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Ramos MC, Crespo-Sueiro G, de Pedro N, Griñán-Lisón C, Díaz C, Pérez-Victoria I, González-Menéndez V, Castillo F, Pérez Del Palacio J, Tormo JR, Choquesillo-Lazarte D, Marchal JA, Vicente F, Fernández-Godino R, Genilloud O, Reyes F. Onychocolone A produced by the fungus Onychocola sp. targets cancer stem cells and stops pancreatic cancer progression by inhibiting MEK2-dependent cell signaling. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:117018. [PMID: 38908208 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) shows a high fatality rate that can only be faced with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy or palliative treatment in the case of advanced patients. Besides, PC tumors are enriched with subpopulations of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are resistant to the existing chemotherapeutic agents, which raises an important need for the identification of new drugs. To fill this gap, we have tested the anti-tumoral activity of microbial extracts, which chemical diversity offers a broad spectrum of potential new bioactive compounds. Extracts derived from the fungus Onychocola sp. CF-107644 were assayed via high throughput screening followed by bioassay-guided fractionation and resulted in the identification and isolation of six benzophenone derivatives with antitumoral activity: onychocolones A-F (#1-6). The structures of the compounds were established by spectroscopic methods, including ESI-TOF MS, 1D and 2D NMR analyses and X-ray diffraction. Compounds #1-4 significantly inhibited the growth of the pancreas tumoral cell lines, with low-micromolar Median Effective Doses (ED50s). Compound #1 (onychocolone A) was prioritized for further profiling due to its pro-apoptotic effect, which was further validated on 3D spheroids and pancreatic CSCs. Protein expression assays showed that the effect was mechanistically linked to the inhibition of MEK onco-signaling pathway. The efficacy of onychocolone A was also demonstrated in vivo by the reduction of tumor growth in a pancreatic xenograft mouse model generated by CSCs. Altogether, the data support that onychocolone A is a promising new small molecule for hit-to-lead development of a new treatment for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Ramos
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain.
| | - Gloria Crespo-Sueiro
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Nuria de Pedro
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Carmen Griñán-Lisón
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, Granada 18100, Spain; GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, Granada 18016, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, Granada 18071, Spain
| | - Caridad Díaz
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Ignacio Pérez-Victoria
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Víctor González-Menéndez
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Francisco Castillo
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Jose Pérez Del Palacio
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Jose R Tormo
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Duane Choquesillo-Lazarte
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, IACT, CSIC, University of Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, Granada 18100, Spain
| | - Juan A Marchal
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, Granada 18100, Spain; Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada 18016, Spain; Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Francisca Vicente
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Rosario Fernández-Godino
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Olga Genilloud
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Fernando Reyes
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain.
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Suman I, Šimić L, Čanadi Jurešić G, Buljević S, Klepac D, Domitrović R. The interplay of mitophagy, autophagy, and apoptosis in cisplatin-induced kidney injury: involvement of ERK signaling pathway. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:98. [PMID: 38402208 PMCID: PMC10894217 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01872-0] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
AKI induced by CP chemotherapy remains an obstacle during patient treatments. Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK), key participants in CP-induced nephrotoxicity, are suggested to be involved in the regulation of mitophagy, autophagy, and apoptosis. Human renal proximal tubular cells (HK-2) and BALB/cN mice were used to determine the role of ERK in CP-induced AKI. We found that active ERK is involved in cell viability reduction during apoptotic events but exerts a protective role in the early stages of treatment. Activation of ERK acts as a maintainer of the mitochondrial population and is implicated in mitophagy initiation but has no significant role in its conduction. In the late stages of CP treatment when ATP is deprived, general autophagy that requires ERK activation is initiated as a response, in addition to apoptosis activation. Furthermore, activation of ERK is responsible for the decrease in reserve respiratory capacity and controls glycolysis regulation during CP treatment. Additionally, we found that ERK activation is also required for the induction of NOXA gene and protein expression as well as FoxO3a nuclear translocation, but not for the regular ERK-induced phosphorylation of FoxO3a on Ser294. In summary, this study gives detailed insight into the involvement of ERK activation and its impact on key cellular processes at different time points during CP-induced kidney injury. Inhibitors of ERK activation, including Mirdametinib, are important in the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of AKI in patients receiving CP chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Suman
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
| | - Lidija Šimić
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
- Point-of-Care Laboratory, Emergency Department Sušak, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Gordana Čanadi Jurešić
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Sunčica Buljević
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Damir Klepac
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
- Centre for Micro- and Nanosciences and Technologies, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Robert Domitrović
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
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Mushtaq A, Wu P, Naseer MM. Recent drug design strategies and identification of key heterocyclic scaffolds for promising anticancer targets. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 254:108579. [PMID: 38160914 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108579] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancer, a noncommunicable disease, is the leading cause of mortality worldwide and is anticipated to rise by 75% in the next two decades, reaching approximately 25 million cases. Traditional cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and surgery, have shown limited success in reducing cancer incidence. As a result, the focus of cancer chemotherapy has switched to the development of novel small molecule antitumor agents as an alternate strategy for combating and managing cancer rates. Heterocyclic compounds are such agents that bind to specific residues in target proteins, inhibiting their function and potentially providing cancer treatment. This review focuses on privileged heterocyclic pharmacophores with potent activity against carbonic anhydrases and kinases, which are important anticancer targets. Evaluation of ongoing pre-clinical and clinical research of heterocyclic compounds with potential therapeutic value against a variety of malignancies as well as the provision of a concise summary of the role of heterocyclic scaffolds in various chemotherapy protocols have also been discussed. The main objective of the article is to highlight key heterocyclic scaffolds involved in recent anticancer drug design that demands further attention from the drug development community to find more effective and safer targeted small-molecule anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Mushtaq
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Peng Wu
- Chemical Genomics Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Muhammad Moazzam Naseer
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; Chemical Genomics Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany.
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Tyagi S, Mishra R, Mazumder R, Mazumder A. Current Market Potential and Prospects of Copper-based Pyridine Derivatives: A Review. Curr Mol Med 2024; 24:1111-1123. [PMID: 37496249 DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230726160056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Nicotine, minodronic acid, nicotinamide (niacin), zolpidem, zolimidine, and other pyridine-based chemicals play vital roles in medicine and biology. Pyridinecontaining drugs are widely available on the market to treat a wide range of human ailments. As a result of these advances, pyridine research is continually expanding, and there are now higher expectations for how it may aid in the treatment of numerous ailments. This evaluation incorporates data acquired from sources, like PubMed, to provide a thorough summary of the approved drugs and bioactivity data for compounds containing pyridine. Most of the reactions discussed in this article will provide readers with a deeper understanding of various pyridine-related examples, which is necessary for the creation of copper catalysis-based synthetic processes that are more accessible, secure, environmentally friendly, and practical, and that also have higher accuracy and selectivity. This paper also discusses significant innovations in the multi-component copper-catalyzed synthesis of N-heterocycles (pyridine), with the aim of developing precise, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly oxygenation and oxidation synthetic methods for the future synthesis of additional novel pyridine base analogs. Therefore, the review article will serve as a novel platform for researchers investigating copperbased pyridine compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Tyagi
- Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology (Pharmacy Institute), Knowledge Park-2, Plot 19, Greater Noida, 201306, India
| | - Rakhi Mishra
- Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology (Pharmacy Institute), Knowledge Park-2, Plot 19, Greater Noida, 201306, India
| | - Rupa Mazumder
- Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology (Pharmacy Institute), Knowledge Park-2, Plot 19, Greater Noida, 201306, India
| | - Avijit Mazumder
- Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology (Pharmacy Institute), Knowledge Park-2, Plot 19, Greater Noida, 201306, India
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Chouari T, La Costa FS, Merali N, Jessel MD, Sivakumar S, Annels N, Frampton AE. Advances in Immunotherapeutics in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4265. [PMID: 37686543 PMCID: PMC10486452 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for up to 95% of all pancreatic cancer cases and is the seventh-leading cause of cancer death. Poor prognosis is a result of late presentation, a lack of screening tests and the fact some patients develop resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Novel therapies like immunotherapeutics have been of recent interest in pancreatic cancer. However, this field remains in its infancy with much to unravel. Immunotherapy and other targeted therapies have yet to yield significant progress in treating PDAC, primarily due to our limited understanding of the disease immune mechanisms and its intricate interactions with the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review we provide an overview of current novel immunotherapies which have been studied in the field of pancreatic cancer. We discuss their mechanisms, evidence available in pancreatic cancer as well as the limitations of such therapies. We showcase the potential role of combining novel therapies in PDAC, postulate their potential clinical implications and the hurdles associated with their use in PDAC. Therapies discussed with include programmed death checkpoint inhibitors, Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cell therapy, oncolytic viral therapy and vaccine therapies including KRAS vaccines, Telomerase vaccines, Gastrin Vaccines, Survivin-targeting vaccines, Heat-shock protein (HSP) peptide complex-based vaccines, MUC-1 targeting vaccines, Listeria based vaccines and Dendritic cell-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarak Chouari
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Francesca Soraya La Costa
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
| | - Nabeel Merali
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
- The Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Maria-Danae Jessel
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Oncology Department and Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Nicola Annels
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Adam E. Frampton
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
- The Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
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Zhang J, Yang T, Han M, Wang X, Yang W, Guo N, Ren Y, Cui W, Li S, Zhao Y, Zhai X, Jia L, Yang J, Wu C, Wang L. Gain-of-function mutations in the catalytic domain of DOT1L promote lung cancer malignant phenotypes via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadc9273. [PMID: 37256945 PMCID: PMC10413674 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc9273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is a lethal malignancy lacking effective therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic enzyme mutations are closely related to the malignant phenotype of lung cancer. Here, we identified a series of gain-of-function mutations in the histone methyltransferase DOT1L. The strongest of them is R231Q, located in the catalytic DOT domain. R231Q can enhance the substrate binding ability of DOT1L. Moreover, R231Q promotes cell growth and drug resistance of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies also revealed that the R231Q mutant specifically activates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway by enriching H3K79me2 on the RAF1 promoter and epigenetically regulating the expression of downstream targets. The combination of a DOT1L inhibitor (SGC0946) and a MAPK/ERK axis inhibitor (binimetinib) can effectively reverse the R231Q-induced phenomena. Our results reveal gain-of-function mutations in an epigenetic enzyme and provide promising insights for the precise treatment of lung cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi 117004, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi 117004, China
| | - Mei Han
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi 117004, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi 117004, China
| | - Weiming Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi 117004, China
| | - Ning Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi 117004, China
| | - Yong Ren
- Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of People's Liberation Army, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Shangxiao Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yongshan Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xin Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Lina Jia
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jingyu Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Chunfu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Lihui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi 117004, China
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Semlali A, Ajala I, Beji S, Al-Zharani MM, Rouabhia M. Synergistic Effect of Anethole and Platinum Drug Cisplatin against Oral Cancer Cell Growth and Migration by Inhibiting MAPKase, Beta-Catenin, and NF-κB Pathways. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050700. [PMID: 37242484 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin is a common drug used to treat patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, cisplatin-induced chemoresistance poses a major challenge to its clinical application. Our recent study has shown that anethole possesses an anti-oral cancer effect. In this study, we examined the combined effect of anethole and cisplatin on oral cancer therapy. Gingival cancer cells Ca9-22 were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of cisplatin with or without anethole. The cell viability/proliferation and cytotoxicity were evaluated, respectively, by MTT, Hoechst staining, and LDH assay, while colony formation was measured by crystal violet. Oral cancer cell migration was evaluated by the scratch method. Apoptosis, caspase activity, oxidative stress, MitoSOX, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) levels were evaluated by flow cytometry, and the inhibition of signaling pathways was investigated by Western blot. Our results show that anethole (3 µM) potentiates cisplatin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and decreases the ΔΨm on Ca9-22 cells. Furthermore, drug combination was found to inhibit cell migration and enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity. The combination of anethole and cisplatin potentiates cisplatin-induced oral cancer cell apoptosis through the activation of caspase, while we also found anethole and cisplatin to enhance the cisplatin-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial stress. In addition, major cancer signaling pathways were inhibited by the combination of anethole and cisplatin such as MAPKase, beta-catenin, and NF-κB pathways. This study reports that the combination of anethole and cisplatin might provide a beneficial effect in enhancing the cisplatin cancer cell-killing effect, thus lowering the associated side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhabib Semlali
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Ikram Ajala
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Sarra Beji
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Mohammed Mousa Al-Zharani
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Rouabhia
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
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Uckun FM, Qazi S. ERBB1/EGFR and JAK3 Tyrosine Kinases as Potential Therapeutic Targets in High-Risk Multiple Myeloma. ONCO 2022; 2:282-304. [PMID: 36311273 PMCID: PMC9610889 DOI: 10.3390/onco2040016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Our main objective was to identify abundantly expressed tyrosine kinases in multiple myeloma (MM) as potential therapeutic targets. We first compared the transcriptomes of malignant plasma cells from newly diagnosed MM patients who were risk-categorized based on the patient-specific EMC-92/SKY-92 gene expression signature values vs. normal plasma cells from healthy volunteers using archived datasets from the HOVON65/GMMG-HD4 randomized Phase 3 study evaluating the clinical efficacy of bortezomib induction/maintenance versus classic cytotoxic drugs and thalidomide maintenance. In particular, ERBB1/EGFR was significantly overexpressed in MM cells in comparison to normal control plasma cells, and it was differentially overexpressed in MM cells from high-risk patients. Amplified expression of EGFR/ERBB1 mRNA in MM cells was positively correlated with increased expression levels of mRNAs for several DNA binding proteins and transcription factors with known upregulating activity on EGFR/ERBB1 gene expression. MM patients with the highest ERBB1/EGFR expression level had significantly shorter PFS and OS times than patients with the lowest ERBB1/EGFR expression level. High expression levels of EGFR/ERBB1 were associated with significantly increased hazard ratios for unfavorable PFS and OS outcomes in both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. The impact of high EGFR/ERBB1 expression on the PFS and OS outcomes remained significant even after accounting for the prognostic effects of other covariates. These results regarding the prognostic effect of EGFR/ERBB1 expression were validated using the MMRF-CoMMpass RNAseq dataset generated in patients treated with more recently applied drug combinations included in contemporary induction regimens. Our findings provide new insights regarding the molecular mechanism and potential clinical significance of upregulated EGFR/ERBB1 expression in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih M. Uckun
- Immuno-Oncology Program, Ares Pharmaceuticals, St. Paul, MN 55110, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Therapeutics Program, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (USC KSOM), Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Sanjive Qazi
- Immuno-Oncology Program, Ares Pharmaceuticals, St. Paul, MN 55110, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Therapeutics Program, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (USC KSOM), Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
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Szklener K, Mazurek M, Wieteska M, Wacławska M, Bilski M, Mańdziuk S. New Directions in the Therapy of Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5377. [PMID: 36358795 PMCID: PMC9655599 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common histologic type of all gliomas and contributes to 57.3% of all cases. Despite the standard management based on surgical resection and radiotherapy, it is related to poor outcome, with a 5-year relative survival rate below 6.9%. In order to improve the overall outcome for patients, the new therapeutic strategies are needed. Herein, we describe the current state of knowledge on novel targeted therapies in glioblastoma. Based on recent studies, we compared treatment efficacy measured by overall survival and progression-free survival in patients treated with selected potential antitumor drugs. The results of the application of the analyzed inhibitors are highly variable despite the encouraging conclusions of previous preclinical studies. This paper focused on drugs that target major glioblastoma kinases. As far, the results of some BRAF inhibitors are favorable. Vemurafenib demonstrated a long-term efficacy in clinical trials while the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib improves PFS compared with both vemurafenib and dabrafenib alone. There is no evidence that any MEK inhibitor is effective in monotherapy. According to the current state of knowledge, BRAF and MEK inhibition are more advantageous than BRAF inhibitor monotherapy. Moreover, mTOR inhibitors (especially paxalisib) may be considered a particularly important group. Everolimus demonstrated a partial response in a significant proportion of patients when combined with bevacizumab, however its actual role in the treatment is unclear. Neither nintedanib nor pemigatinib were efficient in treatment of GBM. Among the anti-VEGF drugs, bevacizumab monotherapy was a well-tolerated option, significantly associated with anti-GBM activity in patients with recurrent GBM. The efficacy of aflibercept and pazopanib in monotherapy has not been demonstrated. Apatinib has been proven to be effective and tolerable by a single clinical trial, but more research is needed. Lenvatinib is under trial. Finally, promising results from a study with regorafenib may be confirmed by the ongoing randomized AGILE trial. The studies conducted so far have provided a relatively wide range of drugs, which are at least well tolerated and demonstrated some efficacy in the randomized clinical trials. The comprehensive understanding of the molecular biology of gliomas promises to further improve the treatment outcomes of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Szklener
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Chemotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, 8 Jaczewski Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Marek Mazurek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Wieteska
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Chemotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, 8 Jaczewski Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Monika Wacławska
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Chemotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, 8 Jaczewski Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Mateusz Bilski
- Department of Radiotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Sławomir Mańdziuk
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Chemotherapy, Medical University of Lublin, 8 Jaczewski Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
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10
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Rumienczyk I, Kulecka M, Statkiewicz M, Ostrowski J, Mikula M. Oncology Drug Repurposing for Sepsis Treatment. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040921. [PMID: 35453671 PMCID: PMC9030585 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis involves life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Despite three decades of efforts and multiple clinical trials, no treatment, except antibiotics and supportive care, has been approved for this devastating syndrome. Simultaneously, numerous preclinical studies have shown the effectiveness of oncology-indicated drugs in ameliorating sepsis. Here we focus on cataloging these efforts with both oncology-approved and under-development drugs that have been repositioned to treat bacterial-induced sepsis models. In this context, we also envision the exciting prospect for further standard and oncology drug combination testing that could ultimately improve clinical outcomes in sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Rumienczyk
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (I.R.); (M.K.); (M.S.); (J.O.)
| | - Maria Kulecka
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (I.R.); (M.K.); (M.S.); (J.O.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Oncology, Centre for Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Statkiewicz
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (I.R.); (M.K.); (M.S.); (J.O.)
| | - Jerzy Ostrowski
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (I.R.); (M.K.); (M.S.); (J.O.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Oncology, Centre for Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Mikula
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (I.R.); (M.K.); (M.S.); (J.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-546-26-55
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11
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Novel treatment strategy for NRAS-mutated melanoma through a selective inhibitor of CD147/VEGFR-2 interaction. Oncogene 2022; 41:2254-2264. [PMID: 35217792 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
More than 70% of human NRASmut melanomas are resistant to MEK inhibitors highlighting the crucial need for efficient therapeutic strategies for these tumors. CD147, a membrane receptor, is overexpressed in most cancers including melanoma and is associated with poor prognosis. We show here that CD147i, a specific inhibitor of CD147/VEGFR-2 interaction represents a potential therapeutic strategy for NRASmut melanoma cells. It significantly inhibited the malignant properties of NRASmut melanomas ex vivo and in vivo. Importantly, NRASmut patient's-derived xenografts, which were resistant to MEKi, became sensitive when combined with CD147i leading to decreased proliferation ex vivo and tumor regression in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that CD147i effects were mediated through STAT3 pathway. These data bring a proof of concept on the impact of the inhibition of CD147/VEGFR-2 interaction on melanoma progression and represents a new therapeutic opportunity for NRASmut melanoma when combined with MEKi.
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12
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Jain AS, Prasad A, Pradeep S, Dharmashekar C, Achar RR, Silina E, Stupin V, Amachawadi RG, Prasad SK, Pruthvish R, Syed A, Shivamallu C, Kollur SP. Everything Old Is New Again: Drug Repurposing Approach for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Targeting MAPK Signaling Pathway. Front Oncol 2021; 11:741326. [PMID: 34692523 PMCID: PMC8526962 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.741326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prominent subtype of lung carcinoma that accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths globally, and it is responsible for about 80% to 85% of lung cancers. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are a vital aspect of NSCLC, and have aided in the advancement of therapies for this carcinoma. Targeting the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is a promising and alternative method in NSCLC treatment, which is highlighted in this review. The introduction of targeted medicines has revolutionized the treatment of patients with this carcinoma. When combined with current systems biology-driven stratagems, repurposing non-cancer drugs into new therapeutic niches presents a cost-effective and efficient technique with enhancing outcomes for discovering novel pharmacological activity. This article highlights the successful cutting-edge techniques while focusing on NSCLC targeted therapies. The ultimate challenge will be integrating these repurposed drugs into the therapeutic regimen of patients affected with NSCLC to potentially increase lung cancer cure rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisha S. Jain
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
| | - Ashwini Prasad
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
| | - Sushma Pradeep
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
| | - Chandan Dharmashekar
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
| | - Raghu Ram Achar
- Division of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
| | - Ekaterina Silina
- Department of Human Pathology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor Stupin
- Department of Hospital Surgery, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (RNRMU), Moscow, Russia
| | - Raghavendra G. Amachawadi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Shashanka K. Prasad
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
| | - R Pruthvish
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, India
| | - Asad Syed
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chandan Shivamallu
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, India
| | - Shiva Prasad Kollur
- Department of Sciences, Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Mysuru, India
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13
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Zhou X, Zhao J, Zhang JV, Wu Y, Wang L, Chen X, Ji D, Zhou GG. Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus with MEK Inhibitor Trametinib in Some BRAF or KRAS-Mutated Colorectal or Lung Carcinoma Models. Viruses 2021; 13:1758. [PMID: 34578339 PMCID: PMC8473197 DOI: 10.3390/v13091758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virus (OV) as a promising therapeutic agent can selectively infect and kill tumor cells with naturally inherited or engineered properties. Considering the limitations of OVs monotherapy, combination therapy has been widely explored. MEK inhibitor (MEKi) Trametinib is an FDA-approved kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of tumors with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations. In this study, the oncolytic activity in vitro and anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy in vivo when combined with oHSV and MEKi Trametinib were investigated. We found: (1) Treatment with MEKi Trametinib augmented oHSV oncolytic activity in BRAF V600E-mutated tumor cells. (2) Combination treatment with oHSV and MEKi Trametinib enhanced virus replication mediated by down-regulation of STAT1 and PKR expression or phosphorylation in BRAF V600E-mutated tumor cells as well as BRAF wt/KRAS-mutated tumor cells. (3) A remarkably synergistic therapeutic efficacy was shown in vivo for BRAF wt/KRAS-mutated tumor models, when a combination of oHSV including PD-1 blockade and MEK inhibition. Collectively, these data provide some new insights for clinical development of combination therapy with oncolytic virus, MEK inhibition, and checkpoint blockade for BRAF or KRAS-mutated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- XuSha Zhou
- Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, Shenzhen 518110, China; (X.Z.); (J.Z.); (X.C.)
| | - Jing Zhao
- Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, Shenzhen 518110, China; (X.Z.); (J.Z.); (X.C.)
| | - Jian V. Zhang
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yinglin Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China; (Y.W.); (L.W.)
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China; (Y.W.); (L.W.)
| | - Xiaoqing Chen
- Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, Shenzhen 518110, China; (X.Z.); (J.Z.); (X.C.)
| | - Dongmei Ji
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Cancer Center and Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China;
| | - Grace Guoying Zhou
- Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, Shenzhen 518110, China; (X.Z.); (J.Z.); (X.C.)
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14
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Baccon-Sollier PL, Malki Y, Maye M, Ali LMA, Lichon L, Cuq P, Vincent LA, Masurier N. Imidazopyridine-fused [1,3]diazepinones: modulations of positions 2 to 4 and their impacts on the anti-melanoma activity. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2020; 35:935-949. [PMID: 32249633 PMCID: PMC7170309 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1748024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of 19 novel pyrido-imidazodiazepinones, with modulations of positions 2, 3 and 4 of the diazepine ring were synthesised and screened for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against two melanoma cell lines (A375 and MDA-MB-435) and for their potential toxicity against NIH-3T3 non-cancerous cells. Selected compounds were also evaluated on the NCI-60 cell line panel. The SAR study revealed that the molecular volume and the cLogP of compounds modified at position 2 were significantly correlated with the activity of these compounds on melanoma cell lines. Moreover, introduction of a heterocyclic group at position 2 or an azido-alkyl chain at position 4 led to compounds displaying a significantly different activity profile on the NCI-60 cell line panel, compared to phenyl-substituted compounds at position 2 of the diazepinone. This study provides us crucial information for the development of new derivatives active against melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Le Baccon-Sollier
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France
| | - Yohan Malki
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France
| | - Morgane Maye
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France
| | - Lamiaa M A Ali
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France.,Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Laure Lichon
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Cuq
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France
| | - Laure-Anaïs Vincent
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Masurier
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Montpellier, France
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15
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Kun E, Tsang YTM, Ng CW, Gershenson DM, Wong KK. MEK inhibitor resistance mechanisms and recent developments in combination trials. Cancer Treat Rev 2020; 92:102137. [PMID: 33340965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2020.102137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays a vital role in cellular processes such as gene expression, cell proliferation, cell survival, and apoptosis. Also known as the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, the MAPK pathway has been implicated in approximately one-third of all cancers. Mutations in RAS or RAF genes such as KRAS and BRAF are common, and these mutations typically promote malignancies by over-activating MEK and ERK downstream, which drives sustained cell proliferation and uninhibited cell growth. Development of drugs targeting this pathway has been a research area of great interest, especially drugs targeting the inhibition of MEK. In vitro and clinical studies have shown promise for certain MEK inhibitors (MEKi) , and MEKi have become the first treatment option for certain cancers. Despite promising results, not all patients have a response to MEKi, and mechanisms of resistance typically arise in patients who do have a positive initial response. This paper summarizes recent developments regarding MEKi, the mechanisms of adaptive resistance to MEKi, and the potential solutions to the issue of adaptive MEKi resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Kun
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Y T M Tsang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - C W Ng
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - D M Gershenson
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - K K Wong
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.
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16
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Anastasov N, Hirmer E, Klenner M, Ott J, Falkenberg N, Bao X, Mutschelknaus L, Moertl S, Combs S, Atkinson MJ, Schmid T. MEK1 Inhibitor Combined with Irradiation Reduces Migration of Breast Cancer Cells Including miR-221 and ZEB1 EMT Marker Expression. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123760. [PMID: 33327491 PMCID: PMC7764972 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy are an effective treatment for invasive breast cancer. However, some studies suggest that such interventions may increase the risk of metastasis. Cell metastatic behavior is highly dependent on RAS-RAF-MEK pathway and its downstream target activation, including miR-221 overexpression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). By using MEK1 inhibitor (TAK-733) in combination with radiation therapy for breast cancer cells, significant decrease in migration capacity, including reduction of miR-221 and EMT (ZEB1) marker expression was observed. miR-221 holds great potential as therapeutic biomarker and target for new drug developments, however more insight into efficiency of miR-221 inhibition needs to be followed in the future. Abstract The miR-221 expression is dependent on the oncogenic RAS-RAF-MEK pathway activation and influences epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database analysis showed high gene significance for ZEB1 with EMT module analysis and miR-221 overexpression within the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER2+ subgroups when compared to luminal A/B subgroups. EMT marker expression analysis after MEK1 (TAK-733) inhibitor treatment and irradiation was combined with miR-221 and ZEB1 expression analysis. The interaction of miR-221 overexpression with irradiation and its influence on migration, proliferation, colony formation and subsequent EMT target activation were investigated. The results revealed that MEK1 inhibitor treatment combined with irradiation could decrease the migratory potential of breast cancer cells including reduction of miR-221 and corresponding downstream ZEB1 (EMT) marker expression. The clonogenic survival assays revealed that miR-221 overexpressing SKBR3 cells were more radioresistant when compared to the control. Remarkably, the effect of miR-221 overexpression on migration in highly proliferative and highly HER2-positive SKBR3 cells remained constant even upon 8 Gy irradiation. Further, in naturally miR-221-overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cells, the proliferation and migration significantly decrease after miR-221 knockdown. This leads to the assumption that radiation alone is not reducing migration capacity of miR-221-overexpressing cells and that additional factors play an important role in this context. The miR-221/ZEB1 activity is efficiently targeted upon MEK1 inhibitor (TAK-733) treatment and when combined with irradiation treatment, significant reduction in migration of breast cancer cells was shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataša Anastasov
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
- Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-893-187-3798; Fax: +49-893-187-3017
| | - Elisabeth Hirmer
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (S.C.); (T.S.)
| | - Marbod Klenner
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
| | - Jessica Ott
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (S.C.); (T.S.)
| | - Natalie Falkenberg
- Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany;
- Clinical Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Xuanwen Bao
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
| | - Lisa Mutschelknaus
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
| | - Simone Moertl
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
- Federal Office of Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie Combs
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (S.C.); (T.S.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael J. Atkinson
- Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (E.H.); (M.K.); (J.O.); (X.B.); (L.M.); (S.M.); (M.J.A.)
- Radiation Biology, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmid
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (S.C.); (T.S.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany
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17
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Kun EHS, Tsang YTM, Lin S, Pan S, Medapalli T, Malpica A, Richards JS, Gershenson DM, Wong KK. Differences in gynecologic tumor development in Amhr2-Cre mice with KRAS G12D or KRAS G12V mutations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20678. [PMID: 33244099 PMCID: PMC7693266 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77666-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
How different KRAS variants impact tumor initiation and progression in vivo has not been thoroughly examined. We hypothesize that the ability of either KRASG12D or KRASG12V mutations to initiate tumor formation is context dependent. Amhr2-Cre mice express Cre recombinase in tissues that develop into the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries. We used these mice to conditionally express either the KRASG12V/+or KRASG12D/+ mutation. Mice with the genotype Amhr2-Cre Pten(fl/fl) KrasG12D/+(G12D mice) had abnormal follicle structures and developed low-grade serous ovarian carcinomas with 100% penetrance within 18 weeks. In contrast, mice with the genotype Amhr2-Cre Pten(fl/fl) KrasG12V/+ (G12V mice) had normal follicle structures, and about 90% of them developed uterine tumors with diverse histological features resembling those of leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. Granulosa cell tumors also developed in G12V mice. Differences in cell-signaling pathways in the uterine tissues of G12D and G12V mice were identified using RNA sequencing and reverse-phase protein array analyses. We found that CTNNB1, IL1A, IL1B, TNF, TGFB1, APP, and IL6 had the higher activity in G12V mice than in G12D mice. These mouse models will be useful for studying the differences in signaling pathways driven by KrasG12V/+ or KrasG12D/+ mutations to aid development of targeted therapies for specific KRAS mutant variants. Our leiomyoma model driven by the KrasG12V/+ mutation will also be useful in deciphering the malignant progression from leiomyoma to leiomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eucharist H S Kun
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yvonne T M Tsang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sophia Lin
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sophia Pan
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tejas Medapalli
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Anais Malpica
- Departments of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - JoAnne S Richards
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David M Gershenson
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kwong-Kwok Wong
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, Unit 1362, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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18
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Tang N, Lyu D, Chang JF, Liu ZT, Zhang Y, Liu HP. Enhanced expression of microtubule-associated protein 7 functioned as a contributor to cervical cancer cell migration and is predictive of adverse prognosis. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:354. [PMID: 32760221 PMCID: PMC7392727 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common female malignancies over the world. Microtubule-associated protein 7 (MAP7) belongs to the family of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) which involve in microtubule dynamics and are critical in several important cellular and intracellular activities. This study aimed to investigate the expression and potential role of MAP7 in CC. Methods The expression level of MAP7 in CC tissues and normal tissues were analyzed using the data obtained from The cancer genomes atlas (TCGA) and genotype-tissue expression (GTEx) databases. The prognostic value of MAP7 in patients with CC was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier analysis, Univariate and Multivariate analyses. Moreover, the influences of MAP7 expression alteration on the viability and motility of Caski, HeLa and C-33A cells was measured by CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, scratch assay, and transwell migration and invasion assays. Flow cytometry was conducted to determine cell apoptosis. Western blot was performed to evaluate the impact of MAP7 on the expression of apoptotic-related proteins as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway-related proteins. In vivo tumorigenicity assay was performed to explore the influence of MAP7 on tumor growth. Results Up-regulation of MAP7 was observed in CC tissues and high MAP7 expression was positively correlated with worse prognosis. Multivariate analyses suggested that MAP7 expression can be served as an independent predictor for overall survival of patients with CC. Knockdown of MAP7 markedly suppressed Caski and HeLa cell viability, migration and invasion while notably induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, depletion of MAP7 in Caski and HeLa cells elevated the expression levels of Active-caspase 3 and Bax, but declined the level of Bcl-2. Whilst, overexpression of MAP7 in C-33A cells presented the opposite outcomes. Additionally, knockdown of MAP7 significantly decreased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in Caski and HeLa cells, and overexpression of MAP7 increased their phosphorylation in C-33A cells, indicating that MAP7 may regulate the MAPK signaling pathway in CC cells. In vivo assays revealed that knockdown of MAP7 remarkably repressed the growth of CC tumors. Conclusion The results of the present study suggest that MAP7 functions as a promoter during the occurrence and progression of CC, and that MAP7 may serve as a promising therapeutic target in CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Tang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, No. 25 Shifan Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan, Shandong 250031 People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Lyu
- Department of Pain Management, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, 300192 People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Fang Chang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, No. 25 Shifan Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan, Shandong 250031 People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Tao Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, No. 25 Shifan Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan, Shandong 250031 People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, No. 25 Shifan Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan, Shandong 250031 People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Ping Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, No. 25 Shifan Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan, Shandong 250031 People's Republic of China
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19
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Cytokine-Mediated Dysregulation of Signaling Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Myeloma. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145002. [PMID: 32679860 PMCID: PMC7403981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic disorder of B lymphocytes characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow. The altered plasma cells overproduce abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulins and also stimulate osteoclasts. The host’s immune system and microenvironment are of paramount importance in the growth of PCs and, thus, in the pathogenesis of the disease. The interaction of MM cells with the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment through soluble factors and cell adhesion molecules causes pathogenesis of the disease through activation of multiple signaling pathways, including NF-κβ, PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT. These activated pathways play a critical role in the inhibition of apoptosis, sustained proliferation, survival and migration of MM cells. Besides, these pathways also participate in developing resistance against the chemotherapeutic drugs in MM. The imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in MM leads to an increased level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which in turn play a significant role in dysregulation of signaling pathways and proliferation of MM cells; however, the association appears to be inadequate and needs more research. In this review, we are highlighting the recent findings on the roles of various cytokines and growth factors in the pathogenesis of MM and the potential therapeutic utility of aberrantly activated signaling pathways to manage the MM disease.
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20
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Buscail L, Bournet B, Cordelier P. Role of oncogenic KRAS in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 17:153-168. [PMID: 32005945 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-019-0245-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 373] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is predicted to be the second most common cause of death within the next 10 years. The prognosis for this disease is poor despite diagnostic progress and new chemotherapeutic regimens. The oncogenic KRAS mutation is the major event in pancreatic cancer; it confers permanent activation of the KRAS protein, which acts as a molecular switch to activate various intracellular signalling pathways and transcription factors inducing cell proliferation, migration, transformation and survival. Several laboratory methods have been developed to detect KRAS mutations in biological samples, including digital droplet PCR (which displays high sensitivity). Clinical studies have revealed that a KRAS mutation assay in fine-needle aspiration material combined with cytopathology increases the sensitivity, accuracy and negative predictive value of cytopathology for a positive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. In addition, the presence of KRAS mutations in serum and plasma (liquid biopsies) correlates with a worse prognosis. The presence of mutated KRAS can also have therapeutic implications, whether at the gene level per se, during its post-translational maturation, interaction with nucleotides and after activation of the various oncogenic signals. Further pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies on new molecules are required, especially small synthetic molecules, before they can be used in the therapeutic arsenal for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Buscail
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Toulouse III, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse, France. .,INSERM UMR 1037, Toulouse Centre for Cancer Research, University of Toulouse III, Toulouse, France.
| | - Barbara Bournet
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Toulouse III, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse, France.,INSERM UMR 1037, Toulouse Centre for Cancer Research, University of Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Cordelier
- INSERM UMR 1037, Toulouse Centre for Cancer Research, University of Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
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21
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Targeting MAPK Signaling in Cancer: Mechanisms of Drug Resistance and Sensitivity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031102. [PMID: 32046099 PMCID: PMC7037308 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 393] [Impact Index Per Article: 98.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways represent ubiquitous signal transduction pathways that regulate all aspects of life and are frequently altered in disease. Here, we focus on the role of MAPK pathways in modulating drug sensitivity and resistance in cancer. We briefly discuss new findings in the extracellular signaling-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, but mainly focus on the mechanisms how stress activated MAPK pathways, such as p38 MAPK and the Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), impact the response of cancer cells to chemotherapies and targeted therapies. In this context, we also discuss the role of metabolic and epigenetic aberrations and new therapeutic opportunities arising from these changes.
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22
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Zhang M, Wang B, Chong QY, Pandey V, Guo Z, Chen RM, Wang L, Wang Y, Ma L, Kumar AP, Zhu T, Wu ZS, Yin Z, Basappa, Goh BC, Lobie PE. A novel small-molecule inhibitor of trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) potentiates MEK1/2 inhibition in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncogenesis 2019; 8:65. [PMID: 31685806 PMCID: PMC6828705 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-019-0173-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
TFF3 has been identified as a novel biomarker to distinguish between lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC). Herein, we determined the oncogenic functions of TFF3 and demonstrated the potential of pharmacological inhibition of TFF3 in lung ADC using a novel small-molecule inhibitor of TFF3 dimerization (AMPC). Forced expression of TFF3 in lung ADC cells enhanced cell proliferation and survival, increased anchorage-independent growth, cancer stem cell behavior, growth in 3D Matrigel, and cell migration and invasion. In contrast, depleted expression of TFF3 suppressed these cellular functions. Mechanistically, TFF3 exerted its oncogenic function through upregulation of ARAF and hence enhanced downstream activation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2. Pharmacological inhibition of TFF3 by AMPC, resulted in markedly decreased cell survival, proliferation, 3D growth and foci formation, and impaired tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Moreover, the combination of various MEK1/2 inhibitors with AMPC exhibited synergistic inhibitory effects on lung ADC cell growth. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that TFF3 is a potent promoter of lung ADC progression. Targeting TFF3 with a novel small-molecule inhibitor alone or in combination with conventional MEK1/2 inhibitors are potential strategies to improve the outcome of lung ADC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyi Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Baocheng Wang
- Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing-Yun Chong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vijay Pandey
- Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhirong Guo
- Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Ru-Mei Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yanxin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lan Ma
- Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Alan P Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Program, Medical Science Cluster, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tao Zhu
- Department of Oncology of the First Affiliated Hospital, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Zheng-Sheng Wu
- Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhinan Yin
- Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Basappa
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, 570006, Karnataka, India
| | - Boon-Cher Goh
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peter E Lobie
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China. .,Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, China.
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23
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Chelakkot VS, Som J, Yoshioka E, Rice CP, Rutihinda SG, Hirasawa K. Systemic MEK inhibition enhances the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy. Br J Cancer 2019; 121:758-767. [PMID: 31551581 PMCID: PMC6889170 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0586-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) gets accumulated preferentially in 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-treated cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilises the accumulated PpIX to trigger cell death by light-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We previously demonstrated that oncogenic Ras/MEK decreases PpIX accumulation in cancer cells. Here, we investigated whether combined therapy with a MEK inhibitor would improve 5-ALA-PDT efficacy. METHODS Cancer cells and mice models of cancer were treated with 5-ALA-PDT, MEK inhibitor or both MEK inhibitor and 5-ALA-PDT, and treatment efficacies were evaluated. RESULTS Ras/MEK negatively regulates the cellular sensitivity to 5-ALA-PDT as cancer cells pre-treated with a MEK inhibitor were killed more efficiently by 5-ALA-PDT. MEK inhibition promoted 5-ALA-PDT-induced ROS generation and programmed cell death. Furthermore, the combination of 5-ALA-PDT and a systemic MEK inhibitor significantly suppressed tumour growth compared with either monotherapy in mouse models of cancer. Remarkably, 44% of mice bearing human colon tumours showed a complete response with the combined treatment. CONCLUSION We demonstrate a novel strategy to promote 5-ALA-PDT efficacy by targeting a cell signalling pathway regulating its sensitivity. This preclinical study provides a strong basis for utilising MEK inhibitors, which are approved for treating cancers, to enhance 5-ALA-PDT efficacy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipin Shankar Chelakkot
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Jayoti Som
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Ema Yoshioka
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Chantel P Rice
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Suzette G Rutihinda
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Kensuke Hirasawa
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3V6, Canada.
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24
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Wang D, Zhou W, Chen J, Wei W. Upstream regulators of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and their role in diseases. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:14460-14472. [PMID: 30710358 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), a crucial signaling molecule, is regulated by various upstream regulators. Traditionally, receptor tyrosine kinases and G protein-coupled receptor are regarded as its principle upstream regulators; however, recent reports have indicated that spleen tyrosine kinase, β-arrestin2, Janus kinase, and RAS can also perform this role. Dysregulation of PI3K is common in the progression of various diseases, including, but not limited to, tumors, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and acute myelogenous leukemia. The aim of this review is to provide a perspective on PI3K-related diseases examining both the classical and nonclassical upstream regulators of PI3K in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Wang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weijie Zhou
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China.,Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China.,Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China
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25
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Zhang B, Meng M, Xiang S, Cao Z, Xu X, Zhao Z, Zhang T, Chen B, Yang P, Li Y, Zhou Q. Selective activation of tumor-suppressive MAPKP signaling pathway by triptonide effectively inhibits pancreatic cancer cell tumorigenicity and tumor growth. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 166:70-81. [PMID: 31075266 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, 1K) family members ERK, JNK, and p38 play a divergent role in either promoting tumorigenesis or tumor-suppression. Activation of ERK and JNK promotes tumorigenesis; whereas, escalation of p38 inhibits carcinogenesis. As these three MAPK members are controlled by the common up-stream MAPK signaling proteins which consist of MAPK kinases (2K) and MAPK kinase kinases (3K), how to selectively actuate tumor-suppressive p38, not concurrently stimulate tumorigenic ERK and JNK, in cancer cells is a challenge for cancer researchers, and a new opportunity for novel anti-cancer drug discovery. Using human pancreatic cancer cells and xenograft mice as models, we found that a small molecule triptonide first discerningly activated the up-stream MAPK kinase kinase MEKK4, not the other two 3K members ASK1 and GADD45; and then selectively actuated the middle stream MAPK kinase MKK4, not the other two 2K members MKK3 and MKK6; and followed by activation of the MAPK member p38, not the other two members ERK and JNK. These data suggest that triptonide is a selective MEKK4-MKK4-p38 axis agonist. Consequently, selective activation of the MEKK4-MKK4-p38 signaling axis by triptonide activated tumor suppressor p21 and inhibited CDK3 expression, resulting in cancer cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and marked inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell tumorigenic capability in vitro and tumor growth in xenograft mice. Our findings support the notion that selective activation of tumor-suppressive MEKK4-MKK4-p38-p21signaling pathway by triptonide is a new approach for pancreatic cancer therapy, providing a new drug candidate for development of novel anti-cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Mei Meng
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Shufen Xiang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Zhifei Cao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Xingdong Xu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Zhe Zhao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Bowen Chen
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226000, PR China
| | - Ye Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Quansheng Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China.
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26
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Savoia P, Fava P, Casoni F, Cremona O. Targeting the ERK Signaling Pathway in Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061483. [PMID: 30934534 PMCID: PMC6472057 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the role of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in melanomagenesis and its progression have opened a new era in the treatment of this tumor. Vemurafenib was the first specific kinase inhibitor approved for therapy of advanced melanomas harboring BRAF-activating mutations, followed by dabrafenib and encorafenib. However, despite the excellent results of first-generation kinase inhibitors in terms of response rate, the average duration of the response was short, due to the onset of genetic and epigenetic resistance mechanisms. The combination therapy with MEK inhibitors is an excellent strategy to circumvent drug resistance, with the additional advantage of reducing side effects due to the paradoxical reactivation of the MAPK pathway. The recent development of RAS and extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK) inhibitors promises to add new players for the ultimate suppression of this signaling pathway and the control of pathway-related drug resistance. In this review, we analyze the pharmacological, preclinical, and clinical trial data of the various MAPK pathway inhibitors, with a keen interest for their clinical applicability in the management of advanced melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Savoia
- Department of Health Science, University of Eastern Piedmont, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.
| | - Paolo Fava
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Science, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy.
| | - Filippo Casoni
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy.
- Università Vita Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy.
| | - Ottavio Cremona
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy.
- Università Vita Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy.
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27
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Zhi Y, Wu X, Shen W, Wang Y, Zhou X, He P, Pan J, Chen Z, Li W, Zhou Z. Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors against prostate tumor cells. Oncol Lett 2018; 16:6522-6530. [PMID: 30405791 PMCID: PMC6202546 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.9438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the activities of novel synthetic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors (ZINC05463076, ZINC2102846 and ZINC19901103) against prostate tumors, in vitro models and investigate the potential underlying mechanisms. A panel of prostate tumor cell lines (LNCaP, DU-145, PC-3 and LNCaP-AI cells) were used to evaluate antitumor activity of ZINC05463076, ZINC2102846, and ZINC19901103 in vitro. Cell growth and clonal formation were determined by MTT assay and Soft agar colony formation assay, respectively. An EGFR kinase assay following treatment of the compounds was performed by ELISA. Cell cycle-regulating proteins, including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)1, CKD2, CKD4 and inhibitory effects of these compounds on downstream signaling were analyzed by western blotting. Flow cytometry was performed to investigate apoptosis and cell cycle phases of the treated cells. It was revealed that all compounds synthesized in the present study demonstrated significant EGFR inhibition abilities, compared with approved EGFR inhibitor drug gefitinib. Treatment of LNCaP, DU-145, PC3 and LNCaP-AI cells with these compounds revealed cell proliferation inhibition and colony formation suppression dose-dependently in vitro. The agents impaired phosphorylation of EGFR and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and suppressed their downstream signaling. In addition, these novel synthetic agents decreased the expression level of survivin, which may induce G1 cell cycle phase arrest and cell apoptosis in PCa cells subsequently. Collectively, ZINC05463076, ZINC2102846 and ZINC19901103 exhibited significant antitumor activity in human prostate tumors in vitro, by inhibiting EGFR and promoting apoptosis, which suggested a rationale for clinical development in prostate tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhi
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China.,Department of Urology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401120, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojun Wu
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Wenhao Shen
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Yongquan Wang
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Xiaozhou Zhou
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Peng He
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Jinhong Pan
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Zhiwen Chen
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Weibing Li
- Department of Urology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401120, P.R. China
| | - Zhansong Zhou
- Urology Institute of People Liberation Army, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
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Illiano M, Sapio L, Salzillo A, Capasso L, Caiafa I, Chiosi E, Spina A, Naviglio S. Forskolin improves sensitivity to doxorubicin of triple negative breast cancer cells via Protein Kinase A-mediated ERK1/2 inhibition. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 152:104-113. [PMID: 29574069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an invasive, metastatic, highly aggressive tumor. Cytotoxic chemotherapy represents the current treatment for TNBC. However, relapse and chemo-resistance are very frequent. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches that are able to increase the sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs are needed. Forskolin, a natural cAMP elevating agent, has been used for several centuries in medicine and its safeness has also been demonstrated in modern studies. Recently, forskolin is emerging as a possible novel molecule for cancer therapy. Here, we investigate the effects of forskolin on the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 TNBC cells to doxorubicin through MTT assay, flow cytometry-based assays (cell-cycle progression and cell death), cell number counting and immunoblotting experiments. We demonstrate that forskolin strongly enhances doxorubicin-induced antiproliferative effects by cell death induction. Similar effects are observed with IBMX and isoproterenol cAMP elevating agents and 8-Br-cAMP analog, but not by using 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP Epac activator. It is important to note that the forskolin-induced potentiation of sensitivity to doxorubicin is accompanied by a strong inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, is mimicked by ERK inhibitor PD98059 and is prevented by pre-treatment with Protein Kinase A (PKA) and adenylate cyclase inhibitors. Altogether, our data indicate that forskolin sensitizes TNBC cells to doxorubicin via a mechanism depending on the cAMP/PKA-mediated ERK inhibition. Our findings sustain the evidence of anticancer activity mediated by forskolin and encourage the design of future in-vivo/clinical studies in order to explore forskolin as a doxorubicin sensitizer for possible use in TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Illiano
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Luigi Sapio
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessia Salzillo
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Lucia Capasso
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Caiafa
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Emilio Chiosi
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Annamaria Spina
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Silvio Naviglio
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Medical School, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
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29
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Current Development Status of MEK Inhibitors. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22101551. [PMID: 28954413 PMCID: PMC6151813 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The current development status of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors, including the preclinical data and clinical study progress, has been summarized in this review. Different MEK inhibitors, possessing specific physicochemical properties and bioactivity characteristics, may provide different options for patients seeking treatment for cancer. Moreover, the combination of the MEK inhibitors with other therapies-such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy-may be a promising approach for clinical use.
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