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Alfei S, Zuccari G. Attempts to Improve Lipophilic Drugs' Solubility and Bioavailability: A Focus on Fenretinide. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:579. [PMID: 38794242 PMCID: PMC11125266 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050579] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of numerous drugs is often arrested at clinical testing stages, due to their unfavorable biopharmaceutical characteristics. It is the case of fenretinide (4-HPR), a second-generation retinoid, that demonstrated promising in vitro cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines. Unfortunately, response rates in early clinical trials with 4-HPR did not confirm the in vitro findings, mainly due to the low bioavailability of the oral capsular formulation that was initially developed. Capsular 4-HPR provided variable and insufficient drug plasma levels attributable to the high hepatic first-pass effect and poor drug water solubility. To improve 4-HPR bioavailability, several approaches have been put forward and tested in preclinical and early-phase clinical trials, demonstrating generally improved plasma levels and minimal systemic toxicities, but also modest antitumor efficacy. The challenge is thus currently still far from being met. To redirect the diminished interest of pharmaceutical companies toward 4-HPR and promote its further clinical development, this manuscript reviewed the attempts made so far by researchers to enhance 4-HPR bioavailability. A comparison of the available data was performed, and future directions were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Alfei
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Guendalina Zuccari
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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Scheinberg T, Mak B, Butler L, Selth L, Horvath LG. Targeting lipid metabolism in metastatic prostate cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359231152839. [PMID: 36743527 PMCID: PMC9893394 DOI: 10.1177/17588359231152839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite key advances in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), a proportion of men have de novo resistance, and all will develop resistance to current therapeutics over time. Aberrant lipid metabolism has long been associated with prostate carcinogenesis and progression, but more recently there has been an explosion of preclinical and clinical data which is informing new clinical trials. This review explores the epidemiological links between obesity and metabolic syndrome and PCa, the evidence for altered circulating lipids in PCa and their potential role as biomarkers, as well as novel therapeutic strategies for targeting lipids in men with PCa, including therapies widely used in cardiovascular disease such as statins, metformin and lifestyle modification, as well as novel targeted agents such as sphingosine kinase inhibitors, DES1 inhibitors and agents targeting FASN and beta oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahlia Scheinberg
- Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown NSW, Australia,Advanced Prostate Cancer Group, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia,University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Blossom Mak
- Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown NSW, Australia,Advanced Prostate Cancer Group, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia,University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Lisa Butler
- Prostate Cancer Research Group, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia,South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute and Freemason’s Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luke Selth
- South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute and Freemason’s Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia,Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Labs, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia,Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, College of Medicine and Public Health, Bedford Park, Australia
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Fu Y, Zhou Y, Mu Y, Lv Y, Chen G, Zhang H, Liu P, Chen J. Testicular orphan receptor 4 induced hepatic stellate cells activation via the regulation of TGF-β receptor Ⅰ/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Ann Hepatol 2023; 28:100775. [PMID: 36280014 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2022.100775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Liver fibrosis is a common pathological change in many chronic liver diseases. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the core event in liver fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the role of testicular orphan receptor 4 (TR4) in the activation of HSCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vivo, bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced rat liver fibrosis model was established, and the expressions of TR4 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in liver tissues were detected. In vitro, TR4 knockdown and overexpression in JS-1 cells using lentiviral vectors were constructed, and the expressions of TR4, α-SMA, Col-I, and TGF-β1/smads and retinoid X receptor (RXR) pathway-related genes were detected. RESULTS TR4 was highly expressed in BDL-induced fibrotic liver, accompanied by increased expression of α-SMA. Knockdown of TR4 significantly inhibited the expressions of α-SMA, Col-I, p-TβRI, and p-Smad2/3, and up-regulated the expression of RXRα in HSCs in vitro. In contrast, TR4 overexpression significantly increased the expressions of α-SMA, Col-I, p-TβRI, and p-Smad2/3, and inhibited the expression of RXRα. CONCLUSIONS TR4 may promote the activation of HSCs by up-regulating TβR I/Smad2/3 signaling pathway and down-regulating RXRα signaling, thereby promoting the progression of liver fibrosis. Our findings may provide a new therapeutic target against hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadong Fu
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuping Zhou
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yongping Mu
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ying Lv
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Gaofeng Chen
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Jiamei Chen
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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