Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 inhibitor enasidenib synergizes daunorubicin cytotoxicity by targeting aldo-keto reductase 1C3 and ATP-binding cassette transporters.

Targeting mutations that trigger acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has emerged as a refined therapeutic approach in recent years. Enasidenib (Idhifa) is the first selective inhibitor of mutated forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) approved against relapsed/refractory AML. In addition to its use as monotherapy, a combination trial of enasidenib with standard intensive induction therapy (daunorubicin + cytarabine) is being evaluated. This study aimed to decipher enasidenib off-target molecular mechanisms involved in anthracycline resistance, such as reduction by carbonyl reducing enzymes (CREs) and drug efflux by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. We analysed the effect of enasidenib on daunorubicin (Daun) reduction by several recombinant CREs and different human cell lines expressing aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) exogenously (HCT116) or endogenously (A549 and KG1a). Additionally, A431 cell models overexpressing ABCB1, ABCG2, or ABCC1 were employed to evaluate enasidenib modulation of Daun efflux. Furthermore, the potential synergism of enasidenib over Daun cytotoxicity was quantified amongst all the cell models. Enasidenib selectively inhibited AKR1C3-mediated inactivation of Daun in vitro and in cell lines expressing AKR1C3, as well as its extrusion by ABCB1, ABCG2, and ABCC1 transporters, thus synergizing Daun cytotoxicity to overcome resistance. This work provides in vitro evidence on enasidenib-mediated targeting of the anthracycline resistance actors AKR1C3 and ABC transporters under clinically achievable concentrations. Our findings may encourage its combination with intensive chemotherapy and even suggest that the effectiveness of enasidenib as monotherapy against AML could lie beyond the targeting of mIDH2.

Dried blood spot as an alternative sample for screening of fatty acid, amino acid, and keto acid metabolism in humans.

Dried blood spot (DBS) is a simple and noninvasive sample collection technique allowing self-collection at home. It can be used as an alternative sample for the screening of metabolism in humans because changes in the levels of some fatty acids (FAs), amino acids (AAs), and keto acids (KAs) can be associated with metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes mellitus). In this study, we optimized three different methods that are sensitive enough for the determination of the aforementioned analytes from a small volume of biological material in DBS. A total of 20 AAs, 5 KAs, and 24 FAs were determined. This sampling technique was applied to prepare samples from 60 individuals by a finger prick. The samples were analyzed using chromatographic methods, and acquired data were statistically evaluated. Even though most analytes were higher in men, only five AAs, three KAs, and eight FAs showed significant gender dependency (α = 0.05). Asparagine, serine, and α- and γ-linolenic acids showed significant age dependency (α = 0.05). Most statistically significant correlations were positive and were found within one category. This work shows that because of many benefits, the DBS sample could be a good alternative to whole blood sample collection for the screening of metabolism in humans, in general, or in individualized medicine. The chromatographic methods can be used in future research, for example, to set the reference range or plasma-correction factors (various aspects such as age or gender should be considered).

Determination of selected α-keto acids in dried blood samples using HPLC with fluorescence detection.

The determination of α-keto acids derived from amino acids is currently the most reliable approach for the diagnosis of some congenital metabolic diseases. An HPLC method for the simultaneous measurement of selected α-keto acids in dried blood samples has been developed and evaluated. Blood spot samples from a group of healthy blood donors were collected onto #903 Specimen Collection Paper. Prior the separation, the α-keto acids were derivatized with 1,2-diamino-4,5-dimethoxybenzene to the corresponding 3-substituted-6,7-dimethoxy-2(1 H)-quinoxalinol derivatives. For the separation, a reverse-phase column LichroCart 125-4, Purospher RP-18e, 5 µm, was used. The mixture of 25% ACN in deionized water (mobile phase A) and 100% ACN (mobile phase B) were used for a gradient elution of α-keto acids derivatives. Analytical performance of this method is satisfactory for all α-keto acids. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients were below 10% and recoveries were close to 100%. We have developed relatively simple, rapid, selective and sufficiently sensitive HPLC method with fluorescence detection for the determination of selected α-keto acids in dried blood samples. The presented method is suitable for clinical testing purposes.

Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Zanubrutinib Effectively Modulates Cancer Resistance by Inhibiting Anthracycline Metabolism and Efflux.

Zanubrutinib (ZAN) is a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor recently approved for the treatment of some non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In clinical trials, ZAN is often combined with standard anthracycline (ANT) chemotherapy. Although ANTs are generally effective, drug resistance is a crucial obstacle that leads to treatment discontinuation. This study showed that ZAN counteracts ANT resistance by targeting aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. AKR1C3 catalyses the transformation of ANTs to less potent hydroxy-metabolites, whereas transporters decrease the ANT-effective concentrations by pumping them out of the cancer cells. In our experiments, ZAN inhibited the AKR1C3-mediated inactivation of daunorubicin (DAUN) at both the recombinant and cellular levels. In the drug combination experiments, ZAN synergistically sensitised AKR1C3-expressing HCT116 and A549 cells to DAUN treatment. Gene induction studies further confirmed that ZAN did not increase the intracellular level of AKR1C3 mRNA; thus, the drug combination effect is not abolished by enzyme induction. Finally, in accumulation assays, ZAN was found to interfere with the DAUN efflux mediated by the ABCB1, ABCG2, and ABCC1 transporters, which might further contribute to the reversal of ANT resistance. In summary, our data provide the rationale for ZAN inclusion in ANT-based therapy and suggest its potential for the treatment of tumours expressing AKR1C3 and/or the above-mentioned ABC transporters.

Lauroyl hyaluronan films for local drug delivery: Preparation and factors influencing the release of small molecules.

Lauroyl derivatives of hyaluronan are safe and biodegradable materials that seem promising for application in medicine. However, their potential in the field of drug delivery was not yet explored. We thus prepared lauroyl hyaluronan films loaded with various drugs and studied the effects of lauroyl hyaluronan properties, drug hydrophobicity and medium composition on the drug release. Since biomolecules will always be present in real clinical applications, media supplemented by albumin were also included. The amphiphilic character of lauroyl hyaluronan enabled convenient loading of the films by both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Dominant factors influencing drug release were drug hydrophobicity and the presence of albumin. Hydrophilic diclofenac was released rapidly in all cases, while triclosan with medium hydrophobicity exhibited slower release sensitive to other parameters, reaching equilibrium values in the used experimental setup. The release of hydrophobic octenidine into pure buffer was almost negligible, but the addition of albumin did promote its release. The strong effect of albumin highlights the importance of considering biomolecules in the design of release experiments.

Inhibition of AKR1B10-mediated metabolism of daunorubicin as a novel off-target effect for the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib.

Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors significantly improved Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukaemia therapy. Apart from Bcr-Abl kinase, imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib and ponatinib are known to have additional off-target effects that might contribute to their antitumoural activities. In our study, we identified aldo-keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) as a novel target for dasatinib. The enzyme AKR1B10 is upregulated in several cancers and influences the metabolism of chemotherapy drugs, including anthracyclines. AKR1B10 reduces anthracyclines to alcohol metabolites that show less antineoplastic properties and tend to accumulate in cardiac tissue. In our experiments, clinically achievable concentrations of dasatinib selectively inhibited AKR1B10 both in experiments with recombinant enzyme (Ki = 0.6 µM) and in a cellular model (IC50 = 0.5 µM). Subsequently, the ability of dasatinib to attenuate AKR1B10-mediated daunorubicin (Daun) resistance was determined in AKR1B10-overexpressing cells. We have demonstrated that dasatinib can synergize with Daun in human cancer cells and enhance its therapeutic effectiveness. Taken together, our results provide new information on how dasatinib may act beyond targeting Bcr-Abl kinase, which may help to design new chemotherapy regimens, including those with anthracyclines.

Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Ibrutinib and Acalabrutinib Counteract Anthracycline Resistance in Cancer Cells Expressing AKR1C3.

Over the last few years, aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) has been associated with the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR), thereby hindering chemotherapy against cancer. In particular, impaired efficacy of the gold standards of induction therapy in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has been correlated with AKR1C3 expression, as this enzyme metabolises several drugs including anthracyclines. Therefore, the development of selective AKR1C3 inhibitors may help to overcome chemoresistance in clinical practice. In this regard, we demonstrated that Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib efficiently prevented daunorubicin (Dau) inactivation mediated by AKR1C3 in both its recombinant form as well as during its overexpression in cancer cells. This revealed a synergistic effect of BTK inhibitors on Dau cytotoxicity in cancer cells expressing AKR1C3 both exogenously and endogenously, thus reverting anthracycline resistance in vitro. These findings suggest that BTK inhibitors have a novel off-target action, which can be exploited against leukaemia through combination regimens with standard chemotherapeutics like anthracyclines.

Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Resveratrol Isomers and 2,4,6-Trihydroxyphenanthrene in Red Wines Exposed to UV-Light.

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) is one of the most abundant polyphenols in red grapes, and red wine represents one of the most important dietary sources of this compound. Although its beneficial properties on human health have been widely investigated over the last 30 years, very little is known about its derivatives. Resveratrol can indeed undergo glycosylation, oligomerization and, upon UV-light exposure, it can isomerize from the trans-to the cis-isomer, which can further cyclize to 2,4,6-trihydroxyphenanthrene (THP). Although the effects of THP on human health are not yet known, being a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, it can be potentially harmful. Because no data about THP occurrence in plant food and beverages are available, a simple procedure based on liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been developed and validated for the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of trans-resveratrol, cis-resveratrol, and THP in red wine, before and after UV-light exposure.