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Chen Y, Jin Y, Hu X, Chen M. Infiltrating T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment of small cell lung cancer: a state of knowledge review. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022; 148:881-895. [PMID: 34997864 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03895-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have brought new hope for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) over the past decades. However, the overall response rate is limited, and is lower than that in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is in part because of the lack of pre-existing tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TITLs), especially cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), in the SCLC tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in insufficient anti-tumor immune response. To unleash the full potential of ICIs, the trafficking and infiltration of TITLs to the tumor is necessary and tightly regulated, the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment blunts the infiltration and function of TITLs that reach the tumor in SCLC. Here, we review the characteristics of TITLs, the effects of various factors on T cell infiltration, and possible strategies to restore or promote T cell infiltration in the TME of SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamei Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China
| | - Ying Jin
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Ming Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
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Sivaganesh V, Promi N, Maher S, Peethambaran B. Emerging Immunotherapies against Novel Molecular Targets in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2433. [PMID: 33670942 PMCID: PMC7957700 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a highly emerging form of breast cancer therapy that enables clinicians to target cancers with specific receptor expression profiles. Two popular immunotherapeutic approaches involve chimeric antigen receptor-T cells (CAR-T) and bispecific antibodies (BsAb). Briefly mentioned in this review as well is the mRNA vaccine technology recently popularized by the COVID-19 vaccine. These forms of immunotherapy can highly select for the tumor target of interest to generate specific tumor lysis. Along with improvements in CAR-T, bispecific antibody engineering, and therapeutic administration, much research has been done on novel molecular targets that can especially be useful for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) immunotherapy. Combining emerging immunotherapeutics with tumor marker discovery sets the stage for highly targeted immunotherapy to be the future of cancer treatments. This review highlights the principles of CAR-T and BsAb therapy, improvements in CAR and BsAb engineering, and recently identified human breast cancer markers in the context of in vitro or in vivo CAR-T or BsAb treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh Sivaganesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, 600 S 43rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.S.); (N.P.); (S.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 4170 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Nazifa Promi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, 600 S 43rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.S.); (N.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Salma Maher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, 600 S 43rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.S.); (N.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Bela Peethambaran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, 600 S 43rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (V.S.); (N.P.); (S.M.)
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Qi J, Rader C. Redirecting cytotoxic T cells with chemically programmed antibodies. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115834. [PMID: 33166926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115834] [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: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies (T-biAbs) mediate potent and selective cytotoxicity by combining specificities for target and effector cells in one molecule. Chemically programmed T-biAbs (cp-T-biAbs) are precisely assembled compositions of (i) small molecules that govern cancer cell surface targeting with high affinity and specificity and (ii) antibodies that recruit and activate T cells and equip the small molecule with confined biodistribution and longer circulatory half-life. Conceptually similar to cp-T-biAbs, switchable chimeric antigen receptor T cells (sCAR-Ts) can also be put under the control of small molecules by using a chemically programmed antibody as a bispecific adaptor molecule. As such, cp-T-biAbs and cp-sCAR-Ts can endow small molecules with the power of cancer immunotherapy. We here review the concept of chemically programmed antibodies for recruiting and activating T cells as a promising strategy for broadening the utility of small molecules in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpeng Qi
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| | - Christoph Rader
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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Du J, Li Y, Wang L, Zhou Y, Shen Y, Xu F, Chen Y. Selective application of neuroendocrine markers in the diagnosis and treatment of small cell lung cancer. Clin Chim Acta 2020; 509:295-303. [PMID: 32592711 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Here, we explored the potential application and selection of neuroendocrine biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of small cell lung cancer. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 118 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), 166 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 33 patients with benign lung disease (BLD), and 200 healthy individuals admitted to Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2019. All the patients were newly diagnosed with either SCLC, NSCLC, or BLD and previously untreated. Peripheral blood levels of ProGRP, NSE, CEA, and CYFRA21-1 were analyzed during the follow-up treatment, and 2-fold upper limit of reference intervals were defined as effective elevation. We used paired results to analyze the diagnostic efficiency of proGRP and NSE on SCLC. RESULTS In the 118 SCLC patients, proGRP levels were significantly higher compared with NSE levels. The diagnostic efficiencies of NSE and ProGRP for SCLC were 0.8554 and 0.9053, respectively. The combined diagnostic efficiency (0.9426) was higher relative to NSE, but there was no significant difference compared with proGRP. The effective elevation rate of proGRP was 45.3% higher than that of NSE in the limited stage of SCLC. In the extensive disease of SCLC patients, 70.7% cases had more than 10-fold increase in proGRP value, whereas 56.9% cases had less than 5-fold increase in NSE value. Compared with pre-treatment, the median concentrations of proGRP increased by 204.0% higher than that of NSE (71.3%) in the progressive group. Besides, the dynamic change in imaging characteristics and tumor size had a strong correlation with the levels of proGRP. SIGNIFICANCE ProGRP is a reliable neuroendocrine biomarker in SCLC. The effective elevation of proGRP has a potential diagnostic and efficacy value in the evaluation of SCLC. However, the combined detection of proGRP and NSE does not significantly improve the diagnosis of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Du
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yanchun Li
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chun'an First People's Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Chun'an Branch, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Yanping Zhou
- Meikang Biological Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yuhuan Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yongjian Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China.
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Ma M, Li L, Chen H, Feng Y. Oxytocin Inhibition of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer by Suppressing the Expression of Fibroblast Activation Protein-α. Front Neurosci 2020; 13:1317. [PMID: 31920487 PMCID: PMC6923180 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and its receptor (OXTR) are present in the gastrointestinal system and are involved in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis. However, the effect of OXTR signaling on the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. To address these issues, we first examined the expressions of OXT, OXTR, and several cancer-associated proteins using colon “tissue chips” from a spectrum of malignant progression of the colon, which included normal colon tissue, chronic colitis, colorectal adenoma, and colorectal adenocarcinoma (CAC). The results showed that the expressions of OXT and OXTR decreased gradually with the malignant progression of the disease. Stimulation of CAC tissues with OXT increased OXTR expression while down-regulated FAPα and CCL-2 protein expressions in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, cell invasion experiment showed that OXT treatment reduced the invasion ability of colon cancer cells and blocking OXTR with atosiban blocked OXT-reduced invasion ability of human colon cancer cell lines Ls174T and SW480. The results indicate that OXT has the potential to inhibit CRC development via down-regulating the immunosuppressive proteins FAPα and CCL-2. When the OXTR signaling is weakened, colon tissues may transform to CRC. These findings also highlight the possibility of applying OXT to inhibit CRC development directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Ma
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - He Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yong Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Abstract
Harnessing the power of the human immune system to treat cancer is the essence of immunotherapy. Monoclonal antibodies engage the innate immune system to destroy targeted cells. For the last 30years, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity have been the main mechanisms of anti-tumor action of unconjugated antibody drugs. Efforts to exploit the potentials of other immune cells, in particular T cells, culminated in the recent approval of two T cell engaging bispecific antibody (T-BsAb) drugs, thereby stimulating new efforts to accelerate similar platforms through preclinical and clinical trials. In this review, we have compiled the worldwide effort in exploring T cell engaging bispecific antibodies. Our special emphasis is on the lessons learned, with the hope to derive insights in this fast evolving field with tremendous clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - N V Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, United States.
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Khan M, Huang T, Lin CY, Wu J, Fan BM, Bian ZX. Exploiting cancer's phenotypic guise against itself: targeting ectopically expressed peptide G-protein coupled receptors for lung cancer therapy. Oncotarget 2017; 8:104615-104637. [PMID: 29262666 PMCID: PMC5732832 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer, claiming millions of lives annually, has the highest mortality rate worldwide. This advocates the development of novel cancer therapies that are highly toxic for cancer cells but negligibly toxic for healthy cells. One of the effective treatments is targeting overexpressed surface receptors of cancer cells with receptor-specific drugs. The receptors-in-focus in the current review are the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are often overexpressed in various types of tumors. The peptide subfamily of GPCRs is the pivot of the current article owing to the high affinity and specificity to and of their cognate peptide ligands, and the proven efficacy of peptide-based therapeutics. The article summarizes various ectopically expressed peptide GPCRs in lung cancer, namely, Cholecystokinin-B/Gastrin receptor, the Bombesin receptor family, Bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors, Arginine vasopressin receptors 1a, 1b and 2, and the Somatostatin receptor type 2. The autocrine growth and pro-proliferative pathways they mediate, and the distinct tumor-inhibitory effects of somatostatin receptors are then discussed. The next section covers how these pathways may be influenced or 'corrected' through therapeutics (involving agonists and antagonists) targeting the overexpressed peptide GPCRs. The review proceeds on to Nano-scaled delivery platforms, which enclose chemotherapeutic agents and are decorated with peptide ligands on their external surface, as an effective means of targeting cancer cells. We conclude that targeting these overexpressed peptide GPCRs is potentially evolving as a highly promising form of lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahjabin Khan
- Laboratory of Brain-Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR, Kowloon Tong, P.R. China
| | - Tao Huang
- Laboratory of Brain-Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR, Kowloon Tong, P.R. China
| | - Cheng-Yuan Lin
- Laboratory of Brain-Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR, Kowloon Tong, P.R. China
- YMU-HKBU Joint Laboratory of Traditional Natural Medicine, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Jiang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, P. R. China
| | - Bao-Min Fan
- YMU-HKBU Joint Laboratory of Traditional Natural Medicine, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Zhao-Xiang Bian
- Laboratory of Brain-Gut Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR, Kowloon Tong, P.R. China
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Moreno P, Ramos-Álvarez I, Moody TW, Jensen RT. Bombesin related peptides/receptors and their promising therapeutic roles in cancer imaging, targeting and treatment. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2016; 20:1055-73. [PMID: 26981612 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2016.1164694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite remarkable advances in tumor treatment, many patients still die from common tumors (breast, prostate, lung, CNS, colon, and pancreas), and thus, new approaches are needed. Many of these tumors synthesize bombesin (Bn)-related peptides and over-express their receptors (BnRs), hence functioning as autocrine-growth-factors. Recent studies support the conclusion that Bn-peptides/BnRs are well-positioned for numerous novel antitumor treatments, including interrupting autocrine-growth and the use of over-expressed receptors for imaging and targeting cytotoxic-compounds, either by direct-coupling or combined with nanoparticle-technology. AREAS COVERED The unique ability of common neoplasms to synthesize, secrete, and show a growth/proliferative/differentiating response due to BnR over-expression, is reviewed, both in general and with regard to the most frequently investigated neoplasms (breast, prostate, lung, and CNS). Particular attention is paid to advances in the recent years. Also considered are the possible therapeutic approaches to the growth/differentiation effect of Bn-peptides, as well as the therapeutic implication of the frequent BnR over-expression for tumor-imaging and/or targeted-delivery. EXPERT OPINION Given that Bn-related-peptides/BnRs are so frequently ectopically-expressed by common tumors, which are often malignant and become refractory to conventional treatments, therapeutic interventions using novel approaches to Bn-peptides and receptors are being explored. Of particular interest is the potential of reproducing with BnRs in common tumors the recent success of utilizing overexpression of somatostatin-receptors by neuroendocrine-tumors to provide the most sensitive imaging methods and targeted delivery of cytotoxic-compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Moreno
- a Digestive Diseases Branch, Cell Biology Section, NIDDK , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Irene Ramos-Álvarez
- a Digestive Diseases Branch, Cell Biology Section, NIDDK , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Terry W Moody
- b Center for Cancer Research, Office of the Director , NCI, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Robert T Jensen
- a Digestive Diseases Branch, Cell Biology Section, NIDDK , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
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Ramos-Álvarez I, Moreno P, Mantey SA, Nakamura T, Nuche-Berenguer B, Moody TW, Coy DH, Jensen RT. Insights into bombesin receptors and ligands: Highlighting recent advances. Peptides 2015; 72:128-44. [PMID: 25976083 PMCID: PMC4641779 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This following article is written for Prof. Abba Kastin's Festschrift, to add to the tribute to his important role in the advancement of the role of peptides in physiological, as well as pathophysiological processes. There have been many advances during the 35 years of his prominent role in the Peptide field, not only as editor of the journal Peptides, but also as a scientific investigator and editor of two volumes of the Handbook of Biological Active Peptides [146,147]. Similar to the advances with many different peptides, during this 35 year period, there have been much progress made in the understanding of the pharmacology, cell biology and the role of (bombesin) Bn receptors and their ligands in various disease states, since the original isolation of bombesin from skin of the European frog Bombina bombina in 1970 [76]. This paper will briefly review some of these advances over the time period of Prof. Kastin 35 years in the peptide field concentrating on the advances since 2007 when many of the results from earlier studies were summarized [128,129]. It is appropriate to do this because there have been 280 articles published in Peptides during this time on bombesin-related peptides and it accounts for almost 5% of all publications. Furthermore, 22 Bn publications we have been involved in have been published in either Peptides [14,39,55,58,81,92,93,119,152,216,225,226,231,280,302,309,355,361,362] or in Prof. Kastin's Handbook of Biological Active Peptides [137,138,331].
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Ramos-Álvarez
- Digestive Diseases Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1804, United States
| | - Paola Moreno
- Digestive Diseases Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1804, United States
| | - Samuel A Mantey
- Digestive Diseases Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1804, United States
| | - Taichi Nakamura
- Digestive Diseases Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1804, United States
| | - Bernardo Nuche-Berenguer
- Digestive Diseases Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1804, United States
| | - Terry W Moody
- Center for Cancer Research, Office of the Director, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1804, United States
| | - David H Coy
- Peptide Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, United States
| | - Robert T Jensen
- Digestive Diseases Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1804, United States.
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Abstract
VEGF is an important signaling protein involved in both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. As an essential receptor protein tyrosine kinase propagating cellular signal transduction processes, VEGFR-2 is a central target for drug discovery against tumor-associated angiogenesis. Since the autophosphorylation of VEGFR-2 represents a key step in this signal pathway that contributes to angiogenesis, the discovery of small molecule inhibitors that block this reaction has attracted great interest for novel drugs research and development. Advances in the understanding of catalytic cleft and the conformational changes of DFG motif have resulted in the development of small molecule inhibitors known as type I and type II. High-resolution crystal structures of various inhibitors in complex with the receptor offer an insight into the relationship among binding modes, inhibition mechanisms, activity, selectivity and resistance. To control selectivity, improve activity and introduce intellectual property novelty, the strategies for the further development are discussed through structural and conformational analysis in this review.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Description of the recent findings of the biological roles of bombesin-like peptides and their receptors in lungs. RECENT FINDINGS Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) was involved in the airway inflammation in murine models of airway hyperreactivity. The circulating proGRP could serve as a valuable tumor marker for small-cell lung cancers, and the plasma level of proGRP is more stable compared with that of serum proGRP. Recent studies also shed light on the intracellular signaling pathways of bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3) activation in cultured human lung cancer cells. SUMMARY The relevant biology of BLPs and their receptors in lung cancers and other lung diseases still remains largely unknown. With the development of several highly specific BRS-3 agonists, recent studies provided some insights into the biological effects of BRS-3 in lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qun Qin
- Department of Physiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.
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Analogue-based drug discovery: Contributions to medicinal chemistry principles and drug design strategies. Microtubule stabilizers as a case in point (Special Topic Article). PURE APPL CHEM 2012. [DOI: 10.1351/pac-con-12-02-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The benefits of utilizing marketed drugs as starting points to discover new therapeutic agents have been well documented within the IUPAC series of books that bear the title Analogue-based Drug Discovery (ABDD). Not as clearly demonstrated, however, is that ABDD also contributes to the elaboration of new basic principles and alternative drug design strategies that are useful to the field of medicinal chemistry in general. After reviewing the ABDD programs that have evolved around the area of microtubule-stabilizing chemo-therapeutic agents, the present article delineates the associated research activities that additionally contributed to general strategies that can be useful for prodrug design, identifying pharmacophores, circumventing multidrug resistance (MDR), and achieving targeted drug distribution.
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Paul P, Gillory LA, Kang J, Qiao J, Chung DH. Targeting gastrin-releasing peptide as a new approach to treat aggressive refractory neuroblastomas. Surgery 2010; 149:425-32. [PMID: 21035156 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2010.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2010] [Accepted: 08/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The overall survival for neuroblastoma remains dismal, in part due to the emergence of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. We have demonstrated that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a gut peptide secreted by neuroblastoma, acts as an autocrine growth factor. We hypothesized that knockdown of GRP will induce apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells and potentiate the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS The human neuroblastoma cell lines (JF, SK-N-SH) were transfected with small interfering (si) RNA targeted at GRP. Apoptosis was assessed by DNA fragmentation assay. Immunoblotting was used to confirm molecular markers of apoptosis, and flow cytometry was performed to determine cell cycle arrest after GRP knockdown. RESULTS siGRP resulted in an increase in apoptosis in the absence of chemotherapeutic interventions. A combination of GRP silencing and chemotherapeutic drugs resulted in enhanced apoptosis when compared to either of the treatments alone. GRP silencing led to increased expression of proapoptotic proteins, p53 and p21. CONCLUSION Silencing of GRP induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells; it acts synergistically with chemotherapeutic effects of etoposide and vincristine. GRP knockdown-mediated apoptosis appears to be associated with upregulation of p53 in neuroblastoma cells. Targeting GRP may be postulated as a potential novel agent for combinational treatment to treat aggressive neuroblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritha Paul
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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Koumarianou E, Mikołajczak R, Pawlak D, Zikos X, Bouziotis P, Garnuszek P, Karczmarczyk U, Maurin M, Archimandritis SC. Comparative study on DOTA-derivatized bombesin analog labeled with 90Y and 177Lu: in vitro and in vivo evaluation. Nucl Med Biol 2009; 36:591-603. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2009.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2008] [Revised: 02/26/2009] [Accepted: 03/24/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Zhao KJ, Shen JK. Advances of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in treatment of tumors. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2009; 17:63-67. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v17.i1.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), known as autocrine growth factors in tumors, is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of many human malignant tumors, and high expression of its receptor, GRPR, in a large spectrum of human cancers gives support to the conclusion that GRPR is a new molecular target in experimental and clinical cancer therapy. GRPRs may be potential carriers for cytotoxins, immunotoxins or radioactive compounds. Moreover, blocking gastrin-releasing peptide receptor signaling pathways by means of antisence oligonucleotide, RNA interference and its antagonists has exhibited impressive antitumor activity.
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Wang XL, Xu R, Lu ZR. A peptide-targeted delivery system with pH-sensitive amphiphilic cell membrane disruption for efficient receptor-mediated siRNA delivery. J Control Release 2008; 134:207-13. [PMID: 19135104 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2008] [Accepted: 11/09/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The efficient delivery of therapeutic siRNA into cells of interest is a critical challenge to broad application of RNAi. In this study, we developed a peptide-targeted delivery system for highly efficient receptor-mediated cellular siRNA delivery. The targeted delivery system was readily prepared by in situ functionalization of a polymerizable pH-sensitive amphiphilic surfactant, N-(1-aminoethyl)iminobis[N-(oleicyl-cysteinyl-histinyl-1-aminoethyl)propionamide] (EHCO) and self-assembly with siRNA. The intrinsic pH-sensitive amphiphilicity of EHCO at pH 5-6 was able to induce cell membrane disruption at endosomal pH and facilitate endosomal escape of the siRNA nanoparticles after internalization. The siRNA/EHCO nanoparticles and PEGylated siRNA/EHCO nanoparticles were not cytotoxic as compared to PEI/siRNA or TransFast/siRNA nanoparticles. siRNA/EHCO nanoparticles resulted in higher siRNA delivery efficiency than PEI and TransFast. The PEGylation of the siRNA/EHCO nanoparticles significantly reduced non-specific cell uptake. The incorporation of a bombesin peptide via a PEG spacer resulted in specific cellular uptake and high gene silencing efficiency in CHO-d1EGFP cells with overexpression of bombesin receptors. Receptor-mediated endocytosis and pH-sensitive amphiphilic endosomal escape are the advantageous features of the targeted siRNA delivery system for highly efficient cell-specific siRNA delivery. This novel targeted delivery system holds a great promise for systemic and targeted delivery of therapeutic siRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Li Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA
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17
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Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer is an aggressive form of lung cancer that, overall, remains the most common cause of cancer death in the US. Some advances have been made in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer using cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents but no truly targeted therapies are available as of yet. At present, research is focused on finding therapies that can target the specific molecular mechanisms responsible for the survival, growth and metastasis of the tumor thereby improving responses to chemotherapy and minimizing toxicity. Several new agents, such as angiogenesis inhibitors and regulators of apoptosis, have reached clinical testing and multiple others are in preclinical trials. Some of these will be discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Fernainy
- Emory University School of Medicine and Crawford Long Hospital, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
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18
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Cornelio DB, Roesler R, Schwartsmann G. Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor as a molecular target in experimental anticancer therapy. Ann Oncol 2007; 18:1457-66. [PMID: 17351255 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdm058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades, several lines of experimental evidence have suggested that the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) may act as a growth factor in many types of cancer. For that reason, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) antagonists have been developed as anticancer candidate compounds, exhibiting impressive antitumoral activity both in vitro and in vivo in various murine and human tumors. In this article, the GRPR cell surface expression profile in human malignancies is reviewed aiming at the identification of potential tumor types for future clinical trials with GRP analogues and antagonists. In this review, we summarize the current literature regarding the GRPR status in human malignancies. Source data were obtained by searching all published material available through Medline, PubMed and relevant articles from 1971 to 2006. The data available demonstrated a high expression of GRPRs in a large spectrum of human cancers, demonstrating the potential relevance of this intracellular signaling pathway in various human tumor models. The GRPR may be an interesting target for therapeutic intervention in human malignancies, as carriers for cytotoxins, immunotoxins or radioactive compounds, being also a potential tool for tumor detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Cornelio
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Academic Hospital Research Center, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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19
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Ganesh T. Improved biochemical strategies for targeted delivery of taxoids. Bioorg Med Chem 2007; 15:3597-623. [PMID: 17419065 PMCID: PMC2374751 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2006] [Revised: 03/13/2007] [Accepted: 03/14/2007] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere) are very important anti-tumor drugs in clinical use for cancer. However, their clinical utility is limited due to systemic toxicity, low solubility and inactivity against drug resistant tumors. To improve chemotherapeutic levels of these drugs, it would be highly desirable to design strategies which bypass the above limitations. In this respect various prodrug and drug targeting strategies have been envisioned either to improve oral bioavailability or tumor specific delivery of taxoids. Abnormal properties of cancer cells with respect to normal cells have guided in designing of these protocols. This review article records the designed biochemical strategies and their biological efficacies as potential taxoid chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thota Ganesh
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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20
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Horino T, Takao T, Yamamoto M, Geshi T, Hashimoto K. Spontaneous remission of small cell lung cancer: A case report and review in the literature. Lung Cancer 2006; 53:249-52. [PMID: 16790292 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2006.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2006] [Revised: 04/30/2006] [Accepted: 05/02/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous remission (SR) of cancer, especially of lung tumor, is a rare biological event. Only seven cases in which small cell lung cancer (SCLC) regressed spontaneously had been previously reported. We report here a rare case of complete SR of SCLC in an 86-year-old man. Paraneoplastic sensory neuronopathy (PSN) is a rare syndrome, which is associated with malignancy such as SCLC and starts with dysesthetic pain and numbness in the distal extremities, then spreading all four limbs and trunk causing severe sensory ataxia. In the previous reports, SR of SCLC is suggested to result from surgical trauma or PSN, which may be able to enhance anti-tumoral immunity. Our report is the case of SR of SCLC, without any therapies nor any invasive examinations. Although the reason of SR of SCLC in the present case is unknown, PSN could be one of the diagnosis by exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Horino
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nephrology, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Okoh-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan.
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