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Jung JH, Lee H, Jeon J, Lee YJ, Nada H, Kim M, Lee H, Bhattarai D, Lee K, Ko HW. A novel indole derivative, 2-{3-[1-(benzylsulfonyl)piperidin-4-yl]-2-methyl-1H-indol-1-yl}-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethenone, suppresses hedgehog signaling and drug-resistant tumor growth. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024:e2400218. [PMID: 38963677 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202400218] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays important roles in various physiological functions. Several malignancies, such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and medulloblastoma (MB), have been linked to the aberrant activation of Hh signaling. Although therapeutic drugs have been developed to inhibit Hh pathway-dependent cancer growth, drug resistance remains a major obstacle in cancer treatment. Here, we show that the newly identified, 2-{3-[1-(benzylsulfonyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl]-2-methyl-1H-indol-1-yl}-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethenone analog (LKD1214) exhibits comparable potency to vismodegib in suppressing the Hh pathway activation. LKD1214 represses Smoothened (SMO) activity by blocking its ciliary translocation. Interestingly, we also identified that it has a distinctive binding interface with SMO compared with other SMO-regulating chemicals. Notably, it maintains an inhibitory activity against the SmoD477H mutant, as observed in a patient with vismodegib-resistant BCC. Furthermore, LKD1214 inhibits tumor growth in the mouse model of MB. Collectively, these findings suggest that LKD1214 has the therapeutic potential to overcome drug-resistance in Hh-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Hyun Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hwayoung Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Jiyeon Jeon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yoon Ji Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hossam Nada
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Minkyoung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hankyu Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Deepak Bhattarai
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Kyeong Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyangsi, Gyeonggido, Korea
| | - Hyuk Wan Ko
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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2
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Zhang M, Tao Z, Gao L, Chen F, Ye Y, Xu S, Huang W, Li X. Toosendanin inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth through the Hedgehog pathway by targeting Shh. Drug Dev Res 2022; 83:1201-1211. [PMID: 35656621 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers worldwide. This complex and often fatal disease has a high mortality rate. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is crucial in CRC. Many studies have indicated that Shh is overexpressed in cancer stem cells (CSCs), and shh overexpression is positively correlated with CRC tumorigenesis. New drugs that kill CRC cells through the Hh pathway are needed. Toosendanin (TSN), a natural triterpenoid saponin extracted from the bark or fruit of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc, can inhibit various tumors. Here, we investigated the effects of TSN in CRC and explored the possible targets and mechanisms. Shh-Light Ⅱ cells were treated with TSN and tested by dual luciferase reporter assays to determine the relationship with the Hh pathway. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were used to test the inhibitory effects of TSN on CRC cells. The expression of Hh components after TSN treatment was detected using western blots and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cellular thermal shift assays confirmed the targets of TSN. The same effects of TSN on xenograft tumor growth were investigated in vivo. The average weight, volume of the finally resected tumor, and the expression of Shh in the TSN-treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control group. This result strongly suggested that TSN administration inhibited CRC growth in vivo. Our research preliminarily demonstrated that the target of TSN was Shh and that TSN inhibits CRC cell growth by inhibiting the Hh pathway, identifying a new anticancer molecular mechanism of TSN in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhongyi Tao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lijuan Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fengyang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiping Ye
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shifang Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenkang Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Ma C, Hu K, Ullah I, Zheng QK, Zhang N, Sun ZG. Molecular Mechanisms Involving the Sonic Hedgehog Pathway in Lung Cancer Therapy: Recent Advances. Front Oncol 2022; 12:729088. [PMID: 35433472 PMCID: PMC9010822 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.729088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the latest statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world, accounting for approximately 18% of all cancer-associated deaths. Yet, even with aggressive interventions for advanced lung cancer, the five-year survival rate remains low, at around 15%. The hedgehog signaling pathway is highly conserved during embryonic development and is involved in tissue homeostasis as well as organ development. However, studies have documented an increasing prevalence of aberrant activation of HH signaling in lung cancer patients, promoting malignant lung cancer progression with poor prognostic outcomes. Inhibitors targeting the HH pathway have been widely used in tumor therapy, however, they still cannot avoid the occurrence of drug resistance. Interestingly, natural products, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, have greatly improved overall survival outcomes for lung cancer patients by acting on the HH signaling pathway because of its unique and excellent pharmacological properties. In this review, we elucidate on the underlying molecular mechanisms through which the HH pathway promotes malignant biological behaviors in lung cancer, as well as the potential of inhibitors or natural compounds in targeting HH signaling for clinical applications in lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ma
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Kang Hu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Irfan Ullah
- Department of Surgery, Khyber Medical University Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Qing-Kang Zheng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Breast Center, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Zhi-Gang Sun, ; Nan Zhang,
| | - Zhi-Gang Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Zhi-Gang Sun, ; Nan Zhang,
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4
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Shih HA. An early foray with targeted therapy and inspiring novel approaches to combat adult medulloblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:1814-1815. [PMID: 34270765 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Helen A Shih
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston, MA
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Gao LJ, Zhang MZ, Li XY, Huang WK, Xu SF, Ye YP. Steroidal alkaloids isolated from Veratrum grandiflorum Loes. as novel Smoothened inhibitors with anti-proliferation effects on DAOY medulloblastoma cells. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 39:116166. [PMID: 33910157 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Constitutive activation of Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is intimately related with the occurrence and development of several malignancies, such as medulloblastoma (MB) and other tumors. Therefore, small molecular inhibitors of Hh pathway are urgently needed. In this study, three new steroidal alkaloids, ⊿5 (20R, 24R) 23-oxo-24-methylsolacongetidine, ⊿5 (20S, 24R) 23-oxo-24-methylsolacongetidine and veralinine 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranoside, together with six known alkaloids, 20-epi-verazine, verazine, protoverine 15-(l)-2'-methylbutyrate, jervine, veramarine and β1-chaconine, were isolated and determined from Veratrum grandiflorum Loes. The dual-luciferase bioassay indicated that all compounds exhibited significant inhibitions of Hh pathway with IC50 values of 0.72-14.31 μM against Shh-LIGHT 2 cells. To determine whether these Hh pathway inhibitors act with the Smoothened (Smo) protein, which is an important oncoprotein and target for this pathway, BODIPY-cyclopamine (BC) competitive binding assay was preferentially performed. Compared with BC alone, all compounds obviously reduced the fluorescence intensities of BC binding with Smo in Smo-overexpression HEK293T cells through fluorescence microscope and flow cytometer. By directly interacting with Smo, it revealed that they were actually novel natural Smo inhibitors. Then, their anti-tumor effects were investigated against the human MB cell line DAOY, which is a typical pediatric brain tumor cells line with highly expressed Hh pathway. Interestingly, most of compounds had slight proliferation inhibitions on DAOY cells after treatment for 24 h same as vismodegib, while β1-chaconine showed the strongest inhibitory effect on the growth of DAOY with IC50 value of 5.35 μM. In conclusion, our studies valuably provide several novel natural Smo inhibitors for potential targeting treatment of Hh-dependent tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Juan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310013, China
| | - Meng Zhen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310013, China
| | - Xiao Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310013, China
| | - Wen Kang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310013, China
| | - Shi Fang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310013, China
| | - Yi Ping Ye
- Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Drug Research of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Materia Medica, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310013, China.
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6
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Fan J, Li H, Kuang L, Zhao Z, He W, Liu C, Wang Y, Cheng SY, Chen W. Identification of a potent antagonist of smoothened in hedgehog signaling. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:46. [PMID: 33653381 PMCID: PMC7923671 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00558-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hedgehog signaling is essential to the regulation of embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and stem cell self-renewal, making it a prime target for developing cancer therapeutics. Given the close link between aberrant Hedgehog signaling and cancers, many small molecular compounds have been developed to inhibit Smoothened, a key signal transducer of this pathway, for treating cancer and several such compounds have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (GDC-0449 and LDE-225). However, acquired drug resistance has emerged as an important obstacle to the effective use of these first generation Hedgehog pathway blockers. Thus, new Smoothened inhibitors that can overcome such resistance is an urgent need going forward. Results We established the Smoothened/βarrestin2-GFP high-throughput screening platform based on the mechanistic discovery of Hedgehog signaling pathway, and discovered several active small molecules targeting Smoothened including 0025A. Here we show that 0025A can block the translocation of βarrestin2-GFP to Smoothened, displace Bodipy-cyclopamine binding to wild-type Smoothened or mutant Smoothened-D473H, reduce the accumulation of Smo on primary cilia and the expression of Gli upon Hedgehog stimulation. In addition, we show that 0025A can effectively suppress hair follicle morphogenesis and hair growth in mice. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that 0025A is a potent antagonist targeting Smoothened wild-type and mutant receptors in the Hedgehog signaling pathway and may provide a new therapy for refractory cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwan Fan
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Haowen Li
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Lun Kuang
- Department of Developmental Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zichen Zhao
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Wenyan He
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Developmental Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongjun Wang
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing, 100070, China.
| | - Steven Y Cheng
- Department of Developmental Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wei Chen
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing, 100070, China.
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Medulloblastoma drugs in development: Current leads, trials and drawbacks. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 215:113268. [PMID: 33636537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Current treatment for MB includes surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite significant progress in its management, a portion of children relapse and tumor recurrence carries a poor prognosis. Based on their molecular and clinical characteristics, MB patients are clinically classified into four groups: Wnt, Hh, Group 3, and Group 4. With our increased understanding of relevant molecular pathways disrupted in MB, the development of targeted therapies for MB has also increased. Targeted drugs have shown unique privileges over traditional cytotoxic therapies in balancing efficacy and toxicity, with many of them approved and widely used clinically. The aim of this review is to present the recent progress on targeted chemotherapies for the treatment of all classes of MB.
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Lospinoso Severini L, Ghirga F, Bufalieri F, Quaglio D, Infante P, Di Marcotullio L. The SHH/GLI signaling pathway: a therapeutic target for medulloblastoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:1159-1181. [PMID: 32990091 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1823967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Medulloblastoma (MB) is a heterogeneous tumor of the cerebellum that is divided into four main subgroups with distinct molecular and clinical features. Sonic Hedgehog MB (SHH-MB) is the most genetically understood and occurs predominantly in childhood. Current therapies consist of aggressive and non-targeted multimodal approaches that are often ineffective and cause long-term complications. These problems intensify the need to develop molecularly targeted therapies to improve outcome and reduce treatment-related morbidities. In this scenario, Hedgehog (HH) signaling, a developmental pathway whose deregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of several malignancies, has emerged as an attractive druggable pathway for SHH-MB therapy. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of the advancements in the HH antagonist research field. We place an emphasis on Smoothened (SMO) and glioma-associated oncogene homolog (GLI) inhibitors and immunotherapy approaches that are validated in preclinical SHH-MB models and that have therapeutic potential for MB patients. Literature from Pubmed and data reported on ClinicalTrial.gov up to August 2020 were considered. EXPERT OPINION Extensive-omics analysis has enhanced our knowledge and has transformed the way that MB is studied and managed. The clinical use of SMO antagonists has yet to be determined, however, future GLI inhibitors and multitargeting approaches are promising.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesca Ghirga
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Bufalieri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza , 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Deborah Quaglio
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00185 , Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Di Marcotullio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza , 00161, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University of Rome La Sapienza , 00161, Rome, Italy
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