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Sztankovics D, Moldvai D, Petővári G, Dankó T, Szalai F, Miyaura R, Varga V, Nagy N, Papp G, Pápay J, Krencz I, Sebestyén A. mTOR hyperactivity and RICTOR amplification as targets for personalized treatments in malignancies. Pathol Oncol Res 2024; 30:1611643. [PMID: 38515456 PMCID: PMC10954904 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2024.1611643] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The increasing knowledge of molecular alterations in malignancies, including mutations and regulatory failures in the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling pathway, highlights the importance of mTOR hyperactivity as a validated target in common and rare malignancies. This review summarises recent findings on the characterization and prognostic role of mTOR kinase complexes (mTORC1 and mTORC2) activity regarding differences in their function, structure, regulatory mechanisms, and inhibitor sensitivity. We have recently identified new tumor types with RICTOR (rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR) amplification and associated mTORC2 hyperactivity as useful potential targets for developing targeted therapies in lung cancer and other newly described malignancies. The activity of mTOR complexes is recommended to be assessed and considered in cancers before mTOR inhibitor therapy, as current first-generation mTOR inhibitors (rapamycin and analogs) can be ineffective in the presence of mTORC2 hyperactivity. We have introduced and proposed a marker panel to determine tissue characteristics of mTOR activity in biopsy specimens, patient materials, and cell lines. Ongoing phase trials of new inhibitors and combination therapies are promising in advanced-stage patients selected by genetic alterations, molecular markers, and/or protein expression changes in the mTOR signaling pathway. Hopefully, the summarized results, our findings, and the suggested characterization of mTOR activity will support therapeutic decisions.
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Jiang Y, Hu X, Wang Z, Zhang Q, Chen D, Zhao P. RPTOR mutation: a novel predictor of efficacious immunotherapy in melanoma. Invest New Drugs 2024; 42:60-69. [PMID: 38071684 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-023-01413-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Identifying biomarkers to evaluate the therapeutic effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is crucial. Regulatory Associated Protein of MTOR Complex 1 (RPTOR), one of the genes in the mTOR pathway, plays a role in regulating tumor progression. However, the connection between RPTOR mutation and the efficacy of ICIs in melanoma remains unclear. The data of ICIs-treated melanoma patients in discovery (n = 384) and validation (n = 320) cohorts were obtained from cBioPortal databases. The genomic data in the two cohorts was used to investigate the connection between RPTOR mutation and immunotherapy efficacy. The underlying mechanisms were explored based on data from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) cohort. Compared to melanoma patients with RPTOR wildtype (RPTOR-WT), RPTOR-mutation (RPTOR-Mut) patients achieved prolonged overall survival (OS) in both discovery cohort (median OS of 49.3 months vs. 21.7 months; HR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18-0.92; P = 0.026) and validation cohorts (not reached vs. 42.0 months; HR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.11-1.06; P = 0.049). RPTOR-Mut melanoma patients exhibited a higher objective response rate (ORR) than RPTOR-WT patients in the discovery cohort (55.0% vs. 29.0%, P = 0.022). RPTOR-Mut patients exhibited higher TMB than RPTOR-WT patients in both discovery and validation cohorts (P < 0.001). RPTOR-Mut melanoma patients had an increased number of DNA damage response (DDR) mutations in TCGA-SKCM cohort. Immune cell infiltration analysis suggested that activated CD4 memory T cells were more enriched in RPTOR-Mut tumors. RPTOR-Mut melanoma patients had higher expression levels of immune-related genes than the RPTOR-WT patients. Our results suggest that RPTOR mutation could serve as a predictor of effective immunotherapy for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Jiang
- Genetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xintong Hu
- Genetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Zhouyu Wang
- Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co.,Ltd, The State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co.,Ltd, The State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Dongsheng Chen
- Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co.,Ltd, The State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Nanjing, 210002, China.
| | - Pingwei Zhao
- General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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Sztankovics D, Krencz I, Moldvai D, Dankó T, Nagy Á, Nagy N, Bedics G, Rókusz A, Papp G, Tőkés AM, Pápay J, Sápi Z, Dezső K, Bödör C, Sebestyén A. Novel RICTOR amplification harbouring entities: FISH validation of RICTOR amplification in tumour tissue after next-generation sequencing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19610. [PMID: 37949943 PMCID: PMC10638425 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46927-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in mTOR signalling molecules, including RICTOR amplification, have been previously described in many cancers, particularly associated with poor prognosis. In this study, RICTOR copy number variation (CNV) results of diagnostic next-generation sequencing (NGS) were analysed in 420 various human malignant tissues. RICTOR amplification was tested by Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) and validated using the "gold standard" fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Additionally, the consequences of Rictor protein expression were also studied by immunohistochemistry. RICTOR amplification was presumed in 37 cases with CNV ≥ 3 by NGS, among these, 16 cases (16/420; 3.8%) could be validated by FISH, however, ddPCR confirmed only 11 RICTOR-amplified cases with lower sensitivity. Based on these, neither NGS nor ddPCR could replace traditional FISH in proof of RICTOR amplification. However, NGS could be beneficial to highlight potential RICTOR-amplified cases. The obtained results of the 14 different tumour types with FISH-validated RICTOR amplification demonstrate the importance of RICTOR amplification in a broad spectrum of tumours. The newly described RICTOR-amplified entities could initiate further collaborative studies with larger cohorts to analyse the prevalence of RICTOR amplification in rare diseases. Finally, our and further work could help to improve and expand future therapeutic opportunities for mTOR-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dániel Sztankovics
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Krencz
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dorottya Moldvai
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Titanilla Dankó
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ákos Nagy
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-SE Molecular Oncohematology Research Group, Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Noémi Nagy
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-SE Molecular Oncohematology Research Group, Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Bedics
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-SE Molecular Oncohematology Research Group, Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Rókusz
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergő Papp
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna-Mária Tőkés
- Department of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 93, 1091, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Pápay
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Sápi
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Dezső
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csaba Bödör
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-SE Molecular Oncohematology Research Group, Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Sebestyén
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 26, 1085, Budapest, Hungary.
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Ma S, Hu Y, Chen J, Wang X, Zhang C, Liu Q, Cai G, Wang H, Zheng J, Wang Q, Zhong L, Yang B, Zhou S, Liu Y, Han F, Wang J, Wang J. Marine fungus-derived alkaloid inhibits the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer via targeting mTORC1 signaling pathway. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 382:110618. [PMID: 37394161 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110618] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly aggressive and deadly disease worldwide. Given the limitations of current treatments, it is crucial to discover more effective antitumor drugs. Here, we demonstrated that arthpyrone M (Art-M), a novel 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone alkaloid derived from the marine fungus Arthrinium arundinis, inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of GC both in vivo and in vitro. The underlying mechanism of Art-M in GC cells was explored by RNA-sequencing analysis, qRT-PCR and immunoblotting, which demonstrated that Art-M significantly suppressed the mTORC1 pathway by decreasing phosphorylated mTOR and p70S6K. Moreover, Art-M feedback increased the activities of AKT and ERK. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting analysis revealed that Art-M induced dissociation of Raptor from mTOR and promoted Raptor degradation, leading to the inhibition of mTORC1 activity. Art-M was identified as a novel and potent mTORC1 antagonist. Furthermore, Art-M enhanced GC cell sensitivity to apatinib, and the combination of Art-M and apatinib showed better efficacy in the treatment of GC. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Art-M is a promising candidate drug for the treatment of GC by suppressing the mTORC1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
| | - Yiwei Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica/ Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Jianjiao Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wang
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, No.168, Litang Road, Changping District, Beijing, 102218, China
| | - Chenxi Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Qianqian Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Guodi Cai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Hong Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Jianwei Zheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Lin Zhong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
| | - Shengning Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China
| | - Yonghong Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica/ Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Fanghai Han
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China.
| | - Junjian Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.
| | - Junfeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica/ Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
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5
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Dhanalakshmi M, Sruthi D, Jinuraj KR, Das K, Dave S, Andal NM, Das J. Mannose: a potential saccharide candidate in disease management. Med Chem Res 2023; 32:391-408. [PMID: 36694836 PMCID: PMC9852811 DOI: 10.1007/s00044-023-03015-z] [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: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
There are a plethora of antibiotic resistance cases and humans are marching towards another big survival test of evolution along with drastic climate change and infectious diseases. Ever since the first antibiotic [penicillin], and the myriad of vaccines, we were privileged to escape many infectious disease threats. The survival technique of pathogens seems rapidly changing and sometimes mimicking our own systems in such a perfect manner that we are left unarmed against them. Apart from searching for natural alternatives, repurposing existing drugs more effectively is becoming a familiar approach to new therapeutic opportunities. The ingenious use of revolutionary artificial intelligence-enabled drug discovery techniques is coping with the speed of such alterations. D-Mannose is a great hope as a nutraceutical in drug discovery, against CDG, diabetes, obesity, lung disease, and autoimmune diseases and recent findings of anti-tumor activity make it interesting along with its role in drug delivery enhancing techniques. A very unique work done in the present investigation is the collection of data from the ChEMBL database and presenting the targetable proteins on pathogens as well as on humans. It shows Mannose has 50 targets and the majority of them are on human beings. The structure and conformation of certain monosaccharides have a decisive role in receptor pathogen interactions and here we attempt to review the multifaceted roles of Mannose sugar, its targets associated with different diseases, as a natural molecule having many success stories as a drug and future hope for disease management. Graphical abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Dhanalakshmi
- Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641046 Tamil Nadu India
| | - D. Sruthi
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012 India
| | - K. R. Jinuraj
- OSPF-NIAS Drug Discovery Lab, NIAS, IISc Campus, Bengaluru, 560012 India
| | - Kajari Das
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Science and Humanities, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-3, Odisha India
| | - Sushma Dave
- Department of Applied Sciences, JIET, Jodhpur, Rajasthan India
| | - N. Muthulakshmi Andal
- Department of Chemistry, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, 641004 Tamil Nadu India
| | - Jayashankar Das
- Valnizen Healthcare, Vile Parle West, Mumbai, 400056 Maharashtra India
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6
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Li L, Xia X, Luo Y, Zhu Y, Luo X, Yang B, Shang L. Prospects and hot spots for mammalian target of rapamycin in the field of neuroscience from 2002 to 2021. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:940265. [PMID: 36118114 PMCID: PMC9477085 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.940265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important molecule that regulates cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation in the nervous system. This study aimed to present the current study hot spots and predict the future development trend of the mTOR pathway in neurologic diseases using bibliometrics. We referred to the publications in the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer and CiteSpace programs were used to evaluate countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and citations showing the current study focus and predicting the future trend of mTOR in neuroscience. The search date ended on 19 June 2022, and there were 3,029 articles on mTOR in neuroscience from 2002 to 2021. Visual analysis showed that although the number of publications declined slightly in some years, the number of publications related to mTOR generally showed an upward trend, reaching its peak in 2021. It had the largest number of publications in the United States. Keywords and literature analysis showed that protein synthesis regulation, ischemia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation may be hot spots and future directions of the nervous system in mTOR studies. Recently, the most studied neurological diseases are Alzheimer’s disease (AD), tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), and depression, which are still worthy of further studies by researchers in the future. This can provide a useful reference for future researchers to study mTOR further in the field of neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Li
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Disease, Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaojing Xia
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Disease, Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yunfeng Luo
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Disease, Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuanting Zhu
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Disease, Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xuhong Luo
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Disease, Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Baolin Yang
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lei Shang
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Disease, Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Shang,
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Yang M, Lu Y, Piao W, Jin H. The Translational Regulation in mTOR Pathway. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060802. [PMID: 35740927 PMCID: PMC9221026 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a master role in cell proliferation and growth in response to insulin, amino acids, energy levels, and oxygen. mTOR can coordinate upstream signals with downstream effectors, including transcriptional and translational apparatuses to regulate fundamental cellular processes such as energy utilization, protein synthesis, autophagy, cell growth, and proliferation. Of the above, protein synthesis is highly energy-consuming; thus, mRNA translation is under the tight and immediate control of mTOR signaling. The translational regulation driven by mTOR signaling mainly relies on eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding protein (4E-BP), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K), and its downstream players, which are significant in rapid cellular response to environmental change. mTOR signaling not only controls the general mRNA translation, but preferential mRNA translation as well. This means that mTOR signaling shows the stronger selectivity to particular target mRNAs. Some evidence has supported the contribution of 4E-BP and La-related proteins 1 (LARP1) to such translational regulation. In this review, we summarize the mTOR pathway and mainly focus on mTOR-mediated mRNA translational regulation. We introduce the major components of mTOR signaling and their functions in translational control in a general or particular manner, and describe how the specificity of regulation is coordinated. Furthermore, we summarize recent research progress and propose additional ideas for reference. Because the mTOR pathway is on the center of cell growth and metabolism, comprehensively understanding this pathway will contribute to the therapy of related diseases, including cancers, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hua Jin
- Correspondence: (W.P.); (H.J.)
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Sebestyén A, Dankó T, Sztankovics D, Moldvai D, Raffay R, Cervi C, Krencz I, Zsiros V, Jeney A, Petővári G. The role of metabolic ecosystem in cancer progression — metabolic plasticity and mTOR hyperactivity in tumor tissues. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2022; 40:989-1033. [PMID: 35029792 PMCID: PMC8825419 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-10006-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite advancements in cancer management, tumor relapse and metastasis are associated with poor outcomes in many cancers. Over the past decade, oncogene-driven carcinogenesis, dysregulated cellular signaling networks, dynamic changes in the tissue microenvironment, epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, protein expression within regulatory pathways, and their part in tumor progression are described in several studies. However, the complexity of metabolic enzyme expression is considerably under evaluated. Alterations in cellular metabolism determine the individual phenotype and behavior of cells, which is a well-recognized hallmark of cancer progression, especially in the adaptation mechanisms underlying therapy resistance. In metabolic symbiosis, cells compete, communicate, and even feed each other, supervised by tumor cells. Metabolic reprogramming forms a unique fingerprint for each tumor tissue, depending on the cellular content and genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental alterations of the developing cancer. Based on its sensing and effector functions, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is considered the master regulator of metabolic adaptation. Moreover, mTOR kinase hyperactivity is associated with poor prognosis in various tumor types. In situ metabolic phenotyping in recent studies highlights the importance of metabolic plasticity, mTOR hyperactivity, and their role in tumor progression. In this review, we update recent developments in metabolic phenotyping of the cancer ecosystem, metabolic symbiosis, and plasticity which could provide new research directions in tumor biology. In addition, we suggest pathomorphological and analytical studies relating to metabolic alterations, mTOR activity, and their associations which are necessary to improve understanding of tumor heterogeneity and expand the therapeutic management of cancer.
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Raudenska M, Balvan J, Masarik M. Crosstalk between autophagy inhibitors and endosome-related secretory pathways: a challenge for autophagy-based treatment of solid cancers. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:140. [PMID: 34706732 PMCID: PMC8549397 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01423-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is best known for its role in organelle and protein turnover, cell quality control, and metabolism. The autophagic machinery has, however, also adapted to enable protein trafficking and unconventional secretory pathways so that organelles (such as autophagosomes and multivesicular bodies) delivering cargo to lysosomes for degradation can change their mission from fusion with lysosomes to fusion with the plasma membrane, followed by secretion of the cargo from the cell. Some factors with key signalling functions do not enter the conventional secretory pathway but can be secreted in an autophagy-mediated manner.Positive clinical results of some autophagy inhibitors are encouraging. Nevertheless, it is becoming clear that autophagy inhibition, even within the same cancer type, can affect cancer progression differently. Even next-generation inhibitors of autophagy can have significant non-specific effects, such as impacts on endosome-related secretory pathways and secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Many studies suggest that cancer cells release higher amounts of EVs compared to non-malignant cells, which makes the effect of autophagy inhibitors on EVs secretion highly important and attractive for anticancer therapy. In this review article, we discuss how different inhibitors of autophagy may influence the secretion of EVs and summarize the non-specific effects of autophagy inhibitors with a focus on endosome-related secretory pathways. Modulation of autophagy significantly impacts not only the quantity of EVs but also their content, which can have a deep impact on the resulting pro-tumourigenic or anticancer effect of autophagy inhibitors used in the antineoplastic treatment of solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Raudenska
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Balvan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Masarik
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prumyslova 595, CZ-252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic.
- Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Technická 5, CZ-166 28, Prague, Czech Republic.
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10
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Prognostic association of starvation-induced gene expression in head and neck cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19130. [PMID: 34580365 PMCID: PMC8476550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98544-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy-related genes (ARGs) have been implicated in the initiation and progression of malignant tumor promotion. To investigate the dynamics of expression of genes, including ARGs, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells were placed under serum-free conditions to induce growth retardation and autophagy, and these starved cells were subjected to transcriptome analysis. Among the 21 starvation-induced genes (SIGs) located in the autophagy, cell proliferation, and survival signaling pathways, we identified SIGs that showed prominent up-regulation or down-regulation in vitro. These included AGR2, BST2, CALR, CD22, DDIT3, FOXA2, HSPA5, PIWIL4, PYCR1, SGK3, and TRIB3. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database of HNSCC patients was used to examine the expression of up-regulated genes, and CALR, HSPA5, and TRIB3 were found to be highly expressed relative to solid normal tissue in cancer and the survival rate was reduced in patients with high expression. Protein-protein interaction analysis demonstrated the formation of a dense network of these genes. Cox regression analysis revealed that high expression of CALR, HSPA5, and TRIB3 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with TCGA-HNSCC. Therefore, these SIGs up-regulated under serum starvation may be molecular prognostic markers in HNSCC patients.
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Autophagy Modulators in Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115804. [PMID: 34071600 PMCID: PMC8199315 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a process of self-degradation that plays an important role in removing damaged proteins, organelles or cellular fragments from the cell. Under stressful conditions such as hypoxia, nutrient deficiency or chemotherapy, this process can also become the strategy for cell survival. Autophagy can be nonselective or selective in removing specific organelles, ribosomes, and protein aggregates, although the complete mechanisms that regulate aspects of selective autophagy are not fully understood. This review summarizes the most recent research into understanding the different types and mechanisms of autophagy. The relationship between apoptosis and autophagy on the level of molecular regulation of the expression of selected proteins such as p53, Bcl-2/Beclin 1, p62, Atg proteins, and caspases was discussed. Intensive studies have revealed a whole range of novel compounds with an anticancer activity that inhibit or activate regulatory pathways involved in autophagy. We focused on the presentation of compounds strongly affecting the autophagy process, with particular emphasis on those that are undergoing clinical and preclinical cancer research. Moreover, the target points, adverse effects and therapeutic schemes of autophagy inhibitors and activators are presented.
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