Effects of ulinastatin and cyclophosphamide on the growth of xenograft breast cancer and expression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in cancers

Ulinastatin inhibits the metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by involving uPA/uPAR signaling

Distant metastasis is the primary reason for treatment failure in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we investigated the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on NPC metastasis and its underlying mechanism. Highly-metastatic NPC cell lines S18 and 58F were treated with UTI and the effect on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined by MTS and Transwell assays. S18 cells with luciferase-expressing (S18-1C3) were injected into the left hind footpad of nude mice to establish a model of spontaneous metastasis from the footpad to popliteal lymph node (LN). The luciferase messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the metastasis inhibition rate was calculated. Key molecular members of the UTI-related uPA, uPAR, and JAT/STAT3 signaling pathways were detected by qPCR and immunoblotting. UTI suppressed the migration and infiltration of S18 and 5-8F cells and suppressed the metastasis of S18 cells in vivo without affecting cell proliferation. uPAR expression decreased from 24 to 48 h after UTI treatment. The antimetastatic effect of UTI is partly due to the suppression of uPA and uPAR. UTI partially suppresses NPC metastasis by downregulating the expression of uPA and uPAR.

Molecular and pathobiological insights of bikunin/UTI in cancer

Bikunin is a small chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (PG) with Ser-protease inhibitory activity that plays pleiotropic roles in health and disease. It is involved in several physiological processes including stabilization of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective tissues and key reproductive events. Bikunin is also implicated in both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions and represents a non-invasive circulating and/or urinary (as Urinary Trypsin Inhibitor or UTI) biomarker. It exerts inhibitory effects on urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) mediating tumor invasiveness by a down-regulation of uPA mRNA expression, thus representing an anti-metastatic agent. However, only limited data on its potential as a diagnostic and/or prognostic marker of cancer have been reported so far. Recent technological advances in mass spectrometry-based proteomics have provided researchers with a huge amount of information allowing for large-scale surveys of the cancer proteome. To address such issues, we analyzed bikunin expression data across several types of tumors, by using UALCAN proteogenomic analysis portal. In this article we critically review the roles of bikunin in human pathobiology, with a special focus on its inhibitory effects and mechanisms in cancer aggressiveness as well as its significance as cancer circulating biomarker.

Radiation-Induced Lung Injury (RILI)

Radiation pneumonitis (RP) and radiation fibrosis (RF) are two dose-limiting toxicities of radiotherapy (RT), especially for lung, and esophageal cancer. It occurs in 5-20% of patients and limits the maximum dose that can be delivered, reducing tumor control probability (TCP) and may lead to dyspnea, lung fibrosis, and impaired quality of life. Both physical and biological factors determine the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) by Radiotherapy. A better understanding of the pathophysiological sequence of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) and the intrinsic, environmental and treatment-related factors may aid in the prevention, and better management of radiation-induced lung damage. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the pathological and molecular consequences of lung exposure to ionizing radiation, and pharmaceutical interventions that may be beneficial in the prevention or curtailment of RILI, and therefore enable a more durable therapeutic tumor response.

TNF-α is a potential therapeutic target to overcome sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unknown. The current study aimed to clarify the mechanistic effects of targeting TNF-α to overcome sorafenib resistance in HCC.

Methods

A correlation of TNF-α expression with the prognosis was analyzed in 62 HCC patients who underwent surgical resection and subsequent received adjuvant sorafenib treatment. The relation of TNF-α expression and sorafenib sensitivity was determined in different HCC cell lines. The combined therapeutic effects of sorafenib and ulinastatin, which could inhibit TNF-α expression, on HCC were examined in vitro and in vivo.

Findings

High TNF-α expression was correlated with poor outcomes in HCC patients who received adjuvant sorafenib after surgery. In vitro experiments showed that TNF-α promotes HCC cell resistant to sorafenib through inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, the current study revealed that sorafenib has no significant influence on the expression and secretion of TNF-α, and sorafenib had limited effectiveness on reversing EMT in HCC cells with high TNF-α expression. Inhibiting the expression of TNF-α with ulinastatin significantly enhanced the anti-tumor effect of sorafenib on HCC cells with high expression of TNF-α in vitro and in vivo.

Interpretation: Our findings indicate that TNF-α may serve as a novel predictor of sorafenib sensitivity in HCC patients. Sorafenib combined with ulinastatin may improve the effectiveness of treatment of HCC in patients with high expression of TNF-α.

Fund

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no.81572398; no.81672419), the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (no. 2017A010105003; no.2015A050502023; no.2016A020216010), and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (no.2014A030313061; no. 2013B021800101).

Suppressive effects on cell proliferation and motility in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells by introducing ulinastatin in vitro

Ulinastatin (UTI) is a kind of urinary trypsin inhibitor regulating broad-spectrum proteases and is used widely in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Some evidence has suggested that UTI has antitumor functions in human carcinomas, but its function in gastric cancer (GC) has not been discussed extensively. In this study, we investigated the effects of UTI on GC SGC-7901 cells in vitro by preincubating cells with the UTI. The expression of the related molecules, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), was investigated at both the mRNA and the protein stages. Activation of uPA was analyzed and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 downstream uPA was detected. According to the results, UTI downregulated uPA expression and significantly suppressed the activation of uPA and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Furthermore, the SGC-7901 cells treated by UTI showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation and impairment of invasion and migration. However, no significant influence was observed on cell apoptosis. By ectopically expressing uPA in SGC-7901 cells, suppression effects of UTI were rescued. We suggest that UTI suppresses GC cell proliferation, motility, and at least partly conducted through uPA. Although the effects of UTI in GC cells need to be validated further, UTI represents a strong therapeutic strategy that is worth following up in GC treatment.

Cyclophosphamide promotes breast cancer cell migration through CXCR4 and matrix metalloproteinases

Cyclophosphamide is indicated for the treatment of cancerous diseases such as breast cancer and cervical cancer. Recent studies have shown that cyclophosphamide may induce cancer metastasis, but the cause of this unexpected adverse effect is not fully understood. In this study, we investigate the effect of cyclophosphamide on cancer cell migration and its correlation to chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4), a biomarker for cancer metastasis. Two human cancer cell lines with significant difference in endogenous CXCR4 expression, the breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, and the melanoma cell line, MDA-MB-435S, were treated with various concentrations of cyclophosphamide, followed by the assessment of CXCR4 expression and cell migration. We found that the migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells was enhanced with increasing concentrations of cyclophosphamide, which induced the cell-surface expression of CXCR4, but had no effect on the overall amount of CXCR4. In MDA-MB-435S cells, in which CXCR4 was barely detectable, cyclophosphamide was unable to activate cell-surface CXCR4, and did not promote cell migration. Studies on the mRNA expression profile of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in MDA-MB-231 cells further indicate that MMP9 and MMP13 may be involved in the action of cyclophosphamide. The protein expression of both MMP9 and MMP13 was increased in the presence of cyclophosphamide. Results from this study provide the molecular basis for the possible pathway of cyclophosphamide to induce cancer metastasis.

Platycodin D inhibits B16F10 melanoma metastasis via antiangiogenic activity

Platycodin D inhibits B16F10 melanoma metastasisviaantiangiogenic activity.

Ulinastatin reduces the resistance of liver cancer cells to epirubicin by inhibiting autophagy

During chemotherapy, drug resistance caused by autophagy remains a major challenge to successful treatment of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to show that ulinastatin (UTI), a trypsin inhibitor, could reduce the resistance of liver cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agent epirubicin (EPI). We achieved this conclusion by analyzing the effect of EPI alone or UTI plus EPI on SMMC-7721 and MHCC-LM3 liver cancer cells. We also generated an EPI-resistant liver cancer cell line (MHCC-LM3er cells), and found that UTI could sensitize the LM3er cells to EPI. Autophagy usually functions to protect cancer cells during chemotherapy. Our study showed that UTI inhibited the autophagy induced by EPI in liver cancer cells, which promoted apoptosis, and therefore, reduced the resistance of the cancer cells to EPI. Further studies showed that the UTI-mediated inhibition on autophagy was achieved by inhibiting transcriptional factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. To verify our results in vivo, we injected MHCC-LM3 liver cancer cells or EPI-resistant LM3er cells into mice, and found that EPI could only effectively inhibit the growth of tumor in MHCC-LM3 cell-injected mice, but not in LM3er cell-injected mice. However, when UTI was also administered, the growth of tumor was inhibited in the MHCC-LM3er cell-injected mice as well. Our results suggest that UTI may be used in combination with anti-cancer drugs, such as EPI, to improve the outcome of cancer therapy.

Effect of ulinastatin on the expression and distribution of high mobility group box 1 in human colon carcinoma cells in vitro

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of ulinastatin (UTI) on the proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, expression and distribution of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and the expression of nuclear factor κB (NF‑κB) in human colon carcinoma LoVo cells. The cells were divided into control (untreated), UTI1 (400 U/ml UTI), UTI2 (800 U/ml UTI) and UTI3 (1,600 U/ml UTI) groups. The cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and the gene and protein expression of HMGB1 and NF‑κB were detected using a tetrazolium assay, Transwell cell invasion assays, a caspase‑3 activity assay, western blot analysis and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The distribution of HMGB1 was detected using immunofluorescence. LoVo cell proilferation decreased the most in the UTI3 group followed, in order, by the UTI2, UTI1 and control groups. UTI inhibited invasion in LoVo cells and the inhibitory effect was enhanced as the UTI concentration increased. The activity of caspase‑3 increased the least in the control group followed, in order, by the UTI1, UTI2 and UTI3 groups. UTI inhibited the expression of HMGB1 and NF‑κB, and decreased the cytoplasmic distribution of HMGB1. Thus, UTI inhibited LoVo cell proliferation and induced LoVo cell apoptosis, the mechanism of which may be associated with a decreased in the expression of HMGB1 and NF‑κB, and the cytoplasmic distribution of HMGB1.

Ulinastatin exerts synergistic effects with taxotere and inhibits invasion and metastasis of breast cancer by blocking angiogenesis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) ulinastatin as a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor has been widely used to treat acute pancreatitis and shock and to improve the surgical outcome in the clinic. In the present study, we investigated the potential antihuman breast cancer effects of UTI and its combination with taxotere (TXT). Human primary breast cancer cells and breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with UTI with or without TXT, and invasion and metastasis ability of these cells were evaluated, respectively, by a transwell assay. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor c, epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor, transforming growth factor-β1, and protein kinase B/AKT. We also investigated the in vivo role of UTI by using a xenograft mouse model, and immunohistochemical assay was employed to show the expression of factors involved in either angiogenesis or the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our results showed that UTI inhibited invasion and metastasis in both primary and MDA-MB-231 cells both in vivo and in vitro. Especially, UTI presented the significant combined effects with TXT on these cells in terms of angiogenesis blocking and EMT inhibition. These results suggest that UTI and its combination with TXT present therapeutic potential against breast cancer and deserve further preclinical and clinical studies.

Additive effects of ulinastatin and docetaxel on growth of breast cancer xenograft in nude mice and expression of PGE2, IL-10, and IL-2 in primary breast cancer cells

Ulinastatin is a broad-spectrum enzyme inhibitor extracted from urine. Previous data from our group suggested that ulinastatin could significantly inhibit proliferation of human breast MDA-MB-231 cells, growth of tumor xenograft in nude mice, and expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. In the present study, we investigated whether there is an additive effect of ulinastatin and docetaxel on growth of breast cancer xenografts in nude mice and its possible mechanisms. Nude mice and primary human breast cancer cells were treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), ulinastatin, docetaxel, or ulinastatin plus docetaxel, respectively. Their effects on xenograft growth; expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (EP2), IL-10, and IL-2; and secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were examined using variety of methods, including semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay, and immunohistochemistry SP method. The treatment with ulinastatin, docetaxel, or ulinastatin plus docetaxel could significantly (1) inhibit COX2 and IL-10 expression in primary tumor cells at both mRNA and protein levels, (2) reduce PGE2 secretion in culture supernatant (p<0.05), (3) inhibit COX2, EP2, and IL-10 protein levels in primary xenograft of nude mice, and (4) increase IL-2 expression (p<0.05) in primary xenografts of nude mice. In addition, ulinastatin and docetaxel had additive effects. We suggest that ulinastatin had similar effects of docetaxel and can enhance docetaxel's anticancer effects possibly by inhibiting COX2 expression, reducing PGE2 and EP2 expression and their binding, upregulating IL-2, and downregulating IL-10.

Effect of ulinastatin on growth inhibition, apoptosis of breast carcinoma cells is related to a decrease in signal conduction of JNk-2 and NF-κB

Objective

This study aims to investigate the in vitro effects of Ulinastatin (UTI) and Taxotere (TXT) on cell proliferation; cell apoptosis; xenografted tumor growth; and expression of insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1R), platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGFA), nerve growth factor (NGF), c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 (JNk-2), and NF-κB in a human primary breast cancer cells and breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.

Methods

The cell lines cultured were divided into four groups: 1) control group, 2) UTI group, 3) TXT group, and 4) UTI+TXT group. The method of MTT essay, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR were used to detect cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and expression of IGF-1R, PDGFA, NGF, NF-κB, JNk-2, respectively. The growth of xenografted tumor in nude mice was used to calculate the anti-tumor rate. Immunohistochemistry staining (SP) was used to detect the expression of IGF-1R, PDGFA, NGF, ki-67, caspase-3, JNk-2, and NF-κB.

Results

Proliferation of human breast cancer cells and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and growth rate of xenografted tumor decreased in order of UTI+TXT > TXT > UTI > control, apoptosis increased in the order control < UTI < TXT < UTI+TXT. The gene expression and protein expression of IGF-1R, PDGFA, NGF, NF-κB and JNk-2 in breast cancer cells was inhibited by UTI and TXT.

Conclusions

UTI 1) inhibits the proliferation of human breast cancer cells and the growth of xenografted tumors, 2) induces cancer cell apoptosis, and 3) enhances the anti-tumor effect of TXT. This mechanism might be related to decreasing signal transduction of JNk-2 and NF-κB, and then expression of IGF-1R, PDGFA, NGF.

Effects of ulinastatin and docetaxel on breast cancer invasion and expression of uPA, uPAR and ERK

Objective

To investigate the effects of ulinastatin and docetaxel on invasion of breast cancer cells and expression of uPA, uPAR and ERK, breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells.

Methods

The nude mice were treated with PBS, ulinastatin, docetaxel, and ulinastatin plus docetaxel, respectively. Their effects on 1) cell invasion ability was assayed using Transwell; 2) expression of uPA, uPAR and ERK was detected by real time PCR and Western blot; 3) uPA, uPAR and p-ERK protein level in nude mice was quantified by immunohistochemistry.

Results

1) Treatment with ulinastatin, docetaxel, and ulinastatin plus docetaxel, respectively, significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell invasion; 2) mRNA and protein levels of uPA, uPAR and ERK1/2 were inhibited by ulinastatin, but enhanced by docetaxel.

Conclusion

Ulinastatin can enhance the effects of docetaxel on invasion of breast cancer cells. And that uPA, uPAR and p-ERK expression is obviously inhibited by ulinastatin.