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Abo Qoura L, Balakin KV, Hoffman RM, Pokrovsky VS. The potential of methioninase for cancer treatment. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189122. [PMID: 38796027 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells are addicted to L-methionine (L-Met) and have a much greater requirement for L-Met than normal cells due to excess transmethylation, termed the Hoffman effect. By targeting this vulnerability through dietary restriction of L-Met, researchers have been able to achieve promising results in inhibiting tumor growth and eradicating cancer cells. Methioninase (EC 4.4.1.11; METase) catalyzes the transformation of L-Met into α-ketobutyrate, ammonia, and methanethiol. The use of METase was initially limited due to its poor stability in vivo, high immunogenicity, and enzyme-induced inactivating antibodies. These issues could be partially resolved by PEGylation, encapsulation in erythrocytes, and various site-directed mutagenesis. The big breakthrough came when it was discovered that METase is effectively administered orally. The enzyme L-asparaginase is approved by the FDA for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. METase has more potential as a therapeutic since addiction to L-Met is a general and fundamental hallmark of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louay Abo Qoura
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia; N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 115478 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA 92111, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037-7400, USA
| | - Vadim S Pokrovsky
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia; N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 115478 Moscow, Russia.
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Holtz AG, Lowe TL, Aoki Y, Kubota Y, Hoffman RM, Clarke SG. Asymmetric and symmetric protein arginine methylation in methionine-addicted human cancer cells. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296291. [PMID: 38134182 PMCID: PMC10745221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The methionine addiction of cancer cells is known as the Hoffman effect. While non-cancer cells in culture can utilize homocysteine in place of methionine for cellular growth, most cancer cells require exogenous methionine for proliferation. It has been suggested that a biochemical basis of this effect is the increased utilization of methionine for S-adenosylmethionine, the major methyl donor for a variety of cellular methyltransferases. Recent studies have pointed to the role of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in cell proliferation and cancer. To further understand the biochemical basis of the methionine addiction of cancer cells, we compared protein arginine methylation in two previously described isogenic cell lines, a methionine-addicted 143B human osteosarcoma cell line and its less methionine-dependent revertant. Previous work showed that the revertant cells were significantly less malignant than the parental cells. In the present study, we utilized antibodies to detect the asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) products of PRMTs in polypeptides from cellular extracts and purified histone preparations of these cell lines fractionated by SDS-PAGE. Importantly, we observed little to no differences in the banding patterns of ADMA- and SDMA-containing species between the osteosarcoma parental and revertant cell lines. Furthermore, enzymatic activity assays using S-adenosyl-ʟ-[methyl-3H] methionine, recombinantly purified PRMT enzymes, cell lysates, and specific PRMT inhibitors revealed no major differences in radiolabeled polypeptides on SDS-PAGE gels. Taken together, these results suggest that changes in protein arginine methylation may not be major contributors to the Hoffman effect and that other consequences of methionine addiction may be more important in the metastasis and malignancy of osteosarcoma and potentially other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley G Holtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Troy L Lowe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Yutaro Kubota
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven G Clarke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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Ashkan MF, Younis SA, Elazab NT. Isolation and characterization of Trichoderma harzianum L-methioninase with promising a powerful anticancer. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103870. [PMID: 38020221 PMCID: PMC10663931 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioactive components derived from medicinal herbs have recently acquired popularity due to their efficacy in treating various ailments, including cancer and infectious diseases. In this study, the anticancer enzyme, L-methioninase isolated from medicinal plants endophytic fungi, then evaluated its promising therapeutic agents against different types of human cancers. L methionine was purified using column chromatography with the stationary phase of Sephadex G-200 with 6.6-fold purification, which increased the specific activity of 71.3 U/mg of protein with a recovery rate of 48.2 %. On the SDS-PAGE chromatogram, the apparent molecular mass of the isolated enzyme was 48 kDa, and its highest activity was observed at pH 8 and 35 °C. The enzyme was catalytically stable within the pH range of 6.0-9.0 and below 40 °C. This study demonstrates that isolated L-methioninase is particularly efficient against tumour cell lines in vitro. The crude and purified L-methioninase inhibited 60 and 80 % of the growth of the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), respectively, with an estimated IC50 = 12.6 μg/ml (crude) and IC50 = 5.0 μg/ml for purified L-methioninase from isolate 8 with accession no MZ675362. Because of this, pure L-methioninase has better catalytic characteristics and significant thermal stability, which could be used as a cancer-fighting substance than the enzyme purified from other sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mada F. Ashkan
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Science & Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sadia A. Younis
- Department of Botany, Molecular Microbial Lab, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | - Nahla T. Elazab
- Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
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KUBOTA YUTARO, HAN QINGHONG, HAMADA KAZUYUKI, AOKI YUSUKE, MASAKI NORIYUKI, OBARA KOYA, BARANOV ANTON, BOUVET MICHAEL, TSUNODA TAKUYA, HOFFMAN ROBERTM. Oral Installation of Recombinant Methioninase-producing Escherichia coli into the Microbiome Inhibits Colon-cancer Growth in a Syngeneic Mouse Model. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2022; 19:683-691. [PMID: 36316039 PMCID: PMC9620449 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM All cancer types so far tested are methionine-addicted. Targeting the methionine addiction of cancer with recombinant methioninase (rMETase) has shown great progress in vitro, in mouse models, and in the clinic. However, administration of rMETase requires multiple doses per day. In the present study, we determined if rMETase-producing Escherichia coli JM109 (E. coli JM109-rMETase) might be an effective anticancer agent when installed into the microbiome. MATERIALS AND METHODS E. coli JM109-rMETase was administered to a syngeneic model of MC38 colon cancer growing subcutaneously in C57BL/6 mice. JM109-rMETase was administered orally by gavage to the mice twice per day. Tumor size was measured with calipers. RESULTS The administration of E. coli JM109-rMETase twice a day significantly inhibited MC38 colon-cancer growth. E. coli JM109-rMETase was found in the stool of treated mice, indicating it had entered the microbiome. CONCLUSION The present study indicates the potential of microbiome-based treatment of cancer targeting methionine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- YUTARO KUBOTA
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - KAZUYUKI HAMADA
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - YUSUKE AOKI
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - NORIYUKI MASAKI
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - KOYA OBARA
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | | | - MICHAEL BOUVET
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - TAKUYA TSUNODA
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - ROBERT M. HOFFMAN
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
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Han Q, Hoffman RM. Chronic Treatment of an Advanced Prostate-cancer Patient With Oral Methioninase Resulted in Long-term Stabilization of Rapidly Rising PSA Levels. In Vivo 2021; 35:2171-2176. [PMID: 34182494 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Advanced prostate cancer is a recalcitrant disease with very limited treatment options. Our laboratory discovered methionine addiction, presumably a characteristic of all cancer types, including prostate cancer, which can be targeted by methionine restriction (MR), through treatment with oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase). PATIENTS AND METHODS o-rMETase was produced by fermentation of recombinant E. coli containing the Pseudomonas putida methioninase gene, and purified by column chromatography. An advanced prostate cancer patient received o-rMETase as a supplement, 500 units per day, divided into two oral doses of 250 units each. RESULTS Before treatment, the patient had a rapid rise in PSA levels, from 39 to 56 ng/ml, within 6 weeks. At the 15th week of o-rMETase administration, the PSA levels stabilized at 62 ng/ml. No overt side effects were observed. CONCLUSION o-rMETase single treatment can be beneficial for advanced prostate cancer patients.
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Higuchi T, Han Q, Sugisawa N, Yamamoto J, Yamamoto N, Hayashi K, Kimura H, Miwa S, Igarashi K, Bouvet M, Singh SR, Tsuchiya H, Hoffman RM. Combination Methionine-methylation-axis Blockade: A Novel Approach to Target the Methionine Addiction of Cancer. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2021; 18:113-120. [PMID: 33608308 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Cancers are selectively sensitive to methionine (MET) restriction (MR) due to their addiction to MET which is overused for elevated methylation reactions. MET addiction of cancer was discovered by us 45 years ago. MR of cancer results in depletion of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) for transmethylation reactions, resulting in selective cancer-growth arrest in the late S/G2-phase of the cell cycle. The aim of the present study was to determine if blockade of the MET-methylation axis is a highly-effective strategy for cancer chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study, we demonstrated the efficacy of MET-methylation-axis blockade using MR by oral-recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) combined with decitabine (DAC), an inhibitor of DNA methylation, and an inhibitor of SAM synthesis, cycloleucine (CL). We determined a proof-of-concept of the efficacy of the MET-methylation-axis blockade on a recalcitrant undifferentiated/unclassified soft-tissue sarcoma (USTS) patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model. RESULTS The o-rMETase-CL-DAC combination regressed the USTS PDOX with extensive cancer necrosis. CONCLUSION The new concept of combination MET-methylation-axis blockade is effective and can now be tested on many types of recalcitrant cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | | | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Norio Yamamoto
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Hayashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Miwa
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Shree Ram Singh
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan;
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.; .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
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