2
|
Moral-Sanz J, Fernandez-Rojo MA, Colmenarejo G, Kurdyukov S, Brust A, Ragnarsson L, Andersson Å, Vila SF, Cabezas-Sainz P, Wilhelm P, Vela-Sebastian A, Fernández-Carrasco I, Chin YKY, López-Mancheño Y, Smallwood TB, Clark RJ, Fry BG, King GF, Ramm GA, Alewood PF, Lewis RJ, Mulvenna JP, Boyle GM, Sanchez LE, Neely GG, Miles JJ, Ikonomopoulou MP. The structural conformation of the tachykinin domain drives the anti-tumoral activity of an octopus peptide in melanoma BRAF V600E. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:4878-4896. [PMID: 35818835 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15923] [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: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Over the past decades, targeted therapies and immunotherapy have vastly improved survival and reduced the morbidity of patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, drug resistance and relapse hinder overall success. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel compounds with therapeutic efficacy against BRAF- melanoma. This prompted us to investigate the antiproliferative profile of a tachykinin-peptide from the Octopus kaurna, Octpep-1 in melanoma. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We evaluated the cytotoxicity of Octpep-1 by MTT assay. Mechanistic insights on viability and cellular damage caused by Octpep-1 were gained via flow cytometry and bioenergetics. Structural and pharmacological characterization was conducted by molecular modelling, molecular biology, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, high-throughput mRNA and calcium flux analysis. In-vivo efficacy was validated in two independent xerograph animal models (mice and zebrafish). KEY RESULTS Octpep-1 selectively reduced the proliferative capacity of human melanoma BRAFV600E -mutated cells with minimal effects on fibroblasts. In melanoma-treated cells, Octpep-1 increased ROS with unaltered mitochondrial membrane potential and promoted non-mitochondrial and mitochondrial respiration with inefficient ATP coupling. Despite similarities with tachykinin peptides, knock-out or pharmacological blockade of tachykinin receptors suggested that Octpep-1 acts via a tachykinin-independent mechanism. Molecular modelling revealed that the cytotoxicity of Octpep-1 depends upon the α-helix and polyproline conformation in the C-terminal region of the peptide. Indeed, a truncated form of the C-terminal end of Octpep-1 displayed enhanced potency and efficacy against melanoma. Octpep-1 reduced the progression of tumors in xenograft melanoma mice and zebrafish, confirming its therapeutic potential in human BRAF-mutated melanoma. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS We unravel the intrinsic anti-tumoral properties of a tachykinin peptide, possessing a pharmacology independent of tachykinin-receptors. This peptide mediates the selective cytotoxicity in BRAF-mutated melanoma in-vitro and prevents tumor progression in-vivo, providing the foundation for a potential therapy against melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Moral-Sanz
- Translational Venomics Group, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel A Fernandez-Rojo
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Group, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid, Spain.,Hepatic Fibrosis Group, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia.,Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Gonzalo Colmenarejo
- Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Unit, Madrid Institute for Advances Studies in Food, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergey Kurdyukov
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Andreas Brust
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Lotten Ragnarsson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Åsa Andersson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Sabela F Vila
- Translational Venomics Group, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Pablo Cabezas-Sainz
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Patrick Wilhelm
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ana Vela-Sebastian
- Translational Venomics Group, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Yanni K Y Chin
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Yaiza López-Mancheño
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Group, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid, Spain
| | - Taylor B Smallwood
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J Clark
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Bryan G Fry
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia
| | - Grant A Ramm
- Hepatic Fibrosis Group, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J Lewis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jason P Mulvenna
- Infectious Diseases Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Glen M Boyle
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Laura E Sanchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - G Gregory Neely
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - John J Miles
- Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,James Cook University, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics and Centre for Biosecurity in Tropical Infectious Diseases, Cairns, Australia.,The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Maria P Ikonomopoulou
- Translational Venomics Group, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food, Madrid, Spain.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wong KCW, Hui EP, Lo KW, Lam WKJ, Johnson D, Li L, Tao Q, Chan KCA, To KF, King AD, Ma BBY, Chan ATC. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an evolving paradigm. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2021; 18:679-695. [PMID: 34194007 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00524-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The past three decades have borne witness to many advances in the understanding of the molecular biology and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancer endemic to southern China, southeast Asia and north Africa. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary overview of key research findings regarding NPC pathogenesis, treatment, screening and biomarker development. We describe how technological advances have led to the advent of proton therapy and other contemporary radiotherapy approaches, and emphasize the relentless efforts to identify the optimal sequencing of chemotherapy with radiotherapy through decades of clinical trials. Basic research into the pathogenic role of EBV and the genomic, epigenomic and immune landscape of NPC has laid the foundations of translational research. The latter, in turn, has led to the development of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets and of improved approaches for individualizing immunotherapy and targeted therapies for patients with NPC. We provide historical context to illustrate the effect of these advances on treatment outcomes at present. We describe current preclinical and clinical challenges and controversies in the hope of providing insights for future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth C W Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Edwin P Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kwok-Wai Lo
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Wai Kei Jacky Lam
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - David Johnson
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Lili Li
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Qian Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kwan Chee Allen Chan
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ann D King
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Brigette B Y Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Anthony T C Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
| |
Collapse
|