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Milnerowicz S, Maszewska J, Skowera P, Stelmach M, Lejman M. AML under the Scope: Current Strategies and Treatment Involving FLT3 Inhibitors and Venetoclax-Based Regimens. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15849. [PMID: 37958832 PMCID: PMC10647248 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115849] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease that mainly affects elderly patients who are more often unfit for intensive chemotherapy (median age of diagnosis is 68). The regimens, including venetoclax, a highly specific BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) inhibitor, are a common alternative because of their safer profile and fewer side effects. However, the resistance phenomenon of leukemic cells necessitates the search for drugs that would help to overcome the resistance and improve treatment outcomes. One of the resistance mechanisms takes place through the upregulation of MCL-1 and BCL-XL, preventing BAX/BAK-driven MOMP (mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization), thus stopping the apoptosis process. Possible partners for BCL-2 inhibitors may include inhibitors from the FLT3i (FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 inhibitor) group. They resensitize cancer cells through the downregulation of MCL-1 expression in the FLT3 mutated cells, resulting in the stronger efficacy of BCL-2 inhibitors. Also, they provide an additional pathway for targeting the clonal cell. Both preclinical and clinical data suggest that the combination might show a synergistic effect and improve patients' outcomes. The aim of this review is to determine whether the combination of venetoclax and FLT3 inhibitors can impact the therapeutic approaches and what other agents they can be combined with.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szymon Milnerowicz
- Student Scientific Society, Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (J.M.)
| | - Julia Maszewska
- Student Scientific Society, Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (J.M.)
| | - Paulina Skowera
- Independent Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Magdalena Stelmach
- Independent Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Monika Lejman
- Independent Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.S.)
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2
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Kannampuzha S, Murali R, Gopalakrishnan AV, Mukherjee AG, Wanjari UR, Namachivayam A, George A, Dey A, Vellingiri B. Novel biomolecules in targeted cancer therapy: a new approach towards precision medicine. Med Oncol 2023; 40:323. [PMID: 37804361 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02168-6] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a major threat to human life around the globe, and the discovery of novel biomolecules continue to be an urgent therapeutic need that is still unmet. Precision medicine relies on targeted therapeutic strategies. Researchers are better equipped to develop therapies that target proteins as they understand more about the genetic alterations and molecules that cause progression of cancer. There has been a recent diversification of the sorts of targets exploited in treatment. Therapeutic antibody and biotechnology advancements enabled curative treatments to reach previously inaccessible sites. New treatment strategies have been initiated for several undruggable targets. The application of tailored therapy has been proven to have efficient results in controlling cancer progression. Novel biomolecules like SMDCs, ADCs, mABs, and PROTACS has gained vast attention in the recent years. Several studies have shown that using these novel technology helps in reducing the drug dosage as well as to overcome drug resistance in different cancer types. Therefore, it is crucial to fully untangle the mechanism and collect evidence to understand the significance of these novel drug targets and strategies. This review article will be discussing the importance and role of these novel biomolecules in targeted cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Kannampuzha
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Reshma Murali
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India.
| | - Anirban Goutam Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Uddesh Ramesh Wanjari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Arunraj Namachivayam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Alex George
- Jubilee Centre for Medical Research, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Medical Services, MGM Cancer Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600029, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
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3
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Gao P, Khong HY, Mao W, Chen X, Bao L, Wen X, Xu Y. Tunicates as Sources of High-Quality Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds for Food/Feed and Pharmaceutical Applications: A Review. Foods 2023; 12:3684. [PMID: 37835337 PMCID: PMC10572860 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193684] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tunicates are widely distributed worldwide and are recognized as abundant marine bioresources with many potential applications. In this review, state-of-the-art studies on chemical composition analyses of various tunicate species were summarized; these studies confirmed that tunicates contain nutrients similar to fish (such as abundant cellulose, protein, and ω-3 fatty acid (FA)-rich lipids), indicating their practical and feasible uses for food or animal feed exploration. However, the presence of certain toxic elements should be evaluated in terms of safety. Moreover, recent studies on bioactive substances extracted from tunicates (such as toxins, sphingomyelins, and tunichromes) were analyzed, and their biological properties were comprehensively reviewed, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, some insights and prospects for the future exploration of tunicates are provided which are expected to guide their further application in the food, animal feed, and pharmaceutical industries. This review is critical to providing a new pathway for converting the common pollution issues of hydroponic nutrients into valuable marine bioresources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Gao
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sarawak Branch, Kota Samarahan 94300, Malaysia
| | - Heng Yen Khong
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sarawak Branch, Kota Samarahan 94300, Malaysia
| | - Wenhui Mao
- School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China (Y.X.)
| | - Xiaoyun Chen
- School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China (Y.X.)
| | - Lingxiang Bao
- School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China (Y.X.)
| | - Xinru Wen
- School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China (Y.X.)
| | - Yan Xu
- School of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China (Y.X.)
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4
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Cooreman K, De Spiegeleer B, Van Poucke C, Vanavermaete D, Delbare D, Wynendaele E, De Witte B. Emerging pharmaceutical therapies of Ascidian-derived natural products and derivatives. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 102:104254. [PMID: 37648122 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
In a growing multidrug-resistant environment, the identification of potential new drug candidates with an acceptable safety profile is a substantial crux in pharmaceutical discovery. This review discusses several aspects and properties of approved marine natural products derived from ascidian sources (phylum Chordata, subphylum Tunicata) and/or their deduced analogues including their biosynthetic origin, (bio)chemical preclinical assessments and known efficacy-safety profiles, clinical status in trials, but also translational developments, opportunities and final conclusions. The review also describes the preclinical assessments of a large number of other ascidian compounds that have not been involved in clinical trials yet. Finally, the emerging research on the connectivity of the ascidian hosts and their independent or obligate symbiotic guests is discussed. The review covers the latest information on the topic of ascidian-derived marine natural products over the last two decades including 2022, with the majority of publications published in the last decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Cooreman
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Jacobsenstraat 1, BE-8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Bart De Spiegeleer
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Quality and Registration Group, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, BE-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christof Van Poucke
- Technology and Food Science Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brusselsesteenweg 370, BE-9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - David Vanavermaete
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Jacobsenstraat 1, BE-8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Daan Delbare
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Jacobsenstraat 1, BE-8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Evelien Wynendaele
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Quality and Registration Group, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, BE-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bavo De Witte
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Jacobsenstraat 1, BE-8400 Ostend, Belgium.
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5
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Aquino A, Bianchi N, Terrazzan A, Franzese O. Protein Kinase C at the Crossroad of Mutations, Cancer, Targeted Therapy and Immune Response. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1047. [PMID: 37626933 PMCID: PMC10451643 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The frequent PKC dysregulations observed in many tumors have made these enzymes natural targets for anticancer applications. Nevertheless, this considerable interest in the development of PKC modulators has not led to the expected therapeutic benefits, likely due to the complex biological activities regulated by PKC isoenzymes, often playing ambiguous and protective functions, further driven by the occurrence of mutations. The structure, regulation and functions of PKCs have been extensively covered in other publications. Herein, we focused on PKC alterations mostly associated with complete functional loss. We also addressed the modest yet encouraging results obtained targeting PKC in selected malignancies and the more frequent negative clinical outcomes. The reported observations advocate the need for more selective molecules and a better understanding of the involved pathways. Furthermore, we underlined the most relevant immune mechanisms controlled by PKC isoforms potentially impacting the immune checkpoint inhibitor blockade-mediated immune recovery. We believe that a comprehensive examination of the molecular features of the tumor microenvironment might improve clinical outcomes by tailoring PKC modulation. This approach can be further supported by the identification of potential response biomarkers, which may indicate patients who may benefit from the manipulation of distinctive PKC isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Aquino
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Nicoletta Bianchi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.B.); (A.T.)
| | - Anna Terrazzan
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.B.); (A.T.)
- Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ornella Franzese
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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6
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Kaszuba A, Sławińska M, Żółkiewicz J, Sobjanek M, Nowicki RJ, Lange M. Mastocytosis and Skin Cancer: The Current State of Knowledge. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9840. [PMID: 37372988 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases associated with excessive proliferation and accumulation of mast cells in different organs. Recent studies have demonstrated that patients suffering from mastocytosis face an increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The cause of this has not yet been clearly identified. In the literature, the potential influence of several factors has been suggested, including genetic background, the role of cytokines produced by mast cells, iatrogenic and hormonal factors. The article summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of skin neoplasia in mastocytosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kaszuba
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Smoluchowskiego Street 17, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Martyna Sławińska
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Smoluchowskiego Street 17, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jakub Żółkiewicz
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Smoluchowskiego Street 17, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Michał Sobjanek
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Smoluchowskiego Street 17, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Roman J Nowicki
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Smoluchowskiego Street 17, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Lange
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Smoluchowskiego Street 17, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
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7
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Acharya B, Saha D, Armstrong D, Lakkaniga NR, Frett B. FLT3 inhibitors for acute myeloid leukemia: successes, defeats, and emerging paradigms. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:798-816. [PMID: 35923716 PMCID: PMC9298189 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00067a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
FLT3 mutations are one of the most common genetic aberrations found in nearly 30% of acute myeloid leukemias (AML). The mutations are associated with poor prognosis despite advances in the understanding of the biological mechanisms of AML. Numerous small molecule FLT3 inhibitors have been developed in an effort to combat AML. Even with the development of these inhibitors, the five-year overall survival for newly diagnosed AML is less than 30%. In 2017, midostaurin received FDA approval to treat AML, which was the first approved FLT3 inhibitor in the U.S. and Europe. Following, gilteritinib received FDA approval in 2018 and in 2019 quizartinib received approval in Japan. This review parallels these clinical success stories along with other pre-clinical and clinical investigations of FLT3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baku Acharya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock AR 72205 USA
| | - Debasmita Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock AR 72205 USA
| | - Daniel Armstrong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock AR 72205 USA
| | - Naga Rajiv Lakkaniga
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad Jharkhand 826004 India
| | - Brendan Frett
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock AR 72205 USA
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8
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Shi W, Singha M, Srivastava G, Pu L, Ramanujam J, Brylinski M. Pocket2Drug: An Encoder-Decoder Deep Neural Network for the Target-Based Drug Design. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:837715. [PMID: 35359869 PMCID: PMC8962739 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.837715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational modeling is an essential component of modern drug discovery. One of its most important applications is to select promising drug candidates for pharmacologically relevant target proteins. Because of continuing advances in structural biology, putative binding sites for small organic molecules are being discovered in numerous proteins linked to various diseases. These valuable data offer new opportunities to build efficient computational models predicting binding molecules for target sites through the application of data mining and machine learning. In particular, deep neural networks are powerful techniques capable of learning from complex data in order to make informed drug binding predictions. In this communication, we describe Pocket2Drug, a deep graph neural network model to predict binding molecules for a given a ligand binding site. This approach first learns the conditional probability distribution of small molecules from a large dataset of pocket structures with supervised training, followed by the sampling of drug candidates from the trained model. Comprehensive benchmarking simulations show that using Pocket2Drug significantly improves the chances of finding molecules binding to target pockets compared to traditional drug selection procedures. Specifically, known binders are generated for as many as 80.5% of targets present in the testing set consisting of dissimilar data from that used to train the deep graph neural network model. Overall, Pocket2Drug is a promising computational approach to inform the discovery of novel biopharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Shi
- Division of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Manali Singha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Gopal Srivastava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Limeng Pu
- Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - J. Ramanujam
- Division of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Michal Brylinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Michal Brylinski,
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9
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Zhao JC, Agarwal S, Ahmad H, Amin K, Bewersdorf JP, Zeidan AM. A review of FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Rev 2022; 52:100905. [PMID: 34774343 PMCID: PMC9846716 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2021.100905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
FLT3 mutations are the most common genetic aberrations found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and associated with poor prognosis. Since the discovery of FLT3 mutations and their prognostic implications, multiple FLT3-targeted molecules have been evaluated. Midostaurin is approved in the U.S. and Europe for newly diagnosed FLT3 mutated AML in combination with standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy based on data from the RATIFY study. Gilteritinib is approved for relapsed or refractory FLT3 mutated AML as monotherapy based on the ADMIRAL study. Although significant progress has been made in the treatment of AML with FLT3-targeting, many challenges remain. Several drug resistance mechanisms have been identified, including clonal selection, stromal protection, FLT3-associated mutations, and off-target mutations. The benefit of FLT3 inhibitor maintenance therapy, either post-chemotherapy or post-transplant, remains controversial, although several studies are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sonal Agarwal
- Department of Pharmacy, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hiba Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacy, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kejal Amin
- Department of Pharmacy, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jan Philipp Bewersdorf
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amer M Zeidan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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10
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Piris-Villaespesa M, Alvarez-Twose I. Systemic Mastocytosis: Following the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition Roadmap. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:443. [PMID: 32346366 PMCID: PMC7171446 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic mastocytosis is a rare and heterogeneous disease characterized by mast cell proliferation and activation. KIT is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase which plays a key role in mast cell growth, differentiation and survival. After interaction with its ligand, the stem cell factor, KIT dimerizes activating downstream pathways involving multiple tyrosine kinases (PI3K, JAK/STAT, RAS/ERK). Activating mutations in KIT are detected in most cases of systemic mastocytosis, being the most common KIT D816V. Therefore, since the emergence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, KIT inhibition has been an attractive approach when facing mastocytosis treatment. Initial reports showed that only the rare KIT D816V negative cases were responsive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, the development of new tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as midostaurin or avapritinib with activity against mast cells carrying the D816V KIT mutation, has changed the landscape of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Piris-Villaespesa
- Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia and IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivan Alvarez-Twose
- Instituto de Estudios de Mastocitosis de Castilla La Mancha (CLMast) and CIBERONC, Hospital Virgen del Valle, Toledo, Spain
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11
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Abbas HA, Alfayez M, Kadia T, Ravandi-Kashani F, Daver N. Midostaurin In Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Evidence-Based Review And Patient Selection. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:8817-8828. [PMID: 31632141 PMCID: PMC6782026 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s177894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Fms-related-tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations occur in approximately a third of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and confer an adverse prognosis. Numerous studies have evaluated FLT3 targeting as single agent and in combination approaches in frontline and relapsed AML. At this time, midostaurin, a multikinase inhibitor, is the only FLT3-inhibitor that is US FDA approved to be used in combination with induction therapy in the frontline FLT3-mutated AML setting based on improved overall survival noted in the RATIFY Phase III trial. The utility of midostaurin in maintenance post stem cell transplantation has shown promising results and further studies are still ongoing. In this review, we discuss the studies that led to the inception of midostaurin as a targeted kinase inhibitor, its evaluation in AML, the early clinical trials and the large Phase III clinical trial that led to its eventual US FDA-approval in FLT3-mutated AML. Our review also discusses data on midostaurin adverse effects, mechanisms of resistance and limitations of its utility. We further discuss emerging second-generation FLT3 inhibitors, with a focus on quizartinib and gilteritinib and future directions to enhance FLT3-inhibitor efficacy and overcome mechanisms of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein A Abbas
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mansour Alfayez
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tapan Kadia
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Farhad Ravandi-Kashani
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Naval Daver
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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12
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Hu HJ, Deng XW, Li RX, Chen DW, Xue C. Inhibition of protein kinase C activity inhibits osteosarcoma metastasis. Arch Med Sci 2019; 15:1028-1034. [PMID: 31360197 PMCID: PMC6657256 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2018.79450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For some cancers bone is the preferred site for metastasis and involves a cascade involving transition of epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells and subsequent intravasation to the blood and lymph vessels, and finally hematogenous dissemination to perivascular niches of the bone marrow sinusoids. It has been shown that protein kinase C can aid metastasis to bone. Hence, pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity is thought of as a potential therapeutic option in bone metastatic lesions. The objective of the current study was to investigate how PKCs exert their effect on bone cancer metastasis and to test the efficacy of pharmacological inhibition of PKC on bone metastasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The effect of the PKC inhibitor Go6983 on epithelial and mesenchymal cell marker expression in the osteosarcoma cell line DAN was determined by immunoblot and immunofluorescence analysis. The in vivo effect of Go6983 was evaluated with a xenograft model using DAN cells. RESULTS Treatment with transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) led to loss of the epithelial cell marker and gain of mesenchymal cell markers in the osteosarcoma cell line, DAN. This transition occurred concomitantly with PKC activation. TGF-β-mediated PKC activation resulted in activation of ribosomal protein 6 (S6), but not S6K1. Pharmacological inhibition of PKC activation attenuated these effects. In a xenograft model of experimental metastasis, pharmacological inhibition of PKC activation over a period of 4 weeks reduced both tumor burden and metastasis to lungs. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that PKC potentiates tumor metastasis to the bone by potentiating translation increase and can be putatively inhibited by pharmacological inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-Jun Hu
- Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiong-Wei Deng
- Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Run-Xiang Li
- Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - De-Wang Chen
- Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Xue
- Chinese General PLA Hospital, Beijing, China
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Midostaurin: its odyssey from discovery to approval for treating acute myeloid leukemia and advanced systemic mastocytosis. Blood Adv 2019; 2:444-453. [PMID: 29487059 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017011080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Midostaurin was a prototype kinase inhibitor, originally developed as a protein kinase C inhibitor and subsequently as an angiogenesis inhibitor, based on its inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. Despite promising preclinical data, early clinical trials in multiple diseases showed only modest efficacy. In 1996, the relatively frequent occurrence of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) activating mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was first recognized. Several years later, midostaurin was discovered to be a potent inhibitor of the FLT3 tyrosine kinase and to have activity against mutant forms of KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase, which drive advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM). Through a series of collaborations between industry and academia, midostaurin in combination with standard chemotherapy was evaluated in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B 10603/RATIFY study, a large, phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML. This was the first study to show significant improvements in overall survival and event-free survival with the addition of a targeted therapy to standard chemotherapy in this population. Around the same time, durable responses were also observed in other trials of midostaurin in patients with advanced SM. Collectively, these clinical data led to the approval of midostaurin by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for both newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML and advanced SM.
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Liu Z, Khalil RA. Evolving mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle contraction highlight key targets in vascular disease. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 153:91-122. [PMID: 29452094 PMCID: PMC5959760 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) plays an important role in the regulation of vascular function. Identifying the mechanisms of VSM contraction has been a major research goal in order to determine the causes of vascular dysfunction and exaggerated vasoconstriction in vascular disease. Major discoveries over several decades have helped to better understand the mechanisms of VSM contraction. Ca2+ has been established as a major regulator of VSM contraction, and its sources, cytosolic levels, homeostatic mechanisms and subcellular distribution have been defined. Biochemical studies have also suggested that stimulation of Gq protein-coupled membrane receptors activates phospholipase C and promotes the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids into inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 stimulates initial Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and is buttressed by Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent, receptor-operated, transient receptor potential and store-operated channels. In order to prevent large increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c), Ca2+ removal mechanisms promote Ca2+ extrusion via the plasmalemmal Ca2+ pump and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, and Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and the coordinated activities of these Ca2+ handling mechanisms help to create subplasmalemmal Ca2+ domains. Threshold increases in [Ca2+]c form a Ca2+-calmodulin complex, which activates myosin light chain (MLC) kinase, and causes MLC phosphorylation, actin-myosin interaction, and VSM contraction. Dissociations in the relationships between [Ca2+]c, MLC phosphorylation, and force have suggested additional Ca2+ sensitization mechanisms. DAG activates protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, which directly or indirectly via mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylate the actin-binding proteins calponin and caldesmon and thereby enhance the myofilaments force sensitivity to Ca2+. PKC-mediated phosphorylation of PKC-potentiated phosphatase inhibitor protein-17 (CPI-17), and RhoA-mediated activation of Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibit MLC phosphatase and in turn increase MLC phosphorylation and VSM contraction. Abnormalities in the Ca2+ handling mechanisms and PKC and ROCK activity have been associated with vascular dysfunction in multiple vascular disorders. Modulators of [Ca2+]c, PKC and ROCK activity could be useful in mitigating the increased vasoconstriction associated with vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwei Liu
- Vascular Surgery Research Laboratories, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Raouf A Khalil
- Vascular Surgery Research Laboratories, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Palanisamy SK, Rajendran NM, Marino A. Natural Products Diversity of Marine Ascidians (Tunicates; Ascidiacea) and Successful Drugs in Clinical Development. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2017; 7:1-111. [PMID: 28097641 PMCID: PMC5315671 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-016-0115-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This present study reviewed the chemical diversity of marine ascidians and their pharmacological applications, challenges and recent developments in marine drug discovery reported during 1994-2014, highlighting the structural activity of compounds produced by these specimens. Till date only 5% of living ascidian species were studied from <3000 species, this study represented from family didemnidae (32%), polyclinidae (22%), styelidae and polycitoridae (11-12%) exhibiting the highest number of promising MNPs. Close to 580 compound structures are here discussed in terms of their occurrence, structural type and reported biological activity. Anti-cancer drugs are the main area of interest in the screening of MNPs from ascidians (64%), followed by anti-malarial (6%) and remaining others. FDA approved ascidian compounds mechanism of action along with other compounds status of clinical trials (phase 1 to phase 3) are discussed here in. This review highlights recent developments in the area of natural products chemistry and biotechnological approaches are emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satheesh Kumar Palanisamy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, 98166, Messina, Italy.
| | - N M Rajendran
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Angela Marino
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, 98166, Messina, Italy
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Zong Y, Yuan Y, Qian X, Huang Z, Yang W, Lin L, Zheng Q, Li Y, He H, Gao Q. Small Molecular-Sized Artesunate Attenuates Ocular Neovascularization via VEGFR2, PKCα, and PDGFR Targets. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30843. [PMID: 27480521 PMCID: PMC4969591 DOI: 10.1038/srep30843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocular neovascularization (NV) is the primary cause of blindness in many ocular diseases. Large molecular weight anti- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein drugs, such as Avastin and Lucentis, have saved the vision of millions. However, approximately 20-30% of patients respond poorly to anti-VEGF treatment. We found that artesunate (ART), a small molecular derivative of artemisinin, had a significant inhibitory effect on ocular NV by downregulating the expression of VEGFR2, PKCα, and PDGFR. ART significantly inhibited retinal NV in rabbits and macular edema in monkeys with greater anterior chamber penetrability and more durable efficacy than Avastin. Our pilot study showed that intravitreal injection of 80 μg ART significantly inhibited iris and corneal NV in a severe retinal detachment case. Our results suggest that ART might be a potential persistent small-molecule drug to manage ocular NV via multi-targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yongguang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xiaobing Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zhen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Leilei Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Qishan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yujie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Huining He
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Qianying Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
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Ringvold HC, Khalil RA. Protein Kinase C as Regulator of Vascular Smooth Muscle Function and Potential Target in Vascular Disorders. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2016; 78:203-301. [PMID: 28212798 PMCID: PMC5319769 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) plays an important role in maintaining vascular tone. In addition to Ca2+-dependent myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, protein kinase C (PKC) is a major regulator of VSM function. PKC is a family of conventional Ca2+-dependent α, β, and γ, novel Ca2+-independent δ, ɛ, θ, and η, and atypical ξ, and ι/λ isoforms. Inactive PKC is mainly cytosolic, and upon activation it undergoes phosphorylation, maturation, and translocation to the surface membrane, the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and other cell organelles; a process facilitated by scaffold proteins such as RACKs. Activated PKC phosphorylates different substrates including ion channels, pumps, and nuclear proteins. PKC also phosphorylates CPI-17 leading to inhibition of MLC phosphatase, increased MLC phosphorylation, and enhanced VSM contraction. PKC could also initiate a cascade of protein kinases leading to phosphorylation of the actin-binding proteins calponin and caldesmon, increased actin-myosin interaction, and VSM contraction. Increased PKC activity has been associated with vascular disorders including ischemia-reperfusion injury, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetic vasculopathy. PKC inhibitors could test the role of PKC in different systems and could reduce PKC hyperactivity in vascular disorders. First-generation PKC inhibitors such as staurosporine and chelerythrine are not very specific. Isoform-specific PKC inhibitors such as ruboxistaurin have been tested in clinical trials. Target delivery of PKC pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptides and PKC siRNA may be useful in localized vascular disease. Further studies of PKC and its role in VSM should help design isoform-specific PKC modulators that are experimentally potent and clinically safe to target PKC in vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- H C Ringvold
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - R A Khalil
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
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Sulaiman NBS, Mohan CD, Basappa, Pandey V, Rangappa S, Bharathkumar H, Kumar AP, Lobie PE, Rangappa KS. An azaspirane derivative suppresses growth and induces apoptosis of ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cells through the modulation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Int J Oncol 2016; 49:1221-9. [DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Redox Homeostasis and Cellular Antioxidant Systems: Crucial Players in Cancer Growth and Therapy. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2016; 2016:6235641. [PMID: 27418953 PMCID: PMC4932173 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6235641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their products are components of cell signaling pathways and play important roles in cellular physiology and pathophysiology. Under physiological conditions, cells control ROS levels by the use of scavenging systems such as superoxide dismutases, peroxiredoxins, and glutathione that balance ROS generation and elimination. Under oxidative stress conditions, excessive ROS can damage cellular proteins, lipids, and DNA, leading to cell damage that may contribute to carcinogenesis. Several studies have shown that cancer cells display an adaptive response to oxidative stress by increasing expression of antioxidant enzymes and molecules. As a double-edged sword, ROS influence signaling pathways determining beneficial or detrimental outcomes in cancer therapy. In this review, we address the role of redox homeostasis in cancer growth and therapy and examine the current literature regarding the redox regulatory systems that become upregulated in cancer and their role in promoting tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy.
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Das J. Novel N-pyrimidin-4-yl-3-amino-pyrrolo [3, 4-C] pyrazole derivatives as PKC kinase inhibitors: a patent evaluation of US2015099743 (A1). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2015; 26:523-8. [PMID: 26593678 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2015.1124088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Protein kinase Cβ (PKCβ) is a member of the PKC family of serine/threonine kinases that has been implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. Developing small molecule drugs targeting this PKC isozyme is a rational approach for treating these disease states. PKCβ belongs to the conventional class of PKC and contains both regulatory and kinase domain. Numerous compounds of different chemical classes were designed targeting the kinase domain, but achieved very limited success in clinical trials. AREAS COVERED This patent application reports the synthesis of about 100 new N-pyrimidin-4-yl-3-amino-pyrolo [3, 4-C] pyrazole derivatives and their competitive inhibition constant (Ki) for protein kinase C βII (PKCβII), one of the two splice variants of PKCβ. The compounds compete with ATP at the kinase domain of PKCβII, and inhibit with high potency having Ki values in the 0.1-181 nM range. The compounds are claimed to be selective towards PKCβI, PKCβII and PKCα over other protein kinases. Several routes of administration of these compounds are discussed for possible treatment of diabetes and related diseases. EXPERT OPINION This is an important effort toward developing PKC-based drugs for diabetic complications. Further biological evaluations of these compounds are required before proceeding toward clinical trails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joydip Das
- a Department of Pharmacological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy , University of Houston , Houston , TX , USA
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21
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Abstract
The protein kinases C (PKCs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases involved in regulating multiple essential cellular processes such as survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Of particular interest is the novel, calcium-independent PKCθ which plays a central role in immune responses. PKCθ shares structural similarities with other PKC family members, mainly consisting of an N-terminal regulatory domain and a C-terminal catalytic domain tethered by a hinge region. This isozyme, however, is unique in that it translocates to the immunological synapse between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell (APC) upon T cell receptor-peptide MHC recognition. Thereafter, PKCθ interacts physically and functionally with downstream effectors to mediate T cell activation and differentiation, subsequently leading to inflammation. PKCθ-specific perturbations have been identified in several diseases, most notably autoimmune disorders, and hence the modulation of its activity presents an attractive therapeutic intervention. To that end, many inhibitors of PKCs and PKCθ have been developed and tested in preclinical and clinical studies. And although selectivity remains a challenge, results are promising for the future development of effective PKCθ inhibitors that would greatly advance the treatment of several T-cell mediated diseases.
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Abstract
The prognosis for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is determined to a large degree by the biology of the leukemic cell. In recent years, the identification and characterization of genetic aberrations has vastly improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of AML. In contrast, however, there has been a lack of clinically meaningful therapeutic advances. The same chemotherapeutic strategies have been applied to AML for several decades now, and while these regimens are effective in inducing remission, most patients relapse within months after initial treatment. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel therapies. We review herein a number of lines of laboratory and clinical trial data supporting the clinical value of targeted treatment approaches that will likely result in improved outcomes for patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Konig
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Martin-Liberal J, Cameron AJ, Claus J, Judson IR, Parker PJ, Linch M. Targeting protein kinase C in sarcoma. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2014; 1846:547-59. [PMID: 25453364 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine tyrosine kinases that regulate many cellular processes including division, proliferation, survival, anoikis and polarity. PKC is abundant in many human cancers and aberrant PKC signalling has been demonstrated in cancer models. On this basis, PKC has become an attractive target for small molecule inhibition within oncology drug development programmes. Sarcoma is a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal malignancies. Due to their relative insensitivity to conventional chemotherapies and the increasing recognition of the driving molecular events of sarcomagenesis, sarcoma provides an excellent platform to test novel therapeutics. In this review we provide a structure-function overview of the PKC family, the rationale for targeting these kinases in sarcoma and the state of play with regard to PKC inhibition in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Martin-Liberal
- Sarcoma Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - A J Cameron
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - J Claus
- Protein Phosphorylation Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - I R Judson
- Sarcoma Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - P J Parker
- Protein Phosphorylation Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK; Division of Cancer Studies, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - M Linch
- Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 23% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients younger than 60 years of age carry a mutation in the transmembrane domain of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) gene (FLT3/internal tandem duplications [ITD]). In normal karyotype AML, the presence of a FLT3/ITD mutation is associated with poor prognosis, as mirrored by a high risk of relapse even after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The poor prognostic impact along with the observation that FLT3 is frequently overexpressed in the majority of AML cases has formed the platform for the development of FLT3-targeted strategies. To date, several FLT3 kinase inhibitors have been investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. However, as of yet, none of the studied FLT3 inhibitors has received FDA approval for routine clinical use in AML. This is in part due to the 'off target' effects observed with most inhibitors when administered at concentrations needed to achieve sustained levels of FLT3 inhibition, which are required to exhibit substantial cytotoxic effects against leukemic blasts. Furthermore, the development of resistance mutations has emerged as a clinical issue posing a threat to successful FLT3 inhibitor therapy. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors provide a brief summary of FLT3 inhibitors investigated thus far, and discuss current treatment approaches and strategies how to best incorporate FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) into therapy. EXPERT OPINION The combination of a FLT3 inhibitor with conventional chemotherapeutic regimens, epigenetic modifiers or inhibitors of FLT3 downstream and collateral effectors has emerged as a promising strategy to improve treatment outcome. The future of a tailored, molecular-based treatment approach for FLT3-mutated AML demands novel clinical trial concepts based on harmonized and aligned research goals between clinical and research centers and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Konig
- Johns Hopkins University, Medical Oncology , 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD , USA
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Pemmaraju N, Kantarjian H, Andreeff M, Cortes J, Ravandi F. Investigational FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitors in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2014; 23:943-54. [PMID: 24749672 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2014.911839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Outcomes for the majority of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain poor. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the understanding of the cytogenetic and molecular determinants of AML pathogenesis. One such advance is the identification of recurring mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3). Currently, this marker, which appears in approximately one-third of all AML patients, not only signifies a poorer prognosis but also identifies an important target for therapy. FLT3 inhibitors have now undergone clinical evaluation in Phase I, II and III clinical trials, as both single agents and in combination with chemotherapeutics. Unfortunately, to date, none of the FLT3 inhibitors have gained FDA approval for the treatment of patients with AML. Yet, several promising FLT3 inhibitors are being evaluated in all phases of drug development. AREAS COVERED This review aims to highlight the agents furthest along in their development. It also focuses on those FLT3 inhibitors that are being evaluated in combination with other anti-leukemia agents. EXPERT OPINION The authors believe that the field of research for FLT3 inhibitors remains promising, despite the historically poor prognosis of this subgroup of patients with AML. The most promising areas of research will likely be the elucidation of the mechanisms of resistance to FLT3 inhibitors, and development of potent FLT3 inhibitors alone or in combination with hypomethylating agents, cytotoxic chemotherapy or with other targeted agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Pemmaraju
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Leukemia , 1515 Holcombe Blvd Houston, TX 77030 , USA
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Phase I study of cladribine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (CLAG regimen) and midostaurin and all-trans retinoic acid in relapsed/refractory AML. Int J Hematol 2014; 99:272-8. [PMID: 24488798 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-014-1503-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a phase I study using midostaurin (25 or 50 mg orally twice daily), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and CLAG chemotherapy to target multiple pathways in relapsed/refractory AML. 10 patients received the combination and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Two patients (22 %) achieved complete remission and 1 patient (11 %) achieved complete remission with incomplete count recovery. Pharmacokinetic data showed that the 25 mg dosing of midostaurin achieved therapeutic levels with no significant interaction between midostaurin and ATRA. With evidence of activity of ATRA in NPM1-mutated AML and midostaurin in FLT3-ITD AML, this combination warrants further investigation.
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Zbytek B, Carlson JA, Granese J, Ross J, Mihm MC, Slominski A. Current concepts of metastasis in melanoma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 3:569-585. [PMID: 19649148 DOI: 10.1586/17469872.3.5.569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The main cause of death in melanoma patients is widespread metastases. Staging of melanoma is based on the primary tumor thickness, ulceration, lymph node and distant metastases. Metastases develop in regional lymph nodes, as satellite or in-transit lesions, or in distant organs. Lymph flow and chemotaxis is responsible for the homing of melanoma cells to different sites. Standard pathologic evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes fails to find occult melanoma in a significant proportion of cases. Detection of small numbers of malignant melanoma cells in these and other sites, such as adjacent to the primary site, bone marrow or the systemic circulation, may be enhanced by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription PCR, evaluation of lymphatic vessel invasion and proteomics. In the organs to which melanoma cells metastasize, extravasation of melanoma cells is regulated by adhesion molecules, matrix metalloproteases, chemokines and growth factors. Melanoma cells may travel along external vessel lattices. After settling in the metastatic sites, melanoma cells develop mechanisms that protect them against the attack of the immune system. It is thought that one of the reasons why melanoma cells are especially resistant to killing is the fact that melanocytes (cells from which melanoma cells derive) are resistant to such noxious factors as ultraviolet light and reactive oxygen species. Targeted melanoma therapies are, so far, largely unsuccessful, and new ones, such as adjuvant inhibition of melanogenesis, are under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blazej Zbytek
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 930 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA, Tel.: +1 901 448 6300, ,
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Shiota M, Yokomizo A, Takeuchi A, Imada K, Kashiwagi E, Song Y, Inokuchi J, Tatsugami K, Uchiumi T, Naito S. Inhibition of protein kinase C/Twist1 signaling augments anticancer effects of androgen deprivation and enzalutamide in prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 20:951-61. [PMID: 24352647 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-1809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The progression of prostate cancer to metastatic and castration-resistant disease represents a critical step. We previously showed that the transcription factor Twist1, which promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, was involved in castration-resistant progression. Similarly, protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in both metastatic progression and castration resistance in prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of PKC/Twist1 signaling in castration resistance, and to apply this information to the development of a novel therapeutic concept using PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220 against prostate cancer using various prostate cancer cell lines. RESULTS Androgen deprivation and the next-generation antiandrogen enzalutamide induced PKC activation and Twist1 expression, which were reversed by the PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220. Ro31-8220 suppressed cell proliferation in androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCaP cells, which was augmented by its combination with androgen deprivation or enzalutamide. The favorable anticancer effects of the combination of Ro31-8220 and enzalutamide were also observed in castration-resistant C4-2 and 22Rv1 cells. Furthermore, PKC phosphorylation was elevated in castration-resistant and enzalutamide-resistant cells compared with their parental cells, leading to persistent sensitivity to Ro-31-8220 in castration- and enzalutamide-resistant cells. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these findings indicate that PKC/Twist1 signaling contributes to castration resistance as well as enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer, and suggest that therapeutics targeting PKC/Twist1 signaling, such as PKC inhibitors, represent a promising novel therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer, especially castration-resistant prostate cancer, when combined with enzalutamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Shiota
- Authors' Affiliations: Departments of Urology and Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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29
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Chen X, Wu Q, Tan L, Porter D, Jager MJ, Emery C, Bastian BC. Combined PKC and MEK inhibition in uveal melanoma with GNAQ and GNA11 mutations. Oncogene 2013; 33:4724-34. [PMID: 24141786 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a genetically and biologically distinct type of melanoma, and once metastatic there is no effective treatment currently available. Eighty percent of UMs harbor mutations in the Gαq family members GNAQ and GNA11. Understanding the effector pathways downstream of these oncoproteins is important to identify opportunities for targeted therapy. We report consistent activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) and MAPK pathways as a consequence of GNAQ or GNA11 mutation. PKC inhibition with AEB071 or AHT956 suppressed PKC and MAPK signalling and induced G1 arrest selectively in melanoma cell lines carrying GNAQ or GNA11 mutations. In contrast, treatment with two different MEK inhibitors, PD0325901 and MEK162, inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cell lines irrespective of their mutation status, indicating that in the context of GNAQ or GNA11 mutation MAPK activation can be attributed to activated PKC. AEB071 significantly slowed the growth of tumors in an allograft model of GNAQ(Q209L)-transduced melanocytes, but did not induce tumor shrinkage. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that PKC inhibitors alone were unable to induce sustained suppression of MAP-kinase signaling. However, combinations of PKC and MEK inhibition, using either PD0325901or MEK162, led to sustained MAP-kinase pathway inhibition and showed a strong synergistic effect in halting proliferation and in inducing apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, combining PKC and MEK inhibition was efficacious in vivo, causing marked tumor regression in a UM xenograft model. Our data identify PKC as a rational therapeutic target for melanoma patients with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations and demonstrate that combined MEK and PKC inhibition is synergistic, with superior efficacy compared to treatment with either approach alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Chen
- 1] Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Q Wu
- Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - L Tan
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - D Porter
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - M J Jager
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - C Emery
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - B C Bastian
- 1] Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA [2] Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Bharate SB, Sawant SD, Singh PP, Vishwakarma RA. Kinase inhibitors of marine origin. Chem Rev 2013; 113:6761-815. [PMID: 23679846 DOI: 10.1021/cr300410v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandip B Bharate
- Medicinal Chemistry Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Canal Road, Jammu-180001, India
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Abstract
Protein kinase C (PKC) has been a tantalizing target for drug discovery ever since it was first identified as the receptor for the tumour promoter phorbol ester in 1982. Although initial therapeutic efforts focused on cancer, additional indications--including diabetic complications, heart failure, myocardial infarction, pain and bipolar disorder--were targeted as researchers developed a better understanding of the roles of eight conventional and novel PKC isozymes in health and disease. Unfortunately, both academic and pharmaceutical efforts have yet to result in the approval of a single new drug that specifically targets PKC. Why does PKC remain an elusive drug target? This Review provides a short account of some of the efforts, challenges and opportunities in developing PKC modulators to address unmet clinical needs.
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Lee HJ, Schaefer G, Heffron TP, Shao L, Ye X, Sideris S, Malek S, Chan E, Merchant M, La H, Ubhayakar S, Yauch RL, Pirazzoli V, Politi K, Settleman J. Noncovalent wild-type-sparing inhibitors of EGFR T790M. Cancer Discov 2012; 3:168-81. [PMID: 23229345 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-12-0357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Approximately half of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with small-molecule EGFR kinase inhibitors develop drug resistance associated with the EGF receptor (EGFR) T790M "gatekeeper" substitution, prompting efforts to develop covalent EGFR inhibitors, which can effectively suppress EGFR T790M in preclinical models. However, these inhibitors have yet to prove clinically efficacious, and their toxicity in skin, reflecting activity against wild-type EGFR, may limit dosing required to effectively suppress EGFR T790M in vivo. While profiling sensitivity to various kinase inhibitors across a large cancer cell line panel, we identified indolocarbazole compounds, including a clinically well-tolerated FLT3 inhibitor, as potent and reversible inhibitors of EGFR T790M that spare wild-type EGFR. These findings show the use of broad cancer cell profiling of kinase inhibitor efficacy to identify unanticipated novel applications, and they identify indolocarbazole compounds as potentially effective EGFR inhibitors in the context of T790M-mediated drug resistance in NSCLC. SIGNIFICANCE EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients who respond to currently used EGFR kinase inhibitors invariably develop drug resistance, which is associated with the EGFR T790M resistance mutation in about half these cases. We unexpectedly identified a class of reversible potent inhibitors of EGFR T790M that do not inhibit wild-type EGFR, revealing a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome T790M-associated drug-resistant lung cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-June Lee
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, USA
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Protein kinase C: an attractive target for cancer therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:531-67. [PMID: 24212628 PMCID: PMC3756376 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3010531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2010] [Revised: 01/19/2011] [Accepted: 01/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis plays an important role during all stages of carcinogenesis and the development of chemoresistance in tumor cells may be due to their selective defects in the intracellular signaling proteins, central to apoptotic pathways. Consequently, many studies have focused on rendering the chemotherapy more effective in order to prevent chemoresistance and pre-clinical and clinical data has suggested that protein kinase C (PKC) may represent an attractive target for cancer therapy. Therefore, a complete understanding of how PKC regulates apoptosis and chemoresistance may lead to obtaining a PKC-based therapy that is able to reduce drug dosages and to prevent the development of chemoresistance.
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Hong SH, Osborne T, Ren L, Briggs J, Mazcko C, Burkett SS, Khanna C. Protein kinase C regulates ezrin-radixin-moesin phosphorylation in canine osteosarcoma cells. Vet Comp Oncol 2010; 9:207-18. [PMID: 21848623 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2010.00249.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The development of metastasis is the most significant cause of death for both canine and human patients with osteosarcoma (OS). Ezrin has been associated with tumour progression and metastasis in human, canine and murine OS. Ezrin activation is dynamically regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) during metastatic progression in human and murine OS. To include the dog in the development of therapeutics that target ezrin biology, we characterized four new canine OS cell lines and confirmed the relationship between PKC and ezrin in these cells. Three of four cell lines formed tumours in mice that were histologically consistent with OS. All cell lines were markedly aneuploid and expressed ezrin and PKC. Finally, both ezrin phosphorylation and cell migration were inhibited using a PKC inhibitor. These data suggest that an association between PKC-mediated activation of ezrin and the metastatic phenotype in canine OS cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- S-H Hong
- Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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VEGF targeted therapy in acute myeloid leukemia. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2010; 80:241-56. [PMID: 21035354 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2010] [Revised: 09/24/2010] [Accepted: 09/28/2010] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The cooperation of two classes of mutations in hematopoietic cells is hypothesized in a multistep pathogenesis model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Class I mutations confer a proliferative and/or survival advantage, whereas Class II mutations block hematopoietic differentiation and impair apoptosis in AML cells. In addition to these two classes of mutations, a relevant role for angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of AML has been recently proposed. The recognition that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway is a key regulator of angiogenesis has led to the development of several VEGF-targeted approaches. These include neutralizing antibodies, VEGF traps or selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors for VEGFRs. Other drugs that indirectly affect VEGF pathway, such as statins or arsenic trioxide, also have been shown to possess antiangiogenic activity in leukemias. The benefits of these VEGF targeted agents and their current stage of development as novel anti-antiangiogenic therapies in AML are discussed in this review.
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Waning DL, Lehman JA, Batuello CN, Mayo LD. Controlling the Mdm2-Mdmx-p53 Circuit. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2010; 3:1576-1593. [PMID: 20651945 PMCID: PMC2907906 DOI: 10.3390/ph3051576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The p53 tumor suppressor is a key protein in maintaining the integrity of the genome by inducing either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis following cellular stress signals. Two human family members, Mdm2 and Mdmx, are primarily responsible for inactivating p53 transcription and targeting p53 protein for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. In response to genotoxic stress, post-translational modifications to p53, Mdm2 and Mdmx stabilize and activate p53. The role that phosphorylation of these molecules plays in the cellular response to genotoxic agents has been extensively studied with respect to cancer biology. In this review, we discuss the main phosphorylation events of p53, Mdm2 and Mdmx in response to DNA damage that are important for p53 stability and activity. In tumors that harbor wild-type p53, reactivation of p53 by modulating both Mdm2 and Mdmx signaling is well suited as a therapeutic strategy. However, the rationale for development of kinase inhibitors that target the Mdm2-Mdmx-p53 axis must be carefully considered since modulation of certain kinase signaling pathways has the potential to destabilize and inactivate p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L. Waning
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, 980 West Walnut, Walther Hall R3-C548, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Jason A. Lehman
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, 980 West Walnut, Walther Hall R3-C548, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Christopher N. Batuello
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, MS 4053, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Lindsey D. Mayo
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, 980 West Walnut, Walther Hall R3-C548, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, MS 4053, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-317-278-3173; Fax: +1-317-274-8046
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Grant S, Tran P, Zhang Q, Zou A, Dinh D, Jensen J, Zhou S, Kang X, Zachwieja J, Lippincott J, Liu K, Johnson SL, Scales S, Yin C, Nukui S, Stoner C, Prasanna G, Lafontaine J, Wells P, Li H. Discovery of a novel class of targeted kinase inhibitors that blocks protein kinase C signaling and ameliorates retinal vascular leakage in a diabetic rat model. Eur J Pharmacol 2009; 627:16-25. [PMID: 19850035 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2009.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2009] [Revised: 09/18/2009] [Accepted: 10/06/2009] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein kinase C (PKC) family members such as PKCbetaII may become activated in the hyperglycemic state associated with diabetes. Preclinical and clinical data implicate aberrant PKC activity in the development of diabetic microvasculature abnormalities. Based on this potential etiological role for PKC in diabetic complications, several therapeutic PKC inhibitors have been investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of diabetic patients. In this report, we present the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a novel class of 3-amino-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazole derivatives as inhibitors of PKC that are structurally distinct from the prototypical indolocarbazole and bisindolylmaleimide PKC inhibitors. From this pyrrolo-pyrazole series, several compounds were identified from biochemical assays as potent, ATP-competitive inhibitors of PKC activity with high specificity for PKC over other protein kinases. These compounds were also found to block PKC signaling activity in multiple cellular functional assays. PF-04577806, a representative from this series, inhibited PKC activity in retinal lysates from diabetic rats stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate. When orally administered, PF-04577806 showed good exposure in the retina of diabetic Long-Evans rats and ameliorated retinal vascular leakage in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. These novel PKC inhibitors represent a promising new class of targeted protein kinase inhibitors with potential as therapeutic agents for the treatment of patients with diabetic microvascular complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Grant
- Department of Biochemistry and Primary Screening, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Pfizer La Jolla Laboratories, San Diego, CA 92121, United States.
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Platelet-derived growth factor-receptor alpha strongly inhibits melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo. Neoplasia 2009; 11:732-42. [PMID: 19649203 DOI: 10.1593/neo.09408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2009] [Accepted: 04/20/2009] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer; it is highly metastatic and responds poorly to current therapies. The expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGF-Rs) is reported to be reduced in metastatic melanoma compared with benign nevi or normal skin; we then hypothesized that PDGF-Ralpha may control growth of melanoma cells. We show here that melanoma cells overexpressing PDGF-Ralpha respond to serum with a significantly lower proliferation compared with that of controls. Apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, pRb dephosphorylation, and DNA synthesis inhibition were also observed in cells overexpressing PDGF-Ralpha. Proliferation was rescued by PDGF-Ralpha inhibitors, allowing to exclude nonspecific toxic effects and indicating that PDGF-Ralpha mediates autocrine antiproliferation signals in melanoma cells. Accordingly, PDGF-Ralpha was found to mediate staurosporine cytotoxicity. A protein array-based analysis of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway revealed that melanoma cells overexpressing PDGF-Ralpha show a strong reduction of c-Jun phosphorylated in serine 63 and of protein phosphatase 2A/Balpha and a marked increase of p38gamma, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3, and signal regulatory protein alpha1 protein expression. In a mouse model of primary melanoma growth, infection with the Ad-vector overexpressing PDGF-Ralpha reached a significant 70% inhibition of primary melanoma growth (P < .001) and a similar inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. All together, these data demonstrate that PDGF-Ralpha strongly impairs melanoma growth likely through autocrine mechanisms and indicate a novel endogenous mechanism involved in melanoma control.
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Roffey J, Rosse C, Linch M, Hibbert A, McDonald NQ, Parker PJ. Protein kinase C intervention: the state of play. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2009; 21:268-79. [PMID: 19233632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2009.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2009] [Accepted: 01/15/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Intervention in protein kinase C (PKC) has a chequered history, partly because of the poor selectivity of many inhibitors and partly a reflection of the sometimes antagonistic action of related PKC isoforms. Recent advances in targeting PKC isoforms have come from structural work on isolated kinase domains that have provided opportunities to drive selectivity through structure-based avenues. The promise of isoform selective inhibitors and the rationale for their development are discussed in the broader context of the PKC inhibitor arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Roffey
- Discovery Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Limited, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, London, UK
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Beadling C, Jacobson-Dunlop E, Hodi FS, Le C, Warrick A, Patterson J, Town A, Harlow A, Cruz F, Azar S, Rubin BP, Muller S, West R, Heinrich MC, Corless CL. KIT gene mutations and copy number in melanoma subtypes. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:6821-8. [PMID: 18980976 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-0575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 465] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We recently identified a KIT exon 11 mutation in an anorectal melanoma of a patient who had an excellent response to treatment with imatinib. To determine the frequency of KIT mutations across melanoma subtypes, we surveyed a large series of tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN One hundred eighty-nine melanomas were screened for mutations in KIT exons 11, 13, and 17. KIT copy number was assessed by quantitative PCR. A subset of cases was evaluated for BRAF and NRAS mutations. Immunohistochemistry was done to assess KIT (CD117) expression. RESULTS KIT mutations were detected in 23% (3 of 13) of acral melanomas, 15.6% (7 of 45) of mucosal melanomas, 7.7% (1 of 13) of conjunctival melanomas, 1.7% (1 of 58) of cutaneous melanomas, and 0% (0 of 60) of choroidal melanomas. Almost all the KIT mutations were of the type predicted to be imatinib sensitive. There was no overlap with NRAS mutations (11.1% of acral and 24.3% of mucosal tumors) or with BRAF mutations (absent in mucosal tumors). Increased KIT copy number was detected in 27.3% (3 of 11) of acral and 26.3% (10 of 38) of mucosal melanomas, but was less common among cutaneous (6.7%; 3 of 45), conjunctival (7.1%; 1 of 14), and choroidal melanomas (0 of 28). CD117 expression, present in 39% of 105 tumors representing all melanoma types, did not correlate with either KIT mutation status or KIT copy number. CONCLUSIONS Our findings confirm that KIT mutations are most common in acral and mucosal melanomas but do not necessarily correlate with KIT copy number or CD117 expression. Screening for KIT mutations may open up new treatment options for melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Beadling
- Oregon Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
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Ray P, De A, Patel M, Gambhir SS. Monitoring caspase-3 activation with a multimodality imaging sensor in living subjects. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:5801-9. [PMID: 18794090 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-5244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Capsase-3 plays an important role in chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in many cancers. Herein, we applied a multimodality reporter vector to monitor caspase-3 activation indirectly in live cells and tumors of living animals undergoing apoptosis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A fusion protein (MTF) was constructed by combining three different reporter proteins, red fluorescent protein (mRFP1), firefly luciferase (FL), and HSV1-sr39 truncated thymidine kinase (TK), linked through a caspase-3 recognizable polypeptide linker. After cleavage by caspase-3, a significant gain in mRFP1, FL, and TK activity are observed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and enzyme-based assays. A melanoma cell line (B16F10-mtf-hrl) stably expressing mtf (to measure caspase-3 activation) and hrl-IRES-gfp (to determine the decrease in a number of viable cells) vectors was generated to measure two independent molecular events upon treatment. RESULTS Upon induction with 8 mumol/L staurosporine, the fusion protein showed a 2.8-fold increase in FL (P = 0.03), a 1.5-fold increase in TK (P = not significant), and a 2-fold increase in mRFP1 (P = 0.05) activity in 293T cells. Bioluminescence and micropositron emission tomography imaging of the apoptotic B16F10-mtf-hrl tumors showed a 2-fold higher FL activity (897 versus 416) and a 2-fold higher TK activity (10.3 versus 3.87) than control tumors when normalized with RL activity. Using a similar normalization approach, the time kinetics of caspase-3 activation by two protein kinase-C inhibitors was noninvasively monitored in living mice. CONCLUSION This multimodality caspase sensor vector could effectively and noninvasively monitor caspase-3 activation from single live cells to a multicellular tumor environment and, thus, would be a valuable tool for drug screening in preclinical models and future patient cell based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritha Ray
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Departments of Radiology and Bioengineering, Bio-X Program, School of Medicine, Stanford University, California 94305-5427, USA
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Lee MR, Duan W, Tan SL. Protein kinase C isozymes as potential therapeutic targets in immune disorders. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2008; 12:535-52. [PMID: 18410238 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.12.5.535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family are key signalling mediators in immune responses, and pharmacological inhibition of PKCs may be useful for treating immune-mediated diseases. OBJECTIVE To review and discuss the insights gained so far into various PKC isozymes and the therapeutic potential and challenges of developing PKC inhibitors for immune disorder therapy. METHODS A literature review of the role of PKCs in immune cell signalling and recent studies describing immune functions associated with PKC isozyme deficiency in relevant mouse disease models, followed by specific case studies of current and potential therapeutic strategies targeting PKCs. RESULTS/CONCLUSION There is vast amount of data supporting PKC isozymes as attractive drug targets for certain immune disorders. Although the development of specific PKC isozyme inhibitors has been challenging, some progress has been made. It remains to be seen if broad-scale or isozyme-selective inhibition of PKC will have clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Lee
- Amgen, Inc., Molecular Structure, 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
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Butler MS. Natural products to drugs: natural product-derived compounds in clinical trials. Nat Prod Rep 2008; 25:475-516. [PMID: 18497896 DOI: 10.1039/b514294f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 502] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural product and natural product-derived compounds that are being evaluated in clinical trials or are in registration (as at 31st December 2007) have been reviewed, as well as natural product-derived compounds for which clinical trials have been halted or discontinued since 2005. Also discussed are natural product-derived drugs launched since 2005, new natural product templates and late-stage development candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Butler
- MerLion Pharmaceuticals, 1 Science Park Road, The Capricorn 05-01, Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528.
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Abstract
Protein kinase C (PKC) comprises a family of serine/threonine kinases that are involved in the transduction of signals for cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Unsurprisingly, disruption of PKC regulation is implicated in tumorigenesis and drug resistance. PKC function is complex in this context owing to the differing roles of individual isozymes within the cell and across tumour types. Therapeutically targeting PKC isozymes is not new; however, with many of the early PKC inhibitor cytotoxic drug combinations being discarded at the phase II level, and recent phase III studies in non-small-cell lung cancer proving negative, what's going wrong?
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen J Mackay
- University of Toronto, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Robey RW, Shukla S, Steadman K, Obrzut T, Finley EM, Ambudkar SV, Bates SE. Inhibition of ABCG2-mediated transport by protein kinase inhibitors with a bisindolylmaleimide or indolocarbazole structure. Mol Cancer Ther 2007; 6:1877-85. [PMID: 17575116 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-06-0811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
ABCG2 is a transporter with potential importance in cancer drug resistance, drug oral absorption, and stem cell biology. In an effort to identify novel inhibitors of ABCG2, we examined the ability of commercially available bisindolylmaleimides (BIM) and indolocarbazole protein kinase inhibitors (PKI) to inhibit ABCG2, given the previous demonstration that the indolocarbazole PKI UCN-01 interacted with the transporter. At a concentration of 10 micromol/L, all of the compounds tested increased intracellular fluorescence of the ABCG2-specific substrate pheophorbide a in ABCG2-transfected HEK-293 cells by 1.3- to 6-fold as measured by flow cytometry; the ABCG2-specific inhibitor fumitremorgin C increased intracellular fluorescence by 6.6-fold. In 4-day cytotoxicity assays, wild-type ABCG2-transfected cells were not more than 2-fold resistant to any of the compounds, suggesting that the PKIs are not significantly transported by ABCG2. BIMs I, II, III, IV, and V, K252c, and arcyriaflavin A were also able to inhibit [(125)I]iodoarylazidoprazosin labeling of ABCG2 by 65% to 80% at 20 micromol/L, compared with a 50% to 70% reduction by 20 micromol/L fumitremorgin C. K252c and arcyriaflavin A were the most potent compounds, with IC(50) values for inhibition of [(125)I]iodoarylazidoprazosin labeling of 0.37 and 0.23 micromol/L, respectively. K252c and arcyriaflavin A did not have any effect on the ATPase activity of ABCG2. Four minimally toxic compounds--BIM IV, BIM V, arcyriaflavin A, and K252c-reduced the relative resistance of ABCG2-transfected cells to SN-38 in cytotoxicity assays. We find that indolocarbazole and BIM PKIs directly interact with the ABCG2 protein and may thus increase oral bioavailability of ABCG2 substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Robey
- Medical Oncology Branch and Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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