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Fratta E, Giurato G, Guerrieri R, Colizzi F, Dal Col J, Weisz A, Steffan A, Montico B. Autophagy in BRAF-mutant cutaneous melanoma: recent advances and therapeutic perspective. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:202. [PMID: 37386023 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01496-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Macroautophagy, hereafter referred to as autophagy, represents a highly conserved catabolic process that maintains cellular homeostasis. At present, the role of autophagy in cutaneous melanoma (CM) is still controversial, since it appears to be tumor-suppressive at early stages of malignant transformation and cancer-promoting during disease progression. Interestingly, autophagy has been found to be often increased in CM harboring BRAF mutation and to impair the response to targeted therapy. In addition to autophagy, numerous studies have recently conducted in cancer to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of mitophagy, a selective form of mitochondria autophagy, and secretory autophagy, a process that facilitates unconventional cellular secretion. Although several aspects of mitophagy and secretory autophagy have been investigated in depth, their involvement in BRAF-mutant CM biology has only recently emerged. In this review, we aim to overview autophagy dysregulation in BRAF-mutant CM, along with the therapeutic advantages that may arise from combining autophagy inhibitors with targeted therapy. In addition, the recent advances on mitophagy and secretory autophagy involvement in BRAF-mutant CM will be also discussed. Finally, since a number of autophagy-related non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified so far, we will briefly discussed recent advances linking ncRNAs to autophagy regulation in BRAF-mutant CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Fratta
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Giurato
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health - CRGS, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Roberto Guerrieri
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Francesca Colizzi
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Jessica Dal Col
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Alessandro Weisz
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health - CRGS, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy
- Molecular Pathology and Medical Genomics Program, AOU 'S. Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona' University of Salerno and Rete Oncologica Campana, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Agostino Steffan
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Barbara Montico
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
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Li JK, Zhu PL, Wang Y, Jiang XL, Zhang Z, Zhang Z, Yung KKL. Gracillin exerts anti-melanoma effects in vitro and in vivo: role of DNA damage, apoptosis and autophagy. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 108:154526. [PMID: 36334389 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is an aggressive cancer. Gracillin has been reported to treat various types of cancer, such as colorectal and lung cancer. However, there is a paucity of research on the anti-melanoma effects of gracillin. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess the anti-melanoma effects and mechanisms of action of gracillin in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Cell viability was detected using MTT and crystal violet staining assays. Cell proliferation was examined by EdU staining assays. Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Autophagic flux was monitored under a confocal microscope. Protein levels were determined by immunoblotting. LY294002 and rapamycin (Rapa) were used to determine the involvement of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in gracillin-mediated autophagy. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was overactivated to explore the contribution of the STAT3 signaling pathway in the anti-melanoma effects of gracillin. A B16F10 allograft mouse model was developed to evaluate the anti-melanoma effects of gracillin in vivo. RESULTS We demonstrated that in melanoma cells, gracillin inhibited proliferation, induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, evoked apoptosis, and triggered autophagic cell death. Gracillin induced DNA damage in melanoma cells. Moreover, it suppressed the phosphorylation/activation of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and 4E-BP1 in melanoma cells. Inhibiting PI3K/AKT and mTOR activity using LY294002 and Rapa, respectively, increased the protein level of LC3B-II in gracillin-treated melanoma cells. Furthermore, gracillin downregulated the protein levels of p-JAK2 (Tyr1007/1008), p-Src (Tyr416), and p-STAT3 (Tyr705) in melanoma cells. Over-expression of STAT3 in A375 cells significantly mitigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of gracillin. In vivo studies showed that gracillin (1 mg/kg or 8 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally for 16 consecutive days) suppressed B16F10 tumor growth and Src/STAT3 and AKT/mTOR signaling in tumors. No overt toxicity was observed in mice. CONCLUSION Induction of DNA damage, inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and suppression of STAT3 signaling are involved in gracillin-mediated cell cycle arrest, autophagic cell death and apoptosis, respectively, in melanoma cells. These findings provide novel insights into the anti-melanoma molecular mechanisms of gracillin, and suggest a potential role of gracillin in melanoma management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Kui Li
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Golden Meditech Center for NeuroRegeneration Sciences (GMCNS), HKBU, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei-Li Zhu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Golden Meditech Center for NeuroRegeneration Sciences (GMCNS), HKBU, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Golden Meditech Center for NeuroRegeneration Sciences (GMCNS), HKBU, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiao-Li Jiang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Golden Meditech Center for NeuroRegeneration Sciences (GMCNS), HKBU, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhu Zhang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Golden Meditech Center for NeuroRegeneration Sciences (GMCNS), HKBU, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhang Zhang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Golden Meditech Center for NeuroRegeneration Sciences (GMCNS), HKBU, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ken-Kin-Lam Yung
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Golden Meditech Center for NeuroRegeneration Sciences (GMCNS), HKBU, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
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Rahman MA, Ahmed KR, Rahman MDH, Park MN, Kim B. Potential Therapeutic Action of Autophagy in Gastric Cancer Managements: Novel Treatment Strategies and Pharmacological Interventions. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:813703. [PMID: 35153766 PMCID: PMC8834883 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.813703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC), second most leading cause of cancer-associated mortality globally, is the cancer of gastrointestinal tract in which malignant cells form in lining of the stomach, resulting in indigestion, pain, and stomach discomfort. Autophagy is an intracellular system in which misfolded, aggregated, and damaged proteins, as well as organelles, are degraded by the lysosomal pathway, and avoiding abnormal accumulation of huge quantities of harmful cellular constituents. However, the exact molecular mechanism of autophagy-mediated GC management has not been clearly elucidated. Here, we emphasized the role of autophagy in the modulation and development of GC transformation in addition to underlying the molecular mechanisms of autophagy-mediated regulation of GC. Accumulating evidences have revealed that targeting autophagy by small molecule activators or inhibitors has become one of the greatest auspicious approaches for GC managements. Particularly, it has been verified that phytochemicals play an important role in treatment as well as prevention of GC. However, use of combination therapies of autophagy modulators in order to overcome the drug resistance through GC treatment will provide novel opportunities to develop promising GC therapeutic approaches. In addition, investigations of the pathophysiological mechanism of GC with potential challenges are urgently needed, as well as limitations of the modulation of autophagy-mediated therapeutic strategies. Therefore, in this review, we would like to deliver an existing standard molecular treatment strategy focusing on the relationship between chemotherapeutic drugs and autophagy, which will help to improve the current treatments of GC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Ataur Rahman
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Global Biotechnology and Biomedical Research Network (GBBRN), Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh
| | - Kazi Rejvee Ahmed
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh
| | - MD. Hasanur Rahman
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Global Biotechnology and Biomedical Research Network (GBBRN), Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh
- ABEx Bio-Research Center, East Azampur, Bangladesh
| | - Moon Nyeo Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bonglee Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Korean Medicine-Based Drug Repositioning Cancer Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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