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Đorđević S, Medel M, Hillaert J, Masiá E, Conejos-Sánchez I, Vicent MJ. Critical Design Strategies Supporting Optimized Drug Release from Polymer-Drug Conjugates. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2303157. [PMID: 37752780 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The importance of an adequate linking moiety design that allows controlled drug(s) release at the desired site of action is extensively studied for polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs). Redox-responsive self-immolative linkers bearing disulfide moieties (SS-SIL) represent a powerful strategy for intracellular drug delivery; however, the influence of drug structural features and linker-associated spacers on release kinetics remains relatively unexplored. The influence of drug/spacer chemical structure and the chemical group available for conjugation on drug release and the biological effect of resultant PDCs is evaluated. A "design of experiments" tool is implemented to develop a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to perform the comprehensive characterization required for this systematic study. The obtained fit-for-purpose analytical protocol enables the quantification of low drug concentrations in drug release studies and the elucidation of metabolite presence. and provides the first data that clarifies how drug structural features influence the drug release from SS-SIL and demonstrates the non-universal nature of the SS-SIL. The importance of rigorous linker characterization in understanding structure-function correlations between linkers, drug chemical functionalities, and in vitro release kinetics from a rationally-designed polymer-drug nanoconjugate, a critical strategic crafting methodology that should remain under consideration when using a reductive environment as an endogenous drug release trigger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Đorđević
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - María Medel
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Justine Hillaert
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Esther Masiá
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
- Screening Platform, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Conejos-Sánchez
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - María J Vicent
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) and CIBERONC, Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
- Screening Platform, Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF), Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, Valencia, 46012, Spain
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2
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Marques AEM, Borges GA, Viesi do Nascimento Filho CH, Vianna LMDS, Ramos DDAR, Castilho RM, Squarize CH, Guerra ENS. Expression profile of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Data from Brazilian population. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2022; 133:453-461. [PMID: 35153184 DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2021.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase-B/mammalian target of the rapamycin (PI3K-AKT-mTOR) signaling pathway is an important regulator of cell proliferation, survival, and motility. The gain or loss of function of proteins related to this pathway results in the neoplastic transformation in several types of cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the expression profile of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and HNSCC cell lines. STUDY DESIGN The study involved 26 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from patients with HNSCC. The analysis of immunohistochemical expression of PI3K, AKT, p-mTOR, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) proteins was performed by a quantitative assessment. The in vitro gene and protein expression evaluation was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assay, respectively, in the human cell lines SCC-9 and FaDu. RESULTS High levels of PI3K, AKT, and p-mTOR were found in most HNSCC tumors. Following this result, we observed low amounts or absence of PTEN in most samples. Additionally, the FaDu cells (pharynx) showed higher AKT expression but lower expression of p-mTOR compared with SCC-9 cells (oral cavity), which hints at a loco-anatomical relevance. CONCLUSION Overall, this study found increased expression of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway along with evident PTEN reduction in head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Elizia Mascarenhas Marques
- Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil; Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Gabriel Alvares Borges
- Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil; Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Carlos Henrique Viesi do Nascimento Filho
- Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Rogerio Moraes Castilho
- Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Cristiane Helena Squarize
- Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Eliete Neves Silva Guerra
- Laboratory of Oral Histopathology, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil; Epithelial Biology Laboratory, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Division of Oral Pathology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Liang J, Tang M, Wang L, Huang R, Fu A, Zhou J. Design and development of novel fasudil derivatives as potent antibreast cancer agent that improves intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function in rats. Chem Biol Drug Des 2021; 98:1065-1078. [PMID: 34587363 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to develop novel fasudil derivatives after incorporation of substituted thiazoles as potent anti-breast cancer (BC) agents. The compounds were developed using a facile synthetic route in excellent yields. The entire set of developed compounds was tested for inhibitory activity against rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK; ROCK1 and ROCK2) kinase, where they exhibit potent and selective inhibition of ROCK1 as compared to ROCK2. The most potent ROCK2 inhibitor, compound 6h significantly inhibited the viability of BC cells (MCF-7). It also causes inhibition of migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the anti-BC activity of compound 6h was studied in 7,12 dimethyl Benz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced BC in female Sprague Dawley rats. Results suggest that it causes significant improvement in the bodyweight of the animals with a reduction in oxidative stress in the liver and mammary tissues of rats. It showed improvement in the intestinal barrier function of rats by restoring the level of Diamine oxidase, d-lactate, and endotoxin. In western blot analysis, it showed improvement in (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-1 in the colon tissue of the rat as compared to the DMBA group. Our study demonstrated the development of the novel class of fasudil derivatives potent anti-BC agent that improves intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghui Liang
- Oncology Radiotherapy Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mu Tang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lieliang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ailong Fu
- Department of Pathology, Jiangxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Juying Zhou
- Oncology Radiotherapy Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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4
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Unbekandt M, Lilla S, Zanivan S, Olson MF. The CDC42 effector protein MRCKβ autophosphorylates on Threonine 1108. Small GTPases 2020; 11:451-460. [PMID: 30667325 PMCID: PMC7549636 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2018.1564472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The CDC42 small GTPase is a major influence on actin-myosin cytoskeleton organization and dynamics, signalling via effector proteins including the Myotonic dystrophy related CDC42-binding protein kinases (MRCK) α and β. We previously identified Serine 1003 of MRCKα as a site of autophosphorylation, and showed that a phosphorylation-sensitive antibody raised against this site could be used as a surrogate indicator of kinase activity. In this study, a kinase-dead version of MRCKβ was established by mutation of the conserved Lysine 105 to Methionine (K105M), which was then used for mass spectrometry analysis to identify phosphorylation events that occurred in catalytically-competent MRCKβ but not in the kinase-dead form. A total of ten phosphorylations were identified on wild-type MRCKβ, of which the previously undescribed Threonine 1108 (Thr1108) was not found on kinase-dead MRCKβ K105M, consistent with this being due to autophosphorylation. Mutation of Thr1108 to non-phosphorylatable Alanine (T1108A) or phosphomimetic Glutamate (T1108E) did not affect the ability of MRCKβ to phosphorylate recombinant myosin light chain in vitro, or observably alter the subcellular localization of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged MRCKβ expressed in MDA MB 231 human breast cancer cells. Although phosphorylation of Thr1108 did not appear to contribute to MRCKβ function or regulation, the identification of this phosphorylation does make it possible to characterize whether this site could be used as a surrogate biomarker of kinase activity and inhibitor efficacy as we previously demonstrated for Ser 1003 in MRCKα.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergio Lilla
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sara Zanivan
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Michael F. Olson
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
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5
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de Sousa GR, Vieira GM, das Chagas PF, Pezuk JA, Brassesco MS. Should we keep rocking? Portraits from targeting Rho kinases in cancer. Pharmacol Res 2020; 160:105093. [PMID: 32726671 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer targeted therapy, either alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, could allow the survival of patients with neoplasms currently considered incurable. In recent years, the dysregulation of the Rho-associated coiled-coil kinases (ROCK1 and ROCK2) has been associated with increased metastasis and poorer patient survival in several tumor types, and due to their essential roles in regulating the cytoskeleton, have gained popularity and progressively been researched as targets for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs. Nevertheless, in a pediatric scenario, the influence of both isoforms on prognosis remains a controversial issue. In this review, we summarize the functions of ROCKs, compile their roles in human cancer and their value as prognostic factors in both, adult and pediatric cancer. Moreover, we provide the up-to-date advances on their pharmacological inhibition in pre-clinical models and clinical trials. Alternatively, we highlight and discuss detrimental effects of ROCK inhibition provoked not only by the action on off-targets, but most importantly, by pro-survival effects on cancer stem cells, dormant cells, and circulating tumor cells, along with cell-context or microenvironment-dependent contradictory responses. Together these drawbacks represent a risk for cancer cell dissemination and metastasis after anti-ROCK intervention, a caveat that should concern scientists and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - María Sol Brassesco
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
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6
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Unbekandt M, Belshaw S, Bower J, Clarke M, Cordes J, Crighton D, Croft DR, Drysdale MJ, Garnett MJ, Gill K, Gray C, Greenhalgh DA, Hall JAM, Konczal J, Lilla S, McArthur D, McConnell P, McDonald L, McGarry L, McKinnon H, McMenemy C, Mezna M, Morrice NA, Munro J, Naylor G, Rath N, Schüttelkopf AW, Sime M, Olson MF. Discovery of Potent and Selective MRCK Inhibitors with Therapeutic Effect on Skin Cancer. Cancer Res 2018; 78:2096-2114. [PMID: 29382705 PMCID: PMC5901721 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-2870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The myotonic dystrophy-related Cdc42-binding kinases MRCKα and MRCKβ contribute to the regulation of actin-myosin cytoskeleton organization and dynamics, acting in concert with the Rho-associated coiled-coil kinases ROCK1 and ROCK2. The absence of highly potent and selective MRCK inhibitors has resulted in relatively little knowledge of the potential roles of these kinases in cancer. Here, we report the discovery of the azaindole compounds BDP8900 and BDP9066 as potent and selective MRCK inhibitors that reduce substrate phosphorylation, leading to morphologic changes in cancer cells along with inhibition of their motility and invasive character. In over 750 human cancer cell lines tested, BDP8900 and BDP9066 displayed consistent antiproliferative effects with greatest activity in hematologic cancer cells. Mass spectrometry identified MRCKα S1003 as an autophosphorylation site, enabling development of a phosphorylation-sensitive antibody tool to report on MRCKα status in tumor specimens. In a two-stage chemical carcinogenesis model of murine squamous cell carcinoma, topical treatments reduced MRCKα S1003 autophosphorylation and skin papilloma outgrowth. In parallel work, we validated a phospho-selective antibody with the capability to monitor drug pharmacodynamics. Taken together, our findings establish an important oncogenic role for MRCK in cancer, and they offer an initial preclinical proof of concept for MRCK inhibition as a valid therapeutic strategy.Significance: The development of selective small-molecule inhibitors of the Cdc42-binding MRCK kinases reveals their essential roles in cancer cell viability, migration, and invasive character. Cancer Res; 78(8); 2096-114. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Unbekandt
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Belshaw
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Bower
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Maeve Clarke
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline Cordes
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Diane Crighton
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R Croft
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Drysdale
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew J Garnett
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Gill
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Gray
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David A Greenhalgh
- Section of Dermatology and Molecular Carcinogenesis, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - James A M Hall
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Konczal
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Lilla
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan McArthur
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia McConnell
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Laura McDonald
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn McGarry
- Screening Facility, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Heather McKinnon
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Carol McMenemy
- Section of Dermatology and Molecular Carcinogenesis, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mokdad Mezna
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas A Morrice
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - June Munro
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory Naylor
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Rath
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mairi Sime
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Michael F Olson
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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7
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Zamora-Sánchez CJ, Del Moral-Morales A, Hernández-Vega AM, Hansberg-Pastor V, Salido-Guadarrama I, Rodríguez-Dorantes M, Camacho-Arroyo I. Allopregnanolone Alters the Gene Expression Profile of Human Glioblastoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19030864. [PMID: 29543748 PMCID: PMC5877725 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19030864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most frequent and aggressive brain tumors. In these malignancies, progesterone (P4) promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion. The P4 metabolite allopregnanolone (3α-THP) similarly promotes cell proliferation in the U87 human GBM cell line. Here, we evaluated global changes in gene expression of U87 cells treated with 3α-THP, P4, and the 5α-reductase inhibitor, finasteride (F). 3α-THP modified the expression of 137 genes, while F changed 90. Besides, both steroids regulated the expression of 69 genes. After performing an over-representation analysis of gene ontology terms, we selected 10 genes whose products are cytoskeleton components, transcription factors, and proteins involved in the maintenance of DNA stability and replication to validate their expression changes by RT-qPCR. 3α-THP up-regulated six genes, two of them were also up-regulated by F. Two genes were up-regulated by P4 alone, however, such an effect was blocked by F when cells were treated with both steroids. The remaining genes were regulated by the combined treatments of 3α-THP + F or P4 + F. An in-silico analysis revealed that promoters of the six up-regulated genes by 3α-THP possess cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responsive elements along with CCAAT/Enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPα) binding sites. These findings suggest that P4 and 3α-THP regulate different sets of genes that participate in the growth of GBMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen J Zamora-Sánchez
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Aylin Del Moral-Morales
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Ana M Hernández-Vega
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Valeria Hansberg-Pastor
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | | | | | - Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
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8
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Vieira GM, Roberto GM, Lira RC, Engel EE, Tone LG, Brassesco MS. Prognostic value and functional role of ROCK2 in pediatric Ewing sarcoma. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:2296-2304. [PMID: 29434937 PMCID: PMC5777092 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7571] [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: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma (EWS) is a highly aggressive bone cancer that affects children and adolescents. Despite advances in multimodal management, 5-year event-free survival rates for patients presenting with metastases at diagnosis remain at 25%. As key regulators of actin organization, the Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinases, ROCK1 and ROCK2, have been associated with cancer dissemination and poorer prognosis. Recently, in vitro data indicating ROCK2 as a molecular target for the treatment of EWS has been presented. Nonetheless, a deeper exploration of the contribution of this kinase dysregulation in EWS is still necessary. In this regard, the present study aimed to evaluate the expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 in 23 pediatric tumor samples and to verify the prospect of using their pharmacological inhibition through functional assays. Our results showed positive immunostaining for ROCK1 and ROCK2 in the majority samples (75 and 65%, respectively). A significantly increased risk of incomplete remission in patients with positive immunostaining for ROCK2 was found (P=0.026), though no correlations with other prognostic features (huvos classification, FLI1/EWS status, relapse, metastasis or death) were observed. Associations with survival were merely suggestive. Apparent protein expression of both kinases was also found in EWS cell lines (SK-ES-1 and RD-ES). Treatments with selective ROCK inhibitors did not alter cell viability or migration in vitro. However, a significant increase in invasion was observed after treatment with SR3677 (ROCK2 inhibitor) and hydroxyfasudil (pan-inhibitor). Consequently, even though the majority of EWS samples included in our study showed positivity for ROCK1 and ROCK2, the lack of significant associations with prognosis and absence of appropriate responses to their inhibition in vitro does not support their prospective use as therapeutic targets for the treatment of this metastatic tumor. Larger cohort studies might provide more evidence on whether there is a specific role of ROCK kinases in EWS physiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Maciel Vieira
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Molinari Roberto
- Regional Blood Center, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Régia Caroline Lira
- Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of The Locomotor System, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Edgard Eduard Engel
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Luiz Gonzaga Tone
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - María Sol Brassesco
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-901, Brazil
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9
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Yang S, Zhao Y, Tian Y, Chen Y, Zhao X, Li Y, Zhao H, Chen X, Zhu L, Fang Z, Yao Y, Hu Z, Shen C. Common variants of ROCKs and the risk of hypertension, and stroke: Two case-control studies and a follow-up study in Chinese Han population. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1864:778-783. [PMID: 29246448 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The Rho kinases (ROCKs) are recognized as a critical regulator of vascular functions in cardiovascular disorders. It is crucial to illustrate the association of ROCKs genetic variation and hypertension and/or stroke events. Herein we aimed at investigating the association of ROCK1 and ROCK2 with hypertension and stroke in Chinese Han population. Seven tagSNPs at ROCK1 and ROCK2 were genotyped in a community-based case-control study consisting of 2012 hypertension cases and 2210 normotensive controls and 4128 subjects were further followed up. In stroke case-control study, 1471 ischemic stroke (IS) inpatients and 607 hemorrhagic stroke (HS) inpatients were collected, and 2443 age-matched controls were selected from the follow-up population. Risks were estimated as odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) by logistic and Cox regression. The community-based case-control study didn't identify any significant tagSNPs associated with hypertension even after adjustment for covariates. The follow-up analysis showed that rs1481280 of ROCK1 significantly associated with incident hypertension (HR=1.130, P=0.048) after adjusting for covariates. rs7589629 and rs978906 of ROCK2 were significantly associated with incident IS (HR=1.373, P=0.004; HR=1.284, P=0.026) respectively. In stroke case-control study, rs288980, rs1481280 and rs7237677 were significantly associated with IS and the adjusted ORs (P values) of additive model were 0.879 (0.010), 0.895 (0.036) and 0.857 (0.002) respectively. Furthermore, rs288980, rs7237677 and rs978906 were significantly associated with HS and the adjusted ORs (P values) of additive model were 0.857 (0.025), 0.848 (0.018) and 0.856 (0.027) respectively. Our findings suggest that ROCK1 and ROCK2 contribute to the genetic susceptibility of hypertension and stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Yixing People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, People's Hospital of Yixing City, Yixing 214200, China
| | - Yanping Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Yixing People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, People's Hospital of Yixing City, Yixing 214200, China
| | - Yuanrui Tian
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yanchun Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Yixing People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, People's Hospital of Yixing City, Yixing 214200, China
| | - Xianghai Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Yixing People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, People's Hospital of Yixing City, Yixing 214200, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Hailong Zhao
- Experimental Center, Affiliated Yixing People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, People's Hospital of Yixing City, Yixing 214200, China
| | - Xiaotian Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Lijun Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241001, China
| | - Zhengmei Fang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241001, China
| | - YingShui Yao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241001, China
| | - Zhibing Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Chong Shen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
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10
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Dourado MR, de Oliveira CE, Sawazaki-Calone I, Sundquist E, Coletta RD, Salo T. Clinicopathologic significance of ROCK2 expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas. J Oral Pathol Med 2017; 47:121-127. [PMID: 29052912 DOI: 10.1111/jop.12651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 2 (ROCK2) is an oncoprotein that controls cytoskeleton organization and acts as prognostic marker in different types of solid tumors. ROCK2 overexpression is also observed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), which suggests its relevance within the tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to access the prognostic value of ROCK2 in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) and its association with CAF density. METHODS Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 2 immunohistochemical analysis was applied in 93 OSCC samples from 2 centers in Brazil and Finland. The samples were also stained for isoform α of smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) to characterize the presence of CAF in the tumor stroma. Clinicopathological associations were analyzed using Chi-squared test, survival curves were constructed according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard model was applied for multivariate survival analysis. RESULTS Advanced clinical stage (P = .002) and increased density of CAF (P = .002) were significantly associated with high ROCK2 expression. The high expression of ROCK2 was also associated with shortened disease-specific survival (HR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.15-4.38, P = .04), but the association did not withstand the Cox multivariate survival analysis. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that high ROCK2 expression in OSCC is associated with advanced disease and follows the increase in CAF density, which may be important for tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio R Dourado
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil.,Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Carine E de Oliveira
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Iris Sawazaki-Calone
- Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Western Paraná State University, Cascavel, Brazil
| | - Elias Sundquist
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ricardo D Coletta
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Tuula Salo
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil.,Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Institute of Oral and Maxillofacial Disease, University of Helsinki, and HUSLAB, Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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11
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Amaya CN, Mitchell DC, Bryan BA. Rho kinase proteins display aberrant upregulation in vascular tumors and contribute to vascular tumor growth. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:485. [PMID: 28709411 PMCID: PMC5513090 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3470-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The serine/threonine protein kinases ROCK1 and 2 are key RhoA-mediated regulators of cell shape and cytoskeletal dynamics. These proteins perform multiple functions in vascular endothelial cell physiology and are attractive targets for cancer therapy based on their roles as oncogenes and metastatic promoters. Given their critical functions in both of these processes, we hypothesized that molecular targeting of ROCK proteins would be exceedingly effective against vascular tumors such as hemangiomas and angiosarcomas, which are neoplasms composed of aberrant endothelial cells. METHODS In this study, we compared ROCK1 and 2 protein expression in a large panel of benign and malignant vascular tumors to that of normal vasculature. We then utilized shRNA technology to knockdown the expression of ROCK1 and 2 in SVR tumor-forming vascular cells, and evaluated tumor size and proliferation rate in a xenograft model. Finally, we employed proteomics and metabolomics to assess how knockdown of the ROCK paralogs induced alterations in protein expression/phosphorylation and metabolite concentrations in the xenograft tumors. RESULTS Our findings revealed that ROCK1 was overexpressed in malignant vascular tumors such as hemangioendotheliomas and angiosarcomas, and ROCK2 was overexpressed in both benign and malignant vascular tumors including hemangiomas, hemangioendotheliomas, hemangiopericytomas, and angiosarcomas. shRNA-mediated knockdown of ROCK2, but not ROCK1, in xenograft vascular tumors significantly reduced tumor size and proliferative index compared to control tumors. Proteomics and metabolomics analysis of the xenograft tumors revealed both overlapping as well as unique roles for the ROCK paralogs in regulating signal transduction and metabolite concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these data indicate that ROCK proteins are overexpressed in diverse vascular tumors and suggest that specific targeting of ROCK2 proteins may show efficacy against malignant vascular tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa N Amaya
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, 5001 El Paso Drive, MSB1 Room 2111, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Dianne C Mitchell
- Minerva Genetics, 5130 Gateway Blvd East, Suite 315, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Brad A Bryan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, 5001 El Paso Drive, MSB1 Room 2111, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA. .,Minerva Genetics, 5130 Gateway Blvd East, Suite 315, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA.
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