Current discovery strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma therapeutics

Deciphering the potential role of post-translational modifications of histones in gastrointestinal cancers: a proteomics-based review with therapeutic challenges and opportunities

Oncogenesis is a complex and multi-step process, controlled by several factors including epigenetic modifications. It is considered that histone modifications are critical components in the regulation of gene expression, protein functions, and molecular interactions. Dysregulated post-translationally modified histones and the related enzymatic systems are key players in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation, which are associated with the onset and progression of cancers. The most of traditional investigations on cancer have focused on mutations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. However, increasing evidence indicates that epigenetics, especially histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) play important roles in various cancer types. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches have demonstrated tremendous potential in PTMs profiling and quantitation in different biological systems. In this paper, we have made a proteomics-based review on the role of histone modifications involved in gastrointestinal cancers (GCs) tumorigenesis processes. These alterations function not only as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for GCs, but a deeper comprehension of the epigenetic regulation of GCs could facilitate the treatment of this prevalent malignancy through the creation of more effective targeted therapies.

Artemongolins A-K, undescribed germacrane-guaiane sesquiterpenoid dimers from Artemisia mongolica and their antihepatoma activities

Artemongolins A-K (1-11), which are undescribed sesquiterpenoid dimers, were obtained from Artemisia mongolica and characterized through comprehensive spectral data, including HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD calculations. The absolute configurations of compounds 1, 4, and 7 were undoubtedly determined by a single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Artemongolins A-K (1-11) featured a rare 5/7/5/5/5/10 hexacyclic system composed of a germacrene and a guaianolide by a fused 2-oxaspiro[4,4]nonane-1-one ring system. Antihepatoma evaluation against three human hepatoma cell lines demonstrated that the most active compounds 5 and 6 displayed inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 88.6 and 57.0 (HepG2), 59.1 and 26.4 (Huh7), and 67.5 and 32.5 (SK-Hep-1) µM, respectively.

Discovery of β-cyclocitral-derived mono-carbonyl curcumin analogs as anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents via suppression of MAPK signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a high recurrence and mortality rate. In this study, a series of β-cyclocitral-derived mono-carbonyl curcumin analogs were synthesized and their anticancer properties were evaluated. Among the series, A19 exhibited the strongest cytotoxic activity by inhibiting cell viability and colony formation, inducing cell cycle G2/M phase arrest and cell apoptosis of HCC HepG2 and Huh-7 cells, while having almost no cytotoxicity on normal liver MIHA cells. Mechanistically, our results demonstrated that A19 triggered intense DNA damage via suppression of the ERK/JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, a combination of A19 with sorafenib significantly induced synergistic cytotoxicity in HCC cells. Overall, our results indicate the potential of A19 as a novel chemotherapeutic drug administered either separately or in combined therapy for HCC treatment.

Artemleucolides A-L, eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia leucophylla and their antihepatoma cytotoxicity

Twelve undescribed and 13 known eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids were obtained from Artemisia leucophylla, and structurally elucidated based on comprehensive analyses of spectral data, including HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD calculation. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by a single X-ray single crystal diffraction. Chemically, compounds 1-5 featured unprecedented 1,2-seco-1-nor-eudesmane-type skeleton with a cis-fused 6/5 bicyclic system. Antihepatoma evaluation against three human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1) for all compounds demonstrated that compound 7 displayed the most active cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 35.1, 35.0, and 32.7 μΜ.

Biomarker discovery and application-An opportunity to resolve the challenge of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies, with severe morbidity and mortality. While considerable progress has been made in liver cancer treatment, the 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients has not improved significantly. Reasons include the inadequate capability of early screening and diagnosis, a high incidence of recurrence and metastasis, a high degree of tumor heterogeneity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the identification and validation of specific and robust liver cancer biomarkers are of major importance for early screening, timely diagnosis, accurate prognosis, and the prevention of tumor progression. In this review, we highlight some of the latest research progress and potential applications of liver cancer biomarkers, describing hotspots and prospective directions in biomarker discovery.

Artemyrianosins A-J, cytotoxic germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactones from Artemisia myriantha

Ten new germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, artemyrianosins A-J (1-10), were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia myriantha. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analyses including UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, ECD and the absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 7-9 were characterized using X-ray crystallography. All isolates were tested their cytotoxicity against three human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1), and compounds 1-3, 7, and 10 showed cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 43.7 to 89.3 μM. Among them, the most active compound 3 exhibited activity against three human hepatoma cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 43.7 μM (HepG2), 47.9 μM (Huh7), and 44.9 μM (SK-Hep-1).

MBP-11901 Inhibits Tumor Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Multitargeted Inhibition of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Simple Summary

Although various treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy exist for advanced or unresectable HCC, most patients suffer from intractable diseases, having a poor prognosis. While immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors was recently proposed for HCC, only a small percentage of patients respond. Thus, there remains an unmet need for the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of liver cancer. Here, we presented multi-RTKi MBP-11901, an innovative targeted anticancer agent for HCC, suggesting it as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of liver cancer.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. Approved first-line treatments include sorafenib, lenvatinib, and a combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab; however, they do not cure HCC. We investigated MBP-11901 as a drug candidate for HCC. Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were evaluated using normal and cancer human liver cell lines, while Western blotting and flow cytometry evaluated apoptosis. The anticancer effect of MBP-11901 was verified in vitro through migration, invasion, colony formation, and JC-1 MMP assays. In mouse models, the tumor volume, tumor weight, and bodyweight were measured, and cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed. The toxicity of MBP-11901 was investigated through GOT/GPT and histological analyses in the liver and kidney. The signaling mechanism of MBP-11901 was investigated through kinase assays, phosphorylation analysis, and in silico docking simulations. Results. MBP-11901 was effective against various human HCC cell lines, leading to the disappearance of most tumors when administered orally in animal models. This effect was dose-dependent, with no differences in efficacy according to administration intervals. MBP-11901 induced anticancer effects by targeting the signaling mechanisms of FLT3, VEGFR2, c-KIT, and PDGFRβ. MBP-11901 is suggested as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of advanced or unresectable liver cancer.

Modulation of the tumour microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma by tyrosine kinase inhibitors: from modulation to combination therapy targeting the microenvironment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remain the backbone of systematic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are currently approved as first-line therapeutic drugs, and regorafenib and cabozantinib are applied as second-line treatments. With inhibition of angiogenesis as the main target, TKIs exert a profound effect on the tumour microenvironment (TME). The TME is a complex mixture of cellular and noncellular components surrounding the tumour mass, and is associated with tumour progression partially through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Specifically, the TME of HCC is characterized by profound extracellular matrix remodelling and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of TME remodelling mediated by four Food and Drug Administration approved TKIs in HCC and thus summarize the rationale and potential targets for combination therapy. The modulatory effect of TKIs on the TME of HCC was reported to enhance the antitumour effect of TKIs through pyroptosis of macrophages and subsequent natural killer cell activation, T cell activation, regulatory T cell reduction in HCC. Meanwhile, TKIs also induce drug resistance via M2 polarization and accumulation, recruitment of tumour-associated neutrophils, and induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In conclusion, the effect of TKIs on TME can enhance its antitumour effect, but might also partially contribute to the drug resistance that hinders the progression of TKIs as treatment for HCC. Additionally, the effect of TKIs also provides the rationale for combination therapy, including combining TKIs with immune checkpoint inhibitors, to facilitate increased drug efficacy of TKIs.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of self-assembled chitosan nanoparticles selectively overcoming hepatocellular carcinoma via asialoglycoprotein receptor

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Nowadays, liver-targeting drug delivery system has been proven as a promising strategy for overcoming HCC. Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is an ideal receptor for liver targeting, which is mainly expressed on hepatocytes. In this study, we developed several novel liver-targeting chitosan nanoparticles to selectively overcome HCC via ASGPR. Chitosan nanoparticles (Gly-CS-VE, Gal-Gly-CS-VE, Gly-CS-DCA, and Gal-Gly-CS-DCA) were prepared by grafting hydrophilic group (glycidol, Gly), hydrophobic group (deoxycholic acid, DCA or vitamin E succinate, VE), and ASGPR recognizing group (galactose, Gal). Subsequently, their characterizations were measured by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, TEM, and DLS. Doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded in nanoparticles and released out in a pH-dependent manner. Most importantly, the galactosylated Gal-Gly-CS-VE and Gal-Gly-CS-DCA nanoparticles exhibited significantly stronger in vitro cell internalization, cytotoxicity, anti-migration capabilities and in vivo anticancer efficacies than the corresponding Gly-CS-VE and Gly-CS-DCA nanoparticles, as well as free DOX. Finally, the four chitosan nanoparticles exhibited good biocompatibility without causing any obvious histological damage to the major organs. Overall, the galactosylated chitosan nanoparticles were proven to be promising pharmaceutical formulations for selectively overcoming HCC, with great potential for clinical applications.

Artematrovirenins A-P, guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids with cytotoxicities against two hepatoma cell lines from Artemisia atrovirens

Random screening revealed that the EtOH extract of Artemisia atrovirens showed significant cytotoxicity against two human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2 and Huh7) with the inhibitory ratio of 98.9% and 99.7% at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. Further bioactivity-guided isolation of active fraction led to 16 new guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids, artematrovirenins A-P (1-16). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data. The absolute stereochemistry of compounds 1 and 14 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Pharmacological evaluation suggested that five compounds (3, 5, 8, 10, and 15) exhibited cytotoxicity, compounds 3 and 5 displayed cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell line with an IC₅₀ values of 8.0 and 16.0 μM, as well as against Huh7 cell line with values of 18.2 and 32.2 μM.

In pursuit of a selective hepatocellular carcinoma therapeutic agent: Novel thalidomide derivatives with antiproliferative, antimigratory and STAT3 inhibitory properties

Advanced stage liver cancer is predominantly treated with the multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib; however, this therapeutic agent lacks selectivity in its cytotoxic actions and is associated with poor survival outcomes. Herein we report the design and preparation of several thalidomide derivatives, including a variety of novel thioether-containing forms that are especially rare in the literature. Importantly, two of the derivatives described are potent antiproliferative agents with dose-dependent selectivity for tumorigenic liver progenitor cells (LPC) growth inhibition (up to 36% increase in doubling time at 10 μM) over non-tumorigenic cells (no effect at 10 μM). Furthermore, these putative anti-liver cancer agents were also found to be potent inhibitors of tumorigenic LPC migration. This report also describes these derivatives' effects on several key signalling pathways in our novel liver cell lines by immunofluorescence and AlphaLISA assays. Aryl thioether derivative 7f significantly reduced STAT3 phosphorylation (23%) and its nuclear localisation (16%) at 10 μM in tumorigenic LPCs, implicating the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 axis is central in the mode of action of our derivatives.

Signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma

Despite the recent introduction of new effective systemic agents, the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at advanced stages remains dismal. This underscores the need for new therapies, which has spurred extensive research on the identification of the main drivers of pathway de-regulation as a source of novel therapeutic targets. Frequently altered pathways in HCC involve growth factor receptors (e.g., VEGFR, FGFR, TGFA, EGFR, IGFR) and/or its cytoplasmic intermediates (e.g., PI3K-AKT-mTOR, RAF/ERK/MAPK) as well as key pathways in cell differentiation (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, JAK/STAT, Hippo, Hedgehog, Notch). Somatic mutations, chromosomal aberrations and epigenetic changes are common mechanisms for pathway deregulation in HCC. Aberrant pathway activation has also been explored as a biomarker to predict response to specific therapies, but currently, these strategies are not implemented when deciding systemic therapies in HCC patients. Beyond the well-established molecular cascades, there are numerous emerging signaling pathways also deregulated in HCC (e.g., tumor microenvironment, non-coding RNA, intestinal microbiota), which have opened new avenues for therapeutic exploration.

Artemyrianolides A-S, Cytotoxic Sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia myriantha

Random screening suggested that the EtOH extract of Artemisia myriantha (Asteraceae) and its EtOAc fraction had cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with inhibitory ratios of 30.6% and 53.5% at 50.0 μg/mL. Bioassay-guided isolation of the most active fractions (Fr. C and Fr. D) afforded 19 new sesquiterpenolides, artemyrianolides A-S (1-19), involving 13 germacranolides (1-13), four guaianolides (14-17), and two eudesmanolides (18 and 19), together with 16 known sesquiterpenoids (20-35). The new compounds were characterized by physical data analyses (HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, ECD), and the absolute configurations of compounds 1, 2, and 11 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Structurally, compounds 2 and 11-13 maintain an uncommon cis-fused 10/5 bicyclic system and compound 12 possesses an unusual (7S) configuration. Twenty of the compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2, Huh7, and SMMC-7721 cell lines. Compound 9 showed cytotoxic activity on both HepG2 and Huh7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 8.6 and 8.8 μM, and compounds 8 and 33 showed cytotoxicity to the three human hepatoma cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 4.9 and 7.4 μM (HepG2), 4.3 and 7.8 μM (Huh7), and 3.1 and 9.8 μM (SMMC-7721), respectively.

Artemyrianins A-G from Artemisia myriantha and Their Cytotoxicity Against HepG2 Cells

Four new sesquiterpenoids, artemyrianins A-D (1-4), and three new norlignans, artemyrianins E-G (5-7), together with five known compounds (8-12), were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia myriantha (Asteraceae). The new compounds were established by spectroscopic data analyses (HRMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR), and their absolute configurations were confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction or ECD calculations. The isolates showed cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 33.3 to 145.2 μM.