Low-dose paclitaxel downregulates MYC proto-oncogene bHLH transcription factor expression in colorectal carcinoma cells

Platinum drugs and taxanes: can we overcome resistance?

Cancer therapy is aimed at the elimination of tumor cells and acts via the cessation of cell proliferation and induction of cell death. Many research publications discussing the mechanisms of anticancer drugs use the terms "cell death" and "apoptosis" interchangeably, given that apoptotic pathways are the most common components of the action of targeted and cytotoxic compounds. However, there is sound evidence suggesting that other mechanisms of drug-induced cell death, such as necroptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy, etc. may significantly contribute to the fate of cancer cells. Molecular cross-talks between apoptotic and nonapoptotic death pathways underlie the successes and the failures of therapeutic interventions. Here we discuss the nuances of the antitumor action of two groups of the widely used anticancer drugs, i.e., platinum salts and taxane derivatives. The available data suggest that intelligent interference with the choice of cell death pathways may open novel opportunities for cancer treatment.

Identification of Prognostic Biomarkers and Drugs Targeting Them in Colon Adenocarcinoma: A Bioinformatic Analysis

Objective: To identify prognostic biomarkers and drugs that target them in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Methods: The TCGA dataset was used to identify the top 50 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Gene Expression Omnibus profiles were used for validation. Survival analyses were conducted with the TCGA dataset using the RTCGAToolbox package in the R software environment. Drugs targeting the candidate prognostic biomarkers were searched in the DrugBank and herbal databases. Results: Among the top 50 upregulated DEGs in patients with COAD in the TCGA dataset, the Wnt signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and pathways in cancer Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were enriched in DEGs. Tissue development and regulation of cell proliferation were the main Gene Ontology biological processes associated with upregulated DEGs. MYC and KLK6 were overexpressed in tumors validated in the TCGA, GSE41328, and GSE113513 databases (all P < .001) and were significantly associated with overall survival in patients with COAD (P = .021 and P = .047). Nadroparin and benzamidine were identified as inhibitors of MYC and KLK6 in DrugBank, and 8 herbs targeting MYC, including Da Huang (Radix Rhei Et Rhizome), Hu Zhang (Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma Et Radix), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Ban Xia (Arum Ternatum Thunb), Tu Fu Ling (Smilacis Glabrae Rhixoma), Lei Gong Teng (Tripterygii Radix), Er Cha (Catechu), and Guang Zao (Choerospondiatis Fructus), were identified. Conclusion: MYC and KLK6 may serve as candidate prognostic predictors and therapeutic targets in patients with COAD.