10 research outputs found
Identification of a novel quinoxaline-isoselenourea targeting the STAT3 pathway as a potential melanoma therapeutic
The prognosis for patients with metastatic melanoma remains very poor. Constitutive
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation has been correlated to metastasis,
poor patient survival, larger tumor size, and acquired resistance against vemurafenib (PLX-4032),
suggesting its potential as a molecular target. We recently designed a series of isoseleno- and
isothio-urea derivatives of several biologically active heterocyclic scaffolds. The cytotoxic effects
of lead isoseleno- and isothio-urea derivatives (compounds 1 and 3) were studied in a panel of
five melanoma cell lines, including B-RAFV600E-mutant and wild-type (WT) cells. Compound 1
(IC50 range 0.8â3.8 ”M) showed lower IC50 values than compound 3 (IC50 range 8.1â38.7 ”M) and
the mutant B-RAF specific inhibitor PLX-4032 (IC50 ranging from 0.4 to >50 ”M), especially at a
short treatment time (24 h). These effects were long-lasting, since melanoma cells did not recover
their proliferative potential after 14 days of treatment. In addition, we confirmed that compound 1
induced cell death by apoptosis using Live-and-Dead, Annexin V, and Caspase3/7 apoptosis assays.
Furthermore, compound 1 reduced the protein levels of STAT3 and its phosphorylation, as well as
decreased the expression of STAT3-regulated genes involved in metastasis and survival, such as
survivin and c-myc. Compound 1 also upregulated the cell cycle inhibitor p21. Docking studies
further revealed the favorable binding of compound 1 with the SH2 domain of STAT3, suggesting it
acts through STAT3 inhibition. Taken together, our results suggest that compound 1 induces apoptosis
by means of the inhibition of the STAT3 pathway, non-specifically targeting both B-RAF-mutant and
WT melanoma cells, with much higher cytotoxicity than the current therapeutic drug PLX-4032
Novel seleno-aspirinyl compound AS-10 induces apoptosis, G1 arrest of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells, inhibits their NF-kappa B signaling and synergizes with gemcitabine cytotoxicity
Current available therapies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) provide minimal
overall survival benefits and cause severe adverse effects. We have identified a novel molecule
AS-10, a selenazolidine-bis-aspirinyl derivative, that was two to three orders of magnitude more
potent than aspirin and at least one to two orders of magnitude more potent than gemcitabine in
inhibiting PDAC cancer cell growth/viability against three PDAC cell lines while sparing mouse
embryonic fibroblasts in the same exposure range. In Panc-1 cells, AS-10 induced apoptosis without
necrosis, principally through caspase-3/7 cascade and reactive oxygen species, in addition to an
induction of G1 cell cycle block. Transcriptomic profiling with RNA-seq indicated the top responses
to AS-10 exposure as CDKN1A (P21Cip1), CCND1, and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-B)
complex and the top functions as cell cycle, cell death, and survival without inducing the DNA
damage gene signature. AS-10 pretreatment (6 h) decreased cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-)-stimulated NF-B nuclear translocation, DNA binding activity, and degradation of cytosolic
inhibitor of B (IB) protein. As NF-B activation in PDAC cells confers resistance to gemcitabine,
the AS-10 combination with gemcitabine increased the in vitro cytotoxicity more than the additivity
of both compounds. Overall, our results suggest AS-10 may be a promising drug lead for PDAC,
both as a single agent and in combination therapy
2âDeoxyglucose and hydroxychloroquine HPLCâMSâMS analytical methods and pharmacokinetic interactions after oral coâadministration in male rats
Abstract Our previous work has shown a synergistic tumoricidal efficacy of combining the hexokinase (HK) inhibitor 2âdeoxyglucose (2âDG) and the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) through intraperitoneal injections on HK2âaddicted prostate cancers in animal models. The pharmacokinetic (PK) behaviors of these oral drugs after simultaneous oral administration have not been reported. We developed highâperformance liquid chromatographyâtandem mass spectrometry (HPLCâMSâMS) analytical methods for 2âDG and the clinically favored drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for sera samples. Using a jugular veinâcannulated male rat model with serial blood collection before and after a single gavage dose of each drug alone or in combination, we examined their PK metrics for drugâdrug interactions. The data demonstrated a rapid and complete separation of 2âDG from common monosaccharides by HPLCâMSâMS multiâreaction monitoring. Application of the HPLCâMSâMS 2âDG and HCQ methods to sera samples of nine rats showed a peak time (Tmax) for 2âDG of 0.5âh after 2âDG alone or with HCQ and identical postâpeak halfâlife of approximately 1âh. With a seemingly biâmodal time course for HCQ, the Tmax for HCQ alone (1.2âh) was faster than that for the combination (2âh; pâ=â.017). After combination dosing, the peak concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC0â4h) of 2âDG were decreased by 53.8% (pâ=â.0004) and 53.7% (pâ=â.0001), whereas AUC0â8h for HCQ was decreased by 30.8% (pâ=â.0279) from the respective single dosing. Without changing the mean residence time (MRT0ââ) of each drug, the combination affected the apparent volume of distribution (Vd) and clearance (CL) of 2âDG, and CL for HCQ without affecting its Vd. We observed significant negative PK interactions, probably at the intestinal absorption level, between 2âDG and HCQ taken simultaneously by mouth. Future optimization efforts are warranted for their combination regimen for clinical translation
Novel Seleno-Aspirinyl Compound AS-10 Induces Apoptosis, G1 Arrest of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells, Inhibits Their NF-ÎșB Signaling, and Synergizes with Gemcitabine Cytotoxicity
Current available therapies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) provide minimal overall survival benefits and cause severe adverse effects. We have identified a novel molecule AS-10, a selenazolidine-bis-aspirinyl derivative, that was two to three orders of magnitude more potent than aspirin and at least one to two orders of magnitude more potent than gemcitabine in inhibiting PDAC cancer cell growth/viability against three PDAC cell lines while sparing mouse embryonic fibroblasts in the same exposure range. In Panc-1 cells, AS-10 induced apoptosis without necrosis, principally through caspase-3/7 cascade and reactive oxygen species, in addition to an induction of G1 cell cycle block. Transcriptomic profiling with RNA-seq indicated the top responses to AS-10 exposure as CDKN1A (P21Cip1), CCND1, and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-ÎșB) complex and the top functions as cell cycle, cell death, and survival without inducing the DNA damage gene signature. AS-10 pretreatment (6 h) decreased cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-stimulated NF-ÎșB nuclear translocation, DNA binding activity, and degradation of cytosolic inhibitor of ÎșB (IÎșB) protein. As NF-ÎșB activation in PDAC cells confers resistance to gemcitabine, the AS-10 combination with gemcitabine increased the in vitro cytotoxicity more than the additivity of both compounds. Overall, our results suggest AS-10 may be a promising drug lead for PDAC, both as a single agent and in combination therapy
Targeting Cell Survival Proteins for Cancer Cell Death
Escaping from cell death is one of the adaptations that enable cancer cells to stave off anticancer therapies. The key players in avoiding apoptosis are collectively known as survival proteins. Survival proteins comprise the Bcl-2, inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP), and heat shock protein (HSP) families. The aberrant expression of these proteins is associated with a range of biological activities that promote cancer cell survival, proliferation, and resistance to therapy. Several therapeutic strategies that target survival proteins are based on mimicking BH3 domains or the IAP-binding motif or competing with ATP for the Hsp90 ATP-binding pocket. Alternative strategies, including use of nutraceuticals, transcriptional repression, and antisense oligonucleotides, provide options to target survival proteins. This review focuses on the role of survival proteins in chemoresistance and current therapeutic strategies in preclinical or clinical trials that target survival protein signaling pathways. Recent approaches to target survival proteins-including nutraceuticals, small-molecule inhibitors, peptides, and Bcl-2-specific mimetic are explored. Therapeutic inventions targeting survival proteins are promising strategies to inhibit cancer cell survival and chemoresistance. However, complete eradication of resistance is a distant dream. For a successful clinical outcome, pretreatment with novel survival protein inhibitors alone or in combination with conventional therapies holds great promise
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Selenium (Se-NSAID) Molecules as Anticancer Agents
The
synthesis and anticancer evaluation of novel selenium-nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug (Se-NSAID) hybrid molecules are reported. The
Se-aspirin analogue <b>8</b> was identified as the most effective
agent in reducing the viability of different cancer cell lines, particularly
colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, was more selective toward cancer cells
than normal cells, and was >10 times more potent than 5-FU, the
current
therapy for CRC. Compound <b>8</b> inhibits CRC growth via the
inhibition of the cell cycle in G1 and G2/M phases and reduces the
cell cycle markers like cyclin E1 and B1 in a dose dependent manner;
the inhibition of the cell cycle may be dependent on the ability of <b>8</b> to induce p21 expression. Furthermore, <b>8</b> induces
apoptosis by activating caspase 3/7 and PARP cleavage, and its longer
exposure causes increase in intracellular ROS levels in CRC cells.
Taken together, <b>8</b> has the potential to be developed further
as a chemotherapeutic agent for CRC
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Selenium (Se-NSAID) Molecules as Anticancer Agents
The
synthesis and anticancer evaluation of novel selenium-nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug (Se-NSAID) hybrid molecules are reported. The
Se-aspirin analogue <b>8</b> was identified as the most effective
agent in reducing the viability of different cancer cell lines, particularly
colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, was more selective toward cancer cells
than normal cells, and was >10 times more potent than 5-FU, the
current
therapy for CRC. Compound <b>8</b> inhibits CRC growth via the
inhibition of the cell cycle in G1 and G2/M phases and reduces the
cell cycle markers like cyclin E1 and B1 in a dose dependent manner;
the inhibition of the cell cycle may be dependent on the ability of <b>8</b> to induce p21 expression. Furthermore, <b>8</b> induces
apoptosis by activating caspase 3/7 and PARP cleavage, and its longer
exposure causes increase in intracellular ROS levels in CRC cells.
Taken together, <b>8</b> has the potential to be developed further
as a chemotherapeutic agent for CRC
Novel seleno-aspirinyl compound AS-10 induces apoptosis, G1 arrest of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells, inhibits their NF-kappa B signaling and synergizes with gemcitabine cytotoxicity
Current available therapies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) provide minimal
overall survival benefits and cause severe adverse effects. We have identified a novel molecule
AS-10, a selenazolidine-bis-aspirinyl derivative, that was two to three orders of magnitude more
potent than aspirin and at least one to two orders of magnitude more potent than gemcitabine in
inhibiting PDAC cancer cell growth/viability against three PDAC cell lines while sparing mouse
embryonic fibroblasts in the same exposure range. In Panc-1 cells, AS-10 induced apoptosis without
necrosis, principally through caspase-3/7 cascade and reactive oxygen species, in addition to an
induction of G1 cell cycle block. Transcriptomic profiling with RNA-seq indicated the top responses
to AS-10 exposure as CDKN1A (P21Cip1), CCND1, and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-B)
complex and the top functions as cell cycle, cell death, and survival without inducing the DNA
damage gene signature. AS-10 pretreatment (6 h) decreased cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-)-stimulated NF-B nuclear translocation, DNA binding activity, and degradation of cytosolic
inhibitor of B (IB) protein. As NF-B activation in PDAC cells confers resistance to gemcitabine,
the AS-10 combination with gemcitabine increased the in vitro cytotoxicity more than the additivity
of both compounds. Overall, our results suggest AS-10 may be a promising drug lead for PDAC,
both as a single agent and in combination therapy