scholarly journals Sorafenib in Combination with Betulinic Acid Synergistically Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Inhibits Clonogenic Activity in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Kutkowska ◽  
Leon Strzadala ◽  
Andrzej Rapak

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly cancers in the world due to late diagnosis and poor response to available treatments. It is important to identify treatment strategies that will increase the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of the currently used therapeutics. In this study, the PDAC cell lines AsPC-1, BxPC-3, and Capan-1 were treated with sorafenib and betulinic acid alone and in combination. We examined the effect of combined treatments on viability (MTS test), proliferation and apoptosis (annexin V staining), cell cycle arrest (PI staining), alterations in signaling pathways (Western blotting), and colony-forming ability. The combination of sorafenib with betulinic acid inhibited the viability and proliferation of PDAC cells without the induction of apoptosis. The antiproliferative effect, caused by G2 cell cycle arrest, was strongly associated with increased expression of p21 and decreased expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1, and was induced only by combined treatment. Additionally, decreased proliferation could also be associated with the inhibition of the P13K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Importantly, combination treatment reduced the colony-forming ability of PDAC cells, as compared to both compounds alone. Collectively, we showed that combined treatment with low concentrations of sorafenib and betulinic acid had the capacity to inhibit proliferation and abolish clonogenic activity in PDAC cell lines.

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phuong Doan ◽  
Aliyu Musa ◽  
Akshaya Murugesan ◽  
Vili Sipilä ◽  
Nuno R. Candeias ◽  
...  

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small subpopulation of cells existing in the tumor microenvironment promoting cell proliferation and growth. Targeting the stemness of the CSC population would offer a vital therapeutic opportunity. 3,4-Dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl)(p-tolyl)methyl)phenol (THTMP), a small synthetic phenol compound, is proposed to play a significant role in controlling the CSC proliferation and survival. We assessed the potential therapeutic effects of THTMP on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and its underlying mechanism in various signaling pathways. To fully comprehend the effect of THTMP on the CSCs, CD133+ GBM stem cell (GSC) and CD133- GBM Non-stem cancer cells (NSCC) population from LN229 and SNB19 cell lines was used. Cell cycle arrest, apoptosis assay and transcriptome analysis were performed for individual cell population. THTMP strongly inhibited NSCC and in a subtle way for GSC in a time-dependent manner and inhibit the resistance variants better than that of temozolomide (TMZ). THTMP arrest the CSC cell population at both G1/S and G2/M phase and induce ROS-mediated apoptosis. Gene expression profiling characterize THTMP as an inhibitor of the p53 signaling pathway causing DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in CSC population. We show that the THTMP majorly affects the EGFR and CSC signaling pathways. Specifically, modulation of key genes involved in Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog, revealed the significant role of THTMP in disrupting the CSCs’ stemness and functions. Moreover, THTMP inhibited cell growth, proliferation and metastasis of multiple mesenchymal patient-tissue derived GBM-cell lines. THTMP arrests GBM stem cell cycle through the modulation of EGFR and CSC signaling pathways.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Hsin Kuo ◽  
Shih-Hung Yang ◽  
Ming-Feng Wei ◽  
Hsiao-Wei Lee ◽  
Yu-Wen Tien ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We previously demonstrated that nuclear BCL10 translocation participates in the instigation of NF-κB in breast cancer and lymphoma cell lines. In this study, we assessed whether nuclear BCL10 translocation is clinically significant in advanced and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Method and materials We analyzed the expression of BCL10-, cell cycle-, and NF-κB- related signaling molecules, and the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB in three PDAC cell lines (mutant KRAS lines: PANC-1 and AsPC-1; wild-type KRAS line: BxPC-3) using BCL10 short hairpin RNA (shBCL10). To assess the anti-tumor effect of BCL10 knockdown in PDAC xenograft model, PANC-1 cells treated with or without shBCL10 transfection were inoculated into the flanks of mice. We assessed the expression patterns of BCL10 and NF-κB in tumor cells in 136 patients with recurrent, advanced, and metastatic PDAC using immunohistochemical staining. Results We revealed that shBCL10 transfection caused cytoplasmic translocation of BCL10 from the nuclei, inhibited cell viability, and enhanced the cytotoxicities of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in three PDAC cell lines. Inhibition of BCL10 differentially blocked cell cycle progression in PDAC cell lines. Arrest at G1 phase was noted in wild-type KRAS cell lines; and arrest at G2/M phase was noted in mutant KRAS cell lines. Furthermore, shBCL10 transfection downregulated the expression of phospho-CDC2, phospho-CDC25C, Cyclin B1 (PANC-1), Cyclins A, D1, and E, CDK2, and CDK4 (BxPC-3), p-IκBα, nuclear expression of BCL10, BCL3, and NF-κB (p65), and attenuated the NF-κB pathway activation and its downstream molecule, c-Myc, while inhibition of BCL10 upregulated expression of p21, and p27 in both PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells. In a PANC-1-xenograft mouse model, inhibition of BCL10 expression also attenuated the tumor growth of PDAC. In clinical samples, nuclear BCL10 expression was closely associated with nuclear NF-κB expression (p < 0.001), and patients with nuclear BCL10 expression had the worse median overall survival than those without nuclear BCL10 expression (6.90 months versus 9.53 months, p = 0.019). Conclusion Nuclear BCL10 translocation activates NF-κB signaling and contributes to tumor progression and poor prognosis of advanced/metastatic PDAC.


Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Ávila-López ◽  
G. Guerrero ◽  
H. N. Nuñez-Martínez ◽  
C. A. Peralta-Alvarez ◽  
G. Hernández-Montes ◽  
...  

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most intractable and devastating malignant tumors. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modification regulate tumor initiation and progression. However, the contribution of histone variants in PDAC is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that the histone variant H2A.Z is highly expressed in PDAC cell lines and PDAC patients and that its overexpression correlates with poor prognosis. Moreover, all three H2A.Z isoforms (H2A.Z.1, H2A.Z.2.1, and H2A.Z.2.2) are highly expressed in PDAC cell lines and PDAC patients. Knockdown of these H2A.Z isoforms in PDAC cell lines induces a senescent phenotype, cell cycle arrest in phase G2/M, increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor CDKN2A/p16, SA-β-galactosidase activity and interleukin 8 production. Transcriptome analysis of H2A.Z-depleted PDAC cells showed altered gene expression in fatty acid biosynthesis pathways and those that regulate cell cycle and DNA damage repair. Importantly, depletion of H2A.Z isoforms reduces the tumor size in a mouse xenograft model in vivo and sensitizes PDAC cells to gemcitabine. Overexpression of H2A.Z.1 and H2A.Z.2.1 more than H2A.Z.2.2 partially restores the oncogenic phenotype. Therefore, our data suggest that overexpression of H2A.Z isoforms enables cells to overcome the oncoprotective barrier associated with senescence, favoring PDAC tumor grow and chemoresistance. These results make H2A.Z a potential candidate as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PDAC.


Pancreatology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. S27-S28
Author(s):  
Wafa AbuAlainin ◽  
Adam Ware ◽  
Traintafillos Lilglou ◽  
Fiona Campbell ◽  
William Greenhalf ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangyu Ke ◽  
Qingsong Qin ◽  
Tianyi Deng ◽  
Yueyan Liao ◽  
Shou-Jiang Gao

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death. Approximately 15% of GC is associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). GC is largely incurable with a dismal five-year survival rate. There is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic agents for the treatment of GC. Tenovin-6 was initially identified as a p53 activator, but it was later found to inhibit autophagy flux, and the protein deacetylase activity of sirtuins. Tenovin-6 shows promising therapeutic effect in various malignancies. However, it remains unknown whether Tenovin-6 is effective for GC. In this study, we found that EBV-positive and -negative GC cell lines were sensitive to Tenovin-6 but with different response times and doses. Tenovin-6 suppressed anchorage-independent growth of GC cells. Tenovin-6 induced different levels of apoptosis and phases of cell-cycle arrest depending on the cell lines with some manifesting gap 1 (G1) and others showing synthesis (S) phase cell-cycle arrest. Mechanistically, Tenovin-6 induced autophagy or p53 activation in GC cells depending on the status of TP53 gene. However, initiation of autophagy following treatment with Tenovin-6 conferred some protective effect on numerous cells. Combined treatment with Tenovin-6 and autophagy inhibitor chloroquine increased the cytotoxic effect by inducing microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B)-II accumulation, and by enhancing apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. These results indicated that Tenovin-6 can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for GC, but the genetic background of the cancer cells might determine the response and mechanism of action. Treatment with Tenovin-6 alone or in combination with chloroquine could be a promising therapeutic approach for GC.


DNA Repair ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 103047
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Sadoughi ◽  
Jamal Hallajzadeh ◽  
Zatollah Asemi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Mansournia ◽  
Forough Alemi ◽  
...  

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2482
Author(s):  
Ching-Feng Chiu ◽  
Hsin-Yi Chang ◽  
Chun-Yine Huang ◽  
Chen-Zou Mau ◽  
Tzu-Ting Kuo ◽  
...  

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease with a 5-year survival rate of <8%. Therefore, finding new treatment strategies against PDAC cells is an imperative issue. Betulinic acid (BA), a plant-derived natural compound, has shown great potential to combat cancer owing to its versatile physiological functions. In this study, we observed the impacts of BA on the cell viability and migratory ability of PDAC cell lines, and screened differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) by an LC-MS/MS-based proteomics analysis. Our results showed that BA significantly inhibited the viability and migratory ability of PDAC cells under a relatively low dosage without affecting normal pancreatic cells. Moreover, a functional analysis revealed that BA-induced downregulation of protein clusters that participate in mitochondrial complex 1 activity and oxidative phosphorylation, which was related to decreased expressions of RNA polymerase mitochondrial (POLRMT) and translational activator of cytochrome c oxidase (TACO1), suggesting that the influence on mitochondrial function explains the effect of BA on PDAC cell growth and migration. In addition, BA also dramatically increased Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) expression and decreased NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4 (NLRC4) expression, which may be involved in the dampening of PDAC migration. Notably, altered expression patterns of APOA1 and NLRC4 indicated a favorable clinical prognosis of PDAC. Based on these findings, we identified potential proteins and pathways regulated by BA from a proteomics perspective, which provides a therapeutic window for PDAC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i6-i7
Author(s):  
Alişan Kayabölen ◽  
Gizem Nur Sahin ◽  
Fidan Seker ◽  
Ahmet Cingöz ◽  
Bekir Isik ◽  
...  

Abstract Mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 genes are common in low grade gliomas and secondary GBM and are known to cause a distinct epigenetic landscape in these tumors. To interrogate the epigenetic vulnerabilities of IDH-mutant gliomas, we performed a chemical screen with inhibitors of chromatin modifiers and identified 5-azacytidine, Chaetocin, GSK-J4 and Belinostat as potent agents against primary IDH1-mutant cell lines. Testing the combinatorial efficacy of these agents, we demonstrated GSK-J4 and Belinostat combination as a very effective treatment for the IDH1-mutant glioma cells. Engineering established cell lines to ectopically express IDH1R132H, we showed that IDH1R132H cells adopted a different transcriptome with changes in stress-related pathways that were reversible with the mutant IDH1 inhibitor, GSK864. The combination of GSK-J4 and Belinostat was highly effective on IDH1R132H cells, but not on wt glioma cells or nonmalignant fibroblasts and astrocytes. The cell death induced by GSK-J4 and Belinostat combination involved the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. RNA sequencing analyses revealed activation of inflammatory and unfolded protein response pathways in IDH1-mutant cells upon treatment with GSK-J4 and Belinostat conferring increased stress to glioma cells. Specifically, GSK-J4 induced ATF4-mediated integrated stress response and Belinostat induced cell cycle arrest in primary IDH1-mutant glioma cells; which were accompanied by DDIT3/CHOP-dependent upregulation of apoptosis. Moreover, to dissect out the responsible target histone demethylase, we undertook genetic approach and demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9 mediated ablation of both KDM6A and KDM6B genes phenocopied the effects of GSK-J4 in IDH1-mutant cells. Finally, GSK-J4 and Belinostat combination significantly decreased tumor growth and increased survival in an orthotopic model in mice. Together, these results suggest a potential combination epigenetic therapy against IDH1-mutant gliomas.


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