1
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Ghosh N, Mahalanobish S, Sil PC. Reprogramming of urea cycle in cancer: Mechanism, regulation and prospective therapeutic scopes. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116326. [PMID: 38815626 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116326] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic urea cycle, previously known as ornithine cycle, is the chief biochemical pathway that deals with the disposal of excessive nitrogen in form of urea, resulted from protein breakdown and concomitant condensation of ammonia. Enzymes involved in urea cycle are expressed differentially outside hepatic tissue and are mostly involved in production of arginine from citrulline in arginine-depleted condition. Inline, cancer cells frequently adapt metabolic rewiring to support sufficient biomass production in order to sustain tumor cell survival, multiplication and subsequent growth. For the accomplishment of this aim, metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells is set in way so that cellular nitrogen and carbon repertoire can be utilized and channelized maximally towards anabolic reactions. A strategy to meet such outcome is to cut down unnecessary catabolic reactions and nitrogen elimination. Thus, transfigured urea cycle is a hallmark of neoplasia. During oncogenesis, altered expression and regulation of enzymes involved in urea cycle is a revolutionary approach meet to maximum incorporation of nitrogen for sustaining tumor specific biogenesis. Currently, we have reviewed neoplasm-specific deregulations of urea cycle-enzymes in different types and stages of cancers suggesting its context-oriented dynamic nature. Considering such insight to be valuable in terms of prospective cancer diagnosis and therapeutics adaptive evolution of deregulated urea cycle has been enlightened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noyel Ghosh
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata 700054, West Bengal, India
| | - Sushweta Mahalanobish
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata 700054, West Bengal, India
| | - Parames C Sil
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata 700054, West Bengal, India.
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2
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Hajaj E, Pozzi S, Erez A. From the Inside Out: Exposing the Roles of Urea Cycle Enzymes in Tumors and Their Micro and Macro Environments. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041538. [PMID: 37696657 PMCID: PMC10982720 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041538] [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: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Catabolic pathways change in anabolic diseases such as cancer to maintain metabolic homeostasis. The liver urea cycle (UC) is the main catabolic pathway for disposing excess nitrogen. Outside the liver, the UC enzymes are differentially expressed based on each tissue's needs for UC intermediates. In tumors, there are changes in the expression of UC enzymes selected for promoting tumorigenesis by increasing the availability of essential UC substrates and products. Consequently, there are compensatory changes in the expression of UC enzymes in the cells that compose the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, extrahepatic tumors induce changes in the expression of the liver UC, which contribute to the systemic manifestations of cancer, such as weight loss. Here, we review the multilayer changes in the expression of UC enzymes throughout carcinogenesis. Understanding the changes in UC expression in the tumor and its micro and macro environment can help identify biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis and vulnerabilities that can be targeted for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Hajaj
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sabina Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ayelet Erez
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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3
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Ling ZN, Jiang YF, Ru JN, Lu JH, Ding B, Wu J. Amino acid metabolism in health and disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:345. [PMID: 37699892 PMCID: PMC10497558 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01569-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein synthesis. They are structural elements and energy sources of cells necessary for normal cell growth, differentiation and function. Amino acid metabolism disorders have been linked with a number of pathological conditions, including metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases, and cancer. In the case of tumors, alterations in amino acid metabolism can be used not only as clinical indicators of cancer progression but also as therapeutic strategies. Since the growth and development of tumors depend on the intake of foreign amino acids, more and more studies have targeted the metabolism of tumor-related amino acids to selectively kill tumor cells. Furthermore, immune-related studies have confirmed that amino acid metabolism regulates the function of effector T cells and regulatory T cells, affecting the function of immune cells. Therefore, studying amino acid metabolism associated with disease and identifying targets in amino acid metabolic pathways may be helpful for disease treatment. This article mainly focuses on the research of amino acid metabolism in tumor-oriented diseases, and reviews the research and clinical research progress of metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases and immune-related diseases related to amino acid metabolism, in order to provide theoretical basis for targeted therapy of amino acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe-Nan Ling
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P.R. China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Fan Jiang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P.R. China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
| | - Jun-Nan Ru
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P.R. China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Hua Lu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P.R. China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
| | - Bo Ding
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P.R. China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China
| | - Jian Wu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P.R. China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China.
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Chu YD, Lai MW, Yeh CT. Unlocking the Potential of Arginine Deprivation Therapy: Recent Breakthroughs and Promising Future for Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10668. [PMID: 37445845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310668] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that supports protein synthesis to maintain cellular functions. Recent studies suggest that arginine also promotes wound healing, cell division, ammonia metabolism, immune system regulation, and hormone biosynthesis-all of which are critical for tumor growth. These discoveries, coupled with the understanding of cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, have led to renewed interest in arginine deprivation as a new anticancer therapy. Several arginine deprivation strategies have been developed and entered clinical trials. The main principle behind these therapies is that arginine auxotrophic tumors rely on external arginine sources for growth because they carry reduced key arginine-synthesizing enzymes such as argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) in the intracellular arginine cycle. To obtain anticancer effects, modified arginine-degrading enzymes, such as PEGylated recombinant human arginase 1 (rhArg1-PEG) and arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20), have been developed and shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials. They have been tried as a monotherapy or in combination with other existing therapies. This review discusses recent advances in arginine deprivation therapy, including the molecular basis of extracellular arginine degradation leading to tumor cell death, and how this approach could be a valuable addition to the current anticancer arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-De Chu
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Lai
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
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5
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Zhang Y, Higgins CB, Van Tine BA, Bomalaski JS, DeBosch BJ. Pegylated arginine deiminase drives arginine turnover and systemic autophagy to dictate energy metabolism. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100498. [PMID: 35106510 PMCID: PMC8784773 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is a multi-systemic disorder of energy balance. Despite intense investigation, the determinants of energy homeostasis remain incompletely understood, and efficacious treatments against obesity and its complications are lacking. Here, we demonstrate that conferred arginine iminohydrolysis by the bacterial virulence factor and arginine deiminase, arcA, promotes mammalian energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity and reverses dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation in obese mice. Extending this, pharmacological arginine catabolism via pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) recapitulates these metabolic effects in dietary and genetically obese models. These effects require hepatic and whole-body expression of the autophagy complex protein BECN1 and hepatocyte-specific FGF21 secretion. Single-cell ATAC sequencing further reveals BECN1-dependent hepatocyte chromatin accessibility changes in response to ADI-PEG 20. The data thus reveal an unexpected therapeutic utility for arginine catabolism in modulating energy metabolism by activating systemic autophagy, which is now exploitable through readily available pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Cassandra B. Higgins
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Brian A. Van Tine
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | | | - Brian J. DeBosch
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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6
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Hajaj E, Sciacovelli M, Frezza C, Erez A. The context-specific roles of urea cycle enzymes in tumorigenesis. Mol Cell 2021; 81:3749-3759. [PMID: 34469752 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The expression of the urea cycle (UC) proteins is dysregulated in multiple cancers, providing metabolic benefits to tumor survival, proliferation, and growth. Here, we review the main changes described in the expression of UC enzymes and metabolites in different cancers at various stages and suggest that these changes are dynamic and should hence be viewed in a context-specific manner. Understanding the evolvability in the activity of the UC pathway in cancer has implications for cancer-immune cell interactions and for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Hajaj
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Marco Sciacovelli
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Box 197, Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Christian Frezza
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Box 197, Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK.
| | - Ayelet Erez
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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7
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Harding JJ, Yang TS, Chen YY, Feng YH, Yen CJ, Ho CL, Huang WT, El Dika I, Akce M, Tan B, Cohen SA, Meyer T, Sarker D, Lee DW, Ryoo BY, Lim HY, Johnston A, Bomalaski JS, O'Reilly EM, Qin S, Abou-Alfa GK. Assessment of pegylated arginine deiminase and modified FOLFOX6 in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Results of an international, single-arm, phase 2 study. Cancer 2021; 127:4585-4593. [PMID: 34415578 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arginine starvation depletes the micronutrients required for DNA synthesis and interferes with both thymidylate synthetase activity and DNA repair pathways in preclinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20), an arginine degrader, potentiates the cytotoxic activity of platinum and pyrimidine antimetabolites in HCC cellular and murine models. METHODS This was a global, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial of ADI-PEG 20 and modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) in patients who had HCC with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis and disease progression on ≥2 prior lines of treatment. The primary objective was the objective response rate assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. Secondary objectives were to estimate progression-free survival, overall survival, safety, and tolerability. Eligible patients were treated with mFOLFOX6 intravenously biweekly at standard doses and ADI-PEG-20 intramuscularly weekly at 36 mg/m2 . RESULTS In total, 140 patients with advanced HCC were enrolled. The median patient age was 62 years (range, 30-85 years), 83% of patients were male, 76% were of Asian race, 56% had hepatitis B viremia, 10% had hepatitis C viremia, 100% had received ≥2 prior lines of systemic therapy, and 39% had received ≥3 prior lines of systemic therapy. The objective response rate was 9.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0%-15.4%), with a median response duration of 10.2 months (95% CI, 5.8 months to not reached). The median progression-free survival was 3.8 months (95% CI, 1.8-6.3 months), and the median overall survival was 14.5 months (95% CI, 13.6-20.9 months). The most common grade ≥3 treatment-related events were neutropenia (32.9%), white blood cell count decrease (20%), platelet count decrease (19.3%), and anemia (9.3%). CONCLUSIONS Concurrent mFOLFOX6 plus ADI-PEG 20 exhibited limited antitumor activity in patients with treatment-refractory HCC. The study was terminated early, and no further evaluation of the combination will be pursued. LAY SUMMARY Arginine is an important nutrient for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The depletion of arginine with pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20), an arginine degrader, appeared to make chemotherapy (FOLFOX) work better in animal models of HCC and in patients with HCC on an early phase clinical trial. To formally test this hypothesis in the clinical setting, a large, global, phase 2 clinical trial was conducted of ADI-PEG 20 and FOLFOX in the treatment of patients with refractory HCC. The study showed limited activity of ADI-PEG 20 and FOLFOX in advanced HCC and was stopped early.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Harding
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Tsai-Sheng Yang
- Internal Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Yang Chen
- College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Hsun Feng
- Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jui Yen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Liang Ho
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tsung Huang
- Department of Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center-Liouying, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Imane El Dika
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Mehmet Akce
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Benjamin Tan
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | | | - Timothy Meyer
- Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Debashis Sarker
- Department of Medicine, Guys Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dae-Won Lee
- Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Baek-Yeol Ryoo
- Department of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Yeong Lim
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | | - Eileen M O'Reilly
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Shukui Qin
- Cancer Center, Bayi Hospital of Nanjing Chinese Medicine University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ghassan K Abou-Alfa
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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8
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Kumari N, Bansal S. Arginine depriving enzymes: applications as emerging therapeutics in cancer treatment. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 88:565-594. [PMID: 34309734 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04335-w] [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: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy and other medications are employed to treat various types of cancer. However, each treatment has its own set of side effects, owing to its low specificity. As a result, there is an urgent need for newer therapeutics that do not disrupt healthy cells' normal functioning. Depriving nutrient or non/semi-essential amino acids to which cancerous cells are auxotrophic remains one such promising anticancer strategy. L-Arginine (Arg) is a semi-essential vital amino acid involved in versatile metabolic processes, signaling pathways, and cancer cell proliferation. Hence, the administration of Arg depriving enzymes (ADE) such as arginase, arginine decarboxylase (ADC), and arginine deiminase (ADI) could be effective in cancer therapy. The Arg auxotrophic cancerous cells like hepatocellular carcinoma, human colon cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer cells are sensitive to ADE treatment due to low expression of crucial enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), and ornithine transcarbamylase (OCT). These therapeutic enzyme treatments induce cell death through inducing autophagy, apoptosis, generation of oxidative species, i.e., oxidative stress, and arresting the progression and expansion of cancerous cells at certain cell cycle checkpoints. The enzymes are undergoing clinical trials and could be successfully exploited as potential anticancer agents in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Kumari
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat, Solan, 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Saurabh Bansal
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat, Solan, 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India.
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9
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Wu C, You M, Nguyen D, Wangpaichitr M, Li YY, Feun LG, Kuo MT, Savaraj N. Enhancing the Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Signaling and Arginine Deprivation in Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147628. [PMID: 34299249 PMCID: PMC8306073 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma as a very aggressive type of cancer is still in urgent need of improved treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) are two of many suggested drugs for treating melanoma. Both have shown anti-tumor activities without harming normal cells. However, resistance to both drugs has also been noted. Studies on the mechanism of action of and resistance to these drugs provide multiple targets that can be utilized to increase the efficacy and overcome the resistance. As a result, combination strategies have been proposed for these drug candidates with various other agents, and achieved enhanced or synergistic anti-tumor effect. The combination of TRAIL and ADI-PEG20 as one example can greatly enhance the cytotoxicity to melanoma cells including those resistant to the single component of this combination. It is found that combination treatment generally can alter the expression of the components of cell signaling in melanoma cells to favor cell death. In this paper, the signaling of TRAIL and ADI-PEG20-induced arginine deprivation including the main mechanism of resistance to these drugs and exemplary combination strategies is discussed. Finally, factors hampering the clinical application of both drugs, current and future development to overcome these hurdles are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjing Wu
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Research Service, Miami, FL 33125, USA; (C.W.); (M.W.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Min You
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.Y.); (D.N.); (L.G.F.)
| | - Dao Nguyen
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.Y.); (D.N.); (L.G.F.)
- Department of Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Medhi Wangpaichitr
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Research Service, Miami, FL 33125, USA; (C.W.); (M.W.); (Y.-Y.L.)
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.Y.); (D.N.); (L.G.F.)
- Department of Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ying-Ying Li
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Research Service, Miami, FL 33125, USA; (C.W.); (M.W.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Lynn G. Feun
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.Y.); (D.N.); (L.G.F.)
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Macus T. Kuo
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Niramol Savaraj
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Research Service, Miami, FL 33125, USA; (C.W.); (M.W.); (Y.-Y.L.)
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.Y.); (D.N.); (L.G.F.)
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-305-575-3143; Fax: +1-305-575-3375
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10
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Chen CL, Hsu SC, Ann DK, Yen Y, Kung HJ. Arginine Signaling and Cancer Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3541. [PMID: 34298755 PMCID: PMC8306961 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arginine is an amino acid critically involved in multiple cellular processes including the syntheses of nitric oxide and polyamines, and is a direct activator of mTOR, a nutrient-sensing kinase strongly implicated in carcinogenesis. Yet, it is also considered as a non- or semi-essential amino acid, due to normal cells' intrinsic ability to synthesize arginine from citrulline and aspartate via ASS1 (argininosuccinate synthase 1) and ASL (argininosuccinate lyase). As such, arginine can be used as a dietary supplement and its depletion as a therapeutic strategy. Strikingly, in over 70% of tumors, ASS1 transcription is suppressed, rendering the cells addicted to external arginine, forming the basis of arginine-deprivation therapy. In this review, we will discuss arginine as a signaling metabolite, arginine's role in cancer metabolism, arginine as an epigenetic regulator, arginine as an immunomodulator, and arginine as a therapeutic target. We will also provide a comprehensive summary of ADI (arginine deiminase)-based arginine-deprivation preclinical studies and an update of clinical trials for ADI and arginase. The different cell killing mechanisms associated with various cancer types will also be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Lin Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Miaoli County, Taiwan;
| | - Sheng-Chieh Hsu
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu 30035, Taiwan;
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - David K. Ann
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Yun Yen
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Hsing-Jien Kung
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Miaoli County, Taiwan;
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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11
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A phase II clinical study on the efficacy and predictive biomarker of pegylated recombinant arginase on hepatocellular carcinoma. Invest New Drugs 2021; 39:1375-1382. [PMID: 33856599 PMCID: PMC8426309 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-021-01111-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background: Pegylated recombinant human arginase (PEG-BCT-100) is an arginine depleting drug. Preclinical studies showed that HCC is reliant on exogenous arginine for growth due to the under-expression of the arginine regenerating enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC). Methods: This is a single arm open-label Phase II trial to assess the potential clinical efficacy of PEG-BCT-100 in chemo naïve sorafenib-failure HCC patients. Pre-treatment tumour biopsy was mandated for ASS and OTC expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Weekly intravenous PEG-BCT-100 at 2.7 mg/kg was given. Primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP); secondary endpoints included radiological response as per RECIST1.1, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Treatment outcomes were correlated with tumour immunohistochemical expressions of ASS and OTC. Results: In total 27 patients were recruited. The median TTP and PFS were both 6 weeks (95% CI, 5.9–6.0 weeks). The disease control rate (DCR) was 21.7% (5 stable disease). The drug was well tolerated. Post hoc analysis showed that duration of arginine depletion correlated with OS. For patients with available IHC results, 10 patients with ASS-negative tumour had OS of 35 weeks (95% CI: 8.3–78.0 weeks) vs. 15.14 weeks (95% CI: 13.4–15.1 weeks) in 3 with ASS-positive tumour; expression of OTC did not correlate with treatment outcomes. Conclusions: PEG-BCT-100 in chemo naïve post-sorafenib HCC is well tolerated with moderate DCR. ASS-negative confers OS advantage over ASS-positive HCC. ASS-negativity is a potential biomarker for OS in HCC and possibly for other ASS-negative arginine auxotrophic cancers. Trial registration number: NCT01092091. Date of registration: March 23, 2010.
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12
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Yu KM, Pang TPS, Cutler M, Tian M, Huang L, Lau JYN, Chung SF, Lo TWH, Leung TYC. Rational design, engineer, and characterization of a novel pegylated single isomer human arginase for arginine depriving anti-cancer treatment. Life Sci 2020; 264:118674. [PMID: 33129876 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Arginine depleting enzymes are found effective to treat arginine-auxotrophic cancers and therapy-resistant malignancies, alone or in combination with cytotoxic agents or immune checkpoint inhibitors. We aim to select and validate a long-lasting, safe and effective PEGylated and cobalt-chelated arginase conjugated at the selective cysteine residue as a therapeutic agent against cancers. MAIN METHODS Exploring pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the three arginase conjugates with different PEG modality (20 kDa linear as A20L, 20 kDa branched as A20Y, and 40 kDa branched as A40Y) by cell-based and animal studies. KEY FINDINGS Arginase conjugates showed comparable systemic half-lives, about 20 h in rats and mice. The extended half-life of PEGylated arginase was concurrent with the integrity of conjugates of which PEG and protein moieties remain attached in bloodstream for 72 h after drug administration. Arginase modified with a linear 20 kDa PEG (A20L) was chosen as the lead candidate (PT01). In vitro assays confirmed the very potent cytotoxicity of PT01 against cancer cell lines of breast, prostate, and pancreas origin. In MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic and PC-3 prostate tumor xenograft models, weekly infusion of the PT01 at 5 and 10 mg/kg induced significant tumor growth inhibition of 44-67%. All mice experienced dose-dependent but rapidly reversible weight loss following each weekly dose, suggesting tolerable toxicity. SIGNIFICANCE These non-clinical data support PT01 as the lead candidate for clinical development that may benefit cancer patients by providing an alternative cytotoxic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Ming Yu
- Athenex, Inc., Conventus Building, 1001 Main Street, Suite 600, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Tammy Pui-Shi Pang
- Avalon Polytom (HK) Ltd., Unit 1511-13 & 15, Level 15, Tower II, Grand Central Plaza, 138 Shatin Rural Committee Road, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Murray Cutler
- Athenex, Inc., Conventus Building, 1001 Main Street, Suite 600, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Min Tian
- Athenex, Inc., Conventus Building, 1001 Main Street, Suite 600, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Lynn Huang
- Athenex, Inc., Conventus Building, 1001 Main Street, Suite 600, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Johnson Yiu-Nam Lau
- Athenex, Inc., Conventus Building, 1001 Main Street, Suite 600, Buffalo, NY, USA; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Lo Ka Chung Research Centre for Natural Anti-Cancer Drug, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Sai-Fung Chung
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Lo Ka Chung Research Centre for Natural Anti-Cancer Drug, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas Wai-Hung Lo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Lo Ka Chung Research Centre for Natural Anti-Cancer Drug, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas Yun-Chung Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Lo Ka Chung Research Centre for Natural Anti-Cancer Drug, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
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13
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Combinatory Treatment of Canavanine and Arginine Deprivation Efficiently Targets Human Glioblastoma Cells via Pleiotropic Mechanisms. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102217. [PMID: 33008000 PMCID: PMC7600648 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas are the most frequent and aggressive form of primary brain tumors with no efficient cure. However, they often exhibit specific metabolic shifts that include deficiency in the biosynthesis of and dependence on certain exogenous amino acids. Here, we evaluated, in vitro, a novel combinatory antiglioblastoma approach based on arginine deprivation and canavanine, an arginine analogue of plant origin, using two human glioblastoma cell models, U251MG and U87MG. The combinatory treatment profoundly affected cell viability, morphology, motility and adhesion, destabilizing the cytoskeleton and mitochondrial network, and induced apoptotic cell death. Importantly, the effects were selective toward glioblastoma cells, as they were not pronounced for primary rat glial cells. At the molecular level, canavanine inhibited prosurvival kinases such as FAK, Akt and AMPK. Its effects on protein synthesis and stress response pathways were more complex and dependent on exposure time. We directly observed canavanine incorporation into nascent proteins by using quantitative proteomics. Although canavanine in the absence of arginine readily incorporated into polypeptides, no motif preference for such incorporation was observed. Our findings provide a strong rationale for further developing the proposed modality based on canavanine and arginine deprivation as a potential antiglioblastoma metabolic therapy independent of the blood-brain barrier.
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14
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Imagawa E, Diaz GA, Oishi K. A novel Romani microdeletion variant in the promoter sequence of ASS1 causes citrullinemia type I. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2020; 24:100619. [PMID: 32637322 PMCID: PMC7330059 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2020.100619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Citrullinemia type I (CTLN1, MIM #215700) is an autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder caused by deficiency of argininosuccinate synthase (ASS). CTLN1 is characterized by life-threatening hyperammonemia and risk for resulting neurocognitive impairments. The diagnosis of CTLN1 is confirmed by the identification of biallelic pathogenic variants in the ASS1 gene. However, there are a small percentage of CTLN1 patients with a characteristic biochemical phenotype without identifiable variants in ASS1. We describe the molecular characterization of two related Romani children with biochemically diagnosed CTLN1, whose clinical genetic testing failed to detect any pathogenic variant in ASS1. METHODS Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes collected from both patients. Sanger sequencing was performed after PCR amplifications of 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions of the ASS1 gene. A luciferase reporter assay was performed using the human malignant melanoma A2058 cell line and the human liver cancer cell line HepG2. RESULTS We interrogated the non-coding regions of ASS1 by targeted PCR amplification and identified a homozygous 477-bp microdeletion in the promoter region of the ASS1 gene in both patients. Heterozygosity of the variant was confirmed in their parents. Sanger sequencing confirmed the microdeletion contained the entire sequence of the non-coding exon 1 of ASS1 that includes promoter elements of GC-box, E-box, AP2-binding site, and TATA-box. Luciferase reporter assay using an expression plasmid containing the wild-type or mutant ASS1 sequences showed robust reporter expression from the wild-type sequence and significantly reduced expression driven by the mutant insert (3.6% in A2058 cells and 3.3% in HepG2 cells). These findings were consistent with the hypothesis that the microdeletion identified in the patients disrupted an essential promoter element and resulted in deficiency of ASS1 mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of CTLN1 patients caused by a Romani microdeletion variant affecting the non-coding upstream sequence of ASS1. Ablation of the promoter sequence can cause CTLN1 by the reduction of ASS1 expression. Currently available clinical sequencing methods usually do not cover the promoter sequence including the non-coding exon of ASS1, highlighting the importance of evaluating this region in genetic testing for CTLN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eri Imagawa
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - George A. Diaz
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kimihiko Oishi
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Zarei M, Rahbar MR, Negahdaripour M, Morowvat MH, Nezafat N, Ghasemi Y. Cell Penetrating Peptide: Sequence-Based Computational Prediction for Intercellular Delivery of Arginine Deiminase. CURR PROTEOMICS 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/1570164616666190701120351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPPs), a family of short peptides, are broadly used as the carrier in the delivery of drugs and different therapeutic agents. Thanks to the existence of valuable databases, computational screening of the experimentally validated CPPs can help the researchers to select more effective CPPs for the intercellular delivery of therapeutic proteins. Arginine deiminase of Mycoplasma hominis, an arginine-degrading enzyme, is currently in the clinical trial for treating several arginine auxotrophic cancers. However, some tumor cells have developed resistance to ADI treatment. The ADI resistance arises from the over-expression of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 enzyme, which is involved in arginine synthesis. Intracellular delivery of ADI into tumor cells is suggested as an efficient approach to overcome the aforesaid drawback.Objective:In this study, in-silico tools were used for evaluating the experimentally validated CPPs to select the best CPP candidates for the intracellular delivery of ADI.Results:In this regard, 150 CPPs of protein cargo available at CPPsite were retrieved and evaluated by the CellPPD server. The best CPP candidates for the intracellular delivery of ADI were selected based on stability and antigenicity of the ADI-CPP fusion form. The conjugated forms of ADI with each of the three CPPs including EGFP-hcT (9-32), EGFP-ppTG20, and F(SG)4TP10 were stable and nonantigenic; thus, these sequences were introduced as the best CPP candidates for the intracellular delivery of ADI. In addition, the proposed CPPs had appropriate positive charge and lengths for an efficient cellular uptake.Conclusion:These three introduced CPPs not only are appropriate for the intracellular delivery of ADI, but also can overcome the limitation of its therapeutic application, including short half-life and antigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahboubeh Zarei
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Rahbar
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Manica Negahdaripour
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Navid Nezafat
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Younes Ghasemi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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16
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Karatsai O, Stasyk O, Redowicz MJ. Effects of Arginine and Its Deprivation on Human Glioblastoma Physiology and Signaling. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1202:243-258. [PMID: 32034717 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-30651-9_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The observations that numerous cancers are characterized by impairment in arginine synthesis and that deficit of exogenous arginine specifically affects their growth and viability are the ground for arginine deprivation-based anticancer treatment strategy. This review addresses molecular mechanisms of the human glioblastoma cell response to arginine deprivation. Our earlier studies have shown that arginine deprivation specifically impairs glioblastoma cell motility, adhesion and invasiveness. These changes were evoked by alterations in the actin cytoskeleton organization resulting from a decreased arginylation of β-actin isoform. Moreover, deficit of arginine induces prolonged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activation of the unfolded protein response, not leading, however, to a massive apoptosis in glioblastoma cells. Our current research indicates that cell death could be augmented by other compounds such as modulators of ER stress, for example arginine analogue of plant origin, canavanine. Implication of these studies on the development of new anti-glioma metabolic therapeutic modalities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Karatsai
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Cell Motility, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Oleh Stasyk
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Maria Jolanta Redowicz
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Cell Motility, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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17
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Kuo MT, Long Y, Tsai WB, Li YY, Chen HHW, Feun LG, Savaraj N. Collaboration Between RSK-EphA2 and Gas6-Axl RTK Signaling in Arginine Starvation Response That Confers Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors. Transl Oncol 2019; 13:355-364. [PMID: 31887630 PMCID: PMC6938815 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many human malignancies require extracellular arginine (Arg) for survival because the key enzyme for de novo Arg biosynthesis, argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1), is silenced. Recombinant arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20), which digests extracellular Arg, has been in clinical trials for treating ASS1-negative tumors. Reactivation of ASS1 is responsible for the treatment failure. We previously demonstrated that ASS1 reactivation is transcriptionally regulated by c-Myc via the upstream Gas6-Axl tyrosine kinase (RTK) signal. Here, we report that another RTK EphA2 is coactivated via PI3K-ERK/RSK1 pathway in a ligand-independent mechanism. EphA2 is also regulated by c-Myc. Moreover, we found that knockdown Axl upregulates EphA2 expression, demonstrating cross-talk between these RTKs. ADIR cell lines exhibits enhanced sensitivities to nutrient deprivation such as charcoal-stripped FBS and multiple RTK inhibitor foretinib but resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Knockdown EphA2, and to lesser extent, Axl, overcomes EGFRi resistance. c-Myc inhibitor JQ1 can also sensitize ADIR cells to ADI-PEG20. This study elucidates molecular interactions of multiple RTKs in Arg-stress response and offers approaches for developing strategies of overcoming ADI-PEG20 resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macus Tien Kuo
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Yan Long
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wen-Bin Tsai
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ying-Ying Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Helen H W Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan
| | - Lynn G Feun
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Niramol Savaraj
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
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18
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Bala A, Panditharadyula SS. Role of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF-2) Mediated Antioxidant Response on the Synergistic Antitumor Effect of L-Arginine and 5-Fluro Uracil (5FU) in Breast Adenocarcinoma. Curr Pharm Des 2019; 25:1643-1652. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666190705205155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Breast adenocarcinoma (BAC) in glandular tissue cells have excessive metastasis and invasion capability.
The major challenges for the chemotherapy used for the management of BAC include chemoresistance and
auto-immunosuppression in BAC. The 5-fluro uracil (5-FU) based therapy promotes the immune activation in
BAC by targeting the regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). The beneficial effect of
the combination of L-Arginine with 5-FU strives to be established in different pre-clinical and clinical conditions
and explored in the scientific literature. L-Arginine induces NO production and potentiates the anticancer effect
of 5-FU. NO-mediated signaling is regulated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2) mediated
antioxidant response. NRF-2 mediated antioxidant mechanism always suppresses the formation of superoxide
(O2
-) as well as other reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus the utilization of NO by O2
- will be minimum in this
combination therapy. The regulatory role of NRF-2 in regulation to Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) mediated
cytoprotective gene expression in BAC remains unexplored. The present review summarizes the role of
NRF-2 mediated antioxidant response on the synergistic antitumor effect of L-Arginine and 5-FU in BAC. This
review brought new insight into the management of BAC and in the same context, a hypothesis is raised on the
use of reduced glutathione (GSH) or N-Acetyl Cysteine as it may be an added adjuvant in the combination of 5-
FU and L-Arginine for management of BAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asis Bala
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, EPIP, Industrial Area, Vaishali 844102, Bihar, India
| | - Shravani Sripathi Panditharadyula
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, EPIP, Industrial Area, Vaishali 844102, Bihar, India
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19
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Singh PK, Deorukhkar AA, Venkatesulu BP, Li X, Tailor R, Bomalaski JS, Krishnan S. Exploiting Arginine Auxotrophy with Pegylated Arginine Deiminase (ADI-PEG20) to Sensitize Pancreatic Cancer to Radiotherapy via Metabolic Dysregulation. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 18:2381-2393. [PMID: 31395686 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Distinct metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells compared with normal cells can potentially be exploited for therapeutic targeting. Deficiency of argininosuccinate synthetase-1 (ASS1) in pancreatic cancers creates auxotrophy for the semiessential amino acid arginine. We explored the therapeutic potential of depleting exogenous arginine via pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) treatment as an adjunct to radiotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy of treatment of human pancreatic cancer cell lines and xenografts with ADI-PEG20 and radiation via clonogenic assays and tumor growth delay experiments. We also investigated potential mechanisms of action using reverse-phase protein array, Western blotting, and IHC and immunofluorescence staining. ADI-PEG20 potently radiosensitized ASS1-deficient pancreatic cancer cells (MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1, AsPc-1, HPAC, and CaPan-1), but not ASS1-expressing cell lines (Bxpc3, L3.6pl, and SW1990). Reverse phase protein array studies confirmed increased expression of proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis, which were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Inhibition of ER stress signaling with 4-phenylbutyrate abrogated the expression of ER stress proteins and reversed radiosensitization by ADI-PEG20. Independent in vivo studies in two xenograft models confirmed significant tumor growth delays, which were associated with enhanced expression of ER stress proteins and apoptosis markers and reduced expression of proliferation and angiogenesis markers. ADI-PEG20 augmented the effects of radiation by triggering the ER stress pathway, leading to apoptosis in pancreatic tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj K Singh
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Amit A Deorukhkar
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Bhanu P Venkatesulu
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiaolin Li
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ramesh Tailor
- Department of Radiation Physics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Sunil Krishnan
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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20
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Abstract
Oncogenic signalling and metabolic alterations are interrelated in cancer cells. mTOR, which is frequently activated in cancer, controls cell growth and metabolism. mTOR signalling regulates amino acid, glucose, nucleotide, fatty acid and lipid metabolism. Conversely, metabolic inputs, such as amino acids, activate mTOR. In this Review, we discuss how mTOR signalling rewires cancer cell metabolism and delineate how changes in metabolism, in turn, sustain mTOR signalling and tumorigenicity. Several drugs are being developed to perturb cancer cell metabolism. However, their efficacy as stand-alone therapies, similar to mTOR inhibitors, is limited. Here, we discuss how the interdependence of mTOR signalling and metabolism can be exploited for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sujin Park
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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21
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Gupta S, Sahu D, Bomalaski JS, Frank I, Boorjian SA, Thapa P, Cheville JC, Hansel DE. Argininosuccinate Synthetase-1 (ASS1) Loss in High-Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Urinary Bladder: Implications for Targeted Therapy with ADI-PEG 20. Endocr Pathol 2018; 29:236-241. [PMID: 29453600 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-018-9516-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
High-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (HGNECs) of the urinary bladder encompass small cell (SCNEC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC). Currently, recommended initial management is with systemic chemotherapy, followed by consolidative therapy with either radical cystectomy or radiotherapy in patients with localized disease. Nevertheless, survival in this setting remains poor. We therefore evaluated the potential to modify arginine metabolism as an alternative, targeted therapy approach in these carcinomas. In humans, arginine is a semi-essential amino acid and its synthesis enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1) represents the rate-limiting step in arginine biosynthesis. Neoplasms that show low to absent ASS1 expression require extracellular arginine for cancer cell survival, and thus can be targeted using arginine-degrading enzymes such as pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20). An initial study by our group of 19 patients demonstrated that a high percentage of SCNEC lack ASS1 expression. Herein, we evaluated an expanded cohort of 74 radical cystectomy patients with HGNEC, including 63 SCNEC, 5 LCNEC, and 6 mixed morphology HGNEC patients. ASS1 expression was assessed through immunohistochemistry. Fifty-eight (of 74, 78%) patients with HGNEC showed absent ASS1 expression, including all patients with LCNEC and mixed morphology (11 of 11, 100%). Ten-year survival from disease-specific death was not statistically significant between ASS1-expressing and ASS1-deficient cases (p = 0.75). Our results show that HGNEC of the bladder may be candidates for arginine deprivation therapy using drugs such as ADI-PEG 20. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and to determine the therapeutic efficacy of such agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sounak Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Divya Sahu
- Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., MC 0612, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - Igor Frank
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Prabin Thapa
- Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - John C Cheville
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Donna E Hansel
- Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., MC 0612, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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22
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A phase 1 study of ADI-PEG 20 and modified FOLFOX6 in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and other gastrointestinal malignancies. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2018; 82:429-440. [PMID: 29971467 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-018-3635-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Arginine depletion interferes with pyrimidine metabolism as well as DNA damage repair pathways. Preclinical data indicates that pairing pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) with fluoropyrimidines or platinum enhances cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo in arginine auxotrophs. METHODS This is a single-center, open-label, phase 1 trial of ADI-PEG 20 and modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) in treatment-refractory hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other advanced gastrointestinal tumors. A 3 + 3 dose escalation design was employed to assess safety, tolerability, and determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of ADI-PEG 20. A RP2D expansion cohort for patients with HCC was employed to define the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary objectives were to estimate progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and to explore pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity. Eligible patients were treated with mFOLFOX6 intravenously biweekly at standard doses and ADI-PEG-20 intramuscularly weekly at 18 (Cohort 1) or 36 mg/m2 (Cohort 2 and RP2D expansion). RESULTS Twenty-seven patients enrolled-23 with advanced HCC and 4 with other gastrointestinal tumors. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in cohort 1 or 2. The RP2D for ADI-PEG 20 was 36 mg/m2 weekly with mFOLFOX6. The most common any grade adverse events (AEs) were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, and fatigue. Among the 23 HCC patients, the most frequent treatment-related Grade ≥ 3 AEs were neutropenia (47.8%), thrombocytopenia (34.7%), leukopenia (21.7%), anemia (21.7%), and lymphopenia (17.4%). The ORR for this group was 21% (95% CI 7.5-43.7). Median PFS and OS were 7.3 and 14.5 months, respectively. Arginine levels were depleted with therapy despite the emergence of low levels of anti-ADI-PEG 20 antibodies. Arginine depletion at 4 and 8 weeks and archival tumoral argininosuccinate synthetase-1 levels did not correlate with response. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent mFOLFOX6 plus ADI-PEG-20 intramuscularly at 36 mg/m2 weekly shows an acceptable safety profile and favorable efficacy compared to historic controls. Further evaluation of this combination is warranted in advanced HCC patients.
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Roeksomtawin S, Navasumrit P, Waraprasit S, Parnlob V, Sricharunrat T, Bhudhisawasdi V, Savaraj N, Ruchirawat M. Decreased argininosuccinate synthetase expression in Thai patients with cholangiocarcinoma and the effects of ADI-PEG20 treatment in CCA cell lines. Oncol Lett 2018; 16:1529-1538. [PMID: 30008833 PMCID: PMC6036342 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a severe cancer with poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to explore the expression of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), as well as the possibility of using pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) for the treatment of CCA. ASS expression was determined in CCA specimens from 40 patients in Thailand. Immunohistochemical detection of ASS and determination of the proliferative index, Ki-67, were carried out in paraffin-embedded sections of these specimens, as well as in two CCA cell lines, HuCCA and RmCCA-1, derived from CCA samples from patients in Thailand. In total, ~45% of the CCA specimens had low ASS expression, and the level of expression was significantly negatively associated with cell differentiation (P<0.05) and Ki-67 expression (P<0.05). The level of ASS expression in tumor cells was significantly lower than that in non-tumor cells (1.3-fold, P<0.05). The HuCCA cell line had significantly lower levels (P<0.05) of ASS expression at the mRNA and protein levels relative to those of normal human immortalized fibroblast cells (BJ-1). By contrast, the RmCCA-1 cell line showed no significant difference. In addition, the effects of ADI-PEG20 on growth inhibition, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were determined in HuCCA and RmCCA-1 cells. ADI-PEG20 treatment reduced cell viability and cell proliferation in the two CCA cell lines, though it had no effect in immortalized BJ-1 cells. Furthermore, ADI-PEG20 treatment significantly increased G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HuCCA, though not in RmCCA-1 cells. ASS silencing in the RmCCA-1 cell line significantly enhanced its sensitivity to ADI-PEG20 treatment. Results from the in vitro study demonstrated that ADI-PEG20 has antitumor activity against CCA with low ASS expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somphon Roeksomtawin
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand.,Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Panida Navasumrit
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand.,Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand.,Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
| | - Somchamai Waraprasit
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Varabhorn Parnlob
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | | | - Vajarabhongsa Bhudhisawasdi
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kean 40000, Thailand.,Laboratory of Chemical Carcinogenesis, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Niramol Savaraj
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Mathuros Ruchirawat
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand.,Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand.,Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
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Mörén L, Perryman R, Crook T, Langer JK, Oneill K, Syed N, Antti H. Metabolomic profiling identifies distinct phenotypes for ASS1 positive and negative GBM. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:167. [PMID: 29422017 PMCID: PMC5806242 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4040-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tumour cells have a high demand for arginine. However, a subset of glioblastomas has a defect in the arginine biosynthetic pathway due to epigenetic silencing of the rate limiting enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1). These tumours are auxotrophic for arginine and susceptible to the arginine degrading enzyme, pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20). Moreover, ASS1 deficient GBM have a worse prognosis compared to ASS1 positive tumours. Since altered tumour metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer we were interested to determine if these two subtypes exhibited different metabolic profiles that could allow for their non-invasive detection as well as unveil additional novel therapeutic opportunities. Methods We looked for basal metabolic differences using one and two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (1D/2D GC-TOFMS) followed by targeted analysis of 29 amino acids using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOFMS). We also looked for differences upon arginine deprivation in a single ASS1 negative and positive cell line (SNB19 and U87 respectively). The acquired data was evaluated by chemometric based bioinformatic methods. Results Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) of both the 1D and 2D GC-TOFMS data revealed significant systematic difference in metabolites between the two subgroups with ASS1 positive cells generally exhibiting an overall elevation of identified metabolites, including those involved in the arginine biosynthetic pathway. Pathway and network analysis of the metabolite profile show that ASS1 negative cells have altered arginine and citrulline metabolism as well as altered amino acid metabolism. As expected, we observed significant metabolite perturbations in ASS negative cells in response to ADI-PEG20 treatment. Conclusions This study has highlighted significant differences in the metabolome of ASS1 negative and positive GBM which warrants further study to determine their diagnostic and therapeutic potential for the treatment of this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Mörén
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Richard Perryman
- John Fulcher Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tim Crook
- St Luke's Cancer Centre, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, UK
| | - Julia K Langer
- John Fulcher Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Kevin Oneill
- John Fulcher Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nelofer Syed
- John Fulcher Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Henrik Antti
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
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