In Vitro Effects of Selective COX and LOX Inhibitors and Their Combinations with Antineoplastic Drugs in the Mouse Melanoma Cell Line B16F10

A step forward on the in vitro and in vivo assessment of a novel nanomedicine against melanoma

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with increasing incidence and mortality rates. To overcome current treatment limitations, a hybrid molecule (HM) combining a triazene and a ʟ-tyrosine analogue, was recently synthesized, incorporated in long blood circulating liposomes (LIP HM) and validated in an immunocompetent melanoma model. The present work constitutes a step forward in the therapeutic assessment of HM formulations. Here, human melanoma cells, A375 and MNT-1, were used and dacarbazine (DTIC), a triazene drug clinically available as first-line treatment for melanoma, constituted the positive control. In cell cycle analysis, A375 cells, after 24-h incubation with HM (60 μM) and DTIC (70 μM), resulted in a 1.2 fold increase (related to control) in the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase. The therapeutic activity was evaluated in a human murine melanoma model (subcutaneously injected with A375 cells) to most closely resemble the human pathology. Animals treated with LIP HM exhibited the highest antimelanoma effect resulting in a 6-, 5- and 4-fold reduction on tumor volume compared to negative control, Free HM and DTIC groups, respectively. No toxic side effects were detected. Overall, these results constitute another step forward in the validation of the antimelanoma activity of LIP HM, using a murine model that more accurately simulates the pathology that occurs in human patients.

Ferroptosis: a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease

The most prevalent dementia-causing neurodegenerative condition is Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aberrant buildup of amyloid β and tau hyperphosphorylation are the two most well-known theories about the mechanisms underlying AD development. However, a significant number of pharmacological clinical studies conducted around the world based on the two aforementioned theories have not shown promising outcomes, and AD is still not effectively treated. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic programmed cell death defined by the buildup of deadly amounts of iron-dependent lipid peroxides, has received more attention in recent years. A wealth of data is emerging to support the role of iron in the pathophysiology of AD. Cell line and animal studies applying ferroptosis modulators to the treatment of AD have shown encouraging results. Based on these studies, we describe in this review the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis; the role that ferroptosis plays in AD pathology; and summarise some of the research advances in the treatment of AD with ferroptosis modulators. We hope to contribute to the clinical management of AD.

Heat Shock Proteins HSPA1 and HSP90AA1 Are Upregulated in Colorectal Polyps and Can Be Targeted in Cancer Cells by Anti-Inflammatory Oxicams with Arylpiperazine Pharmacophore and Benzoyl Moiety Substitutions at Thiazine Ring

Heat shock proteins HSPA1/Hsp70α and HSP90AA1/Hsp90α are crucial for cancer growth but their expression pattern in colorectal polyps or whether they can be modulated by oxicams is unknown. We quantified (RTqPCR) HSPA1 and HSP90AA1 expression in 50 polyp-normal pairs in relation to polyp malignancy potential and examined the effect of piroxicam, meloxicam and five novel analogues on HSPA1 and HSP90AA1 expression (mRNA/protein) in colorectal adenocarcinoma lines. HSPA1 and HSP90AA1 were upregulated in polyps by 3- and 2.9-fold. Expression ratios were higher in polyps with higher dysplasia grade and dominant villous growth pattern, mostly a result of diminished gene expression in normal tissue. Classic oxicams had negligible/non-significant effect on HSP expression. Their most effective analogue inhibited HSPA1 protein and gene by 2.5-fold and 5.7-fold in Caco-2 and by 11.5-fold and 6.8-fold in HCT116 and HSPA1 protein in HT-29 by 1.9-fold. It downregulated HSP90AA1 protein and gene by 1.9-fold and 3.7-fold in Caco-2 and by 2-fold and 5.0-fold in HCT116. HSPA1 and HSP90AA1 are upregulated in colorectal polyps reflecting their potential for malignancy. HSPA1 in cancer cells and, to lesser degree, HSP90AA1 can be reduced by oxicam analogues with thiazine ring substituted via propylene linker by arylpiperazine pharmacophore with fluorine substituents and by benzoyl moiety.