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Gaikwad S, Srivastava SK. Reprogramming tumor immune microenvironment by milbemycin oxime results in pancreatic tumor growth suppression and enhanced anti-PD-1 efficacy. Mol Ther 2024; 32:3145-3162. [PMID: 39097773 PMCID: PMC11403213 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a survival rate of 12%, and multiple clinical trials testing anti-PD-1 therapies against PDAC have failed, suggesting a need for a novel therapeutic strategy. In this study, we evaluated the potential of milbemycin oxime (MBO), an antiparasitic compound, as an immunomodulatory agent in PDAC. Our results show that MBO inhibited the growth of multiple PDAC cell lines by inducing apoptosis. In vivo studies showed that the oral administration of 5 mg/kg MBO inhibited PDAC tumor growth in both subcutaneous and orthotopic models by 49% and 56%, respectively. Additionally, MBO treatment significantly increased the survival of tumor-bearing mice by 27 days as compared to the control group. Interestingly, tumors from MBO-treated mice had increased infiltration of CD8+ T cells. Notably, depletion of CD8+ T cells significantly reduced the anti-tumor efficacy of MBO in mice. Furthermore, MBO significantly augmented the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy, and the combination treatment resulted in a greater proportion of active cytotoxic T cells within the tumor microenvironment. MBO was safe and well tolerated in all our preclinical toxicological studies. Overall, our study provides a new direction for the use of MBO against PDAC and highlights the potential of repurposing MBO for enhancing anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreyas Gaikwad
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K Srivastava
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Abilene, TX 79601, USA.
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2
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Jabarin A, Shtar G, Feinshtein V, Mazuz E, Shapira B, Ben-Shabat S, Rokach L. Eravacycline, an antibacterial drug, repurposed for pancreatic cancer therapy: insights from a molecular-based deep learning model. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae108. [PMID: 38647152 PMCID: PMC11033730 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae108] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a serious threat to health, with limited effective therapeutic options, especially due to advanced stage at diagnosis and its inherent resistance to chemotherapy, making it one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The lack of clear treatment directions underscores the urgent need for innovative approaches to address and manage this deadly condition. In this research, we repurpose drugs with potential anti-cancer activity using machine learning (ML). METHODS We tackle the problem by using a neural network trained on drug-target interaction information enriched with drug-drug interaction information, which has not been used for anti-cancer drug repurposing before. We focus on eravacycline, an antibacterial drug, which was selected and evaluated to assess its anti-cancer effects. RESULTS Eravacycline significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of BxPC-3 cells and induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION Our study highlights the potential of drug repurposing for cancer treatment using ML. Eravacycline showed promising results in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, migration and inducing apoptosis in PDAC. These findings demonstrate that our developed ML drug repurposing models can be applied to a wide range of new oncology therapeutics, to identify potential anti-cancer agents. This highlights the potential and presents a promising approach for identifying new therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Jabarin
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Guy Shtar
- Department of Information Systems and Software Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Valeria Feinshtein
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Eyal Mazuz
- Department of Information Systems and Software Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Bracha Shapira
- Department of Information Systems and Software Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Shimon Ben-Shabat
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Lior Rokach
- Department of Information Systems and Software Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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3
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Alshehri MM, Danazumi AU, Alshammari MK, Bello RO, Alghazwni MK, Alshehri AM, Alshlali OM, Umar HI. Repurposing the inhibitors of MMP-9 and SGLT-2 against ubiquitin specific protease 30 in Parkinson's disease: computational modelling studies. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:1307-1318. [PMID: 37139557 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2208223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin specific protease 30 (USP30) has been attributed to mitochondrial dysfunction and impediment of mitophagy in Parkinson's disease (PD). This happens once ubiquitin that supposed to bind with deformed mitochondria at the insistence of Parkin, it's been recruited by USP30 via the distal ubiquitin binding domain. This is a challenge when PINK1 and Parkin loss their functions due to mutation. Although, there are reports on USP30s' inhibitors but no study on the repurposing of inhibitors approved against MMP-9 and SGLT-2 as potential inhibitors of USP30 in PD. Thus, the highlight therein, is to repurpose approved inhibitors of MMP-9 and SGLT-2 against USP30 in PD using extensive computational modelling framework. 3D structures of Ligands and USP30 were obtained from PubChem and protein database (PDB) servers respectively, and were subjected to molecular docking, ADMET evaluation, DFT calculation, molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) and free energy calculations. Out of the 18 drugs, 2 drugs showed good binding affinity to the distal ubiquitin binding domain, moderate pharmacokinetic properties and good stability. The findings showed canagliflozin and empagliflozin as potential inhibitors of USP30. Thus, we present these drugs as repurposing candidates for the treatment of PD. However, the findings in this current study needs to be validated experimentally.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M Alshehri
- Pharmaceutical Care Department, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ammar Usman Danazumi
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
- Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammed Kanan Alshammari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Rafha Central Hospital, Rafha, North Zone, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ridwan Opeyemi Bello
- Computer-Aided Therapeutic Discovery and Design Group, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
| | | | - Ahmed Mughram Alshehri
- Pharmaceutical care Department, Security Forces Hospital - Riyadh, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Haruna Isiyaku Umar
- Computer-Aided Therapeutic Discovery and Design Group, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
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4
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Fatemi N, Karimpour M, Bahrami H, Zali MR, Chaleshi V, Riccio A, Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad E, Totonchi M. Current trends and future prospects of drug repositioning in gastrointestinal oncology. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1329244. [PMID: 38239190 PMCID: PMC10794567 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1329244] [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: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers comprise a significant number of cancer cases worldwide and contribute to a high percentage of cancer-related deaths. To improve survival rates of GI cancer patients, it is important to find and implement more effective therapeutic strategies with better prognoses and fewer side effects. The development of new drugs can be a lengthy and expensive process, often involving clinical trials that may fail in the early stages. One strategy to address these challenges is drug repurposing (DR). Drug repurposing is a developmental strategy that involves using existing drugs approved for other diseases and leveraging their safety and pharmacological data to explore their potential use in treating different diseases. In this paper, we outline the existing therapeutic strategies and challenges associated with GI cancers and explore DR as a promising alternative approach. We have presented an extensive review of different DR methodologies, research efforts and examples of repurposed drugs within various GI cancer types, such as colorectal, pancreatic and liver cancers. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of employing the DR approach in GI cancers to inform future research endeavors and clinical trials in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayeralsadat Fatemi
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Karimpour
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hoda Bahrami
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Chaleshi
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Andrea Riccio
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB) “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Ehsan Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Totonchi
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Rohilla A, Rohilla S. Drug Repositioning: A Monetary Stratagem to Discover a New Application of Drugs. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2024; 21:e101023222023. [PMID: 38629171 DOI: 10.2174/0115701638253929230922115127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Drug repurposing, also referred to as drug repositioning or drug reprofiling, is a scientific approach to the detection of any new application for an already approved or investigational drug. It is a useful policy for the invention and development of new pharmacological or therapeutic applications of different drugs. The strategy has been known to offer numerous advantages over developing a completely novel drug for certain problems. Drug repurposing has numerous methodologies that can be categorized as target-oriented, drug-oriented, and problem-oriented. The choice of the methodology of drug repurposing relies on the accessible information about the drug molecule and like pharmacokinetic, pharmacological, physicochemical, and toxicological profile of the drug. In addition, molecular docking studies and other computer-aided methods have been known to show application in drug repurposing. The variation in dosage for original target diseases and novel diseases presents a challenge for researchers of drug repurposing in present times. The present review critically discusses the drugs repurposed for cancer, covid-19, Alzheimer's, and other diseases, strategies, and challenges of drug repurposing. Moreover, regulatory perspectives related to different countries like the United States (US), Europe, and India have been delineated in the present review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Rohilla
- Department of Pharmacology, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, 140413, Mohali, India
| | - Seema Rohilla
- Department of Pharmacy, Panipat Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panipat, Haryana, India
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6
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Zhang Y, Huang Q, Xu Q, Jia C, Xia Y. Pimavanserin tartrate induces apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy and synergizes with chemotherapy on triple negative breast cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115665. [PMID: 37832400 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a significant clinical challenge due to its lack of targeted therapy options and the frequent development of chemotherapy resistance. Metastasis remains a primary cause of mortality in late-stage TNBC patients, underscoring the urgent need for alternative treatments. Repurposing existing drugs offers a promising strategy for the discovery of novel therapies. In this study, we investigated the potential of pimavanserin tartrate (PVT) as a treatment for TNBC. While previous studies have highlighted PVT's anticancer effects in various cancer types, its activity in TNBC remains unclear. Our investigation aimed to elucidate the anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of PVT in TNBC. We evaluated the impact of PVT and combination treatments involving PVT on TNBC cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy, and associated signaling pathways. Our findings revealed that PVT may induce mitochondria-dependent intrinsic apoptosis and caused cytoprotective autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in TNBC cells in vitro. Notably, our study demonstrated strong synergistic anti-TNBC effects when combining PVT with doxorubicin. We also found PVT showed some efficacies to inhibit TNBC tumor growth in vivo. These results provided valuable insights into the potential of PVT as an anti-TNBC therapeutic and a possible option for enhancing the sensitivity of TNBC cells to conventional chemotherapy drugs. Further studies are needed to determine the activity and mechanism of PVT in inhibiting TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqian Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qianrui Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qisi Xu
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chengsen Jia
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yong Xia
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province/Rehabilitation Medicine Research Institute, Chengdu 610041, China.
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7
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Agrawal MY, Gaikwad S, Srivastava S, Srivastava SK. Research Trend and Detailed Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Food Bioactive Compounds against Cancer: A Comprehensive Review with Special Emphasis on Probiotics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225482. [PMID: 36428575 PMCID: PMC9688469 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In an attempt to find a potential cure for cancer, scientists have been probing the efficacy of the food we eat and its bioactive components. Over the decades, there has been an exponentially increasing trend of research correlating food and cancer. This review explains the molecular mechanisms by which bioactive food components exhibit anticancer effects in several cancer models. These bioactive compounds are mainly plant based or microbiome based. While plants remain the primary source of these phytochemicals, little is known about probiotics, i.e., microbiome sources, and their relationships with cancer. Thus, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of probiotics are discussed in this review. The principal mode of cell death for most food bioactives is found to be apoptosis. Principal oncogenic signaling axes such as Akt/PI3K, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB seem to be modulated due to these bioactives along with certain novel targets that provide a platform for further oncogenic research. It has been observed that probiotics have an immunomodulatory effect leading to their chemopreventive actions. Various foods exhibit better efficacy as complete extracts than their individual phytochemicals, indicating an orchestrated effect of the food components. Combining bioactive agents with available chemotherapies helps synergize the anticancer action of both to overcome drug resistance. Novel techniques to deliver bioactive agents enhance their therapeutic response. Such combinations and novel approaches are also discussed in this review. Notably, most of the food components that have been studied for cancer have shown their efficacy in vivo. This bolsters the claims of these studies and, thus, provides us with hope of discovering anticancer agents in the food that we eat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas Yogendra Agrawal
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
- Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Shreyas Gaikwad
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
- Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | | | - Sanjay K. Srivastava
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
- Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-325-696-0464; Fax: +1-325-676-3875
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8
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Brown JS. Treatment of cancer with antipsychotic medications: Pushing the boundaries of schizophrenia and cancer. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 141:104809. [PMID: 35970416 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Over a century ago, the phenothiazine dye, methylene blue, was discovered to have both antipsychotic and anti-cancer effects. In the 20th-century, the first phenothiazine antipsychotic, chlorpromazine, was found to inhibit cancer. During the years of elucidating the pharmacology of the phenothiazines, reserpine, an antipsychotic with a long historical background, was likewise discovered to have anti-cancer properties. Research on the effects of antipsychotics on cancer continued slowly until the 21st century when efforts to repurpose antipsychotics for cancer treatment accelerated. This review examines the history of these developments, and identifies which antipsychotics might treat cancer, and which cancers might be treated by antipsychotics. The review also describes the molecular mechanisms through which antipsychotics may inhibit cancer. Although the overlap of molecular pathways between schizophrenia and cancer have been known or suspected for many years, no comprehensive review of the subject has appeared in the psychiatric literature to assess the significance of these similarities. This review fills that gap and discusses what, if any, significance the similarities have regarding the etiology of schizophrenia.
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9
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Kaushik I, Srivastava SK. GABA A receptor agonist suppresses pediatric medulloblastoma progression by inhibiting PKA-Gli1 signaling axis. Mol Ther 2022; 30:2584-2602. [PMID: 35331907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sonic hedgehog-activated subgroup of medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) is one of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumors. Recent clinical studies and genomic databases indicate that GABAA receptor holds significant clinical relevance as a therapeutic target for pediatric MB. Herein, we report that "moxidectin," a GABAA receptor agonist, inhibits the proliferation of Daoy, UW426, UW228, ONS76, and PFSK1 SHH-MB cells by inducing apoptosis. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that moxidectin significantly induced GABAA receptor expression and inhibited cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-Gli1 signaling in SHH-MB. Gli1 and the downstream effector cancer stem cell (CSC) molecules such as Pax6, Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog were also inhibited by moxidectin treatment. Interestingly, moxidectin also inhibited the expression of MDR1. Mechanistic studies using pharmacological or genetic inhibitors/activators of PKA and Gli1 confirmed that the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of moxidectin were mediated through inhibition of PKA-Gli1 signaling. Oral administration of 2.5 mg/kg moxidectin suppressed the growth of SHH-MB tumors by 55%-80% in subcutaneous and intracranial tumor models in mice. Ex vivo analysis of excised tumors confirmed the observations made in the in vitro studies. Moxidectin is an FDA-approved drug with an established safety record, therefore any positive findings from our studies will prompt its further clinical investigation for the treatment of MB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itishree Kaushik
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K Srivastava
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA.
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10
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Nuplazid suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo by targeting PAK4. Br J Cancer 2021; 126:1037-1046. [PMID: 34912075 PMCID: PMC8980085 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01651-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Due to the high recurrence and low 5-year survival rates of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after treatment, the discovery of novel drugs for recurrence chemoprevention is of particular importance. Methods We screened the FDA-approved drug library and found that Nuplazid, an atypical antipsychotic that acts as an effective 5-HT 2 A receptor inverse agonist, could potentially exert anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo on ESCC. Results Pull-down results indicated that Nuplazid binds with p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), and a kinase assay showed that Nuplazid strongly suppressed PAK4 kinase activity. Moreover, Nuplazid exhibited inhibitory effects on ESCC in vivo. Conclusions Our findings indicate that Nuplazid can suppress ESCC progression through targeting PAK4.
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11
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Ramachandran S, Kaushik IS, Srivastava SK. Pimavanserin: A Novel Autophagy Modulator for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225661. [PMID: 34830816 PMCID: PMC8616166 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic tumors exhibit high basal autophagy compared to that of other cancers. Several studies including those from our laboratory reported that enhanced autophagy leads to apoptosis in cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the autophagy and apoptosis inducing effects of Pimavanserin tartrate (PVT). Autophagic effects of PVT were determined by Acridine Orange assay and Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis. Clinical significance of ULK1 in normal and pancreatic cancer patients was evaluated by R2 and GEPIA cancer genomic databases. Modulation of proteins in autophagy signaling was assessed by Western blotting and Immunofluorescence. Apoptotic effects of PVT was evaluated by Annexin-V/APC assay. Subcutaneous xenograft pancreatic tumor model was used to evaluate the autophagy-mediated apoptotic effects of PVT in vivo. Autophagy was induced upon PVT treatment in pancreatic ducal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Pancreatic cancer patients exhibit reduced levels of autophagy initiator gene, ULK1, which correlated with reduced patient survival. Interestingly, PVT induced the expression of autophagy markers ULK1, FIP200, Atg101, Beclin-1, Atg5, LC3A/B, and cleavage of caspase-3, an indicator of apoptosis in several PDAC cells. ULK1 agonist LYN-1604 enhanced the autophagic and apoptotic effects of PVT. On the other hand, autophagy inhibitors chloroquine and bafilomycin blocked the autophagic and apoptotic effects of PVT in PDAC cells. Notably, chloroquine abrogated the growth suppressive effects of PVT by 25% in BxPC3 tumor xenografts in nude mice. Collectively, our results indicate that PVT mediated pancreatic tumor growth suppression was associated with induction of autophagy mediated apoptosis.
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12
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Identification of pimavanserin tartrate as a potent Ca 2+-calcineurin-NFAT pathway inhibitor for glioblastoma therapy. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2021; 42:1860-1874. [PMID: 34363007 PMCID: PMC8563877 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00724-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant type of primary brain tumor, and 95% of patients die within 2 years after diagnosis. In this study, aiming to overcome chemoresistance to the first-line drug temozolomide (TMZ), we carried out research to discover a novel alternative drug targeting the oncogenic NFAT signaling pathway for GBM therapy. To accelerate the drug's clinical application, we took advantage of a drug repurposing strategy to identify novel NFAT signaling pathway inhibitors. After screening a set of 93 FDA-approved drugs with simple structures, we identified pimavanserin tartrate (PIM), an effective 5-HT2A receptor inverse agonist used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease-associated psychiatric symptoms, as having the most potent inhibitory activity against the NFAT signaling pathway. Further study revealed that PIM suppressed STIM1 puncta formation to inhibit store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and subsequent NFAT activity. In cellula, PIM significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, division, and motility of U87 glioblastoma cells, induced G1/S phase arrest and promoted apoptosis. In vivo, the growth of subcutaneous and orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts was markedly suppressed by PIM. Unbiased omics studies revealed the novel molecular mechanism of PIM's antitumor activity, which included suppression of the ATR/CDK2/E2F axis, MYC, and AuroraA/B signaling. Interestingly, the genes upregulated by PIM were largely associated with cholesterol homeostasis, which may contribute to PIM's side effects and should be given more attention. Our study identified store-operated calcium channels as novel targets of PIM and was the first to systematically highlight the therapeutic potential of pimavanserin tartrate for glioblastoma.
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De Lellis L, Veschi S, Tinari N, Mokini Z, Carradori S, Brocco D, Florio R, Grassadonia A, Cama A. Drug Repurposing, an Attractive Strategy in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: Preclinical and Clinical Updates. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3946. [PMID: 34439102 PMCID: PMC8394389 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, since patients rarely display symptoms until an advanced and unresectable stage of the disease. Current chemotherapy options are unsatisfactory and there is an urgent need for more effective and less toxic drugs to improve the dismal PC therapy. Repurposing of non-oncology drugs in PC treatment represents a very promising therapeutic option and different compounds are currently being considered as candidates for repurposing in the treatment of this tumor. In this review, we provide an update on some of the most promising FDA-approved, non-oncology, repurposed drug candidates that show prominent clinical and preclinical data in pancreatic cancer. We also focus on proposed mechanisms of action and known molecular targets that they modulate in PC. Furthermore, we provide an explorative bioinformatic analysis, which suggests that some of the PC repurposed drug candidates have additional, unexplored, oncology-relevant targets. Finally, we discuss recent developments regarding the immunomodulatory role displayed by some of these drugs, which may expand their potential application in synergy with approved anticancer immunomodulatory agents that are mostly ineffective as single agents in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura De Lellis
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Serena Veschi
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Nicola Tinari
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (N.T.); (A.G.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology—CAST, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Zhirajr Mokini
- European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) Mentorship Programme, ESAIC, 24 Rue des Comédiens, BE-1000 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Simone Carradori
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Davide Brocco
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Rosalba Florio
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
| | - Antonino Grassadonia
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (N.T.); (A.G.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology—CAST, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cama
- Department of Pharmacy, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.V.); (S.C.); (D.B.); (R.F.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology—CAST, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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