstrated that indoline derivative, 1 ((1-(2-Hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl) (4-hydroxyphenyl) methyl)indoline-4‑carbonitrile; HIC), stimulates prostate cancer cell (PCa) growth inhibition via P2Y1R. However, the mode of interaction of P2Y1R with HIC involved in this process remains unclear. Here, we have reported the molecular interactions of HIC with P2Y1R. Molecular dynamics simulation was performed that revealed the stable specific binding of the protein-ligand complex. In vitro analysis has shown increased apoptosis of PCa-cells, PC3, and DU145, upon specific interaction of P2Y1R-HIC. This was further validated using siRNA analysis that showed a higher percentage of apoptotic cells in PCa-cells transfected with P2Y-siRNA-MRS2365 than P2Y-siRNA-HIC treatment. Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) level show their role in P2Y1R-HIC mediated apoptosis. These in silico and in vitro results confirmed that HIC could induce mitochondrial apoptotic signaling through the P2Y1R activation. Thus, HIC being a potential ligand upon interaction with P2Y1R might have therapeutic value for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (E)-1-[2,2-di-chloro-1-(4-methyl-phen-yl)ethen-yl]-2-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)diazene

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C16H14Cl2N2O, comprises two similar mol-ecules, A and B, in which the dihedral angles between the two aromatic rings are 70.1 (3) and 73.2 (2)°, respectively. The crystal structure features short C-H⋯Cl and C-H⋯O contacts and C-H⋯π and van der Waals inter-actions. The title compound was refined as a two-component non-merohedral twin, BASF 0.1076 (5). The Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots show that H⋯H (38.2% for mol-ecule A; 36.0% for mol-ecule B), Cl⋯H/H⋯Cl (24.6% for mol-ecule A; 26.7% for mol-ecule B) and C⋯H/H⋯C (20.0% for mol-ecule A; 20.2% for mol-ecule B) inter-actions are the most important contributors to the crystal packing.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (3Z)-7-meth-oxy-3-(2-phenyl-hydrazinyl-idene)-1-benzo-furan-2(3H)-one

In the title compound, C15H12N2O3, pairs of mol-ecules are linked into dimers by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming an R 2 2(12) ring motif, with the dimers stacked along the a axis. These dimers are connected through π-π stacking inter-actions between the centroids of the benzene and furan rings of their 2,3-di-hydro-1-benzo-furan ring systems. Furthermore, there exists a C-H⋯π inter-action that consolidates the crystal packing. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contacts are H⋯H (40.7%), O⋯H/H⋯O (24.7%), C⋯H/H⋯C (16.1%) and C⋯C (8.8%).

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (3aR,4S,7S,7aS)-4,5,6,7,8,8-hexa-chloro-2-{6-[(3aR,4R,7R,7aS)-4,5,6,7,8,8-hexa-chloro-1,3-dioxo-1,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexa-hydro-2H-4,7-methano-isoindol-2-yl]hex-yl}-3a,4,7,7a-tetra-hydro-1H-4,7-methano-iso-indole-1,3(2H)-dione

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C24H16Cl12N2O4, is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre at the midpoint of the central C-C bond. A kink in the mol-ecule is defined by a torsion angle of -169.86 (15)° about this central bond of the alkyl bridge. The pyrrolidine ring is essentially planar [max. deviation = 0.014 (1) Å]. The cyclo-hexane ring has a boat conformation, while both cyclo-pentane rings adopt an envelope conformation. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked by inter-molecular C-H⋯O, C-H⋯Cl and C-Cl⋯π inter-actions, and short inter-molecular Cl⋯O and Cl⋯Cl contacts, forming a three-dimensional network.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 1,3-bis-{2,2-di-chloro-1-[(E)-phenyl-diazen-yl]ethen-yl}benzene

In the mol-ecule of the title compound, C22H14Cl4N4, the central benzene ring makes dihedral angles of 77.03 (9) and 81.42 (9)° with the two approximately planar 2,2-di-chloro-1-[(E)-phenyl-diazen-yl]vinyl groups. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯π, C-Cl⋯π, Cl⋯Cl and Cl⋯H inter-actions, forming a three-dimensional network. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (30.4%), C⋯H/H⋯C (20.4%), Cl⋯H/H⋯Cl (19.4%), Cl⋯Cl (7.8%) and Cl⋯C/C⋯Cl (7.3%) inter-actions.

Targeting Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor 17 with T0 Ligand Impairs Glioblastoma Growth

Simple Summary

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), or glioblastoma chemotherapy, has one of the poorest improvements across all types of cancers. Despite the different rationales explored in targeted therapy for taming the GBM aggressiveness, its phenotypic plasticity, drug toxicity, and adaptive resistance mechanisms pose many challenges in finding an effective cure. Our manuscript reports the expression and prognostic role of orphan receptor GPR17 in glioma, the molecular mechanism of action of the novel ligand of GPR17, and provides evidence how the T0 agonist promotes glioblastoma cell death through modulation of the MAPK/ERK, PI3K–Akt, STAT, and NF-κB pathways. The highlights are as follows: GPR17 expression is associated with greater survival for both low-grade glioma (LGG) and GBM; GA-T0, a potent GPR17 receptor agonist, causes significant GBM cell death and apoptosis; GPR17 signaling promotes cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in GBM cells; key genes are modulated in the signaling pathways that inhibit GBM cell proliferation; and GA-T0 crosses the blood–brain barrier and reduces tumor volume.

Abstract

Glioblastoma, an invasive high-grade brain cancer, exhibits numerous treatment challenges. Amongst the current therapies, targeting functional receptors and active signaling pathways were found to be a potential approach for treating GBM. We exploited the role of endogenous expression of GPR17, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), with agonist GA-T0 in the survival and treatment of GBM. RNA sequencing was performed to understand the association of GPR17 expression with LGG and GBM. RT-PCR and immunoblotting were performed to confirm the endogenous expression of GPR17 mRNA and its encoded protein. Biological functions of GPR17 in the GBM cells was assessed by in vitro analysis. HPLC and histopathology in wild mice and an acute-toxicity analysis in a patient-derived xenograft model were performed to understand the clinical implication of GA-T0 targeting GPR17. We observed the upregulation of GPR17 in association with improved survival of LGG and GBM, confirming it as a predictive biomarker. GA-T0-stimulated GPR17 leads to the inhibition of cyclic AMP and calcium flux. GPR17 signaling activation enhances cytotoxicity against GBM cells and, in patient tissue-derived mesenchymal subtype GBM cells, induces apoptosis and prevents proliferation by stoppage of the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Modulation of the key genes involved in DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and in several signaling pathways, including MAPK/ERK, PI3K–Akt, STAT, and NF-κB, prevents tumor regression. In vivo activation of GPR17 by GA-T0 reduces the tumor volume, uncovering the potential of GA-T0–GPR17 as a targeted therapy for GBM treatment. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that GA-T0 targeting the GPR17 receptor presents a novel therapy for treating glioblastoma.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of dimethyl 5-[2-(2,4,6-trioxo-1,3-diazinan-5-yl-idene)hydrazin-1-yl]benzene-1,3-di-carboxyl-ate 0.224-hydrate

In the crystal, the whole mol-ecule of the title compound, C14H12N4O7·0.224H2O, is nearly planar with a maximum deviation from the least-squares plane of 0.352 (1) Å. The mol-ecular conformation is stabilized by an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond, generating an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by centrosymmetric pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming ribbons along the c-axis direction. These ribbons connected by van der Waals contacts, forming sheets parallel to the ac plane. There are also inter-molecular van der Waals contacts and and C-H⋯π inter-actions between the sheets. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most prevalent inter-actions are O⋯H/H⋯O (41.2%), H⋯H (19.2%), C⋯H/H⋯C (12.2%) and C⋯O/ O⋯C (8.4%).

A New Series of Antileukemic Agents: Design, Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Thiazole-Based ABL1 Kinase Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

After the approval of imatinib, more than 25 antitumor agents targeting kinases have been approved, and several promising candidates are at various stages of clinical evaluation.

OBJECTIVES

Due to the importance of the thiazole scaffold in targeted anticancer drug discovery, the goal of this work is to identify new thiazolyl hydrazones as potent ABL1 kinase inhibitors for the management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).

METHODS

New thiazolyl hydrazones (2a-p) were synthesized and investigated for their cytotoxic effects on the K562 CML cell line. Compounds 2h, 2j and 2l showed potent anticancer activity against K562 cell line. The cytotoxic effects of these compounds on other leukemia (HL-60, MT-2 and Jurkat) and HeLa human cervical carcinoma cell lines were also investigated. Furthermore, their cytotoxic effects on Mitogen-Activated Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (MA-PBMCs) were evaluated to determine their selectivity. Due to its selective and potent anticancer activity, compound 2j was benchmarked for its apoptosis-inducing potential on K562 cell line and inhibitory effects on eight different Tyrosine Kinases (TKs), including ABL1 kinase. In order to investigate the binding mode of compound 2j into the ATP binding site of ABL1 kinase (PDB: 1IEP), a molecular docking study was conducted using MOE 2018.01 program. The QikProp module of Schrödinger's Molecular modelling package was used to predict the pharmacokinetic properties of compounds 2a-p.

RESULTS

4-(4-(Methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-2-[2-((1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)methylene)hydrazinyl]thiazole (2j) showed antiproliferative activity against K562 cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 8.87±1.93 μM similar to imatinib (IC50= 6.84±1.11μM). Compound 2j was found to be more effective than imatinib on HL-60, Jurkat and MT-2 cells. Compound 2j also showed cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell line similar to imatinib. The higher selectivity index value of compound 2j than imatinib indicated that its antiproliferative activity was selective. Compound 2j also induced apoptosis in K562 cell line more than imatinib. Among eight TKs, compound 2j showed the strongest inhibitory activity against ABL1 kinase enzyme (IC₅₀= 5.37±1.17μM). According to molecular docking studies, compound 2j exhibited high affinity to the ATP binding site of ABL1 kinase, forming significant intermolecular interactions. On the basis of in silico studies, this compound did not violate Lipinski's rule of five and Jorgensen's rule of three.

CONCLUSION

Compound 2j stands out as a potential orally bioavailable ABL1 kinase inhibitor for the treatment of CML.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 6-amino-8-(2,6-di-chloro-phen-yl)-1,3,4,8-tetra-hydro-2H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-7,9-dicarbo-nitrile

In the mol-ecular structure of the title compound, C16H13Cl2N5, the 1,4-di-hydro-pyridine ring of the 1,3,4,8-tetra-hydro-2H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine ring system adopts a screw-boat conformation, while the 1,3-diazinane ring is puckered. In the crystal, inter-molecular N-H⋯N and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds form mol-ecular sheets parallel to the (110) and (10) planes, crossing each other. Adjacent mol-ecules are further linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, which form zigzag chains propagating parallel to [100]. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most significant contributions to the crystal packing are from N⋯H/H⋯N (28.4%), H⋯H (24.5%), C⋯H/H⋯C (21.4%) and Cl⋯H/H⋯Cl (16.1%) contacts.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their unique therapeutic potentialities to combat cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death with a mortality rate of 12%. Although significant progress has been achieved in cancer research, the effective treatment of cancer remains the greatest global challenge in medicine. Dysregulation of tyrosine kinases (TK) is one of the characteristics of several types of cancers. Thus, drugs that target and inhibit these enzymes, known as TK inhibitors (TKIs), are considered vital chemotherapeutics to combat various types of cancer. The oral bioavailability of available TKIs and their targeted therapy are their potential benefits. Based on these characteristics, most TKIs are included in first/second-line therapy for the treatment of different cancers. This review aims to shed light on orally-active TKIs (natural and synthetic molecules) and their promising implication in the therapy of numerous types of tumors along with their mechanisms of action. Further, recent progress in the development of synthetic and isolation of natural TKIs is reviewed. A significant growth in research regarding the development of new-generation TKIs is made with time (23 FDA-approved TKIs from 2018) due to their better therapeutic response. Oral bioavailability should be considered as an important parameter while developing of new-generation TKIs; however, drug delivery systems can also be used to address issue of poor bioavailability to a certain extent. Moreover, clinical trials should be designed in consideration of the development of resistance and tumor heterogeneity.

Small-molecule inhibitors of breast cancer-related targets: Potential therapeutic agents for breast cancer

Despite dramatic advances in cancer research and therapy, breast cancer remains a tricky health problem and represents a top biomedical research priority. Nowadays, breast cancer is still the leading cause of malignancy-related deaths in women, and incidence and mortality rates of it are expected to increase significantly the next years. Currently more and more researchers are interested in the study of breast cancer by its arising in young women. The common treatment options of breast cancer are chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Most of them require chemical agents, such as PARP inhibitors, CDK4/6 inhibitors, and HER2 inhibitors. Recent studies suggest that some targets or pathways, including BRD4, PLK1, PD-L1, HDAC, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR, are tightly related to the occurrence and development of breast cancer. This article reviews the interplay between these targets and breast cancer and summarizes the progress of current research on small molecule inhibitors of these anti-breast cancer targets. The review aims to provide structural and theoretical basis for designing novel anti-breast cancer agents.

Design and synthesis of novel quinic acid derivatives: in vitro cytotoxicity and anticancer effect on glioblastoma

Aim: Quinic acid (QA) is a cyclic polyol exhibiting anticancer properties on several cancers. However, potential role of QA derivatives against glioblastoma is not well established. Methodology & results: Sixteen novel QA derivatives and QA-16 encapsulated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (QA-16-NPs) were screened for their anti-glioblastoma effect using standard cell and molecular biology methods. Presence of a tertiary hydroxy and silylether groups in the lead compound were identified for the antitumor activity. QA-16 have 90% inhibition with the IC₅₀ of 10.66 μM and 28.22 μM for LN229 and SNB19, respectively. The induction of apoptosis is faster with the increased fold change of caspase 3/7 and reactive oxygen species. Conclusion: QA-16 and QA-16-NPs shows similar cytotoxicity effect, providing the opportunity to use QA-16 as a potential chemotherapeutic agent.

Design, Synthesis, In vitro and In silico Evaluation of New Hydrazonebased Antitumor Agents as Potent Akt Inhibitors

Background:

Akt is overexpressed or activated in a variety of human cancers, including gliomas, lung, breast, ovarian, gastric and pancreatic carcinomas. Akt inhibition leads to the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of tumor growth and therefore extensive efforts have been devoted to the discovery of potent antitumor drugs targeting Akt.

Objectives:

The objective of this work was to identify potent anticancer agents targeting Akt.

Methods:

New hydrazone derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their cytotoxic effects on 5RP7 H-ras oncogene transformed rat embryonic fibroblast and L929 mouse embryonic fibroblast cell lines. Besides, the apoptotic effects of the most active compounds on 5RP7 cell line were evaluated using flow cytometry. Their Akt inhibitory effects were also investigated using a colorimetric assay. In silico docking and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME) studies were also performed using Schrödinger’s Maestro molecular modeling package.

Results and Discussion:

Compounds 3a, 3d, 3g and 3j were found to be effective on 5RP7 cells (with IC50 values of <0.97, <0.97, 1.13±0.06 and <0.97 μg/mL, respectively) when compared with cisplatin (IC50= 1.87±0.15 μg/mL). It was determined that these four compounds significantly induced apoptosis in 5RP7 cell line. Among them, N'-benzylidene-2-[(4-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrimidin- 2-yl)thio]acetohydrazide (3g) significantly inhibited Akt (IC50= 0.5±0.08 μg/mL) when compared with GSK690693 (IC50= 0.6±0.05 μg/mL). Docking studies suggested that compound 3g showed good affinity to the active site of Akt (PDB code: 2JDO). According to in silico ADME studies, the compound also complies with Lipinski's rule of five and Jorgensen's rule of three.

Conclusion:

Compound 3g stands out as a potential orally bioavailable cytotoxic agent and apoptosis inducer targeting Akt.

Discovery of novel akt1 inhibitor induces autophagy associated death in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

In this study, a series of thieno [2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as novel AKT1 inhibitors. In vitro antitumor assay results showed that compounds 9d-g and 9i potently suppressed the enzymatic activities of AKT1 and potently inhibited the proliferation of HepG2, Hep3B, Huh-7 and SMMC-7721 cancer cell lines. Among these derivatives, the compound 9f demonstrated the best inhibitory activities on AKT1 (IC50 = 0.034 μM) and Huh-7 cell (IC50 = 0.076 μM). A panel of biological assays showed that compound 9f suppressed the cellular proliferation of Huh-7 through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway mediated autophagy mechanism. Furthermore, the antitumor capacity of 9f was validated in the subcutaneous Huh-7 xenograft models. Together, our results demonstrate that a novel small-molecule Akt1 inhibitor induces autophagy associated death in hepatocellular carcinoma, which may afford a potential drug candidate for targeted cancer therapy.

Girdin knockdown promotes apoptosis in colorectal cancer via miR-29c-3p/Girdin axis

Background

In recent years, the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) have increased year by year among young people. Increased levels of Girdin expression predict a poor prognosis of CRC, which presents a serious threat to human health globally. Herein, we investigated the role of Girdin in CRC and explored the underlying mechanisms in CRC.

Methods

The expression of Girdin was detected in human specimens. HCT116 cells with stably expressing or knock-out Girdin protein were successfully constructed to observe the biological function of gene. Protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and western blot.

Results

Clinically, overexpression of Girdin was observed in the tumor tissue and poor prognosis of CRC patients. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays showed that Girdin promoted CRC cell proliferation in vitro. Mechanistically, Girdin knock-down significantly enhanced apoptosis, the mitochondrial membrane potential dropped, and the reactive oxygen species increased greatly. Last but not least, we analyzed the TargetScan dataset and found that Girdin was a regulated target of hsa-miR-29c-3p in CRC. Luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the interaction between hsa-miR-29c-3p and the 3’UTR of Girdin.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that Girdin has a crucial role in CRC progression via miR-29c-3p/Girdin axis, highlighting Girdin as a therapeutic target for CRC.