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Komorowicz I, Hanć A. Can arsenic do anything good? Arsenic nanodrugs in the fight against cancer - last decade review. Talanta 2024; 276:126240. [PMID: 38754186 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126240] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic has been an element of great interest among scientists for many years as it is a widespread metalloid in our ecosystem. Arsenic is mostly recognized with negative connotations due to its toxicity. Surely, most of us know that a long time ago, arsenic trioxide was used in medicine to treat, mainly, skin diseases. However, not everyone knows about its very wide and promising use in the treatment of cancer. Initially, in the seventies, it was used to treat leukemia, but new technological possibilities and the development of nanotechnology have made it possible to use arsenic trioxide for the treatment of solid tumours. The most toxic arsenic compound - arsenic trioxide - as the basis of anticancer drugs in which they function as a component of nanoparticles is used in the fight against various types of cancer. This review aims to present the current solutions in various cancer treatment using arsenic compounds with different binding motifs and methods of preparation to create targeted nanoparticles, nanodiamonds, nanohybrids, nanodrugs, or nanovehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Komorowicz
- Department of Trace Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Anetta Hanć
- Department of Trace Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
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2
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Pramanik N, Gupta A, Ghanwatkar Y, Mahato RI. Recent advances in drug delivery and targeting for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. J Control Release 2024; 366:231-260. [PMID: 38171473 PMCID: PMC10922996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.053] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Despite significant treatment efforts, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the deadliest solid tumor, is still incurable in the preclinical stages due to multifacet stroma, dense desmoplasia, and immune regression. Additionally, tumor heterogeneity and metabolic changes are linked to low grade clinical translational outcomes, which has prompted the investigation of the mechanisms underlying chemoresistance and the creation of effective treatment approaches by selectively targeting genetic pathways. Since targeting upstream molecules in first-line oncogenic signaling pathways typically has little clinical impact, downstream signaling pathways have instead been targeted in both preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we discuss how the complexity of various tumor microenvironment (TME) components and the oncogenic signaling pathways that they are connected to actively contribute to the development and spread of PDAC, as well as the ways that recent therapeutic approaches have been targeted to restore it. We also illustrate how many endogenous stimuli-responsive linker-based nanocarriers have recently been developed for the specific targeting of distinct oncogenes and their downstream signaling cascades as well as their ongoing clinical trials. We also discuss the present challenges, prospects, and difficulties in the development of first-line oncogene-targeting medicines for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilkamal Pramanik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Aditya Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Yashwardhan Ghanwatkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Ram I Mahato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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3
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Tewari AB, Saini A, Sharma D. Extirpating the cancer stem cell hydra: Differentiation therapy and Hyperthermia therapy for targeting the cancer stem cell hierarchy. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:3125-3145. [PMID: 37093450 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01066-5] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Ever since the discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs), they have progressively attracted more attention as a therapeutic target. Like the mythical hydra, this subpopulation of cells seems to contribute to cancer immortality, spawning more cells each time that some components of the cancer cell hierarchy are destroyed. Traditional modalities focusing on cancer treatment have emphasized apoptosis as a route to eliminate the tumor burden. A major problem is that cancer cells are often in varying degrees of dedifferentiation contributing to what is known as the CSCs hierarchy and cells which are known to be resistant to conventional therapy. Differentiation therapy is an experimental therapeutic modality aimed at the conversion of malignant phenotype to a more benign one. Hyperthermia therapy (HT) is a modality exploiting the changes induced in cells by the application of heat produced to aid in cancer therapy. While differentiation therapy has been successfully employed in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, it has not been hugely successful for other cancer types. Mounting evidence suggests that hyperthermia therapy may greatly augment the effects of differentiation therapy while simultaneously overcoming many of the hard-to-treat facets of recurrent tumors. This review summarizes the progress made so far in integrating hyperthermia therapy with existing modules of differentiation therapy. The focus is on studies related to the successful application of both hyperthermia and differentiation therapy when used alone or in conjunction for hard-to-treat cancer cell niche with emphasis on combined approaches to target the CSCs hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit B Tewari
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India
| | - Anamika Saini
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India
| | - Deepika Sharma
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India.
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Ahmad IM, Dafferner AJ, Salloom RJ, Abdalla MY. Heme Oxygenase-1 Inhibition Modulates Autophagy and Augments Arsenic Trioxide Cytotoxicity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2580. [PMID: 37761021 PMCID: PMC10526552 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent form, accounting for more than 90% of all pancreatic malignancies. In a previous study, we found that hypoxia and chemotherapy induced expression of Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in PDAC cells and tissues. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is the first-line chemotherapeutic drug for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). ATO increases the generation of reactive oxidative species (ROS) and induces apoptosis in treated cells. The clinical use of ATO for solid tumors is limited due to severe systemic toxicity. In order to reduce cytotoxic side effects and resistance and improve efficacy, it has become increasingly common to use combination therapies to treat cancers. In this study, we used ATO-sensitive and less sensitive PDAC cell lines to test the effect of combining HO-1 inhibitors (SnPP and ZnPP) with ATO on HO-1 expression, cell survival, and other parameters. Our results show that ATO significantly induced the expression of HO-1 in different PDAC cells through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. ROS production was confirmed using the oxygen-sensitive probes DCFH and DHE, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an ROS scavenger, and oxidized glutathione levels (GSSG). Both ATO and HO-1 inhibitors reduced PDAC cell survival. In combined treatment, inhibiting HO-1 significantly increased ATO cytotoxicity, disrupted the GSH cycle, and induced apoptosis as measured using flow cytometry. ATO and HO-1 inhibition modulated autophagy as shown by increased expression of autophagy markers ATG5, p62, and LC3B in PDAC cells. This increase was attenuated by NAC treatment, indicating that autophagy modulation was through an ROS-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, our work explored new strategies that could lead to the development of less toxic and more effective therapies against PDAC by combining increased cellular stress and targeting autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman M. Ahmad
- Department of Clinical, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Alicia J. Dafferner
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.J.D.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Ramia J. Salloom
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.J.D.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Maher Y. Abdalla
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (A.J.D.); (R.J.S.)
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5
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Jing J, Wu Z, Wang J, Luo G, Lin H, Fan Y, Zhou C. Hedgehog signaling in tissue homeostasis, cancers, and targeted therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:315. [PMID: 37596267 PMCID: PMC10439210 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01559-5] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade has seen significant advances in our understanding of Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway in various biological events. HH signaling pathway exerts its biological effects through a complex signaling cascade involved with primary cilium. HH signaling pathway has important functions in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. It plays a central role in the regulation of the proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells. Importantly, it has become increasingly clear that HH signaling pathway is associated with increased cancer prevalence, malignant progression, poor prognosis and even increased mortality. Understanding the integrative nature of HH signaling pathway has opened up the potential for new therapeutic targets for cancer. A variety of drugs have been developed, including small molecule inhibitors, natural compounds, and long non-coding RNA (LncRNA), some of which are approved for clinical use. This review outlines recent discoveries of HH signaling in tissue homeostasis and cancer and discusses how these advances are paving the way for the development of new biologically based therapies for cancer. Furthermore, we address status quo and limitations of targeted therapies of HH signaling pathway. Insights from this review will help readers understand the function of HH signaling in homeostasis and cancer, as well as opportunities and challenges of therapeutic targets for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhuoxuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiahe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Guowen Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hengyi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yi Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Chenchen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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6
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Virk RK, Garla R, Kaushal N, Bansal MP, Garg ML, Mohanty BP. The relevance of arsenic speciation analysis in health & medicine. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 316:137735. [PMID: 36603678 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Long term exposure to arsenic through consumption of contaminated groundwater has been a global issue since the last five decades; while from an alternate standpoint, arsenic compounds have emerged as unparallel chemotherapeutic drugs. This review highlights the contribution from arsenic speciation studies that have played a pivotal role in the progression of our understanding of the biological behaviour of arsenic in humans. We also discuss the limitations of the speciation studies and their association with the interpretation of arsenic metabolism. Chromatographic separation followed by spectroscopic detection as well as the utilization of biotinylated pull-down assays, protein microarray and radiolabelled arsenic have been instrumental in identifying hundreds of metabolic arsenic conjugates, while, computational modelling has predicted thousands of them. However, these species exhibit a variegated pattern, which supports more than one hypothesis for the metabolic pathway of arsenic. Thus, the arsenic species are yet to be integrated into a coherent mechanistic pathway depicting its chemicobiological fate. Novel biorelevant arsenic species have been identified due to significant evolution in experimental methodologies. However, these methods are specific for the identification of only a group of arsenicals sharing similar physiochemical properties; and may not be applicable to other constituents of the vast spectrum of arsenic species. Consequently, the identity of arsenic binding partners in vivo and the sequence of events in arsenic metabolism are still elusive. This resonates the need for additional focus on the extraction and characterization of both low and high molecular weight arsenicals in a combinative manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajbinder K Virk
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Roobee Garla
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Naveen Kaushal
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Mohinder P Bansal
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Mohan L Garg
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Biraja P Mohanty
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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GLI1 interaction with p300 modulates SDF1 expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts to promote pancreatic cancer cells migration. Biochem J 2023; 480:225-241. [PMID: 36734208 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the progression of multiple malignancies. Secretion of cytokines and growth factors underlies the pro-tumoral effect of CAFs. Although this paracrine function has been extensively documented, the molecular mechanisms controlling the expression of these factors remain elusive. In this study, we provide evidence of a novel CAF transcriptional axis regulating the expression of SDF1, a major driver of cancer cell migration, involving the transcription factor GLI1 and histone acetyltransferase p300. We demonstrate that conditioned media from CAFs overexpressing GLI1 induce the migration of pancreatic cancer cells, and this effect is impaired by an SDF1-neutralizing antibody. Using a combination of co-immunoprecipitation, proximity ligation assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we further demonstrate that GLI1 and p300 physically interact in CAFs to co-occupy and drive SDF1 promoter activity. Mapping experiments highlight the requirement of GLI1 N-terminal for the interaction with p300. Importantly, knockdowns of both GLI1 and p300 reduce SDF1 expression. Further analysis shows that knockdown of GLI1 decreases SDF1 promoter activity, p300 recruitment, and levels of its associated histone marks (H4ac, H3K27ac, and H3K14ac). Finally, we show that the integrity of two GLI binding sites in the SDF1 promoter is required for p300 recruitment. Our findings define a new role for the p300-GLI1 complex in the regulation of SDF1, providing new mechanistic insight into the molecular events controlling pancreatic cancer cells migration.
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8
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Manni W, Min W. Signaling pathways in the regulation of cancer stem cells and associated targeted therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e176. [PMID: 36226253 PMCID: PMC9534377 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a subpopulation of malignant tumor cells with selective capacities for tumor initiation, self-renewal, metastasis, and unlimited growth into bulks, which are believed as a major cause of progressive tumor phenotypes, including recurrence, metastasis, and treatment failure. A number of signaling pathways are involved in the maintenance of stem cell properties and survival of CSCs, including well-established intrinsic pathways, such as the Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog signaling, and extrinsic pathways, such as the vascular microenvironment and tumor-associated immune cells. There is also intricate crosstalk between these signal cascades and other oncogenic pathways. Thus, targeting pathway molecules that regulate CSCs provides a new option for the treatment of therapy-resistant or -refractory tumors. These treatments include small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies that target key signaling in CSCs, as well as CSC-directed immunotherapies that harness the immune systems to target CSCs. This review aims to provide an overview of the regulating networks and their immune interactions involved in CSC development. We also address the update on the development of CSC-directed therapeutics, with a special focus on those with application approval or under clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Manni
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduP. R. China
| | - Wu Min
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNorth DakotaUSA
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Kurtović M, Piteša N, Bartoniček N, Ozretić P, Musani V, Čonkaš J, Petrić T, King C, Sabol M. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq Identification of Unique and Overlapping Targets of GLI Transcription Factors in Melanoma Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184540. [PMID: 36139698 PMCID: PMC9497141 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite significant progress in therapy, melanoma still has a rising incidence worldwide, and novel treatment strategies are needed. Recently, researchers have recognized the involvement of the Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) signaling pathway in melanoma and its consistent crosstalk with the MAPK pathway. In order to further investigate the link between the two pathways and to find new target genes that could be considered for combination therapy, we set out to find transcriptional targets of all three GLI proteins in melanoma. METHODS We performed RNA sequencing on three melanoma cell lines (CHL-1, A375, and MEL224) with overexpressed GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 and combined them with the results of ChIP-sequencing on endogenous GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 proteins. After combining these results, 21 targets were selected for validation by qPCR. RESULTS RNA-seq revealed a total of 808 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for GLI1, 941 DEGs for GLI2, and 58 DEGs for GLI3. ChIP-seq identified 527 genes that contained GLI1 binding sites in their promoters, 1103 for GLI2 and 553 for GLI3. A total of 15 of these targets were validated in the tested cell lines, 6 of which were detected by both RNA-seq and ChIP-seq. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides insight into the unique and overlapping transcriptional output of the GLI proteins in melanoma. We suggest that our findings could provide new potential targets to consider while designing melanoma-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matea Kurtović
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikolina Piteša
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nenad Bartoniček
- The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria St., Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- The Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, 370 Victoria St., Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Petar Ozretić
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vesna Musani
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josipa Čonkaš
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tina Petrić
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Cecile King
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Maja Sabol
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Correspondence:
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10
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Quatannens D, Verhoeven Y, Van Dam P, Lardon F, Prenen H, Roeyen G, Peeters M, Smits ELJ, Van Audenaerde J. Targeting hedgehog signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 236:108107. [PMID: 34999181 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a leading cause of cancer related death. The urgent need for effective therapies is highlighted by the lack of adequate targeting. In PDAC, hedgehog (Hh) signaling is known to be aberrantly activated, which prompted the pathway as a possible target for effective treatment for PDAC patients. Unfortunately, specific targeting of upstream molecules within the Hh signaling pathway failed to bring clinical benefit. This led to the ongoing debate on Hh targeting as a therapeutic treatment for PDAC patients. Additionally, concurrent non-canonical activation routes also result in translocation of Gli transcription factors into the nucleus. Therefore, different downstream targets of the Hh signaling pathway were identified and evaluated in preclinical and clinical research. In this review we summarize the variety of Hh signaling antagonists in different preclinical models of PDAC. Furthermore, we discuss published and ongoing clinical trials that evaluated Hh antagonists and point out the current hurdles and future perspectives in the light of redesigning Hh-targeting therapies for the treatment of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Quatannens
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Yannick Verhoeven
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Peter Van Dam
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Filip Lardon
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Hans Prenen
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Oncology, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Geert Roeyen
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Hepatobiliary Transplantation and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marc Peeters
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Oncology, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Evelien L J Smits
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Jonas Van Audenaerde
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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11
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Zhang J, Li R, Huang S. The immunoregulation effect of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:951019. [PMID: 35965504 PMCID: PMC9365986 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.951019] [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: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has the seventh highest death rate of all cancers. The absence of any serious symptoms, coupled with a lack of early prognostic and diagnostic markers, makes the disease untreatable in most cases. This leads to a delay in diagnosis and the disease progresses so there is no cure. Only about 20% of cases are diagnosed early. Surgical removal is the preferred treatment for cancer, but chemotherapy is standard for advanced cancer, although patients can eventually develop drug resistance and serious side effects. Chemoresistance is multifactorial because of the interaction among pancreatic cancer cells, cancer stem cells, and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Nevertheless, more pancreatic cancer patients will benefit from precision treatment and targeted drugs. This review focuses on the immune-related components of TME and the interactions between tumor cells and TME during the development and progression of pancreatic cancer, including immunosuppression, tumor dormancy and escape. Finally, we discussed a variety of immune components-oriented immunotargeting drugs in TME from a clinical perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renfeng Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuai Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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12
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Li C, Peng X, Feng C, Xiong X, Li J, Liao N, Yang Z, Liu A, Wu P, Liang X, He Y, Tian X, Lin Y, Wang S, Li Y. Excellent Early Outcomes of Combined Chemotherapy With Arsenic Trioxide for Stage 4/M Neuroblastoma in Children: A Multicenter Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. Oncol Res 2021; 28:791-800. [PMID: 33858561 PMCID: PMC8420893 DOI: 10.3727/096504021x16184815905096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This nonrandomized, multicenter cohort, open-label clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined chemotherapy with arsenic trioxide (ATO) in children with stage 4/M neuroblastoma (NB). We enrolled patients who were newly diagnosed with NB and assessed as stage 4/M and received either traditional chemotherapy or ATO combined with chemotherapy according to their own wishes. Twenty-two patients were enrolled in the trial group (ATO combined with chemotherapy), and 13 patients were enrolled in the control group (traditional chemotherapy). Objective response rate (ORR) at 4 weeks after completing induction chemotherapy was defined as the main outcome, and adverse events were monitored and graded in the meantime. Data cutoff date was December 31, 2019. Finally, we found that patients who received ATO combined with chemotherapy had a significantly higher response rate than those who were treated with traditional chemotherapy (ORR: 86.36% vs. 46.16%, p=0.020). Reversible cardiotoxicity was just observed in three patients who were treated with ATO, and no other differential adverse events were observed between the two groups. ATO combined with chemotherapy can significantly improve end-induction response in high-risk NB, and our novel regimen is well tolerated in pediatric patients. These results highlight the superiority of chemotherapy with ATO, which creates new opportunity for prolonging survival. In addition, this treatment protocol minimizes therapeutic costs compared with anti-GD2 therapy, MIBG, and proton therapy and can decrease the burden to families and society. However, we also need to evaluate more cases to consolidate our conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmou Li
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomin Peng
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Chuchu Feng
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xilin Xiong
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jianxin Li
- †Department of Hematology and Oncology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Ning Liao
- ‡Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of GuangXi Medical University, Nanning, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Yang
- §Department of Hematology, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Aiguo Liu
- ¶Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Pingping Wu
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xuehong Liang
- †Department of Hematology and Oncology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yunyan He
- ‡Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of GuangXi Medical University, Nanning, P.R. China
| | - Xin Tian
- §Department of Hematology, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Yunbi Lin
- §Department of Hematology, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, P.R. China
| | - Songmi Wang
- ¶Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yang Li
- *Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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Pakvasa M, Tucker AB, Shen T, He TC, Reid RR. The Pleiotropic Intricacies of Hedgehog Signaling: From Craniofacial Patterning to Carcinogenesis. FACE (THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF.) 2021; 2:260-274. [PMID: 35812774 PMCID: PMC9268505 DOI: 10.1177/27325016211024326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hedgehog signaling was discovered more than 40 years ago in experiments demonstrating that it is a fundamental mediator of limb development. Since that time, it has been shown to be important in development, homeostasis, and disease. The hedgehog pathway proceeds through a pathway highly conserved throughout animals beginning with the extracellular diffusion of hedgehog ligands, proceeding through an intracellular signaling cascade, and ending with the activation of specific target genes. A vast amount of research has been done elucidating hedgehog signaling mechanisms and regulation. This research has found a complex system of genetics and signaling that helps determine how organisms develop and function. This review provides an overview of what is known about hedgehog genetics and signaling, followed by an in-depth discussion of the role of hedgehog signaling in craniofacial development and carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Pakvasa
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
- Molecular Oncology Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine,University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Andrew B. Tucker
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
- Molecular Oncology Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine,University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Timothy Shen
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Tong-Chuan He
- Molecular Oncology Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine,University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Russell R. Reid
- Molecular Oncology Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine,University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
- Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
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Patil K, Khan FB, Akhtar S, Ahmad A, Uddin S. The plasticity of pancreatic cancer stem cells: implications in therapeutic resistance. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:691-720. [PMID: 34453639 PMCID: PMC8556195 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-09979-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ever-growing perception of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as a plastic state rather than a hardwired defined entity has evolved our understanding of the functional and biological plasticity of these elusive components in malignancies. Pancreatic cancer (PC), based on its biological features and clinical evolution, is a prototypical example of a CSC-driven disease. Since the discovery of pancreatic CSCs (PCSCs) in 2007, evidence has unraveled their control over many facets of the natural history of PC, including primary tumor growth, metastatic progression, disease recurrence, and acquired drug resistance. Consequently, the current near-ubiquitous treatment regimens for PC using aggressive cytotoxic agents, aimed at ‘‘tumor debulking’’ rather than eradication of CSCs, have proven ineffective in providing clinically convincing improvements in patients with this dreadful disease. Herein, we review the key hallmarks as well as the intrinsic and extrinsic resistance mechanisms of CSCs that mediate treatment failure in PC and enlist the potential CSC-targeting ‘natural agents’ that are gaining popularity in recent years. A better understanding of the molecular and functional landscape of PCSC-intrinsic evasion of chemotherapeutic drugs offers a facile opportunity for treating PC, an intractable cancer with a grim prognosis and in dire need of effective therapeutic advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Patil
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Farheen B Khan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, The United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sabah Akhtar
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | - Aamir Ahmad
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.,Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar. .,Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. .,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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15
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Tang R, Zhu J, Liu Y, Wu N, Han J. Formulation Comprising Arsenic Trioxide and Dimercaprol Enhances Radiosensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2021; 20:15330338211036324. [PMID: 34433326 PMCID: PMC8404670 DOI: 10.1177/15330338211036324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of a formula comprising arsenic trioxide and dimercaprol (BAL-ATO) as a radiosensitizing agent in model mice with pancreatic cancer xenografts. METHODS Female BALB/c nude mice bearing SW1990 human pancreatic cancer xenografts were divided into four treatment arms, including control, radiotherapy (RT), BAL-ATO, and RT + BAL-ATO groups. Survival and tumor volume were analyzed. We also assessed apoptosis in tumor samples by live imaging and detected hypoxia by confocal laser microscope observation. We further investigated the mechanisms of BAL-ATO action in RT by detecting affected proteins by western blot and immunohistochemistry assays. RESULTS Median survival was significantly longer in the RT + BAL-ATO group (64.5 days) compared with the control (49.5 days), RT (39 days), and BAL-ATO (48 days) groups (P < 0.001). RT + BAL-ATO inhibited the growth of tumors in mice by 73% compared with the control group, which was significantly higher than the rate of inhibition following RT alone (59%) (P < 0.01). Further analysis showed an improved microenvironment in terms of hypoxia in tumors treated with BAL-ATO alone or RT + BAL-ATO. Expression of signaling molecules associated with pancreatic cancer stem cells, including CD24, CD44, ALDH1A1, Gli-1, and Nestin, was detected in tumors treated with BAL-ATO alone or in combination with RT. CONCLUSION These data suggest that BAL-ATO function as a radiosensitizer in mice with pancreatic cancer xenografts, via mechanisms involving hypoxia reduction and inhibition of signaling pathways associated with pancreatic cancer stem cells. BAL-ATO may thus be a promising radiosensitizing agent in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renyan Tang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianmin Zhu
- Shanghai Clinical Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences/Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Oncology, Yunnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Ning Wu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pudong New Area Gongli Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinbin Han
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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16
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Wahiduzzaman M, Ota A, Hosokawa Y. Novel Mechanistic Insights into the Anti-cancer Mode of Arsenic Trioxide. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 20:115-129. [PMID: 31736446 DOI: 10.2174/1568009619666191021122006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic, a naturally-occurring toxic element, and a traditionally-used drug, has received a great deal of attention worldwide due to its curative anti-cancer properties in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Among the arsenicals, arsenic trioxide has been most widely used as an anti-cancer drug. Recent advances in cancer therapeutics have led to a paradigm shift away from traditional cytotoxic drugs towards the targeting of proteins closely associated with driving the cancer phenotype. Due to the diverse anti-cancer effects of ATO on different types of malignancies, numerous studies have made efforts to uncover the mechanisms of ATO-induced tumor suppression. From in vitro cellular models to studies in clinical settings, ATO has been extensively studied. The outcomes of these studies have opened doors to establishing improved molecular-targeted therapies for cancer treatment. The efficacy of ATO has been augmented by combination with other drugs. In this review, we discuss recent arsenic-based cancer therapies and summarize the novel underlying molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of ATO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Wahiduzzaman
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Akinobu Ota
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Hosokawa
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
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17
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Yu S, Wu N, Zhu J, Liu Y, Han J. Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Facilitates Arsenic Trioxide Against Pancreatic Cancer via Perturbing Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:13149-13159. [PMID: 33376406 PMCID: PMC7764808 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s278674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate whether pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) could facilitate arsenic trioxide (ATO) to induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells via perturbing ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Methods Mass spectrometry was performed to examine the interaction between PDTC and ATO, and the data showed they could form a complex termed PDTC-ATO. Inhibiting effects on cell viability were examined by CCK-8 test, and apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry. Four treatment arms (n = 6), including the control, PDTC, ATO, and PDTC-ATO, were evaluated using BALB/c nude mouse models bearing a xenograft tumor of SW1990 human pancreatic cancer line. Western blot, immunohistochemistry assays were to detect the mechanism. Results The results showed that PDTC-ATO had higher inhibiting effects on proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells than ATO in vitro. In bearing-tumor mice, PDTC-ATO inhibited tumor growth by 79%, being more potent than ATO (by 46%) or PDTC (by 35%) compared to the control. Results of Western blot and immunohistochemistry showed proteasome inhibition and apoptotic cell death, together with obvious suppression of associating E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, occurred more frequently in tumors treated with PDTC-ATO than those with ATO. Conclusion PDTC demonstrated the function to facilitate ATO against pancreatic cancer due to forming a stable complex to perturb ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Wu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pudong New Area Gongli Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianmin Zhu
- Shanghai Clinical Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences/Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Oncology, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinbin Han
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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18
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Rahi S, Mehan S. Understanding Abnormal SMO-SHH Signaling in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Potential Drug Target and Therapeutic Goals. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 42:931-953. [PMID: 33206287 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-01010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental condition; it demonstrates some main characteristics, such as impaired social relationships and increased repetitive behavior. The initiation of autism spectrum disorder is mostly triggered during brain development by the deregulation of signaling pathways. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling is one such mechanism that influences neurogenesis and neural processes during the development of the central nervous system. SMO-SHH signaling is also an important part of a broad variety of neurological processes, including neuronal cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival. Dysregulation of SMO-SHH signaling leads to many physiological changes that lead to neurological disorders such as ASD and contribute to cognitive decline. The aberrant downregulation of SMO-SHH signals contributes to the proteolytic cleavage of GLI (glioma-associated homolog) into GLI3 (repressor), which increases oxidative stress, neuronal excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis by suppressing target gene expression. We outlined in this review that SMO-SHH deregulation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autism and addresses the current status of SMO-SHH pathway modulators. Additionally, a greater understanding of the SHH signaling pathway is an effort to improve successful treatment for autism and other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloni Rahi
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
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Lu YB, Sun TJ, Chen YT, Cai ZY, Zhao JY, Miao F, Yang YN, Wang SX. Targeting the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Stem Cells for a Better Clinical Outcome of Glioma. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2020; 19:1533033820948053. [PMID: 33089751 PMCID: PMC7586027 DOI: 10.1177/1533033820948053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioma is one of the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system with a poor prognosis at present due to lack of effective treatment options. Its initiation, migration, and multipotency are affected by cancer stem cell’s transition. Previous studies imply that changes in the cancer stem cells can affect the malignant differentiation of the tumor. We found that the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related regulatory pathway is an important target for tumor therapy. In this review, we discuss the transition factor of EMT and 3 specific pathways that affect the EMT of cancer stem cells during tumor development. We conclude that targeting the EMT process of cancer stem cells can be a feasible approach in the treatment of glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Bao Lu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,*Both authors contributed equally to this study and share first authorship
| | - Tian-Jiao Sun
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,*Both authors contributed equally to this study and share first authorship
| | - Yu-Tong Chen
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Zong-Yan Cai
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jia-Yu Zhao
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Feng Miao
- Zhangye People's Hospital Affiliated to Hexi University, Zhangye, Gansu, China
| | - Yong-Na Yang
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Shi-Xin Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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20
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Espinosa-Sánchez A, Suárez-Martínez E, Sánchez-Díaz L, Carnero A. Therapeutic Targeting of Signaling Pathways Related to Cancer Stemness. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1533. [PMID: 32984007 PMCID: PMC7479251 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The theory of cancer stem cells (CSCs) proposes that the different cells within a tumor, as well as metastasis deriving from it, are originated from a single subpopulation of cells with self-renewal and differentiation capacities. These cancer stem cells are supposed to be critical for tumor expansion and metastasis, tumor relapse and resistance to conventional therapies, such as chemo- and radiotherapy. The acquisition of these abilities has been attributed to the activation of alternative pathways, for instance, WNT, NOTCH, SHH, PI3K, Hippo, or NF-κB pathways, that regulate detoxification mechanisms; increase the metabolic rate; induce resistance to apoptotic, autophagic, and senescence pathways; promote the overexpression of drug transporter proteins; and activate specific stem cell transcription factors. The elimination of CSCs is an important goal in cancer therapeutic approaches because it could decrease relapses and metastatic dissemination, which are main causes of mortality in oncology patients. In this work, we discuss the role of these signaling pathways in CSCs along with their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asunción Espinosa-Sánchez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
- CIBER de Cancer, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Suárez-Martínez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
- CIBER de Cancer, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sánchez-Díaz
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
- CIBER de Cancer, Madrid, Spain
| | - Amancio Carnero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
- CIBER de Cancer, Madrid, Spain
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21
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Chang KJ, Yin JZ, Huang H, Li B, Yang MH. Arsenic trioxide inhibits the growth of cancer stem cells derived from small cell lung cancer by downregulating stem cell-maintenance factors and inducing apoptosis via the Hedgehog signaling blockade. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2020; 9:1379-1396. [PMID: 32953511 PMCID: PMC7481635 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-20-467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most deadly and aggressive type of primary lung cancer, with the 5-year survival rate lower than 5%. The FDA has approved arsenic trioxide (As2O3) for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treatment. However, its role in SCLC-derived cancer stem cells (CSCs) remains largely unknown. Methods CSCs were enriched from SCLC cell lines by culturing them as spheres in conditioned serum-free medium. Then, qPCR, western blot, serial passage, limiting dilution, Transwell, and tumorigenesis assay were performed to verify the cells' stem phenotypic characteristics. Anticancer efficiency of As2O3 was assessed in these cells using CCK8, colony formation, sphere formation, flow cytometry, qPCR, western blot analysis in vitro, and tumor growth curve, immunofluorescence, and TUNEL staining analyses in vivo. Results The fifth-passage SCLC spheres showed a potent self-renewal capacity, higher clonal formation efficiency (CFE), SOX2, c-Myc, NANOG, and OCT4 levels, and invasion ability, and stronger tumorigenesis capacity than the parental SCLC cells, indicating that the SCLC sphere cells displayed CSC features. As2O3 inhibited the proliferation, clonality and sphere forming ability of SCLC-derived CSCs and suppressed the tumor growth of CSCs-derived xenograft tumors. As2O3 induced apoptosis and downregulation of SOX2 and c-Myc in vitro and in xenografts. Besides, SOX2 knockdown suppressed SCLC-derived CSCs to self-renew and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, expression of GLI1 (a key transcription factor of Hedgehog pathway) and its downstream genes increased in SCLC-derived CSCs, compared to the parental cells. As2O3 dramatically downregulated GLI1 and its downstream genes in vitro and in vivo. The GLI inhibitor (GANT-61) recapitulated and enhanced the effects of As2O3 on SCLC-derived CSCs, including growth suppression, apoptosis induction, and GLI1, SOX2 and c-Myc downregulation. Conclusions Altogether, As2O3 effectively suppressed SCLC-derived CSCs growth by downregulating stem cell-maintenance factors and inducing apoptosis. These effects are mediated at least partly via the Hedgehog signaling blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Jie Chang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Ji-Zhong Yin
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng-Hang Yang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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22
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Wang QQ, Jiang Y, Naranmandura H. Therapeutic strategy of arsenic trioxide in the fight against cancers and other diseases. Metallomics 2020; 12:326-336. [PMID: 32163072 DOI: 10.1039/c9mt00308h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been recognized as a drug for the treatment of various diseases in traditional medicine for more than two thousand years. Although ATO has recently shown excellent efficacy for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), it could not provide satisfactory outcomes as a single-agent for the management of non-APL leukemia or different solid tumors. Nevertheless, combination treatment strategies, e.g., ATO with other agents, have shown promising results against different diseases. Here, we introduce in depth the latest evidence and detailed insights into ATO-mediated cures for APL by targeting PML/RARα chimeric protein, followed by the preclinical and clinical efficacy of ATO on various non-APL malignancies and solid tumors. Likewise, the antiviral activity of ATO against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was also discussed briefly. Our review would provide a clear prospect for the combination of ATO with other agents for treatment of numerous neoplastic diseases, and open a new era in the clinically applicable range of arsenicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Qian Wang
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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23
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Zhou CY, Gong LY, Liao R, Weng NN, Feng YY, Dong YP, Zhu H, Zhao YQ, Zhang YY, Zhu Q, Han SX. Evaluation of the target genes of arsenic trioxide in pancreatic cancer by bioinformatics analysis. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:5163-5172. [PMID: 31612027 PMCID: PMC6781497 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential network of arsenic trioxide (ATO) target genes in pancreatic cancer. The DrugBank, STITCH, cBioPortal, Kaplan-Meier plotter and Oncomine websites were used to analyze the association of ATO and its target genes with pancreatic cancer. Initially, 19 ATO target genes were identified, along with their associated protein-protein interaction networks and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. ATO was found to be associated with multiple types of cancer, and the most common solid cancer was pancreatic cancer. A total of 6 ATO target genes (namely AKT1, CCND1, CDKN2A, IKBKB, MAPK1 and MAPK3) were found to be associated with pancreatic cancer. Next, the mutation information of the 6 ATO target genes in pancreatic cancer was collected. A total of 20 ATO interacting genes were identified, which were mainly involved in hepatitis B, prostate cancer, pathways in cancer, glioma and chronic myeloid leukemia. Finally, the genes CCND1 and MAPK1 were detected to be prognostic factors in patients with pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, bioinformatics analysis may help elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of ATO in pancreatic cancer, enabling more effective treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong-Ya Zhou
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Liu-Yun Gong
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Rong Liao
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ning-Na Weng
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yao-Yue Feng
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Ping Dong
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ya-Qin Zhao
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Qing Zhu
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Su-Xia Han
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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Nam A, Kim T, Li Q, Rebhun RB, Youn HY, Seo KW. Melarsomine suppresses canine osteosarcoma cell survival via inhibition of Hedgehog-GLI signaling. J Vet Med Sci 2019; 81:1722-1729. [PMID: 31645504 PMCID: PMC6943322 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog-GLI signaling pathway is activated in human and canine osteosarcoma (OSA)
and represents a potential therapeutic target for cancers, including OSA. Arsenic trioxide
represses GLI expression. Melarsomine, an arsenic compound-containing drug, has been
approved for the treatment of canine heartworm disease. Hence, we hypothesized that
melarsomine inhibits GLI signaling in canine OSA cell lines. The present study aimed to
assess this hypothesis. Cell viability and colony formation were decreased in the canine
OSA cell lines Abrams and D17 after treatment with melarsomine. Melarsomine-induced
apoptotic cell death was assessed via cell cycle analysis using propidium iodide staining.
Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot
analyses revealed a downregulation of genes downstream of the Hedgehog signaling pathway,
including GLI1, GLI2, and PTCH, after
melarsomine treatment. The present results suggest that melarsomine exerts antitumor
effects and serves as a GLI inhibitor in canine OSA cells. Additional studies are required
to evaluate and confirm the anticancer effect and relevant therapeutic dose of melarsomine
in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryung Nam
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Taewon Kim
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Qiang Li
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Robert B Rebhun
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis 95616, CA, U.S.A
| | - Hwa-Young Youn
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Kyoung-Won Seo
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
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25
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D'Alessandro G, Quaglio D, Monaco L, Lauro C, Ghirga F, Ingallina C, De Martino M, Fucile S, Porzia A, Di Castro MA, Bellato F, Mastrotto F, Mori M, Infante P, Turano P, Salmaso S, Caliceti P, Di Marcotullio L, Botta B, Ghini V, Limatola C. 1H-NMR metabolomics reveals the Glabrescione B exacerbation of glycolytic metabolism beside the cell growth inhibitory effect in glioma. Cell Commun Signal 2019; 17:108. [PMID: 31455353 PMCID: PMC6712882 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-019-0421-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioma is the most common and primary brain tumors in adults. Despite the available multimodal therapies, glioma patients appear to have a poor prognosis. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is involved in tumorigenesis and emerged as a promising target for brain tumors. Glabrescione B (GlaB) has been recently identified as the first direct inhibitor of Gli1, the downstream effector of the pathway. METHODS We established the overexpression of Gli1 in murine glioma cells (GL261) and GlaB effect on cell viability. We used 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic approach to obtain informative metabolic snapshots of GL261 cells acquired at different time points during GlaB treatment. The activation of AMP activated protein Kinase (AMPK) induced by GlaB was established by western blot. After the orthotopic GL261 cells injection in the right striatum of C57BL6 mice and the intranasal (IN) GlaB/mPEG5kDa-Cholane treatment, the tumor growth was evaluated. The High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) combined with Mass Spectrometry (MS) was used to quantify GlaB in brain extracts of treated mice. RESULTS We found that GlaB affected the growth of murine glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo animal model. Using an untargeted 1H-NMR metabolomic approach, we found that GlaB stimulated the glycolytic metabolism in glioma, increasing lactate production. The high glycolytic rate could in part support the cytotoxic effects of GlaB, since the simultaneous blockade of lactate efflux with α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (ACCA) affected glioma cell growth. According to the metabolomic data, we found that GlaB increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, a cellular energy sensor involved in the anabolic-to-catabolic transition. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that GlaB inhibits glioma cell growth and exacerbates Warburg effect, increasing lactate production. In addition, the simultaneous blockade of Gli1 and lactate efflux amplifies the anti-tumor effect in vivo, providing new potential therapeutic strategy for this brain tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina D'Alessandro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Deborah Quaglio
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Lucia Monaco
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Clotilde Lauro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ghirga
- Center For Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Ingallina
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela De Martino
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Fucile
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Alessandra Porzia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Bellato
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Mastrotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Mori
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center For Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Turano
- CERM and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Caliceti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Di Marcotullio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Botta
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Ghini
- CIRMMP, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Limatola
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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26
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Carpenter RL, Ray H. Safety and Tolerability of Sonic Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors in Cancer. Drug Saf 2019; 42:263-279. [PMID: 30649745 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-018-0777-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The hedgehog pathway, for which sonic hedgehog (Shh) is the most prominent ligand, is highly conserved and is tightly associated with embryonic development in a number of species. This pathway is also tightly associated with the development of several types of cancer, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and acute promyelocytic leukemia, among many others. Inactivating mutations in Patched-1 (PTCH1), leading to ligand-independent pathway activation, are frequent in several cancer types, but most prominent in BCC. This has led to the development of several compounds targeting this pathway as a cancer therapeutic. These compounds target the inducers of this pathway in Smoothened (SMO) and the GLI transcription factors, although targeting SMO has had the most success. Despite the many attempts at targeting this pathway, only three US FDA-approved drugs for cancers affect the Shh pathway. Two of these compounds, vismodegib and sonidegib, target SMO to suppress signaling from either PTCH1 or SMO mutations that lead to upregulation of the pathway. The other approved compound is arsenic trioxide, which can suppress this pathway at the level of the GLI proteins, although current evidence suggests it also has other targets. This review focuses on the safety and tolerability of these clinically approved drugs targeting the Shh pathway, along with a discussion on other Shh pathway inhibitors being developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Carpenter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1001 E. 3rd St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. .,Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1001 E. 3rd St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. .,Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 535 Barnhill Dr., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Haimanti Ray
- Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1001 E. 3rd St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
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27
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Wang HY, Zhang B, Zhou JN, Wang DX, Xu YC, Zeng Q, Jia YL, Xi JF, Nan X, He LJ, Yue W, Pei XT. Arsenic trioxide inhibits liver cancer stem cells and metastasis by targeting SRF/MCM7 complex. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:453. [PMID: 31186405 PMCID: PMC6560089 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1676-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate due to the lack of effective treatments and drugs. Arsenic trioxide (ATO), which has been proved to successfully treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), was recently reported to show therapeutic potential in solid tumors including HCC. However, its anticancer mechanisms in HCC still need further investigation. In this study, we demonstrated that ATO inhibits tumorigenesis and distant metastasis in mouse models, corresponding with a prolonged mice survival time. Also, ATO was found to significantly decrease the cancer stem cell (CSC)-associated traits. Minichromosome maintenance protein (MCM) 7 was further identified to be a potential target suppressed dramatically by ATO, of which protein expression is increased in patients and significantly correlated with tumor size, cellular differentiation, portal venous emboli, and poor patient survival. Moreover, MCM7 knockdown recapitulates the effects of ATO on CSCs and metastasis, while ectopic expression of MCM7 abolishes them. Mechanistically, our results suggested that ATO suppresses MCM7 transcription by targeting serum response factor (SRF)/MCM7 complex, which functions as an important transcriptional regulator modulating MCM7 expression. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of ATO in the treatment of solid tumors. The identification of SRF/MCM7 complex as a target of ATO provides new insights into ATO’s mechanism, which may benefit the appropriate use of this agent in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yang Wang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Jun-Nian Zhou
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China. .,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China. .,Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry Lab, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Dong-Xing Wang
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Ying-Chen Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Quan Zeng
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Ya-Li Jia
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China.,Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry Lab, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Jia-Fei Xi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Xue Nan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Li-Juan He
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China
| | - Wen Yue
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China. .,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China.
| | - Xue-Tao Pei
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China. .,South China Research Center for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, SCIB, Guangzhou, 510005, China.
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28
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Gao J, Wang G, Wu J, Zuo Y, Zhang J, Jin X. Skp2 Expression Is Inhibited by Arsenic Trioxide through the Upregulation of miRNA-330-5p in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2019; 12:214-223. [PMID: 30847385 PMCID: PMC6389777 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been found to exert its anti-cancer activity in various human malignancies. In our previous report, we have shown that ATO inhibited cell growth and invasion via downregulation of Skp2 in pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. It has been extensively demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis. ATO might induce PC cell apoptosis and regulate Skp2 downregulation through the regulation of miRNAs. One study has demonstrated that miR-330-5p exerts a tumor-suppressive function in PC cell lines. Here, we investigated the role of miRNA-330-5p in ATO-mediated anti-tumor activity and explored whether ATO could regulate miR-330-5p in PC cells. We found that ATO treatment upregulated the expression of miR-330-5p. Moreover, miR-330-5p inhibitor rescued the ATO-mediated tumor-suppressive function. The combination of miR-330-5p mimic with ATO reduced cell growth, motility, and invasion, and enhanced apoptosis to a greater degree in PC cells. This study suggests that the combination of miR-330-5p mimic with ATO may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiankun Gao
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China
- Corresponding author: Jiankun Gao, Department of Basic Medical Science, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, 621000 Sichuan, China.
| | - Gu Wang
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China
| | - Jingrong Wu
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China
| | - Yu Zuo
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China
| | - Xintian Jin
- Department of Thoracic Oncosurgery, Jilin Province Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
- Corresponding author: Xintian Jin, Department of Thoracic Oncosurgery, Jilin Province Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China.
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29
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Sabol M, Trnski D, Musani V, Ozretić P, Levanat S. Role of GLI Transcription Factors in Pathogenesis and Their Potential as New Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2562. [PMID: 30158435 PMCID: PMC6163343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
GLI transcription factors have important roles in intracellular signaling cascade, acting as the main mediators of the HH-GLI signaling pathway. This is one of the major developmental pathways, regulated both canonically and non-canonically. Deregulation of the pathway during development leads to a number of developmental malformations, depending on the deregulated pathway component. The HH-GLI pathway is mostly inactive in the adult organism but retains its function in stem cells. Aberrant activation in adult cells leads to carcinogenesis through overactivation of several tightly regulated cellular processes such as proliferation, angiogenesis, EMT. Targeting GLI transcription factors has recently become a major focus of potential therapeutic protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Sabol
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Diana Trnski
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Vesna Musani
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Petar Ozretić
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Sonja Levanat
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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30
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Cheng Q, Han LH, Zhao HJ, Li H, Li JB. Abnormal alterations of miR-1 and miR-214 are associated with clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with PDAC. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:4605-4612. [PMID: 29085459 PMCID: PMC5649611 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating malignant disease with a poor prognosis. PDAC is known to be difficult to diagnose at an early stage and to exhibit poor recurrence-free prognosis, but there is also a lack of effective treatment and limited knowledge of its biological characteristics. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement for an improved understanding of the cellular or molecular properties associated with PDAC, and to explore novel avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. In the present study, the microRNA (miRNA/miR) profiles of sera and tumor samples from patients with PDAC and healthy controls were investigated by miRNA microarray, and the potential role of miR-1 expression in PDAC was determined. A total of 43 patients attending the clinic diagnosed with PDAC at Changzhi City People's Hospital were invited to participate. Blood and surgical tumor samples were obtained for analysis by miRNA microarray and the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The surgical tumor tissue was additionally used to determine miRNAs status by in situ hybridization (ISH). The results of microarray revealed that: i) 27 miRNAs in the sera and 23 miRNAs in the tumor tissues obtained from patients with PDAC were different compared with their matched controls; ii) miR-1, miR-10b and miR-214 were significantly altered in the PDAC group, either in the sera or tumor tissue samples. Results from the RT-qPCR, which detected the levels of miRNAs in patients with PDAC, confirmed those obtained from the miRNA microarray. In particular, the results of the present study revealed that decreased miR-1 and increased miR-214 in the PDAC tissues were associated with the clinicopathological features and survival rates of patients with PDAC. The results of the present study indicated that miRNAs serve an important role in PDAC carcinogenic progression and supplied useful markers, including miR-1, miR-214 and miR-10b, for determining PDAC prognosis using noninvasive methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Cheng
- Gerontology Department, Changzhi City People's Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, P.R. China
| | - Li-Hua Han
- Gerontology Department, Changzhi City People's Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Juan Zhao
- Gerontology Department, Changzhi City People's Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, P.R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Gerontology Department, Changzhi City People's Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, P.R. China
| | - Jian-Bing Li
- Gerontology Department, Changzhi City People's Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi 046000, P.R. China
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31
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Torquato HFV, Goettert MI, Justo GZ, Paredes-Gamero EJ. Anti-Cancer Phytometabolites Targeting Cancer Stem Cells. Curr Genomics 2017; 18:156-174. [PMID: 28367074 PMCID: PMC5345336 DOI: 10.2174/1389202917666160803162309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Medicinal plants are a plentiful source of bioactive molecules with much structural diversity. In cancer treatment, molecules obtained from plants represent an attractive alternative to other treatments because several plant-derived compounds have exhibited lower toxicity and higher selectivity against cancer cells. In this review, we focus on the possible application of bioactive molecules obtained from plants against more primitive cell populations in cancers, cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are present in several kinds of tumors and are responsible for recurrences and metastases. Common anti-cancer drugs exhibit lower effectiveness against cancer stem cells because of their biological features. However, recently discovered natural phytometabolites exert cytotoxic effects on this rare population of cells in cancers. Therefore, this review presents the latest research on promising compounds from plants that can act as antitumor drugs and that mainly affect stem cell populations in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heron F V Torquato
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Campus São Paulo), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Márcia I Goettert
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro Universitário Univates, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Giselle Z Justo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Campus São Paulo), São Paulo, Brazil;; Departamento de Ciências Biológicas (Campus Diadema), Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edgar J Paredes-Gamero
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Campus São Paulo), São Paulo, Brazil;; Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Bioquímica, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
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32
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Gan GN, Jimeno A. Emerging from their burrow: Hedgehog pathway inhibitors for cancer. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2016; 25:1153-66. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2016.1216973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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33
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Skeletal muscle metastases on magnetic resonance imaging: analysis of 31 cases. Contemp Oncol (Pozn) 2016; 20:242-50. [PMID: 27647989 PMCID: PMC5013688 DOI: 10.5114/wo.2016.61568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim of the study To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of skeletal muscle metastases (SMM). Material and methods The records of 31 patients with proven SMM were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical history, type of primary malignancy, location of metastases, and MRI features of SMM were evaluated. Based on MRI findings, SMM were divided into three MRI types. The correlation between MRI types with ages and pathology category, between MRI types of SMM and ages, as well as MRI types of SMM and pathology category were analysed with Spearman's rho. Results The most common primary tumour was genital tumour (25.8%) and bronchial carcinoma (19.4%), and the most common cell type was adenocarcinoma (58.1%). SMM were located in the iliopsoas muscle (26.3%), paravertebral muscles (21.1%), and upper extremity muscles (18.4%). MRI features: (1) Type-I localised lesions (12.90%), round-like mass limited to local regions with heterogeneous iso-signal intensity in T1WI and heterogeneous hyper-intensity in T2WI; (2) Type-II diffuse lesions without bone destruction (35.48%), abnormal diffuse swelling of the muscle with irregular boundaries and slightly hypo- to iso-intensity in T1WI and hyper-intensity in T2WI; and (3) Type-III diffuse lesions with bone destruction (51.61%), distinct irregular lump with iso-intensity in T1WI and heterogeneous hyper-intensity in T2WI with adjacent bone invasion. There was positive correlation between MRI types and ages (r = 0.431, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences of MRI types with pathology category (p > 0.05). Conclusions SMM features on MRI can be broadly used to classify lesions, which is beneficial for SMM diagnosis.
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The Role of miRNAs in the Regulation of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:8352684. [PMID: 27006664 PMCID: PMC4783541 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8352684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is currently one of the deadliest cancers with low overall survival rate. This disease leads to an aggressive local invasion and early metastases and is poorly responsive to treatment with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Several studies have shown that pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) play different roles in the regulation of drug resistance and recurrence in pancreatic cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA), a class of newly emerging small noncoding RNAs, is involved in the modulation of several biological activities ranging from invasion to metastases development, as well as drug resistance of pancreatic cancer. In this review, we synthesize the latest findings on the role of miRNAs in regulating different biological properties of pancreatic cancer stem cells.
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35
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Chang KJ, Yang MH, Zheng JC, Li B, Nie W. Arsenic trioxide inhibits cancer stem-like cells via down-regulation of Gli1 in lung cancer. Am J Transl Res 2016; 8:1133-1143. [PMID: 27158399 PMCID: PMC4846956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for the tumorigenesis and recurrence, so targeting CSCs is a potential effective method to cure cancers. Activated Hedgehog signaling pathway has been proved to be implicated in the maintenance of self-renewal of CSCs, and arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been reported to inhibit Gli1, a key transcription factor of Hedgehog pathway. In this study, we evaluated whether As2O3 has inhibitory effects on cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) in lung cancer and further explored the possible mechanism. CCK8 assay and colony formation assay were performed to demonstrate the ability of As2O3 to inhibit the growth of NCI-H460 and NCI-H446 cells, which represented non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), respectively. Tumor sphere formation assay was carried out to evaluate the effects of As2O3 on stem cell-like subpopulations. The expression of stem cell biomarkers CD133 and stem cell transcription factors such as Sox2 and Oct4 were detected. Moreover, the effects of As2O3 on expression of Gli1 and its target genes were observed. We found that As2O3 inhibited the cell proliferation and reduced the colony formation ability. Importantly, As2O3 decreased the formation of tumor spheres. The expression of stem cell biomarker CD133 and stem cell transcription factors such as Sox2 and Oct4 were markedly reduced by As2O3 treatment. Furthermore, As2O3 decreased the expression of Gli1, N-myc and GAS1. Our results suggested that As2O3 is a promising agent to inhibit CSLCs in lung cancer. In addition, the mechanism of CSLCs inhibition might involve Gli1 down-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Jie Chang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Meng-Hang Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Jin-Cheng Zheng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Wei Nie
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University Shanghai 200003, China
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Rimkus TK, Carpenter RL, Qasem S, Chan M, Lo HW. Targeting the Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway: Review of Smoothened and GLI Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:cancers8020022. [PMID: 26891329 PMCID: PMC4773745 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 409] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is a major regulator of cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and tissue polarity. Aberrant activation of the Shh pathway has been shown in a variety of human cancers, including, basal cell carcinoma, malignant gliomas, medulloblastoma, leukemias, and cancers of the breast, lung, pancreas, and prostate. Tumorigenesis, tumor progression and therapeutic response have all been shown to be impacted by the Shh signaling pathway. Downstream effectors of the Shh pathway include smoothened (SMO) and glioma-associated oncogene homolog (GLI) family of zinc finger transcription factors. Both are regarded as important targets for cancer therapeutics. While most efforts have been devoted towards pharmacologically targeting SMO, developing GLI-targeted approach has its merit because of the fact that GLI proteins can be activated by both Shh ligand-dependent and -independent mechanisms. To date, two SMO inhibitors (LDE225/Sonidegib and GDC-0449/Vismodegib) have received FDA approval for treating basal cell carcinoma while many clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this exciting class of targeted therapy in a variety of cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of the biology of the Shh pathway and then detail the current landscape of the Shh-SMO-GLI pathway inhibitors including those in preclinical studies and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadas K Rimkus
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
| | - Richard L Carpenter
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
| | - Shadi Qasem
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
| | - Michael Chan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
| | - Hui-Wen Lo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
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37
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Li B, Giambelli C, Tang B, Winterbottom E, Long J, Jin K, Wang Z, Fei DL, Nguyen DM, Athar M, Wang B, Subbarayan PR, Wang L, Rai P, Ardalan B, Capobianco AJ, Robbins DJ. Arsenic Attenuates GLI Signaling, Increasing or Decreasing its Transcriptional Program in a Context-Dependent Manner. Mol Pharmacol 2016; 89:226-32. [PMID: 26573582 PMCID: PMC4727125 DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.100867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The metalloid arsenic is a worldwide environmental toxicant, exposure to which is associated with many adverse outcomes. Arsenic is also an effective therapeutic agent in certain disease settings. Arsenic was recently shown to regulate the activity of the Hedgehog (HH) signal transduction pathway, and this regulation of HH signaling was proposed to be responsible for a subset of arsenic's biologic effects. Surprisingly, these separate reports proposed contradictory activities for arsenic, as either an agonist or antagonist of HH signaling. Here we provide in vitro and in vivo evidence that arsenic acts as a modulator of the activity of the HH effector protein glioma-associated oncogene family zinc finger (GLI), activating or inhibiting GLI activity in a context-dependent manner. This arsenic-induced modulation of HH signaling is observed in cultured cells, patients with colorectal cancer who have received arsenic-based therapy, and a mouse colorectal cancer xenograft model. Our results show that arsenic activates GLI signaling when the intrinsic GLI activity is low but inhibits signaling in the presence of high-level GLI activity. Furthermore, we show that this modulation occurs downstream of primary cilia, evidenced by experiments in suppressor of fused homolog (SUFU) deficient cells. Combining our findings with previous reports, we present an inclusive model in which arsenic plays dual roles in GLI signaling modulation: when GLIs are primarily in their repressor form, arsenic antagonizes their repression capacity, leading to low-level GLI activation, but when GLIs are primarily in their activator form, arsenic attenuates their activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Camilla Giambelli
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Bo Tang
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Emily Winterbottom
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Jun Long
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Ke Jin
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Dennis Liang Fei
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Dao M Nguyen
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Mohammad Athar
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Baolin Wang
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Pochi R Subbarayan
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Lily Wang
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Priyamvada Rai
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Bach Ardalan
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - Anthony J Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
| | - David J Robbins
- Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (B.L., C.G., E.W., J.L., K.J., Z.W., D.L.F., D.M.N., A.J.C., D.J.R.); General Surgery Center of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (B.T.); Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (J.L.); Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire (D.L.F.); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (D.M.N., P.R.S., P.R., B.A., A.J.C., D.J.R.); Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (M.A.); Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York (B.W.); Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (L. W.); Departments of Medicine (P.R.S., P.R., B.A.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (A.J.C., D.J.R.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (P.R.)
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Jia Y, Xie J. Promising molecular mechanisms responsible for gemcitabine resistance in cancer. Genes Dis 2015; 2:299-306. [PMID: 30258872 PMCID: PMC6150077 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gemcitabine is the first-line treatment for pancreatic ductual adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as well as acts against a wide range of other solid tumors. Patients usually have a good initial response to gemcitabine-based chemotherapy but would eventually develop resistance. To improve survival and prognosis of cancer patients, better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for gemcitabine resistance and discovery of new therapeutic strategies are in great need. Amounting evidence indicate that the developmental pathways, such as Hedgehog (Hh), Wnt and Notch, become reactivated in gemcitabine-resistant cancer cells. Thus, the strategies for targeting these pathways may sensitize cancer cells to gemcitabine treatment. In this review, we will summarize recent development in this area of research and discuss strategies to overcome gemcitabine resistance. Given the cross-talk between these three developmental signaling pathways, designing clinical trials using a cocktail of inhibitory agents targeting all these pathways may be more effective. Ultimately, our hope is that targeting these developmental pathways may be an effective way to improve the gemcitabine treatment outcome in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfei Jia
- Central Laboratory, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250013, China
| | - Jingwu Xie
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Shao Y, Zhang L, Cui L, Lou W, Wang D, Lu W, Jin D, Liu T. LIN28B suppresses microRNA let-7b expression to promote CD44+/LIN28B+ human pancreatic cancer stem cell proliferation and invasion. Am J Cancer Res 2015; 5:2643-2659. [PMID: 26609473 PMCID: PMC4633895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the highly proliferative, migratory, and multi-drug resistant phenotype of human pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) is well characterized, knowledge of their biological mechanisms is limited. We used CD44 and LIN28B as markers to screen, isolate, and enrich CSCs from human primary pancreatic cancer. Using flow cytometry, we identified a human primary pancreatic cancer cell (PCC) subpopulation expressing high levels of both CD44 and LIN28B. CD44+/LIN28B+ PCSCs expressed high levels of stemness marker genes and possessed higher migratory and invasive ability than CD44-/LIN28B- PCCs. CD44+/LIN28B+ PCSCs were more resistant to growth inhibition induced by the chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin and gemcitabine hydrochloride, and readily established tumors in vivo in a relatively short time. Moreover, microarray analysis revealed significant differences between the cDNA expression patterns of CD44+/LIN28B+ PCSCs and CD44-/LIN28B- PCCs. Following siRNA interference of endogenous LIN28B gene expression in CD44+/LIN28B+ PCSCs, not only was their proliferation decreased, there was also cell cycle arrest due to suppression of cyclin D1 expression following the stimulation of miRNA let-7b expression. In conclusion, CD44+/LIN28B+ cells, which possess CSC characteristics, can be reliably sorted from human primary PCCs and represent a valuable model for studying cancer cell physiology and multi-drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yebo Shao
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, China
| | - Lei Cui
- Department of General Surgery, Jiangsu University Affiliated HospitalZhengjiang 212000, China
| | - Wenhui Lou
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, China
| | - Dansong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, China
| | - Weiqi Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, China
| | - Dayong Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai 200032, China
| | - Te Liu
- Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghai 200031, China
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40
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Cochrane CR, Szczepny A, Watkins DN, Cain JE. Hedgehog Signaling in the Maintenance of Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:1554-85. [PMID: 26270676 PMCID: PMC4586784 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7030851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a rare population of cells with the capacity to self-renew and give rise to heterogeneous cell lineages within a tumour. Whilst the mechanisms underlying the regulation of CSCs are poorly defined, key developmental signaling pathways required for normal stem and progenitor functions have been strongly implicated. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is an evolutionarily-conserved pathway essential for self-renewal and cell fate determination. Aberrant Hh signaling is associated with the development and progression of various types of cancer and is implicated in multiple aspects of tumourigenesis, including the maintenance of CSCs. Here, we discuss the mounting evidence suggestive of Hh-driven CSCs in the context of haematological malignancies and solid tumours and the novel strategies that hold the potential to block many aspects of the transformation attributed to the CSC phenotype, including chemotherapeutic resistance, relapse and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine R Cochrane
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
| | - Anette Szczepny
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
| | - D Neil Watkins
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
- UNSW Faculty of Medicine, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia.
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
| | - Jason E Cain
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
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Fitzgerald TL, Lertpiriyapong K, Cocco L, Martelli AM, Libra M, Candido S, Montalto G, Cervello M, Steelman L, Abrams SL, McCubrey JA. Roles of EGFR and KRAS and their downstream signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer stem cells. Adv Biol Regul 2015; 59:65-81. [PMID: 26257206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is currently the fourth most common cancer, is increasing in incidence and soon will be the second leading cause of cancer death in the USA. This is a deadly malignancy with an incidence that approximates the mortality with 44,000 new cases and 36,000 deaths each year. Surgery, although only modestly successful, is the only curative option. However, due the locally aggressive nature and early metastasis, surgery can be performed on less than 20% of patients. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is palliative, has significant toxicity and improves survival very little. Thus new treatment paradigms are needed desperately. Due to the extremely high frequency of KRAS gene mutations (>90%) detected in pancreatic cancer patients, the roles of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathways have been investigated in pancreatic cancer for many years. Constitutively active Ras can activate both of these pathways and there is cross talk between Ras and EGFR which is believed to be important in driving metastasis. Mutant KRAS may also drive the expression of GSK-3 through Raf/MEK/ERK-mediated effects on GSK-3 transcription. GSK-3 can then regulate the expression of NF-kappaB which is important in modulating pancreatic cancer chemoresistance. While the receptors and many downstream signaling molecules have been identified and characterized, there is still much to learn about these pathways and how their deregulation can lead to cancer. Multiple inhibitors to EGFR, PI3K, mTOR, GSK-3, Raf, MEK and hedgehog (HH) have been developed and are being evaluated in various cancers. Current research often focuses on the role of these pathways in cancer stem cells (CSC), with the goal to identify sites where therapeutic resistance may develop. Relatively novel fields of investigation such as microRNAs and drugs used for other diseases e.g., diabetes, (metformin) and malaria (chloroquine) have provided new information about therapeutic resistance and CSCs. This review will focus on recent advances in the field and how they affect pancreatic cancer research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy L Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Kvin Lertpiriyapong
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Laboratory of Translational Oncology & Functional Genomics, Section of Pathology & Oncology, Via Androne, Catania, Italy, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Saverio Candido
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Laboratory of Translational Oncology & Functional Genomics, Section of Pathology & Oncology, Via Androne, Catania, Italy, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biomedicina e Immunologia Molecolare "Alberto Monroy", Palermo, Italy
| | - Linda Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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Zhan HX, Xu JW, Wu D, Zhang TP, Hu SY. Pancreatic cancer stem cells: new insight into a stubborn disease. Cancer Lett 2015; 357:429-37. [PMID: 25499079 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2014] [Revised: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to conventional therapy and early distant metastasis contribute to the unsatisfactory prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. The concept of cancer stem cells (CSCs) brings new insights into cancer biology and therapy. Many studies have confirmed the important role of these stem cells in carcinogenesis and the development of hematopoietic and solid cancers. Recent studies have shown that CSCs regulate aggressive behavior, recurrence, and drug resistance in pancreatic cancer. Here, we review recent advances in pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) research. Particular attention is paid to the regulation mechanisms of pancreatic cancer stem cell functions, such as stemness-related signaling pathways, microRNAs, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the tumor microenvironment, and the development of novel PCSCs targeted therapy. We seek to further understand PCSCs and explore potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-xiang Zhan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China
| | - Jian-wei Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China
| | - Dong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China
| | - Tai-ping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - San-yuan Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, China.
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KML001, a telomere-targeting drug, sensitizes glioblastoma cells to temozolomide chemotherapy and radiotherapy through DNA damage and apoptosis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:747415. [PMID: 25295271 PMCID: PMC4176651 DOI: 10.1155/2014/747415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Standard treatment for glioblastoma comprises surgical resection, chemotherapy with temozolomide, and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, majority of glioblastoma patients have recurrence from resistance to the cytotoxic conventional therapies. We examined combinational effects of KML001, an arsenic compound targeting telomeres of chromosomes with temozolomide or irradiation, in glioblastoma cell lines and xenograft models, to overcome the therapeutic limitation of chemoradiation therapy for glioblastoma. Although KML001 alone showed little effects on in vitro survival of glioblastoma cells, cell death by in vitro temozolomide treatment or irradiation was synergistically potentiated by combination with KML001. Since phosphorylated γ-H2AX, cleaved casepase-3, and cleaved PARP were dramatically increased by KML001, the synergistic effects would be mediated by increased DNA damage and subsequent tumor cell apoptosis. Combinatorial effects of KML001 were observed not only in chemo- and radiosensitive glioblastoma cell line, U87MG, but also in the resistant cell line, U251MG. In the U87MG glioblastoma xenograft models, KML001 did not have systemic toxicity but showed synergistic therapeutic effects in combination with temozolomide or irradiation to reduce tumor volumes significantly. These data indicated that KML001 could be a candidate sensitizer to potentiate therapeutic effects of conventional cytotoxic treatment for glioblastoma.
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Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Signalling Enhances Osteogenesis in UMR-106 Cell Line. J Mol Neurosci 2014; 54:555-73. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-014-0389-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Onishi H, Katano M. Hedgehog signaling pathway as a new therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:2335-2342. [PMID: 24605030 PMCID: PMC3942836 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult cancers to treat. Despite numerous research efforts, limited success has been achieved in the therapeutic management of patients with this disease. In the current review, we focus on one component of morphogenesis signaling, Hedgehog (Hh), with the aim of developing novel, effective therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Hh signaling contributes to the induction of a malignant phenotype in pancreatic cancer and is responsible for maintaining pancreatic cancer stem cells. In addition, we propose a novel concept linking Hh signaling and tumor hypoxic conditions, and discuss the effects of Hh inhibitors in clinical trials. The Hh signaling pathway may represent a potential therapeutic target for patients with refractory pancreatic cancer.
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