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Benny S, Rajappan Krishnendu P, Kumar S, Bhaskar V, Manisha DS, Abdelgawad MA, Ghoneim MM, Naguib IA, Pappachen LK, Mary Zachariah S, Mathew B, Tp A. A computational investigation of thymidylate synthase inhibitors through a combined approach of 3D-QSAR and pharmacophore modelling. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:8473-8492. [PMID: 37870113 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2270752] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a crucial target of cancer drug discovery and is mainly involved in the De novo synthesis of the DNA precursor thymine. In the present study, to generate reliable models and identify a few promising molecules, we combined QSAR modelling with the pharmacophore hypothesis-generating technique. Input molecules were clustered on their similarity, and a cluster of 74 molecules with a pyrimidine moiety was chosen as the set for 3D-QSAR and pharmacophore modelling. Atom-based and field-based 3D-QSAR models were generated and statistically validated with R2 > 0.90 and Q2 > 0.75. The common pharmacophore hypothesis(CPH) generation identified the best six-point model ADHRRR. Using these best models, a library of FDA-approved drugs was screened for activity and filtered via molecular docking, ADME profiling, and molecular dynamics simulations. The top ten promising TS-inhibiting candidates were identified, and their chemical features profitable for TS inhibitors were explored.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonu Benny
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Prayaga Rajappan Krishnendu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Vaishnav Bhaskar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Deepthi S Manisha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Mohamed A Abdelgawad
- Department of pharmaceutical chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Mohammed M Ghoneim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim A Naguib
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena K Pappachen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Subin Mary Zachariah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Aneesh Tp
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
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Mafi A, Hedayati N, Milasi YE, Kahkesh S, Daviran M, Farahani N, Hashemi M, Nabavi N, Alimohammadi M, Rahimzadeh P, Taheriazam A. The function and mechanism of circRNAs in 5-fluorouracil resistance in tumors: Biological mechanisms and future potential. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 260:155457. [PMID: 39018926 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a well-known chemotherapy drug extensively used in the treatment of breast cancer. It works by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and inducing cell death through direct incorporation into DNA and RNA via thymidylate synthase (TS). Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel family of endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with limited protein-coding potential, contribute to 5-FU resistance. Their identification and targeting are crucial for enhancing chemosensitivity. CircRNAs can regulate tumor formation and invasion by adhering to microRNAs (miRNAs) and interacting with RNA-binding proteins, regulating transcription and translation. MiRNAs can influence enzymes responsible for 5-FU metabolism in cancer cells, affecting their sensitivity or resistance to the drug. In the context of 5-FU resistance, circRNAs can target miRNAs and regulate biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell death, glucose metabolism, hypoxia, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and drug efflux. This review focuses on the function of circRNAs in 5-FU resistance, discussing the underlying molecular pathways and biological mechanisms. It also presents recent circRNA/miRNA-targeted cancer therapeutic strategies for future clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Mafi
- Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Neda Hedayati
- School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yaser Eshaghi Milasi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Samaneh Kahkesh
- Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Minoo Daviran
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Najma Farahani
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Noushin Nabavi
- Independent Researcher, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1P7, Canada
| | - Mina Alimohammadi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Payman Rahimzadeh
- Surgical Research Society (SRS), Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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Urbanowicz K, Turyn J, Smoleński RT, Peters GJ. Novel mass spectrometry-based assay for thymidylate synthase activity. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38660992 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2024.2344187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is an enzyme responsible for the conversion of deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) to deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP), with the co-substrate 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (5,10-CH2-THF) as the methyl donor. TS is the only enzyme capable of de novo biosynthesis of dTMP in humans, a nucleotide crucial for DNA synthesis and therefore cell proliferation and survival. As such, TS is a major drug target in chemotherapy by compounds such as 5-fluorouracil. Due to the clinical and physiological importance of TS, the ability to accurately assay its activity is crucial. Several assays have been developed for this purpose, relying on spectrophotometry or radioisotope labeling methods. In this study, we have developed a liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry-based method for assessing TS activity by direct and specific measurement of the reaction product, dTMP. The assay was tested on mouse liver homogenates. We noted that excessive 5,10-CH2-THF concentration (400 µM) led to substrate inhibition and therefore 200 µM was used. The activity assayed at 1 µM dUMP was linear with protein content and time (up to 60 min) and was 0.56 ± 0.12 pmol/mg protein/min, in line with previously reported values. Additionally, by using a high mass resolution Orbitrap instrument side reactions were monitored, revealing major changes in folate pools and nucleotide metabolism. These findings highlight the value of the developed TS assay for routine TS activity monitoring in complex matrixes such as clinical material.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacek Turyn
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Godefridus J Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
- Laboratory of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Vrije Unversteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Mteremko D, Chilongola J, Paluch AS, Chacha M. Targeting human thymidylate synthase: Ensemble-based virtual screening for drug repositioning and the role of water. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 118:108348. [PMID: 36257147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108348] [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: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A drug repositioning computational approach was carried to search inhibitors for human thymidylate synthase. An ensemble-based virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs showed the drugs Imatinib, Lumacaftor and Naldemedine to be likely candidates for repurposing. The role of water in the drug-receptor interactions was revealed by the application of an extended AutoDock scoring function that included the water forcefield. The binding affinity scores when hydrated ligands were docked were improved in the drugs considered. Further binding free energy calculations based on the Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area method revealed that Imatinib, Lumacaftor and Naldemedine scored -130.7 ± 28.1, -210.6 ± 29.9 and -238.0 ± 25.4 kJ/mol, respectively, showing good binding affinity for the candidates considered. Overall, the analysis of the molecular dynamics trajectory of the receptor-drug complexes revealed stable structures for Imatinib, Lumacaftor and Naldemedine, for the entire simulation time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Mteremko
- The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania.
| | - Jaffu Chilongola
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Andrew S Paluch
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA
| | - Musa Chacha
- The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania; Arusha Technical College, Arusha, Tanzania
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5
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Dey H, Vasudevan K, KR D, Majji R, CN P, C GPD. An integrated gene network analysis to decode the multi-drug resistance mechanism in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Microb Pathog 2022; 173:105878. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Luo C, Xie Y, He M, Xia Y, Li Y, He L, Li J, Wang L, Han X, Zhang L, Yuan X, Wang Z, Liu Y, Tan W. Artificial Nucleobase-Directed Programmable Synthesis and Assembly of Amphiphilic Nucleic Acids as an All-in-One Platform for Cation-Free siRNA Delivery. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:44019-44028. [PMID: 36149091 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c09406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Efficient transport of nucleic acid therapeutics into targeted cells is the key step of genetic modulation in disease treatment. Nowadays, delivery systems strongly rely on cationic materials, but how to balance the trade-off between effectiveness and toxicity of these exogenous materials remains incredibly challenging. Here, we take inspiration from nucleic acid chemistry and introduce a new concept of amphiphilic nucleic acids (ANAs), as an all-in-one platform for cation-free nucleic acid delivery, by programmatically conjugating two different artifical nucleobases with sequence-independent activities. Specifically, the hydrophilic artificial nucleobases in ANAs act as both delivery vectors and therapeutic cargos for integrated benefits, while the hydrophobic nucleobases enable molecular self-assembly for improved stability and endosomal membrane oxidation for enhanced endosomal escape. By virtue of these merits, this platform is successfully used for short interference RNA (siRNA) delivery, which demonstrates a high siRNA loading capacity, rapid cellular uptake, and efficient endosomal escape, eliciting remarkable gene silencing and synergistic inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation and migration. This work is a case study in exploiting the basis of nucleic acid chemistry to afford new paradigms for advanced cancer theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Luo
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Yuqi Xie
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Minze He
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Yinghao Xia
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Yazhou Li
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Lei He
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jili Li
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Han
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Xi Yuan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Yanlan Liu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hu-nan University, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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Onwe EE, Ghani FA, Abdullah M, Osman M, Zin RRM, Vivian AN, Mohtarrudin N. Predictive Potential of PD-L1, TYMS, and DCC Expressions in Treatment Outcome of Colorectal Carcinoma. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1292:97-112. [PMID: 32542457 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2020_521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a malignancy of epithelial origin in the large bowel. The elucidation of the biological functions of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), thymidylate synthase (TYMS), and deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) biomarkers including their roles in the pathophysiology of CRC - has led to their applications in diagnostic and chemo-pharmaceutics. We investigated whether PD-L1, TYMS, and DCC protein expression in CRC tumors are predictive biomarkers of treatment outcome for CRC patients. The expressions of PD-L1, TYMS, and DCC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 91 paraffin-embedded samples from patients who underwent colectomy procedure in Hospital Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. There was high expression of DCC in most cases: 84.6% (77/91). PD-L1 showed low expression in 93.4% (86/91) of cases and high expression in 6.6% (5/91) of cases. Low and high expressions of TYMS were detected in 53.8% (49/91) and 46.2% (42/91) of the CRC cases, respectively. There was a significant association between the TYMS expression and gender (P < 0.05); the expression of TYMS was observed at a high level in 76.2% of males and in 23.8% of females. The mean overall survival (OS) was 100 months for the CRC patients evaluated. The OS for patients with high expression of PD-L1 was 22 months. Patients with high expression of TYMS and DCC showed OS of 90 and 96 months, respectively. The results from this study suggest that PD-L1, TYMS, and DCC expression could be used as biomarkers to stratify CRC patients who could benefit from adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebenyi Emeka Onwe
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Medical Laboratory Science Department, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Fauzah Abd Ghani
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Maha Abdullah
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Malina Osman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Arimokwu Nimbi Vivian
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Norhafizah Mohtarrudin
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Dysregulated Pyrimidine Biosynthesis Contributes to 5-FU Resistance in SCLC Patient-Derived Organoids but Response to a Novel Polymeric Fluoropyrimidine, CF10. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040788. [PMID: 32224870 PMCID: PMC7226016 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemo-immunotherapy is central to the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite modest progress made with the addition of immunotherapy, current cytotoxic regimens display minimal survival benefit and new treatments are needed. Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a well-validated anti-cancer drug target, but conventional TS inhibitors display limited clinical efficacy in refractory or recurrent SCLC. We performed RNA-Seq analysis to identify gene expression changes in SCLC biopsy samples to provide mechanistic insight into the potential utility of targeting pyrimidine biosynthesis to treat SCLC. We identified systematic dysregulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis, including elevated TYMS expression that likely contributes to the lack of efficacy for current TS inhibitors in SCLC. We also identified E2F1-3 upregulation in SCLC as a potential driver of TYMS expression that may contribute to tumor aggressiveness. To test if TS inhibition could be a viable strategy for SCLC treatment, we developed patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from human SCLC biopsy samples and used these to evaluate both conventional fluoropyrimidine drugs (e.g., 5-fluorouracil), platinum-based drugs, and CF10, a novel fluoropyrimidine polymer with enhanced TS inhibition activity. PDOs were relatively resistant to 5-FU and while moderately sensitive to the front-line agent cisplatin, were relatively more sensitive to CF10. Our studies demonstrate dysregulated pyrimidine biosynthesis contributes to drug resistance in SCLC and indicate that a novel approach to target these pathways may improve outcomes.
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Thymidylate synthase maintains the de-differentiated state of triple negative breast cancers. Cell Death Differ 2019; 26:2223-2236. [PMID: 30737477 PMCID: PMC6888897 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-019-0289-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells frequently boost nucleotide metabolism (NM) to support their increased proliferation, but the consequences of elevated NM on tumor de-differentiation are mostly unexplored. Here, we identified a role for thymidylate synthase (TS), a NM enzyme and established drug target, in cancer cell de-differentiation and investigated its clinical significance in breast cancer (BC). In vitro, TS knockdown increased the population of CD24+ differentiated cells, and attenuated migration and sphere-formation. RNA-seq profiling indicated repression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature genes upon TS knockdown, and TS-deficient cells showed an increased ability to invade and metastasize in vivo, consistent with the occurrence of a partial EMT phenotype. Mechanistically, TS enzymatic activity was found essential for maintenance of the EMT/stem-like state by fueling a dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase-dependent pyrimidine catabolism. In patient tissues, TS levels were found significantly higher in poorly differentiated and in triple negative BC, and strongly correlated with worse prognosis. The present study provides the rationale to study in-depth the role of NM at the crossroads of proliferation and differentiation, and depicts new avenues for the design of novel drug combinations for the treatment of BC.
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10
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Abstract
One-carbon metabolism involving the folate and methionine cycles integrates nutritional status from amino acids, glucose and vitamins, and generates diverse outputs, such as the biosynthesis of lipids, nucleotides and proteins, the maintenance of redox status and the substrates for methylation reactions. Long considered a 'housekeeping' process, this pathway has recently been shown to have additional complexity. Genetic and functional evidence suggests that hyperactivation of this pathway is a driver of oncogenesis and establishes a link to cellular epigenetic status. Given the wealth of clinically available agents that target one-carbon metabolism, these new findings could present opportunities for translation into precision cancer medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason W Locasale
- Field of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca New York 14850, USA.
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Watanabe M, Sowa Y, Yogosawa M, Sakai T. Novel MEK inhibitor trametinib and other retinoblastoma gene (RB)-reactivating agents enhance efficacy of 5-fluorouracil on human colon cancer cells. Cancer Sci 2013; 104:687-93. [PMID: 23438367 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Revised: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer has become more complicated and diversified with the appearance of molecular-targeting agents. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been a mainstay of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, but it is still unknown whether the combining of 5-FU with novel molecular-targeting agents is effective. Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a direct target of 5-FU, and the low TS level has been generally supposed to sensitize 5-FU's efficacy. We therefore hypothesized that RB-reactivating agents could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU, because the RB-reactivating agents could suppress the function of transcription factor E2F of TS gene promoter. We used three RB-reactivating agents, trametinib/GSK1120212 (MEK inhibitor), fenofibrate (PPARα agonist), and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor), with 5-FU against human colon cancer HT-29 and HCT15 cells. Trametinib induced p15 and p27 expression and reduced cyclin D1 levels in HT-29 cells. Fenofibrate also dephosphorlated ERK1/2 and reduced cyclin D1 levels in HT-29 cells. LY294002 induced p27 expression in HCT15 cells. All three agents caused dephosphorylation of RB protein and G1-phase arrest with a reduction of TS expression. As a consequence, the combination of 5-FU with each of the agents resulted in a significant decrease of colony numbers in HT-29 or HCT15 cells. These results suggest "RB-reactivation therapy" using molecular-targeting agents to be a new strategy for 5-FU-based chemotherapy. In particular, we strongly expect trametinib, which was discovered in Japan and was recently submitted to FDA for approval, to be used together with established regimens for colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoki Watanabe
- Department of Molecular-Targeting Cancer Prevention, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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Mascaux C, Ekman S, Dooms C, Shepherd FA. Individualized therapy in the adjuvant setting for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s13665-012-0035-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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13
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Epigenetics and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer: an opportunity for treatment tailoring and novel therapeutic strategies. Drug Resist Updat 2011; 14:280-96. [PMID: 21955833 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2011.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Revised: 08/09/2011] [Accepted: 08/13/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Despite many therapeutic opportunities, prognosis remains dismal for patients with metastatic disease, and a significant portion of early-stage patients develop recurrence after chemotherapy. Epigenetic gene regulation is a major mechanism of cancer initiation and progression, through the inactivation of several tumor suppressor genes. Emerging evidence indicates that epigenetics may also play a key role in the development of chemoresistance. In the present review, we summarize epigenetic mechanisms triggering resistance to three commonly used agents in colorectal cancer: 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Those epigenetic biomarkers may help stratify colorectal cancer patients and develop a tailored therapeutic approach. In addition, epigenetic modifications are reversible through specific drugs: histone-deacetylase and DNA-methyl-transferase inhibitors. Preclinical studies suggest that these drugs may reverse chemoresistance in colorectal tumors. In conclusion, an epigenetic approach to colorectal cancer chemoresistance may pave the way to personalized treatment and to innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Yang Z, Cloud A, Hughes D, Johnson LF. Stable inhibition of human thymidylate synthase expression following retroviral introduction of an siRNA gene. Cancer Gene Ther 2006; 13:107-14. [PMID: 16052228 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is an essential enzyme that synthesizes thymidylic acid in the de novo biosynthetic pathway. Inhibiting TS enzyme activity with substrate or cofactor analogs leads to inhibition of DNA replication and cell death. For this reason, TS is an important target enzyme for cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. We describe an alternative approach to reducing cellular TS enzyme activity using short interfering RNA (siRNA) technology to lower TS mRNA levels. Plasmids that direct the synthesis of siRNAs that target nucleotides 898-916 and 965-983 (relative to the A of the translational start codon) of human TS mRNA were highly effective at reducing TS enzyme levels in transient transfection assays. Infection of HeLa cells with retroviruses that contain the effective siRNA genes led to a stable 80-95% reduction of TS enzyme and mRNA. A similar percent reduction in TS expression was observed in a cell line that overproduces TS enzyme 100-fold due to TS gene amplification. Cells that exhibited the greatest reduction in TS enzyme level grew poorly in medium that lacked thymidine. These observations suggest that siRNA approaches may provide an alternative therapeutic strategy to reduce TS enzyme levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Yang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210, USA
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