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Tiwari M, Srivastava P, Abbas S, Jegatheesan J, Ranjan A, Sharma S, Maurya VP, Saxena AK, Sharma LK. Emerging Role of Autophagy in Governing Cellular Dormancy, Metabolic Functions, and Therapeutic Responses of Cancer Stem Cells. Cells 2024; 13:447. [PMID: 38474411 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumors are composed of heterogeneous populations of dysregulated cells that grow in specialized niches that support their growth and maintain their properties. Tumor heterogeneity and metastasis are among the major hindrances that exist while treating cancer patients, leading to poor clinical outcomes. Although the factors that determine tumor complexity remain largely unknown, several genotypic and phenotypic changes, including DNA mutations and metabolic reprograming provide cancer cells with a survival advantage over host cells and resistance to therapeutics. Furthermore, the presence of a specific population of cells within the tumor mass, commonly known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), is thought to initiate tumor formation, maintenance, resistance, and recurrence. Therefore, these CSCs have been investigated in detail recently as potential targets to treat cancer and prevent recurrence. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in CSC proliferation, self-renewal, and dormancy may provide important clues for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Autophagy, a catabolic process, has long been recognized to regulate various physiological and pathological processes. In addition to regulating cancer cells, recent studies have identified a critical role for autophagy in regulating CSC functions. Autophagy is activated under various adverse conditions and promotes cellular maintenance, survival, and even cell death. Thus, it is intriguing to address whether autophagy promotes or inhibits CSC functions and whether autophagy modulation can be used to regulate CSC functions, either alone or in combination. This review describes the roles of autophagy in the regulation of metabolic functions, proliferation and quiescence of CSCs, and its role during therapeutic stress. The review further highlights the autophagy-associated pathways that could be used to regulate CSCs. Overall, the present review will help to rationalize various translational approaches that involve autophagy-mediated modulation of CSCs in controlling cancer progression, metastasis, and recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Tiwari
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Pransu Srivastava
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Biotechnology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Sabiya Abbas
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Biotechnology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Janani Jegatheesan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Ashish Ranjan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Sadhana Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Ved Prakash Maurya
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Ajit Kumar Saxena
- Department of Pathology/Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Lokendra Kumar Sharma
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Biotechnology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow 226014, India
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Qin Y, Xiong S, Ren J, Sethi G. Autophagy machinery in glioblastoma: The prospect of cell death crosstalk and drug resistance with bioinformatics analysis. Cancer Lett 2024; 580:216482. [PMID: 37977349 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Brain tumors are common malignancies with high mortality and morbidity in which glioblastoma (GB) is a grade IV astrocytoma with heterogeneous nature. The conventional therapeutics for the GB mainly include surgery and chemotherapy, however their efficacy has been compromised due to the aggressiveness of tumor cells. The dysregulation of cell death mechanisms, especially autophagy has been reported as a factor causing difficulties in cancer therapy. As a mechanism contributing to cell homeostasis, the autophagy process is hijacked by tumor cells for the purpose of aggravating cancer progression and drug resistance. The autophagy function is context-dependent and its role can be lethal or protective in cancer. The aim of the current paper is to highlight the role of autophagy in the regulation of GB progression. The cytotoxic function of autophagy can promote apoptosis and ferroptosis in GB cells and vice versa. Autophagy dysregulation can cause drug resistance and radioresistance in GB. Moreover, stemness can be regulated by autophagy and overall growth as well as metastasis are affected by autophagy. The various interventions including administration of synthetic/natural products and nanoplatforms can target autophagy. Therefore, autophagy can act as a promising target in GB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Qin
- Department of Lab, Chifeng Cancer Hospital (The 2nd Afflicted Hospital of Chifeng University), Chifeng University, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 024000, China.
| | - Shengjun Xiong
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jun Ren
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
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Zhang Z, Huang R, Lai Y. Expression signature of ten small nuclear RNAs serves as novel biomarker for prognosis prediction of acute myeloid leukemia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18489. [PMID: 37898705 PMCID: PMC10613265 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45626-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to screen for small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) associated with the prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) whole-transcriptome sequencing dataset. A total of 130 AML patients from TCGA cohort with complete prognostic information and transcriptome data were enrolled in the current study. Comprehensive survival and functional enrichment analyses were performed to explore the prognostic value and potential biological functions of prognostic snRNAs in AML patients. In the current study, we screened 72 snRNAs that were notably associated with the clinical outcome of AML and developed an expression signature consist of ten snRNAs, that can be accurately applied to assess the overall survival of AML patients. Functional mechanism analysis revealed that this expression signature may be strongly linked to some classical tumor-associated pathways, such as Notch and Wnt pathways, as well as being closely related to B and T cell receptor pathways. Furthermore, we screened six compounds (chicago sky blue 6 B, 5230742, clorsulon, nefopam, nicardipine, and streptomycin) that may serve as targeted therapeutic drugs for AML using connectivity maps. Tumor immunoassays indicated significant differences in the immune microenvironment of the bone marrow tissue between high-risk and low-risk AML patients. Immune infiltration analysis also revealed significant differences in the abundance of multiple immune cells in the bone marrow of the two groups of AML patients groups. In conclusion, our results revealed a novel prognostic expression signature of AML consisting of ten snRNAs, and we conducted a preliminary exploration of its potential biological functions and tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongming Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 6, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 6, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongrong Lai
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 6, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
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Li X, Chen Y, Bai L, Zhao R, Wu Y, Xie ZR, Wu JM, Bowen NJ, Danaher A, Cook N, Li D, Qui M, Du Y, Fu H, Osunkoya AO, Kucuk O, Wu D. Nicardipine is a putative EED inhibitor and has high selectivity and potency against chemoresistant prostate cancer in preclinical models. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:884-894. [PMID: 37474721 PMCID: PMC10449793 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02359-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is imperative to develop novel therapeutics to overcome chemoresistance, a significant obstacle in the clinical management of prostate cancer (PCa) and other cancers. METHODS A phenotypic screen was performed to identify novel inhibitors of chemoresistant PCa cells. The mechanism of action of potential candidate(s) was investigated using in silico docking, and molecular and cellular assays in chemoresistant PCa cells. The in vivo efficacy was evaluated in mouse xenograft models of chemoresistant PCa. RESULTS Nicardipine exhibited high selectivity and potency against chemoresistant PCa cells via inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Computational, molecular, and cellular studies identified nicardipine as a putative inhibitor of embryonic ectoderm development (EED) protein, and the results are consistent with a proposed mechanism of action that nicardipine destabilised enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) and inhibited key components of noncanonical EZH2 signalling, including transducer and activator of transcription 3, S-phase kinase-associated protein 2, ATP binding cassette B1, and survivin. As a monotherapy, nicardipine effectively inhibited the skeletal growth of chemoresistant C4-2B-TaxR tumours. As a combination regimen, nicardipine synergistically enhanced the in vivo efficacy of docetaxel against C4-2 xenografts. CONCLUSION Our findings provided the first preclinical evidence supporting nicardipine as a novel EED inhibitor that has the potential to be promptly tested in PCa patients to overcome chemoresistance and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yanhua Chen
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
- Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lijuan Bai
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
- Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
- Department of Urology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yifei Wu
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Zhong-Ru Xie
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jason M Wu
- Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nathan J Bowen
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alira Danaher
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas Cook
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dehong Li
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Min Qui
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuhong Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Haian Fu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, and Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adeboye O Osunkoya
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Omer Kucuk
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Daqing Wu
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development and Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Molecular Oncology and Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- MetCure Therapeutics LLC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Li W, Wang M, Ma W, Liu P, Zhang M, He J, Cui Y. Temozolomide protects against the progression of glioblastoma via SOX4 downregulation by inhibiting the LINC00470-mediated transcription factor EGR2. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:2292-2307. [PMID: 36987665 PMCID: PMC10352878 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Temozolomide is extensively applied in chemotherapy for glioblastoma with unclear exact action mechanisms. This article seeks to address the potential molecular mechanisms in temozolomide therapy for glioblastoma involving LINC00470. METHODS Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict the potential mechanism of LINC00470 in glioblastoma, which was validated by dual-luciferase reporter, RIP, ChIP, and RNA pull-down assays. LINC00470 expression and the predicted downstream transcription factor early growth response 2 (EGR2) were detected in the collected brain tissues from glioblastoma patients. Following temozolomide treatment and/or gain- and loss-of-function approaches in glioblastoma cells, cell viability, invasion, migration, cycle distribution, angiogenesis, autophagy, and apoptosis were measured. In addition, the expression of mesenchymal surface marker proteins was assessed by western blot. Tumor xenograft in nude mice was conducted for in vivo validation. RESULTS Mechanistic analysis and bioinformatics analysis revealed that LINC00470 transcriptionally activated SRY-related high-mobility-group box 4 (SOX4) through the transcription factor EGR2. LINC00470 and EGR2 were highly expressed in brain tissues of glioblastoma patients. LINC00470 and EGR2 mRNA expression gradually decreased with increasing concentrations of temozolomide in glioblastoma cells, and SOX4 expression was reduced in cells by temozolomide and LINC00470 knockdown. Temozolomide treatment induced cell cycle arrest, diminished cell viability, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, and increased apoptosis and autophagy in glioblastoma, which was counteracted by overexpressing LINC00470 or SOX4 but was further promoted by LINC00470 knockdown. Temozolomide restrained glioblastoma growth and angiogenesis in vivo, while LINC00470 or SOX4 overexpression nullified but LINC00470 knockdown further facilitated these trends. CONCLUSION Conclusively, temozolomide repressed glioblastoma progression by repressing the LINC00470/EGR2/SOX4 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyang Li
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Wenjia Ma
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of OncologyThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Mingming Zhang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Jiarong He
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Yan Cui
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityChangshaChina
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Li D, Peng X, He G, Liu J, Li X, Lin W, Fang J, Li X, Yang S, Yang L, Li H. Crosstalk between autophagy and CSCs: molecular mechanisms and translational implications. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:409. [PMID: 37422448 PMCID: PMC10329683 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05929-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells(CSCs) play a key role in regulating tumorigenesis, progression, as well as recurrence, and possess typical metabolic characteristics. Autophagy is a catabolic process that can aid cells to survive under stressful conditions such as nutrient deficiency and hypoxia. Although the role of autophagy in cancer cells has been extensively studied, CSCs possess unique stemness, and their potential relationship with autophagy has not been fully analyzed. This study summarizes the possible role of autophagy in the renewal, proliferation, differentiation, survival, metastasis, invasion, and treatment resistance of CSCs. It has been found that autophagy can contribute to the maintenance of CSC stemness, facilitate the tumor cells adapt to changes in the microenvironment, and promote tumor survival, whereas in some other cases autophagy acts as an important process involved in the deprivation of CSC stemness thus leading to tumor death. Mitophagy, which has emerged as another popular research area in recent years, has a great scope when explored together with stem cells. In this study, we have aimed to elaborate on the mechanism of action of autophagy in regulating the functions of CSCs to provide deeper insights for future cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Xueqiang Peng
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Guangpeng He
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Jiaxing Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Xian Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Weikai Lin
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Jianjun Fang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China.
| | - Hangyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
- Shenyang Clinical Medical Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Health Management of Early Digestive Cancer, Shenyang, 110032, China.
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Ribeiro E, Costa B, Vasques-Nóvoa F, Vale N. In Vitro Drug Repurposing: Focus on Vasodilators. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040671. [PMID: 36831338 PMCID: PMC9954697 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing aims to identify new therapeutic uses for drugs that have already been approved for other conditions. This approach can save time and resources compared to traditional drug development, as the safety and efficacy of the repurposed drug have already been established. In the context of cancer, drug repurposing can lead to the discovery of new treatments that can target specific cancer cell lines and improve patient outcomes. Vasodilators are a class of drugs that have been shown to have the potential to influence various types of cancer. These medications work by relaxing the smooth muscle of blood vessels, increasing blood flow to tumors, and improving the delivery of chemotherapy drugs. Additionally, vasodilators have been found to have antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on cancer cells, making them a promising target for drug repurposing. Research on vasodilators for cancer treatment has already shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies. However, additionally research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action of vasodilators in cancer and determine the optimal dosing and combination therapy for patients. In this review, we aim to explore the molecular mechanisms of action of vasodilators in cancer cell lines and the current state of research on their repurposing as a treatment option. With the goal of minimizing the effort and resources required for traditional drug development, we hope to shed light on the potential of vasodilators as a viable therapeutic strategy for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduarda Ribeiro
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Costa
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisco Vasques-Nóvoa
- Cardiovascular R&D Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-220426537
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Is Autophagy Inhibition in Combination with Temozolomide a Therapeutically Viable Strategy? Cells 2023; 12:cells12040535. [PMID: 36831202 PMCID: PMC9954434 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Temozolomide is an oral alkylating agent that is used as the first line treatment for glioblastoma multiform, and in recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma, as well as having demonstrable activity in patients with metastatic melanoma. However, as the case with other chemotherapeutic agents, the development of resistance often limits the therapeutic benefit of temozolomide, particularly in the case of glioblastoma. A number of resistance mechanisms have been proposed including the development of cytoprotective autophagy. Cytoprotective autophagy is a survival mechanism that confers upon tumor cells the ability to survive in a nutrient deficient environment as well as under external stresses, such as cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, in part through the suppression of apoptotic cell death. In this review/commentary, we explore the available literature and provide an overview of the evidence for the promotion of protective autophagy in response to temozolomide, highlighting the possibility of targeting autophagy as an adjuvant therapy to potentially increase the effectiveness of temozolomide and to overcome the development of resistance.
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Chen H, Zhu T, Huang X, Xu W, Di Z, Ma Y, Xue M, Bi S, Shen Y, Yu Y, Shen Y, Feng L. Xanthatin suppresses proliferation and tumorigenicity of glioma cells through autophagy inhibition via activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2023; 11:e01041. [PMID: 36572650 PMCID: PMC9792428 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.1041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults with high morbidity and mortality. Rapid proliferation and diffuse migration are the main obstacles to successful glioma treatment. Xanthatin, a sesquiterpene lactone purified from Xanthium strumarium L., possesses a significant antitumor role in several malignant tumors. In this study, we report that xanthatin suppressed glioma cells proliferation and induced apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and was accompanied by autophagy inhibition displaying a significantly reduced LC3 punctate fluorescence and LC3II/I ratio, decreased level of Beclin 1, while increased accumulation of p62. Notably, treating glioma cells with xanthatin resulted in obvious activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway, as indicated by increased mTOR and Akt phosphorylation, decreased ULK1 phosphorylation, which is important in modulating autophagy. Furthermore, xanthatin-mediated pro-apoptosis in glioma cells was significantly reversed by autophagy inducers (rapamycin or Torin1), or PI3K-mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235. Taken together, these findings indicate that anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis effects of xanthatin in glioma are most likely by inhibiting autophagy via activation of PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy against glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqing Chen
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Tong Zhu
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Xiaojie Huang
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Wenshuang Xu
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Zemin Di
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Yuyang Ma
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Min Xue
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Sixing Bi
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Yujun Shen
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Yuxian Shen
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Lijie Feng
- School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
- Institute of BiopharmaceuticalsAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
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Radin DP, Smith G, Moushiaveshi V, Wolf A, Bases R, Tsirka SE. Lucanthone Targets Lysosomes to Perturb Glioma Proliferation, Chemoresistance and Stemness, and Slows Tumor Growth In Vivo. Front Oncol 2022; 12:852940. [PMID: 35494072 PMCID: PMC9048484 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.852940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. Median survival time remains at 16-20 months despite multimodal treatment with surgical resection, radiation, temozolomide and tumor-treating fields therapy. After genotoxic stress glioma cells initiate cytoprotective autophagy, which contributes to treatment resistance, limiting the efficacy of these therapies and providing an avenue for glioma recurrence. Antagonism of autophagy steps has recently gained attention as it may enhance the efficacy of classical chemotherapies and newer immune-stimulating therapies. The modulation of autophagy in the clinic is limited by the low potency of common autophagy inhibitors and the inability of newer ones to cross the blood-brain barrier. Herein, we leverage lucanthone, an anti-schistosomal agent which crosses the blood-brain barrier and was recently reported to act as an autophagy inhibitor in breast cancer cells. Our studies show that lucanthone was toxic to glioma cells by inhibiting autophagy. It enhanced anti-glioma temozolomide (TMZ) efficacy at sub-cytotoxic concentrations, and suppressed the growth of stem-like glioma cells and temozolomide-resistant glioma stem cells. In vivo lucanthone slowed tumor growth: reduced numbers of Olig2+ glioma cells, normalized tumor vasculature, and reduced tumor hypoxia. We propose that lucanthone may serve to perturb a mechanism of temozolomide resistance and allow for successful treatment of TMZ-resistant glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P. Radin
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Stony Brook Medical Scientist Training Program, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Gregory Smith
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Victoria Moushiaveshi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Alexandra Wolf
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Robert Bases
- Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, New York City, NY, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Stella E. Tsirka
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Stella E. Tsirka,
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van Noorden CJ, Breznik B, Novak M, van Dijck AJ, Tanan S, Vittori M, Bogataj U, Bakker N, Khoury JD, Molenaar RJ, Hira VV. Cell Biology Meets Cell Metabolism: Energy Production Is Similar in Stem Cells and in Cancer Stem Cells in Brain and Bone Marrow. J Histochem Cytochem 2022; 70:29-51. [PMID: 34714696 PMCID: PMC8721571 DOI: 10.1369/00221554211054585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy production by means of ATP synthesis in cancer cells has been investigated frequently as a potential therapeutic target in this century. Both (an)aerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) have been studied. Here, we review recent literature on energy production in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) and leukemic stem cells (LSCs) versus their normal counterparts, neural stem cells (NSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), respectively. These two cancer stem cell types were compared because their niches in glioblastoma tumors and in bone marrow are similar. In this study, it became apparent that (1) ATP is produced in NSCs and HSCs by anaerobic glycolysis, whereas fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is essential for their stem cell fate and (2) ATP is produced in GSCs and LSCs by OXPHOS despite the hypoxic conditions in their niches with FAO and amino acids providing its substrate. These metabolic processes appeared to be under tight control of cellular regulation mechanisms which are discussed in depth. However, our conclusion is that systemic therapeutic targeting of ATP production via glycolysis or OXPHOS is not an attractive option because of its unwanted side effects in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara Breznik
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Metka Novak
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | | - Miloš Vittori
- Amsterdam UMC Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Bogataj
- Amsterdam UMC Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Joseph D. Khoury
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Remco J. Molenaar
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia,Department of Medical Oncology
| | - Vashendriya V.V. Hira
- Vashendriya V.V. Hira, Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Večna Pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail:
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An Alternative Pipeline for Glioblastoma Therapeutics: A Systematic Review of Drug Repurposing in Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081953. [PMID: 33919596 PMCID: PMC8073966 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma is a devastating malignancy that has continued to prove resistant to a variety of therapeutics. No new systemic therapy has been approved for use against glioblastoma in almost two decades. This observation is particularly disturbing given the amount of money invested in identifying novel therapies for this disease. A relatively rapid and economical pipeline for identification of novel agents is drug repurposing. Here, a comprehensive review detailing the state of drug repurposing in glioblastoma is provided. We reveal details on studies that have examined agents in vitro, in animal models and in patients. While most agents have not progressed beyond the initial stages, several drugs, from a variety of classes, have demonstrated promising results in early phase clinical trials. Abstract The treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) remains a significant challenge, with outcome for most pa-tients remaining poor. Although novel therapies have been developed, several obstacles restrict the incentive of drug developers to continue these efforts including the exorbitant cost, high failure rate and relatively small patient population. Repositioning drugs that have well-characterized mechanistic and safety profiles is an attractive alternative for drug development in GBM. In ad-dition, the relative ease with which repurposed agents can be transitioned to the clinic further supports their potential for examination in patients. Here, a systematic analysis of the literature and clinical trials provides a comprehensive review of primary articles and unpublished trials that use repurposed drugs for the treatment of GBM. The findings demonstrate that numerous drug classes that have a range of initial indications have efficacy against preclinical GBM models and that certain agents have shown significant potential for clinical benefit. With examination in randomized, placebo-controlled trials and the targeting of particular GBM subgroups, it is pos-sible that repurposing can be a cost-effective approach to identify agents for use in multimodal anti-GBM strategies.
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