scholarly journals Nanoparticles as Tools to Target Redox Homeostasis in Cancer Cells

Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Ciccarese ◽  
Vittoria Raimondi ◽  
Evgeniya Sharova ◽  
Micol Silic-Benussi ◽  
Vincenzo Ciminale
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Ros Scavenging ◽  
Anticancer Efficacy ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Cell Death Pathways ◽  
Oncogenic Pathways ◽  
Macromolecular Damage ◽  
Increased Activity

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) constitute a homeostatic rheostat that modulates signal transduction pathways controlling cell turnover. Most oncogenic pathways activated in cancer cells drive a sustained increase in ROS production, and cancer cells are strongly addicted to the increased activity of scavenging pathways to maintain ROS below levels that produce macromolecular damage and engage cell death pathways. Consistent with this notion, tumor cells are more vulnerable than their normal counterparts to pharmacological treatments that increase ROS production and inhibit ROS scavenging. In the present review, we discuss the recent advances in the development of integrated anticancer therapies based on nanoparticles engineered to kill cancer cells by raising their ROS setpoint. We also examine nanoparticles engineered to exploit the metabolic and redox alterations of cancer cells to promote site-specific drug delivery to cancer cells, thus maximizing anticancer efficacy while minimizing undesired side effects on normal tissues.

scholarly journals Distinctive Prognostic Value and Cellular Functions of Osteopontin Splice Variants in Human Gastric Cancer

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1820
Author(s):  
Chengcheng Hao ◽  
Yuxin Cui ◽  
Jane Lane ◽  
Shuqin Jia ◽  
Jiafu Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Prognostic Value ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Tnm Staging ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Gastric Cancer Cells ◽  
Normal Tissues

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) splice variants are identified as predictors of tumour progression and therapeutic resistance in certain types of solid tumours. However, their roles in gastric cancer (GC) remain poorly characterized. The current study sought to assess the prognostic value of the three OPN splice variants (namely OPN-a, OPN-b, and OPN-c) in gastric cancer and their potential functions within gastric cancer cells. Methods: RNA extraction and reverse transcription were performed using our clinical cohort of gastric carcinomas and matched normal tissues (n = 324 matched pairs). Transcript levels were determined using real-time quantitative PCR. Three OPN splice variants overexpressed cell lines were created from the gastric cancer cell line HGC-27. Subsequently, biological functions, including cell growth, adhesion, migration, and invasion, were studied. The potential effects of OPN isoforms on cisplatin and 5-Fu were evaluated by detecting cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the HGC-27-derived cell lines. Results: Compared with normal tissues, the expression levels of three splice variants were all elevated in gastric cancer tissues in an order of OPN-a > OPN-b > OPN-c. The OPN-a level significantly increased with increasing TNM staging and worse clinical outcome. There appeared to be a downregulation for OPN-c in increasing lymph node status (p < 0.05), increasing TNM staging, and poor differentiation. High levels of OPN-a and OPN-b were correlated with short overall survival and disease-free survival of gastric cancer patients. However, the low expression of OPN-c was significantly associated with a poor prognosis. Functional analyses further showed that ectopic expression of OPN-c suppressed in vitro proliferation, adhesiveness, migration, and invasion properties of HGC-27 cells, while the opposite role was seen for OPN-a. Cellular ROS detection indicated that OPN-a and OPN-c significantly promoted ROS production after treatment with 5-Fu comparing to OPN-vector, while only OPN-a markedly induced ROS production after treatment with cisplatin. Conclusion: Our results suggest that OPN splice variants have distinguished potential to predict the prognosis of gastric cancer. Three OPN variants exert distinctive functions in gastric cancer cells. Focusing on specific OPN isoforms could be a novel direction for developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in gastric cancer.

scholarly journals Redox Homeostasis and Metabolism in Cancer: A Complex Mechanism and Potential Targeted Therapeutics

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alia Ghoneum ◽  
Ammar Yasser Abdulfattah ◽  
Bailey Olivia Warren ◽  
Junjun Shu ◽  
Neveen Said
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Survival Pathways ◽  
Oncogenic Mutations ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Shed Light

Reactive Oxygen Species or “ROS” encompass several molecules derived from oxygen that can oxidize other molecules and subsequently transition rapidly between species. The key roles of ROS in biological processes are cell signaling, biosynthetic processes, and host defense. In cancer cells, increased ROS production and oxidative stress are instigated by carcinogens, oncogenic mutations, and importantly, metabolic reprograming of the rapidly proliferating cancer cells. Increased ROS production activates myriad downstream survival pathways that further cancer progression and metastasis. In this review, we highlight the relation between ROS, the metabolic programing of cancer, and stromal and immune cells with emphasis on and the transcription machinery involved in redox homeostasis, metabolic programing and malignant phenotype. We also shed light on the therapeutic targeting of metabolic pathways generating ROS as we investigate: Orlistat, Biguandes, AICAR, 2 Deoxyglucose, CPI-613, and Etomoxir.

scholarly journals EXTH-03. TRIPTOLIDE, A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR IDH1-MUTATED GLIOMA

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi82-vi83
Author(s):  
Di Yu ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Guowang Xu ◽  
Chunzhang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Synthetic Lethality ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
De Novo Synthesis ◽  
Ros Scavenging ◽  
Idh Mutations

Abstract BACKGROUND Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1/2) mutations are common genetic abnormalities in human malignancies, which result in neomorphic enzyme activity that catalyzes 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) production. While IDH mutations are recognized as critical cancer-associated genetic changes, the therapeutic options for IDH-mutated cancers remain limited. METHODS In the present study, we investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging pathways in patient-derived IDH1-mutated cells. Further, we investigated the protective role of glutathione de novo synthesis for IDH1-mutated cancer cells. Finally, we evaluated triptolide, a diterpenoid epoxide derived from Tripterygium wilfordii, as an experimental therapeutic for IDH1-mutated cells and xenografts. RESULTS We discovered that the neomorphic activity of IDH1 mutant enzyme triggers metabolic depletion and a substantial elevated burden of ROS scavenging in cancer cells. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-guided antioxidant pathway plays a key role in maintaining redox homeostasis for IDH1-mutated cells. Triptolide serves as a potent inhibitor of NRF2 through enhancing the NRF2 ubiquitination and subsequently proteasomal degradation. Additionally, triptolide compromises the de novo synthesis of glutathione via suppression of NRF2-guided transcription of SLC7A11, which encodes cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT). Reduced availability of glutathione results in overwhelming oxidative damage in DNA and lipid, which translates into severe cytotoxicity and reduced xenograft expansion of IDH1-mutated cells. CONCLUSION Overall our findings highlight triptolide as a valuable synthetic lethality approach for IDH1-mutated malignancies by targeting NRF2-guided redox homeostasis.

scholarly journals Targeting the Redox Landscape in Cancer Therapy

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilip Narayanan ◽  
Sana Ma ◽  
Dennis Özcelik
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Detoxifying Enzymes ◽  
Transport Chain ◽  
Hypoxic Tumor

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced predominantly by the mitochondrial electron transport chain and by NADPH oxidases in peroxisomes and in the endoplasmic reticulum. The antioxidative defense counters overproduction of ROS with detoxifying enzymes and molecular scavengers, for instance, superoxide dismutase and glutathione, in order to restore redox homeostasis. Mutations in the redox landscape can induce carcinogenesis, whereas increased ROS production can perpetuate cancer development. Moreover, cancer cells can increase production of antioxidants, leading to resistance against chemo- or radiotherapy. Research has been developing pharmaceuticals to target the redox landscape in cancer. For instance, inhibition of key players in the redox landscape aims to modulate ROS production in order to prevent tumor development or to sensitize cancer cells in radiotherapy. Besides the redox landscape of a single cell, alternative strategies take aim at the multi-cellular level. Extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, are crucial for the development of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, and hence are explored as target and as drug delivery systems in cancer therapy. This review summarizes the current pharmaceutical and experimental interventions of the cancer redox landscape.

Resveratrol as an Adjuvant for Normal Tissues Protection and Tumor Sensitization

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keywan Mortezaee ◽  
Masoud Najafi ◽  
Bagher Farhood ◽  
Amirhossein Ahmadi ◽  
Dheyauldeen Shabeeb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Normal Tissue ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Radiation Toxicity ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Normal Tissue Toxicity

Cancer is one of the most complicated diseases in present-day medical science. Yearly, several studies suggest various strategies for preventing carcinogenesis. Furthermore, experiments for the treatment of cancer with low side effects are ongoing. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy are the most common non-invasive strategies for cancer treatment. One of the most challenging issues encountered with these modalities is low effectiveness, as well as normal tissue toxicity for chemo-radiation therapy. The use of some agents as adjuvants has been suggested to improve tumor responses and also alleviate normal tissue toxicity. Resveratrol, a natural flavonoid, has attracted a lot of attention for the management of both tumor and normal tissue responses to various modalities of cancer therapy. As an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, in vitro and in vivo studies show that it is able to mitigate chemo-radiation toxicity in normal tissues. However, clinical studies to confirm the usage of resveratrol as a chemo-radioprotector are lacking. In addition, it can sensitize various types of cancer cells to both chemotherapy drugs and radiation. In recent years, some clinical studies suggested that resveratrol may have an effect on inducing cancer cell killing. Yet, clinical translation of resveratrol has not yielded desirable results for the combination of resveratrol with radiotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. In this paper, we review the potential role of resveratrol for preserving normal tissues and sensitization of cancer cells in combination with different cancer treatment modalities.

Vitamin C as an Anticancer Agent: Regulation of Signaling Pathways

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 1868-1875
Author(s):  
Ghazala Butt ◽  
Ammad A. Farooqi ◽  
Aima Adylova ◽  
Rukset Attar ◽  
Seher Yilmaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Published Data ◽  
New Era ◽  
Molecular Oncology ◽  
Anticancer Effects ◽  
Oncogenic Pathways

Treatment options for effective treatment of cancer with minimum off-target effects and maximum clinical outcomes have remained overarching goals in the clinical oncology. Vitamin C has remained in the shadows of controversy since the past few decades; burgeoning evidence has started to shed light on wide-ranging anticancer effects exerted by Vitamin C to induce apoptosis in drug-resistant cancer cells, inhibit uncontrolled proliferation of the cancer cells and metastatic spread. Landmark achievements in molecular oncology have ushered in a new era, and researchers have focused on the identification of oncogenic pathways regulated by Vitamin C in different cancers. However, there are visible knowledge gaps in our understanding related to the ability of Vitamin C to modulate a myriad of transduction cascades. There are scattered pieces of scientific evidence about promising potential of Vitamin C to regulate JAK-STAT, TGF/SMAD, TRAIL and microRNAs in different cancers. However, published data is insufficient and needs to be investigated comprehensively to enable basic and clinical researchers to reap full benefits and promote result-oriented transition of Vitamin C into various phases of clinical trials. In this review, we will emphasize on available evidence related to the regulation of oncogenic cell signaling pathways by Vitamin C in different cancers. We will also highlight the conceptual gaps, which need detailed and cutting-edge research.

In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Virgin Coconut Oil and its Fractions in Liver and Oral Cancer Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (18) ◽  
pp. 2223-2230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poonam Verma ◽  
Sanjukta Naik ◽  
Pranati Nanda ◽  
Silvi Banerjee ◽  
Satyanarayan Naik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Oral Cancer ◽  
Anticancer Activity ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Coconut Oil ◽  
Virgin Coconut Oil ◽  
Anticancer Efficacy ◽  
Oral Cancer Cells

Background: Coconut oil is an edible oil obtained from fresh, mature coconut kernels. Few studies have reported the anticancer role of coconut oil. The fatty acid component of coconut oil directly targets the liver by portal circulation and as chylomicron via lymph. However, the anti-cancer activity of coconut oil against liver cancer cells and oral cancer cells is yet to be tested. The active component of coconut oil, that is responsible for the anticancer activity is not well understood. In this study, three different coconut oils, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), Processed Coconut Oil (PCO) and Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO), were used. Objective: Based on previous studies, it can be hypothesized that fatty acids in coconut oil may have anticancer potential and may trigger cell death in cancer cell lines. Methods: Each cell line was treated with different concentrations of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), Processed Coconut Oil (PCO) and Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO). The treated cells were assayed by MTT after 72 hr of incubation. The fatty acid composition of different coconut oils was analyzed by gas chromatography. Result: Different concentrations of coconut oils were used to treat the cells. Interestingly, the anticancer efficacy of VCO, PCO and FCO was not uniform, rather the efficacy varied from cell line to cell line. Only 20% VCO showed significant anticancer activity in HepG2 cells in comparison to 80% PCO against the KB cell line. Remarkably, 20% of PCO and 5% of FCO showed potential growth inhibition in the KB cell line as compared to 80% PCO in HepG2 cells. Moreover, there was a difference in the efficacy of VCO, PCO and FCO, which might be due to their fatty acid composition. Comparing the anticancer efficacy of VCO, PCO and FCO in this study helped to predict which class of fatty acids and which fatty acid might be associated with the anticancer activity of VCO. Conclusion: This study shows that VCO, PCO and FCO have anticancer efficacy and may be used for the treatment of cancer, especially liver and oral cancer.

Resveratrol as an Enhancer of Apoptosis in Cancer: A Mechanistic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milad Ashrafizadeh ◽  
Shahram Taeb ◽  
Hamed Haghi-Aminjan ◽  
Shima Afrashi ◽  
Kave Moloudi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Fas Ligand ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Mitochondrial Pathway ◽  
Multi Drug Resistance ◽  
Chemotherapy Drugs ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Anti Cancer

: Resistance of cancer cells to therapy is a challenge for achieving an appropriate therapeutic outcome. Cancer (stem) cells possess several mechanisms for increasing their survival following exposure to toxic agents such as chemotherapy drugs, radiation as well as immunotherapy. Evidences show that apoptosis plays a key role in response of cancer (stem) cells and their multi drug resistance. Modulation of both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis can increase efficiency of tumor response and amplify the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and also immunotherapy. To date, several agents as adjuvant have been proposed to overcome resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis. Natural products are interesting because of low toxicity on normal tissues. Resveratrol is a natural herbal agent that has shown interesting anti-cancer properties. It has been shown to kill cancer cells selectively, while protecting normal cells. Resveratrol can augment reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions, thus increases the production of ceramide and the expression of apoptosis receptors such as Fas ligand (FasL). Resveratrol also triggers some pathways which induce mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. On the other hand, resveratrol has an inhibitory effect on anti-apoptotic mediators such as nuclear factor κ B (NFκB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), phosphatidylinositol 3–kinase (PI3K) and mTOR. In this review, we explain the modulatory effects of resveratrol on apoptosis, which can augment the therapeutic efficiency of anti-cancer drugs or radiotherapy.

scholarly journals Chitosan-Coated Gold Nanoparticles Induce Low Cytotoxicity and Low ROS Production in Primary Leucocytes, Independent of Their Proliferative Status

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 942
Author(s):  
Helen Yarimet Lorenzo-Anota ◽  
Diana G. Zarate-Triviño ◽  
Jorge Alberto Uribe-Echeverría ◽  
Andrea Ávila-Ávila ◽  
José Raúl Rangel-López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Bone Marrow Cells ◽  
Lymphoid Cells ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Biomedical Sciences ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear

(1) Background: Chitosan-coated gold nanoparticles (CH-AuNPs) have important theranostic applications in biomedical sciences, including cancer research. However, although cell cytotoxicity has been studied in cancerous cells, little is known about their effect in proliferating primary leukocytes. Here, we assessed the effect of CH-AuNPs and the implication of ROS on non-cancerous endothelial and fibroblast cell lines and in proliferative lymphoid cells. (2) Methods: The Turkevich method was used to synthetize gold nanoparticles. We tested cell viability, cell death, ROS production, and cell cycle in primary lymphoid cells, compared with non-cancer and cancer cell lines. Concanavalin A (ConA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used to induce proliferation on lymphoid cells. (3) Results: CH-AuNPs presented high cytotoxicity and ROS production against cancer cells compared to non-cancer cells; they also induced a different pattern of ROS production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). No significant cell-death difference was found in PBMCs, splenic mononuclear cells, and bone marrow cells (BMC) with or without a proliferative stimuli. (4) Conclusions: Taken together, our results highlight the selectivity of CH-AuNPs to cancer cells, discarding a consistent cytotoxicity upon proliferative cells including endothelial, fibroblast, and lymphoid cells, and suggest their application in cancer treatment without affecting immune cells.

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