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Nunes M, Duarte D, Vale N, Ricardo S. The Antineoplastic Effect of Carboplatin Is Potentiated by Combination with Pitavastatin or Metformin in a Chemoresistant High-Grade Serous Carcinoma Cell Line. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010097. [PMID: 36613537 PMCID: PMC9820586 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of Carboplatin with Paclitaxel is the mainstay treatment for high-grade serous carcinoma; however, many patients with advanced disease undergo relapse due to chemoresistance. Drug repurposing coupled with a combination of two or more compounds with independent mechanisms of action has the potential to increase the success rate of the antineoplastic treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the combination of Carboplatin with repurposed drugs led to a therapeutic benefit. Hence, we assessed the cytotoxic effects of Carboplatin alone and in combination with several repurposed drugs (Pitavastatin, Metformin, Ivermectin, Itraconazole and Alendronate) in two tumoral models, i.e., Carboplatin (OVCAR8) and Carboplatin-Paclitaxel (OVCAR8 PTX R P) chemoresistant cell lines and in a non-tumoral (HOSE6.3) cell line. Cellular viability was measured using the Presto Blue assay, and the synergistic interactions were evaluated using the Chou-Talalay, Bliss Independence and Highest Single Agent reference models. Combining Carboplatin with Pitavastatin or Metformin displayed the highest cytotoxic effect and the strongest synergism among all combinations for OVCAR8 PTX R P cells, resulting in a chemotherapeutic effect superior to Carboplatin as a single agent. Concerning HOSE6.3 cells, combining Carboplatin with almost all the repurposed drugs demonstrated a safe pharmacological profile. Overall, we propose that Pitavastatin or Metformin could act synergistically in combination with Carboplatin for the management of high-grade serous carcinoma patients with a Carboplatin plus Paclitaxel resistance profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Nunes
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Diana Duarte
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Ricardo
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Toxicology Research Unit (TOXRUN), University Institute of Health Sciences, Polytechnic and University Cooperative (CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Barczyński B, Frąszczak K, Kotarski J. Perspectives of metformin use in endometrial cancer and other gynaecological malignancies. J Drug Target 2021; 30:359-367. [PMID: 34753372 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2021.2005072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia play a key role in type 1 endometrial cancer pathogenesis. Most of these cancers develop on a background of overweight or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One of the medications widely used in the treatment of T2DM is biguanide derivative, metformin, which exerts promising anticancer properties principally through activation of adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK) and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Many epidemiological studies on diabetic patients show potential preventative role of metformin in endometrial cancer patients, but data regarding its therapeutic role is still limited. So far, most of attention has been paid to the concept of metformin use in fertility sparing treatment of early-stage cancer. Another investigated alternative is its application in patients with primary advanced or recurrent disease. In this review we present the latest data on clinical use of metformin in endometrial cancer patients and potential underlying mechanisms of its activity. Finally, we present some most important clinical information regarding metformin efficacy in other gynaecological malignancies, mainly breast and ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Barczyński
- Ist Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Karolina Frąszczak
- Ist Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jan Kotarski
- Ist Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Abreu de Oliveira WA, Moens S, El Laithy Y, van der Veer BK, Athanasouli P, Cortesi EE, Baietti MF, Koh KP, Ventura JJ, Amant F, Annibali D, Lluis F. Wnt/β-Catenin Inhibition Disrupts Carboplatin Resistance in Isogenic Models of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:705384. [PMID: 34367990 PMCID: PMC8340846 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.705384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype, characterized by limited treatment options and higher relapse rates than hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay treatment for TNBC, and platinum salts have been explored as a therapeutic alternative in neo-adjuvant and metastatic settings. However, primary and acquired resistance to chemotherapy in general and platinum-based regimens specifically strongly hampers TNBC management. In this study, we used carboplatin-resistant in vivo patient-derived xenograft and isogenic TNBC cell-line models and detected enhanced Wnt/β-catenin activity correlating with an induced expression of stem cell markers in both resistant models. In accordance, the activation of canonical Wnt signaling in parental TNBC cell lines increases stem cell markers' expression, formation of tumorspheres and promotes carboplatin resistance. Finally, we prove that Wnt signaling inhibition resensitizes resistant models to carboplatin both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the synergistic use of Wnt inhibitors and carboplatin as a therapeutic option in TNBC. Here we provide evidence for a prominent role of Wnt signaling in mediating resistance to carboplatin, and we establish that combinatorial targeting of Wnt signaling overcomes carboplatin resistance enhancing chemotherapeutic drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stijn Moens
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Department of Oncology, Gynecological Oncology Lab 3000, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Youssef El Laithy
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bernard K van der Veer
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paraskevi Athanasouli
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emanuela Elsa Cortesi
- Translational Cell and Tissue Research - Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Kian Peng Koh
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Juan-Jose Ventura
- Translational Cell and Tissue Research - Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Amant
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Department of Oncology, Gynecological Oncology Lab 3000, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Centre for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek-Netherlands Cancer Institute (AvL-NKI), University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Daniela Annibali
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Department of Oncology, Gynecological Oncology Lab 3000, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Division of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frederic Lluis
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Lee TY, Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Schilder RJ, Kim CH, Richard SD, Rosenblum NG, Johnson JM. Metformin as a Therapeutic Target in Endometrial Cancers. Front Oncol 2018; 8:341. [PMID: 30211120 PMCID: PMC6121131 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries. Its increasing incidence is thought to be related in part to the rise of metabolic syndrome, which has been shown to be a risk factor for the development of hyperestrogenic and hyperinsulinemic states. This has consequently lead to an increase in other hormone-responsive cancers as well e.g., breast and ovarian cancer. The correlation between obesity, hyperglycemia, and endometrial cancer has highlighted the important role of metabolism in cancer establishment and persistence. Tumor-mediated reprogramming of the microenvironment and macroenvironment can range from induction of cytokines and growth factors to stimulation of surrounding stromal cells to produce energy-rich catabolites, fueling the growth, and survival of cancer cells. Such mechanisms raise the prospect of the metabolic microenvironment itself as a viable target for treatment of malignancies. Metformin is a biguanide drug that is a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes that has beneficial effects on various markers of the metabolic syndrome. Many studies suggest that metformin shows potential as an adjuvant treatment for uterine and other cancers. Here, we review the evidence for metformin as a treatment for cancers of the endometrium. We discuss the available clinical data and the molecular mechanisms by which it may exert its effects, with a focus on how it may alter the tumor microenvironment. The pleiotropic effects of metformin on cellular energy production and usage as well as intercellular and hormone-based interactions make it a promising candidate for reprogramming of the cancer ecosystem. This, along with other treatments aimed at targeting tumor metabolic pathways, may lead to novel treatment strategies for endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Y Lee
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Russell J Schilder
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Christine H Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Scott D Richard
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Norman G Rosenblum
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jennifer M Johnson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Ezewuiro O, Grushko TA, Kocherginsky M, Habis M, Hurteau JA, Mills KA, Hunn J, Olopade OI, Fleming GF, Romero IL. Association of Metformin Use with Outcomes in Advanced Endometrial Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147145. [PMID: 26788855 PMCID: PMC4720394 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that metformin, a commonly used treatment for diabetes, might have the potential to be repurposed as an economical and safe cancer therapeutic. The aim of this study was to determine whether stage III-IV or recurrent endometrial cancer patients who are using metformin during treatment with chemotherapy have improved survival. To test this we analyzed a retrospective cohort of subjects at two independent institutions who received chemotherapy for stage III-IV or recurrent endometrial cancer from 1992 to 2011. Diagnosis of diabetes, metformin use, demographics, endometrial cancer clinico-pathologic parameters, and survival duration were abstracted. The primary outcome was overall survival. The final cohort included 349 patients, 31 (8.9%) had diabetes and used metformin, 28 (8.0%) had diabetes but did not use metformin, and 291 (83.4%) did not have diabetes. The results demonstrate that the median overall survival was 45.6 months for patients with diabetes who used metformin compared to 12.5 months for patients with diabetes who did not use metformin and 28.5 months for patients without diabetes (log-rank test comparing the three groups P = 0.006). In a model adjusted for confounders, the difference in survival between the three groups remained statistically significant (P = 0.023). The improvement in survival among metformin users was not explained by better baseline health status or more aggressive use of chemotherapy. Overall, the findings in this retrospective cohort of endometrial cancer patients with stage III-IV or recurrent disease treated with chemotherapy indicate that patients with diabetes who were concurrently treated with metformin survived longer than patients with diabetes who did not use metformin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obiageli Ezewuiro
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Tatyana A. Grushko
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Masha Kocherginsky
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mohammed Habis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gordon Center for Integrative Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jean A. Hurteau
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NorthShore University Health System, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Kathryn A. Mills
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gordon Center for Integrative Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jessica Hunn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gordon Center for Integrative Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | | | - Gini F. Fleming
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Iris L. Romero
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gordon Center for Integrative Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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