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Koh B, Ryu JY, Noh JJ, Hwang JR, Choi JJ, Cho YJ, Jang J, Jo JH, Lee K, Lee JW. Anti-cancer effects of benzimidazole derivative BNZ-111 on paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2024; 188:60-70. [PMID: 38936282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.06.011] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ovarian cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, remains a formidable challenge, especially in the context of platinum-resistant disease. This study investigated the potential of the benzimidazole derivative BNZ-111 as a novel treatment strategy for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. METHODS The human EOC cell lines A2780, HeyA8, SKOV3ip1, A2780-CP20, HeyA8-MDR, and SKOV3-TR were treated with BNZ-111, and cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle were assessed. RESULTS It demonstrated strong cytotoxicity in both chemo-sensitive and chemo-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines, inducing apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. In vivo experiments using orthotopic and patient-derived xenograft models showed significant tumor growth inhibition without apparent toxicity to vital organs. Unlike paclitaxel, BNZ-111 proved effective in paclitaxel-resistant cells, potentially by bypassing interaction with MDR1 and modulating β-3 tubulin expression to suppress microtubule dynamics. CONCLUSION BNZ-111, with favorable drug-like properties, holds promise as a therapeutic option for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, addressing a critical clinical need in gynecologic oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byumseok Koh
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Yoon Ryu
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Joseph J Noh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Ryoung Hwang
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joo Choi
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jae Cho
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoon Jang
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hyeon Jo
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangho Lee
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong-Won Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea; Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Republic of Korea.
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Xia Y, Sun M, Huang H, Jin WL. Drug repurposing for cancer therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:92. [PMID: 38637540 PMCID: PMC11026526 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01808-1] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer, a complex and multifactorial disease, presents a significant challenge to global health. Despite significant advances in surgical, radiotherapeutic and immunological approaches, which have improved cancer treatment outcomes, drug therapy continues to serve as a key therapeutic strategy. However, the clinical efficacy of drug therapy is often constrained by drug resistance and severe toxic side effects, and thus there remains a critical need to develop novel cancer therapeutics. One promising strategy that has received widespread attention in recent years is drug repurposing: the identification of new applications for existing, clinically approved drugs. Drug repurposing possesses several inherent advantages in the context of cancer treatment since repurposed drugs are typically cost-effective, proven to be safe, and can significantly expedite the drug development process due to their already established safety profiles. In light of this, the present review offers a comprehensive overview of the various methods employed in drug repurposing, specifically focusing on the repurposing of drugs to treat cancer. We describe the antitumor properties of candidate drugs, and discuss in detail how they target both the hallmarks of cancer in tumor cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment. In addition, we examine the innovative strategy of integrating drug repurposing with nanotechnology to enhance topical drug delivery. We also emphasize the critical role that repurposed drugs can play when used as part of a combination therapy regimen. To conclude, we outline the challenges associated with repurposing drugs and consider the future prospects of these repurposed drugs transitioning into clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xia
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550001, PR China
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine and, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Ming Sun
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China
| | - Hai Huang
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China.
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, PR China.
| | - Wei-Lin Jin
- Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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3
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Aliabadi A, Haghshenas MR, Kiani R, Koohi-Hosseinabadi O, Purkhosrow A, Pirsalami F, Panjehshahin MR, Erfani N. In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of mebendazole in colon cancer: a promising drug repositioning. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:2379-2388. [PMID: 37837472 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02722-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers and one of the main causes of death worldwide. Therefore, new treatment methods with better efficiency and fewer risks are very necessary. Mebendazole (MBZ), a drug commonly used for helminthic infections, has recently received attention as a suitable candidate for the treatment of various cancers. This study aimed to investigate, in vitro and in vivo, anticancer activity and selectivity Index of MBZ on colon cancer. HT-29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) and MCF-10 (non-tumorigenic epithelial) cell lines were treated with MBZ and Doxorubicin (DOX; positive control drug). IC50 values were estimated using methyl thiazole diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. We employed flow cytometry using annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide dyes. For the animal study, colon cancer was subcutaneously induced by CT26 cells (mouse colon cancer) in Bulb/C mice. The mice were treated with 0.05 of LD50, intraperitoneal, every other day for 35 days. Finally, the survival rate, tumor volume, and tumor weight were calculated. Our results demonstrated that IC50 values after 72 h for HT29 and MCF-10 cell lines were 0.29 ± 0.04 µM and 0.80 ± 0.02 µM, respectively. MBZ was more selective than DOX in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells compared to normal cells (2. 75 vs. 2.45). Annexin V/PI staining demonstrated that MBZ treatment at IC50 concentrations induced (78 ± 12%) apoptosis in the HT29 cancer cell line after 48 h (P ≤ 0.0001). Also, in mice bearing colon cancer, MBZ significantly reduced the tumor volume (1177 ± 1109 mm3; P ≤ 0.001) and tumor weight (2.30 ± 1.97 g; P ≤ 0.0001) compared to the negative control group (weight 12.45 ± 2.0 g; volume 7346 ± 1077). Also, MBZ increases mean survival time (MST) and increase life span (ILS) percentage in the animal study (51.2 ± 37% vs 93%, respectively). This study suggests that mebendazole strongly and selectively inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells. It may be, accordingly, a promising drug for clinical research and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Aliabadi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Haghshenas
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Razie Kiani
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Azar Purkhosrow
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Fatema Pirsalami
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Panjehshahin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Nasrollah Erfani
- Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Kumar S, Ali I, Abbas F, Rana A, Pandey S, Garg M, Kumar D. In-silico design, pharmacophore-based screening, and molecular docking studies reveal that benzimidazole-1,2,3-triazole hybrids as novel EGFR inhibitors targeting lung cancer. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-23. [PMID: 37646177 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2252496] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease, which has been associated with various molecular alterations, including the overexpression and mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In this study, designed a library of 1843 benzimidazole-1,2,3-triazole hybrids and carried out pharmacophore-based screening to identify potential EGFR inhibitors. The 164 compounds were further evaluated using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to understand the binding interactions between the compounds and the receptor. In-si-lico ADME and toxicity studies were also conducted to assess the drug-likeness and safety of the identified compounds. The results of this study indicate that benzimidazole-1,2,3-triazole hybrids BENZI-0660, BENZI-0125, BENZI-0279, BENZI-0415, BENZI-0437, and BENZI-1110 exhibit dock scores of -9.7, -9.6, -9.6, -9.6, -9.6, -9.6 while referencing molecule -7.9 kcal/mol for EGFR (PDB ID: 4HJO), respectively. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the identified compounds formed stable interactions with the active site of EGFR, indicating their potential as inhibitors. The in-silico ADME and toxicity studies showed that the compounds had favorable drug-likeness properties and low toxicity, further supporting their potential as therapeutic agents. Finally, performed DFT studies on the best-selected ligands to gain further insights into their electronic properties. The findings of this study provide important insights into the potential of benzimidazole-1,2,3-triazole hybrids as promising EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of lung cancer. This research opens up a new avenue for the discovery and development of potent and selective EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of lung cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, India
| | - Iqra Ali
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Faheem Abbas
- Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Anurag Rana
- Yogananda School of Artificial Intelligence, Computers, and Data Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, India
| | - Sadanand Pandey
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Korea
| | - Manoj Garg
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, India
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5
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Venugopal S, Kaur B, Verma A, Wadhwa P, Magan M, Hudda S, Kakoty V. Recent advances of benzimidazole as anticancer agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 102:357-376. [PMID: 37009821 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, with 9.6 million deaths yearly. As a life-threatening disease, it necessitates the emergence of new therapies. Resistance to current chemotherapies drives scientists to develop new medications that will eventually be accessible. Because heterocycles are so common in biological substances, compounds play a big part in the variety of medications that have been developed. The "Master Key" is the benzimidazole nucleus, which consists of a six-membered benzene ring fused with a five-membered imidazole/imidazoline ring, which is an azapyrrole. One of the five-membered aromatic nitrogen heterocycles identified in American therapies that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our results show that benzimidazole's broad therapeutic spectrum is due to its structural isosteres with purine, which improves hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions with topoisomerase complexes, intercalation with DNA, and other functions. It also enhances protein and nucleic acid inhibition, tubulin microtubule degeneration, apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, and other functions. Additionally, readers for designing the more recent benzimidazole analogues as prospective cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Venugopal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
| | - Balwinder Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
| | - Anil Verma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
| | - Pankaj Wadhwa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
| | - Muskan Magan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
| | - Sharwan Hudda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
| | - Violina Kakoty
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
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Ioakeim-Skoufa I, Tobajas-Ramos N, Menditto E, Aza-Pascual-Salcedo M, Gimeno-Miguel A, Orlando V, González-Rubio F, Fanlo-Villacampa A, Lasala-Aza C, Ostasz E, Vicente-Romero J. Drug Repurposing in Oncology: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112972. [PMID: 37296934 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Quality pharmacological treatment can improve survival in many types of cancer. Drug repurposing offers advantages in comparison with traditional drug development procedures, reducing time and risk. This systematic review identified the most recent randomized controlled clinical trials that focus on drug repurposing in oncology. We found that only a few clinical trials were placebo-controlled or standard-of-care-alone-controlled. Metformin has been studied for potential use in various types of cancer, including prostate, lung, and pancreatic cancer. Other studies assessed the possible use of the antiparasitic agent mebendazole in colorectal cancer and of propranolol in multiple myeloma or, when combined with etodolac, in breast cancer. We were able to identify trials that study the potential use of known antineoplastics in other non-oncological conditions, such as imatinib for severe coronavirus disease in 2019 or a study protocol aiming to assess the possible repurposing of leuprolide for Alzheimer's disease. Major limitations of these clinical trials were the small sample size, the high clinical heterogeneity of the participants regarding the stage of the neoplastic disease, and the lack of accounting for multimorbidity and other baseline clinical characteristics. Drug repurposing possibilities in oncology must be carefully examined with well-designed trials, considering factors that could influence prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignatios Ioakeim-Skoufa
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, Department of Drug Statistics, Division of Health Data and Digitalisation, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, NO-0213 Oslo, Norway
- EpiChron Research Group, Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), ES-28029 Madrid, Spain
- Drug Utilization Work Group, Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC), ES-08009 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Legal and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Natalia Tobajas-Ramos
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Legal and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Enrica Menditto
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Farmacoeconomia e Farmacoutilizzazione (CIRFF), Center of Drug Utilization and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, IT-80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Mercedes Aza-Pascual-Salcedo
- EpiChron Research Group, Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), ES-28029 Madrid, Spain
- Primary Care Pharmacy Service Zaragoza III, Aragon Health Service (SALUD), ES-50017 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Antonio Gimeno-Miguel
- EpiChron Research Group, Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), ES-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Valentina Orlando
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Farmacoeconomia e Farmacoutilizzazione (CIRFF), Center of Drug Utilization and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, IT-80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francisca González-Rubio
- EpiChron Research Group, Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Drug Utilization Work Group, Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC), ES-08009 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Fanlo-Villacampa
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Legal and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Carmen Lasala-Aza
- Pharmacy Service, Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital, ES-29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Ewelina Ostasz
- Rehabilitation Centre Vikersund Bad AS, NO-3370 Vikersund, Norway
| | - Jorge Vicente-Romero
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Legal and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, ES-50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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7
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Montecinos F, Sackett DL. Structural Changes, Biological Consequences, and Repurposing of Colchicine Site Ligands. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050834. [PMID: 37238704 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050834] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) bind to one of several distinct sites in the tubulin dimer, the subunit of microtubules. The binding affinities of MTAs may vary by several orders of magnitude, even for MTAs that specifically bind to a particular site. The first drug binding site discovered in tubulin was the colchicine binding site (CBS), which has been known since the discovery of the tubulin protein. Although highly conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution, tubulins show diversity in their sequences between tubulin orthologs (inter-species sequence differences) and paralogs (intraspecies differences, such as tubulin isotypes). The CBS is promiscuous and binds to a broad range of structurally distinct molecules that can vary in size, shape, and affinity. This site remains a popular target for the development of new drugs to treat human diseases (including cancer) and parasitic infections in plants and animals. Despite the rich knowledge about the diversity of tubulin sequences and the structurally distinct molecules that bind to the CBS, a pattern has yet to be found to predict the affinity of new molecules that bind to the CBS. In this commentary, we briefly discuss the literature evidencing the coexistence of the varying binding affinities for drugs that bind to the CBS of tubulins from different species and within species. We also comment on the structural data that aim to explain the experimental differences observed in colchicine binding to the CBS of β-tubulin class VI (TUBB1) compared to other isotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Montecinos
- Protein Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dan L Sackett
- Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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8
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Ghalehbandi S, Yuzugulen J, Pranjol MZI, Pourgholami MH. The role of VEGF in cancer-induced angiogenesis and research progress of drugs targeting VEGF. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 949:175586. [PMID: 36906141 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a double-edged sword; it is a mechanism that defines the boundary between health and disease. In spite of its central role in physiological homeostasis, it provides the oxygen and nutrition needed by tumor cells to proceed from dormancy if pro-angiogenic factors tip the balance in favor of tumor angiogenesis. Among pro-angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prominent target in therapeutic methods due to its strategic involvement in the formation of anomalous tumor vasculature. In addition, VEGF exhibits immune-regulatory properties which suppress immune cell antitumor activity. VEGF signaling through its receptors is an integral part of tumoral angiogenic approaches. A wide variety of medicines have been designed to target the ligands and receptors of this pro-angiogenic superfamily. Herein, we summarize the direct and indirect molecular mechanisms of VEGF to demonstrate its versatile role in the context of cancer angiogenesis and current transformative VEGF-targeted strategies interfering with tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jale Yuzugulen
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey
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9
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An Updated Review on Recent Advances in the Usage of Novel Therapeutic Peptides for Breast Cancer Treatment. Int J Pept Res Ther 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-023-10503-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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10
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Meco D, Attinà G, Mastrangelo S, Navarra P, Ruggiero A. Emerging Perspectives on the Antiparasitic Mebendazole as a Repurposed Drug for the Treatment of Brain Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021334. [PMID: 36674870 PMCID: PMC9862092 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Repurposing approved non-antitumor drugs is a promising and affordable strategy in drug discovery to identify new therapeutic uses different from the original medical indication that may help increase the number of possible, effective anticancer drugs. The use of drugs in ways other than their original FDA-approved indications could offer novel avenues such as bypassing the chemoresistance and recurrence seen with conventional therapy and treatment; moreover, it can offer a safe and economic strategy for combination therapy. Recent works have demonstrated the anticancer properties of the FDA-approved drug Mebendazole. This synthetic benzimidazole proved effective against a broad spectrum of intestinal Helminthiasis. Mebendazole can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to inhibit the malignant progression of glioma by targeting signaling pathways related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, or invasion/migration, or by increasing the sensitivity of glioma cells to conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Moreover, several preclinical models and ongoing clinical trials explore the efficacy of Mebendazole in multiple cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia, brain cancer, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, lung carcinoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancer. The present review summarizes central literature regarding the anticancer effects of MBZ in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials to suggest possible strategies for safe and economical combinations of anticancer therapies in brain cancer. Mebendazole might be an excellent candidate for the treatment of brain tumors because of its efficacy both when used as monotherapy and in combination as an enhancement to standard chemotherapeutics and radiotherapy, due to its effectiveness on tumor angiogenesis inhibition, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and targeting of critical pathways involved in cancer such as Hedgehog signaling. Therefore, attention to MBZ repurposing has recently increased because of its potential therapeutic versatility and significant clinical implications, such as reducing medical care costs and optimizing existing therapies. Using new treatments is essential, particularly when current therapeutics for patients with brain cancer fail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Meco
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Attinà
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Mastrangelo
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Navarra
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Pharmacology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Ruggiero
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-3058203; Fax: +39-06-3052751
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11
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Mebendazole Increases Anticancer Activity of Radiotherapy in Radiotherapy-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Enhancing Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415493. [PMID: 36555137 PMCID: PMC9779603 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and ranks first in terms of both prevalence and cancer-related mortality in women. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of mebendazole (MBZ) and radiotherapy (RT) concomitant use in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. Breast cancer mouse models and several types of breast cancer cells, including TNBC-derived RT-resistant (RT-R) MDA-MB-231 cells, were treated with MBZ and/or RT. In mice, changes in body weight, renal and liver toxicity, tumor volume, and number of lung metastases were determined. In cells, cell viability, colony formation, scratch wound healing, Matrigel invasion, and protein expression using western blotting were determined. Our findings showed that MBZ and RT combined treatment increased the anticancer effect of RT without additional toxicity. In addition, we noted that cyclin B1, PH2AX, and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity increased following MBZ + RT treatment compared to unaided RT. Our results suggest that MBZ + RT have an enhanced anticancer effect in TNBC which acquires radiation resistance through blocking cell cycle progression, initiating DNA double-strand breaks, and promoting NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
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Sultana T, Jan U, Lee H, Lee H, Lee JI. Exceptional Repositioning of Dog Dewormer: Fenbendazole Fever. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:4977-4986. [PMID: 36286053 PMCID: PMC9600184 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44100338] [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: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Fenbendazole (FZ) is a benzimidazole carbamate drug with broad-spectrum antiparasitic activity in humans and animals. The mechanism of action of FZ is associated with microtubular polymerization inhibition and glucose uptake blockade resulting in reduced glycogen stores and decreased ATP formation in the adult stages of susceptible parasites. A completely cured case of lung cancer became known globally and greatly influenced the cancer community in South Korea. Desperate Korean patients with cancer began self-administering FZ without their physician’s knowledge, which interfered with the outcome of the cancer treatment planned by their oncologists. On the basis of presented evidence, this review provides valuable information from PubMed, Naver, Google Scholar, and Social Network Services (SNS) on the effects of FZ in a broad range of preclinical studies on cancer. In addition, we suggest investigating the self-administration of products, including supplements, herbs, or bioactive compounds, by patients to circumvent waiting for long and costly FZ clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Sultana
- Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Umair Jan
- Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Hyunsu Lee
- Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Hyejin Lee
- Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Jeong Ik Lee
- Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
- Department of Veterinary Obstetrics and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2049-6234
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Song KS, Nimse SB, Kim J, Warkad SD, Kim T. ID-Checker Technology for the Highly Selective Macroscale Delivery of Anticancer Agents to the Cancer Cells. J Med Chem 2022; 65:12883-12894. [PMID: 36194724 PMCID: PMC9575670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells deploy several glucose transport protein (GLUT) channels on the cell membranes to increase glucose uptake. Cancer cells die within 24 h in the absence of glucose. Thus, preventing the deployment of GLUT channels can deprive them of glucose, resulting in apoptosis within 24 h. Herein, we developed the ID-Checker with a glucose tag that ensures its highly specific macroscale delivery of anticancer agents to the cancer cells through the GLUT channels. ID-Checker presented here showed IC50 values of 0.17-0.27 and 3.34 μM in cancer and normal cell lines, respectively. ID-Checker showed a selectivity index of 12.5-20.2, which is about 10-20 times higher than that of known anticancer agents such as colchicine. ID-Checker inhibits the microtubule formation, which results in the prevention of the deployment of GLUT channels in 6 h and kills the cancer cells within 24 h without any damage to normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keum-soo Song
- Biometrix
Technology, Inc., 2-2
Bio Venture Plaza 56, Chuncheon 24232, South Korea
| | - Satish Balasaheb Nimse
- Institute
of Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200702, South Korea
| | - Junghoon Kim
- Biometrix
Technology, Inc., 2-2
Bio Venture Plaza 56, Chuncheon 24232, South Korea
| | | | - Taisun Kim
- Institute
of Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200702, South Korea
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Song B, Kim KJ, Ki SH. Experience with and perceptions of non-prescription anthelmintics for cancer treatments among cancer patients in South Korea: A cross-sectional survey. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275620. [PMID: 36194607 PMCID: PMC9531786 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Although non-prescription anthelmintics are used by many patients as cancer treatment in South Korea, data regarding the experiences or perceptions of these drugs are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the repercussions of non-prescription anthelmintics for cancer treatment and evaluate their perceived effectiveness and adverse effects. This survey included 86 cancer patients, aged 19 years and older, who underwent anthelmintic therapy for cancer. They were recruited from two online communities in South Korea through a structured questionnaire that was provided online. Cancer patients under non-prescription anthelmintic therapy for cancer in South Korea were mostly in their advanced stages and had started the treatment in 2019. About half of the cancer patients had taken non-prescription anthelmintics during their chemotherapy, and 96.5% of them did not inform the clinicians. These participants had a positive perception (79.1%) toward the effectiveness of anthelmintics, as they felt it improved their physical condition. Data on the adverse effects of anthelmintics showed that more than two-third of the participants did not report experiencing any adverse effects. Communication between the clinicians and cancer patients regarding the use of non-prescription anthelmintics should be enhanced to prevent adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bomi Song
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Joon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (SHK); (KJK)
| | - Sung Hwan Ki
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (SHK); (KJK)
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Song B, Park EY, Kim KJ, Ki SH. Repurposing of Benzimidazole Anthelmintic Drugs as Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194601. [PMID: 36230527 PMCID: PMC9559625 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194601] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although non-prescription anthelmintics are often used for cancer treatment, there is a lack of information regarding their anti-cancer effects in clinical settings. The aims of our review are to describe the possibilities and limitations of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics and to suggest ways to overcome these limitations. The results of the current review illustrate the potential development of anthelmintics as a useful strategy for cancer treatment based on much preclinical evidence. Furthermore, they suggest that more rigorous studies on whole anti-cancer pathways and development strategies, including formulations, could result in significantly enhanced anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles as a repurposed cancer therapy in clinical settings. Abstract Benzimidazoles have shown significant promise for repurposing as a cancer therapy. The aims of this review are to investigate the possibilities and limitations of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics and to suggest ways to overcome these limitations. This review included studies on the anti-cancer effects of 11 benzimidazoles. Largely divided into three parts, i.e., preclinical anti-cancer effects, clinical anti-cancer effects, and pharmacokinetic properties, we examine the characteristics of each benzimidazole and attempt to elucidate its key properties. Although many studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles, there is limited evidence regarding their effects in clinical settings. This might be because the clinical trials conducted using benzimidazoles failed to restrict their participants with specific criteria including cancer entities, cancer stages, and genetic characteristics of the participants. In addition, these drugs have limitations including low bioavailability, which results in insufficient plasma concentration levels. Additional studies on whole anti-cancer pathways and development strategies, including formulations, could result significant enhancements of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles in clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bomi Song
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Eun Young Park
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Mokpo 58554, Korea
| | - Kwang Joon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Mokpo 58554, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.J.K.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-61-450-2334 (K.J.K.); +82-62-230-6639 (S.H.K.)
| | - Sung Hwan Ki
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.J.K.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-61-450-2334 (K.J.K.); +82-62-230-6639 (S.H.K.)
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Thuru X, Magnez R, El-Bouazzati H, Vergoten G, Quesnel B, Bailly C. Drug Repurposing to Enhance Antitumor Response to PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143368. [PMID: 35884428 PMCID: PMC9322126 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143368] [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: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint have considerably improved the treatment of some cancers, but novel drugs, new combinations, and treatment modalities are needed to reinvigorate immunosurveillance in immune-refractory tumors. An option to elicit antitumor immunity against cancer consists of using approved and marketed drugs known for their capacity to modulate the expression and functioning of the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint. Here, we have reviewed several types of drugs known to alter the checkpoint, either directly via the blockade of PD-L1 or indirectly via an action on upstream effectors (such as STAT3) to suppress PD-L1 transcription or to induce its proteasomal degradation. Specifically, the repositioning of the approved drugs liothyronine, azelnidipine (and related dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers), niclosamide, albendazole/flubendazole, and a few other modulators of the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint (repaglinide, pimozide, fenofibrate, lonazolac, propranolol) is presented. Their capacity to bind to PD-L1 or to repress its expression and function offer novel perspectives for combination with PD-1 targeted biotherapeutics. These known and affordable drugs could be useful to improve the therapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Thuru
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-UMR1277—Canther—Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France; (X.T.); (R.M.); (H.E.-B.); (B.Q.)
| | - Romain Magnez
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-UMR1277—Canther—Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France; (X.T.); (R.M.); (H.E.-B.); (B.Q.)
| | - Hassiba El-Bouazzati
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-UMR1277—Canther—Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France; (X.T.); (R.M.); (H.E.-B.); (B.Q.)
| | - Gérard Vergoten
- Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), Faculté de Pharmacie, University of Lille, Inserm, INFINITE—U1286, 3 Rue du Professeur Laguesse, BP-83, F-59006 Lille, France;
| | - Bruno Quesnel
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-UMR1277—Canther—Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France; (X.T.); (R.M.); (H.E.-B.); (B.Q.)
| | - Christian Bailly
- Oncowitan, Scientific Consulting Office, F-59290 Lille, France
- Correspondence:
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Fenbendazole and its synthetic analog interfere with HeLa cells’ proliferation and energy metabolism via inducing oxidative stress and modulating MEK3/6-p38-MAPK pathway. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 361:109983. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.109983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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18
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Hsu MJ, Chen HK, Chen CY, Lien JC, Gao JY, Huang YH, Hsu JBK, Lee GA, Huang SW. Anti-Angiogenetic and Anti-Lymphangiogenic Effects of a Novel 2-Aminobenzimidazole Derivative, MFB. Front Oncol 2022; 12:862326. [PMID: 35795066 PMCID: PMC9251317 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.862326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Benzimidazoles have attracted much attention over the last few decades due to their broad-spectrum pharmacological properties. Increasing evidence is showing the potential use of benzimidazoles as anti-angiogenic agents, although the mechanisms that impact angiogenesis remain to be fully defined. In this study, we aim to investigate the anti-angiogenic mechanisms of MFB, a novel 2-aminobenzimidazole derivative, to develop a novel angiogenesis inhibitor. Experimental Approach MTT, BrdU, migration and invasion assays, and immunoblotting were employed to examine MFB’s effects on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as signaling molecules activation. The anti-angiogenic effects of MFB were analyzed by tube formation, aorta ring sprouting, and matrigel plug assays. We also used a mouse model of lung metastasis to determine the MFB’s anti-metastatic effects. Key Results MFB suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and endothelial tube formation of VEGF-A-stimulated human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) or VEGF-C-stimulated lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). MFB suppressed VEGF-A and VEGF-C signaling in HUVECs or LECs. In addition, MFB reduced VEGF-A- or tumor cells-induced neovascularization in vivo. MFB also diminished B16F10 melanoma lung metastasis. The molecular docking results further showed that MFB may bind to VEGFR-2 rather than VEGF-A with high affinity. Conclusions and Implications These observations indicated that MFB may target VEGF/VEGFR signaling to suppress angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. It also supports the role of MFB as a potential lead in developing novel agents for the treatment of angiogenesis- or lymphangiogenesis-associated diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Jen Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Han-Kun Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yu Chen
- Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Cherng Lien
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Hospital of China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Yan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Hospital of China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Han Huang
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Justin Bo-Kai Hsu
- Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research; Research Center of Thoracic Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Gilbert Aaron Lee
- Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research; Research Center of Thoracic Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiu-Wen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research; Research Center of Thoracic Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center of Thoracic Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Shiu-Wen Huang,
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Montecinos F, Loew M, Chio TI, Bane SL, Sackett DL. Interaction of Colchicine-Site Ligands With the Blood Cell-Specific Isotype of β-Tubulin—Notable Affinity for Benzimidazoles. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:884287. [PMID: 35712668 PMCID: PMC9194530 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.884287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tubulin, the main component of microtubules, is an α-β heterodimer that contains one of multiple isotypes of each monomer. Although the isotypes of each monomer are very similar, the beta tubulin isotype found in blood cells is significantly divergent in amino acid sequence compared to other beta tubulins. This isotype, beta class VI, coded by human gene TUBB1, is found in hematologic cells and is recognized as playing a role in platelet biogenesis and function. Tubulin from the erythrocytes of the chicken Gallus gallus contains almost exclusively βVI tubulin. This form of tubulin has been reported to differ from brain tubulin in binding of colchicine-site ligands, previously thought to be a ubiquitous characteristic of tubulin from higher eukaryotes. In this study, we sought to gain a better understanding of the structure-activity relationship of the colchicine site of this divergent isotype, using chicken erythrocyte tubulin (CeTb) as the model. We developed a fluorescence-based assay to detect binding of drugs to the colchicine site and used it to study the interaction of 53 colchicine-site ligands with CeTb. Among the ligands known to bind at this site, most colchicine derivatives had lower affinity for CeTb compared to brain tubulin. Remarkably, many of the benzimidazole class of ligands shows increased affinity for CeTb compared to brain tubulin. Because the colchicine site of human βVI tubulin is very similar to that of chicken βVI tubulin, these results may have relevance to the effect of anti-cancer agents on hematologic tissues in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Montecinos
- Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Maura Loew
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Tak I. Chio
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Susan L. Bane
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Susan L. Bane, ; Dan L. Sackett,
| | - Dan L. Sackett
- Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Susan L. Bane, ; Dan L. Sackett,
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20
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Liang D, Yu C, Ma Z, Yang X, Li Z, Dong X, Qin X, Du L, Li M. Identification of anthelmintic parbendazole as a therapeutic molecule for HNSCC through connectivity map-based drug repositioning. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2429-2442. [PMID: 35646536 PMCID: PMC9136614 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common human cancers; however, its outcome of pharmacotherapy is always very limited. Herein, we performed a batch query in the connectivity map (cMap) based on bioinformatics, queried out 35 compounds with therapeutic potential, and screened out parbendazole as a most promising compound, which had an excellent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HNSCC cell lines. In addition, tubulin was identified as a primary target of parbendazole, and the direct binding between them was further verified. Parbendazole was further proved as an effective tubulin polymerization inhibitor, which can block the cell cycle, cause apoptosis and prevent cell migration, and it exhibited reasonable therapeutic effect and low toxicity in the in vivo and in vitro anti-tumor evaluation. Our study repositioned an anthelmintic parbendazole to treat HNSCC, which revealed a therapeutic utility and provided a new treatment option for human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Chen Yu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Zhao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xingye Yang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Zhenzhen Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xuhui Dong
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xiaojun Qin
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Lupei Du
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Minyong Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
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21
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Mebendazole-Induced Blood-Testis Barrier Injury in Mice Testes by Disrupting Microtubules in Addition to Triggering Programmed Cell Death. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084220. [PMID: 35457043 PMCID: PMC9029725 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mebendazole (MBZ) is a synthetic benzimidazole known for its antiparasitic properties. In recent years, growing evidence showed that MBZ was also used as an anti-tumor agent. However, whether (and to what extent) this drug treatment affected the male reproductive system was not well-understood. In this study, male C57BL/6 mice were injected with 40 mg/kg/day of MBZ. The treatment was for 3 and 7 days. Our results showed that the injected mice exhibited an abnormal spermatogenic phase with a significant decrease in sperm. We further detected microtubule disruption and transient functional destruction of the blood–testes barrier (BTB) in the MBZ-injected mice testes (BTB). Our data confirmed that MBZ suppressed the expression of the BTB junction-associated proteins and disrupted the Sertoli cells’ function in vivo. Moreover, MBZ-treated mice demonstrated an aberrant caspase-3 signalling pathway, which resulted in the apoptosis of the germ cells. Here, we present our data, indicating that MBZ impairs BTB by reducing the expression of the microtubules’ and BTB junction-associated proteins. The last leads to activating the caspase-3 pathway, which triggers extensive germ cell apoptosis.
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22
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Jang J, Lee K, Koh B. Investigation of benzimidazole anthelmintics as oral anticancer agents. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoon Jang
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon South Korea
- Department of Chemistry Sungkyunkwan University Suwon South Korea
| | - Kwangho Lee
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology University of Science & Technology Daejeon South Korea
| | - Byumseok Koh
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon South Korea
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23
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Laxmikeshav K, Himaja A, Shankaraiah N. Exploration of benzimidazoles as potential microtubule modulators: An insight in the synthetic and therapeutic evolution. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.132251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Park D. Fenbendazole Suppresses Growth and Induces Apoptosis of Actively Growing H4IIE Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via p21-Mediated Cell-Cycle Arrest. Biol Pharm Bull 2022; 45:184-193. [PMID: 35110505 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b21-00697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Bendimidazole anthelmintics (BAs) have gained interest for their anticancer activity. The anticancer activity is mediated via multiple intracellular changes, which are not consistent under different conditions even in the same cells. We investigated the anticancer activity of fenbendazole (FZ, one of BAs) under two different growth conditions. The growth rate of H4IIE cells was dose-dependently decreased by FZ only in actively growing cells but not in fully confluent quiescent cells. Apoptosis-associated changes were also induced by FZ in actively growing cells. Markers of autophagy were not changed by FZ. The number of cells was markedly increased in sub-G1 phase but decreased in S- and G2/M phases by FZ. FZ up-regulated p21 (an inhibitor of cyclin-CDK) but suppressed the expression of cell cycle-promoting proteins (cyclin D1 and cyclin B1). FZ did not affect integrin αV or n-cadherin expression as well as cell migration. Glycolytic changes (glucose consumption and lactate production) and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were not affected by FZ. Although the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was altered by FZ, the inhibition of MAPKs did not affect the pro-apoptotic activity of FZ. Taken together, FZ selectively suppressed the growth of cells via p21-mediated cell cycle arrest at G1/S and G2/M, and resulted in apoptosis only in actively growing cells but not in quiescent cells. Glucose metabolism, ROS generation, and MAPKs are unlikely targets of FZ at least in H4IIE rat hepatocellular carcinoma cells used in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deokbae Park
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Jeju National University
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Revisiting Flubendazole Through Nanocrystal Technology: Statistical Design, Characterization and Its Potential Inhibitory Effect on Xenografted Lung Tumor Progression in Mice. J CLUST SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10876-022-02220-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Cyclodextrin Dispersion of Mebendazole and Flubendazole Improves In Vitro Antiproliferative Activity. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9122185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mebendazole and flubendazole are antihelmintic drugs that have re-entered the research spotlight due to their exhibited anticancer effects, thus making them strong candidates as repurposed drugs. However, these benzimidazole derivatives exhibit poor solubility in water and various organic solvents, which limits their bioavailability. With the aim of obtaining an improved drug solubility and increased biological effect, mebendazole and flubendazole were complexed with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD). The binary 1:1 conjugates were physicochemically evaluated by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy, revealing the formation of physical mixtures. The increased aqueous solubility of the binary 1:1 conjugates vs. pure benzimidazole compounds was demonstrated by performing dissolution tests. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of mebendazole and flubendazole, as well as their combination with HPBCD, was tested on two cancer cell lines, human melanoma—A375 and pulmonary adenocarcinoma—A549 by the MTT assay. The cytotoxic activity manifested in a dose-dependent manner while the presence of HPBCD increased the antiproliferative activity against the targeted cells. Treatment of A375 and A549 cell lines with the binary conjugates induced a significant inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, as revealed by high-resolution respirometry studies. Molecular docking analysis showed that one of the mechanisms related to MEB and FLU cytotoxic activity may be due to the inhibition of MEK/ERK proteins.
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Crystal Structure, Thermodynamic Properties and DFT Studies of 5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-3-ium 3-((2,4-dioxo-1,5-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecan-3-ylidene)methyl) -2,4-dioxo-1,5-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane Hydrate. CRYSTALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst11111393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A new 1,5-dioxaspiro[5.5] derivative coupled with a benzimidazole moiety: 5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-3-ium 3-((2,4-dioxo-1,5-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecan-3-ylidene) methyl) -2,4-dioxo-1,5-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane hydrate (DBH) was prepared. The crystal structure confirmed that it belongs to triclinic, P-1 space group. The title compound includes one (C19H21O8)− anion, one (C9H11N2)+ cation and one water molecule, which assembled into a 2D-net framework by O–H···O and N–H···O hydrogen bonds. The quantum chemical computations using the B3LYP/6-311G (d, p) basis level of theory reveal that the optimized geometric structure is suitable to study the molecule. The theoretically simulated FT-IR spectra and electronic spectra of DBH are compared with experimental data. The results show that the B3LYP/6-311g (d, p) method fits well with the molecular structure. In addition, the thermodynamic properties have also been studied to determine the nature of the DBH.
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Targeting Reactive Oxygen Species Capacity of Tumor Cells with Repurposed Drug as an Anticancer Therapy. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:8532940. [PMID: 34539975 PMCID: PMC8443364 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8532940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence shows that elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with cancer initiation, growth, and response to therapies. As concentrations increase, ROS influence cancer development in a paradoxical way, either triggering tumorigenesis and supporting the proliferation of cancer cells at moderate levels of ROS or causing cancer cell death at high levels of ROS. Thus, ROS can be considered an attractive target for therapy of cancer and two apparently contradictory but virtually complementary therapeutic strategies for the regulation of ROS to treat cancer. Despite tremendous resources being invested in prevention and treatment for cancer, cancer remains a leading cause of human deaths and brings a heavy burden to humans worldwide. Chemotherapy remains the key treatment for cancer therapy, but it produces harmful side effects. Meanwhile, the process of de novo development of new anticancer drugs generally needs increasing cost, long development cycle, and high risk of failure. The use of ROS-based repurposed drugs may be one of the promising ways to overcome current cancer treatment challenges. In this review, we briefly introduce the source and regulation of ROS and then focus on the status of repurposed drugs based on ROS regulation for cancer therapy and propose the challenges and direction of ROS-mediated cancer treatment.
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Choi HS, Ko YS, Jin H, Kang KM, Ha IB, Jeong H, Song HN, Kim HJ, Jeong BK. Anticancer Effect of Benzimidazole Derivatives, Especially Mebendazole, on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and Radiotherapy-Resistant TNBC In Vivo and In Vitro. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175118. [PMID: 34500557 PMCID: PMC8433818 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of benzimidazole derivatives on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and investigate its underlying mechanism of action. Several types of cancer and normal breast cells including MDA-MB-231, radiotherapy-resistant (RT-R) MDA-MB-231, and allograft mice were treated with six benzimidazole derivatives including mebendazole (MBZ). Cells were analyzed for viability, colony formation, scratch wound healing, Matrigel invasion, cell cycle, tubulin polymerization, and protein expression by using Western blotting. In mice, liver and kidney toxicity, changes in body weight and tumor volume, and incidence of lung metastasis were analyzed. Our study showed that MBZ significantly induced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and downregulation of cancer stem cell markers CD44 and OCT3/4, and cancer progression-related ESM-1 protein expression in TNBC and RT-R-TNBC cells. In conclusion, MBZ has the potential to be an effective anticancer agent that can overcome treatment resistance in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoon Sik Choi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea; (H.S.C.); (K.M.K.)
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - Young Shin Ko
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - Hana Jin
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - Ki Mun Kang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea; (H.S.C.); (K.M.K.)
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - In Bong Ha
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Korea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - Hojin Jeong
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Korea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - Haa-Na Song
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Korea
- Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
| | - Hye Jung Kim
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.J.K.); (B.K.J.); Tel.: +82-55-750-9200 (H.J.K.); +82-55-750-9217 (B.K.J.)
| | - Bae Kwon Jeong
- Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea; (Y.S.K.); (H.J.); (I.B.H.); (H.J.); (H.-N.S.)
- Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Korea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.J.K.); (B.K.J.); Tel.: +82-55-750-9200 (H.J.K.); +82-55-750-9217 (B.K.J.)
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Hao L, Mao Y, Park J, Bae EJ, Park BH. Repurposing anthelmintic praziquantel to treat psoriasis. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:4726-4740. [PMID: 34363611 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The anthelmintic drug praziquantel (PZQ) has been used as a standard treatment for schistosomiasis for over 40 years. This study aimed to repurpose PZQ to treat psoriasis. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Psoriasis-like skin inflammation was induced in mice by topical application of imiquimod or intradermal injection of recombinant IL-23. PZQ was either orally or topically administrated during the psoriasis induction period. KEY RESULTS Mice treated with either oral or topical PZQ exhibited markedly improved psoriasiform skin symptoms when compared to control mice, as judged by disease severity score, epidermal thickening, inflammatory cell infiltration, and spleen size. Flow cytometric analysis of infiltrating immune cells from mouse skin displayed reduced infiltration of Th17 cells. In vitro experiments revealed that PZQ inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation and RORγt expression in splenic CD4+ T cells. PZQ also decreased STAT3 phosphorylation in HEK-A/F cells. Downregulation of STAT3 phosphorylation in these cells accounts for the decreased number of Th17 cells and keratinocytes. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These results amount to the first preclinical evidence that PZQ may effectively treat psoriasis, and suggest that PZQ alleviates symptoms in mice by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby suppressing Th17 immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Hao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuancheng Mao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Park
- Department of Dermatology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ju Bae
- College of Pharmacy, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Hyun Park
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
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31
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Costa A, Vale N. Strategies for the treatment of breast cancer: from classical drugs to mathematical models. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2021; 18:6328-6385. [PMID: 34517536 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2021316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and generally affects women. It is a heterogeneous disease that presents different entities, different biological characteristics, and differentiated clinical behaviors. With this in mind, this literature review had as its main objective to analyze the path taken from the simple use of classical drugs to the application of mathematical models, which through the many ongoing studies, have been considered as one of the reliable strategies, explaining the reasons why chemotherapy is not always successful. Besides, the most commonly mentioned strategies are immunotherapy, which includes techniques and therapies such as the use of antibodies, cytokines, antitumor vaccines, oncolytic and genomic viruses, among others, and nanoparticles, including metallic, magnetic, polymeric, liposome, dendrimer, micelle, and others, as well as drug reuse, which is a process by which new therapeutic indications are found for existing and approved drugs. The most commonly used pharmacological categories are cardiac, antiparasitic, anthelmintic, antiviral, antibiotic, and others. For the efficient development of reused drugs, there must be a process of exchange of purposes, methods, and information already available, and for their better understanding, computational mathematical models are then used, of which the methods of blind search or screening, based on the target, knowledge, signature, pathway or network and the mechanism to which it is directed, stand out. To conclude it should be noted that these different strategies can be applied alone or in combination with each other always to improve breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Costa
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
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Huang L, Zhao L, Zhang J, He F, Wang H, Liu Q, Shi D, Ni N, Wagstaff W, Chen C, Reid RR, Haydon RC, Luu HH, Shen L, He TC, Tang L. Antiparasitic mebendazole (MBZ) effectively overcomes cisplatin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting multiple cancer-associated signaling pathways. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:17407-17427. [PMID: 34232919 PMCID: PMC8312413 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of gynecologic cancer death in women. Its routine clinical management includes surgical resection and systemic therapy with chemotherapeutics. While the first-line systemic therapy requires the combined use of platinum-based agents and paclitaxel, many ovarian cancer patients have recurrence and eventually succumb to chemoresistance. Thus, it is imperative to develop new strategies to overcome recurrence and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. Repurposing previously-approved drugs is a cost-effective strategy for cancer drug discovery. The antiparasitic drug mebendazole (MBZ) is one of the most promising drugs with repurposing potential. Here, we investigate whether MBZ can overcome cisplatin resistance and sensitize chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. We first established and characterized two stable and robust cisplatin-resistant (CR) human ovarian cancer lines and demonstrated that MBZ markedly inhibited cell proliferation, suppressed cell wounding healing/migration, and induced apoptosis in both parental and CR cells at low micromole range. Mechanistically, MBZ was revealed to inhibit multiple cancer-related signal pathways including ELK/SRF, NFKB, MYC/MAX, and E2F/DP1 in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. We further showed that MBZ synergized with cisplatin to suppress cell proliferation, induce cell apoptosis, and blunt tumor growth in xenograft tumor model of human cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that MBZ may be repurposed as a synergistic sensitizer of cisplatin in treating chemoresistant human ovarian cancer, which warrants further clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjuan Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ling Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Fang He
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Medicine/Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and the School of Laboratory Diagnostic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Spine Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Deyao Shi
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Na Ni
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and the School of Laboratory Diagnostic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - William Wagstaff
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Connie Chen
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Russell R. Reid
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Rex C. Haydon
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hue H. Luu
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Le Shen
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Tong-Chuan He
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Liangdan Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Transcriptional drug repositioning and cheminformatics approach for differentiation therapy of leukaemia cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12537. [PMID: 34131166 PMCID: PMC8206077 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91629-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation therapy is attracting increasing interest in cancer as it can be more specific than conventional chemotherapy approaches, and it has offered new treatment options for some cancer types, such as treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) by retinoic acid. However, there is a pressing need to identify additional molecules which act in this way, both in leukaemia and other cancer types. In this work, we hence developed a novel transcriptional drug repositioning approach, based on both bioinformatics and cheminformatics components, that enables selecting such compounds in a more informed manner. We have validated the approach for leukaemia cells, and retrospectively retinoic acid was successfully identified using our method. Prospectively, the anti-parasitic compound fenbendazole was tested in leukaemia cells, and we were able to show that it can induce the differentiation of leukaemia cells to granulocytes in low concentrations of 0.1 μM and within as short a time period as 3 days. This work hence provides a systematic and validated approach for identifying small molecules for differentiation therapy in cancer.
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Esfahani MKM, Islam N, Cabot PJ, Izake EL. Development of Thiabendazole-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 8:4153-4162. [PMID: 34056895 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Thiabendazole (TBZ) is an anthelmintic drug currently studied for anticancer purposes. However, due to its low solubility, its biomedical application has been limited. Using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs), such as Mobil Composition of Matter Number 41 (MCM-41), as a drug carrier, is a promising approach to improve the solubility of low water-soluble drugs. In the present work, we aim to develop TBZ-loaded MCM-41 (TBZ MCM-41) nanoparticles to improve the solubility and the therapeutic efficacy of TBZ against prostate cancer PC-3 cells. TBZ MCM-41 nanoparticles were synthesized with a size of 215.9 ± 0.07 nm, a spherical shape, a hexagonal array of channels, and a drug loading capacity of 19.1%. The biological effects of the nanoformulation on PC-3 cells were then evaluated using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), IncuCyte live-cell imaging system, cell migration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. The results demonstrated that TBZ was released from MCM-41 nanoparticles in a controlled manner at pH values of 1.2 and 6.8. The cell viability measurements revealed that the TBZ MCM-41 nanoparticles caused a considerable 2.8-fold increase in the cytotoxicity of TBZ (IC50 127.3 and 46 μM for TBZ and TBZ MCM-41 nanoparticles, respectively). The results of the proliferation assay were in agreement with those of the cell viability measurements, where the MCM-41 increased the cytotoxicity of TBZ in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, the TBZ MCM-41 nanoparticles were found to enhance the potency of the drug and inhibit PC-3 cell migration. In addition, the ROS assay confirmed that TBZ MCM-41 nanoparticles were approximately 15% more potent than TBZ to produce ROS. Overall, the results demonstrated that MCM-41 nanoparticles are a promising carrier to improve the therapeutic efficacy of TBZ against PC-3 cells and suggest evaluating the efficacy of the formulation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maedeh Koohi Moftakhari Esfahani
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia.,Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
| | - Nazrul Islam
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, 4000, Australia
| | - Peter J Cabot
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia
| | - Emad L Izake
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia.,Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
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Sun M, Zhang Y, Qin J, Ba M, Yao Y, Duan Y, Liu H, Yu D. Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 2-methoxyestradiol derivatives: Potent inhibitors of angiogenesis and tubulin polymerization. Bioorg Chem 2021; 113:104988. [PMID: 34034135 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Here, we report the structural optimization of a hit natural compound, 2-ME2 (2-methoxyestradiol), which exhibited inhibitory activity but low potency on tubulin polymerization, anti- angiogenesis, MCF-7 proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. A novel series of 3,17-modified and 17-modified analogs of 2-ME2 were synthesized and investigated for their antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 and another five different human cancer cell lines leading to the discovery of 9i. 9i bind to tubulin colchicine site tightly, inhibited tubulin polymerization and disrupted cellular microtubule networks. Cellular mechanism studies revealed that 9i could induce G2/M phase arrest by down-regulated expression of p-Cdc2, P21 and cell apoptosis by regulating apoptosis-related proteins (Parp, Caspase families) in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, 9i significantly inhibited HUVEC tube formation, proliferation, migration and invasion. The inhibitory effect against angiogenesis in vivo was confirmed by zebrafish xenograft. Furthermore, 9i could effectively inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of MCF-7 cells in vitro and in zebrafish xenograft. The satisfactory physicochemical property and metabolic stability of 9i further indicated that it can act as a promising and potent anti-angiogenesis, inhibiting proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer agent via targeting tubulin colchicine binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Jinling Qin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Mengyu Ba
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Yongfang Yao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Yongtao Duan
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China.
| | - Hongmin Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Dequan Yu
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021,China
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Florio R, Carradori S, Veschi S, Brocco D, Di Genni T, Cirilli R, Casulli A, Cama A, De Lellis L. Screening of Benzimidazole-Based Anthelmintics and Their Enantiomers as Repurposed Drug Candidates in Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14040372. [PMID: 33920661 PMCID: PMC8072969 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Repurposing of approved non-antitumor drugs represents a promising and affordable strategy that may help to increase the repertoire of effective anticancer drugs. Benzimidazole-based anthelmintics are antiparasitic drugs commonly employed both in human and veterinary medicine. Benzimidazole compounds are being considered for drug repurposing due to antitumor activities displayed by some members of the family. In this study, we explored the effects of a large series of benzimidazole-based anthelmintics (and some enantiomerically pure forms of those containing a stereogenic center) on the viability of different tumor cell lines derived from paraganglioma, pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Flubendazole, parbendazole, oxibendazole, mebendazole, albendazole and fenbendazole showed the most consistent antiproliferative effects, displaying IC50 values in the low micromolar range, or even in the nanomolar range. In silico evaluation of their physicochemical, pharmacokinetics and medicinal chemistry properties also provided useful information related to the chemical structures and potential of these compounds. Furthermore, in view of the potential repurposing of these drugs in cancer therapy and considering that pharmaceutically active compounds may have different mechanisms of action, we performed an in silico target prediction to assess the polypharmacology of these benzimidazoles, which highlighted previously unknown cancer-relevant molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalba Florio
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (R.F.); (S.V.); (D.B.); (T.D.G.); (L.D.L.)
| | - Simone Carradori
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (R.F.); (S.V.); (D.B.); (T.D.G.); (L.D.L.)
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Serena Veschi
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (R.F.); (S.V.); (D.B.); (T.D.G.); (L.D.L.)
| | - Davide Brocco
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (R.F.); (S.V.); (D.B.); (T.D.G.); (L.D.L.)
| | - Teresa Di Genni
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (R.F.); (S.V.); (D.B.); (T.D.G.); (L.D.L.)
| | - Roberto Cirilli
- Centro Nazionale per il Controllo e la Valutazione dei Farmaci, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Adriano Casulli
- WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology, Detection and Control of Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis (in Animals and Humans), Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cama
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (R.F.); (S.V.); (D.B.); (T.D.G.); (L.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Laura De Lellis
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (R.F.); (S.V.); (D.B.); (T.D.G.); (L.D.L.)
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Villanueva PJ, Gutierrez DA, Contreras L, Parra K, Segura-Cabrera A, Varela-Ramirez A, Aguilera RJ. The Antimalarial Drug Pyronaridine Inhibits Topoisomerase II in Breast Cancer Cells and Hinders Tumor Progression In Vivo. CLINICAL CANCER DRUGS 2021; 8:50-56. [PMID: 35178342 DOI: 10.2174/2212697x08666210219101023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Pyronaridine (PND), an antimalarial drug, was shown to exert anticancer activity on seventeen different human cancer cells, seven from female breast tissue. Additionally, PND induced apoptosis via mitochondrial depolarization, alteration of cell cycle progression, and DNA intercalation. However, the molecular target of PND in cells was not elucidated. OBJECTIVE Here, we have further investigated PND's mode of action by using transcriptome analysis. Preclinical studies were also performed to determine whether PND could affect tumor progression in a human breast cancer xenograft in mice. Moreover, we assessed the combined efficacy of PND with well-known anticancer drugs. METHODS Transcriptome analyses of PND-treated cancer cells were performed. Topoisomerase II activity was evaluated by an in vitro assay. In addition, daily oral administration of PND was given to mice with human breast cancer xenografts. The differential nuclear staining assay measured in-vitro cell toxicity. RESULTS The transcriptome signatures suggested that PND might act as a topoisomerase II inhibitor. Thus, topoisomerase inhibition assays were performed, providing evidence that PND is a bona fide topoisomerase II inhibitor. Also, in-vivo studies suggest that PND hinders tumor progression. Besides, combination studies of PND with anticancer drugs cisplatin and gemcitabine revealed higher cytotoxicity against cancer cells than individual drug administration. CONCLUSION The findings provide evidence that PND is a topoisomerase II inhibitor and can hinder cancer progression in an animal model, further demonstrating PND's favorable characteristics as a repurposed anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina J Villanueva
- The Cellular Characterization and Biorepository (CCB) Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX79968-0519, USA
| | - Denisse A Gutierrez
- The Cellular Characterization and Biorepository (CCB) Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX79968-0519, USA
| | - Lisett Contreras
- The Cellular Characterization and Biorepository (CCB) Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX79968-0519, USA
| | - Karla Parra
- The Cellular Characterization and Biorepository (CCB) Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX79968-0519, USA.,Current address: Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Aldo Segura-Cabrera
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Armando Varela-Ramirez
- The Cellular Characterization and Biorepository (CCB) Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX79968-0519, USA
| | - Renato J Aguilera
- The Cellular Characterization and Biorepository (CCB) Core Facility, Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX79968-0519, USA
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