RESUMEN
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) signaling pathway is a highly conserved signal transduction network in eukaryotic cells that promotes cell survival, cell growth, and cell cycle progression. Growth factor signalling to transcription factors in the PAM axis is highly regulated by multiple cross-interactions with several other signaling pathways, and dysregulation of signal transduction can predispose to cancer development. The PAM axis is the most frequently activated signaling pathway in human cancer and is often implicated in resistance to anticancer therapies. Dysfunction of components of this pathway such as hyperactivity of PI3K, loss of function of PTEN, and gain-of-function of AKT, are notorious drivers of treatment resistance and disease progression in cancer. In this review we highlight the major dysregulations in the PAM signaling pathway in cancer, and discuss the results of PI3K, AKT and mTOR inhibitors as monotherapy and in co-administation with other antineoplastic agents in clinical trials as a strategy for overcoming treatment resistance. Finally, the major mechanisms of resistance to PAM signaling targeted therapies, including PAM signaling in immunology and immunotherapies are also discussed.
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Neoplasias , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas , Humanos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt , Transducción de Señal , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias/genéticaRESUMEN
The identification of agents that can reverse drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy, and enhance the overall efficacy is of great interest. Paclitaxel (PTX) belongs to taxane family that exerts an antitumor effect by stabilizing microtubules and inhibiting cell cycle progression. However, PTX resistance often develops in tumors due to the overexpression of drug transporters and tumor-promoting pathways. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are modulators of many processes in cancer cells, such as apoptosis, migration, differentiation, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we summarize the effects of ncRNAs on PTX chemotherapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can have opposite effects on PTX resistance (stimulation or inhibition) via influencing YES1, SK2, MRP1, and STAT3. Moreover, miRNAs modulate the growth and migration rates of tumor cells in regulating PTX efficacy. PIWI-interacting RNAs, small interfering RNAs, and short-hairpin RNAs are other members of ncRNAs regulating PTX sensitivity of cancer cells. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are similar to miRNAs and can modulate PTX resistance/sensitivity by their influence on miRNAs and drug efflux transport. The cytotoxicity of PTX against tumor cells can also be affected by circular RNAs (circRNAs) and limitation is that oncogenic circRNAs have been emphasized and experiments should also focus on onco-suppressor circRNAs.
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MicroARNs , Neoplasias , ARN Largo no Codificante , Resistencia a Medicamentos , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genética , Humanos , MicroARNs/metabolismo , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias/genética , Paclitaxel/farmacología , Paclitaxel/uso terapéutico , ARN Circular/genética , ARN Largo no Codificante/metabolismo , ARN no Traducido/genéticaRESUMEN
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process, which can promote the transition of tumor cells into other organs by weakening the cell-cell junctions. Tumor cell invasion and metastasis arising because of EMT can determine the prognosis of cancer. EMT can be induced by several growth factors including transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), which can exert their effects by affecting several cell-signaling pathways. Fangchinoline (FCN), a kind of bisbenzylisoquinoline, belongs to the family Menispermaceae. FCN can display substantial antitumor effects against various malignant cell lines but its possible impact on EMT has not been explored. We examined the potential impact of FCN in affecting the activation of EMT in human colon cancer cells. We evaluated the influence of FCN on EMT in colon cancer cells by using Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays. The cellular invasion and migration were observed by Boyden chamber and wound healing assays. Thereafter, the effect of the drug on proliferation and invasion was also evaluated by real-time cell analysis. FCN suppressed the levels of TGF-ß-induced mesenchymal markers, such as fibronectin, vimentin, MMP-9, MMP-2, N-cadherin, Twist, and Snail. However, FCN markedly enhanced the expression of epithelial markers such as occludin and E-cadherin. These results imply that FCN can potentially inhibit tumor metastasis through abrogating EMT. In addition, FCN downregulated c-Met/PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Wnt/ß-catenin cell signaling pathways and mitigated tumor migration as well as invasion. Overall, our study suggests a potential novel role of FCN as an antimetastatic agent against human colon cancer cells.
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Bencilisoquinolinas , Neoplasias del Colon , Bencilisoquinolinas/farmacología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular , Neoplasias del Colon/tratamiento farmacológico , Transición Epitelial-Mesenquimal , Humanos , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas , Transducción de Señal , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta/farmacologíaRESUMEN
In the present study, two novel series of compounds incorporating naphthyl and pyridyl linker were synthesized and biological assays revealed 5-((6-(2-(5-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-oxoethoxy) naphthalene-2-yl)methylene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (14b) as the most potent dual inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factors receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4). Compounds 13b, 14b, 17f, and 21f were found to stabilize HDAC4; where, pyridyl linker swords were endowed with higher stabilization effects than naphthyl linker. Also, 13b and 14b showed best inhibitory activity on VEGFR-2 as compared to others. Compound 14b was most potent as evident by in-vitro and in-vivo biological assessments. It displayed anti-angiogenic potential by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation, migration, tube formation and also suppressed new capillary formation in the growing chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs). It showed selectivity and potency towards HDAC4 as compared to other HDAC isoforms. Compound 14b (25 mg/kg, i.p.) also indicated exceptional antitumor efficacy on in-vivo animal xenograft model of human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29). The mechanism of action of 14b was also confirmed by western blot.
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Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Inhibidores de Histona Desacetilasas/farmacología , Neovascularización Patológica/tratamiento farmacológico , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología , Pirazoles/farmacología , Tiazolidinedionas/farmacología , Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/síntesis química , Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/química , Animales , Antineoplásicos/síntesis química , Antineoplásicos/química , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Ensayos de Selección de Medicamentos Antitumorales , Inhibidores de Histona Desacetilasas/síntesis química , Inhibidores de Histona Desacetilasas/química , Histona Desacetilasas/metabolismo , Humanos , Ratones , Estructura Molecular , Neoplasias Experimentales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Experimentales/metabolismo , Neoplasias Experimentales/patología , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/síntesis química , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/química , Pirazoles/síntesis química , Pirazoles/química , Proteínas Represoras/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismo , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Tiazolidinedionas/síntesis química , Tiazolidinedionas/química , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/antagonistas & inhibidores , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
Bacteria are one of the significant causes of infection in the body after scaffold implantation. Effective use of nanotechnology to overcome this problem is an exciting and practical solution. Nanoparticles can cause bacterial degradation by the electrostatic interaction with receptors and cell walls. Simultaneously, the incorporation of antibacterial materials such as zinc and graphene in nanoparticles can further enhance bacterial degradation. In the present study, zinc-doped hydroxyapatite/graphene was synthesized and characterized as a nanocomposite material possessing both antibacterial and bioactive properties for bone tissue engineering. After synthesizing the zinc-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles using a mechanochemical process, they were composited with reduced graphene oxide. The nanoparticles and nanocomposite samples were extensively investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Their antibacterial behaviors against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were studied. The antibacterial properties of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were found to be improved more than 2.7 and 3.4 times after zinc doping and further compositing with graphene, respectively. In vitro cell assessment was investigated by a cell viability test and alkaline phosphatase activity using mesenchymal stem cells, and the results showed that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in the culture medium, in addition to non-toxicity, led to enhanced proliferation of bone marrow stem cells. Furthermore, zinc doping in combination with graphene significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. The antibacterial activity along with cell biocompatibility/bioactivity of zinc-doped hydroxyapatite/graphene nanocomposite are the highly desirable and suitable biological properties for bone tissue engineering successfully achieved in this work.
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Antibacterianos , Células de la Médula Ósea/metabolismo , Huesos/metabolismo , Nanocompuestos/química , Células Madre/metabolismo , Ingeniería de Tejidos , Animales , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Durapatita/química , Durapatita/farmacología , Escherichia coli/crecimiento & desarrollo , Grafito/química , Grafito/farmacología , Ratones , Staphylococcus aureus/crecimiento & desarrollo , Zinc/química , Zinc/farmacologíaRESUMEN
The intake of fruits has proven to reduce the risk and incidence of cancer worldwide and plays a crucial role in cancer prevention. Pomegranate (Punica granatum), which belongs to the Punicaceae family, is one such plant that contains beneficial nutrients as well as many bioactive components and important phytochemicals that can be attributed to cancer-related therapeutic purposes. Pomegranate possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive, and anti-metastatic properties, and induces apoptosis. It also down-regulates various signaling pathways such as NF-κB, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and Wnt, and down-regulates the expression of genes that are responsible in cancer development, such as anti-apoptotic genes, MMPs, VEGF, c-met, cyclins, Cdks, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, inclusion of the fruit in one's diet would assist in a healthy life protected from cancer and also act as an effective chemotherapeutic with no toxic side effects.
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Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Lythraceae , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Fitoterapia , Preparaciones de Plantas/uso terapéutico , Animales , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Humanos , Preparaciones de Plantas/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is currently under clinical trials for cancer, however many tumor cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develop resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Hence, novel agents that can alleviate TRAIL-induced resistance are urgently needed. In the present report, we investigated the potential of emodin to enhance apoptosis induced by TRAIL in HCC cells. As observed by MTT cytotoxicity assay and the externalization of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylserine, we found that emodin can significantly potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HCC cells. When investigated for the mechanism(s), we observed that emodin can downregulate the expression of various cell survival proteins, and induce the cell surface expression of both TRAIL receptors, death receptors (DR) 4 as well as 5. In addition, emodin increased the expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in a time-dependent manner. Knockdown of CHOP by siRNA decreased the induction of emodin-induced DR5 expression and apoptosis. Emodin-induced induction of DR5 was mediated through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as N-acetylcysteine blocked the induction of DR5 and the induction of apoptosis. Also, the knockdown of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein by siRNA significantly reduced the sensitization effect of emodin on TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Overall, our experimental results clearly indicate that emodin can indeed potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins, increased expression of apoptotic proteins, and ROS mediated upregulation of DR in HCC cells.
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Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamiento farmacológico , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Emodina/farmacología , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Receptores de Muerte Celular/metabolismo , Ligando Inductor de Apoptosis Relacionado con TNF/farmacología , Proteínas Reguladoras de la Apoptosis/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Humanos , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/metabolismo , Factor de Transcripción CHOP/metabolismoRESUMEN
Background: Angiogenesis deregulation is often linked to cancer and is thus an essential target. Materials & methods: Twenty-nine compounds were developed as VEGFR-2 inhibitors. Compounds were evaluated to determine their antiangiogenic activity. Results: B1, PB11 and PB16 showed HUVEC's IC50 scores in the submicromolar range. B1, B2 and PB16 reduced cellular migration and capillary tube formation of HUVECs. VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity was found in the nanomolar range: 200 nM of B1, 500 nM of B2 and 600 nM of PB16. B1 and PB16 suppressed the formation of new capillaries on growing CAMs. B1 and PB16 occupied the ATP site and allosteric pocket of VEGFR-2 in docking studies. Conclusion: These compounds can target VEGFR-2 and are endowed with in vitro and in vivo antiangiogenic activity.
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Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/farmacología , Desarrollo de Medicamentos , Neovascularización Fisiológica/efectos de los fármacos , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología , Pirazoles/farmacología , Tiazolidinedionas/farmacología , Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/síntesis química , Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/química , Humanos , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/síntesis química , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/química , Pirazoles/síntesis química , Pirazoles/química , Tiazolidinedionas/síntesis química , Tiazolidinedionas/química , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/antagonistas & inhibidores , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
In anticancer drug discovery, multi-targeting compounds have been beneficial due to their advantages over single-targeting compounds. For instance, VEGFR-2 has a crucial role in angiogenesis and cancer management, whereas HDACs are well-known regulators of epigenetics and have been known to contribute significantly to angiogenesis and carcinogenesis. Herein, we have reported nineteen novel VEGFR-2 and HDAC dual-targeting analogs containing diaryl-pyrazoline thiazolidinediones and their in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation. In particular, the most promising compound 14c has emerged as a dual inhibitor of VEGFR-2 and HDAC. It demonstrated anti-angiogenic activity by inhibiting in vitro HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Moreover, an in vivo CAM assay showed that 14c repressed new capillary formation in CAMs. In particular, 14c exhibited cytotoxicity potential on different cancer cell lines such as MCF-7, K562, A549, and HT-29. Additionally, 14c demonstrated significant potency and selectivity against HDAC4 in the sub-micromolar range. To materialize the hypothesis, we also performed molecular docking on the crystal structures of both VEGFR-2 (PDB ID: 1YWN) and HDAC4 (PDB-ID: 4CBY), which corroborated the designing and biological activity. The results indicated that compound 14c could be a potential lead to develop more optimized multi-target analogs with enhanced potency and selectivity.
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BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants and herbal preparations in the form of traditional medicines have been used in healthcare worldwide. The extracts of Ginkgo biloba L. seeds and leaves contain a complex mixture of numerous components, such as flavonol glycosides, terpene lactones, and a group of alkylphenols (anacardic or ginkgolic acids, cardanols and cardols) that have been a part of traditional Chinese medicine. These extracts are also sold as dietary supplements worldwide. G. biloba extract (EGb 761 and LI 1370) represent the standard form of G. biloba extract. Six different 6-alkylsalicylic acids (syn. ginkgolic acids) with alkyl substituents (C13:0, C15:0, C15:1, C17:0, C17:1, and C17:2) have been identified. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to unravel scientific evidence on anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of ginkgolic acids to understand its therapeutic potential against inflammatory and oncologic diseases. METHODS: A structured literature search was independently performed by the authors on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Accordingly, this review article critically analyses available scientific evidence on anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of ginkgolic acids. Moreover, the review only included articles written in the English language. RESULTS: Several forms of ginkgolic acids, especially C13:0, C15:0 and C17:1, isolated from the leaves of G. biloba exhibited cytotoxic activity against a variety of human cancers by suppressing various pro-inflammatory signaling cascades and oncogenic transcription factors through multiple modes of action in various in vitro and in vivo preclinical models. Ginkgolic acids have also been reported to be potent post-translational small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMO)ylation inhibitors. CONCLUSION: In this review, we present updated information on the anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of ginkgolic acids both in vitro and in vivo. Although ginkgolic acids show significant therapeutic potential in inflammatory and oncologic diseases, more investigations regarding the safety and efficacy of these natural agents are warranted before the clinical transition.
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Ginkgo biloba , Terpenos , Humanos , LactonasRESUMEN
Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) and neurodegenerative dementia such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are frequently associated comorbidities in the elderly, sharing common risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms including neuroinflammation. Osteopontin (OPN) is an inflammatory marker found upregulated in vascular diseases as well as in AD. However, its involvement in vascular dementia (VaD) and pre-dementia stages, namely cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), both of which fall under the spectrum of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), has yet to be examined. Its correlations with inflammatory cytokines in cognitive impairment also await investigation. 80 subjects with no cognitive impairment (NCI), 160 with CIND and 144 with dementia were included in a cross-sectional study on a Singapore-based memory clinic cohort. All subjects underwent comprehensive clinical, neuropsychological and brain neuroimaging assessments, together with clinical diagnoses based on established criteria. Blood samples were collected and OPN as well as inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were measured using immunoassays. Multivariate regression analyses showed significant associations between increased OPN and VCI groups, namely CIND with CeVD, AD with CeVD and VaD. Interestingly, higher OPN was also significantly associated with AD even in the absence of CeVD. We further showed that increased OPN significantly associated with neuroimaging markers of CeVD and neurodegeneration, including cortical infarcts, lacunes, white matter hyperintensities and brain atrophy. OPN also correlated with elevated levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF. Our findings suggest that OPN may play a role in both VCI and neurodegenerative dementias. Further longitudinal analyses are needed to assess the prognostic utility of OPN in disease prediction and monitoring.
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Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Disfunción Cognitiva/metabolismo , Osteopontina/metabolismo , Anciano , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/diagnóstico , Atrofia/patología , Biomarcadores/sangre , Encéfalo/patología , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Trastornos Cerebrovasculares/patología , Cognición , Disfunción Cognitiva/diagnóstico , Estudios de Cohortes , Estudios Transversales , Demencia Vascular/diagnóstico , Demencia Vascular/metabolismo , Demencia Vascular/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Interleucina-6/análisis , Interleucina-6/sangre , Interleucina-8/análisis , Interleucina-8/sangre , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neuroimagen/métodos , Osteopontina/sangre , Osteopontina/genética , Singapur , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/análisis , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/sangre , Enfermedades Vasculares/patologíaRESUMEN
The ability for a magnetic field to penetrate biological tissues without attenuation has led to significant interest in the use of magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. In particular, active research is ongoing in the areas of magnetically guided drug delivery and magnetic hyperthermia treatment. However, the difficulties in tracing these optically nonactive magnetic nanoparticles hinder their usage in medical research or treatment. Here, a new perovskite-based magneto-fluorescent nanocomposite that allows the in situ, real-time optical visualization of magnetically induced cellular movements is reported. A swelling-deswelling technique is employed to capture a cesium lead halide perovskite and magnetite nanoparticles within a biocompatible polyvinylpyrrolidone matrix, to produce a water-dispersible composite that possesses a combination of strong magnetic response and intense fluorescence. The wavelength-tunability of perovskite nanocrystals is taken advantage of to demonstrate simultaneous multicolor fluorescent tagging of cancer stem cells. The magneto-directed motion of the cancer stem cells through a microfluidic channel is also imaged as a proof-of-concept toward an optically traceable magnetic manipulation of biological systems. These dual-functional nanocomposites could find promising applications in advanced biotechnologies, such as in optogenetics, cellular separation, and drug delivery studies.
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Compuestos de Calcio/química , Nanocompuestos/química , Óxidos/química , Titanio/química , FluorescenciaRESUMEN
TFF3 has been identified as a novel biomarker to distinguish between lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC). Herein, we determined the oncogenic functions of TFF3 and demonstrated the potential of pharmacological inhibition of TFF3 in lung ADC using a novel small-molecule inhibitor of TFF3 dimerization (AMPC). Forced expression of TFF3 in lung ADC cells enhanced cell proliferation and survival, increased anchorage-independent growth, cancer stem cell behavior, growth in 3D Matrigel, and cell migration and invasion. In contrast, depleted expression of TFF3 suppressed these cellular functions. Mechanistically, TFF3 exerted its oncogenic function through upregulation of ARAF and hence enhanced downstream activation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2. Pharmacological inhibition of TFF3 by AMPC, resulted in markedly decreased cell survival, proliferation, 3D growth and foci formation, and impaired tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Moreover, the combination of various MEK1/2 inhibitors with AMPC exhibited synergistic inhibitory effects on lung ADC cell growth. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that TFF3 is a potent promoter of lung ADC progression. Targeting TFF3 with a novel small-molecule inhibitor alone or in combination with conventional MEK1/2 inhibitors are potential strategies to improve the outcome of lung ADC.
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Exposure to antioxidants and xenobiotics triggers the expression of a myriad of genes encoding antioxidant proteins, detoxifying enzymes, and xenobiotic transporters to offer protection against oxidative stress. This articulated universal mechanism is regulated through the cis-acting elements in an array of Nrf2 target genes called antioxidant response elements (AREs), which play a critical role in redox homeostasis. Though the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE system involves many players, AREs hold the key in transcriptional regulation of cytoprotective genes. ARE-mediated reporter constructs have been widely used, including xenobiotics profiling and Nrf2 activator screening. The complexity of AREs is brought by the presence of other regulatory elements within the AREs. The diversity in the ARE sequences not only bring regulatory selectivity of diverse transcription factors, but also confer functional complexity in the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway. The different transcription factors either homodimerize or heterodimerize to bind the AREs. Depending on the nature of partners, they may activate or suppress the transcription. Attention is required for deeper mechanistic understanding of ARE-mediated gene regulation. The computational methods of identification and analysis of AREs are still in their infancy. Investigations are required to know whether epigenetics mechanism plays a role in the regulation of genes mediated through AREs. The polymorphisms in the AREs leading to oxidative stress related diseases are warranted. A thorough understanding of AREs will pave the way for the development of therapeutic agents against cancer, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic and other diseases with oxidative stress.
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Elementos de Respuesta Antioxidante/genética , Neoplasias/genética , Estrés Oxidativo/genética , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Factor 2 Relacionado con NF-E2/genética , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal/genéticaRESUMEN
Natural compounds have enormous biological and clinical activity against dreadful diseases such as cancer, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. In spite of the widespread research carried out in the field of cancer therapeutics, cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases with no perfect treatment till date. Adverse side effects and the development of chemoresistance are the imperative limiting factors associated with conventional chemotherapeutics. For this reason, there is an urgent need to find compounds that are highly safe and efficacious for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Gambogic acid (GA) is a xanthone structure extracted from the dry, brownish gamboge resin secreted from the Garcinia hanburyi tree in Southeast Asia and has inherent anti-cancer properties. In this review, the molecular mechanisms underlying the targets of GA that are liable for its effective anti-cancer activity are discussed that reveal the potential of GA as a pertinent candidate that can be appropriately developed and designed into a capable anti-cancer drug.
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Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Xantonas/uso terapéutico , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/química , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Garcinia/química , Humanos , Modelos Biológicos , Estructura Molecular , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Neoplasias/patología , Xantonas/químicaRESUMEN
Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that deregulated activation of NF-κB plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of a variety of cancers including multiple myeloma (MM). Therefore, novel molecules that can effectively suppress deregulated NF-κB upregulation can potentially reduce MM growth. In this study, the effect of celastrol (CSL) on patient derived CD138+ MM cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell invasion, and migration was investigated. In addition, we studied whether CSL can potentiate the apoptotic effect of bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor in MM cells and in a xenograft mouse model. We found that CSL significantly reduced cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis when used in combination with bortezomib and upregulated caspase-3 in these cells. CSL also inhibited invasion and migration of MM cells through the suppression of constitutive NF-κB activation and expression of downstream gene products such as CXCR4 and MMP-9. Moreover, CSL when administered either alone or in combination with bortezomib inhibited MM tumor growth and decreased serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Overall, our results suggest that CSL can abrogate MM growth both in vitro and in vivo and may serve as a useful pharmacological agent for the treatment of myeloma and other hematological malignancies.
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While tremendous improvement has been made for the treatment of breast cancers, the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) still remains a challenge due to its aggressive characteristics and limited treatment options. Most of the studies on TNBC were conducted in Western population and TNBC is reported to be more frequent in the African women. This review encapsulates the studies conducted on TNBC patients in Asian population and elucidates the similarities and differences between these two regions. The current treatment of TNBC includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition to the current chemotherapies, which mainly include cytotoxic agents, such as taxanes and anthracyclines, many clinical trials are investigating the potential use of other chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapeutics and combinational therapies to treat TNBC. Moreover, this review also integrates the studies involving novel markers, which will help us to dissect the pathologic process of TNBC and in turn facilitate the development of better treatment strategies to combat TNBC.
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Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/uso terapéutico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Carcinoma/terapia , Inmunoterapia , Terapia Neoadyuvante , Inhibidores de Poli(ADP-Ribosa) Polimerasas/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/terapia , Asia/epidemiología , Carcinoma/epidemiología , Carcinoma/metabolismo , Ensayos Clínicos como Asunto , ARN Helicasas DEAD-box/metabolismo , Receptores ErbB/antagonistas & inhibidores , Humanos , MicroARNs/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas pp60(c-src)/antagonistas & inhibidores , ARN Largo no Codificante/metabolismo , Receptores Androgénicos/metabolismo , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/antagonistas & inhibidores , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Neovascularization, also known as angiogenesis, is the process of capillary sprouting from pre-existing blood vessels. This physiological process is a hallmark event in normal embryonic development as blood vessels generally supply both oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body. Any disruption in this process can lead to the development of various chronic diseases, including cancer. In cancer, aberrant angiogenesis plays a prominent role in maintaining sustained tumor growth to malignant phenotypes and promoting metastasis. The leakiness in the tumor microvasculature is attributed to the tumor cells migrating to distal site organs and forming colonies. METHODS: In this article, we briefly review the various mediators involved in the angiogenic process and the anti-angiogenic potential of selected natural compounds against various malignancies. RESULTS: Several growth factors and their receptors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and receptor (VEGF/VEGFR), basic fibroblast growth factor and receptor (bFGF/FGFR), angiopoietins, and hypoxia inducible factors facilitate the development of angiogenesis and are attractive anti-cancer targets. Natural products represent a rich diversity of compounds for drug discovery and are currently being actively exploited to target tumor angiogenesis. CONCLUSION: Agents such as curcumin, artemisinin, EGCG, resveratrol, emodin, celastrol, thymoquinone and tocotrienols all have shown prominent anti-angiogenic effects in the preclinical models of tumor angiogenesis. Several semi-synthetic derivatives and novel nano-formulations of these natural compounds have also exhibited excellent anti-angiogenic activity by increasing bioavailability and delivering the drugs to the sites of tumor angiogenesis.
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Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/farmacología , Inhibidores de la Angiogénesis/uso terapéutico , Productos Biológicos/farmacología , Productos Biológicos/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Animales , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Neovascularización Patológica/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
Vitamin E family members: tocotrienols and tocopherols are widely known for their health benefits. Decades of research on tocotrienols have shown they have diverse biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective and skin protection benefits, as well as improved cognition, bone health, longevity and reduction of cholesterol levels in plasma. Tocotrienols also modulate several intracellular molecular targets and, most importantly, have been shown to improve lipid profiles, reduce total cholesterol and reduce the volume of white matter lesions in human clinical trials. This review provides a comprehensive update on the little-known therapeutic potentials of tocotrienols, which tocopherols lack in a variety of inflammation-driven diseases.
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Antioxidantes/uso terapéutico , Tocotrienoles/uso terapéutico , Animales , Antioxidantes/administración & dosificación , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Sistemas de Liberación de Medicamentos , Humanos , Mediadores de Inflamación/inmunología , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Tocoferoles/administración & dosificación , Tocoferoles/uso terapéutico , Tocotrienoles/administración & dosificación , Tocotrienoles/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Background: Identification of breast cancer stem cells as the chemo-resistant and tumor-initiating population represents an important milestone in approaching anticancer therapies. Targeting this minor subpopulation of chemo- and radio-resistant stem-like cells, termed as the cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their eradication could significantly enhance clinical outcomes. Most of the presently administered chemotherapeutics target the tumor bulk but are ineffective against the CSCs. We report here that diosgenin (DG), a naturally occurring steroidal saponin, could effectively inhibit CSCs from three breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB-231, by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the CSC associated phenotypes. Methods: CSCs were enriched in these cells lines, characterized for CSC traits by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Proliferation and apoptosis assays were performed in these breast CSCs in the presence of DG to obtain the inhibitory concentration. Apoptosis was confirmed with gene expression analysis, Western blotting and propidium iodide staining. TCF-LEF reporter assay, sFRP overexpression and RNAi silencing studies were performed to study regulation of the Wnt pathway. Statistical significance was evaluated by a two-sided Student's t-test. Results: Using the TCF-LEF reporter system, we show the effect of DG on CSCs is predominantly through the network regulating CSC self renewal, the Wnt ß-catenin pathway. Specifically, the Wnt antagonist, the secreted frizzled related protein 4, (sFRP4), had a defining role in the action of DG. Gain-of-function of sFRP4 in CSCs could improve the response to DG wherein CSC mediators were inhibited, ß-catenin was down regulated and the effectors of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and pro-invasive markers were repressed. Conversely, the loss-of-function of sFRP4 had a reverse effect on the CSC population which therein became enriched, their response to DG treatment was modest, ß-catenin levels increased, GSK3ß expression decreased and the expression of epithelial markers of CSC was completely abrogated. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the effect of DG on inhibiting the resilient breast CSCs which could provide a benchmark for the development of DG-based therapies in breast cancer treatment.