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Khan I, Kamal A, Akhtar S. Diabetes Driven Oncogenesis and Anticancer Potential of Repurposed Antidiabetic Drug: A Systemic Review. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024:10.1007/s12013-024-01387-6. [PMID: 38954353 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01387-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Diabetes and cancer are two prevalent disorders, pose significant public health challenges and contribute substantially to global mortality rates, with solely 10 million reported cancer-related deaths in 2020. This review explores the pathological association between diabetes and diverse cancer progressions, examining molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic intersections. From altered metabolic landscapes to dysregulated signaling pathways, the intricate links are delineated, offering a comprehensive understanding of diabetes as a modulator of tumorigenesis. Cancer cells develop drug resistance through mechanisms like enhanced drug efflux, genetic mutations, and altered drug metabolism, allowing them to survive despite chemotherapeutic agent. Glucose emerges as a pivotal player in diabetes progression, and serving as a crucial energy source for cancer cells, supporting their biosynthetic needs and adaptation to diverse microenvironments. Glycation, a non-enzymatic process that produces advanced glycation end products (AGEs), has been linked to the etiology of cancer and has been shown in a number of tumor forms, such as leiomyosarcomas, adenocarcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. Furthermore, in aggressive and metastatic breast cancer, the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) is increased, which may increase the malignancy of the tumor. Reprogramming glucose metabolism manifests as hallmark cancer features, including accelerated cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and evasion of apoptosis. This manuscript encapsulates the dual narrative of diabetes as a driver of cancer progression and the potential of repurposed antidiabetic drugs as formidable countermeasures. The amalgamation of mechanistic understanding and clinical trial outcomes establishes a robust foundation for further translational research and therapeutic advancements in the dynamic intersection of diabetes and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Khan
- Department of Bioengineering, Integral University, Lucknow, 226026, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Aisha Kamal
- Department of Bioengineering, Integral University, Lucknow, 226026, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Salman Akhtar
- Department of Bioengineering, Integral University, Lucknow, 226026, Uttar Pradesh, India
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2
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Ali FEM, Abdel-Reheim MA, Hassanein EHM, Abd El-Aziz MK, Althagafy HS, Badran KSA. Exploring the potential of drug repurposing for liver diseases: A comprehensive study. Life Sci 2024; 347:122642. [PMID: 38641047 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Drug repurposing involves the investigation of existing drugs for new indications. It offers a great opportunity to quickly identify a new drug candidate at a lower cost than novel discovery and development. Despite the importance and potential role of drug repurposing, there is no specific definition that healthcare providers and the World Health Organization credit. Unfortunately, many similar and interchangeable concepts are being used in the literature, making it difficult to collect and analyze uniform data on repurposed drugs. This research was conducted based on understanding general criteria for drug repurposing, concentrating on liver diseases. Many drugs have been investigated for their effect on liver diseases even though they were originally approved (or on their way to being approved) for other diseases. Some of the hypotheses for drug repurposing were first captured from the literature and then processed further to test the hypothesis. Recently, with the revolution in bioinformatics techniques, scientists have started to use drug libraries and computer systems that can analyze hundreds of drugs to give a short list of candidates to be analyzed pharmacologically. However, this study revealed that drug repurposing is a potential aid that may help deal with liver diseases. It provides available or under-investigated drugs that could help treat hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, Wilson disease, liver cancer, and fatty liver. However, many further studies are needed to ensure the efficacy of these drugs on a large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fares E M Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt; Michael Sayegh, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aqaba University of Technology, Aqaba 77110, Jordan
| | - Mustafa Ahmed Abdel-Reheim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra 11961, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt.
| | - Emad H M Hassanein
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt.
| | - Mostafa K Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Hanan S Althagafy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S A Badran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
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3
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Miranda-Roblero HO, Saavedra-Salazar LF, Galicia-Moreno M, Arceo-Orozco S, Caloca-Camarena F, Sandoval-Rodriguez A, García-Bañuelos J, Frias-Gonzalez C, Almeida-López M, Martínez-López E, Armendariz-Borunda J, Monroy-Ramirez HC. Pirfenidone Reverts Global DNA Hypomethylation, Promoting DNMT1/UHRF/PCNA Coupling Complex in Experimental Hepatocarcinoma. Cells 2024; 13:1013. [PMID: 38920644 PMCID: PMC11201610 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development is associated with altered modifications in DNA methylation, changing transcriptional regulation. Emerging evidence indicates that DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) plays a key role in the carcinogenesis process. This study aimed to investigate how pirfenidone (PFD) modifies this pathway and the effect generated by the association between c-Myc expression and DNMT1 activation. Rats F344 were used for HCC development using 50 mg/kg of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 25 mg/kg of 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF). The HCC/PFD group received simultaneous doses of 300 mg/kg of PFD. All treatments lasted 12 weeks. On the other hand, HepG2 cells were used to evaluate the effects of PFD in restoring DNA methylation in the presence of the inhibitor 5-Aza. Histopathological, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and western blot analysis were carried out and our findings showed that PFD treatment reduced the amount and size of tumors along with decreased Glipican-3, β-catenin, and c-Myc expression in nuclear fractions. Also, this treatment improved lipid metabolism by modulating PPARγ and SREBP1 signaling. Interestingly, PFD augmented DNMT1 and DNMT3a protein expression, which restores global methylation, both in our in vivo and in vitro models. In conclusion, our results suggest that PFD could slow down HCC development by controlling DNA methylation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1/metabolism
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1/genetics
- DNA Methylation/drug effects
- DNA Methylation/genetics
- Pyridones/pharmacology
- Rats
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Humans
- Hep G2 Cells
- Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism
- Male
- Rats, Inbred F344
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Diethylnitrosamine
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Hipolito Otoniel Miranda-Roblero
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias en Biología Molecular en Medicina, CUCS, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (H.O.M.-R.); (L.F.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Liliana Faridi Saavedra-Salazar
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias en Biología Molecular en Medicina, CUCS, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (H.O.M.-R.); (L.F.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Marina Galicia-Moreno
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Scarlet Arceo-Orozco
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Fernando Caloca-Camarena
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Ana Sandoval-Rodriguez
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Jesús García-Bañuelos
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Claudia Frias-Gonzalez
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias en Biología Molecular en Medicina, CUCS, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (H.O.M.-R.); (L.F.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
| | - Mónica Almeida-López
- University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - Erika Martínez-López
- Institute of Translational Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico
| | - Juan Armendariz-Borunda
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Zapopan 45138, Mexico
| | - Hugo Christian Monroy-Ramirez
- Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, Mexico; (M.G.-M.); (S.A.-O.); (F.C.-C.); (A.S.-R.); (J.G.-B.)
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Quayum ST, Esha NJI, Siraji S, Abbad SSA, Alsunaidi ZH, Almatarneh MH, Rahman S, Alodhayb AN, Alibrahim KA, Kawsar SM, Uddin KM. Exploring the effectiveness of flavone derivatives for treating liver diseases: Utilizing DFT, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics techniques. MethodsX 2024; 12:102537. [PMID: 38299040 PMCID: PMC10828815 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102537] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
In exploring nature's potential in addressing liver-related conditions, this study investigates the therapeutic capabilities of flavonoids. Utilizing in silico methodologies, we focus on flavone and its analogs (1-14) to assess their therapeutic potential in treating liver diseases. Molecular change calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were conducted on these compounds, accompanied by an evaluation of each analog's physiochemical and biochemical properties. The study further assesses these flavonoids' binding effectiveness and locations through molecular docking studies against six target proteins associated with human cancer. Tropoflavin and taxifolin served as reference drugs. The structurally modified flavone analogs (1-14) displayed a broad range of binding affinities, ranging from -7.0 to -9.4 kcal mol⁻¹, surpassing the reference drugs. Notably, flavonoid (7) exhibited significantly higher binding affinities with proteins Nrf2 (PDB:1 × 2 J) and DCK (PDB:1 × 2 J) (-9.4 and -8.1 kcal mol⁻¹) compared to tropoflavin (-9.3 and -8.0 kcal mol⁻¹) and taxifolin (-9.4 and -7.1 kcal mol⁻¹), respectively. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that the docked complexes had a root mean square deviation (RMSD) value ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 nm and a root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) value between 0.35 and 1.3 nm during perturbation. The study concludes that 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (7) shows substantial promise as a potential therapeutic agent for liver-related conditions. However, further validation through in vitro and in vivo studies is necessary. Key insights from this study include:•Screening of flavanols and their derivatives to determine pharmacological and bioactive properties using ADMET, molinspiration, and pass prediction analysis.•Docking of shortlisted flavone derivatives with proteins having essential functions.•Analysis of the best protein-flavonoid docked complexes using molecular dynamics simulation to determine the flavonoid's efficiency and stability within a system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syeda Tasnim Quayum
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat Jahan Ikbal Esha
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh
| | - Siam Siraji
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh
| | - Sanaa S. Al Abbad
- Department of Chemistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zainab H.A. Alsunaidi
- Department of Chemistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Shofiur Rahman
- Biological and Environmental Sensing Research Unit, King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah N. Alodhayb
- Biological and Environmental Sensing Research Unit, King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khuloud A. Alibrahim
- Department of Chemistry, Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University, College of Science, Riyadh, Al Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarkar M.A. Kawsar
- Lab of Carbohydrate and Nucleoside Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
| | - Kabir M. Uddin
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh
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5
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Gupta A, Choudhary P, Singh S. Identification and targeting of metastatic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma therapeutics using small molecules library of curcumin analogues. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10871-3. [PMID: 38689175 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10871-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The understanding of the molecular basis of complex diseases like hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) needs large datasets of multiple genes and proteins involved in different phenomenon of its development. This study focuses on the molecular basis of HCC and the development of therapeutic strategies. We analyzed a dataset of 5475 genes (Homo sapiens) involved in HCC hallmarks, involving comprehensive data on multiple genes and frequently mutated genes. As HCC is characterized by metastasis, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress, exploration of genes associated with them has been targeted. Through gene ontology, functional characterization, and pathway enrichment analysis, we identified target proteins such as Lysyl oxidase, Survivin, Cofilin, and Cathepsin B. A library of curcumin analogs was used to target these proteins. Tetrahrydrocurcumin showed promising binding affinities for all four proteins, suggesting its potential as an inhibitor against these proteins for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayushi Gupta
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, Devghat, Jhalwa, Prayagraj, 211015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Princy Choudhary
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, Devghat, Jhalwa, Prayagraj, 211015, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sangeeta Singh
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, Devghat, Jhalwa, Prayagraj, 211015, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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6
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Yarahmadi A, Afkhami H. The role of microbiomes in gastrointestinal cancers: new insights. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1344328. [PMID: 38361500 PMCID: PMC10867565 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1344328] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers constitute more than 33% of new cancer cases worldwide and pose a considerable burden on public health. There exists a growing body of evidence that has systematically recorded an upward trajectory in GI malignancies within the last 5 to 10 years, thus presenting a formidable menace to the health of the human population. The perturbations in GI microbiota may have a noteworthy influence on the advancement of GI cancers; however, the precise mechanisms behind this association are still not comprehensively understood. Some bacteria have been observed to support cancer development, while others seem to provide a safeguard against it. Recent studies have indicated that alterations in the composition and abundance of microbiomes could be associated with the progression of various GI cancers, such as colorectal, gastric, hepatic, and esophageal cancers. Within this comprehensive analysis, we examine the significance of microbiomes, particularly those located in the intestines, in GI cancers. Furthermore, we explore the impact of microbiomes on various treatment modalities for GI cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Additionally, we delve into the intricate mechanisms through which intestinal microbes influence the efficacy of GI cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aref Yarahmadi
- Department of Biology, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Hamed Afkhami
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
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7
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Jiang L, Ou J, Liu R, Zou Y, Xie T, Xiao H, Bai T. RMAU-Net: Residual Multi-Scale Attention U-Net For liver and tumor segmentation in CT images. Comput Biol Med 2023; 158:106838. [PMID: 37030263 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Automatic liver and tumor segmentation are of great value in clinical practice as they can reduce surgeons' workload and increase the probability of success in surgery. Liver and tumor segmentation is a challenging task because of the different sizes, shapes, blurred boundaries of livers and lesions, and low-intensity contrast between organs within patients. To address the problem of fuzzy livers and small tumors, we propose a novel Residual Multi-scale Attention U-Net (RMAU-Net) for liver and tumor segmentation by introducing two modules, i.e., Res-SE-Block and MAB. The Res-SE-Block can mitigate the problem of gradient disappearance by residual connection and enhance the quality of representations by explicitly modeling the interdependencies and feature recalibration between the channels of features. The MAB can exploit rich multi-scale feature information and capture inter-channel and inter-spatial relationships of features simultaneously. In addition, a hybrid loss function, that combines focal loss and dice loss, is designed to improve segmentation accuracy and speed up convergence. We evaluated the proposed method on two publicly available datasets, i.e., LiTS and 3D-IRCADb. Our proposed method achieved better performance than the other state-of-the-art methods, with dice scores of 0.9552 and 0.9697 for LiTS and 3D-IRCABb liver segmentation, and dice scores of 0.7616 and 0.8307 for LiTS and 3D-IRCABb liver tumor segmentation.
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Ishtiaq SM, Arshad MI, Khan JA. PPARγ signaling in hepatocarcinogenesis: Mechanistic insights for cellular reprogramming and therapeutic implications. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 240:108298. [PMID: 36243148 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is leading cause of cancer-related mortalities globally. The therapeutic approaches for chronic liver diseases-associated liver cancers aimed at modulating immune check-points and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) signaling pathway during multistep process of hepatocarcinogenesis that played a dispensable role in immunopathogenesis and outcomes of disease. Herein, the review highlights PPARγ-induced effects in balancing inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and interplay of PPARγ, hepatic stellate cells and fibrogenic niche in cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic crosstalk of hepatocarcinogenesis. PPARγ-mediated effects in pre-malignant microenvironment promote growth arrest, cell senescence and cell clearance in liver cancer pathophysiology. Furthermore, PPARγ-immune cell axis of liver microenvironment exhibits an immunomodulation strategy of resident immune cells of the liver (macrophages, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells) in concomitance with current clinical guidelines of the European Association for Study of Liver Diseases (EASL) for several liver diseases. Thus, mechanistic insights of PPARγ-associated high value targets and canonical signaling suggest PPARγ as a possible therapeutic target in reprogramming of hepatocarcinogenesis to decrease burden of liver cancers, worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syeda Momna Ishtiaq
- Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| | | | - Junaid Ali Khan
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan.
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9
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Fahmi A, Abdur-Rahman M, Mahareek O, shemis MA. Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-loaded polycaprolactone nanocapsules as controlled anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drug release system. BMC Chem 2022; 16:95. [DOI: 10.1186/s13065-022-00888-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Free doxorubicin (Dox) is used as a chemotherapeutic agent against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it results in cardiotoxicty as a major side effect. Hence, a controlled Dox drug delivery system is extremely demanded.
Methods
Dox was loaded into the non-toxic biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocapsules using the double emulsion method. Characterization of Dox-PCL nanocapsules was done using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity were quantified using UV–visible spectrophotometry. Drug release was investigated in vitro at both normal (7.4) and cancer (4.8) pHs. Cytotoxicity of Dox-PCL nanocapsules against free Dox was evaluated using the MTT test on normal (Vero) and hepatic cancer (HepG2) cell lines.
Results
Spherical nanocapsules (212 ± 2 nm) were succeffully prepared with a zeta potential of (-22.3 ± 2 mv) and a polydisperse index of (0.019 ± 0.01) with a narrow size distribution pattern. The encapsulation efficiency was (73.15 ± 4%) with a drug loading capacity of (16.88 ± 2%). Importantlly, Dox-release from nanocapsules was faster at cancer pH (98%) than at physiological pH (26%). Moreover, although Dox-PCL nanocapsules were less toxic on the normal cell line (GI 50 = 17.99 ± 8.62 µg/ml) than free Dox (GI 50 = 16.53 ± 1.06 µg/ml), the encapsulated Dox showed higher toxic effect on cancer HepG2 cells compared to that caused by the free drug (GI 50 = 2.46 ± 0.49 and 4.22 ± 0.04 µg/ml, respectively).
Conclusion
The constructed Dox-PCL nanocapsules constitute a potentially controlled anti-HCC therapy with minimal systemic exposure.
Graphical Abstract
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Comprehensive Analysis of Histone Modifications in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reveals Different Subtypes and Key Prognostic Models. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:5961603. [PMID: 35957801 PMCID: PMC9359864 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5961603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Histone modification, an important epigenetic mechanism, is related to the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In three datasets, we screened 88 epigenetic-dysregulated PCGs (epi-PCGs) , which were significantly associated with HCC survival and could cluster HCC into three molecular subtypes. These subtypes were associated with prognosis, immunomodulatory alterations, and response to different treatment strategies. Based on 88 epi-PCGs in the TCGA training set, a risk prediction model composed of 4 epi-PCGs was established. The model was closely related to the clinicopathological features and showed a strong predictive ability in different clinical subgroups. In addition, the risk prediction model was an independent prognostic factor for patients with HCC. The significance of epi-PCGs in HCC is revealed by our data analysis.
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Amod A, Pahal S, Choudhary P, Gupta A, Singh S. Network pharmacological evaluation of strigolactones efficacy as potential inhibitors against therapeutic targets of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biotechnol Lett 2022; 44:879-900. [PMID: 35672528 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-022-03266-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the uncontrolled growth of hepatocytes which results in nearly 5 million deaths worldwide. Specific strategies have been developed to treat HCC, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But, the effective disease dealing requires synergistic collaboration with other approaches, which often results in moderate to severe side effects during and after the treatment period. Therefore, the focus is now shifting to explore and retrieve those plant-based products that could be utilized to treat HCC with maximum efficacy without causing any side effects. Strigolactones (SL) are compounds of plant origin derived from Striga lutea responsible for controlling the branching pattern of stem and have reported anti-cancerous activity by promoting apoptosis at micromolar concentrations. However, little work has been done concerning determining the pharmacogenomic effect of strigolactones on HCC. METHODS Current work focuses on comparing therapeutic efficiencies of SL analogs against core targets of HCC using network pharmacology approach, pharmacokinetics analysis, gene ontogeny, functional enrichment analysis, molecular docking and Molecular Dynamics simulation. RESULTS Drug-target prediction and functional enrichment analysis showed that HDAC1 and HDAC2 are the core proteins involved in hepatocellular carcinoma that strigolactone analogs can target. Consequently, results from molecular docking and MD simulation analyses report that among all the SL analogs strigol, epistrigol and nijmegen1 can turn out to be most effective in downregulating the expression of HDAC1, HDAC2 and CYP19A. CONCLUSION Strigol, epistrigol and nijmegen1 could be used as potential inhibitors against HCC and can be further validated through in vitro/in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayush Amod
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211015, India
| | - Sonu Pahal
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211015, India
| | - Princy Choudhary
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211015, India
| | - Ayushi Gupta
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211015, India
| | - Sangeeta Singh
- Department of Applied Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211015, India.
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Kidoguchi S, Kitada K, Nakajima K, Nakano D, Ohsaki H, Kittikulsuth W, Kobara H, Masaki T, Yokoo T, Takahashi K, Titze J, Nishiyama A. Hepatocellular carcinoma induces body mass loss in parallel with osmolyte and water retention in rats. Life Sci 2022; 289:120192. [PMID: 34871664 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The number of cancer survivors with cardiovascular disease is increasing. However, the effect of cancer on body fluid regulation remains to be clarified. In this study, we evaluated body osmolyte and water imbalance in rats with hepatocellular carcinoma. MAIN METHODS Wistar rats were administered diethylnitrosamine, a carcinogenic drug, to establish liver cancer. We analyzed tissue osmolyte and water content, and their associations with aldosterone secretion. KEY FINDINGS Hepatocellular carcinoma rats had significantly reduced body mass and the amount of total body sodium, potassium, and water. However, these rats had significantly increased relative tissue sodium, potassium, and water content per tissue dry weight. Furthermore, these changes in sodium and water balance in hepatocellular carcinoma rats were significantly associated with increased 24-h urinary aldosterone excretion. Supplementation with 0.25% salt in drinking water improved body weight reduction associated with sodium and water retention in hepatocellular carcinoma rats, which was suppressed by treatment with spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist. Additionally, the urea-driven water conservation system was activated in hepatocellular carcinoma rats. SIGNIFICANCE These findings suggest that hepatocellular carcinoma induces body mass loss in parallel with activation of the water conservation system including aldosterone secretion and urea accumulation to retain osmolyte and water. The osmolyte and water retention at the tissue level may be a causative factor for ascites and edema formation in liver failure rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Kidoguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan; Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kento Kitada
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan.
| | - Kazuki Nakajima
- Center for Joint Research Facilities Support, Research Promotion and Support Headquarters, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nakano
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Ohsaki
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Science, Kobe, Japan
| | - Wararat Kittikulsuth
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hideki Kobara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Masaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Takashi Yokoo
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Takahashi
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Sciences, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Jens Titze
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany; Division of Nephrology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Akira Nishiyama
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
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Silver Nanoparticles: An Instantaneous Solution for Anticancer Activity against Human Liver (HepG2) and Breast (MCF-7) Cancer Cells. METALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/met12010148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a cataclysmic disease that affects not only the target organ, but also the whole body. Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) have recently emerged as a better option for the treatment of this deadly disease. Accordingly, the present work describes a means to control the growth of cancer cells by using colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) processed via homemade solutions and the characterization of these materials. The AgNPs may become an instantaneous solution for the treatment of these deadly diseases and to minimize or remove these problems. The AgNPs exhibit excellent control of the growth rate of human liver (HepG2) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells, even at a very low concentrations. The cytotoxic effects of AgNPs on HepG2 and MCF-7 cancer cells were dose dependent (2–200 μg/mL), as evaluated using MTT and NRU assays. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was increased by 136% and 142% in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells treated with AgNPs, respectively. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data for both cell types (HepG2 and MCF-7) after exposure to AgNPs showed up- and downregulation of the expression of apoptotic (p53, Bax, caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic (BCl2) genes; moreover, their roles were described. This work shows that NPs were successfully prepared and controlled the growth of both types of cancer cells.
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14
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Moldogazieva NT, Zavadskiy SP, Sologova SS, Mokhosoev IM, Terentiev AA. Predictive biomarkers for systemic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2021; 21:1147-1164. [PMID: 34582293 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2021.1987217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and the third cancer-related cause of death worldwide. In recent years, several systemic therapy drugs including sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib, ramucicurab, nivilumab, and pembrolizumab have been approved by FDA for advanced HCC. However, their insufficient efficacy, toxicity, and drug resistance require clinically applicable and validated predictive biomarkers.Areas covered: Our review covers the recent advancements in the identification of proteomic/genomic/epigenomic/transcriptomic biomarkers for predicting HCC treatment efficacy with the use of multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs), CDK4/6 inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Alpha-fetoprotein, des-carboxyprothrombin, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, and dysregulated MTOR, VEGFR2, c-KIT, RAF1, PDGFRβ have the potential of proteomic/genomic biomarkers for sorafenib treatment. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and albumin-bilirubin grade can predict the efficacy of other MKIs. Rb, p16, and Ki-67, and genes involved in cell cycle regulation, CDK1-4, CCND1, CDKN1A, and CDKN2A have been proposed for CD4/6 inhibitors, while dysregulated TERT, CTNNB1, TP53 FGF19, and TP53 are found to be predictors for ICI efficacy.Expert opinion: There are still limited clinically applicable and validated predictive biomarkers to identify HCC patients who benefit from systemic therapy. Further prospective biomarker validation studies for HCC personalized systemic therapy are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurbubu T Moldogazieva
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, I.m. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University);, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey P Zavadskiy
- Department of Pharmacology, Nelyubin Institute of Pharmacy, I.m. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Russia, Russia
| | - Susanna S Sologova
- Department of Pharmacology, Nelyubin Institute of Pharmacy, I.m. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Russia, Russia
| | - Innokenty M Mokhosoev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, N.i. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander A Terentiev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, N.i. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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15
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Wegner MS, Schömel N, Olzomer EM, Trautmann S, Olesch C, Byrne FL, Brüne B, Gurke R, Ferreirós N, Weigert A, Geisslinger G, Hoehn KL. Increased glucosylceramide production leads to decreased cell energy metabolism and lowered tumor marker expression in non-cancerous liver cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7025-7041. [PMID: 34626204 PMCID: PMC8558193 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03958-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most difficult cancer types to treat. Liver cancer is often diagnosed at late stages and therapeutic treatment is frequently accompanied by development of multidrug resistance. This leads to poor outcomes for cancer patients. Understanding the fundamental molecular mechanisms leading to liver cancer development is crucial for developing new therapeutic approaches, which are more efficient in treating cancer. Mice with a liver specific UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) knockout (KO) show delayed diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver tumor growth. Accordingly, the rationale for our study was to determine whether UGCG overexpression is sufficient to drive cancer phenotypes in liver cells. We investigated the effect of UGCG overexpression (OE) on normal murine liver (NMuLi) cells. Increased UGCG expression results in decreased mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, which is reversible by treatment with EtDO-P4, an UGCG inhibitor. Furthermore, tumor markers such as FGF21 and EPCAM are lowered following UGCG OE, which could be related to glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and lactosylceramide (LacCer) accumulation in glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains (GEMs) and subsequently altered signaling protein phosphorylation. These cellular processes lead to decreased proliferation in NMuLi/UGCG OE cells. Our data show that increased UGCG expression itself does not induce pro-cancerous processes in normal liver cells, which indicates that increased GlcCer expression leads to different outcomes in different cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marthe-Susanna Wegner
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, House 74, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Nina Schömel
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, House 74, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ellen M Olzomer
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Sandra Trautmann
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, House 74, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Catherine Olesch
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frances L Byrne
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Bernhard Brüne
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Robert Gurke
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, House 74, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nerea Ferreirós
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, House 74, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Weigert
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, House 74, Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Theodor Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kyle L Hoehn
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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16
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Wang H, Chen X, Calvisi DF. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): the most promising therapeutic targets in the preclinical arena based on tumor biology characteristics. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:645-658. [PMID: 34477018 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1976142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant liver tumor characterized by high molecular heterogeneity, which has hampered the development of effective targeted therapies severely. Recent experimental data have unraveled novel promising targets for HCC treatment. AREAS COVERED : Eligible articles were retrieved from PubMed and Web of Science databases up to July 2021. This review summarizes the established targeted therapies for advanced HCC, focusing on the strategies to overcome drug resistance and the search for combinational treatments. In addition, conventional biomarkers holding the promises for HCC treatments and novel therapeutic targets from the research field are discussed. EXPERT OPINION : HCC is a molecularly complex disease, with several and distinct pathways playing critical roles in different tumor subtypes. Experimental models recapitulating the features of each tumor subset would be highly beneficial to design novel and more effective therapies against this disease. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of combinatorial drug synergism and the role of the tumor microenvironment in HCC will lead to improved therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichuan Wang
- Liver Transplantation Division, Department of Liver Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Diego F Calvisi
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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17
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Blidisel A, Marcovici I, Coricovac D, Hut F, Dehelean CA, Cretu OM. Experimental Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma-A Preclinical Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3651. [PMID: 34359553 PMCID: PMC8344976 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most frequent form of primary liver carcinoma, is a heterogenous and complex tumor type with increased incidence, poor prognosis, and high mortality. The actual therapeutic arsenal is narrow and poorly effective, rendering this disease a global health concern. Although considerable progress has been made in terms of understanding the pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutical approaches, several facets of human HCC remain undiscovered. A valuable and prompt approach to acquire further knowledge about the unrevealed aspects of HCC and novel therapeutic candidates is represented by the application of experimental models. Experimental models (in vivo and in vitro 2D and 3D models) are considered reliable tools to gather data for clinical usability. This review offers an overview of the currently available preclinical models frequently applied for the study of hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of initiation, development, and progression, as well as for the discovery of efficient treatments, highlighting the advantages and the limitations of each model. Furthermore, we also focus on the role played by computational studies (in silico models and artificial intelligence-based prediction models) as promising novel tools in liver cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Blidisel
- Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania; (A.B.); (F.H.); (O.M.C.)
| | - Iasmina Marcovici
- Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Dorina Coricovac
- Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Florin Hut
- Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania; (A.B.); (F.H.); (O.M.C.)
| | - Cristina Adriana Dehelean
- Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Octavian Marius Cretu
- Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania; (A.B.); (F.H.); (O.M.C.)
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