The Multifarious Link between Cytochrome P450s and Cancer

Expression of histone methyltransferase WHSC1 in invasive breast cancer and its correlation with clinical and pathological data

BACKGROUND

The WHSC1 protein facilitates specific dimethylation of histone H3 at the K36 position, enhancing gene transcription and expression. Studies have confirmed its high expression in diverse malignant tumors. We aimed to identify novel molecular markers to assess the biological behavior of breast cancer cells.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of mRNA expression in breast cancer and adjacent tissues based on TCGA data. We enrolled 141 breast cancer patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University between 2012 and 2016. Patient clinical information and pathological specimens were obtained. We utilized tissue microarray (TMA) technology. We employed the chi-square test for between-group comparisons, with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Furthermore, we analyzed the associations between WHSC1 expression and clinical or pathological data.

RESULTS

WHSC1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in breast cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues (p < 0.001). Moreover, high WHSC1 protein expression in breast cancer was associated with several important clinical parameters, such as pathological type (p = 0.007), high Ki67 expression(Ki67＞20 %) (p < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), T stage (p = 0.011), N stage (p < 0.001), postoperative pathological stage (p < 0.001), premenopausal status (p = 0.004), and positive HER2 status (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that high WHSC1 expression, elevated Ki67 levels, and positive HER2 status were independent risk factors for axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

WHSC1 protein expression is upregulated in breast cancer patients and represents an independent risk factor influencing axillary lymph node metastasis, highlighting its potential significance as a strong candidate biomarker.

Virtual screening study for biological activity assessment and metabolism pathway of a fuel dye in airborne exposure scenario

The utilization of synthetic dyes increases the risk to human health. Despite the progress of information on azo dyes, very little attention has been reported on toxicity assessment of anthraquinone dyes. Solvent Blue 35 (SB35) is one of the anthraquinone dyes likely to be encountered because of its increasing use in various industries. Whereas the design of laboratory tests is very expensive, in silico screening was used to predict the metabolic profile and toxicity effect of SB35. MetaTox software was used to predict the metabolites of phase I and II in two layers. Since airborne exposure has been considered, the pathways of inhalation and dermal absorption of SB35 were investigated through the SwissADME model based on the modified Lipinski's rule of five. To predict the biological effect and toxicity of SB35 and each of the metabolites, PASS online software was used. Chemical activity was considered according to the probability of activation values (Pa) higher than the probability of inactivation values (Pi). N- dealkylation of SB35 was predicted in the first layer, while seven active compounds were obtained in the second layer from phases I and II reactions. Investigating the physicochemical properties of SB35 confirmed inhalation absorption for occupational exposure scenarios. All metabolites are absorbed from intestinal routes based on the RO5 rules. SB35 and their metabolites have an effective substrate role for the sub-type of CYP 450 enzymes. The toxicity effect of carcinogenicity for SB35 and mutagenicity for metabolites are predicted while confirmed with some biological effects. However, reproductive disorders are pointed with SB35 by probability higher than 70%. Virtual screening methods are efficient tools for creating cost-effective predictions in the hazard's evaluation of SB35. However, a perspective view is suggested before decision-making for laboratory designing tests.

Metabolic transformation of cyclopiazonic acid in liver microsomes from different species based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS

To investigate the metabolic transformation of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) in the liver of different species and to supplement accurate risk assessment information, the metabolism of CPA in liver microsomes from four animals and humans was studied using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight method. The results showed that a total of four metabolites were obtained, and dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, methylation, and glucuronidation were identified as the main metabolic pathways of CPA. Rat liver microsomes exhibited the highest metabolic capacity for CPA, with dehydrogenated (C20H18N2O3) and glucuronic acid-conjugated (C26H28N2O10) metabolites identified in all liver microsomes except chicken, indicating significant species metabolic differences. Moreover, C20H18N2O3 was only detected in the incubation system with cytochromes P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). The hydroxylated (C20H20N2O4) and methylated (C21H22N2O3) metabolites were detected in all incubation systems except for the CYP2C9, with CYP3A4 demonstrating the strongest metabolic capacity. The "cocktail" probe drug method showed that CPA exhibited a moderate inhibitory effect on the CYP3A4 (IC50 value = 8.658 μM), indicating that the substrate had a negative effect on enzyme activity. Our results provide new insights to understand the biotransformation profile of CPA in animals and humans.

Decoding the Role of CYP450 Enzymes in Metabolism and Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is a group of enzymes that play an essential role in Phase I metabolism, with 57 functional genes classified into 18 families in the human genome, of which the CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3 families are prominent. Beyond drug metabolism, CYP enzymes metabolize endogenous compounds such as lipids, proteins, and hormones to maintain physiological homeostasis. Thus, dysregulation of CYP450 enzymes can lead to different endocrine disorders. Moreover, CYP450 enzymes significantly contribute to fatty acid metabolism, cholesterol synthesis, and bile acid biosynthesis, impacting cellular physiology and disease pathogenesis. Their diverse functions emphasize their therapeutic potential in managing hypercholesterolemia and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, CYP450 enzymes are implicated in the onset and development of illnesses such as cancer, influencing chemotherapy outcomes. Assessment of CYP450 enzyme expression and activity aids in evaluating liver health state and differentiating between liver diseases, guiding therapeutic decisions, and optimizing drug efficacy. Understanding the roles of CYP450 enzymes and the clinical effect of their genetic polymorphisms is crucial for developing personalized therapeutic strategies and enhancing drug responses in diverse patient populations.

There and Back Again: A Perspective on 20 Years of CYP4Z1

Cytochrome P450 (CYP)4Z1, a highly expressed CYP gene in breast cancer, was one of the last CYPs to be identified in the human genome, some 20 years ago. CYP4 enzymes typically catalyze ω-hydroxylation and metabolize ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids to bioactive lipid metabolites that can influence tumor growth and metastasis. These attributes of CYP4Z1 make it an attractive target for new chemotherapeutic drug design, as a potential biomarker for selection of patients that might respond favorably to drugs and for developing enzyme inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the advancing biochemistry of CYP4Z1, its role in breast cancer, and the recent synthesis of selective chemical inhibitors of the enzyme. We identify gaps that need to be filled to further advance this field and present new experimental data on recombinant CYP4Z1 expression and purification of the active catalytic form. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In breast cancer, an unmet need is the availability of highly effective therapeutic agents, especially for triple negative breast cancer. The relevance of the work summarized in this mini-review is that it identifies a new potential drug target, CYP4Z1, and discusses ways in which the gene product's catalytic activity might be modulated in order to combat this malignancy and limit its spread.

The deregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism in ovarian cancer

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a crucial polyunsaturated fatty acid in the human body, metabolized through the pathways of COX, LOX, and cytochrome P450 oxidase to generate various metabolites. Recent studies have indicated that AA and its metabolites play significant regulatory roles in the onset and progression of ovarian cancer. This article examines the recent research advancements on the correlation between AA metabolites and ovarian cancer, both domestically and internationally, suggesting their potential use as biological markers for early diagnosis, targeted therapy, and prognosis monitoring.

Beneficial action of cinnamic acid against ovarian cancer via network pharmacology analysis and the pharmacological activity assessment

Naturally occurring cinnamic acid (CA) shows the beneficial potential in the suppression of ovarian cancer (OC). Currently, the in-depth molecular mechanisms of CA to suppress OC are still undescribed entirely. Thus, our research used the preclinical methodology through network pharmacology approach and pharmacological evaluation in vitro to unshroud the anti-OC targets and mechanisms of CA. Our data primarily identified 202 CA targets and 495 OC targets, and additional 45 shared targets in CA and OC were screened as presented in interaction network map. All 11 core targets in CA against OC were identified completely. The enrichment analysis of core targets revealed the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of CA against OC in details, including metabolic recombination and immune microenvironment regulation. Additionally, pharmacological evaluation data in vitro suggested that CA inhibited human OC cell proliferation in the time- and dose-dependent manners. In conclusion, CA can exert antineoplastic effects against OC effectively, and the pharmacological functions may directly actualize through a multi-target and multi-pathway avenue for suppressing OC.

Interaction between Continuous Pack-Years Smoked and Polygenic Risk Score on Lung Cancer Risk: Prospective Results from the Framingham Heart Study

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer risk attributable to smoking is dose dependent, yet few studies examining a polygenic risk score (PRS) by smoking interaction have included comprehensive lifetime pack-years smoked.

METHODS

We analyzed data from participants of European ancestry in the Framingham Heart Study Original (n = 454) and Offspring (n = 2,470) cohorts enrolled in 1954 and 1971, respectively, and followed through 2018. We built a PRS for lung cancer using participant genotyping data and genome-wide association study summary statistics from a recent study in the OncoArray Consortium. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to assess risk and the interaction between pack-years smoked and genetic risk for lung cancer adjusting for European ancestry, age, sex, and education.

RESULTS

We observed a significant submultiplicative interaction between pack-years and PRS on lung cancer risk (P = 0.09). Thus, the relative risk associated with each additional 10 pack-years smoked decreased with increasing genetic risk (HR = 1.56 at one SD below mean PRS, HR = 1.48 at mean PRS, and HR = 1.40 at one SD above mean PRS). Similarly, lung cancer risk per SD increase in the PRS was highest among those who had never smoked (HR = 1.55) and decreased with heavier smoking (HR = 1.32 at 30 pack-years).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest the presence of a submultiplicative interaction between pack-years and genetics on lung cancer risk, consistent with recent findings. Both smoking and genetics were significantly associated with lung cancer risk.

IMPACT

These results underscore the contributions of genetics and smoking on lung cancer risk and highlight the negative impact of continued smoking regardless of genetic risk.

Drug resistance mechanisms in cancers: Execution of pro-survival strategies

One of the quintessential challenges in cancer treatment is drug resistance. Several mechanisms of drug resistance have been described to date, and new modes of drug resistance continue to be discovered. The phenomenon of cancer drug resistance is now widespread, with approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths associated with drug resistance. Despite significant advances in the drug discovery process, the emergence of innate and acquired mechanisms of drug resistance has impeded the progress in cancer therapy. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance and the various pathways involved is integral to treatment modalities. In the present review, I discuss the different mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer cells, including DNA damage repair, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, inhibition of cell death, alteration of drug targets, inactivation of drugs, deregulation of cellular energetics, immune evasion, tumor-promoting inflammation, genome instability, and other contributing epigenetic factors. Furthermore, I highlight available treatment options and conclude with future directions.

CYP1A inhibitors: Recent progress, current challenges, and future perspectives

Mammalian cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) are key phase I xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes that play a distinctive role in metabolic activation or metabolic clearance of a variety of procarcinogens, drugs, and endogenous substances. Human CYP1A subfamily contains two members (hCYP1A1 and hCYP1A2), which are known to catalyze the oxidative activation of some environmental procarcinogens into carcinogenic species. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that CYP1A inhibitor therapies are promising strategies for cancer chemoprevention or overcoming CYP1A-associated drug toxicity and resistance. Herein, we reviewed recent advances in the discovery and characterization of hCYP1A inhibitors, from the discovery approaches to structural features and biomedical applications of hCYP1A inhibitors. The inhibition potentials, inhibition modes, and inhibition constants of all reported hCYP1A inhibitors are comprehensively summarized. Meanwhile, the structural features and structure-activity relationships of different classes of hCYP1A1 and hCYP1A2 inhibitors are analyzed and discussed in depth. Furthermore, the major challenges and future directions for this field are presented and highlighted. Collectively, the information and knowledge presented here will strongly facilitate the researchers to discover and develop more efficacious CYP1A inhibitors for specific purposes, such as chemo-preventive agents or as tool molecules in hCYP1A-related fundamental studies.

Role of Cytochrome P450 3A4 in Cancer Drug Resistance: Challenges and Opportunities

One of the biggest obstacles to the treatment of diseases, particularly serious conditions like cancer, is therapeutic resistance. The process of drug resistance is influenced by a number of important variables, including MDR genes, drug efflux, low-quality medications, inadequate dosage, etc. Drug resistance must be addressed, and new combinations based on the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) characteristics of the partner pharmaceuticals must be developed in order to extend the half-lives of already available medications. The primary mechanism of drug elimination is hepatic biotransformation of medicines by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes; of these CYPs, CYP3A4 makes up 30-40% of all known cytochromes that metabolize medications. Induction or inhibition of CYP3A4-mediated metabolism affects the pharmacokinetics of most anticancer drugs, but these details are not fully understood and highlighted because of the complexity of tumor microenvironments and various influencing patient related factors. The involvement of CYPs, particularly CYP3A4 and other drug-metabolizing enzymes, in cancer medication resistance will be covered in the current review.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism in CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, and CYP2C9 genes and their association with gastrointestinal cancer: A hospital-based case-control study

BACKGROUND

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) comprises a group of phase-I metabolizing enzymes that are important in xenobiotics metabolism. Genetic polymorphism of CYPs has been comprehensively studied for their association with a range of diseases. In this study, we assessed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of CYP1A, CYP1B, CYP2B, and CYP2C and their role in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer susceptibility in the rural population of Maharashtra.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this hospital-based case-control study, the association of polymorphism of CYP genes was studied by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The study subjects included 200 clinically confirmed GI cancer patients and equal number of healthy controls. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and P value were evaluated to find out the level of association, where P ≤ 0.005 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

After the analysis of CYP1A1*2A (rs4646903), CYP1B1*3 (rs1059836), CYP2B6*5 (rs3211371), CYP2C8*2 (rs11572103), CYP2C9*2 (rs1799853), and CYP2C9*3 (rs1057910), we noticed that variant (T) allele of CYP2B6*5 possessed significantly elevated risk (OR = 4.43; 95% CI: 2.20-8.90; P < 0.0001) of GI cancer in studied population. The genotypic distribution of G/C heterozygote allele of CYP1B1*3 (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.12-0.32; P < 0.0001) and homozygous variant C/C allele (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.13-0.45; P < 0.0001) showed a negative association with the development of GI cancer.

CONCLUSION

The findings from this study supported that polymorphism of CYP2B6*5gene may be involved in the development of GI cancer. However, other SNPs of CYP1A, CYP1B, and CYP2C genes did not signify the risk for GI cancer in the studied population of rural Maharashtra.

Masson pine pollen aqueous extract ameliorates cadmium-induced kidney damage in rats

Introduction: Cadmium (Cd) is a hazardous environmental pollutant present in soil, water, and food. Accumulation of Cd in organisms can cause systematic injury and damage to the kidney. The Masson pine pollen aqueous extract (MPPAE) has attracted increasing attention due to its antioxidant activity and ability to enhance immunity. Methods: In this study, we investigated the potential of MPPAE to protect against Cd-induced kidney damage in rats and the underlying mechanism. The transcriptome and metabolome of rats with Cd-induced kidney damage, following treatment with MPPAE, were explored. Results: The concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were both significantly altered after treatment with MPPAE. Furthermore, sequencing and analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome of rats with Cd-induced kidney damage, following treatment with MPPAE, revealed differential expression of numerous genes and metabolites compared with the untreated control rats. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) included detoxification-related genes such as cytochrome P450 and the transporter. The differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) included 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, L-ascorbate, and ciliatine. Conjoint transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed that several DEGs were correlated with DEMs. Conclusion: These preliminary findings indicate the potential of MPPAE for the treatment of toxic metal poisoning.

Inhibitory Effects of Urolithins, Bioactive Gut Metabolites from Natural Polyphenols, against Glioblastoma Progression

We previously reported that proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, promoted tumor migration, invasion, and proliferation, thus worsening the prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM). Urolithins, the potent metabolites produced by the gut from pomegranate polyphenols, have anticancer properties. To develop an effective therapy for GBM, this study aimed to study the effects of urolithins against GBM. Urolithin A and B significantly reduced GBM migration, reduced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and inhibited tumor growth. Moreover, urolithin A and B inhibited TNF-α-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, thereby reducing human monocyte (HM) binding to GBM cells. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) level had higher expression in patients with glioma than in healthy individuals. Urolithins are considered pharmacological antagonists of AhR. We demonstrated that the inhibition of AhR reduced TNF-α-stimulated VCAM-1 and PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, human macrophage condition medium enhanced expression of PD-L1 in human GBM cells. Administration of the AhR antagonist attenuated the enhancement of PD-L1, indicating the AhR modulation in GBM progression. The modulatory effects of urolithins in GBM involve inhibiting the Akt and epidermal growth factor receptor pathways. The present study suggests that urolithins can inhibit GBM progression and provide valuable information for anti-GBM strategy.

Down-Regulation of CYP3A4 by the KCa1.1 Inhibition Is Responsible for Overcoming Resistance to Doxorubicin in Cancer Spheroid Models

The large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel, KCa1.1, plays a pivotal role in cancer progression, metastasis, and the acquisition of chemoresistance. Previous studies indicated that the pharmacological inhibition of KCa1.1 overcame resistance to doxorubicin (DOX) by down-regulating multidrug resistance-associated proteins in the three-dimensional spheroid models of human prostate cancer LNCaP, osteosarcoma MG-63, and chondrosarcoma SW-1353 cells. Investigations have recently focused on the critical roles of intratumoral, drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) in chemoresistance. In the present study, we examined the involvement of CYPs in the acquisition of DOX resistance and its overcoming by inhibiting KCa1.1 in cancer spheroid models. Among the CYP isoforms involved in DOX metabolism, CYP3A4 was up-regulated by spheroid formation and significantly suppressed by the inhibition of KCa1.1 through the transcriptional repression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein, CEBPB, which is a downstream transcription factor of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. DOX resistance was overcome by the siRNA-mediated inhibition of CYP3A4 and treatment with the potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, ketoconazole, in cancer spheroid models. The phosphorylation levels of Akt were significantly reduced by inhibiting KCa1.1 in cancer spheroid models, and KCa1.1-induced down-regulation of CYP3A4 was reversed by the treatment with Akt and Nrf2 activators. Collectively, the present results indicate that the up-regulation of CYP3A4 is responsible for the acquisition of DOX resistance in cancer spheroid models, and the inhibition of KCa1.1 overcame DOX resistance by repressing CYP3A4 transcription mainly through the Akt-Nrf2-CEBPB axis.

In Silico Prediction of Selected Bioactive Compounds Present in Alpinia elegans (C.Presl) K.Schum Seed Oil as Potential Drug Candidates Against Human Cancer Cell Lines

OBJECTIVE

Alpinia elegans (Zingiberaceae) is a Philippine endemic plant reported to have various folkloric uses. The seed oil of A. elegans has been shown to contain a majority of the following bioactive compounds: D-limonene, α-pinene, and caryophyllene oxide. The study sought to determine if the bioactive compounds found in A. elegans seed oil would be a good natural, inexpensive, and less-detrimental alternative for cancer treatment.

METHODS

The study utilized in silico (Way2Drug predictive services, SwissADME, AutoDock 4) experiment to examine the aforementioned compounds as viable therapeutic candidates against human cancer cell lines.

RESULT

Results determined that the compounds D-limonene, α-pinene, and caryophyllene oxide were most potent against thyroid gland carcinoma (8505C) cells, brain glaucoma (Hs 683) cells, and promyeloblast leukemia (HL-60) cells, respectively. Additionally, D-limonene was the only compound to show arrhythmia as an adverse effect. Predictions showed that the compounds could inhibit cellular growth factors and serine/threonine-protein kinase activity. The compounds generated a bioavailability score of 0.55 and exhibited blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. D-limonene, α-pinene, and caryophyllene oxide had binding energy of -4.59, -5.43, and -6.92, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The binding energy indicated that the ligands could securely dock to the receptors, thus suggesting that interaction between the ligands and receptors was stable. Results have shown that the compounds are promising candidates against human cancer cell lines by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

Hydration and Structural Adaptations of the Human CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 Active Sites by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Cytochromes CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1, the members of the cytochrome P450 family 1, catalyze the metabolism of endogenous compounds, drugs, and non-drug xenobiotics which include substances involved in the process of carcinogenesis, cancer chemoprevention, and therapy. In the present study, the interactions of three selected polymethoxy-trans-stilbenes, analogs of a bioactive polyphenol trans-resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) with the binding sites of CYP1 isozymes were investigated with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The most pronounced structural changes in the CYP1 binding sites were observed in two substrate recognition sites (SRS): SRS2 (helix F) and SRS3 (helix G). MD simulations show that the number and position of water molecules occurring in CYP1 APO and in the structures complexed with ligands are diverse. The presence of water in binding sites results in the formation of water-protein, water-ligand, and bridging ligand-water-protein hydrogen bonds. Analysis of the solvent and substrate channels opening during the MD simulation showed significant differences between cytochromes in relation to the solvent channel and the substrate channels 2c, 2ac, and 2f. The results of this investigation lead to a deeper understanding of the molecular processes that occur in the CYP1 binding sites and may be useful for further molecular studies of CYP1 functions.

CYP4F12 is a potential biomarker and inhibits cell migration of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via EMT pathway

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is the most common malignant tumor of head and neck. Due to the insidious nature of HNSC and the lack of effective early diagnostic indicators, the development of novel biomarkers to improve patient prognosis is particularly urgent. In this study, we explored and validated the correlation between cytochrome P450 family 4 subfamily F member 12 (CYP4F12) expression levels and HNSC progression using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and collected patient samples. We analyzed the association of CYP4F12 expression with clinicopathological features, immune correlation and prognosis. Finally, we analyzed the correlation between CYP4F12 and pathways, and verified by experiments. The results showed that CYP4F12 was low expressed in tumor tissues, participated in a variety of phenotypic changes of HNSC and affected immune cell infiltration. Pathway analysis indicated that CYP4F12 may play a key role in tumor cell migration and apoptosis. Experimental results showed that over-expression of CYP4F12 inhibited cell migration and enhanced the adhesion between cells and matrix by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway in HNSC cells. In conclusion, our study provided insights into the role of CYP4F12 in HNSC and revealed that CYP4F12 may be a potential therapeutic target for HNSC.

Repurposing antifungal drugs for cancer therapy

BACKGROUND

Repurposing antifungal drugs in cancer therapy has attracted unprecedented attention in both preclinical and clinical research due to specific advantages, such as safety, high-cost effectiveness and time savings compared with cancer drug discovery. The surprising and encouraging efficacy of antifungal drugs in cancer therapy, mechanistically, is attributed to the overlapping targets or molecular pathways between fungal and cancer pathogenesis. Advancements in omics, informatics and analytical technology have led to the discovery of increasing "off-site" targets from antifungal drugs involved in cancerogenesis, such as smoothened (D477G) inhibition from itraconazole in basal cell carcinoma.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review illustrates several antifungal drugs repurposed for cancer therapy and reveals the underlying mechanism based on their original target and "off-site" target. Furthermore, the challenges and perspectives for the future development and clinical applications of antifungal drugs for cancer therapy are also discussed, providing a refresh understanding of drug repurposing.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This review may provide a basic understanding of repurposed antifungal drugs for clinical cancer management, thereby helping antifungal drugs broaden new indications and promote clinical translation.

Orbital myeloid sarcoma treated with low-dose venetoclax and a potent cytochrome P450 inhibitor

CASE REPORT

We report the first case of orbital myeloid sarcoma that was successfully treated with a standard venetoclax dose of 25%. A 38-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) post-haplo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) presented with a nine-month history of progressive right proptosis and a visual acuity deficit. The patient was treated with venetoclax (100 mg orally on days 1-28), cytarabine (40 mg subcutaneously, days 1-10), and itraconazole (100 mg twice daily orally on days 1-28).

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME

The present case report shows that using cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitors is a helpful strategy to reduce the cost of expensive treatments.

DISCUSSION

There are limited data on the use of CYP inhibitors as a strategy to reduce the costs of expensive drugs (i.e. venetoclax). This approach has some advantages over standard dose venetoclax (400 mg/day) such as significantly reduced costs (which is relevant for patients in low-income countries). In this case, we used itraconazole-a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor-which can theoretically reduce the dose to 100 mg/day without losing serum therapeutic concentrations.

Fluorescent molecular probes for imaging and detection of oxidases and peroxidases in biological samples

Oxidases and peroxidases are two subclasses of oxidoreductases. The abnormal expression of oxidases (such as tyrosinase, cytochrome P450 oxidases, and monoamine oxidases) and peroxidases (such as glutathione peroxidase, myeloperoxidase, and eosinophil peroxidase) is relative with some diseases. Therefore, the analysis of oxidases and peroxidases is great important for disease diagnosis and treatment. Fluorescent probes present simple protocol, high sensitivity and good stability in sensing field. Molecule fluorescent probes are constructed with chemical groups that tunes their fluorescence emission in response to binding events, chemical reactions, and the surrounding environment. A fluorescent probe is an efficient tool for visualizing the activity of enzymes in living organisms on the basis of its high specificity, sensitivity, and noninvasiveness characteristics. In this review, we focus on the sensing of oxidases and peroxidases by molecule fluorescent probes, and hope to bring new insight to wide researchers about oxidases and peroxidases in biological samples.

Unraveling the Complex Interconnection between Specific Inflammatory Signaling Pathways and Mechanisms Involved in HIV-Associated Colorectal Oncogenesis

The advancement of HIV treatment has led to increased life expectancy. However, people living with HIV (PLWH) are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancers. Chronic inflammation has a key role in oncogenesis, affecting the initiation, promotion, transformation, and advancement of the disease. PLWH are prone to opportunistic infections that trigger inflammation. It has been documented that 15-20% of cancers are triggered by infections, and this percentage is expected to be increased in HIV co-infections. The incidence of parasitic infections such as helminths, with Ascariasis being the most common, is higher in HIV-infected individuals. Cancer cells and opportunistic infections drive a cascade of inflammatory responses which assist in evading immune surveillance, making them survive longer in the affected individuals. Their survival leads to a chronic inflammatory state which further increases the probability of oncogenesis. This review discusses the key inflammatory signaling pathways involved in disease pathogenesis in HIV-positive patients with colorectal cancers. The possibility of the involvement of co-infections in the advancement of the disease, along with highlights on signaling mechanisms that can potentially be utilized as therapeutic strategies to prevent oncogenesis or halt cancer progression, are addressed.

Identification of a novel prognostic ADME-related signature associated with tumor immunity for aiding therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The genes that control drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) are also involved in carcinogenesis, cancer progression, and chemoresistance. However, no studies have systematically investigated the clinical significance and underlying functions of ADME genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Herein, we comprehensively explored the ADME genes in this disease, constructed and validated as a prognostic ADME gene signature (ADMEGS), using three ADME genes (ABCB1, ALDH1B1, and PON2) utilizing multiple datasets, including the training and test sets of The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus validation set. Moreover, we analyzed the relationship between the ADMEGS and clinical parameters, tumor immunity, and therapeutic response. We found that the ADMEGS was significantly correlated with the clinical, T, and N stages. Additionally, we were able to effectively differentiate tumor immune scores, immune cell infiltration statuses, and treatment responses based on the ADMEGS. As such, ADMEGS may be promising predictors for clinical outcome, tumor immunity, and treatment response.

Epigenetic aberrations of gene expression in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mostly triggered by environmental and life-style factors and may involve epigenetic aberrations. However, a comprehensive documentation of the link between the dysregulated epigenome, transcriptome, and liver carcinogenesis is lacking. In the present study, Fischer-344 rats were fed a choline-deficient (CDAA, cancer group) or choline-sufficient (CSAA, healthy group) L-amino acid-defined diet. At the end of 52 weeks, transcriptomic alterations in livers of rats with HCC tumours and healthy livers were investigated by RNA sequencing. DNA methylation and gene expression were assessed by pyrosequencing and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. We discovered 1,848 genes that were significantly differentially expressed in livers of rats with HCC tumours (CDAA) as compared with healthy livers (CSAA). Upregulated genes in the CDAA group were associated with cancer-related functions, whereas macronutrient metabolic processes were enriched by downregulated genes. Changes of highest magnitude were detected in numerous upregulated genes that govern key oncogenic signalling pathways, including Notch, Wnt, Hedgehog, and extracellular matrix degradation. We further detected perturbations in DNA methylating and demethylating enzymes, which was reflected in decreased global DNA methylation and increased global DNA hydroxymethylation. Four selected upregulated candidates, Mmp12, Jag1, Wnt4, and Smo, demonstrated promoter hypomethylation with the most profound decrease in Mmp12. MMP12 was also strongly overexpressed and hypomethylated in human HCC HepG2 cells as compared with primary hepatocytes, which coincided with binding of Ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1). Our findings provide comprehensive evidence for gene expression changes and dysregulated epigenome in HCC pathogenesis, potentially revealing novel targets for HCC prevention/treatment.

Evaluating the Association of Genetic Polymorphism of Cytochrome p450 (CYP2C9*3) in Gastric Cancer Using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)

Background and aim

As a distinguished system, the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme superfamily is involved in the biotransformation of several endogenous and exogenous substances including drugs, toxins, and carcinogens. Reports on the role of CYP enzyme in gastric cancer (GC) from the Eastern region of India are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 (CYP2C9*3) among cases with gastric malignancy.

Material and methods

The current study is a cross-sectional observational study carried out among 113 GC cases attending the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, India, and Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, India. Two ml of venous blood was collected from the confirmed cases of GC. The samples were subjected to genomic DNA isolation followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results

The prevalence of both homozygous and heterozygous mutation in GC cases is 4% and 8%, respectively. The overall association of cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 (CYP2C9) mutation in GC cases is 12% whereas 88% were detected as wild/standard type. The mutation CYP2C9 SNP has been seen in Helicobacter pylori-infected cases and as well as those without H. pylori infection.

Conclusions

The CYP2C9*3 genetic polymorphism might play a significant role as a risk factor for the development of gastric malignancy irrespective of H. pylori infection, among the eastern Indian population.

New Borane-Protected Derivatives of α-Aminophosphonous Acid as Anti-Osteosarcoma Agents: ADME Analysis and Molecular Modeling, In Vitro Studies on Anti-Cancer Activities, and NEP Inhibition as a Possible Mechanism of Anti-Proliferative Activity

Many organophosphorus compounds (OPs), especially various α-aminophosphonates, exhibit anti-cancer activities. They act, among others, as inhibitors of the proteases implicated in cancerogenesis. Thesetypes of inhibitors weredescribed, e.g., for neutral endopeptidase (NEP) expressed in different cancer cells, including osteosarcoma (OS). The aim of the present study isto evaluate new borane-protected derivatives of phosphonous acid (compounds 1–7) in terms of their drug-likeness properties, anti-osteosarcoma activities in vitro (against HOS and Saos-2 cells), and use as potential NEP inhibitors. The results revealed that all tested compounds exhibited the physicochemical and ADME properties typical for small-molecule drugs. However, compound 4 did not show capability of blood–brain barrier penetration (Lipiński and Veber rules;SwissAdme tool). Moreover, the α-aminophosphonite-boranes (compounds 4–7) exhibited stronger anti-proliferative activity against OS cells than the other phosphonous acid-borane derivatives (compounds 1–3),especially regarding HOS cells (MTT assay). The most promising compounds 4 and 6 induced apoptosis through the activation of caspase 3 and/or cell cycle arrest at the G₂ phase (flow cytometry). Compound 4 inhibited the migration and invasiveness of highly aggressive HOS cells (wound/transwell and BME-coated transwell assays, respectively). Additionally, compound 4 and, to a lesser extent, compound 6 inhibited NEP activity (fluorometric assay). This activity of compound 4 was involved in its anti-proliferative potential (BrdU assay). The present study shows that compound 4 can be considered a potential anti-osteosarcoma agent and a scaffold for the development of new NEP inhibitors.

Anticancer potential of alkaloids: a key emphasis to colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine and vincamine

Cancer, one of the leading illnesses, accounts for about 10 million deaths worldwide. The treatment of cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and drug therapy, along with others, which not only put a tremendous economic effect on patients but also develop drug resistance in patients with time. A significant number of cancer cases can be prevented/treated by implementing evidence-based preventive strategies. Plant-based drugs have evolved as promising preventive chemo options both in developing and developed nations. The secondary plant metabolites such as alkaloids have proven efficacy and acceptability for cancer treatment. Apropos, this review deals with a spectrum of promising alkaloids such as colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine, and vincamine within different domains of comprehensive information on these molecules such as their medical applications (contemporary/traditional), mechanism of antitumor action, and potential scale-up biotechnological studies on an in-vitro scale. The comprehensive information provided in the review will be a valuable resource to develop an effective, affordable, and cost effective cancer management program using these alkaloids.

Role of the Synergistic Interactions of Environmental Pollutants in the Development of Cancer

There is a growing awareness that the large number of environmental pollutants we are exposed to on a daily basis are causing major health problems. Compared to traditional studies that focus on individual pollutants, there are relatively few studies on how pollutants mixtures interact. Several studies have reported a relationship between environmental pollutants and the development of cancer, even when pollutant levels are below toxicity reference values. The possibility of synergistic interactions between different pollutants could explain how even low concentrations can cause major health problems. These intricate that molecular interactions can occur through a wide variety of mechanisms, and our understanding of the physiological effects of mixtures is still limited. The purpose of this paper is to discuss recent reports that address possible synergistic interactions between different types of environmental pollutants that could promote cancer development. Our literature studies suggest that key biological pathways are frequently implicated in such processes. These include increased production of reactive oxygen species, activation by cytochrome P450, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, among others. We discuss the need to understand individual pathological vulnerability not only in relation to basic genetics and gene expression, but also in terms of measurable exposure to contaminants. We also mention the need for significant improvements in future studies using a multitude of disciplines, such as the development of high-throughput study models, better tools for quantifying pollutants in cancer patients, innovative pharmacological and toxicological studies, and high-efficiency computer analysis, which allow us to analyze the molecular mechanisms of mixtures.

Monitoring of autoantibodies against CYP4Z1 in patients with colon, ovarian, or prostate cancer

We have previously monitored the detection of autoantibodies (aAbs) directed against CYP4Z1 in the sera of breast and lung cancer patients. In the present study, the occurence of anti-CYP4Z1 aAbs in patients suffering from colon (n = 100), ovarian (n = 72), or prostate (n = 85) cancer was examined. Determination of aAbs was done using our previously established ELISA method. On average, the levels of anti-CYP4Z1 aAbs detected in sera from all cancer patients were not significantly higher than controls. No correlations were found with respect to gender or tumor stage. However, a subgroup of colon cancer patients with increased anti-CYP4Z1 aAb titers exhibited positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) results and higher levels of both carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). These results do not suggest that anti-CYP4Z1 aAbs have value as an independent biomarker for the detection of either colon, ovarian, or prostate cancer. However, they might be useful in combination with other biomarkers for the identification of a subset of colon cancers. Investigations involving a more powered sample size of this subgroup are needed to support this notion.

Salinomycin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and modulates hepatic cytochrome P450 mRNA expression in HepG2/C3a cells

Salinomycin (SAL) is a monocarboxylic polyether ionophore antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces albus. It exhibits an effective antitumor potential against numerous human cancer cells. This study aimed to assess the antiproliferative effects of SAL in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2/C3a cell line. We investigated the effects of SAL on cell growth, DNA damage induction, cell cycle changes and apoptosis; and relative changes in expression of cell cycle-related, apoptosis-related, and CYP450 genes. SAL induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, upregulation of CDKN1A and GADD45A and downregulation of cyclin genes including CCNB1 and CCNA2. SAL effectively suppressed mRNA levels of CTNNB1 gene, an important oncogene that promotes tumorigenesis. The decrease of HepG2/C3A cells' survival can also be due to downregulation of antiapoptotic BCL-2 expression, thus promoting the induction of apoptosis by SAL. This study also demonstrated the ability of SAL in modulating hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) mRNA expression, such that SAL caused the upregulation of CYP1A members and CYP3A5; and downregulation of CYP3A4. Taken together, these data contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of action of SAL, highlighting that metabolizing enzymes modulated by SAL can interfere with chemotherapy treatment and it must be considered in associated treatments.

Establishment of non-small-cell lung cancer risk prediction model based on prognosis-associated ADME genes

PURPOSE

ADME genes are those involved in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs. In the present study, a non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk prediction model was established using prognosis-associated ADME genes, and the predictive performance of this model was evaluated and verified. In addition, multifaceted difference analysis was performed on groups with high and low risk scores.

METHODS

An NSCLC sample transcriptome and clinical data were obtained from public databases. The prognosis-associated ADME genes were obtained by univariate Cox and lasso regression analyses to build a risk model. Tumor samples were divided into high-risk and low-risk score groups according to the risk score. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses of the differentially expressed genes and the differences in the immune infiltration, mutation, and medication reactions in the two groups were studied in detail.

RESULTS

A risk prediction model was established with seven prognosis-associated ADME genes. Its good predictive ability was confirmed by studies of the model's effectiveness. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that the model's risk score was an independent prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC. The study also showed that the risk score closely correlated with immune infiltration, mutations, and medication reactions.

CONCLUSION

The risk prediction model established with seven ADME genes in the present study can predict the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. In addition, significant differences in immune infiltration, mutations, and therapeutic efficacy exist between the high- and low-risk score groups.

Potential lncRNA Biomarkers for HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis Revealed by Analysis on Coexpression Network

Background

Increasing evidence demonstrated that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) could affect inflammatory tumor immune microenvironment by modulating gene expression and could be used as a biomarker for HBC-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but still needs further research. The aim of the present study was to determine an lncRNA signature for the diagnosis of HBV-related HCC.

Methods

HBV-related HCC expression profiles (GSE55092, GSE19665, and GSE84402) were abstracted from the GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) data resource, and R package limma and RobustRankAggreg were employed to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Using machine learning, optimal diagnostic lncRNA molecular markers for HBV-related HCC were identified. The expression of candidate lncRNAs was cross-validated in GSE121248, and an ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve of lncRNA biomarkers was carried out. Additionally, a coexpression network and functional annotation was built, after which a PPI (protein-protein interaction) network along with module analysis were conducted with the Cytoscape open source software.

Result

A total of 38 DElncRNAs and 543 DEmRNAs were identified with a fold change larger than 2.0 and a P value < 0.05. By machine learning, AL356056.2, AL445524.1, TRIM52-AS1, AC093642.1, EHMT2-AS1, AC003991.1, AC008040.1, LINC00844, and LINC01018 were screened out as optional diagnostic lncRNA biosignatures for HBV-related HCC. The AUC (areas under the curve) of the SVM (support vector machine) model and random forest model were 0.957 and 0.904, respectively, and the specificity and sensitivity were 95.7 and 100% and 94.3 and 86.5%, respectively. The results of functional enrichment analysis showed that the integrated coexpressed DEmRNAs shared common cascades in the p53 signaling pathway, retinol metabolism, PI3K-Akt signaling cascade, and chemical carcinogenesis. The integrated DEmRNA PPI network complex was found to be comprised of 87 nodes, and two vital modules with a high degree were selected with the MCODE app.

Conclusion

The present study identified nine potential diagnostic biomarkers for HBV-related HCC, all of which could potentially modulated gene expression related to inflammatory conditions in the tumor immune microenvironment. The functional annotation of the target DEmRNAs yielded novel evidence in evaluating the precise functions of lncRNA in HBV-related HCC.

Bergamottin a CYP3A inhibitor found in grapefruit juice inhibits prostate cancer cell growth by downregulating androgen receptor signaling and promoting G0/G1 cell cycle block and apoptosis

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in American men. Several therapies have been developed to treat advanced prostate cancer, but these therapies often have severe side effects. To improve the outcome with fewer side effects we focused on the furanocoumarin bergamottin, a natural product found in grapefruit juice and a potent CYP3A inhibitor. Our recent studies have shown that CYP3A5 inhibition can block androgen receptor (AR) signaling, critical for prostate cancer growth. We observed that bergamottin reduces prostate cancer (PC) cell growth by decreasing both total and nuclear AR (AR activation) reducing downstream AR signaling. Bergamottin’s role in reducing AR activation was confirmed by confocal microscopy studies and reduction in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, which is a marker for prostate cancer. Further studies revealed that bergamottin promotes cell cycle block and accumulates G0/G1 cells. The cell cycle block was accompanied with reduction in cyclin D, cyclin B, CDK4, P-cdc2 (Y15) and P-wee1 (S642). We also observed that bergamottin triggers apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines as evident by TUNEL staining and PARP cleavage. Our data suggests that bergamottin may suppress prostate cancer growth, especially in African American (AA) patients carrying wild type CYP3A5 often presenting aggressive disease.

Cytochrome 4Z1 Expression Is Correlated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Cervical Cancer

Background: cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women worldwide and its management remains challenging and complex. As Cytochrome4Z1 (CYP4Z1) is overexpressed in many tumours, its expression in cervical cancer is unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate CYP4Z1 expression in cervical cancers. Methods: CYP4Z1 expression was immunohistochemically assessed in 100 cases of cervical cancers along with ten normal cervix tissues, and the enzyme’s relationship to several clinicopathological features and survival was explored. Results: CYP4Z1 was strongly expressed in 55% of cervical cancer patients. Normal cervix samples were negative for CYP4Z1 expression. Importantly, this expression was significantly found in patients with the late stage of the disease, lymph node metastasis, and high tumour invasion (p < 0.05). Interestingly, CYP4Z1 expression was significantly correlated with shorter survival times of cervical cancer patients. Univariate analysis showed that CYP4Z1 expression, tumour stage, lymph node metastasis, and tumour invasion were significantly correlated with patient survival (p < 0.05). The multivariate analysis revealed that only CYP4Z1 expression and tumour stage were significantly correlated with patient survival (p < 0.05). Conclusions: CYP4Z1 expression is associated with cervical cancer patients’ survival and may serve as an independent predictor of poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients.

Concomitant occurence of multiple autoantibodies against human cytochromes P450

Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are a large superfamily of heme-containing enzymes that are essential for the metabolism of a variety of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. The role and the possible diagnostic or prognostic value of the occurrence of anti-CYP autoantibodies (aAbs) in cancer patients are essentially unclear. Recently we reported the monitoring of aAbs against CYP4Z1 and CYP19A1 in breast cancer patients and healthy controls. In the present study, we extended this investigation by screening the sera of 47 lung cancer patients (17 female and 30 male; age range 49-84) and 119 healthy controls (60 female and 59 male; age range 21-72) for the presence of aAbs directed against CYP2D6, CYP4Z1, or CYP17A1, respectively. Determination of anti-CYP aAb levels was done using our previously established ELISA method. Most sera gave low signals while a small fraction showed stronger responses; however, there were no statistically significant differences between the different test groups. Also, there was no significant difference in aAb signals between the various subtypes of lung cancer. Unexpectedly, sera from two female lung cancer patients (age 67 (adenocarcinoma) and 70 (small cell carcinoma)) and from four healthy controls (one female and three male; age range 34-48) showed significantly elevated signals for more than one of the three CYPs tested. These findings corroborate earlier reports that anti-CYP aAbs occur with low frequency in the general population and, moreover, suggest that the simultaneous presence of multiple aAbs targeting different CYPs should be taken into consideration when evaluating anti-CYP aAbs as biomarkers.

Ginsenoside Rg3 increases gemcitabine sensitivity of pancreatic adenocarcinoma via reducing ZFP91 mediated TSPYL2 destabilization

Background

Ginsenoside Rg3 and gemcitabine have mutual enhancing antitumor effects. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. This study explored the influence of ginsenoside Rg3 on Zinc finger protein 91 homolog (ZFP91) expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and their regulatory mechanisms on gemcitabine sensitivity.

Methods

RNA-seq and survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-PAAD and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) were used for in-silicon analysis. PANC-1, BxPC-3, and PANC-1 gemcitabine-resistant (PANC-1/GR) cells were used for in vitro analysis. PANC-1 derived tumor xenograft nude mice model was used to assess the influence of ginsenoside Rg3 and ZFP91 on tumor growth in vivo.

Results

Ginsenoside Rg3 reduced ZFP91 expression in PAAD cells in a dose-dependent manner. ZFP91 upregulation was associated with significantly shorter survival of patients with PAAD. ZFP91 overexpression induced gemcitabine resistance, which was partly conquered by ginsenoside Rg3 treatment. ZFP91 depletion sensitized PANC-1/GR cells to gemcitabine treatment. ZFP91 interacted with Testis-Specific Y-Encoded-Like Protein 2 (TSPYL2), induced its poly-ubiquitination, and promoted proteasomal degradation. Ginsenoside Rg3 treatment weakened ZFP91-induced TSPYL2 poly-ubiquitination and degradation. Enforced TSPYL2 expression increased gemcitabine sensitivity of PAAD cells and partly reversed induced gemcitabine resistance in PANC-1/GR cells.

Conclusion

Ginsenoside Rg3 can increase gemcitabine sensitivity of pancreatic adenocarcinoma at least via reducing ZFP91 mediated TSPYL2 destabilization.

The Mechanism Underlying the Extreme Sensitivity of Duck to Aflatoxin B1

Most metabolites of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), especially exo-AFB1-8,9-epoxide (AFBO), can induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to vary degrees, causing oxidative stress and liver damage, and ultimately induce liver cancer in humans and animals. Duck is one of the most sensitive animals to AFB1, and severe economic losses are caused by duck AFB1 poisoning every year, but the exact mechanism of this high sensitivity is still unclear. This review highlights significant advances in our understanding of the AFB1 metabolic activation, like cytochrome P450s (CYPs), and AFB1 metabolic detoxification, like glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in poultry. In addition, AFB1 may have other metabolic pathways in poultry, such as the mutual conversion of AFB1 and aflatoxicol (AFL) and the process of AFBO to produce AFB1-8,9-dihydrodiol (AFB1-dhd) and further metabolize it into detoxification substances. This review also summarized some exogenous regulatory substances that can alleviate AFB1-induced oxidative stress.

Lung deposition and systemic bioavailability of dose delivered to smoker compared with non-smoker COPD subjects

INTRODUCTION

Inhaled drugs are the most commonly used class of medications for COPD subjects. No studies have been performed to assess the influence of smoking on lung deposition of aerosolized medication, especially for the exacerbated COPD subject. The present study aimed to assess the influence of smoking on the lung deposition of the aerosol delivered to exacerbated COPD subjects.

METHODS

Twenty-four exacerbated COPD subjects using automatic continuous positive airway pressure (Auto-CPAP), 12 smokers (six females) and 12 non-smokers (six females) were recruited in the study. The subjects participated in the study received four salbutamol study doses; 1200 µg (12 puffs 100 µg/puff) of salbutamol emitted from pMDI canister connected to AeroChamber MV spacer; 1200 µg of salbutamol emitted from pMDI canister connected to Combihaler spacer; 1 mL of salbutamol respirable solution (5000 µg/mL) nebulized by Aerogen Solo connected to its T-piece; and 1 mL of salbutamol respirable solution nebulized by Aerogen Solo connected to Combihaler spacer with 2 puffs salbutamol MDI (200 µg salbutamol) before nebulisation. The subjects were randomised to receive the four selected dose-adaptor combination in a sealed envelope design on days 1, 3, 5 and 7. A washout period of 24 hours was provided between each salbutamol dosing. Auto-CPAP was adjusted at non-invasive ventilation mode with the integrated heated humidifier, as a source of humidity. Urine samples were provided by subjects, 30 minutes and cumulatively 24 hours post inhalation, as an index of the relative and systemic bioavailability, respectively, and aliquots were retained for salbutamol analysis using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). On day 2 of the study, a collecting filter was placed between the aerosol generator and the subject's mask so that the subjects would not inhale the salbutamol delivered. The same study doses and/or adapters were delivered to each subject, with filters changed with each dose-adapter combination. Salbutamol entrained on the filter was desorbed to be analysed by the HPLC.

RESULTS

Significantly higher lung deposition (30 minutes urinary salbutamol) was detected with the non-smoker compared with smokers (P < .05). Significantly higher systemic bioavailability (pooled 24-hour urinary salbutamol) for smokers compared with non-smokers was found with Aerogen Solo connected to its T-piece and CombiHaler spacer with pMDI (P < .05) only. Significantly higher amount desorbed from the ex-vivo filter were found from pMDI with both spacers in non-smokers (P < .05) compared with the smokers.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that smoking reduced the lung deposition of inhaled salbutamol delivered by nebulizer or pMDI. However, the smoking effect on cytochrome p450 was observed to increase systemic absorption of the ingested portion of the inhaled dose. The lower lung deposition and possible higher systemic absorption should be taken into consideration while prescribing inhaled medication to COPD smokers especially exacerbated patients that need ventilation. Further studies are needed.

Identification of Potential Biomarkers From Hepatocellular Carcinoma With MT1 Deletion

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Metallothioneins (MTs) are metal-binding proteins involved in multiple biological processes such as metal homeostasis and detoxification, as well as in oncogenesis. Copy number variation (CNV) plays a vital role in pathogenesis and carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, there is no study on the role of MT1 CNV in HCC. Methods: Array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) analysis was performed to obtain the CNV data of 79 Guangxi HCC patients. The prognostic effect of MT1-deletion was analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened based on The Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO) and the Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-LIHC). Then function and pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) and hub gene selection were applied on the DEGs. Lastly, the hub genes were validated by immunohistochemistry, tissue expression and prognostic analysis. Results: The MT1-deletion was demonstrated to affect the prognosis of HCC and can act as an independent prognostic factor. 147 common DEGs were screened. The most significant cluster of DEGs identified by Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) indicated that the expression of four MT1s were down-regulated. MT1X and other five hub genes (TTK, BUB1, CYP3A4, NR1I2, CYP8B1) were associated with the prognosis of HCC. TTK, could affect the prognosis of HCC with MT1-deletion and non-deletion. NR1I2, CYP8B1, and BUB1 were associated with the prognosis of HCC with MT1-deletion. Conclusions: In the current study, we demonstrated that MT1-deletion can be an independent prognostic factor in HCC. We identified TTK, BUB1, NR1I2, CYP8B1 by processing microarray data, for the first time revealed the underlying function of MT1 deletion in HCC, MT1-deletion may influence the gene expression in HCC, which may be the potential biomarkers for HCC with MT1 deletion.

Drug-Metabolizing Cytochrome P450 Enzymes Have Multifarious Influences on Treatment Outcomes

Drug metabolism is a critical process for the removal of unwanted substances from the body. In humans, approximately 80% of oxidative metabolism and almost 50% of the overall elimination of commonly used drugs can be attributed to one or more of various cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes from CYP families 1-3. In addition to the basic metabolic effects for elimination, CYP enzymes in vivo are capable of affecting the treatment outcomes in many cases. Drug-metabolizing CYP enzymes are mainly expressed in the liver and intestine, the two principal drug oxidation and elimination organs, where they can significantly influence the drug action, safety, and bioavailability by mediating phase I metabolism and first-pass metabolism. Furthermore, CYP-mediated local drug metabolism in the sites of action may also have the potential to impact drug response, according to the literature in recent years. This article underlines the ability of CYP enzymes to influence treatment outcomes by discussing CYP-mediated diversified drug metabolism in primary metabolic sites (liver and intestine) and typical action sites (brain and tumors) according to their expression levels and metabolic activity. Moreover, intrinsic and extrinsic factors of personal differential CYP phenotypes that contribute to interindividual variation of treatment outcomes are also reviewed to introduce the multifarious pivotal role of CYP-mediated metabolism and clearance in drug therapy.

Overview of the Anticancer Potential of the "King of Spices" Piper nigrum and Its Main Constituent Piperine

The main limits of current anticancer therapy are relapses, chemoresistance, and toxic effects resulting from its poor selectivity towards cancer cells that severely impair a patient's quality of life. Therefore, the discovery of new anticancer drugs remains an urgent challenge. Natural products represent an excellent opportunity due to their ability to target heterogenous populations of cancer cells and regulate several key pathways involved in cancer development, and their favorable toxicological profile. Piper nigrum is one of the most popular spices in the world, with growing fame as a source of bioactive molecules with pharmacological properties. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the anticancer potential of Piper nigrum and its major active constituents-not limited to the well-known piperine-whose undeniable anticancer properties have been reported for different cancer cell lines and animal models. Moreover, the chemosensitizing effects of Piper nigrum in association with traditional anticancer drugs are depicted and its toxicological profile is outlined. Despite the promising results, human studies are missing, which are crucial for supporting the efficacy and safety of Piper nigrum and its single components in cancer patients.

Induction of Cyp450 enzymes by 4-thiazolidinone-based derivatives in 3T3-L1 cells in vitro

4-Thiazolidinones and related derivatives are regarded as privileged structures in medicinal chemistry and a source of new drug-like compounds. To date it is known that thiazolidinones are able to induce CYP1A1 activity in 3T3-L1 cells. Therefore, to extend the knowledge of the mechanism of thiazolidinones in the cell, four chemically synthesized heterocycles were tested on 3T3-L1 cells. The 3T3-L1 cells were exposed to Les-2194, Les-3640, Les-5935, and Les-6166. Our study showed that 1 μM βNF, Les-2194, and Les-6166 decreased the expression of Ahr mRNA. In turn, βNF, Les-2194, and Les-3640 increased the Cyp1a1 mRNA expression at the same time interval. On the other hand, Les-5935 was found to decrease the Cyp1a1 mRNA expression. Interestingly, the expression of Cyp1a2 mRNA was activated only by βNF and Les-2194. The expression of Cyp1b1 mRNA in the 3T3 cell line increased after the βNF and Les-2194 treatment but declined after the exposure to Les-5935 and Les-6166. Moreover, the Les-2194 and Les-5935 compounds were shown to increase the activity of EROD, MROD, and PROD. Les-3640 increased the activity of EROD and decreased the activity of PROD. In turn, the treatment with Les-6166 resulted in an increase in the activity of EROD and a decrease in the activity of MROD and PROD in the 3T3-L1 cells.

The Expression Profiles of ADME Genes in Human Cancers and Their Associations with Clinical Outcomes

ADME genes are a group of genes that are involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). The expression profiles of ADME genes within tumours is proposed to impact on cancer patient survival; however, this has not been systematically examined. In this study, our comprehensive analyses of pan-cancer datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed differential intratumoral expression profiles for ADME genes in 21 different cancer types. Most genes also showed high interindividual variability within cancer-specific patient cohorts. Using Kaplan-Meier plots and logrank tests, we showed that intratumoral expression levels of twenty of the thirty-two core ADME genes were associated with overall survival (OS) in these cancers. Of these genes, five showed significant association with unfavourable OS in three cancers, including SKCM (ABCC2, GSTP1), KIRC (CYP2D6, CYP2E1), PAAD (UGT2B7); sixteen showed significant associations with favourable OS in twelve cancers, including BLCA (UGT2B15), BRCA (CYP2D6), COAD (NAT1), HNSC (ABCB1), KIRC (ABCG2, CYP3A4, SLC22A2, SLC22A6), KIRP (SLC22A2), LIHC (CYP2C19, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP3A5, SLC22A1), LUAD (SLC15A2), LUSC (UGT1A1), PAAD (ABCB1), SARC (ABCB1), and SKCM (ABCB1, DYPD). Overall, these data provide compelling evidence supporting ADME genes as prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. We propose that intratumoral expression of ADME genes may impact cancer patient survival by multiple mechanisms that can include metabolizing/transporting anticancer drugs, activating anticancer drugs, and metabolizing/transporting a variety of endogenous molecules involved in metabolically fuelling cancer cells and/or controlling pro-growth signalling pathways.

A new parameter in multiple myeloma: CYP3A4*1B single nucleotide polymorphism

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disease caused by malignant plasma cells, causing free light chain release accompanying the increase in monoclonal immunoglobulin. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is one of the large and functional enzyme families composed of various hemoproteins. This protein network has been shown to play a role in many treatment steps in current practices. We aimed to investigate the relationship between genotypes of CYP3A4*1B and treatment response and prognosis of MM. Seventy-two patients diagnosed with MM between January 2016 and 2020 and 100 healthy people to create a control group participated in our study. Genotypes were classified in 3 separate groups as NN, MN, and MM. Both PFS and OS were significantly higher in the NN genotype (p = 0.001, p = 0.014). Being under the age of 65 was 27.988 times more protective for OS and 4.496 times for PFS (p = 0.006, p = 0.017). NN genotype was shown to be 41.666-fold protective for OS and 3.144-fold protective for PFS (p = 0.004, p = 0.030). This study demonstrated that CYP3A4*1B NN genotype, which is an important cytochrome p450 member for the treatment of MM, was 41.666-fold protective for OS and 3.144-fold protective for PFS. It was shown in this study for the first time in the literature as a valuable contribution.

Mechanisms of Taxane Resistance

The taxane family of chemotherapy drugs has been used to treat a variety of mostly epithelial-derived tumors and remain the first-line treatment for some cancers. Despite the improved survival time and reduction of tumor size observed in some patients, many have no response to the drugs or develop resistance over time. Taxane resistance is multi-faceted and involves multiple pathways in proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and the transport of foreign substances. In this review, we dive deeper into hypothesized resistance mechanisms from research during the last decade, with a focus on the cancer types that use taxanes as first-line treatment but frequently develop resistance to them. Furthermore, we will discuss current clinical inhibitors and those yet to be approved that target key pathways or proteins and aim to reverse resistance in combination with taxanes or individually. Lastly, we will highlight taxane response biomarkers, specific genes with monitored expression and correlated with response to taxanes, mentioning those currently being used and those that should be adopted. The future directions of taxanes involve more personalized approaches to treatment by tailoring drug-inhibitor combinations or alternatives depending on levels of resistance biomarkers. We hope that this review will identify gaps in knowledge surrounding taxane resistance that future research or clinical trials can overcome.

Anticancer Potential of Furanocoumarins: Mechanistic and Therapeutic Aspects

Cancer is one of the most extreme medical conditions in both developing and developed countries around the world, causing millions of deaths each year. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are key for treatment approaches, but both have numerous adverse health effects. Furthermore, the resistance of cancerous cells to anticancer medication leads to treatment failure. The rising burden of cancer overall requires novel efficacious treatment modalities. Natural medications offer feasible alternative options against malignancy in contrast to western medication. Furanocoumarins' defensive and restorative impacts have been observed in leukemia, glioma, breast, lung, renal, liver, colon, cervical, ovarian, and prostate malignancies. Experimental findings have shown that furanocoumarins activate multiple signaling pathways, leading to apoptosis, autophagy, antioxidant, antimetastatic, and cell cycle arrest in malignant cells. Additionally, furanocoumarins have been shown to have chemo preventive and chemotherapeutic synergistic potential when used in combination with other anticancer drugs. Here, we address different pathways which are activated by furanocoumarins and their therapeutic efficacy in various tumors. Ideally, this review will trigger interest in furanocoumarins and their potential efficacy and safety as a cancer lessening agents.

Epigenetic Regulation of Differentially Expressed Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes in Cancer

Drug metabolism is a biotransformation process of drugs, catalyzed by drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs), including phase I DMEs and phase II DMEs. The aberrant expression of DMEs occurs in the different stages of cancer. It can contribute to the development of cancer and lead to individual variations in drug response by affecting the metabolic process of carcinogen and anticancer drugs. Apart from genetic polymorphisms, which we know the most about, current evidence indicates that epigenetic regulation is also central to the expression of DMEs. This review summarizes differentially expressed DMEs in cancer and related epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs. Exploring the epigenetic regulation of differentially expressed DMEs can provide a basis for implementing individualized and rationalized medication. Meanwhile, it can promote the development of new biomarkers and targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancer. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review summarizes the aberrant expression of DMEs in cancer and the related epigenetic regulation of differentially expressed DMEs. Exploring the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of DMEs in cancer can help us to understand the role of DMEs in cancer progression and chemoresistance. Also, it provides a basis for developing new biomarkers and targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancer.

Polyphenols with Anti-Amyloid β Aggregation Show Potential Risk of Toxicity Via Pro-Oxidant Properties

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation has been the focus for a therapeutic target for the treatment of AD. Naturally occurring polyphenols have an inhibitory effect on Aβ aggregation and have attracted a lot of attention for the development of treatment strategies which could mitigate the symptoms of AD. However, considerable evidence has shown that the pro-oxidant mechanisms of polyphenols could have a deleterious effect. Our group has established an assay system to evaluate the pro-oxidant characteristics of chemical compounds, based on their reactivity with DNA. In this review, we have summarized the anti-Aβ aggregation and pro-oxidant properties of polyphenols. These findings could contribute to understanding the mechanism underlying the potential risk of polyphenols. We would like to emphasize the importance of assessing the pro-oxidant properties of polyphenols from a safety point of view.