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Low LE, Kong CK, Yap WH, Siva SP, Gan SH, Siew WS, Ming LC, Lai-Foenander AS, Chang SK, Lee WL, Wu Y, Khaw KY, Ong YS, Tey BT, Singh SK, Dua K, Chellappan DK, Goh BH. Hydroxychloroquine: Key therapeutic advances and emerging nanotechnological landscape for cancer mitigation. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 386:110750. [PMID: 37839513 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a unique class of medications that has been widely utilized for the treatment of cancer. HCQ plays a dichotomous role by inhibiting autophagy induced by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Preclinical studies support the use of HCQ for anti-cancer therapy, especially in combination with conventional anti-cancer treatments since they sensitize tumor cells to drugs, potentiating the therapeutic activity. However, clinical evidence has suggested poor outcomes for HCQ due to various obstacles, including non-specific distribution, low aqueous solubility and low bioavailability at target sites, transport across tissue barriers, and retinal toxicity. These issues are addressable via the integration of HCQ with nanotechnology to produce HCQ-conjugated nanomedicines. This review aims to discuss the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and antitumor properties of HCQ. Furthermore, the antitumor performance of the nanoformulated HCQ is also reviewed thoroughly, aiming to serve as a guide for the HCQ-based enhanced treatment of cancers. The nanoencapsulation or nanoconjugation of HCQ with nanoassemblies appears to be a promising method for reducing the toxicity and improving the antitumor efficacy of HCQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ee Low
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Advanced Engineering Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Monash-Industry Plant Oils Research Laboratory (MIPO), Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Chee Kei Kong
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Wei-Hsum Yap
- School of Biosciences, Taylor's University, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia.
| | - Sangeetaprivya P Siva
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Siew Hua Gan
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Wei Sheng Siew
- School of Biosciences, Taylor's University, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Ashley Sean Lai-Foenander
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Sui Kiat Chang
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, 31900, Perak, Malaysia.
| | - Wai-Leng Lee
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Yongjiang Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China.
| | - Kooi-Yeong Khaw
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Yong Sze Ong
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Beng Ti Tey
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Advanced Engineering Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar-Delhi G.T Road, Phagwara, Punjab, India; Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Kamal Dua
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia; Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia; Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India.
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University (IMU), 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Bey-Hing Goh
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China; Sunway Biofunctional Molecules Discovery Centre (SBMDC), School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Sarkar S, Bisoi A, Singh PC. Antimalarial Drugs Induce the Selective Folding of Human Telomeric G-Quadruplex in a Cancer-Mimicking Microenvironment. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:6648-6655. [PMID: 37467470 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Regulating the equilibrium between the duplex form of DNA and G-quadruplex (Gq) and stabilizing the folded Gq are the critical factors for any drug to be effective in cancer therapy due to the direct involvement of Gq in controlling the transcription process. Antimalarial drugs are in the trial stage for different types of cancer diseases; however, the plausible mechanism of action of these drug molecules is not well known. Hence, we investigate the plausible role of antimalarial drugs in the folding and stabilization of Gq-forming DNA sequences from the telomere and promoter gene regions by varying the salt (KCl) concentrations, mimicking the in vitro cancerous and normal cell microenvironments. The study reveals that antimalarial drugs fold and stabilize specifically to telomere Gq-forming sequences in the cancerous microenvironment than the DNA sequences located in the promoter region of the gene. Antimalarial drugs are not only able to fold Gq but also efficiently protect them from unfolding by their complementary strands, hence significantly biasing the equilibrium toward the Gq formation from the duplex. In contrast, in a normal cell microenvironment, K+ controls the folding of telomeres, and the role of antimalarial drugs is not prominent. This study suggests that the action of antimalarial drugs is sensitive to the cancer microenvironment as well as selective to the Gq-forming region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunipa Sarkar
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Asim Bisoi
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Prashant Chandra Singh
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
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Li J, Chen H, Cai L, Guo D, Zhang D, Zhou X, Xie J. SDF-1α Promotes Chondrocyte Autophagy through CXCR4/mTOR Signaling Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021710. [PMID: 36675225 PMCID: PMC9867011 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
SDF-1α, the most common isoform of stromal cell-derived factor 1, has shown vital effects in regulating chondrocyte proliferation, maturation, and chondrogenesis. Autophagy is a highly conserved biological process to help chondrocytes survive in harsh environments. However, the effect of SDF-1α on chondrocyte autophagy is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of SDF-1α on chondrocyte autophagy and the underlying biomechanism. Transmission electron microscope assays and mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus double label transfection assays were performed to detect the autophagic flux of chondrocytes. Western blots and immunofluorescence staining assays were used to detect the expression of autophagy-related proteins in chondrocytes. RNA sequencing and qPCR were conducted to assess changes in autophagy-related mRNA expression. SDF-1α upregulated the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in chondrocytes. It also increased the expression of autophagy-related proteins including ULK-1, Beclin-1 and LC3B, and decreased the expression of p62, an autophagy substrate protein. SDF-1α-mediated autophagy of chondrocytes required the participation of receptor CXCR4. Moreover, SDF-1α-enhanced autophagy of chondrocytes was through the inhibition of phosphorylation of mTOR signaling on the upstream of autophagy. Knockdown by siRNA and inhibition by signaling inhibitor further confirmed the importance of the CXCR4/mTOR signaling axis in SDF-1α-induced autophagy of chondrocytes. For the first time, this study elucidated that SDF-1α promotes chondrocyte autophagy through the CXCR4/mTOR signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Daimo Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Demao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (J.X.); Tel.: +86-28-85501469 (X.Z.); +86-28-85503469 (J.X.); Fax: +86-28-85582167 (X.Z.)
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (J.X.); Tel.: +86-28-85501469 (X.Z.); +86-28-85503469 (J.X.); Fax: +86-28-85582167 (X.Z.)
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Niemann B, Puleo A, Stout C, Markel J, Boone BA. Biologic Functions of Hydroxychloroquine in Disease: From COVID-19 to Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122551. [PMID: 36559044 PMCID: PMC9787624 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroquine (CQ) and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), initially utilized in the treatment of malaria, have now developed a long list of applications. Despite their clinical relevance, their mechanisms of action are not clearly defined. Major pathways by which these agents are proposed to function include alkalinization of lysosomes and endosomes, downregulation of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression, high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) inhibition, alteration of intracellular calcium, and prevention of thrombus formation. However, there is conflicting data present in the literature. This is likely the result of the complex overlapping pathways between these mechanisms of action that have not previously been highlighted. In fact, prior research has focused on very specific portions of particular pathways without describing these in the context of the extensive CQ/HCQ literature. This review summarizes the detailed data regarding CQ/HCQ's mechanisms of action while also providing insight into the overarching themes. Furthermore, this review provides clinical context to the application of these diverse drugs including their role in malaria, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, thrombus formation, malignancies, and viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britney Niemann
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-304-293-1254
| | - Amanda Puleo
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Conley Stout
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Justin Markel
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Brian A. Boone
- Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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Cocco S, Leone A, Roca MS, Lombardi R, Piezzo M, Caputo R, Ciardiello C, Costantini S, Bruzzese F, Sisalli MJ, Budillon A, De Laurentiis M. Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine prevents resistance to PI3K/AKT inhibitors and potentiates their antitumor effect in combination with paclitaxel in triple negative breast cancer models. J Transl Med 2022; 20:290. [PMID: 35761360 PMCID: PMC9235112 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03462-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease characterized by high risk of relapse and development of resistance to different chemotherapy agents. Several targeted therapies have been investigated in TNBC with modest results in clinical trials. Among these, PI3K/AKT inhibitors have been evaluated in addition to standard therapies, yielding conflicting results and making attempts on elucidating inherent mechanisms of resistance of great interest. Increasing evidences suggest that PI3K/AKT inhibitors can induce autophagy in different cancers. Autophagy represents a supposed mechanism of drug-resistance in aggressive tumors, like TNBC. We, therefore, investigated if two PI3K/AKT inhibitors, ipatasertib and taselisib, could induce autophagy in breast cancer models, and whether chloroquine (CQ), a well known autophagy inhibitor, could potentiate ipatasertib and taselisib anti-cancer effect in combination with conventional chemotherapy. Methods The induction of autophagy after ipatasertib and taselisib treatment was evaluated in MDAMB231, MDAM468, MCF7, SKBR3 and MDAB361 breast cancer cell lines by assaying LC3-I conversion to LC3-II through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Other autophagy-markers as p62/SQSTM1 and ATG5 were evaluated by immunoblotting. Synergistic antiproliferative effect of double and triple combinations of ipatasertib/taselisib plus CQ and/or paclitaxel were evaluated by SRB assay and clonogenic assay. Anti-apoptotic effect of double combination of ipatasertib/taselisib plus CQ was evaluated by increased cleaved-PARP by immunoblot and by Annexin V- flow cytometric analysis. In vivo experiments were performed on xenograft model of MDAMB231 in NOD/SCID mice. Results Our results suggested that ipatasertib and taselisib induce increased autophagy signaling in different breast cancer models. This effect was particularly evident in PI3K/AKT resistant TNBC cells, where the inhibition of autophagy by CQ potentiates the therapeutic effect of PI3K/AKT inhibitors in vitro and in vivo TNBC models, synergizing with taxane-based chemotherapy. Conclusion These data suggest that inhibition of authophagy with CQ could overcome mechanism of drug resistance to PI3K/AKT inhibitors plus paclitaxel in TNBC making the evaluation of such combinations in clinical trials warranted. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03462-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Cocco
- Department of Breast and Thoracic Oncology, Division of Breast Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Leone
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratories of Naples and Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Serena Roca
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratories of Naples and Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Lombardi
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratories of Naples and Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Michela Piezzo
- Department of Breast and Thoracic Oncology, Division of Breast Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Caputo
- Department of Breast and Thoracic Oncology, Division of Breast Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Ciardiello
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratories of Naples and Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Susan Costantini
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratories of Naples and Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Bruzzese
- Animal Facility, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria José Sisalli
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Budillon
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratories of Naples and Mercogliano (AV), Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Michelino De Laurentiis
- Department of Breast and Thoracic Oncology, Division of Breast Medical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy
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Harper MM, Lin M, Qasem SA, Patel RA, Cavnar MJ, Pandalai PK, Gao M, Kim J. Endogenous Pancreatic Cancer Cell PD-1 Activates MET and Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Promote Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:3051. [PMID: 35804822 PMCID: PMC9264908 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently demonstrated that immune checkpoint PD-1 was endogenously expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Our data indicated that PD-1 proteins are not exclusive to immune cells and have unrecognized signal transduction cascades intrinsic to cancer cells. Building on this paradigm shift, we sought to further characterize PD-1 expression in PDAC. We utilized a phospho-explorer array to identify pathways upregulated by PD-1 signaling. We discovered PD-1-mediated activation of the proto-oncogene MET in PDAC cells, which was dependent on hepatocyte growth factor (MET ligand) and not secondary to direct protein interaction. We then discovered that the PD-1/MET axis in PDAC cells regulated growth, migration, and invasion. Importantly, the PD-1/MET axis induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a well-established early oncogenic process in PDAC. We observed that combined targeting of PDAC cell PD-1 and MET resulted in substantial direct tumor cell cytotoxicity and growth inhibition in PDAC cell lines, patient-derived organoids, and patient-derived xenografts independent of cytotoxic immune responses. This is the first report of PDAC-endogenous PD-1 expression regulating MET signaling, which builds upon our growing body of work showing the oncogenic phenotype of PD-1 expression in PDAC cells is distinct from its immunogenic role. These results highlight a paradigm shift that the tumor-specific PD-1 axis is a novel target to effectively kill PDAC cells by antagonizing previously unrecognized PD-1-dependent oncogenic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M. Harper
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (M.M.H.); (M.L.); (M.J.C.); (P.K.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Miranda Lin
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (M.M.H.); (M.L.); (M.J.C.); (P.K.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Shadi A. Qasem
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
| | - Reema A. Patel
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
| | - Michael J. Cavnar
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (M.M.H.); (M.L.); (M.J.C.); (P.K.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Prakash K. Pandalai
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (M.M.H.); (M.L.); (M.J.C.); (P.K.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Mei Gao
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (M.M.H.); (M.L.); (M.J.C.); (P.K.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Joseph Kim
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (M.M.H.); (M.L.); (M.J.C.); (P.K.P.); (M.G.)
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Javadrashid D, Baghbanzadeh A, Derakhshani A, Leone P, Silvestris N, Racanelli V, Solimando AG, Baradaran B. Pancreatic Cancer Signaling Pathways, Genetic Alterations, and Tumor Microenvironment: The Barriers Affecting the Method of Treatment. Biomedicines 2021; 9:373. [PMID: 33918146 PMCID: PMC8067185 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic alterations, especially the K-Ras mutation, carry the heaviest burden in the progression of pancreatic precursor lesions into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The tumor microenvironment is one of the challenges that hinder the therapeutic approaches from functioning sufficiently and leads to the immune evasion of pancreatic malignant cells. Mastering the mechanisms of these two hallmarks of PDAC can help us in dealing with the obstacles in the way of treatment. In this review, we have analyzed the signaling pathways involved in PDAC development and the immune system's role in pancreatic cancer and immune checkpoint inhibition as next-generation therapeutic strategy. The direct targeting of the involved signaling molecules and the immune checkpoint molecules, along with a combination with conventional therapies, have reached the most promising results in pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darya Javadrashid
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5166614766, Iran; (D.J.); (A.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Amir Baghbanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5166614766, Iran; (D.J.); (A.B.); (A.D.)
| | - Afshin Derakhshani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5166614766, Iran; (D.J.); (A.B.); (A.D.)
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II” of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Patrizia Leone
- Guido Baccelli Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (V.R.)
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II” of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Guido Baccelli Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (V.R.)
| | - Antonio Giovanni Solimando
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II” of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
- Guido Baccelli Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (P.L.); (V.R.)
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5166614766, Iran; (D.J.); (A.B.); (A.D.)
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5166614766, Iran
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Munoz-Tello P, Lin H, Khan P, de Vera IMS, Kamenecka TM, Kojetin DJ. Assessment of NR4A Ligands That Directly Bind and Modulate the Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nurr1. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15639-15654. [PMID: 33289551 PMCID: PMC8006468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Nurr1/NR4A2 is an orphan nuclear receptor transcription factor implicated as a drug target for neurological disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Previous studies identified small-molecule NR4A nuclear receptor modulators, but it remains unclear if these ligands affect transcription via direct binding to Nurr1. We assessed 12 ligands reported to affect NR4A activity for Nurr1-dependent and Nurr1-independent transcriptional effects and the ability to bind the Nurr1 ligand-binding domain (LBD). Protein NMR structural footprinting data show that amodiaquine, chloroquine, and cytosporone B bind the Nurr1 LBD; ligands that do not bind include C-DIM12, celastrol, camptothecin, IP7e, isoalantolactone, ethyl 2-[2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-(1-octanoyl)phenyl]acetate (TMPA), and three high-throughput screening hit derivatives. Importantly, ligands that modulate Nurr1 transcription also show Nurr1-independent effects on transcription in a cell type-specific manner, indicating that care should be taken when interpreting the functional response of these ligands in transcriptional assays. These findings should help focus medicinal chemistry efforts that desire to optimize Nurr1-binding ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Munoz-Tello
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Hua Lin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Pasha Khan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Ian Mitchelle S. de Vera
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Theodore M. Kamenecka
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
| | - Douglas J. Kojetin
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
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9
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Uzunova K, Filipova E, Pavlova V, Vekov T. Insights into antiviral mechanisms of remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir and chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine affecting the new SARS-CoV-2. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 131:110668. [PMID: 32861965 PMCID: PMC7444940 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a kind of viral pneumonia with an unusual outbreak in Wuhan, China, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is currently no licensed antiviral treatment available to prevent human CoV infection. The widespread clinical use and existing knowledge on antiviral mechanisms of remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir and chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of previous epidemic diseases, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), may be helpful in the combat with novel SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recent clinical evidence didn't confirm the beneficial role of lopinavir/ritonavir and chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients and their use was reassessed. We provide an overview of the current evidence into the mechanisms of action of these available drugs which are repurposed for treatment of the new virus. Available data identifies remdesivir as an adenosine analogue that can target the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and block viral RNA synthesis. It has been a promising antiviral drug against a wide array of RNA viruses. 3CLpro is a major CoV protease that cleaves the large replicase polyproteins during viral replication and can be targeted by the protease inhibitor lopinavir/ritonavir but the clinical effects are controversial. Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine could impair the replication of SARSCoV-2 by multiple mechanisms and their immunomodulatory properties could ameliorate clinical manifestations that are mediated by immune reactions of the host although its beneficial effects are under question and need to be proven at the clinical level. Existing in vitro and in vivo evidence delineate the molecular mechanisms of these drugs in CoV-infected cells. Numerous studies demonstrated the ability of remdesivir to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication but future research would be needed to understand the exact mode of action of lopinavir/ritonavir and chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells and to use this knowledge in the treatment of the current COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Uzunova
- Tchaikapharma High Quality Medicines Inc., Science Department, 1 G.M. Dimitrov Blvd, 1172, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Elena Filipova
- Tchaikapharma High Quality Medicines Inc., Science Department, 1 G.M. Dimitrov Blvd, 1172, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Velichka Pavlova
- Tchaikapharma High Quality Medicines Inc., Science Department, 1 G.M. Dimitrov Blvd, 1172, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Toni Vekov
- Medical University, Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, 1 Sv. Kliment Ohriski Str., 5800, Pleven, Bulgaria.
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10
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Cocco S, Leone A, Piezzo M, Caputo R, Di Lauro V, Di Rella F, Fusco G, Capozzi M, Gioia GD, Budillon A, De Laurentiis M. Targeting Autophagy in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7836. [PMID: 33105796 PMCID: PMC7660056 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease consisting of different biological subtypes, with differences in terms of incidence, response to diverse treatments, risk of disease progression, and sites of metastases. In the last years, several molecular targets have emerged and new drugs, targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR and cyclinD/CDK/pRb pathways and tumor microenvironment have been integrated into clinical practice. However, it is clear now that breast cancer is able to develop resistance to these drugs and the identification of the underlying molecular mechanisms is paramount to drive further drug development. Autophagy is a highly conserved homeostatic process that can be activated in response to antineoplastic agents as a cytoprotective mechanism. Inhibition of autophagy could enhance tumor cell death by diverse anti-cancer therapies, representing an attractive approach to control mechanisms of drug resistance. In this manuscript, we present a review of autophagy focusing on its interplay with targeted drugs used for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Cocco
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Alessandra Leone
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.L.); (A.B.)
| | - Michela Piezzo
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Roberta Caputo
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Lauro
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Francesca Di Rella
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Giuseppina Fusco
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Monica Capozzi
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Germira di Gioia
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
| | - Alfredo Budillon
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (A.L.); (A.B.)
| | - Michelino De Laurentiis
- Breast Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola 53, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (M.P.); (R.C.); (V.D.L.); (F.D.R.); (G.F.); (M.C.); (G.d.G.)
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11
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Nirk EL, Reggiori F, Mauthe M. Hydroxychloroquine in rheumatic autoimmune disorders and beyond. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e12476. [PMID: 32715647 PMCID: PMC7411564 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Initially used as antimalarial drugs, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and, to a lesser extent, chloroquine (CQ) are currently being used to treat several diseases. Due to its cost‐effectiveness, safety and efficacy, HCQ is especially used in rheumatic autoimmune disorders (RADs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite this widespread use in the clinic, HCQ molecular modes of action are still not completely understood. By influencing several cellular pathways through different mechanisms, CQ and HCQ inhibit multiple endolysosomal functions, including autophagy, as well as endosomal Toll‐like receptor activation and calcium signalling. These effects alter several aspects of the immune system with the synergistic consequence of reducing pro‐inflammatory cytokine production and release, one of the most marked symptoms of RADs. Here, we review the current knowledge on the molecular modes of action of these drugs and the circumstances under which they trigger side effects. This is of particular importance as the therapeutic use of HCQ is expanding beyond the treatment of malaria and RADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliise Laura Nirk
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fulvio Reggiori
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mario Mauthe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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12
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Sriram K, Salmerón C, Wiley SZ, Insel PA. GPCRs in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Contributors to tumour biology and novel therapeutic targets. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:2434-2455. [PMID: 32060895 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates (5-year survival ~9%) among cancers. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is the most common (>80%) and the most lethal type of pancreatic cancer. A need exists for new approaches to treat pancreatic adenocarcinoma. GPCRs, the largest family of cell-surface receptors and drug targets, account for ~35% of approved drugs. Recent studies have revealed roles for GPCRs in PAAD cells and cells in the tumour micro-environment. This review assesses current information regarding GPCRs in PAAD by summarizing omics data for GPCRs expression in PAAD. The PAAD "GPCRome" includes GPCRs with approved agents, thereby offering potential for their repurposing/repositioning. We then reviewed the evidence for functional roles of specific GPCRs in PAAD. We also highlight gaps in understanding the contribution of GPCRs to PAAD biology and identify several GPCRs that may be novel therapeutic targets for future work in search of GPCR-targeted drugs to treat PAAD tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Sriram
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Cristina Salmerón
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Shu Z Wiley
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Paul A Insel
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
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13
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Yue D, Zhang D, Shi X, Liu S, Li A, Wang D, Qin G, Ping Y, Qiao Y, Chen X, Wang F, Chen R, Zhao S, Wang L, Zhang Y. Chloroquine Inhibits Stemness of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells Through Targeting CXCR4-STAT3 Pathway. Front Oncol 2020; 10:311. [PMID: 32232002 PMCID: PMC7083143 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Recent studies have shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are present in ESCC, are thought to lead to aggressive tumor behavior and the prognosis. The CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), is regarded as a putative CSCs marker in various malignancies. Here, we demonstrate that CXCR4 played a key role in ESCC progression and CXCR4 positive ESCC cells possessed stem-like properties. Furthermore, the anti-malarial agent chloroquine (CQ) targeted CXCR4-positive ESCC cells via STAT3 pathway. Therefore, CQ with anti-CSCs effects may be an effective adjunct to current ESCC chemotherapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongli Yue
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Daiqun Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaojuan Shi
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shasha Liu
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Anqi Li
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guohui Qin
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Ping
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yamin Qiao
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinfeng Chen
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Renyin Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Song Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lidong Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research and State Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, China
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14
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Armando RG, Gómez DLM, Gomez DE. New drugs are not enough‑drug repositioning in oncology: An update. Int J Oncol 2020; 56:651-684. [PMID: 32124955 PMCID: PMC7010222 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.4966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug repositioning refers to the concept of discovering novel clinical benefits of drugs that are already known for use treating other diseases. The advantages of this are that several important drug characteristics are already established (including efficacy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity), making the process of research for a putative drug quicker and less costly. Drug repositioning in oncology has received extensive focus. The present review summarizes the most prominent examples of drug repositioning for the treatment of cancer, taking into consideration their primary use, proposed anticancer mechanisms and current development status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Gabriela Armando
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Bernal B1876, Argentina
| | - Diego Luis Mengual Gómez
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Bernal B1876, Argentina
| | - Daniel Eduardo Gomez
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Bernal B1876, Argentina
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15
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Dandu K, Kallamadi PR, Thakur SS, Rao CM. Drug Repurposing for Retinoblastoma: Recent Advances. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:1535-1544. [PMID: 30659544 DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190119152706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma is the intraocular malignancy that occurs during early childhood. The current standard of care includes chemotherapy followed by focal consolidative therapies, and enucleation. Unfortunately, these are associated with many side and late effects. New drugs and/or drug combinations need to be developed for safe and effective treatment. This compelling need stimulated efforts to explore drug repurposing for retinoblastoma. While conventional drug development is a lengthy and expensive process, drug repurposing is a faster, alternate approach, where an existing drug, not meant for treating cancer, can be repurposed to treat retinoblastoma. The present article reviews various attempts to test drugs approved for different purposes such as calcium channels blockers, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, cardenolides, antidiabetic, antibiotics and antimalarial for treating retinoblastoma. It also discusses other promising candidates that could be explored for repurposing for retinoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamakshi Dandu
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Habsiguda, Hyderabad 500 007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad- 201002, India
| | - Prathap R Kallamadi
- School of Life Sciences. University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500 046, India
| | - Suman S Thakur
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Habsiguda, Hyderabad 500 007, India
| | - Ch Mohan Rao
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Habsiguda, Hyderabad 500 007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad- 201002, India
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16
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Gao M, Lin M, Moffitt RA, Salazar MA, Park J, Vacirca J, Huang C, Shroyer KR, Choi M, Georgakis GV, Sasson AR, Talamini MA, Kim J. Direct therapeutic targeting of immune checkpoint PD-1 in pancreatic cancer. Br J Cancer 2018; 120:88-96. [PMID: 30377341 PMCID: PMC6325157 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0298-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer (PC) hijacks innate cellular processes to promote cancer growth. We hypothesized that PC exploits PD-1/PD-L1 not only to avoid immune responses, but to directly enhance growth. We also hypothesized that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have direct cytotoxicity in PC. We sought to elucidate therapeutic targeting of PD-1/PD-L1. METHODS PD-1 was assessed in PC cells, patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and clinical tissues. Then, PC cells were exposed to PD-L1 to evaluate proliferation. To test PD-1/PD-L1 signaling, cells were exposed to PD-L1 and MAPK was examined. Radio-immunoconjugates with anti-PD-1 drugs were developed to test uptake in patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDTXs). Next, PD-1 function was assessed by xenografting PD-1-knockdown cells. Finally, PC models were exposed to ICIs. RESULTS PD-1 expression was demonstrated in PCs. PD-L1 exposure increased proliferation and activated MAPK. Imaging PDTXs revealed uptake of radio-immunoconjugates. PD-1 knockdown in vivo revealed 67% smaller volumes than controls. Finally, ICI treatment of both PDOs/PDTXs demonstrated cytotoxicity and anti-MEK1/2 combined with anti-PD-1 drugs produced highest cytotoxicity in PDOs/PDTXs. CONCLUSIONS Our data reveal PCs innately express PD-1 and activate druggable oncogenic pathways supporting PDAC growth. Strategies directly targeting PC with novel ICI regimens may work with adaptive immune responses for optimal cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Gao
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Miranda Lin
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Richard A Moffitt
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Marcela A Salazar
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jinha Park
- Department of Radiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Vacirca
- New York Cancer Specialists, East Setauket, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chuan Huang
- Departments of Radiology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Kenneth R Shroyer
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Minsig Choi
- Departments of Medicine, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | - Aaron R Sasson
- Departments of Surgery, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Mark A Talamini
- Departments of Surgery, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Kim
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. .,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
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17
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Xie Y, Wang Y, Li J, Hang Y, Oupický D. Promise of chemokine network-targeted nanoparticles in combination nucleic acid therapies of metastatic cancer. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 11:e1528. [PMID: 29700990 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Chemokines and chemokine receptors play key roles in cancer progression and metastasis. Although multiple chemokines and chemokine receptors have been investigated, inhibition of CXCR4 emerged as one of the most promising approaches in combination cancer therapy, especially when focused on the metastatic disease. Small RNA molecules, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), represent new class of therapeutics for cancer treatment through RNA interference-mediated gene silencing. However, the clinical applicability of siRNA and miRNA is severely limited by the lack of effective delivery systems. There is a significant therapeutic potential for CXCR4-targeted nanomedicines in combination with the delivery of siRNA and miRNA in cancer. Recently developed CXCR4-targeted polymeric drugs and nanomedicines, including cyclam- and chloroquine-based polymeric CXCR4 antagonists are introduced here and their ability to deliver functional siRNA and miRNA is discussed. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Yazhe Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Yu Hang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - David Oupický
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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18
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Xie Y, Yu F, Tang W, Alade B, Peng ZH, Wang Y, Li J, Oupický D. Synthesis and Evaluation of Chloroquine-Containing DMAEMA Copolymers as Efficient Anti-miRNA Delivery Vectors with Improved Endosomal Escape and Antimigratory Activity in Cancer Cells. Macromol Biosci 2018; 18:10.1002/mabi.201700194. [PMID: 28776937 PMCID: PMC5997184 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201700194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chloroquine-containing 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate copolymers (PDCs) are synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization. Systematic evaluation is performed to test the hypothesis that presence of chloroquine (CQ) in the PDC structure will improve miRNA delivery due to enhanced endosomal escape while simultaneously contribute to anticancer activity of PDC/miRNA polyplexes through inhibition of cancer cell migration. The results show that miRNA delivery efficiency is dependent both on the molecular weight and CQ. The best performing PDC/miRNA polyplexes show effective endosomal escape of miRNA. PDC polyplexes with therapeutic miR-210 show promising anticancer activity in human breast cancer cells. PDC/miRNA polyplexes show excellent ability to inhibit migration of cancer cells. Overall, this study supports the use of PDC as a promising polymeric drug platform for use in combination anti-metastatic and anticancer miRNA therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xie
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Fei Yu
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Weimin Tang
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Bolutito Alade
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Zheng-Hong Peng
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Yazhe Wang
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - David Oupický
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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19
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Verbaanderd C, Maes H, Schaaf MB, Sukhatme VP, Pantziarka P, Sukhatme V, Agostinis P, Bouche G. Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO)-chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as anti-cancer agents. Ecancermedicalscience 2017; 11:781. [PMID: 29225688 PMCID: PMC5718030 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2017.781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are well-known 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial agents. Scientific evidence also supports the use of CQ and HCQ in the treatment of cancer. Overall, preclinical studies support CQ and HCQ use in anti-cancer therapy, especially in combination with conventional anti-cancer treatments since they are able to sensitise tumour cells to a variety of drugs, potentiating the therapeutic activity. Thus far, clinical results are mostly in favour of the repurposing of CQ. However, over 30 clinical studies are still evaluating the activity of both CQ and HCQ in different cancer types and in combination with various standard treatments. Interestingly, CQ and HCQ exert effects both on cancer cells and on the tumour microenvironment. In addition to inhibition of the autophagic flux, which is the most studied anti-cancer effect of CQ and HCQ, these drugs affect the Toll-like receptor 9, p53 and CXCR4-CXCL12 pathway in cancer cells. In the tumour stroma, CQ was shown to affect the tumour vasculature, cancer-associated fibroblasts and the immune system. The evidence reviewed in this paper indicates that both CQ and HCQ deserve further clinical investigations in several cancer types. Special attention about the drug (CQ versus HCQ), the dose and the schedule of administration should be taken in the design of new trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciska Verbaanderd
- Anticancer Fund, Brussels, 1853 Strombeek-Bever, Belgium.,Cell Death Research and Therapy Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hannelore Maes
- Cell Death Research and Therapy Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marco B Schaaf
- Cell Death Research and Therapy Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vikas P Sukhatme
- GlobalCures, Inc, Newton, MA 02459, USA.,Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Current address: Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Pan Pantziarka
- Anticancer Fund, Brussels, 1853 Strombeek-Bever, Belgium.,The George Pantziarka TP53 Trust, London KT1 2JP, UK
| | | | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Cell Death Research and Therapy Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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20
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Rezabakhsh A, Montazersaheb S, Nabat E, Hassanpour M, Montaseri A, Malekinejad H, Movassaghpour AA, Rahbarghazi R, Garjani A. Effect of hydroxychloroquine on oxidative/nitrosative status and angiogenesis in endothelial cells under high glucose condition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 7:219-226. [PMID: 29435429 PMCID: PMC5801533 DOI: 10.15171/bi.2017.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
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Introduction:
Under the diabetic condition, sustained production of oxidative/nitrosative stress results in irreversible vascular injuries. A great number of diabetic pathologies, such as inefficient or aberrant neo-angiogenesis emerge following chronic hyperglycemic condition. Lack of enough data exists regarding hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) contribution on angiogenesis during diabetes mellitus.
Methods: To better address whether HCQ could blunt or exacerbate oxidative status and angiogenesis under high glucose condition (HCG), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to 30 µM HCQ in combination with 30 mM glucose over a course of 72 hours. Viability was measured was evaluated by MTT assay. We used Griess method and TBARS assay to monitor changes in the levels of NO and MDA followed by flow cytometric analysis of ROS using DCFDA. To show the impact of HCQ on cell motility and in vitro angiogenic properties, we exploited routine scratch test and in vitro tubulogenesis, respectively.
Results: Our data showed that HCQ diminished cell viability under 5 and 30 mM glucose contents. HCQ significantly decreased the total levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in both sets of environments. Additionally, inhibitory effects were observed on cell migration after exposure to HCQ (P < 0.001). Anti-angiogenic activity of HCQ was confirmed by the reduction of tube areas under a normal or surplus amount of glucose (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: In overall, results suggest that HCQ changes the oxidative/nitrosative status of HUVECs both in 5 and 30 mM conditions. HCQ is able to reduce migration and angiogenic activity of HUVECs irrespective of the glucose content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysa Rezabakhsh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Soheila Montazersaheb
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elahe Nabat
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Hassanpour
- Depatment of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Azadeh Montaseri
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hassan Malekinejad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Movassaghpour
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Rahbarghazi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alireza Garjani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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21
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Sleightholm R, Yang B, Yu F, Xie Y, Oupický D. Chloroquine-Modified Hydroxyethyl Starch as a Polymeric Drug for Cancer Therapy. Biomacromolecules 2017; 18:2247-2257. [PMID: 28708385 PMCID: PMC5996760 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is a clinically used polysaccharide colloidal plasma volume expander. The goal of this study was to synthesize HES modified with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a novel polymeric drug with the ability to inhibit the invasive character of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. HES was conjugated with HCQ using a simple carbonyldiimidazole coupling to prepare Chloroquine-modified HES (CQ-HES). CQ-HES with various degrees of HCQ substitution were synthesized and characterized. Atomic force microscopy was used to demonstrate a pH-dependent assembly of CQ-HES into well-defined nanoparticles. In vitro studies in multiple PC cell lines showed CQ-HES to have a similar toxicity profile as HCQ. Confocal microscopy revealed the propensity of CQ-HES to localize to lysosomes and mechanistic studies confirmed the ability of CQ-HES to inhibit autophagy in PC cells. Further studies demonstrated a greatly enhanced ability of CQ-HES to inhibit the migration and invasion of PC cells when compared with HCQ. The enhanced inhibitory actions of CQ-HES compared to HCQ appeared to arise in part from the increased inhibition of ERK and Akt phosphorylation. We found no significant HCQ release from CQ-HES, which confirmed that the observed activity was due to the action of CQ-HES as a polymeric drug. Due to its promising ability to block cancer cell invasion and the ability to form nanoparticles, CQ-HES has the potential as a drug delivery platform suitable for future development with chemotherapeutics to establish novel antimetastatic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Sleightholm
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
| | - Bin Yang
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
| | - Fei Yu
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
| | - Ying Xie
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
| | - David Oupický
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
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22
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Giovannetti E, van der Borden CL, Frampton AE, Ali A, Firuzi O, Peters GJ. Never let it go: Stopping key mechanisms underlying metastasis to fight pancreatic cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 44:43-59. [PMID: 28438662 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely aggressive neoplasm, predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths before 2030. This dismal trend is mainly due to lack of effective treatments against its metastatic behavior. Therefore, a better understanding of the key mechanisms underlying metastasis should provide new opportunities for therapeutic purposes. Genomic analyses revealed that aberrations that fuel PDAC tumorigenesis and progression, such as SMAD4 loss, are also implicated in metastasis. Recently, microRNAs have been shown to play a regulatory role in the metastatic behavior of many tumors, including PDAC. In particular, miR-10 and miR-21 have appeared as master regulators of the metastatic program, while members of the miR-200 family are involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal switch, favoring cell migration and invasiveness. Several studies have also found a close relationship between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and biological features of metastasis, and the CSC markers ALDH1, ABCG2 and c-Met are expressed at high levels in metastatic PDAC cells. Emerging evidence reveals that exosomes are involved in the modulation of the tumor microenvironment and can initiate PDAC pre-metastatic niche formation in the liver and lungs. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of all these pivotal factors in the metastatic behavior of PDAC, and discuss their potential exploitation in the clinic to improve current therapeutics and identify new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Giovannetti
- Lab Medical Oncology, Dept. Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start Up Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - C L van der Borden
- Lab Medical Oncology, Dept. Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A E Frampton
- HPB Surgical Unit, Dept. of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - A Ali
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan; Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - O Firuzi
- Lab Medical Oncology, Dept. Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - G J Peters
- Lab Medical Oncology, Dept. Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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23
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Arimont M, Sun SL, Leurs R, Smit M, de Esch IJP, de Graaf C. Structural Analysis of Chemokine Receptor-Ligand Interactions. J Med Chem 2017; 60:4735-4779. [PMID: 28165741 PMCID: PMC5483895 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
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This
review focuses on the construction and application of structural chemokine
receptor models for the elucidation of molecular determinants of chemokine
receptor modulation and the structure-based discovery and design of
chemokine receptor ligands. A comparative analysis of ligand binding
pockets in chemokine receptors is presented, including a detailed
description of the CXCR4, CCR2, CCR5, CCR9, and US28 X-ray structures,
and their implication for modeling molecular interactions of chemokine
receptors with small-molecule ligands, peptide ligands, and large
antibodies and chemokines. These studies demonstrate how the integration
of new structural information on chemokine receptors with extensive
structure–activity relationship and site-directed mutagenesis
data facilitates the prediction of the structure of chemokine receptor–ligand
complexes that have not been crystallized. Finally, a review of structure-based
ligand discovery and design studies based on chemokine receptor crystal
structures and homology models illustrates the possibilities and challenges
to find novel ligands for chemokine receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Arimont
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Shan-Liang Sun
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Leurs
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martine Smit
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iwan J P de Esch
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chris de Graaf
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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24
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White KAM, Luo L, Thompson TA, Torres S, Hu CAA, Thomas NE, Lilyquist J, Anton-Culver H, Gruber SB, From L, Busam KJ, Orlow I, Kanetsky PA, Marrett LD, Gallagher RP, Sacchetto L, Rosso S, Dwyer T, Cust AE, Begg CB, Berwick M. Variants in autophagy-related genes and clinical characteristics in melanoma: a population-based study. Cancer Med 2016; 5:3336-3345. [PMID: 27748080 PMCID: PMC5119988 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy has been linked with melanoma risk and survival, but no polymorphisms in autophagy‐related (ATG) genes have been investigated in relation to melanoma progression. We examined five single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three ATG genes (ATG5;ATG10; and ATG16L) with known or suspected impact on autophagic flux in an international population‐based case–control study of melanoma. DNA from 911 melanoma patients was genotyped. An association was identified between (GG) (rs2241880) and earlier stage at diagnosis (OR 0.47; 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) = 0.27–0.81, P = 0.02) and a decrease in Breslow thickness (P = 0.03). The ATG16L heterozygous genotype (AG) (rs2241880) was associated with younger age at diagnosis (P = 0.02). Two SNPs in ATG5 were found to be associated with increased stage (rs2245214 CG, OR 1.47; 95% CI = 1.11–1.94, P = 0.03; rs510432 CC, OR 1.84; 95% CI = 1.12–3.02, P = 0.05). Finally, we identified inverse associations between ATG5 (GG rs2245214) and melanomas on the scalp or neck (OR 0.20, 95% CI = 0.05–0.86, P = 0.03); ATG10 (CC) (rs1864182) and brisk tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) (OR 0.42; 95% CI = 0.21–0.88, P = 0.02), and ATG5 (CC) (rs510432) with nonbrisk TILs (OR 0.55; 95% CI = 0.34–0.87, P = 0.01). Our data suggest that ATGSNPs might be differentially associated with specific host and tumor characteristics including age at diagnosis, TILs, and stage. These associations may be critical to understanding the role of autophagy in cancer, and further investigation will help characterize the contribution of these variants to melanoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten A M White
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Li Luo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Todd A Thompson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Salina Torres
- Center for HPV Prevention, Department of Pathology University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Chien-An Andy Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Nancy E Thomas
- Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jenna Lilyquist
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Hoda Anton-Culver
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Stephen B Gruber
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lynn From
- Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Klaus J Busam
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Irene Orlow
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Peter A Kanetsky
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | | | - Lidia Sacchetto
- Piedmont Cancer Registry, Centre for Epidemiology and Prevention in Oncology in Piedmont, Turin, Italy
| | - Stefano Rosso
- Piedmont Cancer Registry, Centre for Epidemiology and Prevention in Oncology in Piedmont, Turin, Italy
| | - Terence Dwyer
- George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Anne E Cust
- University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Colin B Begg
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marianne Berwick
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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25
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Yu F, Li J, Xie Y, Sleightholm RL, Oupický D. Polymeric chloroquine as an inhibitor of cancer cell migration and experimental lung metastasis. J Control Release 2016; 244:347-356. [PMID: 27473763 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Chloroquine (CQ) is a widely used antimalarial drug with emerging potential in anticancer therapies due to its apparent inhibitory effects on CXCR4 chemokine receptor, autophagy, and cholesterol metabolism. This study reports on polymeric CQ (pCQ) as a macromolecular drug with antimetastatic activity. The pCQ polymers were synthesized by copolymerization of methacryloylated hydroxy-CQ (HCQ) and N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA). The results show that pCQ is significantly more effective in inhibiting cancer cell migration and invasion when compared with the parent HCQ. The proposed mechanism of action at least partially relies on the ability of pCQ to inhibit cell migration mediated by the CXCR4/CXCL12 pathway. The pCQ also demonstrates superior inhibitory activity over HCQ when tested in a mouse model of experimental lung metastasis. Lastly, pCQ shows the ability to efficiently translocate to the cytoplasm while exhibiting lower cytotoxicity than HCQ. Overall, this study supports pCQ as a promising polymeric drug platform suitable for use in combination antimetastatic strategies and potential use in cytoplasmic drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yu
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ying Xie
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Richard L Sleightholm
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - David Oupický
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
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26
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Reker D, Schneider P, Schneider G. Multi-objective active machine learning rapidly improves structure-activity models and reveals new protein-protein interaction inhibitors. Chem Sci 2016; 7:3919-3927. [PMID: 30155037 PMCID: PMC6013791 DOI: 10.1039/c5sc04272k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Active machine learning puts artificial intelligence in charge of a sequential, feedback-driven discovery process. We present the application of a multi-objective active learning scheme for identifying small molecules that inhibit the protein-protein interaction between the anti-cancer target CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its endogenous ligand CXCL-12 (SDF-1). Experimental design by active learning was used to retrieve informative active compounds that continuously improved the adaptive structure-activity model. The balanced character of the compound selection function rapidly delivered new molecular structures with the desired inhibitory activity and at the same time allowed us to focus on informative compounds for model adjustment. The results of our study validate active learning for prospective ligand finding by adaptive, focused screening of large compound repositories and virtual compound libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Reker
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , ETH Zürich , Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4 , 8093 Zürich , Switzerland .
| | - P Schneider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , ETH Zürich , Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4 , 8093 Zürich , Switzerland .
| | - G Schneider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , ETH Zürich , Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4 , 8093 Zürich , Switzerland .
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27
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Yu F, Xie Y, Wang Y, Peng ZH, Li J, Oupický D. Chloroquine-Containing HPMA Copolymers as Polymeric Inhibitors of Cancer Cell Migration Mediated by the CXCR4/SDF-1 Chemokine Axis. ACS Macro Lett 2016; 5:342-345. [PMID: 27795873 PMCID: PMC5084841 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chloroquine-containing HPMA copolymers (pCQs) were synthesized for the first time by copolymerization of methacryloylated hydroxychloroquine and HPMA. The copolymers showed lower cytotoxicity when compared with hydroxychloroquine. Treatment of cancer cells with pCQ resulted in decreased surface expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4. The pCQ copolymers showed effective inhibition of CXCR4/SDF1-mediated cancer cell migration that was fully comparable with a commercial small-molecule CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100. The reported pCQ represent unique and simple polymeric drugs with potential use as part of a combination antimetastatic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yu
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Ying Xie
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Yan Wang
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Zheng-Hong Peng
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Jing Li
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - David Oupický
- Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
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28
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Avniel-Polak S, Leibowitz G, Riahi Y, Glaser B, Gross DJ, Grozinsky-Glasberg S. Abrogation of Autophagy by Chloroquine Alone or in Combination with mTOR Inhibitors Induces Apoptosis in Neuroendocrine Tumor Cells. Neuroendocrinology 2016; 103:724-37. [PMID: 26619207 DOI: 10.1159/000442589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Everolimus (RAD001), an mTORC1 inhibitor, demonstrated promising, but limited, anticancer effects in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Torin1 (a global mTOR inhibitor) and NVP-BEZ235 (a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor) seem to be more effective than RAD001. Autophagy, a degradation pathway that may promote tumor growth, is regulated by mTOR; mTOR inhibition results in stimulation of autophagy. Chloroquine (CQ) inhibits autophagy. AIM To explore the effect of CQ alone or in combination with RAD001, Torin1 or NVP-BEZ235 on autophagy and on NET cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis. METHODS The NET cell line BON1 was treated with CQ with or without different mTOR inhibitors. siRNA against ATG5/7 was used to genetically inhibit autophagy. Cellular viability was examined by XTT, proliferation by Ki-67 staining and cell cycles by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was analyzed by Western blotting for cleaved caspase 3 and staining for annexin V; autophagy was evaluated by Western blotting and immunostaining for LC3. RESULTS RAD001, Torin1, NVP-BEZ235 and CQ all decreased BON1 cell viability. The effect of RAD001 was smaller than that of the other mTOR inhibitors or CQ. Torin1 and NVP-BEZ235 markedly inhibited cell proliferation, without inducing apoptosis. CQ similarly decreased cell proliferation, while robustly increasing apoptosis. Treatment with Torin1 or NVP-BEZ235 together with CQ was additive on viability, without increasing CQ-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of autophagy by ATG5/7 knockdown increased apoptosis in the presence or absence of mTOR inhibitors, mimicking the CQ effects. CONCLUSION CQ inhibits NET growth by inducing apoptosis and by inhibiting cell proliferation, probably via inhibition of autophagy. CQ may potentiate the antitumor effect of mTOR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani Avniel-Polak
- Neuroendocrine Tumor Unit, Endocrinology and Metabolism Service, Department of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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29
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Gómez VE, Giovannetti E, Peters GJ. Unraveling the complexity of autophagy: Potential therapeutic applications in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Semin Cancer Biol 2015; 35:11-9. [PMID: 26408419 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly dynamic, evolutionary conserved cellular homeostatic process that occurs at baseline levels in most cells. It exerts predominantly cytoprotective effects by removing damaged organelles and protein aggregates. In cancer, however, autophagy acts as both a tumor suppressor by preventing ROS-induced tumorigenesis and as a tumor inducer by providing nutrients to tumor cells under hypoxic, low-energy conditions and protecting them against therapeutically induced stress. Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma is an extremely lethal and aggressive neoplasm with a 5 year-survival rate between 1% and 5%. One of the most important factors affecting its poor prognosis is its high resistance to most of the existing chemotherapeutic regimens. The role of autophagy in PDAC has been investigated by different research groups and the results are quite divergent; some research lines point at autophagy as a tumor promoting mechanism, whereas other studies assign oncosuppressive functions to it. Nevertheless, several distinct preclinical studies and clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of both autophagy inducers and autophagy inhibitors as therapeutic compounds against PDAC, many of them providing promising results. Although a better understanding of the complexity of autophagy is needed, the modulation of this process opens new opportunities for prognostic and therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina E Gómez
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Godefridus J Peters
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Process of hepatic metastasis from pancreatic cancer: biology with clinical significance. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2015; 142:1137-61. [PMID: 26250876 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-015-2024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic cancer shows a remarkable preference for the liver to establish secondary tumors. Selective metastasis to the liver is attributed to the development of potential microenvironment for the survival of pancreatic cancer cells. This review aims to provide a full understanding of the hepatic metastatic process from circulating pancreatic cancer cells to their settlement in the liver, serving as a basic theory for efficient prediction and treatment of metastatic diseases. METHODS A systematic search of relevant original articles and reviews was performed on PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library for the purpose of this review. RESULTS Three interrelated phases are delineated as the contributions of the interaction between pancreatic cancer cells and the liver to hepatic metastasis process. Chemotaxis of disseminated pancreatic cancer cells and simultaneous defensive formation of platelets or neutrophils facilitate specific metastasis toward the liver. Remodeling of extracellular matrix and stromal cells in hepatic lobules and angiogenesis induced by proangiogenic factors support the survival and growth of clinical micrometastasis colonizing the liver. The bimodal role of the immune system or prevalence of cancer cells over the immune system makes metastatic progression successfully proceed from micrometastasis to macrometastasis. CONCLUSIONS Pancreatic cancer is an appropriate research object of cancer metastasis representing more than a straight cascade. If any of the successive or simultaneous phases, especially tumor-induced immunosuppression, is totally disrupted, hepatic metastasis will be temporarily under control or even cancelled forever. To shrink cancers on multiple fronts and prolong survival for patients, novel oral or intravenous anti-cancer agents covering one or different phases of metastatic pancreatic cancer are expected to be integrated into innovative strategies on the premise of safety and efficacious biostability.
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31
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Lee S, Heinrich EL, Li L, Lu J, Choi AH, Levy RA, Wagner JE, Yip MLR, Vaidehi N, Kim J. CCR9-mediated signaling through β-catenin and identification of a novel CCR9 antagonist. Mol Oncol 2015; 9:1599-611. [PMID: 26003048 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated levels of chemokine receptor CCR9 expression in solid tumors may contribute to poor patient prognosis. In this study, we characterized a novel CCR9-mediated pathway that promotes pancreatic cancer cell invasion and drug resistance, indicating that CCR9 may play a critical role in cancer progression through activation of β-catenin. We noted that the CCL25/CCR9 axis in pancreatic cancer cells induced the activation of β-catenin, which enhanced cell proliferation, invasion, and drug resistance. CCR9-mediated activation of β-catenin and the resulting downstream effects were effectively inhibited by blockade of the PI3K/AKT pathway, but not by antagonism of Wnt. Importantly, we discovered that CCR9/CCL25 increased the lethal dose of gemcitabine, suggesting decreased efficacy of anti-cancer drugs with CCR9 signaling. Through in silico computational modeling, we identified candidate CCR9 antagonists and tested their effects on CCR9/β-catenin regulation of cell signaling and drug sensitivity. When combined with gemcitabine, it resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity. Our results show that CCR9/β-catenin signaling enhances pancreatic cancer invasiveness and chemoresistance, and may be a highly novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangjun Lee
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Eileen L Heinrich
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Lily Li
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Jianming Lu
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Audrey H Choi
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Rachel A Levy
- Department of Immunology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Wagner
- Department of Immunology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - M L Richard Yip
- HTS Lab, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Nagarajan Vaidehi
- Department of Immunology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Joseph Kim
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA.
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The chemokine receptors CXCR4/CXCR7 and their primary heterodimeric ligands CXCL12 and CXCL12/high mobility group box 1 in pancreatic cancer growth and development: finding flow. Pancreas 2015; 44:528-34. [PMID: 25872129 DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000000298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Novel therapies need to be developed for patients with pancreatic cancer because of the poor outcomes of current regimens. Pancreatic cancer cells respond to the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7)/C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12)/high-mobility group box 1 signaling axis and this axis presents a novel target for therapy. C-X-C motif chemokine 12 stimulates CXCR4/CXCR7-bearing cells in a paracrine manner. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 and CXCR7 are transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that, upon interaction with ligand CXCL12, activate downstream protein kinases that promote a more aggressive behavior. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 is expressed on most pancreatic cancer cells, whereas CXCR7 is primarily expressed on tumor-associated endothelium. High-mobility group box 1 promotes the CXCR4 and CXCL12 interaction, promoting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 is a potent stimulator of CXCR4 and CXCL12 expression, promoting more aggressive behavior. This receptor/ligand interaction can be disrupted by CXCR4 antagonists available and in clinical use to harvest bone marrow stem cells. Novel imaging strategies are now being developed at several centers to evaluate response to therapy and identify early recurrence. Thus, the CXCR4/CXCR7/CXCL12 interaction plays a critical role in cancer cell progression, proliferation, invasion, as well as metastasis and is a suitable target for therapy, imaging, as well as development of novel diagnostics.
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Role of 3D Structures in Understanding, Predicting, and Designing Molecular Interactions in the Chemokine Receptor Family. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/7355_2014_77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Wang Y, Liang WC, Pan WL, Law WK, Hu JS, Ip DTM, Waye MMY, Ng TB, Wan DCC. Silibinin, a novel chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist, inhibits chemokine ligand 12-induced migration in breast cancer cells. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2014; 21:1310-1317. [PMID: 25172795 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2014.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) signaling has been demonstrated to be involved in cancer invasion and migration; therefore, CXCR4 antagonist can serve as an anti-cancer drug by preventing tumor metastasis. This study aimed to identify the CXCR4 antagonists that could reduce and/or inhibit tumor metastasis from natural products. METHODS AND RESULTS According to the molecular docking screening, we reported here silibinin as a novel CXCR4 antagonist. Biochemical characterization showed that silibinin blocked chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)-induced CXCR4 internalization by competitive binding to CXCR4, therefore inhibiting downstream intracellular signaling. In human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231, which expresses high levels of CXCR4, inhibition of CXCL12-induced chemomigration can be found under silibinin treatment. Overexpression of CXCL12 sensitized MDA-MB-231 cells to the inhibition of silibinin, which was abolished by CXCR4 knockdown. The inhibition of silibinin was also observed in MCF-7/CXCR4 cells rather than MCF-7 cells that express low level of CXCR4. CONCLUSIONS Our work demonstrated that silibinin is a novel CXCR4 antagonist that may have potential therapeutic use for prevention of tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Wei-Cheng Liang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Wen-Liang Pan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Wai-Kit Law
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jian-Shu Hu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Denis Tsz-Ming Ip
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Mary Miu-Yee Waye
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Tzi-Bun Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - David Chi-Cheong Wan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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Li J, Jiang K, Qiu X, Li M, Hao Q, Wei L, Zhang W, Chen B, Xin X. Overexpression of CXCR4 is significantly associated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy resistance and can be a prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer. BMB Rep 2014; 47:33-8. [PMID: 24209634 PMCID: PMC4163846 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2014.47.1.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Revised: 04/27/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) plays an important role in the growth, angiogenesis and metastasis of various cancers, including epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, the correlation between CXCR4 and the clinical response of EOC patients to chemotherapy remains unknown. 124 EOC patients were recruited to assess the relationship between CXCR4 and the response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The results showed that patients with a higher CXCR4 expression had a significantly lower chemosensitivity, a poorer progression-free survival and a lower overall survival than those with lower CXCR4 expression. In addition, knockdown of CXCR4 by small interfering RNA suppressed cell proliferation and resulted in G1/S arrest, increased apoptosis and chemosensitivity in both cisplatin-sensitive A2780 cells and cisplatin-resistant cell A2780/cis in vitro. Our data suggest that CXCR4 is one of the key molecules in cisplatin-based chemotherapy for EOC patients and that CXCR4 inhibition is a potential strategy to address the chemoresistance of EOC. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(1): 33-38]
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - BiLiang Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyan Xin
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
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Roumen L, Scholten DJ, de Kruijf P, de Esch IJP, Leurs R, de Graaf C. C(X)CR in silico: Computer-aided prediction of chemokine receptor-ligand interactions. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2014; 9:e281-91. [PMID: 24990665 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2012.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
This review will focus on the construction, refinement, and validation of chemokine receptor models for the purpose of structure-based virtual screening and ligand design. The review will present a comparative analysis of ligand binding pockets in chemokine receptors, including a review of the recently released CXCR4 X-ray structures, and their implication on chemokine receptor (homology) modeling. The recommended protein-ligand modeling procedure as well as the use of experimental anchors to steer the modeling procedure is discussed and an overview of several successful structure-based ligand discovery and design studies is provided. This review shows that receptor models, despite structural inaccuracies, can be efficiently used to find novel ligands for chemokine receptors.:
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Affiliation(s)
- L Roumen
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacochemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D J Scholten
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacochemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P de Kruijf
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacochemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I J P de Esch
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacochemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Leurs
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacochemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C de Graaf
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacochemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Würth R, Bajetto A, Harrison JK, Barbieri F, Florio T. CXCL12 modulation of CXCR4 and CXCR7 activity in human glioblastoma stem-like cells and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:144. [PMID: 24904289 PMCID: PMC4036438 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are crucial autocrine and paracrine players in tumor development. In particular, CXCL12, through its receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7, affects tumor progression by controlling cancer cell survival, proliferation and migration, and, indirectly, via angiogenesis or recruiting immune cells. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent primary malignant brain tumor in adults and despite current multimodal therapies it remains almost incurable. The aggressive and recurrent phenotype of GBM is ascribed to high growth rate, invasiveness to normal brain, marked angiogenesis, ability to escape the immune system and resistance to standard of care therapies. Tumor molecular and cellular heterogeneity severely hinders GBM therapeutic improvement. In particular, a subpopulation of chemo- and radio-therapy resistant tumorigenic cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) is believed to be the main responsible for tumor cell dissemination to the brain. GBM cells display heterogeneous expression levels of CXCR4 and CXCR7 that are overexpressed in CSCs, representing a molecular correlate for the invasive potential of GBM. The microenvironment contribution in GBM development is increasingly emphasized. An interplay exists between CSCs, differentiated GBM cells, and the microenvironment, mainly through secreted chemokines (e.g., CXCL12) causing recruitment of fibroblasts, endothelial, mesenchymal and inflammatory cells to the tumor, via specific receptors such as CXCR4. This review covers recent developments on the role of CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7 networks in GBM progression and the potential translational impact of their targeting. The biological and molecular understanding of the heterogeneous GBM cell behavior, phenotype and signaling is still limited. Progress in the identification of chemokine-dependent mechanisms that affect GBM cell survival, trafficking and chemo-attractive functions, opens new perspectives for development of more specific therapeutic approaches that include chemokine-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Würth
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Genova Genova, Italy ; Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica, University of Genova Genova, Italy
| | - Adriana Bajetto
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Genova Genova, Italy ; Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica, University of Genova Genova, Italy
| | - Jeffrey K Harrison
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Federica Barbieri
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Genova Genova, Italy ; Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica, University of Genova Genova, Italy
| | - Tullio Florio
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Genova Genova, Italy ; Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica, University of Genova Genova, Italy
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Shen PF, Chen XQ, Liao YC, Chen N, Zhou Q, Wei Q, Li X, Wang J, Zeng H. MicroRNA-494-3p targets CXCR4 to suppress the proliferation, invasion, and migration of prostate cancer. Prostate 2014; 74:756-67. [PMID: 24644030 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway is a potential mechanism of tumor proliferation and progression, the mechanism of controlling CXCR4 expression is not fully understood. This study was to confirm that miR-494-3p might be a potentially post-transcriptional regulator of CXCR4 and over-expression of miR-494 might suppress prostate cancer progression and metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We firstly postulated the post-transcriptional regulation of CXCR4 by miR-494-3p through bioinformatics analysis, and then it was demonstrated that miR-494-3p could regulate the CXCR4 mRNA post-transcriptionally by binding to the predicted site by dual reporter gene assays. The biological effect of miR-494-3p on prostate cancer cells proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion was measured by MTT, TUNEL, flow cytometry, migration, and invasion assays. RESULTS It was shown that the mRNA and protein expression levels of CXCR4 were significantly up-regulated in PC-3 and DU145, whereas barely detected in LNCaP and RWPE-1. However, the CXCR4 protein levels were inversely related to the mature miR-494-3p expression levels in RWPE-1 and prostate cancer cells. The constitutive over-expression of miR-494-3p could down-regulate the protein level of CXCR4 in PC-3 and DU145. MiR-494-3p also could bind to the seed sequences in the 3'-UTR of the CXCR4 gene. Artificial over-expression of miR-494-3p could inhibit the growth, promote the apoptosis, and inhibit the migration and invasion of PC-3 and DU145 cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that miR-494-3p might play crucial role in prostate cancer by post-transcriptional regulation to CXCR4 mRNA. MiR-494-3p/CXCR4 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target to prevent prostate cancer progression and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-fei Shen
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, China
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Balic A, Sørensen MD, Trabulo SM, Sainz B, Cioffi M, Vieira CR, Miranda-Lorenzo I, Hidalgo M, Kleeff J, Erkan M, Heeschen C. Chloroquine targets pancreatic cancer stem cells via inhibition of CXCR4 and hedgehog signaling. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 13:1758-71. [PMID: 24785258 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest carcinomas and is characterized by highly tumorigenic and metastatic cancer stem cells (CSC). CSCs evade available therapies, which preferentially target highly proliferative and more differentiated progenies, leaving behind CSCs as a putative source for disease relapse. Thus, to identify potentially more effective treatment regimens, we screened established and new compounds for their ability to eliminate CSCs in primary pancreatic cancer (stem) cells in vitro and corresponding patient-derived pancreatic cancer tissue xenografts in vivo. Intriguingly, we found that in vitro treatment with the antimalarial agent chloroquine significantly decreased CSCs, translating into diminished in vivo tumorigenicity and invasiveness in a large panel of pancreatic cancers. In vivo treatment in combination with gemcitabine was capable of more effectively eliminating established tumors and improved overall survival. The inhibitory effect of chloroquine was not related to inhibition of autophagy, but was due to inhibition of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling, resulting in reduced phosphorylation of ERK and STAT3. Furthermore, chloroquine showed potent inhibition of hedgehog signaling by decreasing the production of Smoothened, translating into a significant reduction in sonic hedgehog-induced chemotaxis and downregulation of downstream targets in CSCs and the surrounding stroma. Our study demonstrates that via to date unreported effects, chloroquine is an effective adjuvant therapy to chemotherapy, offering more efficient tumor elimination and improved cure rates. Chloroquine should be further explored in the clinical setting as its success may help to more rapidly improve the poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria Balic
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)
| | - Morten Dræby Sørensen
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO); Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sara Maria Trabulo
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO); Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Sainz
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)
| | - Michele Cioffi
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)
| | - Catarina R Vieira
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)
| | - Irene Miranda-Lorenzo
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO)
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Clinical Research Programme, CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joerg Kleeff
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Mert Erkan
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Authors' Affiliations: Stem Cells & Cancer Group, Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO); Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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From Three-Dimensional GPCR Structure to Rational Ligand Discovery. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 796:129-57. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7423-0_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Exploring the CXCR3 Chemokine Receptor with Small-Molecule Antagonists and Agonists. TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/7355_2014_75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Manning TJ, Phillips D, Wylie G, Bythell B, Clark S, Ogburn R, Ledwitch K, Collis C, Patterson S, Lasseter L. Copper ion as a delivery platform for taxanes and taxane complexes. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:371-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.10.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/31/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Vitale RM, Gatti M, Carbone M, Barbieri F, Felicità V, Gavagnin M, Florio T, Amodeo P. Minimalist hybrid ligand/receptor-based pharmacophore model for CXCR4 applied to a small-library of marine natural products led to the identification of phidianidine a as a new CXCR4 ligand exhibiting antagonist activity. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:2762-70. [PMID: 24102412 DOI: 10.1021/cb400521b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Here, we present a minimal hybrid ligand/receptor-based pharmacophore model (PM) for CXCR4, a chemokine receptor deeply involved in several pathologies, such as HIV infection, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer development/progression, and metastasization. This model, considerably simpler than those thus far proposed for this receptor, has been used to search for new CXCR4 inhibitors in a small marine natural product library available at ICB-CNR Institute (Pozzuoli, NA, Italy), since natural products, with their naturally selected chemical and functional diversity, represent a rich source of bioactive scaffolds; computational approaches allow searching for new scaffolds with a minimal waste of possibly precious natural product samples; and our "stripped-down" model substantially increases the probabilities of identifying potential hits even in small-sized libraries. This search, also validated by a systematic virtual screening of the same library, has led to the identification of a new CXCR4 ligand, phidianidine A (PHIA). Docking studies supported PHIA activity and suggested its possible binding modes to CXCR4. Using the CXCR4-expressing/CXCR7-negative GH4C1 cell line we show that PHIA inhibits CXCL12-induced DNA synthesis, cell migration, and ERK1/2 activation. The specificity of these effects was confirmed by the lack of PHIA activity in GH4C1 cells, in which siRNA highly reduces CXCR4 expression and the lack of cytoxicity of PHIA was also verified. Thus, PHIA represents a promising lead for a new family of CXCR4 modulators with wide margins of improvement in potency and specificity offered by the small and very simple underlying PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Maria Vitale
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Monica Gatti
- Section
of Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Marianna Carbone
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federica Barbieri
- Section
of Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Center
of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Vera Felicità
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
- Department
of Health Science, “Magna Græcia”, University, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Margherita Gavagnin
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Tullio Florio
- Section
of Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Center
of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Pietro Amodeo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
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Wang P, Zhang J, Zhang L, Zhu Z, Fan J, Chen L, Zhuang L, Luo J, Chen H, Liu L, Chen Z, Meng Z. MicroRNA 23b regulates autophagy associated with radioresistance of pancreatic cancer cells. Gastroenterology 2013; 145:1133-1143.e12. [PMID: 23916944 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2013] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Tumor resistance to radiation is a challenge in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Improving our understanding of the mechanisms of radioresistance could lead to strategies to increase patients' response to therapy. We investigated the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in radioresistance of pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS We established radioresistant pancreatic cancer cell lines and used array analysis to compare levels of different miRNAs between radioresistant cell lines and the parental cell lines from which they were derived. We transfected pancreatic cancer cells with miRNA mimics or inhibitors and evaluated their effects on cell radiosensitivity using a clonogenic survival assay. The effects of miRNA on autophagy were determined by transmission electron microscopy and immunoblot analysis. We used a luciferase reporter assay to identify messenger RNA targets of specific miRNAs. RESULTS Radioresistant pancreatic cancer cells had reduced levels of the miRNA miR-23b and increased autophagy compared with cells that were not radioresistant. Overexpression of miR-23b inhibited radiation-induced autophagy, whereas an inhibitor of miR-23b promoted autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-23b sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to radiation. The target of miR-23b, ATG12, was overexpressed in radioresistant cells; levels of ATG12 protein correlated with the occurrence of autophagy. Expression of miR-23b blocked radiation-induced autophagy and sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to radiation. We observed an inverse correlation between the level of miR-23b and autophagy in human pancreatic cancer tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS In pancreatic cancer cells, reduced levels of the miRNA miR-23b increase levels of ATG12 and autophagy to promote radioresistance. miR-23b might be used to increase the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
Chloroquine (CQ) can induce cell death in a subset of cancer cell lines, and some melanoma cell lines are quite susceptible. Although it is well known that CQ impairs lysosomal function and can serve as an autophagy inhibitor, the molecular target of CQ and the subsequent cascade of events that lead to cell death are not fully understood. Recent evidence indicates that in melanoma cell lines, CQ induces apoptosis by preventing degradation of the pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis. This finding adds to the unfolding story of CQ's mechanism of action as a cancer therapeutic agent.
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Coleman RG, Carchia M, Sterling T, Irwin JJ, Shoichet BK. Ligand pose and orientational sampling in molecular docking. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75992. [PMID: 24098414 PMCID: PMC3787967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular docking remains an important tool for structure-based screening to find new ligands and chemical probes. As docking ambitions grow to include new scoring function terms, and to address ever more targets, the reliability and extendability of the orientation sampling, and the throughput of the method, become pressing. Here we explore sampling techniques that eliminate stochastic behavior in DOCK3.6, allowing us to optimize the method for regularly variable sampling of orientations. This also enabled a focused effort to optimize the code for efficiency, with a three-fold increase in the speed of the program. This, in turn, facilitated extensive testing of the method on the 102 targets, 22,805 ligands and 1,411,214 decoys of the Directory of Useful Decoys - Enhanced (DUD-E) benchmarking set, at multiple levels of sampling. Encouragingly, we observe that as sampling increases from 50 to 500 to 2000 to 5000 to 20000 molecular orientations in the binding site (and so from about 1×1010 to 4×1010 to 1×1011 to 2×1011 to 5×1011 mean atoms scored per target, since multiple conformations are sampled per orientation), the enrichment of ligands over decoys monotonically increases for most DUD-E targets. Meanwhile, including internal electrostatics in the evaluation ligand conformational energies, and restricting aromatic hydroxyls to low energy rotamers, further improved enrichment values. Several of the strategies used here to improve the efficiency of the code are broadly applicable in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan G. Coleman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Carchia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Teague Sterling
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - John J. Irwin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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47
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Structural and some medicinal characteristics of the copper(II)–hydroxychloroquine complex. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:4453-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Revised: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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48
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Hertzer KM, Donald GW, Hines OJ. CXCR2: a target for pancreatic cancer treatment? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2013; 17:667-80. [PMID: 23425074 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2013.772137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, is very aggressive and has minimally effective treatment options. For those who have no surgical options, medical treatments are limited. The chemokine receptor CXCR2 has become the subject of much interest recently because of multiple studies indicating its involvement in cancer and inflammatory conditions. Research now indicates that CXCR2 and its ligands are intimately involved in tumor regulation and growth and that inhibition of its function shows promising results in multiple cancer types, including pancreatic cancer. AREAS COVERED In this study, the authors review basic molecular and structural details of CXCR2, as well as the known functions of CXCR2 and several of its ligands in inflammation and cancer biology with specific attention to pancreatic cancer. Then the future possibilities and questions remaining for pharmacological intervention against CXCR2 in pancreatic cancer are explored. EXPERT OPINION Many current inhibitory strategies already exist for targeting CXCR2 in vitro as well as in vivo. Clinically speaking, CXCR2 is an exciting potential target for pancreatic cancer; however, CXCR2 is functionally important for multiple processes and therapeutic options would benefit from further work toward understanding of these roles as well as structural and target specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Hertzer
- Hirshberg Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Surgery , 675 Charles E Young Drive, MRL 2535, Los Angeles, CA 90095 , USA
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Debnath B, Xu S, Grande F, Garofalo A, Neamati N. Small molecule inhibitors of CXCR4. Am J Cancer Res 2013; 3:47-75. [PMID: 23382786 PMCID: PMC3563081 DOI: 10.7150/thno.5376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CXCR4 is a G-protein-coupled receptor involved in a number of physiological processes in the hematopoietic and immune systems. The SDF-1/CXCR4 axis is significantly associated with several diseases, such as HIV, cancer, WHIM syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, pulmonary fibrosis and lupus. For example, CXCR4 is one of the major co-receptors for HIV entry into target cells, while in cancer it plays an important role in tumor cell metastasis. Several promising CXCR4 antagonists have been developed to block SDF-1/CXCR4 interactions that are currently under different stages of development. The first in class CXCR4 antagonist, plerixafor, was approved by the FDA in 2008 for the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells and several other drugs are currently in clinical trials for cancer, HIV, and WHIM syndrome. While the long-term safety data for the first generation CXCR4 antagonists are not yet available, several new compounds are under preclinical development in an attempt to provide safer and more efficient treatment options for HIV and cancer patients.
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Kooistra AJ, Roumen L, Leurs R, de Esch IJ, de Graaf C. From Heptahelical Bundle to Hits from the Haystack. Methods Enzymol 2013; 522:279-336. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407865-9.00015-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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