Acetyl-macrocalin B, an ent-kaurane diterpenoid, initiates apoptosis through the ROS-p38-caspase 9-dependent pathway and induces G2/M phase arrest via the Chk1/2-Cdc25C-Cdc2/cyclin B axis in non-small cell lung cancer

Pin1 as a central node in oncogenic signaling: Mechanistic insights and clinical prospects (Review)

Peptidyl‑prolyl cis‑trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) is a specific phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline cis-trans isomerase, which is involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including cell cycle progression, proliferation and apoptosis. Pin1 plays a key role in tumorigenesis and tumor development and it promotes the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells by regulating the cell cycle, signaling pathways and the function of tumor suppressors. Upregulated expression of Pin1 is closely associated with a poor prognosis in several types of cancers. Thus, Pin1 is may have potential as a novel potential biomarker for tumor diagnosis and prognosis, as well as a promising anticancer target. The aim of the present review was to discuss the mechanism of Pin1 in tumors and recent research progress in this field.

Total Syntheses of Diepoxy-ent-Kaurane Diterpenoids Enabled by a Bridgehead-Enone-Initiated Intramolecular Cycloaddition

Here, we report the enantioselective total syntheses of four diepoxy-ent-kaurane diterpenoids including (-)-Macrocalin B, (-)-Acetyl-macrocalin B, and (-)-Isoadenolin A and the revised structure of (-)-Phyllostacin I, which hinges on the strategic design of a regioselective and stereospecific trapping of a highly reactive [3.2.1]-bridgehead enone intermediate via a tethered intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. Combined experimental and computational studies demonstrated that the novel bridgehead-enone-initiated intramolecular cycloaddition could proceed in a stepwise diradical mechanism. Although the key step partially led to unexpected [2 + 2]-cycloaddition outcomes, we ultimately implemented an unprecedented TiIII-catalyzed cyclobutane ring-opening-annulation radical cascade to reassemble a keystone pentacyclic core. Coupled with a sequence of organized oxidation-state manipulations and an efficient late-stage assembly of the C-7,20 hemiketal bridge, our strategy would streamline the synthetic design of diepoxy-ent-kaurane diterpenoids and pave the way for their modular syntheses as well as highlight the powerful utility of [3.2.1]-bridgehead enone intermediates in the construction of structural complexity.

Silvaticusins A-D: ent-kaurane diterpenoids and a cyclobutane-containing ent-kaurane dimer from Isodon silvaticus

Three new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, silvaticusins A-C (1-3), along with a new ent-kaurane dimer silvaticusin D (4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon silvaticus. The structures of these new compounds were established mainly by comprehensive analysis of their NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of compounds 1 and 4 were determined using a single-crystal X-ray diffraction and computational methods, respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 were found to exhibit remarkable cytotoxic effects against five human tumor cell lines (HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MDA-MB-231, and SW-480), with IC50 values spanning from 1.27 ± 0.08 to 7.52 ± 0.33 μM.

Promising leads against lung cancer from the plants in Lamiaceae family

Introduction

Ceaselessly, management of cancer has been the major global challenge for healthcare professionals. As regards, lung cancer (LC) has been introduced as the second most common form of cancer in both men and women, taking the lives of more than a million people each year, statistically holding the highest mortality rate among all cancer types. Although much effort has been made for the management of LC, current therapies are quite ineffective. With reference to the fact that the most current chemotherapeutic agents for LC are of plant origin, the authors hereby collected the acclaimed plants from the Lamiaceae family which have shown remarkable activity against LC.

Methods

The incorporated papers were published between the years of 1997 and 2023. The principal search keywords for this review article were "lung cancer", "Lamiaceae", "cytotoxic effect", "anti-tumor" and "anti-proliferative" in Medline, Springer, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases.

Results

To the furthest extent, different responsible mechanism(s) of action for the anti-cancer properties of each plant are discussed. The respected IC50 values for plant extracts, essential oils or pure isolated compounds are underlined as well.

Conclusion

Many plants and isolated relative phytochemicals have shown exceptional anti-cancer potency against LC; nonetheless, they still remain undisclosed. We believe that this assembled data would globally inspire scientists on the passing way of LC treatment.

A novel anoikis-related prognostic signature associated with prognosis and immune infiltration landscape in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

One of the most prevalent malignancies in the world is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), with a large number of people dying from lung cancer each year. Anoikis has a crucial function in tumor metastasis, promoting cancer cell shedding and survival from the primary tumor site. However, the role of anoikis in LUAD is still unclear.

METHODS

The GeneCard database (https://www.genecards.org/) was utilized to obtain anoikis-related genes with correlation greater than 0.4. Differential analysis was employed to acquire differential genes. Univariate, multifactorial Cox analyses and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were then utilized to capture genes connected to overall survival time. These genes were used to build prognostic models. The predictive model was analyzed and visualized. Survival analysis was conducted on the model and risk scores were calculated. The TCGA samples were split into groups of low and high risk depending on risk scores. A Gene Expression Omnibus database sample was used for external verification. Immunization estimates were performed using ESTIMATE, CiberSort and single sample gene set enrichment analysis. The connection between the prognostic gene model and immune cells was analyzed. Drug susceptibility prediction analysis was performed. The clinical information for samples was extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

We selected six genes related to anoikis in LUAD to construct a prognosis model (CDC25C, ITPRIP, SLCO1B3, CDX2, CSPG4 and PIK3CG). Compared with cases of high-risk scores, the overall survival of those with low risk was significantly elevated based on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Immune function analysis exhibited that different risk groups had different immune states. The results of ESTIMATE, CiberSort and single sample gene set enrichment analysis showed great gaps in immunization between patients in the two groups. The normogram of the risk score and the LUAD clinicopathological features was constructed. Principal component analysis showed that this model could effectively distinguish the two groups of LUAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We integrated multiple anoikis-related genes to build a prognostic model. This investigation demonstrates that anoikis-related genes can be used as a stratification element for fine therapy of individuals with LUAD.

Natural products targeting the MAPK-signaling pathway in cancer: overview

PURPOSE

This article summarizes natural products that target the MAPK-signaling pathway in cancer therapy. The classification, chemical structures, and anti-cancer mechanisms of these natural products are elucidated, and comprehensive information is provided on their potential use in cancer therapy.

METHODS

Using the PubMed database, we searched for keywords, including "tumor", "cancer", "natural product", "phytochemistry", "plant chemical components", and "MAPK-signaling pathway". We also screened for compounds with well-defined structures that targeting the MAPK-signaling pathway and have anti-cancer effects. We used Kingdraw software and Adobe Photoshop software to draw the chemical compound structural diagrams.

RESULTS

A total of 131 papers were searched, from which 85 compounds with well-defined structures were selected. These compounds have clear mechanisms for targeting cancer treatment and are mainly related to the MAPK-signaling pathway. Examples include eupatilin, carvacrol, oridonin, sophoridine, diosgenin, and juglone. These chemical components are classified as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroidal saponins, and quinones.

CONCLUSIONS

Certain MAPK pathway inhibitors have been used for clinical treatment. However, the clinical feedback has not been promising because of genomic instability, drug resistance, and side effects. Natural products have few side effects, good medicinal efficacy, a wide range of sources, individual heterogeneity of biological activity, and are capable of treating disease from multiple targets. These characteristics make natural products promising drugs for cancer treatment.

Methoxylated Cinnamic Esters with Antiproliferative and Antimetastatic Effects on Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and malignant melanomas are highly lethal owing to their elevated metastatic potential. Despite improvements in therapeutic approaches, cancer treatments are not completely effective. Thus, new drug candidates are continuously sought. We synthesized mono- and di-methoxylated cinnamic acid esters and investigated their antitumor potential. A cell viability assay was performed to identify promising substances against A549 (non-small-cell lung cancer) and SK-MEL-147 (melanoma) cells. (E)-2,5-dimethoxybenzyl 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)acrylate (4m), a monomethoxylated cinnamic acid derivative, was identified as the lead antitumor compound, and its antitumor potential was deeply investigated. Various approaches were employed to investigate the antiproliferative (clonogenic assay and cell cycle analysis), proapoptotic (annexin V assay), and antimigratory (wound-healing and adhesion assays) activities of 4m on A549 cells. In addition, western blotting was performed to explore its mechanism of action. We demonstrated that 4m inhibits the proliferation of A549 by promoting cyclin B downregulation and cell cycle arrest at G2/M. Antimigratory and proapoptotic activities of 4m on A549 were also observed. The antitumor potential of 4m involved its ability to modulate the mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway once phosphorylated-ERK expression was considerably reduced in response to treatment. Our findings demonstrate that 4m is a promising anticancer drug candidate.

CDC25C as a Predictive Biomarker for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Lung Adenocarcinoma

The application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in non-small cell lung cancer has significantly improved patient survival. However, most patients fail to respond to ICIs or develop drug resistance during treatment. Therefore, novel biomarkers are needed to predict the efficacy of ICIs or provide clues on how to overcome drug resistance. Here, it was revealed that cell division cycle 25C (CDC25C) expression was upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) compared to that of normal lung tissue in multiple databases. This was further verified by q-PCR. Furthermore, higher CDC25C expression was associated with shorter overall survival and worse pathological stage. Most importantly, a higher CDC25C expression was associated with shorter progression-free survival in LUAD patients treated with nivolumab, suggesting the role of the cell cycle in immunotherapy. In addition, CDC25C expression was significantly associated with immune cell infiltration and immune-related signatures in the LUAD tumor microenvironment. Moreover, CDC25C was differentially expressed and correlated with overall survival in multiple tumors, indicating that CDC25C is a broad-spectrum biomarker. Taken together, our study demonstrates that CDC25C is a prognostic biomarker for LUAD patients, especially for patients treated with ICIs. Our study also provides strong evidence for the role of the cell cycle in ICIs therapy and tumor microenvironment.

One therapeutic approach for triple-negative breast cancer: Checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor AZD7762 combination with neoadjuvant carboplatin

Carboplatin treatment is associated with potential benefits in practice in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy for Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. In order to enhance its anti-tumor effects, new concepts for successful combination therapy are needed. Here, we interestingly found that the combination treatment of carboplatin with the Chk1 inhibitor AZD7762 synergistically inhibits TNBC cell growth in multiple TNBC cell lines in vitro. Mechanistically, we proved that prolonged carboplatin-treated induce cell mitotic arrest, and cells would fail to initiate the G2-M transition following the inhibition of the Chk1 pathway, leading to accumulation of DNA lesions. With this drug-in-combination treatment, the incidence of mitotic catastrophes including spindle multipolarity and cytokinesis failure is remarkably enhanced, which subsequently drives tumor cells multinucleation, polyploidization and apoptosis. Thus, our findings not only propose Chk1 as a therapeutic target for combination therapy with DNA-damaging agents such as carboplatin in TNBC, but also highlight that the induction of mitotic catastrophe could be considered as an alternative strategy for TNBC therapy.

Identification of Ent-Kaurane Diterpenoid Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of the PI3K Pathway in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Through Molecular Docking Simulations

Annual mortality of 8.2 million could be attributable to cancer globally, posing a serious health issue; particularly, the high number of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosed cases in recent years highlight the need for development in anticancer agents. In NSCLC, a number of specific inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), Protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin are currently under development; however, the early evidence has yielded disappointing results. Ent-kaurane diterpenoid compounds from Cronton tonkinensis have been investigated for several bioactivities such as antibacterial, cytotoxic activity, and so on;; however, lung cancer is not yet studied. In this study, we conducted a molecular docking study of 7 ent-kaurane diterpenoids from C tonkinensis against PI3K targeted anticancer therapies; furthermore, their cytotoxicity effects against A549 lung cancer cells were also evaluated. Obtained results indicated that compounds 7, 6, 2, and 1 exhibited significant inhibitory results in comparison to the reference drug oxaliplatin which suggests further in vitro assay for drug development.

Identification of ferroptosis as a novel mechanism for antitumor activity of natural product derivative a2 in gastric cancer

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death accompanied by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, thus stimulating ferroptosis may be a potential strategy for treating gastric cancer, therapeutic agents against which are urgently required. Jiyuan oridonin A (JDA) is a natural compound isolated from Jiyuan Rabdosia rubescens with anti-tumor activity, unclear anti-tumor mechanisms and limited water solubility hamper its clinical application. Here, we showed a2, a new JDA derivative, inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells. Subsequently, we discovered for the first time that a2 induced ferroptosis. Importantly, compound a2 decreased GPX4 expression and overexpressing GPX4 antagonized the anti-proliferative activity of a2. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a2 caused ferrous iron accumulation through the autophagy pathway, prevention of which rescued a2 induced ferrous iron elevation and cell growth inhibition. Moreover, a2 exhibited more potent anti-cancer activity than 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer cell line-derived xenograft mice models. Patient-derived tumor xenograft models from different patients displayed varied sensitivity to a2, and GPX4 downregulation indicated the sensitivity of tumors to a2. Finally, a2 exhibited well pharmacokinetic characteristics. Overall, our data suggest that inducing ferroptosis is the major mechanism mediating anti-tumor activity of a2, and a2 will hopefully serve as a promising compound for gastric cancer treatment.

Silencing of Long Non-coding RNA ENST00000606790.1 Inhibits the Malignant Behaviors of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma through the PI3K/AKT Pathway

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of lncRNA ENST00000606790.1 (ENST) in promoting the progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

METHODS

The expression of ENST in human PTC and normal para-cancerous thyroid (NPTC) tissues or cell lines was determined by RT-qPCR. Cell growth was determined by CCK8 assay. Cell colony formation was determined by cell colony formation assay. Cell cycle analysis was performed by staining cells with PI (Propidium Iodide). Cell invasion was assessed by transwell assay. Protein expression was examined by western-blot. siRNA was constructed to inhibit the expression of ENST. 740-Y-P was used to activate PI3K. The correlation between ENST expression and clinical outcomes was analyzed.

RESULTS

ENST was significantly up-regulated in PTC tissues or PTC cell lines (PTC and IHH4 cell lines), compared to NPTC tissues or normal cell lines, respectively. High expression of ENST was strongly correlated to lymph node metastasis and tumor size at diagnosis. Silencing of ENST significantly inhibited cell growth and colony formation, arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase, upregulated the expression of CHK1, downregulated the expression of CDC25C, and inhibited cell invasion. Silencing of ENST significantly down-regulated the expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT in IHH4 cells. Furthermore, treatment with the PI3K activator  740-Y-P partially abolished the effect of silencing of ENST on PTC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results demonstrated that ENST can promote PTC progression by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, suggesting that ENST can serve as a potential biomarker and new therapeutic target for patients with PTC.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Medical Plants from the Lamiaceae Family as Effective Sources of Active Compounds against Human Cancer Cell Lines

It is predicted that 1.8 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed worldwide in 2020; of these, the incidence of lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers will be 22%, 9%, 7%, and 5%, respectively according to the National Cancer Institute. As the global medical cost of cancer in 2020 will exceed about $150 billion, new approaches and novel alternative chemoprevention molecules are needed. Research indicates that the plants of the Lamiaceae family may offer such potential. The present study reviews selected species from the Lamiaceae and their active compounds that may have the potential to inhibit the growth of lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells; it examines the effects of whole extracts, individual compounds, and essential oils, and it discusses their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. The studied members of the Lamiaceae are sources of crucial phytochemicals that may be important modulators of cancer-related molecular targets and can be used as effective factors to support anti-tumor treatment.

The role of CDC25C in cell cycle regulation and clinical cancer therapy: a systematic review

One of the most prominent features of tumor cells is uncontrolled cell proliferation caused by an abnormal cell cycle, and the abnormal expression of cell cycle-related proteins gives tumor cells their invasive, metastatic, drug-resistance, and anti-apoptotic abilities. Recently, an increasing number of cell cycle-associated proteins have become the candidate biomarkers for early diagnosis of malignant tumors and potential targets for cancer therapies. As an important cell cycle regulatory protein, Cell Division Cycle 25C (CDC25C) participates in regulating G2/M progression and in mediating DNA damage repair. CDC25C is a cyclin of the specific phosphatase family that activates the cyclin B1/CDK1 complex in cells for entering mitosis and regulates G2/M progression and plays an important role in checkpoint protein regulation in case of DNA damage, which can ensure accurate DNA information transmission to the daughter cells. The regulation of CDC25C in the cell cycle is affected by multiple signaling pathways, such as cyclin B1/CDK1, PLK1/Aurora A, ATR/CHK1, ATM/CHK2, CHK2/ERK, Wee1/Myt1, p53/Pin1, and ASK1/JNK-/38. Recently, it has evident that changes in the expression of CDC25C are closely related to tumorigenesis and tumor development and can be used as a potential target for cancer treatment. This review summarizes the role of CDC25C phosphatase in regulating cell cycle. Based on the role of CDC25 family proteins in the development of tumors, it will become a hot target for a new generation of cancer treatments.

Natural product corynoline suppresses melanoma cell growth through inducing oxidative stress

Natural product corynoline is a unique isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Corydalis bungeana Turcz, whereas its anticancer properties have not been investigated. In this study, we found that corynoline potently impairs the growth of melanoma cells, B16F10, and A375 in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of melanoma cells with corynoline results in G2 cell arrest accompanied by reduced cdc2 activation. Furthermore, corynoline triggers apoptosis of melanoma cells, which is associated with increased expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3. Mechanistic study indicates that corynoline strongly induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent DNA damage as evidenced by γ-H2AX accumulation. Notably, the effect of corynoline on melanoma cell cycle and apoptosis is abolished by a ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), indicating a ROS-dependent mechanism. Finally, corynoline significantly inhibits in vivo B16F10 melanoma tumor growth accompanied by reduced expression of Ki-67 in tumor tissue. Taken together, our data suggest that corynoline suppresses melanoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inducing oxidative stress and represents a potential therapeutic agent for melanoma patients.

3'-Desmethylarctigenin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through reactive oxygen species generation in hepatocarcinoma cells

Previous studies have shown that arctigenin is a promising chemopreventive or therapeutic agent against various cancers. However, less is known about anticancer activity of 3'-desmethylarctigenin (3'-DMAG), which is a biotransformed product from arctigenin or arctin. In this study, we compared the anticancer activity of 3'-DMAG with its parent compound arctigenin and demonstrated that 3'-DMAG exerted a more potent inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells than arctigenin. Mechanistically, reactive oxygen species generation played an apical role in 3'-DMAG-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the Chk2-Cdc25c-Cdc2-cyclin B1 cascade was found to contribute to the cell cycle arrest, whereas the activation of mitochondrial pathway was involved in the cell apoptosis by 3'-DMAG. Additionally, a mouse xenograft hepatocellular carcinoma model was used to evaluate the antitumor effect of 3'-DMAG in vivo, and the results indicated that 3'-DMAG treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth without apparent toxicity. Taken together, 3'-DMAG is highly effective against liver cancer both in vitro and in vivo. The findings of the present study suggest that this compound deserves to be further investigated for its potential anticancer activity.

Checkpoint kinase inhibitor AZD7762 enhance cisplatin-induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells

Background

AZD7762 is a checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk 1) inhibitor, which has been reported to sensitize many tumor cells to DNA damage. However, whether AZD7762 could sensitize osteosarcoma cells to chemotherapy cisplatin has not been defined.

Methods

We used a variety of methods such as cell viability assays, flow cytometry, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry analysis to determine AZD7762 enhancing cisplatin-induced apoptosis on osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

Results

In the present study, we demonstrated that AZD7762 could enhance cisplatin-mediated apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe of osteosarcoma cells in vitro, and promote the inhibition of xenograft growth induced by cisplatin in vivo. The mechanistic study indicated that AZD7762 enhance the effect of cisplatin through abrogating cisplatin-mediated G2/M arrest and inhibiting the cisplatin damage repair as demonstrated by increasing cisplatin-induced γH2AX expression.

Conclusion

These results suggest that AZD7762 could effectively promote cisplatin-induced apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe in osteosarcoma cells. The clinical application of AZD7762 as an adjuvant in the chemotherapy of osteosarcoma should be further explored.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12935-019-0896-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prognostic significance of CDC25C in lung adenocarcinoma: An analysis of TCGA data

OBJECTIVE

Cell division cycle 25C (CDC25C) is involved in the regulation of the G2/M phase transition and is associated with various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer. We evaluated its prognostic value in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

METHODS

Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and logistic regression were used to evaluate relationships between clinical-pathologic features and CDC25C expression. Cox regression analyses and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to evaluate factors contributing to prognosis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed.

RESULTS

High CDC25C expression in LUAD was associated with a high tumor extent (odds ratio (OR) = 2.23 (1.52-3.29), P < 0.001), regional lymph node invasion (OR = 2.18 (1.48-3.22), P < 0.001), OR = advanced stage (OR = 2.47 (1.72-3.59), P < 0.001), and poor status (OR = 1.87 (1.19-2.96), P = 0.007). A univariate analysis showed that high CDC25C expression is associated with a short overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.873; 95% CI: 1.385-2.535; P < 0.001) and poor progression-free survival (HR: 1.503; 95% CI: 1.173-1.926; P = 0.0012). In a multivariate analysis, high CDC25C expression was associated with poor OS (HR = 2.193; CI: 1.394-3.452, P = 0.001). GSEA showed the enrichment of cell cycle, apoptosis, p53-dependent G1 DNA damage response, S-phase, mitotic M-M G1 phases, and FA-mediated cell death in the CDC25C high-expression phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

CDC25C predicts poor prognosis in LUAD and may function in cell cycle regulation and FAS-mediated apoptosis.