NSC606985 induces apoptosis,exerts synergistic effects with cisplatin,and inhibits hypoxia-stabilized HIF-1α protein in human ovarian cancer cells

The camptothecins, which target the intranuclear enzyme topoisomerase I, have advanced to the forefront of several areas of developmental chemotherapy of cancers. In the present study, we investigated the potential anti-human ovarian cancer effects of NSC606985, a novel and rarely studied camptothecin analog, and its combination with cisplatin (CDDP). Human ovarian cancer cell line COC1 cells were treated with different nanomolar of NSC606985 with or without CDDP, and cell growth and apoptosis were evaluated, respectively, by MTT assay and annexin-V assay on flow cytometry. Chou–Talalay analysis was used to evaluate combined effect of NSC606985 and CDDP. Western blot was used to detect protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ), caspase-3 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) proteins. Our results showed that NSC606985 at nanomolar concentration induced apoptosis with the activation of PKCδ in COC1 cells. Especially, NSC606985 presented the significant combined effects on COC1 cells in terms of growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. In addition, NSC606985 significantly antagonized the accumulation of HIF-1α stabilized by hypoxia or hypoxia-mimetic agent. These results suggest that NSC606985 and its combination with CDDP present the therapeutic potential on ovarian cancer, and deserve further preclinical and clinical studies.     

Histone deacetylase inhibitor augments anti-tumor effect of gemcitabine and pegylated interferon-α on pancreatic cancer cells

Background  

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) is strongly associated with epigenetic regulation and carcinogenesis, and its inhibitor can induce the differentiation or apoptosis of cancer cells.     

β2-microglobulin induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition and confers cancer lethality and bone metastasis in human cancer cells

Bone metastasis is one of the predominant causes of cancer lethality. This study demonstrates for the first time how β2-microglobulin (β2-M) supports lethal metastasis in vivo in human prostate, breast, lung, and renal cancer cells. β2-M mediates this process by activating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) to promote lethal bone and soft tissue metastases in host mice. β2-M interacts with its receptor, hemochromatosis (HFE) protein, to modulate iron responsive pathways in cancer cells. Inhibition of either β2-M or HFE results in reversion of EMT. These results demonstrate the role of β2-M in cancer metastasis and lethality. Thus, β2-M and its downstream signaling pathways are promising prognostic markers of cancer metastases and novel therapeutic targets for cancer therapy.     

Breast cancer associated pathogenic variants among women 61 years and older with triple negative breast cancer

Women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) have a high prevalence of BRCA1 mutations, and current clinical guidelines recommend genetic testing for patients with TNBC aged ≤60 years. However, studies supporting this recommendation have included few older women with TNBC.MethodsGenetic testing results from women aged >60 years with TNBC enrolled in the Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network (CCGCRN) registry were included in this analysis. Prevalence of breast cancer-associated pathogenic variants (PVs) was compared across age groups.ResultsWe identified 151 women with TNBC aged >60 years (median 65 years; SD 5.3). Of these, 130 (86%) underwent genetic testing, and a breast cancer–associated PV was identified in 16 (12.3%; 95% CI 7–19): BRCA1 (n = 6), BRCA2 (n = 5), PALB2 (n = 2), ATM (n = 1) and RAD51C (n = 2). We found no differences in the proportion of patients with close blood relatives with breast (≤50 years) or ovarian cancer (any age) between PV carriers (37.5%) and non-carriers (34.2%) (p = 0.79). Among PV's carriers, the proportion of older women with a BRCA1 PV was lower when compared to younger women (37.5% vs 77.2%; p < 0.01).ConclusionBreast cancer-associated PVs were found in an important proportion of women aged >60 years with TNBC undergoing genetic testing, including greater representation of BRCA2. These results suggest that older women with TNBC should be offered genetic testing, and that their exclusion based on chronologic age alone may not be appropriate.     

Combined treatment with the Cox-2 inhibitor niflumic acid and PPARγ ligand ciglitazone induces ER stress/caspase-8-mediated apoptosis in human lung cancer cells

The present study was performed to investigate the possible combined use of the Cox-2 inhibitor niflumic acid and the PPARγ ligand ciglitazone and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying enhanced apoptosis by this combination treatment in human lung cancer cells. Combined niflumic acid-ciglitazone treatment synergistically induced apoptotic cell death, activated caspase-9, caspase-3, and induced caspase-3-mediated PARP cleavage. The combination treatment also triggered apoptosis through caspase-8/Bid/Bax activation, and the inhibition of caspase-8 suppressed caspase-8/Bid activation, caspase-3-mediated PARP cleavage, and concomitant apoptosis. In addition, combined niflumic acid-ciglitazone treatment significantly induced ER stress responses, and suppression of CHOP expression significantly attenuated the combined niflumic acid-ciglitazone treatment-induced activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, and the subsequent apoptotic cell death, indicating a role of ER stress in caspase-8 activation and apoptosis. Interestingly, the pro-apoptotic effects of combined niflumic acid-ciglitazone treatment were realized through Cox-2- and PPARγ-independent mechanisms. Taken together, these results suggest that sequential ER stress and caspase-8 activation are critical in combined niflumic acid-ciglitazone treatment-induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells.     

Expression of CK5/6 in patients with triple negative breast cancer and its clinical significance北大核心CSCD

Objective: To investigate the expression of cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tissues and its clinical significance. Methods: A total of 347 invasive TNBC patients with complete follow-up accepted operation and confirmed by pathology and immunohistochemistry were collected from January 2010 to December 2012 in Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine and Huangpu District Central Hospital. The relationship between CK5/6 expression and clinicopathological features and the effect of CK5/6 on prognosis of TNBC patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of 347 TNBC patients, the expression of CK5/6 was positive in 221 cases (63.8%, 221/347). The expression of CK5/6 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.027, r = 0.127) and Ki-67 expression (P < 0.001, r = 0.208). The tumor size, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and CK5/6 were independent prognostic factors of the disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) in TNBC patients (all P < 0.05). After the median follow-up of 63 months, the recurrence and metastasis occurred in 21 cases with CK5/6 negative expression, and the death occurred in 15 cases of CK5/6-negative group; while 62 cases of recurrence and metastasis and 52 cases of death were in CK5/6-positive group. The median DFS and OS of TNBC patients in CK5/6-negative group were longer than those in CK5/6-positive group (P = 0.015, P = 0.007). Chemotherapy of anthracycline combined with paclitaxel was beneficial for DFS and OS of TNBC patients in CK5/6-positive group (both P < 0.05), while there was no benefit in CK5/6-negative group (both P > 0.05). Conclusion: The positive expression of CK5/6 is an important risk factor for the prognosis of TNBC patients. The CK5/6-positive patients achieves more benefits in chemotherapy of anthracycline combined with paclitaxel as compared with the CK5/6-negative patients. © 2019 by TUMOR.     

Antisense depletion of RIα subunit of protein kinase A induces apoptosis and growth arrest in human breast cancer cells

In recent years, several laboratories have explored the possibility of using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for specific manipulation of gene expression leading to cancer treatment. The enhanced expression of the RI subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type I (PKA-I) has been correlated with cancer cell growth. In the present study, the effects of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeted against RI subunit of PKA-I on growth inhibition and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells were investigated. The growth inhibitory effects of RI antisense oligodeoxynucleotide correlated with a decrease in the RI mRNA and protein levels. The growth inhibition was accompanied by changes in the cell cycle phase distribution, cell morpbology, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and appearance of apoptotic nuclei. By comparison, mismatched control oligodeoxynucleotide had no effect. On the basis of these results, it can be suggested that the RI antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, which efficiently depletes the growth stimulatory RI and induces apoptosis/differentiation, could be used as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.     

The biology and physiology of ‘Nolvadex’ (tamoxifen) in the treatment of breast cancer

Summary After more than a quarter of a million patient years experience with tamoxifen in the clinic, it is perhaps appropriate to re-examine the working hypothesis for the activity of this drug. This hypothesis states that tamoxifen is an anti-oestrogen which exerts its anti-tumour activity by competing for and binding to cytoplasmic oestrogen receptor protein in the tumour.The evidence that tamoxifen is an anti-oestrogen in animals and man is seen to vary from species to species and between target organs within a species. The balance of the evidence supports the conclusion that this drug acts as an oestrogen antagonist in man.If the activity of this drug were confined to an effect mediated by the oestrogen receptor (ER), there should be a clear correlation between the anti-tumour effect of tamoxifen and the presence of ER. The clinical and pre-clinical data are reviewed. Whilst the majority of the evidence points to an effect in advanced breast cancer mediated through the ER, there are data that show the correlation is not absolute. The data are examined and the evidence for non-receptor mediated anti-tumour activity is reviewed.We conclude that whilst the majority of the activity of tamoxifen is that of an anti-oestrogen mediated through the ER, compelling evidence exists that this may not be its only anti-tumour activity at normal clinical doses. These findings might explain tamoxifen's activity in some ER negative tumours.Nolvadex is a trade mark, the property of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC.     

Combination of microwave hyperthermia with epirubicin inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of breast cancer cells北大核心CSCD

Objective: To investigate the effects of microwave hyperthermia in combination with epirubicin on the growth of orthotopic breast transplantation tumor in BALB/c mice and the proliferation of murine breast cancer 4T1 cells and human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, and to explore their possible mechanisms. Methods: The 4T1 cells were injected into mammary fat pad of female BALB/c mice to establish the orthotopic breast transplantation tumor model. The tumor-bearing mice were treated with microwave hyperthermia, epirubicin and microwave hyperthermia in combination with epirubicin, respectively. The breast tumor volume and weight and the number of lung metastatic nodes in mice were observed. The 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with microwave hyperthermia, epirubicin and microwave hyperthermia in combination with epirubicin, respectively. Then the cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTS assay and FCM method, respectively. The change of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: The tumor volume (P < 0.05) and weight (P < 0.05)and the number of lung metastatic nodes (P < 0.01) in mice in microwave hyperthermia in combination with epirubicin group were all smaller than those in the control group (the tumor-bearing mice didn't receive any treatment). The proliferation of breast cancer 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 cells in microwave hyperthermia in combination with epirubicin group was inhibited and the apoptosis was induced (all P < 0.05). Combination of epirubicin with microwave hyperthermia suppressed the activation of mTOR in 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 cells (both P < 0.05) and up-regulated the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combination of microwave hyperthermia with epirubicin can suppress the growth and metastasis of breast cancer. This effect may be associated with the down-regulation of mTOR pathway and the up-regulation of apoptosis-related protein expressions. Copyright © 2018 by TUMOR. All rights reserved.     

Treatment of advanced head and neck cancer with intra-arterial cisplatin and concurrent radiation therapy: The ‘RADPLAT’protocol

The prognosis for patients presenting with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using ‘standard’ treatment approaches, such as surgery followed by radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone, remains poor. Additionally, patients often lose their voice or swallowing ability when a primary surgical approach is used. Although systemic chemotherapy, when combined concurrently with radiotherapy, appears to be superior to radiation alone, the use of neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic chemotherapy has not improved survival when combined with either surgery or radiotherapy. Even with the use of concurrent systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the majority of the patients still succumb to their disease, usually failing locoregionally. Among the newer strategies being explored is the use of supradose intra-arterial chemotherapy (ie, cisplatin) with current radiotherapy. Acronymed ‘RADPLAT,’ this novel therapeutic approach delivers supradoses of weekly cisplatin chemotherapy with concurrent radiotherapy with acceptable toxicity, high locoregional tumor control rates, and very promising survival results. In addition, the RADPLAT approach allows for the preservation of organ function. This article reviews the evolution of the RADPLAT concept from a phase I trial to a recently completed Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial confirming its feasibility in a multi-institutional setting.     

Bortezomib induces apoptosis and growth suppression in human medulloblastoma cells, associated with inhibition of AKT and NF-ĸB signaling, and synergizes with an ERK inhibitor

Medulloblastoma is the most common brain tumor in children. Here, we report that bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation in two established cell lines and a primary culture of human medulloblastomas. Bortezomib increased the release of cytochrome c to cytosol and activated caspase-9 and caspase-3, resulting in cleavage of PARP. Caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) could rescue medulloblastoma cells from the cytotoxicity of bortezomib. Phosphorylation of AKT and its upstream regulator mTOR were reduced by bortezomib treatment in medulloblastoma cells. Bortezomib increased the expression of Bad and Bak, pro-apoptotic proteins, and p21Cip1 and p27Kip1, negative regulators of cell cycle progression, which are associated with the growth suppression and induction of apoptosis in these tumor cells. Bortezomib also increased the accumulation of phosphorylated IĸBα, and decreased nuclear translocation of NF-ĸB. Thus, NF-ĸB signaling and activation of its downstream targets are suppressed. Moreover, ERK inhibitors or downregulating ERK with ERK siRNA synergized with bortezomib on anticancer effects in medulloblastoma cells. Bortezomib also inhibited the growth of human medulloblastoma cells in a mouse xenograft model. These findings suggest that proteasome inhibitors are potentially promising drugs for treatment of pediatric medulloblastomas.     

A novel small‐molecule activator of procaspase‐3 induces apoptosis in cancer cells and reduces tumor growth in human breast,liver and gallbladder cancer xenografts

Purpose

Procaspase‐3, a proenzyme of apoptotic executioner caspase‐3, is overexpressed in numerous tumors. We aimed to characterize a novel procaspase‐3 activator, WF‐210, which may have potential as an anticancer drug.

Experimental design

The procaspase‐3 activating ability, antitumor efficacy, mechanisms of action, and toxicity profiles of WF‐210 were investigated in vitro and in vivo, using normal cells, cancer cells, and mouse xenograft models. The role of procaspase‐3 in WF‐210‐induced apoptosis was explored by manipulating procaspase‐3 expression in cultured cells.

Results

WF‐210 activated procaspase‐3 with an EC50 of 0.95 μM, less than half that of its mother compound PAC‐1 (2.08 μM). The mechanism involved the chelation of inhibitory zinc ions, subsequently resulting in an auto‐activation of procaspase‐3. WF‐210 was more cytotoxic than PAC‐1 to human cancer cells, but less cytotoxic to normal cells. Cancer cells with high procaspase‐3 expression, like HL‐60 and U‐937, were particularly sensitive. WF‐210‐induced the apoptosis of HL‐60 and U‐937 cells by activating procaspases and promoting proteasome‐dependent degradation of XIAP and Survivin. The level of WF‐210‐induced apoptosis in cultured cells was related to the level of procaspase‐3 expression. Finally, WF‐210 was superior to PAC‐1 in retarding the in vivo growth of breast, liver and gallbladder xenograft tumors which overexpress procaspase‐3, and induced no substantial weight loss or neurotoxicity. WF‐210 and PAC‐1 had no effect on the growth of MCF‐7 xenograft tumors, which do not express procaspase‐3.

Conclusion

We identified WF‐210 as a potent small‐molecule activator of procaspase‐3. The favorable antitumor activity and acceptable toxicity profile of WF‐210 provide a strong rationale for its clinical evaluation in the treatment of tumors with high procaspase‐3 expression.     

Penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose induces G1 arrest and DNA replicative S-phase arrest independently of P21 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, P27 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B and P53 in human breast cancer cells and is orally active against triple-negative xenograft growth

Introduction  

Natural herbal compounds with novel actions different from existing breast cancer (BCa) treatment modalities are attractive for improving therapeutic efficacy and safety. We have recently shown that penta-1,2,3,4,6-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (PGG) induced S-phase arrest in prostate cancer (PCa) cells through inhibiting DNA replicative synthesis and G₁ arrest, in addition to inducing cell death at higher levels of exposure. We and others have shown that PGG through intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection exerts a strong in vivo growth suppression of human PCa xenograft models in athymic nude mice. This study aims to test the hypothesis that the novel targeting actions of PGG are applicable to BCa cells, especially those lacking proven drugable targets.     

What is the best treatment for patients with human papillomavirus–positive and –negative oropharyngeal cancer?

The discovery that the human papilloma virus (HPV) is associated with a high and increasing percentage of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) is among the most significant advances in the field of head and neck oncology. HPV‐positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPVOPC) has clinical, etiologic, pathologic, and molecular features that distinguish it from HPV‐negative disease. Increasingly, HPVOPC is being diagnosed in clinical practice because of the easy availability of p16 immunohistochemistry, a surrogate marker of HPV. The superior prognosis of HPVOPC has led to a reexamination of treatment approaches, and clinical trials are currently investigating strategies to deintensify treatment to reduce acute and late toxicity while preserving efficacy. This is of particular interest in low‐risk patients. Unfortunately, patients with HPV‐negative tumors still have high rates of locoregional failure and more efficacious treatments are required. This review of oropharyngeal SCC focuses on current and investigational treatment strategies in patients with both HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative oropharyngeal SCC. Cancer 2014;120:1462–1470 . © 2014 American Cancer Society.     

Synergistic epigenetic reactivation of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) by combined green tea polyphenol and histone deacetylase inhibitor in ERα-negative breast cancer cells

Background  

The status of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) is critical to the clinical prognosis and therapeutic approach in breast cancer. ERα-negative breast cancer is clinically aggressive and has a poor prognosis because of the lack of hormone target-directed therapies. Previous studies have shown that epigenetic regulation plays a major role in ERα silencing in human breast cancer cells. Dietary green tea polyphenol, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is believed to be an anticancer agent in part through its regulation of epigenetic processes.