YM155 sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer to membrane-bound TRAIL through p38 MAPK- and CHOP-mediated DR5 upregulation.

Because available treatments have limited efficacy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the identification of new therapeutic strategies to improve patients' outcome is urgently needed. In our study, we investigated the effects of the administration of the small molecule selective survivin suppressant YM155, alone or in association with CD34+ cells transduced with a replication-deficient adenovirus encoding the human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) gene (CD34-TRAIL+ cells), in three TNBC cell models. YM155 exposure significantly impaired TNBC cell growth and selectively modulated survivin expression at both mRNA and protein level. In addition, co-culturing YM155-treated TNBC cells with CD34-TRAIL+ cells resulted in markedly increased cytotoxic effect and apoptotic response in comparison with single treatments. Such a chemosensitizing effect was observed only in TNBC cells inherently expressing DR5 and relied on the ability of YM155 to upregulate DR5 expression through a p38 MAPK- and CHOP-dependent mechanism. YM155/CD34-TRAIL+ combination also showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of DR5-expressing TNBC cells following xenotransplantation into NOD/SCID mice, in the absence of toxicity. Overall, our data (i) provide, for the first time, evidence that YM155 sensitizes TNBC cells to CD34-TRAIL+ cells-induced apoptosis by a mechanism involving the downregulation of survivin and the simultaneous p38 MAPK- and CHOP-mediated upregulation of DR5, and (ii) suggest the combination of YM155 with TRAIL-armed CD34+ progenitor cells as a promising therapeutic option for patients with TNBC expressing DR5.

miR-205 impairs the autophagic flux and enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells.

Compelling evidence suggests that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is involved in the resistance of human cancer cells to chemotherapy. We previously reported that the expression of miR-205, a miRNA down-regulated in prostate cancer, is further repressed in prostate cancer cells undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, suggesting a possible involvement of the miRNA in the acquisition of the chemoresistant phenotype. In the present study, we show that miR-205 replacement in castration-resistant mesenchymal prostate cancer cells caused an enhancement of cisplatin cytotoxic activity in vitro and in vivo, as a consequence of autophagy impairment. Specifically, the constraints on the autophagic flux were associated to the miRNA-dependent down-regulation of the lysosome-associated proteins RAB27A and LAMP3. These findings suggest that miR-205-mediated impairment of the autophagic pathway may interfere with the detoxifying capabilities of prostate cancer cells in their attempt to cope with cisplatin-induced detrimental effects. Overall, our data indicate that (i) loss of miR-205 may indeed contribute to acquire mesenchymal tracts and concomitantly establish a permissive autophagic milieu that confers a chemotherapy resistant phenotype to prostate cancer cells, and (ii) strategies aimed at restoring miR-205 expression levels may represent a successful approach to overcome resistance of prostate cancer to platinum compounds.

Novel 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivative nortopsentin analogues: synthesis and antitumor activity in peritoneal mesothelioma experimental models.

In this study, we describe the synthesis of new nortopsentin analogues, 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives and their biological effects in experimental models of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM), a rare and rapidly fatal disease, poorly responsive to conventional therapies. The three most active compounds, 1f (3-[2-(5-fluoro-1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine), 3f (3-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine), and 1l (3-[2-(5-fluoro-1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b] pyridine), which were shown to act as cyclin-dependent kinase 1 inhibitors, consistently reduced DMPM cell proliferation and induced a caspase-dependent apoptotic response, with a concomitant reduction of the expression of the active Thr(34)-phosphorylated form of the antiapoptotic protein survivin. Moreover, the combined treatment of DMPM cells with 3f derivative and paclitaxel produced a synergistic cytotoxic effect, which was paralleled by an enhanced apoptotic response. In the mouse model, i.p. administration of 1f, 3f, and 1l derivatives was effective, resulting in a significant tumor volume inhibition of DMPM xenografts (range, 58-75%) at well-tolerated doses, and two complete responses were observed in each treatment group.