1
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Abdeltawab MS, Abdel-Shafi IR, Aboulhoda BE, Mahfoz AM, Hamed AM. The neuroprotective potential of curcumin on T. Spiralis infected mice. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:99. [PMID: 38388410 PMCID: PMC10882799 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04399-0] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trichinella spiralis can affect the brain by inducing inflammatory and vascular changes. Drug management with the antiparasitic drug albendazole can be enhanced by natural compounds such as curcumin. The potential benefit of curcumin as an adjuvant to albendazole in the management of cerebral affection during experimental T. spiralis infection was evaluated. Animals received either curcumin 150 mg/Kg, albendazole 50 mg/Kg or a combination of both drugs. Animal groups receiving treatment were compared with infected and non-infected control groups. Blood levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and dopamine were measured, and brain tissue expression of cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) and CD34 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS T. spiralis infection resulted in a state of oxidative stress, which was improved by albendazole and curcumin. Also, both drugs restored the peripheral dopamine level, which was decreased in infected non-treated mice. Curcumin was also found to be efficient in improving brain pathology and reducing local COX-2 and CD 34 expression. CONCLUSIONS Inflammatory and pathological changes during neurotrichinosis can be improved by the addition of curcumin to conventional anti-parasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Sa Abdeltawab
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Iman R Abdel-Shafi
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Basma Emad Aboulhoda
- Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amal M Mahfoz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Alshaimaa Mr Hamed
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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2
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Chang CS, Ryu JY, Choi JK, Cho YJ, Choi JJ, Hwang JR, Choi JY, Noh JJ, Lee CM, Won JE, Han HD, Lee JW. Anti-cancer effect of fenbendazole-incorporated PLGA nanoparticles in ovarian cancer. J Gynecol Oncol 2023; 34:e58. [PMID: 37170725 PMCID: PMC10482585 DOI: 10.3802/jgo.2023.34.e58] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fenbendazole (FZ) has potential anti-cancer effects, but its poor water solubility limits its use for cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of FZ with different drug delivery methods on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in both in vitro and in vivo models. METHODS EOC cell lines were treated with FZ and cell proliferation was assessed. The effect of FZ on tumor growth in cell line xenograft mouse model of EOC was examined according to the delivery route, including oral and intraperitoneal administration. To improve the systemic delivery of FZ by converting fat-soluble drugs to hydrophilic, we prepared FZ-encapsulated poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (FZ-PLGA-NPs). We investigated the preclinical efficacy of FZ-PLGA-NPs by analyzing cell proliferation, apoptosis, and in vivo models including cell lines and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) of EOC. RESULTS FZ significantly decreased cell proliferation of both chemosensitive and chemoresistant EOC cells. However, in cell line xenograft mouse models, there was no effect of oral FZ treatment on tumor reduction. When administered intraperitoneally, FZ was not absorbed but aggregated in the intraperitoneal space. We synthesized FZ-PLGA-NPs to obtain water solubility and enhance drug absorption. FZ-PLGA-NPs significantly decreased cell proliferation in EOC cell lines. Intravenous injection of FZ-PLGA-NP in xenograft mouse models with HeyA8 and HeyA8-MDR significantly reduced tumor weight compared to the control group. FZ-PLGA-NPs showed anti-cancer effects in PDX model as well. CONCLUSION FZ-incorporated PLGA nanoparticles exerted significant anti-cancer effects in EOC cells and xenograft models including PDX. These results warrant further investigation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Son Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji-Yoon Ryu
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - June-Kuk Choi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Uijeongbu, Korea
| | - Young-Jae Cho
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung-Joo Choi
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Ryoung Hwang
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ju-Yeon Choi
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joseph J Noh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chan Mi Lee
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea
| | - Ji Eun Won
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea
| | - Hee Dong Han
- Innovative Discovery Center, Prestige Biopharma Korea, Busan, Korea
| | - Jeong-Won Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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3
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Song B, Park EY, Kim KJ, Ki SH. Repurposing of Benzimidazole Anthelmintic Drugs as Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194601. [PMID: 36230527 PMCID: PMC9559625 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although non-prescription anthelmintics are often used for cancer treatment, there is a lack of information regarding their anti-cancer effects in clinical settings. The aims of our review are to describe the possibilities and limitations of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics and to suggest ways to overcome these limitations. The results of the current review illustrate the potential development of anthelmintics as a useful strategy for cancer treatment based on much preclinical evidence. Furthermore, they suggest that more rigorous studies on whole anti-cancer pathways and development strategies, including formulations, could result in significantly enhanced anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles as a repurposed cancer therapy in clinical settings. Abstract Benzimidazoles have shown significant promise for repurposing as a cancer therapy. The aims of this review are to investigate the possibilities and limitations of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics and to suggest ways to overcome these limitations. This review included studies on the anti-cancer effects of 11 benzimidazoles. Largely divided into three parts, i.e., preclinical anti-cancer effects, clinical anti-cancer effects, and pharmacokinetic properties, we examine the characteristics of each benzimidazole and attempt to elucidate its key properties. Although many studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles, there is limited evidence regarding their effects in clinical settings. This might be because the clinical trials conducted using benzimidazoles failed to restrict their participants with specific criteria including cancer entities, cancer stages, and genetic characteristics of the participants. In addition, these drugs have limitations including low bioavailability, which results in insufficient plasma concentration levels. Additional studies on whole anti-cancer pathways and development strategies, including formulations, could result significant enhancements of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles in clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bomi Song
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Eun Young Park
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Mokpo 58554, Korea
| | - Kwang Joon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Mokpo 58554, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.J.K.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-61-450-2334 (K.J.K.); +82-62-230-6639 (S.H.K.)
| | - Sung Hwan Ki
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.J.K.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-61-450-2334 (K.J.K.); +82-62-230-6639 (S.H.K.)
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4
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Kim U, Shin C, Kim CY, Ryu B, Kim J, Bang J, Park JH. Albendazole exerts antiproliferative effects on prostate cancer cells by inducing reactive oxygen species generation. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:395. [PMID: 33777218 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzimidazole derivatives are used for their antihelmintic properties, but have also been reported to exert anticancer effects. In the present study, the anticancer effects of albendazole on prostate cancer cells were assessed using proliferation, clonogenic and migration assays. To investigate the anticancer mechanisms of albendazole, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured, and the expression of genes associated with oxidative stress and Wnt/β-catenin signaling was confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Albendazole selectively inhibited the proliferation of the PC3, DU145, LNCaP and AT2 prostate cancer cell lines at concentrations that did not affect the proliferation of a normal prostate cell line (RWPE-1). Albendazole also inhibited the colony formation and migration of PC3 and DU145 cells, as well as inducing ROS production. Diphenyleneiodonium chloride, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase (NOX), one of the sources of ROS, decreased basal ROS levels in the PC3 and DU145 cells, but did not reduce albendazole-associated ROS production, suggesting that ROS production following albendazole treatment was NOX-independent. The anticancer effect was decreased when albendazole-induced ROS was reduced by treatment with antioxidants (glutathione and N-acetylcysteine). Furthermore, albendazole decreased the mRNA expression of CDGSH iron sulfur domain 2, which regulates antioxidant activity against ROS, as well as the antioxidant enzymes catalase, and glutathione peroxidase 1 and 3. Albendazole also decreased the mRNA expression of catenin β1 and transcription factor 4, which regulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its associated targets, Twist family BHLH transcription factor 1 and BCL2. The albendazole-related decrease in the expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes and Wnt/β-catenin signaling proteins was thought to be associated with ROS production. These results suggest that the antihelmintic drug, albendazole, has inhibitory effects against prostate cancer cells in vitro. Therefore, albendazole may potentially be used as a novel anticancer agent for prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ukjin Kim
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Changsoo Shin
- Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - C-Yoon Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Bokyeong Ryu
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Kim
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Junpil Bang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hak Park
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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5
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Nath J, Paul R, Ghosh SK, Paul J, Singha B, Debnath N. Drug repurposing and relabeling for cancer therapy: Emerging benzimidazole antihelminthics with potent anticancer effects. Life Sci 2020; 258:118189. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Son DS, Lee ES, Adunyah SE. The Antitumor Potentials of Benzimidazole Anthelmintics as Repurposing Drugs. Immune Netw 2020; 20:e29. [PMID: 32895616 PMCID: PMC7458798 DOI: 10.4110/in.2020.20.e29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of refractory tumor cells limits therapeutic efficacy in cancer by activating mechanisms that promote cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and survival. Benzimidazole anthelmintics have broad-spectrum action to remove parasites both in human and veterinary medicine. In addition to being antiparasitic agents, benzimidazole anthelmintics are known to exert anticancer activities, such as the disruption of microtubule polymerization, the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle (G2/M) arrest, anti-angiogenesis, and blockage of glucose transport. These antitumorigenic effects even extend to cancer cells resistant to approved therapies and when in combination with conventional therapeutics, enhance anticancer efficacy and hold promise as adjuvants. Above all, these anthelmintics may offer a broad, safe spectrum to treat cancer, as demonstrated by their long history of use as antiparasitic agents. The present review summarizes central literature regarding the anticancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics, including albendazole, parbendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, oxibendazole, oxfendazole, ricobendazole, and flubendazole in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials. This review provides valuable information on how to improve the quality of life in patients with cancers by increasing the treatment options and decreasing side effects from conventional therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deok-Soo Son
- Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Eun-Sook Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32301, USA
| | - Samuel E Adunyah
- Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
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7
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Padmakumar S, Parayath NN, Nair SV, Menon D, Amiji MM. Enhanced anti-tumor efficacy and safety with metronomic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for metastatic ovarian cancer using biodegradable nanotextile implants. J Control Release 2019; 305:29-40. [PMID: 31103675 PMCID: PMC6602817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate intraperitoneal (IP) metronomic chemotherapy using sustained release paclitaxel (PTX) delivery from electrospun biodegradable polymeric yarns woven into suturable nanotextiles. Following confirmation of in vitro PTX efficacy in ID8-VEGF epithelial ovarian cancer cells, in vivo studies were performed upon surgical peritoneal implantation of nanotextile implants in orthotopic, syngeneic ID8-VEGF tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice. In comparison to the clinical PTX-solution, there was a significant enhancement of anti-tumor efficacy and safety with PTX-nanotextiles. After 35-days, the peritoneum of tumor-bearing mice with PTX-nanotextiles was completely devoid of tumor nodules and ascitic fluid. Additionally, VEGF levels measured in peritoneal lavage fluid were 300-fold lower compared to PTX-solution and 600-fold lower as compared to untreated tumor-bearing animals. PTX-solution treated group also developed severe metastatic lesions and progressive ascitic fluid buildup. More importantly, no signs of systemic/ organ toxicity were observed in PTX-nanotextile implanted mice, unlike the systemic toxic effects induced by PTX-solution. Collectively, our results show the therapeutic and safety advantages offered by combining clinically translatable metronomic low-dose chemotherapy and IP pharmacokinetics using biodegradable nanotextile implants in addressing the challenges of late-stage ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smrithi Padmakumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Neha N Parayath
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shantikumar V Nair
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Deepthy Menon
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India.
| | - Mansoor M Amiji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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8
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Parayath NN, Gandham SK, Leslie F, Amiji MM. Improved anti-tumor efficacy of paclitaxel in combination with MicroRNA-125b-based tumor-associated macrophage repolarization in epithelial ovarian cancer. Cancer Lett 2019; 461:1-9. [PMID: 31288064 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In epithelial ovarian cancers, the presence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is well correlated with the poor disease outcomes. TAMs are know to suppress the immune system, induce pro-tumoral functions and inhibit anti-tumor responses associated with chemotherapy. In this study, we have evaluated the synergistic efficacy of TAM repolarization and intraperitoneal paclitaxel in epithelial ovarian cancers. We demonstrate that hyaluronic acid-based nanoparticles encapsulating miR-125b (HA-PEI-miR-125b) can specifically target TAMs in the peritoneal cavity of a syngeneic ID8-VEGF ovarian cancer mouse model and can repolarize macrophages to an immune-activating phenotype. These HA-PEI-miR-125b nanoparticles in combination with intraperitoneal paclitaxel can enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of paclitaxel during the later stages of disease progression as seen by the significant reduction in the ascitic fluid and peritoneal VEGF levels. Furthermore, these HA-PEI-miR-125b nanoparticles do not induce systemic toxicity and thus warrant a further evaluation in the clinical setting.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/genetics
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/pathology
- Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/therapy
- Cell Proliferation
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Hyaluronic Acid/chemistry
- Macrophages, Peritoneal/drug effects
- Macrophages, Peritoneal/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Nude
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- Nanoparticles/administration & dosage
- Nanoparticles/chemistry
- Paclitaxel/pharmacology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha N Parayath
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Srujan Kumar Gandham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Fraser Leslie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Mansoor M Amiji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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9
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Wildenberg ME, Levin AD, Ceroni A, Guo Z, Koelink PJ, Hakvoort TBM, Westera L, Bloemendaal FM, Brandse JF, Simmons A, D’Haens GR, Ebner D, van den Brink GR. Benzimidazoles Promote Anti-TNF Mediated Induction of Regulatory Macrophages and Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy in a Murine Model. J Crohns Colitis 2017; 11:1480-1490. [PMID: 28961920 PMCID: PMC5881671 DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjx104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Regulatory macrophages play a critical role in tissue repair, and we have previously shown that anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] antibodies induce these macrophages in vitro and in vivo in IBD patients. The induction of regulatory macrophages can be potentiated using the combination of anti-TNF and thiopurines, consistent with the enhanced efficacy of this combination therapy described in clinical trials. As thiopurines are unfortunately associated with significant side effects, we here aimed to identify alternatives for combination therapy with anti-TNF, using the macrophage induction model as a screening tool. METHODS Mixed lymphocyte reactions were treated with anti-TNF and a library of 1600 drug compounds. Induction of CD14+CD206+ macrophages was analysed by flow cytometry. Positive hits were validated in vitro and in the T cell transfer model of colitis. RESULTS Among the 98 compounds potentiating the induction of regulatory macrophages by anti-TNF were six benzimidazoles, including albendazole. Albendazole treatment in the presence of anti-TNF resulted in alterations in the tubulin skeleton and signalling though AMPK, which was required for the enhanced induction. Combination therapy also increased expression levels of the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10. In vivo, albendazole plus anti-TNF combination therapy was superior to monotherapy in a model of colitis, in terms of both induction of regulatory macrophages and improvement of clinical symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Albendazole enhances the induction of regulatory macrophages by anti-TNF and potentiates clinical efficacy in murine colitis. Given its favourable safety profile, these data indicate that the repurposing of albendazole may be a novel option for anti-TNF combination therapy in IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon E Wildenberg
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands,Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands,Corresponding author: Manon E. Wildenberg, PhD, Meibergdreef 69–71, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: 0031205669111;
| | - Alon D Levin
- Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Ceroni
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Zhen Guo
- Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Pim J Koelink
- Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Theodorus B M Hakvoort
- Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Liset Westera
- Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Felicia M Bloemendaal
- Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Johannan F Brandse
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Alison Simmons
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Geert R D’Haens
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands,Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Ebner
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Gijs R van den Brink
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands,Tytgat Institute for Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands
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10
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Movahedi F, Li L, Gu W, Xu ZP. Nanoformulations of albendazole as effective anticancer and antiparasite agents. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2017; 12:2555-2574. [PMID: 28954575 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2017-0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Initially emerging as a widely used clinical antiparasitic drug, albendazole (ABZ) has been increasingly recognized as an effective anticancer agent due to its outstanding advantage, in other words, low toxicity to normal cells but high effectiveness against parasites and some tumors. The major challenge is its poor water solubility and subsequently low bioavailability. This article thus first reviews the brief achievements in using ABZ to treat parasites and cancers, and summarizes the basic mechanisms of action of ABZ. Then this article critically reviews recent nanotechnological strategies, in other words, formulating/conjugating it with carriers into nanoformulations, in practices of improving aqueous solubility and efficacy in treatment of tumors and parasites. Our expert opinions in this field are provided for more effective delivery of ABZ to treat tumors and parasites in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Movahedi
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Li Li
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Wenyi Gu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zhi Ping Xu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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11
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Noorani L, Stenzel M, Liang R, Pourgholami MH, Morris DL. Albumin nanoparticles increase the anticancer efficacy of albendazole in ovarian cancer xenograft model. J Nanobiotechnology 2015; 13:25. [PMID: 25890381 PMCID: PMC4409778 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-015-0082-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The poor prognosis of patients with drug resistant ovarian cancer and the lack of targeted therapy have raised the need for alternative treatments. Albendazole (ABZ) is an anti-parasite compound capable of impairing microtubule formation. We hypothesized that ABZ could be repurposed as a potential anti-angiogenic drug due to its potent inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ovarian cancer with ascites. However, the poor aqueous solubility of ABZ limits its potential for cancer therapy. In this study, we have assembled ABZ with bovine serum albumin into nanoparticles with a size range of 7–10 nm (BSA-ABZ) and 200–250 nm (Nab-ABZ). We further examined the anticancer effects of ABZ carrying nanoparticles in ovarian cancer cells, in both in vitro and in vivo models. Results Drug release studies demonstrated that about 93% of ABZ was released from BSA-ABZ 10 nm in comparison to 83% from Nab-ABZ 200 nm at pH 7.4 in 8 days. In vitro cell proliferation studies showed that the BSA-ABZ 10 nm exhibited the highest killing efficacy of ovarian cancer cells with surprisingly least toxicity to healthy ovarian epithelial cells. Confocal microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis (FACS) revealed more efficient internalization of the BSA-ABZ 10 nm by cancer cells. For in vivo studies, we examined the tumor growth, ascites formation and the expression of VEGF and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in tumor samples and only VEGF in plasma samples. The BSA-ABZ 10 nm reduced the tumor burden significantly (p < 0.02) at a much lower drug dose (10 μg/ml) compare to free drug. Both formulations were capable of suppressing the ascites volume significantly (p < 0.05) and reducing the number of ascites cells. The expression of VEGF and SPARC was also reduced, which indicates the underlying therapeutic mechanism of the ABZ. Conclusion Our data suggest that the BSA-ABZ may hold promise for the treatment and control of progression of ovarian cancer with ascites. However further studies are required to examine the efficacy of both the formulations in aggressive models of recurrent ovarian cancer with respect to particle size and dosing parameters. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12951-015-0082-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Noorani
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. .,Department of Surgery, St. George Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
| | - Martina Stenzel
- Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Roger Liang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
| | - Mohammad H Pourgholami
- Department of Surgery, St. George Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
| | - David L Morris
- Department of Surgery, St. George Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
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