1
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Golivi Y, Kumari S, Farran B, Alam A, Peela S, Nagaraju GP. Small molecular inhibitors: Therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104053. [PMID: 38849028 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC), a disease with high heterogeneity and a dense stromal microenvironment, presents significant challenges and a bleak prognosis. Recent breakthroughs have illuminated the crucial interplay among RAS, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and hedgehog pathways in PC progression. Small molecular inhibitors have emerged as a potential solution with their advantages of oral administration and the ability to target intracellular and extracellular sites effectively. However, despite the US FDA approving over 100 small-molecule targeted antitumor drugs, challenges such as low response rates and drug resistance persist. This review delves into the possibility of using small molecules to treat persistent or spreading PC, highlighting the challenges and the urgent need for a diverse selection of inhibitors to develop more effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuvasri Golivi
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Banasthali, RJ 304 022, India
| | - Seema Kumari
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, GIS, GITAM, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530045, India
| | - Batoul Farran
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Afroz Alam
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Banasthali, RJ 304 022, India
| | - Sujatha Peela
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, 532001, India
| | - Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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2
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Sun X, Song H, Sun X, Liao C, Wang G, Xu Y, Li L, Han Y, Xu C, Wang W, Cai S, Liang H, Yu H. A 15-Inflammation-Related Gene Signature Predicts the Prognosis of Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Invest 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38616304 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2024.2340577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Chronic inflammation promotes the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and PDAC-related inflammatory tumor microenvironment facilitates tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, we aimed to study the association between inflammatory response and prognosis in patients with PDAC. We conducted the whole transcriptomic sequencing using tissue samples collected from patients diagnosed with PDAC (n = 106) recruited from Shandong Cancer Hospital. We first constructed a prognostic signature using 15 inflammation-related genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort (n = 177) and further validated it in an independent International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohort (n = 90) and our in-house cohort. PDAC patients with a higher risk score had poorer overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001; HR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.94-4.70). The association between the prognostic signature and OS remained significant in the multivariable Cox regression adjusting for age, sex, alcohol exposure, diabetes, and stage (P < 0.001; HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.73-4.89). This gene signature also robustly predicted prognosis in the ICGC cohort (P = 0.01; HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.14-3.30) and our cohort (P < 0.001; HR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.45-3.97). Immune subtype C3 (inflammatory) was enriched and CD8+ T cells were higher in patients with a lower risk score (P < 0.05). Furthermore, PDAC patients with higher risk scores were more sensitive to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and PARP inhibitors (P < 0.05). In sum, we identified a novel gene signature that was associated with inflammatory response for risk stratification, prognosis prediction, and therapy guidance in PDAC patients. Future studies are warranted to validate the clinical utility of the signature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hao Song
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoran Sun
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | | | | | - Yu Xu
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Leo Li
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yusheng Han
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chunwei Xu
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Wenxian Wang
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Shangli Cai
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Hua Liang
- Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, P. R. China
| | - Hao Yu
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, P. R. China
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3
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He Y, Gang B, Zhang M, Bai Y, Wan Z, Pan J, Liu J, Liu G, Gu W. ACE2 improves endothelial cell function and reduces acute lung injury by downregulating FAK expression. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111535. [PMID: 38246001 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111535] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) barrier dysfunction and increased adhesion of immune inflammatory cells to ECs crucially contribute to acute lung injury (ALI). Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an essential regulator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and exerts characteristic vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects. SARS-COV-2 infects the lungs by binding to ACE2, which can lead to dysregulation of ACE2 expression, further leading to ALI with predominantly vascular inflammation and eventually to more severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Therefore, restoration of ACE2 expression represents a valuable therapeutic approach for SARS-COV-2-related ALI/ARDS. In this study, we used polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)), a double-stranded RNA analog, to construct a mouse ALI model that mimics virus infection. After Poly(I:C) exposure, ACE2 was downregulated in mouse lung tissues and in cultured ECs. Treatment with DIZE, an ACE2-activating compound, upregulated ACE2 expression and relieved ALI in mice. DIZE also improved barrier function and reduced the number of THP-1 monocytes adhering to cultured ECs. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylated FAK (p-FAK) levels were increased in lung tissues of ALI mice as well as in Poly(I:C)-treated ECs in vitro. Both DIZE and the FAK inhibitor PF562271 decreased FAK/p-FAK expression in both ALI models, attenuating ALI severity in vivo and increasing barrier function and reducing monocyte adhesion in cultured ECs. Furthermore, in vivo experiments using ANG 1-7 and the MAS inhibitor A779 corroborated that DIZE-mediated ACE2 activation stimulated the activity of the ANG 1-7/MAS axis, which inhibited FAK/p-FAK expression in the mouse lung. These findings provide further evidence that activation of ACE2 in ECs may be a valuable therapeutic strategy for ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Baocai Gang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Yuting Bai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Ziyu Wan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Jiesong Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China
| | - Jie Liu
- College of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China
| | - Guoquan Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China.
| | - Wei Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Laboratory Medicine, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Translational Medicine, Bengbu Medical University, 2600 Donghai Avenue, Bengbu, Anhui Province 233030, PR China.
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4
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Liu Y, Tong JB, Gao P, Fan XL, Xiao XC, Xing YC. Combining QSAR techniques, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations to explore anti-tumor inhibitors targeting Focal Adhesion Kinase. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38173145 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2301055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is an important target for tumor therapy and is closely related to tumor cell genesis and progression. In this paper, we selected 46 FAK inhibitors with anticancer activity in the pyrrolo pyrimidine backbone to establish 3D/2D-QSAR models to explore the relationship between inhibitory activity and molecular structure. We have established two ideal models, namely, the Topomer CoMFA model (q 2 = 0.715, r 2 = 0.984) and the Holographic Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (HQSAR) model (q 2 = 0.707, r 2 = 0.899). Both models demonstrate excellent external prediction capabilities.Based on the QSAR results, we designed 20 structurally modified novel compounds, which were subjected to molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies, and the results showed that the new compounds formed many robust interactions with residues within the active pocket and could maintain stable binding to the receptor proteins. This study not only provides a powerful screening tool for designing novel FAK inhibitors, but also presents a series of novel FAK inhibitors with high micromolar activity that can be used for further characterization. It provides a reference for addressing the shortcomings of drug metabolism and drug resistance of traditional FAK inhibitors, as well as the development of novel clinically applicable FAK inhibitors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Additives for Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Jian-Bo Tong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Additives for Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Gao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Additives for Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuan-Lu Fan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Additives for Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Xue-Chun Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Additives for Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi-Chaung Xing
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Additives for Industry, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
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5
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Liu Y, Kong LJ, Li N, Liu YH, Jia MQ, Liu QG, Zhang SY, Song J. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 2,4-diaminopyrimidine cinnamyl derivatives as inhibitors of FAK with potent anti-gastric cancer activities. Bioorg Chem 2023; 141:106895. [PMID: 37797456 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, twenty-one novel 2,4-diaminopyrimidine cinnamyl derivatives as inhibitors targeting FAK were designed and synthesized based on the structure of TAE-226, and the inhibitory effects of these compounds on both the FAK enzyme and three cancer cell lines (MGC-803, HCT-116, and KYSE30) were investigated. Among them, compound 12s displayed potent inhibitory potency on FAK (IC50 = 47 nM), and demonstrated more significant antiproliferative activities in MGC-803, HCT-116 and KYSE30 cells (IC50 values were 0.24, 0.45 and 0.44 μM, respectively) compared to TAE-226. Furthermore, compound 12s significantly inhibited FAK activation leading to the negative regulation of FAK-related signaling pathways such as AKT/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. Molecular docking study suggested that compound 12s could well occupy the ATP-binding pocket site of FAK similar to TAE-226. In addition, compound 12s also efficiently inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis and cellular senescence in MGC-803 cells. In conclusion, compound 12s emerges a potent FAK inhibitor that could exert potent inhibitory activity against gastric cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Li-Jun Kong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Liaocheng Vocational and Technical College, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Na Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yun-He Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Mei-Qi Jia
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qiu-Ge Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Sai-Yang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Jian Song
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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6
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Sun Y, Gao Z, Wang R, Zhang G, Wu T, Yin W, Sun Y, Qin Q, Zhao D, Cheng M. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of diaminopyrimidine derivatives as novel focal adhesion kinase inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:2301-2314. [PMID: 37974962 PMCID: PMC10650953 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00324h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase that belongs to the family of focal adhesion complexes and is responsible for the development of various tumors. Herein, 24 diaminopyrimidine derivatives were designed and synthesized based on TAE-226. Several compounds with good activity were further evaluated regarding their antiproliferative activities against two cancer cells with high FAK expression. Compound A12 showed potent anticancer activity against A549 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines with IC50 values of 130 nM and 94 nM, respectively. In vitro metabolic stability and cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibition assays showed that A12 exhibited favorable stability and weak inhibitory activity on CYP isoforms. Preliminary evaluation of kinase selectivity showed that A12 was a multi-kinase inhibitor. The acute toxicity in vivo indicated that A12 possessed acceptable safety. Compound A12 was also selected for molecular docking studies and the prediction of molecular properties and drug-like properties. These results indicated that compound A12 could be used as a potential lead compound targeting FAK for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Zixuan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Ruifeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanxi Medical University 56 Xinjiannan Road, Yingze District Taiyuan 030001 China
| | - Guoqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Tianxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Wenbo Yin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Yin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Qiaohua Qin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Dongmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District 110016 Shenyang China
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Roy-Luzarraga M, Reynolds LE, de Luxán-Delgado B, Maiques O, Wisniewski L, Newport E, Rajeeve V, Drake RJ, Gómez-Escudero J, Richards FM, Weller C, Dormann C, Meng YM, Vermeulen PB, Saur D, Sanz-Moreno V, Wong PP, Géraud C, Cutillas PR, Hodivala-Dilke K. Suppression of Endothelial Cell FAK Expression Reduces Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Metastasis after Gemcitabine Treatment. Cancer Res 2022; 82:1909-1925. [PMID: 35350066 PMCID: PMC9381116 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite substantial advances in the treatment of solid cancers, resistance to therapy remains a major obstacle to prolonged progression-free survival. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers, with a high level of liver metastasis. Primary PDAC is highly hypoxic, and metastases are resistant to first-line treatment, including gemcitabine. Recent studies have indicated that endothelial cell (EC) focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates DNA-damaging therapy-induced angiocrine factors and chemosensitivity in primary tumor models. Here, we show that inducible loss of EC-FAK in both orthotopic and spontaneous mouse models of PDAC is not sufficient to affect primary tumor growth but reduces liver and lung metastasis load and improves survival rates in gemcitabine-treated, but not untreated, mice. EC-FAK loss did not affect primary tumor angiogenesis, tumor blood vessel leakage, or early events in metastasis, including the numbers of circulating tumor cells, tumor cell homing, or metastatic seeding. Phosphoproteomics analysis showed a downregulation of the MAPK, RAF, and PAK signaling pathways in gemcitabine-treated FAK-depleted ECs compared with gemcitabine-treated wild-type ECs. Moreover, low levels of EC-FAK correlated with increased survival and reduced relapse in gemcitabine-treated patients with PDAC, supporting the clinical relevance of these findings. Altogether, we have identified a new role of EC-FAK in regulating PDAC metastasis upon gemcitabine treatment that impacts outcome. SIGNIFICANCE These findings establish the potential utility of combinatorial endothelial cell FAK targeting together with gemcitabine in future clinical applications to control metastasis in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Roy-Luzarraga
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise E. Reynolds
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz de Luxán-Delgado
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oscar Maiques
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Wisniewski
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Newport
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vinothini Rajeeve
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J.G. Drake
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jesús Gómez-Escudero
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances M. Richards
- Translational Medicine Operations, Astrazeneca Oncology, Darwin Building, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Céline Weller
- Department of Dermatology, Section of Clinical and Molecular Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christof Dormann
- Department of Dermatology, Section of Clinical and Molecular Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ya-Ming Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peter B. Vermeulen
- Department of Oncological Research, Translational Cancer Research Unit, Oncology Center GZA—GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dieter Saur
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg and Chair of Translational Cancer Research and Institute for Experimental Cancer Therapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Victoria Sanz-Moreno
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ping-Pui Wong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cyrill Géraud
- Department of Dermatology, Section of Clinical and Molecular Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Pedro R. Cutillas
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
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8
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Newport E, Pedrosa AR, Lees D, Dukinfield M, Carter E, Gomez-Escudero J, Casado P, Rajeeve V, Reynolds LE, R Cutillas P, Duffy SW, De Luxán Delgado B, Hodivala-Dilke K. Elucidating the role of the kinase activity of endothelial cell focal adhesion kinase in angiocrine signalling and tumour growth. J Pathol 2022; 256:235-247. [PMID: 34743335 DOI: 10.1002/path.5833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A common limitation of cancer treatments is chemotherapy resistance. We have previously identified that endothelial cell (EC)-specific deletion of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) sensitises tumour cells to DNA-damaging therapies, reducing tumour growth in mice. The present study addressed the kinase activity dependency of EC FAK sensitisation to the DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin. FAK is recognised as a therapeutic target in tumour cells, leading to the development of a range of inhibitors, the majority being ATP competitive kinase inhibitors. We demonstrate that inactivation of EC FAK kinase domain (kinase dead; EC FAK-KD) in established subcutaneous B16F0 tumours improves melanoma cell sensitisation to doxorubicin. Doxorubicin treatment in EC FAK-KD mice reduced the percentage change in exponential B16F0 tumour growth further than in wild-type mice. There was no difference in tumour blood vessel numbers, vessel perfusion or doxorubicin delivery between genotypes, suggesting a possible angiocrine effect on the regulation of tumour growth. Doxorubicin reduced perivascular malignant cell proliferation, while enhancing perivascular tumour cell apoptosis and DNA damage in tumours grown in EC FAK-KD mice 48 h after doxorubicin injection. Human pulmonary microvascular ECs treated with the pharmacological FAK kinase inhibitors defactinib, PF-562,271 or PF-573,228 in combination with doxorubicin also reduced cytokine expression levels. Together, these data suggest that targeting EC FAK kinase activity may alter angiocrine signals that correlate with improved acute tumour cell chemosensitisation. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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MESH Headings
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology
- Apoptosis
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Doxorubicin/pharmacology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Endothelial Cells/enzymology
- Female
- Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/genetics
- Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/metabolism
- Humans
- Male
- Melanoma, Experimental/drug therapy
- Melanoma, Experimental/enzymology
- Melanoma, Experimental/genetics
- Melanoma, Experimental/pathology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Neovascularization, Physiologic
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Signal Transduction
- Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Skin Neoplasms/enzymology
- Skin Neoplasms/genetics
- Skin Neoplasms/pathology
- Tumor Burden
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Newport
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Ana Rita Pedrosa
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Delphine Lees
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Matthew Dukinfield
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Edward Carter
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Jesus Gomez-Escudero
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Pedro Casado
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Vinothini Rajeeve
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Louise E Reynolds
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Pedro R Cutillas
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | | | - Beatriz De Luxán Delgado
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
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9
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Yang X, Li Z, Zhang Y, Bu K, Tian J, Cui J, Qin J, Zhao R, Liu S, Tan G, Liu X. Human urinary kininogenase reduces the endothelial injury by inhibiting Pyk2/MCU pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 143:112165. [PMID: 34543986 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112165] [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: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The injury of endothelial cells is one of the initiating factors in restenosis after endovascular treatment. Human urinary kallidinogenase (HUK) is a tissue kallikrein which is used for ischemia-reperfusion injury treatment. Studies have shown that HUK may be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent stenosis after vascular injury, however, the precise mechanisms have not been fully established. This study is to investigate whether HUK can protect endothelial cells after balloon injury or H2O2-induced endothelial cell damage through the proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2)/mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) pathway. Intimal hyperplasia, a decrease of pinocytotic vesicles and cell apoptosis were found in the common carotid artery balloon injury and H2O2-induced endothelial cell damage, Pyk2/MCU was also up-regulated in such pathological process. HUK could prevent these injuries partially via the bradykinin B2 receptor by inhibiting Pyk2/MCU pathway, which prevented the mitochondrial damage, maintained calcium balance, and eventually inhibited cell apoptosis. Furthermore, MCU expression was not markedly increased if Pyk2 was suppressed by shRNA technique in the H2O2 treatment group, and cell viability was significantly better than H2O2-treated only. In short, our results indicate that the Pyk2/MCU pathway is involved in endothelial injury induced by balloon injury or H2O2-induced endothelial cell damage. HUK plays an protective role by inhibiting the Pyk2/MCU pathway in the endothelial injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Engineering, 81 Congtai Road, Handan, Hebei 056002, China
| | - Zhongzhong Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Yingzhen Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Kailin Bu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Jing Tian
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Junzhao Cui
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Jin Qin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Ruijie Zhao
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China; Department of Neurology, Xingtai People's Hospital, 16 Hongxing Street, Xingtai, Hebei 054031, China
| | - Shuxia Liu
- Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China
| | - Guojun Tan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China.
| | - Xiaoyun Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China; Neuroscience Research Center, Medicine and Health Institute, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, China.
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10
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Pang XJ, Liu XJ, Liu Y, Liu WB, Li YR, Yu GX, Tian XY, Zhang YB, Song J, Jin CY, Zhang SY. Drug Discovery Targeting Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) as a Promising Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26144250. [PMID: 34299525 PMCID: PMC8308130 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
FAK is a nonreceptor intracellular tyrosine kinase which plays an important biological function. Many studies have found that FAK is overexpressed in many human cancer cell lines, which promotes tumor cell growth by controlling cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and survival. Therefore, targeting FAK is considered to be a promising cancer therapy with small molecules. Many FAK inhibitors have been reported as anticancer agents with various mechanisms. Currently, six FAK inhibitors, including GSK-2256098 (Phase I), VS-6063 (Phase II), CEP-37440 (Phase I), VS-6062 (Phase I), VS-4718 (Phase I), and BI-853520 (Phase I) are undergoing clinical trials in different phases. Up to now, there have been many novel FAK inhibitors with anticancer activity reported by different research groups. In addition, FAK degraders have been successfully developed through “proteolysis targeting chimera” (PROTAC) technology, opening up a new way for FAK-targeted therapy. In this paper, the structure and biological function of FAK are reviewed, and we summarize the design, chemical types, and activity of FAK inhibitors according to the development of FAK drugs, which provided the reference for the discovery of new anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Pang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Xiu-Juan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Wen-Bo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Yin-Ru Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
| | - Guang-Xi Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
| | - Xin-Yi Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
| | - Yan-Bing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
| | - Jian Song
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (C.-Y.J.); (S.-Y.Z.)
| | - Cheng-Yun Jin
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (C.-Y.J.); (S.-Y.Z.)
| | - Sai-Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (X.-J.P.); (X.-J.L.); (Y.L.); (W.-B.L.); (Y.-B.Z.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (Y.-R.L.); (G.-X.Y.); (X.-Y.T.)
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (C.-Y.J.); (S.-Y.Z.)
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11
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Rigiracciolo DC, Cirillo F, Talia M, Muglia L, Gutkind JS, Maggiolini M, Lappano R. Focal Adhesion Kinase Fine Tunes Multifaced Signals toward Breast Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040645. [PMID: 33562737 PMCID: PMC7915897 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer represents the most common diagnosed malignancy and the main leading cause of tumor-related death among women worldwide. Therefore, several efforts have been made in order to identify valuable molecular biomarkers for the prognosis and prediction of therapeutic responses in breast tumor patients. In this context, emerging discoveries have indicated that focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, might represent a promising target involved in breast tumorigenesis. Of note, high FAK expression and activity have been tightly correlated with a poor clinical outcome and metastatic features in several tumors, including breast cancer. Recently, a role for the integrin-FAK signaling in mechanotransduction has been suggested and the function of FAK within the breast tumor microenvironment has been ascertained toward tumor angiogenesis and vascular permeability. FAK has been also involved in cancer stem cells (CSCs)-mediated initiation, maintenance and therapeutic responses of breast tumors. In addition, the potential of FAK to elicit breast tumor-promoting effects has been even associated with the capability to modulate immune responses. On the basis of these findings, several agents targeting FAK have been exploited in diverse preclinical tumor models. Here, we recapitulate the multifaceted action exerted by FAK and its prognostic significance in breast cancer. Moreover, we highlight the recent clinical evidence regarding the usefulness of FAK inhibitors in the treatment of breast tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Cosimo Rigiracciolo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (F.C.); (M.T.); (L.M.); (R.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.C.R.); (M.M.)
| | - Francesca Cirillo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (F.C.); (M.T.); (L.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Marianna Talia
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (F.C.); (M.T.); (L.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Lucia Muglia
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (F.C.); (M.T.); (L.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Jorge Silvio Gutkind
- Department of Pharmacology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Marcello Maggiolini
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (F.C.); (M.T.); (L.M.); (R.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.C.R.); (M.M.)
| | - Rosamaria Lappano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (F.C.); (M.T.); (L.M.); (R.L.)
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12
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Xie H, Lin X, Zhang Y, Tan F, Chi B, Peng Z, Dong W, An D. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of ring-fused pyrazoloamino pyridine/pyrimidine derivatives as potential FAK inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127459. [PMID: 32784087 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
We report herein the synthesis of novel ring-fused pyrazoloamino pyridine/pyrimidine derivatives as potential FAK inhibitors and the evaluation of pharmaceutical activity against five cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, BXPC-3, NCI-H1975, DU145 and 786O). Generally, the majority of compounds displayed strong anti-FAK enzymatic potencies (IC50 < 1 nM) and could effectively inhibit several class of cancer cell lines within the concentration of 3 μM in comparison with GSK2256098 as a reference. Among them, compound 4o is considered to be the most effective due to high sensitivity in antiproliferation. In culture, 4o could not only inhibit FAK Y397 phosphorylation in MDA-MB-231 cell line, but also trigger apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, computational docking analysis also suggested that 4o and TAE-226 displayed the similar interaction with FAK kinase domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongming Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Xinglong Lin
- The State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development (NO. 2015DQ780357), Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd, Dongguan 523871, PR China
| | - Yingjun Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development (NO. 2015DQ780357), Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd, Dongguan 523871, PR China.
| | - Fuxing Tan
- The State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development (NO. 2015DQ780357), Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd, Dongguan 523871, PR China
| | - Bo Chi
- The State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Development (NO. 2015DQ780357), Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd, Dongguan 523871, PR China
| | - Zhihong Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China.
| | - Wanrong Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Delie An
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China.
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13
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Lu Y, Sun H. Progress in the Development of Small Molecular Inhibitors of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK). J Med Chem 2020; 63:14382-14403. [PMID: 33058670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor intracellular tyrosine kinase that plays an essential role in cancer cell adhesion, survival, proliferation, and migration through both its enzymatic activities and scaffolding functions. Overexpression of FAK has been found in many human cancer cells from different origins, which promotes tumor progression and influences clinical outcomes in different classes of human tumors. Therefore, FAK has been considered as a promising target for small molecule anticancer drug development. Many FAK inhibitors targeting different domains of FAK with various mechanisms of functions have been reported, including kinase domain inhibitors, FERM domain inhibitors, and FAT domain inhibitors. In addition, FAK-targeting PROTACs, which can induce the degradation of FAK, have also been developed. In this Perspective, we summarized the progress in the development of small molecular FAK inhibitors and proposed the perspectives for the future development of agents targeting FAK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Haiying Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
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14
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Roy-Luzarraga M, Abdel-Fatah T, Reynolds LE, Clear A, Taylor JG, Gribben JG, Chan S, Jones L, Hodivala-Dilke K. Association of Low Tumor Endothelial Cell pY397-Focal Adhesion Kinase Expression With Survival in Patients With Neoadjuvant-Treated Locally Advanced Breast Cancer. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2019304. [PMID: 33107920 PMCID: PMC7592032 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Determining the risk of relapse after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer is required to offer alternative therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE To examine whether endothelial cell phosphorylated-focal adhesion kinase (EC-pY397-FAK) expression in patients with treatment-naive locally advanced breast cancer is a biomarker for chemotherapy sensitivity and is associated with survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this prognostic study, expression levels of EC-pY397-FAK and tumor cell (TC)-pY397-FAK were determined by immunohistochemistry in prechemotherapy core biopsies from 82 female patients with locally advanced breast cancer treated with anthracycline-based combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Nottingham City Hospital in Nottingham, UK. Median follow-up time was 67 months. The study was conducted from December 1, 2010, to September 28, 2019, and data analysis was performed from October 2, 2019, to March 31, 2020. EXPOSURES All women underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and, if tumors were estrogen receptor-positive, 5-year tamoxifen treatment. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Outcomes were pathologic complete response and 5-year relapse-free survival examined using Kaplan-Meier, univariable logistic, multivariable logistic, and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS A total of 82 women (age, 29-76 years) with locally advanced breast cancer (stage IIA-IIIC) were included. Of these, 21 women (26%) had high EC-pY397-FAK expression that was associated with estrogen receptor positivity (71% vs 46%; P = .04), progesterone receptor positivity (67% vs 39%; P = .03), high Ki67 (86% vs 41%; P < .001), 4-immunohistochemically stained luminal-B (52% vs 8%; P < .001), higher tumor category (T3/T4 category: 90% vs 59%; P = .01), high lymph node category (N2-3 category: 43% vs 5%; P < .001), and high tumor node metastasis stage (IIIA-IIIC: 90% vs 66%; P = .03). Of 21 patients with high EC-pY397-FAK expression levels, none showed pathologic complete response, compared with 11 of 61 patients with low EC-pY397-FAK expression levels who showed pathologic complete response (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.61-0.82; P = .04). High EC-pY397-FAK expression levels and high blood vessel density (BVD) were associated with shorter 5-year relapse-free survival compared with those with low EC-pY397-FAK expression levels (hazard ratio [HR], 2.21; 95% CI, 1.17-4.20; P = .01) and low BVD (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.15-4.35; P = .02). High TC-pY397-FAK expression levels in 15 of 82 women (18%) were not associated significantly with pathologic complete response or 5-year relapse-free survival. A multivariable Cox regression model for 5-year relapse-free survival indicated that high EC-pY397-FAK expression levels was an independent poor prognostic factor after controlling for other validated prognostic factors (HR, 3.91; 95% CI, 1.42-10.74; P = .01). Combined analysis of EC-pY397-FAK expression levels, TC-pY397-FAK expression levels, and BVD improved prognostic significance over individually tested features. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The findings of this study suggest that low EC-pY397-FAK expression levels are associated with chemotherapy sensitivity and improved 5-year relapse-free survival after systemic therapy. Combined analysis of high EC-pY397-FAK expression levels, high TC-pY397-FAK expression levels, and high BVD appeared to identify a high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Roy-Luzarraga
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tarek Abdel-Fatah
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Pathology Department, National Liver Institute, Minoufyia University, Al Minufiyah, Egypt
| | - Louise E. Reynolds
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Clear
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph G. Taylor
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - John G. Gribben
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Jones
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Sun J, Russell CC, Scarlett CJ, McCluskey A. Small molecule inhibitors in pancreatic cancer. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:164-183. [PMID: 33479626 PMCID: PMC7433757 DOI: 10.1039/c9md00447e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC), with a 5 year survival of <7%, is one of the most fatal of all human cancers. The highly aggressive and metastatic character of this disease poses a challenge that current therapies are failing, despite significant efforts, to meet. This review examines the current status of the 35 small molecule inhibitors targeting pancreatic cancer in clinical trials and the >50 currently under investigation. These compounds inhibit biological targets spanning protein kinases, STAT3, BET, HDACs and Bcl-2 family proteins. Unsurprisingly, protein kinase inhibitors are overrepresented. Some trials show promise; a phase I combination trial of vorinostat 11 and capecitabine 17 gave a median overall survival (MoS) of 13 months and a phase II study of pazopanib 15 showed a MoS of 25 months. The current standard of care for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, fluorouracil/folic acid (5-FU, Adrucil®), and gemcitabine (GEMZAR®) afforded a MoS of 23 and 23.6 months (EPAC-3 study), respectively. In patients who can tolerate the FOLFIRINOX regime, this is becoming the standard of treatment with a MoS of 11.1 months. Clinical study progress has been slow with limited improvement in patient survival relative to gemcitabine 1 monotherapy. A major cause of low PC survival is the late stage of diagnosis, occurring in patients who consider typical early stage warning signs of aches and pains normal. The selection of patients with specific disease phenotypes, the use of improved efficient drug combinations, the identification of biomarkers to specific cancer subtypes and more effective designs of investigation have improved outcomes. To move beyond the current dire condition and paucity of PC treatment options, determination of the best regimes and new treatment options is a challenge that must be met. The reasons for poor PC prognosis have remained largely unchanged for 20 years. This is arguably a consequence of significant changes in the drug discovery landscape, and the increasing pressure on academia to deliver short term 'media' friendly short-term news 'bites'. PC research sits at a pivotal point. Perhaps the greatest challenge is enacting a culture change that recognises that major breakthroughs are a result of blue sky, truly innovative and curiosity driven research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jufeng Sun
- Chemistry , School of Environmental & Life Sciences , The University of Newcastle , Newcastle , Callaghan , NSW 2308 , Australia . ; ; Tel: +61 249216486
- Medicinal Chemistry , School of Pharmacy , Binzhou Medical University , Yantai , 264003 , China
| | - Cecilia C Russell
- Chemistry , School of Environmental & Life Sciences , The University of Newcastle , Newcastle , Callaghan , NSW 2308 , Australia . ; ; Tel: +61 249216486
| | - Christopher J Scarlett
- Applied Sciences , School of Environmental & Life Sciences , The University of Newcastle , Ourimbah NSW 2258 , Australia
| | - Adam McCluskey
- Chemistry , School of Environmental & Life Sciences , The University of Newcastle , Newcastle , Callaghan , NSW 2308 , Australia . ; ; Tel: +61 249216486
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16
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Zhang K, Yan J, Wang L, Tian X, Zhang T, Guo L, Li B, Wang W, Liu X. The Pyk2/MCU pathway in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model of ischemic stroke. Neurosci Res 2018; 131:52-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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17
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Fang Y, Wang D, Xu X, Dava G, Liu J, Li X, Xue Q, Wang H, Zhang J, Zhang H. Preparation, in vitro and in vivo evaluation, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies of novel F-18 labeled tumor imaging agents targeting focal adhesion kinase (FAK). RSC Adv 2018; 8:10333-10345. [PMID: 35540451 PMCID: PMC9078890 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra00652k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronal micro-PET images of mice bearing S180 tumor at 30 min post-injection of [18F]2.
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18
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Almstedt K, Sicking I, Battista MJ, Huangfu S, Heimes AS, Weyer-Elberich V, Hasenburg A, Schmidt M. Prognostic Significance of Focal Adhesion Kinase in Node-Negative Breast Cancer. Breast Care (Basel) 2017; 12:329-333. [PMID: 29234254 DOI: 10.1159/000477895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that plays an important role as a mediator of cell migration, invasion, proliferation and survival. Conflicting results for the prognostic role of FAK in breast cancer (BC) prompted us to determine its impact. Methods Patients with node-negative BC entered this retrospective study. FAK expression was determined by immunohistochemistry (n = 335). The prognostic impact of FAK was examined with Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier estimation in the whole cohort as well as in different molecular subtypes. Results 151 (45.1%) had a FAK-positive BC. In univariate analyses, FAK expression showed a significant impact for shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio (HR) 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-2.28, p = 0.030) but not for metastasis-free survival and overall survival. Significant prognostic relevance for DFS (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.05-2.97, p = 0.033) was observed in particular in estrogen receptor-positive HER2-negative BC patients, most notably in luminal B-like tumors (HR 2.32, CI 1.20-4.48, p = 0.012). However, FAK lost its prognostic impact in multivariate Cox regression analysis. Conclusion FAK was associated with impaired DFS in univariate analysis. Prognostic relevance for DFS was most pronounced in luminal B-like BC. However, FAK expression was not associated with an independent impact on survival for BC in multivariate analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Almstedt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
| | - Isabel Sicking
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marco J Battista
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
| | - Shangou Huangfu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anne-Sophie Heimes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
| | - Veronika Weyer-Elberich
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annette Hasenburg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marcus Schmidt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
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19
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Kandil S, Prencipe F, Jones S, Hiscox S, Westwell AD. The discovery of new and more potent chloropyramine (C4) analogues for the potential treatment of invasive breast cancer. Chem Biol Drug Des 2017; 91:314-321. [PMID: 28816016 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, accounting for 25% of all female cancers. Although the survival rate has increased significantly in the past few decades, patients who develop secondary site metastasis as well as those diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer still represent a real unmet medical challenge. Previous studies have shown that chloropyramine (C4) inhibits FAK-VEGFR3 signalling. More recently, C4 is reported to have SASH1 inducing properties. However, C4 exerts its antitumour and antiangiogenic effects at high micromolar concentrations (>100 μm) that would not be compatible with further drug development against invasive breast cancer driven by FAK signalling. In this study, molecular modelling guided structural modifications have been introduced to the chloropyramine C4 scaffold to improve its activity in breast cancer cell lines. Seventeen compounds were designed and synthesized, and their antiproliferative activity was evaluated against three human breast cancer lines (MDA-MB-231, BT474 and T47D). Compound 5c was identified to display an average activity of IC50 = 23.5-31.3 μm, which represents a significant improvement of C4 activity in the same assay model. Molecular modelling and pharmacokinetic studies provided more promising insights into the mechanistic features of this new series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Kandil
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Filippo Prencipe
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Samuel Jones
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Stephen Hiscox
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
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20
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Fang Y, Wang D, Xu X, Liu J, Wu A, Li X, Xue Q, Wang H, Wang H, Zhang H. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies of three novel F-18 labeled and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) targeted 5-bromo pyrimidines as radiotracers for tumor. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 127:493-508. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Revised: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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21
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Wang D, Fang Y, Wang H, Xu X, Liu J, Zhang H. Synthesis and evaluation of novel F-18-labeled pyrimidine derivatives: potential FAK inhibitors and PET imaging agents for cancer detection. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra28851k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Compound [18F]-8a exhibited good in vivo biodistribution data in mice bearing S180 tumor. And the microPET imaging study of [18F]-8a in S180 tumor-bearing mice was also preformed, which illustrated that the uptake in S180 tumor at 60 min post-injection of [18F]-8a was obvious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemistry
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Fang
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemistry
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- People's Republic of China
| | - Hang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemistry
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- People's Republic of China
| | - Xingyu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemistry
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemistry
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- People's Republic of China
| | - Huabei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemistry
- Beijing Normal University
- Beijing 100875
- People's Republic of China
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22
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Haemmerle M, Bottsford-Miller J, Pradeep S, Taylor ML, Choi HJ, Hansen JM, Dalton HJ, Stone RL, Cho MS, Nick AM, Nagaraja AS, Gutschner T, Gharpure KM, Mangala LS, Rupaimoole R, Han HD, Zand B, Armaiz-Pena GN, Wu SY, Pecot CV, Burns AR, Lopez-Berestein G, Afshar-Kharghan V, Sood AK. FAK regulates platelet extravasation and tumor growth after antiangiogenic therapy withdrawal. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:1885-96. [PMID: 27064283 DOI: 10.1172/jci85086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies in patients with ovarian cancer suggest that tumor growth may be accelerated following cessation of antiangiogenesis therapy; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of therapy withdrawal to those of continuous treatment with various antiangiogenic agents. Cessation of therapy with pazopanib, bevacizumab, and the human and murine anti-VEGF antibody B20 was associated with substantial tumor growth in mouse models of ovarian cancer. Increased tumor growth was accompanied by tumor hypoxia, increased tumor angiogenesis, and vascular leakage. Moreover, we found hypoxia-induced ADP production and platelet infiltration into tumors after withdrawal of antiangiogenic therapy, and lowering platelet counts markedly inhibited tumor rebound after withdrawal of antiangiogenic therapy. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in platelets regulated their migration into the tumor microenvironment, and FAK-deficient platelets completely prevented the rebound tumor growth. Additionally, combined therapy with a FAK inhibitor and the antiangiogenic agents pazopanib and bevacizumab reduced tumor growth and inhibited negative effects following withdrawal of antiangiogenic therapy. In summary, these results suggest that FAK may be a unique target in situations in which antiangiogenic agents are withdrawn, and dual targeting of FAK and VEGF could have therapeutic implications for ovarian cancer management.
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23
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Omura G, Ando M, Saito Y, Kobayashi K, Yoshida M, Ebihara Y, Kanaya K, Fujimoto C, Sakamoto T, Kondo K, Asakage T, Yamasoba T. Association of the upregulated expression of focal adhesion kinase with poor prognosis and tumor dissemination in hypopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck 2016; 38:1164-9. [PMID: 27061113 DOI: 10.1002/hed.24176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays an important role in tumor metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of FAK expression in surgically treated patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of patients treated at our institution between 2004 and 2012 and identified 87 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. FAK expression status was retrospectively evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS FAK-positive patients displayed significantly worse disease-specific survival than FAK-negative patients (p = .001). Multivariate analyses revealed that FAK positivity and extracapsular spread (ECS) were independent, significant adverse prognostic factors. Furthermore, FAK positivity significantly correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes (p = .048), and FAK-positive patients displayed a higher incidence of distant metastases (p = .009). CONCLUSION The current study demonstrated that upregulated FAK expression correlates with poor prognosis and tumor dissemination in surgically treated patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1164-1169, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Omura
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mizuo Ando
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Saito
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenya Kobayashi
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masafumi Yoshida
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Ebihara
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kaori Kanaya
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chisato Fujimoto
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Sakamoto
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Kondo
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Asakage
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yamasoba
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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24
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Chen C, Li R, Ross RS, Manso AM. Integrins and integrin-related proteins in cardiac fibrosis. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2015; 93:162-74. [PMID: 26562414 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Revised: 11/07/2015] [Accepted: 11/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is one of the major components of the healing mechanism following any injury of the heart and as such may contribute to both systolic and diastolic dysfunction in a range of pathophysiologic conditions. Canonically, it can occur as part of the remodeling process that occurs following myocardial infarction or that follows as a response to pressure overload. Integrins are cell surface receptors which act in both cellular adhesion and signaling. Most importantly, in the context of the continuously contracting myocardium, they are recognized as mechanotransducers. They have been implicated in the development of fibrosis in several organs, including the heart. This review will focus on the involvement of integrins and integrin-related proteins, in cardiac fibrosis, outlining the roles of these proteins in the fibrotic responses in specific cardiac pathologies, discuss some of the common end effectors (angiotensin II, transforming growth factor beta 1 and mechanical stress) through which integrins function and finally discuss how manipulation of this set of proteins may lead to new treatments which could prove useful to alter the deleterious effects of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0613, USA; Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
| | - Ruixia Li
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0613, USA; Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
| | - Robert S Ross
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0613, USA; Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
| | - Ana Maria Manso
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0613, USA; Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
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25
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Beck JR, Zhou X, Casey GR, Stains CI. Design and evaluation of a real-time activity probe for focal adhesion kinase. Anal Chim Acta 2015; 897:62-8. [PMID: 26515006 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of metastatic cancers. Herein we describe the design, synthesis and optimization of a direct activity sensor for FAK and its application to screening FAK inhibitors. We find that the position of the sensing moiety, a phosphorylation-sensitive sulfonamido-oxine fluorophore, can dramatically influence the performance of peptide sensors for FAK. Real-time fluorescence activity assays using an optimized sensor construct, termed FAKtide-S2, are highly reproducible (Z' = 0.91) and are capable of detecting as little as 1 nM recombinant FAK. Utilizing this robust assay format, we define conditions for the screening of FAK inhibitors and demonstrate the utility of this platform using a set of well-characterized small molecule kinase inhibitors. Additionally, we provide the selectivity profile of FAKtide-S2 among a panel of closely related enzymes, identifying conditions for selectively monitoring FAK activity in the presence of off-target enzymes. In the long term, the chemosensor platform described in this work can be used to identify novel FAK inhibitor scaffolds and potentially assess the efficacy of FAK inhibitors in disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon R Beck
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Xinqi Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Garrett R Casey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Cliff I Stains
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States.
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26
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Zhang J, He DH, Zajac-Kaye M, Hochwald SN. A small molecule FAK kinase inhibitor, GSK2256098, inhibits growth and survival of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Cell Cycle 2015; 13:3143-9. [PMID: 25486573 DOI: 10.4161/15384101.2014.949550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) hyperactivation is common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A small molecule, GSK2256098 (GlaxoSmithKline), has been developed to inhibit FAK activity through targeting the phosphorylation site of FAK, tyrosine (Y) 397. We sought to determine whether GSK2256098 inhibition of FAK Y397 phosphorylation attenuates PDAC-associated cell proliferation, motility and survival. Cultured PDAC cells were used as cellular models of GSK2256098-impaired abnormal growth. Western blot analysis, cell viability analysis, clonogenic survival, soft-agar and wound healing assays were performed. The responses of 6 PDAC cell lines in regards to FAK Y397 phosphorylation or activity to GSK2256098 treatments (0.1-10 μM) ranged from low (less than 20% inhibition) to high (more than 90% inhibition). The least and most sensitive cell lines (PANC-1 and L3.6P1) were selected for further analysis. GSK2256098 inhibition of FAK Y397 phosphorylation correlated with decreased levels of phosphorylated Akt and ERK in L3.6P1 cells. GSK2256098 decreased cell viability, anchorage-independent growth, and motility in a dose dependent manner. Current studies demonstrate that small molecule kinase inhibitors targeting FAK Y397 phosphorylation can inhibit PDAC cell growth. Assessments of FAK Y397 phosphorylation in biopsies may be used as a biomarker to select the subgroup of responsive patients and/or monitor the effects of GSK2256098 on FAK-modulated tumor growth during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianliang Zhang
- a Department of Surgical Oncology ; Roswell Park Cancer Institute ; Elm and Carlton Streets ; Buffalo , NY USA
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27
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Kurenova E, Ucar D, Liao J, Yemma M, Gogate P, Bshara W, Sunar U, Seshadri M, Hochwald SN, Cance WG. A FAK scaffold inhibitor disrupts FAK and VEGFR-3 signaling and blocks melanoma growth by targeting both tumor and endothelial cells. Cell Cycle 2015; 13:2542-53. [PMID: 25486195 DOI: 10.4161/15384101.2015.941760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma has the highest mortality rate of all skin cancers and a major cause of treatment failure is drug resistance. Tumors heterogeneity requires novel therapeutic strategies and new drugs targeting multiple pathways. One of the new approaches is targeting the scaffolding function of tumor related proteins such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK). FAK is overexpressed in most solid tumors and is involved in multiple protein-protein interactions critical for tumor cell survival, tumor neovascularization, progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of the FAK scaffold inhibitor C4, targeted to the FAK-VEGFR-3 complex, against melanomas. We compared C4 inhibitory effects in BRAF mutant vs BRAF wild type melanomas. C4 effectively caused melanoma tumor regression in vivo, when administered alone and sensitized tumors to chemotherapy. The most dramatic effect of C4 was related to reduction of vasculature of both BRAF wild type and V600E mutant xenograft tumors. The in vivo effects of C4 were assessed in xenograft models using non-invasive multimodality imaging in conjunction with histologic and molecular biology methods. C4 inhibited cell viability, adhesion and motility of melanoma and endothelial cells, specifically blocked phosphorylation of VEGFR-3 and FAK and disrupted their complexes. Specificity of in vivo effects for C4 were confirmed by a decrease in tumor FAK and VEGFR-3 phosphorylation, reduction of vasculogenesis and reduced blood flow. Our collective observations provide evidence that a small molecule inhibitor targeted to the FAK protein-protein interaction site successfully inhibits melanoma growth through dual targeting of tumor and endothelial cells and is effective against both BRAF wild type and mutant melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kurenova
- a Department of Surgical Oncology ; Roswell Park Cancer Institute ; Buffalo , NY USA
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28
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Focal adhesion kinase-promoted tumor glucose metabolism is associated with a shift of mitochondrial respiration to glycolysis. Oncogene 2015; 35:1926-42. [PMID: 26119934 PMCID: PMC4486081 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 05/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells often gains a growth advantage by taking up glucose at a high rate and undergoing aerobic glycolysis through intrinsic cellular factors that reprogram glucose metabolism. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a key transmitter of growth factor and anchorage stimulation, is aberrantly overexpressed or activated in most solid tumors, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). We determined whether FAK can act as an intrinsic driver to promote aerobic glycolysis and tumorigenesis. FAK inhibition decreases and overexpression increases intracellular glucose levels during unfavorable conditions, including growth factor deficiency and cell detachment. Amplex glucose assay, fluorescence and carbon-13 tracing studies demonstrate that FAK promotes glucose consumption and glucose-to-lactate conversion. Extracellular flux analysis indicates that FAK enhances glycolysis and decreases mitochondrial respiration. FAK increases key glycolytic proteins, including enolase, pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase and monocarboxylate transporter. Furthermore, active/tyrosine-phosphorylated FAK directly binds to PKM2 and promotes PKM2-mediated glycolysis. On the other hand, FAK-decreased levels of mitochondrial complex I can result in reduced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Attenuation of FAK-enhanced glycolysis re-sensitizes cancer cells to growth factor withdrawal, decreases cell viability and reduces growth of tumor xenografts. These observations, for the first time, establish a vital role of FAK in cancer glucose metabolism through alterations in the OXPHOS-to-glycolysis balance. Broadly targeting the common phenotype of aerobic glycolysis and more specifically FAK-reprogrammed glucose metabolism will disrupt the bioenergetic and biosynthetic supply for uncontrolled growth of tumors, particularly glycolytic PDAC.
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29
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Garatachea N, Fuku N, He ZH, Tian Y, Arai Y, Abe Y, Murakami H, Miyachi M, Yvert T, Venturini L, Santiago C, Santos-Lozano A, Rodríguez G, Ricevuti G, Pareja-Galeano H, Sanchis-Gomar F, Emanuele E, Hirose N, Lucia A. PTK2 rs7460 and rs7843014 polymorphisms and exceptional longevity: a functional replication study. Rejuvenation Res 2015; 17:430-8. [PMID: 24930376 DOI: 10.1089/rej.2014.1570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion is critical for cell survival. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK, or PTK2) is an important component of the human interactome and thus is a potential longevity-related protein. Here we studied the association between two PTK2 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs7843014, rs7460) and exceptional longevity (EL). In addition to gaining insight into their functionality by determining luciferase gene reporter activity, we studied the genotype/allele frequency of these two SNPs among three different cohorts: (1) Spanish centenarians (n=175, 100-111 years, 144 women) and healthy controls (n=355, 20-50 years, 284 women); (2) Italian centenarians (n=79, 100-104 years, 40 women) and controls (n=316, 29-50 years, 156 women); and (3) Japanese centenarians (n=742, 100-116 years, 623 women) and healthy controls (n=499, 23-59 years, 356 women). Both SNPs had functional significance, with the A allele up-regulating luciferase activity compared to the other allele (rs7460 T allele and rs7843014 C allele, respectively). The A allele of both SNPs was negatively associated with EL in the Spanish cohort (rs7460, odds ratio [OR] adjusted by sex=0.40, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.3, 0.6, p<0.001); rs7843014, OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.3, 0.5, p<0.001). The OR of being a centenarian if having the rs7460-TT genotype was 6.68 (95% CI 4.1, 10.8, p<0.001). The rs7843014 CC genotype was also positively associated with EL (OR=7.58, 95% CI 4.6, 12.3, p<0.001]. No association was, however, found for the Italian or Japanese cohorts. Thus, two genotypes of the FAK gene, rs7460 TT and rs7843014 CC, are possibly associated with lower gene expression and might favor the likelihood of reaching EL in the Spanish population. Further research is needed to unveil the mechanisms by which FAK expression could perhaps influence the rate of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Garatachea
- 1 Faculty of Health and Sport Science, University of Zaragoza , Huesca, Spain
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30
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Thanapprapasr D, Previs RA, Hu W, Ivan C, Armaiz-Pena GN, Dorniak PL, Hansen JM, Rupaimoole R, Huang J, Dalton HJ, Ali-Fehmi R, Coleman RL, Sood AK. PTEN Expression as a Predictor of Response to Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibition in Uterine Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:1466-1475. [PMID: 25833835 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-1077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PTEN is known to be frequently mutated in uterine cancer and also dephosphorylates FAK. Here, we examined the impact of PTEN alterations on the response to treatment with a FAK inhibitor (GSK2256098). In vitro and in vivo therapeutic experiments were carried out using PTEN-mutated and PTEN-wild-type models of uterine cancer alone and in combination with chemotherapy. Treatment with GSK2256098 resulted in greater inhibition of pFAK(Y397) in PTEN-mutated (Ishikawa) than in PTEN-wild-type (Hec1A) cells. Ishikawa cells were more sensitive to GSK2256098 than the treated Hec1A cells. Ishikawa cells were transfected with a wild-type PTEN construct and pFAK(Y397) expression was unchanged after treatment with GSK2256098. Decreased cell viability and enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapy (paclitaxel and topotecan) in combination with GSK2256098 was observed in Ishikawa cells as compared with Hec1a cells. In the Ishikawa orthoptopic murine model, treatment with GSK2256098 resulted in lower tumor weights and fewer metastases than mice inoculated with Hec1A cells. Tumors treated with GSK2256098 had lower microvessel density (CD31), less cellular proliferation (Ki67), and higher apoptosis (TUNEL) rates in the Ishikawa model when compared with the Hec1a model. From a large cohort of evaluable patients, increased FAK and pFAK(Y397) expression levels were significantly related to poor overall survival. Moreover, PTEN levels were inversely related to pFAK(Y397) expression. These preclinical data demonstrate that PTEN-mutated uterine cancer responds better to FAK inhibition than does PTEN wild-type cancer. Therefore, PTEN could be a biomarker for predicting response to FAK-targeted therapy during clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duangmani Thanapprapasr
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rebecca A Previs
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Cristina Ivan
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Guillermo N Armaiz-Pena
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Piotr L Dorniak
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jean M Hansen
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Rajesha Rupaimoole
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jie Huang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Heather J Dalton
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Rouba Ali-Fehmi
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Robert L Coleman
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Anil K Sood
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Gu Y, Shea J, Slattum G, Firpo MA, Alexander M, Mulvihill SJ, Golubovskaya VM, Rosenblatt J. Defective apical extrusion signaling contributes to aggressive tumor hallmarks. eLife 2015; 4:e04069. [PMID: 25621765 PMCID: PMC4337653 DOI: 10.7554/elife.04069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
When epithelia become too crowded, some cells are extruded that later die. To extrude, a cell produces the lipid, Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P), which activates S1P2 receptors in neighboring cells that seamlessly squeeze the cell out of the epithelium. Here, we find that extrusion defects can contribute to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Tumors or epithelia lacking S1P2 cannot extrude cells apically and instead form apoptotic-resistant masses, possess poor barrier function, and shift extrusion basally beneath the epithelium, providing a potential mechanism for cell invasion. Exogenous S1P2 expression is sufficient to rescue apical extrusion, cell death, and reduce orthotopic pancreatic tumors and their metastases. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitor can bypass extrusion defects and could, therefore, target pancreatic, lung, and colon tumors that lack S1P2 without affecting wild-type tissue. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04069.001 Epithelial cells cover the surface of our bodies, line our lungs, stomach and intestines and serve as a protective layer around other organs. If too many epithelial cells die and are not replaced, this protective layer may erode and lead to organ damage. However, if too many new cells grow, tumors can form. One process that helps to maintain the right number of epithelial cells is called extrusion. When too many epithelial cells are present, the resulting overcrowding triggers this process to squeeze excess cells out of the layer and away from the organ. Usually, these cells quickly die. However, if the pathway that regulates this process—which involves a receptor protein called S1P2—is disturbed, the cells may instead be pushed into the space between the epithelial layer and the organ. When this happens, the cells are more likely to survive and may then form a tumor that invades the organ. Gu et al. interfered with extrusion by reducing the levels of the S1P2 receptor in layers of human epithelial cells grown in the laboratory. Fewer epithelial cells were squeezed out of these cell layers, making the layers up to three times as thick in places. Moreover, mutant zebrafish lacking the S1P2 receptor also accumulated epithelial masses throughout their bodies. Gu et al. found that disrupting the extrusion process made the cells resistant to chemotherapy, and that certain hard-to-treat human pancreatic, lung, and colon cancers had lower levels of the S1P2 receptors. Boosting the activity of S1P2 receptors helped to restore normal extrusion and reduced the size of pancreatic tumors in mice. Gu et al. then focused on an enzyme called Focal Adhesion Kinase that helps cells to survive. Treating zebrafish with a drug to block the activity of this enzyme left normal fish unharmed. However, in mutant fish with malfunctioning extrusion pathways, the drug rescued the number of cells that died, reduced the size and number of masses, and cured their leaky skin barrier. If further studies confirm the results, the drug may offer a new, less toxic, treatment for certain cancers that do not respond to currently available treatments. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04069.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Yapeng Gu
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Jill Shea
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Gloria Slattum
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Matthew A Firpo
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Margaret Alexander
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Sean J Mulvihill
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Vita M Golubovskaya
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, United States
| | - Jody Rosenblatt
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
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Wilton J, Kurenova E, Pitzonka L, Gaudy A, Curtin L, Sexton S, Cance W, Fetterly G. Pharmacokinetic analysis of the FAK scaffold inhibitor C4 in dogs. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2014; 41:55-67. [PMID: 25377246 DOI: 10.1007/s13318-014-0233-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of focal adhesion kinase-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 complex by C4 was previously shown to reduce tumor growth alone and synergistically with other chemotherapeutic agents in animal tumor models. Single and multiple dose IV and oral dosing studies were performed in dogs to determine C4 pharmacokinetics. C4 was administered to 4 dogs at 1.25 or 2.50 mg/kg IV, or 7.50 mg/kg oral gavage. Single- (IV and oral) and multiple- (IV) dose pharmacokinetic samples were collected on days 1 and 3 at pre-dose and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 120, 144, and 168 h post-dose. C4 concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectral detection with a limit of quantitation of 2.50 pg/mL. Pharmacokinetics of C4 was characterized by a 3-compartment model with linear distributional and elimination clearances using Phoenix 64 WinNonlin 6.3. Mean C4 plasma concentration-time profiles revealed a triexponential decline following either IV or oral administration, independent of dose with no accumulation. For the 2.5 mg/kg dose, the median half-life was ~21 h. Median C max and area under the curve (AUC0-24) were similar for days 1 and 3. Oral bioavailability for formulations of PBS, TPGS, Maalox(®), and Pepcid(®) was greatest with TPGS (45 %), followed by Maalox(®) (42 %), Pepcid(®) (37 %), and PBS (30 %). The pharmacokinetic study revealed that C4 has linear pharmacokinetics and does not accumulate following multiple-dose administration. Characterization of C4 pharmacokinetics provides a better understanding of the novel targeted agent, which will help facilitate further development of C4.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Wilton
- PK/PD Core Resource, CGP L1-140, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA.
| | - Elena Kurenova
- Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
- CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Laura Pitzonka
- PK/PD Core Resource, CGP L1-318, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Allison Gaudy
- PK/PD Core Resource, CGP L1-318, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
- Celgene Corporation, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Leslie Curtin
- Laboratory Animal Resource, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Sandra Sexton
- Laboratory Animal Resource, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - William Cance
- Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
- CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Gerald Fetterly
- PK/PD Core Resource, CGP L1-317, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
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Shapiro IM, Kolev VN, Vidal CM, Kadariya Y, Ring JE, Wright Q, Weaver DT, Menges C, Padval M, McClatchey AI, Xu Q, Testa JR, Pachter JA. Merlin deficiency predicts FAK inhibitor sensitivity: a synthetic lethal relationship. Sci Transl Med 2014; 6:237ra68. [PMID: 24848258 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3008639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The goal of targeted therapy is to match a selective drug with a genetic lesion that predicts for drug sensitivity. In a diverse panel of cancer cell lines, we found that the cells most sensitive to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibition lack expression of the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene product, Merlin. Merlin expression is often lost in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), an asbestos-induced aggressive cancer with limited treatment options. Our data demonstrate that low Merlin expression predicts for increased sensitivity of MPM cells to a FAK inhibitor, VS-4718, in vitro and in tumor xenograft models. Disruption of MPM cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) contacts with blocking antibodies suggests that weak cell-cell adhesions in Merlin-negative MPM cells underlie their greater dependence on cell-ECM-induced FAK signaling. This provides one explanation of why Merlin-negative cells are vulnerable to FAK inhibitor treatment. Furthermore, we validated aldehyde dehydrogenase as a marker of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in MPM, a cell population thought to mediate tumor relapse after chemotherapy. Whereas pemetrexed and cisplatin, standard-of-care agents for MPM, enrich for CSCs, FAK inhibitor treatment preferentially eliminates these cells. These preclinical results provide the rationale for a clinical trial in MPM patients using a FAK inhibitor as a single agent after first-line chemotherapy. With this design, the FAK inhibitor could potentially induce a more durable clinical response through reduction of CSCs along with a strong antitumor effect. Furthermore, our data suggest that patients with Merlin-negative tumors may especially benefit from FAK inhibitor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Craig Menges
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | | | - Andrea I McClatchey
- Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cancer Research and Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Qunli Xu
- Verastem Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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O-Uchi J, Jhun BS, Xu S, Hurst S, Raffaello A, Liu X, Yi B, Zhang H, Gross P, Mishra J, Ainbinder A, Kettlewell S, Smith GL, Dirksen RT, Wang W, Rizzuto R, Sheu SS. Adrenergic signaling regulates mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake through Pyk2-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter. Antioxid Redox Signal 2014; 21:863-79. [PMID: 24800979 PMCID: PMC4116095 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2013.5394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis is crucial for balancing cell survival and death. The recent discovery of the molecular identity of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter pore (MCU) opens new possibilities for applying genetic approaches to study mitochondrial Ca2+ regulation in various cell types, including cardiac myocytes. Basal tyrosine phosphorylation of MCU was reported from mass spectroscopy of human and mouse tissues, but the signaling pathways that regulate mitochondrial Ca2+ entry through posttranslational modifications of MCU are completely unknown. Therefore, we investigated α1-adrenergic-mediated signal transduction of MCU posttranslational modification and function in cardiac cells. RESULTS α1-adrenoceptor (α1-AR) signaling translocated activated proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) from the cytosol to mitochondrial matrix and accelerates mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake via Pyk2-dependent MCU phosphorylation and tetrametric MCU channel pore formation. Moreover, we found that α1-AR stimulation increases reactive oxygen species production at mitochondria, mitochondrial permeability transition pore activity, and initiates apoptotic signaling via Pyk2-dependent MCU activation and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. INNOVATION Our data indicate that inhibition of α1-AR-Pyk2-MCU signaling represents a potential novel therapeutic target to limit or prevent mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, oxidative stress, mitochondrial injury, and myocardial death during pathophysiological conditions, where chronic adrenergic stimulation is present. CONCLUSION The α1-AR-Pyk2-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the MCU regulates mitochondrial Ca2+ entry and apoptosis in cardiac cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin O-Uchi
- 1 Department of Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Targeting the C-terminal focal adhesion kinase scaffold in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett 2014; 353:281-9. [PMID: 25067788 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Preliminary studies in our laboratory have demonstrated the importance of both the NH2 and COOH terminus scaffolding functions of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Here, we describe a new small molecule inhibitor, C10, that targets the FAK C-terminus scaffold. C10 showed marked selectivity for cells overexpressing VEGFR3 when tested in isogenic cell lines, MCF7 and MCF7-VEGFR3. C10 preferentially inhibited pancreatic tumor growth in vivo in cells with high FAK-Y925 and VEGFR3 expression. Treatment with C10 led to a significant inhibition in endothelial cell proliferation and tumor endothelial and lymphatic vessel density and decrease in interstitial fluid pressure. These results highlight the underlying importance of targeting the FAK scaffold to treat human cancers.
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Kurenova E, Liao J, He DH, Hunt D, Yemma M, Bshara W, Seshadri M, Cance WG. The FAK scaffold inhibitor C4 disrupts FAK-VEGFR-3 signaling and inhibits pancreatic cancer growth. Oncotarget 2014; 4:1632-46. [PMID: 24142503 PMCID: PMC3858551 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Even with successful surgical resection and perioperative chemotherapy and radiation, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has a high incidence of recurrence. Tumor cell survival depends on activation of signaling pathways that suppress the apoptotic stimuli of invasion and metastasis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a critical signaling molecule that has been implicated in tumor cell survival, invasion and metastasis. We have previously shown that FAK and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) are overexpressed in cancer cells and physically interact to confer a significant survival advantage. We subsequently identified a novel small molecule inhibitor C4 that targeted the VEGFR-3-FAK site of interaction. In this study, we have shown that C4 disrupted the FAK-VEGFR-3 complexes in PDA cells. C4 treatment caused dose-dependent dephosphorylation and inactivation of the VEGFR-3 and FAK, reduction in cell viability and proliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in PDA cells. C4 increased the sensitivity of tumor cells to gemcitabine chemotherapy in vitro that lead to apoptosis at nanomolar concentrations of both drugs. C4 reduced tumor growth in vivo in subcutaneous and orthotopic murine models of PDA. The drug alone at low dose, decreased tumor growth; however, concomitant administration with low dose of gemcitabine had significant synergistic effect and led to 70% tumor reduction. Combination of C4 with gemcitabine had a prolonged cytostatic effect on tumor growth after treatment withdrawal. Finally, we report an anecdotal case of stage IV pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine in combination with C4 that showed a significant clinical response in primary tumor and complete clinical response in liver metastasis over an eight month period. Taken together, these results demonstrate that targeting the scaffolding function of FAK with a small-molecule FAK-VEGFR-3 inhibitor can be an effective therapeutic strategy against PDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kurenova
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
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37
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Gogate PN, Ethirajan M, Kurenova EV, Magis AT, Pandey RK, Cance WG. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel FAK scaffold inhibitors targeting the FAK-VEGFR3 protein-protein interaction. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 80:154-166. [PMID: 24780592 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) are tyrosine kinases, which function as key modulators of survival and metastasis signals in cancer cells. Previously, we reported that small molecule chlorpyramine hydrochloride (C4) specifically targets the interaction between FAK and VEGFR3 and exhibits anti-tumor efficacy. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of 1 (C4) analogs on the basis of structure activity relationship and molecular modeling. The resulting new compounds were evaluated for their binding to the FAT domain of FAK and anti-cancer activity. Amongst all tested analogs, compound 29 augmented anti-proliferative activity in multiple cancer cell lines with stronger binding to the FAT domain of FAK and disrupted the FAK-VEGFR3 interaction. In conclusion, we hope that this work will contribute to further studies of more potent and selective FAK-VEGFR3 protein-protein interaction inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka N Gogate
- Department of Cell Stress Biology/PDT Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Manivannan Ethirajan
- Department of Cell Stress Biology/PDT Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Elena V Kurenova
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.,CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals, Orchard Park, NY 14127, USA
| | - Andrew T Magis
- Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Ravindra K Pandey
- Department of Cell Stress Biology/PDT Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - William G Cance
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.,CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals, Orchard Park, NY 14127, USA
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Alexopoulou AN, Ho-Yen CM, Papalazarou V, Elia G, Jones JL, Hodivala-Dilke K. Tumour-associated endothelial-FAK correlated with molecular sub-type and prognostic factors in invasive breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:237. [PMID: 24693876 PMCID: PMC3997837 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that can be classified into one of 4 main molecular sub-types: luminal A, luminal B, Her2 over-expressing and basal-like (BL). These tumour sub-types require different treatments and have different risks of disease progression. BL cancers can be considered a sub-group of Triple negative (TN) cancers since they lack estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and Her2 expression. No targeted treatment currently exists for TN/BL cancers. Thus it is important to identify potential therapeutic targets and describe their relationship with established prognostic factors. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is upregulated in several human cancers and also plays a functional role in tumour angiogenesis. However, the association between breast cancer sub-types and tumour endothelial-FAK expression is unknown. Methods Using immunofluorescence, we quantified FAK expression in tumour endothelial and tumour cell compartments in 149 invasive breast carcinomas and correlated expression with clinical, pathological and molecular parameters. Results Low endothelial-FAK expression was independently associated with luminal A tumours at univariate (p < 0.001) and multivariate (p = 0.001) analysis. There was a positive correlation between FAK expression in the vascular and tumour cell compartments (Spearman’s correlation co-efficient = 0.394, p < 0.001). Additionally, endothelial and tumour cell FAK expression were significantly increased in TN tumours (p = 0.043 and p = 0.033 respectively), in tumours with negative ER and PR status, and in high grade tumours at univariate analysis. Conclusion Our findings establish a relationship between endothelial-FAK expression levels and the molecular sub-type of invasive breast cancer, and suggest that endothelial-FAK expression is potentially more clinically relevant than tumour cell FAK expression in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Adhesion and Angiogenesis Laboratory, Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CR-UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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Zhang J, Hochwald SN. The role of FAK in tumor metabolism and therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2013; 142:154-63. [PMID: 24333503 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a vital role in tumor cell proliferation, survival and migration. Altered metabolic pathways fuel rapid tumor growth by accelerating glucose, lipid and glutamine processing. Besides the mitogenic effects of FAK, evidence is accumulating supporting the association between hyper-activated FAK and aberrant metabolism in tumorigenesis. FAK can promote glucose consumption, lipogenesis, and glutamine dependency to promote cancer cell proliferation, motility, and survival. Clinical studies demonstrate that FAK-related alterations of tumor metabolism are associated with increased risk of developing solid tumors. Since FAK contributes to the malignant phenotype, small molecule inhibition of FAK-stimulated bioenergetic and biosynthetic processes can provide a novel approach for therapeutic intervention in tumor growth and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianliang Zhang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, United States
| | - Steven N Hochwald
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, United States.
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Reynolds AB, Kanner SB, Bouton AH, Schaller MD, Weed SA, Flynn DC, Parsons JT. SRChing for the substrates of Src. Oncogene 2013; 33:4537-47. [PMID: 24121272 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Revised: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
By the mid 1980's, it was clear that the transforming activity of oncogenic Src was linked to the activity of its tyrosine kinase domain and attention turned to identifying substrates, the putative next level of control in the pathway to transformation. Among the first to recognize the potential of phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies, Parsons and colleagues launched a risky shotgun-based approach that led ultimately to the cDNA cloning and functional characterization of many of today's best-known Src substrates (for example, p85-Cortactin, p110-AFAP1, p130Cas, p125FAK and p120-catenin). Two decades and over 6000 citations later, the original goals of the project may be seen as secondary to the enormous impact of these protein substrates in many areas of biology. At the request of the editors, this review is not restricted to the current status of the substrates, but reflects also on the anatomy of the project itself and some of the challenges and decisions encountered along the way.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Reynolds
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - S B Kanner
- Arrowhead Research Corporation, Madison, WI, USA
| | - A H Bouton
- Departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - M D Schaller
- Department of Biochemistry, 3124 HSN, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - S A Weed
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 1833 Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - D C Flynn
- Department of Medical Lab Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - J T Parsons
- Departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Kim H, Kim ND, Lee J, Han G, Sim T. Identification of methyl violet 2B as a novel blocker of focal adhesion kinase signaling pathway in cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 437:319-24. [PMID: 23817042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.06.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling cascade in cancer cells was profoundly inhibited by methyl violet 2B identified with the structure-based virtual screening. Methyl violet 2B was shown to be a non-competitive inhibitor of full-length FAK enzyme vs. ATP. It turned out that methyl violet 2B possesses extremely high kinase selectivity in biochemical kinase profiling using a large panel of kinases. Anti-proliferative activity measurement against several different cancer cells and Western blot analysis showed that this substance is capable of suppressing significantly the proliferation of cancer cells and is able to strongly block FAK/AKT/MAPK signaling pathways in a dose dependent manner at low nanomolar concentration. Especially, phosphorylation of Tyr925-FAK that is required for full activation of FAK was nearly completely suppressed even with 1nM of methyl violet 2B in A375P cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, it has never been reported that methyl violet possesses anti-cancer effects. Moreover, methyl violet 2B significantly inhibited FER kinase phosphorylation that activates FAK in cell. In addition, methyl violet 2B was found to induce cell apoptosis and to exhibit strong inhibitory effects on the focal adhesion, invasion, and migration of A375P cancer cells at low nanomolar concentrations. Taken together, these results show that methyl violet 2B is a novel, potent and selective blocker of FAK signaling cascade, which displays strong anti-proliferative activities against a variety of human cancer cells and suppresses adhesion/migration/invasion of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwan Kim
- Chemical Kinomics Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1, Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
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Verset L, Tommelein J, Moles Lopez X, Decaestecker C, Mareel M, Bracke M, Salmon I, De Wever O, Demetter P. Epithelial expression of FHL2 is negatively associated with metastasis-free and overall survival in colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 2013; 109:114-20. [PMID: 23756870 PMCID: PMC3708555 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2) is a component of the focal adhesion structures and has been suggested to have a role in cancer progression. It has been shown to be overexpressed in the colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Here, we examined a possible prognostic value of FHL2 in CRC. Immunohistochemistry for FHL2 was performed on 296 CRCs without distant metastases at the time of surgery. Staining in the epithelial compartment was quantitatively evaluated using image analysis, and results were related to clinical variables. Antibody specificity was tested using small-interfering RNA transfection in hTERT-immortalised myofibroblasts. Results: Varying degrees of cytoplasmic FHL2 expression by neoplastic epithelial cells were detectable in all cases. Higher FHL2 expression in the epithelial compartment was an independent adverse prognostic factor. Multivariate Cox analysis shows that expression in the tumour invasion front (P<0.001) as well as in the centre of the tumour (P<0.001) was associated with metachronous metastases independently of the clinicopathological variables; expression in the tumour invasion front was also associated with overall survival independently of the clinicopathological variables (P<0.01). Conclusion: Higher FHL2 expression is involved in CRC progression and correlates with the development of metachronous metastases and overall survival, suggesting that FHL2 is an independent adverse prognostic indicator for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Verset
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
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Bryant PW, Zheng Q, Pumiglia KM. Focal adhesion kinase is a phospho-regulated repressor of Rac and proliferation in human endothelial cells. Biol Open 2012; 1:723-30. [PMID: 23213465 PMCID: PMC3507225 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20121008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is critically positioned to integrate signals from the extracellular matrix and cellular adhesion. It is essential for normal vascular development and has been implicated in a wide range of cellular functions including the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival. It is currently being actively targeted therapeutically using different approaches. We have used human endothelial cells as a model system to compare the effects of inhibiting FAK through several different approaches including dominant negatives, kinase inhibitors and shRNA. We find that manipulations of FAK signaling that result in inhibition of FAK 397 phosphorylation inhibit proliferation and migration. However, abolition of FAK expression using stable (shRNA) or transient (siRNA) approaches does not interfere with these cellular functions. The ability to regulate cell proliferation by FAK manipulation is correlated with the activation status of Rac, an essential signal for the regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. The knockdown of FAK, while not affecting cellular proliferation or migration, dramatically interferes with vascular morphogenesis and survival, mirroring in vivo findings. We propose a novel model of FAK signaling whereby one of the multifunctional roles of FAK as a signaling protein includes FAK as a phospho-regulated repressor of Rac activation, with important implications on interpretation of research experiments and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Bryant
- Cell Biology and Cancer Research, Albany Medical College , Albany, NY 12208 , USA
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