The Roles of ROS in Cancer Heterogeneity and Therapy

Cancer comprises a group of heterogeneous diseases encompassing high rates of morbidity and mortality. Heterogeneity, which is a hallmark of cancer, is one of the main factors related to resistance to chemotherapeutic agents leading to poor prognosis. Heterogeneity is profoundly affected by increasing levels of ROS. Under low concentrations, ROS may function as signaling molecules favoring tumorigenesis and heterogeneity, while under high ROS concentrations, these species may work as cancer modulators due to their deleterious, genotoxic or even proapoptotic effect on cancer cells. This double-edged sword effect represented by ROS relies on their ability to cause genetic and epigenetic modifications in DNA structure. Antitumor therapeutic approaches may use molecules that prevent the ROS formation precluding carcinogenesis or use chemical agents that promote a sudden increase of ROS causing considerable oxidative stress inside tumor mass. Therefore, herein, we review what ROS are and how they are produced in normal and in cancer cells while providing an argumentative discussion about their role in cancer pathophysiology. We also describe the various sources of ROS in cancer and their role in tumor heterogeneity. Further, we also discuss some therapeutic strategies from the current landscape of cancer heterogeneity, ROS modulation, or ROS production

Evaluation of cytotoxic effect of the combination of a pyridinyl carboxamide derivative and oxaliplatin on NCI-H1299 human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

Even with all improvements in both diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, lung cancer remains as the most lethal and prevalent cancer in the world. Therefore, new therapeutic drugs and new strategies of drug combination are necessary to provide treatments that are more efficient. Currently, standard therapy regimen for lung cancer includes platinum drugs, such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin. Besides of the better toxicity profile of oxaliplatin when compared with cisplatin, peripheral neuropathy remains as a limitation of oxaliplatin dose. This study presents LabMol-12, a new pyridinyl carboxamide derivative with antileishmanial and antichagasic activity, as a new hit for lung cancer treatment, which induces apoptosis dependent of caspases in NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells both in monolayer and 3D culture. Moreover, LabMol-12 allows a reduction of oxaliplatin dose when they are combined, thereby, it is a relevant strategy for reducing the side effects of oxaliplatin with the same response. Molecular modeling studies corroborated the biological findings and suggested that the combined therapy can provide a better therapeutically profile effects against NSCLC. All these findings support the fact that the combination of oxaliplatin and LabMol-12 is a promising drug combination for lung cancer

Preliminary in vitro evaluation of N '-(benzofuroxan-5-yl)methylene benzohydrazide derivatives as potential anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents

A set of benzofuroxan derivatives was tested in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms. The influence of physicochemical properties on these benzofuroxan derivatives' activity was observed, and the presence of electron-withdrawing and hydrophobic groups attached to the benzene ring seems to make a favorable contribution at lower concentrations.CNPqCNPqCAPESCAPESFAPESPFAPES

Alkyl phosphate synthetic precursor of the cell membrane phospholipids with potential antitumor and apoptotic effects in experimental tumor models

Neste estudo foram avaliados os efeitos antitumorais da fosfoetanolamina sintética (FS) em modelos de tumores experimentais e as vias de sinalizações envolvidas nesta atividade. In vitro a FS foi citotóxica para as linhagens de células tumorais de melanoma humano, SK-MEL-28, carcinoma renal murino RENCA e para as células do carcinoma de pulmão de não pequenas células NSCLC. Alterações ultraestruturais como a condensação da cromatina, formação de blubes de membranas e mitocôndrias eletrodensas foi acompanhada pela redução do potencial elétrico mitocondrial. Aumento da ativação da caspase 3 e 8 e da expressão da proteína Bax, além da redução da CDK9 e CDK4/6, também foram observados. A redução da migração e proliferação das células endoteliais HUVEC induzida pela FS foi associada com a modulação da expressão do VEGF-A. resultando na inibição in vitro da formação do tubo endotelial. In vivo a FS foi capaz de inibir o crescimento dos tumores sólidos do melanoma e do carcinoma renal murino de forma superior aos quimioterápicos Dacarbazina (DITC) e ao Sunitinib. No modelo de metástase pulmonar utilizando as células RENCA, a FS reduziu o número de nódulos metastáticos pulmonares e aumentou a taxa de sobrevida dos animais. Os efeitos terapêuticos da FS também foram avaliados no modelo de leucemia promielocítica aguda (LPA) transplantada em camundongos NOD/Scid. O tratamento com a FS reduziu o número de blastos periféricos e infiltrados na medula óssea e nos parênquimas, esplênico e hepático. De forma superior a Daunorrubicina (DA) e ao Ácido all-trans retinóico (ATRA), a FS induziu apoptose nos clones malignos que expressão CD34+, bem como nas células CD117+/Gr-1+. Este conjunto de resultados mostra que a FS é um composto promissor na terapêutica contra neoplasiasIn this study, we evaluated the antitumor effects of synthetic phosphoethanolamine (FS) in an experimental tumor model and the signaling pathways involved in this activity. In vitro, FS was cytotoxic to tumor cell lines of human melanoma, SK- MEL-28, renal carcinoma murine, Renca, and for non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC. Ultrastructural changes such as chromatin condensation, blubes formation on membranes and electrodense mitochondria were accompanied by a reduction of the mitochondrial electric potential. Increased activation of caspase-3, 8 and Bax protein expression, in addition to a reduction of CDK9 and CDK4/6 levels, was also observed. The reduction of migration and proliferation of endothelial cells, HUVEC, induced by FS was associated with the modulation of VEGF-A-expression, resulting in the in vitro inhibition of tubulogenesis. In vivo, FS was able to inhibit the growth of solid tumors of melanoma and renal carcinoma more potently than Dacarbazine (DITC) and Sunitinib. In the lung metastasis model, using RENCA cells, FS reduced the number of metastatic lung nodules and increased the survival rate of the animals. The therapeutic effects of FS were also evaluated in the model of acute promyelocytic leukemia transplanted in mice NOD/Scid. The treatment with FS reduced the number of peripheral blasts and infiltrates in the blood marrow, splenic and hepatic parenchyma. Fs was more potent than Daunorrubicine (DA) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in the induction of apoptosis in the malignant clones expressing CD34+ as well as CD117+/Gr-1+ cells. Taken together, theses results show that FS is a promising compound for the therapy against tumor

Bilayer Forming Phospholipids as Targets for Cancer Therapy

Phospholipids represent a crucial component for the structure of cell membranes. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are two phospholipids that comprise the majority of cell membranes. De novo biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine occurs via the Kennedy pathway, and perturbations in the regulation of this pathway are linked to a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Altered phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine membrane content, phospholipid metabolite levels, and fatty acid profiles are frequently identified as hallmarks of cancer development and progression. This review summarizes the research on how phospholipid metabolism changes over oncogenic transformation, and how phospholipid profiling can differentiate between human cancer and healthy tissues, with a focus on colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. The potential for phospholipids to serve as biomarkers for diagnostics, or as anticancer therapy targets, is also discussed

Anticancer Effects of Synthetic Phosphoethanolamine on Ehrlich Ascites Tumor: An Experimental Study

Background: Antineoplastic phospholipids (ALPs) represent a promising class of drugs with a novel mode of action undergoes rapid turnover in the cell membrane of tumors, interfering with lipid signal transduction, inducing cell death. The aim of this study was to investigate the synthetic phosphoethanolamine (Pho-s) as a new anticancer agent. Materials and Methods: Cell viability and morphology were assessed by (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), Hoechst and rhodamine staining. Apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining, caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta m psi) and cell cycle analysis, combined with evaluation of tumor growth in Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) bearing mice. Results: We found that Pho-s 2.30 mg/ml induced cytotoxicity in all tumor cell lines studied without affecting normal cells. In vitro studies with EAT cells indicated that Pho-s induced apoptosis, demonstrated by an increase in Annexin-V positive cells, loss of mitochondrial potential (Delta m psi) and increased caspase-3 activity. It was also shown to increase the sub-G(1) apoptotic fraction and inhibit progression to the S phase of the cell cycle. Additionally, antitumor effects on the EAT-bearing mice showed that Pho-s, at a concentration of 35 and 70 mg/kg, inhibited tumor growth and increased the lifespan of animals without causing liver toxicity. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Pho-s is a potential anticancer candidate drug.Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2007/50571-3, 2008/56089-1, 2010/50220-9]Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP

Synthetic phosphoethanolamine a precursor of membrane phospholipids reduce tumor growth in mice bearing melanoma B16-F10 and in vitro induce apoptosis and arrest in G2/M phase

Phosphoethanolamine (Pho-s) is a compound involved in phospholipid turnover, acting as a substrate for many phospholipids of the cell membranes, especially phosphatidylcholine. We recently reported that synthetic Pho-s has potent effects on a wide variety of tumor cells. To determine if Pho-s has a potential antitumor activity, in this study we evaluated the activity of Pho-s against the B16-F10 melanoma both in vitro and in mice bearing a dorsal tumor. The treatment of B16F10 cells with Pho-s resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. At low concentrations, this activity appears to be involved in the arrest of the cell cycle at G2/M, while at high concentrations Pho-s induces apoptosis. In accordance with these results, the loss of mitochondrial potential and increased caspase-3 activity suggest that Phos has dual antitumor effects; i.e. it induces apoptosis at high concentrations and modulates the cell cycle at lower concentrations. In vivo, we evaluated the effect of Pho-s in mice bearing B16-F10 melanoma. The results show that Pho-s reduces the tumoral volume increasing survival rate. Furthermore, the tumor doubling time and tumor delays were substantially reduced when compared with untreated mice. Histological analyses reveal that Pho-s induces changes in cell morphology, typical characteristics of apoptosis, in addition the large areas of necrosis correlating with a reduction of tumor size. The results presented here support the hypothesis that Pho-s has antitumor effects by the induction of apoptosis as well as the inhibition of cell proliferation by arrest at G2/M. Thus, Pho-s can be regarded as a promising agent for the treatment of melanoma. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)Sao Paulo Research Foundation - (FAPESP) [2007/50571-3, 2008/56089-1, 2010/50220-9

Copper(II) complexes with naringenin and hesperetin: cytotoxic activity against A 549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells and investigation on the mode of action

Copper(II) complexes [Cu(H (2) O) (2) (L1)(phen)](ClO (4) ) (1) and [Cu(H (2) O)(L2)(phen)](ClO (4) ) (2) (HL1 = naringenin; HL2 = hesperetin) were obtained, in which an anionic flavonoid ligand is attached to the metal center along with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) as co-ligand. Complexes (1) and (2) were assayed for their cytotoxic activity against A549 lung carcinoma and against normal lung fibroblasts (LL-24) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We found IC50 = 16.42 A mu M (1) and IC50 = 5.82 A mu M (2) against A549 tumor cells. Complexes (1) and (2) exhibited slight specificity, being more cytotoxic against malignant than against non-malignant cells. 1 and 2 induced apoptosis on A549 cells in a mitochondria-independent pathway, and showed antioxidant activity. The antioxidant effect of the complexes could possibly improve their apoptotic action, most likely by a PI3K-independent reduction of autophagy. Complexes (1) and (2) interact in vitro with calf thymus DNA by an intercalative binding mode. EPR data indicated that 1 and 2 interact with human serum albumin (HSA) forming mixed ligand species

Anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic activity of synthetic phosphoethanolamine.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer, and represents the third most common urological malignancy. Despite the advent of targeted therapies for RCC and the improvement of the lifespan of patients, its cost-effectiveness restricted the therapeutic efficacy. In a recent report, we showed that synthetic phosphoethanolamine (Pho-s) has a broad antitumor activity on a variety of tumor cells and showed potent inhibitor effects on tumor progress in vivo.We show that murine renal carcinoma (Renca) is more sensitive to Pho-s when compared to normal immortalized rat proximal tubule cells (IRPTC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In vitro anti-angiogenic activity assays show that Pho-s inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation. In addition, Pho-s has anti-proliferative effects on HUVEC by inducing a cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. It causes a decrease in cyclin D1 mRNA, VEGFR1 gene transcription and VEGFR1 receptor expression. Pho-s also induces nuclear fragmentation and affects the organization of the cytoskeleton through the disruption of actin filaments. Additionally, Pho-s induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. The putative therapeutic potential of Pho-s was validated in a renal carcinoma model, on which our remarkable in vivo results show that Pho-s potentially inhibits lung metastasis in nude mice, with a superior efficacy when compared to Sunitinib.Taken together, our findings provide evidence that Pho-s is a compound that potently inhibits lung metastasis, suggesting that it is a promising novel candidate drug for future developments

Inhibition of HUVEC proliferation.

<p>(a) Cell proliferation assessed by MTT assay shows that Pho-s and Sunitinib at subcytotoxic concentrations inhibit cell proliferation of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. Cells were labeled with CFDA and analysis was performed by flow cytometry. (b) Dot plot of untreated HUVEC reveals a cell population with a high division index (green). While treatment with 10 mM Pho-s shows a 4.5 fold reduction (*p<0.05) in that high division index of HUVEC, 1 µM Sunitinib did not showed a significant effects, observed after 96 h of treatment. (c) Histogram of treated and untreated HUVEC proliferation. Cell cycle analysis of HUVEC treated with Pho-s, Suninitib and Staurosporine (ST) (positive control of apoptosis) was performed by flow cytometry (d). Pho-s at the concentration of 10 mM arrests the cells at the G2/M phase (e), while Sunitinib at the concentrations of 1 µM inhibits the transition from the G1 to the S-phase and ST induces apoptosis recognized as the sub-G1- peak (e). The % of G2/M and G0/G1 arrests are shown in the bar diagram as mean ±SD from three independent experiments.</p