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Palmisiano N, Jeschke G, Wilde L, Alpdogan O, Carabasi M, Filicko-O’Hara J, Grosso D, Klumpp T, Martinez U, Wagner J, Carroll MP, Perl A, Kasner M. A Phase I Trial of Sirolimus with "7&3" Induction Chemotherapy in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5129. [PMID: 37958304 PMCID: PMC10650097 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy remains a primary treatment for younger AML patients, though many relapse. Data from our group have shown that highly phosphorylated S6 in blasts may predict response to sirolimus given with chemotherapy. We report the results of a phase I study of this combination in newly diagnosed AML and the pharmacodynamic analysis of pS6 before and after treatment. Subjects received sirolimus (12 mg on day 1, 4 mg daily, days 2-10), then idarubicin and cytarabine (days 4-10). Response was assessed at hematologic recovery or by day 42 using a modified IWG criteria. Fifty-five patients received sirolimus. Toxicity was similar to published 7 + 3 data, and 53% had high-, 27% intermediate-, and 20% favorable-risk disease. Forty-four percent of the high-risk patients entered into CR/CRp. Seventy-nine percent of the intermediate-risk subjects had a CR/CRp. All favorable-risk patients had a CR by day 42; 9/11 remained alive and in remission with a median follow-up of 660 days. Additionally, 41/55 patients had adequate samples for pharmacodynamic analysis. All patients demonstrated activation of S6 prior to therapy, in contrast to 67% seen in previous studies of relapsed AML. mTORC1 inhibition was observed in 66% of patients without enrichment among patients who achieved remission. We conclude that sirolimus and 7 + 3 is a well-tolerated and safe regimen. mTORC1 appears to be activated in almost all patients at diagnosis of AML. Inhibition of mTORC1 did not differ based on response, suggesting that AML cells may have redundant signaling pathways that regulate chemosensitivity in the presence of mTORC1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Palmisiano
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Grace Jeschke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA (A.P.)
| | - Lindsay Wilde
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Onder Alpdogan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Matthew Carabasi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Joanne Filicko-O’Hara
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Dolores Grosso
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Thomas Klumpp
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Ubaldo Martinez
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - John Wagner
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Martin P. Carroll
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA (A.P.)
| | - Alexander Perl
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA (A.P.)
| | - Margaret Kasner
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (L.W.); (O.A.); (J.F.-O.); (D.G.); (T.K.); (M.K.)
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Rico A, Valls A, Guembelzu G, Azpitarte M, Aiastui A, Zufiria M, Jaka O, López de Munain A, Sáenz A. Altered expression of proteins involved in metabolism in LGMDR1 muscle is lost in cell culture conditions. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:315. [PMID: 37817200 PMCID: PMC10565977 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02873-5] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R1 calpain 3-related (LGMDR1) is an autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy due to mutations in the CAPN3 gene. While the pathophysiology of this disease has not been clearly established yet, Wnt and mTOR signaling pathways impairment in LGMDR1 muscles has been reported. RESULTS A reduction in Akt phosphorylation ratio and upregulated expression of proteins implicated in glycolysis (HK-II) and in fructose and lactate transport (GLUT5 and MCT1) in LGMDR1 muscle was observed. In vitro analysis to establish mitochondrial and glycolytic functions of primary cultures were performed, however, no differences between control and patients were observed. Additionally, gene expression analysis showed a lack of correlation between primary myoblasts/myotubes and LGMDR1 muscle while skin fibroblasts and CD56- cells showed a slightly better correlation with muscle. FRZB gene was upregulated in all the analyzed cell types (except in myoblasts). CONCLUSIONS Proteins implicated in metabolism are deregulated in LGMDR1 patients' muscle. Obtained results evidence the limited usefulness of primary myoblasts/myotubes for LGMDR1 gene expression and metabolic studies. However, since FRZB is the only gene that showed upregulation in all the analyzed cell types it is suggested its role as a key regulator of the pathophysiology of the LGMDR1 muscle fiber. The Wnt signaling pathway inactivation, secondary to FRZB upregulation, and GLUT5 overexpression may participate in the impaired adipogenesis in LGMD1R patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabel Rico
- Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
- CIBERNED, CIBER, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Valls
- Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
- CIBERNED, CIBER, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Garazi Guembelzu
- Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
- CIBERNED, CIBER, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Margarita Azpitarte
- Cell Culture, Histology and Multidisciplinary 3D Printing Platform, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Ana Aiastui
- Department of Neurology, Donostialdea Integrated Health Organization, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Mónica Zufiria
- Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
- CIBERNED, CIBER, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oihane Jaka
- Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
- CIBERNED, CIBER, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adolfo López de Munain
- Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
- CIBERNED, CIBER, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Donostialdea Integrated Health Organization, San Sebastián, Spain
- Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, San Sebastián, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Amets Sáenz
- Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain.
- CIBERNED, CIBER, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.
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Decrotonylation of AKT1 promotes AKT1 phosphorylation and activation during myogenic differentiation. J Adv Res 2022:S2090-1232(22)00235-1. [PMID: 36265762 PMCID: PMC10403674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Myogenic differentiation plays an important role in pathophysiological processes including muscle injury and regeneration, as well as muscle atrophy. A novel type of posttranslational modification, crotonylation, has been reported to play a role in stem cell differentiation and disease. However, the role of crotonylation in myogenic differentiation has not been clarified. OBJECTIVES This study aims to find the role of crotonylation during myogenic differentiation and explore whether it is a potential target in myogenic dysfunction disease. METHODS C2C12 cell line and skeletal muscle mesenchymal progenitors of Mus musculus were used for myogenic process study in vitro, while muscle injury model of mice was used for in vivo muscle regeneration study. Mass spectrometry favored in discovery of potential target protein of crotonylation and its specific sites. RESULTS We confirmed the gradual decrease in total protein crotonylation level during muscle differentiation and found decreased crotonylation of AKT1, which facilitated an increase in AKT1 phosphorylation. Then we verified that crotonylation of AKT1 at specific sites weakened its binding with PDK1 and impaired its phosphorylation. In addition, we found that increased expression of the crotonylation eraser HDAC3 decreased AKT1 crotonylation levels during myogenic differentiation, jointly promoting myogenic differentiation. CONCLUSION Our study highlights the important role of decrotonylation of AKT1 in the process of muscle differentiation, where it aids the phosphorylation and activation of AKT1 and promotes myogenic differentiation. This is of great significance for exploring the pathophysiological process of muscle injury repair and sarcopenia.
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Pereira M, Vale N. Saquinavir: From HIV to COVID-19 and Cancer Treatment. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070944. [PMID: 35883499 PMCID: PMC9313067 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Saquinavir was the first protease inhibitor developed for HIV therapy, and it changed the standard of treatment for this disease to a combination of drugs that ultimately led to increased survival of this otherwise deadly condition. Inhibiting the HIV protease impedes the virus from maturing and replicating. With this in mind, since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, the research for already approved drugs (mainly antivirals) to repurpose for treatment of this disease has increased. Among the drugs tested, saquinavir showed promise in silico and in vitro in the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro). Another field for saquinavir repurposing has been in anticancer treatment, in which it has shown effects in vitro and in vivo in several types of cancer, from Kaposi carcinoma to neuroblastoma, demonstrating cytotoxicity, apoptosis, inhibition of cell invasion, and improvement of radiosensibility of cancer cells. Despite the lack of follow-up in clinical trials for cancer use, there has been a renewed interest in this drug recently due to COVID-19, which shows similar pharmacological pathways and has developed superior in silico models that can be translated to oncologic research. This could help further testing and future approval of saquinavir repurposing for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pereira
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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miR-193a-3p increases glycolysis under hypoxia by facilitating Akt phosphorylation and PFKFB3 activation in human macrophages. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:89. [PMID: 35072776 PMCID: PMC8786749 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04146-z] [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: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Human macrophages infiltrating hypoxic regions alter their metabolism, because oxygen becomes limited. Increased glycolysis is one of the most common cellular adaptations to hypoxia and mostly is regulated via hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and RAC-alpha serine/threonine–protein kinase (Akt) signaling, which gets activated under reduced oxygen content. We noticed that micro RNA (miR)-193a-3p enhances Akt phosphorylation at threonine 308 under hypoxia. In detail, miR-193a-3p suppresses the protein abundance of phosphatase PTC7 homolog (PPTC7), which in turn increases Akt phosphorylation. Lowering PPTC7 expression by siRNA or overexpressing miR-193a-3p increases Akt phosphorylation. Vice versa, inhibition of miR-193a-3p attenuates Akt activation and prevents a subsequent increase of glycolysis under hypoxia. Excluding effects of miR-193a-3p and Akt on HIF expression, stabilization, and function, we noticed phosphorylation of 6 phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase PFKFB3 in response to the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade. Inhibition of PFKFB3 blocked an increased glycolytic flux under hypoxia. Apparently, miR-193a-3p balances Akt phosphorylation and dephosphorylation by affecting PPTC7 protein amount. Suppression of PPTC7 increases Akt activation and phosphorylation of PFKFB3, which culminates in higher rates of glycolysis under hypoxia.
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Cao X, He W, Pang Y, Cao Y, Qin A. Redox-dependent and independent effects of thioredoxin interacting protein. Biol Chem 2021; 401:1215-1231. [PMID: 32845855 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) is an important physiological inhibitor of the thioredoxin (TXN) redox system in cells. Regulation of TXNIP expression and/or activity not only plays an important role in redox regulation but also exerts redox-independent physiological effects that exhibit direct pathophysiological consequences including elevated inflammatory response, aberrant glucose metabolism, cellular senescence and apoptosis, cellular immunity, and tumorigenesis. This review provides a brief overview of the current knowledge concerning the redox-dependent and independent roles of TXNIP and its relevance to various disease states. The implications for the therapeutic targeting of TXNIP will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiankun Cao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implants, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011,People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxin He
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implants, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011,People's Republic of China
| | - Yichuan Pang
- Department of Oral Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011,People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Orthopaedics and Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011,People's Republic of China
| | - An Qin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implants, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011,People's Republic of China
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Pham-Danis C, Gehrke S, Danis E, Rozhok AI, Daniels MW, Gao D, Collins C, Paola JTD, D'Alessandro A, DeGregori J. Urea Cycle Sustains Cellular Energetics upon EGFR Inhibition in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:1351-1364. [PMID: 30808730 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-1068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes engender unique metabolic phenotypes crucial to the survival of tumor cells. EGFR signaling has been linked to the rewiring of tumor metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have integrated the use of a functional genomics screen and metabolomics to identify metabolic vulnerabilities induced by EGFR inhibition. These studies reveal that following EGFR inhibition, EGFR-driven NSCLC cells become dependent on the urea cycle and, in particular, the urea cycle enzyme CPS1. Combining knockdown of CPS1 with EGFR inhibition further reduces cell proliferation and impedes cell-cycle progression. Profiling of the metabolome demonstrates that suppression of CPS1 potentiates the effects of EGFR inhibition on central carbon metabolism, pyrimidine biosynthesis, and arginine metabolism, coinciding with reduced glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. We show that EGFR inhibition and CPS1 knockdown lead to a decrease in arginine levels and pyrimidine derivatives, and the addition of exogenous pyrimidines partially rescues the impairment in cell growth. Finally, we show that high expression of CPS1 in lung adenocarcinomas correlated with worse patient prognosis in publicly available databases. These data collectively reveal that NSCLC cells have a greater dependency on the urea cycle to sustain central carbon metabolism, pyrimidine biosynthesis, and arginine metabolism to meet cellular energetics upon inhibition of EGFR. IMPLICATIONS: Our results reveal that the urea cycle may be a novel metabolic vulnerability in the context of EGFR inhibition, providing an opportunity to develop rational combination therapies with EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of EGFR-driven NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Pham-Danis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Sarah Gehrke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Andrii I Rozhok
- Department of Dermatology, Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Michael W Daniels
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Dexiang Gao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Christina Collins
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - José T Di Paola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado. .,Department of Dermatology, Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
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Liu D, You P, Luo Y, Yang M, Liu Y. Galangin Induces Apoptosis in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells Through Mitochondrial Pathway and Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Inhibition. Pharmacology 2018; 102:58-66. [PMID: 29879712 DOI: 10.1159/000489564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis induction by galangin against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. METHODS Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to assess cell viability and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. The expression level of apoptosis-related proteins (cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-8, cleaved-caspase-3, Bad, cleaved-Bid, Bcl-2, Bax, p-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K], and p-Akt) and cell cycle-related proteins (cyclin D3, cyclin B1, cyclin-dependent kinases CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, p21, p27, p53) were evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS Galangin increased the expression of Bax and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 in a concentration-dependent manner, inhibited cell viability, and induced apoptosis. Meanwhile, the expression of cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-8, caspase-3, Bid, and Bad increased significantly while the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt proteins decreased. In addition, the protein levels of cyclin D3, cyclin B1, CDK1, CDK2, and CDK4 were downregulated while the expression levels of p21, p27, and p53 were upregulated significantly. CONCLUSION Galangin could suppress the viability of MCF-7 cells and induce cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway and PI3K/Akt inhibition as well as cell cycle arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Resource Science and Chemistry in Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengtao You
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Resource Science and Chemistry in Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Luo
- Affiliated Renhe Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Min Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanwen Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei Key Laboratory of Resource Science and Chemistry in Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
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Alhawiti NM, Al Mahri S, Aziz MA, Malik SS, Mohammad S. TXNIP in Metabolic Regulation: Physiological Role and Therapeutic Outlook. Curr Drug Targets 2018; 18:1095-1103. [PMID: 28137209 PMCID: PMC5543564 DOI: 10.2174/1389450118666170130145514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background & Objective: Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) also known as thioredoxin binding protein-2 is a ubiquitously expressed protein that interacts and negatively regulates expression and function of Thioredoxin (TXN). Over the last few years, TXNIP has attracted considerable attention due to its wide-ranging functions impacting several aspects of energy metabolism. TXNIP acts as an important regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism through pleiotropic actions including regulation of β-cell function, hepatic glucose production, peripheral glucose uptake, adipogenesis, and substrate utilization. Overexpression of TXNIP in animal models has been shown to induce apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells, reduce insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues like skeletal muscle and adipose, and decrease energy expenditure. On the contrary, TXNIP deficient animals are protected from diet induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Summary: Consequently, targeting TXNIP is thought to offer novel therapeutic opportunity and TXNIP inhibitors have the potential to become a powerful therapeutic tool for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Here we summarize the current state of our understanding of TXNIP biology, highlight its role in metabolic regulation and raise critical questions that could help future research to exploit TXNIP as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naif Mohammad Alhawiti
- Experimental Medicine, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saeed Al Mahri
- Experimental Medicine, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Azhar Aziz
- Colorectal Cancer Research Program, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shuja Shafi Malik
- Experimental Medicine, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sameer Mohammad
- Experimental Medicine, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Ginsenoside Rg3 Suppresses Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:4306579. [PMID: 29750154 PMCID: PMC5884244 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4306579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone in children and the elderly. Recently, more and more researches have demonstrated that Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) is involved in chemotherapy resistance in many cancer, making it a promising Chinese herbal monomer for oncotherapy. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of Rg3 in human osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63, U-2OS, and SaOS-2). Cell proliferation was measured by CCK8 assay. The migration of cells was examined using the scratch assay method. Quantification of apoptosis was assessed further by flow cytometry. In addition, the expression of apoptosis-related genes (caspase9, caspase3, Bcl2, and Bax) were investigated using RT-PCR. We further investigated the protein level expression of Bcl 2, cleaved-caspase3, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway factors by Western blot assay. Our results revealed that Rg3 inhibited the proliferation and migration of human osteosarcoma cells and induced apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Western blot results showed that Rg3 reduced the protein expression of Bcl2 and PI3K/AKT/mTORbut increased the levels of cleaved-caspase3. Therefore, we hypothesized Rg3 inhibits the proliferation of osteosarcoma cell line and induces their apoptosis by affecting apoptosis-related genes (Bcl2, caspase3) as well as the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. To conclude, Rg3 is a new therapeutic agent against osteosarcoma.
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Relationship between apoptosis and survival molecules in human cumulus cells as markers of oocyte competence. ZYGOTE 2017; 25:583-591. [PMID: 28786369 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199417000429] [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] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
To select from a single patient the best oocytes able to reach the blastocyst stage, we searched for valuable markers for oocytes competence. We evaluated the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and the level of some survival molecules, such as AKT, pAKT and pERK1/2, in individual cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COC). The study included normo-responder women. The average age of the patients was 34.3. DFI in cumulus cells was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay in situ. AKT, pAKT and pERK1/2 were measured by immunological assay and densitometric analysis of fluorescent signals using NIS-Elements BR 3.10 image software. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA SE/14.1. The study focused on 53 patients involved after informed consent. Out of 255 MII oocytes, 197 were fertilized and the derived embryos had the following evolution: 117 completed the development to blastocyst and were transferred to uterus; 57 were vitrified at the blastocyst stage; and 23 were arrested during in vitro culture at different stages of cleavage. We found a significant statistical difference between the DFI of cumulus cells of the arrested embryos and the transferred blastocysts (P = 0.004), confirming that DFI could be considered as a valuable marker of oocyte competence. In addition, the pAKT/DFI ratio was higher in cumulus cells of oocytes able to produce blastocysts, indicating that DFI is significantly lower when pAKT is higher (P = 0.043). This study demonstrates for the first time that the relationship between apoptosis and survival molecules can be used as a marker to select the best oocytes.
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12
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Ippolito JE, Yim AKY, Luo J, Chinnaiyan P, Rubin JB. Sexual dimorphism in glioma glycolysis underlies sex differences in survival. JCI Insight 2017; 2:92142. [PMID: 28768910 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.92142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular bases for sex differences in cancer remain undefined and how to incorporate them into risk stratification remains undetermined. Given sex differences in metabolism and the inverse correlation between fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and survival, we hypothesized that glycolytic phenotyping would improve glioma subtyping. Using retrospectively acquired lower-grade glioma (LGG) transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we discovered male-specific decreased survival resulting from glycolytic gene overexpression. Patients within this high-glycolytic group showed significant differences in the presence of key genomic alterations (i.e., 1p/19q codeletion, CIC, EGFR, NF1, PTEN, FUBP1, and IDH mutations) compared with the low-glycolytic group. Although glycolytic stratification defined poor prognostic males independent of grade, histology, TP53, and ATRX mutation status, we unexpectedly found that females with high-glycolytic gene expression and wild-type IDH survived longer than all other wild-type patients. Validation with an independent metabolomics dataset from grade 2 gliomas determined that glycolytic metabolites selectively stratified males and also uncovered a potential sexual dimorphism in pyruvate metabolism. These findings identify a potential synergy between patient sex, tumor metabolism, and genomic alterations in determining outcome for glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jingqin Luo
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, and.,Siteman Cancer Center Biostatistics Core, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Prakash Chinnaiyan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health and Oakland University School of Medicine, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
| | - Joshua B Rubin
- Department of Pediatrics, and.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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13
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Yuan R, Zhu X, Wang G, Li S, Ao P. Cancer as robust intrinsic state shaped by evolution: a key issues review. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2017; 80:042701. [PMID: 28212112 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/aa538e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease: its pathology cannot be properly understood in terms of independent players-genes, proteins, molecular pathways, or their simple combinations. This is similar to many-body physics of a condensed phase that many important properties are not determined by a single atom or molecule. The rapidly accumulating large 'omics' data also require a new mechanistic and global underpinning to organize for rationalizing cancer complexity. A unifying and quantitative theory was proposed by some of the present authors that cancer is a robust state formed by the endogenous molecular-cellular network, which is evolutionarily built for the developmental processes and physiological functions. Cancer state is not optimized for the whole organism. The discovery of crucial players in cancer, together with their developmental and physiological roles, in turn, suggests the existence of a hierarchical structure within molecular biology systems. Such a structure enables a decision network to be constructed from experimental knowledge. By examining the nonlinear stochastic dynamics of the network, robust states corresponding to normal physiological and abnormal pathological phenotypes, including cancer, emerge naturally. The nonlinear dynamical model of the network leads to a more encompassing understanding than the prevailing linear-additive thinking in cancer research. So far, this theory has been applied to prostate, hepatocellular, gastric cancers and acute promyelocytic leukemia with initial success. It may offer an example of carrying physics inquiring spirit beyond its traditional domain: while quantitative approaches can address individual cases, however there must be general rules/laws to be discovered in biology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoshi Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
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14
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Habib T, Sadoun A, Nader N, Suzuki S, Liu W, Jithesh PV, Kino T. AKT1 has dual actions on the glucocorticoid receptor by cooperating with 14-3-3. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017; 439:431-443. [PMID: 27717743 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 10/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are important therapeutic compounds for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). AKT1 or the protein kinase B is frequently activated in ALL, and contributes to the development of glucocorticoid resistance. We examined impact of AKT1 on glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-induced transcriptional activity in cooperation with phospho-serine/threonine-binding protein 14-3-3. AKT1 has two distinct actions on GR transcriptional activity, one through segregation of GR in the cytoplasm by phosphorylating GR at Ser-134 and subsequent association of 14-3-3, and the other through direct modulation of GR transcriptional activity in the nucleus. For the latter, AKT1 and 14-3-3 are attracted to DNA-bound GR, accompanied by AKT1-dependent p300 phosphorylation, H3S10 phosphorylation and H3K14 acetylation at the DNA site. These two actions of AKT1 regulate distinct sets of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. Our results suggest that specific inhibition of the AKT1/14-3-3 activity on the cytoplasmic retention of GR may be a promising target for treating glucocorticoid resistance observed in ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanwir Habib
- Division of System Biology, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Ameera Sadoun
- Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Nancy Nader
- Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell University in Qatar, PO Box 24144, Al Luqta Street, Education City South Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shigeru Suzuki
- Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 10, CRC, Rm 1-3140, 10 Center Drive MSC 1109, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan.
| | - Wei Liu
- Division of Genomic Core, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Puthen V Jithesh
- Division of System Biology, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Tomoshige Kino
- Division of Translational Medicine, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Out Patient Clinic, PO Box 26999, Al Luqta Street, Education City North Campus, Doha, Qatar; Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 10, CRC, Rm 1-3140, 10 Center Drive MSC 1109, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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15
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Ho N, Morrison J, Silva A, Coomber BL. The effect of 3-bromopyruvate on human colorectal cancer cells is dependent on glucose concentration but not hexokinase II expression. Biosci Rep 2016; 36:e00299. [PMID: 26740252 PMCID: PMC4759612 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20150267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells heavily rely on the glycolytic pathway regardless of oxygen tension. Hexokinase II (HKII) catalyses the first irreversible step of glycolysis and is often overexpressed in cancer cells. 3-Bromopyruvate (3BP) has been shown to primarily target HKII, and is a promising anti-cancer compound capable of altering critical metabolic pathways in cancer cells. Abnormal vasculature within tumours leads to heterogeneous microenvironments, including glucose availability, which may affect drug sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which 3BP acts on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells with focus on the HKII/Akt signalling axis. High HKII-expressing cell lines were more sensitive to 3BP than low HKII-expressing cells. 3BP-induced rapid Akt phosphorylation at site Thr-308 and cell death via both apoptotic and necrotic mechanisms. Cells grown under lower glucose concentrations showed greater resistance towards 3BP. Cells with HKII knockdown showed no changes in 3BP sensitivity, suggesting the effects of 3BP are independent of HKII expression. These results emphasize the importance of the tumour microenvironment and glucose availability when considering therapeutic approaches involving metabolic modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Ho
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1
| | - Jodi Morrison
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1
| | - Andreza Silva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1
| | - Brenda L Coomber
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1
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16
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Effect of Dietary ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid DHA on Glycolytic Enzymes and Warburg Phenotypes in Cancer. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:137097. [PMID: 26339588 PMCID: PMC4538308 DOI: 10.1155/2015/137097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) are a class of lipids that has been shown to have beneficial effects on some chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory disorders, diabetes, and cancer. Among ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has received particular attention for its antiproliferative, proapoptotic, antiangiogenetic, anti-invasion, and antimetastatic properties, even though the involved molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Recently, some in vitro studies showed that DHA promotes the inhibition of glycolytic enzymes and the Warburg phenotype. For example, it was shown that in breast cancer cell lines the modulation of bioenergetic functions is due to the capacity of DHA to activate the AMPK signalling and negatively regulate the HIF-1α functions. Taking into account these considerations, this review is focused on current knowledge concerning the role of DHA in interfering with cancer cell metabolism; this could be considered a further mechanism by which DHA inhibits cancer cell survival and progression.
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17
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Kalra J, Dragowska WH, Bally MB. Using Pharmacokinetic Profiles and Digital Quantification of Stained Tissue Microarrays as a Medium-Throughput, Quantitative Method for Measuring the Kinetics of Early Signaling Changes Following Integrin-Linked Kinase Inhibition in an In Vivo Model of Cancer. J Histochem Cytochem 2015; 63:691-709. [PMID: 25940338 PMCID: PMC4804727 DOI: 10.1369/0022155415587978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A small molecule inhibitor (QLT0267) targeting integrin-linked kinase is able to slow breast tumor growth in vivo; however, the mechanism of action remains unknown. Understanding how targeting molecules involved in intersecting signaling pathways impact disease is challenging. To facilitate this understanding, we used tumor tissue microarrays (TMA) and digital image analysis for quantification of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in order to investigate how QLT0267 affects signaling pathways in an orthotopic model of breast cancer over time. Female NCR nude mice were inoculated with luciferase-positive human breast tumor cells (LCC6Luc) and tumor growth was assessed by bioluminescent imaging (BLI). The plasma levels of QLT0267 were determined by LC-MS/MS methods following oral dosing of QLT0267 (200 mg/kg). A TMA was constructed using tumor tissue collected at 2, 4, 6, 24, 78 and 168 hr after treatment. IHC methods were used to assess changes in ILK-related signaling. The TMA was digitized, and Aperio ScanScope and ImageScope software were used to provide semi-quantitative assessments of staining levels. Using medium-throughput IHC quantitation, we show that ILK targeting by QLT0267 in vivo influences tumor physiology through transient changes in pathways involving AKT, GSK-3 and TWIST accompanied by the translocation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD and an increase in Caspase-3 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Kalra
- Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency, British Columbia, Canada (JK,WHD,MBB),Langara College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (JK)
| | - Weislawa H Dragowska
- Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency, British Columbia, Canada (JK,WHD,MBB)
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency, British Columbia, Canada (JK,WHD,MBB),Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (MBB),Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (MBB),Faculty of Pharm. Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (MBB),Center for Drug Research and Development Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (MBB)
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18
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Vasou O, Skagias L, Anastasia M, Paulina A, Patsouris E, Politi E. Detection of pAkt protein in imprint cytology of invasive breast cancer: Correlation with HER2/neu, hormone receptors, and other clinicopathological variables. Cytojournal 2015; 12:6. [PMID: 25838835 PMCID: PMC4382762 DOI: 10.4103/1742-6413.153965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Akt is a serine/threonine protein kinase and has emerged as a crucial regulator of widely divergent cellular processes, including apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism. Activation of Akt/protein kinase B has been positively associated with human epidermal growth-factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu overexpression in breast carcinoma and a worse outcome among endocrine treated patients. The Akt signaling pathway currently attracts considerable attention as a new target for effective therapeutic strategies. We therefore investigated the relationship between activation of Akt and clinicopathologic variables including hormone receptor and HER2/neu status. Methods: Archival tumor tissues from 100 patients with invasive breast carcinoma were analyzed by immunocytochemistry. This study describes the results of immunocytochemical pAkt expression in breast carcinoma imprints, prepared from cut surfaces of freshly removed tumors. Both nuclear and cytoplasmic expressions were evaluated for pAkt. Results: Nuclear and cytoplasmic positive scores of 72% (72/100) and 42% (42/100), respectively, were found. Coexistence of nuclear and cytoplasmic staining was observed in 32 cases (32/100). Nuclear positive staining correlated with HER2/neu overexpression (P = 0.043) and was significantly associated with positive involvement of axillary lymph nodes (P = 0.013). No correlation was found between cytoplasmic pAkt rate and clinicopathological parameters, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or HER2/neu expression. Conclusions: pAkt expression can be evaluated in cytological material and may add valuable information to current prognostic models for breast cancer. pAkt overexpression appears to be linked with potentially aggressive tumor phenotype in invasive breast carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olympia Vasou
- Address: Department of Cytopathology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens, Greece, Europe
| | - Lazaros Skagias
- Department of Cytopathology, 424 General Army Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece, Europe
| | - Margariti Anastasia
- Department of Pathology, Mitera General Hospital and Maternity Clinic, Athens, Greece, Europe
| | - Athanasiadou Paulina
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece, Europe
| | - Efstratios Patsouris
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece, Europe
| | - Ekaterini Politi
- Address: Department of Cytopathology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens, Greece, Europe
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19
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P7170: A Novel Molecule with Unique Profile of mTORC1/C2 and Activin Receptor-like Kinase 1 Inhibition Leading to Antitumor and Antiangiogenic Activity. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:1095-106. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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20
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Scherbakov AM, Krasil'nikov MA, Kushlinskii NE. Molecular mechanisms of hormone resistance of breast cancer. Bull Exp Biol Med 2015; 155:384-95. [PMID: 24137610 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-013-2160-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
More than 70% malignant mammary tumors contain steroid hormone receptors; this suggests the possibility of hormone therapy in the majority of patients with breast cancer (BC). The main cause of inefficiency of hormone therapy in BC is hormone resistance (tumor resistance to hormonal cytostatics). Here we discuss the main mechanisms of hormone resistance of BC and the mechanisms underlying the formation of hormone resistance of the tumors are analyzed at the molecular level. The data on the signal pathways of estrogen receptors (ER), the key regulators of BC cell proliferation, are presented. The most important factors of BC hormone resistance are: high activity/expression of receptor tyrosine kinases; high activity of proteins regulating cell defense mechanisms (Akt PI3K, mTOR); changes in the activities of cell cycle regulator proteins (Myc, c-Fos, Cyclin D1). Our experiments have demonstrated that estrogen-independent BC cell growth is supported by VEGF/VEGFR2 and EGF/EGFR mitogenic signal pathways. Our data indicate that NF-kappaB transcription factor is directly involved in the regulation of hormone-resistant BC cell growth and survival, while NF-kappaB suppression determines cell sensitivity to apoptotic activity of antitumor compounds. On the whole, the results indicate good prospects of using EGFR, HER-2/neu, mTOR, VEGFR, PI3K/Akt molecular pathways as targets for BC therapy, including therapy for BC resistant forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Scherbakov
- N. N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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21
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Alfarouk KO, Verduzco D, Rauch C, Muddathir AK, Adil HHB, Elhassan GO, Ibrahim ME, David Polo Orozco J, Cardone RA, Reshkin SJ, Harguindey S. Glycolysis, tumor metabolism, cancer growth and dissemination. A new pH-based etiopathogenic perspective and therapeutic approach to an old cancer question. Oncoscience 2014; 1:777-802. [PMID: 25621294 PMCID: PMC4303887 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells acquire an unusual glycolytic behavior relative, to a large extent, to their intracellular alkaline pH (pHi). This effect is part of the metabolic alterations found in most, if not all, cancer cells to deal with unfavorable conditions, mainly hypoxia and low nutrient supply, in order to preserve its evolutionary trajectory with the production of lactate after ten steps of glycolysis. Thus, cancer cells reprogram their cellular metabolism in a way that gives them their evolutionary and thermodynamic advantage. Tumors exist within a highly heterogeneous microenvironment and cancer cells survive within any of the different habitats that lie within tumors thanks to the overexpression of different membrane-bound proton transporters. This creates a highly abnormal and selective proton reversal in cancer cells and tissues that is involved in local cancer growth and in the metastatic process. Because of this environmental heterogeneity, cancer cells within one part of the tumor may have a different genotype and phenotype than within another part. This phenomenon has frustrated the potential of single-target therapy of this type of reductionist therapeutic approach over the last decades. Here, we present a detailed biochemical framework on every step of tumor glycolysis and then proposea new paradigm and therapeutic strategy based upon the dynamics of the hydrogen ion in cancer cells and tissues in order to overcome the old paradigm of one enzyme-one target approach to cancer treatment. Finally, a new and integral explanation of the Warburg effect is advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cyril Rauch
- University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | - Gamal O. Elhassan
- Unizah Pharmacy Collage, Qassim University, Unizah, AL-Qassim, King of Saudi Arabia
- Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman, Sudan
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22
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Abstract
Probiotics are alive nonpathogenic microorganisms present in the gut microbiota that confer benefits to the host for his health. They act through molecular and cellular mechanisms that contrast pathogen bacteria adhesion, enhance innate immunity, decrease pathogen-induced inflammation, and promote intestinal epithelial cell survival, barrier function, and protective responses. Some of these beneficial effects result to be determined by secreted probiotic-derived factors that recently have been identified as "postbiotic" mediators. They have been reported for several probiotic strains but most available literature concerns Lactobacilli. In this review, we focus on the reported actions of several secretory products of different Lactobacillus species highlighting the available mechanistic data. The identification of soluble factors mediating the beneficial effects of probiotics may present an opportunity not only to understand their fine mechanisms of action, but also to develop effective pharmacological strategies that could integrate the action of treatments with live bacteria.
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23
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Roberts DJ, Miyamoto S. Hexokinase II integrates energy metabolism and cellular protection: Akting on mitochondria and TORCing to autophagy. Cell Death Differ 2014; 22:248-57. [PMID: 25323588 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2014.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Revised: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence reveals that metabolic and cell survival pathways are closely related, sharing common signaling molecules. Hexokinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose, the rate-limiting first step of glycolysis. Hexokinase II (HK-II) is a predominant isoform in insulin-sensitive tissues such as heart, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissues. It is also upregulated in many types of tumors associated with enhanced aerobic glycolysis in tumor cells, the Warburg effect. In addition to the fundamental role in glycolysis, HK-II is increasingly recognized as a component of a survival signaling nexus. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the protective role of HK-II, controlling cellular growth, preventing mitochondrial death pathway and enhancing autophagy, with a particular focus on the interaction between HK-II and Akt/mTOR pathway to integrate metabolic status with the control of cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Roberts
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - S Miyamoto
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
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24
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Edling CE, Selvaggi F, Ghonaim R, Maffucci T, Falasca M. Caffeine and the analog CGS 15943 inhibit cancer cell growth by targeting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Cancer Biol Ther 2014; 15:524-32. [PMID: 24521981 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.28018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Caffeine is a naturally occurring methylxanthine that acts as a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist. Epidemiological studies demonstrated habitual coffee drinking to be significantly associated with liver cancer survival. We aimed to investigate the effects of caffeine and its analog CGS 15943 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pancreatic cancer adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We demonstrate that caffeine and CGS 15943 block proliferation in HCC and PDAC cell lines by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Importantly a kinase profiling assay reveals that CGS 15943 targets specifically the catalytic subunit of the class IB PI3K isoform (p110γ). These data give mechanistic insight into the action of caffeine and its analogs and they identify these compounds as promising lead compounds to develop drugs that can specifically target this PI3K isoform whose key role in cancer progression is emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Edling
- Queen Mary University of London; Blizard Institute; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Inositide Signalling Group; London, UK
| | - Federico Selvaggi
- Queen Mary University of London; Blizard Institute; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Inositide Signalling Group; London, UK
| | - Ragheda Ghonaim
- Queen Mary University of London; Blizard Institute; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Inositide Signalling Group; London, UK
| | - Tania Maffucci
- Queen Mary University of London; Blizard Institute; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Inositide Signalling Group; London, UK
| | - Marco Falasca
- Queen Mary University of London; Blizard Institute; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; Inositide Signalling Group; London, UK
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25
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Bertrand J, Liagre B, Ghezali L, Beneytout JL, Leger DY. Cyclooxygenase-2 positively regulates Akt signalling and enhances survival of erythroleukemia cells exposed to anticancer agents. Apoptosis 2013; 18:836-50. [PMID: 23435965 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-013-0825-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been found to be highly expressed in many types of cancers and to contribute to tumorigenesis via the inhibition of apoptosis, increased angiogenesis and invasiveness. In hematological malignancies, COX-2 expression was found to correlate with poor patient prognosis. However, the exact role of COX-2 expression in these malignancies, and particularly in erythroleukemias, remains unclear. The aim of this work was to describe and understand the relationships between COX-2 expression and apoptosis rate in erythroleukemia cells after apoptosis induction by several anticancer agents. We used three different erythroleukemia cell lines in which COX-2 expression was modulated by transfection with either COX-2 siRNA or COX-2 cDNA. These cellular models were then treated with apoptosis inducers and apoptosis onset and intensity was followed. Cell signalling was evaluated in unstimulated transfected cells or after apoptosis induction. We found that COX-2 inhibition rendered erythroleukemia cells more sensitive to apoptosis induction and that in cells overexpressing COX-2 apoptosis induction was reduced. We demonstrated that COX-2 inhibition decreased the pro-survival Akt signalling and activated the negative regulator of Akt signalling, phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN). Conversely, in COX-2 overexpressing cells, Akt signalling was activated and PTEN was inhibited. In these last cells, inhibition of casein kinase 2 or Akt signalling restored sensitivity to apoptotic agents. Our findings highlighted that COX-2 can positively regulate Akt signalling mostly through PTEN inhibition, partly via casein kinase 2 activation, and enhances survival of erythroleukemia cells exposed to anticancer agents.
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MESH Headings
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Apoptosis/genetics
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Arsenicals/pharmacology
- Casein Kinase II/genetics
- Casein Kinase II/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics
- Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism
- Etoposide/pharmacology
- Fluorouracil/pharmacology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/pathology
- Oxides/pharmacology
- PTEN Phosphohydrolase/genetics
- PTEN Phosphohydrolase/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Staurosporine/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Bertrand
- FR 3503 GEIST, EA 1069 Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, GDR CNRS 3049, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Limoges, 2 rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025 Limoges Cedex, France
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O'Hurley G, Daly E, O'Grady A, Cummins R, Quinn C, Flanagan L, Pierce A, Fan Y, Lynn MA, Rafferty M, Fitzgerald D, Pontén F, Duffy MJ, Jirström K, Kay EW, Gallagher WM. Investigation of molecular alterations of AKT-3 in triple-negative breast cancer. Histopathology 2013; 64:660-70. [PMID: 24138071 DOI: 10.1111/his.12313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is responsible for a disproportionate number of breast cancer (BC) deaths, owing to its intrinsic aggressiveness and a lack of treatment options, especially targeted therapies. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of better targeted treatments for TNBC. Molecular alteration of AKT-3 was previously reported in oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC. AKT-3 has also been suggested to play a role in hormone-unresponsive BC. The aim of this study was to investigate molecular alterations of AKT-3 in TNBC, to perform associated survival analysis, and to compare these findings with the incidence of AKT-3 molecular alterations in ER-positive BC. RESULTS Our study revealed AKT-3 amplification and deletions in 11% (9/82) and 13% (11/82) of TNBCs, respectively. In contrast, 1% (2/209) of ER-positive BCs were found to have AKT-3 amplifications and deletions. A higher prevalence of AKT-3 copy number gains was observed in TNBC [26% (21/82)] than in ER-positive BC [9% (19/209)]. AKT-3 amplification together with Akt-3 protein expression was negatively associated with recurrence-free survival in TNBC. Furthermore, a negative association between high AKT-3 copy number and recurrence-free survival was observed. CONCLUSION AKT-3 amplification could represent a potentially relevant oncogenic event in a subset of TNBCs that may, in turn, select cells sensitive to Akt-3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian O'Hurley
- OncoMark Ltd, NovaUCD, Belfield Innovation Park, Belfield, Ireland
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27
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Kim S, Kim SY, Ku HJ, Jeon YH, Lee HW, Lee J, Kwon TK, Park KM, Park JW. Suppression of tumorigenesis in mitochondrial NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase knock-out mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1842:135-43. [PMID: 24240089 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The tumor host microenvironment is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to tumor growth and suppression. Cellular oxidative stress resulting from high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to various processes involved in the development and progress of malignant tumors including carcinogenesis, aberrant growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. In this regard, the stroma induces oxidative stress in adjacent tumor cells, and this in turn causes several changes in tumor cells including modulation of the redox status, inhibition of cell proliferation, and induction of apoptotic or necrotic cell death. Because the levels of ROS are determined by a balance between ROS generation and ROS detoxification, disruption of this system will result in increased or decreased ROS level. Recently, we demonstrated that the control of mitochondrial redox balance and cellular defense against oxidative damage is one of the primary functions of mitochondrial NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH2) that supplies NADPH for antioxidant systems. To explore the interactions between tumor cells and the host, we evaluated tumorigenesis between IDH2-deficient (knock-out) and wild-type mice in which B16F10 melanoma cells had been implanted. Suppression of B16F10 cell tumorigenesis was reproducibly observed in the IDH2-deficient mice along with significant elevation of oxidative stress in both the tumor and the stroma. In addition, the expression of angiogenesis markers was significantly down-regulated in both the tumor and the stroma of the IDH2-deficient mice. These results support the hypothesis that redox status-associated changes in the host environment of tumor-bearing mice may contribute to cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seontae Kim
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Youl Kim
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeong Jun Ku
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Hyun Jeon
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 700-422, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Won Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 700-422, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaetae Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 700-422, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeg Kyu Kwon
- Department of Immunology, College of Medicine, Keimyung University, Taegu 700-712, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon Moo Park
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 700-422, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeen-Woo Park
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702-701, Republic of Korea.
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Liu D, Shi M, Duan C, Chen H, Hu Y, Yang Z, Duan H, Guo N. Downregulation of Erbin in Her2-overexpressing breast cancer cells promotes cell migration and induces trastuzumab resistance. Mol Immunol 2013; 56:104-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2013.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Clauditz TS, Gontarewicz A, Bokemeyer C, Sauter G, Knecht R, Münscher A, Wilczak W. Abundant expression of mTOR kinase in salivary gland tumors - potentials as therapy target? J Oral Pathol Med 2013; 42:769-73. [PMID: 23521157 DOI: 10.1111/jop.12064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Salivary gland tumors constitute 3-6% of all head and neck neoplasms in adults. Because of limited advances made in the treatment of metastatic disease, the more important is the role of new therapeutic strategies, including molecular therapy. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has recently been established as a therapeutic target for several drugs. MATERIAL Evaluation of phospho-mTOR as a possible therapy target by patients with salivary gland tumors. Immunohistochemical semi-quantitative analyses of the expression of phospho-mTOR(Ser2448) were processed on a tissue microarray containing samples from more than 900 patients. For statistical analysis, contingency table and chi-squared test (likelihood) were used. RESULTS We observed at least weak phospho-mTOR expression in 25.6-41.2% of all 4 histological adenoma and in 36.8-61.6% of all 11 histological carcinoma subtypes analyzed. No association was seen between phospho-mTOR expression and tumor grade in mucoepidermoid carcinomas. CONCLUSION In conjunction with literature data providing the evidence for a functional role of mTOR in salivary gland tumors, we conclude that treatment with mTOR-antagonists might potentially also be efficient in wide variety of salivary gland carcinomas.
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Tarhini AA, Kirkwood JM, Krieg AM. Early development of the Toll-like receptor 9 agonist, PF-3512676, for the treatment of patients with advanced cancers. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2013; 4:587-603. [PMID: 23485088 DOI: 10.1517/17460440902824784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unmethylated oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) with cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) motifs can potently activate the immune system through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9. PF-3512676 is a synthetic CpG ODN that induces strong Th1-type immune responses through TLR9 and is now in clinical development. OBJECTIVE To review discovery and development of synthetic CpG ODNs and their effects on immune cells and to relate preclinical and early clinical development of PF-3512676. METHODS A literature search was performed on databases available through the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), the European Society of Medical Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS Unmethylated CpG motifs were identified as the element of bacillus Calmette-Guérin responsible for immunostimulatory activity. Preclinical studies identified the mechanism of action (i.e., TLR9) and an optimal human sequence for antitumor activity. On the basis of preclinical studies, PF-3512676, a B-class CpG ODN, was selected for further clinical development. Phase I/II clinical trials have shown PF-3512676 to be well tolerated and to have antitumor activity as a single agent in patients with several types of advanced cancer, and to show promise as a vaccine adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad A Tarhini
- Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, 5150 Centre Avenue, RM 555 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA +1 412 648 6507 ; +1 412 648 6579 ;
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Wang Y, Chen L, Huang G, He D, He J, Xu W, Zou C, Zong F, Li Y, Chen B, Wu S, Zhao W, Wu J. Klotho sensitizes human lung cancer cell line to cisplatin via PI3k/Akt pathway. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57391. [PMID: 23437382 PMCID: PMC3578855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Klotho was first identified in 1997 and has been considered as an anti-aging gene. Emerging evidence demonstrates that klotho has a close relationship with cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer, etc, by inhibiting the proliferation and promoting apoptosis of cancer cells. Cisplatin has been the most widely used drug in the first-line chemotherapy. However, the increase in cisplatin-resistant cancer cells has become a major obstacle in clinical management of cancers. In our study, we for the first time demonstrated that klotho could attenuate the resistance of lung cancer to cisplatin based chemotherapy and the apoptosis of the resistant cells with klotho overexpression was markedly increased. However, klotho knockdown cells showed enhanced resistance to chemotherapy. Further analysis showed that inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway with specific inhibitor (LY294002) attenuated the promotive effects on cancer growth following interfering with klotho shRNA. Moreover, we demonstrated that klotho modulated the resistance to cisplatin in a xenograft nude mice model. These observations suggested that klotho could improve the resistance of lung cancer cells to chemotherapy and may serve as a potential target for the gene therapy of lung cancers resistant to cisplatin based chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guochang Huang
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Dongmei He
- Department of Orthodontics, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated to Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Juan He
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunying Zou
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zong
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuanshuan Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weihong Zhao
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianqing Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail:
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Zhang M, Liu LP, Chen Y, Tian XY, Qin J, Wang D, Li Z, Mo SL. Wogonin induces apoptosis in RPMI 8226, a human myeloma cell line, by downregulating phospho-Akt and overexpressing Bax. Life Sci 2013; 92:55-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2012.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Revised: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Cao Y, Chong Y, Shen H, Zhang M, Huang J, Zhu Y, Zhang Z. Combination of TNF-α and graphene oxide-loaded BEZ235 to enhance apoptosis of PIK3CA mutant colorectal cancer cells. J Mater Chem B 2013; 1:5602-5610. [DOI: 10.1039/c3tb20764a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Troiani T, Martinelli E, Morgillo F, Capasso A, Nappi A, Sforza V, Ciardiello F. Targeted approach to metastatic colorectal cancer: what comes beyond epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies and bevacizumab? Ther Adv Med Oncol 2013; 5:51-72. [PMID: 23323147 PMCID: PMC3539274 DOI: 10.1177/1758834012462462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of patients with cancer remains poor in spite of the advances obtained in recent years with new therapeutic agents, new approaches in surgical procedures and new diagnostic methods. The discovery of a plethora of cellular targets and the rational generation of selective targeting agents has opened an era of new opportunities and extraordinary challenges. The specificity of these agents renders them capable of specifically targeting the inherent abnormalities of cancer cells, potentially resulting in less toxicity than traditional nonselective cytotoxics. Among the many new types of rationally designed agents are therapeutics targeting various strategic facets of growth signal transduction, malignant angiogenesis, survival, metastasis and cell-cycle regulation. The evaluation of these agents is likely to require some changes from the traditional drug development paradigms to realize their full potential. Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor and the vascular endothelial growth factor have provided proof of principle that disruption of signal cascades in patients with colorectal cancer has therapeutic potential. This experience has also taught us that resistance to such rationally developed targeted therapeutic strategies is common. In this article, we review the role of signal transduction in colorectal cancer, introduce promising molecular targets, and outline therapeutic approaches under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Troiani
- Oncologia Medica and Immunologia Clinica, Dipartimento Medico-Chirurgico di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
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Berglund M, Hedström G, Amini RM, Enblad G, Thunberg U. High expression of microRNA-200c predicts poor clinical outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Oncol Rep 2012; 29:720-4. [PMID: 23232598 DOI: 10.3892/or.2012.2173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous group of B-cell lymphomas. A new and important tool for understanding the biology and clinical course of DLBCL is microRNA expression. This study presents microRNA-200c expression data from 61 DLBCL patients treated with CHOP or R-CHOP. Patients with high microRNA-200c expression had a median survival of 20.3 months and a significantly shorter overall survival (P=0.019) compared to patients with low microRNA-200c expression, who had a median survival of 35.8 months. We also found that patients treated with R-CHOP only and displaying high microRNA-200c expression had a significantly shorter overall survival compared to patients with low microRNA-200c expression, where all patients were still alive at the time of the last follow-up (P=0.0036). Lastly, we found that patients with high microRNA-200c expression had a significantly shorter time from initial diagnosis to the first relapse compared to patients with low microRNA-200c expression (P=0.0001). To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that the expression of microRNA-200c affects the clinical outcome of DLBCL patients, and that microRNA-200c is involved in the biology of DLBCL development, although larger studies are necessary to confirm this. Further investigations may also help to elucidate the biological role of microRNA-200c in DLBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Berglund
- Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Stamper BD, Mecham B, Park SS, Wilkerson H, Farin FM, Beyer RP, Bammler TK, Mangravite LM, Cunningham ML. Transcriptome correlation analysis identifies two unique craniosynostosis subtypes associated with IRS1 activation. Physiol Genomics 2012; 44:1154-63. [PMID: 23073384 PMCID: PMC3544483 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00085.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 10/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of causal mechanisms associated with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis has proven to be a difficult task due to the complex nature of the disease. In this study, differential transcriptome correlation analysis was used to identify two molecularly distinct subtypes of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis, termed subtype A and subtype B. In addition to unique correlation structure, subtype A was also associated with high IGF pathway expression, whereas subtype B was associated with high integrin expression. To identify a pathologic link between altered gene correlation/expression and the disease state, phosphorylation assays were performed on primary osteoblast cell lines derived from cases within subtype A or subtype B, as well as on primary osteoblast cell lines with novel IGF1R variants previously reported by our lab (Cunningham ML, Horst JA, Rieder MJ, Hing AV, Stanaway IB, Park SS, Samudrala R, Speltz ML. Am J Med Genet A 155A: 91-97, 2011). Elevated IRS1 (pan-tyr) and GSK3β (ser-9) phosphorylation were observed in two novel IGF1R variants with receptor L domain mutations. In subtype A, a hypomineralization phenotype coupled with decreased phosphorylation of IRS1 (ser-312), p38 (thr-180/tyr-182), and p70S6K (thr-412) was observed. In subtype B, decreased phosphorylation of IRS1 (ser-312) as well as increased phosphorylation of Akt (ser-473), GSK3β (ser-9), IGF1R (tyr-1135/tyr-1136), JNK (thr-183/tyr-187), p70S6K (thr-412), and pRPS6 (ser-235/ser-236) was observed, thus implicating the activation of IRS1-mediated Akt signaling in potentiating craniosynostosis in this subtype. Taken together, these results suggest that despite the stimulation of different pathways, activating phosphorylation patterns for IRS1 were consistent in cell lines from both subtypes and the IGF1R variants, thus implicating a key role for IRS1 in the pathogenesis of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- B D Stamper
- Center for Tissue and Cell Sciences, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA.
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Sarker D, Pacey S, Workman P. Use of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic biomarkers to support rational cancer drug development. Biomark Med 2012; 1:399-417. [PMID: 20477383 DOI: 10.2217/17520363.1.3.399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of drug development in oncology has struggled to alter at a pace in keeping with the rapid discovery and testing of agents that act on a wide variety of molecular targets. The rational development of such agents requires an understanding of drug effect(s) on their purported target. It is likely that testing these drugs in a framework designed to examine cytotoxic agents will fail to establish their full potential. We discuss how data gained from biomarker investigation might impact on drug development and provide examples that highlight the development, validation and use of pharmacokinetic, and especially pharmacodynamic biomarkers as drug development moves from the laboratory into clinical testing. The challenges of performing assays to satisfy regulatory requirements have been the subject of much debate. We recommend the implementation of appropriate, fit-for-purpose biomarkers in clinical trials of all new cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashis Sarker
- Signal Transduction & Molecular Pharmacology Team, Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Haddow Laboratories, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5NG, UK
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Abstract
Recent studies of normal and neoplastic lymphocytes have revealed overlapping metabolic rewiring in activated T cells and Myc-transformed lymphocytes. Myc expression is attenuated in normal lymphocytes that return to the basal state, but Notch-activated or Myc-transformed lymphocytes persistently express Myc, which activates genes involved in glucose and glutamine metabolism. Although this difference could provide a therapeutic window for the treatment of cancers, the overlapping metabolic profiles suggest a potential for immunosuppression by metabolic inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Altman
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Abramson Cancer Center, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Tomek M, Akiyama T, Dass CR. Role of Bcl-2 in tumour cell survival and implications for pharmacotherapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 64:1695-702. [PMID: 23146031 DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.2012.01526.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bcl-2 is a protein that inhibits apoptosis, leading to cell survival. The Bcl-2 family has six different anti-apoptotic proteins, three pro-apoptotic proteins that are similar in structure, and other integrating proteins that function as promotors or inhibitors in the progression of apoptosis. In this discussion paper, we provide an overview of apoptosis, the role of Bcl-2 in normal cellular and molecular processes, and the role of Bcl-2 in tumour cell survival. It focuses primarily on anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, its activation in cancer, the manner in which it regulates the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of apoptosis, and its broad molecular interactions with other critical proteins in the cell. Certain cancer treatments are reviewed and related directions for the future are presented. KEY FINDINGS Apoptosis is common to all organisms - for eukaryotes it is a normal process of development and regeneration. The rate at which apoptosis occurs is critical to the survival of the organism, as too much can lead to the onset of degenerative diseases such as dementia, and too little may lead to cancer. FKBP-38 is a binding protein that has been discovered to be upregulated in highly aggressive cancers and binds to Bcl-2 rather than the pro-apoptotics to induce a state of hyper-mitosis. A short binding protein (Nur-77) provides new insights into Bcl-2 'masking'. Nurr-77 binds to Bcl-2 and exposes the BH3 domain, transforming it from a cancer promoter to an unorthodox cancer inhibitor. This presents in itself an interesting and exciting opportunity - increasing the rate of apoptosis in neoplastic cells that are usually protected by Bcl-2 activity at the mitochondria. SUMMARY Development of drugs in the form of BH3-only and BH123 mimetic drugs provide a interesting avenue for cancer therapy for the future. Drugs that can either promote, or mimic anti-IAP activity such as Smac/Diablo would certainly be productive, thereby inducing apoptosis. Medicinal usage which can effectively suppress FKBP38 in Bcl-2-dependent cancers would provide further arsenal to combat apoptotic irregularities, particularly a treatment that is more dominant than kinetin riboside. WAVE-1 inhibitors may effectively suppress the phosphorylation of Bcl-2, thereby potentially reducing hyper-mitosis and increasing apoptosis. Recent findings shed molecular light on PDT, namely ER stress, and potential for anti-cancer therapy via either apoptosis or autophagy. A drug that can effectively upregulate Nurr-77, thereby masking the anti-apoptotic properties of Bcl-2, would indeed be life-saving for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Tomek
- Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, St Albans, Victoria, Australia
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Cedrés S, Montero MA, Martinez P, Martinez A, Rodríguez-Freixinós V, Torrejon D, Gabaldon A, Salcedo M, Ramon Y Cajal S, Felip E. Exploratory analysis of activation of PTEN-PI3K pathway and downstream proteins in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Lung Cancer 2012; 77:192-8. [PMID: 22459204 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2012.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2011] [Revised: 02/10/2012] [Accepted: 02/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive neoplasm with elevated AKT/mTOR activity. We aimed to identify the expression and phosphorylation status of PTEN, PI3K and downstream signaling in MPM. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty consecutive MPM patients were identified. Clinical data analyzed: sex, age, histology, performance status (PS), white blood count, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Paraffin-embedded biopsies were used for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS Overexpression of PTEN, pMAPK, mTOR, pAKT, 4E-BP1, p4E-BP1, eIF-4E, peIF-4E, p-S6 and FOXO3a in MPM was found in 90%, 100%, 93.3%, 80%, 100%, 43.3%, 96.7%, 100%, 63.3% and 100% of tumors respectively. There was a significant correlation between low pS6 protein expression and longer progression free survival (PFS: 7.9 vs 5.6 months; p = 0.04) and overall survival (OS: 23.4 vs 5.6 months; p = 0.05). Patients with concomitant low expression of pS6 and p4E-BP1 and overexpression of FOXO3a had significantly better prognosis (34.6 vs 1.9 months; p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, histology and NLR were independent prognostic factors (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04 respectively), but pS6 only showed a trend (p = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS This study shows PI3K pathway and downstream proteins in MPM are frequently activated and provides prognostic information. The role of PI3K pathway is worth of prospective validation in future studies on MPM.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Cedrés
- Medical Oncology Service/Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
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Ursu R, Carpentier AF. Immunotherapeutic approach with oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) in malignant glioma. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2012; 746:95-108. [PMID: 22639162 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3146-6_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial DNA and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODNs) are strong activators of both innate and specific immunity, driving the immune response towards the Th1 phenotype. In cancer patients, CpG-ODNs can be used to activate the innate immunity and trigger a tumor-specific immune response. Several clinical trials are on-going worldwide in various cancers. In this chapter, we will focus on the potential applications of CpG-ODNs in glioma. So far, CpG-ODN has mainly been used by intratumoral injections. Indeed, human gliomas display a locally invasive pattern of growth and rarely metastasize, making local treatment clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Ursu
- Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France
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Shirakawa M, Fujiwara Y, Sugita Y, Moon JH, Takiguchi S, Nakajima K, Miyata H, Yamasaki M, Mori M, Doki Y. Assessment of stanniocalcin-1 as a prognostic marker in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Rep 2011; 27:940-6. [PMID: 22200953 PMCID: PMC3583603 DOI: 10.3892/or.2011.1607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is a secreted glycoprotein hormone and highly expressed in various types of human malignancies. Although evidence points to the role of STC1 in human cancers, the clinical significance of STC1 expression in esophageal cancer has not been well established. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess the expression of STC1 in the cancer cell line TE8 and esophageal cancer tissues from 229 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC). Surgically-resected tissue sections were immunostained for potential regulators of STC1 expression, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and p53. Marked increase in STC1 mRNA and protein expression was noted in TE8 cells cultured under hypoxic conditions. Overexpression of STC1 mRNA was noted in ESCC tumors compared to normal counterparts. Positive immunohistochemical staining for STC1 protein was observed in 38.9% of patients, and correlated significantly with advanced pT status (P=0.019), poor prognosis [overall survival (P<0.0006) and disease-free survival (P<0.0002) of ESCC patients who had undergone curative surgery]. Positive staining for HIF-1α and p53 proteins in ESCC did not correlate with STC1 expression. The results showed marked induction of STC1 expression under hypoxia in cultured cells and in esophageal cancer cells and that overexpression of STC1 was an independent prognostic factor in patients with esophageal cancer who had undergone curative surgery. STC1 is a potentially useful biomarker for ESCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuhiro Shirakawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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Mannell HK, Pircher J, Chaudhry DI, Alig SKC, Koch EG, Mettler R, Pohl U, Krötz F. ARNO regulates VEGF-dependent tissue responses by stabilizing endothelial VEGFR-2 surface expression. Cardiovasc Res 2011; 93:111-9. [PMID: 22002459 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvr265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates angiogenesis by induction of vessel permeability, proliferation, and migration of endothelial cells, an important process in ischaemic diseases. ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) nucleotide-binding site opener (ARNO) (cytohesin-2) is a guanine exchange factor important for cellular signalling through ARF GTPases. However, a role for ARNO in VEGF-dependent endothelial processes has so far not been documented. Therefore, we investigated whether ARNO has a role in VEGF-dependent activation of endothelial cells and thus vessel permeability. METHODS AND RESULTS ARNO expression was observed in endothelial cells in vitro by RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence as well as ex vivo by immunohistochemical staining of mouse aorta. Treatment with the cytohesin inhibitor SecinH3 or with an ARNO siRNA prevented VEGF-dependent Akt activation, assessed by detection of phosphorylated Akt, and proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro, measured by methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) reduction. In addition, ARNO suppression reduced VEGF-induced permeability in vessels of the mouse (C57BL/6) cremaster muscle in vivo, as measured by extravasation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. Moreover, ARNO knock-down accelerated ligand-induced reduction in vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) surface expression, internalization, and degradation, as assessed by flow cytometry and western blotting, respectively. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate an important and novel role for endothelial ARNO in VEGF-dependent initiation of angiogenesis by regulation of VEGFR-2 internalization in endothelial cells, resulting in the activation of the Akt pathway, vessel permeability, and ultimately endothelial proliferation. Thus, ARNO may be a new essential player in endothelial signalling and angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna K Mannell
- Walter-Brendel Centre for Experimental Medicine, Munich, Germany
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Campone M, Noël B, Couriaud C, Grau M, Guillemin Y, Gautier F, Gouraud W, Charbonnel C, Campion L, Jézéquel P, Braun F, Barré B, Coqueret O, Barillé-Nion S, Juin P. c-Myc dependent expression of pro-apoptotic Bim renders HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells dependent on anti-apoptotic Mcl-1. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:110. [PMID: 21899728 PMCID: PMC3175201 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2011] [Accepted: 09/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anti-apoptotic signals induced downstream of HER2 are known to contribute to the resistance to current treatments of breast cancer cells that overexpress this member of the EGFR family. Whether or not some of these signals are also involved in tumor maintenance by counteracting constitutive death signals is much less understood. To address this, we investigated what role anti- and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, key regulators of cancer cell survival, might play in the viability of HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells. Methods We used cell lines as an in vitro model of HER2-overexpressing cells in order to evaluate how anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, and pro-apoptotic Puma and Bim impact on their survival, and to investigate how the constitutive expression of these proteins is regulated. Expression of the proteins of interest was confirmed using lysates from HER2-overexpressing tumors and through analysis of publicly available RNA expression data. Results We show that the depletion of Mcl-1 is sufficient to induce apoptosis in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. This Mcl-1 dependence is due to Bim expression and it directly results from oncogenic signaling, as depletion of the oncoprotein c-Myc, which occupies regions of the Bim promoter as evaluated in ChIP assays, decreases Bim levels and mitigates Mcl-1 dependence. Consistently, a reduction of c-Myc expression by inhibition of mTORC1 activity abrogates occupancy of the Bim promoter by c-Myc, decreases Bim expression and promotes tolerance to Mcl-1 depletion. Western blot analysis confirms that naïve HER2-overexpressing tumors constitutively express detectable levels of Mcl-1 and Bim, while expression data hint on enrichment for Mcl-1 transcripts in these tumors. Conclusions This work establishes that, in HER2-overexpressing tumors, it is necessary, and maybe sufficient, to therapeutically impact on the Mcl-1/Bim balance for efficient induction of cancer cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Campone
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie Nantes-Angers - UMR 892 - INSERM/Université de Nantes, Institut de Recherche Thérapeutique de l'Université de Nantes 8 Quai Moncousu BP 7072144007 Nantes Cedex 1 France
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Bai H, Chen K, Gao YX, Arzigian M, Xie YL, Malcosky C, Yang YG, Wu WS, Wang ZZ. Bcl-xL enhances single-cell survival and expansion of human embryonic stem cells without affecting self-renewal. Stem Cell Res 2011; 8:26-37. [PMID: 22099018 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2011] [Revised: 08/03/2011] [Accepted: 08/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Robust expansion and genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced-pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are limited by poor cell survival after enzymatic dissociation into single cells. Although inhibition of apoptosis is implicated for the single-cell survival of hESCs, the protective role of attenuation of apoptosis in hESC survival has not been elucidated. Bcl-xL is one of several anti-apoptotic proteins, which are members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Using an inducible system, we ectopically expressed Bcl-xL gene in hESCs, and found a significant increase of hESC colonies in the single-cell suspension cultures. Overexpression of Bcl-xL in hESCs decreased apoptotic caspase-3(+) cells, suggesting attenuation of apoptosis in hESCs. Without altering the kinetics of pluripotent gene expression, the efficiency to generate embryoid bodies (EBs) in vitro and the formation of teratoma in vivo were significantly increased in Bcl-xL-overexpressing hESCs after single-cell dissociation. Interestingly, the number and size of hESC colonies from cluster cultures were not affected by Bcl-xL overexpression. Several genes of extracellular matrix and adhesion molecules were upregulated by Bcl-xL in hESCs without single-cell dissociation, suggesting that Bcl-xL regulates adhesion molecular expression independent of cell dissociation. In addition, the gene expressions of FAS and several TNF signaling mediators were downregulated by Bcl-xL. These data support a model in which Bcl-xL promotes cell survival and increases cloning efficiency of dissociated hESCs without altering hESC self-renewal by i) attenuation of apoptosis, and ii) upregulation of adhesion molecules to facilitate cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Bai
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
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Castino R, Fiorentino I, Cagnin M, Giovia A, Isidoro C. Chelation of lysosomal iron protects dopaminergic SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from hydrogen peroxide toxicity by precluding autophagy and Akt dephosphorylation. Toxicol Sci 2011; 123:523-41. [PMID: 21742779 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfr179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2), 200μM) rapidly (< 5 min) induced autophagy, as shown by processing and vacuolar relocation of light chain 3(LC3). Accumulation of autophagosome peaked at 30 min of H(2)O(2) exposure. The continuous presence of H(2)O(2) eventually (at > 60 min) caused autophagy-dependent annexin V-positive cell death. However, the cells exposed to H(2)O(2) for 30 min and then cultivated in fresh medium could recover and grow, despite ongoing autophagy. H(2)O(2) rapidly (5 min) triggered the formation of dichlorofluorescein-sensitive HO(·)-free radicals within mitochondria, whereas the mitochondria-associated oxidoradicals revealed by MitoSox (O(2)(·-)) became apparent after 30 min of exposure to H(2)O(2). 3-Methyladenine inhibited autophagy and cell death, but not the generation of HO(·). Genetic silencing of beclin-1 prevented bax- and annexin V-positive cell death induced by H(2)O(2), confirming the involvement of canonical autophagy in peroxide toxicity. The lysosomotropic iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) prevented the mitochondrial generation of both HO(.) and O(2)(·-) and suppressed the induction of autophagy and of cell death by H(2)O(2). Upon exposure to H(2)O(2), Akt was intensely phosphorylated in the first 30 min, concurrently with mammalian target of rapamycin inactivation and autophagy, and it was dephosphorylated at 2 h, when > 50% of the cells were dead. DFO did not impede Akt phosphorylation, which therefore was independent of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation but inhibited Akt dephosphorylation. In conclusion, exogenous H(2)O(2) triggers two parallel independent pathways, one leading to autophagy and autophagy-dependent apoptosis, the other to transient Akt phosphorylation, and both are inhibited by DFO. The present work establishes HO(·) as the autophagy-inducing ROS and highlights the need for free lysosomal iron for its production within mitochondria in response to hydrogen peroxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Castino
- Laboratorio di Patologia Molecolare, Centro di Biotecnologie per la Ricerca Medica Applicata, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale A. Avogadro, 28100 Novara, Italy.
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Šmerc A, Sodja E, Legiša M. Posttranslational modification of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase as an important feature of cancer metabolism. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19645. [PMID: 21573193 PMCID: PMC3087806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human cancers consume larger amounts of glucose compared to normal tissues with most being converted and excreted as lactate despite abundant oxygen availability (Warburg effect). The underlying higher rate of glycolysis is therefore at the root of tumor formation and growth. Normal control of glycolytic allosteric enzymes appears impaired in tumors; however, the phenomenon has not been fully resolved. Methodology/Principal Findings In the present paper, we show evidence that the native 85-kDa 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK1), a key regulatory enzyme of glycolysis that is normally under the control of feedback inhibition, undergoes posttranslational modification. After proteolytic cleavage of the C-terminal portion of the enzyme, an active, shorter 47-kDa fragment was formed that was insensitive to citrate and ATP inhibition. In tumorigenic cell lines, only the short fragments but not the native 85-kDa PFK1 were detected by immunoblotting. Similar fragments were detected also in a tumor tissue that developed in mice after the subcutaneous infection with tumorigenic B16-F10 cells. Based on limited proteolytic digestion of the rabbit muscle PFK-M, an active citrate inhibition-resistant shorter form was obtained, indicating that a single posttranslational modification step was possible. The exact molecular masses of the active shorter PFK1 fragments were determined by inserting the truncated genes constructed from human muscle PFK1 cDNA into a pfk null E. coli strain. Two E. coli transformants encoding for the modified PFK1s of 45,551 Da and 47,835 Da grew in glucose medium. The insertion of modified truncated human pfkM genes also stimulated glucose consumption and lactate excretion in stable transfectants of non-tumorigenic human HEK cell, suggesting the important role of shorter PFK1 fragments in enhancing glycolytic flux. Conclusions/Significance Posttranslational modification of PFK1 enzyme might be the pivotal factor of deregulated glycolytic flux in tumors that in combination with altered signaling mechanisms essentially supports fast proliferation of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreja Šmerc
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Sodja
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matic Legiša
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- * E-mail:
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McCormick MA, Tsai SY, Kennedy BK. TOR and ageing: a complex pathway for a complex process. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2011; 366:17-27. [PMID: 21115526 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2010.0198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies in invertebrate model organisms have led to a wealth of knowledge concerning the ageing process. But which of these discoveries will apply to ageing in humans? Recently, an assessment of the degree of conservation of ageing pathways between two of the leading invertebrate model organisms, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans, was completed. The results (i) quantitatively indicated that pathways were conserved between evolutionarily disparate invertebrate species and (ii) emphasized the importance of the TOR kinase pathway in ageing. With recent findings that deletion of the mTOR substrate S6K1 or exposure of mice to the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin result in lifespan extension, mTOR signalling has become a major focus of ageing research. Here, we address downstream targets of mTOR signalling and their possible links to ageing. We also briefly cover other ageing genes identified by comparing worms and yeast, addressing the likelihood that their mammalian counterparts will affect longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A McCormick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Cheng Y, Ren X, Zhang Y, Patel R, Sharma A, Wu H, Robertson GP, Yan L, Rubin E, Yang JM. eEF-2 kinase dictates cross-talk between autophagy and apoptosis induced by Akt Inhibition, thereby modulating cytotoxicity of novel Akt inhibitor MK-2206. Cancer Res 2011; 71:2654-63. [PMID: 21307130 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-2889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of the survival kinase Akt can trigger apoptosis, and also has been found to activate autophagy, which may confound tumor attack. In this study, we investigated regulatory mechanisms through which apoptosis and autophagy were modulated in tumor cells subjected to Akt inhibition by MK-2206, the first allosteric small molecule inhibitor of Akt to enter clinical development. In human glioma cells, Akt inhibition by MK-2206 or siRNA-mediated attenuation strongly activated autophagy, whereas silencing of eukaryotic elongation factor-2 (eEF-2) kinase, a protein synthesis regulator, blunted this autophagic response. Suppression of MK-2206-induced autophagy by eEF-2 silencing was accompanied by a promotion of apoptotic cell death. Similarly, siRNA-mediated inhibition of eEF-2 kinase potentiated the efficacy of MK-2206 against glioma cells. Together, these results showed that blunting autophagy and augmenting apoptosis by inhibition of eEF-2 kinase could modulate the sensitivity of glioma cells to Akt inhibition. Our findings suggest that targeting eEF-2 kinase may reinforce the antitumor efficacy of Akt inhibitors such as MK-2206.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Cheng
- Department of Pharmacology and The Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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Hamano R, Miyata H, Yamasaki M, Kurokawa Y, Hara J, Moon JH, Nakajima K, Takiguchi S, Fujiwara Y, Mori M, Doki Y. Overexpression of miR-200c induces chemoresistance in esophageal cancers mediated through activation of the Akt signaling pathway. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:3029-38. [PMID: 21248297 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-2532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the relationship between resistance to chemotherapy and microRNA (miRNA) expression in esophageal cancer, we focused on miRNAs known to be associated with maintenance of stem cell function. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Using 98 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples obtained from patients with esophageal cancer who had received preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery, we measured expression levels of several miRNAs that are considered to be involved in the regulation of stem cell function (e.g., let-7a, let-7g, miR-21, miR-134, miR-145, miR-155, miR-200c, miR-203, and miR-296) by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. Then, we examined the relationship between miRNA expression and prognosis or response to chemotherapy. To investigate the mechanism of miRNA-induced chemoresistance, in vitro assays were carried out using esophageal cancer cells. RESULTS Analyses of the 9 miRNAs expression showed that overexpression of miR-200c (P = 0.037), underexpression of miR-145 (P = 0.023), and overexpression of miR-21 (P = 0.048) correlated significantly with shortened overall duration of survival. In particular, miR-200c expression correlated significantly with response to chemotherapy (P = 0.009 for clinical response; P = 0.007 for pathologic response). In vitro assay showed significantly increased miR-200c expression in cisplatin-resistant cells compared with their parent cells (∼1.7-fold). In anti-miR-200c-transfected cells, chemosensitivity to cisplatin and apoptosis after exposure to cisplatin was found to increase as compared with the negative control. Western blotting showed that knockdown of miR-200c expression was associated with increased expression of PPP2R1B, a subunit of protein phosphatase 2A, which resulted in reduced expression of phospho-Akt. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study emphasized the involvement of miR-200c in resistance to chemotherapy among esophageal cancers and that this effect was mediated through the Akt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Hamano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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