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Ruglioni M, Crucitta S, Luculli GI, Tancredi G, Del Giudice ML, Mechelli S, Galimberti S, Danesi R, Del Re M. Understanding mechanisms of resistance to FLT3 inhibitors in adult FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia to guide treatment strategy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 201:104424. [PMID: 38917943 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104424] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The presence of FLT3 mutations, including the most common FLT3-ITD (internal tandem duplications) and FLT3-TKD (tyrosine kinase domain), is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this setting, in recent years, new FLT3 inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in improving survival and treatment response. Nevertheless, the development of primary and secondary mechanisms of resistance poses a significant obstacle to their efficacy. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing novel therapeutic approaches to overcome resistance and improve the outcomes of patients. In this context, the use of novel FLT3 inhibitors and the combination of different targeted therapies have been studied. This review provides an update on the molecular alterations involved in the resistance to FLT3 inhibitors, and describes how the molecular monitoring may be used to guide treatment strategy in FLT3-mutated AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ruglioni
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Crucitta
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Irene Luculli
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Gaspare Tancredi
- Unit of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Livia Del Giudice
- Unit of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandra Mechelli
- Unit of Internal Medicine 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Galimberti
- Unit of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Romano Danesi
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Italy.
| | - Marzia Del Re
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
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Baek M, Kim M, Choi HI, Binas B, Cha J, Jung KH, Choi S, Chai YG. Identification of differentially expressed mRNA/lncRNA modules in acutely regorafenib-treated sorafenib-resistant Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301663. [PMID: 38603701 PMCID: PMC11008899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301663] [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: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is the standard first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but many patients become sorafenib-resistant (SR). This study investigated the efficacy of another kinase inhibitor, regorafenib (Rego), as a second-line treatment. We produced SR HCC cells, wherein the PI3K-Akt, TNF, cAMP, and TGF-beta signaling pathways were affected. Acute Rego treatment of these cells reversed the expression of genes involved in TGF-beta signaling but further increased the expression of genes involved in PI3K-Akt signaling. Additionally, Rego reversed the expression of genes involved in nucleosome assembly and epigenetic gene expression. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed four differentially expressed long non-coding RNA (DElncRNA) modules that were associated with the effectiveness of Rego on SR cells. Eleven putative DElncRNAs with distinct expression patterns were identified. We associated each module with DEmRNAs of the same pattern, thus obtaining DElncRNA/DEmRNA co-expression modules. We discuss the potential significance of each module. These findings provide insights and resources for further investigation into the potential mechanisms underlying the response of SR HCC cells to Rego.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Baek
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjae Kim
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae In Choi
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Bert Binas
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Junho Cha
- Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Hwa Jung
- Department of Biopharmaceutical System, Gwangmyeong Convergence Technology Campus of Korea Polytechnic II, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkyoung Choi
- Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Mathematical Data Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Gyu Chai
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
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Li Z, Lu W, Yin F, Zeng P, Li H, Huang A. Overexpression of TNFSF11 reduces GPX4 levels and increases sensitivity to ferroptosis inducers in lung adenocarcinoma. J Transl Med 2024; 22:340. [PMID: 38594779 PMCID: PMC11005202 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05112-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common and lethal subtype of lung cancer, continues to be a major health concern worldwide. Despite advances in targeted and immune therapies, only a minority of patients derive substantial benefits. As a result, the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies to improve lung cancer treatment outcomes remains undiminished. METHODS In our study, we employed the TIMER database to scrutinize TNFSF11 expression across various cancer types. We further examined the differential expression of TNFSF11 in normal and tumor tissues utilizing the TCGA-LUAD dataset and tissue microarray, and probed the associations between TNFSF11 expression and clinicopathological parameters within the TCGA-LUAD dataset. We used the GSE31210 dataset for external validation. To identify genes strongly linked to TNFSF11, we engaged LinkedOmics and conducted a KEGG pathway enrichment analysis using the WEB-based Gene SeT AnaLysis Toolkit. Moreover, we investigated the function of TNFSF11 through gene knockdown or overexpression approaches and explore its function in tumor cells. The therapeutic impact of ferroptosis inducers in tumors overexpressing TNFSF11 were also investigated through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Through these extensive analyses, we shed light on the potential role of TNFSF11 in lung adenocarcinoma, underscoring potential therapeutic targets for this malignancy. RESULTS This research uncovers the overexpression of TNFSF11 in LUAD patients and its inverse correlation with peroxisome-related enzymes. By utilizing gene knockdown or overexpression assays, we found that TNFSF11 was negatively associated with GPX4. Furthermore, cells with TNFSF11 overexpression were relatively more sensitive to the ferroptosis inducers. CONCLUSIONS Our research has provided valuable insights into the role of TNFSF11, revealing its negative regulation of GPX4, which could be influential in crafting therapeutic strategies. These findings set the stage for further exploration into the mechanisms underpinning the relationship between TNFSF11 and GPX4, potentially opening up new avenues for precision medicine in the treatment of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhen Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Wenhua Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Feng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Peiting Zeng
- Department of Hematology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Heping Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
| | - Amin Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
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Şansaçar M, Sağır H, Gencer Akçok EB. Inhibition of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway and modulation of histone deacetylase enzymes reduce the growth of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Med Oncol 2023; 41:31. [PMID: 38148433 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02247-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
One of the most widespread forms of blood cancer is known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) which has an incidence of 80% with poor prognosis. Although there are different treatment methods for AML in clinic, the heterogeneity and complexity of the disease show that new treatments are needed. The aim of this study is to investigate the anticancer effects of inhibition of PI3K and HDAC enzymes on CMK and MOLM-13 AML cells lines. We demonstrated that the combination of LY294002 with SAHA and Tubastatin A significantly decreased the cell viability of both cell lines. In contrast, the LY294002 and PCI-34051 combination did not show a significant difference compared to the single LY294002 administration. The combination treatment of LY294002 and HDAC inhibitors did not induce apoptosis significantly. However, LY294002 + SAHA and LY294002 + PCI-34051 resulted in G0/G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrest in CMK cells, respectively. On the other hand, compared to control cells, LY294002 + SAHA and LY294002 + PCI-34051 led to G0/G1 phase arrest in MOLM-13. Furthermore, the LY294002 + PCI-34051 combination elevated the expression rate of LC3BII/I, an autophagy marker, in CMK cells by 2.5-fold. Our study revealed that the combinations of PI3K inhibitor and HDAC inhibitors showed a synergistic effect and caused a reduction in cell viability and increased cell cycle arrest on MOLM-13 and CMK cell lines. In addition, the expression of LC3BII was elevated in the CMK cell line. In conclusion, although more mechanistic studies are required, a combinational inhibition of PI3K and HDAC could be a promising approach for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Şansaçar
- Bioengineering Department, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Helin Sağır
- Bioengineering Department, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Emel Başak Gencer Akçok
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Faculty of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri, Turkey.
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Darici S, Jørgensen HG, Huang X, Serafin V, Antolini L, Barozzi P, Luppi M, Forghieri F, Marmiroli S, Zavatti M. Improved efficacy of quizartinib in combination therapy with PI3K inhibition in primary FLT3-ITD AML cells. Adv Biol Regul 2023; 89:100974. [PMID: 37245251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2023.100974] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterogeneous hematopoietic malignancy, characterized by uncontrolled clonal proliferation of abnormal myeloid progenitor cells, with poor outcomes. The internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation of the Fms-like receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) (FLT3-ITD) represents the most common genetic alteration in AML, detected in approximately 30% of AML patients, and is associated with high leukemic burden and poor prognosis. Therefore, this kinase has been regarded as an attractive druggable target for the treatment of FLT3-ITD AML, and selective small molecule inhibitors, such as quizartinib, have been identified and trialled. However, clinical outcomes have been disappointing so far due to poor remission rates, also because of acquired resistance. A strategy to overcome resistance is to combine FLT3 inhibitors with other targeted therapies. In this study, we investigated the preclinical efficacy of the combination of quizartinib with the pan PI3K inhibitor BAY-806946 in FLT3-ITD cell lines and primary cells from AML patients. We show here that BAY-806946 enhanced quizartinib cytotoxicity and, most importantly, that this combination increases the ability of quizartinib to kill CD34+ CD38-leukemia stem cells, whilst sparing normal hematopoietic stem cells. Because constitutively active FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase is known to boost aberrant PI3K signaling, the increased sensitivity of primary cells to the above combination can be the mechanistic results of the disruption of signaling by vertical inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salihanur Darici
- Cellular Signaling Unit, Section of Human Morphology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Largo del Pozzo 71, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy; Haemato-Oncology/Systems Medicine Group, Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 0ZD, UK
| | - Heather G Jørgensen
- Haemato-Oncology/Systems Medicine Group, Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 0ZD, UK
| | - Xu Huang
- Haemato-Oncology/Systems Medicine Group, Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 0ZD, UK
| | - Valentina Serafin
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology Oncology and Immunology Section University of Padova, Italy
| | - Ludovica Antolini
- Cellular Signaling Unit, Section of Human Morphology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Largo del Pozzo 71, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy
| | - Patrizia Barozzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Mario Luppi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy.
| | - Fabio Forghieri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy.
| | - Sandra Marmiroli
- Cellular Signaling Unit, Section of Human Morphology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Largo del Pozzo 71, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy.
| | - Manuela Zavatti
- Cellular Signaling Unit, Section of Human Morphology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Largo del Pozzo 71, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41125, Italy
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Li X, Yin X, Bao H, Liu C. Circular RNA ITCH increases sorafenib-sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma via sequestering miR-20b-5p and modulating the downstream PTEN-PI3K/Akt pathway. Mol Cell Probes 2023; 67:101877. [PMID: 36442661 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2022.101877] [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: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Sorafenib-resistance leads to poor prognosis and high mortality in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and this study aims to investigate the functional role of a circular RNA ITCH (circITCH) in regulating the sorafenib-resistance of HCC and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS The expression of circITCH in HCC tissues and cell lines were detected by performing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells were transfected with PLCDH-circITCH to upregulate circITCH and intervened with sorafenib, and MTT assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay were used to test the cell viability, apoptosis and migration ability, respectively. The downstream target of circITCH were explored by using bioinformatic analysis, dual luciferase reporter system and Western blot. RESULTS CircITCH was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, compared with their normal counterparts. Especially, in contrast with the sorafenib-sensitive HCC cells, continuous sorafenib treatment decreased the expression levels of circITCH in the sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Overexpression of circITCH increased sorafenib-sensitivity, promoted cell apoptosis and reduced cell migration abilities in the sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Mechanically, circITCH elevated PTEN expression to inactivate the PI3K/Akt signals through negatively regulating miR-20b-5p in HCC, and upregulating miR-20b-5p or inhibiting PTEN abolished the enhancing effect of circITCH overexpression on sorafenib-induced cytotoxicity in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. CONCLUSION Taken together, this study proves that circITCH enhances sorafenib-sensitivity in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells via regulating the miR-20b-5p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling cascade, which highlights the potential value of circITCH as a target for enhancing the sorafenib-sensitivity in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Xuedong Yin
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Heyi Bao
- Department of General Surgery, Qiqihar First Hospital, Qiqihar, 161005, China.
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
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Occhiuzzi MA, Lico G, Ioele G, De Luca M, Garofalo A, Grande F. Recent advances in PI3K/PKB/mTOR inhibitors as new anticancer agents. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 246:114971. [PMID: 36462440 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The biochemical role of the PI3K/PKB/mTOR signalling pathway in cell-cycle regulation is now well known. During the onset and development of different forms of cancer it becomes overactive reducing apoptosis and allowing cell proliferation. Therefore, this pathway has become an important target for the treatment of various forms of malignant tumors, including breast cancer and follicular lymphoma. Recently, several more or less selective inhibitors targeting these proteins have been identified. In general, drugs that act on multiple targets within the entire pathway are more efficient than single targeting inhibitors. Multiple inhibitors exhibit high potency and limited drug resistance, resulting in promising anticancer agents. In this context, the present survey focuses on small molecule drugs capable of modulating the PI3K/PKB/mTOR signalling pathway, thus representing drugs or drug candidates to be used in the pharmacological treatment of different forms of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gernando Lico
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Ioele
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Michele De Luca
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Antonio Garofalo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Fedora Grande
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy.
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8
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Paskeh MDA, Ghadyani F, Hashemi M, Abbaspour A, Zabolian A, Javanshir S, Razzazan M, Mirzaei S, Entezari M, Goharrizi MASB, Salimimoghadam S, Aref AR, Kalbasi A, Rajabi R, Rashidi M, Taheriazam A, Sethi G. Biological impact and therapeutic perspective of targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and Challenges. Pharmacol Res 2023; 187:106553. [PMID: 36400343 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cancer progression results from activation of various signaling networks. Among these, PI3K/Akt signaling contributes to proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high incidence rate, especially in regions with high prevalence of viral hepatitis infection. Autoimmune disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol consumption, and inflammation can also lead to initiation and development of HCC. The treatment of HCC depends on the identification of oncogenic factors that lead tumor cells to develop resistance to therapy. The present review article focuses on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC progression. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes glucose uptake, favors glycolysis and increases tumor cell proliferation. It inhibits both apoptosis and autophagy while promoting HCC cell survival. PI3K/Akt stimulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increases matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression during HCC metastasis. In addition to increasing colony formation capacity and facilitating the spread of tumor cells, PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates angiogenesis. Therefore, silencing PI3K/Akt signaling prevents aggressive HCC cell behavior. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling can confer drug resistance, particularly to sorafenib, and decreases the radio-sensitivity of HCC cells. Anti-cancer agents, like phytochemicals and small molecules can suppress PI3K/Akt signaling by limiting HCC progression. Being upregulated in tumor tissues and clinical samples, PI3K/Akt can also be used as a biomarker to predict patients' response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghadyani
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Abbaspour
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center,Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Zabolian
- Resident of department of Orthopedics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Salar Javanshir
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnaz Razzazan
- Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Translational Sciences, Xsphera Biosciences Inc. 6, Tide Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Alireza Kalbasi
- Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Romina Rajabi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore; NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.
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Nuclear factor Nrf2 promotes glycosidase OGG1 expression by activating the AKT pathway to enhance leukemia cell resistance to cytarabine. J Biol Chem 2022; 299:102798. [PMID: 36528059 PMCID: PMC9823221 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance is the dominant challenge in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) exerts a vital function in drug resistance of many tumors. Nevertheless, the potential molecular mechanism of Nrf2 regulating the base excision repair pathway that mediates AML chemotherapy resistance remains unclear. Here, in clinical samples, we found that the high expression of Nrf2 and base excision repair pathway gene encoding 8-hydroxyguanine DNA glycosidase (OGG1) was associated with AML disease progression. In vitro, Nrf2 and OGG1 were highly expressed in drug-resistant leukemia cells. Upregulation of Nrf2 in leukemia cells by lentivirus transfection could decrease the sensitivity of leukemia cells to cytarabine, whereas downregulation of Nrf2 in drug-resistant cells could enhance leukemia cell chemosensitivity. Meanwhile, we found that Nrf2 could positively regulate OGG1 expression in leukemia cells. Our chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that Nrf2 could bind to the promoter of OGG1. Furthermore, the use of OGG1 inhibitor TH5487 could partially reverse the inhibitory effect of upregulated Nrf2 on leukemia cell apoptosis. In vivo, downregulation of Nrf2 could increase the sensitivity of leukemia cell to cytarabine and decrease OGG1 expression. Mechanistically, Nrf2-OGG1 axis-mediated AML resistance might be achieved by activating the AKT signaling pathway to regulate downstream apoptotic proteins. Thus, this study reveals a novel mechanism of Nrf2-promoting drug resistance in leukemia, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of drug-resistant/refractory leukemia.
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10
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Fang H, Sun Z, Chen Z, Chen A, Sun D, Kong Y, Fang H, Qian G. Bioinformatics and systems-biology analysis to determine the effects of Coronavirus disease 2019 on patients with allergic asthma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:988479. [PMID: 36211429 PMCID: PMC9537444 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.988479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a significant challenge for global health systems. Increasing evidence shows that asthma phenotypes and comorbidities are major risk factors for COVID-19 symptom severity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between COVID-19 and asthma are poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted bioinformatics and systems biology analysis to identify common pathways and molecular biomarkers in patients with COVID-19 and asthma, as well as potential molecular mechanisms and candidate drugs for treating patients with both COVID-19 and asthma. Methods Two sets of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the GSE171110 and GSE143192 datasets were intersected to identify common hub genes, shared pathways, and candidate drugs. In addition, murine models were utilized to explore the expression levels and associations of the hub genes in asthma and lung inflammation/injury. Results We discovered 157 common DEGs between the asthma and COVID-19 datasets. A protein–protein-interaction network was built using various combinatorial statistical approaches and bioinformatics tools, which revealed several hub genes and critical modules. Six of the hub genes were markedly elevated in murine asthmatic lungs and were positively associated with IL-5, IL-13 and MUC5AC, which are the key mediators of allergic asthma. Gene Ontology and pathway analysis revealed common associations between asthma and COVID-19 progression. Finally, we identified transcription factor–gene interactions, DEG–microRNA coregulatory networks, and potential drug and chemical-compound interactions using the hub genes. Conclusion We identified the top 15 hub genes that can be used as novel biomarkers of COVID-19 and asthma and discovered several promising candidate drugs that might be helpful for treating patients with COVID-19 and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Fang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhun Sun
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhouyi Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Anning Chen
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Donglin Sun
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Kong
- Department of Anesthesiology (High-Tech Branch), The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hao Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Guojun Qian, ; Hao Fang,
| | - Guojun Qian
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guojun Qian, ; Hao Fang,
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Overcoming Resistance: FLT3 Inhibitors Past, Present, Future and the Challenge of Cure. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174315. [PMID: 36077850 PMCID: PMC9454516 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174315] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
FLT3 ITD and TKD mutations occur in 20% and 10% of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), respectively, and they represent the target of the first approved anti-leukemic therapies in the 2000s. Type I and type II FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i) are active against FLT3 TKD/ITD and FLT3 ITD mutations alone respectively, but they still fail remissions in 30-40% of patients due to primary and secondary mechanisms of resistance, with variable relapse rate of 30-50%, influenced by NPM status and FLT3 allelic ratio. Mechanisms of resistance to FLT3i have recently been analyzed through NGS and single cell assays that have identified and elucidated the polyclonal nature of relapse in clinical and preclinical studies, summarized here. Knowledge of tumor escape pathways has helped in the identification of new targeted drugs to overcome resistance. Immunotherapy and combination or sequential use of BCL2 inhibitors and experimental drugs including aurora kinases, menin and JAK2 inhibitors will be the goal of present and future clinical trials, especially in patients with FLT3-mutated (FLT3mut) AML who are not eligible for allogeneic transplantation.
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Higuchi T, Igarashi K, Yamamoto N, Hayashi K, Kimura H, Miwa S, Bouvet M, Tsuchiya H, Hoffman RM. Review: Precise sarcoma patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models enable identification of novel effective combination therapies with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor palbociclib: A strategy for clinical application. Front Oncol 2022; 12:957844. [PMID: 36003796 PMCID: PMC9393494 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.957844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sarcomas are rare heterogeneous malignant tumors that originate and develop in soft tissue or bone. Effective treatment for sarcomas is still limited to traditional chemotherapy and surgery that are often ineffective for recurrent disease. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) promote abnormal cell cycling and cell division in many cancers including sarcomas. Therefore, our hypothesis was that CDK inhibitors may be useful candidates for sarcoma treatment. Patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models mimic the clinical disease for all major cancer types and have identified effective treatments that hold much clinical promise. The present report reviews sarcoma PDOX models that we have established for their potential to discover effective combination treatments based on CDK inhibitors for recalcitrant sarcoma. Methods We have previously reported six sarcoma PDOX studies evaluating the CDK inhibitor palbociclib on sarcoma, including osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, de-differentiated liposarcoma, and peritoneal metastatic leiomyosarcoma. Results Palbociclib monotherapy significantly inhibited, but not regressed, the PDOX growth of osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, de-differentiated liposarcoma, and peritoneal metastatic leiomyosarcoma. A combination of palbociclib and a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, everolimus, significantly inhibited, but did not regress, the PDOX growth of osteosarcoma. Combinations of palbociclib with a multikinase inhibitor, sorafenib, and palbociclib combined with recombinant methioninase were effective and regressed the osteosarcoma and de-differentiated liposarcoma PDOX models, respectively. Conclusions Novel effective drug combinations using the CDK inhibitor palbociclib were identified in PDOX models of the major types of sarcomas. Methionine restriction effected by methioninase increased the efficacy of palbociclib. Combination therapy with palbociclib is a promising future strategy for improved sarcoma therapy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Norio Yamamoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Hayashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Miwa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, ; Robert M. Hoffman,
| | - Robert M. Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, ; Robert M. Hoffman,
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