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Xu S, Ma B, Jian Y, Yao C, Wang Z, Fan Y, Ma J, Chen Y, Feng X, An J, Chen J, Wang K, Xie H, Gao Y, Li L. Development of a PAK4-targeting PROTAC for renal carcinoma therapy: concurrent inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and enhancement of immune cell response. EBioMedicine 2024; 104:105162. [PMID: 38810561 PMCID: PMC11154127 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105162] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Finding the oncogene, which was able to inhibit tumor cells intrinsically and improve the immune answers, will be the future direction for renal cancer combined treatment. Following patient sample analysis and signaling pathway examination, we propose p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) as a potential target drug for kidney cancer. PAK4 exhibits high expression levels in patient samples and plays a regulatory role in the immune microenvironment. METHODS Utilizing AI software for peptide drug design, we have engineered a specialized peptide proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) drug with selectivity for PAK4. To address challenges related to drug delivery, we developed a nano-selenium delivery system for efficient transport of the peptide PROTAC drug, termed PpD (PAK4 peptide degrader). FINDINGS We successfully designed a peptide PROTAC drug targeting PAK4. PpD effectively degraded PAK4 with high selectivity, avoiding interference with other homologous proteins. PpD significantly attenuated renal carcinoma proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Notably, PpD demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on tumor proliferation in a fully immunocompetent mouse model, concomitantly enhancing the immune cell response. Moreover, PpD demonstrated promising tumor growth inhibitory effects in mini-PDX and PDO models, further underscoring its potential for clinical application. INTERPRETATION This PAK4-targeting peptide PROTAC drug not only curtails renal cancer cell proliferation but also improves the immune microenvironment and enhances immune response. Our study paves the way for innovative targeted therapies in the management of renal cancer. FUNDING This work is supported by Research grants from non-profit organizations, as stated in the Acknowledgments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Xu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Bohan Ma
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanlin Jian
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Yao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Zixi Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Yizeng Fan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Yule Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoyu Feng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiale An
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiani Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongjun Xie
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, #277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, China.
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Ma Y, Dumesny C, Dong L, Ang CS, Asadi K, Zhan Y, Nikfarjam M, He H. Inhibition of P21-activated kinases 1 and 4 synergistically suppresses the growth of pancreatic cancer by stimulating anti-tumour immunity. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:287. [PMID: 38797819 PMCID: PMC11129409 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01670-2] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal types of cancer, and KRAS oncogene occurs in over 90% of cases. P21-activated kinases (PAK), containing six members (PAK1 to 6), function downstream of KRAS. PAK1 and PAK4 play important roles in carcinogenesis, but their combinational effect remains unknown. In this study, we have determined the effect of dual inhibition of PAK1 and PAK4 in PDA progression using knockout (KO) cancer cell lines. METHODS Murine wild-type (WT) and PAK1KO pancreatic cancer cell lines were isolated from PAK1+/+ and PAK1-/- KPC (LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53 R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre) mice. KPC PAK4KO and KPC PAK1&4 KO cell lines were generated from KPC WT and KPC PAK1KO cell lines respectively using the CRISPR-CAS9 gene knockout technique. PAK WT and KO cell lines were used in mouse models of pancreatic tumours. Cells and tumour tissue were also used in flow cytometry and proteomic studies. A human PDA tissue microarray was stained by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Double knock out of PAK1 and PAK4 caused complete regression of tumour in a syngeneic mouse model. PAK4KO inhibited tumour growth by stimulating a rapid increase of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration. PAK1KO synergistically with PAK4KO increased cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration and stimulated a sustained infiltration of CD8+ T cells at a later phase to overcome the immune evasion in the PAK4KO tumour. The human PDA tissue microarray study showed the important role of PAK1 and PAK4 in intra-tumoral T-cell function. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that dual inhibition of PAK1 and PAK4 synergistically suppressed PDA progression by stimulating cytotoxic CD8 + T cell response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ma
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, University of Melbourne, Level 8, Lance Townsend Building, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of General Surgery, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Chelsea Dumesny
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, University of Melbourne, Level 8, Lance Townsend Building, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Li Dong
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, University of Melbourne, Level 8, Lance Townsend Building, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Khashayar Asadi
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Yifan Zhan
- Drug Discovery, Shanghai Huaota Biopharm, Shanghai, China
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, University of Melbourne, Level 8, Lance Townsend Building, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, University of Melbourne, Level 8, Lance Townsend Building, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
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Ansardamavandi A, Nikfarjam M, He H. PAK in Pancreatic Cancer-Associated Vasculature: Implications for Therapeutic Response. Cells 2023; 12:2692. [PMID: 38067120 PMCID: PMC10705971 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis has been associated with numbers of solid tumours. Anti-angiogenesis drugs starve tumours of nutrients and oxygen but also make it difficult for a chemo reagent to distribute into a tumour, leading to aggressive tumour growth. Anti-angiogenesis drugs do not appear to improve the overall survival rate of pancreatic cancer. Vessel normalisation is merging as one of the new approaches for halting tumour progression by facilitating the tumour infiltration of immune cells and the delivery of chemo reagents. Targeting p21-activated kinases (PAKs) in cancer has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. Inhibition of PAK enhances anti-tumour immunity and stimulates the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades. Inhibition of PAK also improves Car-T immunotherapy by reprogramming the vascular microenvironment. This review summarizes current research on PAK's role in tumour vasculature and therapeutical response, with a focus on pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arian Ansardamavandi
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; (A.A.); (M.N.)
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; (A.A.); (M.N.)
- Department of Hepatopancreatic-Biliary Surgery, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, Austin Precinct, The University of Melbourne, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; (A.A.); (M.N.)
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Expression Patterns of PAK4 and PHF8 Are Associated with the Survival of Gallbladder Carcinoma Patients. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13061149. [PMID: 36980457 PMCID: PMC10047028 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13061149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: PAK4 and PHF8 are involved in cancer progression and are under evaluation as targets for cancer therapy. However, despite extensive studies in human cancers, there are limited reports on the roles of PAK4 and PHF8 in gallbladder cancers. Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of PAK4 and PHF8 and their prognostic significance were evaluated in 148 human gallbladder carcinomas. Results: PAK4 expression was significantly associated with PHF8 expression in gallbladder carcinomas. Positive expression of nuclear PAK4, cytoplasmic PAK4, nuclear PHF8, and cytoplasmic PHF8 were significantly associated with shorter overall survival and relapse-free survival in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that nuclear PAK4 expression and nuclear PHF8 expression were independent predictors of overall survival and relapse-free survival in gallbladder carcinomas. Furthermore, coexpression of nuclear PAK4 and nuclear PHF8 predicted shorter overall survival (p < 0.001) and relapse-free survival (p < 0.001) of gallbladder carcinoma in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: This study suggests that the individual and coexpression patterns of PAK4 and PHF8 as the prognostic indicators for gallbladder carcinoma patients.
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