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Tian J, Zhao J, Xu Z, Liu B, Pu J, Li H, Lei Q, Zhao Y, Zhou W, Li X, Huang X. Bioinformatics analysis to identify key invasion related genes and construct a prognostic model for glioblastoma. Sci Rep 2025; 15:10773. [PMID: 40155506 PMCID: PMC11953321 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95067-x] [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: 10/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2025] [Indexed: 04/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal brain tumor with limited therapeutic strategies and incomplete studies on its progression and mechanisms. This study aims to reveal potential prognostic marker genes associated with GBM cell invasion, and establish an effective prognostic model for GBM patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), differentially invasive-related genes was obtained, qRT-PCR was used to verify gene expression. The risk scores of individual patients, univariate and multivariate Cox regression were analyzed to investigate the correlation between risk values and glioblastoma, Finally, the risk scores with the prognostic clinical characteristics of the patients, such as PFS, OS were used to build a comprehensive GBM prognostic model. Five DEGs (GZMB, COL22A1, MSTN, CRYGN and OSMR) were significantly associated with GBM prognosis. Pseudotemporal analysis, risk scores (PFS, OS) based on tumor cells revealed that prognostic genes were associated with tumor proliferation and progression. The final prognostic model was developed and validated with good performance with higher accuracy(C-index: 0.675), and it was found that the risk value can serve as an independent prognostic factor for patients with glioblastoma (p < 0.05). We constructed a comprehensive prognostic model related to invasion in GBM patients using genetic profiles, survival curves, immune infiltration, and radiotherapy face susceptibility. The model has good predictive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintao Tian
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China
| | - Jinxi Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China
| | - Zhixing Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Pu'er People's Hospital, Puer, 665000, China
| | - Bohu Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Kunming First People's Hospital, Kunming, 650011, China
| | - Jun Pu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China
| | - Hongwen Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Dali People's Hospital, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Qingchun Lei
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Pu'er People's Hospital, Puer, 665000, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China
| | - Weilin Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China
| | - Xuhui Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China.
| | - Xiaobin Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China.
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Poyil PK, Siraj AK, Padmaja D, Parvathareddy SK, Alobaisi K, Thangavel S, Begum R, Diaz R, Al-Dayel F, Al-Kuraya KS. Polo-like Kinase 1 Predicts Lymph Node Metastasis in Middle Eastern Colorectal Cancer Patients; Its Inhibition Reverses 5-Fu Resistance in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Cells 2024; 13:1700. [PMID: 39451218 PMCID: PMC11506015 DOI: 10.3390/cells13201700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2024] [Revised: 10/08/2024] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase essential for regulating multiple stages of cell cycle progression in mammals. Aberrant regulation of PLK1 has been observed in numerous human cancers and is linked to poor prognoses. However, its role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Middle East remains unexplored. PLK1 overexpression was noted in 60.3% (693/1149) of CRC cases and was significantly associated with aggressive clinico-pathological parameters and p-ERK1/2 overexpression. Intriguingly, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified PLK1 as an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis. Our in vitro experiments demonstrated that CRC cells with high PLK1 levels were resistant to 5-Fu treatment, while those with low PLK1 expression were sensitive. To investigate PLK1's role in chemoresistance, we used the specific inhibitor volasertib, which effectively reversed 5-Fu resistance. Interestingly, forced PLK1 expression activated the CRAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade, while its inhibition suppressed this cascade. PLK1 knockdown reduced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression and stem cell-like traits in 5-Fu-resistant cells, implicating PLK1 in EMT induction and stemness in CRC. Moreover, silencing ERK1/2 significantly mitigated chemoresistance, EMT, and stemness properties in CRC cell lines that express PLK1. Furthermore, the knockdown of Zeb1 attenuated EMT and stemness, suggesting a possible link between EMT activation and the maintenance of stemness in CRC. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of PLK1 in mediating chemoresistance and suggest that PLK1 inhibition may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of aggressive colorectal cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratheesh Kumar Poyil
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Abdul K. Siraj
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Divya Padmaja
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Sandeep Kumar Parvathareddy
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Khadija Alobaisi
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Saravanan Thangavel
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Rafia Begum
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Roxanne Diaz
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Fouad Al-Dayel
- Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Khawla S. Al-Kuraya
- Human Cancer Genomic Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia; (P.K.P.); (A.K.S.); (D.P.); (S.K.P.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (R.B.); (R.D.)
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Zhao G, Deng Z, Li X, Wang H, Chen G, Feng M, Zhou Y. Targeting EZH2 regulates the biological characteristics of glioma stem cells via the Notch1 pathway. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:2409-2418. [PMID: 37644332 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06693-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Glioma is the most common malignant brain tumor, and its behavior is closely related to the presence of glioma stem cells (GSCs). We found that the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is highly expressed in glioma and that its expression is correlated with the prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in two databases: The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas. Additionally, EZH2 is known to regulate the stemness-associated gene expression, proliferation, and invasion ability of GSCs, which may be achieved through the activation of the STAT3 and Notch1 pathways. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effect of the EZH2-specific inhibitor GSK126 on GSCs; these results not only corroborate our hypothesis, but also provide a potential novel treatment approach for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guozheng Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Suzhou Ninth People's Hospital, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Zhitong Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, China
| | - Xuetao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Guangliang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Ming Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Youxin Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery & Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China.
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Nasrolahi A, Azizidoost S, Radoszkiewicz K, Najafi S, Ghaedrahmati F, Anbiyaee O, Khoshnam SE, Farzaneh M, Uddin S. Signaling pathways governing glioma cancer stem cells behavior. Cell Signal 2023; 101:110493. [PMID: 36228964 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Glioma is the most common malignant brain tumor that develops in the glial tissue. Several studies have identified that glioma cancer stem cells (GCSCs) play important roles in tumor-initiating features in malignant gliomas. GCSCs are a small population in the brain that presents an essential role in the metastasis of glioma cells to other organs. These cells can self-renew and differentiate, which are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of glioma. Therefore, targeting GCSCs might be a novel strategy for the treatment of glioma. Accumulating evidence revealed that several signaling pathways, including Notch, TGF-β, Wnt, STAT3, AKT, and EGFR mediated GCSC growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion. Besides, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, circular RNAs, and long ncRNAs have been found to play pivotal roles in the regulation of GCSC pathogenesis and drug resistance. Therefore, targeting these pathways could open a new avenue for glioma management. In this review, we summarized critical signaling pathways involved in the stimulation or prevention of GCSCs tumorigenesis and invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Nasrolahi
- Infectious Ophthalmologic Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Shirin Azizidoost
- Atherosclerosis Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Klaudia Radoszkiewicz
- Translational Platform for Regenerative Medicine, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
| | - Sajad Najafi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhoodeh Ghaedrahmati
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Omid Anbiyaee
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Nemazi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Esmaeil Khoshnam
- Persian Gulf Physiology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
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Luo L, Zhang XY, Zhen YW, Guo GC, Peng DZ, Wei C, Pei DL, Yu B, Ji YC, Liu XZ, Han L, Zhang ZY. Polo-like kinase 1 is related with malignant characteristics and inhibits macrophages infiltration in glioma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1058036. [PMID: 36618405 PMCID: PMC9811677 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1058036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and progression. Recently, therapies based on modulating TIM have made great breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a crucial regulatory factor of the cell cycle process and its dysregulations often cause various pathological processes including tumorigenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms surrounding the regulation of PLK1 on glioma immune microenvironment remain undefined. METHODS Public databases and online datasets were used to extract data of PLK1 expression, clinical features, genetic alterations, and biological functions. The EdU, flow cytometry, and macrophage infiltration assays as well as xenograft animal experiments were performed to determine the relationship between PLK1 and glioma immune microenvironment in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS PLK1 is always highly expressed in multiple cancers especially in glioma. Univariable and Multivariate proportional hazard Cox analysis showed that PLK1 was a prognostic biomarker for glioma. Simultaneously, highly expressed PLK1 is significantly related to prognosis, histological and genetic features in glioma by analyzing public databases. In addition, the enrichment analysis suggested that PLK1 might related to "immune response", "cell cycle", "DNA replication", and "mismatch repair" in glioma. Immune infiltration analysis demonstrated that highly expressed PLK1 inhibited M1 macrophages infiltration to glioblastoma immune microenvironment by Quantiseq and Xcell databases and negatively related to some chemokines and marker genes of M1 macrophages in glioblastoma. Subsequent experiments confirmed that PLK1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of glioma cells but increased the M1 macrophages infiltration and polarization. Furthermore, in glioma xenograft mouse models, we showed that inhibiting PLK1 blocked tumor proliferation and increased the M1 macrophages infiltration. Finally, PLK1 methylation analysis and lncRNA-miRNA network revealed the potential mechanism of abnormal PLK1 expression in glioma. CONCLUSIONS PLK1 inhibits M1 macrophages infiltration into glioma immune microenvironment and is a potential biomarker for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Zhang
- Tianjin Neurological Institute, Key Laboratory of Post-Neuro injury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying-Wei Zhen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Gao-Chao Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Da-Zhao Peng
- Tianjin Neurological Institute, Key Laboratory of Post-Neuro injury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Cheng Wei
- Tianjin Neurological Institute, Key Laboratory of Post-Neuro injury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Dong-Ling Pei
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yu-Chen Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xian-Zhi Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lei Han
- Tianjin Neurological Institute, Key Laboratory of Post-Neuro injury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Li D, Peng J, Ran J. LINC01094 Affects Glioma Cell Proliferation Through miR-204-3p. J BIOMATER TISS ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1166/jbt.2022.3198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study intends to assess LINC01094′s role in glioma cells. LINC01094 level in glioma tissue was detected by RT qPCR. After transfection of LINC01094 overexpression plasmid, LINC01094 siRNA, and si-LINC01094 and miR-204-3p inhibitor, cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT
and cell invasion and migration was assessed by transwell and scratch test. LINC01094 expression in glioma tissues was significantly increased. Overexpression of LINC01094 can significantly promote cell proliferation, which was significantly inhibited after knockdown of LINC01094. In addition,
silence of LINC01094 can upregulate miR-204-3p and inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis induced by overexpression of LINC01094. In conclusion, LINC01094 promotes glioma cell proliferation through miR-204-3p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daokun Li
- The Molecular Medicine Center, Department of Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441053, Hubei, China
| | - Juan Peng
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Affiliated Taihe Department of Hospital of Hubei University of Blood Medicine, Shiyan, 430050, Hubei, China
| | - Jian Ran
- Department of Neurosurgery, People’s Hospital of Wulong District, Chongqing, 408500, China
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Huang W, Hao Z, Mao F, Guo D. Small Molecule Inhibitors in Adult High-Grade Glioma: From the Past to the Future. Front Oncol 2022; 12:911876. [PMID: 35785151 PMCID: PMC9247310 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.911876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant tumor in the brain and has a dismal prognosis despite patients accepting standard therapies. Alternation of genes and deregulation of proteins, such as receptor tyrosine kinase, PI3K/Akt, PKC, Ras/Raf/MEK, histone deacetylases, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), CDK4/6, branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1), and Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis and progression of glioma. Simultaneously, the abnormalities change the cellular biological behavior and microenvironment of tumor cells. The differences between tumor cells and normal tissue become the vulnerability of tumor, which can be taken advantage of using targeted therapies. Small molecule inhibitors, as an important part of modern treatment for cancers, have shown significant efficacy in hematologic cancers and some solid tumors. To date, in glioblastoma, there have been more than 200 clinical trials completed or ongoing in which trial designers used small molecules as monotherapy or combination regimens to correct the abnormalities. In this review, we summarize the dysfunctional molecular mechanisms and highlight the outcomes of relevant clinical trials associated with small-molecule targeted therapies. Based on the outcomes, the main findings were that small-molecule inhibitors did not bring more benefit to newly diagnosed glioblastoma, but the clinical studies involving progressive glioblastoma usually claimed “noninferiority” compared with historical results. However, as to the clinical inferiority trial, similar dosing regimens should be avoided in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenda Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhaonian Hao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Dongsheng Guo, ; Feng Mao,
| | - Dongsheng Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Dongsheng Guo, ; Feng Mao,
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Su S, Chhabra G, Singh CK, Ndiaye MA, Ahmad N. PLK1 inhibition-based combination therapies for cancer management. Transl Oncol 2022; 16:101332. [PMID: 34973570 PMCID: PMC8728518 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase I (PLK1), a cell cycle regulating kinase, has been shown to have oncogenic function in several cancers. Although PLK1 inhibitors, such as BI2536, BI6727 (volasertib) and NMS-1286937 (onvansertib) are generally well-tolerated with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, clinical successes are limited due to partial responses in cancer patients, especially those in advanced stages. Recently, combination therapies targeting multiple pathways are being tested for cancer management. In this review, we first discuss structure and function of PLK1, role of PLK1 in cancers, PLK1 specific inhibitors, and advantages of using combination therapy versus monotherapy followed by a critical account on PLK1-based combination therapies in cancer treatments, especially highlighting recent advancements and challenges. PLK1 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy drugs and targeted small molecules have shown superior effects against cancer both in vitro and in vivo. PLK1-based combination therapies have shown increased apoptosis, disrupted cell cycle, and potential to overcome resistance in cancer cells/tissues over monotherapies. Further, with successes in preclinical experiments, researchers are validating such approaches in clinical trials. Although PLK1-based combination therapies have achieved initial success in clinical studies, there are examples where they have failed to improve patient survival. Therefore, further research is needed to identify and validate novel biologically informed co-targets for PLK1-based combinatorial therapies. Employing a network-based analysis, we identified potential PLK1 co-targets that could be examined further. In addition, understanding the mechanisms of synergism between PLK1 inhibitors and other agents may lead to a better approach on which agents to pair with PLK1 inhibition for optimum cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengqin Su
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 7045, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Gagan Chhabra
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 7045, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Chandra K Singh
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 7045, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Mary A Ndiaye
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 7045, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Nihal Ahmad
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 7045, Madison, WI 53705, USA; William S. Middleton VA Medical Center, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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