The NK1 receptor antagonist NKP608 inhibits proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells via Wnt signaling pathway

The Repurposing of Non-Peptide Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists as Antitumor Drugs: An Urgent Challenge for Aprepitant

The substance P (SP)/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) system is involved in cancer progression. NK-1R, activated by SP, promotes tumor cell proliferation and migration, angiogenesis, the Warburg effect, and the prevention of apoptosis. Tumor cells overexpress NK-1R, which influences their viability. A typical specific anticancer strategy using NK-1R antagonists, irrespective of the tumor type, is possible because these antagonists block all the effects mentioned above mediated by SP on cancer cells. This review will update the information regarding using NK-1R antagonists, particularly Aprepitant, as an anticancer drug. Aprepitant shows a broad-spectrum anticancer effect against many tumor types. Aprepitant alone or in combination therapy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy could reduce the sequelae and increase the cure rate and quality of life of patients with cancer. Current data open the door to new cancer research aimed at antitumor therapeutic strategies using Aprepitant. To achieve this goal, reprofiling the antiemetic Aprepitant as an anticancer drug is urgently needed.

Neuropeptides in Cancer: Friend and Foe?

Neuropeptides are small regulatory molecules found throughout the body, most notably in the nervous, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. They serve as neurotransmitters or hormones in the regulation of diverse physiological processes. Cancer cells escape normal growth control mechanisms by altering their expression of growth factors, receptors, or intracellular signals, and neuropeptides have recently been recognized as mitogens in cancer growth and development. Many neuropeptides and their receptors exist in multiple subtypes, coupling with different downstream signaling pathways and playing distinct roles in cancer progression. The consideration of neuropeptide/receptor systems as anticancer targets is already leading to new biological and diagnostic knowledge that has the potential to enhance the understanding and treatment of cancer. In this review, recent discoveries regarding neuropeptides in a wide range of cancers, emphasizing their mechanisms of action, signaling cascades, regulation, and therapeutic potential, are discussed. Current technologies used to manipulate and analyze neuropeptides/receptors are described. Applications of neuropeptide analogs and their receptor inhibitors in translational studies and radio-oncology are rapidly increasing, and the possibility for their integration into therapeutic trials and clinical treatment appears promising.

NK1 receptor antagonistic effect of 17-trifluoromethyl phenyl trinor prostaglandin F2α on the growth of human breast cancer cell line

BACKGROUND

A growing number of genetic and cancer biology investigations have found that the tachykinin NK1 Receptor plays an important role in cancer cell proliferation and survival. In this study. The present study was designed to evaluate the inhibition of cell growth by 17-trifluoromethyl phenyl trinor prostaglandin F2α with NK1 receptor in breast cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MDB-MB-468 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines were used in the experiment were blocked with PGF2a. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect. Cell cycle distribution, Caspase-3 enzyme activity, Bad and Bax protein expression through flow cytometry and molecular docking were carried out to analyze the NK1 receptor activity.

RESULTS

We found that PGF2a has a high binding affinity towards NK1 Receptor from molecular docking studies. It exerted cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against MDB-MB-468 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Our data found that treatment of cells with 17-TPGF2 resulted in cell death and showed that increased expression of Caspase-3, Bad, and Bax protein and further induces G2 cell cycle arrest.

CONCLUSION

Overall this study investigates the NK1 receptor antagonistic effect of PGF2 against breast cancer cell lines. However, further studies are needed to better characterize the application of NK1 receptor inhibition in clinical cancer treatment and cytotoxicity effect.

IFN-α/β-mediated NK2R expression is related to the malignancy of colon cancer cells

Neurokinin 2 receptor (NK2R), a G protein‐coupled receptor for neurokinin A (NKA), a tachykinin family member, regulates various physiological functions including pain response, relaxation of smooth muscle, dilation of blood vessels, and vascular permeability. However, the precise role and regulation of NK2R expression in cancer cells have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that high NK2R gene expression was correlated with the poor survival of colorectal cancer patients, and Interferon (IFN‐α/β) stimulation significantly enhanced NK2R gene expression level of colon cancer cells in a Janus kinas 1/2 (JAK 1/2)‐dependent manner. NKA stimulation augmented viability/proliferation and phosphorylation of Extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) levels of IFN‐α/β‐treated colon cancer cells and NK2R blockade by using a selective antagonist reduced the proliferation in vitro. Administration of an NK2R antagonist alone or combined with polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid, a synthetic analog of double‐stranded RNA, to CT26‐bearing mice significantly suppressed tumorigenesis. NK2R‐overexpressing CT26 cells showed enhanced tumorigenesis and metastatic colonization in both lung and liver after the inoculation into mice. These findings indicate that IFN‐α/β‐mediated NK2R expression is related to the malignancy of colon cancer cells, suggesting that NK2R blockade may be a promising strategy for colon cancers.

Carbohydrate-Based NK1R Antagonists with Broad-Spectrum Anticancer Activity

NK1R antagonists, investigated for the treatment of several pathologies, have shown encouraging results in the treatment of several cancers. In the present study, we report on the synthesis of carbohydrate-based NK1R antagonists and their evaluation as anticancer agents against a wide range of cancer cells. All of the prepared compounds, derived from either d-galactose or l-arabinose, have shown high affinity and NK1R antagonistic activity with a broad-spectrum anticancer activity and an important selectivity, comparable to Cisplatin. This strategy has allowed us to identify the galactosyl derivative 14α, as an interesting hit exhibiting significant NK1R antagonist effect (kinact 0.209 ± 0.103 μM) and high binding affinity for NK1R (IC50 = 50.4 nM, Ki = 22.4 nM by measuring the displacement of [125I] SP from NK1R). Interestingly, this galactosyl derivative has shown marked selective cytotoxic activity against 12 different types of cancer cell lines.

The Emerging Role of Nerves and Glia in Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

The influence of nerves on different types of cancers, including colorectal cancer, is increasingly recognized. The intestines are highly innervated, both from outside the intestines (extrinsic innervation) and by a nervous system of their own; the enteric nervous system (intrinsic innervation). Nerves and cancer cells have been described to communicate with each other, although the exact mechanism in colorectal cancer is not yet explored. Nerves can enhance cancer progression by secreting signaling molecules, and cancer cells are capable of stimulating nerve growth. This review summarizes the innervation of the intestines and current knowledge on the role of the nervous system in colorectal cancer. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of these new insights is discussed.

Abstract

The role of the nervous system as a contributor in the tumor microenvironment has been recognized in different cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). The gastrointestinal tract is a highly innervated organ system, which is not only innervated by the autonomic nervous system, but also contains an extensive nervous system of its own; the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS is important for gut function and homeostasis by regulating processes such as fluid absorption, blood flow, and gut motility. Dysfunction of the ENS has been linked with multiple gastrointestinal diseases, such as Hirschsprung disease and inflammatory bowel disease, and even with neurodegenerative disorders. How the extrinsic and intrinsic innervation of the gut contributes to CRC is not fully understood, although a mutual relationship between cancer cells and nerves has been described. Nerves enhance cancer progression through the secretion of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, and cancer cells are capable of stimulating nerve growth. This review summarizes and discusses the nervous system innervation of the gastrointestinal tract and how it can influence carcinogenesis, and vice versa. Lastly, the therapeutic potential of these novel insights is discussed.

Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists as Anticancer Drugs

Background::

Human tumor cells lines and tumor samples overexpress the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R). Substance P (SP), after binding to NK-1Rs, induces tumor cell proliferation, an antiapoptotic effect and promotes angiogenesis and the migration of cancer cells for invasion and metastasis.

Methods: :

In contrast, NK-1R antagonists block the previous pathophysiological actions mediated by SP. These antagonists promote the death of tumor cells by apoptosis. Peptide and non-peptide NK-1R antagonists have been reported.

Results: :

Peptide NK-1R antagonists show chemical modifications of the SP molecule (L-amino acids being replaced by D-amino acids), whereas non-peptide NK-1R antagonists include numerous compounds with different chemical compositions while showing similar stereochemical features (affinity for the NK- 1R). Currently, there are more than 300 NK-1R antagonists.

Conclusion::

In combination therapy with classic cytostatics, NK-1R antagonists have additive or synergic effects and minimize the side-effects of cytostatics. The effect of NK-1R antagonists as broad-spectrum anticancer drugs is reviewed and the use of these antagonists for the treatment of cancer is suggested.

The emerging role of substance P/neurokinin-1 receptor signaling pathways in growth and development of tumor cells

Tachykinins (TKs) include an evolutionarily conserved group of small bio-active peptides which possess a common carboxyl-terminal sequence, Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2. TKs also have been shown to have implications in different steps of carcinogenesis, such as angiogenesis, mitogenesis, metastasis, and other growth-related events. The biological actions of substance P (SP), as the most important member of the TK family, are mainly mediated through a G protein-coupled receptor named neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R). More recently, it has become clear that SP/NK1R system is involved in the initiation and activation of signaling pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Therefore, SP may contribute to triggering a variety of effector mechanisms including protein synthesis and a number of transcription factors that modulate the expression of genes involved in these processes. The overwhelming insights into the blockage of NK1R using specific antagonists could suggest a therapeutic approach in cancer therapy. In this review, we focus on evidence supporting an association between the signaling pathways of the SP/NK1R system and cancer cell proliferation and development.