Evaluation of newly synthesized 2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole derivatives as anticancer agents against HCT-116 cell proliferation via cell cycle arrest and down regulation of miR-25.

In the present study, we prepared new sixteen different derivatives. The first series were prepared (methylene)bis(2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole) derivatives which have (indole and thiophene rings) by excellent yield from the reaction (2 mmol) 2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole and (1 mmol) from aldehyde. The second series were synthesized (2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indol-3-yl) methyl) aniline derivatives at a relatively low yield from multicomponent reaction of three components 2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole, N-methylaniline and desired aldehydes. The anticancer effect of the newly synthesized derivatives was determined against different cancers, colon, lung, breast and skin. The counter screening was done against normal Epithelial cells (RPE-1). The effect on cell cycle and mechanisms underlying of the antitumor effect were also studied. All new compounds were initially tested at a single dose of 100 µg/ml against this panel of 5 human tumor cell lines indicated that the compounds under investigation exhibit selective cytotoxicity against HCT-116 cell line and compounds (4g, 4a, 4c) showed potent anticancer activity against HCT-116 cell line with the inhibitory concentration IC50 values were, 7.1±0.07, 10.5± 0.07 and 11.9± 0.05 µΜ/ml respectively. Also, the active derivatives caused cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phase with significant(p < 0.0001) increase in the expression levels of tumor suppressors miR-30C, and miR-107 and a tremendous decrease in oncogenic miR-25, IL-6 and C-Myc levels. It is to conclude that the anticancer activity could be through direct interaction with tumor cell DNA like S-phase-dependent chemotherapy drugs. Which can interact with DNA or block DNA synthesis such as doxorubicin, cisplatin, or 5-fluorouracil and which were highly effective in killing the cancer cells. This data ensures the efficiency of the 3 analogues on inducing cell cycle arrest and preventing cancer cell growth. The altered expressions explained the molecular mechanisms through which the newly synthesized analogues exert their anticancer action.

Investigating the molecular mechanism of vitexin targeting CDK1 to inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation via GEO chip data mining, computer simulation, and biological activity verification.

The objective of this study is to explore the antiproliferative activity of the traditional Chinese medicine monomer vitexin on colon cancer HCT-116 cells and its underlying mechanism. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of vitexin on colon cancer HCT-116 cells was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Potential drug targets for colon cancer were identified through GEO chip data mining, and molecular docking using Schrödinger software was conducted. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to deeply analyze the interaction between candidate compounds and target proteins. Flow cytometry was employed to examine the cell cycle. The impact of vitexin on the expression of CDK1/cyclinB proteins in HCT-116 cells was assessed through Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and CDK inhibition assay. Vitexin exhibited inhibitory effects on colon cancer HCT-116 cells, with a half inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 203.27 ± 9.85 µmol/L. The analysis of differential gene expression in GEO and TCGA datasets, along with the GENECARD dataset of related disease genes, identified 91 disease targets, including "CDK1." Vitexin induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase of HCT-116 cells. Molecular docking revealed a strong interaction between Vitexin and CDK1 (Docking score - 9.497), with molecular dynamics simulations confirming the stability of the Vitexin-CDK1 complex and comparable inhibitory effects to Flavopiridol. Vitexin can inhibit the expression of CDK1/cyclin B proteins in HCT-116 cells, with an IC50 of 58.06 ± 3.07 µmol/L. Vitexin may inhibit colon cancer HCT-116 cell proliferation by suppressing CDK1/cyclin B expression, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase.

Uncovering Metabolic Alterations in HCT-116 Colon Cancer Cells upon Exposure to Bamboo Leaf Extract Obtained from Guadua incana Londoño.

Metabolic alterations are increasingly recognized as important aspects of colorectal cancer (CRC), offering potential avenues for identifying therapeutic targets. Previous studies have demonstrated the cytotoxic potential of bamboo leaf extract obtained from Guadua incana (BLEGI) against HCT-116 colon cancer cells. However, the altered metabolic pathways in these tumor cells remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to employ an untargeted metabolomic approach to reveal the metabolic alterations of the endometabolome and exometabolome of HCT-116 cells upon exposure to BLEGI treatment. First, a chemical characterization of the BLEGI was conducted through liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Next, we assessed cell viability via MTT and morphological analysis using an immunofluorescence assay against colon cancer cells, and anti-inflammatory activity using an LPS-stimulated macrophage model. Subsequently, we employed LC-MS and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) to investigate intra- and extracellular changes. Chemical characterization primarily revealed the presence of compounds with a flavone glycoside scaffold. Immunofluorescence analysis showed condensed chromatin and subsequent formation of apoptotic bodies, suggesting cell death by apoptosis. The results of the metabolomic analysis showed 98 differential metabolites, involved in glutathione, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and lipoic acid metabolism, among others. Additionally, BLEGI demonstrated significant nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory capacity in macrophage cells. This study enhances our understanding of BLEGI's possible mechanism of action and provides fresh insights into therapeutic targets for treating this disease.

Novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives of naproxen targeting EGFR: Synthesis, molecular docking studies, and cytotoxic evaluation.

The close association between inflammation and cancer inspired the synthesis of a series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives (compounds H4-A-F) of 6-methoxynaphtalene. The chemical structures of the new compounds were validated utilizing Fourier-transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques and CHN analysis. Computer-aided drug design methods were used to predict the compounds biological target, ADMET properties, toxicity, and to evaluate the molecular similarities between the design compounds and erlotinib, a standard epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. The antiproliferative effects of the new compounds were evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis detection by microscopy, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immunoblotting, and EGFR enzyme inhibition assay. In silico analysis of the new oxadiazole derivatives indicated that these compounds target EGFR, and that compounds H4-A, H4-B, H4-C, and H4-E show similar molecular properties to erlotinib. Additionally, the results indicated that none of the synthesized compounds are carcinogenic, and that compounds H4-A, H4-C, and H4-F are nontoxic. Compound H4-A showed the best-fit score against EGFR pharmacophore model, however, the in vitro studies indicated that compound H4-C was the most cytotoxic. Compound H4-C caused cytotoxicity in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells by inducing both apoptosis and necrosis. Furthermore, compounds H4-D, H4-C, and H4-B had potent inhibitory effect on EGFR tyrosine kinase that was comparable to erlotinib. The findings of this inquiry offer a basis for further investigation into the differences between the synthesized compounds and erlotinib. However, additional testing will be needed to assess all of these differences and to identify the most promising compound for further research.

Synergy of Rapamycin and Methioninase on Colorectal Cancer Cells Requires Simultaneous and Not Sequential Administration: Implications for mTOR Inhibition.

Background/Aim: Rapamycin inhibits the mTOR protein kinase. Methioninase (rMETase), by degrading methionine, targets the methionine addiction of cancer cells and has been shown to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs, reducing their effective doses. Our previous study demonstrated that rapamycin and rMETase work synergistically against colorectal-cancer cells, but not on normal cells, when administered simultaneously in vitro. In the present study, we aimed to further our previous findings by exploring whether  synergy exists between rapamycin and rMETase when used sequentially against HCT-116 colorectal-carcinoma cells, compared to simultaneous administration, in vitro. Materials and Methods: The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of rapamycin alone and rMETase alone against the HCT-116 human colorectal-cancer cell line were previously determined using the CCK-8 cell viability assay (11). We then examined the efficacy of rapamycin and rMETase, both at their IC50, administered simultaneously or sequentially on the HCT-116 cell line, with rapamycin administered before rMETase and vice versa. Results: The IC50 for rapamycin and rMETase, determined from previous experiments (11), was 1.38 nM and 0.39 U/ml, respectively, of HCT-116 cells. When rMETase was administered four days before rapamycin, both at the IC50, there was a 30.46% inhibition of HCT-116 cells. When rapamycin was administered four days before rMETase, both at the IC50, there was an inhibition of 41.13%. When both rapamycin and rMETase were simultaneously administered, both at the IC50, there was a 71.03% inhibition. Conclusion: Rapamycin and rMETase have synergistic efficacy against colorectal-cancer cells in vitro when administered simultaneously, but not sequentially.

Role of the transient receptor potential melastatin 4 in inhibition effect of arsenic trioxide on the tumor biological features of colorectal cancer cell.

Background: To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (ATO) on human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116) growth and the role of transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel in this process. Methods: The viability of HCT116 cells was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Western blot analysis was employed to examine the protein expression of TRPM4. The apoptosis of HCT116 cells was determined using TUNEL and Flow cytometry. Cell migration was assessed through the cell scratch recovery assay and Transwell cell migration assay. Additionally, Transwell cell invasion assay was performed to determine the invasion ability of HCT116 cells. Results: ATO suppressed the viability of HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a decline in cell migration and invasion, and an increase in apoptosis. 9-phenanthroline (9-Ph), a specific inhibitor of TRPM4, abrogated the ATO-induced upregulation of TRPM4 expression. Additionally, blocking TRPM4 reversed the effects of ATO on HCT116 cells proliferation, including restoration of cell viability, migration and invasion, as well as the inhibition of apoptosis. Conclusion: ATO inhibits CRC cell growth by inducing TRPM4 expression, our findings indicate that ATO is a promising therapeutic strategy and TRPM4 may be a novel target for the treatment of CRC.

Cytotoxicity of alkaloids isolated from Peganum harmala seeds on HCT116 human colon cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to elucidate the potential anticancer activity and mechanism of P. harmala's alkaloid extract, harmine (HAR), and harmaline (HAL) in HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: P. harmala's alkaloid was extracted from harmala seeds. HCT-116 cells were treated with P. harmala's alkaloid extract, HAR and HAL. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay, apoptotic activity detected via flow cytometry and acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) dual staining, and cell cycle distribution analyzed with flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3ß) was measured by real-time PCR. Furthermore, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, GSK3ß and p53 proteins, were determined by western blotting. The findings indicated that, P. harmala's alkaloids extract, HAR and HAL were significantly cytotoxic toward HCT116 cells after 24 and 48 h of treatment. We showed that P. harmala's alkaloid extract induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2 phase in the HCT116 cell line. Downregulation of GSK3ß and Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax and p53 were observed. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that the P. harmala's alkaloid extract has anticancer activity and may be further investigated to develop future anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

A New Source and Large Quantity of Resveratrol in Cratoxylum Species and Their Activities on Normal Human and Cancer Cells.

Cratoxylum formosum ssp. formosum (Cff), C. formosum ssp. pruniflorum (Cfp), and C. sumatranum (Cs) were investigated for phytochemical analysis. Toxicity testing, programmed cell death, and cell cycle arrest were tested on CHL-1, HCT-116, and HepG2 cancer cell lines, and human normal PBMCs. The results are revealed in the following order. The phytochemical percentages varied in each species, the quantity and concentration of α-amyrin and resveratrol were 0.038 mg/g and 0.955 mg/mL, and 0.064 mg/g and 0.640 mg/mL. The most studied Cratoxylum extracts showed IC50 values in PBMCs and cancer cell lines except for the hexane Cff and ethanol Cfp extracts. All studied extracts did not induce DNA breaks in PBMCs but caused significant DNA breaks in the cancer cell lines. All studied extracts induced both apoptosis and necrosis in cancer cell lines, and the DNA quantity in the S and G2-M phases decreased significantly but did not induce apoptosis and necrosis in PBMCs. Except for the ethanolic extracts of Cff and Cfp that induced PBMCs apoptosis and necrosis, these data confirmed that the three studied Cratoxylum samples have inhibiting properties for the growth of cancer cells and low toxicity to PBMCs. Cs showed more toxicity to cancer cell lines than Cf and cisplatin.

Short Chain Fatty Acid Sodium Butyrate Increases miR-21, miR-143 and miR-145 Expression in Human Colorectal Cancer HCT-116 Cell Line.

Background: Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is a short-chain fatty acid; it is one of the histone deacetylase inhibitors, which can alter both genetic and epigenetic expressions. The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of Na-Bu on the expression of miR-21, miR-143, and miR-145 in human colorectal cancer HCT-116 cell lines. Methods: This study was done in Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. HCT-116 cell line was treated with diverse concentrations of NaBu (6.25 mM to 200 mM) at 24, 48, and 72 h. MTT assay was used for assessing the cytotoxicity. Quantitative Real-Time-PCR was performed to investigate the gene expression of miR-21, miR-143, and miR-145. Results: IC50 values were evaluated by MTT assay. IC50 for HCT-116 was 50 mM, 12.5 mM, and 6.25 mM for 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation, respectively. According to the Real-Time-PCR results, 50 mM NaBu after 24 h caused a significant up-regulation in the expression of the miR-21, miR-143, and miR-145 (P<0.05). In 48 h, incubation, 12.5 mM NaBu caused a significant up-regulation in the expression of the miR-21, miR-143, and miR-145 (P<0.05). In treated cells with 6.25 mM NaBu after 72 h of incubation caused a significant up-regulation in the expression of the miR-21, miR-143, and miR-145 compared with untreated cells (P<0.05). Conclusion: The upregulation of miR-21, miR-143, and miR-145 expression are mediated by transcriptional regulation and the activation of this miR promoter is modulated by histone acetylation. The employment of NaBu may represent a promising approach for improving HDACi drug-based therapies for colon cancers.

Design and Synthesis of Thiourea-Conjugating Organic Arsenic D-Glucose with Anticancer Activities.

Organic arsenic compounds such as p-aminophenylarsine oxide (p-APAO) are easier for structural optimization to improve drug-like properties such as pharmacokinetic properties, therapeutic efficacy, and target selectivity. In order to strengthen the selectivity of 4-(1,3,2-dithiarsinan-2-yl) aniline 7 to tumor cell, a thiourea moiety was used to strengthen the anticancer activity. To avoid forming a mixture of α/ß anomers, the strategy of 2-acetyl's neighboring group participation was used to lock the configuration of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-d-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate from 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl bromide. 1-(4-(1,3,2-dithiarsinan-2-yl) aniline)-2-N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-d-glucopyranos-1-yl)-thiourea 2 can increase the selectivity of human colon cancer cells HCT-116 (0.82 ± 0.06 µM vs. 1.82 ± 0.07 µM) to human embryonic kidney 293T cells (1.38 ± 0.01 µM vs. 1.22 ± 0.06 µM) from 0.67 to 1.68, suggesting a feasible approach to improve the therapeutic index of arsenic-containing compounds as chemotherapeutic agents.

Establishment of a stress granule reporter system for evaluating in vitro colon toxicity.

Exposure to toxic molecules from food or oral medications induces toxicity in colon cells that cause various human diseases; however, in vitro monitoring systems for colon cell toxicity are not well established. Stress granules are nonmembranous foci that form in cells exposed to cellular stress. When cells sense toxic environments, they acutely and systemically promote stress granule formation, with Ras GTPase-activating protein-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) acting as a core component to protect their mRNA from abnormal degradation. Here, we knocked in green fluorescent protein (GFP)-coding sequences into the C-terminal region of the G3BP1 gene in a human colon cell line through CRISPR-Cas9-mediated homologous recombination and confirmed the formation of stress granules with the G3BP1-GFP protein in these cells under cellular stress exposure. We demonstrated the formation and dissociation of stress granules in G3BP1-GFP expressing colon cells through real-time monitoring using a fluorescence microscope. Furthermore, we validated the toxicity monitoring system in the established colon cell line by observing stress granule formation following exposure to dihydrocapsaicin, bisphenol A, and sorbitol. Taken together, we established a stress granule reporter system in a colon cell line, providing a novel assessment for the real-time monitoring of colon toxicity in response to various chemicals.

Momordica cochinchinensis (Gac) Aril Suppresses Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Colorectal Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Gac aril contains high level of carotenoids. This carotenoid possesses several pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-cancer activity of Gac aril extract on human colorectal cancer cells and its related mechanisms. METHODS: Colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29 were treated with Gac aril extract and its effects on cytotoxicity and anti-proliferation were analyzed using the MTT/MTS and colony formation assay, respectively. Then, further related mechanisms responsible for anti-proliferation were investigated by cell death detection ELISA and Flow cytometry. RESULTS: The results showed that treated cells became rounded up and there was a loss of contact with neighboring cells, leading to a reduction of cell viability. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated IC50 for HCT116 and HT29 cells were 2.16 mg/mL and 1.29 mg/mL, respectively but it not toxic to normal HEK293 at the same dose. Moreover, Gac aril extract significantly inhibits proliferative ability with increasing concentrations having a greater effect. Subsequently, the cellular mechanism responsible for suppressive proliferation was validated. It shows apoptosis induction and arrest of cell cycle. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that Gac aril extract can induce apoptosis and arrest of cell cycle at S and G2/M phases in both HCT116 and HT29 colorectal cancer cells.

Semisynthesis and biological evaluation of novel honokiol thioethers against colon cancer cells HCT116 via inhibiting the transcription and expression of YAP protein.

Honokiol, derived from Magnolia officinalis (a traditional Chinese medicine), has been reported to have anticancer activity. Here, a series of novel honokiol thioethers bearing a 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety were prepared and evaluated for their anticancer activities against three types of digestive system tumor cells. Biological evaluation showed that honokiol derivative 3k exhibited the best antiproliferative activity against HCT116 cells with an IC50 value of 6.1 µmol/L, superior to the reference drug 5-fluorouracil (IC50: 9.63 ± 0.27 µmol/L). The structure-activity relationships (SARs) indicated that the introduction of -(4-NO2)Ph, 3-pyridyl, -(2-F)Ph, -(4-F)Ph, -(3-F)Ph, -(4-Cl)Ph, and -(3-Cl)Ph groups was favorable for enhancing the anticancer activity of the title honokiol thioethers. Further study revealed that honokiol thioether 3k can well inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells HCT116, arresting the cells in G1 phase and inducing cell death. Moreover, a preliminary mechanism study indicated that 3k directly inhibits the transcription and expression of YAP protein without activating the Hippo signaling pathway. Thus, honokiol thioether 3k could be deeply developed for the development of honokiol-based anticancer candidates.

The synergistic potential of orange peel extract: A comprehensive investigation into its phenolic composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and functional fortification properties in yogurt.

The study explores the potential of orange peel extract (OPE) as a versatile natural resource, focusing on its phenolic composition, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, as well as its application in fortifying yogurt. Analysis revealed significant concentrations of phenolic compounds in OPE. OPE exhibited notable antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria, particularly marine Escherichia coli, with synergistic effects observed when combined with Amikacin. Incorporating OPE into yogurt led to changes in chemical composition, enhancing total proteins, fat, and ash content. Fortified yogurt showed increased antioxidant activity and potential anti-cancer properties against HCT116 cell lines. In conclusion, OPE emerges as a rich source of bioactive compounds with diverse applications, from its antioxidant and antibacterial properties to its potential in fortifying functional foods like yogurt. This comprehensive exploration provides valuable insights into the multifaceted benefits of OPE, paving the way for its utilization in various industries and health-related applications.

Targeting Methionine Addiction Combined With Low-dose Irinotecan Arrested Colon Cancer in Contrast to High-dose Irinotecan Alone, Which Was Ineffective, in a Nude-mouse Model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-leading cause of death in the world. Although the prognosis has improved due to improvement of chemotherapy, metastatic CRC is still a recalcitrant disease, with a 5-year survival of only 13%. Irinotecan (IRN) is used as first-line chemotherapy for patients with unresectable CRC. However, there are severe side effects, such as neutropenia and diarrhea, which are dose-limiting. We have previously shown that methionine restriction (MR), effected by recombinant methioninase (rMETase), lowered the effective dose of IRN of colon-cancer cells in vitro. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of low-dose IRN and MR on colon-cancer in nude mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HCT-116 colon-cancer cells were cultured and subcutaneously injected into the flank of nude mice. After the tumor size reached approximately 100 mm3, 18 mice were randomized into three groups; Group 1: untreated control on a normal diet; Group 2: high-dose IRN on a normal diet (2 mg/kg, i.p.); Group 3: low-dose IRN (1 mg/kg i.p.) on MR effected by a methionine-depleted diet. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the control mice and the mice treated with high-dose IRN, without MR. However, low-dose IRN combined with MR was significantly more effective than the control and arrested colon-cancer growth (p=0.03). Body weight loss was reversible in the mice treated by low-dose IRN combined with MR. CONCLUSION: The combination of low-dose IRN and MR acted synergistically in arresting HCT-116 colon-cancer grown in nude mice. The present study indicates the MR has the potential to reduce the effective dose of IRN in the clinic.

Anti-angiogenic and anti-tumour activities of Lignosus rhinocerus (Cooke) Ryvarden water extracts on HCT116 human colorectal carcinoma cells implanted in chick embryos.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerus (Cooke) Ryvarden is used by the local communities in Southeast Asia and China to treat cancer, asthma, fever, and other ailments based on traditional knowledge. The sclerotial water extracts were previously reported to exhibit cytotoxic, apoptotic, and immunomodulatory activities - providing a scientific basis for its use in treating cancer; however, there is still a lack of evidence on its potential anti-angiogenic activity. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the toxicity, anti-angiogenic, and anti-tumour activities of the hot-water and cold-water extracts of L. rhinocerus using HCT116 human colorectal carcinoma cells implanted in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The toxicity of L. rhinocerus extracts towards the chick embryos was determined 24 h post-treatment. The anti-angiogenic activity of the extracts was then investigated at 0.1-10 µg/embryo (6.7-670 µg/mL) at targeted blood vessels. The anti-tumour effect of selected extracts against the HCT116 human colorectal carcinoma cells xenografted onto the chick embryos was also studied. RESULTS: The cold-water extracts of L. rhinocerus displayed strong in ovo toxicity (LC50: 1.2-37.7 µg/mL) while the hot-water extracts are non-toxic up to 670 µg/mL. Among the extracts, the hot-water extracts demonstrated the highest anti-angiogenic activity with 44.0 ± 17.7% reduction of capillary diameter (relative to the saline-treated control). Moreover, treatment of the HCT116 cells xenografted onto the chick embryos with the hot-water extracts resulted in smaller tumour size and lower number of blood vessels compared to the saline-treated control. CONCLUSIONS: The hot-water extracts of L. rhinocerus sclerotium demonstrated anti-angiogenic and anti-tumour activities but most of the cold-water extracts at similar concentrations were devoid of that. Our findings provide further scientific validation of the medicinal use of the sclerotium in treating cancer and thus, expanding our knowledge on the possible mechanism of its anti-cancer effect apart from direct cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis and immunomodulation that have been studied thus far.

Synthetic Derivatives of Natural ent-Kaurane Atractyligenin Disclose Anticancer Properties in Colon Cancer Cells, Triggering Apoptotic Cell Demise.

The antitumor activity of different ent-kaurane diterpenes has been extensively studied. Several investigations have demonstrated the excellent antitumor activity of synthetic derivatives of the diterpene atractyligenin. In this research, a series of new synthetic amides and their 15,19-di-oxo analogues obtained from atractyligenin by modifying the C-2, C-15, and C-19 positions were designed in order to dispose of a set of derivatives with different substitutions at the amidic nitrogen. Using different concentrations of the obtained compounds (10-300 µM) a reduction in cell viability of HCT116 colon cancer cells was observed at 48 h of treatment. All the di-oxidized compounds were more effective than their alcoholic precursors. The di-oxidized compounds had already reduced the viability of two colon cancer cells (HCT116 and Caco-2) at 24 h when used at low doses (2.5-15 µM), while they turned out to be poorly effective in differentiated Caco-2 cells, a model of polarized enterocytes. The data reported here provide evidence that di-oxidized compounds induced apoptotic cell death, as demonstrated by the appearance of condensed and fragmented DNA in treated cells, as well as the activation of caspase-3 and fragmentation of its target PARP-1.

Rosemary essential oil potentiates the antitumour activity of 5-fluorouracil in human colorectal carcinoma cells.

OBJECTIVES: Improving response rates in colorectal cancer (CRC) is an urgent clinical need. This study aimed to explore the synergistic action of Lebanese rosemary essential oil (REO) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in HCT116 CRC cells. METHODS: We tested the cell viability of monotherapy and combination therapy. The combination index was calculated using CompuSyn software to evaluate drug-drug interactions and the level of synergistic cytotoxicity. We also evaluated cell migration and cytopathology. Furthermore, cell apoptosis-related proteins (i.e. Bax and Bcl-2) were measured by Western blot analysis. KEY FINDINGS: The REO/5-FU combination synergistically reduced cell viability, effectively decreased cell migration, and increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in HCT116 cells. This triggered a proapoptotic morphology and initiated an apoptotic cascade in HCT116 cells, as indicated by a higher Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence of the REO/5-FU combination as a better approach to improve 5-FU anticancer efficacy and allow the use of lower 5-FU doses due to the adjuvant effect of REO.

Urocortin-1 promotes colorectal cancer cell migration and proliferation and inhibits apoptosis via inhibition of the p53 signaling pathway.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of urocortin-1 (UCN-1) on growth, migration, and apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) in vivo and vitro and the mechanism by which UCN-1 modulates CRC cells in vitro. METHODS: The correlation between UCN-1 and CRC was evaluated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and a tissue microarray. The expression of UCN-1 in CRC cells was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. In vitro, the influence of UCN-1 on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of HT-29, HCT-116, and RKO cells was explored using the celigo cell counting assay or cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), flow cytometry, and wound healing or Transwell assays, respectively. In vivo, the effect of UCN-1 on CRC growth and progression was evaluated in nude mice. The downstream pathway underlying UCN-1-mediated regulation of CRC was determined using the phospho-kinase profiler array in RKO cells. Lentiviruses were used to knockdown or upregulate UCN-1 expression in cells. RESULTS: Both the TCGA and tissue microarray results showed that UCN-1 was strongly expressed in the tissues of patients with CRC. Furthermore, the tissue microarray results showed that the expression of UCN-1 was higher in male than in female patients, and high expression of UCN-1 was associated with higher risk of lymphatic metastasis and later pathological stage. UCN-1 knockdown caused a reduction in CRC cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation, as well as an increase in apoptosis. In xenograft experiments, tumors generated from RKO cells with UCN-1 knockdown exhibited reduced volumes and weights. A reduction in the expression of Ki-67 in xenograft tumors indicated that UCN-1 knockdown curbed tumor growth. The human phospho-kinase array showed that the p53 signaling pathway participated in UCN-1-mediated CRC development. The suppression in migration and proliferation caused by UCN-1 knockdown was reversed by inhibitors of p53 signal pathway, while the increase in cell apoptosis was suppressed. On the other hand, overexpression of UCN-1 promoted proliferation and migration and inhibited apoptosis in CRC cells. Overexpression of p53 reversed the effect of UCN-1 overexpression on CRC development. CONCLUSION: UCN-1 promotes migration and proliferation and inhibits apoptosis via inhibition of the p53 signaling pathway.

Targeting mitochondrial bioenergetics by combination treatment with imatinib and dichloroacetate in human erythroleukemic K­562 and colorectal HCT­116 cancer cells.

Tumor malignant cells are characterized by dysregulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics due to the 'Warburg effect'. In the present study, this metabolic imbalance was explored as a potential target for novel cancer chemotherapy. Imatinib (IM) downregulates the expression levels of SCΟ2 and FRATAXIN (FXN) genes involved in the heme­dependent cytochrome c oxidase biosynthesis and assembly pathway in human erythroleukemic IM­sensitive K­562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells (K­562). In the present study, it was investigated whether the treatment of cancer cells with IM (an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation) separately, or together with dichloroacetate (DCA) (an inhibitor of glycolysis), can inhibit cell proliferation or cause death. Human K­562 and IM­chemoresistant K­562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells (K­562R), as well as human colorectal carcinoma cells HCT­116 (+/+p53) and (­/­p53, with double TP53 knock-in disruptions), were employed. Treatments of these cells with either IM (1 or 2 µM) and/or DCA (4 mΜ) were also assessed for the levels of several process biomarkers including SCO2, FXN, lactate dehydrogenase A, glyceraldehyde­3­phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase M2, hypoxia inducing factor­1a, heme oxygenase­1, NF­κB, stem cell factor and vascular endothelial growth factor via western blot analysis. Computational network biology models were also applied to reveal the connections between the ten proteins examined. Combination treatment of IM with DCA caused extensive cell death (>75%) in K­562 and considerable (>45%) in HCT­116 (+/+p53) cultures, but less in K­562R and HCT­116 (­/­p53), with the latter deficient in full length p53 protein. Such treatment, markedly reduced reactive oxygen species levels, as measured by flow­cytometry, in K­562 cells and affected the oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic biomarkers in all lines examined. These findings indicated, that targeting of cancer mitochondrial bioenergetics with such a combination treatment was very effective, although chemoresistance to IM in leukemia and the absence of a full length p53 in colorectal cells affected its impact.