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Araki S, Ohori M, Yugami M. Targeting pre-mRNA splicing in cancers: roles, inhibitors, and therapeutic opportunities. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1152087. [PMID: 37342192 PMCID: PMC10277747 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1152087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has indicated that pre-mRNA splicing plays critical roles in a variety of physiological processes, including development of multiple diseases. In particular, alternative splicing is profoundly involved in cancer progression through abnormal expression or mutation of splicing factors. Small-molecule splicing modulators have recently attracted considerable attention as a novel class of cancer therapeutics, and several splicing modulators are currently being developed for the treatment of patients with various cancers and are in the clinical trial stage. Novel molecular mechanisms modulating alternative splicing have proven to be effective for treating cancer cells resistant to conventional anticancer drugs. Furthermore, molecular mechanism-based combination strategies and patient stratification strategies for cancer treatment targeting pre-mRNA splicing must be considered for cancer therapy in the future. This review summarizes recent progress in the relationship between druggable splicing-related molecules and cancer, highlights small-molecule splicing modulators, and discusses future perspectives of splicing modulation for personalized and combination therapies in cancer treatment.
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Evaluation of CDK9 Inhibition by Dinaciclib in Combination with Apoptosis Modulating izTRAIL for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030928. [PMID: 36979907 PMCID: PMC10045754 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment options for colorectal cancer (CRC), especially in advanced stages are still insufficient. There, the discovery of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) was a bright spot. However, most cancers show resistance toward apoptotic signals. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) plays a crucial role in cell cycle progression in most tissues. We recently demonstrated the role of CDK9 in mediating TRAIL resistance. In this work, we investigated the role of CDK9 in colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis of CDK9 expression in cancer and normal tissues of CRC specimens was performed. The effect of selective CDK9 inhibition in combination with TRAIL on CRC cells was analyzed via cell viability, colony formation, and induction of apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mechanism of action was conducted via western blotting. We now have confirmed overexpression of CDK9 in cancer tissues, with low expression associated with poorer survival in a subset of CRC patients. In-vitro, CDK9 inhibition could strongly promote TRAIL-induced cell death in TRAIL-resistant CRC cells. Mechanistically, CDK9 inhibition induced apoptosis by downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins, myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein 1 (Mcl-1) and FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). Overall, we identified CDK9 as a prognostic marker and combined CDK9 inhibition and TRAIL as a novel and promising therapeutic approaches for colorectal cancer.
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Prognostic Impact of Caspase-8, CDK9 and Phospho-CDK9 (Thr 186) Expression in Patients with Uterine Cervical Cancer Treated with Definitive Chemoradiation and Brachytherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225500. [PMID: 36428594 PMCID: PMC9688434 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: After primary platinum-based chemoradiation of locally advanced uterine cervical cancer, a substantial proportion of women present with persistent, recurrent or metastatic disease, indicating an unmet need for biomarker development. Methods: We evaluated the clinical records of 69 cervical cancer patients (Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, FIGO Stage > IB3) who were subjected to definitive CRT. Immunohistochemical scoring of caspase-8, cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and phosphorylated (phospho-)CDK9 (threonine (Thr) 186) was performed on pretreatment samples and correlated with the histopathological and clinical endpoints, including relapse-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Lower levels of caspase-8 were more prevalent in patients with a higher T-stage (p = 0.002) and a higher FIGO stage (p = 0.003), and were significantly correlated with CDK9 expression (p = 0.018) and inversely with pCDK9 detection (p = 0.014). Increased caspase-8 levels corresponded to improved RFS (p = 0.005), DMFS (p = 0.038) and CSS (p = 0.017) in the univariate analyses. Low CDK9 expression was associated with worse RFS (p = 0.008), CSS (p = 0.015) and OS (p = 0.007), but not DMFS (p = 0.083), and remained a significant prognosticator for RFS (p = 0.003) and CSS (p = 0.009) in the multivariate analyses. Furthermore, low pCDK9 staining was significantly associated with superior RFS (p = 0.004) and DMFS (p = 0.001), and increased CSS (p = 0.022), and remained significant for these endpoints in the multivariate analyses. Conclusion: Increased caspase-8 and CDK9 levels correlate with improved disease-related outcomes in cervical cancer patients treated with CRT, whereas elevated pCDK9 levels predict worse survival in this patient population.
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Hermansyah D, Firsty NN, Alhudawy MN, Nasution RA. The Combination of CDK 4/6 Inhibitors plus Endocrine Treatment versus Endocrine Treatment Alone in Hormone-receptor (HR)-Positive breast Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Med Arch 2022; 76:333-342. [PMID: 36545458 PMCID: PMC9760242 DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2022.76.333-342] [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: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The identification of the novel targeted therapy i.e., cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 4/6 inhibitor as combined with the endocrine regimen revealed a considerable capability to increase the managements' effectivity of hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) and HER2- breast cancer (BC). Objective This study aims to compare the latter combination strategies versus hormonal therapy alone to determine its applicability in the treatment of HR+/HER2- BC. Methods We established the review based on the clinical trials as collected from several scientific databases from January 2011 to April 2021. RevMan 5.4 was utilized in statistical analysis and risk of bias (RoB) measurement. 5110 participants from 9 different trials were included in this review with similar baseline characteristics. Results According to our analysis of the intention-to-treat (ITT) group, CDK 4/6 inhibitor arms exhibited better overall response rate (ORR) as indicated by the relative risk (RR) (randomized-effect model (REM), 1.59 [1.37, 1.86]; 95% confidence interval (CI); P <0.00001) and higher clinical benefit rate (CBR) (RR, 1.22 [1.13, 1.32]; 95% CI; REM; P <0.00001). The combination regiment also proved to be effective in reducing the rate of progressive disease (PD) in the ITT group (RR 0.46 [0.39, 0.54]; CI 95%; FEM; P <0.00001. Although the rate of adverse effects especially the hematological reactions was significantly lower in the endocrine alone arm, other system reactions were fairly comparable. Conclusion The introduction of CDK 4/6 inhibitor to the endocrine-based regiment is proved beneficial to patients with HR+/HER2- BC even though the most recommended anti-hormonal to be combined remains questionable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dedy Hermansyah
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Naufal Nandita Firsty
- Undergraduate Program in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Nuh Alhudawy
- Undergraduate Program in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Raja Alwan Nasution
- Undergraduate Program in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
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Pham VV, Gao M, Meagher JL, Smith JL, D'Souza VM. A structure-based mechanism for displacement of the HEXIM adapter from 7SK small nuclear RNA. Commun Biol 2022; 5:819. [PMID: 35970937 PMCID: PMC9378691 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03734-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Productive transcriptional elongation of many cellular and viral mRNAs requires transcriptional factors to extract pTEFb from the 7SK snRNP by modulating the association between HEXIM and 7SK snRNA. In HIV-1, Tat binds to 7SK by displacing HEXIM. However, without the structure of the 7SK-HEXIM complex, the constraints that must be overcome for displacement remain unknown. Furthermore, while structure details of the TatNL4-3-7SK complex have been elucidated, it is unclear how subtypes with more HEXIM-like Tat sequences accomplish displacement. Here we report the structures of HEXIM, TatG, and TatFin arginine rich motifs in complex with the apical stemloop-1 of 7SK. While most interactions between 7SK with HEXIM and Tat are similar, critical differences exist that guide function. First, the conformational plasticity of 7SK enables the formation of three different base pair configurations at a critical remodeling site, which allows for the modulation required for HEXIM binding and its subsequent displacement by Tat. Furthermore, the specific sequence variations observed in various Tat subtypes all converge on remodeling 7SK at this region. Second, we show that HEXIM primes its own displacement by causing specific local destabilization upon binding - a feature that is then exploited by Tat to bind 7SK more efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent V Pham
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Michael Gao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Jennifer L Meagher
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Janet L Smith
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Victoria M D'Souza
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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ACBD3 Bioinformatic Analysis and Protein Expression in Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168881. [PMID: 36012147 PMCID: PMC9408326 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
ACBD3 overexpression has previously been found to correlate with worse prognosis for breast cancer patients and, as an incredibly diverse protein in both function and cellular localisation, ACBD3 may have a larger role in breast cancer than previously thought. This study further investigated ACBD3′s role in breast cancer. Bioinformatic databases were queried to characterise ACBD3 expression and mutation in breast cancer and to investigate how overexpression affects breast cancer patient outcomes. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to examine ACBD3 location within cells and tissue structures. ACBD3 was more highly expressed in breast cancer than in any other cancer or matched normal tissue, and expression over the median level resulted in reduced relapse-free, overall, and distant metastasis-free survival for breast cancer patients as a whole, with some differences observed between subtypes. IHC analysis found that ACBD3 levels varied based on hormone receptor status, indicating that ACBD3 could be a candidate biomarker for poor patient prognosis in breast cancer and may possibly be a biomarker for ER signal reprogramming of precancerous breast tissue.
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Alsfouk AA, Alshibl HM, Alsfouk BA, Altwaijry NA, Al-Abdullah ES. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Imadazo[1,2-a]pyrazines as Anticancer and Antiviral Agents through Inhibition of CDK9 and Human Coronavirus. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070859. [PMID: 35890157 PMCID: PMC9319549 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, novel imadazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as CDK9 inhibitors. The results of CDK9 assay showed that the derivatives with pyridin-4-yl in position 2 and benzyl in position 3 of imadazo[1,2-a]pyrazine 3c displayed the most potent CDK9 inhibitory activity with IC50 of 0.16 µM. The anti-proliferative effect of the new compounds was examined against breast cancer (MCF7), colorectal cancer (HCT116), and chronic myelogenous leukaemia (K652) cell lines. The data of MTT assay showed that the cytotoxic effect of the inhibitors is correlated to their inhibitory activity against CDK9. Compound 3c exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity effect with average IC50s of three cell lines of 6.66 µM. The drug likeness properties of 3c were predicated in silico and demonstrated that 3c have reasonable physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Selected derivatives were assessed in antiviral assay against human coronavirus 229E. The results of this assay showed that the derivative with pyridin-4-yl in position 2 and cyclohexyl in position 3 of imadazo[1,2-a]pyrazine 3b exhibited the most potent anti-coronaviral activity with IC50 of 56.96 µM and selectivity index of 7.14. The target predication result revealed that 3b showed high affinity to protease enzyme. Docking studies of 3b with COVID-19 main protease was conducted and showed good binding affinity, which confirmed the in vitro assay data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha A. Alsfouk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; (B.A.A.); (N.A.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Hanan M. Alshibl
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (H.M.A.); (E.S.A.-A.)
| | - Bshra A. Alsfouk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; (B.A.A.); (N.A.A.)
| | - Najla A. Altwaijry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; (B.A.A.); (N.A.A.)
| | - Ebtehal S. Al-Abdullah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (H.M.A.); (E.S.A.-A.)
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Sofi S, Mehraj U, Qayoom H, Aisha S, Asdaq SMB, Almilaibary A, Mir MA. Cyclin-dependent kinases in breast cancer: expression pattern and therapeutic implications. Med Oncol 2022; 39:106. [PMID: 35486263 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01731-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Presently, breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed and the leading cause of tumor-related deaths among women worldwide. Cell cycle dysregulation is one of the hallmarks of cancer, resulting in uncontrolled cell proliferation. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are central to the cell cycle control system, and deregulation of these kinases leads to the development of malignancies, including breast cancer. CDKs and cyclins have been reported as crucial components involved in tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Given the aggressive nature, tumor heterogeneity, and chemoresistance, there is an urgent need to explore novel targets and therapeutics to manage breast cancer effectively. Inhibitors targeting CDKs modulate the cell cycle, thus throwing light upon their therapeutic aspect where the progression of tumor cells could be inhibited. This article gives a comprehensive account of CDKs in breast cancer progression and metastasis and recent developments in the modulation of CDKs in treating malignancies. We have also explored the expression pattern and prognostic significance of CDKs in breast cancer patients. The article will also shed light on the Implications of CDK inhibition and TGF-β signaling in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shazia Sofi
- Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | - Umar Mehraj
- Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | - Hina Qayoom
- Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | - Shariqa Aisha
- Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | | | - Abdullah Almilaibary
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Albaha University, Albaha, 65511, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Manzoor A Mir
- Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India.
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Borowczak J, Szczerbowski K, Maniewski M, Zdrenka M, Słupski P, Antosik P, Kołodziejska S, Sekielska-Domanowska M, Dubiel M, Bodnar M, Szylberg Ł. The Prognostic Role of CDK9 in Bladder Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061492. [PMID: 35326643 PMCID: PMC8945910 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Most patients with urothelial carcinoma are diagnosed with non-invasive tumors, but the prognosis worsens with the progression of the disease. Overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 has been recently linked to increased cancer proliferation, faster progression, and worse prognosis. However, some cancers seem to contradict this rule. In this work, we explored the prognostic role of CDK9 expression in urothelial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We performed immunohistochemical analysis on 72 bladder cancer samples. To assess a larger group of patients, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database containing 406 cases and transcriptomics information through the Human Pathology Atlas were analyzed. Results: CDK9 is overexpressed in urothelial cancer tissues when compared to normal urothelial tissues (p < 0.05). High CDK9 expression was observed in low-stage, low-grade, and non-muscle-invasive tumors (p < 0.05). The patients with high CDK9 expression had a significantly higher 5-year overall survival rate than those with low CDK9 expression (77.54% vs. 53.6% in the TMA group and 57.75% vs. 35.44% in the TCGA group, respectively) (p < 0.05). The results were consistent in both cohorts. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that low CDK9 status was an independent predictor for poor prognosis in the TCGA cohort (HR 1.60, CL95% 1.1−2.33, p = 0.014). Conclusions: High CDK9 expression predicts a favorable prognosis in urothelial carcinoma and is associated with clinicopathological features characteristic for early-stage disease. The decrease in CDK9 expression can be associated with the build-up of genetic instability and may indicate a key role for CDK9 in the early stages of urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jędrzej Borowczak
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.S.); (M.M.); (P.A.); (M.B.); (Ł.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-52-5854200; Fax: +48-52-5854049
| | - Krzysztof Szczerbowski
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.S.); (M.M.); (P.A.); (M.B.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Mateusz Maniewski
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.S.); (M.M.); (P.A.); (M.B.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Marek Zdrenka
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre—Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Piotr Słupski
- Department of Urology, University Hospital No. 2 im. Dr. Jan Biziel in Bydgoszcz, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Paulina Antosik
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.S.); (M.M.); (P.A.); (M.B.); (Ł.S.)
| | - Sylwia Kołodziejska
- Chair of Pathology, University Hospital No. 2 im. Dr. Jan Biziel in Bydgoszcz, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Marta Sekielska-Domanowska
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Oncology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (M.S.-D.); (M.D.)
| | - Mariusz Dubiel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Oncology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (M.S.-D.); (M.D.)
| | - Magdalena Bodnar
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.S.); (M.M.); (P.A.); (M.B.); (Ł.S.)
- Chair of Pathology, University Hospital No. 2 im. Dr. Jan Biziel in Bydgoszcz, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Szylberg
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.S.); (M.M.); (P.A.); (M.B.); (Ł.S.)
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre—Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
- Chair of Pathology, University Hospital No. 2 im. Dr. Jan Biziel in Bydgoszcz, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
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Cheng SS, Qu YQ, Wu J, Yang GJ, Liu H, Wang W, Huang Q, Chen F, Li G, Wong CY, Wong VKW, Ma DL, Leung CH. Inhibition of the CDK9-cyclin T1 protein-protein interaction as a new approach against triple-negative breast cancer. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:1390-1405. [PMID: 35530158 PMCID: PMC9069406 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) activity is correlated with worse outcomes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. The heterodimer between CDK9 with cyclin T1 is essential for maintaining the active state of the kinase and targeting this protein-protein interaction (PPI) may offer promising avenues for selective CDK9 inhibition. Herein, we designed and generated a library of metal complexes bearing the 7-chloro-2-phenylquinoline CˆN ligand and tested their activity against the CDK9-cyclin T1 PPI. Complex 1 bound to CDK9 via an enthalpically-driven binding mode, leading to disruption of the CDK9-cyclin T1 interaction in vitro and in cellulo. Importantly, complex 1 showed promising anti-metastatic activity against TNBC allografts in mice and was comparably active compared to cisplatin. To our knowledge, 1 is the first CDK9-cyclin T1 PPI inhibitor with anti-metastatic activity against TNBC. Complex 1 could serve as a new platform for the future design of more efficacious kinase inhibitors against cancer, including TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha-Sha Cheng
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Yuan-Qing Qu
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao 999078, China
| | - Jia Wu
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Guan-Jun Yang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Wanhe Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao 999078, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Guodong Li
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Chun-Yuen Wong
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Vincent Kam Wai Wong
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao 999078, China
| | - Dik-Lung Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Chung-Hang Leung
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
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11
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Yang W, Liu S, Luo Q, Tan X. Expression of CDK9 in endometrial cancer tissues and its effect on the proliferation of HEC-1B. Open Life Sci 2021; 16:1341-1346. [PMID: 35071768 PMCID: PMC8742912 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2021-0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the female reproductive system, which has been threatening the life and health of many women. Its incidence and mortality rate remain high, resulting in a low survival rate. In this study, the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) in EC tissues was investigated, and its effect on the proliferation of EC cell line HEC-1B was preliminarily analyzed. RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed that CDK9 mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in the small interfering (si)RNA interference group compared with the siRNA control and blank control groups. MTT assay showed that the EC cell proliferative ability was significantly decreased, and phosphorylated-phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (p-PI3K)/PI3K and phosphorylated-protein kinase B (p-AKT)/AKT were significantly reduced in the siRNA interference group compared with the siRNA control and blank control groups. In conclusion, the high expression of CDK9 is a factor of poor prognosis in EC, and the reduction of CDK9 can inhibit HEC-1B cell proliferation, which may be related to the inhibition on the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Yang
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
| | - Shaoyan Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
| | - Qiuping Luo
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
| | - Xuexian Tan
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , 510150 Guangzhou , China
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Cheng S, Yang GJ, Wang W, Ma DL, Leung CH. Discovery of a tetrahydroisoquinoline-based CDK9-cyclin T1 protein–protein interaction inhibitor as an anti-proliferative and anti-migration agent against triple-negative breast cancer cells. Genes Dis 2021; 9:1674-1688. [PMID: 36157485 PMCID: PMC9485199 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, PR China
| | - Guan-Jun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, PR China
| | - Wanhe Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, PR China
| | - Dik-Lung Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Chung-Hang Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, PR China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, PR China
- Corresponding author.
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13
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Zhang X, Wang Q, Luo Y, Song M, Zhou Z, Zeng L, Hu M, Yang C. Cyclin-dependent kinase 15 upregulation is correlated with poor prognosis for patients with breast cancer. J Int Med Res 2021; 49:300060521999552. [PMID: 34162268 PMCID: PMC8236788 DOI: 10.1177/0300060521999552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the clinical significance of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 15 in breast cancer. Methods This prospective observational study enrolled 154 patients with breast cancer. Tumor tissues and paired paracancerous normal tissues were collected. Additionally, 85 samples of benign breast lesions were obtained from patients with mammary gland hyperplasia. Patient characteristics were recorded, and CDK15, human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Ki67 immunohistochemical expression were determined. Results The rate of strong CDK15 expression was 63.6% (98/154) in breast cancer tissues, which was remarkably higher than that in benign breast lesions (34.1%, 29/85). Similarly, the ratio of strong CDK15 expression was markedly higher in tumor tissues (63.6%, 98/15) than in paracancerous normal tissues (27.3%, 42/154). Pearson’s analysis showed that the CDK15 expression score was positively correlated with HER2 and Ki67. Patients with high CDK15 expression showed markedly higher ratios of TNM stage III to IV, lymph node metastasis, and increased tumor diameters but a significantly lower rate of ductal carcinoma in situ. The median survival time of these patients was significantly shorter. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis showed that low CDK15 expression predicted longer survival times. Conclusion Upregulated CDK15 predicted poor clinical outcomes in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiquan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yijun Luo
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Meijiao Song
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lin Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Meng Hu
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Chuyan Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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14
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Liu X, Song J, Zhang Y, Wang H, Sun H, Feng X, Hou M, Chen G, Tang Q, Ji M. ASF1B promotes cervical cancer progression through stabilization of CDK9. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:705. [PMID: 32848135 PMCID: PMC7449975 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-02872-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most deadly cancers in women, its current treatments still result in poor outcomes and developing the novel targets and therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Recent studies have shown that anti-silencing function 1B (ASF1B) might be used as a new proliferation marker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, the expression and function of ASF1B in cervical cancer remain unclear. Here, we induced ASF1B knockdown and overexpression in cervical cancer cell lines and detected the biological behavior changes in vitro. Furthermore, we established two murine models using stable ASF1B-shRNA HeLa cells or normal HeLa cells following AAV-shRNA-ASF1B administration to evaluate how suppression of ASF1B affects tumor growth. We showed that ASF1B functions as an oncogene in cervical cancer cells. Silence of ASF1B suppressed cervical cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo, while, ASF1B overexpression accelerated cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, ASF1B deficiency induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Mechanistically, we found that ASF1B formed stable complexes with cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), and positively regulated CDK9 stabilization. Taken together, tumorigenic ASF1B could be targeted to suppress cervical cancer tumor growth by inducing apoptotic cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission of China, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingwei Song
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
- Laboratory Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210000, Nanjing, China
| | - Yenan Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiquan Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongzhi Sun
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaomin Feng
- The Affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210004, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Hou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 510632, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Tang
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission of China, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Minjun Ji
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission of China, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China.
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15
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Xu W, Chen X, Deng F, Zhang J, Zhang W, Tang J. Predictors of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer: A Review. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:5887-5899. [PMID: 32606799 PMCID: PMC7320215 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s253056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) largely increases operative chances and improves prognosis of the local advanced breast cancer patients. However, no specific means have been invented to predict the therapy responses of patients receiving NAC. Therefore, we focus on the alterations of tumor tissue-related microenvironments such as stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes status, cyclin-dependent kinase expression, non-coding RNA transcription or other small molecular changes, in order to detect potentially predicted biomarkers which reflect the therapeutic efficacy of NAC in different subtypes of breast cancer. Further, possible mechanisms are also discussed to discover feasible treatment targets. Thus, these findings will be helpful to promote the prognosis of breast cancer patients who received NAC and summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilin Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Deng
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinhai Tang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China
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16
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Ding L, Cao J, Lin W, Chen H, Xiong X, Ao H, Yu M, Lin J, Cui Q. The Roles of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases in Cell-Cycle Progression and Therapeutic Strategies in Human Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21061960. [PMID: 32183020 PMCID: PMC7139603 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21061960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are serine/threonine kinases whose catalytic activities are regulated by interactions with cyclins and CDK inhibitors (CKIs). CDKs are key regulatory enzymes involved in cell proliferation through regulating cell-cycle checkpoints and transcriptional events in response to extracellular and intracellular signals. Not surprisingly, the dysregulation of CDKs is a hallmark of cancers, and inhibition of specific members is considered an attractive target in cancer therapy. In breast cancer (BC), dual CDK4/6 inhibitors, palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib, combined with other agents, were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently for the treatment of hormone receptor positive (HR+) advanced or metastatic breast cancer (A/MBC), as well as other sub-types of breast cancer. Furthermore, ongoing studies identified more selective CDK inhibitors as promising clinical targets. In this review, we focus on the roles of CDKs in driving cell-cycle progression, cell-cycle checkpoints, and transcriptional regulation, a highlight of dysregulated CDK activation in BC. We also discuss the most relevant CDK inhibitors currently in clinical BC trials, with special emphasis on CDK4/6 inhibitors used for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HER2−) M/ABC patients, as well as more emerging precise therapeutic strategies, such as combination therapies and microRNA (miRNA) therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ding
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Jiaqi Cao
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Wen Lin
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Hongjian Chen
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Xianhui Xiong
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Hongshun Ao
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Min Yu
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Qinghua Cui
- Lab of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (L.D.); (J.C.); (W.L.); (H.C.); (X.X.); (H.A.); (M.Y.); (J.L.)
- Key Lab of Molecular Cancer Biology, Yunnan Education Department, Kunming 650091, China
- Correspondence:
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P-TEFb as A Promising Therapeutic Target. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040838. [PMID: 32075058 PMCID: PMC7070488 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) was first identified as a general factor that stimulates transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), but soon afterwards it turned out to be an essential cellular co-factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transcription mediated by viral Tat proteins. Studies on the mechanisms of Tat-dependent HIV transcription have led to radical advances in our knowledge regarding the mechanism of eukaryotic transcription, including the discoveries that P-TEFb-mediated elongation control of cellular transcription is a main regulatory step of gene expression in eukaryotes, and deregulation of P-TEFb activity plays critical roles in many human diseases and conditions in addition to HIV/AIDS. P-TEFb is now recognized as an attractive and promising therapeutic target for inflammation/autoimmune diseases, cardiac hypertrophy, cancer, infectious diseases, etc. In this review article, I will summarize our knowledge about basic P-TEFb functions, the regulatory mechanism of P-TEFb-dependent transcription, P-TEFb’s involvement in biological processes and diseases, and current approaches to manipulating P-TEFb functions for the treatment of these diseases.
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Overexpression of TK1 and CDK9 in plasma-derived exosomes is associated with clinical resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019; 178:57-62. [PMID: 31346846 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-019-05365-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer. However, a better knowledge of predictive biomarkers of response and resistance to CDK4/6i is needed. Therefore, the present article addresses the role of the mRNA expression of thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), CDK4, 6 and 9 in plasma-derived exosomes and their relevance in the pharmacologic activity of CDK4/6i. METHODS Blood samples of 40 HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer patients were collected before (T0) the administration of palbociclib plus hormonal therapy and after 3 months (T1). RNA was isolated from exosomes and analysed for the expression of TK1, CDK 4, 6 and 9 by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). RESULTS A higher value of TK1 copies/ml at baseline (T0) was significantly associated with the number of previous lines of chemotherapy (p = 0.009). In patients with PD, a significant increase was observed in the number of copies/ml of TK1 (p = 0.01) and CDK9 (p = 0.03) comparing T1 vs. T0 values. No significant correlations between response to treatment and clinical parameters were found at univariate analysis. High baseline CDK4 expression was significantly correlated with longer PFS in patients treated with fulvestrant + palbociclib (low versus high: 6.45 months vs. not reached, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrates that, in plasma-derived exosomes, high baseline CDK4 mRNA levels are associated with response to palbociclib plus hormonal therapy, while the increase in TK1 and CDK9 mRNA copies/ml is associated with clinical resistance.
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Qin JJ. Is CDK9 a promising target for both primary and metastatic osteosarcoma? EBioMedicine 2019; 40:27-28. [PMID: 30651218 PMCID: PMC6413331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Jiang Qin
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
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