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Sokolov D, Sharda N, Banerjee A, Denisenko K, Basalious EB, Shukla H, Waddell J, Hamdy NM, Banerjee A. Differential Signaling Pathways in Medulloblastoma: Nano-biomedicine Targeting Non-coding Epigenetics to Improve Current and Future Therapeutics. Curr Pharm Des 2024; 30:31-47. [PMID: 38151840 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128277350231219062154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastomas (MDB) are malignant, aggressive brain tumors that primarily affect children. The survival rate for children under 14 is approximately 72%, while for ages 15 to 39, it is around 78%. A growing body of evidence suggests that dysregulation of signaling mechanisms and noncoding RNA epigenetics play a pivotal role in this disease. METHODOLOGY This study conducted an electronic search of articles on websites like PubMed and Google. The current review also used an in silico databases search and bioinformatics analysis and an extensive comprehensive literature search for original research articles and review articles as well as retrieval of current and future medications in clinical trials. RESULTS This study indicates that several signaling pathways, such as sonic hedgehog, WNT/β-catenin, unfolded protein response mediated ER stress, notch, neurotrophins and TGF-β and ERK, MAPK, and ERK play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MDB. Gene and ncRNA/protein are also involved as an axis long ncRNA to sponge micro-RNAs that affect downstream signal proteins expression and translation affection disease pathophysiology, prognosis and present potential target hit for drug repurposing. Current treatment options include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy; unfortunately, the disease often relapses, and the survival rate is less than 5%. Therefore, there is a need to develop more effective treatments to combat recurrence and improve survival rates. CONCLUSION This review describes various MDB disease hallmarks, including the signaling mechanisms involved in pathophysiology, related-causal genes, epigenetics, downstream genes/epigenes, and possibly the causal disease genes/non-protein coding (nc)RNA/protein axis. Additionally, the challenges associated with MDB treatment are discussed, along with how they are being addressed using nano-technology and nano-biomedicine, with a listing of possible treatment options and future potential treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniil Sokolov
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, MD 21201, USA
| | - Neha Sharda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, MD 21201, USA
| | - Aindrila Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kseniia Denisenko
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, MD 21201, USA
| | - Emad B Basalious
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Al Kasr Al Aini 11562, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hem Shukla
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jaylyn Waddell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, MD 21201, USA
| | - Nadia M Hamdy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, MD 21201, USA
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2
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Denisova OV, Merisaari J, Huhtaniemi R, Qiao X, Yetukuri L, Jumppanen M, Kaur A, Pääkkönen M, von Schantz‐Fant С, Ohlmeyer M, Wennerberg K, Kauko O, Koch R, Aittokallio T, Taipale M, Westermarck J. PP2A-based triple-strike therapy overcomes mitochondrial apoptosis resistance in brain cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:1803-1820. [PMID: 37458534 PMCID: PMC10483611 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial glycolysis and hyperactivity of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (AKT) pathway are hallmarks of malignant brain tumors. However, kinase inhibitors targeting AKT (AKTi) or the glycolysis master regulator pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDKi) have failed to provide clinical benefits for brain tumor patients. Here, we demonstrate that heterogeneous glioblastoma (GB) and medulloblastoma (MB) cell lines display only cytostatic responses to combined AKT and PDK targeting. Biochemically, the combined AKT and PDK inhibition resulted in the shutdown of both target pathways and priming to mitochondrial apoptosis but failed to induce apoptosis. In contrast, all tested brain tumor cell models were sensitive to a triplet therapy, in which AKT and PDK inhibition was combined with the pharmacological reactivation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) by NZ-8-061 (also known as DT-061), DBK-1154, and DBK-1160. We also provide proof-of-principle evidence for in vivo efficacy in the intracranial GB and MB models by the brain-penetrant triplet therapy (AKTi + PDKi + PP2A reactivator). Mechanistically, PP2A reactivation converted the cytostatic AKTi + PDKi response to cytotoxic apoptosis, through PP2A-elicited shutdown of compensatory mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and by increased proton leakage. These results encourage the development of triple-strike strategies targeting mitochondrial metabolism to overcome therapy tolerance in brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana V. Denisova
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Joni Merisaari
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
- Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of TurkuFinland
| | - Riikka Huhtaniemi
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Xi Qiao
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Laxman Yetukuri
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
- Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE)University of OsloNorway
| | - Mikael Jumppanen
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Amanpreet Kaur
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | - Mirva Pääkkönen
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | | | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNYUSA
- Atux Iskay LLCPlainsboroNJUSA
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
- Biotech Research & Innovation CentreUniversity of CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Otto Kauko
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
| | | | - Tero Aittokallio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFEUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
- Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE)University of OsloNorway
- Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalNorway
| | - Mikko Taipale
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular ResearchUniversity of TorontoCanada
| | - Jukka Westermarck
- Turku Bioscience CentreUniversity of Turku and Åbo Akademi UniversityFinland
- Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of TurkuFinland
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3
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Slika H, Alimonti P, Raj D, Caraway C, Alomari S, Jackson EM, Tyler B. The Neurodevelopmental and Molecular Landscape of Medulloblastoma Subgroups: Current Targets and the Potential for Combined Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3889. [PMID: 37568705 PMCID: PMC10417410 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153889] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Despite the use of multiple therapeutic approaches consisting of surgical resection, craniospinal irradiation, and multiagent chemotherapy, the prognosis of many patients with medulloblastoma remains dismal. Additionally, the high doses of radiation and the chemotherapeutic agents used are associated with significant short- and long-term complications and adverse effects, most notably neurocognitive delay. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development and clinical integration of targeted treatment regimens with greater efficacy and superior safety profiles. Since the adoption of the molecular-based classification of medulloblastoma into wingless (WNT) activated, sonic hedgehog (SHH) activated, group 3, and group 4, research efforts have been directed towards unraveling the genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles of each subtype. This review aims to delineate the progress that has been made in characterizing the neurodevelopmental and molecular features of each medulloblastoma subtype. It further delves into the implications that these characteristics have on the development of subgroup-specific targeted therapeutic agents. Furthermore, it highlights potential future avenues for combining multiple agents or strategies in order to obtain augmented effects and evade the development of treatment resistance in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Slika
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Paolo Alimonti
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Divyaansh Raj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Chad Caraway
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Safwan Alomari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Eric M. Jackson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Betty Tyler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
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Lygina E, Morgacheva D, Khadela A, Postwala H, Shah Y, Dinikina Y. Effectiveness of metronomic chemotherapy in a child with medulloblastoma: A case report. Oncol Lett 2023; 25:194. [PMID: 37113402 PMCID: PMC10126878 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common pediatric malignant tumors arising from the central nervous system with an unknown etiology and variable prognosis. Relapsed or refractory MB in pediatric patients after intensive anticancer therapy (chemo-, radiotherapy) is associated with treatment resistance and poor survival prognosis. Metronomic chemotherapy in combination with mTOR inhibitors may have advantages due to an alternate mechanism of cytotoxicity and a favourable adverse effects profile. Furthermore, it is considered to be a prospective anticancer regimen regardless of the presence/absence of molecular targets. The present study reported a successful result of this treatment option with optimal tolerability in relapsed MB in a pediatric male patient and highlighted the advantages for a selected group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Lygina
- Department of Chemotherapy for Hematologic Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation for Children, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
| | - Daria Morgacheva
- Department of Chemotherapy for Hematologic Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation for Children, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
| | - Avinash Khadela
- Department of Pharmacology, L.M. College of Pharmacy, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009, India
| | - Humzah Postwala
- Pharm D Section, L.M. College of Pharmacy, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009, India
| | - Yesha Shah
- Pharm D Section, L.M. College of Pharmacy, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009, India
| | - Yulia Dinikina
- Department of Chemotherapy for Hematologic Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation for Children, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia
- Correspondence to: Dr Yulia Dinikina, Department of Chemotherapy for Hematologic Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation for Children, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, 2 Akkuratova Street, St. Petersburg 197341, Russia, E-mail:
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5
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Wen J, Wang S, Guo R, Liu D. CSF1R inhibitors are emerging immunotherapeutic drugs for cancer treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 245:114884. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Shen Q, Liu X, Li W, Zhao X, Li T, Zhou K, Zhou J. Emerging Role and Mechanism of circRNAs in Pediatric Malignant Solid Tumors. Front Genet 2022; 12:820936. [PMID: 35116058 PMCID: PMC8804321 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.820936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with covalent closed-loop structures and are widely distributed in eukaryotes, conserved and stable as well as tissue-specific. Malignant solid tumors pose a serious health risk to children and are one of the leading causes of pediatric mortality. Studies have shown that circRNAs play an important regulatory role in the development of childhood malignant solid tumors, hence are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for tumors. This paper reviews the biological characteristics and functions of circRNAs as well as the research progress related to childhood malignant solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyang Shen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xingyu Liu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of ENT, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kai Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
- *Correspondence: Jianfeng Zhou, ; Kai Zhou,
| | - Jianfeng Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Jianfeng Zhou, ; Kai Zhou,
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7
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Wen J, Hadden MK. Affinity-based protein profiling identifies vitamin D3 as a heat shock protein 70 antagonist that regulates hedgehog transduction in murine basal cell carcinoma. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 228:114005. [PMID: 34844141 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin D3 (VD3) is a seco-steroid that inhibits the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Initial studies suggested its anti-Hh activity results from direct inhibition of Smoothened, a seven-transmembrane cell surface receptor that is a key regulator of the Hh signaling cascade. More recently, a role for the Vitamin D Receptor in mediating inhibition of Hh-signaling by seco-steroid has been suggested. Herein, an affinity-based protein profiling study was carried out to better understand the cellular proteins that govern VD3-mediated anti-Hh activity. We synthesized a novel biotinylated VD3 analogue (8) for use as a chemical probe to explore cellular binding targets of the seco-steroidal scaffold. Through a series of pull-down experiments and follow up mass spectrum analyses, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was identified as a primary binding protein of VD3. Hsp70 was validated as a binding target of VD3 through a series of biochemical and cellular assays. VD3 bound with micromolar affinity to Hsp70. In addition, both selective knockdown of Hsp70 expression and pharmacological inhibition of its activity with known Hsp70 inhibitors suppressed Hh-signaling transduction in murine basal cell carcinoma cells, suggesting that Hsp70 regulates proper Hh-signaling. Additional cellular assays suggest that VD3 and its seco-steroidal metabolites inhibit Hh-signaling through different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Wen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 North Eagleville Rd, Unit 3092, Storrs, CT, 06029-3092, United States
| | - M Kyle Hadden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 North Eagleville Rd, Unit 3092, Storrs, CT, 06029-3092, United States.
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8
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Alammar H, Nassani R, Alshehri MM, Aljohani AA, Alrfaei BM. Deficiency in the Treatment Description of mTOR Inhibitor Resistance in Medulloblastoma, a Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010464. [PMID: 35008889 PMCID: PMC8745694 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a common fatal pediatric brain tumor. More treatment options are required to prolong survival and decrease disability. mTOR proteins play an essential role in the disease pathogenesis, and are an essential target for therapy. Three generations of mTOR inhibitors have been developed and are clinically used for immunosuppression and chemotherapy for multiple cancers. Only a few mTOR inhibitors have been investigated for the treatment of medulloblastoma and other pediatric tumors. The first-generation mTOR, sirolimus, temsirolimus, and everolimus, went through phase I clinical trials. The second-generation mTOR, AZD8055 and sapanisertib, suppressed medulloblastoma cell growth; however, limited studies have investigated possible resistance pathways. No clinical trials have been found to treat medulloblastoma using third-generation mTOR inhibitors. This systematic review highlights the mechanisms of resistance of mTOR inhibitors in medulloblastoma and includes IDO1, T cells, Mnk2, and eIF4E, as they prolong malignant cell survival. The findings promote the importance of combination therapy in medulloblastoma due to its highly resistant nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajar Alammar
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; (H.A.); (A.A.A.)
| | - Rayan Nassani
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Department of Cellular Therapy and Cancer Research, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; (R.N.); (M.M.A.)
| | - Mana M. Alshehri
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Department of Cellular Therapy and Cancer Research, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; (R.N.); (M.M.A.)
| | - Alaa A. Aljohani
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; (H.A.); (A.A.A.)
| | - Bahauddeen M. Alrfaei
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; (H.A.); (A.A.A.)
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Department of Cellular Therapy and Cancer Research, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; (R.N.); (M.M.A.)
- Correspondence:
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EZH2 as a new therapeutic target in brain tumors: Molecular landscape, therapeutic targeting and future prospects. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 146:112532. [PMID: 34906772 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are responsible for high mortality and morbidity worldwide. The brain tumor treatment depends on identification of molecular pathways involved in progression and malignancy. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has obtained much attention in recent years in field of cancer therapy due to its aberrant expression and capacity in modulating expression of genes by binding to their promoter and affecting methylation status. The present review focuses on EZH2 signaling in brain tumors including glioma, glioblastoma, astrocytoma, ependymomas, medulloblastoma and brain rhabdoid tumors. EZH2 signaling mainly participates in increasing proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. However, in medulloblastoma, EZH2 demonstrates tumor-suppressor activity. Furthermore, EZH2 can regulate response of brain tumors to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Various molecular pathways can function as upstream mediators of EZH2 in brain tumors including lncRNAs and miRNAs. Owing to its enzymatic activity, EZH2 can bind to promoter of target genes to induce methylation and affects their expression. EZH2 can be considered as an independent prognostic factor in brain tumors that its upregulation provides undesirable prognosis. Both anti-tumor agents and gene therapies such as siRNA have been developed for targeting EZH2 in cancer therapy.
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