OSU-03012 in the treatment of glioblastoma

Conduction and validation of a novel prognostic signature in cervical cancer based on the necroptosis characteristic genes via integrating of multiomics data

The significance of necroptosis in recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer remains unclear. In this study, we utilized various bioinformatics methods to analyze the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) data, gene chip and the single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA seq) data. And a necroptosis-related genes signature for prognostic assessment of patients with cervical cancer was constructed successfully. Survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm and random forest analysis were performed to validate this signature. Patients in TCGA-CESC cohort were grouped into "high-necroptosis score (H-NCPS)" vs "low-necroptosis score (L-NCPS)" subgroups based on the median of necroptosis score of each patient. Analyses of the tumor microenvironment manifested "H-NCPS" patients associated with lower degree of immune infiltration. Through the utilization of survival analysis, cell communication, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), PGK1 was determined to be the pivotal gene within the 9-gene signature associated with necroptosis. The high expression of PGK1 in cervical cancer cells was confirmed through the utilization of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the human protein atlas (HPA). In the interim, PGK1 prompted the transition of M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages and influenced the occurrence and development of necroptosis. In conclusion, the 9-gene signature developed from necroptosis-related genes has shown significant predictive capabilities for the prognosis of cervical cancer, offered valuable guidance for individualized and targeted treatment approaches for patients.

Celecoxib Analogues for Cancer Treatment: An Update on OSU-03012 and 2,5-Dimethyl-Celecoxib

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important enzyme involved in prostaglandins biosynthesis from arachidonic acid. COX-2 is frequently overexpressed in human cancers and plays a major tumor promoting function. Accordingly, many efforts have been devoted to efficiently target the catalytic site of this enzyme in cancer cells, by using COX-2 specific inhibitors such as celecoxib. However, despite their potent anti-tumor properties, the myriad of detrimental effects associated to the chronic inhibition of COX-2 in healthy tissues, has considerably limited their use in clinic. In addition, increasing evidence indicate that these anti-cancerous properties are not strictly dependent on the inhibition of the catalytic site. These findings have led to the development of non-active COX-2 inhibitors analogues aiming at preserving the antitumor effects of COX-2 inhibitors without their side effects. Among them, two celecoxib derivatives, 2,5-Dimethyl-Celecoxib and OSU-03012, have been developed and suggested for the treatment of viral (e.g., recently SARS-CoV-2), inflammatory, metabolic diseases and cancers. These molecules display stronger anti-tumor properties than celecoxib and thus may represent promising anti-cancer molecules. In this review, we discuss the impact of these two analogues on cancerous processes but also their potential for cancer treatment alone or in combination with existing approaches.

Identifying Personalized Metabolic Signatures in Breast Cancer

Cancer cells are adept at reprogramming energy metabolism, and the precise manifestation of this metabolic reprogramming exhibits heterogeneity across individuals (and from cell to cell). In this study, we analyzed the metabolic differences between interpersonal heterogeneous cancer phenotypes. We used divergence analysis on gene expression data of 1156 breast normal and tumor samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and integrated this information with a genome-scale reconstruction of human metabolism to generate personalized, context-specific metabolic networks. Using this approach, we classified the samples into four distinct groups based on their metabolic profiles. Enrichment analysis of the subsystems indicated that amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, citric acid cycle, androgen and estrogen metabolism, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification distinguished these four groups. Additionally, we developed a workflow to identify potential drugs that can selectively target genes associated with the reactions of interest. MG-132 (a proteasome inhibitor) and OSU-03012 (a celecoxib derivative) were the top-ranking drugs identified from our analysis and known to have anti-tumor activity. Our approach has the potential to provide mechanistic insights into cancer-specific metabolic dependencies, ultimately enabling the identification of potential drug targets for each patient independently, contributing to a rational personalized medicine approach.

Celecoxib derivative OSU-03012 inhibits the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells by inducing cell senescence

Liver fibrosis may lead to portal hypertension, liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma, and predominantly results from the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells. OSU‑03012, a non‑cyclooxygenase‑inhibiting celecoxib derivative, has been previously demonstrated to promote apoptosis in certain cell types, however, its function in hepatic fibrosis remains unclear. In the current study, the inhibitory effect of OSU‑03012 on the proliferation of the LX2 human hepatic stellate cell line was evaluated by cell counting kit‑8 assay. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed in order to examine the expression of α‑smooth muscle actin and type I collagen, which are representative of LX2 cell activation. The senescence of LX2 cells was measured by senescence‑associated β‑galactosidase staining, and the cell cycle and apoptosis levels were assessed by flow cytometry. The impact of senescence‑associated signaling on protein expression was assessed by western blot analysis. OSU‑03012 was observed to inhibit cell proliferation and prevent the secretion of profibrotic factors in LX2 cells in a dose‑dependent manner. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that OSU‑03012 inhibited the proliferation and activation of LX2 via the induction of cell senescence at the G1 phase, rather than via cell apoptosis. The induction of senescence may be via the upregulation of p16, p21 and p27. In conclusion, the current study provided insight into the pharmacological mechanisms of OSU‑03012 in preventing the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells through cell senescence. The current study supports the theory that OSU‑03012 is a novel agent for potential use against liver fibrosis.

The phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitor, UCN-01, induces fragmentation: possible role of metalloproteinases

Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is a key enzyme, master regulator of cellular proliferation and metabolism; it is considered a key target for pharmacological intervention. Using membranes obtained from DDT1 MF-2 cells, phospho-PDK1 was identified by Western blotting, as two major protein bands of Mr 58-68 kDa. Cell incubation with the PDK1 inhibitor, UCN-01, induced a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in the amount of phospho-PDK1 with a concomitant appearance of a ≈42 kDa phosphorylated fragment. Knocking down PDK1 diminished the amount of phospho-PDK1 detected in membranes, accompanied by similarly decreased fragment generation. UCN-01-induced fragment generation was also observed in membranes from cells stably expressing a myc-tagged PDK1 construct. Other PDK1 inhibitors were also tested: OSU-03012 induced a clear decrease in phospho-PDK1 and increased the presence of the phosphorylated fragment in membrane preparations; in contrast, GSK2334470 and staurosporine induced only marginal increases in the amount of PDK1 fragment. Galardin and batimastat, two metalloproteinase inhibitors, markedly attenuated inhibitor-induced PDK1 fragment generation. Metalloproteinases 2, 3, and 9 co-immunoprecipitated with myc-PDK1 under baseline conditions and this interaction was stimulated by UCN-01; batimastat also markedly diminished this effect of the PDK1 inhibitor. Our results indicate that a series of protein kinase inhibitors, namely UCN-01 and OSU-03012 and to a lesser extent GSK2334470 and staurosporine induce PDK1 fragmentation and suggest that metalloproteinases could participate in this effect.

Bringing the heavy: carbon ion therapy in the radiobiological and clinical context

Radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer is undergoing an evolution, shifting to the use of heavier ion species. For a plethora of malignancies, current radiotherapy using photons or protons yields marginal benefits in local control and survival. One hypothesis is that these malignancies have acquired, or are inherently radioresistant to low LET radiation. In the last decade, carbon ion radiotherapy facilities have slowly been constructed in Europe and Asia, demonstrating favorable results for many of the malignancies that do poorly with conventional radiotherapy. However, from a radiobiological perspective, much of how this modality works in overcoming radioresistance, and extending local control and survival are not yet fully understood. In this review, we will explain from a radiobiological perspective how carbon ion radiotherapy can overcome the classical and recently postulated contributors of radioresistance (α/β ratio, hypoxia, cell proliferation, the tumor microenvironment and metabolism, and cancer stem cells). Furthermore, we will make recommendations on the important factors to consider, such as anatomical location, in the future design and implementation of clinical trials. With the existing data available we believe that the expansion of carbon ion facilities into the United States is warranted.

OSU-03012, a non-Cox inhibiting celecoxib derivative, induces apoptosis of human esophageal carcinoma cells through a p53/Bax/cytochrome c/caspase-9-dependent pathway

OSU-03012 is a celecoxib derivative devoid of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity. It was previously reported to inhibit the growth of some tumor cells through the AKT-signaling pathway. In the current study, we assessed the ability of OSU-03012 to induce apoptosis in human esophageal carcinoma cells and the mechanism by which this occurs. A cell proliferation assay indicated that OSU-03012 inhibited the growth of human esophageal carcinoma cell lines with an IC50 below 2 μmol/l and had the most effective cytotoxicity against Eca-109 cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling assay and flow cytometry analysis showed that OSU-03012 could induce the apoptosis in Eca-109 cells. After treatment of Eca-109 cells with 2 μmol/l OSU-03012 for 24 h, the apoptosis index increased from 14.07 to 53.72%. OSU-03012 treatment resulted in a 30-40% decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and caused cytochrome c release into the cytosol. Further studies with caspase-9-specific and caspase-8-specific inhibitors (z-LEHDfmk and z-IETDfmk, respectively) pointed toward the involvement of the caspase-9 pathway, but not the caspase-8 pathway, in the execution of OSU-03012-induced apoptosis. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that OSU-03012-induced cellular apoptosis was associated with upregulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9. Ser-15 of p53 was phosphorylated after 24 h of treatment of the cancer cells with OSU-03012. This increase in p53 was associated with the decrease in Bcl-2 and increase in Bax. An inhibitor of p53, pifithrin-α, attenuated the anticancer effects of OSU-03012 and downregulated the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-9. Altogether, our results show that OSU-03012 could induce apoptosis in human esophageal carcinoma cells through a p53/Bax/cytochrome c/caspase-9-dependent pathway.

Arsenic trioxide enhances the radiation sensitivity of androgen-dependent and -independent human prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men. In the present study, LNCaP (androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer cells) and PC-3 cells (androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells) were used to investigate the anti-cancer effects of ionizing radiation (IR) combined with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and to determine the underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. We found that IR combined with ATO increases the therapeutic efficacy compared to individual treatments in LNCaP and PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. In addition, combined treatment showed enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation compared to treatment with ATO or IR alone in PC-3 cells. Combined treatment induced autophagy and apoptosis in LNCaP cells, and mainly induced autophagy in PC-3 cells. The cell death that was induced by the combined treatment was primarily the result of inhibition of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Furthermore, we found that the combined treatment of cells pre-treated with 3-MA resulted in a significant change in AO-positive cells and cytotoxicity. In an in vivo study, the combination treatment had anti-tumor growth effects. These novel findings suggest that combined treatment is a potential therapeutic strategy not only for androgen-dependent prostate cancer but also for androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Synergistic effects of arsenic trioxide and radiation in osteosarcoma cells through the induction of both autophagy and apoptosis

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, occurring mainly in children and adolescents, and survival largely depends on their response to chemotherapy. However, the risk of relapse and adverse outcomes is still high. We investigated the synergistic anti-cancer effects of ionizing radiation combined with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and the mechanisms underlying apoptosis or autophagy induced by combined radiation and ATO treatment in human osteosarcoma cells. We found that exposure to radiation increased the population of HOS cells in the G(2)/M phase within 12 h in a time-dependent manner. Radiation combined with ATO induced a significantly prolonged G(2)/M arrest, consequently enhancing cell death. Furthermore, combined treatment resulted in enhanced ROS generation compared to treatment with ATO or radiation alone. The enhanced cytotoxic effect of combined treatment occurred from the increased induction of autophagy and apoptosis through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in HOS cells. The combined treatment of HOS cells pretreated with Z-VAD, 3-MA or PEG-catalase resulted in a significant reduction of cytotoxicity. In addition, G(2)/M arrest and ROS generation could be involved in the underlying mechanisms. The data suggest that a combination of radiation and ATO could be a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Chemopreventive and bioenergetic signaling effects of PDK1/Akt pathway inhibition in a transgenic mouse model of prostate cancer

The phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1)/Akt pathway is an important regulator of multiple biological processes including cell growth, survival, and glucose metabolism. In light of the mechanistic link between Akt signaling and prostate tumorigenesis, we evaluated the chemopreventive relevance of inhibiting this pathway in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the model prostate (TRAMP) mouse with OSU03012, a celecoxib-derived, but COX-2-inactive, PDK1 inhibitor. Beginning at ten weeks of age when prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions are well developed, TRAMP mice received OSU03012 via daily oral gavage for 8 weeks. The drug treatment significantly decreased the weight of all 4 prostate lobes as well as the grade of epithelial proliferation in the dorsal and lateral lobes compared to vehicle-treated control mice. The incidences of carcinoma and metastasis were decreased, although not to statistically significant levels. Treated mice lost body fat and failed to gain weight independent of food intake. This change and periportal hepatocellular atrophy can be linked to sustained PDK1 inhibition through downstream inactivation of glycogen synthase. Centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy and necrosis of Type II skeletal myofibers were also compound-related effects. We conclude that targeting of the PDK1/Akt pathway has chemopreventive relevance in prostate cancer and causes other in vivo effects mediated in part by an alteration of bioenergetic signaling.

OSU-03012, a Novel Celecoxib Derivative, Is Cytotoxic to Myeloma Cells and Acts through Multiple Mechanisms

PURPOSE

OSU-03012 is a novel celecoxib derivative, without cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity, capable of inducing apoptosis in various cancer cells types, and is being developed as an anticancer drug. We investigated the in vitro activity of OSU-03012 in multiple myeloma (MM) cells.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

U266, ARH-77, IM-9, and RPMI-8226, and primary myeloma cells were exposed to OSU-03012 for 6, 24, or 72 h. Cytotoxicity, caspase activation, apoptosis, and effects on intracellular signaling pathways were assessed.

RESULTS

OSU-03012 was cytotoxic to MM cells with mean LC50 3.69 +/- 0.23 and 6.25 +/- 0.86 micromol/L and at 24 h for primary MM cells and cell lines, respectively. As a known PDK-1 inhibitor, OSU-03012 inhibited the PI3K/Akt pathway with downstream effects on BAD, GSK-3beta, FoxO1a, p70S6K, and MDM-2. However, transfection of MM cells with constitutively active Akt failed to protect against cell death, indicating activity against other pathways is important. Phospho (p)-signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 and p-MAP/ERK kinase 1/2 were down-regulated, suggesting that OSU-03012 also inhibited the Janus-activated kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Although expression of Bcl-2 proteins was unchanged, OSU-03012 also down-regulated survivin and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), and also induced G2 cell cycle arrest with associated reductions in cyclins A and B. Finally, although OSU-03012 induced cleavage of caspases 3, 8 and 9, caspase inhibition did not prevent cell death.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that OSU-03012 has potent activity against MM cells and acts via different mechanisms in addition to phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway inhibition. These studies provide rationale for the clinical investigation of OSU-03012 in MM.