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Song B, Park EY, Kim KJ, Ki SH. Repurposing of Benzimidazole Anthelmintic Drugs as Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194601. [PMID: 36230527 PMCID: PMC9559625 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although non-prescription anthelmintics are often used for cancer treatment, there is a lack of information regarding their anti-cancer effects in clinical settings. The aims of our review are to describe the possibilities and limitations of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics and to suggest ways to overcome these limitations. The results of the current review illustrate the potential development of anthelmintics as a useful strategy for cancer treatment based on much preclinical evidence. Furthermore, they suggest that more rigorous studies on whole anti-cancer pathways and development strategies, including formulations, could result in significantly enhanced anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles as a repurposed cancer therapy in clinical settings. Abstract Benzimidazoles have shown significant promise for repurposing as a cancer therapy. The aims of this review are to investigate the possibilities and limitations of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics and to suggest ways to overcome these limitations. This review included studies on the anti-cancer effects of 11 benzimidazoles. Largely divided into three parts, i.e., preclinical anti-cancer effects, clinical anti-cancer effects, and pharmacokinetic properties, we examine the characteristics of each benzimidazole and attempt to elucidate its key properties. Although many studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles, there is limited evidence regarding their effects in clinical settings. This might be because the clinical trials conducted using benzimidazoles failed to restrict their participants with specific criteria including cancer entities, cancer stages, and genetic characteristics of the participants. In addition, these drugs have limitations including low bioavailability, which results in insufficient plasma concentration levels. Additional studies on whole anti-cancer pathways and development strategies, including formulations, could result significant enhancements of the anti-cancer effects of benzimidazoles in clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bomi Song
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
| | - Eun Young Park
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Mokpo 58554, Korea
| | - Kwang Joon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Mokpo 58554, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.J.K.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-61-450-2334 (K.J.K.); +82-62-230-6639 (S.H.K.)
| | - Sung Hwan Ki
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.J.K.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-61-450-2334 (K.J.K.); +82-62-230-6639 (S.H.K.)
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Chung I, Zhou K, Barrows C, Banyard J, Wilson A, Rummel N, Mizokami A, Basu S, Sengupta P, Shaikh B, Sengupta S, Bielenberg DR, Zetter BR. Unbiased Phenotype-Based Screen Identifies Therapeutic Agents Selective for Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 10:594141. [PMID: 33738243 PMCID: PMC7962607 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.594141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In American men, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Dissemination of prostate cancer cells to distant organs significantly worsens patients' prognosis, and currently there are no effective treatment options that can cure advanced-stage prostate cancer. In an effort to identify compounds selective for metastatic prostate cancer cells over benign prostate cancer cells or normal prostate epithelial cells, we applied a phenotype-based in vitro drug screening method utilizing multiple prostate cancer cell lines to test 1,120 different compounds from a commercial drug library. Top drug candidates were then examined in multiple mouse xenograft models including subcutaneous tumor growth, experimental lung metastasis, and experimental bone metastasis assays. A subset of compounds including fenbendazole, fluspirilene, clofazimine, niclosamide, and suloctidil showed preferential cytotoxicity and apoptosis towards metastatic prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The bioavailability of the most discerning agents, especially fenbendazole and albendazole, was improved by formulating as micelles or nanoparticles. The enhanced forms of fenbendazole and albendazole significantly prolonged survival in mice bearing metastases, and albendazole-treated mice displayed significantly longer median survival times than paclitaxel-treated mice. Importantly, these drugs effectively targeted taxane-resistant tumors and bone metastases - two common clinical conditions in patients with aggressive prostate cancer. In summary, we find that metastatic prostate tumor cells differ from benign prostate tumor cells in their sensitivity to certain drug classes. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that albendazole, an anthelmintic medication, may represent a potential adjuvant or neoadjuvant to standard therapy in the treatment of disseminated prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Chung
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kun Zhou
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Courtney Barrows
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jacqueline Banyard
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Arianne Wilson
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nathan Rummel
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Atsushi Mizokami
- Department of Integrative Cancer Therapy and Urology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Sudipta Basu
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Poulomi Sengupta
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Badaruddin Shaikh
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Shiladitya Sengupta
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Diane R. Bielenberg
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bruce R. Zetter
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Zhao Z, Wang K, Tan S. microRNA-211-mediated targeting of the INHBA-TGF-β axis suppresses prostate tumor formation and growth. Cancer Gene Ther 2020; 28:514-528. [PMID: 33223523 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-00237-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) stem cells increase the sustainability of tumor growth, resulting in high relapse rates in patients with PCa. This goal of the present study was to elucidate the function of microRNA (miR)-211 in PCa stem cell activities. Based on the initial findings from the GSE26910 dataset, inhibin-β A (INHBA) was used for subsequent experiments, and miR-211 was then predicted as a candidate regulatory miR. Subsequently, INHBA and miR-211 were observed to be highly and poorly expressed in PCa tissues, respectively, and miR-211 negatively target INHBA. CD44+CD133+ cells were isolated, and both miR-211 and INHBA expression was altered in these cells to assess functional role of miR-211 and INHBA in PCa stem cells. Overexpression of miR-211 decreased expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, smad2, smad3, phosphorylated smad2 and smad3, and stem cell markers. miR-211 upregulation or INHBA knockdown resulted in reductions in the proliferation, invasion, colony-forming ability, sphere-forming ability, and stemness of PCa stem cells but enhanced their apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, miR-211 upregulation or INHBA silencing decreased tumor growth and cell apoptosis in vivo. Taken together, these results indicate that upregulation of miR-211 has tumor-suppressive properties by inhibiting TGF-β pathway activation via INHBA in PCa stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Zhao
- Department of Urology, Linyi People's Hospital of Shandong Province, 276000, Linyi, P. R. China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Urology, Linyi People's Hospital of Shandong Province, 276000, Linyi, P. R. China.
| | - Shanfeng Tan
- Department of Urology, Linyi People's Hospital of Shandong Province, 276000, Linyi, P. R. China.
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Son DS, Lee ES, Adunyah SE. The Antitumor Potentials of Benzimidazole Anthelmintics as Repurposing Drugs. Immune Netw 2020; 20:e29. [PMID: 32895616 PMCID: PMC7458798 DOI: 10.4110/in.2020.20.e29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of refractory tumor cells limits therapeutic efficacy in cancer by activating mechanisms that promote cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and survival. Benzimidazole anthelmintics have broad-spectrum action to remove parasites both in human and veterinary medicine. In addition to being antiparasitic agents, benzimidazole anthelmintics are known to exert anticancer activities, such as the disruption of microtubule polymerization, the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle (G2/M) arrest, anti-angiogenesis, and blockage of glucose transport. These antitumorigenic effects even extend to cancer cells resistant to approved therapies and when in combination with conventional therapeutics, enhance anticancer efficacy and hold promise as adjuvants. Above all, these anthelmintics may offer a broad, safe spectrum to treat cancer, as demonstrated by their long history of use as antiparasitic agents. The present review summarizes central literature regarding the anticancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics, including albendazole, parbendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, oxibendazole, oxfendazole, ricobendazole, and flubendazole in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials. This review provides valuable information on how to improve the quality of life in patients with cancers by increasing the treatment options and decreasing side effects from conventional therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deok-Soo Son
- Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Eun-Sook Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32301, USA
| | - Samuel E Adunyah
- Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neurosciences and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
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Antibacterial Potential and Apoptosis Induction by Pigments from the Endophyte Burkholderia sp. WYAT7. Curr Microbiol 2020; 77:2475-2485. [PMID: 32388760 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-020-02013-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Pigment from the endophyte Burkholderia sp. WYAT7 isolated from the medicinal plant Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp. was extracted. The antibacterial efficacy of the crude pigment Y was assessed as a source of antibiotic against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The pigment Y exhibited a significant level of antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens Salmonella typhi (MTCC 733), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 1430), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 2453), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 432), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1610), Salmonella paratyphi (3220), Bacillus subtilis (441) and Acinetobacter baumannii (12,889). The minimum inhibitory concentration of crude pigment extract Y for most of the bacterial pathogens tested was below or equal to 0.25 µg/mL and the minimum bactericidal concentration was below or equal to 0.5 µg/mL. In the cytotoxicity evaluation, crude pigment Y exhibited less toxicity toward normal cells lines (L929). Crude pigment extract Y also showed powerful anticancer activity toward melanoma cancer cells (A375). The IC50 value obtained was 68.08 µg/mL. Acridine orange (AO) and ethidium bromide (EB) double staining of cells treated with the pigment helped in the morphological assessment of nuclear condensation, apoptotic bodies and live cells. The DNA fragmentation analysis and caspase-9 quantification in the pigment-treated A375 cells determined the apoptosis activity mediated by the crude pigment extract Y. The compounds in the crude pigment extract Y was identified by HR-LCMS analysis. Further studies on the active compounds can lead to a rise in new drugs for cancer treatment and also against rising antibacterial resistant pathogens.
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