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Yassin-Kassab A, Chatterjee S, Khan N, Wang N, Sandulache VC, Huang EHB, Burns TF, Duvvuri U. p90RSK pathway inhibition synergizes with cisplatin in TMEM16A overexpressing head and neck cancer. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:233. [PMID: 38373988 PMCID: PMC10875868 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11892-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) constitutes one of the most common types of human cancers and often metastasizes to lymph nodes. Platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs are commonly used for treatment of a wide range of cancers, including HNSCC. Its mode of action relies on its ability to impede DNA repair mechanisms, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. However, due to acquired resistance and toxic side-effects, researchers have been focusing on developing novel combinational therapeutic strategies to overcome cisplatin resistance. In the current study, we identified p90RSK, an ERK1/2 downstream target, as a key mediator and a targetable signaling node against cisplatin resistance. Our results strongly support the role of p90RSK in cisplatin resistance and identify the combination of p90RSK inhibitor, BI-D1870, with cisplatin as a novel therapeutic strategy to overcome cisplatin resistance. In addition, we have identified TMEM16A expression as a potential upstream regulator of p90RSK through the ERK pathway and a biomarker of response to p90RSK targeted therapy in the context of cisplatin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulkader Yassin-Kassab
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Suman Chatterjee
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nayel Khan
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nathaniel Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Vlad C Sandulache
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eric H-B Huang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Timothy F Burns
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Umamaheswar Duvvuri
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Smilow Research Center, 530 First Avenue, 801.b, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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Yassin-Kassab A, Wang N, Foley J, Stewart TM, Burns MR, Casero RA, Harbison RA, Duvvuri U. Polyamine transport inhibition and cisplatin synergistically enhance tumor control through oxidative stress in murine head and neck cancer models. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.25.550524. [PMID: 37546993 PMCID: PMC10402081 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.25.550524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Surgery and/or platinum-based chemoradiation remain standard of care for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). While these therapies are effective in a subset of patients, a substantial proportion experience recurrence or treatment resistance. As cisplatin mediates cytotoxicity through oxidative stress while polyamines play a role in redox regulation, we posited that combining cisplatin with polyamine transport inhibitor, AMXT-1501, would increase oxidative stress and tumor cell death in HNSCC cells. Methods Cell proliferation was measured in syngeneic mouse HNSCC cell lines treated with cisplatin ± AMXT-1501. Synergy was determined by administering cisplatin and AMXT-1501 at a ratio of 1:10 to cancer cells in vitro . Cancer cells were transferred onto mouse flanks to test the efficacy of treatments in vivo . Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Cellular apoptosis was measured with flow cytometry using Annexin V/PI staining. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify polyamines in cell lines. Cell viability and ROS were measured in the presence of exogenous cationic amino acids. Results The combination of cisplatin and AMXT-1501 synergize in vitro on HNSCC cell lines. In vivo combination treatment resulted in tumor growth inhibition greater than either treatment individually. The combination treatment increased ROS production and induced apoptotic cell death. HPLC revealed the synergistic mechanism was independent of intracellular polyamine levels. Supplementation of cationic amino acids partially rescued cancer cell viability and reduced ROS. Conclusion AMXT-1501 enhances the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin in vitro and in vivo in aggressive HNSCC cell lines through a polyamine-independent mechanism.
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Ahmed S, Khan H, Fakhri S, Aschner M, Cheang WS. Therapeutic potential of marine peptides in cervical and ovarian cancers. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 477:605-619. [PMID: 34855045 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-021-04306-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cervical and ovarian cancers contribute significantly to female morbidity and mortality worldwide. The current standard of treatment, including surgical removal, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, offers poor outcomes. There are many side effects to traditional chemotherapeutic agents and treatment-resistant types, and often the immune response is depressed. As a result, traditional approaches have evolved to include new alternative remedies, such as natural compounds. Aquatic species provide a rich supply of possible drugs. The potential anti-cancer peptides are less toxic to normal cells and can attenuate multiple drug resistance by providing an efficacious treatment approach. The physiological effects of marine peptides are described in this review focusing on various pathways, such as apoptosis, microtubule balance disturbances, suppression of angiogenesis, cell migration/invasion, and cell viability. The review also highlights the potential role of marine peptides as safe and efficacious therapeutic agent for the treatment of cervical and ovarian cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Haroon Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan.
| | - Sajad Fakhri
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, 6734667149, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Wai San Cheang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Zhuhai, China
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