The kinesin Eg5 inhibitor K858 induces apoptosis and reverses the malignant invasive phenotype in human glioblastoma cells

Decoding the Role of Kinesin Superfamily Proteins in Glioma Progression

Glioma is a highly aggressive and invasive brain tumor with limited treatment options, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) are a diverse group of motor proteins that play essential roles in cellular processes such as mitosis, intracellular transport, and signal transduction, all of which are crucial for tumorigenesis. This review focuses on the multifaceted role of KIFs in glioma, examining their clinical relevance, contribution to tumor progression, and potential as therapeutic targets. We discuss how KIFs influence key aspects of glioma biology, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and metastasis. Furthermore, we explore the regulation of the cell cycle and critical signaling pathways associated with glioma, such as PI3K-Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, and Hedgehog signaling by KIFs. The review also addresses the emerging interplay between KIFs and non-coding RNAs, including circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), in glioma progression. Finally, we examine current therapeutic strategies targeting KIFs, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and small-molecule inhibitors, and their potential to improve treatment outcomes for glioma patients. By synthesizing these insights, this review underscores the significance of KIFs in glioma pathogenesis and their promise as novel therapeutic targets in the fight against glioma.

Mitotic Functions and Characters of KIF11 in Cancers

Mitosis mediates the accurate separation of daughter cells, and abnormalities are closely related to cancer progression. KIF11, a member of the kinesin family, plays a vital role in the formation and maintenance of the mitotic spindle. Recently, an increasing quantity of data have demonstrated the upregulated expression of KIF11 in various cancers, promoting the emergence and progression of cancers. This suggests the great potential of KIF11 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. However, the molecular mechanisms of KIF11 in cancers have not been systematically summarized. Therefore, we first discuss the functions of the protein encoded by KIF11 during mitosis and connect the abnormal expression of KIF11 with its clinical significance. Then, we elucidate the mechanism of KIF11 to promote various hallmarks of cancers. Finally, we provide an overview of KIF11 inhibitors and outline areas for future work.

Kinesin Eg5 Selective Inhibition by Newly Synthesized Molecules as an Alternative Approach to Counteract Breast Cancer Progression: An In Vitro Study

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most diagnosed cancers in women. Recently, a promising target for BC treatment was found in kinesin Eg5, a mitotic motor protein that allows bipolar spindle formation and cell replication. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of novel thiadiazoline-based Eg5 inhibitors, analogs of K858, in an in vitro model of BC (MCF7 cell line). Compounds 2 and 41 were selected for their better profile as they reduce MCF7 viability at lower concentrations and with minimal effect on non-tumoral cells with respect to K858. Compounds 2 and 41 counteract MCF7 migration by negatively modulating the NF-kB/MMP-9 pathway. The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF appeared also reduced by 2 and 41 administration, thus preventing the recruitment of the molecular cascade involved in angiogenesis promotion. In addition, 2 provokes an increased caspase-3 activation thus triggering the MCF7 apoptotic event, while 41 and K858 seem to induce the necrosis axis, as disclosed by the increased expression of PARP. These results allow us to argue that 2 and 41 are able to simultaneously intervene on pivotal molecular signaling involved in breast cancer progression, leading to the assumption that Eg5 inhibition can represent a valid approach to counteract BC progression.

KIF11 Is a Promising Therapeutic Target for Thyroid Cancer Treatment

Objective. To assess KIF11 expression in human thyroid tumor tissues and further evaluate its involvement in thyroid cancer. Methods. The expression of KIF11 in 71 cases of thyroid carcinoma as well as corresponding tissues was detected by the immunohistochemical (IHC) method. Patients were divided into the high KIF11 expression as well as low expression groups based on the staining levels. In addition, to study the relationship between the expression of KIF11 as well as clinicopathological features, the effects of KIF11 were detected on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of two types of thyroid cancer cells, TPC-1 and KTC-1, through colony formation assays, MTT assays, and FCM assays, respectively. We further assessed the potential effects of KIF11 on tumor growth using an animal model. Results. The significantly high expression of KIF11 in thyroid tumor tissues was revealed, and the correlations between KIF11 expression levels as well as clinical pathological features (T stage and intraglandular dissemination) of patients were revealed. We further noticed that KIF11 knockdown remarkably suppressed thyroid cancer cell proliferation as well as induced cell apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells. Additionally, KIF11 contributed to tumor growth of thyroid cancer cells in mice. Conclusions. We noticed the involvement of KIF11 in the progression of thyroid cancer.

The kinesin Eg5 inhibitor K858 exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects and attenuates the invasive potential of head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

Our group recently demonstrated that K858, an inhibitor of motor kinesin Eg5, has important antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on breast cancer, prostatic cancer, melanoma and glioblastoma cells. Since high levels of kinesin Eg5 expression have been correlated with a poor prognosis in laryngeal carcinoma, we decided to test the anticancer activity of K858 toward this tumor, which belongs to the group of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). These cancers are characterized by low responsiveness to therapy. The effects of K858 on the proliferation and assembly of mitotic spindles of three human HNSCC cell lines were studied using cytotoxicity assays and immunofluorescence for tubulin. The effect of K858 on the cell cycle was analyzed by FACS. The expression levels of cyclin B1 and several markers of apoptosis and invasion were studied by Western blot. Finally, the negative regulation of the malignant phenotype by K858 was evaluated by an invasion assay. K858 inhibited cell replication by rendering cells incapable of developing normal bipolar mitotic spindles. At the same time, K858 blocked the cell cycle in the G2 phase and induced the accumulation of cytoplasmic cyclin B and, eventually, apoptosis. Additionally, K858 inhibited cell migration and attenuated the malignant phenotype. The data described confirm that kinesin Eg5 is an interesting target for new anticancer strategies and suggest that this compound may be a powerful tool for an alternative therapeutic approach to HNSCCs.

Kinesin spindle protein inhibitors in cancer: from high throughput screening to novel therapeutic strategies

Bringing to a halt the cell cycle in mitosis and interfering with its normal progression is one of the most successful anti-cancer strategies used nowadays. Classically, several kinds of anti-cancer drugs like taxanes and vinca alkaloids directly inhibit microtubules during cell division. These drugs exhibit serious side effects, most importantly, severe peripheral neuropathies. Alternatively, KSP inhibitors are grasping a lot of research attention as less toxic mitotic inhibitors. In this review, we track the medicinal chemistry developmental stages of KSP inhibitors. Moreover, we address the challenges that are faced during the development of KSP inhibitor therapy for cancer and future insights for the latest advances in research that are directed to find active KSP inhibitor drugs.

Scientists have recognized the importance of selective KSP inhibitors in the early 2000s and so various KSP protein inhibitors have been investigated. Only ten of these have been clinically evaluated for cancer treatment. Ispinesib (SB-715992) and filanesib (Arry-520) were the most promising small molecules in clinical trials against the KSP protein. Many challenges are faced during the development of an active anti-KSP drug; most importantly are the unsatisfactory clinical trial results. Designing dual inhibitors, antibody–drug conjugates, combination therapy and gene therapy approach are among the main strategies that are being investigated nowadays to find new effective KSP inhibitors. The scientific research efforts are still devoted to find an effective and tolerable KSP inhibitor drug that can gain US FDA approval.

Eg5 targeting agents: From new anti-mitotic based inhibitor discovery to cancer therapy and resistance

Eg5, the product of Kif11 gene, also known as kinesin spindle protein, is a motor protein involved in the proper establishment of a bipolar mitotic spindle. Eg5 is one of the 45 different kinesins coded in the human genome of the kinesin motor protein superfamily. Over the last three decades Eg5 has attracted great interest as a promising new mitotic target. The identification of monastrol as specific inhibitor of the ATPase activity of the motor domain of Eg5 inhibiting the Eg5 microtubule motility in vitro and in cellulo sparked an intense interest in academia and industry to pursue the identification of novel small molecules that target Eg5 in order to be used in cancer chemotherapy based on the anti-mitotic strategy. Several Eg5 inhibitors entered clinical trials. Currently the field is faced with the problem that most of the inhibitors tested exhibited only limited efficacy. However, one Eg5 inhibitor, Arry-520 (clinical name filanesib), has demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with multiple myeloma and is scheduled to enter phase III clinical trials. At the same time, new trends in Eg5 inhibitor research are emerging, including an increased interest in novel inhibitor binding sites and a focus on drug synergy with established antitumor agents to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy. This review presents an updated view of the structure and function of Eg5-inhibitor complexes, traces the possible development of resistance to Eg5 inhibitors and their potential therapeutic applications, and surveys the current challenges and future directions of this active field in drug discovery.

Thiadiazole derivatives as anticancer agents

In spite of substantial progress made toward understanding cancer pathogenesis, this disease remains one of the leading causes of mortality. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel, more effective anticancer therapeutics. Thiadiazole ring is a versatile scaffold widely studied in medicinal chemistry. Mesoionic character of this ring allows thiadiazole-containing compounds to cross cellular membrane and interact strongly with biological targets. Consequently, these compounds exert a broad spectrum of biological activities. This review presents the current state of knowledge on thiadiazole derivatives that demonstrate in vitro and/or in vivo efficacy across the cancer models with an emphasis on targets of action. The influence of the substituent on the compounds' activity is depicted. Furthermore, the results from clinical trials assessing thiadiazole-containing drugs in cancer patients are summarized.

Alkaloids isolated from Tropaeolum tuberosum with cytotoxic activity and apoptotic capacity in tumour cell lines

Two alkaloids were isolated and identified for the first time in the black tubers of Tropaeolum tuberosum, collected from the Titicani-Taca, Ingavi province in La Paz, Bolivia. Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and apoptotic capacity against four human cancer cell lines. 2-Benzyl-3-thioxohexahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-1-one (1) showed slight cytotoxic activity against all the cancer cell lines which were tested, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 27.45 ± 0.80 to 31.07 ± 0.87 μM. Moreover, N-(4-acetyl-5-methyl-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) acetamide (2) showed significant anti-cancer potential, with IC₅₀ values between 1.26 ± 0.57 μM and 1.37 ± 0.09 μM against all human cancer cell lines which were tested. Treatment of tumour cell lines with the compounds caused an increase in the apoptotic rate of these cells, observing that compound 2 presented an apoptotic effect which was double with respect to the control (Dimethylenastron).

Kinesin Eg5 Targeting Inhibitors as a New Strategy for Gastric Adenocarcinoma Treatment

The Kinesins are proteins involved in several biological processes such as mitosis, intracellular transport, and microtubule movement. The mitotic process is allowed by the correct formation of the mitotic spindle which consists of microtubules originating from the spindle poles. In recent years, kinesin Eg5 inhibitors were studied as new chemotherapeutic drugs, due to the lack of side effects and resistance mechanisms. The aim of this work was to investigate the molecular signaling underlying the administration of novel kinesis Eg5 inhibitors in an in vitro model of gastric adenocarcinoma. Data obtained from analogues of K858 led us to select compounds 2 and 41, due to their lower IC₅₀ values. The ability of kinesin inhibitors to induce apoptosis was investigated by evaluating Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression, evidencing that compound 41 and K858 markedly raise Bax expression, while only compounds 2 and 41 co-administrated with K858 trigger Caspase-3 activation. The inhibition of mitotic spindle was measured by β-tubulin immunofluorescence analysis revealing monopolar spindles formation in gastric cancer cells treated with compounds 2, 41, and K858. Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS-2) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) expression levels were measured finding a NOS-2-mediated downregulation of MMP-9 when compound 41 and K858 are co-administered. However, this is in contrast to what was reported by migration assay in which both novel compounds and K858 in monotherapy markedly reduce cell migration. This work remarks the importance of understanding and exploring the biological effects of different novel Eg5 kinesin inhibitors administered in monotherapy and in combination with K858 as potential strategy to counteract gastric cancer.

Integrative analysis of KIF4A, 9, 18A, and 23 and their clinical significance in low-grade glioma and glioblastoma

To determine the prognostic significance of kinesin superfamily gene (KIF) expression in patients with brain cancer, including low-grade glioma (LGG) and glioblastoma (GBM), we comprehensively analyzed KIFs in 515 LGG and 595 GBM patients. Among KIFs, KIF4A, 9, 18A, and 23 showed significant clinical implications in both LGG and GBM. The mRNA and protein expression levels of KIF4A, 9, 18A, and 23 were significantly increased in LGG and GBM compared with those in the normal control groups. The mRNA expression levels of KIF4A, 9, 18A, and 23 in LGG were significantly increased in the high-histologic-grade group compared with those with a low histologic grade. Genomic analysis showed that the percent of mRNA upregulation of KIF4A, 9, 18A, and 23 was higher than that of other gene alterations, including gene amplification, deep deletion, and missense mutation. In addition, LGG patients with KIF4A, 18A, and 23 gene alterations were significantly associated with a poor prognosis. In survival analysis, the group with high expression of KIF4A, 9, 18A, and 23 mRNA was significantly associated with a poor prognosis in both LGG and GBM patients. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that high mRNA expression of KIF4A, 18A, and 23 in LGG and GBM patients showed significant positive correlations with the cell cycle, E2F targets, G₂M checkpoint, Myc target, and mitotic spindle. By contrast, high mRNA expression of KIF9 in both LGG and GBM patients was significantly negatively correlated with the cell cycle, G₂M checkpoint, and mitotic spindle pathway. However, it was significantly positively correlated with EMT and angiogenesis. This study has extended our knowledge of KIF4A, 9, 18A, and 23 in LGG and GBM and shed light on their clinical relevance, which should help to improve the treatment and prognosis of LGG and GBM.

KIF11 Functions as an Oncogene and Is Associated with Poor Outcomes from Breast Cancer

Purpose

The study aimed to search and identify genes that were differentially expressed in breast cancer, and their roles in cancer growth and progression.

Materials and Methods

The Gene Expression Omnibus (Oncomine) and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases (https://cancergenome.nih.gov/) were screened for genes that were expressed differentially in breast cancer and were closely related to a poor prognosis. Gene expressions were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and genes were knocked down by a lentivirus-based system. Cell growth and motility were evaluated and in vivo nude mice were used to confirm the in vitro roles of genes. Markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the associations of KIF11 with the classical cancer signaling pathways were detected by Western blot.

Results

A series of genes expressed differentially in patients with breast cancer. The prognosis associated with high KIF11 expression was poor, and the expression of KIF11 increased significantly in high stage and malignant tumor cells. Inhibiting KIF11 expression in lentivirus-suppressed cells revealed that KIF11 inhibition significantly reduced cell viability and colony formation, inhibited migration and invasion, but promoted apoptosis. The sizes and weights of KIF11-inhibited tumors in nude mice were significantly lower than in the negative controls. Western blot showed that E-cadherin in breast cancer was significantly upregulated in KIF-inhibited cells and tumor tissues, whereas N-cadherin and vimentin were significantly downregulated. BT549 and MDA231 cells with KIF11 knockdown exhibited decreased ERK, AMPK, AKT, and CREB phosphorylation.

Conclusion

KIF11 acts as a potential oncogene that regulates the development and progression of breast cancer.