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Khamis T, Diab AAAA, Zahra MH, El-Dahmy SE, Abd Al-Hameed BA, Abdelkhalek A, Said MA, Abdellatif H, Fericean LM, Banatean-Dunea I, Arisha AH, Attia MS. The Antiproliferative Activity of Adiantum pedatum Extract and/or Piceatannol in Phenylhydrazine-Induced Colon Cancer in Male Albino Rats: The miR-145 Expression of the PI-3K/ Akt/ p53 and Oct4/ Sox2/ Nanog Pathways. Molecules 2023; 28:5543. [PMID: 37513415 PMCID: PMC10383735 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145543] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, and its incidence is increasing. Despite advances in medical science, the treatment of colon cancer still poses a significant challenge. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of Adiantum pedatum (AP) extract and/or piceatannol on colon cancer induced via phenylhydrazine (PHZ) in terms of the antioxidant and apoptotic pathways and histopathologic changes in the colons of male albino rats. The rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control, AP extract, piceatannol (P), PHZ, PHZ and AP treatments, PHZ and P treatments, PHZ and both AP and P, and PHZ and prophylaxis with both AP and P. The results demonstrated that PHZ induced oxidative damage, apoptosis, and histopathological changes compared to the control group. However, the administration of AP or P or AP + P as therapy or prophylaxis significantly ameliorated these changes and upregulated the colonic mir-145 and mRNA expression of P53 and PDCD-4 while downregulating the colonic mRNA expression of PI3K, AKT, c-Myc, CK-20, SOX-2, OCT-4, and NanoG compared to the PHZ group. These findings suggest that the candidate drugs may exert their anti-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant and apoptotic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek Khamis
- Department of Pharmacology and Laboratory of Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | | | - Mansour H Zahra
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Samih Ebrahim El-Dahmy
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | | | - Adel Abdelkhalek
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A Said
- Zagazig University Hospital, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Hussein Abdellatif
- Department of Human and Clinical Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
- Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Liana Mihaela Fericean
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences, King Mihai I" from Timisoara [ULST], Aradului St. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ioan Banatean-Dunea
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences, King Mihai I" from Timisoara [ULST], Aradului St. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ahmed Hamed Arisha
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
- Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Mai S Attia
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
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2
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YÜCE M, GÜMÜŞKAPTAN Ç, ÇON AH, YAZICI F. Conjugated Linoleic Acid strengthens the apoptotic effect of low-dose cisplatin in A549 cells by inducing Bcl-2 downregulation. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2023; 166:106731. [PMID: 37001725 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2023.106731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
One of the chemotherapeutic agents widely used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is cisplatin. However, the resistance of cancer cells to cisplatin and additionally serious side effects from cisplatin limit its use. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to suppress the development of carcinogenesis in vitro and in vivo studies and has antitumoral activity in many cancers. The study aimed to investigate the potential effect of using cisplatin, the first-line treatment for NSCLC, in combination with CLA to increase its efficacy in low-dose use. MTT cytotoxicity assay was performed to determine the effects of CLA in combination with cisplatin on cell viability of NSCLC cell lines. The apoptotic effect of this combination on NSCLC cell lines and cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. At the same time, apoptosis and cell cycle-related gene expression levels were determined by Real-Time PCR. Combination treatment of low-dose cisplatin with CLA resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability compared to cisplatin alone, and an increase in the rate of apoptotic cells was observed. While cisplatin caused G1 phase arrest in cancer cells, there was an increase in cell percentages in S and G2 phases after combined application with CLA. In high-dose cisplatin administration, it was observed that the efficiency of the decrease in anti-apoptotic BCL2 expression related to resistance to chemotherapeutic agents was less than that of low-dose cisplatin administration. Combined administration of high-dose cisplatin with CLA significantly recovered BCL2 downregulation.
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3
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Pharmacological properties of indirubin and its derivatives. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 151:113112. [PMID: 35598366 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indirubin is the main bioactive component of the traditional Chinese medicine Indigo naturalis and is a bisindole alkaloid. Multiple studies have shown that indirubin exhibits good anticancer, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. METHODS The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the pharmacological mechanisms of indirubin and its derivatives. RESULTS Indirubin and its derivatives exert anticancer effects by regulating the expression of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), GSK-3β, Bax, Bcl-2, C-MYC, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathways and other signaling pathways. We also reviewed the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of indirubin and its derivatives. CONCLUSION The findings of recent studies assessing indirubin and its derivatives suggest that these compounds can be used as potential drugs to treat tumors, inflammation, neuropathy and bacterial infection.
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Park S, Nguyen T, Benoit E, Sackett DL, Garmendia-Cedillos M, Pursley R, Boccara C, Gandjbakhche A. Quantitative evaluation of the dynamic activity of HeLa cells in different viability states using dynamic full-field optical coherence microscopy. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:6431-6441. [PMID: 34745747 PMCID: PMC8548024 DOI: 10.1364/boe.436330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic full-field optical coherence microscopy (DFFOCM) was used to characterize the intracellular dynamic activities and cytoskeleton of HeLa cells in different viability states. HeLa cell samples were continuously monitored for 24 hours and compared with histological examination to confirm the cell viability states. The averaged mean frequency and magnitude observed in healthy cells were 4.79±0.5 Hz and 2.44±1.06, respectively. In dead cells, the averaged mean frequency was shifted to 8.57±0.71 Hz, whereas the magnitude was significantly decreased to 0.53±0.25. This cell dynamic activity analysis using DFFOCM is expected to replace conventional time-consuming and biopsies-required histological or biochemical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soongho Park
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Dr., Bethesda 20814, USA
| | - Thien Nguyen
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Dr., Bethesda 20814, USA
| | - Emilie Benoit
- LLTech SAS-Aquyre Biosciences, 58 Rue du Dessous des Berges, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Dan L. Sackett
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Dr., Bethesda 20814, USA
| | - Marcial Garmendia-Cedillos
- The Signal Processing and Instrumentation Section, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Dr., Bethesda 20814, USA
| | - Randall Pursley
- The Signal Processing and Instrumentation Section, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Dr., Bethesda 20814, USA
| | - Claude Boccara
- LLTech SAS-Aquyre Biosciences, 58 Rue du Dessous des Berges, 75013 Paris, France
- Institut Langevin, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, 1 rue Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Amir Gandjbakhche
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Dr., Bethesda 20814, USA
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Sargazi S, Abghari AZ, Sarani H, Sheervalilou R, Mirinejad S, Saravani R, Eskandari E. Relationship Between CASP9 and CASP10 Gene Polymorphisms and Cancer Susceptibility: Evidence from an Updated Meta-analysis. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2021; 193:4172-4196. [PMID: 34463927 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-021-03613-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Caspase-9 (CASP9) and caspase-10 (CASP10) polymorphisms were associated with human cancers; however, the results remain controversial. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to estimate the relationship among CASP9 (rs1052576, rs1052571, rs4645978, rs4645981, rs4645982, rs2308950) and CASP10 (rs13006529, rs13010627, rs3900115) polymorphisms and the overall risk of cancers. Relevant studies were obtained from Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar databases (updated January 1, 2021). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured to estimate the strength of association. Our meta-analysis included 40 studies. The rs4645981 significantly enhanced the risk of cancer under TT vs. CC (OR = 2.42), TC vs. CC (OR = 1.55), TT+ TC vs. CC (OR = 1.66), TT vs. TC + CC (OR = 1.91), and T vs. C (OR = 1.57) inheritance models. As for the rs1052571 variant, increased risk of cancer was observed under TT vs. CC (OR =1.22), TC vs. CC (OR = 1.17), and TT+ TC vs. CC (OR = 1.18) models. The stratified analysis showed a significant correlation between rs4645978 or rs4645981 polymorphisms and cancer risk, while in Asians rs4645978 conferred an increased risk of colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer. Both rs4645981 and rs1052576 polymorphisms were correlated with an enhanced risk of lung cancer. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggested that CASP9 rs4645981 and rs1052571 polymorphisms are associated with overall cancer risk. More studies on larger populations are warranted to validate these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saman Sargazi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
| | - Armin Zahedi Abghari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Hosna Sarani
- Children and Adolescent Health Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | | | - Shekoufeh Mirinejad
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Ramin Saravani
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Eskandari
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Gomez-Roca C, Delord JP, Even C, Basté N, Temam S, Le Tourneau C, Hoffmann C, Borcoman E, Sarini J, Vergez S, Rochaix P, Gavillet B, Rouits E, Ménétrey A, Brichory F, Purcea D, Vuagniaux G, Zanna C. Exploratory window-of-opportunity trial to investigate the tumor pharmacokinetcs/pharmacodynamics of the IAP antagonist Debio 1143 in patients with head and neck cancer. Clin Transl Sci 2021; 15:55-62. [PMID: 33742767 PMCID: PMC8742634 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) regulate apoptosis and modulate NF-κB signalling thereby driving expression of genes involved in immune/inflammatory responses. The orally available IAP antagonist Debio 1143 has potential to enhance tumor response to chemoradiotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Patients with pre-operative squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) received: Debio 1143 monotherapy (200 mg/day D1-15 +/-2); Debio 1143 (200 mg/day D1-15 +/-2) plus cisplatin (40 mg/m2 D-1 and 8); cisplatin alone (40 mg/m2 D-1 and 8) (EudraCT: 2014-004655-31). Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic effects were assessed in plasma and resected tumors. Primary endpoint; effect of Debio 1143 on cellular IAP-1 (cIAP-1). Levels of cIAP-1/-2, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) including CD8+ T cells, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and gene expression were also analyzed. Twenty-three of 26 patients completed treatment. In the Debio 1143 monotherapy cohort (n=13), mean tumor concentrations of Debio 1143 were 18-fold (maximum 55.2-fold) greater than in plasma, exceeding the IC50 for cIAPs and XIAP by 100 to 1000-fold, with significant engagement/degradation of cIAP-1 (p <0.05). Overall, levels of CD8+ TILs, PD-1 and PD-L1 positive immune cells increased significantly (p <0.05) following Debio 1143 treatment. Changes were observed in the expression of genes related to NF-κB signalling. Treatments were well tolerated. Debio 1143 penetrated SCCHN tumors, engaged cIAP-1 and induced immune inflammatory changes in the tumor microenvironment. Based on the mode of action demonstrated here and in previous studies, these data support future combinations of Debio 1143 with immune-checkpoint agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gomez-Roca
- Clinical Research Unit, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Delord
- Clinical Research Unit, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, France
| | | | - Neus Basté
- Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Christophe Le Tourneau
- Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), Institut Curie, Paris & Saint-Cloud, France
| | - Caroline Hoffmann
- Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), Institut Curie, Paris & Saint-Cloud, France
| | - Edith Borcoman
- Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), Institut Curie, Paris & Saint-Cloud, France
| | - Jérôme Sarini
- Surgery Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, France
| | - Sébastien Vergez
- Surgery Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, France
| | - Philippe Rochaix
- Pathology Department, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, France
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Zhao Y, Ye D, Luo Q, Li J, Liu J. Pterostilbene Inhibits Human Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells Growth and Induces DNA Damage. Biol Pharm Bull 2020; 43:258-265. [PMID: 32009115 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pterostilbene (PTE) has inhibitory effect on a wide array of tumors. However, the therapeutic potential of PTE in renal cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms have not been evaluated. In this study, the aim is to demonstrate the growth inhibitory and the underlying mechanisms of PTE on human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells in vitro. By cell viability, cell morphology and colony formation assays, we found that PTE significantly suppressed the proliferation of RCC cells, while had little toxicity to the normal renal cell line HK-2. Flow cytometry assay revealed that PTE potently induced the apoptosis of RCC cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was also testified by up-regulation of the pro-apoptosis-related protein (Cyto C, Bad, Bak, Bax, Cleaved-caspase 3, Cleaved-caspase 9, Cleaved-poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP)) and down-regulation of the anti-apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2. Moreover, cell cycle being arrested in S phase and down-regulation of p-Akt and p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 were observed following treatment with PTE in RCC cells, indicating that PTE exerted remarkable anti-tumor activity in RCC cells possibly via cell cycle arrest and inactivation of Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Immunofluorescence analysis of γH2AX and detecting the expression levels of γH2AX, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Rad51 by Western blot showed that PTE induced the DNA damages response in RCC cells. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that PTE was a potential preventive and therapeutic agent for human renal cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwan Zhao
- Laboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University
| | - Dongcai Ye
- Laboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University
| | - Qiuming Luo
- Laboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University
| | - Jianwei Li
- Laboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Laboratory of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University
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8
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Debio 1143 and high-dose cisplatin chemoradiotherapy in high-risk locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a double-blind, multicentre, randomised, phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol 2020; 21:1173-1187. [PMID: 32758455 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(20)30327-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Debio 1143 is an orally available antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins with the potential to enhance the antitumour activity of cisplatin and radiotherapy. The radiosensitising effect of Debio 1143 is mediated through caspase activation and TNF, IFNγ, CD8 T cell-dependent pathways. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Debio 1143 in combination with standard chemoradiotherapy in patients with high-risk locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS This double-blind, multicentre, randomised, phase 2 study by the French Head and Neck Radiotherapy Oncology Group (GORTEC) was run at 19 hospitals in France and Switzerland. Eligible patients were aged 18-75 years with locoregionally advanced, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (characterised as non-metastatic, measurable stage III, IVa, or IVb [limited to T ≥2, N0-3, and M0] disease), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, a history of heavy tobacco smoking (>10 pack-years) with no previous or current treatment for invasive head and neck cancer, and no previous treatment with inhibitor of apoptosis protein antagonists. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive oral Debio 1143 (200 mg per day on days 1-14 of 21-day cycles, for three cycles) or oral placebo (20 mg/mL, administered at the same dosing schedule) using a stochastic minimisation technique according to node involvement and primary tumour site, and HPV-16 status in patients with an oropharyngeal primary tumour site. All patients received standard high-dose cisplatin chemoradiotherapy. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with locoregional control 18 months after chemoradiotherapy, analysed in the intention-to-treat population (primary analysis), and repeated in the per-protocol population. Responses were assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02022098, and is still active but not recruiting. FINDINGS Between Jan 25, 2016, and April 24, 2017, 48 patients were randomly assigned to the Debio 1143 group and 48 to the placebo group (one patient in the placebo group did not receive the study drug and was not included in the safety analysis). Median duration of follow-up was 25·0 months (IQR 19·6-29·4) in the Debio 1143 group and 24·2 months (6·6-26·8) in the placebo group. Locoregional control 18 months after chemoradiotherapy was achieved in 26 (54%; 95% CI 39-69) of 48 patients in the Debio 1143 group versus 16 (33%; 20-48) of 48 patients in the placebo group (odds ratio 2·69 [95% CI 1·13-6·42], p=0·026). Grade 3 or worse adverse events were reported in 41 (85%) of 48 patients in the Debio 1143 group and in 41 (87%) of 47 patients in the placebo group. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were dysphagia (in 24 [50%] patients in the Debio 1143 group vs ten [21%] in the placebo group), mucositis (in 15 [31%] vs ten [21%]), and anaemia (in 17 [35%] vs 11 [23%]). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events were recorded in 30 (63%) of 48 patients in the Debio 1143 group and 28 (60%) of 47 in the placebo group. In the placebo group, two (4%) deaths were due to adverse events (one multiple organ failure and one asphyxia; neither was considered to be related to treatment). No deaths due to adverse events occurred in the Debio 1143 group. INTERPRETATION To our knowledge, this is the first treatment regimen to achieve superior efficacy in this disease setting against a high-dose cisplatin chemoradiotherapy comparator in a randomised trial. These findings suggest that inhibition of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins is a novel and promising approach in this poor prognostic population and warrant confirmation in a phase 3 study with the aim of expanding the therapeutic options for these patients. FUNDING Debiopharm.
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Ruan H, Leibowitz BJ, Zhang L, Yu J. Immunogenic cell death in colon cancer prevention and therapy. Mol Carcinog 2020; 59:783-793. [PMID: 32215970 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The colonic mucosa constitutes a critical barrier and a major site of immune regulation. The immune system plays important roles in cancer development and treatment, and immune activation caused by chronic infection or inflammation is well-known to increase cancer risk. During tumor development, neoplastic cells continuously interact with and shape the tumor microenvironment (TME), which becomes progressively immunosuppressive. The clinical success of immune checkpoint blockade therapies is limited to a small set of CRCs with high tumor mutational load and tumor-infiltrating T cells. Induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD), a type of cell death eliciting an immune response, can therefore help break the immunosuppressive TME, engage the innate components, and prime T cell-mediated adaptive immunity for long-term tumor control. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of ICD induced by antineoplastic agents, the influence of driver mutations, and recent developments to harness ICD in colon cancer. Mechanism-guided combinations of ICD-inducing agents with immunotherapy and actionable biomarkers will likely offer more tailored and durable benefits to patients with colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Ruan
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian J Leibowitz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lin Zhang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Chemical Biology and Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jian Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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10
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Li Y, Zhang L, Shan Y, Jia C, Xu Y. CDK4/6 inhibitor protects chemerin-induced human granulosa-lutein cells from apoptosis by inhibiting the p53/p21 waf pathway. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:1561-1568. [PMID: 31339188 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23241] [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: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the cell cycle is common in human tumorigenesis. Therefore, CDK4/6 inhibitors targeting the cell cycle have been developed, and their antiapoptotic effects have been highly correlated with potential clinical therapies. The aim of this study was to identify the regulatory effect of the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib on chemerin-induced apoptosis of immortalized human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells and to elucidate its fundamental mechanism of action. Palbociclib enhanced antioxidative enzyme generation and diminished ROS generation in hGL cells. Furthermore, we found that palbociclib suppressed chemerin-induced apoptotic protein expression, reversing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibiting the p53/p21 waf pathway. Eventually, palbociclib decreased the level of cleaved caspase-3 and -9, hindering the apoptosis of hGL cells. In general, the antiapoptotic efficacy of palbociclib could be attributed in part to the modulation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in hGL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Neonatology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Department of Ultrasonography, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanhong Shan
- Department of Obstetrics, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chunshu Jia
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Centre for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Nephrology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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11
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Guo SS, Wang Y, Fan QX. Raddeanin A promotes apoptosis and ameliorates 5-fluorouracil resistance in cholangiocarcinoma cells. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:3380-3391. [PMID: 31341363 PMCID: PMC6639556 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i26.3380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bile duct cancer is characterized by fast metastasis and invasion and has been regarded as one of the most aggressive tumors due to the absence of effective diagnosis at an early stage. Therefore, it is in the urgent demand to explore novel diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies for bile duct cancer to improve patient survival. Raddeanin A (RA) is extracted from the anemone raddeana regel and has been demonstrated to play antitumor roles in various cancers.
AIM To investigate the effects of RA treatment on bile duct cancer cells.
METHODS In this study, four cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (RBE, LIPF155C, LIPF178C, and LICCF) treated with RA were used to test the cell viability. The RA-associated cell functional analysis, 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) effectiveness as well as cell cycle- and apoptosis-related protein expression were investigated.
RESULTS RA reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent pattern in four cell lines, and the migration and colony formation abilities were also impaired by RA in RBE and LIPF155C cell lines. RA sensitized cell lines to 5-Fu treatment and enhanced the effects of 5-Fu in cholangiocarcinoma. Also, RA decreased protein expression of Wee1, while the combinational effect of RA and 5-Fu decreased protein expressions of cyclooxygenase-2, B cell lymphoma 2, and Wee1 but increased protein levels of Bax, cyclin D1, and cyclin E.
CONCLUSION Taken together, the results suggest that RA acts as an anti-cancer agent and enhancer of 5-Fu in bile duct cancer cells via regulating multiple cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins. This finding provides novel clues to exploring a novel antitumor drug for bile duct cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Shuang Guo
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan Province, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, Henan Province, China
| | - Qing-Xia Fan
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
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12
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Fegan C, Pepper C. Is venetoclax a new wonder drug in CLL? Br J Haematol 2019; 185:643-646. [PMID: 30859555 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.15836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Fegan
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Chris Pepper
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PX, UK
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13
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Sun L, Yang S, Chi G, Jin X. Hsp90 inhibitor NMS-E973 exerts the anticancer effect against glioblastoma via induction of PUMA-mediated apoptosis. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:1583-1593. [PMID: 29593424 PMCID: PMC5865573 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s160813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and common malignancies of the central nervous system in humans. Owing to the correlation of high Hsp90 expression with prognosis and clinical pathology features of diverse types of cancer, targeting Hsp90 with small-molecule inhibitors has become a promising anticancer strategy. Purpose In this study, we aimed to explore the possibility of anticancer effect of NMS-E973 in giloblastoma and elucidate the mechanism. Methods Cell based MTT assay and colony formation assay were used to detect cell viability. Apoptosis was analyzed by nuclear staining with Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V/propidium iodide staining followed by flow cytometry. Western-blot and RT-PCR were used to detect gene expression. Xenograft assay was used to explore the anticancer effect of NMS-E973 in vivo. Results We found that NMS-E973 induces apoptosis and inhibits cell growth in glioblastoma cells in cell culture and xenograft models. As a proapoptotic Bcl-2 member, PUMA was induced by NMS-E973 in a p53-dependent manner in glioblastoma in cell culture, thereby inducing apoptosis in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, PUMA was induced by NMS-E973 treatment in xenograft tumors, and deficiency in PUMA significantly suppressed the antitumor effects of NMS-E973. Conclusion Our study suggests that PUMA-mediated apoptosis is important for the therapeutic responses of NMS-E973. Induction of PUMA might be a potential biomarker for predicting NMS-E973 responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libo Sun
- First Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changhun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Shoujun Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changhun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Guonan Chi
- First Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changhun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingyi Jin
- First Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changhun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
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14
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Abstract
Neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic malignancy is receiving considerable attention; this occurs commonly as a “focal” histological variant and, most rarely, in the form of small cell carcinoma (“oat cell carcinoma”) and carcinoid tumor. In prostate cancer, neuroendocrine differentiation may be the response to androgen deprivation and neuroendocrine products, either biogenic amines or peptides, have been shown to stimulate proliferation of androgen-ablation refractory cancer cells. Serum chromogranins, neuron-specific enolase and other neuroendocrine products as well as 111-In-chromogranin A “three step” immunoscintigraphy and somatostatin-receptor scintigraphy may be useful for predicting tumor behaviour and patient prognosis. Several of the neuroendocrine products, particularly somatostatin analogues, are candidates for new therapeutic approaches. The paper aims to outline the advances in this field on the basis of the review of the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Alberti
- I Clinica Urologica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino
| | - A. Tizzani
- I Clinica Urologica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino
| | - A. Greco
- I Clinica Urologica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino
| | - M. Piovano
- I Clinica Urologica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino
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15
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Brands RC, Scheurer MJJ, Hartmann S, Seher A, Kübler AC, Müller-Richter UDA. Apoptosis-sensitizing activity of birinapant in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:4010-4016. [PMID: 29467909 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.7783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, which are overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), may cause therapeutic resistance. Using SMAC mimetic compounds, including birinapant, to degrade and/or inhibit these proteins and sensitize apoptosis may enhance therapies in HNSCC. Fas expression was analyzed in nine HNSCC cell lines and one keratinocyte cell line via flow cytometry. These cell lines were treated with Fas ligand-Fc (FasL) and birinapant, a bivalent SMAC mimetic, in mono and combination therapies. Cytotoxicity was measured using a crystal violet assay. Annexin V assay was performed for detection of apoptosis. The treatment efficacy of mono and combination therapies was statistically analyzed. Nonlinear regression analysis was performed to determine the inhibitory concentration (IC10) of birinapant. Fas expression was detected in each cell line tested. Mono treatment with FasL revealed minor to no apoptotic effects in the majority of the cell lines. Crystal violet and Annexin V staining revealed increased apoptosis rates for all cell lines following incubation with birinapant in mono treatment. Combination treatment with FasL and birinapant (IC10) revealed additional and synergistic effects in eight out of the ten cell lines. To the best of our knowledge, the present study provided the first evidence of the apoptosis-sensitizing activity of combination treatment with FasL and birinapant in HNSCC cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman C Brands
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mario J J Scheurer
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Hartmann
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Axel Seher
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander C Kübler
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Urs D A Müller-Richter
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
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16
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Yang J, Zhao X, Tang M, Li L, Lei Y, Cheng P, Guo W, Zheng Y, Wang W, Luo N, Peng Y, Tong A, Wei Y, Nie C, Yuan Z. The role of ROS and subsequent DNA-damage response in PUMA-induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:23492-23506. [PMID: 28423586 PMCID: PMC5410321 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PUMA is a member of the "BH3-only" branch of the BCL-2 family. Our previous study suggests a therapeutic potential of PUMA in treating ovarian cancer, however, the action mechanism of PUMA remains elusive. In this work, we found that in PUMA adenovirus-infected A2780s ovarian cancer cells, exogenous PUMA was partially accumulated in the cytosol and mainly located to the mitochondria. We further showed that PUMA induces mitochondrial dysfunction-mediated apoptosis and ROS generation through functional BAX in a ROS generating enzyme- and caspase-independent manner irrespective of their p53 status, and results in activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Furthermore, PUMA induces DNA breaks in γ-H2AX staining, and causes activation of DNA damage-related kinases including ATM, ATR, DNA-PKcs, Chk1 and Chk2, which are correlated with the apoptosis. PUMA also results in ROS-triggered JNK activation. Intriguingly, JNK plays a dual role in both DNA damage response and apoptosis, and has an additional contribution to apoptosis. Taken together, we have provided new insight into the action mechanism by which elevated PUMA first induces ROS generation then results in DNA damage response and JNK activation, ultimately contributing to apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Mei Tang
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lei Li
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Lei
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ping Cheng
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wenhao Guo
- 2 Department of Abdominal Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yu Zheng
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wei Wang
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Na Luo
- 3 Nankai University, School of Medicine/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yong Peng
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Aiping Tong
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chunlai Nie
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhu Yuan
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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17
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Li X, Li M, Ruan H, Qiu W, Xu X, Zhang L, Yu J. Co-targeting translation and proteasome rapidly kills colon cancer cells with mutant RAS/RAF via ER stress. Oncotarget 2017; 8:9280-9292. [PMID: 28030835 PMCID: PMC5354731 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancers with mutant RAS/RAF are therapy refractory. Deregulated mRNA translation has become an emerging target in cancer treatment. We recently reported that mTOR inhibitors induce apoptosis via ER stress and the extrinsic pathway upon acute inhibition of the eIF4F complex in colon cancer cells and xenografts, while mutant BRAF600E leads to therapeutic resistance via ERK-mediated Mcl-1 stabilization. In this study, we demonstrated that several other translation inhibitors also activate ER stress and the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Co-targeting translation and proteasome using the combination of Episilvestrol and Bortezomib promoted strong ER stress and rapid killing of colon cancer cells with mutant RAS/RAF in culture and mice. This combination led to marked induction of ER stress and ATF4/CHOP, followed by DR5- and BAX-dependent apoptosis, but unexpectedly with maintained or even increased levels of prosurvival factors such as p-AKT, p-4E-BP1, Mcl-1, and eiF4E targets c-Myc and Bcl-xL. Our study supports that targeting deregulated proteostasis is a promising approach for treating advanced colon cancer via induction of destructive ER stress that overcomes multiple resistance mechanisms associated with translation inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyun Li
- First department, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Research Institute of Surgery and Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Daping, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing 400042, P.R. China
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang, Nanjing 210095, P.R. China
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Hang Ruan
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Wei Qiu
- First department, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Research Institute of Surgery and Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Daping, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing 400042, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Xu
- First department, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Research Institute of Surgery and Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Daping, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing 400042, P.R. China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jian Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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18
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Li C, Yan Z, Cao X, Zhang X, Yang L. Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Synthetase 1 Knockdown Suppresses Tumor Formation of Glioma CD133+ Cells Through Upregulating Cell Apoptosis. J Mol Neurosci 2016; 60:145-56. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-016-0783-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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19
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Benard A, Janssen CM, van den Elsen PJ, van Eggermond MCJA, Hoon DSB, van de Velde CJH, Kuppen PJK. Chromatin status of apoptosis genes correlates with sensitivity to chemo-, immune- and radiation therapy in colorectal cancer cell lines. Apoptosis 2015; 19:1769-78. [PMID: 25292014 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-014-1042-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The apoptosis pathway of programmed cell death is frequently deregulated in cancer. An intact apoptosis pathway is required for proper response to anti-cancer treatment. We investigated the chromatin status of key apoptosis genes in the apoptosis pathway in colorectal cancer cell lines in relation to apoptosis induced by chemo-, immune- or radiation therapy. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), we measured the presence of transcription-activating histone modifications H3Ac and H3K4me3 and silencing modifications H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 at the gene promoter regions of key apoptosis genes Bax, Bcl2, Caspase-9, Fas (CD95) and p53. Cell lines DLD1, SW620, Colo320, Caco2, Lovo and HT29 were treated with cisplatin, anti-Fas or radiation. The apoptotic response was measured by flow cytometry using propidium iodide and annexin V-FITC. The chromatin status of the apoptosis genes reflected the activation status of the intrinsic (Bax, Bcl2, Caspase-9 and p53) and extrinsic (Fas) pathways. An active intrinsic apoptotic pathway corresponded to sensitivity to cisplatin and radiation treatment of cell lines DLD1, SW620 and Colo320. An active Fas promoter corresponded to an active extrinsic apoptotic pathway in cell line DLD1. mRNA expression data correlated with the chromatin status of the apoptosis genes as measured by ChIP. In conclusion, the results presented in this study indicate that the balance between activating and silencing histone modifications, reflecting the chromatin status of apoptosis genes, can be used to predict the response of tumor cells to different anti-cancer therapies and could provide a novel target to sensitize tumors to obtain adequate treatment responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Benard
- Department of Surgery, K6-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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20
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Benard A, Zeestraten ECM, Goossens-Beumer IJ, Putter H, van de Velde CJH, Hoon DSB, Kuppen PJK. DNA methylation of apoptosis genes in rectal cancer predicts patient survival and tumor recurrence. Apoptosis 2015; 19:1581-93. [PMID: 25064172 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-014-1022-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of the apoptotic pathway, one of the hallmarks of tumor growth and -progression, has been shown to have prognostic value for tumor recurrence in rectal cancer. In order to develop clinically relevant biomarkers, we studied the methylation status of promoter regions of key apoptosis genes in rectal cancer patients, using methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes. DNA was extracted from fresh-frozen tumor tissues of 49 stage I-III rectal cancer patients and 10 normal rectal tissues. The results of this pilot study were validated in 88 stage III tumor tissues and 18 normal rectal tissues. We found that methylation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway genes Apaf1, Bcl2 and p53 correlated with the apoptotic status (M30) of the tumor. Combined survival analyses of these three genes, based on the number of genes showing high methylation (all low, 1 high, 2 high or all high), showed shorter patient survival and recurrence-free periods with an increasing number of methylated markers. Multivariate analyses showed significant differences for overall survival (p = 0.01; HR = 0.28 (0.09-0.83)), cancer-specific survival (p = 0.004; HR = 0.13 (0.03-0.67)) and distant recurrence-free survival (p = 0.001; HR = 0.22(0.05-0.94)). The shortest survival was observed for patients showing low methylation of all markers, which-as was expected-correlated with high apoptosis (M30), but also with high proliferation (Ki-67). The study of epigenetic regulation of apoptosis genes provides more insight in the tumorigenic process in rectal cancer and might be helpful in further refining treatment regimens for individual patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Benard
- Department of Surgery, K6-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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21
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Yuan Z, Guo W, Yang J, Li L, Wang M, Lei Y, Wan Y, Zhao X, Luo N, Cheng P, Liu X, Nie C, Peng Y, Tong A, Wei Y. PNAS-4, an Early DNA Damage Response Gene, Induces S Phase Arrest and Apoptosis by Activating Checkpoint Kinases in Lung Cancer Cells. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:14927-44. [PMID: 25918161 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.658419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PNAS-4, a novel pro-apoptotic gene, was activated during the early response to DNA damage. Our previous study has shown that PNAS-4 induces S phase arrest and apoptosis when overexpressed in A549 lung cancer cells. However, the underlying action mechanism remains far from clear. In this work, we found that PNAS-4 expression in lung tumor tissues is significantly lower than that in adjacent lung tissues; its expression is significantly increased in A549 cells after exposure to cisplatin, methyl methane sulfonate, and mitomycin; and its overexpression induces S phase arrest and apoptosis in A549 (p53 WT), NCI-H460 (p53 WT), H526 (p53 mutation), and Calu-1 (p53(-/-)) lung cancer cells, leading to proliferation inhibition irrespective of their p53 status. The S phase arrest is associated with up-regulation of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and inhibition of the Cdc25A-CDK2-cyclin E/A pathway. Up-regulation of p21(Waf1/Cip1) is p53-independent and correlates with activation of ERK. We further showed that the intra-S phase checkpoint, which occurs via DNA-dependent protein kinase-mediated activation of Chk1 and Chk2, is involved in the S phase arrest and apoptosis. Gene silencing of Chk1/2 rescues, whereas that of ATM or ATR does not affect, S phase arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, human PNAS-4 induces DNA breaks in comet assays and γ-H2AX staining. Intriguingly, caspase-dependent cleavage of Chk1 has an additional role in enhancing apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggest a novel mechanism by which elevated PNAS-4 first causes DNA-dependent protein kinase-mediated Chk1/2 activation and then results in inhibition of the Cdc25A-CDK2-cyclin E/A pathway, ultimately causing S phase arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Yuan
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China,
| | - Wenhao Guo
- the Department of Abdominal Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Road, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China, and
| | - Jun Yang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lei Li
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Meiliang Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Lei
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yang Wan
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Na Luo
- the Nankai University School of Medicine/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Ping Cheng
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chunlai Nie
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yong Peng
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Aiping Tong
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China,
| | - Yuquan Wei
- From the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 17 People's South Road, Chengdu 610041, China
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22
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Brown MF, Leibowitz BJ, Chen D, He K, Zou F, Sobol RW, Beer-Stolz D, Zhang L, Yu J. Loss of caspase-3 sensitizes colon cancer cells to genotoxic stress via RIP1-dependent necrosis. Cell Death Dis 2015; 6:e1729. [PMID: 25906152 PMCID: PMC4650537 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Caspase-3 is the best known executioner caspase in apoptosis. We generated caspase-3 knockout (C3KO) and knockdown human colorectal cancer cells, and found that they are unexpectedly sensitized to DNA-damaging agents including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), etoposide, and camptothecin. C3KO xenograft tumors also displayed enhanced therapeutic response and cell death to 5-FU. C3KO cells showed intact apoptosis and activation of caspase-7 and -9, impaired processing of caspase-8, and induction of necrosis in response to DNA-damaging agents. This form of necrosis is associated with HMGB1 release and ROS production, and suppressed by genetic or pharmacological inhibition of RIP1, MLKL1, or caspase-8, but not inhibitors of pan-caspases or RIP3. 5-FU treatment led to the formation of a z-VAD-resistant pro-caspase-8/RIP1/FADD complex, which was strongly stabilized by caspase-3 KO. These data demonstrate a key role of caspase-3 in caspase-8 processing and suppression of DNA damage-induced necrosis, and provide a potentially novel way to chemosensitize cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Brown
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - B J Leibowitz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - D Chen
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - K He
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - F Zou
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - R W Sobol
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - D Beer-Stolz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - L Zhang
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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23
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Xiang Q, Ma Y, Dong J, Shen R. Carnosic acid induces apoptosis associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and Akt inactivation in HepG2 cells. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2014; 66:76-84. [PMID: 25265205 DOI: 10.3109/09637486.2014.953452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Carnosic acid (CA), a phenolic diterpene isolated from rosemary, shows potential benefits in health promotion and disease prevention. In the present study, the cytotoxic and apoptotic-inducing effects of CA on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were investigated. The MTT assay results indicated that CA decreased cell viability in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with CA caused a rapid Caspase-3 activation and subsequently proteolytic cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), both of which were markers of cells undergoing apoptosis. CA also dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein, which mediated cytosolic translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Furthermore, CA reduced the phosphorylation of Akt, which was partially inhibited by insulin, an activator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signalling pathway. In conclusion, our data suggest that the mitochondrial dysfunction and deactivation of Akt may contribute to the apoptosis-inducing effects of CA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qisen Xiang
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry , Zhengzhou , China
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24
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Zhang L, Yu J. Role of apoptosis in colon cancer biology, therapy, and prevention. CURRENT COLORECTAL CANCER REPORTS 2013; 9:10.1007/s11888-013-0188-z. [PMID: 24273467 PMCID: PMC3836193 DOI: 10.1007/s11888-013-0188-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of apoptosis is a hallmark of human cancer and contributes to therapeutic resistance. Recent advances in cancer genomics reveal a myriad of alterations in key pathways that directly or indirectly increase tumor cell survival. This review will outline the pathways of apoptosis in mammalian cells, and highlight the common alterations of apoptosis regulators found in colon cancer, the role of apoptosis and underlying mechanisms in colon cancer treatment and prevention, including recent advances on investigational agents, such as kinase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, HSP90 inhibitors, BH3 mimetics, TRAIL, and IAP antagonists. Topics will also include novel concepts, as well as opportunities and challenges for drug discovery and combination therapy by exploring cancer-specific genetic defects, and therefore selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Although the emphasis is on colon cancer, the main theme and many of the aspects are applicable to other solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Pittsburgh, PA, 15213
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213
| | - Jian Yu
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Pittsburgh, PA, 15213
- Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213
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25
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He K, Zheng X, Zhang L, Yu J. Hsp90 inhibitors promote p53-dependent apoptosis through PUMA and Bax. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:2559-68. [PMID: 23966620 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hsp90 is widely overexpressed in cancer cells and believed to be essential for the maintenance of malignant phenotypes. Targeting Hsp90 by small molecules has shown promise in solid and hematologic malignancies, which likely involves degradation of client oncoproteins in a cell-type-specific manner. In this study, we found that structurally unrelated Hsp90 inhibitors induce DNA damage and apoptosis via p53-dependent induction of PUMA, which indirectly triggers Bax activation and mitochondrial dysfunction in colon cancer cells. Deficiency in PUMA, BAX, or p53, at lesser extent, abrogated 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG)-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction, and enhanced clonogenic cell survival. Furthermore, suppression of p53-dependent p21 induction or enhanced p53 activation synergized with 17-AAG to induce PUMA-dependent apoptosis. Finally, PUMA was found to mediate apoptotic and therapeutic responses to the 17-AAG analog 17-DMAG in xenografts. These results show an important role of the p53/PUMA/Bax axis in Hsp90 inhibitor-induced killing of p53 wild-type cells, and have important implications for their clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kan He
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Xingnan Zheng
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jian Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute 5117 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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26
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Zheng X, He K, Zhang L, Yu J. Crizotinib induces PUMA-dependent apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:777-86. [PMID: 23427294 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-1146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic alterations in MET or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) have been identified in a variety of human cancers. Crizotinib (PF02341066) is a dual MET and ALK inhibitor and approved for the treatment of a subset of non-small cell lung carcinoma and in clinical development for other malignancies. Crizotinib can induce apoptosis in cancer cells, whereas the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we found that crizotinib induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells through the BH3-only protein PUMA. In cells with wild-type p53, crizotinib induces rapid induction of PUMA and Bim accompanied by p53 stabilization and DNA damage response. The induction of PUMA and Bim is mediated largely by p53, and deficiency in PUMA or p53, but not Bim, blocks crizotinib-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, MET knockdown led to selective induction of PUMA, but not Bim or p53. Crizotinib also induced PUMA-dependent apoptosis in p53-deficient colon cancer cells and synergized with gefitinib or sorafenib to induce marked apoptosis via PUMA in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, PUMA deficiency suppressed apoptosis and therapeutic responses to crizotinib in xenograft models. These results establish a critical role of PUMA in mediating apoptotic responses of colon cancer cells to crizotinib and suggest that mechanisms of oncogenic addiction to MET/ALK-mediated survival may be cell type-specific. These findings have important implications for future clinical development of crizotinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingnan Zheng
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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27
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hPNAS-4 inhibits proliferation through S phase arrest and apoptosis: underlying action mechanism in ovarian cancer cells. Apoptosis 2013; 18:467-79. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-012-0797-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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28
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Abstract
The description of apoptosis and the identification of the genes that regulate it have proved pivotal to our understanding of how cancer cells accumulate and ultimately cause morbidity and mortality. It has become increasingly clear that in CLL the balance between the pro- and anti-apoptotic members of the BCL2 family of apoptotic regulatory proteins is critical in the development and clinical progression of CLL. Furthermore, the apoptotic potential of the CLL cell determines chemotherapy sensitivity and ultimately progression-free and overall survival. The unravelling of the BCL2 story in CLL has led to the development of a whole new class of therapeutic agents-the BH3 mimetics-which are significantly more targeted than conventional chemo-immunotherapy and therefore promise potent clinical activity coupled with reduced toxicity.
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29
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Taurine Enhances Anticancer Activity of Cisplatin in Human Cervical Cancer Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2013; 776:189-98. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6093-0_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Qiu W, Liu H, Sebastini A, Sun Q, Wang H, Zhang L, Yu J. An apoptosis-independent role of SMAC in tumor suppression. Oncogene 2012; 32:2380-9. [PMID: 22751125 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Reduced expression of the pro-apoptotic protein SMAC (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase) has been reported to correlate with cancer progression, while its significance and underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of SMAC in intestinal tumorigenesis using both human samples and animal models. Decreased SMAC expression was found to correlate with increased cIAP2 expression and higher grades of human colon cancer. In mice, SMAC deficiency significantly increased the incidence and size of colon tumors induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS), and highly enriched β-catenin hot spot mutations. SMAC deficiency also significantly increased the incidence of spontaneous intestinal polyps in APC(Min/+) mice. Loss of SMAC in mice led to elevated levels of cIAP1 and cIAP2, increased proliferation and activation of the NF-κB p65 subunit in normal and tumor tissues. Unexpectedly, SMAC deficiency had little effect on the incidence of precursor lesions, or apoptosis induced by AOM or DSS, or in established tumors in mice. Furthermore, SMAC knockout enhanced TNFα-mediated NF-κB activation via cIAP2 in HCT 116 colon cancer cells. These results demonstrate an essential and apoptosis-independent function of SMAC in tumor suppression and provide new insights into the biology and targeting of colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Qiu
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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31
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Mamede AC, Carvalho MJ, Abrantes AM, Laranjo M, Maia CJ, Botelho MF. Amniotic membrane: from structure and functions to clinical applications. Cell Tissue Res 2012; 349:447-58. [PMID: 22592624 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-012-1424-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amniotic membrane (AM) or amnion is a thin membrane on the inner side of the fetal placenta; it completely surrounds the embryo and delimits the amniotic cavity, which is filled by amniotic liquid. In recent years, the structure and function of the amnion have been investigated, particularly the pluripotent properties of AM cells, which are an attractive source for tissue transplantation. AM has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and immunological characteristics, as well as anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic features. AM is a promoter of epithelialization and is a non-tumorigenic tissue and its use has no ethical problems. Because of its attractive properties, AM has been applied in several surgical procedures related to ocular surface reconstruction and the genito-urinary tract, skin, head and neck, among others. So far, the best known and most auspicious applications of AM are ocular surface reconstruction, skin applications and tissue engineering. However, AM can also be applied in oncology. In this area, AM can prevent the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cancer cells and consequently interfere with tumour angiogenesis, growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Mamede
- Biophysics Unit, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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32
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Lin C, Zhao XY, Li L, Liu HY, Cao K, Wan Y, Liu XY, Nie CL, Liu L, Tong AP, Deng HX, Li J, Yuan Z, Wei YQ. NOXA-induced alterations in the Bax/Smac axis enhance sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36722. [PMID: 22590594 PMCID: PMC3348888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of death from gynecologic malignancy. Deregulation of p53 and/or p73-associated apoptotic pathways contribute to the platinum-based resistance in ovarian cancer. NOXA, a pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein, is identified as a transcription target of p53 and/or p73. In this study, we found that genetic variants of Bcl-2 proteins exist among cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer cells, and the responses of NOXA and Bax to cisplatin are regulated mainly by p53. We further evaluated the effect of NOXA on cisplatin. NOXA induced apoptosis and sensitized A2780s and SKOV3 cells to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. The effects were mediated by elevated Bax expression, enhanced caspase activation, release of Cyt C and Smac into the cytosol. Furthermore, gene silencing of Bax or Smac significantly attenuated NOXA and/or cisplatin-induced apoptosis in chemosensitive A2780s cells, whereas overexpression of Bax or addition of Smac-N7 peptide significantly increased NOXA and/or cisplatin-induced apoptosis in chemoresistant SKOV3 cells. To our knowledge, these data suggest a new mechanism by which NOXA chemosensitized ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin by inducing alterations in the Bax/Smac axis. Taken together, our findings show that NOXA is potentially useful as a chemosensitizer in ovarian cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin-yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Huan-yi Liu
- Cancer Center, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Kang Cao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin-yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Chun-lai Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
- * E-mail: (ZY); (CN)
| | - Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Ai-ping Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong-xin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
- * E-mail: (ZY); (CN)
| | - Yu-quan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, High Technological Development Zone, Chengdu, China
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Sun J, Sun Q, Brown MF, Dudgeon C, Chandler J, Xu X, Shu Y, Zhang L, Yu J. The multi-targeted kinase inhibitor sunitinib induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells via PUMA. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43158. [PMID: 22912816 PMCID: PMC3422222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Constitutive activation of pro-survival kinases has become a promising target of small molecules with an increasing interest in developing multi-targeted agents. The mechanisms underlying the responsiveness to most agents targeting cancer specific survival pathways are still poorly understood but critical for their clinical application. In this study, we found that sunitinib, a small molecule inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases including VEGFRs and PDGFRs induces apoptosis and inhibits cell growth in colon cancer cells in cell culture and xenograft models via the BH3-only protein PUMA. Sunitinib treatment induced PUMA transcription via the AKT/FoxO3a axis. PUMA, BH3 mimetics, or 5-Flurourical sensitized colon cancer cells to sunitinib-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, PUMA was induced by sunitinib treatment in xenograft tumors, and deficiency in PUMA significantly suppressed the anti-tumor effects of sunitinib. Our study suggests that PUMA-mediated apoptosis is important for the therapeutic responses to sunitinib, and activation of the mitochondrial pathway by BH3 mimetics or PUMA manipulation may be useful for improving the antitumor activity of sunitinib. Modulation of PUMA and selective Bcl-2 family members might be potential biomarkers for predicting sunitinib responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Sun
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Departments of Pathology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Quanhong Sun
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Departments of Pathology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew F. Brown
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Departments of Pathology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Crissy Dudgeon
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Departments of Pathology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Julie Chandler
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Departments of Pathology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Xiang Xu
- Research Institute of Surgery and Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongqian Shu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Zhang
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Departments of Pathology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jian Yu
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Departments of Pathology, and Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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34
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Li J, Zhu F, Lubet RA, De Luca A, Grubbs C, Ericson ME, D'Alessio A, Normanno N, Dong Z, Bode AM. Quercetin-3-methyl ether inhibits lapatinib-sensitive and -resistant breast cancer cell growth by inducing G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis. Mol Carcinog 2011; 52:134-43. [PMID: 22086611 DOI: 10.1002/mc.21839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Revised: 10/14/2011] [Accepted: 10/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Lapatinib, an oral, small-molecule, reversible inhibitor of both EGFR and HER2, is highly active in HER2 positive breast cancer as a single agent and in combination with other therapeutics. However, resistance against lapatinib is an unresolved problem in clinical oncology. Recently, interest in the use of natural compounds to prevent or treat cancers has gained increasing interest because of presumed low toxicity. Quercetin-3-methyl ether, a naturally occurring compound present in various plants, has potent anticancer activity. Here, we found that quercetin-3-methyl ether caused a significant growth inhibition of lapatinib-sensitive and -resistant breast cancer cells. Western blot data showed that quercetin-3-methyl ether had no effect on Akt or ERKs signaling in resistant cells. However, quercetin-3-methyl ether caused a pronounced G(2)/M block mainly through the Chk1-Cdc25c-cyclin B1/Cdk1 pathway in lapatinib-sensitive and -resistant cells. In contrast, lapatinib produced an accumulation of cells in the G(1) phase mediated through cyclin D1, but only in lapatinib-sensitive cells. Moreover, quercetin-3-methyl ether induced significant apoptosis, accompanied with increased levels of cleaved caspase 3, caspase 7, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in both cell lines. Overall, these results suggested that quercetin-3-methyl ether might be a novel and promising therapeutic agent in lapatinib-sensitive or -resistant breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixia Li
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota 55912, USA
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35
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Mustata G, Li M, Zevola N, Bakan A, Zhang L, Epperly M, Greenberger JS, Yu J, Bahar I. Development of small-molecule PUMA inhibitors for mitigating radiation-induced cell death. Curr Top Med Chem 2011; 11:281-90. [PMID: 21320058 DOI: 10.2174/156802611794072641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2010] [Accepted: 05/02/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) is a Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3)-only Bcl-2 family member and a key mediator of apoptosis induced by a wide variety of stimuli. PUMA is particularly important in initiating radiation-induced apoptosis and damage in the gastrointestinal and hematopoietic systems. Unlike most BH3-only proteins, PUMA neutralizes all five known antiapoptotic Bcl-2 members though high affinity interactions with its BH3 domain to initiate mitochondria-dependent cell death. Using structural data on the conserved interactions of PUMA with Bcl-2-like proteins, we developed a pharmacophore model that mimics these interactions. In silico screening of the ZINC 8.0 database with this pharmacophore model yielded 142 compounds that could potentially disrupt these interactions. Thirteen structurally diverse compounds with favorable in silico ADME/Toxicity profiles have been retrieved from this set. Extensive testing of these compounds using cell-based and cell-free systems identified lead compounds that confer considerable protection against PUMA-dependent and radiation-induced apoptosis, and inhibit the interaction between PUMA and Bcl-xL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Mustata
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Computational & Systems Biology, HillmanCancer Center Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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36
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Xu Y, Zhou L, Huang J, Liu F, Yu J, Zhan Q, Zhang L, Zhao X. Role of Smac in determining the chemotherapeutic response of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:5412-22. [PMID: 21676925 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-0426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) regulates chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Smac mimetics have been tested in clinical trials as chemosensitizers. We determined the role of Smac in modulating the chemosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Smac expression was evaluated in tissues from ESCC patients with differential chemotherapeutic responses. The effects of Smac knockdown and Smac mimetics on the chemosensitivity of ESCC cells and the molecular mechanisms by which Smac and Smac mimetics modulate chemosensitivity were determined. The therapeutic responses of ESCC cells with different Smac statuses were compared using xenograft models. RESULTS We found that Smac was significantly downregulated in most ESCC samples (36.8%, 25/68, P = 0.001), and Smac expression differed significantly (P < 0.05) between chemosensitive and chemoresistant tumors. The associations of tested factors and their responses were examined using logistic regression analysis. In ESCC cells treated with cisplatin, a common chemotherapeutic drug, Smac and cytochrome c were released from mitochondria, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 were activated. Knockdown of Smac abrogated cisplatin-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. Smac deficiency also reduced the effect of cisplatin on long-term cell viability, and led to cisplatin resistance in xenograft tumors in vivo. LBW242, a small molecule Smac mimetic, enhanced cisplatin-induced apoptosis and caspase activation and restored cisplatin sensitivity in Smac-deficient cells. CONCLUSION Our data suggested that downregulation of Smac may be a chemoresistance mechanism in ESCC. Combinations of Smac mimetics with chemotherapeutic agents may have therapeutic benefits for the treatment of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Departments of Medicine of Oncology, Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
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D'agostino L, Giordano A. NSP 5a3a: a potential novel cancer target in head and neck carcinoma. Oncotarget 2011; 1:423-35. [PMID: 21311098 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.100913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
NSP 5a3a along with three other distinct though similar splice variants were initially identified corresponding to locus HCMOGT-1 on chromosome 17p11.2 [1]. Secondary structure analysis of the novel structural protein (NSP) isoforms revealed similarity to Spectrin like proteins containing coiled coil domains [1]. The NSP 5a3a isoform had been found to be highly expressed in-vitro in particular cancer cell lines while very low to un-detectable levels in normal body tissues [1]. Subsequent investigation of this isoform revealed its novel interaction with B23 [2], a multifunctional nucleolar protein involved in ribosome biogenesis, rRNA transcription, mitosis, cell growth control, and apoptosis [3]. Subsequent investigation, elucidated NSP 5a3a's potential involvement in cellular processes such as ribosome biogenesis and rRNA processing by validating NSP 5a3a's novel interaction with B23 and ribonuclear protein hnRNP-L possibly implicating NSP 5a3a's involvement in cellular activities such as RNA metabolism and processing [4]. In this preliminary investigation, we wanted to observe the effect that over-expressing NSP 5a3a may have on cell cycle and its potential application in cancer treatment in aggressive cancers such as head and neck carcinomas. Over-expressed NSP 5a3a in HN30 cells induced a significant degree of apoptosis, an average of a 10.85 fold increase compared to controls 3 days post-transfection. This effect was more significant then the apoptosis observed between Fadu cells over-expressing NSP 5a3a and its controls. Though, the apoptosis induced in the WI38 control cell line showed an average of a 13.2 fold increase between treated and controls comparable to the HN30 cell line 3 days post-transfection. Molecular analysis indentified a novel p73 dependent mechanism independent of p53 and caspase 3 activity through which NSP 5a3a is inducing apoptosis. We propose NSP 5a3a as a potential therapeutic target for site directed cancer treatment in perhaps certain head and neck carcinomas by induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca D'agostino
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology Temple University, 1900 North 12th street room 431, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
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38
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Sun Q, Zheng X, Zhang L, Yu J. Smac modulates chemosensitivity in head and neck cancer cells through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:2361-72. [PMID: 21242120 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-2262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Overexpression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) contributes to therapeutic resistance. Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) promotes caspase activation by binding to IAPs upon release from the mitochondria. IAP antagonists, also called SMAC mimetics, are promising anticancer agents modeled after this mechanism. We investigated the role and mechanisms of Smac- and Smac mimetic-mediated chemosensitization in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The effects of SMAC knockdown, SMAC overexpression, and a small molecule Smac mimetic on the chemosensitivities of HNSCC cells were determined. The mechanisms of Smac- and Smac mimetic-mediated chemosensitization were investigated by analyzing growth suppression, the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, caspase activation, and IAP proteins. The therapeutic responses of HNSCC cells with different levels of Smac were compared in xenograft models. RESULTS We found that Smac mediates apoptosis induced by several classes of therapeutic agents through the mitochondrial pathway. SMAC knockdown led to impaired caspase activation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and release of cytochrome c. A small molecule Smac mimetic, at nanomolar concentrations, significantly sensitized HNSCC cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis and restored gemcitabine sensitivity in SMAC knockdown cells, through caspase activation, X-linked IAP dissociation, and mitochondria-associated events, but not the TNF-α pathway. Furthermore, Smac levels modulated the therapeutic response of HNSCC cells to gemcitabine in xenograft models. CONCLUSIONS Our results establish a critical role of Smac in mediating therapeutic responses of HNSCC cells and provide a strong rationale for combining Smac mimetics with other anticancer agents to treat HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanhong Sun
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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Yuan Z, Cao K, Lin C, Li L, Liu HY, Zhao XY, Liu L, Deng HX, Li J, Nie CL, Wei YQ. The p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) chemosensitizes intrinsically resistant ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin by lowering the threshold set by Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1. Mol Med 2011; 17:1262-74. [PMID: 21863213 PMCID: PMC3321807 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2011.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2011] [Accepted: 08/17/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the number one cause of death from gynecologic malignancy. A defective p53 pathway is a hallmark of ovarian carcinoma. The p53 mutation correlates significantly with resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy, early relapse and shortened overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis), a BH3-only Bcl-2 family protein, was recently identified as a transcriptional target of p53 and a potent apoptosis inducer in various cancer cells. In this study, we showed that the induction of PUMA by cisplatin was abolished in p53-deficient SKOV3 cells. Elevated expression of PUMA-induced apoptosis and sensitized A2780s and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin, and the combination of PUMA and low-dose cisplatin, significantly suppressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo through enhanced induction of apoptosis compared with treatment with PUMA or cisplatin alone. The effects of PUMA were mediated by enhanced caspase activation and release of cytochrome c and Smac (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase) into the cytosol. Furthermore, PUMA chemosensitized intrinsically resistant SKOV3 cells to cisplatin through downregulation of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-x(L)) and myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl-1). PUMA-mediated Bcl-x(L) downregulation mainly happened at the transcription level, whereas PUMA-induced Mcl-1 down-regulation was associated with caspase-dependent cleavage and proteasome-mediated degradation. To our knowledge, these data suggest a new mechanism by which overexpression of PUMA enhances sensitivity of SKOV3 cells to cisplatin by lowering the threshold set simultaneously by Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1. Taken together, our findings indicate that PUMA is an important modulator of therapeutic responses of ovarian cancer cells and is potentially useful as a chemosensitizer in ovarian cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Zhu Yuan or Chun-lai Nie, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, #1 Keyuan Road 4, Gaopeng, 610041, China. Phone: +86-28-85164063; Fax: +86-28-85164060; E-mails: ,
| | - Kang Cao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huan-yi Liu
- Cancer Center, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin-yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong-xin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chun-lai Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Zhu Yuan or Chun-lai Nie, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, #1 Keyuan Road 4, Gaopeng, 610041, China. Phone: +86-28-85164063; Fax: +86-28-85164060; E-mails: ,
| | - Yu-quan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Knockdown of snail sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents and irradiation. Int J Mol Sci 2010; 11:4891-2. [PMID: 21614180 PMCID: PMC3100821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms11124891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2010] [Revised: 11/07/2010] [Accepted: 11/12/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer remains poor; only patients with small tumors and complete resection have a chance of a complete cure. Pancreatic cancer responds poorly to conventional therapies, including chemotherapy and irradiation. Snail is a transcription factor that has been associated with anti-apoptotic and chemoresistant properties in pancreatic cancer cells. In this study, we investigated whether knockdown of Snail suppresses growth of and/or sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents and irradiation through induction of apoptosis. An adeno-associated virus vector was used to deliver Snail siRNA and knockdown Snail expression in untreated pancreatic cancer cells and in pancreatic cancer cells treated with chemotherapeutic agents or γ-irradiation. Our data indicate that our adeno-associated virus vector can efficiently deliver Snail siRNA into PANC-1 cells both in vitro and in vivo, resulting in the knockdown of Snail expression at the mRNA and protein levels. We further show that knockdown of Snail expression results in potent growth suppression of pancreatic cancer cells and suppresses xenograft tumor growth in vivo through induction of apoptosis. Finally, knockdown of Snail expression significantly sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents and γ-irradiation through induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, our findings indicate that Snail is an important modulator of therapeutic responses of pancreatic cancer cells and is potentially useful as a sensitizer in pancreatic cancer therapy.
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Chemoprevention by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs eliminates oncogenic intestinal stem cells via SMAC-dependent apoptosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:20027-32. [PMID: 21041628 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1010430107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as sulindac effectively prevent colon cancer in humans and rodent models. However, their cellular targets and underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. We found that dietary sulindac induced apoptosis to remove the intestinal stem cells with nuclear or phosphorylated β-catenin in APC(Min/+) mice. NSAIDs also induced apoptosis in human colonic polyps and effectively removed cells with aberrant Wnt signaling. Furthermore, deficiency in SMAC, a mitochondrial apoptogenic protein, attenuated the tumor-suppressive effect of sulindac in APC(Min/+) mice by blocking apoptosis and removal of stem cells with nuclear or phosphorylated β-catenin. These results suggest that effective chemoprevention of colon cancer by NSAIDs lies in the elimination of stem cells that are inappropriately activated by oncogenic events through induction of apoptosis.
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D'agostino L, Giordano A. NSP 5a3a: a potential novel cancer target in head and neck carcinoma. Oncotarget 2010; 1:423-435. [PMID: 21311098 PMCID: PMC3248119 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 09/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
NSP 5a3a along with three other distinct though similar splice variants were initially identified corresponding to locus HCMOGT-1 on chromosome 17p11.2 [1]. Secondary structure analysis of the novel structural protein (NSP) isoforms revealed similarity to Spectrin like proteins containing coiled coil domains [1]. The NSP 5a3a isoform had been found to be highly expressed in-vitro in particular cancer cell lines while very low to un-detectable levels in normal body tissues [1]. Subsequent investigation of this isoform revealed its novel interaction with B23 [2], a multifunctional nucleolar protein involved in ribosome biogenesis, rRNA transcription, mitosis, cell growth control, and apoptosis [3]. Subsequent investigation, elucidated NSP 5a3a's potential involvement in cellular processes such as ribosome biogenesis and rRNA processing by validating NSP 5a3a's novel interaction with B23 and ribonuclear protein hnRNP-L possibly implicating NSP 5a3a's involvement in cellular activities such as RNA metabolism and processing [4]. In this preliminary investigation, we wanted to observe the effect that over-expressing NSP 5a3a may have on cell cycle and its potential application in cancer treatment in aggressive cancers such as head and neck carcinomas. Over-expressed NSP 5a3a in HN30 cells induced a significant degree of apoptosis, an average of a 10.85 fold increase compared to controls 3 days post-transfection. This effect was more significant then the apoptosis observed between Fadu cells over-expressing NSP 5a3a and its controls. Though, the apoptosis induced in the WI38 control cell line showed an average of a 13.2 fold increase between treated and controls comparable to the HN30 cell line 3 days post-transfection. Molecular analysis indentified a novel p73 dependent mechanism independent of p53 and caspase 3 activity through which NSP 5a3a is inducing apoptosis. We propose NSP 5a3a as a potential therapeutic target for site directed cancer treatment in perhaps certain head and neck carcinomas by induction of apoptosis.
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Growth factors protect intestinal stem cells from radiation-induced apoptosis by suppressing PUMA through the PI3K/AKT/p53 axis. Oncogene 2009; 29:1622-32. [PMID: 19966853 PMCID: PMC3076086 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2009.451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal toxicity is the primary limiting factor in abdominal and pelvic radiotherapy, but has no effective treatment currently. We recently showed a critical role of the BH3-only protein p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in acute radiation-induced GI damage and GI syndrome in mice. Growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have been shown to protect against radiation-induced intestinal injury, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be identified. We report here the suppression of PUMA through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/p53 axis in the intestinal stem cells as a novel molecular mechanism of growth factor-mediated intestinal radioprotection. IGF-1 or bFGF impaired radiation-induced apoptosis and the expression of PUMA and p53 in the crypt cells and intestinal stem cells. Using colonic epithelial cells that undergo PUMA-dependent and radiation-induced apoptosis, we found that a PI3K inhibitor, dominant-negative PI3K or Mdm2 antagonist restored the induction of PUMA, p53 and apoptosis in the presence of growth factors. In contrast, overexpression of AKT suppressed the induction of PUMA and p53 by radiation. Furthermore, inhibiting PI3K or activating p53 abrogated growth factor-mediated suppression of apoptosis and PUMA expression in the intestinal crypts and stem cells after radiation.
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Abstract
Apoptosis evasion is a hallmark of human cancer. PUMA is a BH3-only Bcl-2 family protein that mediates both p53-dependent and independent apoptosis. However, its role in tumor suppression had not been well established. Our recent work provides direct evidence that PUMA plays an important role in suppressing intestinal tumorigenesis in two mouse models including (i) the azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-treated mice and (ii) APC(Min/+) mice. The activities of PUMA appeared to be in the intestinal stem cells, and involve both p53-dependent response to DNA damage, and p53-independent mechanisms triggered by inflammation. Our data suggest that the interplay between different apoptotic pathways in intestinal stem cells underlie the initiation of intestinal carcinogenesis, and should be considered in the context of cancer prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yu
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Zhang Y, Xing D, Liu L. PUMA promotes Bax translocation by both directly interacting with Bax and by competitive binding to Bcl-X L during UV-induced apoptosis. Mol Biol Cell 2009; 20:3077-87. [PMID: 19439449 PMCID: PMC2704159 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e08-11-1109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2008] [Revised: 03/09/2009] [Accepted: 05/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell apoptosis induced by UV irradiation is a highly complex process in which different molecular signaling pathways are involved. p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) has been proposed as an important regulator in UV irradiation-induced apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanism through which PUMA regulates apoptosis, especially how PUMA activates Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in response to UV irradiation is still controversial. In this study, by using real-time single-cell analysis and fluorescence resonance energy transfer, we investigated the tripartite nexus among PUMA, Bax, and Bcl-X(L) in living human lung adenocarcinoma cells (ASTC-a-1) to illustrate how PUMA promotes Bax translocation to initiate apoptosis. Our results show that the interaction between PUMA and Bax increased gradually, with Bax translocating to mitochondria and colocalizing with PUMA after UV irradiation, indicating PUMA promotes Bax translocation directly. Simultaneously, the interaction increased markedly between PUMA and Bcl-X(L) and decreased significantly between Bcl-X(L) and Bax after UV treatment, suggesting PUMA competitively binds to Bcl-X(L) to activate Bax indirectly. The above-mentioned results were further confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. In addition, pifithrin-alpha (a p53 inhibitor) and cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor) could inhibit PUMA-mediated Bax translocation and cell apoptosis. Together, these studies create an important conclusion that PUMA promotes Bax translocation by both by directly interacting with Bax and by competitive binding to Bcl-X(L) in UV-induced apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Da Xing
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
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Abstract
Defective apoptosis contributes to tumorigenesis, although the critical molecular targets remain to be fully characterized. PUMA, a BH3-only protein essential for p53-dependent apoptosis, has been shown to suppress lymphomagenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of PUMA in intestinal tumorigenesis using two animal models. In the azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium salt model, PUMA deficiency increased the multiplicity and size of colon tumors but reduced the frequency of beta-catenin hotspot mutations. The absence of PUMA led to a significantly elevated incidence of precursor lesions induced by AOM. AOM was found to induce p53-dependent PUMA expression and PUMA-dependent apoptosis in the colonic crypts and stem cell compartment. Furthermore, PUMA deficiency significantly enhanced the formation of spontaneous macroadenomas and microadenomas in the distal small intestine and colon of APC(Min/+) mice. These results show an essential role of PUMA-mediated apoptosis in suppressing intestinal tumorigenesis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Qiu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh and Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Sun Q, Ming L, Thomas SM, Wang Y, Chen ZG, Ferris RL, Grandis JR, Zhang L, Yu J. PUMA mediates EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced apoptosis in head and neck cancer cells. Oncogene 2009; 28:2348-57. [PMID: 19421143 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2009.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is found in over 80% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and associated with poor clinical outcomes. EFGR selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or antibodies have recently emerged as promising treatments for solid tumors, including HNSCC, though the response rate to these agents is low. p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), a BH3-only Bcl-2 family protein, is required for apoptosis induced by p53 and various chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we show that PUMA induction is correlated with EGFR-TKI sensitivity, and is mediated through the p53 family protein p73beta and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. In some HNSCC cells, the gefitinib-induced degradation of oncogenic Delta Np63 seems to facilitate p73-mediated PUMA transcription. Inhibiting PUMA expression by small hairpin RNA (shRNA) impairs gefitinib-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, PUMA or BH3 mimetics sensitize HNSCC cells to gefitinib-induced apoptosis. Our results suggest that PUMA induction through p73 represents a new mechanism of EGFR inhibitor-induced apoptosis, and provide potential ways for enhancing and predicting the sensitivity to EGFR-targeted therapies in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Sun
- Department of Pathology, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Mazur AJ, Nowak D, Mannherz HG, Malicka-Błaszkiewicz M. Methotrexate induces apoptosis in CaSki and NRK cells and influences the organization of their actin cytoskeleton. Eur J Pharmacol 2009; 613:24-33. [PMID: 19383496 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2009.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2008] [Revised: 04/07/2009] [Accepted: 04/08/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Methotrexate is a widely used drug in treatments of various types of malignancies and in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. The goal of our study was to look at the effect of this dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor on the actin cytoskeleton, since actin plays an important role in cancer transformation and metastasis. For this reason we compared results obtained from experiments on CaSki (human uterine cervix cancer) and NRK (normal fibroblastic rat kidney) cells treated with methotrexate. It has been shown previously that methotrexate can induce apoptosis. Therefore we first examined whether methotrexate induces apoptosis in our model cells. For this aim we applied several assays like Caspase Glo 3/7, DNA fragmentation and binding of phosphatidylserine by annexin V-fluorescein. The data obtained indicated that methotrexate induces programmed cell death in CaSki and NRK cells. However, differences between CaSki and NRK cells were observed in the morphological alterations and dynamics of apoptosis induced by methotrexate. It seemed that cancer cells were more sensitive towards the cell death inducing activity at lower concentrations of methotrexate. Analysis by confocal microscopy of methotrexate-treated cells demonstrated that treatment with this folate antagonist affected the actin cytoskeleton, although the dis-organization of the actin cytoskeleton after treatment with methotrexate differed between cancer and normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonina Joanna Mazur
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany.
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Stapnes C, Gjertsen BT, Reikvam H, Bruserud Ø. Targeted therapy in acute myeloid leukaemia: current status and future directions. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2009; 18:433-55. [DOI: 10.1517/14728220902787628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Stapnes
- Haukeland University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Section for Haematology, N-5021 Bergen, Norway ;
| | - Bjørn Tore Gjertsen
- Haukeland University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Section for Haematology, N-5021 Bergen, Norway ;
| | - Håkon Reikvam
- Haukeland University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Section for Haematology, N-5021 Bergen, Norway ;
| | - Øystein Bruserud
- Haukeland University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Section for Haematology, N-5021 Bergen, Norway ;
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Bank A, Yu J, Zhang L. NSAIDs downregulate Bcl-X(L) and dissociate BAX and Bcl-X(L) to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Nutr Cancer 2009; 60 Suppl 1:98-103. [PMID: 19003586 DOI: 10.1080/01635580802381261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective in preventing colorectal cancer. Apoptosis induction by NSAIDs plays a critical role in NSAID-mediated chemoprevention. Our previous study demonstrated that NSAIDs require the proapoptotic B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family member Bcl-2-associated x protein (BAX) to induce apoptosis and inhibit the expression of antiapoptotic basal cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-X(L)) in colon cancer cells. In this study, we further investigated how BAX and Bcl-X(L) mediate NSAID-induced apoptosis. We found that Bcl-X(L) is downregulated by NSAIDs in part through proteasome-mediated protein degradation. NSAIDs promote the dissociation of BAX and Bcl-X(L) and translocation of BAX to the mitochondria. Furthermore, we found that only wild-type BAX, but not a mutant BAX deficient in either protein-protein interaction or mitochondrial localization, was able to restore NSAID-induced apoptosis in the BAX-knockout colon cancer cells. These results suggest that NSAIDs induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells by dissociating BAX and Bcl-X(L), thereby promoting BAX mitochondrial translocation and multimerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Bank
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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