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Yu T, Rui L, Jiumei Z, Ziwei L, Ying H. Advances in the study of autophagy in breast cancer. Breast Cancer 2024; 31:195-204. [PMID: 38315272 PMCID: PMC10901946 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-023-01541-7] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor among women, with a high incidence and mortality rate all year round, which seriously affects women's health. Autophagy, a well-conserved cellular process inherent in eukaryotic organisms, plays a pivotal role in degrading damaged proteins and organelles, recycling their breakdown products to aid cells in navigating stress and gradually restoring homeostatic equilibrium. Recent studies have unveiled the intricate connection between autophagy and breast cancer. Autophagy is a double-edged sword in breast cancer, demonstrating a dual role: restraining its onset and progression on one hand, while promoting its metastasis and advancement on the other. It is also because of this interrelationship between the two that regulation of autophagy in the treatment of breast cancer is now an important strategy in clinical treatment. In this article, we systematically survey the recent research findings, elucidating the multifaceted role of autophagy in breast cancer and its underlying mechanisms, with the aim of contributing new references to the clinical management of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tang Yu
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liu Rui
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhao Jiumei
- Chongqing Nanchuan District People's Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Ziwei
- Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hu Ying
- The Second Affiliatied Hospital of Kunming Medical University and Department of Clinical Larboratory, Kunming, China.
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2
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Wu Q, Sharma D. Autophagy and Breast Cancer: Connected in Growth, Progression, and Therapy. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081156. [PMID: 37190065 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite an increase in the incidence of breast cancer worldwide, overall prognosis has been consistently improving owing to the development of multiple targeted therapies and novel combination regimens including endocrine therapies, aromatase inhibitors, Her2-targeted therapies, and cdk4/6 inhibitors. Immunotherapy is also being actively examined for some breast cancer subtypes. This overall positive outlook is marred by the development of resistance or reduced efficacy of the drug combinations, but the underlying mechanisms are somewhat unclear. It is interesting to note that cancer cells quickly adapt and evade most therapies by activating autophagy, a catabolic process designed to recycle damaged cellular components and provide energy. In this review, we discuss the role of autophagy and autophagy-associated proteins in breast cancer growth, drug sensitivity, tumor dormancy, stemness, and recurrence. We further explore how autophagy intersects and reduces the efficacy of endocrine therapies, targeted therapies, radiotherapy, chemotherapies as well as immunotherapy via modulating various intermediate proteins, miRs, and lncRNAs. Lastly, the potential application of autophagy inhibitors and bioactive molecules to improve the anticancer effects of drugs by circumventing the cytoprotective autophagy is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qitong Wu
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD 21287-0013, USA
| | - Dipali Sharma
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD 21287-0013, USA
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3
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Alamón C, Dávila B, Cerecetto H, Couto M. Exploring the cell death mechanisms of cytotoxic [1,2,3]triazolylcarborane lead compounds against U87 MG human glioblastoma cells. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 101:1435-1445. [PMID: 36746676 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14208] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Moving towards high-grade glioma drug discovery, this study aimed to detect the mechanism of cellular death (apoptosis, necrosis and/or autophagy) induced by three carboranyl-based lead compounds. For that, we performed in U87 MG cells, flow cytometry experiments, as the gold standard technique, as well as confocal microscopy and 1 H-NMR experiments as non-invasive assays. We selected three hybrid leads (1-3) from the in-house-library and the corresponding parent compounds, and recognized tyrosine kinase inhibitors (lapatinib, sunitinib and erlotinib) to put to the test in these experiments. Flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/DAPI staining showed that leads 1 and 3 and lapatinib mainly induced necrosis in U87 MG upon a 24 h treatment at IC50 dose; meanwhile, hybrid 2, sunitinib and erlotinib seem to induce apoptosis in such cells. In general, confocal microscopy studies were in agreement with flow cytometry observing loss of cell membrane integrity in necrotic cells and features of apoptosis, that is, chromatin condensation, in apoptotic cells. Finally, NMR results showed that glioblastoma cells treated with hybrid 1, 3 or lapatinib displayed changes in CH2 /CH3 signal ratio and choline signals that could indicate necrotic cell death mechanism: meanwhile, 2-, sunitinib- or erlotinib-treated cells showed apoptotic characteristic behaviors. Additionally, carboranyl-hybrid 2 also produced autophagy in U87 MG cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Alamón
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Belén Dávila
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Hugo Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Área de Radiofarmacia, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marcos Couto
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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4
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The cross-talk of autophagy and apoptosis in breast carcinoma: implications for novel therapies? Biochem J 2022; 479:1581-1608. [PMID: 35904454 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is still the most common cancer in women worldwide. Resistance to drugs and recurrence of the disease are two leading causes of failure in treatment. For a more efficient treatment of patients, the development of novel therapeutic regimes is needed. Recent studies indicate that modulation of autophagy in concert with apoptosis induction may provide a promising novel strategy in breast cancer treatment. Apoptosis and autophagy are two tightly regulated distinct cellular processes. To maintain tissue homeostasis abnormal cells are disposed largely by means of apoptosis. Autophagy, however, contributes to tissue homeostasis and cell fitness by scavenging of damaged organelles, lipids, proteins, and DNA. Defects in autophagy promote tumorigenesis, whereas upon tumor formation rapidly proliferating cancer cells may rely on autophagy to survive. Given that evasion of apoptosis is one of the characteristic hallmarks of cancer cells, inhibiting autophagy and promoting apoptosis can negatively influence cancer cell survival and increase cell death. Hence, combination of antiautophagic agents with the enhancement of apoptosis may restore apoptosis and provide a therapeutic advantage against breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the cross-talk of autophagy and apoptosis and the diverse facets of autophagy in breast cancer cells leading to novel models for more effective therapeutic strategies.
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5
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Vitto VAM, Bianchin S, Zolondick AA, Pellielo G, Rimessi A, Chianese D, Yang H, Carbone M, Pinton P, Giorgi C, Patergnani S. Molecular Mechanisms of Autophagy in Cancer Development, Progression, and Therapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071596. [PMID: 35884904 PMCID: PMC9313210 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated process that plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. It involves regulation of various genes that function to degrade unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components, and to recycle metabolic substrates. Autophagy is modulated by many factors, such as nutritional status, energy level, hypoxic conditions, endoplasmic reticulum stress, hormonal stimulation and drugs, and these factors can regulate autophagy both upstream and downstream of the pathway. In cancer, autophagy acts as a double-edged sword depending on the tissue type and stage of tumorigenesis. On the one hand, autophagy promotes tumor progression in advanced stages by stimulating tumor growth. On the other hand, autophagy inhibits tumor development in the early stages by enhancing its tumor suppressor activity. Moreover, autophagy drives resistance to anticancer therapy, even though in some tumor types, its activation induces lethal effects on cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the biological mechanisms of autophagy and its dual role in cancer. In addition, we report the current understanding of autophagy in some cancer types with markedly high incidence and/or lethality, and the existing therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Angela Maria Vitto
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Silvia Bianchin
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Alicia Ann Zolondick
- Thoracic Oncology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA; (A.A.Z.); (H.Y.); (M.C.)
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA
| | - Giulia Pellielo
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Alessandro Rimessi
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Diego Chianese
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Haining Yang
- Thoracic Oncology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA; (A.A.Z.); (H.Y.); (M.C.)
| | - Michele Carbone
- Thoracic Oncology, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA; (A.A.Z.); (H.Y.); (M.C.)
| | - Paolo Pinton
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Carlotta Giorgi
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (S.P.)
| | - Simone Patergnani
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (V.A.M.V.); (S.B.); (G.P.); (A.R.); (D.C.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (S.P.)
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6
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Kim MS, Kim SH, Yang SH, Kim MS. miR-4487 Enhances Gefitinib-Mediated Ubiquitination and Autophagic Degradation of EGFR in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Targeting USP37. Cancer Res Treat 2021; 54:445-457. [PMID: 34352998 PMCID: PMC9016303 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2021.622] [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: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose With the identification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are being used widely as the first-line of treatment in NSCLC. These inhibitors block auto-phosphorylation of activated EGFR by competing with ATP binding and mediate EGFR degradation independent of exogenous epidermal growth factor, which is associated with the mutation variants of EGFR. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the TKI-mediated EGFR degradation are still unclear. Materials and Methods To examine the physiological roles of miR-4487 and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 37 (USP37) in gefitinib-mediated EGFR degradation in NSCLC cells, multiple NSCLC cell lines were applied. The level of EGFR expression, apoptosis marker, and autophagic flux were determined by western blot. Expression level of miR-4487 and cell-cycle arrest was analyzed by TaqMan assay and flow cytometry respectively. Results We found that gefitinib mediates EGFR degradation under normal culture conditions, and is dependent on autophagic flux and the mutation variants of EGFR. Gefitinib reduced expression levels of USP37, which mediated EGFR degradation similar to gefitinib. Our results also showed a gefitinib-mediated increase in endogenous miR-4487 level and presented evidence for the direct targeting of USP37 by miR-4487, resulting in the sequential enhancement of ubiquitination, autophagy, and EGFR degradation. Thus, the depletion of USP37 and overexpression of miR-4487 led to an increase in gefitinib-mediated apoptotic cell death. Conclusion These data suggest that miR-4487 is a potential target for treating NSCLC, and miR-4487/USP37-regulated EGFR degradation is a determinant for developing gefitinib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Seong Kim
- Department of Oral Physiology, Institute of Biomaterial-Implant, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.,Wonkwang Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea
| | - So Hui Kim
- Department of Carbon Convergence Engineering, College of Engineering, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea
| | - Sei Hoon Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea
| | - Min Seuk Kim
- Department of Oral Physiology, Institute of Biomaterial-Implant, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea
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7
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Bi Y, Gong L, Liu P, Xiong X, Zhao Y. Nuclear ErbB2 represses DEPTOR transcription to inhibit autophagy in breast cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:397. [PMID: 33854045 PMCID: PMC8047043 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03686-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
ErbB2, a classical receptor tyrosine kinase, is frequently overexpressed in breast cancer cells. Although the role of ErbB2 in the transmission of extracellular signals to intracellular matrix has been widely studied, the functions of nuclear ErbB2 remain largely elusive. Here, we report a novel function of nuclear ErbB2 in repressing the transcription of DEPTOR, a direct inhibitor of mTOR. Nuclear ErbB2 directly binds to the consensus binding sequence in the DEPTOR promoter to repress its transcription. The kinase activity of ErbB2 is required for its nuclear translocation and transcriptional repression of DEPTOR. Moreover, the repressed DEPTOR by nuclear ErbB2 inhibits the induction of autophagy by activating mTORC1. Thus, our study reveals a novel mechanism for autophagy regulation by functional ErbB2, which translocates to the nucleus and acts as a transcriptional regulator to suppress DEPTOR transcription, leading to activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to inhibit autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Bi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Longyuan Gong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pengyuan Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiufang Xiong
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongchao Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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8
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Huang M, Zhou Y, Duan D, Yang C, Zhou Z, Li F, Kong Y, Hsieh YC, Zhang R, Ding W, Xiao W, Puno P, Chen C. Targeting ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UbcH5b by a triterpenoid PC3-15 from Schisandra plants sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer cells to lapatinib. Cancer Lett 2021; 504:125-136. [PMID: 33607208 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggested that a number of ubiquitin enzymes, including ubiquitin-activating enzymes, ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitination enzymes contribute to therapeutic resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Inhibition of these enzymes with small molecule inhibitors may restore therapeutic sensitivity. Here, we demonstrated ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UbcH5b strongly supports HECTD3 auto-ubiquitination in vitro. Based on this, we developed a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assay and identified three Schisandraceae triterpenoids, including PC3-15, to block HECTD3/UbcH5b auto-ubiquitination. Furthermore, we revealed that PC3-15 directly binds to UbcH5b and also inhibits UbcH5b-mediated p62 ubiquitination. We found that the UbcH5b-p62 axis confers TNBC cells resistance to lapatinib by promoting autophagy. Consistently, PC3-15 inhibits lapatinib-induced autophagy and increases lapatinib sensitivity in TNBC in vitro and in mouse xenografts. These findings suggest that the UbcH5b-p62 axis provides potential therapeutic targets and that Schisandraceae triterpenoids may be used for TNBC treatment in combination with lapatinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maobo Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China; Kunming College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuanfei Zhou
- Kunming College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Dongzhu Duan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, 721013, China
| | - Chuanyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhongmei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Fubing Li
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Yanjie Kong
- Biobank, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital/ the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Yi-Ching Hsieh
- The Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Ruihan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource (Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province), State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, 2 North Cuihu Road, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Wenping Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Weilie Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource (Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province), State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, 2 North Cuihu Road, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - PemaTenzin Puno
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China; KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
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9
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Cocco S, Leone A, Piezzo M, Caputo R, Di Lauro V, Di Rella F, Fusco G, Capozzi M, Gioia GD, Budillon A, De Laurentiis M. Targeting Autophagy in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7836. [PMID: 33105796 PMCID: PMC7660056 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease consisting of different biological subtypes, with differences in terms of incidence, response to diverse treatments, risk of disease progression, and sites of metastases. In the last years, several molecular targets have emerged and new drugs, targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR and cyclinD/CDK/pRb pathways and tumor microenvironment have been integrated into clinical practice. However, it is clear now that breast cancer is able to develop resistance to these drugs and the identification of the underlying molecular mechanisms is paramount to drive further drug development. Autophagy is a highly conserved homeostatic process that can be activated in response to antineoplastic agents as a cytoprotective mechanism. Inhibition of autophagy could enhance tumor cell death by diverse anti-cancer therapies, representing an attractive approach to control mechanisms of drug resistance. In this manuscript, we present a review of autophagy focusing on its interplay with targeted drugs used for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Cocco
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Alessandra Leone
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.L.); (A.B.)
| | - Michela Piezzo
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Roberta Caputo
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Lauro
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Francesca Di Rella
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Giuseppina Fusco
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Monica Capozzi
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Germira di Gioia
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Alfredo Budillon
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.L.); (A.B.)
| | - Michelino De Laurentiis
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
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10
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Tumors Responsive to Autophagy-Inhibition: Identification and Biomarkers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092463. [PMID: 32878084 PMCID: PMC7563256 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although the principle of personalized medicine has been the focus of attention, many cancer therapies are still based on a one-size-fits-all approach. The same holds true for targeting cancer cell survival mechanism that allows cancer cells to recycle their constituents (autophagy). In the past several indicators of elevated dependence of cancer cells on autophagy have been described. Addition of autophagy-inhibiting agents could be beneficial in treatment of these tumors. The biomarkers and mechanisms that lead to elevated dependence on autophagy are reviewed in the current manuscript. Abstract Recent advances in cancer treatment modalities reveal the limitations of the prevalent “one-size-fits-all” therapies and emphasize the necessity to develop personalized approaches. In this perspective, identification of predictive biomarkers and intrinsic vulnerabilities are an important advancement for further therapeutic strategies. Autophagy is an important lysosomal degradation and recycling pathway that provides energy and macromolecular precursors to maintain cellular homeostasis. Although all cells require autophagy, several genetic and/or cellular changes elevate the dependence of cancer cells on autophagy for their survival and indicates that autophagy inhibition in these tumors could provide a favorable addition to current therapies. In this context, we review the current literature on tumor (sub)types with elevated dependence on autophagy for their survival and highlight an exploitable vulnerability. We provide an inventory of microenvironmental factors, genetic alterations and therapies that may be exploited with autophagy-targeted approaches to improve efficacy of conventional anti-tumor therapies.
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11
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Dong X, Yang Y, Zhou Y, Bi X, Zhao N, Zhang Z, Li L, Hang Q, Zhang R, Chen D, Cao P, Yin Z, Luo L. Glutathione S-transferases P1 protects breast cancer cell from adriamycin-induced cell death through promoting autophagy. Cell Death Differ 2019; 26:2086-2099. [PMID: 30683915 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-019-0276-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutathione S-transferases P1 (GSTP1) is a phase II detoxifying enzyme and increased expression of GSTP1 has been linked with acquired resistance to anti-cancer drugs. However, most anticancer drugs are not good substrates for GSTP1, suggesting that the contribution of GSTP1 to drug resistances might not be dependent on its capacity to detoxify chemicals or drugs. In the current study, we found a novel mechanism by which GSTP1 protects human breast cancer cells from adriamycin (ADR)-induced cell death and contributes to the drug resistance. GSTP1 protein level is very low in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 but is high in ADR-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells. Under ADR treatment, MCF-7/ADR cells showed a higher autophagy level than MCF-7 cells. Overexpression of GSTP1 in MCF-7 cells by using the DNA transfection vector enhanced autophagy and down-regulation of GSTP1 through RNA interference in MCF-7/ADR cells decreased autophagy. When autophagy was prevented, GSTP1-induced ADR resistance reduced. We found that GSTP1 enhanced autophagy level in MCF-7 cells through interacting with p110α subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and then inhibited PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity. Proline123, leucine160, and glutamine163, which located in C terminal of GSTP1, are essential for GSTP1 to interact with p110α, and the following autophagy and drug resistance regulation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that high level of GSTP1 maintains resistance of breast cancer cells to ADR through promoting autophagy. These new molecular insights provide an important contribution to our better understanding the effect of GSTP1 on the resistance of tumors to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.,Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210028, China.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210028, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medicine Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaowen Bi
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medicine Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ningwei Zhao
- Shimadzu Biomedical Research Laboratory, Shanghai, 200233, China.,Laboratory of Pharmacology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Zhengping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.,Jiangsu Simovay Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qiyun Hang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ruhui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Dan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210028, China.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210028, China
| | - Zhimin Yin
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medicine Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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12
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Zambrano JN, Williams CJ, Williams CB, Hedgepeth L, Burger P, Dilday T, Eblen ST, Armeson K, Hill EG, Yeh ES. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of hormonally up-regulated neu-associated kinase. Oncotarget 2018; 9:35962-35973. [PMID: 30542510 PMCID: PMC6267597 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
HUNK is a protein kinase that is implicated in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer progression and resistance to HER2 inhibitors. Though prior studies suggest there is therapeutic potential for targeting HUNK in HER2+ breast cancer, pharmacological agents that target HUNK are yet to be identified. A recent study showed that the broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor staurosporine binds to the HUNK catalytic domain, but the effect of staurosporine on HUNK enzymatic activity was not tested. We now show that staurosporine inhibits the kinase activity of a full length HUNK protein. Our findings further suggest that inhibiting HUNK with staurosporine has a strong effect on suppressing cell viability of HER2/neu mammary and breast cancer cells, which express high levels of HUNK protein and are dependent on HUNK for survival. Significantly, we use in vitro and in vivo methods to show that staurosporine synergizes with the HER2 inhibitor lapatinib to restore sensitivity toward HER2 inhibition in a HER2 inhibitor resistant breast cancer model. Collectively, these studies indicate that pharmacological inhibition of HUNK kinase activity has therapeutic potential for HER2+ breast cancers, including HER2+ breast cancers that have developed drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joelle N Zambrano
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Christina J Williams
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Carly Bess Williams
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Lonzie Hedgepeth
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Pieter Burger
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Tinslee Dilday
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Scott T Eblen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Kent Armeson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Elizabeth G Hill
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Yeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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13
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Yu T, Cho BJ, Choi EJ, Park JM, Kim DH, Kim IA. Radiosensitizing effect of lapatinib in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:79089-79100. [PMID: 27738326 PMCID: PMC5346700 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Trastuzumab has been widely used for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer, however, it cannot easily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is known to increase the incidence of brain metastases. In contrast, lapatinib has a low molecular weight and can cross the BBB and it could be useful to treat brain metastases in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. To explore the impact of lapatinib on radiation response, we conducted an in vitro experiment using SKBR3 and BT474 breast carcinoma cells exhibiting HER2/neu amplification. Lapatinib down-regulated phosphorylated (p)-HER2, p-epidermal growth factor receptor, p-AKT, and p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Pretreatment of lapatinib increased the radiosensitivity of SKBR3 (sensitizer enhancement ratio [SER]: 1.21 at a surviving fraction of 0.5) and BT474 (SER: 1.26 at a surviving fraction of 0.5) cells and hindered the repair of DNA damage, as suggested by the prolongation of radiation-induced γH2AX foci and the down-regulation of phosphorylated DNA-dependent protein kinase, catalytic subunit (p-DNAPKcs). Increases in radiation-induced apoptosis and senescence were suggested to be the major modes of cell death induced by the combination of lapatinib and radiation. Furthermore, lapatinib did not radiosensitize a HER2- negative breast cancer cell line or normal human astrocytes. These findings suggest that lapatinib can potentiate radiation-induced cell death in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and may increase the efficacy of radiotherapy. A phase II clinical trial using lapatinib concurrently with whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is currently being conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tosol Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong Jun Cho
- Medical Science Research Institute, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jung Choi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Min Park
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Medical Science Research Institute, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dan Hyo Kim
- Medical Science Research Institute, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In Ah Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Medical Science Research Institute, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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14
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Zhang X, Yang H, Yue S, He G, Qu S, Zhang Z, Ma B, Ding R, Peng W, Zhang H, Yang Z, Dou K, Tao K, Li X. The mTOR inhibition in concurrence with ERK1/2 activation is involved in excessive autophagy induced by glycyrrhizin in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Med 2017; 6:1941-1951. [PMID: 28675698 PMCID: PMC5548872 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a life phenomenon in which autophagosomes remove damaged or aging organelles and long‐lived circulating proteins to maintain the cell's stability. However, disorders of excessive autophagy are a response of cancer cells to a variety of anticancer treatments which lead to cancer cell death. The Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways are both involved in nutrient‐induced autophagic phenomenon and exhibit vital relevance to oncogenesis in various cancer cell types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the influence of autophagy for cancer cell death remains controversial and few scientists have investigated the variation of these two signaling pathways in cancer cell autophagic phenomenon induced by anticancer treatment simultaneously. Here, we explored the anticancer efficacy and mechanisms of glycyrrhizin (GL), a bioactive compound of licorice with little toxicity in normal cells. It is interesting that inhibition of Akt/mTOR signaling in concurrence with enhanced ERK1/2 activity exists in GL‐induced autophagy and cytotoxicity in HepG2 and MHCC97‐H hepatocellular carcinoma cells. These results imply that the GL‐related anticancer ability might correlate with the induction of autophagy. The influence of induced autophagic phenomenon on cell viability might depend on the severity of autophagy and be pathway specific. In the subsequent subcutaneous xenograft experiment in vivo with MHCC97‐H cells, GL obviously exhibited its inhibitory efficacy in tumor growth via inducing excess autophagy in MHCC97‐H cells (P < 0.05). Our data prompt that GL possesses a property of excess autophagic phenomenon induction in HCC and exerts high anticancer efficacy in vitro and in vivo. This warrants further investigation toward possible clinical applications in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Geriatrics, Xi'an No. 1 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuqiang Yue
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guangbin He
- Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shibin Qu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhuochao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ben Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wei Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hongtao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhaoxu Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kefeng Dou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kaishan Tao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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15
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Xia J, Yu X, Song X, Li G, Mao X, Zhang Y. Inhibiting the cytoplasmic location of HMGB1 reverses cisplatin resistance in human cervical cancer cells. Mol Med Rep 2016; 15:488-494. [PMID: 27959427 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.6003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women worldwide, and resistance to chemotherapy drugs is the biggest obstacle in the treatment of cervical cancers. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance in human cervical cancer cells were investigated. When human cervical cancer cells were treated with 10 µg/ml of cisplatin for 24 and 48 h, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein expression levels significantly increased in a time‑dependent manner. Comparisons between cisplatin‑sensitive HeLa cells and cisplatin‑resistant HeLa/DDP cells revealed higher levels of HMGB1 in HeLa/DDP cells than in HeLa cells. Additionally, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for cisplatin in HeLa/DDP cells was 5.3‑fold that in HeLa cells. Analysis of the distribution of cellular components revealed that HMGB1 translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm contributed to cisplatin resistance. This was further confirmed by demonstration that ethyl pyruvate treatment suppressed the cytoplasmic translocation of HMGB1, resulting in inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation. Furthermore, endogenous HMGB1 was inhibited with HMGB1‑specific short hairpin (sh)RNA, and MTT assay results showed that interference with HMGB1 expression reduced cell viability and potentially reversed cisplatin resistance in HeLa cells. Transfection with HMGB1 shRNA was demonstrated to induce cell apoptosis in HeLa cells, as detected by FACS analysis. In addition, administration of recombinant HMGB1 protein in HeLa cells promoted cell autophagy, mediated by the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‑regulated kinase 1/2. Thus, cytoplasmic HMGB1 translocation and HMGB1‑induced cell autophagy are proposed to contribute to cisplatin resistance by inhibiting apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. HMGB1 could, therefore, represent a novel therapeutic target for, and a diagnostic marker of, chemotherapy resistant cervical cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyi Xia
- School of Medical Information and Engineering, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolan Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Experimental Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Xiguang Mao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Yujiao Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
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16
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Shi H, Zhang W, Zhi Q, Jiang M. Lapatinib resistance in HER2+ cancers: latest findings and new concepts on molecular mechanisms. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:10.1007/s13277-016-5467-2. [PMID: 27726101 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5467-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the era of new and mostly effective molecular targeted therapies, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) cancers are still intractable diseases. Lapatinib, a dual epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has greatly improved breast cancer prognosis in recent years after the initial introduction of trastuzumab (Herceptin). However, clinical evidence indicates the existence of both primary unresponsiveness and secondary lapatinib resistance, which leads to the failure of this agent in HER2+ cancer patients. It remains a major clinical challenge to target the oncogenic pathways with drugs having low resistance. Multiple pathways are involved in the occurrence of lapatinib resistance, including the pathways of receptor tyrosine kinase, non-receptor tyrosine kinase, autophagy, apoptosis, microRNA, cancer stem cell, tumor metabolism, cell cycle, and heat shock protein. Moreover, understanding the relationship among these mechanisms may contribute to future tumor combination therapies. Therefore, it is of urgent necessity to elucidate the precise mechanisms of lapatinib resistance and improve the therapeutic use of this agent in clinic. The present review, in the hope of providing further scientific support for molecular targeted therapies in HER2+ cancers, discusses about the latest findings and new concepts on molecular mechanisms underlying lapatinib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiping Shi
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215006, China
| | - Weili Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangcheng People's Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215131, China
| | - Qiaoming Zhi
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215006, China.
| | - Min Jiang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215006, China.
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17
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Zambrano J, Yeh ES. Autophagy and Apoptotic Crosstalk: Mechanism of Therapeutic Resistance in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. BREAST CANCER-BASIC AND CLINICAL RESEARCH 2016; 10:13-23. [PMID: 26997868 PMCID: PMC4790584 DOI: 10.4137/bcbcr.s32791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
While breast cancer patients benefit from the use of HER2 inhibitors, many fail therapy and become resistant to treatment, indicating a critical need to prevent treatment failure. A number of studies have emerged that highlight the catabolic process of autophagy in breast cancer as a mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy and targeted inhibitors. Furthermore, recent research has begun to dissect how autophagy signaling crosstalks with apoptotic signaling. Thus, a possible strategy in fighting resistance is to couple targeting of apoptotic and autophagy signaling pathways. In this review, we discuss how cellular response by autophagy circumvents cell death to promote resistance of breast cancers to HER2 inhibitors, as well as the potential avenues of therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joelle Zambrano
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Yeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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18
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Mukhopadhyay S, Sinha N, Das DN, Panda PK, Naik PP, Bhutia SK. Clinical relevance of autophagic therapy in cancer: Investigating the current trends, challenges, and future prospects. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2016; 53:228-52. [PMID: 26743568 DOI: 10.3109/10408363.2015.1135103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Oncophagy (cancer-related autophagy) has a complex dual character at different stages of tumor progression. It remains an important clinical problem to unravel the reasons that propel the shift in the role of oncophagy from tumor inhibition to a protective mechanism that shields full-blown malignancy. Most treatment strategies emphasize curbing protective oncophagy while triggering the oncophagy that is lethal to tumor cells. In this review, we focus on the trends in current therapeutics as well as various challenges in clinical trials to address the oncophagic dilemma and evaluate the potential of these developing therapies. A detailed analysis of the clinical and pre-clinical scenario of the anticancer medicines highlights the various inducers and inhibitors of autophagy. The ways in which tumor stage, the microenvironment and combination drug treatment continue to play an important tactical role are discussed. Moreover, autophagy targets also play a crucial role in developing the best possible solution to this oncophagy paradox. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update on the current clinical impact of autophagy-based cancer therapeutic drugs and try to lessen the gap between translational medicine and clinical science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhadip Mukhopadhyay
- a Department of Life Science , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , Odisha , India
| | - Niharika Sinha
- a Department of Life Science , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , Odisha , India
| | - Durgesh Nandini Das
- a Department of Life Science , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , Odisha , India
| | - Prashanta Kumar Panda
- a Department of Life Science , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , Odisha , India
| | - Prajna Paramita Naik
- a Department of Life Science , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , Odisha , India
| | - Sujit Kumar Bhutia
- a Department of Life Science , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , Odisha , India
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19
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Regulation of cell survival by HUNK mediates breast cancer resistance to HER2 inhibitors. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2014; 149:91-8. [PMID: 25515931 PMCID: PMC4342830 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-014-3227-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer patients who are HER2-positive receive targeted inhibitors to HER2, including trastuzumab and lapatinib. While patients benefit from the use of HER2 inhibitors, many fail therapy and almost all patients become resistant to treatment, indicating a critical need to prevent treatment failure. Several recent studies indicate that activation of autophagy contributes to trastuzumab and lapatinib resistance and demonstrate that impairing autophagy in breast cancer cells is therapeutically beneficial. Moreover, autophagy is mechanistically linked through signaling crosstalk to apoptotic pathways, where activation of one process impacts the other. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms that control these processes may uncover novel areas of therapeutic intervention to combat or prevent resistance in breast cancer. We previously characterized the protein kinase HUNK as a breast cancer-promoting factor in HER2/neu-induced mammary tumor models, in which HUNK supported the survival of HER2/neu-positive tumor cells, likely through the regulation of apoptosis. Because significant crosstalk exists between apoptotic and autophagy proteins, we now examine if HUNK is also able to regulate cell survival through modulation of autophagy using HER2 inhibitor sensitive and resistant breast cancer models. Furthermore, we investigate whether inhibiting HUNK impairs in vivo tumor growth that is initiated by HER2 inhibitor-resistant breast cancer cells. Our findings indicate that therapeutically targeting HUNK is a potential strategy for overcoming resistance and that resistant breast cancer cells maintain HUNK expression to drive tumorigenesis, an observation that is consistent with a pro-survival role for this kinase.
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20
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Chen YJ, Chi CW, Su WC, Huang HL. Lapatinib induces autophagic cell death and inhibits growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2014; 5:4845-54. [PMID: 24947784 PMCID: PMC4148104 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Lapatinib, an orally administered small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) and Her2/Neu, has been widely accepted in the treatment of breast cancer. In this study, we found that lapatinib induced cytotoxicity in human hepatoma Huh7, HepG2 and HA22T cells. For the mode of cell death, we found lapatinib induced a higher percent of dead cells and a lower percent of hypodiploid cells, suggesting non-apoptotic cell death in lapatinib-treated hepatoma cells. Moreover, lapatinib-induced autophagy in hepatoma cells was confirmed by the detection of autophagic LC3-II conversion, the up-regulation of autophagy-related proteins, and the down-regulation of p62 by immunoblotting. Autophagic cell death was demonstrated by images of punctuated LC3 patterns, a higher percent of acridine orange positive cells, as well as a partial rescue of cell death by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine or chloroquine. We also found massive vacuoles in lapatinib-treated hepatoma cells by electronic microscopy. In addition, the shRNA of knocked-down autophagy-related proteins rescued the hepatoma cells from lapatinib-induced growth inhibition. We also demonstrated a reduction of tumorigenesis by lapatinib in vivo. In conclusion, lapatinib induced autophagic cell death and the growth of human hepatoma cells. Our study provides potential cancer therapies by using lapatinib as a treatment for hepatoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jen Chen
- Department of Medical Research Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wen Chi
- Department of Medical Research Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Su
- Research Center for Emerging Viruses, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Huey-Lan Huang
- Department of Bioscience Technology, College of Health Science, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan
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21
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Targeting of preexisting and induced breast cancer stem cells with trastuzumab and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1149. [PMID: 24675467 PMCID: PMC3973200 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) has substantially improved overall survival for patients with aggressive HER2-positive breast cancer. However, about 70% of all treated patients will experience relapse or disease progression. This may be related to an insufficient targeting of the CD44highCD24low breast cancer stem cell subset, which is not only highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy but also a poor target for trastuzumab due to low HER2 surface expression. Hence, we explored whether the new antibody-drug conjugate T-DM1, which consists of the potent chemotherapeutic DM1 coupled to trastuzumab, could improve the targeting of these tumor-initiating or metastasis-initiating cells. To this aim, primary HER2-overexpressing tumor cells as well as HER2-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer cell lines were treated with T-DM1, and effects on survival, colony formation, gene and protein expression as well as antibody internalization were assessed. This revealed that CD44highCD24lowHER2low stem cell-like breast cancer cells show high endocytic activity and are thus particularly sensitive towards the antibody-drug conjugate T-DM1. Consequently, preexisting CD44highCD24low cancer stem cells were depleted by concentrations of T-DM1 that did not affect the bulk of the tumor cells. Likewise, colony formation was efficiently suppressed. Moreover, when tumor cells were cocultured with natural killer cells, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity was enhanced, and EMT-mediated induction of stem cell-like properties was prevented in differentiated tumor cells. Thus our study reveals an unanticipated targeting of stem cell-like breast cancer cells by T-DM1 that may contribute to the clinical efficacy of this recently approved antibody-drug conjugate.
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22
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Zhu X, Wu L, Qiao H, Han T, Chen S, Liu X, Jiang R, Wei Y, Feng D, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Zhang S, Zhang J. Autophagy stimulates apoptosis in HER2-overexpressing breast cancers treated by lapatinib. J Cell Biochem 2013; 114:2643-53. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xingmei Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Lin Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Hongyu Qiao
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Tenglong Han
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Suning Chen
- Department of Pharmacy; Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Xueying Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Ru Jiang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Yifang Wei
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Dayun Feng
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Yongzheng Ma
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Shengyong Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
| | - Jian Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; The Fourth Military Medical University; Xi'an; Shaanxi; 710032; China
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23
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Dragowska WH, Weppler SA, Wang JC, Wong LY, Kapanen AI, Rawji JS, Warburton C, Qadir MA, Donohue E, Roberge M, Gorski SM, Gelmon KA, Bally MB. Induction of autophagy is an early response to gefitinib and a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76503. [PMID: 24146879 PMCID: PMC3795739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gefitinib (Iressa(®), ZD1839) is a small molecule inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase. We report on an early cellular response to gefitinib that involves induction of functional autophagic flux in phenotypically diverse breast cancer cells that were sensitive (BT474 and SKBR3) or insensitive (MCF7-GFPLC3 and JIMT-1) to gefitinib. Our data show that elevation of autophagy in gefitinib-treated breast cancer cells correlated with downregulation of AKT and ERK1/2 signaling early in the course of treatment. Inhibition of autophagosome formation by BECLIN-1 or ATG7 siRNA in combination with gefitinib reduced the abundance of autophagic organelles and sensitized SKBR3 but not MCF7-GFPLC3 cells to cell death. However, inhibition of the late stage of gefitinib-induced autophagy with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or bafilomycin A1 significantly increased (p<0.05) cell death in gefitinib-sensitive SKBR3 and BT474 cells, as well as in gefitinib-insensitive JIMT-1 and MCF7-GFPLC3 cells, relative to the effects observed with the respective single agents. Treatment with the combination of gefitinib and HCQ was more effective (p<0.05) in delaying tumor growth than either monotherapy (p>0.05), when compared to vehicle-treated controls. Our results also show that elevated autophagosome content following short-term treatment with gefitinib is a reversible response that ceases upon removal of the drug. In aggregate, these data demonstrate that elevated autophagic flux is an early response to gefitinib and that targeting EGFR and autophagy should be considered when developing new therapeutic strategies for EGFR expressing breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wieslawa H. Dragowska
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sherry A. Weppler
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jun Chih Wang
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ling Yan Wong
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anita I. Kapanen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jenna S. Rawji
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Corinna Warburton
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mohammed A. Qadir
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Donohue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michel Roberge
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Center for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sharon M. Gorski
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karen A. Gelmon
- Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marcel B. Bally
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Center for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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24
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Rikiishi H. Autophagic action of new targeting agents in head and neck oncology. Cancer Biol Ther 2012; 13:978-91. [PMID: 22825332 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.21079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival rates of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) have not improved significantly despite multi-modality therapy, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Recently, molecular targeted agents have shown significant improvement in clinical outcomes; for example, in chronic myelogeneous leukemia with imatinib, breast cancer with trastuzumab, colon cancer with bevacizumab and cetuximab, and renal cell cancer with sorafenib and sunitinib. In HNSCC, the epidermal growth factor receptor antibody cetuximab has shown promising results in combination with radiation. Targeted agents including cetuximab induce stresses to activate prosurvival autophagy. Combining autophagy inhibitors with agents that induce autophagy as a prosurvival response may therefore increase their therapeutic efficacy. Whether autophagy contributes to the prosurvival response or to the antitumor effect of chemotherapeutic drugs is largely unknown. This review will discuss the possible role of autophagy as a novel target for anticancer therapy agents in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidemi Rikiishi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan.
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25
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Cook KL, Shajahan AN, Clarke R. Autophagy and endocrine resistance in breast cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2012; 11:1283-94. [PMID: 21916582 DOI: 10.1586/era.11.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The American Cancer Society estimates that over 200,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the USA alone. Of these cases, the majority are invasive breast cancers and almost 70% are estrogen receptor-α positive. Therapies targeting the estrogen receptor-α are widely applied and include selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor downregulator such as Fulvestrant (Faslodex; FAS, ICI 182,780), or one of the third-generation aromatase inhibitors including letrozole or anastrozole. While these treatments reduce breast cancer mortality, many estrogen receptor-α-positive tumors eventually recur, highlighting the clinical significance of endocrine therapy resistance. The signaling leading to endocrine therapy resistance is poorly understood; however, preclinical studies have established an important role for autophagy in the acquired resistance phenotype. Autophagy is a cellular degradation process initiated in response to stress or nutrient deprivation, which attempts to restore metabolic homeostasis through the catabolic lysis of aggregated proteins, unfolded/misfolded proteins or damaged subcellular organelles. The duality of autophagy, which can be either pro-survival or pro-death, is well known. However, in the context of endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer, the inhibition of autophagy can potentiate resensitization of previously antiestrogen resistant breast cancer cells. In this article, we discuss the complex and occasionally contradictory roles of autophagy in cancer and in resistance to endocrine therapies in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Cook
- Department of Oncology and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center W405A Research Building, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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