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Chen Y, Tan X, Zhang W, Li Y, Deng X, Zeng J, Huang L, Ma X. Natural products targeting macroautophagy signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: Recent evidence and perspectives. Phytother Res 2024; 38:1623-1650. [PMID: 38302697 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), presently the second leading cause of global cancer-related mortality, continues to pose significant challenges in the realm of medical oncology, impacting both clinical drug selection and mechanistic research. Recent investigations have unveiled autophagy-related signaling as a promising avenue for HCC treatment. A growing body of research has highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy-modulating natural products in inhibiting HCC progression. In this context, we provide a concise overview of the fundamental autophagy mechanism and delineate the involvement of autophagic signaling pathways in HCC development. Additionally, we review pertinent studies demonstrating how natural products regulate autophagy to mitigate HCC. Our findings indicate that natural products exhibit cytotoxic effects through the induction of excessive autophagy, simultaneously impeding HCC cell proliferation by autophagy inhibition, thereby depriving HCC cells of essential energy. These effects have been associated with various signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, AMPK, Wnt/β-catenin, Beclin-1, and ferroautophagy. These results underscore the considerable therapeutic potential of natural products in HCC treatment. However, it is important to note that the present study did not establish definitive thresholds for autophagy induction or inhibition by natural products. Further research in this domain is imperative to gain comprehensive insights into the dual role of autophagy, equipping us with a better understanding of this double-edged sword in HCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiyue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yubing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinyu Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinhao Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Lihua Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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2
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Zhang W, Fan Y, Zhang J, Shi D, Yuan J, Ashrafizadeh M, Li W, Hu M, Abd El-Aty AM, Hacimuftuoglu A, Linnebacher M, Cheng Y, Li W, Fang S, Gong P, Zhang X. Cell membrane-camouflaged bufalin targets NOD2 and overcomes multidrug resistance in pancreatic cancer. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 71:101005. [PMID: 37647746 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.101005] [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: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Multidrug resistance in pancreatic cancer poses a significant challenge in clinical treatment. Bufalin (BA), a compound found in secretions from the glands of toads, may help overcome this problem. However, severe cardiotoxicity thus far has hindered its clinical application. Hence, the present study aimed to develop a cell membrane-camouflaged and BA-loaded polylactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticle (CBAP) and assess its potential to counter chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. METHODS The toxicity of CBAP was evaluated by electrocardiogram, body weight, distress score, and nesting behavior of mice. In addition, the anticarcinoma activity and underlying mechanism were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS CBAP significantly mitigated BA-mediated acute cardiotoxicity and enhanced the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to several clinical drugs, such as gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and FOLFIRINOX. Mechanistically, CBAP directly bound to nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain containing protein 2 (NOD2) and inhibited the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells. This inhibits the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters, which are responsible for chemoresistance in cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that CBAP directly inhibits NOD2. Combining CBAP with standard-of-care chemotherapeutics represents a safe and efficient strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China; International Association for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yibao Fan
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Jinze Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Dan Shi
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jiahui Yuan
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
| | - Man Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China
| | - A M Abd El-Aty
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211 Giza, Egypt; Department of Medical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25070, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Hacimuftuoglu
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25070, Turkey
| | - Michael Linnebacher
- Clinic of General Surgery, Molecular Oncology and Immunotherapy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock 18059, Germany
| | - Yongxian Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Weiguang Li
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Shuo Fang
- Department of Oncology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China.
| | - Peng Gong
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; International Association for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Xianbin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; International Association for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
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3
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Ye Q, Zhou X, Ren H, Han F, Lin R, Li J. An overview of the past decade of bufalin in the treatment of refractory and drug-resistant cancers: current status, challenges, and future perspectives. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1274336. [PMID: 37860119 PMCID: PMC10582727 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1274336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Profound progress has been made in cancer treatment in the past three decades. However, drug resistance remains prevalent and a critical challenge. Drug resistance can be attributed to oncogenes mutations, activated defensive mechanisms, ATP-bind cassette transporters overexpression, cancer stem cells, etc. Chinese traditional medicine toad venom has been used for centuries for different diseases, including resistant cancers. Bufalin is one of the bufadienolides in toad venom that has been extensively studied for its potential in refractory and drug-resistant cancer treatments in vitro and in vivo. In this work, we would like to critically review the progress made in the past decade (2013-2022) of bufalin in overcoming drug resistance in cancers. Generally, bufalin shows high potential in killing certain refractory and resistant cancer cells via multiple mechanisms. More importantly, bufalin can work as a chemo-sensitizer that enhances the sensitivity of certain conventional and targeted therapies at low concentrations. In addition, the development of bufalin derivatives was also briefly summarized and discussed. We also analyzed the obstacles and challenges and provided possible solutions for future perspectives. We hope that the collective information may help evoke more effort for more in-depth studies and evaluation of bufalin in both lab and possible clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingmei Ye
- Hainan General Hospital & Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicinal Resource Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Medicinal Plant Chemistry of Hainan Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- The Fifth People’s Hospital of Hainan Province & Affiliated Dermatology Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Han Ren
- Hainan General Hospital & Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Fangxuan Han
- Hainan General Hospital & Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Rong Lin
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Juan Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource and Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Chen G, Zhang H, Sun H, Ding X, Liu G, Yang F, Feng G, Dong X, Zhu Y, Wang X, Wang Y, Li B, Yang L. Bufalin targeting BFAR inhibits the occurrence and metastasis of gastric cancer through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. Apoptosis 2023; 28:1390-1405. [PMID: 37253905 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-023-01855-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common malignant tumor of digestive system. Bufalin extracted from Venenum Bufonis is one of the most effective anticancer monomers, which has been proved to play anticancer roles in a variety of cancers such as ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and neuroblastoma. However, there are few studies on bufalin in GC, and lack of clear targets. The effect of bufalin on the proliferation and migration of GC cells was detected by CCK-8, scratch wound healing assay, transwell assay and Western blotting. The potential direct interaction proteins of bufalin were screened by human proteome microarray containing 21,838 human proteins. The target protein was determined by bioinformatics, and the binding sites were predicted by molecular docking technique. Biological experiments in vitro and in vivo were conducted to verify the effect of bufalin directly interaction protein and the mechanism of bufalin targeting the protein to inhibit the development of GC. The results showed that bufalin inhibited the proliferation and migration of MKN-45 and HGC-27 GC cell lines in vitro. BFAR, a direct interaction protein of bufalin has several potential binding sites to bufalin. BFAR is highly expressed in GC and promotes the occurrence and metastasis of GC by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway in vitro and in vivo. Bufalin reversed the promoting effect of BFAR on the carcinogenesis and metastasis of GC by down-regulating the expression of BFAR. Our results show that bufalin targeting BFAR inhibits the occurrence and metastasis of GC through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. These results provide a new basis for bufalin as a promising drug for the treatment of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Chen
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Huhu Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Hongxiao Sun
- Heart Center, Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, 6, Tongfu Road, Qingdao, 266034, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ding
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Guoxiang Liu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Fanghao Yang
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Guilin Feng
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xiaolei Dong
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yunfan Zhu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Lina Yang
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
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Wang S, Shi JT, Wang XR, Mu HX, Wang XT, Xu KY, Wang QS, Chen SW. 1H-Indazoles derivatives targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway: Synthesis, anti-tumor effect and molecular mechanism. Bioorg Chem 2023; 133:106412. [PMID: 36773456 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is one of the most common abnormal activation pathways in tumor cells, and has associated with multiple functions such as tumor cell growth, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor angiogenesis. Here, a series of 3-amino-1H-indazole derivatives were synthesized, and their antiproliferative activities against HT-29, MCF-7, A-549, HepG2 and HGC-27 cells were evaluated. Among them, W24 exhibited the broad-spectrum antiproliferative activity against four cancer cells with IC50 values of 0.43-3.88 μM. Mechanism studies revealed that W24 inhibited proliferation by affecting the DNA synthesis, induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by regulating Cyclin B1, BAD and Bcl-xL, meanwhile induced the change of intracellular ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential in HGC-27 cells. Moreover, W24 inhibited the migration and invasion of HGC-27 cells by decreasing EMT pathway related proteins and reducing the mRNA expression levels of Snail, Slug and HIF-1α. Furthermore, W24 displayed low tissue toxicity profile and good pharmacokinetic properties in vivo. Therefore, 3-amino-1H-indazole derivatives might serve as a new scaffold for the development of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitor and anti-gastric cancer reagent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Wang
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jian-Tao Shi
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xing-Rong Wang
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hong-Xia Mu
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xue-Ting Wang
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kai-Yan Xu
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qing-Shan Wang
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shi-Wu Chen
- School of Pharmacy & Collaborative Innovation Center for Northwestern Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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6
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Cao Y, Di X, Cong S, Tian C, Wang Y, Jin X, Zhao M, Zhou X, Li R, Wang K. RBM10 recruits METTL3 to induce N6-methyladenosine-MALAT1-dependent modification, inhibiting the invasion and migration of NSCLC. Life Sci 2023; 315:121359. [PMID: 36608868 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Previous studies have shown that RNA binding motif 10 (RBM10) is a potential tumor suppressor protein that can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) plays an important role in promoting the development of lung cancer. Inhibiting its m6A methylation can effectively inhibit the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer. There is concern that RBM10 could affect MALAT1 m6A methylation for the invasion and migration of NSCLC. MAIN METHODS AND FINDINGS Transwell and wound healing assays showed that RBM10 significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of NSCLC. CLIP-Seq showed that among all RBM10 binding RNAs, MALAT1 had the highest binding peak among all non-coding RNAs. RNA immunoprecipitation verified the direct combination of RBM10 and MALAT1. The rescue experiment confirmed that RBM10 affected the phosphorylation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway protein as well as the invasion and migration ability by regulating MALAT1. MeRIP-qPCR confirmed that RBM10 could inhibit the MALAT1 m6A methylation level by recruiting Methyltransferase Like 3 (METTL3). SIGNIFICANCE The study suggests that RBM10, as an RNA-binding protein, may inhibit the m6A methylation of MALAT1 by recruiting METTL3 and affecting phosphorylation of the downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by binding and regulating MALAT1, ultimately affecting the invasion and migration of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingshu Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Xin Di
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Shan Cong
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Chang Tian
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Xijia Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Ranwei Li
- Department of Urinary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
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7
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Paskeh MDA, Ghadyani F, Hashemi M, Abbaspour A, Zabolian A, Javanshir S, Razzazan M, Mirzaei S, Entezari M, Goharrizi MASB, Salimimoghadam S, Aref AR, Kalbasi A, Rajabi R, Rashidi M, Taheriazam A, Sethi G. Biological impact and therapeutic perspective of targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and Challenges. Pharmacol Res 2023; 187:106553. [PMID: 36400343 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cancer progression results from activation of various signaling networks. Among these, PI3K/Akt signaling contributes to proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high incidence rate, especially in regions with high prevalence of viral hepatitis infection. Autoimmune disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol consumption, and inflammation can also lead to initiation and development of HCC. The treatment of HCC depends on the identification of oncogenic factors that lead tumor cells to develop resistance to therapy. The present review article focuses on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC progression. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes glucose uptake, favors glycolysis and increases tumor cell proliferation. It inhibits both apoptosis and autophagy while promoting HCC cell survival. PI3K/Akt stimulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increases matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression during HCC metastasis. In addition to increasing colony formation capacity and facilitating the spread of tumor cells, PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates angiogenesis. Therefore, silencing PI3K/Akt signaling prevents aggressive HCC cell behavior. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling can confer drug resistance, particularly to sorafenib, and decreases the radio-sensitivity of HCC cells. Anti-cancer agents, like phytochemicals and small molecules can suppress PI3K/Akt signaling by limiting HCC progression. Being upregulated in tumor tissues and clinical samples, PI3K/Akt can also be used as a biomarker to predict patients' response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghadyani
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Abbaspour
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center,Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Zabolian
- Resident of department of Orthopedics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Salar Javanshir
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnaz Razzazan
- Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Translational Sciences, Xsphera Biosciences Inc. 6, Tide Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Alireza Kalbasi
- Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Romina Rajabi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore; NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.
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8
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Zhao L, Guo Y, Liu Z, Ma J, Peng Y, Zhang D. Characterization of glycosylation regulator-mediated glycosylation modification patterns and tumor microenvironment infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:1001901. [PMID: 36437920 PMCID: PMC9697576 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1001901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have shown that glycosylation of proteins ofen plays an important role in HCC. However, the potential mechanism of glycosylation in HCC has not been described systematically. Methods: We comprehensively evaluated the glycosylation patterns in HCC samples based on 43 glycosylation regulators, and annotated the modification patterns with the enrichment of immune cells and stromal cells. Considering the heterogeneity of HCC patients, the glycosylation score was constructed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). We also explored the drugs that different HCC patients were sensitive to based on glycosylation mode and score. Results: We identified three glycosylation-regulated gene subtypes. By annotating the subtypes, it was found that the glycosylation regulated gene subtypes was highly matched with three immunophenotypes of HCC (immune-inflamed, immune-excluded, and immune-desert), regardless of the characteristics of immune cell infiltration or prognosis. Based on the characteristic genes of glycosylation-regulated gene subtypes, we constructed a glycosylation-related model, and found that glycosylation-related model was highly consistent with the glycosylation regulated gene subtypes. The glycosylation score that evaluates the glycosylation characteristics of a single HCC sample has high prognostic value, and the prognosis of patients with high glycosylation score is significantly worse. Interestingly, we found that the glycosylation score was closely related to tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging. By applying glycosylation-regulated gene subtypes and glycosylation score to explore the sensitivity of different patients to anticancer drugs, it was found that the sensitivity of Thapsigargin, Shikonin, Embelin and Epothilone. B was closely related to the glycosylation mode. Conclusion: This study reveals that the diversity of glycosylation patterns plays an important role in HCC. Therefore, evaluating the glycosylation patterns of patients with HCC will be helpful in identifying the characteristics of immune cell infiltration and selecting accurate treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhao
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Medical College of Qinghai University, Xining, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First People’s Hospital Xining City, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Application and Foundation for High-Altitude Medicine Research in Qinghai Province, Xining, China
- Qinghai-Utah Joint Research Key Laboratory for High Altitude Medicine, Xining, China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Yang Guo
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Medical College of Qinghai University, Xining, China
- Key Laboratory of Application and Foundation for High-Altitude Medicine Research in Qinghai Province, Xining, China
- Qinghai-Utah Joint Research Key Laboratory for High Altitude Medicine, Xining, China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Zhanfeng Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The First People’s Hospital Xining City, Xining, China
| | - Jing Ma
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Yanfeng Peng
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Dejun Zhang
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Medical College of Qinghai University, Xining, China
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, China
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9
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Cheng X, Chen Q, Sun P. Natural phytochemicals that affect autophagy in the treatment of oral diseases and infections: A review. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:970596. [PMID: 36091810 PMCID: PMC9461701 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.970596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a critical factor in eukaryotic evolution. Cells provide nutrition and energy during autophagy by destroying non-essential components, thereby allowing intracellular material conversion and managing temporary survival stress. Autophagy is linked to a variety of oral disorders, including the type and extent of oral malignancies. Furthermore, autophagy is important in lymphocyte formation, innate immunity, and the regulation of acquired immune responses. It is also required for immunological responses in the oral cavity. Knowledge of autophagy has aided in the identification and treatment of common oral disorders, most notably cancers. The involvement of autophagy in the oral immune system may offer a new understanding of the immune mechanism and provide a novel approach to eliminating harmful bacteria in the body. This review focuses on autophagy creation, innate and acquired immunological responses to autophagy, and the status of autophagy in microbial infection research. Recent developments in the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy and therapeutic applications in oral illnesses, particularly oral cancers, are also discussed. Finally, the relationship between various natural substances that may be used as medications and autophagy is investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ping Sun
- *Correspondence: Ping Sun, ; Qianming Chen,
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10
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Yang R, Du C, Cao T, Wang G, Jiang X, Gao J, Lin T, Sun C, Ding R, Tian W, Chen H. Synthesis and Anti-Hepatoma Activities of U12 Derivatives Arresting G0/G1 Phase and Inducing Apoptosis by PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15010107. [PMID: 35056164 PMCID: PMC8781819 DOI: 10.3390/ph15010107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a first-line clinical drug for the treatment of liver diseases. U12, a derivative of UDCA, showed effective anti-hepatoma activities in previous works. However, the low polarity and large doses limited the druglikeness of U12. In this study, the structural modification and optimization of U12 were further investigated and twelve U12 derivatives were synthesized by substitution, esterification and amidation reactions. The evaluation of the cytotoxicity of synthetic derivatives against hepatoma cell lines (HepG2) indicated that U12-I, U12a-d and U12h showed more effective cytotoxic effects on the growth of HepG2 cells than U12, and the preliminary structure–activity relationship was discussed. Among them, U12a exhibited the most potent anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity. Mechanism studies indicated that U12a inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation by arresting the G0/G1 phase, and suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Further studies showed that U12a induced HepG2 cells apoptosis through activating the caspase signaling pathway. Furthermore, U12a evidently inhibits the growth of HepG2-derived tumor xenografts in vivo without observable adverse effects. Thus, U12a might be considered as a promising candidate for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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11
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Wang Z, Cui Q, Shi L, Zhang M, Song P, Duan D, Guo W. Network Pharmacology-Based Prediction and Verification of Shikonin for the mechanism treating colorectal cancer. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2021; 17:297-311. [PMID: 34951580 DOI: 10.2174/1574892817666211224142100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shikonin (SKN), a naturally occurring naphthoquinone, is a major active chemical component isolated from Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb Zucc, Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst, or Arnebia guttata Bunge, and commonly used to treat viral infection, inflammation, and cancer. However, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the antitumor mechanism of SKN in colorectal cancer (CRC) through network pharmacology and cell experiments. METHODS Using SymMap database and Genecards to predict the potential targets of SKN and CRC, while the cotargets were obtained by Venn diagram. The cotargets were imported into website of String and DA DAVID, constructing the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, performing Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, the Compound-Target-Pathway (C-T-P) network was generated by connecting potential pathways with the corresponding targets. RESULTS According to the results of network pharmacological analysis, the cell experiments were used to verify the key signal pathway. The most relevant target of SKN for the treatment of CRC was PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. SKN inhibited CRC cells (HT29 and HCT116) proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis by targeting IL6 and inhibiting the IL6R/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. SKN promotes apoptosis and suppresses CRC cells (HT29 and HCT116) activity through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSION This research not only provides a theoretical and experimental basis for more in-depth studies but also offers an efficient method for the rational utilization of a series of Traditional Chinese medicines as anti-CRC drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zefeng Wang
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRI), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Qianfei Cui
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRI), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Ling Shi
- Honghe University, Mengzi 661199, China
| | - Meiling Zhang
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gansu Province, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Peng Song
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRI), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Dongzhu Duan
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, 721013, China
| | - Wenjing Guo
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gansu Province, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
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12
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Zhang C, Gao H, Liu Z, Lai J, Zhan Z, Chen Y, Huang H. Mechanisms involved in the anti-tumor effects of Toosendanin in glioma cells. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:492. [PMID: 34530814 PMCID: PMC8444588 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02186-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toosendanin (TSN) is a triterpenoid compound mainly used as an ascaris repellant. Recent studies have shown that it possesses antitumor effects in many types of tumor cells. However, the effects of TSN on glioma cells have rarely been reported. METHODS Different assays were performed to investigate the effects of TSN on the different glioma cell lines including U87MG and LN18. The assays included colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. Furthermore, Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting analysis were performed to investigate the apoptotic activities of TSN. Finally, the results were confirmed using a xenograft tumor model that comprised of nude mice. RESULTS In vitro, the CCK-8 and colony formation assays showed that TSN effectively inhibited glioma cell proliferation. Moreover, the inhibitory effects on glioma cell migration and invasion were demonstrated through the wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting assays demonstrated the significant effect of TSN in the apoptosis induction of glioma cells. Furthermore, the anti-glioma effect of TSN was exerted through the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways as demonstrated by western blotting analysis. In addition, the effects of TSN on glioma cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, migration, and invasion were reversed by 740Y-P, a PI3K activator. Finally, the mouse xenograft model confirmed the suppressive effect of TSN on tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that TSN is a promising chemotherapeutic drug for patients with glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaochao Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Haijun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Ziqiang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jiacheng Lai
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Zhixin Zhan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Haiyan Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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13
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Xie Q, Chen Y, Tan H, Liu B, Zheng LL, Mu Y. Targeting Autophagy with Natural Compounds in Cancer: A Renewed Perspective from Molecular Mechanisms to Targeted Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:748149. [PMID: 34512368 PMCID: PMC8427500 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.748149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products are well-characterized to have pharmacological or biological activities that can be of therapeutic benefits for cancer therapy, which also provide an important source of inspiration for discovery of potential novel small-molecule drugs. In the past three decades, accumulating evidence has revealed that natural products can modulate a series of key autophagic signaling pathways and display therapeutic effects in different types of human cancers. In this review, we focus on summarizing some representative natural active compounds, mainly including curcumin, resveratrol, paclitaxel, Bufalin, and Ursolic acid that may ultimately trigger cancer cell death through the regulation of some key autophagic signaling pathways, such as RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, AMPK, ULK1, Beclin-1, Atg5 and p53. Taken together, these inspiring findings would shed light on exploiting more natural compounds as candidate small-molecule drugs, by targeting the crucial pathways of autophagy for the future cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Xie
- Department of Stomatology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Huidan Tan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling-Li Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yandong Mu
- Department of Stomatology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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14
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Guo K, Feng Y, Zheng X, Sun L, Wasan HS, Ruan S, Shen M. Resveratrol and Its Analogs: Potent Agents to Reverse Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Tumors. Front Oncol 2021; 11:644134. [PMID: 33937049 PMCID: PMC8085503 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.644134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a complicated program through which polarized epithelial cells acquire motile mesothelial traits, is regulated by tumor microenvironment. EMT is involved in tumor progression, invasion and metastasis via reconstructing the cytoskeleton and degrading the tumor basement membrane. Accumulating evidence shows that resveratrol, as a non-flavonoid polyphenol, can reverse EMT and inhibit invasion and migration of human tumors via diverse mechanisms and signaling pathways. In the present review, we will summarize the detailed mechanisms and pathways by which resveratrol and its analogs (e.g. Triacetyl resveratrol, 3,5,4'-Trimethoxystilbene) might regulate the EMT process in cancer cells to better understand their potential as novel anti-tumor agents. Resveratrol can also reverse chemoresistance via EMT inhibition and improvement of the antiproliferative effects of conventional treatments. Therefore, resveratrol and its analogs have the potential to become novel adjunctive agents to inhibit cancer metastasis, which might be partly related to their blocking of the EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaibo Guo
- The First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuqian Feng
- The First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueer Zheng
- The First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Leitao Sun
- The First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Harpreet S. Wasan
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shanming Ruan
- The First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minhe Shen
- The First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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