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Champion JD, Dodd KM, Lam HC, Alzahrani MAM, Seifan S, Rad E, Scourfield DO, Fishel ML, Calver BL, Ager A, Henske EP, Davies DM, Kelley MR, Tee AR. Drug Inhibition of Redox Factor-1 Restores Hypoxia-Driven Changes in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Deficient Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:6195. [PMID: 36551683 PMCID: PMC9776744 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapies with the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors are not fully curative for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients. Here, we propose that some mTORC1-independent disease facets of TSC involve signaling through redox factor-1 (Ref-1). Ref-1 possesses a redox signaling activity that stimulates the transcriptional activity of STAT3, NF-kB, and HIF-1α, which are involved in inflammation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and hypoxia, respectively. Here, we demonstrate that redox signaling through Ref-1 contributes to metabolic transformation and tumor growth in TSC cell model systems. In TSC2-deficient cells, the clinically viable Ref-1 inhibitor APX3330 was effective at blocking the hyperactivity of STAT3, NF-kB, and HIF-1α. While Ref-1 inhibitors do not inhibit mTORC1, they potently block cell invasion and vasculature mimicry. Of interest, we show that cell invasion and vasculature mimicry linked to Ref-1 redox signaling are not blocked by mTORC1 inhibitors. Metabolic profiling revealed that Ref-1 inhibitors alter metabolites associated with the glutathione antioxidant pathway as well as metabolites that are heavily dysregulated in TSC2-deficient cells involved in redox homeostasis. Therefore, this work presents Ref-1 and associated redox-regulated transcription factors such as STAT3, NF-kB, and HIF-1α as potential therapeutic targets to treat TSC, where targeting these components would likely have additional benefits compared to using mTORC1 inhibitors alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D. Champion
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Kayleigh M. Dodd
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Hilaire C. Lam
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Sara Seifan
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Ellie Rad
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | | | - Melissa L. Fishel
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Brian L. Calver
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Ann Ager
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Elizabeth P. Henske
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Mark Davies
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
- Department of Oncology, South West Wales Cancer Centre, Singleton Hospital, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK
| | - Mark R. Kelley
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Andrew R. Tee
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
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Vitamin D 3 and Salinomycin synergy in MCF-7 cells cause cell death via endoplasmic reticulum stress in monolayer and 3D cell culture. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 452:116178. [PMID: 35914560 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
1α, 25, dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D), the active form of vitamin D3, has antitumor properties in several cancer cell lines in vitro. Salinomycin (Sal) has anticancer activity against cancer cell lines. This study aims to examine the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect of Sal associated with 1,25D on MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line cultured in monolayer (2D) and three-dimensional models (mammospheres). We also aim to evaluate the molecular mechanism of Sal and 1,25D-mediated effects. We report that Sal and 1,25D act synergistically in MCF-7 mammospheres and monolayer causing G1 cell cycle arrest, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction with a long-lasting cytotoxic response represented by clonogenic and mammosphere assay. We observed the induction of cell death by apoptosis with upregulation in mRNA levels of apoptosis-related genes (CASP7, CASP9, and BBC3). Extensive cytoplasmic vacuolization, a morphological characteristic found in paraptosis, was also seen and could be triggered by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER) as we found transcriptional upregulation of genes related to ER stress (ATF6, GADD153, GADD45G, EIF2AK3, and HSPA5). Overall, Sal and 1,25D act synergistically, inhibiting cell proliferation by activating simultaneously multiple death pathways and may be a novel and promising luminal A breast cancer therapy strategy.
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Mello ALDN, Zancan P. Isoquinolines alkaloids and cancer metabolism: Pathways and targets to novel chemotherapy. Chem Biol Drug Des 2022; 99:944-956. [PMID: 35322534 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the main causes of death in the world. This is a complex disease where the development of resistance to chemotherapy is frequent driving the search for new anticancer compounds. In this sense, isoquinolines have gained attention in the past few years. This review aims to highlight the new advances related to the use of isoquinolines compounds against cancer cells, and we point out targets for their anti-tumor action. Isoquinolines are compounds found in plants that are important for their protection. In cancer, many representatives of this class of compounds have demonstrated their efficacy against cancer by acting on cancer metabolism, such as triggering cell death, reducing pro-survival protein expression, inducing ROS production, inhibiting pro-survival cell signaling pathways, among other effects. The mechanisms triggered by isoquinolines in cancer cells represent robust anticancer strategies, which support that this class of compounds are strong candidates for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Lauria do Nascimento Mello
- Laboratório de Oncobiologia Molecular (LabOMol), Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patricia Zancan
- Laboratório de Oncobiologia Molecular (LabOMol), Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Nelfinavir Induces Cytotoxicity towards High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Cells, Involving Induction of the Unfolded Protein Response, Modulation of Protein Synthesis, DNA Damage, Lysosomal Impairment, and Potentiation of Toxicity Caused by Proteasome Inhibition. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010099. [PMID: 35008264 PMCID: PMC8750028 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) accounts for 70% of all ovarian-cancer-related deaths. Mainstay treatment with platinum-based drugs following surgery results in favorable outcomes in the majority of patients; however, in >80% of cases, the disease relapses with eventual drug resistance. As such, urgent development of improved alternative therapies is necessary for HGSOC patients with lower life expectancy. Rapid repurposing of market available drugs for cancer therapy is a cost-effective alternative to bypass the decade-long traditional drug development pipeline. Among potential drug-repurposing candidates, nelfinavir (NFV)—an anti-infective agent to treat acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)—has shown anti-cancer effects against diverse cancers; however, its remedial benefits against HGSOC are unknown. In this study, we explored how NFV targets HGSOC cells obtained from patients at platinum-sensitive and -resistant stages. We observed beneficial efficacy elicited by NFV against HGSOC in both disease conditions through multiple mechanistic avenues, suggesting positive drug-repurposing prospects. Abstract High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is a significant cause of mortality among women worldwide. Traditional treatment consists of platinum-based therapy; however, rapid development of platinum resistance contributes to lower life expectancy, warranting newer therapies to supplement the current platinum-based protocol. Repurposing market-available drugs as cancer therapeutics is a cost- and time-effective way to avail new therapies to drug-resistant patients. The anti-HIV agent nelfinavir (NFV) has shown promising toxicity against various cancers; however, its role against HGSOC is unknown. Here, we studied the effect of NFV against HGSOC cells obtained from patients along disease progression and carrying different sensitivities to platinum. NFV triggered, independently of platinum sensitivity, a dose-dependent reduction in the HGSOC cell number and viability, and a parallel increase in hypo-diploid DNA content. Moreover, a dose-dependent reduction in clonogenic survival of cells escaping the acute toxicity was indicative of long-term residual damage. In addition, dose- and time-dependent phosphorylation of H2AX indicated NFV-mediated DNA damage, which was associated with decreased survival and proliferation signals driven by the AKT and ERK pathways. NFV also mediated a dose-dependent increase in endoplasmic reticulum stress-related molecules associated with long-term inhibition of protein synthesis and concurrent cell death; such events were accompanied by a proapoptotic environment, signaled by increased phospho-eIF2α, ATF4, and CHOP, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and cleaved executer caspase-7. Finally, we show that NFV potentiates the short-term cell cycle arrest and long-term toxicity caused by the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. Overall, our in vitro study demonstrates that NFV can therapeutically target HGSOC cells of differential platinum sensitivities via several mechanisms, suggesting its prospective repurposing benefit considering its good safety profile.
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Doubleday PF, Fornelli L, Ntai I, Kelleher NL. Oncogenic KRAS creates an aspartate metabolism signature in colorectal cancer cells. FEBS J 2021; 288:6683-6699. [PMID: 34227245 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenic mutations in the KRAS gene are found in 30-50% of colorectal cancers (CRC), and recent findings have demonstrated independent and nonredundant roles for wild-type and mutant KRAS alleles in governing signaling and metabolism. Here, we quantify proteomic changes manifested by KRAS mutation and KRAS allele loss in isogenic cell lines. We show that the expression of KRASG13D upregulates aspartate metabolizing proteins including PCK1, PCK2, ASNS, and ASS1. Furthermore, differential expression analyses of transcript-level data from CRC tumors identified the upregulation of urea cycle enzymes in CRC. We find that expression of ASS1 supports colorectal cancer cell proliferation and promotes tumor formation in vitro. We show that loss of ASS1 can be rescued with high levels of several metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter F Doubleday
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Luca Fornelli
- Department of Biology, Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | - Neil L Kelleher
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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The Anti-Cancer Properties of the HIV Protease Inhibitor Nelfinavir. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113437. [PMID: 33228205 PMCID: PMC7699465 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary To this day, cancer remains a medical challenge despite the development of cutting-edge diagnostic methods and therapeutics. Thus, there is a continual demand for improved therapeutic options for managing cancer patients. However, novel drug development requires decade-long time commitment and financial investments. Repurposing approved and market-available drugs for cancer therapy is a way to reduce cost and the timeframe for developing new therapies. Nelfinavir is an anti-infective agent that has extensively been used to treat acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in adult and pediatric patients. In addition to its anti-infective properties, nelfinavir has demonstrated potent off-target anti-cancer effects, suggesting that it could be a suitable candidate for drug repurposing for cancer. In this review, we systematically compiled the therapeutic benefits of nelfinavir against cancer as a single drug or in combination with chemoradiotherapy, and outlined the possible underlying mechanistic pathways contributing to the anti-cancer effects. Abstract Traditional cancer treatments may lose efficacy following the emergence of novel mutations or the development of chemoradiotherapy resistance. Late diagnosis, high-cost of treatment, and the requirement of highly efficient infrastructure to dispense cancer therapies hinder the availability of adequate treatment in low-income and resource-limited settings. Repositioning approved drugs as cancer therapeutics may reduce the cost and timeline for novel drug development and expedite the availability of newer, efficacious options for patients in need. Nelfinavir is a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor that has been approved and is extensively used as an anti-infective agent to treat acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Yet nelfinavir has also shown anti-cancer effects in in vitro and in vivo studies. The anti-cancer mechanism of nelfinavir includes modulation of different cellular conditions, such as unfolded protein response, cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, the proteasome pathway, oxidative stress, the tumor microenvironment, and multidrug efflux pumps. Multiple clinical trials indicated tolerable and reversible toxicities during nelfinavir treatment in cancer patients, either as a monotherapy or in combination with chemo- or radiotherapy. Since orally available nelfinavir has been a safe drug of choice for both adult and pediatric HIV-infected patients for over two decades, exploiting its anti-cancer off-target effects will enable fast-tracking this newer option into the existing repertoire of cancer chemotherapeutics.
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Parvathaneni V, Goyal M, Kulkarni NS, Shukla SK, Gupta V. Nanotechnology Based Repositioning of an Anti-Viral Drug for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Pharm Res 2020; 37:123. [DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02848-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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A comprehensive review of salinomycin derivatives as potent anticancer and anti-CSCs agents. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 166:48-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Antoszczak M. A medicinal chemistry perspective on salinomycin as a potent anticancer and anti-CSCs agent. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 164:366-377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.12.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Energy Stress-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2-Deficient Cells with Nelfinavir and Mefloquine Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10100375. [PMID: 30308940 PMCID: PMC6210998 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10100375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
To find new anti-cancer drug therapies, we wanted to exploit homeostatic vulnerabilities within Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 (TSC2)-deficient cells with mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) hyperactivity. We show that nelfinavir and mefloquine synergize to selectively evoke a cytotoxic response in TSC2-deficient cell lines with mTORC1 hyperactivity. We optimize the concentrations of nelfinavir and mefloquine to a clinically viable range that kill cells that lack TSC2, while wild-type cells tolerate treatment. This new clinically viable drug combination causes a significant level of cell death in TSC2-deficient tumor spheroids. Furthermore, no cell recovery was apparent after drug withdrawal, revealing potent cytotoxicity. Transcriptional profiling by RNA sequencing of drug treated TSC2-deficient cells compared to wild-type cells suggested the cytotoxic mechanism of action, involving initial ER stress and an imbalance in energy homeostatic pathways. Further characterization revealed that supplementation with methyl pyruvate alleviated energy stress and reduced the cytotoxic effect, implicating energy deprivation as the trigger of cell death. This work underpins a critical vulnerability with cancer cells with aberrant signaling through the TSC2-mTORC1 pathway that lack flexibility in homeostatic pathways, which could be exploited with combined nelfinavir and mefloquine treatment.
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Lam HC, Siroky BJ, Henske EP. Renal disease in tuberous sclerosis complex: pathogenesis and therapy. Nat Rev Nephrol 2018; 14:704-716. [DOI: 10.1038/s41581-018-0059-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Loss of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 sensitizes tumors to nelfinavir-bortezomib therapy to intensify endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death. Oncogene 2018; 37:5913-5925. [PMID: 29980790 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0381-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells lose homeostatic flexibility because of mutations and dysregulated signaling pathways involved in maintaining homeostasis. Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 (TSC1) and TSC2 play a fundamental role in cell homeostasis, where signal transduction through TSC1/TSC2 is often compromised in cancer, leading to aberrant activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). mTORC1 hyperactivation increases the basal level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via an accumulation of unfolded protein, due to heightened de novo protein translation and repression of autophagy. We exploit this intrinsic vulnerability of tumor cells lacking TSC2, by treating with nelvinavir to further enhance ER stress while inhibiting the proteasome with bortezomib to prevent effective protein removal. We show that TSC2-deficient cells are highly dependent on the proteosomal degradation pathway for survival. Combined treatment with nelfinavir and bortezomib at clinically relevant drug concentrations show synergy in selectively killing TSC2-deficient cells with limited toxicity in control cells. This drug combination inhibited tumor formation in xenograft mouse models and patient-derived cell models of TSC and caused tumor spheroid death in 3D culture. Importantly, 3D culture assays differentiated between the cytostatic effects of the mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin, and the cytotoxic effects of the nelfinavir/bortezomib combination. Through RNA sequencing, we determined that nelfinavir and bortezomib tip the balance of ER protein homeostasis of the already ER-stressed TSC2-deficient cells in favor of cell death. These findings have clinical relevance in stratified medicine to treat tumors that have compromised signaling through TSC and are inflexible in their capacity to restore ER homeostasis.
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