Paclitaxel sensitizes homologous recombination-proficient ovarian cancer cells to PARP inhibitor via the CDK1/BRCA1 pathway.

OBJECTIVE: An effective treatment strategy for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) with homologous recombination (HR)-proficient (HRP) phenotype has not been established, although poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) impact the disease course with HR-deficient (HRD) phenotype. Here, we aimed to clarify the cellular effects of paclitaxel (PTX) on the DNA damage response and the therapeutic application of PTX with PARPi in HRP ovarian cancer. METHODS: Two models with different PTX dosing schedules were established in HRP ovarian cancer OVISE cells. Growth inhibition and HR activity were analyzed in these models with or without PARPi. BRCA1 phosphorylation status was examined in OVISE cells by inhibiting CDK1, which was reduced by PTX treatment. CDK1 expression was evaluated in EOC patients treated with PTX-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: PTX suppressed CDK1 expression resulting in impaired BRCA1 phosphorylation in OVISE cells. The reduced CDK1 activity by PTX could decrease HR activity in response to DNA damage and therefore increase the sensitivity to PARPi. Immunohistochemistry showed that CDK1 expression was attenuated in samples collected after PTX-based chemotherapy compared to those collected before chemotherapy. The decrease in CDK1 expression was greater with dose-dense PTX schedule than with the conventional PTX schedule. CONCULSIONS: PTX could act synergistically with PARPi in HRP ovarian cancer cells, suggesting that the combination of PTX with PARPi may be a novel treatment strategy extending the utility of PARPi to EOC. Our findings provide cules for future translational clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of PTX in combination with PARPi in HRP ovarian cancer.

BRCA1 transports the DNA damage signal for CDDP-induced centrosome amplification through the centrosomal Aurora A.

Breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) plays roles in DNA repair and centrosome regulation and is involved in DNA damage-induced centrosome amplification (DDICA). Here, the centrosomal localization of BRCA1 and the kinases involved in centrosome duplication were analyzed in each cell cycle phase after treatment with DNA crosslinker cisplatin (CDDP). CDDP treatment increased the centrosomal localization of BRCA1 in early S-G2 phase. BRCA1 contributed to the increased centrosomal localization of Aurora A in S phase and that of phosphorylated Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in late S phase after CDDP treatment, resulting in centriole disengagement and overduplication. The increased centrosomal localization of BRCA1 and Aurora A induced by CDDP treatment involved the nuclear export of BRCA1 and BRCA1 phosphorylation by ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). Patient-derived variants and mutations at phosphorylated residues of BRCA1 suppressed the interaction between BRCA1 and Aurora A, as well as the CDDP-induced increase in the centrosomal localization of BRCA1 and Aurora A. These results suggest that CDDP induces the phosphorylation of BRCA1 by ATM in the nucleus and its transport to the cytoplasm, thereby promoting the centrosomal localization Aurora A, which phosphorylates PLK1. The function of BRCA1 in the translocation of the DNA damage signal from the nucleus to the centrosome to induce centrosome amplification after CDDP treatment might support its role as a tumor suppressor.

Using the in vitro drug sensitivity test to identify candidate treatments for transient abnormal myelopoiesis.

Approximately 20% of patients with transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) die due to hepatic or multiorgan failure. To identify potential new treatments for TAM, we performed in vitro drug sensitivity testing (DST) using the peripheral blood samples of eight patients with TAM. DST screened 41 agents for cytotoxic properties against TAM blasts. Compared with the reference samples of healthy subjects, TAM blasts were more sensitive to glucocorticoids, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAP2K) inhibitor trametinib, and cytarabine. Our present results support the therapeutic potential of glucocorticoids and the role of the RAS/MAP2K signalling pathway in TAM pathogenesis.

RACK1 regulates centriole duplication through promoting the activation of polo-like kinase 1 by Aurora A.

Breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) contributes to the regulation of centrosome number. We previously identified receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) as a BRCA1-interacting partner. RACK1, a scaffold protein that interacts with multiple proteins through its seven WD40 domains, directly binds to BRCA1 and localizes to centrosomes. RACK1 knockdown suppresses centriole duplication, whereas RACK1 overexpression causes centriole overduplication in a subset of mammary gland-derived cells. In this study, we showed that RACK1 binds directly to polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and Aurora A, and promotes the Aurora A-PLK1 interaction. RACK1 knockdown decreased phosphorylated PLK1 (p-PLK1) levels and the centrosomal localization of Aurora A and p-PLK1 in S phase, whereas RACK1 overexpression increased p-PLK1 level and the centrosomal localization of Aurora A and p-PLK1 in interphase, resulting in an increase of cells with abnormal centriole disengagement. Overexpression of cancer-derived RACK1 variants failed to enhance the Aurora A-PLK1 interaction, PLK1 phosphorylation and the centrosomal localization of p-PLK1. These results suggest that RACK1 functions as a scaffold protein that promotes the activation of PLK1 by Aurora A in order to promote centriole duplication.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Tigliane-Type Diterpene Esters from the Fruits of Shirakiopsis indica and Their Anti-HIV Activity.

Four new diterpene esters, shirakindicans A-D (1-4), along with eight related known diterpene esters (5-12), were isolated from the fruits of the Bangladeshi medicinal plant Shirakiopsis indica. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Shirakindican A (1) was assigned as a tigliane-type diterpene ester possessing an unusual 6ß-hydroxy-1,7-dien-3-one structure, while shirakindican B (2) exhibits a tiglia-1,5-dien-3,7-dione structure. The anti-HIV activities of the isolated diterpene esters were evaluated and showed significant activities for sapintoxins A (5) and D (11), with EC50 values of 0.0074 and 0.044 µM, respectively, and TI values of 1 100 and 5 290. Sapatoxin A (12) also exhibited anti-HIV activity with an EC50 value of 0.13 µM and a TI value of 161.

Lanicepines A and B, Sesquiterpenes with Amino Acid-Derived Substituents from the Flowering Aerial Parts of Saussurea laniceps.

Two new guaianolide sesquiterpenes, lanicepines A (1) and B (2), possessing unusual amino acid-derived substituents at C-13, were isolated from the flowering aerial parts of Saussurea laniceps, a traditional herbal medicine also known as "snow lotus". The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis including applications of the modified Mosher's method and Marfey's method as well as ECD calculations. Lanicepine A (1) contains a dihydropyridinone moiety with a carbamoyl and a hydroxymethyl group. This substituent was considered to consist of asparagine and a C4 unit. In contrast, lanicepine B (2) has a substituent that seems to be derived from l-proline and a C4 unit. Lanicepines A (1) and B (2) and two related known sesquiterpenes isolated from the same plant material, 11ß,13-dihydrodesacylcynaropicrin (3) and 11ß,13-dihydrodesacylcynaropicrin 8-O-ß-d-glucoside (4), demonstrated inhibitory activity against IL-1ß production from LPS-stimulated microglial cells.

Dysregulation of the centrosome induced by BRCA1 deficiency contributes to tissue-specific carcinogenesis.

Alterations in breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1), a tumor suppressor gene, increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA1 forms a heterodimer with BRCA1-associated RING domain protein 1 (BARD1) and functions in multiple cellular processes, including DNA repair and centrosome regulation. BRCA1 acts as a tumor suppressor by promoting homologous recombination (HR) repair, and alterations in BRCA1 cause HR deficiency, not only in breast and ovarian tissues but also in other tissues. The molecular mechanisms underlying BRCA1 alteration-induced carcinogenesis remain unclear. Centrosomes are the major microtubule-organizing centers and function in bipolar spindle formation. The regulation of centrosome number is critical for chromosome segregation in mitosis, which maintains genomic stability. BRCA1/BARD1 function in centrosome regulation together with Obg-like ATPase (OLA1) and receptor for activating protein C kinase 1 (RACK1). Cancer-derived variants of BRCA1, BARD1, OLA1, and RACK1 do not interact, and aberrant expression of these proteins results in abnormal centrosome duplication in mammary-derived cells, and rarely in other cell types. RACK1 is involved in centriole duplication in the S phase by promoting polo-like kinase 1 activation by Aurora A, which is critical for centrosome duplication. Centriole number is higher in cells derived from mammary tissues compared with in those derived from other tissues, suggesting that tissue-specific centrosome characterization may shed light on the tissue specificity of BRCA1-associated carcinogenesis. Here, we explored the role of the BRCA1-containing complex in centrosome regulation and the effect of its deficiency on tissue-specific carcinogenesis.

microRNA-193a-3p is specifically down-regulated and acts as a tumor suppressor in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify miRNAs specifically dysregulated in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer, which could lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenesis of this malignant subtype of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Candidate dysregulated miRNAs were selected in genome-wide miRNA expression array analysis using a screening set composed of 15 BRAF-mutated and 15 non-KRAS/BRAF-mutated colorectal cancers. The miRNA expressions were validated in another set of patients. The functional roles of the miRNAs were analyzed by cell growth and invasion assays. The association between miRNA expression status and the clinical outcome of patients treated with various chemotherapies was analyzed. RESULTS: Within the top five of the miRNAs screened, we validated miRNA-31 (miR-31) and miR-135b as up-regulated, while miR-193a-3p was down-regulated in BRAF-mutated cancer. Moreover, miR-193a-3p inhibited cell growth, and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. Low miR-193a-3p expression was associated with shorter progression-free survival in patients who received anti-EGFR therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results disclose a novel tumor suppressive role of miR-193a-3p in colorectal cancer. These results could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer, particularly in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer.

Inhibition of invasion by glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitors through dysregulation of actin re-organisation via down-regulation of WAVE2.

Cancer cell invasion is a critical phenomenon in cancer pathogenesis. Glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) has been reported to regulate cancer cell invasion both negatively and positively. Thus, the net effect of GSK-3ß on invasion is unclear. In this report, we showed that GSK-3ß inhibitors induced dysregulation of the actin cytoskeleton and functional insufficiency of focal adhesion, which resulted in suppressed invasion. In addition, WAVE2, an essential molecule for actin fibre branching, was down-regulated after GSK-3ß inhibition. Collectively, we propose that the WAVE2-actin cytoskeleton axis is an important target of GSK-3ß inhibitors in cancer cell invasion.

The centrosome: a critical hub for cell cycle regulation.

Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) localize to the centrosome, but their significance in the cell cycle is unclear. Recently, Roberts et al. revealed that centrosomal cyclin B-CDK is required for mitotic entry and phosphorylation of substrates. This suggests that the centrosome acts as a signaling hub controlling the cell cycle.

Protocol to detect OLA1 polyubiquitination by Aurora A in vivo and in vitro.

Aurora A is a critical kinase that functions in centrosome maturation and bipolar spindle assembly. On the other hand, Aurora A has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and polyubiquitinates Breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1)-interacting protein Obg-like ATPase 1 (OLA1), targeting it for proteasomal degradation. Here, we present a protocol to detect OLA1 ubiquitination. We describe steps for recovering frozen cells and protein purification. We then detail assays for both in vivo and in vitro ubiquitination of OLA1 by Aurora A. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Fang et al.1.

Albumin-bilirubin score is a useful predictor of worsening liver reserve after stereotactic body radiation therapy in elderly Japanese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely related to their liver reserves. The Child-Pugh (CP) score has traditionally been used to evaluate this reserve, with CP Grade B (CP score ≥ 7) associated with a higher risk of radiation-induced liver disease after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). However, the CP score has limitations, as it does not accurately assess liver reserve capacity. The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score has been introduced as a meticulous indicator of liver reserve for the treatment of HCC. We retrospectively evaluated the role of the ALBI score in estimating the worsening liver reserve in 42 patients with HCC treated with SBRT using CyberKnife between 2015 and 2023. The median biologically effective dose (α/ß = 10 Gy) was 100 Gy. For a median follow-up duration of 17.4 months, the 1-year overall survival (OS), local control (LC) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 100, 98 and 62%, respectively. Worsening liver reserve was defined as an increase in the modified ALBI grade or CP score within 1 year after SBRT. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the baseline ALBI score (≥-2.7 vs <-2.7) was the only significantly different predictor of worsening liver reserve. The OS and LC rates after SBRT for HCC were satisfactory. However, the PFS was poor, and recurrent HCC will require additional treatment. It is clinically important to predict the liver reserve capacity after SBRT, and the baseline ALBI score is a useful predictor.

Dauferulins A-L, daucane-type sesquiterpenes from the roots of Ferula communis: Their structures and biological activities.

Phytochemical study on the roots of a medicinal plant Ferula communis L. (Apiaceae) resulted in the isolation of 20 sesquiterpenes including 12 previously undescribed compounds, dauferulins A-L (1-12). The detailed spectroscopic analysis revealed 1-12 to be daucane-type sesquiterpenes with a p-methoxybenzoyloxy group at C-6. The absolute configurations of 1-12 were deduced by analysis of the ECD spectra. Dauferulins A-L (1-12), known sesquiterpenes (13-20), and analogues (14a-14l) derived from 6-O-p-methoxybenzoyl-10α-angeloyloxy-jeaschkeanadiol (14) were evaluated for their effects on AMPK phosphorylation in human hepatoma HepG2 cells as well as inhibitory activities against erastin-induced ferroptosis on human hepatoma Hep3B cells and IL-1ß production from LPS-treated murine microglial cells.

Preliminary outcomes of boron neutron capture therapy for head and neck cancers as a treatment covered by public health insurance system in Japan: Real-world experiences over a 2-year period.

PURPOSE: Since June 2020, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been a health care service covered by health insurance in Japan to treat locally advanced or recurrent unresectable head and neck cancers. Therefore, we aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of BNCT as a health insurance treatment and explore its role among the standard treatment modalities for head and neck cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who were treated using BNCT at Kansai BNCT Medical Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, between June 2020 and May 2022. We assessed objective response rates based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1, and adverse events based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Additionally, we conducted a survival analysis and explored the factors that contributed to the treatment results. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (72 treatments) were included in the study, with a median observation period of 15 months. The objective response rate was 80.5%, and the 1-year locoregional control, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 57.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 43.9%-68.3%), 42.2% (95% CI: 30.1%-53.8%), and 75.4% (95% CI: 62.5%-84.5%), respectively. Locoregional control was significantly longer in patients with earlier TNM staging and no history of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: BNCT may be an effective treatment option for locally advanced or recurrent unresectable head and neck cancers with no other definitive therapies. If definitive surgery or radiation therapy are not feasible, BNCT should be considered at early disease stages.

Bevacizumab increases the sensitivity of olaparib to homologous recombination-proficient ovarian cancer by suppressing CRY1 via PI3K/AKT pathway.

PARP inhibitors have changed the management of advanced high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), especially homologous recombinant (HR)-deficient advanced high-grade EOC. However, the effect of PARP inhibitors on HR-proficient (HRP) EOC is limited. Thus, new therapeutic strategy for HRP EOC is desired. In recent clinical study, the combination of PARP inhibitors with anti-angiogenic agents improved therapeutic efficacy, even in HRP cases. These data suggested that anti-angiogenic agents might potentiate the response to PARP inhibitors in EOC cells. Here, we demonstrated that anti-angiogenic agents, bevacizumab and cediranib, increased the sensitivity of olaparib in HRP EOC cells by suppressing HR activity. Most of the γ-H2AX foci were co-localized with RAD51 foci in control cells. However, most of the RAD51 were decreased in the bevacizumab-treated cells. RNA sequencing showed that bevacizumab decreased the expression of CRY1 under DNA damage stress. CRY1 is one of the transcriptional coregulators associated with circadian rhythm and has recently been reported to regulate the expression of genes required for HR in cancer cells. We found that the anti-angiogenic agents suppressed the increase of CRY1 expression by inhibiting VEGF/VEGFR/PI3K pathway. The suppression of CRY1 expression resulted in decrease of HR activity. In addition, CRY1 inhibition also sensitized EOC cells to olaparib. These data suggested that anti-angiogenic agents and CRY1 inhibitors will be the promising candidate in the combination therapy with PARP inhibitors in HR-proficient EOC.

Evaluating homologous recombination activity in tissues to predict the risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and olaparib sensitivity.

Homologous recombination (HR) repairs DNA damage including DNA double-stranded breaks and alterations in HR-related genes results in HR deficiency. Germline alteration of HR-related genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, causes hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Cancer cells with HR deficiency are sensitive to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and DNA-damaging agents. Thus, accurately evaluating HR activity is useful for diagnosing HBOC and predicting the therapeutic effects of anti-cancer agents. Previously, we developed an assay for site-specific HR activity (ASHRA) that can quantitatively evaluate HR activity and detect moderate HR deficiency. HR activity in cells measured by ASHRA correlates with sensitivity to the PARP inhibitor, olaparib. In this study, we applied ASHRA to lymphoblastoid cells and xenograft tumor tissues, which simulate peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor tissues, respectively, as clinically available samples. We showed that ASHRA could be used to detect HR deficiency in lymphoblastoid cells derived from a BRCA1 pathogenic variant carrier. Furthermore, ASHRA could quantitatively measure the HR activity in xenograft tumor tissues with HR activity that was gradually suppressed by inducible BRCA1 knockdown. The HR activity of xenograft tumor tissues quantitatively correlated with the effect of olaparib. Our data suggest that ASHRA could be a useful assay for diagnosing HBOC and predicting the efficacy of PARP inhibitors.

Optimizing Therapeutic Approaches in Superficial Esophageal Cancer: Reduced-volume Radiotherapy and Dose-dense Chemotherapy After Endoscopic Resection.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has become a promising treatment modality in the management of early-stage superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). However, radiotherapy often leads to significant adverse events (AEs), including cardiopulmonary toxicity, limiting the delivery of this treatment modality. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of reduced-volume radiotherapy and dose-dense chemotherapy in mitigating AEs for high-risk SESCC following ESD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients treated with customized CRT after ESD between 2014 and 2023. RESULTS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients were identified. The median follow-up period was 63.4 months (range=8.3-99.8 months). All patients completed CRT, with a low incidence (3%) of grade ≥3 nonhematologic AEs. Thirteen patients (33%) had a recurrence: 10 local, one regional, and two distant. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 77% and 64%, respectively. A positive vertical resection margin was identified as a prognostic factor associated with survival. CONCLUSION: Our novel approach of combining ESD with customized reduced-volume radiotherapy and dose-dense chemotherapy shows promise in providing favorable oncologic outcomes and a safer nonsurgical strategy for high-risk SESCC. Specifically, this regimen minimized cardiopulmonary toxicity without compromising therapeutic efficacy. More aggressive adjuvant therapy may be required for patients with positive vertical resection margins after ESD.

Knockout of Brca1-interacting factor Ola1 in female mice induces tumors with estrogen suppressible centrosome amplification.

Obg-like ATPase 1 (OLA1) is a binding protein of Breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1), germline pathogenic variants of which cause hereditary breast cancer. Cancer-associated variants of BRCA1 and OLA1 are deficient in the regulation of centrosome number. Although OLA1 might function as a tumor suppressor, the relevance of OLA1 deficiency to carcinogenesis is unclear. Here, we generated Ola1 knockout mice. Aged female Ola1+/- mice developed lymphoproliferative diseases, including malignant lymphoma. The lymphoma tissues had low expression of Ola1 and an increase in the number of cells with centrosome amplification. Interestingly, the proportion of cells with centrosome amplification in normal spleen from Ola1+/- mice was higher in male mice than in female mice. In human cells, estrogen stimulation attenuated centrosome amplification induced by OLA1 knockdown. Previous reports indicate that prominent centrosome amplification causes cell death but does not promote tumorigenesis. Thus, in the current study, the mild centrosome amplification observed under estrogen stimulation in Ola1+/- female mice is likely more tumorigenic than the prominent centrosome amplification observed in Ola1+/- male mice. Our findings provide a possible sex-dependent mechanism of the tumor suppressor function of OLA1.

Communiferulins, farnesylated coumarins from the roots of Ferula communis and their anti-neuroinflammatory activity.

Three new farnesylated coumarins, communiferulins A-C (1-3), and a farnesylated chromone, ferchromone (4), were isolated from the roots of an Apiaceous plant Ferula communis. Their structures including the relative configurations were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses and calculations of the NMR data. Communiferulins A-C (1-3) had dihydrofuran rings fused to C-3 and C-4 of their coumarin moieties, while 3 possessed one additional furan ring. HPLC analyses using a chiral column showed 1-4 to be racemates, and the absolute configurations of (+)-1, (-)-1, (+)-2, and (-)-2 were deduced by comparison of their ECD spectra with TDDFT-calculated spectra. Communiferulins A (1) and B (2), and ferchromone (4) showed inhibitory activities on IL-1ß production from LPS-stimulated microglial cells.