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Yamamoto V, Ha DP, Liu Z, Huang M, Samanta S, Neamati N, Lee AS. GRP78 inhibitor YUM70 upregulates 4E-BP1 and suppresses c-MYC expression and viability of oncogenic c-MYC tumors. Neoplasia 2024; 55:101020. [PMID: 38991376 PMCID: PMC11294750 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2024.101020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
The 78-kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78) commonly upregulated in a wide variety of tumors is an important prognostic marker and a promising target for suppressing tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. While GRP78 is well established as a major endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone with anti-apoptotic properties and a master regulator of the unfolded protein response, its new role as a regulator of oncoprotein expression is just emerging. MYC is dysregulated in about 70 % of human cancers and is the most commonly activated oncoprotein. However, despite recent advances, therapeutic targeting of MYC remains challenging. Here we identify GRP78 as a new target for suppression of MYC expression. Using multiple MYC-dependent cancer models including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and their cisplatin-resistant clones, breast and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, our studies revealed that GRP78 knockdown by siRNA or inhibition of its activity by small molecule inhibitors (YUM70 or HA15) reduced c-MYC expression, leading to onset of apoptosis and loss of cell viability. This was observed in 2D cell culture, 3D spheroid and in xenograft models. Mechanistically, we determined that the suppression of c-MYC is at the post-transcriptional level and that YUM70 and HA15 treatment potently upregulated the eukaryotic translation inhibitor 4E-BP1, which targets eIF4E critical for c-MYC translation initiation. Furthermore, knock-down of 4E-BP1 via siRNA rescued YUM70-mediated c-MYC suppression. As YUM70 is also capable of suppressing N-MYC expression, this study offers a new approach to suppress MYC protein expression through knockdown or inhibition of GRP78.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Dat P Ha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Ze Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Miller Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Soma Samanta
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nouri Neamati
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Amy S Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States.
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2
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Jia X, He X, Huang C, Li J, Dong Z, Liu K. Protein translation: biological processes and therapeutic strategies for human diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:44. [PMID: 38388452 PMCID: PMC10884018 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01749-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein translation is a tightly regulated cellular process that is essential for gene expression and protein synthesis. The deregulation of this process is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. In this review, we discuss how deregulated translation can lead to aberrant protein synthesis, altered cellular functions, and disease progression. We explore the key mechanisms contributing to the deregulation of protein translation, including functional alterations in translation factors, tRNA, mRNA, and ribosome function. Deregulated translation leads to abnormal protein expression, disrupted cellular signaling, and perturbed cellular functions- all of which contribute to disease pathogenesis. The development of ribosome profiling techniques along with mass spectrometry-based proteomics, mRNA sequencing and single-cell approaches have opened new avenues for detecting diseases related to translation errors. Importantly, we highlight recent advances in therapies targeting translation-related disorders and their potential applications in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the growing interest lies in targeted therapies aimed at restoring precise control over translation in diseased cells is discussed. In conclusion, this comprehensive review underscores the critical role of protein translation in disease and its potential as a therapeutic target. Advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms of protein translation deregulation, coupled with the development of targeted therapies, offer promising avenues for improving disease outcomes in various human diseases. Additionally, it will unlock doors to the possibility of precision medicine by offering personalized therapies and a deeper understanding of the molecular underpinnings of diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuechao Jia
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Xinyu He
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Chuntian Huang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Jian Li
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Zigang Dong
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Research Center for Basic Medicine Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center for Cancer Chemoprevention, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
| | - Kangdong Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Research Center for Basic Medicine Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center for Cancer Chemoprevention, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- The Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Cancer Chemoprevention, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
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3
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Thankan RS, Thomas E, Purushottamachar P, Weber DJ, Njar VCO. Salinization Dramatically Enhance the Anti-Prostate Cancer Efficacies of AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2 Molecular Glue Degraders, Galeterone and VNPP433-3β Which Outperform Docetaxel and Enzalutamide in CRPC CWR22Rv1 Xenograft Mouse Model. Bioorg Chem 2023; 139:106700. [PMID: 37392559 PMCID: PMC10528634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Galeterone, 3β-(hydroxy)-17-(1H-benzimidazole-1-yl)androsta-5,16-diene (Gal, 1) and VNPP433-3β, 3β-(1H-imidazole-1-yl-17-(1H-benzimidazole-1-yl)androsta-5,16-diene (2) are potent molecular glue degrader modulators of AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2-eIF4E signaling pathways, and are promising Phase 3 and Phase 1 drug candidates, respectively. Because appropriate salts can be utilized to create new chemical entities with enhanced aqueous solubility, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and enhanced in vitro and in vivo efficacies, the monohydrochloride salt of Gal (3) and the mono- and di-hydrochlorides salts of compound 2, compounds 4 and 5, respectively, were synthesized. The salts were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS analyses. Compound 3 displayed enhanced in vitro antiproliferative activity (7.4-fold) against three prostate cancer cell lines but surprisingly decreased plasma exposure in the pharmacokinetics study. The antiproliferative activities of the compound 2 salts (4 and 5) were equivalent to that of compound 2, but their oral pharmacokinetic profiles were significantly enhanced. Finally, and most importantly, oral administration of the parent compounds (1 and 2) and their corresponding salts (3, 4 and 5) caused dose-dependent potent inhibition/regression of aggressive and difficult-to-treat CWR22Rv1 tumor xenografts growth, with no apparent host toxicities and were highly more efficacious than the blockbuster FDA-approved prostate cancer drugs, Enzalutamide (Xtandi) and Docetaxel (Taxotere). Thus, the HCl salts of Gal (3) and VNPP433-3β (4 and 5) are excellent orally bioavailable candidates for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Retheesh S Thankan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 801 West Baltimore Street, Suite 502J, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Puranik Purushottamachar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 801 West Baltimore Street, Suite 502J, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - David J Weber
- The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 801 West Baltimore Street, Suite 502J, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 801 West Baltimore Street, Suite 502J, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Thomas E, Thankan RS, Purushottamachar P, Guo J, Parise RA, Beumer JH, Njar VCO. Murine toxicology and pharmacokinetics of lead next generation galeterone analog, VNPP433-3β. Steroids 2023; 192:109184. [PMID: 36702363 PMCID: PMC9998351 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2023.109184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
VNPP433-3β (compound 2, (3β-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-17-(1H-benzimidazole-1-yl)-androsta-5,16-diene), a multitarget anticancer agent has emerged as our lead next generation galeterone analogs (NGGA). Compound 2 is currently in development as potential new therapeutic for prostate and pancreatic cancers. The preliminary toxicity study reveals that the compound 2 was better tolerated by the normal male CD-1 mice than the male Nude mice. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in the Nude mice was estimated to be between 25 < 50 mg/kg. After oral dosing of compound 2 to male and female rats, the plasma concentration versus time curves were very consistent between animals and the AUClast increased with dose. Many plasmas concentration versus time curves profiles were nearly flat over 24 hr., suggesting extended absorption from the GI tract. Consequently, reliable values for half-life and AUCinf were not determined. Calculated oral bioavailability (using oral AUClast and excluding the outlier IV animal) ranged from 32 to 47 %. This should be considered a minimum value since the contribution to true AUC beyond 24 hr. is clearly not zero. Clearly, these toxicology and pharmacokinetics parameters pave the way for understanding the anticancer pharmacological actions and provide a meaningful basis for further preclinical development and eventual clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Retheesh S Thankan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 801 W. Baltimore Street, Suite 502J, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Puranik Purushottamachar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jianxia Guo
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Robert A Parise
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jan H Beumer
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 801 W. Baltimore Street, Suite 502J, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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5
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Purushottamachar P, Thomas E, Thankan RS, Njar VCO. Novel deuterated Mnk1/2 protein degrader VNLG-152R analogs: Synthesis, In vitro Anti-TNBC activities and pharmacokinetics in mice. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 238:114441. [PMID: 35617854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A new and improved synthesis of lead Mnk1/2 protein degrader, VNLG-152R, 4-(±)-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-(E)-retinamide (1) has been developed from commercially available 4-oxo-ATRA (8). This procedure was also utilized to synthesize the seven possible deuterated analogs of compound 1 (11-17). The deuterated analogs were either better or equipotent to 1 in in vitro antiproliferative activities against MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 human TNBC cells. The Mnk1/2 degraders were equally effective as a standard TNBC therapy (paclitaxel). Importantly, the expression of Mnk1, peIF4E and their associated downstream targets, including cyclin D1 and Bcl2, were strongly decreased in compound 1/analogs (11-17)-treated TNBC cells signifying inhibition of Mnk1-eIF4E signaling. More importantly, we showed that deuterated analogs, 12, 16 and 17 possess improved pharmacokinetics parameters following oral administration to CD-1 female mice compared to the parent non-deuterated compound 1, thus addressing the rapid clearance (short half-life and short residence time) pharmacokinetic inadequacy of compound 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puranik Purushottamachar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Retheesh S Thankan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Flavocure Biotech, 701 E. Pratt Street, Suite 2033, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 875 Hollins Street, Suite 102D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; The Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Isoprene Pharmaceuticals, Inc, 875 Hollins Street, Suite 102D, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Epigenetic regulation of EIF4A1 through DNA methylation and an oncogenic role of eIF4A1 through BRD2 signaling in prostate cancer. Oncogene 2022; 41:2778-2785. [PMID: 35361883 PMCID: PMC9215223 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02272-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In prostate cancers, elongation initiation factor 4A1 (eIF4A1) supports an oncogenic translation program and is highly expressed, but its role remains elusive. By use of human specimens and cell models, we addressed the role of eIF4A1 in prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. EIF4A1 expression, as determined by mRNA and protein levels, was higher in primary prostate cancers relative to normal prostate tissue. Also, for primary prostate cancers, elevated mRNA levels of EIF4A1 correlated with DNA hypomethylation levels in the CpG-rich island of EIF4A1. Using a DNMT3a CRISPR-Cas9-based tool for specific targeting of DNA methylation, we characterized, in human prostate cancer cells, the epigenetic regulation of EIF4A1 transcripts through DNA methylation in the CpG-rich island of EIF4A1. Next, we investigated the oncogenic effect of EIF4A1 on cancer cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. For prostate cancer cells, EIF4A1 heterozygous knockout or knockdown inhibited protein translation and tumor growth. In addition, using RNA immunoprecipitation with RNA sequencing, we discovered the eIF4A1-mediated translational regulation of the oncogene BRD2, which contains the most enriched eIF4A1-binding motifs in its 5’ untranslated region, establishing an eIF4A1-BRD2 axis for oncogenic translation. Finally, we found a positive correlation between expression levels of eIF4A1 and BRD2 in primary prostate cancers. Our results demonstrate, for prostate cancer cells, epigenetic regulation of EIF4A1 transcripts through DNA methylation and an oncogenic roles of eIF4A1 through BRD2 signaling.
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Targeting Protein Translation in Melanoma by Inhibiting EEF-2 Kinase Regulates Cholesterol Metabolism though SREBP2 to Inhibit Tumour Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073481. [PMID: 35408842 PMCID: PMC8998919 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Decreasing the levels of certain proteins has been shown to be important for controlling cancer but it is currently unknown whether proteins could potentially be targeted by the inhibiting of protein synthesis. Under this circumstance, targeting protein translation could preferentially affect certain pathways, which could then be of therapeutic advantage when treating cancer. In this report, eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (EEF2K), which is involved in protein translation, was shown to regulate cholesterol metabolism. Targeting EEF2K inhibited key parts of the cholesterol pathway in cancer cells, which could be rescued by the addition of exogenous cholesterol, suggesting that it is a potentially important pathway modulated by targeting this process. Specifically, targeting EEF2K significantly suppressed tumour cell growth by blocking mRNA translation of the cholesterol biosynthesis transcription factor, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) 2, and the proteins it regulates. The process could be rescued by the addition of LDL cholesterol taken into the cells via non-receptor-mediated-uptake, which negated the need for SREBP2 protein. Thus, the levels of SREBP2 needed for cholesterol metabolism in cancer cells are therapeutically vulnerable by targeting protein translation. This is the first report to suggest that targeting EEF2K can be used to modulate cholesterol metabolism to treat cancer.
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Zhang J, Wu N, Shi D. The Involvement of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1b and Dipeptidase 4 Signaling Pathways in Cancer and Diabetes: A Narrative Review. Mini Rev Med Chem 2021; 21:803-815. [PMID: 33185160 DOI: 10.2174/1389557520666201113110406] [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: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1b (PTP1B) and dipeptidase 4 (DPP4) signaling pathways regulate eukaryotic cell proliferation and metabolism. Previous researches described different transduction mechanisms in the progression of cancer and diabetes. METHODOLOGY We reviewed recent advances in the signal transduction pathways of mTOR, PTP1B and DPP4 regulation and determined the crosstalk and common pathway in diabetes and cancer. RESULTS We showed that according to numerous past studies, the proteins participate in the signaling networks for both diseases. CONCLUSION There are common pathways and specific proteins involved in diabetes and cancer. This article demonstrates and explains the potential mechanisms of association and future prospects for targeting these proteins in pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ning Wu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Dayong Shi
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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9
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Sun L, Liu S, Wang X, Zheng X, Chen Y, Shen H. eIF6 promotes the malignant progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma via the mTOR signaling pathway. J Transl Med 2021; 19:216. [PMID: 34016142 PMCID: PMC8139032 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-02877-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 6 (eIF6) has a crucial function in the maturation of 60S ribosomal subunits, and it controls the initiation of protein translation. Although emerging studies indicate that eIF6 is aberrantly expressed in various types of cancers, the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of eIF6 in the pathological progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of eIF6 in patients with HCC. METHODS HCC samples enrolled from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and our cohort were used to explore the role and mechanism of eIF6 in HCC. The diagnostic power of eIF6 was verified by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and its prognostic value was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and then related biological functions of eIF6 were determined in vitro and in vivo cancer models. In addition, potential molecular mechanism of eIF6 in HCC was unveiled by the gene set enrichment analysis and western blot assay. RESULTS We demonstrated that eIF6 expression was markedly increased in HCC, and elevated eIF6 expression correlated with pathological progression of HCC. Besides, eIF6 served as not only a new diagnostic biomarker but also an independent risk factor for OS in HCC patients. Functional studies indicated that the deletion of eIF6 displayed tumor-suppressor activity in HCC cells. Furthermore, we found that eIF6 could activate the mTOR-related signaling pathway and regulate the expression level of its target genes, such as CCND1, CDK4, CDK6, MYC, CASP3 and CTNNBL1, and these activities promoted proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study provided a novel basis for understanding the potential role of eIF6 in promoting tumor growth and invasion, and exploited a promising strategy for improving diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Sun
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuguang Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaopai Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuefeng Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ya Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Shen
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. .,Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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10
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Jiang SL, Mo JL, Peng J, Lei L, Yin JY, Zhou HH, Liu ZQ, Hong WX. Targeting translation regulators improves cancer therapy. Genomics 2020; 113:1247-1256. [PMID: 33189778 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Deregulation of protein synthesis may be involved in multiple aspects of cancer, such as gene expression, signal transduction and drive specific cell biological responses, resulting in promoting cancer growth, invasion and metastasis. Study the molecular mechanisms about translational control may help us to find more effective anti-cancer drugs and develop novel therapeutic opportunities. Recently, the researchers had focused on targeting translational machinery to overcome cancer, and various small molecular inhibitors targeting translation factors or pathways have been tested in clinical trials and exhibited improving outcomes in several cancer types. There is no doubt that an insight into the class of translation regulation protein would provide new target for pharmacologic intervention and further provide opportunities to develop novel anti-tumor therapeutic interventions. In this review, we summarized the developments of translational control in cancer survival and progression et al, and highlighted the therapeutic approach targeted translation regulation to overcome the cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Long Jiang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Engineering Research Center for applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410078, PR China
| | - Jun-Luan Mo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Engineering Research Center for applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410078, PR China; Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518020, PR China
| | - Ji Peng
- Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518020, PR China
| | - Lin Lei
- Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518020, PR China
| | - Ji-Ye Yin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Engineering Research Center for applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410078, PR China
| | - Hong-Hao Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Engineering Research Center for applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410078, PR China
| | - Zhao-Qian Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Engineering Research Center for applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410078, PR China.
| | - Wen-Xu Hong
- Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518020, PR China.
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11
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Fujimura A, Yasui S, Igawa K, Ueda A, Watanabe K, Hanafusa T, Ichikawa Y, Yoshihashi S, Tsuchida K, Kamiya A, Furuya S. In Vitro Studies to Define the Cell-Surface and Intracellular Targets of Polyarginine-Conjugated Sodium Borocaptate as a Potential Delivery Agent for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Cells 2020; 9:E2149. [PMID: 32977522 PMCID: PMC7598271 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) requires pharmaceutical innovations and molecular-based evidence of effectiveness to become a standard cancer therapeutic in the future. Recently, in Japan, 4-borono-L-phenylalanine (BPA) was approved as a boron agent for BNCT against head and neck (H&N) cancers. H&N cancer appears to be a suitable target for BPA-BNCT, because the expression levels of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), one of the amino acid transporters responsible for BPA uptake, are elevated in most cases of H&N cancer. However, in other types of cancer including malignant brain tumors, LAT1 is not always highly expressed. To expand the possibility of BNCT for these cases, we previously developed poly-arginine peptide (polyR)-conjugated mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH). PolyR confers the cell membrane permeability and tumor selectivity of BSH. However, the molecular determinants for the properties are not fully understood. In this present study, we have identified the cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) protein and translational machinery proteins as a major cell surface target and intracellular targets of BSH-polyR, respectively. CD44, also known as a stem cell-associated maker in various types of cancer, is required for the cellular uptake of polyR-conjugated molecules. We showed that BSH-polyR was predominantly delivered to a CD44High cell population of cancer cells. Once delivered, BSH-polyR interacted with the translational machinery components, including the initiation factors, termination factors, and poly(A)-biding protein (PABP). As a proof of principle, we performed BSH-polyR-based BNCT against glioma stem-like cells and revealed that BSH-polyR successfully induced BNCT-dependent cell death specifically in CD44High cells. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that BSH-polyR would be suitable for certain types of malignant tumors. Our results shed light on the biochemical properties of BSH-polyR, which may further contribute to the therapeutic optimization of BSH-BNCT in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Fujimura
- Department of Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan;
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Seiji Yasui
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Kazuyo Igawa
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Ai Ueda
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Kaori Watanabe
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Tadashi Hanafusa
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Yasuaki Ichikawa
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Sachiko Yoshihashi
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.T.)
| | - Kazuki Tsuchida
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.T.)
| | - Atsunori Kamiya
- Department of Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan;
| | - Shuichi Furuya
- Neutron Therapy Research Center, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.I.); (A.U.); (K.W.); (T.H.); (Y.I.); (S.F.)
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12
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Mantsiou A, Makridakis M, Fasoulakis K, Katafigiotis I, Constantinides CA, Zoidakis J, Roubelakis MG, Vlahou A, Lygirou V. Proteomics Analysis of Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissues in the Investigation of Prostate Cancer. J Proteome Res 2019; 19:2631-2642. [PMID: 31682457 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of death in men worldwide. The molecular features, associated with the onset and progression of the disease, are under vigorous investigation. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are valuable resources for large-scale studies; however, their application in proteomics is limited due to protein cross-linking. In this study, the adjustment of a protocol for the proteomic analysis of FFPE tissues was performed which was followed by a pilot application on FFPE PCa clinical samples to investigate whether the optimized protocol can provide biologically relevant data for the investigation of PCa. For the optimization, FFPE mouse tissues were processed using seven protein extraction protocols including combinations of homogenization methods (beads, sonication, boiling) and buffers (SDS based and urea-thiourea based). The proteome extraction efficacy was then evaluated based on protein identifications and reproducibility using SDS electrophoresis and high resolution LC-MS/MS analysis. Comparison between the FFPE and matched fresh frozen (FF) tissues, using an optimized protocol involving protein extraction with an SDS-based buffer following beads homogenization and boiling, showed a substantial overlap in protein identifications with a strong correlation in relative abundances (rs = 0.819, p < 0.001). Next, FFPE tissues (3 sections, 15 μm each per sample) from 10 patients with PCa corresponding to tumor (GS = 6 or GS ≥ 8) and adjacent benign regions were processed with the optimized protocol. Extracted proteins were analyzed by GeLC-MS/MS followed by statistical and bioinformatics analysis. Proteins significantly deregulated between PCa GS ≥ 8 and PCa GS = 6 represented extracellular matrix organization, gluconeogenesis, and phosphorylation pathways. Proteins deregulated between cancerous and adjacent benign tissues, reflected increased translation, peptide synthesis, and protein metabolism in the former, which is consistent with the literature. In conclusion, the results support the relevance of the proteomic findings in the context of PCa and the reliability of the optimized protocol for proteomics analysis of FFPE material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mantsiou
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Manousos Makridakis
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Fasoulakis
- Ippokrateio General Hospital of Athens, Department of Urology, 114 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Ioannis Katafigiotis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 1st Urology Department, Laikon Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Constantinos A Constantinides
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 1st Urology Department, Laikon Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Jerome Zoidakis
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Maria G Roubelakis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Laboratory of Biology, 75 Mikras Assias Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Antonia Vlahou
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Lygirou
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Biotechnology Division, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
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13
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Galeterone and The Next Generation Galeterone Analogs, VNPP414 and VNPP433-3β Exert Potent Therapeutic Effects in Castration-/Drug-Resistant Prostate Cancer Preclinical Models In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111637. [PMID: 31653008 PMCID: PMC6895912 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
These studies compared the efficacies of our clinical agent galeterone (Gal) and the FDA-approved prostate cancer drug, enzalutamide (ENZ) with two lead next generation galeterone analogs (NGGAs), VNPP414 and VNPP433-3β, using prostate cancer (PC) in vitro and in vivo models. Antitumor activities of orally administered agents were also assessed in CWR22Rv1 tumor-bearing mice. We demonstrated that Gal and NGGAs degraded AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2; blocked cell cycle progression and proliferation of human PC cells; induced apoptosis; inhibited cell migration, invasion, and putative stem cell markers; and reversed the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, Gal/NGGAs (alone or in combination) also inhibited the growth of ENZ-, docetaxel-, and mitoxantrone-resistant human PC cell lines. The NGGAs exhibited improved pharmacokinetic profiles over Gal in mice. Importantly, in vivo testing showed that VNPP433-3β (at 7.53-fold lower equimolar dose than Gal) markedly suppressed (84% vs. Gal, 47%; p < 0.01) the growth of castration-resistant PC (CRPC) CWR22Rv1 xenograft tumors, with no apparent host toxicity. ENZ was ineffective in this CRPC xenograft model. In summary, our findings show that targeting AR/AR-V7 and Mnk1/2 for degradation represents an effective therapeutic strategy for PC/CRPC treatment and supports further development of VNPP433-3β towards clinical investigation.
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14
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Wang L, Guo C, Li X, Yu X, Li X, Xu K, Jiang B, Jia X, Li C, Shi D. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of bromophenol-thiazolylhydrazone hybrids inhibiting the interaction of translation initiation factors eIF4E/eIF4G as multifunctional agents for cancer treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 177:153-170. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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15
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Analysis of the Antiproliferative Effect of Ankaferd Hemostat on Caco-2 Colon Cancer Cells via LC/MS Shotgun Proteomics Approach. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:5268031. [PMID: 31240215 PMCID: PMC6556321 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5268031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ankaferd hemostat (ABS), a traditional herbal extract, is a hemostatic agent used for wound healing and bleeding treatment. A standardized form of plants contains many biomolecules. In recent years, previous studies have demonstrated the antineoplastic effect of ABS. In the present work, we focused on the mechanism of its antineoplastic effect over Caco-2 colon cancer cells. The LC/MS-based proteomics method was used to understand the effect of ABS at the protein level. The results were evaluated with gene ontology, protein interaction, and pathway analysis. As shown by our results, ABS altered glucose, fatty acids, and protein metabolism. Moreover, ABS affects the cell cycle machinery. Moreover, we found that ABS induced critical cancer target and suppressor proteins such as carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1, 60S ribosomal protein L5, Tumor protein D52-like2, karyopherin alpha 2, and protein deglycase DJ-1. In conclusion, the proteomics results indicated that ABS affects various cancer targets and suppressor proteins. Moreover ABS has systematical effect on cell metabolism and cell cycle in Caco-2 cells, suggesting that it could be used as an antineoplastic agent.
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16
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Ramalingam S, Ramamurthy VP, Gediya LK, Murigi FN, Purushottamachar P, Huang W, Choi EY, Zhang Y, Vasaitis TS, Kane MA, Lapidus RG, Njar VCO. The Novel Mnk1/2 Degrader and Apoptosis Inducer VNLG-152 Potently Inhibits TNBC Tumor Growth and Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11030299. [PMID: 30832411 PMCID: PMC6468747 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, there are no effective therapies for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and highly metastatic disease. Activation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-interacting kinases 1 and 2 (Mnk1/2) play a critical role in the development, progression and metastasis of TNBC. Herein, we undertook a comprehensive study to evaluate the activity of a first-in-class Mnk1/2 protein degraders, racemic VNLG-152R and its two enantiomers (VNLG-152E1 and VNLG-152E2) in in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC. These studies enabled us to identify racemic VNLG-152R as the most efficacious Mnk1/2 degrader, superior to its pure enantiomers. By targeting Mnk1/2 protein degradation (activity), VNLG-152R potently inhibited both Mnk-eIF4E and mTORC1 signaling pathways and strongly regulated downstream factors involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines secretion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Most importantly, orally bioavailable VNLG-152R exhibited remarkable antitumor (91 to 100% growth inhibition) and antimetastatic (~80% inhibition) activities against cell line and patient-derived TNBC xenograft models, with no apparent host toxicity. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that targeting Mnk-eIF4E/mTORC1 signaling with a potent Mnk1/2 degrader, VNLG-152R, is a novel therapeutic strategy that can be developed as monotherapy for the effective treatment of patients with primary/metastatic TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthilmurugan Ramalingam
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Vidya P Ramamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Lalji K Gediya
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Francis N Murigi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Puranik Purushottamachar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Weiliang Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA.
| | - Eun Yong Choi
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Yuji Zhang
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Tadas S Vasaitis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 207 Somerset Hall, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA.
| | - Maureen A Kane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201-1559, USA.
| | - Rena G Lapidus
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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17
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Cao K, Arthurs C, Atta-Ul A, Millar M, Beltran M, Neuhaus J, Horn LC, Henrique R, Ahmed A, Thrasivoulou C. Quantitative Analysis of Seven New Prostate Cancer Biomarkers and the Potential Future of the 'Biomarker Laboratory'. Diagnostics (Basel) 2018; 8:diagnostics8030049. [PMID: 30060509 PMCID: PMC6163663 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics8030049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the third highest cause of male mortality in the developed world, with the burden of the disease increasing dramatically with demographic change. There are significant limitations to the current diagnostic regimens and no established effective screening modality. To this end, research has discovered hundreds of potential ‘biomarkers’ that may one day be of use in screening, diagnosis or prognostication. However, the barriers to bringing biomarkers to clinical evaluation and eventually into clinical usage have yet to be realised. This is an operational challenge that requires some new thinking and development of paradigms to increase the efficiency of the laboratory process and add ‘value’ to the clinician. Value comes in various forms, whether it be a process that is seamlessly integrated into the hospital laboratory environment or one that can provide additional ‘information’ for the clinical pathologist in terms of risk profiling. We describe, herein, an efficient and tissue-conserving pipeline that uses Tissue Microarrays in a semi-automated process that could, one day, be integrated into the hospital laboratory domain, using seven putative prostate cancer biomarkers for illustration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Cao
- Prostate Cancer Research Centre at the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
| | - Callum Arthurs
- Prostate Cancer Research Centre at the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
| | - Ali Atta-Ul
- Prostate Cancer Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Michael Millar
- Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK.
| | - Mariana Beltran
- Aquila BioMedical, Nine, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 9 Little France Road, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, UK.
| | - Jochen Neuhaus
- Head of Urology Research Laboratories, University of Leipzig, Department of Urology, Research Laboratory, Liebigstr. 19, Building C, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Lars-Christian Horn
- Division of Gynecologic, Breast & Perinatal Pathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstasse 24 D, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Rui Henrique
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Aamir Ahmed
- Prostate Cancer Research Centre at the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
- Prostate Cancer Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Christopher Thrasivoulou
- Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Centre for Cell and Molecular Dynamics, Rockefeller Building, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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18
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Ramamurthy VP, Ramalingam S, Gediya LK, Njar VCO. The retinamide VNLG-152 inhibits f-AR/AR-V7 and MNK-eIF4E signaling pathways to suppress EMT and castration-resistant prostate cancer xenograft growth. FEBS J 2018; 285:1051-1063. [PMID: 29323792 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
VNLG-152 is a novel retinamide (NR) shown to suppress growth and progression of genetically diverse prostate cancer cells via inhibition of androgen receptor signaling and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) translational machinery. Herein, we report therapeutic effects of VNLG-152 on castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) growth and metastatic phenotype in a CRPC tumor xenograft model. Administration of VNLG-152 significantly and dose-dependently suppressed the growth of aggressive CWR22Rv1 tumors by 63.4% and 76.3% at 10 and 20 mg·kg-1 bw, respectively (P < 0.0001), vs. vehicle with no host toxicity. Strikingly, the expression of full-length androgen receptor (f-AR)/androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7), mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting kinases 1 and 2 (MNK1/2), phosphorylated eIF4E and their associated target proteins, including prostate-specific antigen, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2, were strongly decreased in VNLG-152-treated tumors signifying inhibition of f-AR/AR-V7 and MNK-eIF4E signaling in VNLG-152-treated CWR22Rv1 tumors as observed in vitro. VNLG-152 also suppressed the epithelial to mesenchymal transition in CWR22Rv1 tumors as evidenced by repression of N-cadherin, β-catenin, claudin, Slug, Snail, Twist, vimentin and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) with upsurge in E-cadherin. These results highlight the promising use of VNLG-152 in CRPC therapy and justify its further development towards clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya P Ramamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Senthilmurugan Ramalingam
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lalji K Gediya
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vincent C O Njar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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