1
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Gao J, You T, Liu J, Yang L, Liu Y, Wang Y. TIPRL, a Potential Double-edge Molecule to be Targeted and Re-targeted Toward Cancer. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024; 82:1681-1691. [PMID: 38888871 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01334-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The target of rapamycin (TOR) proteins exhibits phylogenetic conservation across various species, ranging from yeast to humans, and are classified as members of the phosphatidylinositol kinase (PIK)-related kinase family. Multiple serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein phosphatases (PP)2A, PP4, and PP6, have been recognized as constituents of the TOR signaling pathway in mammalian cells. The protein known as TOR signaling pathway regulator-like (TIPRL) functions as a regulatory agent by impeding the activity of the catalytic subunits of PP2A. Various cellular contexts have been postulated for TIPRL, encompassing the regulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, inhibition of apoptosis and biogenesis, and recycling of PP2A. According to reports, there has been an observed increase in TIPRL levels in several types of carcinomas, such as non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). This review aims to comprehensively examine the significance of the Tor pathway in regulating apoptosis and proliferation of cancer cells, with a specific focus on the role of TOR signaling and TIPRL in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255036, China
| | - Tiantian You
- Department of Pharmacy, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255036, China
| | - Jiao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255036, China
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255036, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255036, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255036, China.
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2
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Ma Q, Chen G, Li Y, Guo Z, Zhang X. The molecular genetics of PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway in the malformations of cortical development. Genes Dis 2024; 11:101021. [PMID: 39006182 PMCID: PMC11245990 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are a group of developmental disorders characterized by abnormal cortical structures caused by genetic or harmful environmental factors. Many kinds of MCD are caused by genetic variation. MCD is the common cause of intellectual disability and intractable epilepsy. With rapid advances in imaging and sequencing technologies, the diagnostic rate of MCD has been increasing, and many potential genes causing MCD have been successively identified. However, the high genetic heterogeneity of MCD makes it challenging to understand the molecular pathogenesis of MCD and to identify effective targeted drugs. Thus, in this review, we outline important events of cortical development. Then we illustrate the progress of molecular genetic studies about MCD focusing on the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway. Finally, we briefly discuss the diagnostic methods, disease models, and therapeutic strategies for MCD. The information will facilitate further research on MCD. Understanding the role of the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway in MCD could lead to a novel strategy for treating MCD-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Ma
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Department of Urology, The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Ying Li
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Zhenming Guo
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
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3
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Zhao G, Forn-Cuní G, Scheers M, Lindenbergh PP, Yin J, van Loosen Q, Passarini L, Chen L, Snaar-Jagalska BE. Simultaneous targeting of AMPK and mTOR is a novel therapeutic strategy against prostate cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216657. [PMID: 38336289 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216657] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Metastatic colonization by circulating cancer cells is a highly inefficient process. To colonize distant organs, disseminating cancer cells must overcome many obstacles in foreign microenvironments, and only a small fraction of them survives this process. How these disseminating cancer cells cope with stress and initiate metastatic process is not fully understood. In this study, we report that the metastatic onset of prostate cancer cells is associated with the dynamic conversion of metabolism signaling pathways governed by the energy sensors AMPK and mTOR. While in circulation in blood flow, the disseminating cancer cells display decreased mTOR and increased AMPK activities that protect them from stress-induced death. However, after metastatic onset, the mTOR-AMPK activities are reversed, enabling mTOR-dependent tumor growth. Suppression of this dynamic conversion by co-targeting of AMPK and mTOR signaling significantly suppresses prostate cancer cell and tumor organoid growth in vitro and experimental metastasis in vivo, suggesting that this can be a therapeutic approach against metastasizing prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangyin Zhao
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Gabriel Forn-Cuní
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marvin Scheers
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jie Yin
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Quint van Loosen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Leonardo Passarini
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lanpeng Chen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - B Ewa Snaar-Jagalska
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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4
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Habowski AN, Budagavi DP, Scherer SD, Aurora AB, Caligiuri G, Flynn WF, Langer EM, Brody JR, Sears RC, Foggetti G, Arnal Estape A, Nguyen DX, Politi KA, Shen X, Hsu DS, Peehl DM, Kurhanewicz J, Sriram R, Suarez M, Xiao S, Du Y, Li XN, Navone NM, Labanca E, Willey CD. Patient-Derived Models of Cancer in the NCI PDMC Consortium: Selection, Pitfalls, and Practical Recommendations. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:565. [PMID: 38339316 PMCID: PMC10854945 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
For over a century, early researchers sought to study biological organisms in a laboratory setting, leading to the generation of both in vitro and in vivo model systems. Patient-derived models of cancer (PDMCs) have more recently come to the forefront of preclinical cancer models and are even finding their way into clinical practice as part of functional precision medicine programs. The PDMC Consortium, supported by the Division of Cancer Biology in the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, seeks to understand the biological principles that govern the various PDMC behaviors, particularly in response to perturbagens, such as cancer therapeutics. Based on collective experience from the consortium groups, we provide insight regarding PDMCs established both in vitro and in vivo, with a focus on practical matters related to developing and maintaining key cancer models through a series of vignettes. Although every model has the potential to offer valuable insights, the choice of the right model should be guided by the research question. However, recognizing the inherent constraints in each model is crucial. Our objective here is to delineate the strengths and limitations of each model as established by individual vignettes. Further advances in PDMCs and the development of novel model systems will enable us to better understand human biology and improve the study of human pathology in the lab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber N. Habowski
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, NY 11724, USA; (A.N.H.); (D.P.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Deepthi P. Budagavi
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, NY 11724, USA; (A.N.H.); (D.P.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Sandra D. Scherer
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Arin B. Aurora
- Children’s Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75235, USA;
| | - Giuseppina Caligiuri
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, NY 11724, USA; (A.N.H.); (D.P.B.); (G.C.)
| | | | - Ellen M. Langer
- Division of Oncological Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Jonathan R. Brody
- Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Rosalie C. Sears
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | | | - Anna Arnal Estape
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Don X. Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; (D.X.N.); (K.A.P.)
| | - Katerina A. Politi
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; (D.X.N.); (K.A.P.)
| | - Xiling Shen
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA;
| | - David S. Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Donna M. Peehl
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; (D.M.P.); (J.K.); (R.S.)
| | - John Kurhanewicz
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; (D.M.P.); (J.K.); (R.S.)
| | - Renuka Sriram
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; (D.M.P.); (J.K.); (R.S.)
| | - Milagros Suarez
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (M.S.); (S.X.); (Y.D.); (X.-N.L.)
| | - Sophie Xiao
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (M.S.); (S.X.); (Y.D.); (X.-N.L.)
| | - Yuchen Du
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (M.S.); (S.X.); (Y.D.); (X.-N.L.)
| | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (M.S.); (S.X.); (Y.D.); (X.-N.L.)
| | - Nora M. Navone
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (N.M.N.)
| | - Estefania Labanca
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, David H. Koch Center for Applied Research of Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (N.M.N.)
| | - Christopher D. Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
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5
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Waseem M, Wang BD. Organoids: An Emerging Precision Medicine Model for Prostate Cancer Research. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1093. [PMID: 38256166 PMCID: PMC10816550 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) has been known as the most prevalent cancer disease and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in men almost all over the globe. There is an urgent need for establishment of PCa models that can recapitulate the progress of genomic landscapes and molecular alterations during development and progression of this disease. Notably, several organoid models have been developed for assessing the complex interaction between PCa and its surrounding microenvironment. In recent years, PCa organoids have been emerged as powerful in vitro 3D model systems that recapitulate the molecular features (such as genomic/epigenomic changes and tumor microenvironment) of PCa metastatic tumors. In addition, application of organoid technology in mechanistic studies (i.e., for understanding cellular/subcellular and molecular alterations) and translational medicine has been recognized as a promising approach for facilitating the development of potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the application of PCa organoids in the high-throughput screening and establishment of relevant xenografts for developing novel therapeutics for metastatic, castration resistant, and neuroendocrine PCa. These organoid-based studies are expected to expand our knowledge from basic research to clinical applications for PCa diseases. Furthermore, we also highlight the optimization of PCa cultures and establishment of promising 3D organoid models for in vitro and in vivo investigations, ultimately facilitating mechanistic studies and development of novel clinical diagnosis/prognosis and therapies for PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Waseem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA;
| | - Bi-Dar Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA;
- Hormone Related Cancers Program, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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6
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Zha J, He J, Wu C, Zhang M, Liu X, Zhang J. Designing drugs and chemical probes with the dualsteric approach. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:8651-8677. [PMID: 37990599 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00650f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, drugs are monovalent, targeting only one site on the protein surface. This includes orthosteric and allosteric drugs, which bind the protein at orthosteric and allosteric sites, respectively. Orthosteric drugs are good in potency, whereas allosteric drugs have better selectivity and are solutions to classically undruggable targets. However, it would be difficult to simultaneously reach high potency and selectivity when targeting only one site. Also, both kinds of monovalent drugs suffer from mutation-caused drug resistance. To overcome these obstacles, dualsteric modulators have been proposed in the past twenty years. Compared to orthosteric or allosteric drugs, dualsteric modulators are bivalent (or bitopic) with two pharmacophores. Each of the two pharmacophores bind the protein at the orthosteric and an allosteric site, which could bring the modulator with special properties beyond monovalent drugs. In this study, we comprehensively review the current development of dualsteric modulators. Our main effort reason and illustrate the aims to apply the dualsteric approach, including a "double win" of potency and selectivity, overcoming mutation-caused drug resistance, developments of function-biased modulators, and design of partial agonists. Moreover, the strengths of the dualsteric technique also led to its application outside pharmacy, including the design of highly sensitive fluorescent tracers and usage as molecular rulers. Besides, we also introduced drug targets, designing strategies, and validation methods of dualsteric modulators. Finally, we detail the conclusions and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyin Zha
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jixiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengwei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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7
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Fan C, Wunderlich M, Cai X, Yan Z, Zhang F, Davis AK, Xu L, Guo F, Lu QR, Azam M, Tian W, Zheng Y. Kinase-independent role of mTOR and on-/off-target effects of an mTOR kinase inhibitor. Leukemia 2023; 37:2073-2081. [PMID: 37532788 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01987-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
mTOR, as a serine/threonine kinase, is a widely pursued anticancer target. Multiple clinical trials of mTOR kinase inhibitors are ongoing, but their specificity and safety features remain lacking. Here, we have employed an inducible kinase-inactive D2338A mTOR knock-in mouse model (mTOR-/KI) together with a mTOR conditional knockout model (mTOR-/-) to assess the kinase-dependent/-independent function of mTOR in hematopoiesis and the on-/off-target effects of mTOR kinase inhibitor AZD2014. Despite exhibiting many similar phenotypes to mTOR-/- mice in hematopoiesis, the mTOR-/KI mice survived longer and showed differences in hematopoietic progenitor cells compared to mTOR-/- mice, suggesting a kinase-independent function of mTOR in hematopoiesis. Gene expression signatures in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) further revealed both kinase-dependent and independent effects of mTOR. AZD2014, a lead mTOR kinase inhibitor, appeared to work mostly on-target in suppressing mTOR kinase activity, mimicking that of mTOR-/KI HSCs in transcriptome analysis, but it also induced a small set of off-target responses in mTOR-/KI HSCs. In murine and human myeloid leukemia, besides kinase-inhibitory on-target effects, AZD2014 displayed similar off-target and growth-inhibitory cytostatic effects. These studies provide new insights into kinase-dependent/-independent effects of mTOR in hematopoiesis and present a genetic means for precisely assessing the specificity of mTOR kinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiqing Fan
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Mark Wunderlich
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Xiongwei Cai
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Zijun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Ashley Kuenzi Davis
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Lingli Xu
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Fukun Guo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Q Richard Lu
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Mohammad Azam
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Weidong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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8
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Das P, Pal S, Das N, Chakraborty K, Chatterjee K, Mal S, Choudhuri T. Endogenous PTEN acts as the key determinant for mTOR inhibitor sensitivity by inducing the stress-sensitized PTEN-mediated death axis in KSHV-associated malignant cells. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1062462. [PMID: 37602330 PMCID: PMC10433768 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1062462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
As a part of viral cancer evolution, KSHV-infected human endothelial cells exert a unique transcriptional program via upregulated mTORC1 signaling. This event makes them sensitive to mTOR inhibitors. Master transcriptional regulator PTEN acts as the prime regulator of mTOR and determining factor for mTOR inhibitory drug resistance and sensitivity. PTEN is post-translationally modified in KSHV-associated cell lines and infected tissues. Our current study is an attempt to understand the functional role of upstream modulator PTEN in determining the sensitivity of mTOR inhibitors against KSHV-infected cells in an in vitro stress-responsive model. Our analysis shows that, despite phosphorylation, endogenous levels of intact PTEN in different KSHV-infected cells compared to normal and non-infected cells are quite high. Genetic overexpression of intact PTEN showed functional integrity of this gene in the infected cells in terms of induction of a synchronized cell death process via cell cycle regulation and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. PTEN overexpression enhanced the mTOR inhibitory drug activity, the silencing of which hampers the process against KSHV-infected cells. Additionally, we have shown that endogenous PTEN acts as a stress balancer molecule inside KSHV-infected cells and can induce stress-sensitized death program post mTOR inhibitor treatment, lined up in the ATM-chk2-p53 axis. Moreover, autophagic regulation was found as a major regulator in mTOR inhibitor-induced PTEN-mediated death axis from our study. The current work critically intersected the PTEN-mediated stress balancing mechanism where autophagy has been utilized as a part of the KSHV stress management system and is specifically fitted and switched toward autophagy-mediated apoptosis directing toward a therapeutic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tathagata Choudhuri
- Department of Biotechnology, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India
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9
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Cox A, Tung M, Li H, Hallows KR, Chung EJ. In vitro delivery of mTOR inhibitors by kidney-targeted micelles for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. SLAS Technol 2023; 28:223-229. [PMID: 36804177 PMCID: PMC10439257 DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease and is characterized by the formation of renal cysts and the eventual development of end-stage kidney disease. One approach to treating ADPKD is through inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which has been implicated in cell overproliferation, contributing to renal cyst expansion. However, mTOR inhibitors, including rapamycin, everolimus, and RapaLink-1, have off-target side effects including immunosuppression. Thus, we hypothesized that the encapsulation of mTOR inhibitors in drug delivery carriers that target the kidneys would provide a strategy that would enable therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target accumulation and associated toxicity. Toward eventual in vivo application, we synthesized cortical collecting duct (CCD) targeted peptide amphiphile micelle (PAM) nanoparticles and show high drug encapsulation efficiency (>92.6%). In vitro analysis indicated that drug encapsulation into PAMs enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of all three drugs in human CCD cells. Analysis of in vitro biomarkers of the mTOR pathway via western blotting confirmed that PAM encapsulation of mTOR inhibitors did not reduce their efficacy. These results indicate that PAM encapsulation is a promising way to deliver mTOR inhibitors to CCD cells and potentially treat ADPKD. Future studies will evaluate the therapeutic effect of PAM-drug formulations and ability to prevent off-target side effects associated with mTOR inhibitors in mouse models of ADPKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alysia Cox
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Madelynn Tung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth R Hallows
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eun Ji Chung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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10
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Yang R, Yu Y. Patient-derived organoids in translational oncology and drug screening. Cancer Lett 2023; 562:216180. [PMID: 37061121 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Patient-derived organoids (PDO) are a new biomedical research model that can reconstruct phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the original tissue and are useful for research on pathogenesis and drug screening. To introduce the progression in this field, we review the key factors of constructing organoids derived from epithelial tissues and cancers, covering culture medium and matrix, morphological characteristics, genetic profiles, high-throughput drug screening, and application potential. We also discuss the co-culture system of cancer organoids with tumor microenvironment (TME) associated cells. The co-culture system is widely used in evaluating crosstalk of cancer cells with TME components, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells, and microorganisms. The article provides a prospective for standardized cultivation mode, automatic morphological evaluation, and drug sensitivity screening using high-throughput methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixin Yang
- Department of General Surgery of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yingyan Yu
- Department of General Surgery of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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11
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Xia J, Li S, Liu S, Zhang L. Aldehyde dehydrogenase in solid tumors and other diseases: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e195. [PMID: 36694633 PMCID: PMC9842923 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The family of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) contains 19 isozymes and is involved in the oxidation of endogenous and exogenous aldehydes to carboxylic acids, which contributes to cellular and tissue homeostasis. ALDHs play essential parts in detoxification, biosynthesis, and antioxidants, which are of important value for cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival in normal body tissues. However, ALDHs are frequently dysregulated and associated with various diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and especially solid tumors. Notably, the involvement of the ALDHs in tumor progression is responsible for the maintenance of the stem-cell-like phenotype, triggering rapid and aggressive clinical progressions. ALDHs have captured increasing attention as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Nevertheless, these require further longitudinal clinical studies in large populations for broad application. This review summarizes our current knowledge regarding ALDHs as potential biomarkers in tumors and several non-tumor diseases, as well as recent advances in our understanding of the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of ALDHs in disease development. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of ALDHs in diseases, especially in tumor therapy with an emphasis on their clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xia
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Cancer Institutes, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The International Co‐laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Siqin Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Cancer Institutes, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The International Co‐laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Suling Liu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Cancer Institutes, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The International Co‐laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Lixing Zhang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Cancer Institutes, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, The International Co‐laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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12
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Dual contribution of the mTOR pathway and of the metabolism of amino acids in prostate cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:831-859. [PMID: 36036882 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00706-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in men, and its incidence increases with age. Among other risk factors, pre-existing metabolic diseases have been recently linked with prostate cancer, and our current knowledge recognizes prostate cancer as a condition with important metabolic anomalies as well. In malignancies, metabolic disorders are commonly associated with aberrations in mTOR, which is the master regulator of protein synthesis and energetic homeostasis. Although there are reports demonstrating the high dependency of prostate cancer cells for lipid derivatives and even for carbohydrates, the understanding regarding amino acids, and the relationship with the mTOR pathway ultimately resulting in metabolic aberrations, is still scarce. CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES In this review, we briefly provide evidence supporting prostate cancer as a metabolic disease, and discuss what is known about mTOR signaling and prostate cancer. Next, we emphasized on the amino acids glutamine, leucine, serine, glycine, sarcosine, proline and arginine, commonly related to prostate cancer, to explore the alterations in their regulatory pathways and to link them with the associated metabolic reprogramming events seen in prostate cancer. Finally, we display potential therapeutic strategies for targeting mTOR and the referred amino acids, as experimental approaches to selectively attack prostate cancer cells.
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13
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Mortazavi M, Moosavi F, Martini M, Giovannetti E, Firuzi O. Prospects of targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in pancreatic cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2022; 176:103749. [PMID: 35728737 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the worst prognoses among all malignancies. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, a main downstream effector of KRAS is involved in the regulation of key hallmarks of cancer. We here report that whole-genome analyses demonstrate the frequent involvement of aberrant activations of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components in PDAC patients and critically evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence on the application of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway targeting agents. Combinations of these agents with chemotherapeutics or other targeted therapies, including the modulators of cyclin-dependent kinases, receptor tyrosine kinases and RAF/MEK/ERK pathway are also examined. Although human genetic studies and preclinical pharmacological investigations have provided strong evidence on the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in PDAC, clinical studies in general have not been as promising. Patient stratification seems to be the key missing point and with the advent of biomarker-guided clinical trials, targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway could provide valuable assets for treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motahareh Mortazavi
- Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Moosavi
- Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Miriam Martini
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Pharmacology Lab, Fondazine Pisana per la Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Omidreza Firuzi
- Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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14
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Fath MK, Ebrahimi M, Nourbakhsh E, Hazara AZ, Mirzaei A, Shafieyari S, Salehi A, Hoseinzadeh M, Payandeh Z, Barati G. PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Cancer Stem Cells. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 237:154010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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15
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Abstract
The mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is the central regulator of cell growth and proliferation by integrating growth factor and nutrient availability. Under healthy physiological conditions, this process is tightly coordinated and essential to maintain whole-body homeostasis. Not surprisingly, dysregulated mTOR signaling underpins several diseases with increasing incidence worldwide, including obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Consequently, there is significant clinical interest in developing therapeutic strategies that effectively target this pathway. The transition of mTOR inhibitors from the bench to bedside, however, has largely been marked with challenges and shortcomings, such as the development of therapy resistance and adverse side effects in patients. In this review, we discuss the current status of first-, second-, and third-generation mTOR inhibitors as a cancer therapy in both preclinical and clinical settings, with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms of drug resistance. We focus especially on the emerging role of diet as an important environmental determinant of therapy response, and posit a conceptual framework that links nutrient availability and whole-body metabolic states such as obesity with many of the previously defined processes that drive resistance to mTOR-targeted therapies. Given the role of mTOR as a central integrator of cell metabolism and function, we propose that modulating nutrient inputs through dietary interventions may influence the signaling dynamics of this pathway and compensatory nodes. In doing so, new opportunities for exploiting diet/drug synergies are highlighted that may unlock the therapeutic potential of mTOR inhibitors as a cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Koundouros
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021,USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Correspondence: Nikos Koundouros, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, NY, 10021 USA.
| | - John Blenis
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021,USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Correspondence: John Blenis, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, NY, 10021 USA.
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16
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CaMKK2 facilitates Golgi-associated vesicle trafficking to sustain cancer cell proliferation. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1040. [PMID: 34725334 PMCID: PMC8560770 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04335-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) regulates cell and whole-body metabolism and supports tumorigenesis. The cellular impacts of perturbing CAMKK2 expression are, however, not yet fully characterised. By knocking down CAMKK2 levels, we have identified a number of significant subcellular changes indicative of perturbations in vesicle trafficking within the endomembrane compartment. To determine how they might contribute to effects on cell proliferation, we have used proteomics to identify Gemin4 as a direct interactor, capable of binding CAMKK2 and COPI subunits. Prompted by this, we confirmed that CAMKK2 knockdown leads to concomitant and significant reductions in δ-COP protein. Using imaging, we show that CAMKK2 knockdown leads to Golgi expansion, the induction of ER stress, abortive autophagy and impaired lysosomal acidification. All are phenotypes of COPI depletion. Based on our findings, we hypothesise that CAMKK2 sustains cell proliferation in large part through effects on organelle integrity and membrane trafficking.
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17
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Ban J, Fock V, Aryee DNT, Kovar H. Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Bone Metastases. Cells 2021; 10:2944. [PMID: 34831167 PMCID: PMC8616226 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone and bone marrow are among the most frequent metastatic sites of cancer. The occurrence of bone metastasis is frequently associated with a dismal disease outcome. The prevention and therapy of bone metastases is a priority in the treatment of cancer patients. However, current therapeutic options for patients with bone metastatic disease are limited in efficacy and associated with increased morbidity. Therefore, most current therapies are mainly palliative in nature. A better understanding of the underlying molecular pathways of the bone metastatic process is warranted to develop novel, well-tolerated and more successful treatments for a significant improvement of patients' quality of life and disease outcome. In this review, we provide comparative mechanistic insights into the bone metastatic process of various solid tumors, including pediatric cancers. We also highlight current and innovative approaches to biologically targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In particular, we discuss the role of the bone marrow microenvironment in the attraction, homing, dormancy and outgrowth of metastatic tumor cells and the ensuing therapeutic implications. Multiple signaling pathways have been described to contribute to metastatic spread to the bone of specific cancer entities, with most knowledge derived from the study of breast and prostate cancer. However, it is likely that similar mechanisms are involved in different types of cancer, including multiple myeloma, primary bone sarcomas and neuroblastoma. The metastatic rate-limiting interaction of tumor cells with the various cellular and noncellular components of the bone-marrow niche provides attractive therapeutic targets, which are already partially exploited by novel promising immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jozef Ban
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.B.); (V.F.); (D.N.T.A.)
| | - Valerie Fock
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.B.); (V.F.); (D.N.T.A.)
| | - Dave N. T. Aryee
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.B.); (V.F.); (D.N.T.A.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Heinrich Kovar
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.B.); (V.F.); (D.N.T.A.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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18
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Püschel J, Dubrovska A, Gorodetska I. The Multifaceted Role of Aldehyde Dehydrogenases in Prostate Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4703. [PMID: 34572930 PMCID: PMC8472046 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the only tumor cells possessing self-renewal and differentiation properties, making them an engine of tumor progression and a source of tumor regrowth after treatment. Conventional therapies eliminate most non-CSCs, while CSCs often remain radiation and drug resistant, leading to tumor relapse and metastases. Thus, targeting CSCs might be a powerful tool to overcome tumor resistance and increase the efficiency of current cancer treatment strategies. The identification and isolation of the CSC population based on its high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDH) is widely accepted for prostate cancer (PCa) and many other solid tumors. In PCa, several ALDH genes contribute to the ALDH activity, which can be measured in the enzymatic assay by converting 4, 4-difluoro-4-bora-3a, 4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) aminoacetaldehyde (BAAA) into the fluorescent product BODIPY-aminoacetate (BAA). Although each ALDH isoform plays an individual role in PCa biology, their mutual functional interplay also contributes to PCa progression. Thus, ALDH proteins are markers and functional regulators of CSC properties, representing an attractive target for cancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the current state of research regarding the role of individual ALDH isoforms in PCa development and progression, their possible therapeutic targeting, and provide an outlook for the future advances in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Püschel
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01309 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Anna Dubrovska
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01309 Dresden, Germany;
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ielizaveta Gorodetska
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01309 Dresden, Germany;
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19
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Chi OZ, Liu X, Cofano S, Patel N, Jacinto E, Weiss HR. Rapalink-1 Increased Infarct Size in Early Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion With Increased Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption. Front Physiol 2021; 12:706528. [PMID: 34354602 PMCID: PMC8329705 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.706528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is involved in cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury. One of the important pathological changes during reperfusion after cerebral ischemia is disruption of blood–brain barrier (BBB). Rapamycin, a first-generation mTOR inhibitor, produces divergent effects on neuronal survival and alteration in BBB disruption. In this study, we investigated how Rapalink-1, a third-generation mTOR inhibitor, would affect neuronal survival and BBB disruption in the very early stage of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion that is within the time window of thrombolysis therapy. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed in rats under isoflurane anesthesia with controlled ventilation. Of note, 2 mg/kg of Rapalink-1 or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally 10 min after MCAO. After 1 h of MCAO and 2 h of reperfusion, the transfer coefficient (Ki) of 14C-α-aminoisobutyric acid (104 Da) and the volume of 3H-dextran (70,000 Da) distribution were determined to assess the degree of BBB disruption. At the same time points, phosphorylated S6 (Ser240/244) and Akt (Ser473) as well as matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) protein level were determined by Western blot along with the infarct size using tetrazolium stain. Rapalink-1 increased the Ki in the ischemic-reperfused cortex (IR-C, +23%, p < 0.05) without a significant change in the volume of dextran distribution. Rapalink-1 increased the percentage of cortical infarct out of the total cortical area (+41%, p < 0.005). Rapalink-1 significantly decreased phosphorylated S6 and Akt to half the level of the control rats in the IR-C, which suggests that both of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and 2 (mTORC1 and mTORC2) were inhibited. The MMP2 level was increased suggesting that BBB disruption could be aggravated by Rapalink-1. Taken together, our data suggest that inhibiting both mTORC1 and mTORC2 by Rapalink-1 could worsen the neuronal damage in the early stage of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion and that the aggravation of BBB disruption could be one of the contributing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oak Z Chi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Sean Cofano
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Nikhil Patel
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Estela Jacinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Harvey R Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States
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20
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Xie J, Kusnadi EP, Furic L, Selth LA. Regulation of mRNA Translation by Hormone Receptors in Breast and Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3254. [PMID: 34209750 PMCID: PMC8268847 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast and prostate cancer are the second and third leading causes of death amongst all cancer types, respectively. Pathogenesis of these malignancies is characterised by dysregulation of sex hormone signalling pathways, mediated by the estrogen receptor-α (ER) in breast cancer and androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer. ER and AR are transcription factors whose aberrant function drives oncogenic transcriptional programs to promote cancer growth and progression. While ER/AR are known to stimulate cell growth and survival by modulating gene transcription, emerging findings indicate that their effects in neoplasia are also mediated by dysregulation of protein synthesis (i.e., mRNA translation). This suggests that ER/AR can coordinately perturb both transcriptional and translational programs, resulting in the establishment of proteomes that promote malignancy. In this review, we will discuss relatively understudied aspects of ER and AR activity in regulating protein synthesis as well as the potential of targeting mRNA translation in breast and prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianling Xie
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Eric P Kusnadi
- Translational Prostate Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Luc Furic
- Translational Prostate Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Luke A Selth
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
- Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
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21
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Qiu HY, Wang PF, Zhang M. A patent review of mTOR inhibitors for cancer therapy (2011-2020). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:965-975. [PMID: 34098816 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1940137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is a central component in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and plays a crucial role in tumor biology, making it one appealing therapeutic target. In the past decade, the mTORi (mTOR inhibitor) development field has made great progress, with more agents entering key trials and the proposal of third-generation mTORi concept. Yet to achieve significant clinical success, combined efforts from multiple disciplines are ever needed. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the progress of mTORi development with anticancer potential from the perspective of the patent literature proposed between 2011 and 2020. EXPERT OPINION The highly complex regulatory mechanism network of mTOR proposes huge challenges to the development of clinically efficient mTORis. While in-depth biological research and fundamental medchemistry research are of importance to provide guidelines for improving mTORis, new technologies to pre-diagnose applicable populations is another key to provide precise personal cancer treatment. New mTOR agents are ever needed to tackle the common problems of side effects and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yue Qiu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng-Fei Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
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22
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el Hage A, Dormond O. Combining mTOR Inhibitors and T Cell-Based Immunotherapies in Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1359. [PMID: 33802831 PMCID: PMC8002586 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
mTOR regulates several processes that control tumor development, including cancer cell growth, angiogenesis and the immune response to tumor. Accordingly, mTOR inhibitors have been thoroughly explored in cancer therapy but have failed to provide long-lasting anticancer benefits. Several resistance mechanisms that counteract the antitumor effect of mTOR inhibitors have been identified and have highlighted the need to use mTOR inhibitors in combination therapies. In this context, emerging evidence has demonstrated that mTOR inhibitors, despite their immunosuppressive properties, provide anticancer benefits to immunotherapies. In fact, mTOR inhibitors also display immunostimulatory effects, in particular by promoting memory CD8+ T cell generation. Hence, mTOR inhibitors represent a therapeutic opportunity to promote antitumor CD8 responses and to boost the efficacy of different modalities of cancer immunotherapy. In this context, strategies to reduce the immunosuppressive activity of mTOR inhibitors and therefore to shift the immune response toward antitumor immunity will be useful. In this review, we present the different classes of mTOR inhibitors and discuss their effect on immune cells by focusing mainly on CD8+ T cells. We further provide an overview of the different preclinical studies that investigated the anticancer effects of mTOR inhibitors combined to immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivier Dormond
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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23
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Popova NV, Jücker M. The Role of mTOR Signaling as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041743. [PMID: 33572326 PMCID: PMC7916160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this review was to summarize current available information about the role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in cancer as a potential target for new therapy options. The mTOR and PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 (mTOR complex 1) signaling are critical for the regulation of many fundamental cell processes including protein synthesis, cell growth, metabolism, survival, catabolism, and autophagy, and deregulated mTOR signaling is implicated in cancer, metabolic dysregulation, and the aging process. In this review, we summarize the information about the structure and function of the mTOR pathway and discuss the mechanisms of its deregulation in human cancers including genetic alterations of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components. We also present recent data regarding the PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors in clinical studies and the treatment of cancer, as well the attendant problems of resistance and adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezhda V. Popova
- Laboratory of Receptor Cell Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Manfred Jücker
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)-40-7410-56339
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24
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Turnham DJ, Bullock N, Dass MS, Staffurth JN, Pearson HB. The PTEN Conundrum: How to Target PTEN-Deficient Prostate Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:E2342. [PMID: 33105713 PMCID: PMC7690430 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), which negatively regulates the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, is strongly linked to advanced prostate cancer progression and poor clinical outcome. Accordingly, several therapeutic approaches are currently being explored to combat PTEN-deficient tumors. These include classical inhibition of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling network, as well as new approaches that restore PTEN function, or target PTEN regulation of chromosome stability, DNA damage repair and the tumor microenvironment. While targeting PTEN-deficient prostate cancer remains a clinical challenge, new advances in the field of precision medicine indicate that PTEN loss provides a valuable biomarker to stratify prostate cancer patients for treatments, which may improve overall outcome. Here, we discuss the clinical implications of PTEN loss in the management of prostate cancer and review recent therapeutic advances in targeting PTEN-deficient prostate cancer. Deepening our understanding of how PTEN loss contributes to prostate cancer growth and therapeutic resistance will inform the design of future clinical studies and precision-medicine strategies that will ultimately improve patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Turnham
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (D.J.T.); (N.B.); (M.S.D.)
| | - Nicholas Bullock
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (D.J.T.); (N.B.); (M.S.D.)
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK;
| | - Manisha S. Dass
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (D.J.T.); (N.B.); (M.S.D.)
| | - John N. Staffurth
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK;
| | - Helen B. Pearson
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (D.J.T.); (N.B.); (M.S.D.)
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