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Shen X, Gao C, Li H, Liu C, Wang L, Li Y, Liu R, Sun C, Zhuang J. Natural compounds: Wnt pathway inhibitors with therapeutic potential in lung cancer. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1250893. [PMID: 37841927 PMCID: PMC10568034 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1250893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is abnormally activated in most lung cancer tissues and considered to be an accelerator of carcinogenesis and lung cancer progression, which is closely related to increased morbidity rates, malignant progression, and treatment resistance. Although targeting the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway shows significant potential for lung cancer therapy, it still faces challenges owing to its complexity, tumor heterogeneity and wide physiological activity. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the role of the abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in lung cancer progression. Moreover, Wnt inhibitors used in lung cancer clinical trials are expected to break existing therapeutic patterns, although their adverse effects limit the treatment window. This is the first study to summarize the research progress on various compounds, including natural products and derivatives, that target the canonical Wnt pathway in lung cancer to develop safer and more targeted drugs or alternatives. Various natural products have been found to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin in various ways, such as through upstream and downstream intervention pathways, and have shown encouraging preclinical anti-tumor efficacy. Their diversity and low toxicity make them a popular research topic, laying the foundation for further combination therapies and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuetong Shen
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Chundi Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Huayao Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Longyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, China
| | - Ye Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, China
| | - Ruijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
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de Oliveira LCB, Ribeiro DL, do Nascimento JR, da Rocha CQ, de Syllos Cólus IM, Serpeloni JM. Anticancer activities of Brachydin C in human prostate tumor cells (DU145) grown in 2D and 3D models: stimulation of cell death and downregulation of metalloproteinases in spheroids. Chem Biol Drug Des 2022; 100:747-762. [PMID: 35775856 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Brachydin C (BrC) has demonstrated in vitro cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects in prostate cancer cells. In the present study, we compare the anticancer effects of BrC in DU145 cells grown in common bidimensional cultures (2D) and multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), often denominated 3D in vitro models, that can better mimic the microenvironment of tissues. BrC IC50 values obtained in the resazurin assay after 24 h of treatment were 47.31 μM (2D) and 229.8 μM (3D) and these cytotoxic effects were time dependent only in 3D. BrC (5 to 60 μM) interfered with the growth of MCTS and reduced cell viability after 11 days of treatment, a result that is not attributable to oxidative stress evaluated using the CM-H2 DCFDA probe. BrC (6.0 μM) impaired horizontal (wound healing) and vertical cell migration and invasion (transwell assay) in 2D and BrC (5.0 to 60 μM) in 3D (ECM Gel®). BrC modulated the expression of genes BIRC5, TNF-α, CASP3, NKX3.1, MMP9, MMP11, CDH1, and ITGAM and downregulated proteins CASP7, BAX, and TNF-α in western blotting analysis. In conclusion, BrC stimulated cell death and decreased epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, DU145 MCTS displayed higher resistance to BrC- induced cell death than 2D cultures, a difference that should be considered in future approaches in prostatic cancer studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego Luis Ribeiro
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Claudia Quintino da Rocha
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Ilce Mara de Syllos Cólus
- Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Brazil
| | - Juliana Mara Serpeloni
- Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Brazil
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Identification of Flavonoids as Putative ROS-1 Kinase Inhibitors Using Pharmacophore Modeling for NSCLC Therapeutics. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082114. [PMID: 33917039 PMCID: PMC8067712 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a lethal non-immunogenic malignancy and proto-oncogene ROS-1 tyrosine kinase is one of its clinically relevant oncogenic markers. The ROS-1 inhibitor, crizotinib, demonstrated resistance due to the Gly2032Arg mutation. To curtail this resistance, researchers developed lorlatinib against the mutated kinase. In the present study, a receptor-ligand pharmacophore model exploiting the key features of lorlatinib binding with ROS-1 was exploited to identify inhibitors against the wild-type (WT) and the mutant (MT) kinase domain. The developed model was utilized to virtually screen the TimTec flavonoids database and the retrieved drug-like hits were subjected for docking with the WT and MT ROS-1 kinase. A total of 10 flavonoids displayed higher docking scores than lorlatinib. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations of the acquired flavonoids with WT and MT ROS-1 revealed no steric clashes with the Arg2032 (MT ROS-1). The binding free energy calculations computed via molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) demonstrated one flavonoid (Hit) with better energy than lorlatinib in binding with WT and MT ROS-1. The Hit compound was observed to bind in the ROS-1 selectivity pocket comprised of residues from the β-3 sheet and DFG-motif. The identified Hit from this investigation could act as a potent WT and MT ROS-1 inhibitor.
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Gong Z, Huang W, Wang B, Liang N, Long S, Li W, Zhou Q. Interplay between cyclooxygenase‑2 and microRNAs in cancer (Review). Mol Med Rep 2021; 23:347. [PMID: 33760116 PMCID: PMC7974460 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.11986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor‑associated inflammation and aberrantly expressed biomarkers have been demonstrated to play crucial roles in the cancer microenvironment. Cyclooxygenase‑2 (COX‑2), a prominent inflammatory factor, is highly expressed in tumor cells and contributes to tumor growth, recurrence and metastasis. Overexpression of COX‑2 may occur at both transcriptional and post‑transcriptional levels. Thus, an improved understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of COX‑2 can facilitate the development of novel antitumor therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non‑coding RNAs that act as translation repressors of target mRNAs, and play vital roles in regulating cancer development and progression. The present review discusses the association between miRNAs and COX‑2 expression in different types of cancer. Understanding the regulatory role of miRNAs in COX‑2 post‑transcription can provide novel insight for suppressing COX‑2 expression via gene silencing mechanisms, which offer new perspectives and future directions for the development of novel COX‑2 selective inhibitors based on miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexiong Gong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, P.R. China
| | - Weiguo Huang
- Cancer Research Institute, Medical College of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, P.R. China
| | - Baiyun Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, P.R. China
| | - Na Liang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, P.R. China
| | - Songkai Long
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, P.R. China
| | - Wanjun Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, P.R. China
| | - Qier Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, P.R. China
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Wu Z, Xu B, Yu Z, He Q, Hu Z, Zhou S, Chen M, Zhu L. Trifolium Flavonoids Overcome Gefitinib Resistance of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cell by Suppressing ERK and STAT3 Signaling Pathways. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:2491304. [PMID: 33150167 PMCID: PMC7603574 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2491304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Gefitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and represents the first-line treatment for EGFR mutation patients with NSCLC (non-small-cell lung cancer) therapeutics. However, NSCLC patients are inclined to develop acquired gefitinib drug resistance through nowadays, unarticulated mechanisms of chemoresistance. Here, we investigated the role of TF (Trifolium flavonoids) on sensitizing gefitinib resistance in NSCLC cells and revealed its potential mechanism of action. We demonstrated that TF exerted significantly potential chemosensitivity in gefitinib resistant NSCLC cells. MTT assay and cytological methods were used to analyze cell viability and apoptosis in NSCLC cell line PC-9R. Both TF and gefitinib suppressed PC-9R cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Subtoxic concentrations of TF did significantly augment gefitinib-induced apoptosis in PC-9R cell line. The TF promoted chemosensitivity was major mediated by the PARP and caspases activation. Meanwhile, the TF promoted chemosensitivity also decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. Finally, TF significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of STAT3 and ERK. Altogether, the results of the present study indicated the potential mechanisms of chemosensitivity of TF in gefitinib-induced apoptosis of NSCLC by downregulating ERK and STAT3 signaling pathways and Bcl2 and Mcl-1 expression and a promising application of TF in therapy of NSCLC with gefitinib resistant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Wu
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Zhiyi Yu
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Qin He
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Zhuyuan Hu
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Shishi Zhou
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Meiqin Chen
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
| | - Liang Zhu
- Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
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