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Mukherjee AG, Wanjari UR, Gopalakrishnan AV, Bradu P, Biswas A, Ganesan R, Renu K, Dey A, Vellingiri B, El Allali A, Alsamman AM, Zayed H, George Priya Doss C. Evolving strategies and application of proteins and peptide therapeutics in cancer treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114832. [PMID: 37150032 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Several proteins and peptides have therapeutic potential and can be used for cancer therapy. By binding to cell surface receptors and other indicators uniquely linked with or overexpressed on tumors compared to healthy tissue, protein biologics enhance the active targeting of cancer cells, as opposed to the passive targeting of cells by conventional small-molecule chemotherapeutics. This study focuses on peptide medications that exist to slow or stop tumor growth and the spread of cancer, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of peptides in cancer treatment. As an alternative to standard chemotherapy, peptides that selectively kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue are developing. A mountain of clinical evidence supports the efficacy of peptide-based cancer vaccines. Since a single treatment technique may not be sufficient to produce favourable results in the fight against cancer, combination therapy is emerging as an effective option to generate synergistic benefits. One example of this new area is the use of anticancer peptides in combination with nonpeptidic cytotoxic drugs or the combination of immunotherapy with conventional therapies like radiation and chemotherapy. This review focuses on the different natural and synthetic peptides obtained and researched. Discoveries, manufacture, and modifications of peptide drugs, as well as their contemporary applications, are summarized in this review. We also discuss the benefits and difficulties of potential advances in therapeutic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Goutam Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Uddesh Ramesh Wanjari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India.
| | - Pragya Bradu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Antara Biswas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, India
| | - Raja Ganesan
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, South Korea
| | - Kaviyarasi Renu
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077 Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab (CUPB), Bathinda 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Achraf El Allali
- African Genome Center, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco.
| | - Alsamman M Alsamman
- Department of Genome Mapping, Molecular Genetics, and Genome Mapping Laboratory, Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
| | - Hatem Zayed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - C George Priya Doss
- Department of Integrative Biology, School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
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Effects of TP53 Mutations and miRs on Immune Responses in the Tumor Microenvironment Important in Pancreatic Cancer Progression. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142155. [PMID: 35883598 PMCID: PMC9318640 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 90% of pancreatic cancers are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). PDAC is the fourth leading cause of cancer death world-wide. Therapies for PDAC are largely ineffective due to the dense desmoplastic tumor microenvironment which prevents chemotherapeutic drugs and small molecule inhibitors from exerting effective anti-cancer effects. In this review, we will discuss the roles of TP53 and miRs on the PDAC tumor microenvironment and how loss of the normal functions of TP53 promote tumor progression. The TP53 gene is mutated in approximately 50% of pancreatic cancers. Often, these TP53 mutations are point mutations which confer additional functions for the TP53 proteins. These are called gain of function (GOF) mutations (mut). Another class of TP53 mutations are deletions which result in loss of the TP53 protein; these are referred to TP53-null mutations. We have organized this review into various components/properties of the PDAC microenvironment and how they may be altered in the presence of mutant TP53 and loss of certain miR expression.
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McCubrey JA, Meher AK, Akula SM, Abrams SL, Steelman LS, LaHair MM, Franklin RA, Martelli AM, Ratti S, Cocco L, Barbaro F, Duda P, Gizak A. Wild type and gain of function mutant TP53 can regulate the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK, and PI3K/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway inhibitors, nutraceuticals and alter metabolic properties. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:3365-3386. [PMID: 35477123 PMCID: PMC9085237 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
TP53 is a master regulator of many signaling and apoptotic pathways involved in: aging, cell cycle progression, gene regulation, growth, apoptosis, cellular senescence, DNA repair, drug resistance, malignant transformation, metastasis, and metabolism. Most pancreatic cancers are classified as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). The tumor suppressor gene TP53 is mutated frequently (50-75%) in PDAC. Different types of TP53 mutations have been observed including gain of function (GOF) point mutations and various deletions of the TP53 gene resulting in lack of the protein expression. Most PDACs have point mutations at the KRAS gene which result in constitutive activation of KRas and multiple downstream signaling pathways. It has been difficult to develop specific KRas inhibitors and/or methods that result in recovery of functional TP53 activity. To further elucidate the roles of TP53 in drug-resistance of pancreatic cancer cells, we introduced wild-type (WT) TP53 or a control vector into two different PDAC cell lines. Introduction of WT-TP53 increased the sensitivity of the cells to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs, signal transduction inhibitors, drugs and nutraceuticals and influenced key metabolic properties of the cells. Therefore, TP53 is a key molecule which is critical in drug sensitivity and metabolism of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Akshaya K. Meher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Shaw M. Akula
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Stephen L. Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Linda S. Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Michelle M. LaHair
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Richard A. Franklin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Alberto M. Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Ratti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fulvio Barbaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Re.Mo.Bio.S. Laboratory, Anatomy Section, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Przemysław Duda
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gizak
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
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Abrams SL, Duda P, Akula SM, Steelman LS, Follo ML, Cocco L, Ratti S, Martelli AM, Montalto G, Emma MR, Cervello M, Rakus D, Gizak A, McCubrey JA. Effects of the Mutant TP53 Reactivator APR-246 on Therapeutic Sensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Cells in the Presence and Absence of WT-TP53. Cells 2022; 11:794. [PMID: 35269416 PMCID: PMC8909756 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The TP53 tumor suppressor is mutated in ~75% of pancreatic cancers. The mutant TP53 protein in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Attempts have been made to develop molecules that restore at least some of the properties of wild-type (WT) TP53. APR-246 is one such molecule, and it is referred to as a mutant TP53 reactivator. To understand the potential of APR-246 to sensitize PDAC cells to chemotherapy, we introduced a vector encoding WT-TP53 into two PDAC cell lines, one lacking the expression of TP53 (PANC-28) and one with a gain-of-function (GOF) mutant TP53 (MIA-PaCa-2). APR-246 increased drug sensitivity in the cells containing either a WT or mutant TP53 protein with GOF activity, but not in cells that lacked TP53. The introduction of WT-T53 into PANC-28 cells increased their sensitivity to the TP53 reactivator, chemotherapeutic drugs, and signal transduction inhibitors. The addition of WT-TP53 to PDAC cells with GOF TP53 also increased their sensitivity to the drugs and therapeutics, indicating that APR-246 could function in cells with WT-TP53 and GOF TP53. These results highlight the importance of knowledge of the type of TP53 mutation that is present in cancer patients before the administration of drugs which function through the reactivation of TP53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L. Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (S.L.A.); (S.M.A.); (L.S.S.)
| | - Przemysław Duda
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Wrocław, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland; (P.D.); (D.R.); (A.G.)
| | - Shaw M. Akula
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (S.L.A.); (S.M.A.); (L.S.S.)
| | - Linda S. Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (S.L.A.); (S.M.A.); (L.S.S.)
| | - Matilde L. Follo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy; (M.L.F.); (L.C.); (S.R.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy; (M.L.F.); (L.C.); (S.R.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Stefano Ratti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy; (M.L.F.); (L.C.); (S.R.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Alberto M. Martelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy; (M.L.F.); (L.C.); (S.R.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (M.R.E.); (M.C.)
| | - Maria Rita Emma
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (M.R.E.); (M.C.)
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy; (M.R.E.); (M.C.)
| | - Dariusz Rakus
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Wrocław, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland; (P.D.); (D.R.); (A.G.)
| | - Agnieszka Gizak
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Wrocław, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland; (P.D.); (D.R.); (A.G.)
| | - James A. McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (S.L.A.); (S.M.A.); (L.S.S.)
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McCubrey JA, Abrams SL, Steelman LS, Cocco L, Ratti S, Martelli AM, Lombardi P, Gizak A, Duda P. APR-246—The Mutant TP53 Reactivator—Increases the Effectiveness of Berberine and Modified Berberines to Inhibit the Proliferation of Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020276. [PMID: 35204775 PMCID: PMC8961609 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common form of pancreatic cancer. In ~75% of PDAC, the tumor suppressor TP53 gene is mutated. Novel approaches to treat cancer involve compounds called mutant TP53 reactivators. They interact with mutant TP53 proteins and restore some of their growth suppressive properties, but they may also interact with other proteins, e.g., TP63 and TP73. We examined the ability of the TP53 reactivator APR-246 to interact with eleven modified berberine compounds (NAX compounds) in the presence and absence of WT-TP53 in two PDAC cell lines: the MIA-PaCa-2, which has gain of function (GOF) TP53 mutations on both alleles, and PANC-28, which lacks expression of the WT TP53 protein. Our results indicate the TP53 reactivator-induced increase in therapeutic potential of many modified berberines.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Andrew McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (S.L.A.); (L.S.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Stephen L. Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (S.L.A.); (L.S.S.)
| | - Linda S. Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (S.L.A.); (L.S.S.)
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (L.C.); (S.R.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Stefano Ratti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (L.C.); (S.R.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Alberto M. Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (L.C.); (S.R.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Paolo Lombardi
- Naxospharma, Via Giuseppe Di Vittorio 70, 20026 Novate Milanese, Italy;
| | - Agnieszka Gizak
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Wrocław, 50-335 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.G.); (P.D.)
| | - Przemysław Duda
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Wrocław, 50-335 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.G.); (P.D.)
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Abrams SL, Akula SM, Steelman LS, Follo ML, Cocco L, Ratti S, Martelli AM, Libra M, Falzone L, Candido S, Montalto G, Cervello M, Lombardi P, McCubrey JA. Effects of the MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin-3a on sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to berberine and modified berberines in the presence and absence of WT-TP53. Adv Biol Regul 2021; 83:100840. [PMID: 34866036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2021.100840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Approaches to improve pancreatic cancer therapy are essential as this disease has a very bleak outcome. Approximately 80% of pancreatic cancers are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). A key regulatory gene frequently mutated (∼75%) in PDAC is the TP53 tumor suppressor gene which controls the transcription of multiple genes involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cancer progression and other growth regulatory processes. The mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) gene product is a nuclear-localized E3 ubiquitin ligase and negatively regulates the TP53 protein which results in its proteasomal degradation. Various MDM2 inhibitors have been isolated and examined in clinical trials, especially in patients with hematological malignancies. Nutlin-3a is one of the first MDM2 inhibitors isolated. Berberine (BBR) is a natural product found in many fruits and berries and used in traditional medicine for centuries. It has many biological effects, and some are anti-proliferative in nature. BBR may activate the expression of TP53 and inhibit cell cycle progression as well as other events important in cell growth. To understand more about the potential of compounds like BBR and chemical modified BBRs (NAX compounds) to sensitize PDAC cells to MDM2 inhibitors, we introduced either WT-TP53 or the pLXSN empty vector control into two PDAC cell lines, one lacking expression of TP53 (PANC-28) and one with gain-of-function mutant TP53 on both alleles (MIA-PaCa-2). Our results indicate that nutlin-3a was able to increase the sensitivity to BBR and certain NAX compounds. The effects of nutlin-3a were usually more substantial in those cells containing an introduced WT TP53 gene. These results highlight the importance of knowledge of the type of TP53 mutation that is present in cancer patients before the administration of drugs which function by stabilization of the TP53 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Shaw M Akula
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Linda S Steelman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Matilde L Follo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Ratti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Neuromotorie, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo Libra
- Research Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer (PreDiCT), University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Luca Falzone
- Research Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer (PreDiCT), University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Saverio Candido
- Research Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer (PreDiCT), University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Montalto
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Melchiorre Cervello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Lombardi
- Naxospharma, Via Giuseppe di Vittorio 70, Novate Milanese, 20026, Italy
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA.
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