Amidization of doxorubicin alleviates doxorubicin-induced contractile dysfunction and reduced survival in murine cardiomyocytes

Influence of copper (I) nicotinate complex and autophagy modulation on doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity in HCC1806 breast cancer cells

PURPOSE

Doxorubicin is regarded as the most therapeutic active agent available for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment. However, the development of drug resistance and toxicity limits its effectiveness. Thus, developing novel strategies for TNBC treatment remains a significant challenge and doxorubicin-based combinations either by metal complexes (Copper I nicotinate complex) or with autophagy modulators could provide novel strategies and alternative strategies contributed to cancer cell death pathways, autophagy and apoptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The viability of HCC1806 TNBC cells and IC₅₀ values of Doxorubicin (DOX), Torin-1 (TOR), Chloroquine (CQ) and Copper (I) nicotinate complex (CNC) were assessed by MTT assay. ELISA was used for detecting microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) level. Real time PCR was used to determine (NBR1) gene expression. Cell cycle analysis and quantitative detection of acid vesicular organelles (AVOs) was performed by flow cytometry. TOR and CQ were used as autophagy modulators for induction and suppression of autophagy, respectively.

RESULTS

The half-maximal inhibition effect of TOR combination with DOX was revealed to the induction of autophagic cell death and apoptotic cell death. On the other hand, combination of CQ with DOX increased the growth inhibitory effect, induced accumulation of AVOs and suppressed apoptotic cell death. However, combination of CNC with DOX inhibited autophagy and induced cell cycle arrest.

CONCLUSION

Doxorubicin drug based combinations either with TOR, CQ or CNC could positively affect DOX effectiveness and reduce DOX doses applied on HCC1806 cells through modulation of autophagy.

Repurposing suramin for the treatment of breast cancer lung metastasis with glycol chitosan-based nanoparticles

Suramin (SM), a drug for African sleeping sickness and river blindness therapy, has been investigated in various clinical trials for cancer therapy. However, SM was eventually withdrawn from the market because of its narrow therapeutic window and the side effects associated with multiple targets. In this work, we developed a simple but effective system based on a nontoxic dose of SM combined with a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). SM and glycol chitosan (GCS) formed nanogels because of the electrostatic effect, whereas doxorubicin (DOX) was incorporated into the system through the hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions between DOX and GCS as well as the ionic interactions between DOX and SM to yield GCS-SM/DOX nanoparticles (NPs). GCS-SM/DOX NPs have a size of approximately 186 nm and a spherical morphology. In vitro experiments showed that GCS-SM NPs could effectively inhibit cancer cell migration and invasion, as well as angiogenesis. Furthermore, in a TNBC lung metastasis animal model, GCS-SM/DOX NPs significantly reduced tumor burden and extended the lifespan of animals, while not inducing cardio and renal toxicities associated with the DOX and SM, respectively. As all the components used in this system are biocompatible and easy for large-scale fabrication, the GCS-SM/DOX system is highly translatable for the metastatic breast cancer treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The doxorubicin-loaded glycol chitosan-suramin nanoparticle (GCS-SM/DOX) is novel in the following aspects: SM acts as not only a gelator for the first time in the preparation of the nanoparticle but also an active pharmaceutical agent in the dosage form. GCS-SM/DOX NP significantly reduced tumor burden and extended the lifespan of animals with triple-negative breast cancer lung metastasis. GCS-SM/DOX NPs attenuate cardio and renal toxicities associated with the DOX and SM. The GCS-SM/DOX system is highly translatable because of its simple, one-pot, and easy-to-scale-up preparation protocol.

Mutual Destruction of Deep Lung Tumor Tissues by Nanodrug-Conjugated Stealth Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Lung cancer is a highly malignant tumor, and targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs to deep lung tumor tissue remains a challenge in drug design. Here, it is demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells armed with nanodrugs are highly targeted and mutually destructive with malignant lung cancer cells and successfully eradicate lung tumors tissues. Using this approach, the current clinical dose of anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of malignant lung tumors can be decreased by more than 100-fold without triggering immunotoxicity.

Stem Cell Membrane-Coated Nanogels for Highly Efficient In Vivo Tumor Targeted Drug Delivery

Stem cell membrane-coated nanogels can effectively evade clearance of the immune system, enhance the tumor targeting properties and antitumor chemotherapy efficacy of gelatin nanogels loaded doxorubicin in mice.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 ameliorates doxorubicin-induced myocardial dysfunction through detoxification of 4-HNE and suppression of autophagy

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) protects against cardiac injury via reducing production of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and ROS. This study was designed to examine the impact of ALDH2 on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy and mechanisms involved with a focus on autophagy. 4-HNE and autophagic markers were detected by Western blotting in ventricular tissues from normal donors and patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiac function, 4-HNE and levels of autophagic markers were detected in WT, ALDH2 knockout or ALDH2 transfected mice treated with or without DOX. Autophagy regulatory signaling including PI-3K, AMPK and Akt was examined in DOX-treated cardiomyocytes incubated with or without ALDH2 activator Alda-1. DOX-induced myocardial dysfunction, upregulation of 4-HNE and autophagic proteins were further aggravated in ALDH2 knockout mice while they were ameliorated in ALDH2 transfected mice. DOX downregulated Class I and upregulated Class III PI3-kinase, the effect of which was augmented by ALDH2 deletion. Accumulation of 4-HNE and autophagic protein markers in DOX-induced cardiomyocytes was significantly reduced by Alda-1. DOX depressed phosphorylated Akt but not AMPK, the effect was augmented by ALDH2 knockout. The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA attenuated, whereas autophagy inducer rapamycin mimicked DOX-induced cardiomyocyte contractile defects. In addition, rapamycin effectively mitigated Alda-1-offered protective action against DOX-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction. Our data further revealed downregulated ALDH2 and upregulated autophagy levels in the hearts from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Taken together, our findings suggest that inhibition of 4-HNE and autophagy may be a plausible mechanism underscoring ALDH2-offered protection against DOX-induced cardiac defect. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Protein Quality Control, the Ubiquitin Proteasome System, and Autophagy".

Hollow superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoshells as a hydrophobic anticancer drug carrier: intracelluar pH-dependent drug release and enhanced cytotoxicity

With curcumin and doxorubicin (DOX) base as model drugs, intracellular delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs by hollow structured superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoshells (hydrodynamic diameter: 191.9 ± 2.6 nm) was studied in glioblastoma U-87 MG cells. SPIO nanoshell-based encapsulation provided a stable aqueous dispersion of the curcumin. After the SPIO nanoshells were internalized by U-87 MG cells, they localized at the acidic compartments of endosomes and lysosomes. In endosome/lysosome-mimicking buffers with a pH of 4.5-5.5, pH-dependent drug release was observed from curcumin or DOX loaded SPIO nanoshells (curcumin/SPIO or DOX/SPIO). Compared with the free drug, the intracellular curcumin content delivered via curcumin/SPIO was 30 fold higher. Increased intracellular drug content for DOX base delivered via DOX/SPIO was also confirmed, along with a fast intracellular DOX release that was attributed to its protonation in the acidic environment. DOX/SPIO enhanced caspase-3 activity by twofold compared with free DOX base. The concentration that induced 50% cytotoxic effect (CC(50)) was 0.05 ± 0.03 μg ml(-1) for DOX/SPIO, while it was 0.13 ± 0.02 μg ml(-1) for free DOX base. These results suggested SPIO nanoshells might be a promising intracellular carrier for hydrophobic anticancer drugs.