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Falsini A, Giuntini G, Mori M, Ghirga F, Quaglio D, Cucinotta A, Coppola F, Filippi I, Naldini A, Botta B, Carraro F. Hedgehog Pathway Inhibition by Novel Small Molecules Impairs Melanoma Cell Migration and Invasion under Hypoxia. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:227. [PMID: 38399442 PMCID: PMC10891729 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the principal cause of death in skin cancer due to its ability to invade and cause metastasis. Hypoxia, which characterises the tumour microenvironment (TME), plays an important role in melanoma development, as cancer cells can adapt and acquire a more aggressive phenotype. Carbonic anhydrases (CA) activity, involved in pH regulation, is related to melanoma cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, already known for its role in physiological processes, is a pivotal character in cancer cell growth and can represent a promising pharmacological target. In this study, we targeted Hh pathway components with cyclopamine, glabrescione B and C22 in order to observe their effect on carbonic anhydrase XII (CAXII) expression especially under hypoxia. We then performed a migration and invasion assay on two melanoma cell lines (SK-MEL-28 and A375) where Smoothened, the upstream protein involved in Hh regulation, and GLI1, the main transcription factor that determines Hh pathway activation, were chemically inhibited. Data suggest the existence of a relationship between CAXII, hypoxia and the Hedgehog pathway demonstrating that the chemical inhibition of the Hh pathway and CAXII reduction resulted in melanoma migration and invasion impairment especially under hypoxia. As in recent years drug resistance to small molecules has arisen, the development of new chemical compounds is crucial. The multitarget Hh inhibitor C22 proved to be effective without signs of cytotoxicity and, for this reason, it can represent a promising compound for future studies, with the aim to reach a better melanoma disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Falsini
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology Unit, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.F.); (G.G.); (F.C.); (I.F.); (A.N.)
| | - Gaia Giuntini
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology Unit, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.F.); (G.G.); (F.C.); (I.F.); (A.N.)
| | - Mattia Mori
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Francesca Ghirga
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.G.); (D.Q.); (B.B.)
| | - Deborah Quaglio
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.G.); (D.Q.); (B.B.)
| | - Antonino Cucinotta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Federica Coppola
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology Unit, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.F.); (G.G.); (F.C.); (I.F.); (A.N.)
| | - Irene Filippi
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology Unit, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.F.); (G.G.); (F.C.); (I.F.); (A.N.)
| | - Antonella Naldini
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology Unit, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.F.); (G.G.); (F.C.); (I.F.); (A.N.)
| | - Bruno Botta
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.G.); (D.Q.); (B.B.)
| | - Fabio Carraro
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Sabe H. KRAS, MYC, and ARF6: inseparable relationships cooperatively promote cancer malignancy and immune evasion. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:106. [PMID: 37158894 PMCID: PMC10165578 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01130-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the KRAS gene and overexpression of protein products of the MYC and ARF6 genes occur frequently in cancer. Here, the inseparable relationships and cooperation of the protein products of these three genes in cancer malignancy and immune evasion are discussed. mRNAs encoded by these genes share the common feature of a G-quadruplex structure, which directs them to be robustly expressed when cellular energy production is increased. These three proteins are also functionally inseparable from each other, as follows. 1) KRAS induces MYC gene expression, and may also promote eIF4A-dependent MYC and ARF6 mRNA translation, 2) MYC induces the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation, and 3) ARF6 protects mitochondria from oxidative injury. ARF6 may moreover promote cancer invasion and metastasis, and also acidosis and immune checkpoint. Therefore, the inseparable relationships and cooperation of KRAS, MYC, and ARF6 appear to result in the activation of mitochondria and the driving of ARF6-based malignancy and immune evasion. Such adverse associations are frequent in pancreatic cancer, and appear to be further enhanced by TP53 mutations. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisataka Sabe
- Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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Hashimoto A, Handa H, Hata S, Hashimoto S. Orchestration of mesenchymal plasticity and immune evasiveness via rewiring of the metabolic program in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1005566. [PMID: 36408139 PMCID: PMC9669439 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1005566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most fatal cancer in humans, due to its difficulty of early detection and its high metastatic ability. The occurrence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in preinvasive pancreatic lesions has been implicated in the early dissemination, drug resistance, and cancer stemness of PDAC. PDAC cells also have a reprogrammed metabolism, regulated by driver mutation-mediated pathways, a desmoplastic tumor microenvironment (TME), and interactions with stromal cells, including pancreatic stellate cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells. Such metabolic reprogramming and its functional metabolites lead to enhanced mesenchymal plasticity, and creates an acidic and immunosuppressive TME, resulting in the augmentation of protumor immunity via cancer-associated inflammation. In this review, we summarize our recent understanding of how PDAC cells acquire and augment mesenchymal features via metabolic and immunological changes during tumor progression, and how mesenchymal malignancies induce metabolic network rewiring and facilitate an immune evasive TME. In addition, we also present our recent findings on the interesting relevance of the small G protein ADP-ribosylation factor 6-based signaling pathway driven by KRAS/TP53 mutations, inflammatory amplification signals mediated by the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 and RNA-binding protein ARID5A on PDAC metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion, and finally discuss potential therapeutic strategies for the quasi-mesenchymal subtype of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Ari Hashimoto, ; Shigeru Hashimoto,
| | - Haruka Handa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Soichiro Hata
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shigeru Hashimoto
- Division of Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Ari Hashimoto, ; Shigeru Hashimoto,
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Bang S, Jee S, Son H, Cha H, Sim J, Kim Y, Park H, Myung J, Kim H, Paik S. Clinicopathological Implications of ASAP1 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pathol Oncol Res 2022; 28:1610635. [PMID: 36110251 PMCID: PMC9468229 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2022.1610635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: The expression of ArfGAP with SH3 domain ankyrin repeat and PH domain 1 (ASAP1) is increased in various types of cancer, showing potential as a prognostic marker. The clinicopathological implications of ASAP1 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. We thus investigated the clinicopathological significance and prognostic effect of ASAP1 expression in HCC patients. Materials and Methods: ASAP1 expression was assessed in 149 HCC tissue samples using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The associations between ASAP1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. The prognostic effect of ASAP1 expression in patients with HCC was evaluated based on survival analyses and confirmed using a web-based tool. Results: ASAP1 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. High ASAP1 expression was observed in 89 (59.7%) of 149 cases. High ASAP1 expression was significantly associated with male patients (p = 0.018), higher histological grade (p = 0.013), vessel invasion (p = 0.021), and higher stage (p = 0.020). High ASAP1 expression was associated with shorter overall survival (OS; p = 0.041) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; p = 0.008) based on Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Web-based analysis using Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter showed high mRNA ASAP1 expression to be associated with short OS (p = 0.001). Conclusion: High ASAP1 expression was associated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and poor clinical outcomes in patients with HCC. ASAP1 can be considered a prognostic biomarker in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongsik Bang
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seungyun Jee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hwangkyu Son
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyebin Cha
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jongmin Sim
- Department of Pathology, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yeseul Kim
- Department of Pathology, Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hosub Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jaekyung Myung
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyunsung Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Hyunsung Kim, ; Seungsam Paik,
| | - Seungsam Paik
- Department of Pathology, Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Hyunsung Kim, ; Seungsam Paik,
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