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Shan M, Cheng Q, Parris AB, Kong L, Yang X, Shi Y. Metformin reduces basal subpopulation and attenuates mammary epithelial cell stemness in FVB/N mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1427395. [PMID: 39055652 PMCID: PMC11269140 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1427395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Metformin shows promise in breast cancer prevention, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of metformin on the repopulation dynamics of mammary epithelial cells (MECs) and the signaling pathways in non-tumorigenic FVB/N mice. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the role of metformin in reducing the susceptibility of MECs in premalignant tissues to oncogenic factors. In this study, female mice were administered 200 mg/kg/day of metformin via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection from 8 to 18 weeks of age. After this treatment period, morphogenesis, flow cytometry, analyses of MEC stemness, and RNA sequencing were performed. The study findings indicated that metformin treatment in adult mice reduced mammary gland proliferation, as demonstrated by decreased Ki67+ cells and lateral bud formation. Additionally, metformin significantly reduced both basal and mammary repopulating unit subpopulations, indicating an impact on mammary epithelial cell repopulation. Mammosphere, colony-forming cell, and 3D culture assays revealed that metformin adversely affected mammary epithelial cell stemness. Furthermore, metformin downregulated signaling in key pathways including AMPK/mTOR, MAPK/Erk, PI3K/Akt, and ER, which contribute to its inhibitory effects on mammary proliferation and stemness. Transcriptome analysis with RNA sequencing indicated that metformin induced significant downregulation of genes involved in multiple critical pathways. KEGG-based pathway analysis indicated that genes in PI3K/Akt, focal adhesion, ECM-receptor, small cell lung cancer and immune-modulation pathways were among the top groups of differentially regulated genes. In summary, our research demonstrates that metformin inhibits MEC proliferation and stemness, accompanied by the downregulation of intrinsic signaling. These insights suggest that the regulatory effects of metformin on premalignant mammary tissues could potentially delay or prevent the onset of breast cancer, offering a promising avenue for developing new preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Shan
- Department of Pathology, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Hena, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qiong Cheng
- Department of Pathology, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Hena, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Amanda B. Parris
- Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Research Campus, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Lingfei Kong
- Department of Pathology, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Hena, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Department of Pathology, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Hena, China
- Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Research Campus, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Yujie Shi
- Department of Pathology, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Hena, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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2
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Corleto KA, Strandmo JL, Giles ED. Metformin and Breast Cancer: Current Findings and Future Perspectives from Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:396. [PMID: 38543182 PMCID: PMC10974219 DOI: 10.3390/ph17030396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last several decades, a growing body of research has investigated the potential to repurpose the anti-diabetic drug metformin for breast cancer prevention and/or treatment. Observational studies in the early 2000s demonstrated that patients with diabetes taking metformin had decreased cancer risk, providing the first evidence supporting the potential role of metformin as an anti-cancer agent. Despite substantial efforts, two decades later, the exact mechanisms and clinical efficacy of metformin for breast cancer remain ambiguous. Here, we have summarized key findings from studies examining the effect of metformin on breast cancer across the translational spectrum including in vitro, in vivo, and human studies. Importantly, we discuss critical factors that may help explain the significant heterogeneity in study outcomes, highlighting how metformin dose, underlying metabolic health, menopausal status, tumor subtype, membrane transporter expression, diet, and other factors may play a role in modulating metformin's anti-cancer effects. We hope that these insights will help with interpreting data from completed studies, improve the design of future studies, and aid in the identification of patient subsets with breast cancer or at high risk for the disease who are most likely to benefit from metformin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A. Corleto
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (K.A.C.)
- School of Kinesiology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jenna L. Strandmo
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (K.A.C.)
| | - Erin D. Giles
- School of Kinesiology and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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3
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Manickavel S, Hartman Y, Burns A, Lora Gonzalez MA, Warram J, Walsh E, Hunter JB, Killeen DE. Metformin Reduces Tumor Growth in a Murine Flank Schwannoma Model. Otol Neurotol 2023; 44:941-948. [PMID: 37641199 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000004001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Metformin and aspirin reduce vestibular schwannoma (VS) growth. BACKGROUND There have been reported associations between patients with VS prescribed metformin and decreased tumor volumetric growth. Aspirin has also been associated with decreased VS growth in animal studies. METHODS Rat schwannoma cell lines were grown and implanted into 50 athymic nude mice. Tumors were grown to 5 mm, and then mice were injected with either low- or high-dose metformin, aspirin, or saline daily. Tumors were measured until 14 days elapsed or mice demonstrated symptoms such as ulceration, inability to walk, or passed away. RESULTS There were no significant differences in day 0 tumor sizes between the control and the treatment groups ( p = 0.73). In the low-dose, but not high-dose groups, day 7 volumes were significantly different for both metformin ( p = 0.04) and aspirin ( p = 0.02) compared with placebo. Mean tumor growth rates were 126.6 ± 65.6 mm 3 /day for saline compared with 73.7 ± 29.5 mm 3 /day for low-dose metformin ( p = 0.03) and 68.7 ± 34.8 mm 3 /day for low-dose aspirin ( p = 0.016). There were no significant differences in tumor sizes ( p = 0.59) or growth rates ( p = 0.75) between low-dose metformin and aspirin groups. Low-dose groups had treatment stopped at 14 days, with continued monitoring demonstrating significant increases in tumor growth off treatment for both aspirin ( p = 0.006) and metformin ( p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS Metformin treatment significantly reduced VS growth to a similar level as aspirin. Furthermore, when removing both metformin and aspirin treatment, tumor growth significantly increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhir Manickavel
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Yolanda Hartman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Andrew Burns
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Manuel A Lora Gonzalez
- Department of Pathology-Anatomic Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jason Warram
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Erika Walsh
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jacob B Hunter
- Department of Pathology-Anatomic Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Daniel E Killeen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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4
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Liu J, Zhao J, Qiao X. Research Progress of Metformin in the Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad139. [PMID: 37738154 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignancies and has a high mortality, posing a great threat to both human physical and mental health. With the advancement of scientific research, a variety of cancer therapies have been used for OSCC treatment. However, the prognosis of OSCC shows no significant improvement. Metformin has been recognized as the first-line drug for the treatment of diabetes, and recent studies have shown that metformin has a remarkable suppressive effect on tumor progression. Metformin can not only affect the energy metabolism of tumor cells but also play an antitumor role by modulating the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells. In this review, the molecular mechanism of metformin and its anticancer mechanism in OSCC are summarized. In addition, this article summarizes the side effects of metformin and the future prospects of its application in the treatment of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Liu
- Department of Stomatology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Xue Qiao
- Department of Central Laboratory, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, China
- Department of Oral Biology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110002, China
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Zhang W, Li D, Li B, Chu X, Kong B. STAT3 as a therapeutic target in the metformin-related treatment. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 116:109770. [PMID: 36746021 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling plays an important role in mediating tumor progression, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and other pathological processes.In recent years, STAT3 as a therapeutic target has received extensive attention. It is well known that metformin can play the role of hypoglycemia by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) through inhibition of mitochondrial ATP production.However, AMPK is not required for metformin activity.Although the application of STAT3 as a therapeutic target of metformin is still in the initial research stage, the importance of STAT3 in the mechanism of metformin is gradually being recognizedand further studies are needed to demonstrate the important role of the STAT3 regulatory network in the regulation of diseases by metformin. Here, we reviewed in detail that metformin inhibits the progression of various diseases like tumors, autoimmune diseases and hormone-related diseases by regulating multiple signaling pathways such as JAK/STAT3 and mTOR/STAT3 signaling centered on STAT3. We also summarized recent advances of STAT3 inhibitors combined with metformin in the treatment of diseases.We emphasized that STAT3 signaling, as an AMPK-independent signaling pathway, may be an important target for metformin in clinical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiran Zhang
- Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China.
| | - Daisong Li
- Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China.
| | - Bing Li
- Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China.
| | - Xianming Chu
- the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59 Haier Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China.
| | - Bin Kong
- the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59 Haier Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266100, China.
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6
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Chen Y, Zhu S, Lin Z, Zhang Y, Jin C, He S, Chen X, Zhou X. Metformin alleviates ethanol-induced cardiomyocyte injury by activating AKT/Nrf2 signaling in an ErbB2-dependent manner. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:3469-3478. [PMID: 36765018 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08310-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin, a first-line oral anti-diabetic drug, has recently been reported to exert protective effect on various cardiovascular diseases. However, the potential role of metformin in ethanol-induced cardiomyocyte injury is still unknown. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of metformin on ethanol-induced cardiomyocyte injury and its underlying mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS H9c2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to ethanol for 24 h to establish an ethanol-induced cardiomyocyte injury model, and followed by treatment with metformin in the presence or absence of Lapatinib (an ErbB2 inhibition). CCK8 and LDH assays demonstrated that metformin improved cell viability in cardiomyocytes exposed to ethanol. Furthermore, metformin suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis and reduced the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and C-CAS-3). In addition, our results showed that metformin activated the AKT/Nrf2 pathway, and then promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and the transcription of its downstream antioxidant genes (HO-1, CAT and SOD2), thereby inhibiting oxidative stress. Interestingly, we found that ErbB2 protein expression was significantly inhibited in ethanol-treated cardiomyocytes, which was markedly reversed by metformin. In contrast, Lapatinib largely abrogated the activation of AKT/Nrf2 signaling by metformin, accompanied by the increases in oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, indicating that metformin prevented ethanol-induced cardiomyocyte injury in an ErbB2-dependent manner. CONCLUSION In summary, our study provides the first evidence that metformin protects cardiomyocyte against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by activating ErbB2-mediated AKT/Nrf2 signaling. Thus, metformin may be a potential novel treatment approach for alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjie Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Ningbo first Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China.,Central Laboratory of the Medical Research Center, Ningbo First Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China
| | - Suyan Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Ningbo first Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhu Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, Ningbo first Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanbin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Ningbo first Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China.,Central Laboratory of the Medical Research Center, Ningbo First Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 325000, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengqu He
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 325000, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueqin Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Ningbo first Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Gant DMA, Parris AB, Yang X. Metformin-induced downregulation of c-Met is a determinant of sensitivity in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 613:100-106. [PMID: 35550195 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.04.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Metformin, the widely used anti-diabetic drug, is emerging as a promising anti-cancer agent. However, response variation among different tumors remains a significant challenge. Hence, identification of the factors that determine metformin sensitivity is of greatest significance for its clinical implementation. In this study, we showed that MDA-MB-468 cells were most sensitive among the five breast cancer cell lines tested. We found that metformin-induced inhibition of MDA-MB-468 cells was correlated with downregulation of c-Met at both protein and mRNA levels. To understand the functional significance of c-Met downregulation in metformin-mediated tumor inhibition, we established control and c-Met overexpressing sublines of MDA-MB-468 cells (468/C and 468/Met) using lentiviral expression system. We demonstrated that overexpression of c-Met significantly attenuated metformin induced inhibition of MDA-MB-468 cells. Metformin-induced inhibition of ALDH1+ cells, which are enriched with cancer stem cells, was also abrogated in 468/Met cells as compared to 468/C cells. Signal transduction analysis of the paired cell lines indicated that c-Met-induced activation of STAT3 and AKT1, and upregulation of Gab1 are related to c-Met-modulated metformin responsiveness. These findings highlight c-Met as a potential key regulator of metformin-mediated inhibition of proliferation and stemness of breast cancer cells, indicating that c-Met overexpression may be a critical factor contributing to metformin resistance. The data also suggest that combination of metformin with c-Met inhibitors could be a useful strategy to improve metformin-mediated anti-cancer efficacies in breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana M A Gant
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA; Integrated Biosciences PhD Program, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, 27707, USA.
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA.
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA.
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8
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Hassan G, Seno M. ERBB Signaling Pathway in Cancer Stem Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1393:65-81. [PMID: 36587302 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-12974-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was first tyrosine kinase receptor linked to human cancers. EGFR or ERBB1 is a member of ERBB subfamily, which consists of four type I transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases, ERBB1, 2, 3 and 4. ERBBs form homo/heterodimers after ligand binding except ERBB2 and consequently becomes activated. Different signal pathways, such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK, phospholipase Cγ and JAK-STAT, are triggered by ERBB activation. Since ERBBs, through these pathways, regulate stemness and differentiation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), their roles in CSC tumorigenicity have extensively been investigated. The hyperactivation of ERBBs and its downstream pathways stimulated by either genetic and/or epigenetic factors are frequently described in many types of human cancers. Their dysregulations make cells acquiring CSC characters such as survival, tumorigenicity and stemness. Because of the roles in tumor growth and progress, ERBBs are considered to be one of the drug targets as cancer treatment strategy. In this chapter, we will summarize the structure, function and roles of ERBB subfamily along with their relative pathways regulating the stemness and tumorigenicity of CSCs. Finally, we will discuss the targeting therapy strategies of cancer along with ERBBs in addition to some challenges and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghmkin Hassan
- Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Damascus, 10769, Syria
| | - Masaharu Seno
- Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
- Department of Cancer Stem Cell Engineering, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
- Laboratory of Natural Food and Medicine, Co., Ltd, Okayama University Incubator, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
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Malik JA, Ahmed S, Jan B, Bender O, Al Hagbani T, Alqarni A, Anwar S. Drugs repurposed: An advanced step towards the treatment of breast cancer and associated challenges. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 145:112375. [PMID: 34863612 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is mostly observed in women and is responsible for huge mortality in women subjects globally. Due to the continued development of drug resistance and other contributing factors, the scientific community needs to look for new alternatives, and drug repurposing is one of the best opportunities. Here we light upon the drug repurposing with a major focus on breast cancer. BC is a division of cancer known as the leading cause of death of 2.3 million women globally, with 685,000 fatalities. This number is steadily rising, necessitating the development of a treatment that can extend survival time. All available treatments for BC are very costly as well as show side effects. This unfulfilled requirement of the anti-cancer drugs ignited an enthusiasm for drug repositioning, which means finding out the anti-cancer use of already marketed drugs for other complications. With the advancement in proteomics, genomics, and computational approaches, the drug repurposing process hastens. So many drugs are repurposed for the BC, including alkylating agents, antimetabolite, anthracyclines, an aromatase inhibitor, mTOR, and many more. The drug resistance in breast cancer is rising, so reviewing how the challenges in breast cancer can be combated with drug repurposing. This paper provides the updated information on all the repurposed drugs candidates for breast cancer with the molecular mechanism responsible for their anti-tumor activity. Additionally, all the challenges that occur during the repurposing of the drugs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonaid Ahmad Malik
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati, India; Department of Biomedical engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, Punjab, India
| | - Sakeel Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, India
| | - Bisma Jan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Onur Bender
- Biotechnology Institute, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Turki Al Hagbani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aali Alqarni
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Pharmacology unit, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Al Baha University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sirajudheen Anwar
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia.
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Xiao D, Peng M, Deng Y, Xiao Y, Chen X, Ma L, Tang B, Guo C, Yang X. 1-n-heptyl-5-(3, 4-difluorophenyl) biguanide inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell growth by downregulating the EGFR signaling pathways. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:10193-10205. [PMID: 34650690 PMCID: PMC8507003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is among the diseases with the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. Our previous study found that a novel biguanide derivative, 1-n-heptyl-5-(3, 4-difluorophenyl) biguanide (8e) shows excellent anti-proliferative activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this research, we analyzed the effect of 8e on NSCLC cell lines and explored the cell death mechanism caused by 8e. From our data, we found that 8e significantly decreased the cell activity and inhibited the colony formation of A549 and H1299 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, this inhibitory effect of 8e was significantly reduced after silencing EGFR with lentiviral vectors. In contrast, after overexpressing EGFR in A549 and H1299, the lethality of 8e to the tumor cells increased. Simultaneously, we observed that 8e inhibited the expression of EGFR and its two essential downstream signaling pathways, AKT/mTOR and c-Raf/ERK1/2, and significantly reduced the activation of the EGFR pathway induced by EGF. Therefore, the results showed that 8e inhibits the proliferation of NSCLC cells by down-regulating the expression of EGFR, thereby inhibiting the downstream signaling pathway AKT/mTOR and c-Raf/ERK1/2. In addition, 8e also markedly reduces migration and induces the apoptosis of A549 and H1299 cells. In vivo results based on a lung cancer cell transplanted xenograft mouse model have further shown that 8e blocks A549 tumor growth without any significant hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. These results indicate the high potential value of 8e as a candidate for treating NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Mei Peng
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yayi Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Lan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Bei Tang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Chenglin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Fish of Ministry of Education, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
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11
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Bahmani A, Shokri E, Hosseini M, Hosseinkhani S. A fluorescent aptasensor based on copper nanoclusters for optical detection of CD44 exon v10, an important isoform in metastatic breast cancer. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2021; 13:3837-3844. [PMID: 34378562 DOI: 10.1039/d1ay01087e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that breast cancer cells express various CD44 isoforms. CD44 is an integral transmembrane protein encoded by a single 20-exon gene. Exon v10 of CD44 plays a critical role in promoting cancer metastasis, so sensitive detection of this isoform helps in early diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer and facilitates the treatment process. This study aimed to use v10-specific aptamers to set up an optical aptasensor based on fluorescent metal nanoclusters. For this purpose, nanoclusters of silver, gold, and copper were prepared by different CD44 v10 DNA aptamers as molecular templates. UV-vis, TEM, and fluorescence spectrometer results confirmed the accuracy and quality of the synthesized aptamer-templated nanoclusters (Apt-NCs). Finally, we compared the performance of the as-prepared Apt-NCs in response to different cultured cell lines. According to the results, the optical response of M-Apt4-CuNCs was more efficient and correlated well with the concentrations of CD44 v10-enriched cells. The detection limit of the aptasensor was 40 ± 5 cells per mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Bahmani
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences & Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ehsan Shokri
- Department of Nanotechnology, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Morteza Hosseini
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences & Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials, Medical Biomaterials Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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12
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Kathuria D, Raul AD, Wanjari P, Bharatam PV. Biguanides: Species with versatile therapeutic applications. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 219:113378. [PMID: 33857729 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Biguanides are compounds in which two guanidine moieties are fused to form a highly conjugated system. Biguanides are highly basic and hence they are available as salts mostly hydrochloride salts, these cationic species have been found to exhibit many therapeutic properties. This review covers the research and development carried out on biguanides and accounts the various therapeutic applications of drugs containing biguanide group-such as antimalarial, antidiabetic, antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-tubercular, antifilarial, anti-HIV, as well as other biological activities. The aim of this review is to compile all the medicinal chemistry applications of this class of compounds so as to pave way for the accelerated efforts in finding the drug action mechanisms associated with this class of compounds. Importance has been given to the organic chemistry of these biguanide derivatives also.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Kathuria
- University Center for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab, 140413, India
| | - Akshay D Raul
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S. A. S. Nagar, 160 062, Punjab, India
| | - Pravin Wanjari
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S. A. S. Nagar, 160 062, Punjab, India
| | - Prasad V Bharatam
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S. A. S. Nagar, 160 062, Punjab, India.
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13
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Shi Y, Ma Z, Cheng Q, Wu Y, Parris AB, Kong L, Yang X. FGFR1 overexpression renders breast cancer cells resistant to metformin through activation of IRS1/ERK signaling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1868:118877. [PMID: 33007330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Metformin has been suggested as an anti-cancer agent. However, increasing reports show that some tumors are resistant to metformin. Identification of factors affecting metformin mediated cancer therapy is of great significance. FGFR1 is a receptor-tyrosine-kinase that is frequently overexpressed in breast cancer, which is associated with poor-prognosis. To investigate the effect of FGFR1 overexpression on metformin-induced inhibition of breast cancer cells, we demonstrated that FGFR1 overexpression rendered MCF-7 and T47D cells resistant to metformin. In particular, we found that, in addition to AKT and ERK1/2 activation, FGFR1-induced activation of IRS1 and IGF1R, key regulators connecting metabolism and cancer, was associated with metformin resistance. Targeting IRS with IRS1 KO or IRS inhibitor NT157 significantly sensitized FGFR1 overexpressing cells to metformin. Combination of NT157 with metformin induced enhanced inhibition of p-IGF1R, p-ERK1/2 and p-mTOR. Moreover, we demonstrated that IRS1 functions as a critical mediator of the crosstalk between FGFR1 and IGF1R pathways, which involves a feedback loop between IRS1 and MAPK/ERK. Our study highlights the significance of FGFR1 status and IRS1 activation in metformin-resistance, which will facilitate the development of strategies targeting FGFR overexpression-associated metformin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Shi
- Department of Pathology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, PR China
| | - Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Qiong Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, PR China; Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Yudan Wu
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Lingfei Kong
- Department of Pathology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, PR China.
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America; Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America.
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14
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Kawakita E, Yang F, Kumagai A, Takagaki Y, Kitada M, Yoshitomi Y, Ikeda T, Nakamura Y, Ishigaki Y, Kanasaki K, Koya D. Metformin Mitigates DPP-4 Inhibitor-Induced Breast Cancer Metastasis via Suppression of mTOR Signaling. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 19:61-73. [PMID: 32994182 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The biological influence of antidiabetic drugs on cancer cells and diabetic cancer patients has not yet been completely elucidated. We reported that a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor accelerates mammary cancer metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through the CXCL12/CXCR4/mTOR axis. Metformin has been shown to inhibit the mTOR signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated whether metformin mitigates breast cancer metastasis induced by a DPP-4 inhibitor via suppression of mTOR signaling. In cultured mouse mammary and human breast cancer cells, metformin suppressed DPP-4 inhibitor KR62436 (KR)-induced EMT and cell migration via suppression of the mTOR pathway associated with AMPK activation. For the in vivo study, metformin intervention was performed in an allograft 4T1 breast cancer model mouse with or without KR. We also analyzed mice transplanted with shRNA-mediated DPP-4 knockdown 4T1 cells. Treatment with metformin inhibited the lung metastasis of DPP-4-deficient 4T1 mammary tumor cells generated by either KR administration or DPP-4 knockdown. Immunostaining of primary tumors indicated that DPP-4 suppression promoted the expression of EMT-inducing transcription factor Snail through activation of the CXCR4-mediated mTOR/p70S6K pathway in an allograft breast cancer model; metformin abolished this alteration. Metformin treatment did not alter DPP-4-deficiency-induced expression of CXCL12 in either plasma or primary tumors. Our findings suggest that metformin may serve as an antimetastatic agent by mitigating the undesirable effects of DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with certain cancers. IMPLICATIONS: Metformin could combat the detrimental effects of DPP-4 inhibitor on breast cancer metastasis via mTOR suppression, suggesting the potential clinical relevance. VISUAL OVERVIEW: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/19/1/61/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Kawakita
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Internal Medical 1, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Asako Kumagai
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Internal Medical 1, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan
| | - Yuta Takagaki
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Munehiro Kitada
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.,Division of Anticipatory Molecular Food Science and Technology, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yasuo Yoshitomi
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ikeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yuka Nakamura
- Division of Molecular and Cell Biology, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Ishigaki
- Division of Molecular and Cell Biology, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Keizo Kanasaki
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan. .,Internal Medical 1, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.,Division of Anticipatory Molecular Food Science and Technology, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Koya
- Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan. .,Division of Anticipatory Molecular Food Science and Technology, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan
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15
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Salim E, El-Sisi AED, Sokar S, El-Sayad M, Moussa E. Metformin potentiates the chemotherapeutic effects of doxorubicin on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5b] pyridine-induced Mammary Carcinoma in rats. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2020; 35:700-713. [PMID: 32905620 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the antitumor activity of Metformin (Met) and its impending utility to potentiate the chemotherapeutic action of doxorubicin on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5b]pyridine (PhIP)-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Female Sprague -Dawley (SD) rats were divided into seven groups (n = 15 each). Mammary carcinogenesis was induced by the administration of PhIP at a dose of 75 mg/kg by gavage. Met treatment was 2 mg/ml in drinking water for 26 weeks started after the last PhIP dose. Doxorubicin (Dox) treatment started after one month of the last PhIP dose with a dose of 4 mg/kg, i.v. once per week for 4 weeks. Compared to the PhIP group, the latency period of tumors in the PhIP+Dox, PhIP+Met, and PhIP+Dox+Met groups were significantly increased and tumors' incidences and multiplicities were significantly reduced. By immunohistochemistry, carcinomas from the combination treatment groups showed a significant decrease in the labeling indexes (LI%) of cellular proliferation and CD44 compared to the PhIP group while LI% for ERα was significantly decreased in all combination treatment groups compared to the PhIP-administered group. Moreover, the quantitative mRNA expression of ERα was significantly decreased in mammary tumors from PhIP + Dox+Met combined group more than the PhIP + Dox group. However, mRNA expression of EGF was found significantly lower in all combination treatment groups compared to the PhIP group. These findings suggest that Metformin potentiate the antitumor efficacy of doxorubicin and had beneficial effects on PhIP-induced mammary carcinogenesis through the prevention of cellular proliferation and mRNA expression of ERα and EGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsayed Salim
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Alaa El-Din El-Sisi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Samia Sokar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Magda El-Sayad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Ethar Moussa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
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16
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Ma Z, Parris AB, Howard EW, Davis M, Cao X, Woods C, Yang X. In Utero Exposure to Bisphenol a Promotes Mammary Tumor Risk in MMTV-Erbb2 Transgenic Mice Through the Induction of ER-erbB2 Crosstalk. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093095. [PMID: 32353937 PMCID: PMC7247154 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most common environmental endocrine disrupting chemical. Studies suggest a link between perinatal BPA exposure and increased breast cancer risk, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of in utero BPA exposure on mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-erbB2 transgenic mice. Pregnant mice were subcutaneously injected with BPA (0, 50, 500 ng/kg and 250 µg/kg BW) daily between gestational days 11–19. Female offspring were examined for mammary tumorigenesis, puberty onset, mammary morphogenesis, and signaling in ER and erbB2 pathways. In utero exposure to low dose BPA (500 ng/kg) induced mammary tumorigenesis, earlier puberty onset, increased terminal end buds, and prolonged estrus phase, which was accompanied by proliferative mammary morphogenesis. CD24/49f-based FACS analysis showed that in utero exposure to 500 ng/kg BPA induced expansion of luminal and basal/myoepithelial cell subpopulations at PND 35. Molecular analysis of mammary tissues at PND 70 showed that in utero exposure to low doses of BPA induced upregulation of ERα, p-ERα, cyclin D1, and c-myc, concurrent activation of erbB2, EGFR, erbB-3, Erk1/2, and Akt, and upregulation of growth factors/ligands. Our results demonstrate that in utero exposure to low dose BPA promotes mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-erbB2 mice through induction of ER-erbB2 crosstalk and mammary epithelial reprogramming, which advance our understanding of the mechanism associated with in utero exposure to BPA-induced breast cancer risk. The studies also support using MMTV-erbB2 mouse model for relevant studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (Z.M.); (A.B.P.); (E.W.H.); (X.C.); (C.W.)
| | - Amanda B. Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (Z.M.); (A.B.P.); (E.W.H.); (X.C.); (C.W.)
| | - Erin W. Howard
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (Z.M.); (A.B.P.); (E.W.H.); (X.C.); (C.W.)
| | - Meghan Davis
- Biotechnology, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA;
| | - Xia Cao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (Z.M.); (A.B.P.); (E.W.H.); (X.C.); (C.W.)
| | - Courtney Woods
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (Z.M.); (A.B.P.); (E.W.H.); (X.C.); (C.W.)
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; (Z.M.); (A.B.P.); (E.W.H.); (X.C.); (C.W.)
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-704-250-5726
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17
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Metformin: A Possible Option in Cancer Chemotherapy. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2020; 2020:7180923. [PMID: 32399389 PMCID: PMC7201450 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7180923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin has been used for a long time as an antidiabetic medication for type 2 diabetes. It is used either as a monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic medications. The drug came into prominence in diabetes and other conditions with cardiovascular risk after the landmark study of 1995 by the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study which emphasized its importance. However, the drug has been used in experimental trials in various aspects of medicine and pharmacology such as in reproductive medicine, cancer chemotherapy, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. It has been in use in the treatment of polycystic ovarian disease and obesity and is being considered in type 1 diabetes. This study seeks to evaluate the relevance of metformin in cancer management. Different mechanisms have been proposed for its antitumor action which involves the following: (a) the activation of adenosine monophosphate kinase, (b) modulation of adenosine A1 receptor (ADORA), (c) reduction in insulin/insulin growth factors, and (d) the role of metformin in the inhibition of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS); and its resultant damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule is another paramount antitumor mechanism.
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18
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Ajzashokouhi AH, Bostan HB, Jomezadeh V, Hayes AW, Karimi G. A review on the cardioprotective mechanisms of metformin against doxorubicin. Hum Exp Toxicol 2019; 39:237-248. [DOI: 10.1177/0960327119888277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX) is an antineoplastic agent obtained from Streptomyces peucetius. It is utilized in treating different kinds of cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and lung, and breast cancers. The main side effect of DOX is cardiotoxicity. Metformin (MET) is an antihyperglycemic drug used for type 2 diabetes treatment. It is proposed that MET has a protective effect against DOX cardiotoxicity. Our review demonstrated that MET has several possible mechanisms of action, which can prevent or at least reduce DOX cardiotoxicity including a decrease of free radical generation and oxidative stress, 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation, and ferritin heavy chain expression in cardiomyocytes cells. The combination of MET and DOX has been shown to enhance the anticancer activity of DOX by a number of authors. The literature reviewed in the present report supports the hypothesis that MET can reduce the cardiotoxicity that often occurs with DOX treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- AH Ajzashokouhi
- School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - HB Bostan
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - V Jomezadeh
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - AW Hayes
- University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - G Karimi
- School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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19
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Keshandehghan A, Nikkhah S, Tahermansouri H, Heidari-Keshel S, Gardaneh M. Co-Treatment with Sulforaphane and Nano-Metformin Molecules Accelerates Apoptosis in HER2+ Breast Cancer Cells by Inhibiting Key Molecules. Nutr Cancer 2019; 72:835-848. [DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2019.1655073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Keshandehghan
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Medical Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - S. Nikkhah
- Department of Chemistry, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran
| | - H. Tahermansouri
- Department of Chemistry, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran
| | - S. Heidari-Keshel
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - M. Gardaneh
- Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Medical Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
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20
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Albini A, Bassani B, Baci D, Dallaglio K, Gallazzi M, Corradino P, Bruno A, Noonan DM. Nutraceuticals and "Repurposed" Drugs of Phytochemical Origin in Prevention and Interception of Chronic Degenerative Diseases and Cancer. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:973-987. [PMID: 28933290 DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170920144130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic, degenerative diseases are often characterized by inflammation and aberrant angiogenesis. For these pathologies, including rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, current therapies have limited efficacy. OBJECTIVES The validation of novel (chemo)preventive and interceptive approaches, and the use of new or repurposed agents, alone or in combination with registered drugs, are urgently required. RESULTS Phytochemicals (triterpenoids, flavonoids, retinoids) and their derivatives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin) as well as biguanides (metformin and phenformin) originally developed from phytochemical backbones, are multi-target agents showing antiangiogenic and anti-anti-inflammatory proprieties. Many of them target AMPK and metabolic pathways such as the mTOR axis. We summarize the beneficial effects of several compounds in conferring protection and supporting therapy, and as a paradigm, we present data on terpenoids & biquanides on beer hop xanthohumol and hydroxytryrosol from olive mill waste waters. CONCLUSIONS These molecules could be employed for combinatorial chemoprevention and interception approaches or chemoprevention/therapy regimens for cancer and other chronic complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Albini
- Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara Bassani
- Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Denisa Baci
- Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Katiuscia Dallaglio
- Laboratory of Translational Research, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy.,Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Paola Corradino
- Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Antonino Bruno
- Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy
| | - Douglas M Noonan
- Scientific and Technology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milano, Italy.,Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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21
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Shehata M, Kim H, Vellanki R, Waterhouse PD, Mahendralingam M, Casey AE, Koritzinsky M, Khokha R. Identifying the murine mammary cell target of metformin exposure. Commun Biol 2019; 2:192. [PMID: 31123716 PMCID: PMC6527562 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0439-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The heterogeneity of breast cancer makes current therapies challenging. Metformin, the anti-diabetic drug, has shown promising anti-cancer activities in epidemiological studies and breast cancer models. Yet, how metformin alters the normal adult breast tissue remains elusive. We demonstrate metformin intake at a clinically relevant dose impacts the hormone receptor positive (HR+) luminal cells in the normal murine mammary gland. Metformin decreases total cell number, progenitor capacity and specifically reduces DNA damage in normal HR+ luminal cells, decreases oxygen consumption rate and increases cell cycle length of luminal cells. HR+ luminal cells demonstrate the lowest levels of mitochondrial respiration and capacity to handle oxidative stress compared to the other fractions, suggesting their intrinsic susceptibility to long-term metformin exposure. Uncovering HR+ luminal cells in the normal mammary gland as the major cell target of metformin exposure could identify patients that would most benefit from repurposing this anti-diabetic drug for cancer prevention/therapy purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Shehata
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Hyeyeon Kim
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Ravi Vellanki
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Paul D. Waterhouse
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | | | - Alison E. Casey
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Marianne Koritzinsky
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Rama Khokha
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
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22
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Ma Z, Parris AB, Howard EW, Shi Y, Yang S, Jiang Y, Kong L, Yang X. Caloric restriction inhibits mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-ErbB2 transgenic mice through the suppression of ER and ErbB2 pathways and inhibition of epithelial cell stemness in premalignant mammary tissues. Carcinogenesis 2019; 39:1264-1273. [PMID: 30107476 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgy096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Caloric intake influences the onset of many diseases, including cancer. In particular, caloric restriction (CR) has been reported to suppress mammary tumorigenesis in various models. However, the underlying cancer preventive mechanisms have not been fully explored. To this end, we aimed to characterize the anticancer mechanisms of CR using MMTV-ErbB2 transgenic mice, a well-established spontaneous ErbB2-overexpressing mammary tumor model, by focusing on cellular and molecular changes in premalignant tissues. In MMTV-ErbB2 mice with 30% CR beginning at 8 weeks of age, mammary tumor development was dramatically inhibited, as exhibited by reduced tumor incidence and increased tumor latency. Morphogenic mammary gland analyses in 15- and 20-week-old mice indicated that CR significantly decreased mammary epithelial cell (MEC) density and proliferative index. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we analyzed the effects of CR on mammary stem/progenitor cells. Results from fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses showed that CR modified mammary tissue hierarchy dynamics, as evidenced by decreased luminal cells (CD24highCD49flow), putative mammary reconstituting unit subpopulation (CD24highCD49fhigh) and luminal progenitor cells (CD61highCD49fhigh). Mammosphere and colony-forming cell assays demonstrated that CR significantly inhibited mammary stem cell self-renewal and progenitor cell numbers. Molecular analyses indicated that CR concurrently inhibited estrogen receptor (ER) and ErbB2 signaling. These molecular changes were accompanied by decreased mRNA levels of ER-targeted genes and epidermal growth factor receptor/ErbB2 family members and ligands, suggesting ER-ErbB2 signaling cross-talk. Collectively, our data demonstrate that CR significantly impacts ER and ErbB2 signaling, which induces profound changes in MEC reprogramming, and mammary stem/progenitor cell inhibition is a critical mechanism of CR-mediated breast cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Erin W Howard
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Yujie Shi
- Department of Pathology, Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shihe Yang
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Yunbo Jiang
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Lingfei Kong
- Department of Pathology, Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC, USA.,Department of Pathology, Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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23
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Martin-Castillo B, Pernas S, Dorca J, Álvarez I, Martínez S, Pérez-Garcia JM, Batista-López N, Rodríguez-Sánchez CA, Amillano K, Domínguez S, Luque M, Stradella A, Morilla I, Viñas G, Cortés J, Cuyàs E, Verdura S, Fernández-Ochoa Á, Fernández-Arroyo S, Segura-Carretero A, Joven J, Pérez E, Bosch N, Garcia M, López-Bonet E, Saidani S, Buxó M, Menendez JA. A phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant metformin in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in women with early HER2-positive breast cancer: the METTEN study. Oncotarget 2018; 9:35687-35704. [PMID: 30479698 PMCID: PMC6235018 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The METTEN study assessed the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of adding metformin to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab in early HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). Women with primary, non-metastatic HER2-positive BC were randomized (1:1) to receive metformin (850 mg twice-daily) for 24 weeks concurrently with 12 cycles of weekly paclitaxel plus trastuzumab, followed by four cycles of 3-weekly FE75C plus trastuzumab (arm A), or equivalent regimen without metformin (arm B), followed by surgery. Primary endpoint was the rate of pathological complete response (pCR) in the per-protocol efficacy population. pCR rate was numerically higher in the metformin-containing arm A (19 of 29 patients [65.5%, 95% CI: 47.3-80.1]) than in arm B (17 of 29 patients [58.6%, 95% CI: 40.7-74.5]; OR 1.34 [95% CI: 0.46-3.89], P = 0.589). The rate of breast-conserving surgery was 79.3% and 58.6% in arm A and B (P = 0.089), respectively. Blood metformin concentrations (6.2 μmol/L, 95% CI: 3.6-8.8) were within the therapeutic range. Seventy-six percent of patients completed the metformin-containing regimen; 13% of patients in arm A dropped out because of metformin-related gastrointestinal symptoms. The most common adverse events (AEs) of grade ≥3 were neutropenia in both arms and diarrhea in arm A. None of the serious AEs was deemed to be metformin-related. Addition of anti-diabetic doses of metformin to a complex neoadjuvant regimen was well tolerated and safe. Because the study was underpowered relative to its primary endpoint, the efficacy data should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonia Pernas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-Bellvitge Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Dorca
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain
| | - Isabel Álvarez
- Medical Oncology Service, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Susana Martínez
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Norberto Batista-López
- Medical Oncology Service, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - César A. Rodríguez-Sánchez
- Medical Oncology Service, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Kepa Amillano
- Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Reus, Spain
| | - Severina Domínguez
- Medical Oncology Service, Hospital Universitario Araba, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Maria Luque
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Agostina Stradella
- Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-Bellvitge Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Idoia Morilla
- Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-Bellvitge Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Viñas
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain
| | - Javier Cortés
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Girona, Spain
| | - Sara Verdura
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Girona, Spain
| | - Álvaro Fernández-Ochoa
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Research and Development of Functional Food Centre (CIDAF), Health Science Technological Park, Granada, Spain
| | - Salvador Fernández-Arroyo
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Antonio Segura-Carretero
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Research and Development of Functional Food Centre (CIDAF), Health Science Technological Park, Granada, Spain
| | - Jorge Joven
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Elsa Pérez
- Department of Radiology-IDI, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Neus Bosch
- Unit of Clinical Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Margarita Garcia
- Clinical Research Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eugeni López-Bonet
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Samiha Saidani
- Unit of Clinical Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Maria Buxó
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain
| | - Javier A. Menendez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Spain
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24
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Zheng Y, Zhu J, Zhang H, Liu Y, Sun H. Metformin inhibits ovarian cancer growth and migration in vitro and in vivo by enhancing cisplatin cytotoxicity. Am J Transl Res 2018; 10:3086-3098. [PMID: 30416652 PMCID: PMC6220222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether metformin can enhance the anti-cancer effect of cisplatin on epithelial ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo. CCK-8 assays were performed to detect cell viability, and flow cytometry was performed to measure cell apoptosis rates. Transwell assays were used to detect the migration and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were performed to detect protein expression. Xenograft mouse models were constructed to clarify the treatment response in vivo. Metformin alone or cisplatin alone dose-dependently inhibited SKOV3 and Hey cell proliferation. The combination of these two drugs exerted a stronger inhibitory effect with a higher apoptosis rate than administration of either drug alone. Transwell assay results revealed that metformin promoted the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on ovarian cancer cell metastasis. Metformin and cisplatin co-treatment significantly inhibited N-cadherin and MMP-9 expression. The Western blotting results revealed that metformin and cisplatin co-treatment inhibited TGFβ1 expression and Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation. The in vivo study results were consistent with results from the in vitro study. Data from our study suggest that metformin enhanced the anti-tumour effect of cisplatin on epithelial ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo, which provides more evidence supporting the use of metformin to treat epithelial ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Zheng
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related DiseasesShanghai 200011, P. R. China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related DiseasesShanghai 200011, P. R. China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related DiseasesShanghai 200011, P. R. China
| | - Yanmei Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related DiseasesShanghai 200011, P. R. China
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghai 200011, P. R. China
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25
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Dittmer J. Breast cancer stem cells: Features, key drivers and treatment options. Semin Cancer Biol 2018; 53:59-74. [PMID: 30059727 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The current view is that breast cancer is a stem cell disease characterized by the existence of cancer cells with stem-like features and tumor-initiating potential. These cells are made responsible for tumor dissemination and metastasis. Common therapies by chemotherapeutic drugs fail to eradicate these cells and rather increase the pool of cancer stem cells in tumors, an effect that may increase the likelyhood of recurrence. Fifteen years after the first evidence for a small stem-like subpopulation playing a major role in breast cancer initiation has been published a large body of knowledge has been accumulated regarding the signaling cascades and proteins involved in maintaining stemness in breast cancer. Differences in the stem cell pool size and in mechanisms regulating stemness in the different breast cancer subtypes have emerged. Overall, this knowledge offers new approaches to intervene with breast cancer stem cell activity. New options are particularly needed for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer subtype, which is particularly rich in cancer stem cells and is also the subtype for which specific therapies are still not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Dittmer
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
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26
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Giles ED, Jindal S, Wellberg EA, Schedin T, Anderson SM, Thor AD, Edwards DP, MacLean PS, Schedin P. Metformin inhibits stromal aromatase expression and tumor progression in a rodent model of postmenopausal breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2018; 20:50. [PMID: 29898754 PMCID: PMC6000949 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-018-0974-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity and type II diabetes are linked to increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. Patients treated with the antidiabetic drug metformin for diabetes or metabolic syndrome have reduced breast cancer risk, a greater pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant therapy, and improved breast cancer survival. We hypothesized that metformin may be especially effective when targeted to the menopausal transition, as this is a lifecycle window when weight gain and metabolic syndrome increase, and is also when the risk for obesity-related breast cancer increases. METHODS Here, we used an 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary tumor rat model of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive postmenopausal breast cancer to evaluate the long-term effects of metformin administration on metabolic and tumor endpoints. In this model, ovariectomy (OVX) induces rapid weight gain, and an impaired whole-body response to excess calories contributes to increased tumor glucose uptake and increased tumor proliferation. Metformin treatment was initiated in tumor-bearing animals immediately prior to OVX and maintained for the duration of the study. RESULTS Metformin decreased the size of existing mammary tumors and inhibited new tumor formation without changing body weight or adiposity. Decreased lipid accumulation in the livers of metformin-treated animals supports the ability of metformin to improve overall metabolic health. We also found a decrease in the number of aromatase-positive, CD68-positive macrophages within the tumor microenvironment, suggesting that metformin targets the immune microenvironment in addition to improving whole-body metabolism. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that peri-menopause/menopause represents a unique window of time during which metformin may be highly effective in women with established, or at high risk for developing, breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin D Giles
- Department of Nutrition & Food Science, Texas A&M University, 373 Olsen Blvd; 2253 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Sonali Jindal
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mailing Code: L215, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Wellberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Troy Schedin
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Steven M Anderson
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ann D Thor
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Dean P Edwards
- Departments of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Pathology Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Paul S MacLean
- Anschutz Health & Wellness Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.,Department of Medicine, Divisions of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Pepper Schedin
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mailing Code: L215, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.,Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 1130 NW 22nd Ave #100, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
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27
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Mukherjee N, Lu Y, Almeida A, Lambert K, Shiau CW, Su JC, Luo Y, Fujita M, Robinson WA, Robinson SE, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Use of a MCL-1 inhibitor alone to de-bulk melanoma and in combination to kill melanoma initiating cells. Oncotarget 2018; 8:46801-46817. [PMID: 27086916 PMCID: PMC5564524 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
MCL-1 (BCL-2 family anti-apoptotic protein) is responsible for melanoma's resistance to therapy. Cancer initiating cells also contribute to resistance and relapse from treatments. Here we examined the effects of the MCL-1 inhibitor SC-2001 in killing non melanoma-initiating-cells (bulk of melanoma), and melanoma-initiating-cells (MICs). By itself, SC-2001 significantly kills melanoma cells under monolayer conditions in vitro and in a conventional mouse xenograft model. However, even at high doses (10μM), SC-2001 does not effectively eliminate MICs. In contrast, the combination of SC-2001 with ABT-737 (a BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) significantly decreases ALDH+ cells, disrupts primary spheres, and inhibits the self-renewability of MICs. These results were observed in multiple melanomas, including short term cultures of relapsed tumors from current treatments, independent of the mutation status of BRAF or NRAS. Using a low-cell-number mouse xenograft model, we examined the effects of these treatments on the tumor initiating ability of MIC-enriched cultures. The combination therapy reduces tumor formation significantly compared to either drug alone. Mechanistic studies using shRNA and the CRISPR-Cas9 technology demonstrated that the upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins NOXA and BIM contribute to the combination-induced cell death. These results indicate that the MCL-1 inhibitor SC-2001 combined with ABT-737 is a promising treatment strategy for targeting melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yan Lu
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam Almeida
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Karoline Lambert
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Chung-Wai Shiau
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Chen Su
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuchun Luo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - William A Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Steven E Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David A Norris
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dermatology Section, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Yiqun G Shellman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO, USA
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28
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Leidgens V, Proske J, Rauer L, Moeckel S, Renner K, Bogdahn U, Riemenschneider MJ, Proescholdt M, Vollmann-Zwerenz A, Hau P, Seliger C. Stattic and metformin inhibit brain tumor initiating cells by reducing STAT3-phosphorylation. Oncotarget 2018; 8:8250-8263. [PMID: 28030813 PMCID: PMC5352398 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant type of primary brain tumor and associated with a devastating prognosis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription number 3 (STAT3) is an important pathogenic factor in GBM and can be specifically inhibited with Stattic. Metformin inhibits GBM cell proliferation and migration. Evidence from other tumor models suggests that metformin inhibits STAT3, but there is no specific data on brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs). We explored proliferation and migration of 7 BTICs and their differentiated counterparts (TCs) after treatment with Stattic, metformin or the combination thereof. Invasion was measured in situ on organotypic brain slice cultures. Protein expression of phosphorylated and total STAT3, as well as AMPK and mTOR signaling were explored using Western blot. To determine functional relevance of STAT3 inhibition by Stattic and metformin, we performed a stable knock-in of STAT3 in selected BTICs. Inhibition of STAT3 with Stattic reduced proliferation in all BTICs, but only in 4 out of 7 TCs. Migration and invasion were equally inhibited in BTICs and TCs. Treatment with metformin reduced STAT3-phosphorylation in all investigated BTICs and TCs. Combined treatment with Stattic and metformin led to significant additive effects on BTIC proliferation, but not migration or invasion. No additive effects on TCs could be detected. Stable STAT3 knock-in partly attenuated the effects of Stattic and metformin on BTICs. In conclusion, metformin was found to inhibit STAT3-phosphorylation in BTICs and TCs. Combined specific and unspecific inhibition of STAT3 might represent a promising new strategy in the treatment of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Leidgens
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Judith Proske
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Rauer
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sylvia Moeckel
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Renner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Bogdahn
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Martin Proescholdt
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Arabel Vollmann-Zwerenz
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Hau
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Seliger
- Department of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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29
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Mukherjee N, Almeida A, Partyka KA, Lu Y, Schwan JV, Lambert K, Rogers M, Robinson WA, Robinson SE, Applegate AJ, Amato CM, Luo Y, Fujita M, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Combining a GSI and BCL-2 inhibitor to overcome melanoma's resistance to current treatments. Oncotarget 2018; 7:84594-84607. [PMID: 27829238 PMCID: PMC5356684 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Major limitations of current melanoma treatments are for instances of relapse and the lack of therapeutic options for BRAF wild-type patients who do not respond to immunotherapy. Many studies therefore focus on killing resistant subpopulations, such as Melanoma Initiating Cells (MICs) to prevent relapse. Here we examined whether combining a GSI (γ-Secretase Inhibitor) with ABT-737 (a small molecule BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) can kill both the non-MICs (bulk of melanoma) and MICs. To address the limitations of melanoma therapies, we included multiple tumor samples of patients relapsed from current treatments, with a diverse genetic background (with or without the common BRAF, NRAS or NF1 mutations) in these studies. Excitingly, the combination treatment reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis of the non-MICs; disrupted primary spheres, decreased the ALDH+ cells, and inhibited the self-renewability of the MICs in multiple melanoma cell lines and relapsed patient samples. Using a low-cell-number mouse xenograft model, we demonstrated that the combination significantly reduced the tumor initiating ability of MIC-enriched cultures from relapsed patient samples. Mechanistic studies also indicate that cell death is NOXA-dependent. In summary, this combination may be a promising strategy to address treatment relapse and for triple wild-type patients who do not respond to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Adam Almeida
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Katie A Partyka
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yan Lu
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Josianna V Schwan
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Karoline Lambert
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Madison Rogers
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - William A Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Steven E Robinson
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Allison J Applegate
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Carol M Amato
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yuchun Luo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David A Norris
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dermatology Section, Denver, CO 80220, USA
| | - Yiqun G Shellman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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30
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Bone marrow-derived fibrocytes promote stem cell-like properties of lung cancer cells. Cancer Lett 2018; 421:17-27. [PMID: 29448000 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a minor population that have clonal tumor initiation and self-renewal capacity and are responsible for tumor initiation, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. CSCs reside in niches, which are composed of diverse types of stromal cells and extracellular matrix components. These stromal cells regulate CSC-like properties by providing secreted factors or by physical contact. Fibrocytes are differentiated from bone marrow-derived CD14+ monocytes and have features of both macrophages and fibroblasts. Accumulating evidence has suggested that stromal fibrocytes might promote cancer progression. However, the role of fibrocytes in the CSC niches has not been revealed. We herein report that human fibrocytes enhanced the CSC-like properties of lung cancer cells through secreted factors, including osteopontin, CC-chemokine ligand 18, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. The PIK3K/AKT pathway was critical for fibrocytes to mediate the CSC-like functions of lung cancer cells. In human lung cancer specimens, the number of tumor-infiltrated fibrocytes was correlated with high expression of CSC-associated protein in cancer cells. These results suggest that fibrocytes may be a novel cell population that regulates the CSC-like properties of lung cancer cells in the CSC niches.
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31
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Saini N, Yang X. Metformin as an anti-cancer agent: actions and mechanisms targeting cancer stem cells. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2018; 50:133-143. [PMID: 29342230 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmx106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin, a first line medication for type II diabetes, initially entered the spotlight as a promising anti-cancer agent due to epidemiologic reports that found reduced cancer risk and improved clinical outcomes in diabetic patients taking metformin. To uncover the anti-cancer mechanisms of metformin, preclinical studies determined that metformin impairs cellular metabolism and suppresses oncogenic signaling pathways, including receptor tyrosine kinase, PI3K/Akt, and mTOR pathways. Recently, the anti-cancer potential of metformin has gained increasing interest due to its inhibitory effects on cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are associated with tumor metastasis, drug resistance, and relapse. Studies using various cancer models, including breast, pancreatic, prostate, and colon, have demonstrated the potency of metformin in attenuating CSCs through the targeting of specific pathways involved in cell differentiation, renewal, metastasis, and metabolism. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the anti-cancer actions and mechanisms of metformin, including the regulation of CSCs and related pathways. We also discuss the potential anti-cancer applications of metformin as mono- or combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nipun Saini
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Involved in the Effects of Metformin in the Human Endometrial Cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2018; 26:1667-1672. [PMID: 27654259 DOI: 10.1097/igc.0000000000000818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin is a well-tolerated biguanide drug used for decades to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. In recent years, long-term administration of metformin has been found to reduce carcinogenic risk for cancers derived from various tissues. However, its cellular and molecular mechanisms of anticancer action in the endometrial cancer (EC) have not yet been fully elucidated. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty patients diagnosed as endometrial carcinoma were grouped into (n = 30) and non-treatment mixed (n = 30) for analysis. Thirty healthy donors are control groups. We attempt to investigate the interaction of metformin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) expression, and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) and AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK). RESULTS We found that high IGF-1 plasma concentrations in women with EC were reversed by conventional antidiabetic doses of metformin in the present work. In parallel, the activation of AMPK and suppression of mTOR seemed to play an important role for the effect of metformin in patients with EC. CONCLUSIONS This pilot trial presents biological evidence consistent with antiproliferative effects of metformin in women with EC in the clinical setting.
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Zhao Q, Parris AB, Howard EW, Zhao M, Ma Z, Guo Z, Xing Y, Yang X. FGFR inhibitor, AZD4547, impedes the stemness of mammary epithelial cells in the premalignant tissues of MMTV-ErbB2 transgenic mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11306. [PMID: 28900173 PMCID: PMC5595825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11751-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) regulates signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Currently, the anti-tumor properties of FGFR inhibitors are being tested in preclinical and clinical studies. Nevertheless, reports on FGFR inhibitor-mediated breast cancer prevention are sparse. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer benefits of AZD4547, an FGFR1-3 inhibitor, in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer models. AZD4547 (1-5 µM) demonstrated potent anti-proliferative effects, inhibition of stemness, and suppression of FGFR/RTK signaling in ErbB2-overexpressing human breast cancer cells. To study the in vivo effects of AZD4547 on mammary development, mammary epithelial cell (MEC) populations, and oncogenic signaling, MMTV-ErbB2 transgenic mice were administered AZD4547 (2-6 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks during the 'risk window' for mammary tumor development. AZD4547 significantly inhibited ductal branching and MEC proliferation in vivo, which corroborated the in vitro anti-proliferative properties. AZD4547 also depleted CD24/CD49f-sorted MEC populations, as well as the CD61highCD49fhigh tumor-initiating cell-enriched population. Importantly, AZD4547 impaired stem cell-like characteristics in primary MECs and spontaneous tumor cells. Moreover, AZD4547 downregulated RTK, mTOR, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in premalignant mammary tissues. Collectively, our data provide critical preclinical evidence for AZD4547 as a potential breast cancer preventative and therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxia Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.,Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin W Howard
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ming Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.,College of Medicine, Henan University of Sciences and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China
| | - Zhiying Guo
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ying Xing
- Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA. .,College of Medicine, Henan University of Sciences and Technology, Luoyang, P.R. China.
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Guo Z, Zhao M, Howard EW, Zhao Q, Parris AB, Ma Z, Yang X. Phenformin inhibits growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells through targeting the IGF1R pathway. Oncotarget 2017; 8:60342-60357. [PMID: 28947975 PMCID: PMC5601143 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports suggest that metformin, a popular anti-diabetes drug, prevents breast cancer through various systemic effects, including insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR) regulation. Although the anti-cancer properties of metformin have been well-studied, reports on a more bioavailable/potent biguanide, phenformin, remain sparse. Phenformin exerts similar functional activity to metformin and has been reported to impede mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Since the effects of phenformin on specific breast cancer subtypes have not been fully explored, we used ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cell and animal models to test the anti-cancer potential of phenformin. We report that phenformin (25-75 μM) decreased cell proliferation and impaired cell cycle progression in SKBR3 and 78617 breast cancer cells. Reduced tumor size after phenformin treatment (30 mg/kg/day) was demonstrated in an MMTV-ErbB2 transgenic mouse syngeneic tumor model. Phenformin also blocked epithelial-mesenchymal transition, decreased the invasive phenotype, and suppressed receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, including insulin receptor substrate 1 and IGF1R, in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and mouse mammary tumor-derived tissues. Moreover, phenformin suppressed IGF1-stimulated proliferation, receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in vitro. Together, our study implicates phenformin-mediated IGF1/IGF1R regulation as a potential anti-cancer mechanism and supports the development of phenformin and other biguanides as breast cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Guo
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ming Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin W Howard
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Qingxia Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
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Kar A, Gutierrez-Hartmann A. ESE-1/ELF3 mRNA expression associates with poor survival outcomes in HER2 + breast cancer patients and is critical for tumorigenesis in HER2 + breast cancer cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:69622-69640. [PMID: 29050229 PMCID: PMC5642504 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
ESE-1/Elf3 and HER2 appear to establish a positive feedback regulatory loop, but the precise role of ESE-1 in HER2+ breast tumorigenesis remains unknown. Analyzing public repositories, we found that luminal B and HER2 subtype patients with high ESE-1 mRNA levels displayed worse relapse free survival. We stably knocked down ESE-1 in HER2+ luminal B BT474 cells and HER2 subtype SKBR3 cells, which resulted in decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and anchorage-independent growth in vitro. Stable ESE-1 knockdown inhibited HER2-dependent signaling in BT474 cells and inhibited mTOR activation in SKBR3 cells, but reduced Akt signaling in both cell types. Expression of a constitutively-active Myr-Akt partially rescued the anti-proliferative effect of ESE-1 knockdown in both cell lines. Furthermore, ESE-1 knockdown inhibited cyclin D1, resulting in a G1 delay in both cell lines. Finally, ESE-1 knockdown completely inhibited BT474 cell xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID female mice, which correlated with reduced in vitro tumorsphere formation. Taken together, these results reveal the ESE-1 controls transformation via distinct upstream signaling mechanisms in SKBR3 and BT474 cells, which ultimately impinge on Akt and cyclin D1 in both cell types to regulate cell proliferation. Particularly significant is that ESE-1 controls tumorigenesis and is associated with worse clinical outcomes in HER2 breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adwitiya Kar
- Cancer Biology Training Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Arthur Gutierrez-Hartmann
- Cancer Biology Training Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Program in Molecular Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Parris AB, Zhao Q, Howard EW, Zhao M, Ma Z, Yang X. Buformin inhibits the stemness of erbB-2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and premalignant mammary tissues of MMTV-erbB-2 transgenic mice. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2017; 36:28. [PMID: 28193239 PMCID: PMC5307817 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of Type II diabetes, has emerged as a promising anti-cancer agent. Other biguanide analogs, including buformin and phenformin, are suggested to have similar properties. Although buformin was shown to reduce mammary tumor burden in carcinogen models, the anti-cancer effects of buformin on different breast cancer subtypes and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of buformin on erbB-2-overexpressing breast cancer with in vitro and in vivo models. METHODS MTT, cell cycle, clonogenic/CFC, ALDEFLUOR, tumorsphere, and Western blot analyses were used to determine the effects of buformin on cell growth, stem cell populations, stem cell-like properties, and signaling pathways in SKBR3 and BT474 erbB-2-overexpressing breast cancer cell lines. A syngeneic tumor cell transplantation model inoculating MMTV-erbB-2 mice with 78617 mouse mammary tumor cells was used to study the effects of buformin (1.2 g buformin/kg chow) on tumor growth in vivo. MMTV-erbB-2 mice were also fed buformin for 10 weeks, followed by analysis of premalignant mammary tissues for changes in morphological development, mammary epithelial cell (MEC) populations, and signaling pathways. RESULTS Buformin significantly inhibited SKBR3 and BT474 cell growth, and in vivo activity was demonstrated by considerable growth inhibition of syngeneic tumors derived from MMTV-erbB-2 mice. In particular, buformin suppressed stem cell populations and self-renewal in vitro, which was associated with inhibited receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and mTOR signaling. Consistent with in vitro data, buformin suppressed mammary morphogenesis and reduced cell proliferation in MMTV-erbB-2 mice. Importantly, buformin decreased MEC populations enriched with mammary reconstitution units (MRUs) and tumor-initiating cells (TICs) from MMTV-erbB-2 mice, as supported by impaired clonogenic and mammosphere formation in primary MECs. We further demonstrated that buformin-mediated in vivo inhibition of MEC stemness is associated with suppressed activation of mTOR, RTK, ER, and β-catenin signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our results provide evidence for buformin as an effective anti-cancer drug that selectively targets TICs, and present a novel prevention and/or treatment strategy for patients who are genetically predisposed to erbB-2-overexpressing breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B. Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, NRI 4301, Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081 USA
| | - Qingxia Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, NRI 4301, Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081 USA
| | - Erin W. Howard
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, NRI 4301, Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081 USA
| | - Ming Zhao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, NRI 4301, Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081 USA
| | - Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, NRI 4301, Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081 USA
- College of Medicine, Henan University of Sciences and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, NRI 4301, Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081 USA
- College of Medicine, Henan University of Sciences and Technology, Luoyang, China
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Ma Z, Parris AB, Xiao Z, Howard EW, Kosanke SD, Feng X, Yang X. Short-term early exposure to lapatinib confers lifelong protection from mammary tumor development in MMTV-erbB-2 transgenic mice. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2017; 36:6. [PMID: 28061785 PMCID: PMC5217213 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0479-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although chemopreventative agents targeting the estrogen/estrogen receptor (ER) pathway have been effective for ER+ breast cancers, prevention of hormone receptor-negative breast cancers, such as Her2/erbB-2+ breast cancers, remains a significant issue. Previous studies have demonstrated that administration of EGFR/erbB-2-targeting lapatinib to MMTV-erbB-2 transgenic mice inhibited mammary tumor development. The prevention, however, was achieved by prolonged high dose exposure. The tolerance to high dose/long-term drug administration may hinder its potential in clinical settings. Therefore, we aimed to test a novel, short-term chemopreventative strategy using lapatinib during the premalignant risk window in MMTV-erbB-2 mice. METHODS We initially treated cultured cells with lapatinib to explore the anti-proliferative effects of lapatinib in vitro. We used a syngeneic tumor graft model to begin exploring the in vivo anti-tumorigenic effects of lapatinib in MMTV-erbB-2 mice. Then, we tested the efficacy of brief exposure to lapatinib (100 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks), beginning at 16 weeks of age, in the prevention of mammary tumor development in MMTV-erbB-2 mice. RESULTS In the syngeneic tumor transplant model, we determined that lapatinib significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that short-term lapatinib exposure resulted in life-long protective effects, as supported by increased tumor latency in lapatinib-treated mice compared to the control mice. We further established that delayed tumor development in the treated mice was preceded by decreased BrdU nuclear incorporation and inhibited mammary morphogenesis. Molecular analysis indicated that lapatinib inhibited phosphorylation and expression of EGFR, erbB-3, erbB-2, Akt1, and Erk1/2 in premalignant mammary tissues. Also, lapatinib drastically inhibited the phosphorylation and expression of ERα and the transcription of ER target genes in premalignant mammary tissues. We also determined that lapatinib suppressed the stemness of breast cancer cell lines, as evidenced by decreased tumorsphere formation and ALDH+ cell populations. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these data demonstrate that brief treatment with EGFR/erbB-2-targeting agents before the onset of tumors may provide lifelong protection from mammary tumors, through the concurrent inhibition of erbB-2 and ER signaling pathways and consequential reprogramming. Our findings support further clinical testing to explore the benefit of shorter lapatinib exposure in the prevention of erbB-2-mediated carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikun Ma
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, Room 4301, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA.,Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Sciences and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, Room 4301, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Zhengzheng Xiao
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, Room 4301, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Erin W Howard
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, Room 4301, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Stanley D Kosanke
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Xiaoshan Feng
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Sciences and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, 500 Laureate Way, Room 4301, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA. .,Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Sciences and Technology, Luoyang, China.
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Cao H, Dong W, Qu X, Shen H, Xu J, Zhu L, Liu Q, Du J. Metformin Enhances the Therapy Effects of Anti-IGF-1R mAb Figitumumab to NSCLC. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31072. [PMID: 27488947 PMCID: PMC4973270 DOI: 10.1038/srep31072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling system plays a critical role in tumorigenesis, highlighting the potential of targeting IGF-1R as an anti-cancer therapy. Although multiple anti-IGF-1R monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs have been developed, challenges remain in the validation of the therapeutic effects and understanding the molecular mechanism of these mAbs. Herein, we conducted a study to validate the effect of Figitumumab (CP), an anti-IGF-1R mAb, in a panel of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. We found all tested cell lines were sensitive to CP, and CP could block IGF-1R and the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Unexpectedly, we found CP could activate ERK signaling pathway in IGF-1R kinase independent manner, which we further verified was mainly mediated by β-arrestin2. We also investigated the anti-tumor effect of metformin alone as well as its combination with CP to target NSCLC. Metformin could target IGF-1R signaling pathway by attenuating PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways and down-regulating IGF-1R. Finally, we found that combining metformin with CP could further induce IGF-1R down-regulation and was more effective to target NSCLC cells. Our data suggests the combining of metformin with CP has additive therapeutic value against NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Cao
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,Department of Chemotherapy, Cancer Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Wei Dong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Qu
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Hongchang Shen
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Jun Xu
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Linhai Zhu
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Qi Liu
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Jiajun Du
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
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Papanagnou P, Stivarou T, Tsironi M. Unexploited Antineoplastic Effects of Commercially Available Anti-Diabetic Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2016; 9:ph9020024. [PMID: 27164115 PMCID: PMC4932542 DOI: 10.3390/ph9020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of efficacious antitumor compounds with minimal toxicity is a hot research topic. Numerous cancer cell targeted agents are evaluated daily in laboratories for their antitumorigenicity at the pre-clinical level, but the process of their introduction into the market is costly and time-consuming. More importantly, even if these new antitumor agents manage to gain approval, clinicians have no former experience with them. Accruing evidence supports the idea that several medications already used to treat pathologies other than cancer display pleiotropic effects, exhibiting multi-level anti-cancer activity and chemosensitizing properties. This review aims to present the anticancer properties of marketed drugs (i.e., metformin and pioglitazone) used for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM) type II. Mode of action, pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo or clinical data as well as clinical applicability are discussed here. Given the precious multi-year clinical experience with these non-antineoplastic drugs their repurposing in oncology is a challenging alternative that would aid towards the development of therapeutic schemes with less toxicity than those of conventional chemotherapeutic agents. More importantly, harnessing the antitumor function of these agents would save precious time from bench to bedside to aid the fight in the arena of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Papanagnou
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Orthias Artemidos and Plateon St, Sparti GR-23100, Greece.
| | - Theodora Stivarou
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Orthias Artemidos and Plateon St, Sparti GR-23100, Greece.
| | - Maria Tsironi
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Orthias Artemidos and Plateon St, Sparti GR-23100, Greece.
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Zhang HH, Guo XL. Combinational strategies of metformin and chemotherapy in cancers. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2016; 78:13-26. [PMID: 27118574 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-016-3037-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic regimens are the most common treatment to inhibit tumor growth, but there is great variability in clinical responses of cancer patients; cancer cells often develop resistance to chemotherapeutics which results in tumor recurrence and further progression. Metformin, an extensively prescribed and well-tolerated first-line therapeutic drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has recently been identified as a potential and attractive anticancer adjuvant drug combined with chemotherapeutic drugs to improve treatment efficacy and lower doses. In this review, we summarized the molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer effects of metformin, which included insulin- and AMPK-dependent effects, selectively targeting cancer stem cells, reversing multidrug resistance, inhibition of the tumor metastasis and described the antineoplastic effects of metformin combined with chemotherapeutic agents in digestive system cancers (colorectal, gastric, hepatic and pancreatic cancer), reproductive system cancers (ovarian and endometrial cancer), prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, etc. Moreover, the clinical trials regarding metformin in combination of chemotherapeutic drugs were presented and the clinical obstacle or limitation related to the potential role of metformin in cancer treatment was also discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 Wen Hua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiu-Li Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 Wen Hua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China.
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DePeralta DK, Wei L, Ghoshal S, Schmidt B, Lauwers GY, Lanuti M, Chung RT, Tanabe KK, Fuchs BC. Metformin prevents hepatocellular carcinoma development by suppressing hepatic progenitor cell activation in a rat model of cirrhosis. Cancer 2016; 122:1216-27. [PMID: 26914713 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-associated mortality is increasing at an alarming rate, and there is a readily identifiable cohort of at-risk patients with cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes. These patients are candidates for chemoprevention. Metformin is an attractive agent for chemoprevention because it is inexpensive, has a favorable safety profile, and is well tolerated over long time periods. METHODS The authors studied the efficacy of metformin as a prevention agent in a clinically relevant rat model of HCC, in which tumors develop in the setting of chronic inflammation and cirrhosis. Repeated injections of diethylnitrosamine were used to induce sequential cirrhosis and HCC, and metformin was administered at the first signs of either fibrosis or cirrhosis. RESULTS Prolonged metformin exposure was safe and was associated with decreases in fibrotic and inflammatory markers, especially when administered early at the first signs of fibrosis. In addition, early metformin treatment led to a 44% decrease in HCC incidence, whereas tumor burden was unchanged when metformin was administered at the first signs of cirrhosis. It is noteworthy that activation of the hepatic progenitor/stem cell compartment was first observed at the onset of cirrhosis; therefore, only early metformin treatment suppressed receptor for advanced glycation end products and inhibited the activation of hepatic progenitor cells. CONCLUSIONS The current results are the first to demonstrate an effect on progenitor/stem cells in the setting of chemoprevention and provide further rationale to explore metformin as an early intervention in clinical trials of patients with chronic liver disease at high risk for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle K DePeralta
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lan Wei
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sarani Ghoshal
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Benjamin Schmidt
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gregory Y Lauwers
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Lanuti
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Raymond T Chung
- Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kenneth K Tanabe
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bryan C Fuchs
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Aspirin and atenolol enhance metformin activity against breast cancer by targeting both neoplastic and microenvironment cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:18673. [PMID: 26728433 PMCID: PMC4700497 DOI: 10.1038/srep18673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin can induce breast cancer (BC) cell apoptosis and reduce BC local and metastatic growth in preclinical models. Since Metformin is frequently used along with Aspirin or beta-blockers, we investigated the effect of Metformin, Aspirin and the beta-blocker Atenolol in several BC models. In vitro, Aspirin synergized with Metformin in inducing apoptosis of triple negative and endocrine-sensitive BC cells, and in activating AMPK in BC and in white adipose tissue (WAT) progenitors known to cooperate to BC progression. Both Aspirin and Atenolol added to the inhibitory effect of Metformin against complex I of the respiratory chain. In both immune-deficient and immune-competent preclinical models, Atenolol increased Metformin activity against angiogenesis, local and metastatic growth of HER2+ and triple negative BC. Aspirin increased the activity of Metformin only in immune-competent HER2+ BC models. Both Aspirin and Atenolol, when added to Metformin, significantly reduced the endothelial cell component of tumor vessels, whereas pericytes were reduced by the addition of Atenolol but not by the addition of Aspirin. Our data indicate that the addition of Aspirin or of Atenolol to Metformin might be beneficial for BC control, and that this activity is likely due to effects on both BC and microenvironment cells.
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43
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Ben-Shmuel S, Rostoker R, Scheinman EJ, LeRoith D. Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cancer: Epidemiology and Potential Mechanisms. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2016; 233:355-372. [PMID: 25903410 DOI: 10.1007/164_2015_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is associated with multiple metabolic disorders that drive cardiovascular disease, T2D and cancer. The doubling in the number of obese adults over the past 3 decades led to the recognition of obesity as a "disease". With over 42 million children obese or overweight, this epidemic is rapidly growing worldwide. Obesity and T2D are both associated together and independently with an increased risk for cancer and a worse prognosis. Accumulating evidence from epidemiological studies revealed potential factors that may explain the association between obesity-linked metabolic disorders and cancer risk. Studies based on the insulin resistance MKR mice, highlighted the roe of the insulin receptor and its downstream signaling proteins in mediating hyperinsulinemia's mitogenic effects. Hypercholesterolemia was also shown to promote the formation of larger tumors and enhancement in metastasis. Furthermore, the conversion of cholesterol into 27-Hydroxycholesterol was found to link high fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia with cancer pathophysiology. Alteration in circulating adipokines and cytokines are commonly found in obesity and T2D. Adipokines are involved in tumor growth through multiple mechanisms including mTOR, VEGF and cyclins. In addition, adipose tissues are known to recruit and alter macrophage phenotype; these macrophages can promote cancer progression by secreting inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. Better characterization on the above factors and their downstream effects is required in order to translate the current knowledge into the clinic, but more importantly is to understand which are the key factors that drive cancer in each patient. Until we reach this point, policies and activities toward healthy diets and physical activities remain the best medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarit Ben-Shmuel
- Clinical Research Institute at Rambam (CRIR), Diabetes and Metabolism Clinical Research Center of Excellence, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ran Rostoker
- Clinical Research Institute at Rambam (CRIR), Diabetes and Metabolism Clinical Research Center of Excellence, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eyal J Scheinman
- Clinical Research Institute at Rambam (CRIR), Diabetes and Metabolism Clinical Research Center of Excellence, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Derek LeRoith
- Clinical Research Institute at Rambam (CRIR), Diabetes and Metabolism Clinical Research Center of Excellence, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
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Anisimov VN. Metformin for cancer and aging prevention: is it a time to make the long story short? Oncotarget 2015; 6:39398-407. [PMID: 26583576 PMCID: PMC4741834 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decade, the burst of interest is observed to antidiabetic biguanide metformin as candidate drug for cancer chemoprevention. The analysis of the available data have shown that the efficacy of cancer preventive effect of metformin (MF) and another biguanides, buformin (BF) and phenformin (PF), has been studied in relation to total tumor incidence and to 17 target organs, in 21 various strains of mice, 4 strains of rats and 1 strain of hamsters (inbred, outbred, transgenic, mutant), spontaneous (non- exposed to any carcinogenic agent) or induced by 16 chemical carcinogens of different classes (polycycIic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitroso compounds, estrogen, etc.), direct or indirect (need metabolic transformation into proximal carcinogen), by total body X-rays and γ- irradiation, viruses, genetic modifications or special high fat diet, using one stage and two-stage protocols of carcinogenesis, 5 routes of the administration of antidiabetic biguanides (oral gavage, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injections, with drinking water or with diet) in a wide ranks of doses and treatment regimens. In the majority of cases (86%) the treatment with biguanides leads to inhibition of carcinogenesis. In 14% of the cases inhibitory effect of the drugs was not observed. Very important that there was no any case of stimulation of carcinogenesis by antidiabetic biguanides. It was conclude that there is sufficient experimental evidence of anti-carcinogenic effect of antidiabetic biguanides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir N. Anisimov
- Department of Carcinogenesis and Oncogerontology, N.N.Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation
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45
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Metformin: A Novel Biological Modifier of Tumor Response to Radiation Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2015; 93:454-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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46
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DeCensi A, Puntoni M, Guerrieri-Gonzaga A, Cazzaniga M, Serrano D, Lazzeroni M, Vingiani A, Gentilini O, Petrera M, Viale G, Cuzick J, Bonanni B, Pruneri G. Effect of Metformin on Breast Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Proliferation in a Randomized Presurgical Trial. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2015; 8:888-94. [PMID: 26276754 DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-15-0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Metformin is associated with lower breast cancer risk in epidemiologic studies and showed decreased proliferation in HER2-positive breast cancer in a presurgical trial. To provide insight into its preventive potential, we measured proliferation by Ki-67 labeling index (LI) of intraepithelial lesions surrounding breast cancer. We randomly assigned 200 nondiabetic patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in core biopsies to metformin, 1,700 mg or placebo once daily for 28 days before surgery. Upon surgery, five to seven specimens of cancer adjacent (≤1 cm) and distant (>1 cm) tissue were screened for LCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and ductal hyperplasia (DH). The prevalence of LCIS, DCIS, and DH was 4.5% (9/200), 67% (133/200), and 35% (69/200), respectively. Overall, metformin did not affect Ki-67 LI in premalignant disorders. The median posttreatment Ki-67 LI (IQR) in the metformin and placebo arm was, respectively, 15% (5-15) versus 5% (4-6) in LCIS (P = 0.1), 12% (8-20) versus 10% (7-24) in DCIS (P = 0.9), and 3% (1-4) versus 3% (1-4) in DH (P = 0.5). However, posttreatment Ki-67 in HER2-positive DCIS lesions was significantly lower in women randomized to metformin especially when ER was coexpressed: 22% (11-32) versus 35% (30-40) in HER2-positive DCIS (n = 22, P = .06); 12% (7-18) versus 32% (27-42) in ER-positive/HER2-positive DCIS (n = 15, P = .004). Eight of 22 (36%) HER2-positive DCIS were adjacent to HER2-negative invasive breast cancer. In tissue samples obtained following 4 weeks of study drug, proliferation was lower in HER2-positive DCIS for women randomized to metformin versus placebo. An adjuvant trial incorporating metformin in HER2-positive DCIS is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea DeCensi
- Division of Medical Oncology, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy. Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Matteo Puntoni
- Office of the Scientific Director, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Massimiliano Cazzaniga
- Divisions of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Serrano
- Divisions of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Lazzeroni
- Divisions of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Vingiani
- Division of Pathology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Oreste Gentilini
- Division of Breast Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Marilena Petrera
- Division of Medical Oncology, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Viale
- Division of Pathology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. University of Milan, School of Medicine, Milan, Italy
| | - Jack Cuzick
- Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bernardo Bonanni
- Divisions of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Pruneri
- Division of Pathology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. University of Milan, School of Medicine, Milan, Italy
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Combinational Therapy Enhances the Effects of Anti-IGF-1R mAb Figitumumab to Target Small Cell Lung Cancer. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135844. [PMID: 26287334 PMCID: PMC4545894 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant malignancy with distinct biologic properties. Antibody targeting therapy has been actively investigated as a new drug modality. METHODS We tested the expression of IGF-1R and calculated the survival in 61 SCLC patients. We also evaluated the anti-tumor effects of anti-IGF-1R monoclonal antibody Figitumumab (CP) on SCLC, and tried two drug combinations to improve CP therapy. RESULTS Our clinical data suggested that high IGF-1R expression was correlated with low SCLC patient survival. We then demonstrated the effect of CP was likely through IGF-1R blockage and down-regulation without IGF-1R auto-phosphorylation and PI3K/AKT activation. However, we observed elevated MEK/ERK activation upon CP treatment in SCLC cells, and this MEK/ERK activation was enhanced by ß-arrestin1 knockdown while attenuated by ß-arrestin2 knockdown. We found both MEK/ERK inhibitor and metformin could enhance CP treatment in SCLC cells. We further illustrated the additive effect of metformin was likely through promoting further IGF-1R down-regulation. CONCLUSION Our results highlighted the potential of anti-IGF-1R therapy and the adjuvant therapy strategy with either MEK/ERK inhibitor or metformin to target SCLC, warranting further studies.
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48
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Li P, Zhao M, Parris AB, Feng X, Yang X. p53 is required for metformin-induced growth inhibition, senescence and apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015. [PMID: 26225749 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.07.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The p53 tumor repressor gene is commonly mutated in human cancers. The tumor inhibitory effect of metformin on p53-mutated breast cancer cells remains unclear. Data from the present study demonstrated that p53 knockdown or mutation has a negative effect on metformin or phenformin-induced growth inhibition, senescence and apoptosis in breast cancer cells. We also found that p53 reactivating agent nutlin-3α and CP/31398 promoted metformin-induced growth inhibition, senescence and apoptosis in MCF-7 (wt p53) and MDA-MB-231 (mt p53) cells, respectively. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with metformin or phenformin induced increase in p53 protein levels and the transcription of its downstream target genes, Bax and p21, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we demonstrated that AMPK-mTOR signaling played a role in metformin-induced p53 up-regulation. The present study showed that p53 is required for metformin or phenformin-induced growth inhibition, senescence and apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The combination of metformin with p53 reactivating agents, like nutlin-3α and CP/31398, is a promising strategy for improving metformin-mediated anti-cancer therapy, especially for tumors with p53 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puyu Li
- JLC Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biology, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; Department of Oncology, Cancer Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, PR China
| | - Ming Zhao
- JLC Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biology, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Amanda B Parris
- JLC Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biology, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Xiaoshan Feng
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, PR China.
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- JLC Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Biology, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA.
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Abstract
Metformin, a diabetes drug with well-established side effect and safety profiles, has been widely studied for its anti-tumor activities in a number of cancers, including breast cancer. But its mechanism of action in the clinical arena remains elusive. In a window of opportunity trial of metformin in non-diabetic breast cancer patients, Dowling and colleagues examined both the direct actions of the drug on cancer cells (as mediated by AMP kinase), as well as its indirect actions (as mediated by circulating insulin). The data suggest that short-term administration of metformin in this setting has anti-tumor effects significantly involving the indirect, insulin-dependent pathway. The role of the direct pathway remains to be determined. This study represents an important step forward in establishing one of several possible mechanisms for metformin, information that will be useful in determining candidate biomarkers to evaluate in large clinical trials of metformin, such as the ongoing NCIC CTG MA.32 trial of adjuvant metformin. The potential significance of these data for metformin in the treatment of breast cancer is discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Camacho
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Atreyi Dasgupta
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Sao Jiralerspong
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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50
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Corominas-Faja B, Cuyàs E, Gumuzio J, Bosch-Barrera J, Leis O, Martin ÁG, Menendez JA. Chemical inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase suppresses self-renewal growth of cancer stem cells. Oncotarget 2015; 5:8306-16. [PMID: 25246709 PMCID: PMC4226684 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) may take advantage of the Warburg effect-induced siphoning of metabolic intermediates into de novo fatty acid biosynthesis to increase self-renewal growth. We examined the anti-CSC effects of the antifungal polyketide soraphen A, a specific inhibitor of the first committed step of lipid biosynthesis catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACACA). The mammosphere formation capability of MCF-7 cells was reduced following treatment with soraphen A in a dose-dependent manner. MCF-7 cells engineered to overexpress the oncogene HER2 (MCF-7/HER2 cells) were 5-fold more sensitive than MCF-7 parental cells to soraphen A-induced reductions in mammosphere-forming efficiency. Soraphen A treatment notably decreased aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-positive CSC-like cells and impeded the HER2's ability to increase the ALDH+-stem cell population. The following results confirmed that soraphen A-induced suppression of CSC populations occurred through ACACA-driven lipogenesis: a.) exogenous supplementation with supraphysiological concentrations of oleic acid fully rescued mammosphere formation in the presence of soraphen A and b.) mammosphere cultures of MCF-7 cells with stably silenced expression of the cytosolic isoform ACACA1, which specifically participates in de novo lipogenesis, were mostly refractory to soraphen A treatment. Our findings reveal for the first time that ACACA may constitute a previously unrecognized target for novel anti-breast CSC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Corominas-Faja
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Translational Research Laboratory, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia Spain. Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Translational Research Laboratory, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia Spain. Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Juan Gumuzio
- Fundación Inbiomed, San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa Spain
| | | | - Olatz Leis
- StemTek Therapeutics, Bilbao, Biscay Spain
| | | | - Javier A Menendez
- Metabolism and Cancer Group, Translational Research Laboratory, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia Spain. Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Catalonia Spain
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