1
|
Abusharkh KAN, Comert Onder F, Çınar V, Hamurcu Z, Ozpolat B, Ay M. A drug repurposing study identifies novel FOXM1 inhibitors with in vitro activity against breast cancer cells. Med Oncol 2024; 41:188. [PMID: 38918225 PMCID: PMC11199234 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-024-02427-0] [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: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
FOXM1, a proto-oncogenic transcription factor, plays a critical role in cancer development and treatment resistance in cancers, particularly in breast cancer. Thus, this study aimed to identify potential FOXM1 inhibitors through computational screening of drug databases, followed by in vitro validation of their inhibitory activity against breast cancer cells. In silico studies involved pharmacophore modeling using the FOXM1 inhibitor, FDI-6, followed by virtual screening of DrugBank and Selleckchem databases. The selected drugs were prepared for molecular docking, and the crystal structure of FOXM1 was pre-processed for docking simulations. In vitro studies included MTT assays to assess cytotoxicity, and Western blot analysis to evaluate protein expression levels. Our study identified Pantoprazole and Rabeprazole as potential FOXM1 inhibitors through in silico screening and molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed stable interactions of these drugs with FOXM1. In vitro experiments showed both Pantoprazole and Rabeprazole exhibited strong FOXM1 inhibition at effective concentrations and that showed inhibition of cell proliferation. Rabeprazole showed the inhibitor activity at 10 µM in BT-20 and MCF-7 cell lines. Pantoprazole exhibited FOXM1 inhibition at 30 µM and in BT-20 cells and at 70 µM in MCF-7 cells, respectively. Our current study provides the first evidence that Rabeprazole and Pantoprazole can bind to FOXM1 and inhibit its activity and downstream signaling, including eEF2K and pEF2, in breast cancer cells. These findings indicate that rabeprazole and pantoprazole inhibit FOXM1 and breast cancer cell proliferation, and they can be used for FOXM1-targeted therapy in breast or other cancers driven by FOXM1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khaled A N Abusharkh
- Department of Chemistry, School of Graduate Studies, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17020, Çanakkale, Türkiye
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Natural Products and Drug Research Laboratory, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17020, Çanakkale, Türkiye
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, 20002, Palestine
| | - Ferah Comert Onder
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17020, Çanakkale, Türkiye.
| | - Venhar Çınar
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Zuhal Hamurcu
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Türkiye
| | - Bulent Ozpolat
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Mehmet Ay
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Natural Products and Drug Research Laboratory, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17020, Çanakkale, Türkiye.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lliberos C, Richardson G, Papa A. Oncogenic Pathways and Targeted Therapies in Ovarian Cancer. Biomolecules 2024; 14:585. [PMID: 38785992 PMCID: PMC11118117 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050585] [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: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most aggressive forms of gynaecological malignancies. Survival rates for women diagnosed with OC remain poor as most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. Debulking surgery and platinum-based therapies are the current mainstay for OC treatment. However, and despite achieving initial remission, a significant portion of patients will relapse because of innate and acquired resistance, at which point the disease is considered incurable. In view of this, novel detection strategies and therapeutic approaches are needed to improve outcomes and survival of OC patients. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the genetic landscape and molecular pathways underpinning OC and its many subtypes. By examining therapeutic strategies explored in preclinical and clinical settings, we highlight the importance of decoding how single and convergent genetic alterations co-exist and drive OC progression and resistance to current treatments. We also propose that core signalling pathways such as the PI3K and MAPK pathways play critical roles in the origin of diverse OC subtypes and can become new targets in combination with known DNA damage repair pathways for the development of tailored and more effective anti-cancer treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lliberos
- Cancer Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia;
- Neil Beauglehall Department of Medical Oncology Research, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC 3144, Australia
| | - Gary Richardson
- Neil Beauglehall Department of Medical Oncology Research, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC 3144, Australia
| | - Antonella Papa
- Cancer Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Eigenfeld M, Lupp KFM, Schwaminger SP. Role of Natural Binding Proteins in Therapy and Diagnostics. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:630. [PMID: 38792650 PMCID: PMC11122601 DOI: 10.3390/life14050630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This review systematically investigates the critical role of natural binding proteins (NBPs), encompassing DNA-, RNA-, carbohydrate-, fatty acid-, and chitin-binding proteins, in the realms of oncology and diagnostics. In an era where cancer continues to pose significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, the innovative exploration of NBPs offers a promising frontier for advancing both the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy of cancer management strategies. This manuscript provides an in-depth examination of the unique mechanisms by which NBPs interact with specific molecular targets, highlighting their potential to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and therapy. Furthermore, it discusses the burgeoning research on aptamers, demonstrating their utility as 'nucleic acid antibodies' for targeted therapy and precision diagnostics. Despite the promising applications of NBPs and aptamers in enhancing early cancer detection and developing personalized treatment protocols, this review identifies a critical knowledge gap: the need for comprehensive studies to understand the diverse functionalities and therapeutic potentials of NBPs across different cancer types and diagnostic scenarios. By bridging this gap, this manuscript underscores the importance of NBPs and aptamers in paving the way for next-generation diagnostics and targeted cancer treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Eigenfeld
- Otto-Loewi Research Center, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Kilian F. M. Lupp
- Otto-Loewi Research Center, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Sebastian P. Schwaminger
- Otto-Loewi Research Center, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Weidle UH, Birzele F. Deregulated circRNAs in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer With Activity in Preclinical In Vivo Models: Identification of Targets and New Modalities for Therapeutic Intervention. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2024; 21:213-237. [PMID: 38670587 PMCID: PMC11059596 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20442] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is associated with a dismal prognosis due to development of resistance to chemotherapy and metastasis in the peritoneal cavity and distant organs. In order to identify new targets and treatment modalities we searched the literature for up- and and down-regulated circRNAs with efficacy in preclinical EOC-related in vivo systems. Our search yielded circRNAs falling into the following categories: cisplatin and paclitaxel resistance, transmembrane receptors, secreted factors, transcription factors, RNA splicing and processing factors, RAS pathway-related components, proteolysis and cell-cycle regulation, signaling-related proteins, and circRNAs regulating proteins in additional categories. These findings can be potentially translated by validation and manipulation of the corresponding targets, inhibition of circRNAs with antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), small interfering RNAs (siRNA) or small hairpin RNA (shRNA) or by reconstituting their activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich H Weidle
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany;
| | - Fabian Birzele
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Merjaneh N, Hajjar M, Lan YW, Kalinichenko VV, Kalin TV. The Promise of Combination Therapies with FOXM1 Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:756. [PMID: 38398147 PMCID: PMC10886945 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is a transcription factor in the forkhead (FOX) family, which is required for cellular proliferation in normal and neoplastic cells. FOXM1 is highly expressed in many different cancers, and its expression is associated with a higher tumor stage and worse patient-related outcomes. Abnormally high expression of FOXM1 in cancers compared to normal tissue makes FOXM1 an attractive target for pharmacological inhibition. FOXM1-inhibiting agents and specific FOXM1-targeted small-molecule inhibitors have been developed in the lab and some of them have shown promising efficacy and safety profiles in mouse models. While the future goal is to translate FOXM1 inhibitors to clinical trials, potential synergistic drug combinations can maximize anti-tumor efficacy while minimizing off-target side effects. Hence, we discuss the rationale and efficacy of all previously studied drug combinations with FOXM1 inhibitors for cancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nawal Merjaneh
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
- Department of Child Health, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Mona Hajjar
- The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA;
| | - Ying-Wei Lan
- Phoenix Children’s Research Institute, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (Y.-W.L.)
| | - Vladimir V. Kalinichenko
- Phoenix Children’s Research Institute, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (Y.-W.L.)
- Division of Neonatology, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
| | - Tanya V. Kalin
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
- Department of Child Health, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
- Phoenix Children’s Research Institute, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (Y.-W.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Raghuwanshi S, Gartel AL. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1: Current challenges and future perspectives in cancer treatments. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:189015. [PMID: 37913940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Forkhead box (FOX) protein M1 (FOXM1) is a critical proliferation-associated transcription factor (TF) that is aberrantly overexpressed in the majority of human cancers and has also been implicated in poor prognosis. A comprehensive understanding of various aspects of this molecule has revealed its role in, cell proliferation, cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. The FOXM1 as a TF directly or indirectly regulates the expression of several target genes whose dysregulation is associated with almost all hallmarks of cancer. Moreover, FOXM1 expression is associated with chemoresistance to different anti-cancer drugs. Several studies have confirmed that suppression of FOXM1 enhanced the drug sensitivity of various types of cancer cells. Current data suggest that small molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1 in combination with anticancer drugs may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for chemo-resistant cancers. In this review, we discuss the clinical utility of FOXM1, further, we summarize and discuss small-molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1 and categorize them according to their mechanisms of targeting FOXM1. Despite great progress, small-molecule inhibitors targeting FOXM1 face many challenges, and we present here all small-molecule FOXM1 inhibitors in different stages of development. We discuss the current challenges and provide insights on the future application of FOXM1 inhibition to the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Raghuwanshi
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Andrei L Gartel
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Khan MA, Khan P, Ahmad A, Fatima M, Nasser MW. FOXM1: A small fox that makes more tracks for cancer progression and metastasis. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 92:1-15. [PMID: 36958703 PMCID: PMC10199453 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are indispensable for the modulation of various signaling pathways associated with normal cell homeostasis and disease conditions. Among cancer-related TFs, FOXM1 is a critical molecule that regulates multiple aspects of cancer cells, including growth, metastasis, recurrence, and stem cell features. FOXM1 also impact the outcomes of targeted therapies, chemotherapies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in various cancer types. Recent advances in cancer research strengthen the cancer-specific role of FOXM1, providing a rationale to target FOXM1 for developing targeted therapies. This review compiles the recent studies describing the pivotal role of FOXM1 in promoting metastasis of various cancer types. It also implicates the contribution of FOXM1 in the modulation of chemotherapeutic resistance, antitumor immune response/immunotherapies, and the potential of small molecule inhibitors of FOXM1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Arafat Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Parvez Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Aatiya Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Mahek Fatima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Mohd Wasim Nasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Nakagawa-Saito Y, Mitobe Y, Suzuki S, Togashi K, Sugai A, Kitanaka C, Okada M. Domatinostat Targets the FOXM1-Survivin Axis to Reduce the Viability of Ovarian Cancer Cells Alone and in Combination with Chemotherapeutic Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10817. [PMID: 37445993 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310817] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The deregulation of the FOXM1 transcription factor is a key molecular alteration in ovarian cancer, contributing to the development and progression of ovarian cancer via activation of the target genes. As such, FOXM1 is a highly attractive therapeutic target in the treatment of ovarian cancer, but there has been no clinically tested FOXM1 inhibitor to date. We investigated in this study the effects of domatinostat, a class I-selective HDAC inhibitor currently in the clinical stage of development as a cancer therapeutic, on the expression of FOXM1 and viability of ovarian cancer cells. Cell viability, as well as protein and mRNA expression of FOXM1 and its transcriptional target survivin, was examined after domatinostat treatment of TOV21G and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell lines in the absence or presence of cisplatin and paclitaxel. The effect of FOXM1 knockdown on survivin expression and those of genetic and pharmacological inhibition of survivin alone or in combination with the chemotherapeutic agents on cell viability were also examined. Domatinostat reduced the protein and mRNA expression of FOXM1 and survivin and also the viability of ovarian cancer cells alone and in combination with cisplatin or paclitaxel at clinically relevant concentrations. Knockdown experiments showed survivin expression was dependent on FOXM1 in ovarian cancer cells. Survivin inhibition was sufficient to reduce the viability of ovarian cancer cells alone and in combination with the chemotherapeutic agents. Our findings suggest that domatinostat, which effectively targets the FOXM1-survivin axis required for the viability of ovarian cancer cells, is a promising option for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yurika Nakagawa-Saito
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yuta Mitobe
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Shuhei Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Keita Togashi
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Asuka Sugai
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Chifumi Kitanaka
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
- Research Institute for Promotion of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Masashi Okada
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Katzenellenbogen BS, Guillen VS, Katzenellenbogen JA. Targeting the oncogenic transcription factor FOXM1 to improve outcomes in all subtypes of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:76. [PMID: 37370117 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01675-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) is an oncogenic transcription factor that is greatly upregulated in breast cancer and many other cancers where it promotes tumorigenesis, and cancer growth and progression. It is expressed in all subtypes of breast cancer and is the factor most associated with risk of poor patient survival, especially so in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Thus, new approaches to inhibiting FOXM1 and its activities, and combination therapies utilizing FOXM1 inhibitors in conjunction with known cancer drugs that work together synergistically, could improve cancer treatment outcomes. Targeting FOXM1 might prove especially beneficial in TNBC where few targeted therapies currently exist, and also in suppressing recurrent advanced estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and HER2-positive breast cancers for which treatments with ER or HER2 targeted therapies that were effective initially are no longer beneficial. We present these perspectives and future directions in the context of what is known about FOXM1, its regulation, and its key roles in promoting cancer aggressiveness and metastasis, while being absent or very low in most normal non-regenerating adult tissues. We discuss new inhibitors of FOXM1 and highlight FOXM1 as an attractive target for controlling drug-resistant and difficult-to-suppress breast cancers, and how blocking FOXM1 might improve outcomes for patients with all subtypes of breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benita S Katzenellenbogen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Valeria Sanabria Guillen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - John A Katzenellenbogen
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Han XY, Zhou ZY, Li SY, Xue ST. Advances in inhibitors of potential tumor target FOXM1. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:809-812. [PMID: 37226453 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yang Han
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Zi-Ying Zhou
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Si-Yan Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Si-Tu Xue
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
FOXM1 increases hTERT protein stability and indicates poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Neoplasia 2022; 36:100863. [PMID: 36528911 PMCID: PMC9792884 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2022.100863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is one of most lethal diseases across the world. However, the underlying mechanism of gastric cancer carcinogenesis and development is still not fully known. Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) belongs to the FOX family and has crucial roles in transactivation of multiple oncogenes in several cancer types, including gastric cancer. Recent studies have also shown the non-transcriptional function of FOXM1 via protein-protein interactions. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the core subunit of telomerase that facilitates cancer initiation and progression by maintaining cell immortalization, promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting cell apoptosis. However, the relationship between FOXM1 and hTERT in gastric cancer is still unclear. In our study, we found that FOXM1 and hTERT were convergent to the cell cycle-related pathways and they were positively related with advanced gastric cancer stages and poor outcomes. Simultaneous high levels of FOXM1 and hTERT predicted the worst prognosis. FOXM1 could increase hTERT protein rather than mRNA levels in a non-transcriptional manner. Mechanistically, FOXM1 interrupted the interaction between the E3 ligase MKRN1 and hTERT and decreased hTERT protein degradation. Further studies revealed that FOXM1 interacted with hTERT through its DNA-binding domain (DBD) region. Finally, we found that hTERT played important roles in FOXM1-mediated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote gastric cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, we found a novel non-classical function of FOXM1 to increase hTERT protein stability. Targeting the FOXM1-hTERT pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy in treating gastric cancer.
Collapse
|
12
|
Gao Y, Geng J, Xie Z, Zhou Z, Yang H, Yi H, Han X, Xue S, Li Z. Synthesis and antineoplastic activity of ethylene glycol phenyl aminoethyl ether derivatives as FOXM1 inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114877. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
13
|
Zhou ZY, Han XY, Sun LQ, Li SY, Xue ST, Li ZR. Structure-based virtual screening identified novel FOXM1 inhibitors as the lead compounds for ovarian cancer. Front Chem 2022; 10:1058256. [PMID: 36505747 PMCID: PMC9729839 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1058256] [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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a gynecological tumor with possibly the worst prognosis, its 5-year survival rate being only 47.4%. The first line of therapy prescribed is chemotherapy consisting of platinum and paclitaxel. The primary reason for treatment failure is drug resistance. FOXM1 protein has been found to be closely associated with drug resistance, and inhibition of FOXM1 expression sensitizes cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Combining existing first-line chemotherapy drugs with FOXM1 prolongs the overall survival of patients, therefore, FOXM1 is considered a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer. Previous research conducted by our team revealed a highly credible conformation of FOXM1 which enables binding by small molecules. Based on this conformation, the current study conducted virtual screening to determine a new structural skeleton for FOXM1 inhibitors which would enhance their medicinal properties. DZY-4 showed the highest affinity towards FOXM1, and its inhibitory effect on proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer at the cellular level was better than or equal to that of cisplatin, while its efficacy was equivalent to that of cisplatin in a nude mouse model. In this study, the anti-tumor effect of DZY-4 is reported for the first time. DZY-4 shows potential as a drug that can be used for ovarian cancer treatment, as well as a drug lead for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Si-Tu Xue
- *Correspondence: Si-Tu Xue, ; Zhuo-Rong Li,
| | | |
Collapse
|