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Abstract
For over three decades, a mainstay and goal of clinical oncology has been the development of therapies promoting the effective elimination of cancer cells by apoptosis. This programmed cell death process is mediated by several signalling pathways (referred to as intrinsic and extrinsic) triggered by multiple factors, including cellular stress, DNA damage and immune surveillance. The interaction of apoptosis pathways with other signalling mechanisms can also affect cell death. The clinical translation of effective pro-apoptotic agents involves drug discovery studies (addressing the bioavailability, stability, tumour penetration, toxicity profile in non-malignant tissues, drug interactions and off-target effects) as well as an understanding of tumour biology (including heterogeneity and evolution of resistant clones). While tumour cell death can result in response to therapy, the selection, growth and dissemination of resistant cells can ultimately be fatal. In this Review, we present the main apoptosis pathways and other signalling pathways that interact with them, and discuss actionable molecular targets, therapeutic agents in clinical translation and known mechanisms of resistance to these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wafik S El-Deiry
- The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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Portillo-Lara R, Alvarez MM. Enrichment of the Cancer Stem Phenotype in Sphere Cultures of Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Occurs through Activation of Developmental Pathways Mediated by the Transcriptional Regulator ΔNp63α. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130118. [PMID: 26110651 PMCID: PMC4481544 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer stem cells (CSC) drive prostate cancer tumor survival and metastasis. Nevertheless, the development of specific therapies against CSCs is hindered by the scarcity of these cells in prostate tissues. Suspension culture systems have been reported to enrich CSCs in primary cultures and cell lines. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been fully explored. Methodology/Principal Findings We describe a prostasphere assay for the enrichment of CD133+ CSCs in four commercial PCa cell lines: 22Rv1, DU145, LNCaP, and PC3. Overexpression of CD133, as determined by flow cytometric analysis, correlated with an increased clonogenic, chemoresistant, and invasive potential in vitro. This phenotype is concordant to that of CSCs in vivo. Gene expression profiling was then carried out using the Cancer Reference panel and the nCounter system from NanoString Technologies. This analysis revealed several upregulated transcripts that can be further explored as potential diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets. Furthermore, functional annotation analysis suggests that ΔNp63α modulates the activation of developmental pathways responsible for the increased stem identity of cells growing in suspension cultures. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that profiling the genetic mechanisms involved in CSC enrichment will help us to better understand the molecular pathways that underlie CSC pathophysiology. This platform can be readily adapted to enrich and assay actual patient samples, in order to design patient-specific therapies that are aimed particularly against CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Portillo-Lara
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - Mario Moisés Alvarez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Lee M, Wiedemann T, Gross C, Leinhäuser I, Roncaroli F, Braren R, Pellegata NS. Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling Displays Potent Antitumor Efficacy against Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 21:3204-15. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Zhao Q, Gao J. Sensitive and selective detection of thrombin by using a cyclic peptide as affinity ligand. Biosens Bioelectron 2014; 63:21-25. [PMID: 25048449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Here we describe a sensitive assay for thrombin by using a high binding-affinity cyclic peptide against thrombin as affinity ligand. The cyclic peptide is immobilized on the magnetic beads or microplates to selectively capture thrombin. The enriched thrombin then catalyzes the cleavage of a substrate of thrombin to a detectable product. The detection of thrombin is finally achieved by measuring the generated product. This assay enables the detection of thrombin at tens fM in 100 µL of sample solution when fluorogenic substrate was applied, while detection limits reached pM level when chromogenic substrate was used. Thrombin in plasma sample can be detected with this assay. This cyclic peptide affinity ligand shows potentials for thrombin analysis in other detection formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhao
- Research Institute of Environmental Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
| | - Jie Gao
- Research Institute of Environmental Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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Mathieu AL, Sperandio O, Pottiez V, Balzarin S, Herlédan A, Elkaïm JO, Fogeron ML, Piveteau C, Dassonneville S, Deprez B, Villoutreix BO, Bonnefoy N, Leroux F. Identification of Small Inhibitory Molecules Targeting the Bfl-1 Anti-Apoptotic Protein That Alleviates Resistance to ABT-737. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 19:1035-46. [PMID: 24809353 DOI: 10.1177/1087057114534070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
One approach currently being developed in anticancer drug discovery is to search for small compounds capable of occupying and blocking the hydrophobic pocket of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members necessary for interacting with pro-apoptotic proteins. Such an approach led to the discovery of several compounds, such as ABT-737 (which interacts with Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and Bcl-w) or the latest one, ABT-199, that selectively targets Bcl-2 protein. The efficacy of those compounds is, however, limited by the expression of two other anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members, Mcl-1 and Bfl-1. Based on the role of Bfl-1 in cancer, especially in chemoresistance associated with its overexpression in B-cell malignancies, we searched for modulators of protein-protein interaction through a high-throughput screening of a designed chemical library with relaxed drug-like properties to identify small molecules targeting Bfl-1 anti-apoptotic protein. We found two compounds that display electrophilic functions, interact with Bfl-1, inhibit Bfl-1 protective activity, and promote cell death of malignant B cells. Of particular interest, we observed a synergistic effect of those compounds with ABT-737 in Bfl-1 overexpressing lymphoma cell lines. Our results provide the basis for the development of Bfl-1 specific antagonists for antitumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Mathieu
- CIRI, Université de Lyon, France; INSERM, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Sperandio
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Molécules Thérapeutiques in silico, France INSERM UMR-S 973, Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Virginie Pottiez
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com INSERM U761, Biostructures and Drug Discovery, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IFR 142, PRIM, Lille, France
| | - Sophie Balzarin
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier; INSERM, U896; Université Montpellier1; Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Adrien Herlédan
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com INSERM U761, Biostructures and Drug Discovery, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IFR 142, PRIM, Lille, France
| | - Judith O Elkaïm
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Molécules Thérapeutiques in silico, France INSERM UMR-S 973, Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Marie-Laure Fogeron
- Université Lyon 1, Univ Lyon, CNRS, UMR5086, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, France
| | - Catherine Piveteau
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com INSERM U761, Biostructures and Drug Discovery, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IFR 142, PRIM, Lille, France
| | - Sandrine Dassonneville
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com INSERM U761, Biostructures and Drug Discovery, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IFR 142, PRIM, Lille, France
| | - Benoit Deprez
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com INSERM U761, Biostructures and Drug Discovery, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IFR 142, PRIM, Lille, France
| | - Bruno O Villoutreix
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Molécules Thérapeutiques in silico, France INSERM UMR-S 973, Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Nathalie Bonnefoy
- CIRI, Université de Lyon, France; INSERM, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier; INSERM, U896; Université Montpellier1; Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Florence Leroux
- CDithem. Faculté de Pharmacie, Lille, France; www.CDithem.com INSERM U761, Biostructures and Drug Discovery, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, IFR 142, PRIM, Lille, France
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Barreto K, Geyer CR. Screening combinatorial libraries of cyclic peptides using the yeast two-hybrid assay. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1163:273-309. [PMID: 24841315 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0799-1_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Peptides are useful reagents for reverse analysis of protein function in a variety of organisms, as they have a dominant mode of action that can inhibit protein interactions or activities. Further, peptides are important tools for validating proteins as therapeutic targets, for determining structure/activity relationships, and for designing small molecules. Genetic selection strategies have been developed for screening combinatorial peptide libraries to rapidly isolate peptides that interact with a given target. In genetic selections and biological assays, linear peptides are not very stable and are rapidly degraded. In contrast, cyclic peptides are more stable and bind with higher affinity. Genetic selections of cyclic peptides are difficult as they are not compatible with most selection technologies. Thus, there has been limited number of applications that use cyclic peptides for the reverse analysis of protein function.Here, we describe a protocol to isolate cyclic peptides that bind proteins in the yeast two-hybrid assay. Cyclic peptides used in the yeast two-hybrid assay are referred to as "lariat" peptides. Lariat peptides are made by blocking the intein-producing cyclic peptide reaction at an intermediate step. They consist of a lactone cyclic peptide or "noose" region connected by an amide bond to a transcription activation domain. Combinatorial libraries of >10(7) lariat peptides can be screened using the yeast two-hybrid assay to isolate lariat peptides for studying the function or validating the therapeutic potential of protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Barreto
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5E5
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Liu K, Lin B, Lan X. Aptamers: a promising tool for cancer imaging, diagnosis, and therapy. J Cell Biochem 2013; 114:250-5. [PMID: 22949372 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers are a group of molecules, which can specifically bind, track, and inhibit target molecules, comprising DNA aptamers, RNA aptamers, and peptide aptamers. So far, there are much progress about developing novel aptamers and their expansile applications. This prospect systematically introduces the composition and technological evolution of aptamers, and then focuses on the application of aptamers in cancer diagnosis, imaging, and therapy. Following this, we discuss the potential to harness aptamers in discovering the biomarker of stem cells, which is favorable for us to study the normal developmental or abnormal pathological process of tissue and to deliver drugs into target cells or tissues in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- KuanCan Liu
- Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital, PLA, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, P.R. China
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Dutta S, Chen TS, Keating AE. Peptide ligands for pro-survival protein Bfl-1 from computationally guided library screening. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:778-88. [PMID: 23363053 DOI: 10.1021/cb300679a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Pro-survival members of the Bcl-2 protein family inhibit cell death by binding short helical BH3 motifs in pro-apoptotic proteins. Mammalian pro-survival proteins Bcl-x(L), Bcl-2, Bcl-w, Mcl-1, and Bfl-1 bind with varying affinities and specificities to native BH3 motifs, engineered peptides, and small molecules. Biophysical studies have determined interaction patterns for these proteins, particularly for the most-studied family members Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1. Bfl-1 is a pro-survival protein implicated in preventing apoptosis in leukemia, lymphoma, and melanoma. Although Bfl-1 is a promising therapeutic target, relatively little is known about its binding preferences. We explored the binding of Bfl-1 to BH3-like peptides by screening a peptide library that was designed to sample a high degree of relevant sequence diversity. Screening using yeast-surface display led to several novel high-affinity Bfl-1 binders and to thousands of putative binders identified through deep sequencing. Further screening for specificity led to identification of a peptide that bound to Bfl-1 with K(d) < 1 nM and very slow dissociation from Bfl-1 compared to other pro-survival Bcl-2 family members. A point mutation in this sequence gave a peptide with ~50 nM affinity for Bfl-1 that was selective for Bfl-1 in equilibrium binding assays. Analysis of engineered Bfl-1 binders deepens our understanding of how the binding profiles of pro-survival proteins differ and may guide the development of targeted Bfl-1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjib Dutta
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United
States
| | - T. Scott Chen
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United
States
| | - Amy E. Keating
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United
States
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Ottina E, Tischner D, Herold MJ, Villunger A. A1/Bfl-1 in leukocyte development and cell death. Exp Cell Res 2012; 318:1291-303. [PMID: 22342458 PMCID: PMC3405526 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Revised: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The function of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bcl2a1/Bfl-1/A1 is poorly understood due to the lack of appropriate loss-of-function mouse models and redundant effects with other Bcl-2 pro-survival proteins upon overexpression. Expression analysis of A1 suggests predominant roles in leukocyte development, their survival upon viral or bacterial infection, as well as during allergic reactions. In addition, A1 has been implicated in autoimmunity and the pathology and therapy resistance of hematological as well as solid tumors that may aberrantly express this protein. In this review, we aim to summarize current knowledge on A1 biology, focusing on its role in the immune system and compare it to that of other pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Ottina
- Division of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Denise Tischner
- Division of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marco J. Herold
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andreas Villunger
- Division of Developmental Immunology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
- Corresponding author at: Division of Developmental Immunology, BIOCENTER, Innsbruck Medical University, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Fax: + 43 512 9003 73960.
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Zhang S, Long A, Link AJ. A comparison of two strategies for affinity maturation of a BH3 peptide toward pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins. ACS Synth Biol 2012; 1:89-98. [PMID: 23651073 DOI: 10.1021/sb200002m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The Bcl-2 family of proteins regulates apoptosis at the level of mitochondrial permeabilization. Pro-death members of the family, including Bak and Bax, initiate apoptosis, whereas pro-survival members such as Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1 antagonize the function of Bak and Bax via heterodimeric interactions. These heterodimeric interactions are primarily mediated by the binding of the helical amphipathic BH3 domain from a pro-death protein to a hydrophobic cleft on the surface of the pro-survival protein. Since high levels of pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins are present in many cancers, peptides corresponding to pro-death BH3 domains hold promise as therapeutics. Here we apply a high-throughput flow cytometry assay to engineer the Bak BH3 domain for improved affinity toward the pro-survival proteins Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1. Two strategies, engineering the hydrophobic face of the Bak BH3 peptide and increasing its overall helicity, are successful in identifying Bak BH3 variants with improved affinity to Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1. Hydrophobic face engineering of the Bak BH3 peptide led to variants with up to a 15-fold increase in affinity for Bcl-x(L) and increased specificity toward Bcl-x(L). Engineering of the helicity of Bak BH3 led to modest (3- to 4-fold) improvements in affinity with retention of promiscuous binding to all pro-survival proteins. HeLa cell killing studies demonstrate that the affinity matured Bak BH3 variants retain their expected biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyan Zhang
- Departments of †Chemical and Biological Engineering and ‡Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Angel Long
- Departments of †Chemical and Biological Engineering and ‡Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - A. James Link
- Departments of †Chemical and Biological Engineering and ‡Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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Abstract
B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) proteins are important cell death regulators, whose main function is to control the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. They comprise both pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, which interact in various ways to induce or prevent pore formation in the outer mitochondrial membrane. Due to their central function in the apoptotic machinery, BCL2 proteins are often deregulated in cancer. To this end, many anti-apoptotic BCL2 proteins have been identified as important cellular oncogenes and attractive targets for anti-cancer therapy. In this review, the existing knowledge on B-cell lymphoma 2-related protein A1 (BCL2A1)/Bcl-2-related gene expressed in fetal liver (Bfl-1), one of the less extensively studied anti-apoptotic BCL2 proteins, is summarized. BCL2A1 is a highly regulated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) target gene that exerts important pro-survival functions. In a physiological context, BCL2A1 is mainly expressed in the hematopoietic system, where it facilitates survival of selected leukocytes subsets and inflammation. However, BCL2A1 is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells, including hematological malignancies and solid tumors, and may contribute to tumor progression. Therefore, the development of small molecule inhibitors of BCL2A1 may be a promising approach mainly to sensitize tumor cells for apoptosis and thus improve the efficiency of anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vogler
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
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