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Wang D, Kaniowski D, Jacek K, Su YL, Yu C, Hall J, Li H, Feng M, Hui S, Kaminska B, DeFranciscis V, Esposito CL, DiRuscio A, Zhang B, Marcucci G, Kuo YH, Kortylewski M. Bi-functional CpG-STAT3 decoy oligonucleotide triggers multilineage differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia in mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102268. [PMID: 39171140 PMCID: PMC11338104 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells resist differentiation stimuli despite high expression of innate immune receptors, such as Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). We previously demonstrated that targeting Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) using TLR9-targeted decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-STAT3d) increases immunogenicity of human and mouse AML cells. Here, we elucidated molecular mechanisms of inv(16) AML reprogramming driven by STAT3-inhibition/TLR9-activation in vivo. At the transcriptional levels, AML cells isolated from mice after intravenous administration of CpG-STAT3d or leukemia-targeted Stat3 silencing and TLR9 co-stimulation, displayed similar upregulation of myeloid cell differentiation (Irf8, Cebpa, Itgam) and antigen-presentation (Ciita, Il12a, B2m)-related genes with concomitant reduction of leukemia-promoting Runx1. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed that CpG-STAT3d induced multilineage differentiation of AML cells into monocytes/macrophages, erythroblastic and B cell subsets. As shown by an inducible Irf8 silencing in vivo, IRF8 upregulation was critical for monocyte-macrophage differentiation of leukemic cells. TLR9-driven AML cell reprogramming was likely enabled by downregulation of STAT3-controlled methylation regulators, such as DNMT1 and DNMT3. In fact, the combination of DNA methyl transferase (DNMT) inhibition using azacitidine with CpG oligonucleotides alone mimicked CpG-STAT3d effects, resulting in AML cell differentiation, T cell activation, and systemic leukemia regression. These findings highlight immunotherapeutic potential of bi-functional oligonucleotides to unleash TLR9-driven differentiation of leukemic cells by concurrent STAT3 and/or DNMT inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongfang Wang
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Damian Kaniowski
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Karol Jacek
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Yu-Lin Su
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Chunsong Yu
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Haiqing Li
- Integrative Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Mingye Feng
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Susanta Hui
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Bożena Kaminska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Carla Lucia Esposito
- Institute for Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), CNR, 80100 Naples, Italy
| | - Annalisa DiRuscio
- Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Guido Marcucci
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Ya-Huei Kuo
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Marcin Kortylewski
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
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Fan D, Liu P, Li Z, He X, Zhang L, Jiang W, Ang W, Yang T. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel naphthoquinothiazole derivatives as potent antitumor agents through inhibiting STAT3. Bioorg Chem 2024; 150:107565. [PMID: 38905884 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107565] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been established as a crucial drug target in the development of antitumor agents. In this study, a series of 21 derivatives of the STAT3 inhibitor napabucasin were designed and synthesized. Through preliminary screening against tumor cell lines, SZ6 emerged as the most potent compound with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 46.3 nM, 66.4 nM, and 53.8 nM against HCT116, HepG2, and Hela cells respectively. Furthermore, SZ6 effectively suppressed tumor invasion and migration in HCT116 cell assays by inducing S-phase arrest and apoptosis through inhibition of Protein Kinase B (PKB/AKT) activity and induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The mechanism underlying SZ6's action involves inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, which was confirmed by western blotting analysis. Additionally, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) demonstrated direct binding between SZ6 and STAT3. Notably, in vivo studies revealed that SZ6 significantly inhibited tumor growth without any observed organ toxicity. Collectively, these findings identify SZ6 as a promising STAT3 inhibitor for colorectal cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Fan
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Pingxian Liu
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhilin Li
- Department of General Practice, People's Hospital of Deyang City, Deyang, China
| | - Xinlian He
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lidan Zhang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Weiqing Jiang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wei Ang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Hefei, Hefei 230061, China.
| | - Tao Yang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Xia L, Ni C, Sun H, Guo H, Huang H, Cao X, Xia J, Shi X, Guo R. Dual drug-loaded metal-phenolic networks for targeted magnetic resonance imaging and synergistic chemo-chemodynamic therapy of breast cancer. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:6480-6491. [PMID: 38867551 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00462k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The development of nanomedicines with simplified compositions and synergistic theranostic functionalities remains a great challenge. Herein, we develop a simple method to integrate both atovaquone (ATO, a mitochondrial inhibitor) and cisplatin within tannic acid (TA)-iron (Fe) networks coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) for targeted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided chemo-chemodynamic synergistic therapy. The formed TFP@ATO-HA displayed good colloidal stability with a mean size of 95.5 nm, which could accumulate at tumor sites after circulation and be specifically taken up by metastatic 4T1 cells overexpressing CD44 receptors. In the tumor microenvironment, TFP@ATO-HA could release ATO/cisplatin and Fe3+ in a pH-responsive manner, deplete glutathione, and generate reactive oxygen species with endogenous H2O2 for chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Additionally, ATO could enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration, relieving hypoxia, and amplifying the CDT effect by decreasing intracellular pH and elevating Fenton reaction efficiency. In vivo experiments demonstrated that TFP@ATO-HA could effectively inhibit tumor growth and suppress lung metastases without obvious systemic toxicity. Furthermore, TFP@ATO-HA exhibited a r1 relaxivity of 2.6 mM-1 s-1 and targeted MR imaging of 4T1 tumors. Dual drug-loaded metal-phenolic networks can be easily prepared and act as effective theranostic nanoplatforms for targeted MR imaging and synergistic chemo-chemodynamic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Cheng Ni
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Huxiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Honghua Guo
- Department of Radiology, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Haoyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Xueyan Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Jindong Xia
- Department of Radiology, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyang Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Rui Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
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Wang KN, Zhou K, Zhong NN, Cao LM, Li ZZ, Xiao Y, Wang GR, Huo FY, Zhou JJ, Liu B, Bu LL. Enhancing cancer therapy: The role of drug delivery systems in STAT3 inhibitor efficacy and safety. Life Sci 2024; 346:122635. [PMID: 38615745 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122635] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a member of the STAT family, resides in the nucleus to regulate genes essential for vital cellular functions, including survival, proliferation, self-renewal, angiogenesis, and immune response. However, continuous STAT3 activation in tumor cells promotes their initiation, progression, and metastasis, rendering STAT3 pathway inhibitors a promising avenue for cancer therapy. Nonetheless, these inhibitors frequently encounter challenges such as cytotoxicity and suboptimal biocompatibility in clinical trials. A viable strategy to mitigate these issues involves delivering STAT3 inhibitors via drug delivery systems (DDSs). This review delineates the regulatory mechanisms of the STAT3 signaling pathway and its association with cancer. It offers a comprehensive overview of the current application of DDSs for anti-STAT3 inhibitors and investigates the role of DDSs in cancer treatment. The conclusion posits that DDSs for anti-STAT3 inhibitors exhibit enhanced efficacy and reduced adverse effects in tumor therapy compared to anti-STAT3 inhibitors alone. This paper aims to provide an outline of the ongoing research and future prospects of DDSs for STAT3 inhibitors. Additionally, it presents our insights on the merits and future outlook of DDSs in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang-Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Kan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Nian-Nian Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lei-Ming Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zi-Zhan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Guang-Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Fang-Yi Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Jun-Jie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China; Department of Oral & Maxillofacial, Anyang Sixth People's Hospital, Anyang 45500, China.
| | - Bing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China; Department of Oral & Maxillofacial - Head Neck Oncology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
| | - Lin-Lin Bu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China; Department of Oral & Maxillofacial - Head Neck Oncology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
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5
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Dutta N, Gerke JA, Odron SF, Morris JD, Hruby A, Kim J, Torres TC, Shemtov SJ, Clarke JG, Chang MC, Shaghasi H, Ray MN, Averbukh M, Hoang S, Oorloff M, Alcala A, Vega M, Mehta HH, Thorwald MA, Crews P, Vermulst M, Garcia G, Johnson TA, Higuchi-Sanabria R. Investigating impacts of the mycothiazole chemotype as a chemical probe for the study of mitochondrial function and aging. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01144-w. [PMID: 38570396 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01144-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Small molecule inhibitors of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) hold significant promise to provide valuable insights to the field of mitochondrial research and aging biology. In this study, we investigated two molecules: mycothiazole (MTZ) - from the marine sponge C. mycofijiensis and its more stable semisynthetic analog 8-O-acetylmycothiazole (8-OAc) as potent and selective chemical probes based on their high efficiency to inhibit ETC complex I function. Similar to rotenone (Rote), MTZ, a newly employed ETC complex I inhibitor, exhibited higher cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines compared to certain non-cancer cell lines. Interestingly, 8-OAc demonstrated greater selectivity for cancer cells when compared to both MTZ and Rote, which has promising potential for anticancer therapeutic development. Furthermore, in vivo experiments with these small molecules utilizing a C. elegans model demonstrate their unexplored potential to investigate aging studies. We observed that both molecules have the ability to induce a mitochondria-specific unfolded protein response (UPRMT) pathway, that extends lifespan of worms when applied in their adult stage. We also found that these two molecules employ different pathways to extend lifespan in worms. Whereas MTZ utilizes the transcription factors ATFS-1 and HSF1, which are involved in the UPRMT and heat shock response (HSR) pathways respectively, 8-OAc only required HSF1 and not ATFS-1 to mediate its effects. This observation underscores the value of applying stable, potent, and selective next generation chemical probes to elucidate an important insight into the functional roles of various protein subunits of ETC complexes and their regulatory mechanisms associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naibedya Dutta
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Joe A Gerke
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA
| | - Sofia F Odron
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA
| | - Joseph D Morris
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA
| | - Adam Hruby
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Juri Kim
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Toni Castro Torres
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Sarah J Shemtov
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Jacqueline G Clarke
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA
| | - Michelle C Chang
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA
| | - Hooriya Shaghasi
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA
| | - Marissa N Ray
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA
| | - Maxim Averbukh
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Sally Hoang
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Maria Oorloff
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Athena Alcala
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Matthew Vega
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Hemal H Mehta
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Max A Thorwald
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Phillip Crews
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
| | - Marc Vermulst
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Gilberto Garcia
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Tyler A Johnson
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, 94901, USA.
| | - Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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6
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Wang W, Lopez McDonald MC, Hariprasad R, Hamilton T, Frank DA. Oncogenic STAT Transcription Factors as Targets for Cancer Therapy: Innovative Strategies and Clinical Translation. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1387. [PMID: 38611065 PMCID: PMC11011165 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in our understanding of molecular aspects of oncogenesis, cancer remains a leading cause of death. The malignant behavior of a cancer cell is driven by the inappropriate activation of transcription factors. In particular, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs), which regulate many critical cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation, are frequently activated inappropriately in a wide spectrum of human cancers. Multiple signaling pathways converge on the STATs, highlighting their importance in the development and progression of oncogenic diseases. STAT3 and STAT5 are two members of the STAT protein family that are the most frequently activated in cancers and can drive cancer pathogenesis directly. The development of inhibitors targeting STAT3 and STAT5 has been the subject of intense investigations in the last decade, although effective treatment options remain limited. In this review, we investigate the specific roles of STAT3 and STAT5 in normal physiology and cancer biology, discuss the opportunities and challenges in pharmacologically targeting STAT proteins and their upstream activators, and offer insights into novel therapeutic strategies to identify STAT inhibitors as cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyuan Wang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (W.W.); (M.C.L.M.); (T.H.)
| | - Melanie Cristina Lopez McDonald
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (W.W.); (M.C.L.M.); (T.H.)
| | | | - Tiara Hamilton
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (W.W.); (M.C.L.M.); (T.H.)
| | - David A. Frank
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (W.W.); (M.C.L.M.); (T.H.)
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7
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Shang R, Liao Y, Zheng X. Inhibition of Wnt Signaling by Atovaquone Inhibits Gastric Cancer and Enhances Chemotherapy Effectiveness Through Activation of Casein Kinase 1α. Nutr Cancer 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38494910 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2024.2328377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a driving force behind the progression of gastric cancer. Atovaquone, known as an antimalarial drug, has emerged as a potential candidate for anti-cancer therapy. This study investigated atovaquone's effects on gastric cancer and its underlying mechanisms. Using gastric cancer cell lines, we found that atovaquone, at concentrations relevant to clinical use, significantly reduced their viability. Notably, atovaquone exhibited a lower effectiveness in reducing the viability of normal gastric cells compared to gastric cancer cells. We further demonstrated that atovaquone inhibited gastric cancer growth and colony formation. Mechanism studies revealed that atovaquone inhibited mitochondrial respiration and induced oxidative stress. Experiments using ρ0 cells, deficient in mitochondrial respiration, indicated a slightly weaker effect of atovaquone on inducing apoptosis compared to wildtype cells. Atovaquone increased phosphorylated β-catenin at Ser45 and Ser33/37/Thr41, elevated Axin, and reduced β-catenin. The inhibitory effects of atovaquone on β-catenin were reversed upon depletion of CK1α. Furthermore, the combination of atovaquone with paclitaxel suppressed gastric cancer growth and improved overall survival in mice. Given that atovaquone is already approved for clinical use, these findings suggest its potential as a valuable addition to the drug arsenal available for treating gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Shang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Yingying Liao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Xuejiao Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
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8
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Chen A, Yu Z, Ma N, Lu X, Zhang Y, Xu W, Wang Y, Xie J, Qin Y, Mo G, Wu S, Hou J, Zhu W. Atovaquone enhances antitumor efficacy of TCR-T therapy by augmentation of ROS-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:49. [PMID: 38349553 PMCID: PMC10864481 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03628-2] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
T-cell receptor (TCR) engineered T-cell therapy has recently emerged as a promising adoptive immunotherapy approach for tumor treatment, yet hindered by tumor immune evasion resulting in poor therapeutic efficacy. The introduction of ferroptosis-targeted inducers offers a potential solution, as they empower T cells to induce ferroptosis and exert influence over the tumor microenvironment. Atovaquone (ATO) stands as a prospective pharmaceutical candidate with the potential to target ferroptosis, effectively provoking an excessive generation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a combination therapy comprising ATO and TCR-T cells against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), both in vitro and in vivo. The results of lactate dehydrogenase and cytokine assays demonstrated that ATO enhanced cytotoxicity mediated by AFP-specific TCR-T cells and promoted the release of IFN-γ in vitro. Additionally, in an established HCC xenograft mouse model, the combined therapy with low-dose ATO and TCR-T cells exhibited heightened efficacy in suppressing tumor growth, with no apparent adverse effects, comparable to the results achieved through monotherapy. The RNA-seq data unveiled a significant activation of the ferroptosis-related pathway in the combination therapy group in comparison to the TCR-T cells group. Mechanistically, the synergy between ATO and TCR-T cells augmented the release of IFN-γ by TCR-T cells, while concurrently elevating the intracellular and mitochondrial levels of ROS, expanding the labile iron pool, and impairing the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane in HepG2 cells. This multifaceted interaction culminated in the potentiation of ferroptosis within the tumor, primarily induced by an excess of ROS. In summary, the co-administration of ATO and TCR-T cells in HCC exhibited heightened vulnerability to ferroptosis. This heightened susceptibility led to the inhibition of tumor growth and the stimulation of an anti-tumor immune response. These findings suggest that repurposing atovaquone for adoptive cell therapy combination therapy holds the potential to enhance treatment outcomes in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhiwu Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510095, Guangdong, China
| | - Na Ma
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, China
| | - Xinyu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yajing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Weikang Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510220, China
| | - Yiyue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jiayi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yuqi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Guoheng Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Sha Wu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jinlin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Wei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Horvath TD, Devaraj S. Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry-Based Therapeutic Monitoring of Plasma Atovaquone Concentrations in Pediatric Patients. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2737:67-77. [PMID: 38036811 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3541-4_7] [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] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Atovaquone is an FDA-approved antiparasitic and antifungal therapeutic that is currently used as a prophylactic agent to prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) infections in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients after receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Recent studies have shown that atovaquone has shown potential as an anticancer agent. The high variability in atovaquone bioavailability prompts the need for therapeutic drug monitoring, especially in pediatric patients. The goal of our study was to develop and validate the performance of an assay to quantify atovaquone plasma concentrations collected from pediatric cancer patients. Briefly, an organic-based solvent system is used to precipitate protein and extract the atovaquone content from each patient-derived plasma sample. After completing a second stage of sample dilution (5000-fold overall), a 2 μL volume of the plasma extract is analyzed using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based bioanalytical method described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Horvath
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sridevi Devaraj
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Texas Children's Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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10
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Dutta N, Gerke JA, Odron SF, Morris JD, Hruby A, Castro Torres T, Shemtov SJ, Clarke JG, Chang MC, Shaghasi H, Ray MN, Averbukh M, Hoang S, Oorloff M, Alcala A, Vega M, Mehta HH, Thorwald MA, Crews P, Vermulst M, Garcia G, Johnson TA, Higuchi-Sanabria R. Investigating impacts of marine sponge derived mycothiazole and its acetylated derivative on mitochondrial function and aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.27.568896. [PMID: 38077060 PMCID: PMC10705228 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.27.568896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Small molecule inhibitors of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) hold significant promise to provide valuable insights to the field of mitochondrial research and aging biology. In this study, we investigated two molecules: mycothiazole (MTZ) - from the marine sponge C. mycofijiensis and its more stable semisynthetic analog 8-O-acetylmycothiazole (8-OAc) as potent and selective chemical probes based on their high efficiency to inhibit ETC complex I function. Similar to rotenone (Rote), a widely used ETC complex I inhibitor, these two molecules showed cytotoxicity to cancer cells but strikingly demonstrate a lack of toxicity to non-cancer cells, a highly beneficial feature in the development of anti-cancer therapeutics. Furthermore, in vivo experiments with these small molecules utilizing C.elegans model demonstrate their unexplored potential to investigate aging studies. We observed that both molecules have the ability to induce a mitochondria-specific unfolded protein response (UPRMT) pathway, that extends lifespan of worms when applied in their adult stage. Interestingly, we also found that these two molecules employ different pathways to extend lifespan in worms. Whereas MTZ utilize the transcription factors ATFS-1 and HSF-1, which are involved in the UPRMT and heat shock response (HSR) pathways respectively, 8-OAc only required HSF-1 and not ATFS-1 to mediate its effects. This observation underscores the value of applying stable, potent, and selective next generation chemical probes to elucidate an important insight into the functional roles of various protein subunits of ETC complexes and their regulatory mechanisms associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naibedya Dutta
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Joe A Gerke
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Sofia F Odron
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Joseph D Morris
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Adam Hruby
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Toni Castro Torres
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Sarah J Shemtov
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Jacqueline G Clarke
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Michelle C Chang
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Hooriya Shaghasi
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Marissa N. Ray
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Maxim Averbukh
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Sally Hoang
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Maria Oorloff
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Athena Alcala
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Matthew Vega
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Hemal H Mehta
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Max A Thorwald
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Phillip Crews
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
| | - Marc Vermulst
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Gilberto Garcia
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Tyler A Johnson
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
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11
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Li L, Hu X, Nkwocha J, Sharma K, Kmieciak M, Mann H, Zhou L, Grant S. Non-canonical role for the ataxia-telangiectasia-Rad3 pathway in STAT3 activation in human multiple myeloma cells. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2023; 46:1369-1380. [PMID: 37126127 PMCID: PMC10618375 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00817-6] [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] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The goal of this study was to characterize the relationship between ATR and STAT3 interactions in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells. METHODS Various MM cell lines, including IL-6-dependent cells were exposed to ATR inhibitors and effects on STAT3 Tyr705 and Ser727 were monitored by WB analysis and ImageStream analysis. Parallel studies examined induction of cell death, STAT3 DNA binding activity, and expression of STAT3 downstream targets (BCL-XL, MCL-1, c-MYC). Validation was obtained in ATR shRNA knock-down cells, and in cells ectopically expressing BCL-XL, MCL-1, or c-MYC. Analogous studies were performed in primary MM cells and in a MM xenograft model. RESULTS Multiple pharmacologic ATR inhibitors inhibited STAT3 Tyr705 (but not Ser727) phosphorylation at low uM concentrations and down-regulated BCL-XL, MCL-1, c-MYC in association with cell death induction. Compatible results were observed in ATR shRNA knock-down cells. Cell death induced by ATR inhibitors was significantly attenuated in cells ectopically expressing constitutively active STAT3, BCL-XL, MCL-1, or c-MYC. Concordant results were observed in primary human MM cells and in an in vivo MM xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these findings argue for a non-canonical role for the ATR kinase in STAT3 activation in MM cells, and suggest that STAT3 inactivation contributes to the lethal actions of ATR inhibitors in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Hu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Jewel Nkwocha
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Kanika Sharma
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Maciej Kmieciak
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Hashim Mann
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Liang Zhou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
- Department of Translational Medicine, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc., Durham, NC, USA
| | - Steven Grant
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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12
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Machado ND, Heather LC, Harris AL, Higgins GS. Targeting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation: lessons, advantages, and opportunities. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:897-899. [PMID: 37563220 PMCID: PMC10491675 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02394-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D Machado
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa C Heather
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian L Harris
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Geoff S Higgins
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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13
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Fazeli P, Kalani M, Hosseini M. T memory stem cell characteristics in autoimmune diseases and their promising therapeutic values. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1204231. [PMID: 37497231 PMCID: PMC10366905 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1204231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Memory T cells are conventionally subdivided into T central memory (TCM) and T effector memory (TEM) cells. However, a new subset of memory T cells named T memory stem cell (TSCM) cells has been recognized that possesses capabilities of both TCM and TEM cells including lymphoid homing and performing effector roles through secretion of cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). The TSCM subset has some biological properties including stemness, antigen independency, high proliferative potential, signaling pathway and lipid metabolism. On the other hand, memory T cells are considered one of the principal culprits in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. TSCM cells are responsible for developing long-term defensive immunity against different foreign antigens, alongside tumor-associated antigens, which mainly derive from self-antigens. Hence, antigen-specific TSCM cells can produce antitumor responses that are potentially able to trigger autoimmune activities. Therefore, we reviewed recent evidence on TSCM cell functions in autoimmune disorders including type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, acquired aplastic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune uveitis. We also introduced TSCM cell lineage as an innovative prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target in autoimmune settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooria Fazeli
- Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Kalani
- Department of Immunology, Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Hosseini
- Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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14
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Kalyanaraman B, Cheng G, Hardy M, You M. OXPHOS-targeting drugs in oncology: new perspectives. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:939-952. [PMID: 37736880 PMCID: PMC11034819 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2261631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drugs targeting mitochondria are emerging as promising antitumor therapeutics in preclinical models. However, a few of these drugs have shown clinical toxicity. Developing mitochondria-targeted modified natural compounds and US FDA-approved drugs with increased therapeutic index in cancer is discussed as an alternative strategy. AREAS COVERED Triphenylphosphonium cation (TPP+)-based drugs selectively accumulate in the mitochondria of cancer cells due to their increased negative membrane potential, target the oxidative phosphorylation proteins, inhibit mitochondrial respiration, and inhibit tumor proliferation. TPP+-based drugs exert minimal toxic side effects in rodents and humans. These drugs can sensitize radiation and immunotherapies. EXPERT OPINION TPP+-based drugs targeting the tumor mitochondrial electron transport chain are a new class of oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors with varying antiproliferative and antimetastatic potencies. Some of these TPP+-based agents, which are synthesized from naturally occurring molecules and FDA-approved drugs, have been tested in mice and did not show notable toxicity, including neurotoxicity, when used at doses under the maximally tolerated dose. Thus, more effort should be directed toward the clinical translation of TPP+-based OXPHOS-inhibiting drugs in cancer prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaraman Kalyanaraman
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Gang Cheng
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Micael Hardy
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, Marseille 13013, France
| | - Ming You
- Center for Cancer Prevention, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, United States
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15
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Wei N, Burnett J, Crocker DL, Huang Y, Li S, Wipf P, Chu E, Schmitz JC. Quassinoid analogs exert potent antitumor activity via reversible protein biosynthesis inhibition in human colorectal cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 212:115564. [PMID: 37116665 PMCID: PMC11225567 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115564] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Cellular protein synthesis is accelerated in human colorectal cancer (CRC), and high expression of protein synthesis regulators in CRC patients is associated with poor prognosis. Thus, inhibition of protein synthesis may be an effective therapeutic strategy for CRC. We previously demonstrated that the quassinoid bruceantinol (BOL) had antitumor activity against CRC. Herein, potent tumor growth suppression (>80%) and STAT3 inhibition was observed in two different mouse models following BOL administration. Loss of body and spleen weight was observed but was eliminated upon nanoparticle encapsulation while maintaining strong antitumor activity. STAT3 siRNA knockdown exhibited modest suppression of cell proliferation. Surprisingly, STAT3 inhibition using a PROTAC degrader (SD-36) had little effect on cancer cell proliferation suggesting the possibility of additional mechanism(s) of action for quassinoids. BOL-resistant (BR) cell lines, HCT116BR and HCA7BR, were equally sensitive to standard CRC therapeutic agents and known STAT3 inhibitors but resistant to homoharringtonine (HHT), a known protein synthesis inhibitor. The ability of quassinoids to inhibit protein synthesis was dependent on the structure of the C15 sidechain. Of note, BOL did not inhibit protein synthesis in normal human colon epithelial cells whereas HHT and napabucasin remained effective in these normal cells. Novel quassinoids were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in pre-clinical CRC models. Treatment with the most potent analog, 5c, resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and protein synthesis at nanomolar concentrations. These quassinoid analogs may represent a novel class of protein synthesis inhibitors for the treatment of human CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wei
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States.
| | - James Burnett
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Desirae L Crocker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Yixian Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Song Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Peter Wipf
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Edward Chu
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - John C Schmitz
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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16
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Mishra M, Yadav M, Kumar S, Kumar R, Sen P. TIM-3 increases the abundance of type-2 dendritic cells during Leishmania donovani infection by enhancing IL-10 production via STAT3. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:331. [PMID: 37202419 PMCID: PMC10195822 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05848-3] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The outcome of the disease visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by Leishmania donovani (LD), largely relies on the relative dominance of host-protective type-1 T helper (Th1) cell response versus disease-promoting type-2 T helper (Th2) cell response. The Th1 and Th2 responses, in turn, are believed to be elicited by type-1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) and type-2 conventional DCs (cDC2), respectively. However, it is still unknown which DC subtype (cDC1 or cDC2) predominates during chronic LD infection and the molecular mechanism governing such occurrence. Here we report that in chronically infected mice, the splenic cDC1-cDC2 balance shifted toward the cDC2 subtype and that the receptor T cell immunoglobulin and mucin protein-3 (TIM-3) expressed by DCs played a key role in mediating this effect. Transfer of TIM-3-silenced DCs in fact prevented the predominance of the cDC2 subtype in mice with chronic LD infection. We also found that LD actually upregulated TIM-3 expression on DCs by triggering a TIM-3-mediated signaling pathway STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3)→interleukin (IL)-10→c-Src→transcription factors Ets1, Ets2, USF1, and USF2. Notably, TIM-3 promoted STAT3 activation via a non-receptor tyrosine kinase Btk. Adoptive transfer experiments further demonstrated a critical role for STAT3-driven TIM-3 upregulation on DCs in increasing cDC2 abundance in chronically infected mice, which ultimately aided disease pathogenesis by augmenting Th2 responses. These findings document a new immunoregulatory mechanism contributing to disease pathology during LD infection and define TIM-3 as a key mediator of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Mishra
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Manisha Yadav
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Raj Kumar
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Pradip Sen
- Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India.
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17
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Stevens AM, Schafer ES, Li M, Terrell M, Rashid R, Paek H, Bernhardt MB, Weisnicht A, Smith WT, Keogh NJ, Alozie MC, Oviedo HH, Gonzalez AK, Ilangovan T, Mangubat-Medina A, Wang H, Jo E, Rabik CA, Bocchini C, Hilsenbeck S, Ball ZT, Cooper TM, Redell MS. Repurposing Atovaquone as a Therapeutic against Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): Combination with Conventional Chemotherapy Is Feasible and Well Tolerated. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041344. [PMID: 36831684 PMCID: PMC9954468 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Survival of pediatric AML remains poor despite maximized myelosuppressive therapy. The pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP)-treating medication atovaquone (AQ) suppresses oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and reduces AML burden in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models, making it an ideal concomitant AML therapy. Poor palatability and limited product formulations have historically limited routine use of AQ in pediatric AML patients. Patients with de novo AML were enrolled at two hospitals. Daily AQ at established PJP dosing was combined with standard AML therapy, based on the Medical Research Council backbone. AQ compliance, adverse events (AEs), ease of administration score (scale: 1 (very difficult)-5 (very easy)) and blood/marrow pharmacokinetics (PK) were collected during Induction 1. Correlative studies assessed AQ-induced apoptosis and effects on OXPHOS. PDX models were treated with AQ. A total of 26 patients enrolled (ages 7.2 months-19.7 years, median 12 years); 24 were evaluable. A total of 14 (58%) and 19 (79%) evaluable patients achieved plasma concentrations above the known anti-leukemia concentration (>10 µM) by day 11 and at the end of Induction, respectively. Seven (29%) patients achieved adequate concentrations for PJP prophylaxis (>40 µM). Mean ease of administration score was 3.8. Correlative studies with AQ in patient samples demonstrated robust apoptosis, OXPHOS suppression, and prolonged survival in PDX models. Combining AQ with chemotherapy for AML appears feasible and safe in pediatric patients during Induction 1 and shows single-agent anti-leukemic effects in PDX models. AQ appears to be an ideal concomitant AML therapeutic but may require intra-patient dose adjustment to achieve concentrations sufficient for PJP prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra McLean Stevens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(832)-824-4824; Fax: +1-(832)-825-1206
| | - Eric S. Schafer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Minhua Li
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maci Terrell
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Raushan Rashid
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hana Paek
- Department of Pharmacy, Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Melanie B. Bernhardt
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Allison Weisnicht
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Wesley T. Smith
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Noah J. Keogh
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michelle C. Alozie
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hailey H. Oviedo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alan K. Gonzalez
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tamilini Ilangovan
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Haopei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Eunji Jo
- Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cara A. Rabik
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Claire Bocchini
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Susan Hilsenbeck
- Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zachary T. Ball
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Todd M. Cooper
- Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Michele S. Redell
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Zhang C, Zhao S, Deng H, Zhang S, Wang J, Song X, Yu D, Zhang Y, Deng W. STAT3 promotes RNA polymerase III-directed transcription by controlling the miR-106a-5p/TP73 axis. eLife 2023; 12:e82826. [PMID: 36656267 PMCID: PMC9851613 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82826] [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: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of Pol III products causes a range of diseases, including neural diseases and cancers. However, the factors and mechanisms that modulate Pol III-directed transcription remain to be found, although massive advances have been achieved. Here, we show that STAT3 positively regulates the activities of Pol III-dependent transcription and cancer cell growth. RNA-seq analysis revealed that STAT3 inhibits the expression of TP73, a member of the p53 family. We found that TP73 is not only required for the regulation of Pol III-directed transcription mediated by STAT3 but also independently suppresses the synthesis of Pol III products. Mechanistically, TP73 can disrupt the assembly of TFIIIB subunits and inhibit their occupancies at Pol III target loci by interacting with TFIIIB subunit TBP. MiR-106a-5p can activate Pol III-directed transcription by targeting the TP73 mRNA 3' UTR to reduce TP 73 expression. We show that STAT3 activates the expression of miR-106a-5p by binding to the miRNA promoter, indicating that the miR-106a-5p links STAT3 with TP73 to regulate Pol III-directed transcription. Collectively, these findings indicate that STAT3 functions as a positive regulator in Pol III-directed transcription by controlling the miR-106a-5p/TP73 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shasha Zhao
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Huan Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shihua Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Juan Wang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Xiaoye Song
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Deen Yu
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Wensheng Deng
- School of Life Science and Health, Wuhan University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
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Jones AD, Sapatnekar S, Bakdash S. Drugs and Conditions That May Mimic Hemolysis. Am J Clin Pathol 2023; 159:34-42. [PMID: 36367367 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqac130] [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: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Visual inspection of posttransfusion plasma for hemolysis is a key laboratory method in the investigation of possible acute hemolytic transfusion reactions (AHTRs). Many substances and physiologic conditions can mimic hemolysis in vitro. Isolated reports describe specific cases of interference, but a comprehensive listing is lacking. METHODS Using an illustrative case, we summarize available literature on substances and conditions that may mimic hemolysis in vitro. We further describe other substances and conditions that may discolor plasma but are unlikely to be mistaken for hemolysis on visual inspection. RESULTS At least 11 substances and conditions have been reported to discolor plasma, in colors ranging from orange to red to brown, including relatively common therapies (eg, eltrombopag, hydroxocobalamin, iron dextran). Other substances are unlikely to be encountered in everyday practice but may mimic hemolysis in particular patient populations. Additional substances may cause plasma discoloration, ranging from blue to green to white, and are associated with a wide variety of therapies and conditions. CONCLUSIONS An awareness of the possible preanalytic confounding factors that may mimic hemolysis can aid in the workup of a suspected AHTR. Review of the medical record, use of ancillary testing, and consideration for nonimmune causes of hemolysis can aid in ruling out AHTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Jones
- From the Section of Transfusion Medicine, The Robert J. Tomsich Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Suneeti Sapatnekar
- From the Section of Transfusion Medicine, The Robert J. Tomsich Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Suzanne Bakdash
- From the Section of Transfusion Medicine, The Robert J. Tomsich Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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20
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Jamialahmadi O, Salehabadi E, Hashemi-Najafabadi S, Motamedian E, Bagheri F, Mancina RM, Romeo S. Cellular Genome-Scale Metabolic Modeling Identifies New Potential Drug Targets Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2022; 26:671-682. [PMID: 36508280 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2022.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Genome-scale metabolic modeling (GEM) is one of the key approaches to unpack cancer metabolism and for discovery of new drug targets. In this study, we report the Transcriptional Regulated Flux Balance Analysis-CORE (TRFBA-), an algorithm for GEM using key growth-correlated reactions using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an important global health burden, as a case study. We generated a HepG2 cell-specific GEM by integrating this cell line transcriptomic data with a generic human metabolic model to forecast potential drug targets for HCC. A total of 108 essential genes for growth were predicted by the TRFBA-CORE. These genes were enriched for metabolic pathways involved in cholesterol, sterol, and steroid biosynthesis. Furthermore, we silenced a predicted essential gene, 11-beta dehydrogenase hydroxysteroid type 2 (HSD11B2), in HepG2 cells resulting in a reduction in cell viability. To further identify novel potential drug targets in HCC, we examined the effect of nine drugs targeting the essential genes, and observed that most drugs inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells. Some of these drugs in this model performed better than Sorafenib, the first-line therapeutic against HCC. A HepG2 cell-specific GEM highlights sterol metabolism to be essential for cell growth. HSD11B2 downregulation results in lower cell growth. Most of the compounds, selected by drug repurposing approach, show a significant inhibitory effect on cell growth in a wide range of concentrations. These findings offer new molecular leads for drug discovery for hepatic cancer while also illustrating the importance of GEM and drug repurposing in cancer therapeutics innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oveis Jamialahmadi
- Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Salehabadi
- Department of Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sameereh Hashemi-Najafabadi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Motamedian
- Department of Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Bagheri
- Department of Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rosellina Margherita Mancina
- Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stefano Romeo
- Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy.,Cardiology Department, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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21
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Nwosu GO, Powell JA, Pitson SM. Targeting the integrated stress response in hematologic malignancies. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:94. [DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00348-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractWhile numerous targeted therapies have been recently adopted to improve the treatment of hematologic malignancies, acquired or intrinsic resistance poses a significant obstacle to their efficacy. Thus, there is increasing need to identify novel, targetable pathways to further improve therapy for these diseases. The integrated stress response is a signaling pathway activated in cancer cells in response to both dysregulated growth and metabolism, and also following exposure to many therapies that appears one such targetable pathway for improved treatment of these diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of the integrated stress response in the biology of hematologic malignancies, its critical involvement in the mechanism of action of targeted therapies, and as a target for pharmacologic modulation as a novel strategy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.
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22
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Horvath TD, Poventud-Fuentes I, Olayinka L, James A, Haidacher SJ, Hoch KM, Stevens AM, Haag AM, Devaraj S. Validation of atovaquone plasma levels by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for therapeutic drug monitoring in pediatric patients. J Mass Spectrom Adv Clin Lab 2022; 26:23-27. [PMID: 36388060 PMCID: PMC9641598 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2022.09.004] [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: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Atovaquone, an antiparasitic and antifungal, has potential as an anticancer agent. Our LC-MS/MS-based method can accurately quantify atovaquone in plasma. Low LOQ and small sample volume requirements add versatility to our method. Measuring atovaquone in plasma helps to determine the effective dose in children.
Background Atovaquone has traditionally been used as an antiparasitic and antifungal agent, but recent studies have shown its potential as an anticancer agent. The high variability in atovaquone bioavailability highlights the need for therapeutic drug monitoring, especially in pediatric patients. The goal of our study was to develop and validate the performance of an assay to quantify atovaquone plasma concentrations collected from pediatric cancer patients using LC-MS/MS. Methods Atovaquone was extracted from a 10 µL volume of K2-EDTA human plasma using a solution consisting of ACN: EtOH: DMF (8:1:1 v:v:v), separated using reverse-phase chromatography, and detected using a SCIEX 5500 QTrap MS system. LC-MS/MS assay performance was evaluated for precision, accuracy, carryover, sensitivity, specificity, linearity, and interferences. Results Atovaquone and its deuterated internal standard were analyzed using a gradient chromatographic method that had an overall cycle-time of 7.4 min per injection, and retention times of 4.3 min. Atovaquone was measured over a dynamic concentration range of 0.63 – 80 µM with a deviation within ≤ ± 5.1 % of the target value. Intra- and inter-assay precision were ≤ 2.7 % and ≤ 8.4 %, respectively. Dilutional, carryover, and interference studies were also within acceptable limits. Conclusions Our studies have shown that our LC-MS/MS-based method is both reliable and robust for the quantification of plasma atovaquone concentrations and can be used to determine the effective dose of atovaquone for pediatric patients treated for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D. Horvath
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Izmarie Poventud-Fuentes
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lily Olayinka
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Asha James
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sigmund J. Haidacher
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Hoch
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexandra M. Stevens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony M. Haag
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sridevi Devaraj
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Corresponding author.
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23
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Zhu Z, McGray AJR, Jiang W, Lu B, Kalinski P, Guo ZS. Improving cancer immunotherapy by rationally combining oncolytic virus with modulators targeting key signaling pathways. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:196. [PMID: 36221123 PMCID: PMC9554963 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01664-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a new class of multi-modal immunotherapies for cancer, with OV-elicited antitumor immunity being key to their overall therapeutic efficacy. Currently, the clinical effectiveness of OV as monotherapy remains limited, and thus investigators have been exploring various combinations with other anti-cancer agents and demonstrated improved therapeutic efficacy. As cancer cells have evolved to alter key signaling pathways for enhanced cell proliferation, cancer progression and metastasis, these cellular and molecular changes offer promising targets for rational cancer therapy design. In this regard, key molecules in relevant signaling pathways for cancer cells or/and immune cells, such as EGFR-KRAS (e.g., KRASG12C), PI3K-AKT-mTOR, ERK-MEK, JAK-STAT, p53, PD-1-PD-L1, and epigenetic, or immune pathways (e.g., histone deacetylases, cGAS-STING) are currently under investigation and have the potential to synergize with OV to modulate the immune milieu of the tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby improving and sustaining antitumor immunity. As many small molecule modulators of these signaling pathways have been developed and have shown strong therapeutic potential, here we review key findings related to both OV-mediated immunotherapy and the utility of small molecule modulators of signaling pathways in immuno-oncology. Then, we focus on discussion of the rationales and potential strategies for combining OV with selected modulators targeting key cellular signaling pathways in cancer or/and immune cells to modulate the TME and enhance antitumor immunity and therapeutic efficacy. Finally, we provide perspectives and viewpoints on the application of novel experimental systems and technologies that can propel this exciting branch of medicine into a bright future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhu
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - A J Robert McGray
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Weijian Jiang
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Binfeng Lu
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Pawel Kalinski
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Zong Sheng Guo
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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24
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Liu P, Fan D, Qiao W, He X, Zhang L, Jiang Y, Yang T. SAR Study and Molecular Mechanism Investigation of Novel Naphthoquinone-furan-2-cyanoacryloyl Hybrids with Antitumor Activity. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102104. [PMID: 36297539 PMCID: PMC9609996 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102104] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of novel naphthoquinone-furan-2-cyanoacryloyl hybrids were designed; they were synthesized and preliminarily evaluated for their anti-proliferative activities in vitro against several cancer cell lines and normal cells. The most potent compound, 5c, inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells (IC50 value of 3.10 ± 0.02 μM) and colony survival, and it induced apoptosis while having relatively weaker effects on normal cells. Compound 5c also triggered ROS generation and accumulation, thus partially contributing to the observed cell apoptosis. A Western blotting analysis demonstrated that compound 5c inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3. Furthermore, a biolayer interferometry (BLI) analysis confirmed that compound 5c had a direct effect on STAT3, with a KD value of 13.0 μM. Molecular docking showed that 5c specifically occupied the subpockets in the SH2 domain, thereby blocking the whole transmission signaling process. Overall, this study provides an important structural reference for the development of effective antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingxian Liu
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dongmei Fan
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wenliang Qiao
- Laboratory of Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xinlian He
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lidan Zhang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yunhan Jiang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapies, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence:
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25
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Azad A, Kong A. The Therapeutic Potential of Imidazole or Quinone-Based Compounds as Radiosensitisers in Combination with Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194694. [PMID: 36230623 PMCID: PMC9563564 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Patients with curable head and neck cancers are usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but they experience significant, severe side effects, which greatly affect their quality of life. Some of these patients still experience disease relapse after an intensive course of treatment due to tumours that are resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy because of hypoxia (lack of oxygen). In addition, some patients are not suitable for and/or are not able to have combined chemotherapy with radiotherapy due to their age or other physical conditions. Certain small-molecule drugs, which are used to treat various infections including malaria, have been shown to reduce hypoxia and thus make radiotherapy more effective. Therefore, their combination with radiotherapy could have less toxicities compared with the combination of chemotherapy with radiotherapy. Here, we discuss the promising results from preclinical work and clinical trials of these agents, and their potential use in the clinic, to reduce hypoxia and to sensitise radiotherapy. These agents could potentially be used for patients who are not suitable for combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy; they may also be used to reduce the dose of radiotherapy if able to enhance radiotherapy effect at lower dose in order to reduce toxicities while maintaining the treatment efficacy in a more personalised manner. Abstract The addition of platinum chemotherapy to primary radiotherapy (chemoradiation) improves survival outcomes for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but it carries a high incidence of acute and long-term treatment-related complications, resulting in a poor quality of life. In addition, patients with significant co-morbidities, or older patients, cannot tolerate or do not benefit from concurrent chemoradiation. These patients are often treated with radiotherapy alone resulting in poor locoregional control and worse survival outcomes. Thus, there is an urgent need to assess other less toxic treatment modalities, which could become an alternative to chemoradiation in HNSCC. Currently, there are several promising anti-cancer drugs available, but there has been very limited success so far in replacing concurrent chemoradiation due to their low efficacy or increased toxicities. However, there is new hope that a treatment strategy that incorporates agents that act as radiosensitisers to improve the efficacy of conventional radiotherapy could be an alternative to more toxic chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, imidazole-based or quinone-based anti-malarial compounds have drawn considerable attention as potential radiosensitisers in several cancers. Here, we will discuss the possibility of using these compounds as radiosensitisers, which could be assessed as safe and effective alternatives to chemotherapy, particularly for patients with HNSCC that are not suitable for concurrent chemotherapy due to their age or co-morbidities or in metastatic settings. In addition, these agents could also be tested to assess their efficacy in combination with immunotherapy in recurrent and metastatic settings or in combination with radiotherapy and immunotherapy in curative settings.
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26
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Oxygen tank for synergistic hypoxia relief to enhance mitochondria-targeted photodynamic therapy. Biomater Res 2022; 26:47. [PMID: 36138489 PMCID: PMC9502906 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-022-00296-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mitochondria play an essential role in cellular redox homeostasis maintenance and meanwhile serve as an important target for organelle targeted therapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising strategy for organelle targeted therapy with noninvasive nature and highly spatiotemporal selectivity. However, the efficacy of PDT is not fully achieved due to tumor hypoxia. Moreover, aerobic respiration constantly consumes oxygen and leads to a lower oxygen concentration in mitochondria, which continuously limited the therapeutic effects of PDT. The lack of organelle specific oxygen delivery method remains a main challenge. Methods Herein, an Oxygen Tank is developed to achieve the organelle targeted synergistic hypoxia reversal strategy, which not only act as an oxygen storage tank to open sources and reduce expenditure, but also coated with red blood cell membrane like the tank with stealth coating. Within the oxygen tank, a mitochondrion targeted photosensitizer (IR780) and a mitochondria respiration inhibitor (atovaquone, ATO) are co-loaded in the RBC membrane (RBCm) coated perfluorocarbon (PFC) liposome core. Results Inside these bio-mimic nanoparticles, ATO effectively inhibits mitochondrial respiration and economized endogenous oxygen consumption, while PFC supplied high-capacity exogenous oxygen. These Oxygen modulators reverse the hypoxia status in vitro and in vivo, and exhibited a superior anti-tumor activity by mitochondria targeted PDT via IR780. Ultimately, the anti-tumor effects towards gastric cancer and colon cancer are elicited in vivo. Conclusions This oxygen tank both increases exogeneous oxygen supply and decreases endogenous oxygen consumption, may offer a novel solution for organelle targeted therapies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40824-022-00296-0.
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Hashimoto S, Hashimoto A, Muromoto R, Kitai Y, Oritani K, Matsuda T. Central Roles of STAT3-Mediated Signals in Onset and Development of Cancers: Tumorigenesis and Immunosurveillance. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162618. [PMID: 36010693 PMCID: PMC9406645 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the time of Rudolf Virchow in the 19th century, it has been well-known that cancer-associated inflammation contributes to tumor initiation and progression. However, it remains unclear whether a collapse of the balance between the antitumor immune response via the immunological surveillance system and protumor immunity due to cancer-related inflammation is responsible for cancer malignancy. The majority of inflammatory signals affect tumorigenesis by activating signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor-κB. Persistent STAT3 activation in malignant cancer cells mediates extremely widespread functions, including cell growth, survival, angiogenesis, and invasion and contributes to an increase in inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. In addition, intracellular STAT3 activation in immune cells causes suppressive effects on antitumor immunity and leads to the differentiation and mobilization of immature myeloid-derived cells and tumor-associated macrophages. In many cancer types, STAT3 does not directly rely on its activation by oncogenic mutations but has important oncogenic and malignant transformation-associated functions in both cancer and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We have reported a series of studies aiming towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the proliferation of various types of tumors involving signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 as an adaptor molecule that modulates STAT3 activity, and we recently found that AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 5a functions as an mRNA stabilizer that orchestrates an immunosuppressive TME in malignant mesenchymal tumors. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the functional role of STAT3 in tumor progression and introduce novel molecular mechanisms of cancer development and malignant transformation involving STAT3 activation that we have identified to date. Finally, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for cancer that target the signaling pathway to augment STAT3 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Hashimoto
- Division of Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (T.M.)
| | - Ari Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Ryuta Muromoto
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Yuichi Kitai
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Kenji Oritani
- Department of Hematology, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita 286-8686, Japan
| | - Tadashi Matsuda
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (T.M.)
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28
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Li H, Cai M, Cao F, Yu D, Yang J, Yu W, chu C, Guan X, Qin JJ, Dong J. S3I-201 derivative incorporating naphthoquinone unit as effective STAT3 inhibitors:design, synthesis and anti-gastric cancer evaluation. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 71:116941. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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29
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Huang M, Xiong D, Pan J, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Myers CR, Johnson BD, Hardy M, Kalyanaraman B, You M. Prevention of Tumor Growth and Dissemination by In Situ Vaccination with Mitochondria-Targeted Atovaquone. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2101267. [PMID: 35243806 PMCID: PMC9036031 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202101267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Atovaquone, an FDA-approved drug for malaria, is known to inhibit mitochondrial electron transport. A recently synthesized mitochondria-targeted atovaquone increased mitochondrial accumulation and antitumor activity in vitro. Using an in situ vaccination approach, local injection of mitochondria-targeted atovaquone into primary tumors triggered potent T cell immune responses locally and in distant tumor sites. Mitochondria-targeted atovaquone treatment led to significant reductions of both granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Mitochondria-targeted atovaquone treatment blocks the expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in granulocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, which may lead to death of granulocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells. Mitochondria-targeted atovaquone inhibits expression of genes for mitochondrial complex components, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis in both granulocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells. The resulting decreases in intratumoral granulocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells could facilitate the observed increase in tumor-infiltrating CD4+ T cells. Mitochondria-targeted atovaquone also improves the anti-tumor activity of PD-1 blockade immunotherapy. The results implicate granulocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells as novel targets of mitochondria-targeted atovaquone that facilitate its antitumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mofei Huang
- Center for Cancer PreventionHouston Methodist Research Institute6670 Bertner AveHoustonTX77030USA
| | - Donghai Xiong
- Center for Cancer PreventionHouston Methodist Research Institute6670 Bertner AveHoustonTX77030USA
| | - Jing Pan
- Center for Cancer PreventionHouston Methodist Research Institute6670 Bertner AveHoustonTX77030USA
| | - Qi Zhang
- Center for Cancer PreventionHouston Methodist Research Institute6670 Bertner AveHoustonTX77030USA
| | - Yian Wang
- Center for Cancer PreventionHouston Methodist Research Institute6670 Bertner AveHoustonTX77030USA
| | - Charles R. Myers
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Bryon D. Johnson
- Department of MedicineMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Micael Hardy
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRSICRUMR 7273Marseille13013France
| | - Balaraman Kalyanaraman
- Department of BiophysicsMedical College of Wisconsin8701 Watertown Plank RoadMilwaukeeWI53226USA
| | - Ming You
- Center for Cancer PreventionHouston Methodist Research Institute6670 Bertner AveHoustonTX77030USA
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Combining PEGylated mito-atovaquone with MCT and Krebs cycle redox inhibitors as a potential strategy to abrogate tumor cell proliferation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5143. [PMID: 35332210 PMCID: PMC8948292 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08984-6] [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: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycolytic and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, which are two major energy sources in tumors, are potential targets in cancer treatment. Metabolic reprogramming from glycolysis to mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and vice versa is an adaptive strategy with which tumor cells obtain energy to survive and thrive under the compromised conditions of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. Developing highly potent, nontoxic, and tumor-selective oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) inhibitors may help advance therapeutic targeting of mitochondrial drugs in cancer. The FDA-approved antimalarial drug atovaquone (ATO), a mitochondrial complex III inhibitor, was repurposed in cancer treatment. Here, we developed a new class of PEGylated mitochondria-targeted ATO (Mito-(PEG)n-ATO). Depending on the PEGylation chain length (n), Mito-PEG-ATO analogs inhibit both mitochondrial complex I- and complex III-induced oxygen consumption in human pancreatic (MiaPaCa-2) and brain (U87MG) cancer cells. Mito-PEG5-ATO is one of the most potent antiproliferative mitochondria-targeted compounds (IC50 = 38 nM) in MiaPaCa-2 cells, and is more effective than other inhibitors of OXPHOS in MiaPaCa-2 and U87MG cells. Furthermore, we show that the combined use of the most potent OXPHOS-targeted inhibitors (Mito-PEG5-ATO) and inhibitors of monocarboxylate transporters (MCT-1 and MCT-4), Krebs cycle redox metabolism, or glutaminolysis will synergistically abrogate tumor cell proliferation. Potential clinical benefits of these combinatorial therapies are discussed.
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Lapidot M, Saladi SV, Salgia R, Sattler M. Novel Therapeutic Targets and Immune Dysfunction in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:806570. [PMID: 35069219 PMCID: PMC8776703 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.806570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) have been disappointing, despite the apparent need for new therapeutic options for this rare and devastating cancer. Drug resistance is common and surgical intervention has brought benefits only to a subset of patients. MPM is a heterogenous disease with a surprisingly low mutation rate and recent sequencing efforts have confirmed alterations in a limited number of tumor suppressors that do not provide apparent insights into the molecular mechanisms that drive this malignancy. There is increasing evidence that epigenetic regulation leads to immune evasion and transformation in MPM. Further, the low efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors is consistent with a suppression of genes involved in the anti-tumor immune response. We review three promising emerging therapeutic targets (STAT3, KDM4A, heparanase) and highlight their potential effects on the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Lapidot
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
| | - Srinivas Vinod Saladi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Martin Sattler
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
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32
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Amet R, Previtali V, Mihigo HB, Sheridan E, Brophy S, Hante NK, Santos-Martinez MJ, Hayden PJ, Browne PV, Rozas I, McElligott AM, Zisterer DM. A novel aryl-guanidinium derivative, VP79s, targets the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway, downregulates myeloid cell leukaemia-1 and exhibits preclinical activity against multiple myeloma. Life Sci 2021; 290:120236. [PMID: 34953891 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120236] [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: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AIMS We have recently described a novel guanidinium-based compound, VP79s, which induces cytotoxicity in various cancer cell lines. Here, we aim to investigate the activity of VP79s and associated mechanisms of action in multiple myeloma (MM) cells in vitro and ex vivo. MAIN METHODS The effects of VP79s on cell viability and induction of apoptosis was examined in a panel of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant MM cell lines, as well as ex vivo patient samples and normal donor lymphocytes and platelets. Cell signaling pathways associated with the biological effects of VP79s were analysed by immunoblotting and flow cytometry. Gene expression changes were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. KEY FINDINGS VP79s was found to rapidly inhibit both constitutively active and IL-6-induced STAT3 signaling with concurrent downregulation of the IL-6 receptors, CD130 and CD126. VP79s induced a rapid and dose-dependent downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, myeloid cell leukaemia-1 (MCL-1). VP79s enhanced bortezomib induced cell death and was also found to overcome bone marrow stromal cell induced drug resistance. VP79s exhibited activity in ex vivo patient samples at concentrations which had no effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, lymphocytes and platelets isolated from healthy donors. SIGNIFICANCE As VP79s resulted in rapid inhibition of the key IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway and downregulation of MCL-1 expression with subsequent selective anti-myeloma activity, VP79s may be a potential therapeutic agent with a novel mechanism of action in MM cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Amet
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Viola Previtali
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Helene B Mihigo
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Emily Sheridan
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Sarah Brophy
- John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Nadhim Kamil Hante
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Maria Jose Santos-Martinez
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Patrick J Hayden
- Department of Haematology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland; Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College and St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Paul V Browne
- Department of Haematology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland; Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College and St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Isabel Rozas
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Anthony M McElligott
- John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland; Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College and St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
| | - Daniela M Zisterer
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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33
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Zhou L, Pei X, Zhang Y, Ning Y, Li L, Hu X, Chalasani SL, Sharma K, Nkwocha J, Yu J, Bandyopadhyay D, Sebti SM, Grant S. Chk1 inhibition potently blocks STAT3 tyrosine705 phosphorylation, DNA binding activity, and activation of downstream targets in human multiple myeloma cells. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 20:456-467. [PMID: 34782371 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between the checkpoint kinase Chk1 and the STAT3 pathway was examined in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Gene expression profiling of U266 cells exposed to low (nM) Chk1 inhibitor (PF-477736) concentrations revealed STAT3 pathway-related gene down-regulation (e.g., BCL-XL, MCL-1, c-Myc), findings confirmed by RT-PCR. This was associated with marked inhibition of STAT3 Tyr705 (but not Ser727) phosphorylation, dimerization, nuclear localization, DNA binding, STAT3 promoter activity by ChIP assay, and down-regulation of STAT-3-dependent proteins. Similar findings were obtained in other MM cells and with alternative Chk1 inhibitors (e.g., prexasertib, CEP3891). While PF did not reduce GP130 expression or modify SOCS or PRL-3 phosphorylation, the phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate antagonized PF-mediated Tyr705 dephosphorylation. Significantly, PF attenuated Chk1-mediated STAT3 phosphorylation in in vitro assays. SPR analysis suggested Chk1/STAT3 interactions and PF reduced Chk1/STAT3 co-immunoprecipitation. Chk1 CRISPR knockout or shRNA knockdown cells also displayed STAT3 inactivation and STAT-3-dependent protein down-regulation. Constitutively active STAT3 diminished PF-mediated STAT3 inactivation and down-regulate STAT3-dependent proteins while significantly reducing PF-induced DNA damage (rH2A.X formation) and apoptosis. Exposure of cells with low basal phospho-STAT3 expression to IL-6 or human stromal cell conditioned medium activated STAT3, an event attenuated by Chk1 inhibitors. PF also inactivated STAT3 in primary human CD138+ MM cells and tumors extracted from an NSG MM xenograft model while inhibiting tumor growth. Implications: These findings identify a heretofore unrecognized link between the Chk1 and STAT3 pathways and suggest that Chk1 pathway inhibitors warrant attention as novel and potent candidate STAT3 antagonists in myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center
| | - Xinyan Pei
- Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Yanxia Ning
- Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
| | - Xiaoyan Hu
- Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center
| | | | - Kanika Sharma
- Medicine, Biochemistry, and Human and Molecular Genetics, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Jewel Nkwocha
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center
| | | | | | - Said M Sebti
- Pharmacology & Toxicology, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Steven Grant
- Medicine, Biochemistry, and Human and Molecular Genetics, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
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34
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Wang L, Astone M, Alam SK, Zhu Z, Pei W, Frank DA, Burgess SM, Hoeppner LH. Suppressing STAT3 activity protects the endothelial barrier from VEGF-mediated vascular permeability. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:272222. [PMID: 34542605 PMCID: PMC8592016 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular permeability triggered by inflammation or ischemia promotes edema, exacerbates disease progression and impairs tissue recovery. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent inducer of vascular permeability. VEGF plays an integral role in regulating vascular barrier function physiologically and in pathologies, including cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, retinal conditions and COVID-19-associated pulmonary edema, sepsis and acute lung injury. Understanding temporal molecular regulation of VEGF-induced vascular permeability will facilitate developing therapeutics to inhibit vascular permeability, while preserving tissue-restorative angiogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that VEGF signals through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) to promote vascular permeability. We show that genetic STAT3 ablation reduces vascular permeability in STAT3-deficient endothelium of mice and VEGF-inducible zebrafish crossed with CRISPR/Cas9-generated Stat3 knockout zebrafish. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression is transcriptionally regulated by STAT3, and VEGF-dependent STAT3 activation is regulated by JAK2. Pyrimethamine, an FDA-approved antimicrobial agent that inhibits STAT3-dependent transcription, substantially reduces VEGF-induced vascular permeability in zebrafish, mouse and human endothelium. Collectively, our findings suggest that VEGF/VEGFR-2/JAK2/STAT3 signaling regulates vascular barrier integrity, and inhibition of STAT3-dependent activity reduces VEGF-induced vascular permeability. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Genetic STAT3 ablation in mice and VEGF-inducible zebrafish reveals that VEGF signals through STAT3 to promote vascular permeability. Pyrimethamine reduces VEGF-induced permeability in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Matteo Astone
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Sk Kayum Alam
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Zhu Zhu
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Wuhong Pei
- Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - David A Frank
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Shawn M Burgess
- Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Luke H Hoeppner
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA.,Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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35
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Xie F, Gong J, Tan H, Zhang H, Ma J. Preclinical evidence of synergism between atovaquone and chemotherapy by AMPK-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 907:174256. [PMID: 34129882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174256] [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: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Chemoresistance has been associated with increased reliance on mitochondrial functions in many cancers, including lung cancer. Atovaquone is an anti-malaria drug and mitochondrial inhibitor. In this work, we attempted to explore whether atovaquone can be repurposed for lung cancer treatment to overcome chemoresistance. We showed that atovaquone inhibited proliferation, colony formation and survival in non-small cell lung cancer cell (NSCLC) cells. Of note, the effective dose of atovaquone was clinically achievable. Combination index value indicated that atovaquone and carboplatin were synergistic in inhibiting NSCLC. The potent efficacy of atovaquone and its synergism with chemotherapeutic drug were also demonstrated in NSCLC xenograft mice model. Mechanism studies showed that the synergism between atovaquone and carboplatin was due to atovaquone's ability in disrupting mitochondrial functions via specifically inhibiting complex III induced oxygen consumption. Subsequently, atovaquone activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. AMPK inhibition reversed the anti-NSCLC activity of atovaquone, suggesting that the action of atovaquone is also dependent on AMPK. Our work suggests that atovaquone is an attractive candidate for NSCLC treatment. Our findings emphasize that inhibition of mitochondrial function is a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance NSCLC chemosensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Xie
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jingzhou Hospital, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Gong
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jingzhou Hospital, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Hongxia Tan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jingzhou Hospital, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jingzhou Hospital, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Jingping Ma
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jingzhou Hospital, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China.
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36
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IL-6 enhances CD4 cell motility by sustaining mitochondrial Ca 2+ through the noncanonical STAT3 pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2103444118. [PMID: 34507993 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2103444118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is known to regulate the CD4 T cell function by inducing gene expression of a number of cytokines through activation of Stat3 transcription factor. Here, we reveal that IL-6 strengthens the mechanics of CD4 T cells. The presence of IL-6 during activation of mouse and human CD4 T cells enhances their motility (random walk and exploratory spread), resulting in an increase in travel distance and higher velocity. This is an intrinsic effect of IL-6 on CD4 T-cell fitness that involves an increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ Although Stat3 transcriptional activity is dispensable for this process, IL-6 uses mitochondrial Stat3 to enhance mitochondrial Ca2+-mediated motility of CD4 T cells. Thus, through a noncanonical pathway, IL-6 can improve competitive fitness of CD4 T cells by facilitating cell motility. These results could lead to alternative therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases in which IL-6 plays a pathogenic role.
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37
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Ciftci HI, Bayrak N, Yıldız M, Yıldırım H, Sever B, Tateishi H, Otsuka M, Fujita M, Tuyun AF. Design, synthesis and investigation of the mechanism of action underlying anti-leukemic effects of the quinolinequinones as LY83583 analogs. Bioorg Chem 2021; 114:105160. [PMID: 34328861 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Literature conclusively shows that one of the quinolinequinone analogs (6-anilino-5,8-quinolinequinone), referred to as LY83583 hereafter, an inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase, was used as the inhibitor of the cell proliferation in cancer cells. In the present work, a series of analogs of the LY83583 containing alkoxy group(s) in aminophenyl ring (AQQ1-15) were designed and synthesized via a two-step route and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against four different cancer cell lines (K562, Jurkat, MT-2, and HeLa) and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by MTT assay. The analog (AQQ13) was identified to possess the most potent cytotoxic activity against K562 human chronic myelogenous (CML) cell line (IC50 = 0.59 ± 0.07 μM) with significant selectivity (SI = 4.51) compared to imatinib (IC50 = 5.46 ± 0.85 μM; SI = 4.60). Based on its superior cytotoxic activity, the analog AQQ13 was selected for further mechanistic studies including determination of its apoptotic effects on K562 cell line via annexin V/ethidium homodimer III staining potency, ABL1 kinase inhibitory activity, and DNA cleaving capacity. Results ascertained that the analog AQQ13 induced apoptosis in K562 cell line with notable DNA-cleaving activity. However, AQQ13 demonstrated weak ABL1 inhibition indicating the correlation between anti-K562 and anti-ABL1 activities. In continuance, respectively conducted in silico molecular docking and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) studies drew attention to enhanced binding interactions of AQQ13 towards DNA and its high compatibility with the potential limits of specified pharmacokinetic parameters making it as a potential anti-leukemic drug candidate. Our findings may provide a new insight for further development of novel quinolinequinone-based anticancer analogs against CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halil I Ciftci
- Department of Drug Discovery, Science Farm Ltd., Kumamoto, Japan; Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Nilüfer Bayrak
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mahmut Yıldız
- Chemistry Department, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Hatice Yıldırım
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Belgin Sever
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Hiroshi Tateishi
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masami Otsuka
- Department of Drug Discovery, Science Farm Ltd., Kumamoto, Japan; Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Mikako Fujita
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
| | - Amaç Fatih Tuyun
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
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38
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Dong J, Cheng XD, Zhang WD, Qin JJ. Recent Update on Development of Small-Molecule STAT3 Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy: From Phosphorylation Inhibition to Protein Degradation. J Med Chem 2021; 64:8884-8915. [PMID: 34170703 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that regulates various biological processes, including proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, immune response, and chemoresistance. In normal cells, STAT3 is tightly regulated to maintain a transiently active state, while persistent STAT3 activation occurs frequently in cancers, associating with a poor prognosis and tumor progression. Targeting the STAT3 protein is a potentially promising therapeutic strategy for tumors. Although none of the STAT3 inhibitors has been marketed yet, a few of them have succeeded in entering clinical trials. This Review aims to systematically summarize the progress of the last 5 years in the discovery of directive STAT3 small-molecule inhibitors and degraders, focusing primarily on their structural features, design strategies, and bioactivities. We hope this Review will shed light on future drug design and inhibitor optimization to accelerate the discovery process of STAT3 inhibitors or degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyun Dong
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Xiang-Dong Cheng
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Wei-Dong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jiang-Jiang Qin
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
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39
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Guo Y, Hu B, Fu B, Zhu H. Atovaquone at clinically relevant concentration overcomes chemoresistance in ovarian cancer via inhibiting mitochondrial respiration. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 224:153529. [PMID: 34174549 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The poor outcomes in ovarian cancer necessitate new treatments. Strategies to interfere with oxidative phosphorylation have been recently highlighted for the treatment of ovarian tumors. Atovaquone, an approved antimicrobial drug, has demonstrated anti-cancer potential and ability in disrupting mitochondrial function. Here, we investigated the efficacy of atovaquone as single drug and its combination with cisplatin in ovarian cancer. We show that atovaquone at clinically achievable concentrations is active against ovarian cancer bulky and stem-cell like cells via inhibiting growth and colony formation, and inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis. In contrast, atovaquone either does not or inhibits normal cells in a less extent than in ovarian cancer cells. Mechanism studies using multiple independent approaches demonstrate that atovaquone acts on ovarian cancer cells via decreasing mitochondrial complex III which results in mitochondrial respiration inhibition, energy reduction and oxidative stress. In line with in vitro findings, atovaquone alone at non-toxic dose is effective in inhibiting ovarian cancer growth in vivo, and its combination with cisplatin is synergistic. Our study suggests that atovaquone is a promising candidate to the treatment of ovarian cancer. Our work also supports the notion that mitochondrial respiration is a therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Guo
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang No.1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang No.1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Bingbing Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China.
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang No.1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China.
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40
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Chen BR, Deshpande A, Barbosa K, Kleppe M, Lei X, Yeddula N, Vela PS, Campos AR, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Bagchi A, Meshinchi S, Eaves C, Jeremias I, Haferlach T, Frank DA, Ronai Z, Chanda S, Armstrong SA, Adams PD, Levine RL, Deshpande AJ. A JAK/STAT-mediated inflammatory signaling cascade drives oncogenesis in AF10-rearranged AML. Blood 2021; 137:3403-3415. [PMID: 33690798 PMCID: PMC8212510 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020009023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemias bearing fusions of the AF10/MLLT10 gene are associated with poor prognosis, and therapies targeting these fusion proteins (FPs) are lacking. To understand mechanisms underlying AF10 fusion-mediated leukemogenesis, we generated inducible mouse models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) driven by the most common AF10 FPs, PICALM/CALM-AF10 and KMT2A/MLL-AF10, and performed comprehensive characterization of the disease using transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and functional genomic approaches. Our studies provide a detailed map of gene networks and protein interactors associated with key AF10 fusions involved in leukemia. Specifically, we report that AF10 fusions activate a cascade of JAK/STAT-mediated inflammatory signaling through direct recruitment of JAK1 kinase. Inhibition of the JAK/STAT signaling by genetic Jak1 deletion or through pharmacological JAK/STAT inhibition elicited potent antioncogenic effects in mouse and human models of AF10 fusion AML. Collectively, our study identifies JAK1 as a tractable therapeutic target in AF10-rearranged leukemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Rui Chen
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anagha Deshpande
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Karina Barbosa
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Maria Kleppe
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Xue Lei
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Narayana Yeddula
- Immunity and Pathogenesis Program, Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center and
| | - Pablo Sánchez Vela
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Alexandre Rosa Campos
- Proteomics Facility, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Robert J Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anindya Bagchi
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Soheil Meshinchi
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Connie Eaves
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Irmela Jeremias
- Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Ze'ev Ronai
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sumit Chanda
- Immunity and Pathogenesis Program, Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center and
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Peter D Adams
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Ross L Levine
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Aniruddha J Deshpande
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA
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Ferraris D, Lapidus R, Truong P, Bollino D, Carter-Cooper B, Lee M, Chang E, LaRossa-Garcia M, Dash S, Gartenhaus R, Choi EY, Kipe O, Lam V, Mason K, Palmer R, Williams E, Ambulos N, Kamangar F, Zhang Y, Kapadia B, Jing Y, Emadi A. Pre-Clinical Activity of Amino-Alcohol Dimeric Naphthoquinones as Potential Therapeutics for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 22:239-253. [PMID: 34080968 DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666210602131558] [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: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain unsatisfactory, therefore the development of more efficacious and better-tolerated therapy for AML is critical. We have previously reported the anti-leukemic activity of synthetic halohydroxyl dimeric naphthoquinones (BiQ) and aziridinyl BiQ. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to improve the potency and bioavailability of BiQ compounds and investigate the anti-leukemic activity of the lead compound in vitro and in a human AML xenograft mouse model. METHODS We designed, synthesized, and performed structure-activity relationship of several rationally designed BiQ analogues that possess amino alcohol functional groups on the naphthoquinone core rings. The compounds were screened for anti-leukemic activity and the mechanism as well as in vivo tolerability and efficacy of our lead compound was investigated. RESULTS We report that a dimeric naphthoquinone (designated BaltBiQ) demonstrated potent nanomolar anti-leukemic activity in AML cell lines. BaltBiQ treatment resulted in the generation of reactive oxygen species, induction of DNA damage, and inhibition of indoleamine dioxygenase 1. Although BaltBiQ was tolerated well in vivo, it did not significantly improve survival as a single agent, but in combination with the specific Bcl-2 inhibitor, Venetoclax, tumor growth was significantly inhibited compared to untreated mice. CONCLUSION We synthesized a novel amino alcohol dimeric naphthoquinone, investigated its main mechanisms of action, reported its in vitro anti-AML cytotoxic activity, and showed its in vivo promising activity combined with a clinically available Bcl-2 inhibitor in a patient-derived xenograft model of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Ferraris
- McDaniel College Department of Chemistry, 2 College Hill, Westminster, United States
| | - Rena Lapidus
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Phuc Truong
- McDaniel College Department of Chemistry, 2 College Hill, Westminster, United States
| | - Dominique Bollino
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brandon Carter-Cooper
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michelle Lee
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Elizabeth Chang
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maria LaRossa-Garcia
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Smaraki Dash
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ronald Gartenhaus
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Eun Yong Choi
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Olivia Kipe
- McDaniel College Department of Chemistry, 2 College Hill, Westminster, United States
| | - Vi Lam
- McDaniel College Department of Chemistry, 2 College Hill, Westminster, United States
| | - Kristopher Mason
- McDaniel College Department of Chemistry, 2 College Hill, Westminster, United States
| | - Riley Palmer
- McDaniel College Department of Chemistry, 2 College Hill, Westminster, United States
| | - Elijah Williams
- McDaniel College Department of Chemistry, 2 College Hill, Westminster, United States
| | - Nicholas Ambulos
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Farin Kamangar
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Yuji Zhang
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Bandish Kapadia
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Yin Jing
- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ashkan Emadi
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MDun, United States
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42
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Gupta N, Srivastava SK. Atovaquone Suppresses the Growth of Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Tumors in Lungs and Brain by Inhibiting Integrin/FAK Signaling Axis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060521. [PMID: 34071408 PMCID: PMC8229709 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered to be the most aggressive and malignant neoplasm and is highly metastatic in nature. In the current study, we investigated the anti-metastatic potential of atovaquone, a protozoal drug prescribed for Pneumocystis pneumonia. We showed that atovaquone induced apoptosis and reduced the survival of several aggressive metastatic TNBC cell lines including metastatic patient-derived cells by reducing the expression of integrin α6, integrin β4, FAK, Src, and Vimentin. In order to study the efficacy of atovaquone in suppressing metastasized breast tumor cells in brain and lungs, we performed three in vivo experiments. We demonstrated that oral administration of 50 mg/kg of atovaquone suppressed MDA-MB-231 breast tumor growth by 90% in lungs in an intravenous metastatic tumor model. Anti-metastatic effect of atovaquone was further determined by intracardiac injection of 4T1-luc breast tumor cells into the left ventricle of mouse heart. Our results showed that atovaquone treatment suppressed the growth of metastatic tumors in lungs, liver and brain by 70%, 50% and 30% respectively. In an intracranial model, the growth of HCC1806-luc brain tumors in atovaquone treated mice was about 55% less than that of control. Taken together, our results indicate the anti-metastatic effects of atovaquone in vitro and in vivo in various breast tumor metastasis models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehal Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA;
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K. Srivastava
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA;
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-325-696-0464
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Atovaquone Suppresses Triple-Negative Breast Tumor Growth by Reducing Immune-Suppressive Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105150. [PMID: 34068008 PMCID: PMC8152242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A major contributing factor in triple-negative breast cancer progression is its ability to evade immune surveillance. One mechanism for this immunosuppression is through ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19), which facilitates myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) recruitment in tumors, which generate cytokines TGF-β and IL-10 and induce regulatory T cells (Tregs), all of which are immunosuppressive and enhance tumor progression. Hence, enhancing the immune system in breast tumors could be a strategy for anticancer therapeutics. The present study evaluated the immune response of atovaquone, an antiprotozoal drug, in three independent breast-tumor models. Our results demonstrated that oral administration of atovaquone reduced HCC1806, CI66 and 4T1 paclitaxel-resistant (4T1-PR) breast-tumor growth by 45%, 70% and 42%, respectively. MDSCs, TGF-β, IL-10 and Tregs of blood and tumors were analyzed from all of these in vivo models. Our results demonstrated that atovaquone treatment in mice bearing HCC1806 tumors reduced MDSCs from tumor and blood by 70% and 30%, respectively. We also observed a 25% reduction in tumor MDSCs in atovaquone-treated mice bearing CI66 and 4T1-PR tumors. In addition, a decrease in TGF-β and IL-10 in tumor lysates was observed in atovaquone-treated mice with a reduction in tumor Tregs. Moreover, a significant reduction in the expression of RPS19 was found in tumors treated with atovaquone.
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Skwarski M, McGowan DR, Belcher E, Di Chiara F, Stavroulias D, McCole M, Derham JL, Chu KY, Teoh E, Chauhan J, O'Reilly D, Harris BHL, Macklin PS, Bull JA, Green M, Rodriguez-Berriguete G, Prevo R, Folkes LK, Campo L, Ferencz P, Croal PL, Flight H, Qi C, Holmes J, O'Connor JPB, Gleeson FV, McKenna WG, Harris AL, Bulte D, Buffa FM, Macpherson RE, Higgins GS. Mitochondrial Inhibitor Atovaquone Increases Tumor Oxygenation and Inhibits Hypoxic Gene Expression in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:2459-2469. [PMID: 33597271 PMCID: PMC7611473 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-4128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tumor hypoxia fuels an aggressive tumor phenotype and confers resistance to anticancer treatments. We conducted a clinical trial to determine whether the antimalarial drug atovaquone, a known mitochondrial inhibitor, reduces hypoxia in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with NSCLC scheduled for surgery were recruited sequentially into two cohorts: cohort 1 received oral atovaquone at the standard clinical dose of 750 mg twice daily, while cohort 2 did not. Primary imaging endpoint was change in tumor hypoxic volume (HV) measured by hypoxia PET-CT. Intercohort comparison of hypoxia gene expression signatures using RNA sequencing from resected tumors was performed. RESULTS Thirty patients were evaluable for hypoxia PET-CT analysis, 15 per cohort. Median treatment duration was 12 days. Eleven (73.3%) atovaquone-treated patients had meaningful HV reduction, with median change -28% [95% confidence interval (CI), -58.2 to -4.4]. In contrast, median change in untreated patients was +15.5% (95% CI, -6.5 to 35.5). Linear regression estimated the expected mean HV was 55% (95% CI, 24%-74%) lower in cohort 1 compared with cohort 2 (P = 0.004), adjusting for cohort, tumor volume, and baseline HV. A key pharmacodynamics endpoint was reduction in hypoxia-regulated genes, which were significantly downregulated in atovaquone-treated tumors. Data from multiple additional measures of tumor hypoxia and perfusion are presented. No atovaquone-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS This is the first clinical evidence that targeting tumor mitochondrial metabolism can reduce hypoxia and produce relevant antitumor effects at the mRNA level. Repurposing atovaquone for this purpose may improve treatment outcomes for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Skwarski
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R McGowan
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- Radiation Physics and Protection, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Belcher
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Di Chiara
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Dionisios Stavroulias
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Mark McCole
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer L Derham
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Kwun-Ye Chu
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Eugene Teoh
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Jagat Chauhan
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn O'Reilly
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin H L Harris
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Philip S Macklin
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua A Bull
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Green
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | | | - Remko Prevo
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa K Folkes
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Leticia Campo
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Ferencz
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Paula L Croal
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Flight
- Oncology Clinical Trials Office, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Qi
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Holmes
- Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - James P B O'Connor
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
| | - Fergus V Gleeson
- Department of Radiology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - W Gillies McKenna
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian L Harris
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Bulte
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca M Buffa
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth E Macpherson
- Department of Radiology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Geoff S Higgins
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
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Li YQ, Zheng Z, Liu QX, Lu X, Zhou D, Zhang J, Zheng H, Dai JG. Repositioning of Antiparasitic Drugs for Tumor Treatment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:670804. [PMID: 33996598 PMCID: PMC8117216 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.670804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug repositioning is a strategy for identifying new antitumor drugs; this strategy allows existing and approved clinical drugs to be innovatively repurposed to treat tumors. Based on the similarities between parasitic diseases and cancer, recent studies aimed to investigate the efficacy of existing antiparasitic drugs in cancer. In this review, we selected two antihelminthic drugs (macrolides and benzimidazoles) and two antiprotozoal drugs (artemisinin and its derivatives, and quinolines) and summarized the research progresses made to date on the role of these drugs in cancer. Overall, these drugs regulate tumor growth via multiple targets, pathways, and modes of action. These antiparasitic drugs are good candidates for comprehensive, in-depth analyses of tumor occurrence and development. In-depth studies may improve the current tumor diagnoses and treatment regimens. However, for clinical application, current investigations are still insufficient, warranting more comprehensive analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qi Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Quan-Xing Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Jiao Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ji-Gang Dai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
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Sbirkov Y, Ivanova T, Burnusuzov H, Gercheva K, Petrie K, Schenk T, Sarafian V. The Protozoan Inhibitor Atovaquone Affects Mitochondrial Respiration and Shows In Vitro Efficacy Against Glucocorticoid-Resistant Cells in Childhood B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Front Oncol 2021; 11:632181. [PMID: 33791218 PMCID: PMC8005808 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.632181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (cALL) accounts for about one third of all paediatric malignancies making it the most common cancer in children. Alterations in tumour cell metabolism were first described nearly a century ago and have been acknowledged as one of the key characteristics of cancers including cALL. Two of the backbone chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of this disease, Glucocorticoids and L-asparaginase, are exerting their anti-leukaemic effects through targeting cell metabolism. Even though risk stratification and treatment regimens have improved cure rates to nearly 90%, prognosis for relapsed children remains poor. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are urgently required. Atovaquone is a well-tolerated drug used in the clinic mainly against malaria. Being a ubiquinone analogue, this drug inhibits co-enzyme Q10 of the electron transport chain (ETC) affecting oxidative phosphorylation and cell metabolism. In this study we tested the effect of Atovaquone on cALL cells in vitro. Pharmacologically relevant concentrations of the inhibitor could effectively target mitochondrial respiration in both cALL cell lines (REH and Sup-B15) and primary patient samples. We found that Atovaquone leads to a marked decrease in basal respiration and ATP levels, as well as reduced proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis. Importantly, we observed an enhanced anti-leukaemic effect when Atovaquone was combined with the standard chemotherapeutic Idarubicin, or with Prednisolone in an in vitro model of Glucocorticoid resistance. Repurposing of this clinically approved inhibitor renders further investigations, but also presents opportunities for fast-track trials as a single agent or in combination with standard chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yordan Sbirkov
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.,Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Tsvetomira Ivanova
- Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Hasan Burnusuzov
- Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.,Department of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.,Center for Competence Personalized Innovative Medicine (PERIMED), Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Kalina Gercheva
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Kevin Petrie
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, School of Medicine, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, United Kingdom
| | - Tino Schenk
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine Jena (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Victoria Sarafian
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.,Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Tošić I, Heppler LN, Egusquiaguirre SP, Boehnke N, Correa S, Costa DF, Moore EAG, Pal S, Richardson DS, Ivanov AR, Haas-Kogan DA, Nomura DK, Hammond PT, Frank DA. Lipidome-based Targeting of STAT3-driven Breast Cancer Cells Using Poly-l-glutamic Acid-coated Layer-by-Layer Nanoparticles. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:726-738. [PMID: 33536189 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The oncogenic transcription factor STAT3 is aberrantly activated in 70% of breast cancers, including nearly all triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Because STAT3 is difficult to target directly, we considered whether metabolic changes driven by activated STAT3 could provide a therapeutic opportunity. We found that STAT3 prominently modulated several lipid classes, with most profound effects on N-acyl taurine and arachidonic acid, both of which are involved in plasma membrane remodeling. To exploit these metabolic changes therapeutically, we screened a library of layer-by-layer (LbL) nanoparticles (NPs) differing in the surface layer that modulates interactivity with the cell membrane. We found that poly-l-glutamic acid (PLE)-coated NPs bind to STAT3-transformed breast cancer cells with 50% greater efficiency than to nontransformed cells, and the heightened PLE-NP binding to TNBC cells was attenuated by STAT3 inhibition. This effect was also observed in densely packed three-dimensional breast cancer organoids. As STAT3-transformed cells show greater resistance to cytotoxic agents, we evaluated whether enhanced targeted delivery via PLE-NPs would provide a therapeutic advantage. We found that cisplatin-loaded PLE-NPs induced apoptosis of STAT3-driven cells at lower doses compared with both unencapsulated cisplatin and cisplatin-loaded nontargeted NPs. In addition, because radiation is commonly used in breast cancer treatment, and may alter cellular lipid distribution, we analyzed its effect on PLE-NP-cell binding. Irradiation of cells enhanced the STAT3-targeting properties of PLE-NPs in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting potential synergies between these therapeutic modalities. These findings suggest that cellular lipid changes driven by activated STAT3 may be exploited therapeutically using unique LbL NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidora Tošić
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Lisa N Heppler
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Natalie Boehnke
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Santiago Correa
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel F Costa
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Elizabeth A Grossman Moore
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, Massachusetts
| | - Sharmistha Pal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Douglas S Richardson
- Harvard Center for Biological Imaging, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Alexander R Ivanov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daphne A Haas-Kogan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel K Nomura
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, Massachusetts
| | - Paula T Hammond
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - David A Frank
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Ou A, Ott M, Fang D, Heimberger AB. The Role and Therapeutic Targeting of JAK/STAT Signaling in Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:437. [PMID: 33498872 PMCID: PMC7865703 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma remains one of the deadliest and treatment-refractory human malignancies in large part due to its diffusely infiltrative nature, molecular heterogeneity, and capacity for immune escape. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway contributes substantively to a wide variety of protumorigenic functions, including proliferation, anti-apoptosis, angiogenesis, stem cell maintenance, and immune suppression. We review the current state of knowledge regarding the biological role of JAK/STAT signaling in glioblastoma, therapeutic strategies, and future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ou
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Martina Ott
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.O.); (D.F.)
| | - Dexing Fang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.O.); (D.F.)
| | - Amy B. Heimberger
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA; (M.O.); (D.F.)
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Conneely SE, Stevens AM. Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Children: Emerging Paradigms in Genetics and New Approaches to Therapy. Curr Oncol Rep 2021; 23:16. [PMID: 33439382 PMCID: PMC7806552 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-020-01009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children remains a challenging disease to cure with suboptimal outcomes particularly when compared to the more common lymphoid leukemias. Recent advances in the genetic characterization of AML have enhanced understanding of individualized patient risk, which has also led to the development of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we review key cytogenetic and molecular features of pediatric AML and how new therapies are being used to improve outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have revealed an increasing number of mutations, including WT1, CBFA2T3-GLIS2, and KAT6A fusions, DEK-NUP214 and NUP98 fusions, and specific KMT2A rearrangements, which are associated with poor outcomes. However, outcomes are starting to improve with the addition of therapies such as gemtuzumab ozogamicin and FLT3 inhibitors, initially developed in adult AML. The combination of advanced risk stratification and ongoing improvements and innovations in treatment strategy will undoubtedly lead to better outcomes for children with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E Conneely
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, 6701 Fannin, Suite 1510, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Alexandra M Stevens
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, 6701 Fannin, Suite 1510, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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Zhu Z, Yuan J, Xu X, Wei Y, Yang B, Zhao H. Eucannabinolide, a novel sesquiterpene lactone, suppresses the growth, metastasis and BCSCS-like traits of TNBC via inactivation of STAT3. Neoplasia 2021; 23:36-48. [PMID: 33217668 PMCID: PMC7683293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important therapeutic target to triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment. In the present study, we aim to investigate the potential activity of Eucannabinolide (Euc), a novel sesquiterpene lactone separated from Eupatorium cannabinum Linn. against TNBC by targeting STAT3 and expect that Euc will be developed as an inhibitor of STAT3 in the treatment of TNBC. We found that Euc effectively suppressed STAT3 activation at tyrosine 705, inhibited its translocation to nucleus, and decreased its DNA binding capacity. Moreover, introduction of STAT3-short hairpin RNAs or STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 attenuates the Euc-induced inhibition of cell viability. And, Euc inhibited cell viability, proliferation, metastasis and breast cancer stem cell-like traits but did not induce cytotoxicity in human mammary epithelial cells. The in vivo study similarly demonstrated that administration of Euc inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors and impaired tumor metastasis of a lung metastasis model. The above phenomena were associated with STAT3 dysfunction induced by Euc. In conclusion, Euc elicits the effects of anti-proliferation, anti-metastasis and anti-breast cancer stem cell-like traits in TNBC via targeting STAT3. These data highlight that development of Euc as a STAT3 inhibitor may offer a promising therapeutic strategy for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Zhu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingtao Yuan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xintong Xu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yingying Wei
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bo Yang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Huajun Zhao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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