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Therachiyil L, Hussein OJ, Uddin S, Korashy HM. Regulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in cancer and cancer stem cells of gynecological malignancies: An update on signaling pathways. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:1186-1202. [PMID: 36252938 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Gynecological malignancies are a female type of cancers that affects the reproductive system. Cancer metastasis or recurrence mediated by cellular invasiveness occurs at advanced stages of cancer progression. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) enrichment in tumors leads to chemoresistance, which results in cancer mortality. Exposure to environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with an increased the risk of CSC enrichment in gynecological cancers. One of the important pathways that mediates the metabolism and bioactivation of these environmental chemicals is the transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The present review explores the molecular mechanisms regulating the crosstalk and interaction of the AhR with cancer-related signaling pathways, such as apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune checkpoints, and G-protein-coupled receptors in several gynecological malignancies such as ovarian, uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancers. The review also discusses the potential of targeting the AhR pathway as a novel chemotherapy for gynecological cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Therachiyil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Ola J Hussein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Hesham M Korashy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Wang Z, Snyder M, Kenison JE, Yang K, Lara B, Lydell E, Bennani K, Novikov O, Federico A, Monti S, Sherr DH. How the AHR Became Important in Cancer: The Role of Chronically Active AHR in Cancer Aggression. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010387. [PMID: 33396563 PMCID: PMC7795223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) was studied for its role in environmental chemical toxicity i.e., as a quirk of nature and a mediator of unintended consequences of human pollution. During that period, it was not certain that the AHR had a “normal” physiological function. However, the ongoing accumulation of data from an ever-expanding variety of studies on cancer, cancer immunity, autoimmunity, organ development, and other areas bears witness to a staggering array of AHR-controlled normal and pathological activities. The objective of this review is to discuss how the AHR has gone from a likely contributor to genotoxic environmental carcinogen-induced cancer to a master regulator of malignant cell progression and cancer aggression. Particular focus is placed on the association between AHR activity and poor cancer outcomes, feedback loops that control chronic AHR activity in cancer, and the role of chronically active AHR in driving cancer cell invasion, migration, cancer stem cell characteristics, and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyan Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Z.W.); (K.Y.); (E.L.)
| | - Megan Snyder
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Jessica E. Kenison
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Kangkang Yang
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Z.W.); (K.Y.); (E.L.)
| | - Brian Lara
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (B.L.); (K.B.)
| | - Emily Lydell
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Z.W.); (K.Y.); (E.L.)
| | - Kawtar Bennani
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (B.L.); (K.B.)
| | | | - Anthony Federico
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (A.F.); (S.M.)
| | - Stefano Monti
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (A.F.); (S.M.)
| | - David H. Sherr
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (Z.W.); (K.Y.); (E.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-617-358-1707
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Benavides-Serrato A, Saunders JT, Holmes B, Nishimura RN, Lichtenstein A, Gera J. Repurposing Potential of Riluzole as an ITAF Inhibitor in mTOR Therapy Resistant Glioblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21010344. [PMID: 31948038 PMCID: PMC6981868 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated protein synthesis has been demonstrated to play an important role in resistance to mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) targeted therapies. Previously, we have demonstrated that the IRES trans-acting factor (ITAF), hnRNP A1 is required to promote IRES activity and small molecule inhibitors which bind specifically to this ITAF and curtail IRES activity, leading to mTOR inhibitor sensitivity. Here we report the identification of riluzole (Rilutek®), an FDA-approved drug for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), via an in silico docking analysis of FDA-approved compounds, as an inhibitor of hnRNP A1. In a riluzole-bead coupled binding assay and in surface plasmon resonance imaging analyses, riluzole was found to directly bind to hnRNP A1 and inhibited IRES activity via effects on ITAF/RNA-binding. Riluzole also demonstrated synergistic anti-glioblastoma (GBM) affects with mTOR inhibitors in vitro and in GBM xenografts in mice. These data suggest that repurposing riluzole, used in conjunction with mTOR inhibitors, may serve as an effective therapeutic option in glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Benavides-Serrato
- Department of Research & Development, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA
| | - Jacquelyn T. Saunders
- Department of Research & Development, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA
| | - Brent Holmes
- Department of Research & Development, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA
| | - Robert N. Nishimura
- Department of Research & Development, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alan Lichtenstein
- Department of Research & Development, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA
- Jonnson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Joseph Gera
- Department of Research & Development, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA
- Jonnson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +00-1-818-895-9416
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Lin H, Hu B, He X, Mao J, Wang Y, Wang J, Zhang T, Zheng J, Peng Y, Zhang F. Overcoming Taxol-resistance in A549 cells: A comprehensive strategy of targeting P-gp transporter, AKT/ERK pathways, and cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1B1 by 4-hydroxyemodin. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 171:113733. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.113733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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