3,4-dimethoxybenzyl isothiocyanate enhances doxorubicin efficacy in LoVoDX doxorubicin-resistant colon cancer and attenuates its toxicity in vivo

Anti-neoplastic activity of celastrol in experimentally-induced mammary adenocarcinoma in mice: targeting wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Natural bioactive compounds with anti-neoplastic effects, such as celastrol (CLS), have attracted considerable interest in recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of CLS on wnt/β-catenin signaling, and its potential combination with doxorubicin (Dox) to enhance chemotherapeutic effects. After intramuscular inoculation of Ehrlich tumor cells, tumor-bearing mice received CLS (2 mg/kg, i.p), Dox (5 mg/kg, once/week, i.p), and their combination for 21 days. Treatment with CLS showed showing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, as evidenced by a significant increase in glutathione content and a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde, interleukin 6, and interleukin 1β concentrations. CLS also inhibited VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. The current study revealed that CLS downregulated β-catenin gene expression with subsequent downstream target genes, such as cyclin-D1, and survivin, which dampens tumor cell proliferation and triggers cell cycle arrest as well as induces apoptosis as indicated by the increased expression of p53, caspase-3. The current study concludes that CLS exerted its anti-neoplastic activity by suppressing the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and opens a new perspective for combining CLS with Dox to enhance its chemotherapeutic effects and reduce the oxidative imbalance and inflammatory responses associated with Dox treatment.

Comprehensive Insights Into the Combinatorial Uses of Selected Phytochemicals in Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Isothiocyanates, Quinones, Carotenoids, and Alkaloids

Despite the advancement in cancer diagnosis and treatment, colorectal cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Given the high recurrence rate of colorectal cancer even after surgical resection, chemotherapy has been clinically used to improve the treatment outcomes of colorectal cancer. However, chemotherapy is well-known for its toxic side effects. Thus, phytochemicals have been widely studied in recent years as preventive and therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer owing to their relatively low toxicity. Moreover, combinatorial uses of phytochemicals with other natural compounds or with drugs may amplify the positive outcomes of colorectal cancer prevention and treatment by intervening in multiple signaling pathways and targets. This review summarized the combinatorial use of several well-studied groups of phytochemicals, that is, isothiocyanates, quinones, carotenoids, and alkaloids, in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer, and suggested it as a potential approach to improve the anticancer efficacy of single compounds and minimize the toxic side effects associated with conventional drugs. Notably, we generalized the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical experiments-based molecular mechanisms whereby the selected phytochemicals in combination with other compounds exerted anti-colorectal cancer effects by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell invasion, and tumor growth. Overall, this review provides a reference and new perspective to propel further advancements in research and development of preventative and therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer.

Antiproliferative activity of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of dithiocarbamate: synthesis, structural characterization, and thermal studies

Five new metal complexes of Fe(II) (1), Co(II) (2), Ni(II) (3), Cu(II) (4), and Zn(II) (5), derived from an N-cyclohexyl N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl) dithiocarbamate ligand, have been successfully synthesized and fully characterized by different analytical techniques i.e. elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H & 13C NMR, and HRMS. Furthermore, complexes 4 and 5 have been characterized by the SC-XRD technique. Complex 4 adopts a distorted square planar geometry around the Cu(II) center while complex 5 adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry around the Zn(II) center. In addition, an eight-membered symmetric chair-like metallacycle ring containing two Zn(II) centers has also been found in complex 5. XRD data also show that complexes 4 and 5 are stabilized by various weak intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. The course of the thermal degradation of metal complexes 1-5 has been examined by TG-DTA data which revealed that metal sulphide formed as the final residue. Complexes 1-5 demonstrated concentration-dependent cytotoxicity and growth inhibition of DL tumor cells. Among the compounds, complexes 1, 4, and 5 showed significant cytotoxicity and induced a loss in the viability of DL cells. Therapy with complexes 1, 4, and 5 protects DL tumor-bearing animals from exacerbation of the disease, increases lifespan, and significantly improves the histopathological parameters of the vascularized organ, including preventing metastasis. Overall cytotoxicity assay results indicate that all complexes have remarkable cytotoxic potential in comparison with the free ligand.

Iberverin exhibits antineoplastic activities against human hepatocellular carcinoma via DNA damage-mediated cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial-related apoptosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignant tumors with high incidence and mortality rates in the world. Isothiocyanates (ITCs), bioactive substances present primarily in the plant order Brassicales, have been proved to be promising candidates for novel anti-HCC drugs with chemopreventive and anticancer activities. Iberverin, a predominant ITC isolated from the seeds of oxheart cabbage, has been discovered with anticancer property in lung cancer cells. However, the roles of iberverin in HCC remain elusive. In the present study, the effect and potential mechanisms of iberverin against human HCC were dissected. We demonstrated that low concentrations of iberverin inhibited cell proliferation, suppressed migration and induced mitochondrial-related apoptosis in vitro, and hampered tumorigenicity in vivo, with no obvious toxicity. Furthermore, we found that iberverin treatment induced DNA damage and G2/M phase arrest. Iberverin treatment also caused increased intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and glutathione depletion. Taken together, these results suggest that iberverin promotes mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and induces DNA damage and G2/M cell cycle arrest in HCC by enhancing oxidative stress. Our findings provide better understanding of the anti-HCC mechanisms of ITCs and the potential for the natural product iberverin as a promising new anti-HCC biotherapeutic.

Anticarcinogenic Effects of Isothiocyanates on Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, accounting for about 90% of cases. Sorafenib, lenvatinib, and the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab are considered first-line treatments for advanced HCC. However, clinical application of these drugs has also caused some adverse reactions such as hypertension, elevated aspartate aminotransferases, and proteinuria. At present, natural products and their derivatives have drawn more and more attention due to less side effects as cancer treatments. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are one type of hydrolysis products from glucosinolates (GLSs), secondary plant metabolites found exclusively in cruciferous vegetables. Accumulating evidence from encouraging in vitro and in vivo animal models has demonstrated that ITCs have multiple biological activities, especially their potentially health-promoting activities (antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic effects). In this review, we aim to comprehensively summarize the chemopreventive, anticancer, and chemosensitizative effects of ITCs on HCC, and explain the underlying molecular mechanisms.

A Screening Study for the Development of Simvastatin-Doxorubicin Liposomes, a Co-Formulation with Future Perspectives in Colon Cancer Therapy

An increasing number of studies published so far have evidenced the benefits of Simvastatin (SIM) and Doxorubicin (DOX) co-treatment in colorectal cancer. In view of this, the current study aimed to investigate the pharmaceutical development of liposomes co-encapsulating SIM and DOX, by implementing the Quality by Design (QbD) concept, as a means to enhance the antiproliferative effect of the co-formulation on C26 murine colon cancer cells co-cultured with macrophages. It is known that the quality profile of liposomes is dependent on the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of liposomes (drug entrapped concentration, encapsulation efficiency, size, zeta potential, and drug release profile), which are, in turn, directly influenced by various formulation factors and processing parameters. By using the design of experiments, it was possible to outline the increased variability of CQAs in relation to formulation factors and identify by means of statistical analysis the material attributes that are critical (phospholipids, DOX and SIM concentration) for the quality of the co-formulation. The in vitro studies performed on a murine colon cancer cell line highlighted the importance of delivering the optimal drug ratio at the target site, since the balance antiproliferative vs. pro-proliferative effects can easily be shifted when the molar ratio between DOX and SIM changes.

Glucosinolate-Enriched Fractions from Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Exert Myrosinase-Dependent Cytotoxic Effects against HepG2/C3A and HT29 Tumor Cell Lines

The consumption of glucosinolate (GL)-rich foods, including Brassica vegetables, such as mustard, broccoli, and maca, is associated with decreased risk of developing cancer. The GL content in maca, which is recognized as a "superfood", is approximately 100-times higher than that in other brassicas. Although maca is a potential dietary source of GLs, limited studies have examined the bioactivity of maca GLs using the combination of chemical characterization and bioassays. In this study, the fractions (Lm-II and Lm-III) rich in intact GLs (glucotropaeolin and glucolimnanthin) were isolated and characterized from maca ethanolic extracts using chromatography and mass spectrometry. Additionally, the growth-inhibitory effects of Lm-II and Lm-II fractions against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2/C3A) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT29) cell lines were examined in the absence or presence of myrosinase (MYR). Fractions lacking low molecular weight sugars dose-dependently exerted cytotoxic effects in the presence of MYR. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of Lm-II and Lm-III against HepG2/C3A were 118.8 and 69.9 µg/mL, respectively, while those against HT29 were 102.6 and 71.5 µg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that the anticancer properties of maca can be attributed to GLs and corroborate the categorization of maca as a "superfood."Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.1952444.

GOLPH3 inhibition reverses oxaliplatin resistance of colon cancer cells via suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether GOLPH3 regulated oxaliplatin (L-OHP) resistance of colon cancer cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

METHODS

HCT116/L-OHP cells were divided into Blank, Control/GOLPH3 shRNA, BEZ235 (a PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitor), and GOLPH3 + BEZ235 groups followed by the detection with MTT, soft agar colony formation, flow cytometry and TUNEL assays. Mice bearing HCT116/L-OHP xenografts were randomized into Control, L-OHP, NC/GOLPH3 shRNA, L-OHP + NC/GOLPH3 shRNA groups. The expressions of Ki67, Caspase-3, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

HCT116/L-OHP cells had increased GOLPH3 expression compared to HCT116 cells, which positively regulated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in HCT116/L-OHP cells. BEZ235 declined IC50 of HCT116/L-OHP cells to L-OHP, decreased the expressions of ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCG2, ATP7A, ATP7B, MATE1, p-gp, MRP1 and BCRP, induced cell apoptosis, reduced cell proliferation, and arrested cells at G0/G1, which was reversed by GOLPH3 overexpression. L-OHP and GOLPH3 shRNA decreased tumor volume and reduced expression of Ki67 in tumor tissues with the increased Caspase-3. Meanwhile, the combined treatment had the better treatment effect.

CONCLUSION

GOLPH3 inhibition reduced proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HCT116/L-OHP cells, and also reversed the L-OHP resistance of HCT116/L-OHP, which may be associated with the suppression of P13K/AKT/mTOR pathway.