A new niclosamide derivatives-B17 can inhibit urological cancers growth through apoptosis-related pathway

The magic bullet: Niclosamide

The term 'magic bullet' is a scientific concept proposed by the German Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich in 1907, describing a medicine that could specifically and efficiently target a disease without harming the body. Oncologists have been looking for a magic bullet for cancer therapy ever since. However, the current therapies for cancers-including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy-pose either pan-cytotoxicity or only single-target efficacy, precluding their ability to function as a magic bullet. Intriguingly, niclosamide, an FDA-approved drug for treating tapeworm infections with an excellent safety profile, displays broad anti-cancer activity in a variety of contexts. In particular, niclosamide inhibits multiple oncogenic pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Ras, Stat3, Notch, E2F-Myc, NF-κB, and mTOR and activates tumor suppressor signaling pathways such as p53, PP2A, and AMPK. Moreover, niclosamide potentially improves immunotherapy by modulating pathways such as PD-1/PDL-1. We recently discovered that niclosamide ethanolamine (NEN) reprograms cellular metabolism through its uncoupler function, consequently remodeling the cellular epigenetic landscape to promote differentiation. Inspired by the promising results from the pre-clinical studies, several clinical trials are ongoing to assess the therapeutic effect of niclosamide in cancer patients. This current review summarizes the functions, mechanism of action, and potential applications of niclosamide in cancer therapy as a magic bullet.

Ring-Substituted 1-Hydroxynaphthalene-2-Carboxanilides Inhibit Proliferation and Trigger Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis

Ring-substituted 1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxanilides were previously investigated for their antimycobacterial properties. In our study, we have shown their antiproliferative and cell death-inducing effects in cancer cell lines. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed by WST-1 assay and a dye exclusion test, respectively. Cell cycle distribution, phosphatidylserine externalization, levels of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (RONS), mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and release of cytochrome c were estimated by flow cytometry. Levels of regulatory proteins were determined by Western blotting. Our data suggest that the ability to inhibit the proliferation of THP-1 or MCF-7 cells might be referred to meta- or para-substituted derivatives with electron-withdrawing groups -F, -Br, or -CF₃ at anilide moiety. This effect was accompanied by accumulation of cells in G1 phase. Compound 10 also induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells in association with a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and production of mitochondrial superoxide. Our study provides a new insight into the action of salicylanilide derivatives, hydroxynaphthalene carboxamides, in cancer cells. Thus, their structure merits further investigation as a model moiety of new small-molecule compounds with potential anticancer properties.

A new niclosamide derivatives-B17 can inhibit urological cancers growth through apoptosis-related pathway

The incidence and mortality rate of urological cancers is increasing yearly. Niclosamide has been repurposed as an anti‐cancer drug in recent years. Synthesized derivative of niclosamide was testified for its anti‐cancer activity in urological cancers. MTT assay was used to measure the cytotoxicity effect of niclosamide and its derivatives in urological cancer cell lines. Migratory ability was monitored by scratch migration assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle changes were analyzed by annexin V and PI staining. The apoptosis‐related signal proteins were evaluated by western blotting. T24 had the best drug sensitivity with the lowest IC₅₀ in niclosamide and B17 treatment than DU145 and Caki‐1 cells. After niclosamide and B17 treatment, the mitotic cells were decreased, but apoptotic bodies and morphology changes were not prominent in T24, Caki‐1, and DU145 cells. The migratory ability was inhibited in niclosamide treatment than control group on Caki‐1 cells and niclosamide and B17 treatment than control group on DU145 cells. Early apoptosis cells were increased after niclosamide and B17 treatment than control group without cell cycle changes in T24, Caki‐1, and DU145 cells. Programmed cell death was activated majorly through PAPR and bcl‐2 in T24 and caspase‐3 in Caki‐1 cells, respectively. Niclosamide and B17 derivative had good ability in inhibition proliferation and migratory ability in T24, Caki‐1, and DU145 cells without prominent morphology and apoptotic body changes. UCC cells are more sensitive to niclosamide and B17 treatment. Early apoptosis was induced after niclosamide and B17 treatment through different mechanisms in T24, Caki‐1, and DU145 cells.