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Das B, Kundu CN. Anti-Cancer Stem Cells Potentiality of an Anti-Malarial Agent Quinacrine: An Old Wine in a New Bottle. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 21:416-427. [PMID: 32698746 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200721123046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Quinacrine (QC) is a tricyclic compound and a derivative of 9-aminoacridine. It has been widely used to treat malaria and other parasitic diseases since the last century. Interestingly, studies have revealed that it also displays anti-cancer activities. Here, we have discussed the anti-cancer mechanism of QC along with its potentiality to specifically target cancer stem cells. The anti-cancer action of this drug includes DNA intercalation, inhibition of DNA repair mechanism, prevention of cellular growth, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of DNA and RNA polymerase activity, induction of autophagy, promotion of apoptosis, deregulation of cell signaling in cancer cells and cancer stem cells, inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis. In addition, we have also emphasized on the synergistic effect of this drug with other potent chemotherapeutic agents and mentioned its different applications in anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswajit Das
- Cancer Biology Division, School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to be University, Campus-11, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
| | - Chanakya N Kundu
- Cancer Biology Division, School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to be University, Campus-11, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
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Bailly C. Pyronaridine: An update of its pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action. Biopolymers 2020; 112:e23398. [PMID: 33280083 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pyronaridine (PYR) is an erythrocytic schizonticide with a potent antimalarial activity against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium. The drug is used in combination with artesunate for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, in adults and children. The present review briefly retraces the discovery of PYR and recent antimalarial studies which has led to the approval of PYR/artesunate combination (Pyramax) by the European Medicines Agency to treat uncomplicated malaria worldwide. PYR also presents a marked antitumor activity and has revealed efficacy for the treatment of other parasitic diseases (notably Babesia and Trypanosoma infections) and to mitigate the Ebola virus propagation. On the one hand, PYR functions has an inhibitor of hemozoin (biomineral malaria pigment, by-product of hemoglobin digestion) formation, blocking the biopolymerization of β-hematin and thus facilitating the accumulation of toxic hematin into the digestive vacuole of the parasite. On the other hand, PYR is a bona fide DNA-intercalating agent and an inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase 2, leading to DNA damages and cell death. Inhibition of hematin polymerization represents the prime mechanism at the origin of the antimalarial activity, whereas anticancer effects relies essentially on the interference with DNA metabolism, as with structurally related anticancer drugs like amsacrine and quinacrine. In addition, recent studies point to an immune modulatory activity of PYR and the implication of a mitochondrial oxidative pathway. An analogy with the mechanism of action of artemisinin drugs is underlined. In brief, the biological actions of pyronaridine are recapitulated to shed light on the diverse health benefits of this unsung drug.
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Repurposing Quinacrine for Treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma: In-Vitro Therapeutic and Mechanistic Evaluation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176306. [PMID: 32878257 PMCID: PMC7503636 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare type of cancer primarily affecting mesothelial cells lining the pleural cavity. In this study, we propose to repurpose quinacrine (QA), a widely approved anti-malarial drug, for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) treatment. QA demonstrates high degree of cytotoxicity against both immortalized and primary patient-derived cell lines with sub-micromolar 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 1.2 µM (H2452) to 5.03 µM (H28). Further, QA also inhibited cellular migration and colony formation in MPM cells, demonstrated using scratch and clonogenic assays, respectively. A 3D-spheroid cell culture experiment was performed to mimic in-vivo tumor conditions, and QA was reported to be highly effective in this simulated cellular model. Anti-angiogenic properties were also discovered for QA. Autophagy inhibition assay was performed, and results revealed that QA successfully inhibited autophagy process in MPM cells, which has been cited to be one of the survival pathways for MPM. Annexin V real-time apoptosis study revealed significant apoptotic induction in MPM cells following QA treatment. Western blots confirmed inhibition of autophagy and induction of apoptosis. These studies highlight anti-mesothelioma efficacy of QA at low doses, which can be instrumental in developing it as a stand-alone treatment strategy for MPM.
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Cinnamic Acid Conjugates in the Rescuing and Repurposing of Classical Antimalarial Drugs. Molecules 2019; 25:molecules25010066. [PMID: 31878190 PMCID: PMC6982862 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cinnamic acids are compounds of natural origin that can be found in many different parts of a wide panoply of plants, where they play the most diverse biological roles, often in a conjugated form. For a long time, this has been driving Medicinal Chemists towards the investigation of the therapeutic potential of natural, semi-synthetic, or fully synthetic cinnamic acid conjugates. These efforts have been steadily disclosing promising drug leads, but a wide chemical space remains that deserves to be further explored. Amongst different reported approaches, the combination or conjugation of cinnamic acids with known drugs has been addressed in an attempt to produce either synergistic or multi-target action. In this connection, the present review will focus on efforts of the past decade regarding conjugation with cinnamic acids as a tool for the rescuing or the repurposing of classical antimalarial drugs, and also on future perspectives in this particular field of research.
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Oien DB, Pathoulas CL, Ray U, Thirusangu P, Kalogera E, Shridhar V. Repurposing quinacrine for treatment-refractory cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 68:21-30. [PMID: 31562955 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Quinacrine, also known as mepacrine, has originally been used as an antimalarial drug for close to a century, but was recently rediscovered as an anticancer agent. The mechanisms of anticancer effects of quinacrine are not well understood. The anticancer potential of quinacrine was discovered in a screen for small molecule activators of p53, and was specifically shown to inhibit NFκB suppression of p53. However, quinacrine can cause cell death in cells that lack p53 or have p53 mutations, which is a common occurrence in many malignant tumors including high grade serous ovarian cancer. Recent reports suggest quinacrine may inhibit cancer cell growth through multiple mechanisms including regulating autophagy, FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) chromatin trapping, and the DNA repair process. Additional reports also suggest quinacrine is effective against chemoresistant gynecologic cancer. In this review, we discuss anticancer effects of quinacrine and potential mechanisms of action with a specific focus on gynecologic and breast cancer where treatment-refractory tumors are associated with increased mortality rates. Repurposing quinacrine as an anticancer agent appears to be a promising strategy based on its ability to target multiple pathways, its selectivity against cancer cells, and the synergistic cytotoxicity when combined with other anticancer agents with limited side effects and good tolerability profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek B Oien
- Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Christopher L Pathoulas
- Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Upasana Ray
- Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Prabhu Thirusangu
- Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | - Viji Shridhar
- Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
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Wei W, Hardin H, Luo QY. Targeting autophagy in thyroid cancers. Endocr Relat Cancer 2019; 26:R181-R194. [PMID: 30667364 DOI: 10.1530/erc-18-0502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is one of the most common endocrine malignancies. Although the prognosis for the majority of thyroid cancers is relatively good, patients with metastatic, radioiodine-refractory or anaplastic thyroid cancers have an unfavorable outcome. With the gradual understanding of the oncogenic events in thyroid cancers, molecularly targeted therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is greatly changing the therapeutic landscape of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancers (RR-DTCs), but intrinsic and acquired drug resistance, as well as adverse effects, may limit their clinical efficacy and use. In this setting, development of synergistic treatment options is of clinical significance, which may enhance the therapeutic effect of current TKIs and further overcome the resultant drug resistance. Autophagy is a critical cellular process involved not only in protecting cells and organisms from stressors but also in the maintenance and development of various kinds of cancers. Substantial studies have explored the complex role of autophagy in thyroid cancers. Specifically, autophagy plays important roles in mediating the drug resistance of small-molecular therapeutics, in regulating the dedifferentiation process of thyroid cancers and also in affecting the treatment outcome of radioiodine therapy. Exploring how autophagy intertwines in the development and dedifferentiation process of thyroid cancers is essential, which will enable a more profound understanding of the physiopathology of thyroid cancers. More importantly, these advances may fuel future development of autophagy-targeted therapeutic strategies for patients with thyroid cancers. Herein, we summarize the most recent evidence uncovering the role of autophagy in thyroid cancers and highlight future research perspectives in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Wei
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Heather Hardin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Quan-Yong Luo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Wei W, Rosenkrans ZT, Luo QY, Lan X, Cai W. Exploiting Nanomaterial-mediated Autophagy for Cancer Therapy. SMALL METHODS 2019; 3:1800365. [PMID: 31355327 PMCID: PMC6660170 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.201800365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved process that is critical for sequestering and degrading proteins, damaged or aged organelles, and for maintaining cellular homeostasis under stress conditions. Despite its dichotomous role in health and diseases, autophagy usually promotes growth and progression of advanced cancers. In this context, clinical trials using chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as autophagy inhibitors have suggested that autophagy inhibition is a promising approach for treating advanced malignancies and/or overcoming drug resistance of small molecule therapeutics (i.e., chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapy). Efficient delivery of autophagy inhibitors may further enhance the therapeutic effect, reduce systemic toxicity, and prevent drug resistance. As such, nanocarriers-based drug delivery systems have several distinct advantages over free autophagy inhibitors that include increased circulation of the drugs, reduced off-target systemic toxicity, increased drug delivery efficiency, and increased solubility and stability of the encapsulated drugs. With their versatile drug encapsulation and surface-functionalization capabilities, nanocarriers can be engineered to deliver autophagy inhibitors to tumor sites in a context-specific and/or tissue-specific manner. This review focuses on the role of nanomaterials utilizing autophagy inhibitors for cancer therapy, with a focus on their applications in different cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Wei
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Zachary T. Rosenkrans
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Quan-Yong Luo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Xiaoli Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Weibo Cai
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United State
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
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