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Sui X, Wang W, Zhang D, Xu J, Li J, Jia Y, Qin Y. Integrated analysis of ferroptosis and stemness based on single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing data provide insights into the prognosis and treatment of esophageal carcinoma. Gene 2024; 927:148701. [PMID: 38885819 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148701] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a significant role in the recurrence and drug resistance of esophageal carcinoma (ESCA). Ferroptosis is a promising anticancer therapeutic strategy that effectively targets CSCs exhibiting high tumorigenicity and treatment resistance. However, there is a lack of research on the combined role of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) and stemness signature in the prognosis of ESCA. METHODS The cellular compositions were characterized using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 18 untreated ESCA samples. 50 ferroptosis-related stemness genes (FRSGs) were identified by integrating FRGs with stemness-related genes (SRGs), and then the cells were grouped by AUCell analysis. Next, functional enrichment, intercellular communication, and trajectory analyses were performed to characterize the different groups of cells. Subsequently, the stem-ferr-index was calculated using machine learning algorithms based on the expression profiles of the identified risk genes. Additionally, therapeutic drugs were predicted by analyzing the GDSC2 database. Finally, the expression and functional roles of the identified marker genes were validated through in vitro experiments. RESULTS The analysis of scRNA-seq data demonstrates the diversity and cellular heterogeneity of ESCA. Then, we identified 50 FRSGs and classified cells into high or low ferroptosis score stemness cells accordingly. Functional enrichment analysis conducted on the differentially up-regulated genes between these groups revealed predominant enrichment in pathways associated with intercellular communication and cell differentiation. Subsequently, we identified 9 risk genes and developed a prognostic signature, termed stem_ferr_index, based on these identified risk genes. We found that the stem-ferr-index was correlated with the clinical characteristics of patients, and patients with high stem-ferr-index had poor prognosis. Furthermore, we identified four drugs (Navitoclax, Foretinib, Axitinib, and Talazoparib) with potential efficacy targeting patients with a high stem_ferr_index. Additionally, we delineated two marker genes (STMN1 and SLC2A1). Particularly noteworthy, SLC2A1 exhibited elevated expression levels in ESCA tissues and cells. We provided evidence suggesting that SLC2A1 could influence the migration, invasion, and stemness of ESCA cells, and it was associated with sensitivity to Foretinib. CONCLUSION This study constructed a novel ferroptosis-related stemness signature, identified two marker genes for ESCA, and provided valuable insights for developing more effective therapeutic targets targeting ESCA CSCs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sui
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Wenjia Wang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Daidi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jiayao Xu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yongxu Jia
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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Khan IR, Sadida HQ, Hashem S, Singh M, Macha MA, Al-Shabeeb Akil AS, Khurshid I, Bhat AA. Therapeutic implications of signaling pathways and tumor microenvironment interactions in esophageal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116873. [PMID: 38843587 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116873] [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: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is significantly influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME) and altered signaling pathways. Downregulating these pathways in EC is essential for suppressing tumor development, preventing metastasis, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. This approach can increase tumor sensitivity to treatments, enhance patient outcomes, and inhibit cancer cell proliferation and spread. The TME, comprising cellular and non-cellular elements surrounding the tumor, significantly influences EC's development, course, and treatment responsiveness. Understanding the complex relationships within the TME is crucial for developing successful EC treatments. Immunotherapy is a vital TME treatment for EC. However, the heterogeneity within the TME limits the application of anticancer drugs outside clinical settings. Therefore, identifying reliable microenvironmental biomarkers that can detect therapeutic responses before initiating therapy is crucial. Combining approaches focusing on EC signaling pathways with TME can enhance treatment outcomes. This integrated strategy aims to interfere with essential signaling pathways promoting cancer spread while disrupting factors encouraging tumor development. Unraveling aberrant signaling pathways and TME components can lead to more focused and efficient treatment approaches, identifying specific cellular targets for treatments. Targeting the TME and signaling pathways may reduce metastasis risk by interfering with mechanisms facilitating cancer cell invasion and dissemination. In conclusion, this integrative strategy has significant potential for improving patient outcomes and advancing EC research and therapy. This review discusses the altered signaling pathways and TME in EC, focusing on potential future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inamu Rashid Khan
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 191201, India
| | - Hana Q Sadida
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Mayank Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology (Lab), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir 192122, India
| | - Ammira S Al-Shabeeb Akil
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Ibraq Khurshid
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 191201, India.
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar.
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Kim JS, Kim MY, Hong S. Characterization of MET Alterations in 37 Gastroesophageal Cancer Cell Lines for MET-Targeted Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5975. [PMID: 38892160 PMCID: PMC11173193 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115975] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Capmatinib and savolitinib, selective MET inhibitors, are widely used to treat various MET-positive cancers. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of these inhibitors on MET-amplified gastric cancer (GC) cells. Methods: After screening 37 GC cell lines, the following cell lines were found to be MET-positive with copy number variation >10: SNU-620, ESO51, MKN-45, SNU-5, and OE33 cell lines. Next, we assessed the cytotoxic response of these cell lines to capmatinib or savolitinib alone using cell counting kit-8 and clonogenic cell survival assays. Western blotting was performed to assess the effects of capmatinib and savolitinib on the MET signaling pathway. Xenograft studies were performed to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of savolitinib in MKN-45 cells. Savolitinib and capmatinib exerted anti-proliferative effects on MET-amplified GC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Savolitinib inhibited the phosphorylation of MET and downstream signaling pathways, such as the protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways, in MET-amplified GC cells. Additionally, savolitinib significantly decreased the number of colonies formed on the soft agar and exerted dose-dependent anti-tumor effects in an MKN-45 GC cell xenograft model. Furthermore, a combination of trastuzumab and capmatinib exhibited enhanced inhibition of AKT and ERK activation in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)- and MET-positive OE33 cells. Targeting MET with savolitinib and capmatinib efficiently suppressed the growth of MET-amplified GC cells. Moreover, these MET inhibitors exerted synergistic effects with trastuzumab on HER2- and MET-amplified GC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Soo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Republic of Korea;
| | - Mi Young Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Republic of Korea;
| | - Sungyoul Hong
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
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Diniz F, Lamas S, Osório H, Aguiar P, Freitas D, Gärtner F, Sarmento B, Reis CA, Gomes J. Nanoparticles targeting Sialyl-Tn for efficient tyrosine kinase inhibitor delivery in gastric cancer. Acta Biomater 2023; 170:142-154. [PMID: 37586448 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and, therefore, it is urgent to develop new and more efficient therapeutic approaches. Foretinib (FRT) is an oral multikinase inhibitor targeting MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) and RON (recepteur d'origine nantais) receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that has been used in clinical trials for several solid tumors. Targeted uptake of therapeutic polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) represents a powerful approach in cancer cell drug delivery. Previously, a nanodelivery system composed of polymeric NPs functionalized with B72.3 antibody, which targets the tumor-associated antigen Sialyl-Tn (STn), has been developed. Herein, these NPs were loaded with FRT to evaluate its capacity in delivering the drug to multicellular tumors spheroids (MCTS) and mouse models. The data indicated that B72.3 functionalized FRT-loaded PLGA-PEG-COOH NPs (NFB72.3) specifically target gastric MCTS expressing the STn glycan (MKN45 SimpleCell (SC) cells), leading to a decrease in phospho-RTKs activation and reduced cell viability. In vivo evaluation using MKN45 SC xenograft mice revealed that NFB72.3 were able to decrease tumor growth, reduce cell proliferation and tumor necrosis. NFB72.3-treated tumors also showed inactivation of phospho-MET and phospho-RON. This study demonstrates the value of using NPs targeting STn for FRT delivery, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic application in GC. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the advances in gastric cancer therapeutics, it remains one of the diseases with the highest incidence and mortality in the world. Combining targeted therapies with a controlled drug release is an attractive strategy to reduce drug cytotoxic effects and improve specific drug delivery efficiency to the cancer cells. Thus, we developed nanoparticles loaded with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and targeting a specific tumor glycan exclusive of cancer cells. In in vivo gastric cancer xenograft mice models, these nanoparticles efficiently reduced tumor growth, cell proliferation and tumor necrosis area and inactivated phosphorylation of targeting receptors. This approach represents an innovative therapeutic strategy with high impact in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Diniz
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Lamas
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
| | - Hugo Osório
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Aguiar
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Freitas
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Gärtner
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; CESPU-IUCS, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Celso A Reis
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; FMUP - Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Joana Gomes
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
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Kim JS, Kim MY, Hong S. Synergistic Effects of Metformin and Trastuzumab on HER2 Positive Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4768. [PMID: 37835462 PMCID: PMC10571931 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194768] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of HER2 amplification in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GC) reportedly ranges between 10% and 20%, depending on the population studied and the geographical region. Trastuzumab (Tmab) is the standard treatment for GCs with HER2 amplification. Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, is an activator of AMP kinase that can affect the mTOR signaling pathway. The following GC cells were evaluated: HER2+ NCI-N87, YCC-19, YCC-38, OE19, OE33, and HER2- AGS. The effects of Tmab and metformin on these cell lines were assessed as single agents and in combination using cell viability assays, Western blotting, and xenograft models. Metformin induced phosphorylation of AMP kinase in all tested GC cells and dephosphorylation of mTOR in Tmab-sensitive GC cells. We observed that treatment with Tmab in combination with metformin induced a significant decrease in the number of colonies formed on soft agar by N87, YCC-19, YCC-38, and OE19 cells (88%, 95%, 73%, and 98%, respectively), in comparison to the number formed by control cells or cells in the single-treatment groups. No growth inhibition was detected in OE33 cells treated with Tmab alone. Combination with metformin resulted in decreased phosphorylation of HER2 and its downstream targets, AKT and ERK, in Tmab-sensitive HER2+ cells. Phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) arrays were used to profile the phospho-proteome, which demonstrated a synergistic decrease in phosphorylation of EGFR, HER2, and HER3. Furthermore, the combination of Tmab and metformin exhibited enhanced antitumor effects in a xenograft model. Collectively, these data suggest that Tmab and metformin act synergistically in HER2+ GC cells. Since metformin is widely used and relatively non-toxic, its addition to the therapeutic regimen along with Tmab could enhance the clinical efficacy in patients with HER2+ GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Soo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Republic of Korea;
| | - Mi Young Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Republic of Korea;
| | - Sungyoul Hong
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
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Wei L, Sun J, Zhang N, Shen Y, Wang T, Li Z, Yang M. Novel Implications of MicroRNAs, Long Non-coding RNAs and Circular RNAs in Drug Resistance of Esophageal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:764313. [PMID: 34881242 PMCID: PMC8645845 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.764313] [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: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy based on platinum drugs, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine, as well as targeted treatment and immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors improved the prognosis in a portion of patients with advanced esophageal cancer. Unfortunately, a number of esophageal cancer patients develop drug resistance, resulting in poor outcomes. Multiple mechanisms contributing to drug resistance of esophageal cancer have been reported. Notably, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been identified to play crucial roles in modulating esophageal cancer drug resistance. In the present review, we highlight the underlying mechanisms how miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs impact the drug resistance of esophageal cancer. Several miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs may have potential clinical implications as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wei
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jujie Sun
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, China
| | - Nasha Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, China
| | - Yue Shen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Teng Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Zengjun Li
- Department of Endoscopy, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
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He S, Xu J, Liu X, Zhen Y. Advances and challenges in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:3379-3392. [PMID: 34900524 PMCID: PMC8642427 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common cancers with high morbidity and mortality rates. EC includes two histological subtypes, namely esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). ESCC primarily occurs in East Asia, whereas EAC occurs in Western countries. The currently available treatment strategies for EC include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, molecular targeted therapy, and combinations thereof. However, the prognosis remains poor, and the overall five-year survival rate is very low. Therefore, achieving the goal of effective treatment remains challenging. In this review, we discuss the latest developments in chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy for EC, and comprehensively analyze the application prospects and existing problems of immunotherapy. Collectively, this review aims to provide a better understanding of the currently available drugs through in-depth analysis, promote the development of new therapeutic agents, and eventually improve the treatment outcomes of patients with EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiming He
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiujun Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yongsu Zhen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
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8
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Hassan MS, Cwidak N, Johnson C, Däster S, Eppenberger-Castori S, Awasthi N, Li J, Schwarz MA, von Holzen U. Therapeutic Potential of the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Flavopiridol on c-Myc Overexpressing Esophageal Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:746385. [PMID: 34621175 PMCID: PMC8490822 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.746385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors with elevated c-Myc expression often exhibit a highly aggressive phenotype, and c-Myc amplification has been shown to be frequent in esophageal cancer. Emerging data suggests that synthetic lethal interactions between c-Myc pathway activation and small molecules inhibition involved in cell cycle signaling can be therapeutically exploited to preferentially kill tumor cells. We therefore investigated whether exploiting elevated c-Myc expression is effective in treating esophageal cancer with the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol. We found frequent overexpression of c-Myc in human esophageal cancer cell lines and tissues. c-Myc overexpression correlated with accelerated esophageal cancer subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth. Esophageal cancer cells with elevated c-Myc expression were found preferentially more sensitive to induction of apoptosis by the CDK inhibition flavopiridol compared to esophageal cancer cells with lower c-Myc expression. In addition, we observed that flavopiridol alone or in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (NPT) or in combinations with the targeted agent BMS-754807 significantly inhibited esophageal cancer cell proliferation and subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth while significantly enhancing overall mice survival. These results indicate that aggressive esophageal cancer cells with elevated c-Myc expression are sensitive to the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol, and that flavopiridol alone or in combination can be a potential therapy for c-Myc overexpressing esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sazzad Hassan
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, United States.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Nicholas Cwidak
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Chloe Johnson
- University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | | | | | - Niranjan Awasthi
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, United States.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Jun Li
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN, United States.,University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Margaret A Schwarz
- Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, United States
| | - Urs von Holzen
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, United States.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN, United States.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Goshen, IN, United States
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Medina AL, Troendle DM, Park JY, Thaker A, Dunbar KB, Cheng E. Eosinophilic esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal neoplasms in the pediatric patient: a narrative review. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 6:32. [PMID: 34423153 DOI: 10.21037/tgh-20-223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There are several esophageal disorders that can occur in the pediatric population. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an eosinophil predominant inflammatory disease of the esophagus that was first characterized in the early 1900's. EoE is the most common pediatric esophageal inflammatory condition after gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Longstanding GERD is a known risk factor for the development of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in both children and adults. BE is associated with the development of dysplasia and, if left undiagnosed, may progress to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). EAC and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) comprise the majority of childhood esophageal malignant neoplasms. The prevalence of EoE continues to rise within the pediatric population. On the other hand, both BE and esophageal neoplasms remain extremely rare in children. The relationship between a chronic inflammatory condition like EoE to BE and/or esophageal neoplasms remains unclear. The current research of these disease entities is prioritized to further understanding the disease pathogenesis and disease progression, exploring new diagnostic modalities, and developing novel treatments or less invasive therapeutic options. The focus of the following narrative review is to provide a summary of the current clinical practices, future research and their implications on these various esophageal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette L Medina
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Health Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - David M Troendle
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Health Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jason Y Park
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ameet Thaker
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kerry B Dunbar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Esophageal Diseases Center, Dallas VA Medical Center, VA North Texas Healthcare System, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Edaire Cheng
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Health Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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10
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When the MET receptor kicks in to resist targeted therapies. Oncogene 2021; 40:4061-4078. [PMID: 34031544 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01835-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Although targeted therapies have increased the life expectancy of patients with druggable molecular alterations directly involved in tumor development, the efficacy of these therapies is limited by acquired resistances leading to treatment failure. Most targeted therapies, including ones exploiting therapeutic antibodies and kinase inhibitors, are directed against receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) or major signaling hubs. Resistances to these therapies arise when inhibition of these targets is bypassed through activation of alternative signaling pathways. In recent years, activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase MET has been shown to promote resistance to various targeted therapies. This casts MET as important actor in resistance. In this review, we describe how the MET receptor triggers resistance to targeted therapies against RTKs such as EGFR, VEGFR, and HER2 and against signaling hubs such as BRAF. We also describe how MET can be its own resistance factor, as illustrated by on-target resistance of lung tumors harboring activating mutations causing MET exon 14 skipping. Interestingly, investigation of all these situations reveals functional physiological relationships between MET and the target of the therapy to which the cancer becomes resistant, suggesting that resistance stems from preexisting mechanisms. Identification of MET as a resistance factor opens the way to co-treatment strategies that are being tested in current clinical trials.
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11
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Guo N, Zhang A, Zhuang H, Zhang C. LC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of foretinib in rat plasma and its application to preclinical pharmacokinetic study. Biomed Chromatogr 2020; 34:e4862. [PMID: 32307722 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.4862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
A simple and sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for the determination of foretinib in rat plasma. The analyte and internal standard were extracted from the bio-samples with acetonitrile and then separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) using 0.1% formic acid aqueous and acetonitrile as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. The mass detection was performed in positive selected reaction monitoring mode with precursor-to-product transitions at m/z 317.1 > 128.1 for foretinib and m/z 502.2 > 323.1 for internal standard. The assay was demonstrated to be linear in the concentration range of 0.5-1000 ng/ml, with correlation coefficient >0.999. The mean extraction recovery of foretinib from rat plasma was within the range of 84.55-88.09%, while the matrix effect was in the range of 88.56-99.21%. The intra- and inter-day precisions were <12.95% and the accuracy ranged from -7.55 to 8.57%. Foretinib was stable in rat plasma under the tested storage conditions. The validated assay was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of foretinib in the rats. The results revealed that foretinib showed moderate elimination half-life, low clearance and dose-independent pharmacokinetic profiles inrats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Guo
- Department of Quality Control, Yantai Central Blood Station, Yantai, Shandong Province, China
| | - Aiying Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Weifang, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yantai Central Blood Station, Yantai, Shandong Province, China
| | - Changzhen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Jining Municipal Government Hospital, Jining, Shandong Province, China
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