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Hjazi A, Nasir F, Noor R, Alsalamy A, Zabibah RS, Romero-Parra RM, Ullah MI, Mustafa YF, Qasim MT, Akram SV. The pathological role of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression; special focus on molecular mechanisms and possible therapeutics. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 248:154616. [PMID: 37379710 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is comprised of transformed cells and non-malignant cells including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), endothelial vasculature cells, and tumor-infiltrating cells. These nonmalignant cells, as well as soluble factors (e.g., cytokines), and the extracellular matrix (ECM), form the tumor microenvironment (TME). In general, the cancer cells and their surrounding TME can crosstalk by direct cell-to-cell contact and via soluble factors, such as cytokines (e.g., chemokines). TME not only promotes cancer progression through growth-promoting cytokines but also provides resistance to chemotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms of tumor growth and progression and the roles of chemokines in CRC will likely suggest new therapeutic targets. In this line, a plethora of reports has evidenced the critical role of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)/C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12 or SDF-1) axis in CRC pathogenesis. In the current review, we take a glimpse into the role of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis in CRC growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and immune escape. Also, a summary of recent reports concerning targeting CXCR4/CXCL12 axis for CRC management and therapy has been delivered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Rabia Noor
- Amna Inayat Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ali Alsalamy
- College of Medical Technique, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Al-Muthanna 66002, Iraq
| | - Rahman S Zabibah
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | | | - Muhammad Ikram Ullah
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 75471, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasser Fakri Mustafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul 41001, Iraq
| | - Maytham T Qasim
- Department of Anesthesia, College of Health and Medical Technololgy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
| | - Shaik Vaseem Akram
- Uttaranchal Institute of Technology, Division of Research & Innovation, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun 248007, India
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2
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Qin M, Zhang C, Li Y. Circular RNAs in gynecologic cancers: mechanisms and implications for chemotherapy resistance. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1194719. [PMID: 37361215 PMCID: PMC10285541 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1194719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Increasing evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a significant role in conferring chemoresistance in these cancers. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance in gynecologic malignancies. We also discuss the potential clinical implications of these findings and highlight areas for future research. CircRNAs are a novel class of RNA molecules that are characterized by their unique circular structure, which confers increased stability and resistance to degradation by exonucleases. Recent studies have shown that circRNAs can act as miRNA sponges, sequestering miRNAs and preventing them from binding to their target mRNAs. This can lead to upregulation of genes involved in drug resistance pathways, ultimately resulting in decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy. We discuss several specific examples of circRNAs that have been implicated in chemoresistance in gynecologic cancers, including cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. We also highlight the potential clinical applications of circRNA-based biomarkers for predicting chemotherapy response and guiding treatment decisions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the role of circRNAs in chemotherapy resistance in gynecologic malignancies. By elucidating the underlying mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate drug sensitivity, this work has important implications for improving patient outcomes and developing more effective therapeutic strategies for these challenging cancers.
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Gomari MM, Abkhiz S, Pour TG, Lotfi E, Rostami N, Monfared FN, Ghobari B, Mosavi M, Alipour B, Dokholyan NV. Peptidomimetics in cancer targeting. Mol Med 2022; 28:146. [PMID: 36476230 PMCID: PMC9730693 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-022-00577-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The low efficiency of treatment strategies is one of the main obstacles to developing cancer inhibitors. Up to now, various classes of therapeutics have been developed to inhibit cancer progression. Peptides due to their small size and easy production compared to proteins are highly regarded in designing cancer vaccines and oncogenic pathway inhibitors. Although peptides seem to be a suitable therapeutic option, their short lifespan, instability, and low binding affinity for their target have not been widely applicable against malignant tumors. Given the peptides' disadvantages, a new class of agents called peptidomimetic has been introduced. With advances in physical chemistry and biochemistry, as well as increased knowledge about biomolecule structures, it is now possible to chemically modify peptides to develop efficient peptidomimetics. In recent years, numerous studies have been performed to the evaluation of the effectiveness of peptidomimetics in inhibiting metastasis, angiogenesis, and cancerous cell growth. Here, we offer a comprehensive review of designed peptidomimetics to diagnose and treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mahmoudi Gomari
- grid.411746.10000 0004 4911 7066Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shadi Abkhiz
- grid.411746.10000 0004 4911 7066Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taha Ghantab Pour
- grid.411746.10000 0004 4911 7066Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Lotfi
- grid.411746.10000 0004 4911 7066Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Rostami
- grid.411425.70000 0004 0417 7516Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Nafe Monfared
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Ghobari
- grid.412831.d0000 0001 1172 3536Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mona Mosavi
- grid.411746.10000 0004 4911 7066Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behruz Alipour
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Medical Biotechnology Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- grid.240473.60000 0004 0543 9901Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA USA ,grid.240473.60000 0004 0543 9901Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA USA
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4
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Visigalli R, Rotoli BM, Ferrari F, Di Lascia M, Riccardi B, Puccini P, Dall’Asta V, Barilli A. Expression and Function of ABC Transporters in Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091260. [PMID: 36139099 PMCID: PMC9496151 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a large superfamily of membrane transporters that facilitate the translocation of different substrates. While ABC transporters are clearly expressed in various tumor cells where they can play a role in drug extrusion, the presence of these transporters in normal lung tissues is still controversial. Here, we performed an analysis of ABC transporters in EpiAlveolarTM, a recently developed model of human alveoli, by defining the expression and activity of MDR1, BCRP, and MRPs. Immortalized primary epithelial cells hAELVi (human alveolar epithelial lentivirus-immortalized cells) were employed for comparison. Our data underline a close homology between these two models, where none of the ABC transporters here studied are expressed on the apical membrane and only MRP1 is clearly detectable and functional at the basolateral side. According to these findings, we can conclude that other thus-far-unidentified transporter/s involved in drug efflux from alveolar epithelium deserve investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Visigalli
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Bianca Maria Rotoli
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrari
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Maria Di Lascia
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetics, Biochemistry & Metabolism Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Benedetta Riccardi
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetics, Biochemistry & Metabolism Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Puccini
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetics, Biochemistry & Metabolism Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Valeria Dall’Asta
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
| | - Amelia Barilli
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Abdelaal MR, Ibrahim E, Elnagar MR, Soror SH, Haffez H. Augmented Therapeutic Potential of EC-Synthetic Retinoids in Caco-2 Cancer Cells Using an In Vitro Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169442. [PMID: 36012706 PMCID: PMC9409216 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer therapies have produced promising clinical responses, but tumor cells rapidly develop resistance to these drugs. It has been previously shown that EC19 and EC23, two EC-synthetic retinoids, have single-agent preclinical anticancer activity in colorectal carcinoma. Here, isobologram analysis revealed that they have synergistic cytotoxicity with retinoic acid receptor (RAR) isoform-selective agonistic retinoids such as AC261066 (RARβ2-selective agonist) and CD437 (RARγ-selective agonist) in Caco-2 cells. This synergism was confirmed by calculating the combination index (lower than 1) and the dose reduction index (higher than 1). Flow cytometry of combinatorial IC50 (the concentration causing 50% cell death) confirmed the cell cycle arrest at the SubG0-G1 phase with potentiated apoptotic and necrotic effects. The reported synergistic anticancer activity can be attributed to their ability to reduce the expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters including P-glycoprotein (P-gp1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and multi-drug resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP1) and Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70). This adds up to the apoptosis-promoting activity of EC19 and EC23, as shown by the increased Caspase-3/7 activities and DNA fragmentation leading to DNA double-strand breaks. This study sheds the light on the possible use of EC-synthetic retinoids in the rescue of multi-drug resistance in colorectal cancer using Caco-2 as a model and suggests new promising combinations between different synthetic retinoids. The current in vitro results pave the way for future studies on these compounds as possible cures for colorectal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed R. Abdelaal
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
- Center of Scientific Excellence “Helwan Structural Biology Research, (HSBR)”, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
| | - Esraa Ibrahim
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
- Center of Scientific Excellence “Helwan Structural Biology Research, (HSBR)”, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
| | - Mohamed R. Elnagar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11823, Egypt
| | - Sameh H. Soror
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
- Center of Scientific Excellence “Helwan Structural Biology Research, (HSBR)”, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
| | - Hesham Haffez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
- Center of Scientific Excellence “Helwan Structural Biology Research, (HSBR)”, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +20-1094-970-173
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