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Andrés CMC, Pérez de la Lastra JM, Munguira EB, Andrés Juan C, Pérez-Lebeña E. Dual-Action Therapeutics: DNA Alkylation and Antimicrobial Peptides for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:3123. [PMID: 39335095 PMCID: PMC11429518 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16183123] [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: 08/02/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the most difficult diseases to treat, requiring continuous research into innovative therapeutic strategies. Conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective to a certain extent but often have significant side effects and carry the risk of resistance. In recent years, the concept of dual-acting therapeutics has attracted considerable attention, particularly the combination of DNA alkylating agents and antimicrobial peptides. DNA alkylation, a well-known mechanism in cancer therapy, involves the attachment of alkyl groups to DNA, leading to DNA damage and subsequent cell death. Antimicrobial peptides, on the other hand, have been shown to be effective anticancer agents due to their ability to selectively disrupt cancer cell membranes and modulate immune responses. This review aims to explore the synergistic potential of these two therapeutic modalities. It examines their mechanisms of action, current research findings, and the promise they offer to improve the efficacy and specificity of cancer treatments. By combining the cytotoxic power of DNA alkylation with the unique properties of antimicrobial peptides, dual-action therapeutics may offer a new and more effective approach to fighting cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia María Curieses Andrés
- Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Avenida de Ramón y Cajal, 3, 47003 Valladolid, Spain; (C.M.C.A.); (E.B.M.)
| | - José Manuel Pérez de la Lastra
- Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology, CSIC-Spanish Research Council, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, 3, 38206 La Laguna, Spain
| | - Elena Bustamante Munguira
- Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Avenida de Ramón y Cajal, 3, 47003 Valladolid, Spain; (C.M.C.A.); (E.B.M.)
| | - Celia Andrés Juan
- Cinquima Institute and Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Valladolid University, Paseo de Belén, 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain;
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Pérez-Poyatos L, Pastrana-Martínez L, Morales-Torres S, Sánchez-Moreno P, Bramini M, Maldonado-Hódar F. Iron-copper oxide nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide for the degradation of cyclophosphamide by photo-Fenton reaction. Catal Today 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2023.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Pérez-Poyatos LT, Morales-Torres S, Maldonado-Hódar FJ, Pastrana-Martínez LM. Magnetite Nanoparticles as Solar Photo-Fenton Catalysts for the Degradation of the 5-Fluorouracil Cytostatic Drug. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:4438. [PMID: 36558291 PMCID: PMC9782202 DOI: 10.3390/nano12244438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneous catalysts based on magnetite nanoparticles, Fe3O4, were prepared by the chemical coprecipitation method using iron (III) chloride as a salt precursor. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by different techniques and the efficiency was evaluated for the degradation of the cytostatic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in aqueous solution by photo-Fenton process under simulated solar radiation. The most influential parameters, namely pH of the solution, catalyst load, H2O2 dosage, and use of radiation, were studied and optimized in the degradation process. The optimal conditions to achieve a 100% degradation of 5-FU (10 mg L-1) and a high mineralization degree (76%) were established at the acidic pH of 3.0, 100 mg L-1 of catalyst loading, and 58 mM of H2O2 under simulated solar radiation. The contribution of iron leaching to the catalyst deactivation, the role of the dissolved iron ions on homogenous reactions, and the stability of the catalyst were assessed during consecutive reaction cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Luisa M. Pastrana-Martínez
- NanoTech—Nanomaterials and Sustainable Chemical Technologies, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, ES18071 Granada, Spain
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Mello Souza D, Reichert JF, Ramos do Nascimento V, Figueiredo Martins A. Ozonation and UV photolysis for removing anticancer drug residues from hospital wastewater. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2022; 57:635-644. [PMID: 35848127 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2022.2099195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigates the use of UV light and the ozone process for doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, and irinotecan degradation. The process was carried out using different pH values in hospital wastewater. The use of UV radiation reduces the concentration of anticancer drugs, but in all cases, this technology was not able enough to remove on the whole these contaminants from hospital wastewater. The best condition was achieved when using pH 9 for most of the analytes. Doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and epirubicin were degraded at 97.3%, 88.3%, and 99.0%, respectively. Irinotecan showed the lowest degradation, just 55.6%; a slightly higher degradation (63.8%) was obtained when pH 5 was used. Complete removal of doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, and irinotecan was achieved when ozone treatment was used for all the pH studied. The results indicated that UV light and the ozone process can be used as a tertiary treatment to reduce the concentration of anticancer drugs in the effluents. Ozonation, therefore, proved to be more efficient than the photolysis process, when considering the percentual degradation of the original compounds in shorter timespans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darliana Mello Souza
- Chemistry Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
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Zhang S, Ye C, Li J, Yu X, Feng M. Treatment-driven removal efficiency, product formation, and toxicity evolution of antineoplastic agents: Current status and implications for water safety assessment. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 206:117729. [PMID: 34624659 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Antineoplastic compounds, designed for chemotherapeutic anticancer therapy, have become emerging contaminants of global concern over the past decade due to their ubiquitous occurrence, environmental persistence, and multiple adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. Increasing efforts have been devoted to developing efficient strategies for remediating water containing these micropollutants. In this study, the physicochemical properties, natural attenuation, and chemical reactivity with aqueous oxidizing species of five antineoplastic drugs with the highest environmental prevalence (i.e., tamoxifen, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, 5-fluorouracil, and methotrexate) were summarized. The removal performance, transformation products (TPs) of varying structures, overall reaction pathways, and toxicity evolution during different treatments were evaluated and discussed. Additionally, the biodegradability and multi-endpoint toxicity of each TP were predicted using in silico QSAR software. Depending on their distinct inherent structures, the reactivity of the antineoplastics with oxidizing species varied, with hydroxyl radicals exhibiting unparalleled merits in rapid oxidation. Complete elimination of these contaminants was observed during oxidative treatments, but with inadequate mineralization. Notably, the increase in toxicity within multiple processes was determined based on both experimental bioassays and theoretical predictions. This may be attributed to the adverse effects induced by the large number of identified and unknown TPs individually and in combination. Together with the environmental persistence and low biodegradability of most TPs, these results necessitate the application of efficient post-treatments in conjunction with a more thorough water safety evaluation (e.g., using high-throughput screening) of the mixtures of treated water and wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengqi Zhang
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Chengsong Ye
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Jianguo Li
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Xin Yu
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Mingbao Feng
- College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China.
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Abstract
The uncontrolled release of pharmaceutical drugs into the environment raised serious concerns in the last decades as they can potentially exert adverse effects on living organisms even at the low concentrations at which they are typically found. Among them, platinum based cytostatic drugs (Pt CDs) are among the most used drugs in cancer treatments which are administered via intravenous infusion and released partially intact or as transformation products. In this review, the studies on environmental occurrence, transformation, potential ecotoxicity, and possible treatment for the removal of platinum cytostatic compounds are revised. The analysis of the literature highlighted the generally low total platinum concentration values (from a few tens of ng L−1 to a few hundred μg L−1) found in hospital effluents. Additionally, several studies highlighted how hospitals are sources of a minor fraction of the total Pt CDs found in the environment due to the slow excretion rate which is longer than the usual treatment durations. Only some data about the impact of the exposure to low levels of Pt CDs on the health of flora and fauna are present in literature. In some cases, adverse effects have been shown to occur in living organisms, even at low concentrations. Further ecotoxicity data are needed to support or exclude their chronic effects on the ecosystem. Finally, fundamental understanding is required on the platinum drugs removal by MBR, AOPs, technologies, and adsorption.
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Abstract
It is with great pleasure that we present to you the output of the Special Issue Study of Biodegradation and Bioremediation [...]
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Insight into the Sorption of 5-Fluorouracil and Methotrexate onto Soil-pH, Ionic Strength, and Co-Contaminant Influence. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061674. [PMID: 33802784 PMCID: PMC8002423 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays anticancer drugs (ADs), like other pharmaceuticals, are recognized as new emerging pollutants, meaning that they are not commonly monitored in the environment; however, they have great potential to enter the environment and cause adverse effects there. The current scientific literature highlights the problem of their presence in the aquatic environment by publishing more and more results on their analytics and ecotoxicological evaluation. In order to properly assess the risk associated with the presence of ADs in the environment, it is also necessary to investigate the processes that are important in understanding the environmental fate of these compounds. However, the state of knowledge on mobility of ADs in the environment is still very limited. Therefore, the main aim of our study was to investigate the sorption potential of two anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and methotrexate (MTX), onto different soils. Special attention was paid to the determination of the influence of pH and ionic strength as well as presence of co-contaminants (cadmium (Cd2+) and another pharmaceutical-metoprolol (MET)) on the sorption of 5-FU and MTX onto soil. The obtained distribution coefficient values (Kd) ranged from 2.52 to 6.36 L·kg-1 and from 6.79 to 12.94 L·kg-1 for 5-FU and MTX, respectively. Investigated compounds may be classified as slightly or low mobile in the soil matrix (depending on soil). 5-FU may be recognized as more mobile in comparison to MET. It was proved that presence of other soil contaminants may strongly influence their mobility in soil structures. The investigated co-contaminant (MET) caused around 25-fold increased sorption of 5-FU, whereas diminished sorption of MTX. Moreover, the influence of environmental conditions such as pH and ionic strength on their sorption has been clearly demonstrated.
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Yadav A, Rene ER, Mandal MK, Dubey KK. Threat and sustainable technological solution for antineoplastic drugs pollution: Review on a persisting global issue. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:128285. [PMID: 33297229 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In the past 20 years, the discharge of pharmaceuticals and their presence in the aquatic environment have been continuously increasing and this has caused serious public health and environmental concerns. Antineoplastic drugs are used in chemotherapy, in large quantities worldwide, for the treatment of continuously increasing cancer cases. Antineoplastic drugs also contaminate water sources and possess mutagenic, cytostatic and eco-toxicological effects on microorganisms present in the aquatic environment as well as on human health. Due to the recalcitrant nature of antineoplastic drugs, the commonly used wastewater treatment processes are not able to eliminate these drugs. Globally, various anticancer drugs are being consumed during chemotherapy in hospitals and households by out-patients. These anti-cancer agents enter the water bodies in their original form or as metabolites via urine and faeces of the out-patients or the patients admitted in hospitals. Due to its high lipid solubility, the antineoplastic drugs accumulate in the fatty tissues of the organisms. These drugs enter through the food chain and cause adverse health effects on humans due to their cytotoxic and genotoxic properties. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) elucidated new regulations for the management of hazardous pharmaceuticals in the water environment. In this paper, the role of antineoplastic agents as emerging water contaminants, its transfer through the food chain, its eco-toxicological properties and effects, technological solutions and management aspects were reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Yadav
- Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, 123031, Haryana, India
| | - Eldon R Rene
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Mrinal Kanti Mandal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, NIT Durgapur, Durgapur, 713209, West Bengal, India
| | - Kashyap Kumar Dubey
- Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, 123031, Haryana, India; Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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