Could age increase the strength of inverse association between ultraviolet B exposure and colorectal cancer?

Morusinol Extracted from Morus alba Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Autophagy via FOXO3a Nuclear Accumulation-Mediated Cholesterol Biosynthesis Obstruction in Colorectal Cancer

The incidence rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing significantly in recent years, and it is urgent to develop novel drugs that have more effects for its treatment. It has been reported that many molecules extracted from the root bark of Morus alba L. (also known as Cortex Mori) have antitumor activities. In our study, we identified morusinol as a promising anticancer agent by selecting from 30 molecules extracted from Morus alba L. We found that morusinol treatment suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of CRC cells in vitro. Besides this, we observed that morusinol induced cytoprotective autophagy. The GO analysis of differentially expressed genes from RNA-seq data showed that morusinol affected cholesterol metabolism. Then we found that key enzyme genes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway as well as the sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBF2) were significantly downregulated. Furthermore, additional cholesterol treatment reversed the anti-CRC effect of morusinol. Interestingly, we also found that morusinol treatment could promote forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) nuclear accumulation, which subsequently suppressed SREBF2 transcription. Then SREBF2-controlled cholesterol biosynthesis was blocked, resulting in the suppression of cell proliferation, promotion of apoptosis, and production of autophagy. The experiments in animal models also showed that morusinol significantly impeded tumor growth in mice models. Our results suggested that morusinol may be used as a candidate anticancer drug for the treatment of CRC.

Targeting beta-catenin signaling for prevention of colorectal cancer - Nutraceutical, drug, and dietary options

Progressive up-regulation of β-catenin signaling is very common in the transformation of colorectal epithelium to colorectal cancer (CRC). Practical measures for opposing such signaling hence have potential for preventing or slowing such transformation. cAMP/PKA activity in colon epithelium, as stimulated by COX-2-generated prostaglandins and β2-adrenergic signaling, boosts β-catenin activity, whereas cGMP/PKG signaling has the opposite effect. Bacterial generation of short-chain fatty acids (as supported by unrefined high-carbohydrate diets, berberine, and probiotics), dietary calcium, daily aspirin, antioxidants opposing cox-2 induction, and nicotine avoidance, can suppress cAMP production in colonic epithelium, whereas cGMP can be boosted via linaclotides, PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil or icariin, and likely high-dose biotin. Selective activation of estrogen receptor-β by soy isoflavones, support of adequate vitamin D receptor activity with UV exposure or supplemental vitamin D, and inhibition of CK2 activity with flavanols such as quercetin, can also oppose β-catenin signaling in colorectal epithelium. Secondary bile acids, the colonic production of which can be diminished by low-fat diets and berberine, can up-regulate β-catenin activity by down-regulating farnesoid X receptor expression. Stimulation of PI3K/Akt via insulin, IGF-I, TLR4, and EGFR receptors boosts β-catenin levels via inhibition of glycogen synthase-3β; plant-based diets can down-regulate insulin and IGF-I levels, exercise training and leanness can keep insulin low, anthocyanins and their key metabolite ferulic acid have potential for opposing TLR4 signaling, and silibinin is a direct antagonist for EGFR. Partially hydrolyzed phytate can oppose growth factor-mediated down-regulation of β-catenin by inhibiting Akt activation. Multifactorial strategies for safely opposing β-catenin signaling can be complemented with measures that diminish colonic mutagenesis and DNA hypomethylation - such as avoidance of heme-rich meat and charred or processed meats, consumption of phase II-inductive foods and nutraceuticals (e.g., Crucifera), and assurance of adequate folate status.

A patent review on efficient strategies for the total synthesis of pazopanib, regorafenib and lenvatinib as novel anti-angiogenesis receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors for cancer therapy

Angiogenesis is an important and interesting scientific subject in the area of malignant tumours. Current research importance and interest are directed in connection to blood microvessels in cancer cell proliferation, tumour growth, and metastasis. Tyrosine kinases have been intensely implicated as therapeutic targets that affect the angiogenic process in tumour growth. In the last decades, targeting angiogenesis has led to achievements in the therapy of different carcinomas by different mechanisms, such as the utilization of anti-angiogenic small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In the current review, we aim to track the advancements in the total synthesis of three receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (pazopanib, regorafenib and lenvatinib). This review surveys different synthetic routes for these three approved drugs (pazopanib, regorafenib and lenvatinib) which were previously published as patents (2014-2021). The purity of medicines is a very important factor during manufacturing so we have decided to review the purification process of these anticancer medicines as well. It should be noted that the different patents may have reported some procedures with different yields and purities for the synthesis of desired drug and their intermediates. In order to simplify the understanding of the contents of this review article, only the best results reported in each of these patents are reported for the synthesis of desired drug and their intermediates.

Interplay between Epigenetics and Cellular Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer

Cellular metabolism alterations have been recognized as one of the most predominant hallmarks of colorectal cancers (CRCs). It is precisely regulated by many oncogenic signaling pathways in all kinds of regulatory levels, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels. Among these regulatory factors, epigenetics play an essential role in the modulation of cellular metabolism. On the one hand, epigenetics can regulate cellular metabolism via directly controlling the transcription of genes encoding metabolic enzymes of transporters. On the other hand, epigenetics can regulate major transcriptional factors and signaling pathways that control the transcription of genes encoding metabolic enzymes or transporters, or affecting the translation, activation, stabilization, or translocation of metabolic enzymes or transporters. Interestingly, epigenetics can also be controlled by cellular metabolism. Metabolites not only directly influence epigenetic processes, but also affect the activity of epigenetic enzymes. Actually, both cellular metabolism pathways and epigenetic processes are controlled by enzymes. They are highly intertwined and are essential for oncogenesis and tumor development of CRCs. Therefore, they are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of CRCs. In recent years, both epigenetic and metabolism inhibitors are studied for clinical use to treat CRCs. In this review, we depict the interplay between epigenetics and cellular metabolism in CRCs and summarize the underlying molecular mechanisms and their potential applications for clinical therapy.