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Sun H, Gao Y, Ma X, Deng Y, Bi L, Li L. Mechanism and application of feedback loops formed by mechanotransduction and histone modifications. Genes Dis 2024; 11:101061. [PMID: 39071110 PMCID: PMC11282412 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stimulation is the key physical factor in cell environment. Mechanotransduction acts as a fundamental regulator of cell behavior, regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and exhibiting specific signature alterations during the pathological process. As research continues, the role of epigenetic science in mechanotransduction is attracting attention. However, the molecular mechanism of the synergistic effect between mechanotransduction and epigenetics in physiological and pathological processes has not been clarified. We focus on how histone modifications, as important components of epigenetics, are coordinated with multiple signaling pathways to control cell fate and disease progression. Specifically, we propose that histone modifications can form regulatory feedback loops with signaling pathways, that is, histone modifications can not only serve as downstream regulators of signaling pathways for target gene transcription but also provide feedback to regulate signaling pathways. Mechanotransduction and epigenetic changes could be potential markers and therapeutic targets in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Sun
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Yafang Gao
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Xinyu Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Yizhou Deng
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Lintao Bi
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Lisha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
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2
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Yang M, Xiang H, Luo G. Targeting focal adhesion kinase (FAK) for cancer therapy: FAK inhibitors, FAK-based dual-target inhibitors and PROTAC degraders. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 224:116246. [PMID: 38685282 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, plays an essential role in regulating cell proliferation, migration and invasion through both kinase-dependent enzymatic function and kinase-independent scaffolding function. The overexpression and activation of FAK is commonly observed in various cancers and some drug-resistant settings. Therefore, targeted disruption of FAK has been identified as an attractive strategy for cancer treatment. To date, numerous structurally diverse inhibitors targeting distinct domains of FAK have been developed, encompassing kinase domain inhibitors, FERM domain inhibitors, and FAT domain inhibitors, with several FAK inhibitors advanced to clinical trials. Moreover, given the critical role of FAK scaffolding function in signal transduction, FAK-targeted PROTACs have also been developed. Although no current FAK-targeted therapeutics have been approved for the market, the combination of FAK inhibitors with other anticancer drugs has shown considerable promise in the clinic. This review provides an overview of current drug discovery strategies targeting FAK, including the development of FAK inhibitors, FAK-based dual-target inhibitors and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in both literature and patent applications. Accordingly, their design and optimization process, mechanisms of action and biological activities are discussed to offer insights into future directions of FAK-targeting drug discovery in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Hua Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
| | - Guoshun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
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3
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Nadar S, Borkar MR, Khan T. Identification of potential focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitors: a molecular modeling approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38356145 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2314266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an enzyme of paramount importance as it is involved in several critical roles, which are linked to proliferation of cancer cells. FAK is quintessential for cancer cell mitigation, adhesion and survival, downregulation of which interferes with the growth of cancer cells. The expression of FAK is elevated in breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinomas, neuroblastoma cells, demonstrating the need for FAK inhibitors as a potential treatment. Based on an in silico drug screen, the study aimed to identify potential FAK inhibitors. 3180 molecules retrieved from the Zinc database comprising biogenic molecules, FDA-approved drugs and compounds in clinical trials were screened against the FAK enzyme (PDB:2ETM). The XP docking study of the best 51 ligands revealed that ZINC02033589 (Silymarin) showed good binding to FAK with -10.97 kcal/mol dock score followed by ZINC00518397 with -8.23 kcal/mol and ZINC03831112 - 8.07 kcal/mol. The interactions of the top three ligands with FAK were further validated by molecular dynamic simulation study of 100 ns and MM-GBSA calculations. The ΔG of binding of ZINC02033589, ZINC00518397 and ZINC03831112 was found to be -59.09, -45.08 and -48.53 kcal/mol respectively. The study established the fact that among the three molecules, ZINC02033589 showed good stability and binding towards FAK. These results could usher in the development of potential FAK inhibitor entities, that could be persuaded and substantiated by the molecules identified in this study for subsequent synthetic and bioactivity research studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahaya Nadar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, St. John Institute of Pharmacy and Research, Palghar, India
| | - Maheshkumar R Borkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
| | - Tabassum Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
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Tatsuno R, Ichikawa J, Komohara Y, Pan C, Kawasaki T, Enomoto A, Aoki K, Hayakawa K, Iwata S, Jubashi T, Haro H. Pivotal role of IL-8 derived from the interaction between osteosarcoma and tumor-associated macrophages in osteosarcoma growth and metastasis via the FAK pathway. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:108. [PMID: 38302407 PMCID: PMC10834992 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06487-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The prognosis of osteosarcoma (OS) has remained stagnant over the past two decades, requiring the exploration of new therapeutic targets. Cytokines, arising from tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), have garnered attention owing to their impact on tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Nonetheless, the precise functional role of TAMs in OS progression requires further investigation. In this study, we investigated the interaction between OS and TAMs, as well as the contribution of TAM-produced cytokines to OS advancement. TAMs were observed to be more prevalent in lung metastases compared with that in primary tumors, suggesting their potential support for OS progression. To simulate the TME, OS and TAMs were co-cultured, and the cytokines resulting from this co-culture could stimulate OS proliferation, migration, and invasion. A detailed investigation of cytokines in the co-culture conditioned medium (CM) revealed a substantial increase in IL-8, establishing it as a pivotal cytokine in the process of enhancing OS proliferation, migration, and invasion through the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway. In an in vivo model, co-culture CM promoted OS proliferation and lung metastasis, effects that were mitigated by anti-IL-8 antibodies. Collectively, IL-8, generated within the TME formed by OS and TAMs, accelerates OS proliferation and metastasis via the FAK pathway, thereby positioning IL-8 as a potential novel therapeutic target in OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikito Tatsuno
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Jiro Ichikawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
| | - Yoshihiro Komohara
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Cheng Pan
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tomonori Kawasaki
- Department of Pathology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Enomoto
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kaoru Aoki
- Physical Therapy Division, School of Health Sciences, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan
| | - Keiko Hayakawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shintaro Iwata
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Jubashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Haro
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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Tan X, Kong D, Tao Z, Cheng F, Zhang B, Wang Z, Mei Q, Chen C, Wu K. Simultaneous inhibition of FAK and ROS1 synergistically repressed triple-negative breast cancer by upregulating p53 signalling. Biomark Res 2024; 12:13. [PMID: 38273343 PMCID: PMC10809663 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00558-0] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype lacking effective targeted therapies, necessitating innovative treatment approaches. While targeting ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) with crizotinib has shown promise, resistance remains a limitation. Recent evidence links focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to drug resistance, prompting our study to assess the combined impact of FAK inhibitor IN10018 and crizotinib in TNBC and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS We employed the Timer database to analyze FAK and ROS1 mRNA levels in TNBC and adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, we investigated the correlation between FAK, ROS1, and TNBC clinical prognosis using the GSE database. We conducted various in vitro assays, including cell viability, colony formation, flow cytometry, EdU assays, and western blotting. Additionally, TNBC xenograft and human TNBC organoid models were established to assess the combined therapy's efficacy. To comprehensively understand the synergistic anti-tumor mechanisms, we utilized multiple techniques, such as RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, cell flow cytometry, C11-BODIPY staining, MDA assay, and GSH assay. RESULTS The Timer database revealed higher levels of FAK and ROS1 in TNBC tissues compared to normal tissues. Analysis of GEO databases indicated that patients with high FAK and ROS1 expression had the poorest prognosis. Western blotting confirmed increased p-FAK expression in crizotinib-resistant TNBC cells. In vitro experiments showed that the combination therapy down-regulated cyclin B1, p-Cdc2, and Bcl2 while up-regulating BAX, cleaved-Caspase-3, cleaved-Caspase-9, and cleaved PARP. In TNBC xenograft models, the tumor volume in the combination therapy group was 73% smaller compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Additionally, the combination therapy resulted in a 70% reduction in cell viability in human TNBC organoid models (p < 0.0001). RNA sequencing analysis of TNBC cells and xenograft tumor tissues highlighted enrichment in oxidative stress, glutathione metabolism, and p53 pathways. The combined group displayed a fivefold rise in the reactive oxygen species level, a 69% decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio, and a sixfold increase in the lipid peroxidation in comparison to the control group. Western blotting demonstrated p53 upregulation and SCL7A11 and GPX4 downregulation in the combination group. The addition of a p53 inhibitor reversed these effects. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that the combination of IN10018 and crizotinib shows synergistic antitumor effects in TNBC. Mechanistically, this combination inhibits cell proliferation, enhances apoptosis, and induces ferroptosis, which is associated with increased p53 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximin Tan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Deguang Kong
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Ziyang Road, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zhuoli Tao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Fangling Cheng
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | | | - Zaiqi Wang
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Mei
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
- Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Chuang Chen
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Ziyang Road, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| | - Kongming Wu
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
- Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Zeng S, Yuan S, Zhang Y, Du J, Wu Y, Chen Y, Zhu P, Huang W. Discovery of novel pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine derivatives as potent FAK inhibitors based on cyclization strategy. Bioorg Chem 2023; 139:106713. [PMID: 37459823 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, plays a pivotal role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Many FAK inhibitors had been reported, but the development of FAK inhibitors in clinical studies are still limited. To facilitate the discovery of FAK modulators and further elucidate the role of FAK in cancer metastasis, it is necessary to discover a novel, potent and selective FAK inhibitor. In this study, a series of FAK inhibitors with novel scaffold were designed and synthesized based on cyclization strategy. Here, we reported compound 10b (HMC-18NH) with excellent inhibition of FAK (IC50 = 9.9 nM) and anticancer activity against several cancer cell lines including BxPC-3, PANC-1, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, U-87MG, HepG2, HCT-15 and A549. Extraordinary, compound 10b showed the best cytotoxic effects against A549 with the IC50 value of 0.8 μM. In addition, 10b exhibited effective invasion and migration suppression in A549 cells. Further investigations revealed that compound 10b potently induced and promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and arrested A549 cells in the G2/M phase. Collectively, these results suggest that 10b is a promising FAK inhibitor and serve as a lead compound which deserve for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenxin Zeng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China; Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Discipline of Zhejiang Province in Public Health and Preventive Medicine (First Class, Category A), Hangzhou Medical College, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Publish Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399 China
| | - Jinbei Du
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Yuhao Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China
| | - Yinqiao Chen
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peizhen Zhu
- Affiliated Yongkang First People's Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wenhai Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311399, China; Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Discipline of Zhejiang Province in Public Health and Preventive Medicine (First Class, Category A), Hangzhou Medical College, China.
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Liu F, Wu Q, Dong Z, Liu K. Integrins in cancer: Emerging mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Pharmacol Ther 2023:108458. [PMID: 37245545 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Integrins are vital surface adhesion receptors that mediate the interactions between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells and are essential for cell migration and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Aberrant integrin activation promotes initial tumor formation, growth, and metastasis. Recently, many lines of evidence have indicated that integrins are highly expressed in numerous cancer types and have documented many functions of integrins in tumorigenesis. Thus, integrins have emerged as attractive targets for the development of cancer therapeutics. In this review, we discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms by which integrins contribute to most of the hallmarks of cancer. We focus on recent progress on integrin regulators, binding proteins, and downstream effectors. We highlight the role of integrins in the regulation of tumor metastasis, immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, and other hallmarks of cancer. In addition, integrin-targeted immunotherapy and other integrin inhibitors that have been used in preclinical and clinical studies are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Liu
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China; China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, China; Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Zigang Dong
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China; China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, China; Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, China; Tianjian Advanced Biomedical Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Kangdong Liu
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China; China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan 450008, China; Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, China; Tianjian Advanced Biomedical Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China; Cancer Chemoprevention International Collaboration Laboratory, Zhengzhou, Henan 450000, China.
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8
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Zhang J, Li W, Wang W, Chen Q, Xu Z, Deng M, Zhou L, He G. Dual roles of FAK in tumor angiogenesis: A review focused on pericyte FAK. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 947:175694. [PMID: 36967077 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), also known as protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2), is a ubiquitously expressed non-receptor tyrosine kinase, that plays a pivotal role in integrin-mediated signal transduction. Endothelial FAK is upregulated in many types of cancer and promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, recent studies have shown that pericyte FAK has the opposite effect. This review article dissects the mechanisms, by which endothelial cells (ECs) and pericyte FAK regulate angiogenesis, with an emphasis on the Gas6/Axl pathway. In particular, this article discusses the role of pericyte FAK loss on angiogenesis during tumorigenesis and metastasis. In addition, the existing challenges and future application of drug-based anti-FAK targeted therapies will be discussed to provide a theoretical basis for further development and use of FAK inhibitors.
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Zhao S, Ji W, Shen Y, Fan Y, Huang H, Huang J, Lai G, Yuan K, Cheng C. Expression of hub genes of endothelial cells in glioblastoma-A prognostic model for GBM patients integrating single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1274. [PMID: 36474171 PMCID: PMC9724299 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10305-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to use single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to discover marker genes in endothelial cells (ECs) and construct a prognostic model for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients in combination with traditional high-throughput RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq). METHODS Bulk RNA-seq data was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The China Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases. 10x scRNA-seq data for GBM were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) were used for downscaling and cluster identification. Key modules and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA). A non-negative matrix decomposition (NMF) algorithm was used to identify the different subtypes based on DEGs, and multivariate cox regression analysis to model the prognosis. Finally, differences in mutational landscape, immune cell abundance, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)-associated genes, immunotherapy effects, and enriched pathways were investigated between different risk groups. RESULTS The analysis of scRNA-seq data from eight samples revealed 13 clusters and four cell types. After applying Fisher's exact test, ECs were identified as the most important cell type. The NMF algorithm identified two clusters with different prognostic and immunological features based on DEGs. We finally built a prognostic model based on the expression levels of four key genes. Higher risk scores were significantly associated with poorer survival outcomes, low mutation rates in IDH genes, and upregulation of immune checkpoints such as PD-L1 and CD276. CONCLUSION We built and validated a 4-gene signature for GBM using 10 scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songyun Zhao
- grid.460176.20000 0004 1775 8598Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu China
| | - Wei Ji
- grid.460176.20000 0004 1775 8598Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu China
| | - Yifan Shen
- grid.460176.20000 0004 1775 8598Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu China
| | - Yuansheng Fan
- grid.460176.20000 0004 1775 8598Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu China
| | - Hui Huang
- grid.460176.20000 0004 1775 8598Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu China
| | - Jin Huang
- grid.460176.20000 0004 1775 8598Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu China
| | - Guichuan Lai
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Yixue Road, 400016 Chongqing, China
| | - Kemiao Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Wuxi, No.8, West Zhongnan Road, 214071 Wuxi, China
| | - Chao Cheng
- grid.460176.20000 0004 1775 8598Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, 214023 Wuxi, Jiangsu China
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Mairinger S, Hernández-Lozano I, Zeitlinger M, Ehrhardt C, Langer O. Nuclear medicine imaging methods as novel tools in the assessment of pulmonary drug disposition. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2022; 19:1561-1575. [PMID: 36255136 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2022.2137143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drugs for the treatment of respiratory diseases are commonly administered by oral inhalation. Yet surprisingly little is known about the pulmonary pharmacokinetics of inhaled molecules. Nuclear medicine imaging techniques (i.e. planar gamma scintigraphy, single-photon emission computed tomography [SPECT] and positron emission tomography [PET]) enable the noninvasive dynamic measurement of the lung concentrations of radiolabeled drugs or drug formulations. This review discusses the potential of nuclear medicine imaging techniques in inhalation biopharmaceutical research. AREAS COVERED (i) Planar gamma scintigraphy studies with radiolabeled inhalation formulations to assess initial pulmonary drug deposition; (ii) imaging studies with radiolabeled drugs to assess their intrapulmonary pharmacokinetics; (iii) receptor occupancy studies to quantify the pharmacodynamic effect of inhaled drugs. EXPERT OPINION Imaging techniques hold potential to bridge the knowledge gap between animal models and humans with respect to the pulmonary disposition of inhaled drugs. However, beyond the mere assessment of the initial lung deposition of inhaled formulations with planar gamma scintigraphy, imaging techniques have rarely been employed in pulmonary drug development. This may be related to several technical challenges encountered with such studies. Considering the wealth of information that can be obtained with imaging studies their use in inhalation biopharmaceutics should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severin Mairinger
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Markus Zeitlinger
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carsten Ehrhardt
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Oliver Langer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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11
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Yi X, Wang Z, Hu X, Yu A. Affinity probes based on small-molecule inhibitors for tumor imaging. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1028493. [PMID: 36387103 PMCID: PMC9647038 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1028493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Methods for molecular imaging of target areas, including optical imaging, radionuclide imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and other imaging technologies, are helpful for the early diagnosis and precise treatment of cancers. In addition to cancer management, small-molecule inhibitors are also used for developing cancer target probes since they act as the tight-binding ligands of overexpressed proteins in cancer cells. This review aims to summarize the structural designs of affinity probes based on small-molecule inhibitors from the aspects of the inhibitor, linker, dye and radionuclide, and discusses the influence of the modification of these structures on affinity and pharmacokinetics. We also present examples of inhibitor affinity probes in clinical applications, and these summaries will provide insights for future research and clinical translations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xiang Hu
- *Correspondence: Aixi Yu, ; Xiang Hu,
| | - Aixi Yu
- *Correspondence: Aixi Yu, ; Xiang Hu,
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12
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Guo H, Zhang W, Wang J, Zhao G, Wang Y, Zhu BM, Dong P, Watari H, Wang B, Li W, Tigyi G, Yue J. Cryptotanshinone inhibits ovarian tumor growth and metastasis by degrading c-Myc and attenuating the FAK signaling pathway. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:959518. [PMID: 36247016 PMCID: PMC9554091 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.959518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptotanshinone (CT), a natural compound derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge that is also known as the traditional Chinese medicine Danshen, exhibits antitumor activity in various cancers. However, it remains unclear whether CT has a potential therapeutic benefit against ovarian cancers. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of CT in ovarian cancer cells in vitro and using a xenograft model in NSG mice orthotopically implanted with HEY A8 human ovarian cancer cells and to explore the molecular mechanism(s) underlying CT’s antitumor effects. We found that CT inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OVCAR3 and HEY A8 cells, while sensitizing the cell responses to the chemotherapy drugs paclitaxel and cisplatin. CT also suppressed ovarian tumor growth and metastasis in immunocompromised mice orthotopically inoculated with HEY A8 cells. Mechanistically, CT degraded the protein encoded by the oncogene c-Myc by promoting its ubiquitination and disrupting the interaction with its partner protein Max. CT also attenuated signaling via the nuclear focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway and degraded FAK protein in both cell lines. Knockdown of c-Myc using lentiviral CRISPR/Cas9 nickase resulted in reduction of FAK expression, which phenocopies the effects of CT and the c-Myc/Max inhibitor 10058-F4. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that CT inhibits primary ovarian tumor growth and metastasis by degrading c-Myc and FAK and attenuating the FAK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijun Guo
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, College of Life Science, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Junming Yue, ; Wenjing Zhang, ; Bing-Mei Zhu,
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Guannan Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Yaohong Wang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Bing-Mei Zhu
- Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Junming Yue, ; Wenjing Zhang, ; Bing-Mei Zhu,
| | - Peixin Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hidemichi Watari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Baojin Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Third Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Gabor Tigyi
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Junming Yue
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Junming Yue, ; Wenjing Zhang, ; Bing-Mei Zhu,
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13
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Yu G, Xu M, Zhou L, Zheng K, Zhu X, Sui J, Xin C, Chang W, Zhang W, Cao F. High expression of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase predicts a poor prognosis in human colorectal cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:989999. [PMID: 36176444 PMCID: PMC9513477 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.989999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Phosphorylated Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been reported to be intimately involved in various malignant tumors. The effect of p-FAK on colorectal cancer (CRC) is still disputable. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of p-FAK in the prognosis of colorectal cancer. Methods: The clinical significance of p-FAK expression in CRC was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a large cohort, including carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues from 908 patients, and normal tissues, adenoma, and metastasis tissues. The correlation between p-FAK expression and CRC occurrence was investigated in tumor and other tissues. Factors contributing to prognosis were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression model. Results: p-FAK is apparently overexpressed in CRC and metastasis tissues. Compared with low p-FAK expression, patients with high p-FAK expression had shorter overall survival [hazard ratio (HR), 2.200; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.265–3.452; p < 0.01] and disease-free survival (HR, 2.004; 95% CI 1.262–3.382; p < 0.01) in multivariate Cox analysis after adjusting other prognostic factors. High p-FAK expression was also related to a worse chemotherapeutic response in patients who achieved adjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Expression level of p-FAK is an independent risk factor and can serve as a prognostic biomarker for CRC. High p-FAK expression predicts an unfavorable prognosis of CRC as well as poor chemotherapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Yu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengnan Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Leqi Zhou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kuo Zheng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinke Sui
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Xin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjun Chang
- Department of Environmental Health, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wenjun Chang, ; Wei Zhang, ; Fuao Cao,
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wenjun Chang, ; Wei Zhang, ; Fuao Cao,
| | - Fuao Cao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wenjun Chang, ; Wei Zhang, ; Fuao Cao,
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14
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Gunjur A, Balasubramanian A, Hafeez U, Menon S, Cher L, Parakh S, Gan HK. Poor correlation between preclinical and patient efficacy data for tumor targeted monotherapies in glioblastoma: the results of a systematic review. J Neurooncol 2022; 159:539-549. [PMID: 35933567 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-022-04092-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Limited progress has been made in treating glioblastoma, and we hypothesise that poor concordance between preclinical and clinical efficacy in this disease is a major barrier to drug development. We undertook a systematic review to quantify this issue. METHODS We identified phase I trials (P1Ts) of tumor targeted drugs, subsequent trial results and preceding relevant preclinical data published in adult glioblastoma patients between 2006-2019 via structured searches of EMBASE/MEDLINE/PUBMED. Detailed clinical/preclinical information was extracted. Associations between preclinical and clinical efficacy metrics were determined using appropriate non-parametric statistical tests. RESULTS A total of 28 eligible P1Ts were identified, with median ORR of 2.9% (range 0.0-33.3%). Twenty-three (82%) had published relevant preclinical data available. Five (18%) had relevant later phase clinical trial data available. There was overall poor correlation between preclinical and clinical efficacy metrics on univariate testing. However, drugs that had undergone in vivo testing had significantly longer median overall survival (7.9 vs 5.6mo, p = 0.02). Additionally, drugs tested in ≥ 2 biologically-distinct in vivo models ('multiple models') had a significantly better median response rate than those tested using only one ('single model') or those lacking in vivo data (6.8% vs 1.2% vs. 0.0% respectively, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION Currently used preclinical models poorly predict subsequent activity in P1Ts, and generally over-estimate the anti-tumor activity of these drugs. This underscores the need for better preclinical models to aid the development of novel anti-glioblastoma drugs. Until these become widely available and used, the use of multiple biologically-distinct in vivo models should be strongly encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashray Gunjur
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.,Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Adithya Balasubramanian
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia
| | - Umbreen Hafeez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,Medical Student Education, University of Melbourne, Gratton St, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Siddharth Menon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Lawrence Cher
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Sagun Parakh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.,La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Hui Kong Gan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Austin Health, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia. .,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia. .,La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia. .,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
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15
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Jiang ZH, Shen X, Wei Y, Chen Y, Chai H, Xia L, Leng W. A Pan-Cancer Analysis Reveals the Prognostic and Immunotherapeutic Value of Stanniocalcin-2 (STC2). Front Genet 2022; 13:927046. [PMID: 35937984 PMCID: PMC9354991 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.927046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Stanniocalcin-2 (STC2) is a secreted glycoprotein which plays an important role in regulating the homeostasis of calcium, glucose homeostasis, and phosphorus metastasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that STC2 is implicated in cancer mechanisms. However, the effects of STC2 on cancer development and progression across pan-cancer are not yet completely known.Methods: Data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to obtain differentially expressed genes significantly associated with prognosis (key genes). A gene was selected for subsequent correlation studies by integrating the significance of prognosis and the time-dependent ROC curve. Gene expression of different tumor types was analyzed based on the UCSC XENA website. Furthermore, our study investigated the correlation of STC2 expression between prognosis, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint genes (ICGs), mismatch repair genes (MMRs), tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and drug sensitivity in various malignant tumors. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted for correlated genes of STC2 to explore potential mechanisms.Results: A total of 3,429 differentially expressed genes and 397 prognosis-related genes were identified from the TCGA database. Twenty-six key genes were found by crossing the former and the latter, and the highest risk gene, STC2, was selected for subsequent correlation studies. STC2 had good diagnostic performance for HNSCC, and was closely related to the survival status and clinicopathological stage of HNSCC patients. In pan-cancer analysis, STC2 was upregulated in 20 cancers and downregulated in seven cancers. STC2 overexpression was overall negatively correlated with overall survival, disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and progress-free survival. STC2 was profoundly correlated with the tumor immune microenvironment, including immune cell infiltration, ICGs, MMRs, TMB, and MSI. Moreover, STC2 was significantly negatively correlated with the sensitivity or resistance of multiple drugs.Conclusion: STC2 was a potential prognostic biomarker for pan-cancer and a new immunotherapy target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Lingyun Xia
- *Correspondence: Lingyun Xia, ; Weidong Leng,
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16
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Zang R, Barth A, Wong H, Marik J, Shen J, Lade J, Grove K, Durk MR, Parrott N, Rudewicz PJ, Zhao S, Wang T, Yan Z, Zhang D. Design and Measurement of Drug Tissue Concentration Asymmetry and Tissue Exposure-Effect (Tissue PK-PD) Evaluation. J Med Chem 2022; 65:8713-8734. [PMID: 35790118 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The "free drug hypothesis" assumes that, in the absence of transporters, the steady state free plasma concentrations equal to that at the site of action that elicit pharmacologic effects. While it is important to utilize the free drug hypothesis, exceptions exist that the free plasma exposures, either at Cmax, Ctrough, and Caverage, or at other time points, cannot represent the corresponding free tissue concentrations. This "drug concentration asymmetry" in both total and free form can influence drug disposition and pharmacological effects. In this review, we first discuss options to assess total and free drug concentrations in tissues. Then various drug design strategies to achieve concentration asymmetry are presented. Last, the utilities of tissue concentrations in understanding exposure-effect relationships and translational projections to humans are discussed for several therapeutic areas and modalities. A thorough understanding in plasma and tissue exposures correlation with pharmacologic effects can provide insightful guidance to aid drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Zang
- IDEAYA Biosciences, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Aline Barth
- Global Blood Therapeutics, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Harvey Wong
- The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jan Marik
- Genentech, South San Francisco, California 98080, United States
| | - Jie Shen
- AbbVie, Irvine, California 92612, United States
| | - Julie Lade
- Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Kerri Grove
- Novartis, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Matthew R Durk
- Genentech, South San Francisco, California 98080, United States
| | - Neil Parrott
- Roche Innovation Centre, Basel CH-4070, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Tao Wang
- Coherus BioSciences, Redwood City, California 94605, United States
| | - Zhengyin Yan
- Genentech, South San Francisco, California 98080, United States
| | - Donglu Zhang
- Genentech, South San Francisco, California 98080, United States
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17
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Wu X, Wang J, Liang Q, Tong R, Huang J, Yang X, Xu Y, Wang W, Sun M, Shi J. Recent progress on FAK inhibitors with dual targeting capabilities for cancer treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 151:113116. [PMID: 35598365 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK, also known as PTK2) is a tyrosine kinase that regulates integrin and growth factor signaling pathways and is involved in the migration, proliferation and survival of cancer cells. FAK is a promising target for cancer treatment. Many small molecule FAK inhibitors have been identified and proven in both preclinical and clinical studies to be effective inhibitors of tumor growth and metastasis. There are many signaling pathways, such as those involving FAK, Src, AKT, MAPK, PI3K, and EGFR/HER-2, that provide survival signals in cancer cells. Dual inhibitors that simultaneously block FAK and another factor can significantly improve efficacy and overcome some of the shortcomings of single-target inhibitors, including drug resistance. In this review, the antitumor mechanisms and research status of dual inhibitors of FAK and other targets, such as Pyk2, IGF-IR, ALK, VEGFR-3, JAK2, EGFR, S6K1, and HDAC2, are summarized, providing new ideas for the development of effective FAK dual-target preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianbo Wu
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, China
| | - Qi Liang
- College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, China
| | - Rongsheng Tong
- Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Jianli Huang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, China
| | - Xinwei Yang
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yihua Xu
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Minghan Sun
- Central of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Jianyou Shi
- Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China.
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18
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Li Y, Qi Y, Fang Y, Gao H, Zhang H. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 4-Arylamino Pyrimidine Derivatives as FAK Inhibitors and Tumor Radiotracers. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:2471-2482. [PMID: 35481371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is considered a promising target for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this work, a series of N,N'-(4-((5-bromo-2-(phenylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)-1,3-phenylene)diacetamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as FAK inhibitors and radiotracers. The studied compounds, possessing the same phenylene-diacetamide chain, exhibited high to moderate enzyme inhibition values (IC50) ranging from 3.7 to 108.0 nM. Compound 13a, which exhibits high FAK enzyme inhibition with an IC50 value of 3.7, could effectively suppress the tumor growth. Furthermore, three compounds were radiolabeled with F-18. Among them, a higher tumor uptake value was observed for [18F]17 (3.73 ± 0.10% ID/g) and [18F]13a (3.66 ± 0.02% ID/g). Compound [18F]18 displayed the highest tumor/blood (35.75) value at 120 min postinjection. In addition, the results from docking studies revealed the binding mechanism of the studied compounds. The findings of this study may provide useful guidance to improve the development of radiotracers and enzyme inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yueheng Qi
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yu Fang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anyang Normal University, No. 436 Xian'ge Road, Anyang 455000, Henan Province, China
| | - Hang Gao
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Huabei Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China
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19
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Pomella S, Cassandri M, Braghini MR, Marampon F, Alisi A, Rota R. New Insights on the Nuclear Functions and Targeting of FAK in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23041998. [PMID: 35216114 PMCID: PMC8874710 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23041998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase over-expressed and activated in both adult and pediatric cancers, where it plays important roles in the regulation of pathogenesis and progression of the malignant phenotype. FAK exerts its functions in cancer by two different ways: a kinase activity in the cytoplasm, mainly dependent on the integrin signaling, and a scaffolding activity into the nucleus by networking with different gene expression regulators. For this reason, FAK has to be considered a target with high therapeutic values. Indeed, evidence suggests that FAK targeting could be effective, either alone or in combination, with other already available treatments. Here, we propose an overview of the novel insights about FAK’s structure and nuclear functions, with a special focus on the recent findings concerning the roles of this protein in cancer. Additionally, we provide a recent update on FAK inhibitors that are currently in clinical trials for patients with cancer, and discuss the challenge and future directions of drug-based anti-FAK targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pomella
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (M.C.)
- Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Rita Braghini
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Marampon
- Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Anna Alisi
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (R.R.); Tel.: +39-06-68592186 (A.A.); +39-06-68592648 (R.R.)
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (R.R.); Tel.: +39-06-68592186 (A.A.); +39-06-68592648 (R.R.)
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20
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Wei Y, Wang Y, Liu N, Qi R, Xu Y, Li K, Feng Y, Shi B. A FAK Inhibitor Boosts Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy in a Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mouse Model. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:820446. [PMID: 35115949 PMCID: PMC8804348 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.820446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy has limited efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and does not benefit all patients. A FAK inhibitor (VS-4718) has been reported to improve the microenvironment in some tumors. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of the FAK inhibitor VS4718 and anti-PD1 for the treatment of HCC in a mouse model and its possible mechanism of action. The expression of FAK and infiltrated immune cells in human HCC from the data of TCGA were analyzed. A primary murine HCC model was established via protooncogene (c-Met/β-catenin) transfection. The pathological characteristics of tumors were examined after the mice were treated with VS4718 and/or anti-PD1 therapy. This study revealed that FAK is highly expressed in human HCC and is associated with poor prognosis of OS (overall survival) and PFS (progress free survival) in HCC patients. Immune cell infiltration (CD8+ T, Tregs, M0, M2, CAFs and MDSCs) was correlated with FAK expression. In the experimental HCC model, the combination of a FAK inhibitor VS4718 and an anti-PD1 antibody had a better effect than monotherapy against HCC. VS4718 reduced the number of Tregs and macrophages but increased the number of CD8+ T cells in HCC mice. Notably, FAK inhibitor promoted the expression of PD-L1 in HCC. This study suggested that combination of the FAK inhibitor VS4718 and anti-PD1 could be a potential therapy for HCC by improving the immune environment, reducing liver fibrosis and simultaneously preventing PD1 from binding to the increased PD-L1 induced by FAK inhibitor VS4718.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Wei
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China
| | - Nanbin Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China
| | - Ran Qi
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Li
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Feng, ; Baomin Shi,
| | - Baomin Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Medical School, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Feng, ; Baomin Shi,
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21
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Hayden E, Holliday H, Lehmann R, Khan A, Tsoli M, Rayner BS, Ziegler DS. Therapeutic Targets in Diffuse Midline Gliomas-An Emerging Landscape. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246251. [PMID: 34944870 PMCID: PMC8699135 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) remain one of the most devastating childhood brain tumour types, for which there is currently no known cure. In this review we provide a summary of the existing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this disease, highlighting current analyses and novel treatment propositions. Together, the accumulation of these data will aid in the understanding and development of more effective therapeutic options for the treatment of DMGs. Abstract Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are invariably fatal pediatric brain tumours that are inherently resistant to conventional therapy. In recent years our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of DMG tumorigenicity has resulted in the identification of novel targets and the development of a range of potential therapies, with multiple agents now being progressed to clinical translation to test their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we provide an overview of the current therapies aimed at epigenetic and mutational drivers, cellular pathway aberrations and tumor microenvironment mechanisms in DMGs in order to aid therapy development and facilitate a holistic approach to patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisha Hayden
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
| | - Holly Holliday
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - Rebecca Lehmann
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - Aaminah Khan
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
| | - Maria Tsoli
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - Benjamin S. Rayner
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - David S. Ziegler
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick 2031, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-9382-1730; Fax: +61-2-9382-1789
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22
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Quispe PA, Lavecchia MJ, León IE. Focal adhesion kinase inhibitors in the treatment of solid tumors: Preclinical and clinical evidence. Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:664-674. [PMID: 34856395 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is a 125-kDa cytoplasmic protein kinase that is implicated in several cellular functions. This protein is an attractive molecular target for cancer therapy because a wide variety of studies have demonstrated associations between the activation or elevated expression of FAK and tumor progression, invasion, and drug resistance in malignant tumors. Here, we review the strategies used to inhibit FAK activity in solid tumors. We also include an overview of the preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies on FAK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Quispe
- Centro de Química Inorgánica (CEQUINOR, CONICET-UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bv 120 1465, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
| | - Martin J Lavecchia
- Centro de Química Inorgánica (CEQUINOR, CONICET-UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bv 120 1465, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
| | - Ignacio E León
- Centro de Química Inorgánica (CEQUINOR, CONICET-UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bv 120 1465, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
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23
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Romito I, Porru M, Braghini MR, Pompili L, Panera N, Crudele A, Gnani D, De Stefanis C, Scarsella M, Pomella S, Levi Mortera S, de Billy E, Conti AL, Marzano V, Putignani L, Vinciguerra M, Balsano C, Pastore A, Rota R, Tartaglia M, Leonetti C, Alisi A. Focal adhesion kinase inhibitor TAE226 combined with Sorafenib slows down hepatocellular carcinoma by multiple epigenetic effects. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:364. [PMID: 34784956 PMCID: PMC8597092 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02154-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and lethal malignant tumours worldwide. Sorafenib (SOR) is one of the most effective single-drug systemic therapy against advanced HCC, but the identification of novel combination regimens for a continued improvement in overall survival is a big challenge. Recent studies highlighted the crucial role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in HCC growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effects of three different FAK inhibitors (FAKi), alone or in combination with SOR, using in vitro and in vivo models of HCC. Methods The effect of PND1186, PF431396, TAE226 on cell viability was compared to SOR. Among them TAE226, emerging as the most effective FAKi, was tested alone or in combination with SOR using 2D/3D human HCC cell line cultures and HCC xenograft murine models. The mechanisms of action were assessed by gene/protein expression and imaging approaches, combined with high-throughput methods. Results TAE226 was the more effective FAKi to be combined with SOR against HCC. Combined TAE226 and SOR treatment reduced HCC growth both in vitro and in vivo by affecting tumour-promoting gene expression and inducing epigenetic changes via dysregulation of FAK nuclear interactome. We characterized a novel nuclear functional interaction between FAK and the NuRD complex. TAE226-mediated FAK depletion and SOR-promoted MAPK down-modulation caused a decrease in the nuclear amount of HDAC1/2 and a consequent increase of the histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation, thus counteracting histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation. Conclusions Altogether, our findings provide the first evidence that TAE226 combined with SOR efficiently reduces HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. Also, our data highlight that deep analysis of FAK nuclear interactome may lead to the identification of new promising targets for HCC therapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02154-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Romito
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Porru
- Unit of Oncogenomic and Epigenetic, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Braghini
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Pompili
- Unit of Oncogenomic and Epigenetic, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Nadia Panera
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Crudele
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Gnani
- Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Marco Scarsella
- Core Facilities, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Levi Mortera
- Unit of Human Microbiome, Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emmanuel de Billy
- Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Marzano
- Unit of Human Microbiome, Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Putignani
- Unit of Human Microbiome, Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Microbiomics, Microbiology and Immunological Diagnostics, Department of Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University of Varna, 9002, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Clara Balsano
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences MESVA, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.,Francesco Balsano Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Pastore
- Research Unit of Diagnostical and Management Innovations, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Leonetti
- Unit of Oncogenomic and Epigenetic, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Alisi
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146, Rome, Italy.
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24
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Pang XJ, Liu XJ, Liu Y, Liu WB, Li YR, Yu GX, Tian XY, Zhang YB, Song J, Jin CY, Zhang SY. Drug Discovery Targeting Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) as a Promising Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26144250. [PMID: 34299525 PMCID: PMC8308130 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
FAK is a nonreceptor intracellular tyrosine kinase which plays an important biological function. Many studies have found that FAK is overexpressed in many human cancer cell lines, which promotes tumor cell growth by controlling cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and survival. Therefore, targeting FAK is considered to be a promising cancer therapy with small molecules. Many FAK inhibitors have been reported as anticancer agents with various mechanisms. Currently, six FAK inhibitors, including GSK-2256098 (Phase I), VS-6063 (Phase II), CEP-37440 (Phase I), VS-6062 (Phase I), VS-4718 (Phase I), and BI-853520 (Phase I) are undergoing clinical trials in different phases. Up to now, there have been many novel FAK inhibitors with anticancer activity reported by different research groups. In addition, FAK degraders have been successfully developed through “proteolysis targeting chimera” (PROTAC) technology, opening up a new way for FAK-targeted therapy. In this paper, the structure and biological function of FAK are reviewed, and we summarize the design, chemical types, and activity of FAK inhibitors according to the development of FAK drugs, which provided the reference for the discovery of new anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Pang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Xiu-Juan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Wen-Bo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Yin-Ru Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
| | - Guang-Xi Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
| | - Xin-Yi Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
| | - Yan-Bing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Jian Song
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (C.-Y.J.); (S.-Y.Z.)
| | - Cheng-Yun Jin
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (C.-Y.J.); (S.-Y.Z.)
| | - Sai-Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (C.-Y.J.); (S.-Y.Z.)
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25
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Brullo C, Tasso B. New Insights on Fak and Fak Inhibitors. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:3318-3338. [PMID: 33143618 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666201103162239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Focal adhesion kinase (Fak) is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase overexpressed and activated in different solid cancers; it has shown an important role in metastasis formation, cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis and consequently it has been proposed as a potential target in cancer therapy, particularly in a metastatic phase. In recent years, different investigations have highlighted the importance of new Fak inhibitors as potential anti-cancer drugs, but other studies evidenced its role in different pathologies related to the cardiac function or viral infection. METHODS An extensive bibliographic research (104 references) has been done concerning the structure of Fak, its importance in tumor development, but also in other pathologies currently under study. The compounds currently subjected to clinical studies were therefore treated using the appropriate databases. Finally, the main chemical scaffolds currently under preclinical investigation were analyzed, focusing on their molecular structures and on the activity structure relationships (SAR). RESULTS At the moment, only a few reversible ATP-competitive inhibitors are under investigation in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. Other compounds, with different chemical scaffolds, are investigated to obtain more active and selective Fak inhibitors. This mini-review is a summary of different Fak functions in cancer and other pathologies; the compounds today in clinical trials and the recent chemical scaffolds (also included in patents) giving the most interesting results are investigated. In addition, PROTAC molecules are reported. CONCLUSION All reported results evidenced that additional studies are necessary to design and synthesize new selective and more active compounds, although promising information has been obtained from associations between Fak inhibitors and other different anti- cancer drugs. In addition, the other important roles evidenced, both at the nuclear level and in non-cancerous cells, make this protein an increasingly important target in pharmaceutical chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Brullo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3-I16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Bruno Tasso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3-I16132 Genova, Italy
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26
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Rybakova Y, Gonzalez JT, Bogorad R, Chauhan VP, Dong YL, Whittaker CA, Zatsepin T, Koteliansky V, Anderson DG. Identification of a long non-coding RNA regulator of liver carcinoma cell survival. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:178. [PMID: 33589614 PMCID: PMC7884843 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03453-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genomic studies have significantly improved our understanding of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biology and have led to the discovery of multiple protein-coding genes driving hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, these studies have identified thousands of new non-coding transcripts deregulated in HCC. We hypothesize that some of these transcripts may be involved in disease progression. Long non-coding RNAs are a large class of non-coding transcripts which participate in the regulation of virtually all cellular functions. However, a majority of lncRNAs remain dramatically understudied. Here, we applied a pooled shRNA-based screen to identify lncRNAs essential for HCC cell survival. We validated our screening results using RNAi, CRISPRi, and antisense oligonucleotides. We found a lncRNA, termed ASTILCS, that is critical for HCC cell growth and is overexpressed in tumors from HCC patients. We demonstrated that HCC cell death upon ASTILCS knockdown is associated with apoptosis induction and downregulation of a neighboring gene, protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2), a crucial protein for HCC cell survival. Taken together, our study describes a new, non-coding RNA regulator of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Rybakova
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia
| | - John T Gonzalez
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Roman Bogorad
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Vikash P Chauhan
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Yize L Dong
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Charles A Whittaker
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Timofei Zatsepin
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia
| | | | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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27
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Shirvani P, Fassihi A. In silico design of novel FAK inhibitors using integrated molecular docking, 3D-QSAR and molecular dynamics simulation studies. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:5965-5982. [PMID: 33475043 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1875880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that plays a crucial role in integrin signaling that regulates essential cellular functions including growth, motility, proliferation and survival in different types of cells. Interestingly, it has also shown to be up-regulated in various types of tumors, hence it has emerged as a significant therapeutic target for the development of selective inhibitors. In present work, with the aim of achieving further insight into the structural characteristics required for the FAK inhibitory activity, a combined approach of molecular modeling studies including molecular docking, three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D-QSAR) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were carried out on a series of 7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine FAK inhibitors. The probable binding modes and interactions of inhibitors into the FAK active site were predicted by molecular docking. The 3D-QSAR models were developed using the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) methods, with three ligand-based, docking-based and receptor-based alignment techniques. Both CoMFA and CoMSIA models obtained from receptor-based alignment were superior to the ones obtained by other alignment methods. However, the CoMSIA model (q2 = 0.679, r2 = 0.954 and r2pred = 0.888) depicted almost better predictive ability than the CoMFA model (q2 = 0.617, r2 = 0.932 and r2pred = 0.856). The contour map analysis revealed the relationship between the structural features and inhibitory activity. The docking results and CoMFA and CoMSIA contour maps were in good accordance. Based on the information obtained from the molecular docking and contour map analysis, a series of novel FAK inhibitors were designed that showed better predicted inhibitory activity than the most potent compound 31 in the data set. Finally, the stability of the reference molecule 31 and the designed compounds D15 and D27 were evaluated through a 30 ns of MD simulation and their binding free energies were calculated using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method. The result of MD simulation and binding free energy decomposition demonstrated the important role of van der Waals interactions alongside H-bond ones that were in consistent with the docking and contour maps analysis results. In sum, the results from this study may provide a significant insight for developing more effective novel FAK inhibitors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Shirvani
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Afshin Fassihi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.,Bioinformatics Research Center, Isfahan university of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
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28
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Chen W, Liu D, Liu P, Kong Z, Wang Y, Wang Y, Ma W. Current evidence and challenges of systematic therapies for adult recurrent glioblastoma: Results from clinical trials. Chin J Cancer Res 2021; 33:417-432. [PMID: 34321837 PMCID: PMC8286895 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2021.03.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrence is a major concern for adult patients with glioblastomas (GBMs), and the prognosis remains poor. Although several therapies have been assessed, most of them have not achieved satisfactory results. Therefore, there is currently no standard treatment for adult recurrent GBM (rGBM). Here, we review the results of clinical trials for the systematic therapy of rGBM. Regorafenib, rindopepimut and neoadjuvant programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors are promising agents for rGBM, while regorafenib is effective in both O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylated and unmethylated patients. Temozolomide rechallenge and alkylating agents combined with bevacizumab can be useful for patients with MGMT methylation, and patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations or second recurrence can benefit from vocimagene amiretrorepvec (Toca 511). Some phase I trials on targeted therapy and immunotherapy have shown positive results, and results from further studies are expected. In addition to the analysis of existing clinical trial results, forthcoming trials should be well designed, and patients are encouraged to participate in appropriate clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlin Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Delin Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Penghao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Ziren Kong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yaning Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Wenbin Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
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29
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Birzu C, French P, Caccese M, Cerretti G, Idbaih A, Zagonel V, Lombardi G. Recurrent Glioblastoma: From Molecular Landscape to New Treatment Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:E47. [PMID: 33375286 PMCID: PMC7794906 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive form among malignant central nervous system primary tumors in adults. Standard treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma consists in maximal safe resection, if feasible, followed by radiochemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide; despite this multimodal treatment, virtually all glioblastomas relapse. Once tumors progress after first-line therapy, treatment options are limited and management of recurrent glioblastoma remains challenging. Loco-regional therapy with re-surgery or re-irradiation may be evaluated in selected cases, while traditional systemic therapy with nitrosoureas and temozolomide rechallenge showed limited efficacy. In recent years, new clinical trials using, for example, regorafenib or a combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy were performed with promising results. In particular, molecular targeted therapy could show efficacy in selected patients with specific gene mutations. Nonetheless, some molecular characteristics and genetic alterations could change during tumor progression, thus affecting the efficacy of precision medicine. We therefore reviewed the molecular and genomic landscape of recurrent glioblastoma, the strategy for clinical management and the major phase I-III clinical trials analyzing recent drugs and combination regimens in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Birzu
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière—Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, F-75013 Paris, France; (C.B.); (A.I.)
| | - Pim French
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Mario Caccese
- Department of Oncology, Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 54, 35128 Padua, Italy; (M.C.); (G.C.); (V.Z.)
| | - Giulia Cerretti
- Department of Oncology, Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 54, 35128 Padua, Italy; (M.C.); (G.C.); (V.Z.)
| | - Ahmed Idbaih
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière—Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, F-75013 Paris, France; (C.B.); (A.I.)
| | - Vittorina Zagonel
- Department of Oncology, Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 54, 35128 Padua, Italy; (M.C.); (G.C.); (V.Z.)
| | - Giuseppe Lombardi
- Department of Oncology, Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, via Gattamelata 54, 35128 Padua, Italy; (M.C.); (G.C.); (V.Z.)
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30
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Lu Y, Sun H. Progress in the Development of Small Molecular Inhibitors of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK). J Med Chem 2020; 63:14382-14403. [PMID: 33058670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor intracellular tyrosine kinase that plays an essential role in cancer cell adhesion, survival, proliferation, and migration through both its enzymatic activities and scaffolding functions. Overexpression of FAK has been found in many human cancer cells from different origins, which promotes tumor progression and influences clinical outcomes in different classes of human tumors. Therefore, FAK has been considered as a promising target for small molecule anticancer drug development. Many FAK inhibitors targeting different domains of FAK with various mechanisms of functions have been reported, including kinase domain inhibitors, FERM domain inhibitors, and FAT domain inhibitors. In addition, FAK-targeting PROTACs, which can induce the degradation of FAK, have also been developed. In this Perspective, we summarized the progress in the development of small molecular FAK inhibitors and proposed the perspectives for the future development of agents targeting FAK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Haiying Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
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31
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Zhang Y, Liu S, Zhou S, Yu D, Gu J, Qin Q, Cheng Y, Sun X. Focal adhesion kinase: Insight into its roles and therapeutic potential in oesophageal cancer. Cancer Lett 2020; 496:93-103. [PMID: 33038490 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Oesophageal cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates because it is highly invasive and prone to recurrence and metastasis, with a five-year survival rate of <20%. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new methods aimed at improving therapeutic intervention. Several studies have shown that targeted therapy may be effective for the treatment of oesophageal cancer. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase with kinase activity and scaffolding function, could be overexpressed in a variety of solid tumours, including oesophageal cancer. FAK participates in survival, proliferation, progression, adhesion, invasion, migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, DNA damage repair, and other biological processes through multiple signalling pathways in cancer cells. It plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumours and has been linked to the prognosis of oesophageal cancer. FAK has been suggested as a potential therapeutic target in oesophageal cancer; thus, the combination of FAK inhibitors with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy is expected to prolong the survival of patients. This paper presents a brief overview of the structure of FAK and its potential role in oesophageal cancer, providing a rationale for the future application of FAK inhibitors in the treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Shu Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Shu Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Dandan Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Junjie Gu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Qin Qin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Yu Cheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Xinchen Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu province, China.
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32
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Torrisi F, Vicario N, Spitale FM, Cammarata FP, Minafra L, Salvatorelli L, Russo G, Cuttone G, Valable S, Gulino R, Magro G, Parenti R. The Role of Hypoxia and SRC Tyrosine Kinase in Glioblastoma Invasiveness and Radioresistance. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2860. [PMID: 33020459 PMCID: PMC7599682 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in functional imaging are supporting neurosurgery and radiotherapy for glioblastoma, which still remains the most aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis. The typical infiltration pattern of glioblastoma, which impedes a complete surgical resection, is coupled with a high rate of invasiveness and radioresistance, thus further limiting efficient therapy, leading to inevitable and fatal recurrences. Hypoxia is of crucial importance in gliomagenesis and, besides reducing radiotherapy efficacy, also induces cellular and molecular mediators that foster proliferation and invasion. In this review, we aimed at analyzing the biological mechanism of glioblastoma invasiveness and radioresistance in hypoxic niches of glioblastoma. We also discussed the link between hypoxia and radiation-induced radioresistance with activation of SRC proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase, prospecting potential strategies to overcome the current limitation in glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Torrisi
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), Section of Physiology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.T.); (N.V.); (F.M.S.); (R.G.)
| | - Nunzio Vicario
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), Section of Physiology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.T.); (N.V.); (F.M.S.); (R.G.)
| | - Federica M. Spitale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), Section of Physiology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.T.); (N.V.); (F.M.S.); (R.G.)
| | - Francesco P. Cammarata
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, IBFM-CNR, 90015 Cefalù, Italy; (L.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Luigi Minafra
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, IBFM-CNR, 90015 Cefalù, Italy; (L.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Lucia Salvatorelli
- Department G.F. Ingrassia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (L.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Giorgio Russo
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, IBFM-CNR, 90015 Cefalù, Italy; (L.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Giacomo Cuttone
- National Laboratory of South, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (LNS-INFN), 95125 Catania, Italy;
| | - Samuel Valable
- ISTCT/CERVOxy Group, GIP Cyceron, CEA, CNRS, Normandie Université, UNICAEN, 14074 Caen, France;
| | - Rosario Gulino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), Section of Physiology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.T.); (N.V.); (F.M.S.); (R.G.)
| | - Gaetano Magro
- Department G.F. Ingrassia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele” Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (L.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Rosalba Parenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), Section of Physiology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (F.T.); (N.V.); (F.M.S.); (R.G.)
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33
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Contartese D, Salamanna F, Veronesi F, Fini M. Relevance of humanized three-dimensional tumor tissue models: a descriptive systematic literature review. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:3913-3944. [PMID: 32285137 PMCID: PMC11104864 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03513-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite numerous advances in tumor screening, diagnosis, and treatment, to date, tumors remain one of the leading causes of death, principally due to metastasis and the physiological damage produced by tumor growth. Among the main limits related to the study of tumor physiology there is the complex and heterogeneity nature of its environment and the absence of relevant, simple and inexpensive models able to mimic the biological processes occurring in patients allowing the correct clinical translation of results. To enhance the understanding of the mechanisms of tumors and to develop and evaluate new therapeutic approaches the set-up of advanced and alternative models is mandatory. One of the more translational approaches seems to be the use of humanized three-dimensional (3D) tissue culture. This model allows to accurately mimic tumor morphology and biology, maintaining the native microenvironment without any manipulation. However, little is still known on the real clinical relevance of these models for the study of tumor mechanisms and for the screening of new therapy. The aim of this descriptive systematic literature review was to evaluate and summarize the current knowledge on human 3D tumor tissue culture models. We reviewed the strategies employed by researchers to set-up these systems, also considering the different approaches and culture conditions used. All these aspects greatly contribute to the existing knowledge on tumors, providing a specific link to clinical scenarios and making the humanized 3D tumor tissue models a more attractive tool both for researchers and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Contartese
- Laboratory Preclinical and Surgical Studies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Salamanna
- Laboratory Preclinical and Surgical Studies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - F Veronesi
- Laboratory Preclinical and Surgical Studies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - M Fini
- Laboratory Preclinical and Surgical Studies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
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34
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Rezk R, Jia BZ, Wendler A, Dimov I, Watts C, Markaki AE, Franze K, Kabla AJ. Spatial heterogeneity of cell-matrix adhesive forces predicts human glioblastoma migration. Neurooncol Adv 2020; 2:vdaa081. [PMID: 32793884 PMCID: PMC7415261 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive incurable brain tumor. The main cause of mortality in GBM patients is the invasive rim of cells migrating away from the main tumor mass and invading healthy parts of the brain. Although the motion is driven by forces, our current understanding of the physical factors involved in glioma infiltration remains limited. This study aims to investigate the adhesion properties within and between patients' tumors on a cellular level and test whether these properties correlate with cell migration. Methods Six tissue samples were taken from spatially separated sections during 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence-guided surgery. Navigated biopsy samples were collected from strongly fluorescent tumor cores, a weak fluorescent tumor rim, and nonfluorescent tumor margins. A microfluidics device was built to induce controlled shear forces to detach cells from monolayer cultures. Cells were cultured on low modulus polydimethylsiloxane representative of the stiffness of brain tissue. Cell migration and morphology were then obtained using time-lapse microscopy. Results GBM cell populations from different tumor fractions of the same patient exhibited different migratory and adhesive behaviors. These differences were associated with sampling location and amount of 5-ALA fluorescence. Cells derived from weak- and nonfluorescent tumor tissue were smaller, adhered less well, and migrated quicker than cells derived from strongly fluorescent tumor mass. Conclusions GBM tumors are biomechanically heterogeneous. Selecting multiple populations and broad location sampling are therefore important to consider for drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Rezk
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bill Zong Jia
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Astrid Wendler
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ivan Dimov
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Colin Watts
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Athina E Markaki
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kristian Franze
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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35
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Lorusso G, Rüegg C, Kuonen F. Targeting the Extra-Cellular Matrix-Tumor Cell Crosstalk for Anti-Cancer Therapy: Emerging Alternatives to Integrin Inhibitors. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1231. [PMID: 32793493 PMCID: PMC7387567 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network composed of a multitude of different macromolecules. ECM components typically provide a supportive structure to the tissue and engender positional information and crosstalk with neighboring cells in a dynamic reciprocal manner, thereby regulating tissue development and homeostasis. During tumor progression, tumor cells commonly modify and hijack the surrounding ECM to sustain anchorage-dependent growth and survival, guide migration, store pro-tumorigenic cell-derived molecules and present them to enhance receptor activation. Thereby, ECM potentially supports tumor progression at various steps from initiation, to local growth, invasion, and systemic dissemination and ECM-tumor cells interactions have long been considered promising targets for cancer therapy. Integrins represent key surface receptors for the tumor cell to sense and interact with the ECM. Yet, attempts to therapeutically impinge on these interactions using integrin inhibitors have failed to deliver anticipated results, and integrin inhibitors are still missing in the emerging arsenal of drugs for targeted therapies. This paradox situation should urge the field to reconsider the role of integrins in cancer and their targeting, but also to envisage alternative strategies. Here, we review the therapeutic targets implicated in tumor cell adhesion to the ECM, whose inhibitors are currently in clinical trials and may offer alternatives to integrin inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girieca Lorusso
- Experimental and Translational Oncology, Department of Oncology Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Curzio Rüegg
- Experimental and Translational Oncology, Department of Oncology Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - François Kuonen
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Hôpital de Beaumont, Lausanne University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Discovery of 7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyridine derivatives as potent FAK inhibitors: Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking study. Bioorg Chem 2020; 102:104092. [PMID: 32707280 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an intracellular non-receptor tyrosine kinase responsible for development of various tumor types. Aiming to explore new potent inhibitors, two series of 2,4-disubstituted-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives were designed and synthesized on the base of structure-based design strategy. Biological evaluation indicated that most of these new compounds could potently inhibit FAK kinase, leading to the promising inhibitors against the proliferation of U-87MG, A-549, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. Among them, the optimized compound 18h potently inhibited the enzyme (IC50 = 19.1 nM) and displayed stronger potency than TAE-226 in U-87MG, A-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells, with IC50 values of 0.35, 0.24, and 0.34 μM, respectively. Compound 18h is a multi-target kinase inhibitor. Furthermore, compound 18h also exhibited relatively less cytotoxicity (IC50 = 3.72 μM) toward a normal human cell line, HK2. According to the flow cytometry and wound healing assay results, compound 18h effectively induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest of MDA-MB-231 cells and suppressed the migration of U-87MG, A-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The docking study of compound 18h was performed to elucidate its possible binding modes and to provide a structural basis for the further structural guidance design of FAK inhibitors. Collectively, these data support the further development of compound 18h as a lead compound for FAK-targeted anticancer drug discovery.
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37
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Jin W. The Role of Tyrosine Kinases as a Critical Prognostic Parameter and Its Targeted Therapies in Ewing Sarcoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:613. [PMID: 32754598 PMCID: PMC7381324 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00613] [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: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare, highly aggressive, bone, or soft tissue-associated tumor. Although this sarcoma often responds well to initial chemotherapy, 40% of the patients develop a lethal recurrence of the disease, with death recorded in 75-80% of patients with metastatic ES within 5 years, despite receiving high-dose chemotherapy. ES is genetically well-characterized, as indicated by the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein encoded as a result of chromosomal translocation in 80-90% of patients with ES, as well as in ES-related cancer cell lines. Recently, tyrosine kinases have been identified in the pathogenesis of ES. These tyrosine kinases, acting as oncoproteins, are associated with the clinical pathogenesis, metastasis, acquisition of self-renewal traits, and chemoresistance of ES, through the activation of various intracellular signaling pathways. This review describes the recent progress related to cellular and molecular functional roles of tyrosine kinases in the progression of ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wook Jin
- Laboratory of Molecular Disease and Cell Regulation, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
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38
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Mohanty A, Pharaon RR, Nam A, Salgia S, Kulkarni P, Massarelli E. FAK-targeted and combination therapies for the treatment of cancer: an overview of phase I and II clinical trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:399-409. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1740680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca R Pharaon
- Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Arin Nam
- Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Sabrina Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Erminia Massarelli
- Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
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39
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Bauer M, Zeitlinger M, Langer O. Pharmacokinetic Imaging with Radiolabeled Molecularly Targeted Anticancer Drugs. J Nucl Med 2020; 61:306. [PMID: 31586005 PMCID: PMC8801952 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.119.236174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Bauer
- Medical University of Vienna Währinger-Gürtel 18-20 Vienna, Austria 1090 E-mail:
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40
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Sun CC, Feng LJ, Sun XH, Yu RL, Chu YY, Kang CM. Study on the interactions of pyrimidine derivatives with FAK by 3D-QSAR, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. NEW J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj02136a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a kind of tyrosine kinase that modulates integrin and growth factor signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-ce Sun
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Qingdao University of Science and Technology
- Qingdao
- China
| | - Li-jun Feng
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Qingdao University of Science and Technology
- Qingdao
- China
| | - Xiao-hua Sun
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Qingdao University of Science and Technology
- Qingdao
- China
| | - Ri-lei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs
- Chinese Ministry of Education
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy
- Ocean University of China
- Qingdao
| | - Yan-yan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs
- Chinese Ministry of Education
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy
- Ocean University of China
- Qingdao
| | - Cong-min Kang
- College of Chemical Engineering
- Qingdao University of Science and Technology
- Qingdao
- China
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41
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Wang R, Yu S, Zhao X, Chen Y, Yang B, Wu T, Hao C, Zhao D, Cheng M. Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking study of novel thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as potent FAK inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 188:112024. [PMID: 31923858 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.112024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A series of 2,7-disubstituted-thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as novel focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitors. The novel 2,7-disubstituted-thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine scaffold has been designed as a new kinase inhibitor platform that mimics the bioactive conformation of the well-known diaminopyrimidine motif. Most of the compounds potently suppressed the enzymatic activities of FAK and potently inhibited the proliferation of U-87MG, A-549 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. Among these derivatives, the optimized compound 26f potently inhibited the enzyme (IC50 = 28.2 nM) and displayed stronger potency than TAE-226 in U-87MG, A-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells, with IC50 values of 0.16, 0.27, and 0.19 μM, respectively. Compound 26f also exhibited relatively less cytotoxicity (IC50 = 3.32 μM) toward a normal human cell line, HK2. According to the flow cytometry results, compound 26f induced the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner and effectively arrested MDA-MB-231 cells in G0/G1 phase. Further investigations revealed that compound 26f potently suppressed the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Collectively, these data support the further development of compound 26f as a lead compound for FAK-targeted anticancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Sijia Yu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Xiangxin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yixuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China; The School of Life Science and Biopharmaceutical, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Bowen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Tianxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Chenzhou Hao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Dongmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
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Wulkersdorfer B, Bauer M, Karch R, Stefanits H, Philippe C, Weber M, Czech T, Menet MC, Declèves X, Hainfellner JA, Preusser M, Hacker M, Zeitlinger M, Müller M, Langer O. Assessment of brain delivery of a model ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate in patients with non-contrast-enhancing brain tumors with positron emission tomography. EJNMMI Res 2019; 9:110. [PMID: 31832814 PMCID: PMC6908538 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-019-0581-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2) are two efflux transporters expressed at the blood-brain barrier which effectively restrict the brain distribution of the majority of currently known anticancer drugs. High-grade brain tumors often possess a disrupted blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB) leading to enhanced accumulation of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, and possibly anticancer drugs, as compared to normal brain. In contrast to high-grade brain tumors, considerably less information is available with respect to BBTB integrity in lower grade brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed positron emission tomography imaging with the radiolabeled ABCB1 inhibitor [11C]tariquidar, a prototypical ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate, in seven patients with non-contrast -enhancing brain tumors (WHO grades I-III). In addition, ABCB1 and ABCG2 levels were determined in surgically resected tumor tissue of four patients using quantitative targeted absolute proteomics. RESULTS Brain distribution of [11C]tariquidar was found to be very low across the whole brain and not significantly different between tumor and tumor-free brain tissue. Only one patient showed a small area of enhanced [11C]tariquidar uptake within the brain tumor. ABCG2/ABCB1 ratios in surgically resected tumor tissue (1.4 ± 0.2) were comparable to previously reported ABCG2/ABCB1 ratios in isolated human micro-vessels (1.3), which suggested that no overexpression of ABCB1 or ABCG2 occurred in the investigated tumors. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that the investigated brain tumors had an intact BBTB, which is impermeable to anticancer drugs, which are dual ABCB1/ABCG2 substrates. Therefore, effective drugs for antitumor treatment should have high passive permeability and lack ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate affinity. TRIAL REGISTRATION European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (EUDRACT), 2011-004189-13. Registered on 23 February 2012, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2011-004189-13.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Bauer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Karch
- Centre for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Stefanits
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cécile Philippe
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Weber
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Czech
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marie-Claude Menet
- Inserm, U1144, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S 1144, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Declèves
- Inserm, U1144, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, UMR-S 1144, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Matthias Preusser
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Hacker
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Zeitlinger
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Müller
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Langer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Preclinical Molecular Imaging, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Seibersdorf, Austria.
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Aboubakar Nana F, Vanderputten M, Ocak S. Role of Focal Adhesion Kinase in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Its Potential as a Therapeutic Target. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1683. [PMID: 31671774 PMCID: PMC6895835 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents 15% of all lung cancers and it is clinically the most aggressive type, being characterized by a tendency for early metastasis, with two-thirds of the patients diagnosed with an extensive stage (ES) disease and a five-year overall survival (OS) as low as 5%. There are still no effective targeted therapies in SCLC despite improved understanding of the molecular steps leading to SCLC development and progression these last years. After four decades, the only modest improvement in OS of patients suffering from ES-SCLC has recently been shown in a trial combining atezolizumab, an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, with carboplatin and etoposide, chemotherapy agents. This highlights the need to pursue research efforts in this field. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed and activated in several cancers, including SCLC, and contributing to cancer progression and metastasis through its important role in cell proliferation, survival, adhesion, spreading, migration, and invasion. FAK also plays a role in tumor immune evasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, DNA damage repair, radioresistance, and regulation of cancer stem cells. FAK is of particular interest in SCLC, being known for its aggressiveness. The inhibition of FAK in SCLC cell lines demonstrated significative decrease in cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In this review, we will focus on the role of FAK in cancer cells and their microenvironment, and its potential as a therapeutic target in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Aboubakar Nana
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Pôle de Pneumologie, ORL et Dermatologie (PNEU), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
- Division of Pneumology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, UCL, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Marie Vanderputten
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Pôle de Pneumologie, ORL et Dermatologie (PNEU), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Sebahat Ocak
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Pôle de Pneumologie, ORL et Dermatologie (PNEU), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
- Division of Pneumology, CHU UCL Namur (Godinne Site), UCL, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium.
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Aboubakar Nana F, Hoton D, Ambroise J, Lecocq M, Vanderputten M, Sibille Y, Vanaudenaerde B, Pilette C, Bouzin C, Ocak S. Increased Expression and Activation of FAK in Small-Cell Lung Cancer Compared to Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101526. [PMID: 31658694 PMCID: PMC6827365 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a crucial role in cancer development and progression. FAK is overexpressed and/or activated and associated with poor prognosis in various malignancies. However, in lung cancer, activated FAK expression and its prognostic value are unknown. METHODS FAK and activated FAK (phospho-FAK Y397) expressions were analyzed by multiplex immunofluorescence staining in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 95 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 105 small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, and 37 healthy donors. The FAK staining score was defined as the percentage (%) of FAK-stained tumor area multiplied by (×) FAK mean intensity and phospho-FAK staining score as the (% of phospho-FAK-stained area of low intensity × 1) + (% of phospho-FAK-stained area of medium intensity × 2) + (% of the phospho-FAK-stained area of high intensity × 3). FAK and phospho-FAK staining scores were compared between normal, NSCLC, and SCLC tissues. They were also tested for correlations with patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. RESULTS The median follow-up time after the first treatment was 42.5 months and 6.4 months for NSCLC and SCLC patients, respectively. FAK and phospho-FAK staining scores were significantly higher in lung cancer than in normal lung and significantly higher in SCLC compared to NSCLC tissues (p < 0.01). Moreover, the ratio between phospho-FAK and FAK staining scores was significantly higher in SCLC than in NSCLC tissues (p < 0.01). However, FAK and activated FAK expression in lung cancer did not correlate with recurrence-free and overall survival in NSCLC and SCLC patients. CONCLUSIONS Total FAK and activated FAK expressions are significantly higher in lung cancer than in normal lung, and significantly higher in SCLC compared to NSCLC, but are not prognostic biomarkers in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Aboubakar Nana
- Pole of Pneumology, ENT, and Dermatology (PNEU), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
- Division of Pneumology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Delphine Hoton
- Department of Pathology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Jérôme Ambroise
- Centre de Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées, IREC, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Marylène Lecocq
- Pole of Pneumology, ENT, and Dermatology (PNEU), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Marie Vanderputten
- Pole of Pneumology, ENT, and Dermatology (PNEU), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Yves Sibille
- Pole of Pneumology, ENT, and Dermatology (PNEU), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
- Division of Pneumology, CHU UCL Namur (Godinne Site), UCLouvain, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium.
| | - Bart Vanaudenaerde
- Lung Transplant Unit, Division of Respiratory Disease, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Charles Pilette
- Pole of Pneumology, ENT, and Dermatology (PNEU), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
- Division of Pneumology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | | | - Sebahat Ocak
- Pole of Pneumology, ENT, and Dermatology (PNEU), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
- Division of Pneumology, CHU UCL Namur (Godinne Site), UCLouvain, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium.
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Wang R, Chen Y, Zhao X, Yu S, Yang B, Wu T, Guo J, Hao C, Zhao D, Cheng M. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives as potential FAK inhibitors and anticancer agents. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 183:111716. [PMID: 31550660 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A series of 7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives possessing a dimethylphosphine oxide moiety were designed, synthesized and evaluated as novel Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitors. Most compounds potently suppressed the enzymatic activities of FAK, with IC50 values in the 10-8-10-9 M range, and potently inhibited the proliferation of breast (MDA-MB-231) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. The representative compound 25b exhibited potent enzyme inhibition (IC50 = 5.4 nM) and good selectivity when tested on a panel of 26 kinases. 25b exhibited antiproliferative activity against A549 cells (IC50 = 3.2 μM) and relatively less cytotoxicity to a normal human cell line HK2. Compound 25b also induced apoptosis and suppressed the migration of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Further profiling of compound 25b revealed it had good metabolic stability in mouse, rat and human liver microsomes in vitro and showed weak inhibitory activity against various subtypes of human cytochrome P450. The docking study of compound 25b was performed to elucidate its possible binding modes and to provide a structural basis for further structure-guided design of FAK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yixuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China; The School of Life Science and Biopharmaceutical, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Xiangxin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Sijia Yu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Bowen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Tianxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Chenzhou Hao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Dongmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China
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Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Overexpression and Phosphorylation in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and their Clinicopathological Significance. Pathol Oncol Res 2019; 26:1659-1667. [PMID: 31522363 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-019-00732-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is involved in progression of various cancers, and FAK overexpression has been associated with cancer invasion and metastasis. However, the involvement of FAK expression in the clinicopathological malignancy of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unknown. In addition, there is no consensus regarding the role of p16 expression in OSCC. In this study, the immunohistochemically measured expression of FAK, phosphorylated FAK (FAKpY397) and p16 expressions and their associations with clinicopathological features and 5-year survival rates were examined in surgical samples from 70 patients with primary OSCC. FAK and FAKpY397 were expressed at high levels in 42 cases (60.0%) and 34 cases (48.6%), respectively, and 9 cases (12.9%) were positive for p16. FAK expression was significantly correlated with local recurrence, subsequent metastasis, and the mode of invasion. FAKpY397 expression was significantly correlated with both N classification and the mode of invasion. p16 expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage only. Patients having high expression of FAK, FAKpY397, or both showed significantly worse prognosis, but p16 expression showed no significant relation to prognosis. The results suggested that overexpression and phosphorylation of FAK in OSCC may affect cancer progression, such as local invasion and lymph node metastasis, and thereby contribute to life prognosis.
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