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Jiménez-Alonso JJ, López-Lázaro M. Dietary Manipulation of Amino Acids for Cancer Therapy. Nutrients 2023; 15:2879. [PMID: 37447206 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells cannot proliferate and survive unless they obtain sufficient levels of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids (AAs). Unlike normal cells, cancer cells have genetic and metabolic alterations that may limit their capacity to obtain adequate levels of the 20 AAs in challenging metabolic environments. However, since normal diets provide all AAs at relatively constant levels and ratios, these potentially lethal genetic and metabolic defects are eventually harmless to cancer cells. If we temporarily replace the normal diet of cancer patients with artificial diets in which the levels of specific AAs are manipulated, cancer cells may be unable to proliferate and survive. This article reviews in vivo studies that have evaluated the antitumor activity of diets restricted in or supplemented with the 20 proteinogenic AAs, individually and in combination. It also reviews our recent studies that show that manipulating the levels of several AAs simultaneously can lead to marked survival improvements in mice with metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel López-Lázaro
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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2
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Sedillo JC, Cryns VL. Targeting the methionine addiction of cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:2249-2276. [PMID: 35693095 PMCID: PMC9185618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Methionine is the initiator amino acid for protein synthesis, the methyl source for most nucleotide, chromatin, and protein methylation, and the carbon backbone for various aspects of the cellular antioxidant response and nucleotide biosynthesis. Methionine is provided in the diet and serum methionine levels fluctuate based on dietary methionine content. Within the cell, methionine is recycled from homocysteine via the methionine cycle, which is linked to nutrient status via one-carbon metabolism. Unlike normal cells, many cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo, show high methionine cycle activity and are dependent on exogenous methionine for continued growth. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the methionine dependence of diverse malignancies are poorly understood. Methionine deprivation initiates widespread metabolic alterations in cancer cells that enable them to survive despite limited methionine availability, and these adaptive alterations can be specifically targeted to enhance the activity of methionine deprivation, a strategy we have termed "metabolic priming". Chemotherapy-resistant cell populations such as cancer stem cells, which drive treatment-resistance, are also sensitive to methionine deprivation, suggesting dietary methionine restriction may inhibit metastasis and recurrence. Several clinical trials in cancer are investigating methionine restriction in combination with other agents. This review will explore new insights into the mechanisms of methionine dependence in cancer and therapeutic efforts to translate these insights into enhanced clinical activity of methionine restriction in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joni C Sedillo
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Madison, WI, USA
| | - Vincent L Cryns
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Madison, WI, USA
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3
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Connolly-Schoonen J, Biamonte SF, Danowski L, Montrose DC. Modifying dietary amino acids in cancer patients. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 373:1-36. [PMID: 36283763 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Limiting nutrient utilization by cancer cells in order to disrupt their metabolism and suppress their growth represents a promising approach for anti-cancer therapy. Recently, studies demonstrating the anti-neoplastic effects of lowering amino acid (AA) availability have opened up an exciting and quickly growing field of study. Although intracellular synthesis can often provide the AAs necessary to support cancer cells, diet and the tumor microenvironment can also be important sources. In fact, studies carried out in vitro and in animal tumor models have supported the anti-cancer potential of restricting exogenous sources of AAs. However the potential benefit of reducing AA intake in cancer patients requires further investigation. Furthermore, implementation of such an approach clinically, even if proven useful, could be challenging. In the enclosed review, we (1) summarize the pre-clinical studies showing the anti-tumorigenic effects of restricting exogenously available AAs, including through reducing dietary protein, (2) consider the role of microbiota in this process, (3) report on current recommendations for protein intake in cancer patients and studies that applied these guidelines, and (4) propose considerations for studies to test the potential therapeutic benefit of reducing protein/AA consumption in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Connolly-Schoonen
- Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Steven F Biamonte
- Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Lorraine Danowski
- Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - David C Montrose
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States; Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States.
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4
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Sun L, Zhang H, Gao P. Metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modifications on the path to cancer. Protein Cell 2021; 13:877-919. [PMID: 34050894 PMCID: PMC9243210 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-021-00846-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring and epigenetic remodeling, which are closely linked and reciprocally regulate each other, are among the well-known cancer hallmarks. Recent evidence suggests that many metabolites serve as substrates or cofactors of chromatin-modifying enzymes as a consequence of the translocation or spatial regionalization of enzymes or metabolites. Various metabolic alterations and epigenetic modifications also reportedly drive immune escape or impede immunosurveillance within certain contexts, playing important roles in tumor progression. In this review, we focus on how metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells and immune cells reshapes epigenetic alterations, in particular the acetylation and methylation of histone proteins and DNA. We also discuss other eminent metabolic modifications such as, succinylation, hydroxybutyrylation, and lactylation, and update the current advances in metabolism- and epigenetic modification-based therapeutic prospects in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linchong Sun
- Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Huafeng Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China. .,CAS Centre for Excellence in Cell and Molecular Biology, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Ping Gao
- Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. .,School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. .,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510005, China.
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5
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Liu J, Huang J, Xin P, Liu G, Wu J. Biomedical applications of methionine-based systems. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:1961-1973. [PMID: 33537687 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm02180f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Methionine (Met), an essential amino acid in the human body, possesses versatile features based on its chemical modification, cell metabolism and metabolic derivatives. Benefitting from its multifunctional properties, Met holds immense potential for biomedical applications. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent progress in Met-based strategies for biomedical applications. First, given the unique structural characteristics of Met, two chemical modification methods are briefly introduced. Subsequently, due to the disordered metabolic state of tumor cells, applications of Met in cancer treatment and diagnosis are summarized in detail. Furthermore, the efficacy of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), as the most important metabolic derivative of Met, for treating liver diseases is mentioned. Finally, we analyze the current challenges and development trends of Met in the biomedical field, and suggest that Met-restriction therapy might be a promising approach to treat COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instrument of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Cancer diets for cancer patients: Lessons from mouse studies and new insights from the study of fatty acid metabolism in tumors. Biochimie 2020; 178:56-68. [PMID: 32890677 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Specific diets for cancer patients have the potential to offer an adjuvant modality to conventional anticancer therapy. If the concept of starving cancer cells from nutrients to inhibit tumor growth is quite simple, the translation into the clinics is not straightforward. Several diets have been described including the Calorie-restricted diet based on a reduction in carbohydrate intake and the Ketogenic diet wherein the low carbohydrate content is compensated by a high fat intake. As for other diets that deviate from normal composition only by one or two amino acids, these diets most often revealed a reduction in tumor growth in mice, in particular when associated with chemo- or radiotherapy. By contrast, in cancer patients, the interest of these diets is almost exclusively supported by case reports precluding any conclusions on their real capacity to influence disease outcome. In parallel, the field of tumor lipid metabolism has emerged in the last decade offering a better understanding of how fatty acids are captured, synthesized or stored as lipid droplets in cancers. Fatty acids participate to cancer cell survival in the hypoxic and acidic tumor microenvironment and also support proliferation and invasiveness. Interestingly, while such addiction for fatty acids may account for cancer progression associated with high fat diet, it could also represent an Achilles heel for tumors. In particular n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids represent a class of lipids that can exert potent cytotoxic effects in tumors and therefore represent an attractive diet supplementation to improve cancer patient outcomes.
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Tajan M, Vousden KH. Dietary Approaches to Cancer Therapy. Cancer Cell 2020; 37:767-785. [PMID: 32413275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The concept that dietary changes could improve the response to cancer therapy is extremely attractive to many patients, who are highly motivated to take control of at least some aspect of their treatment. Growing insight into cancer metabolism is highlighting the importance of nutrient supply to tumor development and therapeutic response. Cancers show diverse metabolic requirements, influenced by factors such as tissue of origin, microenvironment, and genetics. Dietary modulation will therefore need to be matched to the specific characteristics of both cancers and treatment, a precision approach requiring a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that determine the metabolic vulnerabilities of each cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mylène Tajan
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Karen H Vousden
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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Chaturvedi S, Hoffman RM, Bertino JR. Exploiting methionine restriction for cancer treatment. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 154:170-173. [PMID: 29733806 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Normal cells can synthesize sufficient methionine for growth requirements from homocysteine and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and vitamin B12. However, many cancer-cell types require exogenous methionine for survival and therefore methionine restriction is a promising avenue for treatment. While the lack of the methionine salvage enzyme methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deficiency is associated with methionine dependence in cancer cells, there are other causes for tumors to require exogenous methionine. In this review we describe studies that show restricting methionine to certain cancers by diet or by enzyme depletion, alone or in combination with certain chemotherapeutics is a promising antitumor strategy. The basis for methionine dependence in tumor cells is also briefly reviewed.
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Yousef HN, Aboelwafa HR. The potential protective role of taurine against 5-fluorouracil-induced nephrotoxicity in adult male rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 69:265-274. [PMID: 28189472 DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Nephrotoxicity is common with the use of the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The current study aimed to investigate the probable protective effect of taurine (TAU) against 5-FU-induced nephrotoxicity in rats using biochemical, histological and ultrastructural approaches. Twenty-four rats were equally divided into control, TAU, 5-FU and 5-FU+TAU groups. 5-FU significantly elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and uric acid; while it reduced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Also, 5-FU induced significant elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels accompanied with marked decline in γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels in kidney tissues. These biochemical alterations were accompanied by histopathological changes marked by destruction of the normal renal structure, in addition to ultrastructural alterations represented by thickened and irregular glomerular basement membranes, congested glomerular capillaries, damaged lining fenestrated endothelium, mesangial cells hyperplasia with expanded mesangial matrix, and distorted podocyte's processes. Also, the proximal (PCT) and distal (DCT) convoluted tubules showed thickened basement membranes, destructed apical microvilli and loss of basal infoldings of their epithelial cells. Administration of TAU to 5-FU-treated rats reversed most of the biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural alterations. These results indicate that TAU has a protective effect against 5-FU-induced nephrotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany N Yousef
- Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Hanaa R Aboelwafa
- Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy, Cairo, Egypt
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Saeidi H, Nasiri MRG, Shahidsales S, Kermani AT, Hematti S, Roodbari SS, Shahri MHM, Chagharvand S. Evaluation of estrogen receptor expression and its relationship with clinicopathologic findings in gastric cancer. Adv Biomed Res 2015; 4:177. [PMID: 26605216 PMCID: PMC4617152 DOI: 10.4103/2277-9175.164013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The presence of estrogen receptor alpha has been reported in the cell and tissue levels in gastric cancer; however, its impact on patients’ survival remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of estrogen receptor in gastric carcinoma as well as its relationship with the clinicopathologic findings of the patients. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 100 endoscopic biopsies of gastric adenocarcinoma for estrogen receptor expression using an immunohistochemical method, and their relationship with the clinicopathologic findings of the patients, such as age, gender, tumor site, size, grade, depth of tumor invasion (T), and lymphatic status (N), were analyzed using independent sample t-test and Pearson Chi-square test. A P < 0.05 was considered significant in all analyses. Results: Using an immunohistochemical method on endoscopic biopsies of 74 males and 26 females with the mean age of 63 years, estrogen receptor was found to be positive in 41% of patients. No significant difference was found between estrogen receptor expression and other clinicopathologic findings (P = 0.75). There was a significant difference between estrogen receptor (+) and estrogen receptor (−) groups in nodal involvement (P = 0.001). The estrogen receptor (+) patients had more number of lymph nodes involved. Conclusion: This study showed that lymph node involvement has a significant relationship with estrogen receptor expression. However, no significant relationship was found between estrogen receptor expression and other clinicopathologic findings such as age, gender, tumor site in stomach, tumor size, tumor grade, and T-stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Saeidi
- Cancer Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Science (GUMS), Guilan, Iran
| | | | - Soodabeh Shahidsales
- Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Taghizadeh Kermani
- Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran
| | - Simin Hematti
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran
| | | | | | - Sepideh Chagharvand
- Cancer Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Science (GUMS), Guilan, Iran
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Hoffman RM. Development of recombinant methioninase to target the general cancer-specific metabolic defect of methionine dependence: a 40-year odyssey. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2014; 15:21-31. [PMID: 25439528 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2015.963050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION All tested cancer cell types are methionine dependent in that the cells arrest and eventually die when deprived of methionine, a condition that is generally nontoxic to normal cells. Methionine dependence is the only known general metabolic defect in cancer. Methionine-deprived cancer cells arrest at the S/G2 phase, an unusual position for cell cycle arrest. In order to exploit the cancer-specific metabolic defect of methionine dependence, methioninases were developed. AREAS COVERED The present Expert Opinion describes the phenomena of methionine dependence and a methioninase cloned from Pseudomonas putida (chemical name: l-methionine α-deamino-γ-mercaptomethane lyase [EC 4.4.1.11]). The cloned methioninase, termed recombinant methioninase, or rMETase, has been tested in mouse models of human cancer as well as in macaque monkeys and a pilot Phase I trial of human cancer patients. Efficacy of rMETase has been demonstrated against various cancer types in mouse models. EXPERT OPINION The most promising application of rMETase therapy is in sequential combination therapy, whereby the cancer cells within a tumor are trapped in S/G2 by methioninase treatment and then treated with chemotherapeutic agents active against cells in S/G2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc. , 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA 92111 , USA +1 858 654 2555 ; +1 858 268 4175 ;
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12
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Stone E, Paley O, Hu J, Ekerdt B, Cheung NK, Georgiou G. De novo engineering of a human cystathionine-γ-lyase for systemic (L)-Methionine depletion cancer therapy. ACS Chem Biol 2012; 7:1822-9. [PMID: 22963240 DOI: 10.1021/cb300335j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
It has been known for nearly a half century that human tumors, including those derived from the nervous system such as glioblastomas, medulloblastoma, and neuroblastomas are much more sensitive than normal tissues to l-methionine (l-Met) starvation. More recently, systemic l-Met depletion by administration of Pseudomonas putida methionine-γ-lyase (MGL) could effectively inhibit human tumors xenografted in mice. However, bacterial-derived MGLs are unstable in serum (t(1/2) = 1.9 ± 0.2 h) and highly immunogenic in primates. Since the human genome does not encode a human MGL enzyme, we created de novo a methionine degrading enzyme by reengineering the structurally homologous pyridoxal phosphate-dependent human enzyme cystathionine-γ-lyase (hCGL). hCGL degrades l-cystathionine but displays no promiscuous activity toward l-Met. Rational design and scanning saturation mutagenesis led to the generation of a variant containing three amino acid substitutions (hCGL-NLV) that degraded l-Met with a k(cat)/K(M) of 5.6 × 10(2) M(-1) s(-1) and displayed a serum deactivation t(1/2) = 78 ± 5 h (non-PEGylated). In vitro, the cytotoxicity of hCGL-NLV toward 14 neuroblastoma cell lines was essentially indistinguishable from that of the P. putida MGL. Intravenous administration of PEGylated hCGL-NLV in mice reduced serum l-Met from 123 μM to <5 μM for over 30 h. Importantly, treatment of neuroblastoma mouse xenografts with PEGylated hCGL-NLV resulted in near complete cessation of tumor growth. Since the mode of action of hCGL-NLV does not require breaching the blood-brain barrier, this enzyme may have potential application for sensitive tumors that arise from or metastasize to the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jian Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New
York 10065, United States
| | | | - Nai-Kong Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New
York 10065, United States
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Hiura Y, Takiguchi S, Yamamoto K, Takahashi T, Kurokawa Y, Yamasaki M, Nakajima K, Miyata H, Fujiwara Y, Mori M, Kangawa K, Doki Y. Effects of ghrelin administration during chemotherapy with advanced esophageal cancer patients. Cancer 2012; 118:4785-94. [DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
Cancer has become the leading cause of death in the developed world and has remained one of the most difficult diseases to treat. One of the difficulties in treating cancer is that conventional chemotherapies often have unacceptable toxicities toward normal cells at the doses required to kill tumor cells. Thus, the demand for new and improved tumor specific therapeutics for the treatment of cancer remains high. Alterations to cellular metabolism constitute a nearly universal feature of many types of cancer cells. In particular, many tumors exhibit deficiencies in one or more amino acid synthesis or salvage pathways forcing a reliance on the extracellular pool of these amino acids to satisfy protein biosynthesis demands. Therefore, one treatment modality that satisfies the objective of developing cancer cell-selective therapeutics is the systemic depletion of that tumor-essential amino acid, which can result in tumor apoptosis with minimal side effects to normal cells. While this strategy was initially suggested over 50 years ago, it has been recently experiencing a renaissance owing to advances in protein engineering technology, and more sophisticated approaches to studying the metabolic differences between tumorigenic and normal cells. Dietary restriction is typically not sufficient to achieve a therapeutically relevant level of amino acid depletion for cancer treatment. Therefore, intravenous administration of enzymes is used to mediate the degradation of such amino acids for therapeutic purposes. Unfortunately, the human genome does not encode enzymes with the requisite catalytic or pharmacological properties necessary for therapeutic purposes. The use of heterologous enzymes has been explored extensively both in animal studies and in clinical trials. However, heterologous enzymes are immunogenic and elicit adverse responses ranging from anaphylactic shock to antibody-mediated enzyme inactivation, and therefore have had limited utility. The one notable exception is Escherichia colil-asparaginase II (EcAII), which has been FDA-approved for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The use of engineered human enzymes, to which natural tolerance is likely to prevent recognition by the adaptive immune system, offers a novel approach for capitalizing on the promising strategy of systemic depletion of tumor-essential amino acids. In this work, we review several strategies that we have developed to: (i) reduce the immunogenicity of a nonhuman enzyme, (ii) engineer human enzymes for novel catalytic specificities, and (iii) improve the pharmacological characteristics of a human enzyme that exhibits the requisite substrate specificity for amino acid degradation but exhibits low activity and stability under physiological conditions.
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Sobczak M, Hajdaniak M, Goś P, Olędzka E, Kołodziejski WL. Use of aliphatic poly(amide urethane)s for the controlled release of 5-fluorouracil. Eur J Med Chem 2011; 46:914-8. [PMID: 21292355 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2011.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 12/28/2010] [Accepted: 01/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Sobczak
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Warsaw, ul Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
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Chakroborty D, Sarkar C, Mitra RB, Banerjee S, Dasgupta PS, Basu S. Depleted dopamine in gastric cancer tissues: dopamine treatment retards growth of gastric cancer by inhibiting angiogenesis. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 10:4349-56. [PMID: 15240521 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-04-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE It has been recently shown that the catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) strongly and selectively inhibits vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. Gastric cancer is highly angiogenic and is dependent on VEGF for its growth and progression. Because substantial amounts of DA present in normal stomach tissues has been implicated in several gastric functions, we therefore investigated the role, if any, of this neurotransmitter in the growth and progression of gastric cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Initially, the status of DA and tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme required for DA synthesis, were determined in human gastric cancer tissues and in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric cancer tissues of rats. On the basis of our observation of inverse correlation between stomach DA and gastric cancer growth, we determined the effect of pharmacological dose of DA on the angiogenesis and growth of MNNG induced gastric cancer in rats and Hs746T human gastric cancer in nude mice. RESULTS DA and tyrosine hydroxylase were absent in both human and rat gastric cancer tissues. On the contrary, a low nontoxic pharmacological dose of DA significantly retarded tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting VEGFR-2 phosphorylation in tumor endothelial cells, which expressed DA D(2) receptors. This action of DA was associated with the growth inhibition of both MNNG-induced rat malignant gastric tumors and xenotransplanted human gastric cancer in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that there is an inverse correlation between endogenous stomach DA and gastric cancer and indicates that DA already in clinical use for other purposes might have a role as an antiangiogenic agent in the treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debanjan Chakroborty
- Signal Transduction and Biogenic Amines Laboratory, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Calcutta, India
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He YC, Wang YH, Cao J, Chen JW, Pan DY, Zhou YK. Effect of complex amino acid imbalance on growth of tumor in tumor-bearing rats. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:2772-5. [PMID: 14669331 PMCID: PMC4612050 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i12.2772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effect of complex amino acid imbalance on the growth of tumor in tumor-bearing (TB) rats.
METHODS: Sprague-Dawlley (SD) rats underwent jejunostomy for nutritional support. A suspension of Walker-256 carcinosarcoma cells was subcutaneously inoculated. TB rats were randomly divided into groups A, B, C and D according to the formula of amino acids in enteral nutritional solutions, respectively. TB rats received jejunal feedings supplemented with balanced amino acids (group A), methionine-depleted amino acids (group B), valine-depleted amino acids (group C) and methionine- and valine-depleted complex amino acid imbalance (group D) for 10 days. Tumor volume, inhibitory rates of tumor, cell cycle and life span of TB rats were investigated.
RESULTS: The G0/G1 ratio of tumor cells in group D (80.5 ± 9.0)% was higher than that in groups A, B and C which was 67.0% ± 5.1%, 78.9% ± 8.5%, 69.2% ± 6.2%, respectively (P < 0.05). The ratio of S/G2M and PI in group D were lower than those in groups A, B and C. The inhibitory rate of tumor in groups B, C and D was 37.2%, 33.3% and 43.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). The life span of TB rats in group D was significantly longer than that in groups B, C, and A.
CONCLUSION: Methionine/valine-depleted amino acid imbalance can inhibit tumor growth. Complex amino acids of methionine and valine depleted imbalance have stronger inhibitory effects on tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Cheng He
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China.
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He YC, Chen JW, Cao J, Pan DY, Qiao JG. Toxicities and therapeutic effect of 5-fluorouracil controlled release implant on tumor-bearing rats. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:1795-8. [PMID: 12918123 PMCID: PMC4611546 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i8.1795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the toxicities, biodistribution and anticancer effect of 5-fluorouracil controlled release implant (5-FUCI) on Walker 256 carcinosarcoma cells in Wistar rats.
METHODS: Experiment 1: Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (27 rats per group). Blank implant was implanted in left lobe of the liver, and rats were treated with saline solution (in group A) or 5-fluorouracil (subcutaneous injection, group B). 5-FUCI was inserted in left lobe of the liver (group C). The gastrointestinal and hematological toxicities were observed and contents of element F in group C were assayed. Experiment 2: on day 6 after Walker-256 carcinosarcoma transplantation in left lobe of the liver, 5-FUCI was implanted in right lobe of the liver (group E) or left lobe (group F), and rats in control group (group D) were inserted blank implant. Tumor inhibition rate and survival time were investigated.
RESULTS: 5-FUCI showed no obvious toxic effect, extraction of Evan’s blue from gastrointestinal tissue was normal, the peripheral white blood cells and bone marrow nucleated cells were not reduced, compared with control group (P > 0.05). Histological examination revealed that there were no visible changes in small intestinal mucosa, The concentration of 5-fluorouracil in left lobe of the liver was 9.84, 28, 34 times as much as those of right lobe of the liver, heart and kidney respectively after the implantation in group C. They kept a high level of fluorouracil in left lobe of the liver, ranging from (4.414% ± 0.482%) to (7.800% ± 0.804%), for eight weeks. Survival days were 28.0 ± 2.2, 30.0 ± 3.2 and 38.7 ± 6.7 d in group D, E and F, respectively.
CONCLUSION: 5-FUCI shows no obvious toxicities to gastrointestinal tract and myelotoxicity. After implantation, it kept a high level of 5- fluorouracil in surrounding tissues of the implant for eight weeks. Its antitumor effect on Walker-256 carcinosarcoma is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Cheng He
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China.
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Hu GY, Yu BP, Dong WG, Li MQ, Yu JP, Luo HS, Rang ZX. Expression of TFF2 and Helicobacter pylori infection in carcinogenesis of gastric mucosa. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:910-4. [PMID: 12717829 PMCID: PMC4611396 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i5.910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the expression of TFF2 and Helicobacter pylori infection in carcinogenesis of gastric mucosa.
METHODS: The expression of TFF2 was immunohistochemically analyzed in paraffin-embedded samples from 119 patients with endoscopic biopsy and subtotal gastrectomy specimens of gastric mucosal lesions, including 16 cases of chronic superficial gastritis (CSG), 20 chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 35 intestinal metaplasia (IM), 23 gastric epithelial dysplasia (GED) and 25 gastric carcinoma (CA), and Helicobacter pylori infection was detected by Warthin-Starry staining.
RESULTS: 1: TFF2 was located in the cytoplasm of gastric mucous neck cell. The expression of TFF2 was 100%, 100%, 0, 56.5% and 0 in CSGs, CAGs, IMs, GEDs and CAs, respectively. 2: The value of TFF2 positive cell density in CSG with Helicobacter pylori infection was higher than that without Helicobacter pylori infection. (52.89 ± 7.27vs 46.49 ± 13.04, P > 0.05); But the value of TFF2 positive cell density in CAG and GED with Helicobacter pylori infection was significantly lower than that without Helicobacter pylori infection (18.17 ± 4.09vs 37.93 ± 13.80, P < 0.01 and 14.44 ± 9.32vs 24.84 ± 10.22, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Increase of TFF2 expression in CSG is perhaps associated with the protective mechanism after gastric mucosal injury. Decrease of TFF2 expression in CAG possibly attributes to the decrease in the number of gastric gland cell expressing TFF2. Re-expression of TFF2 in gastric epithelial dysplasia implies that TFF2 possibly contributes to the initiation of gastric carcinoma. The effect of Helicobacter pylori on the expression of TFF2 depends on the status of gastric mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Yong Hu
- Gastroenterology Department, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Province, China
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Zhao XH, Gu SZ, Liu SX, Pan BR. Expression of estrogen receptor and estrogen receptor messenger RNA in gastric carcinoma tissues. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:665-9. [PMID: 12679906 PMCID: PMC4611424 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i4.665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To study estrogen receptor (ER) and estrogen receptor messenger RNA (ERmRNA) expression in gastric carcinoma tissues and to investigate their association with the pathologic types of gastric carcinoma.
METHODS: The expression of ER and ERmRNA in gastric carcinoma tissues (15 males and 15 females, 42-70 years old) was detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively.
RESULTS: The positive rate of ER (immunohistochemistry) was 33.3% in males and 46.7% in females. In Borrmann IV gastric carcinoma ER positive rate was greater than that in other pathologic types, and in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma the positive rates were greater than those in other histological types of both males and females (P < 0.05). The ER was more highly expressed in diffused gastric carcinoma than in non-diffused gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05). The ER positive rate was also related to regional lymph nodes metastases (P < 0.05), and was significantly higher in females above 55 years old, and higher in males under 55 years old (P < 0.05). The ERmRNA (in situ hybridization) positive rate was 73.3% in males and 86.7% in females. The ERmRNA positive rates were almost the same in Borrmann I, II, III and IV gastric carcinoma (P > 0.05). ERmRNA was expressed in all tubular adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma (P < 0.05). The ERmRNA positive rate was related to both regional lymph nodes metastases and gastric carcinoma growth patterns, and was higher in both sexes above 55 years old but without statistical significance (P > 0.05). The positive rate of ERmRNA expression by in situ hybridization was higher than that of ER expression by immunohistochemistry (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: ERmRNA expression is related to the pathological behaviors of gastric carcinoma, which might help to predict the prognosis and predict the effectiveness of endocrine therapy for gastric carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Han Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
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He YC, Cao J, Chen JW, Pan DY, Zhou YK. Influence of methionine/valine-depleted enteral nutrition on nucleic acid and protein metabolism in tumor-bearing rats. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:771-4. [PMID: 12679929 PMCID: PMC4611447 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i4.771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of methionine/valine-depleted enteral nutrition (EN) on RNA, DNA and protein metabolism in tumor-bearing (TB) rats.
METHODS: Sprague-Dawlley (SD) rats underwent jejunostomy for nutritional support. A suspension of Walker-256 carcinosarcoma cells was subcutaneously inoculated. 48 TB rats were randomly divided in 4 groups: A, B, C and D. The TB rats had respectively received jejunal feedings supplemented with balanced amino acids, methionine-depleted, balanced amino acids and valine-depleted for 6 d before injection of 740 KBq 3H- methionine/valine via jejunum. The 3H incorporation rate of the radioactivity into RNA, DNA and proteins in tumor tissues at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 h postinjection of tracers was assessed with liquid scintillation counter.
RESULTS: Incorporation of 3H into proteins in groups B and D was (0.500 ± 0.020)% to (3.670 ± 0.110)% and (0.708 ± 0.019)% to (3.813 ± 0.076)% respectively, lower than in groups A [(0.659 ± 0.055)% to (4.492 ± 0.108)%] and C [(0.805 ± 0.098)% to (4.180 ± 0.018)%]. Incorporation of 3H into RNA, DNA in group B was (0.237 ± 0.075)% and (0.231 ± 0.052)% respectively, lower than in group A (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in uptake of 3H by RNA and DNA between group C and D (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Protein synthesis was inhibited by methionine/valine starvation in TB rats and nucleic acid synthesis was reduced after methionine depletion, thus resulting in suppression of tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Cheng He
- Department of general surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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