Levofloxacin exerts broad-spectrum anticancer activity via regulation of THBS1, LAPTM5, SRD5A3, MFAP5 and P4HA1

P4HA1 expression and function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

This study aimed to explore the effect of P4HA1 (prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit α1) and its ratio on the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The expression data of P4HA1 in esophageal cancer in The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression were collected using the public database gene expression profiling interactive analysis. The expression levels of P4HA1 were examined by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between P4HA1 expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed the χ2 test. Survival analysis was performed to investigate the effect of P4HA1 and its ratio on prognosis. Compared with normal esophageal mucosal epithelium, there was higher P4HA1 gene mRNA in esophageal cancer tissue. Regarding the expression level, no significant difference was observed in patients with stage I-IV esophageal cancer. Immunohistochemistry showed that P4HA1 was highly expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (68.7%), while it was negatively expressed in paracancerous tissues. There was a significant difference in expression between cancer and adjacent tissues. The expression of P4HA1 associated with the degree of tumor differentiation, site, lymph node metastasis, and tumor node metastasis stage. The prognostic factors that affected the OS (overall survival) of esophageal cancer patients were the degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and P4HA1 expression. Multivariate analysis of the OS results of patients showed that lymph node metastases and P4HA1 expression were independent prognostic factors that affected the OS of esophageal cancer patients. The prognostic factors affecting the PFS (progression-free survival) of esophageal cancer patients in the univariate survival analysis were as follows: degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and P4HA1 expression. In addition, multivariate analysis of the PFS results of patients showed that lymph node metastasis and P4HA1 expression were independent prognostic factors that affected the PFS of esophageal cancer patients. P4HA1 may be a novel potential biomarker for the early diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy of esophageal cancer.

Design and synthesis of novel cytotoxic fluoroquinolone analogs through topoisomerase inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis

To exploit the advantageous properties of approved drugs to hasten anticancer drug discovery, we designed and synthesized a series of fluoroquinolone (FQ) analogs via functionalization of the acid hydrazides of moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. Under the NCI-60 Human Tumor Cell Line Screening Assay, (IIIf) was the most potent among moxifloxacin derivatives, whereas (VIb) was the only ofloxacin derivative with significant effects and ciprofloxacin derivatives were devoid of activity. (IIIf) and (VIb) were further selected for five-dose evaluation, where they showed potent growth inhibition with a mean GI₅₀ of 1.78 and 1.45 µM, respectively. (VIb) elicited a more potent effect reaching sub-micromolar level on many cell lines, including MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines (GI₅₀ = 0.41 and 0.42 µM, respectively), NSCLC cell line HOP-92 (GI₅₀ = 0.50 µM) and CNS cell lines SNB-19 and U-251 (GI₅₀ = 0.51 and 0.61 µM, respectively). (IIIf) and (VIb) arrested MCF-7 cells at G1/S and G1, respectively, and induced apoptosis mainly through the intrinsic pathway as shown by the increased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase-9 with a lesser activation of the extrinsic pathway through caspase-8. Both compounds inhibited topoisomerase (Topo) with preferential activity on type II over type I and (VIb) was marginally more potent than (IIIf). Docking study suggests that (IIIf) and (VIb) bind differently to Topo II compared to etoposide. (IIIf) and (VIb) possess high potential for oral absorption, low CNS permeability and low binding to plasma proteins as suggested by in silico ADME calculations. Collectively, (IIIf) and (VIb) represent excellent lead molecules for the development of cytotoxic agents from quinolone scaffolds.

P4HA1, transcriptionally activated by STAT1, promotes esophageal cancer progression

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most frequent cancers with a higher mortality worldwide. Although prolyl 4-hydroxylase alpha polypeptide I (P4HA1) is involved in various human malignancies, the function of P4HA1 in EC remains unclear. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot and immunohistochemistry. CCK8 assay was used to detect EC cell viability. Cell proliferation was analyzed by colony formation and ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays. In addition, flow cytometry and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining were performed to detect cell apoptosis. Masson's trichrome staining was used to assess the collagen fiber level in tumor tissues. The interaction between STAT1 and P4HA4 was analyzed using ChIP, dual-luciferase reporter gene and Y1H assays. P4HA1 was overexpressed in EC, and its knockdown suppressed EC cell proliferation and collagen synthesis and increased cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, P4HA1 knockdown could repress EC tumor growth in vivo. Our further research displayed that STAT1 promoted P4HA1 expression by interacting with P4HA1 promoter. As expected, P4HA1 overexpression abolished STAT1 knockdown's repression on EC cell malignant behaviors. Our research proved that P4HA1 was transcriptionally activated by STAT1, thereby promoting EC progression.