Metabolic targeting of NRF2 potentiates the efficacy of the TRAP1 inhibitor G-TPP through reduction of ROS detoxification in colorectal cancer

Reactive oxygen species in colorectal cancer adjuvant therapies

Colorectal cancer (CRC), a prevalent global malignancy, often necessitates adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy to mitigate tumor burden in advanced stages. The efficacy of these therapies is significantly influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Previous research underscores the pivotal role of ROS in gut pathology, targeted therapy, and drug resistance. ROS-mediated CRC adjuvant therapies encompass a myriad of mechanisms, including cell death and proliferation, survival and cell cycle, DNA damage, metabolic reprogramming, and angiogenesis. Preliminary clinical trials have begun to unveil the potential of ROS-manipulating therapy in enhancing CRC adjuvant therapies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of studies exploring the role of ROS in CRC adjuvant therapies.

The development of cancers research based on mitochondrial heat shock protein 90

Mitochondrial heat shock protein 90 (mtHsp90), including Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) and Hsp90 translocated from cytoplasm, modulating cellular metabolism and signaling pathways by altering the conformation, activity, and stability of numerous client proteins, and is highly expressed in tumors. mtHsp90 inhibition results in the destabilization and eventual degradation of its client proteins, leading to interference with various tumor-related pathways and efficient control of cancer cell development. Among these compounds, gamitrinib, a specific mtHsp90 inhibitor, has demonstrated its safety and efficacy in several preclinical investigations and is currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the present knowledge pertaining to mtHsp90, encompassing its structure and function. Moreover, our main emphasis is on the development of mtHsp90 inhibitors for various cancer therapies, to present a thorough overview of the recent pre-clinical and clinical advancements in this field.

Gene Expression and Drug Sensitivity Analysis of Mitochondrial Chaperones Reveals That HSPD1 and TRAP1 Expression Correlates with Sensitivity to Inhibitors of DNA Replication and Mitosis

Mitochondria-critical metabolic hubs in eukaryotic cells-are involved in a wide range of cellular functions, including differentiation, proliferation, and death. Mitochondria import most of their proteins from the cytosol in a linear form, after which they are folded by mitochondrial chaperones. However, despite extensive research, the extent to which the function of particular chaperones is essential for maintaining specific mitochondrial and cellular functions remains unknown. In particular, it is not known whether mitochondrial chaperones influence the sensitivity to drugs used in the treatment of cancers. By mining gene expression and drug sensitivity data for cancer cell lines from publicly available databases, we identified mitochondrial chaperones whose expression is associated with sensitivity to oncology drugs targeting particular cellular pathways in a cancer-type-dependent manner. Importantly, we found the expression of TRAP1 and HSPD1 to be associated with sensitivity to inhibitors of DNA replication and mitosis. We confirmed experimentally that the expression of HSPD1 is associated with an increased sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to drugs targeting mitosis and a reduced sensitivity to drugs promoting apoptosis. Taken together, our results support a model in which particular mitochondrial pathways hinge upon specific mitochondrial chaperones and provide the basis for understanding selectivity in mitochondrial chaperone-substrate specificity.