Multiple Myeloma: Possible Cure from the Sea

Nortopsentins as Leads from Marine Organisms for Anticancer and Anti-Inflammatory Agent Development

The marine environment is an excellent source of molecules that have a wide structural diversity and a variety of biological activities. Many marine natural products (MNPs) have been established as leads for anticancer drug discovery. Most of these compounds are alkaloids, including several chemical subclasses. In this review, we focus on the bis-indolyl alkaloid Nortopsentins and their derivatives with antiproliferative properties. Nortopsentins A-C were found to exhibit in vitro cytotoxicity against the P388 murine leukaemia cell line. Their structural manipulation provided a wide range of derivatives with significant anti-tumour activity against human cell lines derived from different cancer types (bladder, colon, gastric, CNS, liver, lung, breast, melanoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, pleural mesothelioma, renal, sarcoma, and uterus). In vivo assays on animal models also proved that Nortopsentins and related bis-indolyl compounds have potent anti-inflammatory activity. These remarks set the foundation for future investigations into the development of new Nortopsentin derivatives as new anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents.

The Global Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the exponential growth of malignant plasma cells. Individuals diagnosed with MM exhibit a deficiency in vitamin D and may suffer fatigue, a loss of muscular strength, persistent musculoskeletal aches, and pain. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in individuals diagnosed with MM.

METHODS

We searched five electronic databases using relevant keywords. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the critical appraisal tool developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. We employed a random-effects model and presented the findings in the form of percentages accompanied by 95% confidence intervals (CI). This protocol has been officially registered in PROSPERO under the registration number CRD42021248710.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis comprised a total of eighteen studies and found that, among patients with MM, the occurrence of serum vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 39.4% (95% CI: 25.8 to 52.9, n = 3746) and 34.1% (95% CI: 20.9 to 47.2, n = 3559), respectively. The findings indicate that a greater proportion of newly diagnosed patients exhibited vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, with rates of 43.0% and 41.6%, respectively, compared to those receiving treatment (rates of 41.6% and 32.3%, respectively). The findings of the sensitivity analyses were consistent, and most of the studies (72.2%) were deemed to be of high quality. The results of Egger's test indicated the absence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients diagnosed with MM have been found to exhibit significantly elevated levels of both vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to consider vitamin D testing as an additional parameter in the current criteria for the clinical evaluation of MM.

Natural Agents as Novel Potential Source of Proteasome Inhibitors with Anti-Tumor Activity: Focus on Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an aggressive and incurable disease for most patients, characterized by periods of treatment, remission and relapse. The introduction of new classes of drugs, such as proteasome inhibitors (PIs), has improved survival outcomes in these patient populations. The proteasome is the core of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), a complex and conserved pathway involved in the control of multiple cellular processes, including cell cycle control, transcription, DNA damage repair, protein quality control and antigen presentation. To date, PIs represent the gold standard for the treatment of MM. Bortezomib was the first PI approved by the FDA, followed by next generation of PIs, namely carfilzomib and ixazomib. Natural agents play an important role in anti-tumor drug discovery, and many of them have recently been reported to inhibit the proteasome, thus representing a new potential source of anti-MM drugs. Based on the pivotal biological role of the proteasome and on PIs' significance in the management of MM, in this review we aim to briefly summarize recent evidence on natural compounds capable of inhibiting the proteasome, thus triggering anti-MM activity.

Recent Advancement in Anticancer Compounds from Marine Organisms: Approval, Use and Bioinformatic Approaches to Predict New Targets

In recent years, the study of anticancer bioactive compounds from marine sources has received wide interest. Contextually, world regulatory authorities have approved several marine molecules, and new synthetic derivatives have also been synthesized and structurally improved for the treatment of numerous forms of cancer. However, the administration of drugs in cancer patients requires careful evaluation since their interaction with individual biological macromolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, determines variable downstream effects. This is reflected in a constant search for personalized therapies that lay the foundations of modern medicine. The new knowledge acquired on cancer mechanisms has certainly allowed advancements in tumor prevention, but unfortunately, due to the huge complexity and heterogeneity of cancer, we are still looking for a definitive therapy and clinical approaches. In this review, we discuss the significance of recently approved molecules originating from the marine environment, starting from their organism of origin to their structure and mechanism of action. Subsequently, these bio-compounds are used as models to illustrate possible bioinformatics approaches for the search of new targets that are useful for improving the knowledge on anticancer therapies.