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Will We Unlock the Benefit of Metformin for Patients with Lung Cancer? Lessons from Current Evidence and New Hypotheses. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070786. [PMID: 35890085 PMCID: PMC9318003 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin has been under basic and clinical study as an oncological repurposing pharmacological agent for several years, stemming from observational studies which consistently evidenced that subjects who were treated with metformin had a reduced risk for development of cancer throughout their lives, as well as improved survival outcomes when diagnosed with neoplastic diseases. As a result, several basic science studies have attempted to dissect the relationship between metformin’s metabolic mechanism of action and antineoplastic cellular signaling pathways. Evidence in this regard was compelling enough that a myriad of randomized clinical trials was planned and conducted in order to establish the effect of metformin treatment for patients with diverse neoplasms, including lung cancer. As with most novel antineoplastic agents, early results from these studies have been mostly discouraging, though a recent analysis that incorporated body mass index may provide significant information regarding which patient subgroups might derive the most benefit from the addition of metformin to their anticancer treatment. Much in line with the current pipeline for anticancer agents, it appears that the benefit of metformin may be circumscribed to a specific patient subgroup. If so, addition of metformin to antineoplastic agents could prove one of the most cost-effective interventions proposed in the context of precision oncology. Currently published reviews mostly rely on a widely questioned mechanism of action by metformin, which fails to consider the differential effects of the drug in lean vs. obese subjects. In this review, we analyze the pre-clinical and clinical information available to date regarding the use of metformin in various subtypes of lung cancer and, further, we present evidence as to the differential metabolic effects of metformin in lean and obese subjects where, paradoxically, the obese subjects have reported more benefit with the addition of metformin treatment. The novel mechanisms of action described for this biguanide may explain the different results observed in clinical trials published in the last decade. Lastly, we present novel hypothesis regarding potential biomarkers to identify who might reap benefit from this intervention, including the role of prolyl hydroxylase domain 3 (PHD3) expression to modify metabolic phenotypes in malignant diseases.
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Hasanvand A. The role of AMPK-dependent pathways in cellular and molecular mechanisms of metformin: a new perspective for treatment and prevention of diseases. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:775-788. [PMID: 35419709 PMCID: PMC9007580 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-00980-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metformin can suppress gluconeogenesis and reduce blood sugar by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inducing small heterodimer partner (SHP) expression in the liver cells. The main mechanism of metformin’s action is related to its activation of the AMPK enzyme and regulation of the energy balance. AMPK is a heterothermic serine/threonine kinase made of a catalytic alpha subunit and two subunits of beta and a gamma regulator. This enzyme can measure the intracellular ratio of AMP/ATP. If this ratio is high, the amino acid threonine 172 available in its alpha chain would be activated by the phosphorylated liver kinase B1 (LKB1), leading to AMPK activation. Several studies have indicated that apart from its significant role in the reduction of blood glucose level, metformin activates the AMPK enzyme that in turn has various efficient impacts on the regulation of various processes, including controlling inflammatory conditions, altering the differentiation pathway of immune and non-immune cell pathways, and the amelioration of various cancers, liver diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), kidney diseases, neurological disorders, etc. Metformin’s activation of AMPK enables it to control inflammatory conditions, improve oxidative status, regulate the differentiation pathways of various cells, change the pathological process in various diseases, and finally have positive therapeutic effects on them. Due to the activation of AMPK and its role in regulating several subcellular signalling pathways, metformin can be effective in altering the cells’ proliferation and differentiation pathways and eventually in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Hasanvand
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
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3
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Barrios-Bernal P, Hernandez-Pedro N, Orozco-Morales M, Viedma-Rodríguez R, Lucio-Lozada J, Avila-Moreno F, Cardona AF, Rosell R, Arrieta O. Metformin Enhances TKI-Afatinib Cytotoxic Effect, Causing Downregulation of Glycolysis, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, and EGFR-Signaling Pathway Activation in Lung Cancer Cells. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030381. [PMID: 35337178 PMCID: PMC8955777 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of metformin and TKIs for non-small cell lung cancer has been proposed as a strategy to overcome resistance of neoplastic cells induced by several molecular mechanisms. This study sought to investigate the effects of a second generation TKI afatinib, metformin, or their combination on three adenocarcinoma lung cancer cell lines with different EGFRmutation status. A549, H1975, and HCC827 cell lines were treated with afatinib, metformin, and their combination for 72 h. Afterwards, several parameters were assessed including cytotoxicity, interactions, apoptosis, and EGFR protein levels at the cell membrane and several glycolytic, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and EMT expression markers. All cell lines showed additive to synergic interactions for the induction of cytotoxicity caused by the tested combination, as well as an improved pro-apoptotic effect. This effect was accompanied by downregulation of glycolytic, EMT markers, a significant decrease in glucose uptake, extracellular lactate, and a tendency towards increased OXPHOS subunits expression. Interestingly, we observed a better response to the combined therapy in lung cancer cell lines A549 and H1975, which normally have low affinity for TKI treatment. Findings from this study suggest a sensitization to afatinib therapy by metformin in TKI-resistant lung cancer cells, as well as a reduction in cellular glycolytic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Barrios-Bernal
- Laboratorio de Medicina Personalizada, Thoracic Oncology Unit Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, S.S.A., San Fernando 22 Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (P.B.-B.); (N.H.-P.); (M.O.-M.); (J.L.-L.)
| | - Norma Hernandez-Pedro
- Laboratorio de Medicina Personalizada, Thoracic Oncology Unit Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, S.S.A., San Fernando 22 Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (P.B.-B.); (N.H.-P.); (M.O.-M.); (J.L.-L.)
| | - Mario Orozco-Morales
- Laboratorio de Medicina Personalizada, Thoracic Oncology Unit Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, S.S.A., San Fernando 22 Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (P.B.-B.); (N.H.-P.); (M.O.-M.); (J.L.-L.)
| | - Rubí Viedma-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Morfología y Función, Facultad de Estudios Superiores (FES) Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico City 54090, Mexico;
| | - José Lucio-Lozada
- Laboratorio de Medicina Personalizada, Thoracic Oncology Unit Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, S.S.A., San Fernando 22 Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (P.B.-B.); (N.H.-P.); (M.O.-M.); (J.L.-L.)
| | - Federico Avila-Moreno
- Lung Diseases and Cancer Epigenomics Laboratory, Biomedicine Research Unit (UBIMED), Facultad de Estudios Superiores (FES) Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico City 54090, Mexico;
| | - Andrés F. Cardona
- Foundation for Clinical and Applied Cancer Research—FICMAC/Molecular Oncology and Biology Systems Research Group (Fox-G), Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá 11001, Colombia;
| | - Rafael Rosell
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute and Hospital Campus Can Ruti, 8908 Badalona, Spain;
| | - Oscar Arrieta
- Laboratorio de Medicina Personalizada, Thoracic Oncology Unit Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, S.S.A., San Fernando 22 Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (P.B.-B.); (N.H.-P.); (M.O.-M.); (J.L.-L.)
- Correspondence:
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4
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Chen N, Zhou YS, Wang LC, Huang JB. Advances in metformin‑based metabolic therapy for non‑small cell lung cancer (Review). Oncol Rep 2022; 47:55. [PMID: 35039878 PMCID: PMC8808708 DOI: 10.3892/or.2022.8266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic approaches that target the metabolism of tumor cells have been a popular research topic in recent years. Previous studies have demonstrated that glycolysis inhibitors reduce the proliferation of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by interfering with the aerobic glycolytic pathway. However, the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway in tumor cells has also been implicated in lung cancer metabolism. Metformin, a known inhibitor of mitochondrial OXPHOS, has been indicated to reduce NSCLC morbidity and mortality in clinical studies. The present article reviewed the therapeutic effects of metformin against NSCLC, both as a single agent and combined with other anticancer treatments, in order to provide a theoretical basis for its clinical use in adjuvant therapy for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Yangtze University, Yangtze University Research and Experimentation Centre, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Shu Zhou
- Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Yangtze University, Yangtze University Research and Experimentation Centre, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
| | - Li-Cui Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Yangtze University, Yangtze University Research and Experimentation Centre, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Bai Huang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Yangtze University, Yangtze University Research and Experimentation Centre, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
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Sanches LJ, Marinello PC, da Silva Brito WA, Lopes NMD, Luiz RC, Cecchini R, Cecchini AL. Metformin pretreatment reduces effect to dacarbazine and suppresses melanoma cell resistance. Cell Biol Int 2021; 46:73-82. [PMID: 34506671 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress role on metformin process of dacarbazine (DTIC) inducing resistance of B16F10 melanoma murine cells are investigated. To induce resistance to DTIC, murine melanoma cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of dacarabazine (DTIC-res group). Metformin was administered before and during the induction of resistance to DTIC (MET-DTIC). The oxidative stress parameters of the DTIC-res group showed increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol, and reduced nuclear p53, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-DG), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ĸB), and Nrf2. In presence of metformin in the resistant induction process to DTIC, (MET-DTIC) cells had increased antioxidant thiols, MDA, nuclear p53, 8-OH-DG, Nrf2, and reducing NF-ĸB, weakening the DTIC-resistant phenotype. The exclusive administration of metformin (MET group) also induced the cellular resistance to DTIC. The MET group presented high levels of total thiols, MDA, and reduced percentage of nuclear p53. It also presented reduced nuclear 8-OH-DG, NF-ĸB, and Nrf2 when compared with the control. Oxidative stress and the studied biomarkers seem to be part of the alterations evidenced in DTIC-resistant B16F10 cells. In addition, metformin administration is able to play a dual role according to the experimental protocol, preventing or inducing a DTIC-resistant phenotype. These findings should help future research with the aim of investigating DTIC resistance in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa J Sanches
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Londrina State University, UEL, Londrina, Parana, Brazil
| | - Poliana C Marinello
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Londrina State University, UEL, Londrina, Parana, Brazil
| | - Walison A da Silva Brito
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Londrina State University, UEL, Londrina, Parana, Brazil.,Leibniz-Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), ZIK plasmatis "Plasma Redox Effects", Greifswald, Germany
| | - Natália M D Lopes
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Londrina State University, UEL, Londrina, Parana, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo C Luiz
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Pathophysiology and Free radicals, Londrina State University, UEL, Londrina, Parana, Brazil
| | - Rubens Cecchini
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Pathophysiology and Free radicals, Londrina State University, UEL, Londrina, Parana, Brazil
| | - Alessandra L Cecchini
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Londrina State University, UEL, Londrina, Parana, Brazil
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Bland AR, Shrestha N, Bower RL, Rosengren RJ, Ashton JC. The effect of metformin in EML 4-ALK+ lung cancer alone and in combination with crizotinib in cell and rodent models. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 183:114345. [PMID: 33227290 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cell based studies have suggested that the diabetes drug metformin may combine with the anaplastic lymphoma kinase receptor (ALK) inhibitor crizotinib to increase ALK positive lung cancer cell killing and overcome crizotinib resistance. We therefore tested metformin alone and in combination with crizotinib in vivo, by employing a xenograft mouse model of ALK positive lung cancer. We found that 14 days of daily oral metformin (100 mg/kg) alone had a moderate but statistically significant effect on tumour growth suppression, but in combination with crizotinib, produced no greater tumour suppression than crizotinib (25 mg/kg) alone. We also reassessed the effect of metformin on EML4-ALK positive lung cancer (H3122) cell viability. Although metformin alone did have a moderate effect on cell viability (30% suppression) this was only at a clinically irrelevant concentration (5 mM) and there was no additive effect with cytotoxic concentrations of crizotinib. Moreover, metformin did not overcome crizotinib resistance in our resistant cells. Nevertheless, we were able to show that metformin induces a G1-cell cycle arrest and apoptosis alone and in combination with crizotinib. Also, consistent with earlier work, the addition of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to EML4-ALK positive cancer cells reduced cell killing by crizotinib. We therefore hypothesised that the effect of metformin in vivo was not due to direct cytotoxicity on cancer cells, but by modulation of IGF-1 expression. We therefore measured levels of IGF-1 in plasma taken from mice treated with metformin, but found no difference between the drug treatment and control groups. We further hypothesised that the effect of metformin could be due to modulation of thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1), which metformin has been proposed to regulatein vivo, but again we found no difference between the experimental groups. Finally, we investigated the potential for liver and kidney toxicity, as well as CYP3A based interactions, from the combination of metformin with crizotinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Bland
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - N Shrestha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - R L Bower
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - R J Rosengren
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - J C Ashton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Arbe MF, Agnetti L, Breininger E, Glikin GC, Finocchiaro LME, Villaverde MS. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibition sensitizes melanoma cells to metformin treatment. Transl Oncol 2020; 13:100842. [PMID: 32781368 PMCID: PMC7417947 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Most cancer cells exacerbate the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to enhance biosynthetic precursors and antioxidant defenses. Metformin, which is used as a first-line oral drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been proposed to inhibit the malignant progression of different types of cancers. However, metformin has shown poor efficacy as single agent in several clinical trials. Thus, the aim of the present work was to investigate whether the pharmacological inhibition of G6PDH, the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the PPP, by 6-amino nicotinamide (6-AN) potentiates the antitumoral activity of metformin on different human melanoma cell lines. Our results showed that 6-AN has sensitizing properties to metformin cytotoxicity. The combination of metformin and 6-AN decreased glucose consumption and lactate production, altered the mitochondrial potential and redox balance, and thereby blocked melanoma cell progression, directing cells to apoptosis and necrosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing the effect of this combination. Future preclinical studies should be performed to reveal the biological relevance of this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Arbe
- Unidad de Transferencia Genética, Área Investigación, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 5481, 1417 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia Agnetti
- Unidad de Transferencia Genética, Área Investigación, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 5481, 1417 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elizabeth Breininger
- Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4351, 1417 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gerardo Claudio Glikin
- Unidad de Transferencia Genética, Área Investigación, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 5481, 1417 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Liliana María Elena Finocchiaro
- Unidad de Transferencia Genética, Área Investigación, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 5481, 1417 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcela Solange Villaverde
- Unidad de Transferencia Genética, Área Investigación, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 5481, 1417 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Molecular mechanisms underlining the role of metformin as a therapeutic agent in lung cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2020; 44:1-18. [PMID: 33125630 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-020-00570-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin, a first-line therapeutic for type 2 diabetes, has been studied for its potential use in cancer treatment following a number of epidemiological studies that have demonstrated reduced cancer incidence and mortality rates among patients treated with the drug. As yet, however, there remains significant uncertainty about the molecular mechanisms by which metformin exerts its anti-cancer effects. Herein, we summarize the evidence surrounding the anti-lung cancer effects of metformin. CONCLUSIONS Specifically, we explore protein targets of metformin, including AMPK, PP2A, IRF-1/YAP and HGF and we outline the proposed mechanisms of action for metformin in lung cancer, with particular attention given to apoptosis and autophagy. We also closely examine the synergistic activity of metformin with existing cancer treatment regimens, such as TKI's, platinum-based agents and immune therapeutics. In addition to considering preclinical and clinical studies, we also dissect and contextualize the limitations and inconsistencies of the current literature, especially those of epidemiological studies. Finally, we offer a potential trajectory for future research in this rapidly evolving area of basic and clinical oncology.
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Luo Z, Chen W, Wu W, Luo W, Zhu T, Guo G, Zhang L, Wang C, Li M, Shi S. Metformin promotes survivin degradation through AMPK/PKA/GSK-3β-axis in non-small cell lung cancer. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:11890-11899. [PMID: 30793366 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Metformin, a first-line antidiabetic drug, has been reported with anticancer activities in many types of cancer. However, its molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. As a member of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, survivin plays an important role in the regulation of cell death. In the present study, we investigated the role of survivin in metformin-induced anticancer activity in non-small cell lung cancer in vitro. Metformin mainly induced apoptotic cell death in A549 and H460 cell lines. It remarkably suppressed the expression of survivin, decreased the stability of this protein, then promoted its proteasomal degradation. Moreover, metformin greatly suppressed protein kinase A (PKA) activity and induced its downstream glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) activation. PKA activators, both 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin, significantly increased the expression of survivin. Consistently both GSK-3β inhibitor LiCl and siRNA restored the expression of survivin in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, metformin induced adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Suppression of the activity of AMPK with Compound C reversed the degradation of survivin induced by metformin, and meanwhile, restored the activity of PKA and GSK-3β. These results suggest that metformin kills lung cancer cells through AMPK/PKA/GSK-3β-axis-mediated survivin degradation, providing novel insights into the anticancer effects of metformin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Luo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology in School of Basic Medical Science, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, P.R. China
| | - Wenjuan Wu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The People's Hospital of Leshan, Leshan, P.R. China
| | - Tingting Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Gang Guo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Liyan Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Chu Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Shaoqing Shi
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, P.R. China
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Zhou X, Liu S, Lin X, Xu L, Mao X, Liu J, Zhang Z, Jiang W, Zhou H. Metformin Inhibit Lung Cancer Cell Growth and Invasion in Vitro as Well as Tumor Formation in Vivo Partially by Activating PP2A. Med Sci Monit 2019; 25:836-846. [PMID: 30693913 PMCID: PMC6362762 DOI: 10.12659/msm.912059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to investigate whether PP2A activation is involved in the anti-cancer activity of metformin. Material/Methods A549 and H1651 human lung cancer cells were constructed with stable α4 overexpression (O/E α4) or knockdown of PP2A catalytic subunit A/B(sh-PP2Ac). Influences of okadaic acid (OA) treatment, O/E α4 or sh-PP2Ac on metformin treated cells were investigated by cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and Transwell invasion assay in vitro. Protein expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Myc, and Akt as well as serine phosphorylation level of Bax, Myc, and Akt were examined by western blot. For in vivo assays, wild type (WT) or modified A549 cells were subcutaneously injected in nude mice, and metformin treatment on these xenografted tumors were assayed by tumor formation assay and western blot detecting cell proliferation marker PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) as well as protein expression level and serine phosphorylation level of Akt and Myc. Results Metformin treatment significantly reduced A549 or H1651 cell growth and invasive capacity in vitro as well as Ser184 phosphorylation of Bax, Ser62 phosphorylation of Myc, and Ser473 phosphorylation of Akt, all of which could be partially attenuated by OA treatment, O/E α4 or sh-PP2Ac. Metformin treatment also significantly reduced tumor formation in vivo as well as protein expression of PCNA, Akt, Myc, and serine phosphorylation of the latter 2, which can be partially blocked by O/E α4 or sh-PP2Ac. Conclusions Metformin reduced lung cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro as well as tumor formation in vivo partially by activating PP2A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohu Zhou
- Department of Respiration, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Xuemei Lin
- Department of Respiration, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Liping Xu
- Department of Respiration, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Xiaoming Mao
- Department of Respiration, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Respiration, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Zixing Zhang
- Department of Respiration, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Wenhong Jiang
- Department of Respiration, Jiangshan People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
| | - Hua Zhou
- Department of Respiration, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland)
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11
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Luo Z, Zhu T, Luo W, Lv Y, Zhang L, Wang C, Li M, Wu W, Shi S. Metformin induces apoptotic cytotoxicity depending on AMPK/PKA/GSK-3β-mediated c-FLIP L degradation in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:681-689. [PMID: 30666163 PMCID: PMC6331071 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s178688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metformin, a first-line antidiabetic drug, has recently been reported with anticancer activities in various cancers; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of cellular FADD-like IL-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE)-inhibitory protein large (c-FLIPL) in metformin-induced anticancer activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vitro. Materials and methods Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Quantitative real-time PCR was carried out to detect the level of mRNA of related genes. The expression of related proteins was detected by Western blot. siRNA was used to silence the expression of targeted proteins. Results Metformin significantly suppressed proliferation of both A549 and H460 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies suggested that metformin killed NSCLC cells by inducing apoptotic cell death. Moreover, metformin greatly inhibited c-FLIPL expression and then promoted its degradation. Furthermore, metformin significantly activated Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3β), block the expression of AMPK, and GSK-3β with siRNA partially reversed metformin-induced cytotoxicity and restored the expression of c-FLIPL in lung cancer cells. Metformin also suppressed the activity of AMPK downstream protein kinase A (PKA), PKA activators, both 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin, greatly increased c-FLIPL expression in NSCLC cells. Conclusion This study provided evidence that metformin killed NSCLC cells through AMPK/PKA/GSK-3β axis-mediated c-FLIPL degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Luo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, People's Republic of China,
| | - Tingting Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Luo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The People's Hospital of Leshan, Leshan, Sichuan 640000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Lv
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, People's Republic of China,
| | - Liyan Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, People's Republic of China,
| | - Chu Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, People's Republic of China,
| | - Min Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, People's Republic of China,
| | - Wenjuan Wu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaoqing Shi
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, People's Republic of China,
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Ryabaya O, Prokofieva A, Akasov R, Khochenkov D, Emelyanova M, Burov S, Markvicheva E, Inshakov A, Stepanova E. Metformin increases antitumor activity of MEK inhibitor binimetinib in 2D and 3D models of human metastatic melanoma cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 109:2548-2560. [PMID: 30551515 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant tumors that responsible for majority of skin-cancer related deaths. Here we propose a combination of MEK inhibitor binimetinib with metformin as a promising therapy against human melanoma cells in vitro, including BRAF -mutated A375, Mel Z, and Mel IL cells, and NRAS-mutated Mel MTP and Mel Me cells. Additionally, we obtained two close to clinical practice models of melanoma progression. The first one was vemurafenib-resistant Mel IL/R melanoma cells with acquired resistance to BRAF inhibition-targeted therapy, and the second one was tumor spheroids, which are 3D in vitro model of small-size solid tumors in vivo. The cytotoxicity of binimetinib and metformin was synergistic in both 2D and 3D melanoma culture and mediated through apoptotic pathway. The combination reduced the number of melanoma-formed colonies, inhibited cell invasion and migration, and led to G0/G1 cell cycle arrest through cyclin D/CDK4/CDK6 pathway. The mechanism of metformin and binimetinib synergy in melanoma cells was associated with increased activation of p-AMPKα and decreased p-ERK, but not with alterations in p-mTOR. In summary, the combination of metformin and binimetinib resulted in stronger anti-proliferative effects on melanoma cells compared to binimetinib alone, and therefore could be promising for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana Ryabaya
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Anastasia Prokofieva
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Roman Akasov
- Institute of Molecular Medicine Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991, 8-2 Trubetskaya street, Moscow, Russia; Cytomed J.S.Co, Russia; Federal Scientific Research Center «Crystallography and Photonics» Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997, 17a Butlerova st, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Dmitry Khochenkov
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Marina Emelyanova
- Department of Biological Microchips Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, 119991, 32 Vavilova street, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - Elena Markvicheva
- Department of Biomaterials and Biotechnologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
| | - Andrey Inshakov
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Evgenia Stepanova
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
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