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Xing X, Zhou Z, Peng H, Cheng S. Anticancer role of flubendazole: Effects and molecular mechanisms (Review). Oncol Lett 2024; 28:558. [PMID: 39355784 PMCID: PMC11443308 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Flubendazole, an anthelmintic agent with a well-established safety profile, has emerged as a promising anticancer drug that has demonstrated efficacy against a spectrum of cancer types over the past decade. Its anticancer properties encompass a multifaceted mechanism of action, including the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, disruption of microtubule dynamics, regulation of cell cycle, autophagy, apoptosis, suppression of cancer stem cell characteristics, promotion of ferroptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. The present review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular underpinnings of the anticancer activity of flubendazole, highlighting key molecules and regulatory pathways. Given the breadth of the potential of flubendazole, further research is imperative to identify additional cancer types sensitive to flubendazole, refine experimental methodologies for enhancing its reliability, uncover synergistic drug combinations, improve its bioavailability and explore innovative administration methods. The present review provided a foundation for future studies on the role of flubendazole in oncology and described its molecular mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Xing
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
| | - Zongning Zhou
- Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Peng
- Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Urological Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Shaoping Cheng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
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2
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Miera-Maluenda M, Pérez-Torres M, Mañas A, Rubio-San-Simón A, Butjosa-Espín M, Ruiz-Duran P, Seoane JA, Moreno L, Segura MF. Advances in the approaches used to repurpose drugs for neuroblastoma. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024:1-11. [PMID: 39258785 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2402413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuroblastoma (NB) remains a challenging pediatric malignancy with limited treatment options, particularly for high-risk cases. Drug repurposing offers a convenient and cost-effective strategy for treating rare diseases like NB. Using existing drugs with known safety profiles accelerates the availability of new treatments, reduces development costs, and mitigates risks, offering hope for improved patient outcomes in challenging conditions. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of the advances in approaches used to repurpose drugs for NB therapy. The authors discuss strategies employed in drug repurposing, including computational and experimental methods, and rational drug design, highlighting key examples of repurposed drugs with promising clinical results. Additionally, the authors examine the challenges and opportunities associated with drug repurposing in NB and discuss future directions and potential areas for further research. EXPERT OPINION The fact that only one new drug has been approved in the last 30 years for the treatment of neuroblastoma plus a significant proportion of high-risk NB patients that remain uncurable, evidences the need for new fast and cost-effective alternatives. Drug repurposing may accelerate the treatment development process while reducing expenses and risks. This approach can swiftly bring effective NB therapies to market, enhancing survival rates and patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Miera-Maluenda
- Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Pérez-Torres
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Vall D'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adriana Mañas
- Translational Research in Pediatric Oncology, Hematopoietic Transplantation and Cell Therapy, IdiPAZ, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
- IdiPAZ-CNIO Pediatric Onco-Hematology Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Rubio-San-Simón
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Butjosa-Espín
- Cancer Computational Biology Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Ruiz-Duran
- Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose A Seoane
- Cancer Computational Biology Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucas Moreno
- Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Vall D'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel F Segura
- Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Han Y, Gao Q, Xu Y, Chen K, Li R, Guo W, Wang S. Cysteine sulfenylation contributes to liver fibrosis via the regulation of EphB2-mediated signaling. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:602. [PMID: 39164267 PMCID: PMC11335765 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06997-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Sulfenylation is a reversible oxidative posttranslational modification (PTM) of proteins on cysteine residues. Despite the dissection of various biological functions of cysteine sulfenylation, its roles in hepatic fibrosis remain elusive. Here, we report that EphB2, a receptor tyrosine kinase previously implicated in liver fibrosis, is regulated by cysteine sulfenylation during the fibrotic progression of liver. Specifically, EphB2 is sulfenylated at the residues of Cys636 and Cys862 in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), leading to the elevation of tyrosine kinase activity and protein stability of EphB2 and stronger interactions with focal adhesion kinase for the activation of downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. The inhibitions of both EphB2 kinase activity and cysteine sulfenylation by idebenone (IDE), a marketed drug with potent antioxidant activity, can markedly suppress the activation of HSCs and ameliorate hepatic injury in two well-recognized mouse models of liver fibrosis. Collectively, this study reveals cysteine sulfenylation as a new type of PTM for EphB2 and sheds a light on the therapeutic potential of IDE for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqing Han
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Gao
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yating Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ke Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongxin Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiran Guo
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuzhen Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
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4
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Wang K, Chen Y, Zhang M, Wang S, Yao S, Gong Z, Fei B, Huang Z. Metformin suppresses gastric cancer progression by disrupting the STAT1-PRMT1 axis. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116367. [PMID: 38876258 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for patients with unresectable or partially resectable GC. However, its adverse effects and chemoresistance greatly restrict its applicability and efficacy. Although HER2-targeted therapy and immunotherapy have been successfully used for GC treatment, their beneficial population is limited. To expand the range of cancer treatments, drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy. In this study, we evaluated the potential of Metformin, an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent, to suppress GC progression both in vivo and in vitro. Functional investigations showed that Metformin significantly inhibits GC proliferation and migration. Furthermore, we discovered that Metformin bound and disrupted STAT1 phosphorylation, inhibiting PRMT1 expression and consequently GC progression. In conclusion, our study not only provides further evidence for the anti-GC role of Metformin but also identifies the direct target mediating the tumor-inhibitory effects of Metformin in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiqing Wang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meimei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 712046, Shaanxi, China
| | - Suzeng Wang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China
| | - Surui Yao
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhicheng Gong
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Bojian Fei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhaohui Huang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
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5
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Kawczak P, Feszak I, Brzeziński P, Bączek T. Structure-Activity Relationships and Therapeutic Applications of Retinoids in View of Potential Benefits from Drug Repurposing Process. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1059. [PMID: 38791021 PMCID: PMC11117600 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitamin A, an essential micronutrient, is integral to various biological processes crucial for organismal development and maintenance. Dietary sources of vitamin A encompass preformed retinol, retinyl esters, and provitamin A carotenoids. Retinoic acid (RA), a key component, plays pivotal roles in vision, cell proliferation, apoptosis, immune function, and gene regulation. Drug repurposing, an effective strategy for identifying new therapeutic applications for existing drugs, has gained prominence in recent years. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape surrounding retinoids and drug repurposing. The scope of this review encompasses a comprehensive examination of retinoids and their potential for repurposing in various therapeutic contexts. Despite their efficacy in treating dermatological conditions, concerns about toxicity persist, driving the search for safer and more potent retinoids. The molecular mechanisms underlying retinoid activity involve binding to retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), leading to transcriptional regulation of target genes. This review seeks to shed light on the possibilities for repurposing retinoids to cover a wider spectrum of therapeutic uses by exploring recent scientific progress. It also aims to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic prospects of retinoids and the broader impact of drug repositioning in contemporary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Kawczak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland;
| | - Igor Feszak
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland;
| | - Piotr Brzeziński
- Department of Physiotherapy and Medical Emergency, Institute of Health Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland;
- Department of Dermatology, Voivodeship Specialist Hospital, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland
| | - Tomasz Bączek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland;
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland;
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Zhang L, Cao Z, Hong Y, He H, Chen L, Yu Z, Gao Y. Squalene Epoxidase: Its Regulations and Links with Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3874. [PMID: 38612682 PMCID: PMC11011400 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Squalene epoxidase (SQLE) is a key enzyme in the mevalonate-cholesterol pathway that plays a critical role in cellular physiological processes. It converts squalene to 2,3-epoxysqualene and catalyzes the first oxygenation step in the pathway. Recently, intensive efforts have been made to extend the current knowledge of SQLE in cancers through functional and mechanistic studies. However, the underlying mechanisms and the role of SQLE in cancers have not been fully elucidated yet. In this review, we retrospected current knowledge of SQLE as a rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate-cholesterol pathway, while shedding light on its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker, and revealed its therapeutic values in cancers. We showed that SQLE is regulated at different levels and is involved in the crosstalk with iron-dependent cell death. Particularly, we systemically reviewed the research findings on the role of SQLE in different cancers. Finally, we discussed the therapeutic implications of SQLE inhibitors and summarized their potential clinical values. Overall, this review discussed the multifaceted mechanisms that involve SQLE to present a vivid panorama of SQLE in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Zheng Cao
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yuheng Hong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Haihua He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Leifeng Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Zhentao Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Yibo Gao
- Central Laboratory & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Precision Medicine for Cancers, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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7
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Yang S, Li Z, Pan M, Ma J, Pan Z, Zhang P, Cao W. Repurposing of Antidiarrheal Loperamide for Treating Melanoma by Inducing Cell Apoptosis and Cell Metastasis Suppression In vitro and In vivo. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2024; 24:1015-1030. [PMID: 38303527 DOI: 10.2174/0115680096283086240116093400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is the most common skin tumor worldwide and still lacks effective therapeutic agents in clinical practice. Repurposing of existing drugs for clinical tumor treatment is an attractive and effective strategy. Loperamide is a commonly used anti-diarrheal drug with excellent safety profiles. However, the affection and mechanism of loperamide in melanoma remain unknown. Herein, the potential anti-melanoma effects and mechanism of loperamide were investigated in vitro and in vivo. METHODS In the present study, we demonstrated that loperamide possessed a strong inhibition in cell viability and proliferation in melanoma using MTT, colony formation and EUD incorporation assays. Meanwhile, xenograft tumor models were established to investigate the anti-melanoma activity of loperamide in vivo. Moreover, the effects of loperamide on apoptosis in melanoma cells and potential mechanisms were explored by Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, reactive oxygen species level detection, and apoptosis-correlation proteins analysis. Furthermore, loperamide-suppressed melanoma metastasis was studied by migration and invasion assays. What's more, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining assays were applied to demonstrate the mechanism of loperamide against melanoma in vivo. Finally, we performed the analysis of routine blood and blood biochemical, as well as hematoxylin- eosin (H&E) staining, in order to investigate the safety properties of loperamide. RESULTS Loperamide could observably inhibit melanoma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, loperamide induced melanoma cell apoptosis by accumulation of the sub-G1 cells population, enhancement of reactive oxygen species level, depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis-related protein activation in vitro. Of note, apoptosis-inducing effects were also observed in vivo. Subsequently, loperamide markedly restrained melanoma cell migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Ultimately, loperamide was witnessed to have an amicable safety profile. CONCLUSION These findings suggested that repurposing of loperamide might have great potential as a novel and safe alternative strategy to cure melanoma via inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and suppressing migration and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuping Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingyue Pan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, South China Hospital, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Zeyu Pan
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiling Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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8
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Panikar SS, Keltee N, Berry NK, Shmuel S, Fisher ZT, Brown E, Zidel A, Mabry A, Pereira PMR. Metformin-Induced Receptor Turnover Alters Antibody Accumulation in HER-Expressing Tumors. J Nucl Med 2023; 64:1195-1202. [PMID: 37268425 PMCID: PMC10394312 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.122.265248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin has effects beyond its antihyperglycemic properties, including altering the localization of membrane receptors in cancer cells. Metformin decreases human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) membrane density. Depletion of cell-surface HER decreases antibody-tumor binding for imaging and therapeutic approaches. Here, we used HER-targeted PET to annotate antibody-tumor binding in mice treated with metformin. Methods: Small-animal PET annotated antibody binding in HER-expressing xenografts on administration of an acute versus a daily dose schedule of metformin. Analyses at the protein level in the total, membrane, and internalized cell extracts were performed to determine receptor endocytosis, HER surface and internalized protein levels, and HER phosphorylation. Results: At 24 h after injection of radiolabeled anti-HER antibodies, control tumors had higher antibody accumulation than tumors treated with an acute dose of metformin. These differences were temporal, and by 72 h, tumor uptake in acute cohorts was similar to uptake in control. Additional PET imaging revealed a sustained decrease in tumor uptake on daily metformin treatment compared with control and acute metformin cohorts. The effects of metformin on membrane HER were reversible, and after its removal, antibody-tumor binding was restored. The time- and dose-dependent effects of metformin-induced HER depletion observed preclinically were validated with immunofluorescence, fractionation, and protein analysis cell assays. Conclusion: The findings that metformin decreases cell-surface HER receptors and reduces antibody-tumor binding may have significant implications for the use of antibodies targeting these receptors in cancer treatment and molecular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Surendra Panikar
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Nai Keltee
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Na-Keysha Berry
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Shayla Shmuel
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Zachary T Fisher
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Emma Brown
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Abbey Zidel
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; and
| | - Alex Mabry
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Patrícia M R Pereira
- Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri;
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9
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Subbiah V, Kreitman RJ, Wainberg ZA, Gazzah A, Lassen U, Stein A, Wen PY, Dietrich S, de Jonge MJA, Blay JY, Italiano A, Yonemori K, Cho DC, de Vos FYFL, Moreau P, Fernandez EE, Schellens JHM, Zielinski CC, Redhu S, Boran A, Passos VQ, Ilankumaran P, Bang YJ. Dabrafenib plus trametinib in BRAFV600E-mutated rare cancers: the phase 2 ROAR trial. Nat Med 2023; 29:1103-1112. [PMID: 37059834 PMCID: PMC10202803 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02321-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
BRAFV600E alterations are prevalent across multiple tumors. Here we present final efficacy and safety results of a phase 2 basket trial of dabrafenib (BRAF kinase inhibitor) plus trametinib (MEK inhibitor) in eight cohorts of patients with BRAFV600E-mutated advanced rare cancers: anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (n = 36), biliary tract cancer (n = 43), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n = 1), adenocarcinoma of the small intestine (n = 3), low-grade glioma (n = 13), high-grade glioma (n = 45), hairy cell leukemia (n = 55) and multiple myeloma (n = 19). The primary endpoint of investigator-assessed overall response rate in these cohorts was 56%, 53%, 0%, 67%, 54%, 33%, 89% and 50%, respectively. Secondary endpoints were median duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. Median DoR was 14.4 months, 8.9 months, not reached, 7.7 months, not reached, 31.2 months, not reached and 11.1 months, respectively. Median PFS was 6.7 months, 9.0 months, not reached, not evaluable, 9.5 months, 5.5 months, not evaluable and 6.3 months, respectively. Median OS was 14.5 months, 13.5 months, not reached, 21.8 months, not evaluable, 17.6 months, not evaluable and 33.9 months, respectively. The most frequent (≥20% of patients) treatment-related adverse events were pyrexia (40.8%), fatigue (25.7%), chills (25.7%), nausea (23.8%) and rash (20.4%). The encouraging tumor-agnostic activity of dabrafenib plus trametinib suggests that this could be a promising treatment approach for some patients with BRAFV600E-mutated advanced rare cancers. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02034110 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Subbiah
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Robert J Kreitman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zev A Wainberg
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anas Gazzah
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
| | - Ulrik Lassen
- Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexander Stein
- Department of Internal Medicine II (Oncology Center), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Y Wen
- Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Maja J A de Jonge
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Yves Blay
- Center Leon Berard & University Claude Bernard Lyon I, Lyon, France
| | - Antoine Italiano
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Units, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France; Faculty of Medicine, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | - Filip Y F L de Vos
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Elena Elez Fernandez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (HUVH), Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), IOB-Quiron, UVic-UCC, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Suman Redhu
- Global Program Biostatistics, Novartis Oncology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aislyn Boran
- Global Drug Development, Oncology Development Unit, Novartis Services, Inc., East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | - Vanessa Q Passos
- Global Drug Development, Oncology Development Unit, Novartis Services, Inc., East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | - Palanichamy Ilankumaran
- Global Drug Development, Oncology Development Unit, Novartis Services, Inc., East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | - Yung-Jue Bang
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Ahmed F, Samantasinghar A, Manzoor Soomro A, Kim S, Hyun Choi K. A systematic review of computational approaches to understand cancer biology for informed drug repurposing. J Biomed Inform 2023; 142:104373. [PMID: 37120047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2023.104373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, trailing only heart disease. In the United States alone, 1.9 million new cancer cases and 609,360 deaths were recorded for 2022. Unfortunately, the success rate for new cancer drug development remains less than 10%, making the disease particularly challenging. This low success rate is largely attributed to the complex and poorly understood nature of cancer etiology. Therefore, it is critical to find alternative approaches to understanding cancer biology and developing effective treatments. One such approach is drug repurposing, which offers a shorter drug development timeline and lower costs while increasing the likelihood of success. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of computational approaches for understanding cancer biology, including systems biology, multi-omics, and pathway analysis. Additionally, we examine the use of these methods for drug repurposing in cancer, including the databases and tools that are used for cancer research. Finally, we present case studies of drug repurposing, discussing their limitations and offering recommendations for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faheem Ahmed
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National University, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Sejong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Kyung Hyun Choi
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National University, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Zhou Z, Lu Y, Gu Z, Sun Q, Fang W, Yan W, Ku X, Liang Z, Hu G. HNRNPA2B1 as a potential therapeutic target for thymic epithelial tumor recurrence: An integrative network analysis. Comput Biol Med 2023; 155:106665. [PMID: 36791552 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare malignant tumors, and the molecular mechanisms of both primary and recurrent TETs are poorly understood. Here we established comprehensive proteomic signatures of 15 tumors (5 recurrent and 10 non-recurrent) and 15 pair wised tumor adjacent normal tissues. We then proposed an integrative network approach for studying the proteomics data by constructing protein-protein interaction networks based on differentially expressed proteins and a machine learning-based score, followed by network modular analysis, functional enrichment annotation and shortest path inference analysis. Network modular analysis revealed that primary and recurrent TETs shared certain common molecular mechanisms, including a spliceosome module consisting of RNA splicing and RNA processing, but the recurrent TET was specifically related to the ribosome pathway. Applying the shortest path inference to the collected seed gene module identified that the ribonucleoprotein hnRNPA2B1 probably serves as a potential target for recurrent TET therapy. The drug repositioning combined molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the compound ergotamine could potentially act as a repurposing drug to treat recurrent TETs by targeting hnRNPA2B1. Our study demonstrates the value of integrative network analysis to understand proteotype robustness and its relationships with genotype, and provides hits for further research on cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyun Zhou
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhitao Gu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Qiangling Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China; Thoracic Cancer Institute, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Wentao Fang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xin Ku
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Zhongjie Liang
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, Suzhou, 215123, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Guang Hu
- Center for Systems Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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12
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Liu H, Kong Y, Liang X, Liu Z, Guo X, Yang B, Yin T, He H, Gou J, Zhang Y, Tang X. The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with SP94 modified asymmetrical bilayer lipid-encapsulated Cu(DDC) 2 nanoparticles facilitating Cu accumulation in the tumor. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:145-158. [PMID: 36462209 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2155631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Copper diethyldithiocarbamate (Cu(DDC)2) has been demonstrated to possess excellent antitumor activity. However, the extremely poor water solubility of Cu(DDC)2 bring difficulty for its formulation research. In this study, we aim to develop a novel nanocarrier for Cu(DDC)2 delivery to overcome this obstacle and enhance antitumor activity. METHODS The SP94 modified asymmetrical bilayer lipid-encapsulated Cu(DDC)2 nanoparticles (DCDP) was established by combining the method of inverse microemulsion aggregation and thin-film dispersion. In vitro cellular assays and in vivo tumor-xenograft experiments were conducted to evaluate the tumor chemotherapeutic effect of DCDP. And the vital role of copper ions played in DSF or DDC (DSF/DDC)-based cancer chemotherapy was also explored. RESULTS DCDP with an encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 74.0% were successfully prepared. SP94 modification facilitated cellular intake for DCDP, and promoted apoptosis to repress tumor cell proliferation (IC50, 200 nM). And DCDP effectively inhibited tumor growth with a high tumor inhibition rate of 74.84%. Furthermore, Cu(DDC)2 was found to facilitate the copper ion accumulation in tumor tissues, which is beneficial to therapy with high potency. CONCLUSION DCDP exhibited high-efficient tumor chemotherapeutic efficacy and provided a novel strategy for investigating the anticancer mechanism of Cu(DDC)2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yihan Kong
- Technology Research & Development Centre, Tianjin Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co., Ltd, Tianjin, China
| | - Xue Liang
- R&D & Innovation Committee, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zixu Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xueting Guo
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Tian Yin
- Department of Functional Food and Wine, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Haibing He
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jingxin Gou
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xing Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
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13
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Wang T, Pulkkinen OI, Aittokallio T. Target-specific compound selectivity for multi-target drug discovery and repurposing. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1003480. [PMID: 36225560 PMCID: PMC9549418 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1003480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most drug molecules modulate multiple target proteins, leading either to therapeutic effects or unwanted side effects. Such target promiscuity partly contributes to high attrition rates and leads to wasted costs and time in the current drug discovery process, and makes the assessment of compound selectivity an important factor in drug development and repurposing efforts. Traditionally, selectivity of a compound is characterized in terms of its target activity profile (wide or narrow), which can be quantified using various statistical and information theoretic metrics. Even though the existing selectivity metrics are widely used for characterizing the overall selectivity of a compound, they fall short in quantifying how selective the compound is against a particular target protein (e.g., disease target of interest). We therefore extended the concept of compound selectivity towards target-specific selectivity, defined as the potency of a compound to bind to the particular protein in comparison to the other potential targets. We decompose the target-specific selectivity into two components: 1) the compound’s potency against the target of interest (absolute potency), and 2) the compound’s potency against the other targets (relative potency). The maximally selective compound-target pairs are then identified as a solution of a bi-objective optimization problem that simultaneously optimizes these two potency metrics. In computational experiments carried out using large-scale kinase inhibitor dataset, which represents a wide range of polypharmacological activities, we show how the optimization-based selectivity scoring offers a systematic approach to finding both potent and selective compounds against given kinase targets. Compared to the existing selectivity metrics, we show how the target-specific selectivity provides additional insights into the target selectivity and promiscuity of multi-targeting kinase inhibitors. Even though the selectivity score is shown to be relatively robust against both missing bioactivity values and the dataset size, we further developed a permutation-based procedure to calculate empirical p-values to assess the statistical significance of the observed selectivity of a compound-target pair in the given bioactivity dataset. We present several case studies that show how the target-specific selectivity can distinguish between highly selective and broadly-active kinase inhibitors, hence facilitating the discovery or repurposing of multi-targeting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianduanyi Wang
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Otto I. Pulkkinen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute for Information Technology (HIIT), Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics and InFLAMES Research Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tero Aittokallio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute for Information Technology (HIIT), Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics and InFLAMES Research Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Cancer Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Tero Aittokallio,
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