Suppression of NSCLC progression via the co-administration of Danusertib, an AURK inhibitor, and KRIBB11, an HSF1 inhibitor.

Aurora kinase (AURK) and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) are commonly overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), correlating with poor prognosis. This study aims to assess the therapeutic potential of combining the Danusertib (Danu, AURK inhibitor) and KRIBB11 (HSF1 inhibitor) for NSCLC treatment. The effects of this combination were investigated in A549 cells and a tumor xenograft mouse model. The findings demonstrate that concurrent administration of Danu and KRIBB11 effectively impedes cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and triggers G2/M cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the combination treatment upregulates pro-apoptotic proteins (Cleaved-caspase3, Cleaved-PARP, and Bax) while downregulating anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2), as well as G2/M-related proteins (CDC2 and cyclin B1). Additionally, the combination treatment elevates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, decreases mitochondrial membrane potential, and activates the DNA damage pathway. Interestingly, we discovered that the PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in mediating the effects of both Danu and KRIBB11. Furthermore, the combination treatment inhibits tumor growth and AKT signaling in the xenograft mouse model, increases levels of the tumor tissue oxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), and induces DNA damage. To summarize, a potential therapeutic approach for NSCLC may involve dual inhibition of AURK and HSF1, resulting in the downregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and the activation of ROS-mediated mitochondrial and DNA damage pathways.

The effect of danusertib, an Aurora kinase inhibitor, onto the cytotoxicity, cell cycle and apoptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is the second type of cancer that causes the most death among the digestive system cancers. Difficulties in early diagnosis and rapidly progressing to advanced stages are most common in high mortality rate of pancreatic carcinoma. The mutation of Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase and mitotic kinases (such as Aurora kinases), which are involved in the cell cycle, plays an important role in the progression of cancer. Enzymes belonging to Aurora kinase family (-A, -B, -C) have been reported to play a major role in cancer progression, invasion and metastasis. Therefore, the purpose of this study, investigate of the effect of danusertib, an Aurora kinase inhibitor, onto cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cell cycle in human pancreatic carcinoma CFPAC-1 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For determining the IC50 value, the 20,000 cells were seeded in E-plate 16 wells in a real-time cell analyzer and various concentrations of danusertib (1-10,000 nM) were applied onto CFPAC-1 cells incubated in IMDM medium. Cell index demonstrated that the proliferation of fraction cells was measured in real time. On the other hand, cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest test were stained with Annexin V-APC/PI and DNA-cell cycle PI staining respectively by using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The IC50 value was found to be approximately 400 nM. Danusertib at this concentration induced apoptosis in CFPAC-1 cells (%14,8 at 24 hours; %21,3 at 48 hours). Furthermore, in the cells treated with danusertib, 31.77% and 11.05% were arrested in the S and G2 phases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aurora kinase inhibitor danusertib induced a significant effect of cytotoxic, apoptotic and cell cycle arrest in CFPAC-1 ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Therefore, it may be a potential alternative to the treatment of pancreatic cancers.

Augmentation of danusertib's anticancer activity against melanoma by blockage of autophagy.

Previous evidence has shown that the increased expression of aurora kinase is closely related to melanoma progression and is an important therapeutic target in melanoma. Danusertib is an inhibitor of aurora kinase, and recent studies have shown that danusertib treatment induces autophagy in several types of cancer. Interestingly, autophagy plays a dual function in cancer as a pro-survival and anti-survival factor. In this study, we investigated the role of danusertib on the induction of autophagy in melanoma and determined the impact of autophagy induction on its anticancer activity against melanoma. Our results showed that danusertib can significantly inhibit melanoma growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrated that danusertib treatment significantly inhibits the oncogenic Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and induces autophagy in melanoma cells. Furthermore, we identified that the inhibition of autophagy can enhance the inhibitory effects of danusertib on melanoma growth. Thus, the induction of autophagy by danusertib appears to be a survival mechanism in melanoma cells that may counteract its anticancer effects. These findings suggest a novel strategy to enhance the anticancer efficacy of danusertib in melanoma by blocking autophagy.

ERK-dependent IL-6 positive feedback loop mediates resistance against a combined treatment using danusertib and BKM120 in Burkitt lymphoma cell lines.

This study was conducted to define the synergistic effect of the PI3K inhibitor BKM120 with the pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor danusertib and the potential mechanism of resistance to the combined inhibitor treatment in Burkitt lymphoma cell lines. The combination of danusertib and BKM120 showed a synergistic effect on Namalwa cells but not on BJAB cells. The combined treatment led to ERK hyperactivation and induced IL-6 secretion in BJAB cells but not in Namalwa cells. A blockade of ERK signaling with trametinib suppressed the combination treatment-induced ERK activation, reduced IL-6 mRNA expression, and downregulated IL-6R mRNA expression, resulting in an improvement in the antitumor effect. We stepwise treated Namalwa cells with both inhibitors using on-and-off treatment cycles and found that Namalwa cells gained chemoresistance by activating the ERK/IL-6 feedback loop, suggesting that the ERK-dependent IL-6 positive feedback loop can compensate for AKT inactivation and is closely associated with adaptive resistance and relapse.

A quantitative proteomic response of hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells to danusertib, a pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, but the overall prognosis remains disappointing especially in the advanced-stage patients. Aberration expression of Aurora kinases is tumorigenic and thus it has attracted interests as therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. Here, we investigated the proteomic response of HCC Hep3B cells to danusertib (Danu), a pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor, and then validated the proteomic results based on stable-isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). The proteomic data identified that Danu modulated the expression of 542 protein molecules (279 up-regulated; 260 down-regulated; 3 stable). Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) and KEGG pathway analysis identified 107 and 24 signaling pathways were regulated by Danu, respectively. IPA analysis showed cellular growth and proliferation, and cell death and survival were among the top five molecular and cellular functions regulated by Danu. The verification experiments showed that Danu inhibited the proliferation of Hep3B cells with a 24-hr IC50 value of 22.03 µM. Danu treatment also arrested Hep3B cells in G2/M phase via regulating the expression of key cell cycle regulators and induced apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, Danu induced a marked autophagy, and inhibition of autophagy enhanced the anticancer effects of Danu, indicating a cyto-protective role of Danu-induced autophagy. Our proteomic data and Western blotting assays showed the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was involved in the inducing effect of Danu on apoptosis and autophagy. Collectively, our findings have demonstrated that the Aurora kinases inhibition with danusertib results in global proteomic response and exerts anticancer effects in Hep3B cells involving regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis and autophagy and associated signaling pathways.

Targeting hepatocarcinogenesis model in C56BL6 mice with pan-aurora kinase inhibitor Danusertib.

Background: To elucidate the expression of Aurora kinases (AURK) and the anticancer effects of pan-aurora kinase inhibitor Danusertib in hepatocarcinogenesis model in C56Bl6 mice. Methods: Thirty mice C56Bl6 were randomly divided into Group A or control, Group B animals who underwent experimental hepatocarcinogenesis with diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and Group C animals with DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenenesis that treated with pan-aurora kinase inhibitor Danusertib. Primary antibodies for immunochistochemistry (IHC) included rabbit antibodies against Ki-67, DKK1, INCENP, cleaved caspase-3, NF-κB p65, c-Jun, ß-catenin. Hepatocyte growth factor receptor (C-MET/HGFR) and Bcl-2 antagonist of cell death (BAD) serum levels were determined using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Results: Inhibition of AURK reduced the number of DEN-induced liver tumours. Apoptosis and proliferation was very low in both DEN-induced and anti- AURK groups respectively. The hepatocellular adenoma cells of DEN-treated mice uniformly had ample nuclear INCENP whereas in anti- AURK markedly decreased. Expression of ß-catenin, NF-kB and c-Jun did not differ in liver tumors of both AURK -depleted and non-depleted mice. Conclusions: Depletion of AURK reduced the number of DEN-induced hepatic tumours. However, their size did not differ significantly between the groups.

[Effect of danusertib on cell cycle, apoptosis and autophagy of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of danusertib (Danu), an inhibitor of Aurora kinase, on the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and autophagy of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: MTT assay was used to examine the effect of Danu on the viability of HepG2 cells to determine the IC50 of Danu. The effect of Danu on cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and autophagy were determined using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of the proteins related to cell cycle, apoptosis and autophagy. Chloroquine was used to suppress Danuinduced autophagy to test the apoptosis-inducing effect of Danu. RESULTS: Danu significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells with IC50 of 39.4 µmol and 14.4 µmol at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Danu caused cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase in HepG2 cells and led to polyploidy accumulation via up-regulating the expressions of p53 and p21 and down-regulating the expressions of cyclin B1 and DC2. Danu also caused apoptosis of HepG2 cells through up-regulating the expressions of Bax, Puma, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved PARP and cytochrome C and down-regulating the expressions of Bcl-xl and Bcl-2. Danu induced autophagy via activating AMPK signaling and inhibiting PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR axis, and inhibition of Danu-induced autophagy with chloroquine enhanced the pro-apoptotic effect of Danu. CONCLUSIONS: Danu inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy in HepG2 cells.

Inhibition of Aurora kinases induces apoptosis and autophagy via AURKB/p70S6K/RPL15 axis in human leukemia cells.

Leukemia is a common malignancy of blood cells with poor prognosis in many patients. Aurora kinases, a family of serine/threonine kinases, play a key role in regulating cell division and mitosis and are linked to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and poor prognosis in many human cancers including leukemia and lymphoma. Danusertib (Danu) is a pan-inhibitor of Aurora kinases with few data available in leukemia therapy. This study aimed to identify new molecular targets for Aurora kinase inhibition in human leukemia cells using quantitative proteomic analysis followed by verification experiments. There were at least 2932 proteins responding to Danu treatment, including AURKB, p70S6K, and RPL15, and 603 functional proteins and 245 canonical signaling pathways were involved in regulating cell proliferation, metabolism, apoptosis, and autophagy. The proteomic data suggested that Danu-regulated RPL15 signaling might contribute to the cancer cell killing effect. Our verification experiments confirmed that Danu negatively regulated AURKB/p70S6K/RPL15 axis with the involvement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AMPK, and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, leading to the induction of apoptosis and autophagy in human leukemia cells. Further studies are warranted to verify the feasibility via targeting AURKB/p70S6K/RPL15 axis for leukemia therapy.

In situ electrochemical evaluation of dsDNA interaction with the anticancer drug danusertib nitrenium radical product using the DNA-electrochemical biosensor.

Danusertib is a kinase inhibitor and anti-cancer drug. The evaluation of the interaction between danusertib and dsDNA was investigated in bulk solution and using the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor. The dsDNA-danusertib interaction occurs in two sequential steps. First, danusertib binds electrostatically todsDNA phosphate backbone through the positively charged piperazine moiety. The second step involved the pyrrolo-pyrazolemoiety and led to small morphological modifications in the dsDNA double helix which were electrochemically characterised through the changes of guanine and adenine residue oxidation peaks and confirmed by electrophoretic and spectrophotometric measurements. The nitrenium cation radical product of danusertib amino group oxidation was electrochemically generated in situ on the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor surface. The danusertib nitrenium cation radical redox metabolite was covalently attached to the C8 of guanine residues preventing their oxidation. An interaction mechanism of dsDNA-danusertib is proposed and the formation of the danusertib redox nitrenium radical metabolite-guanine adduct explained.

Danusertib Induces Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Autophagy but Inhibits Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Involving PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Ovarian carcinoma (OC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies, with a poor prognosis for patients at advanced stage. Danusertib (Danu) is a pan-inhibitor of the Aurora kinases with unclear anticancer effect and underlying mechanisms in OC treatment. This study aimed to examine the cancer cell killing effect and explore the possible mechanisms with a focus on proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, autophagy, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human OC cell lines C13 and A2780cp. The results showed that Danu remarkably inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and autophagy, and suppressed EMT in both cell lines. Danu arrested cells in G2/M phase and led to an accumulation of polyploidy through the regulation of the expression key cell cycle modulators. Danu induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in dose and time-dependent manners. Danu suppressed PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, evident from the marked reduction in the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, contributing to the autophagy inducing effect of Danu in both cell lines. In addition, Danu inhibited EMT. In aggregate, Danu exerts potent inducing effect on cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy, but exhibits a marked inhibitory effect on EMT. PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway contributes, partially, to the cancer cell killing effect of Danu in C13 and A2780cp cells.

Danusertib, a potent pan-Aurora kinase and ABL kinase inhibitor, induces cell cycle arrest and programmed cell death and inhibits epithelial to mesenchymal transition involving the PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated signaling pathway in human gastric cancer AGS and NCI-N78 cells.

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with a poor response to current chemotherapy. Danusertib is a pan-inhibitor of the Aurora kinases and a third-generation Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor with potent anticancer effects, but its antitumor effect and underlying mechanisms in the treatment of human gastric cancer are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of danusertib on cell growth, apoptosis, autophagy, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition and the molecular mechanisms involved in human gastric cancer AGS and NCI-N78 cells. The results showed that danusertib had potent growth-inhibitory, apoptosis-inducing, and autophagy-inducing effects on AGS and NCI-N78 cells. Danusertib arrested AGS and NCI-N78 cells in G2/M phase, with downregulation of expression of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and upregulation of expression of p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53. Danusertib induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, with an increase in expression of proapoptotic protein and a decrease in antiapoptotic proteins in both cell lines. Danusertib induced release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol and triggered activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3 in AGS and NCI-N78 cells. Further, danusertib induced autophagy, with an increase in expression of beclin 1 and conversion of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3-I) to LC3-II in both cell lines. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways as well as activation of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase contributed to the proautophagic effect of danusertib in AGS and NCI-N78 cells. SB202191 and wortmannin enhanced the autophagy-inducing effect of danusertib in AGS and NCI-N78 cells. In addition, danusertib inhibited epithelial to mesenchymal transition with an increase in expression of E-cadherin and a decrease in expression of N-cadherin in both cell lines. Taken together, danusertib has potent inducing effects on cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy, but has an inhibitory effect on epithelial to mesenchymal transition, with involvement of signaling pathways mediated by PI3K/Akt/mTOR, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and 5' AMP-activated protein kinase in AGS and NCI-N78 cells.

The pan-inhibitor of Aurora kinases danusertib induces apoptosis and autophagy and suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human breast cancer cells.

Danusertib (Danu) is a pan-inhibitor of Aurora kinases and a third-generation breakpoint cluster region-Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (Bcr-Abl) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, but its antitumor effect and underlying mechanisms in the treatment of human breast cancer remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Danu on the growth, apoptosis, autophagy, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the molecular mechanisms in human breast cancer MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The results demonstrated that Danu remarkably inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and autophagy, and suppressed EMT in both breast cancer cell lines. Danu arrested MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in G2/M phase, accompanied by the downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and cyclin B1 and upregulation of p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53. Danu significantly decreased the expression of B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xl) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), but increased the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), and promoted the cleavage of caspases 3 and 9. Furthermore, Danu significantly increased the expression levels of the membrane-bound microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3-II) and beclin 1 in breast cancer cells, two markers for autophagy. Danu induced the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (Erk1/2) and inhibited the activation of protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways in breast cancer cells. Treatment with wortmannin (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor) markedly inhibited Danu-induced activation of p38 MAPK and conversion of cytosolic LC3-I to membrane-bound LC3-II. Pharmacological inhibition and small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of p38 MAPK suppressed Akt activation, resulting in LC3-II accumulation and enhanced autophagy. Pharmacological inhibition and small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Erk1/2 also remarkably increased the level of LC3-II in MCF7 cells. Moreover, Danu inhibited EMT in both MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with upregulated E-cadherin and zona occludens protein 1 (ZO-1) but downregulated N-cadherin, zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (TCF8/ZEB1), snail, slug, vimentin, and ß-catenin. Notably, Danu showed lower cytotoxicity toward normal breast epithelial MCF10A cells. These findings indicate that Danu promotes cellular apoptosis and autophagy but inhibits EMT in human breast cancer cells via modulation of p38 MAPK/Erk1/2/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Danu may represent a promising anticancer agent for breast cancer treatment. More studies are warranted to fully delineate the underlying mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of Danu in breast cancer therapy.