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Myers SH, Poppi L, Rinaldi F, Veronesi M, Ciamarone A, Previtali V, Bagnolini G, Schipani F, Ortega Martínez JA, Girotto S, Di Stefano G, Farabegoli F, Walsh N, De Franco F, Roberti M, Cavalli A. An 19F NMR fragment-based approach for the discovery and development of BRCA2-RAD51 inhibitors to pursuit synthetic lethality in combination with PARP inhibition in pancreatic cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116114. [PMID: 38194775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116114] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The BRCA2-RAD51 interaction remains an intriguing target for cancer drug discovery due to its vital role in DNA damage repair mechanisms, which cancer cells become particularly reliant on. Moreover, RAD51 has many synthetically lethal partners, including PARP1-2, which can be exploited to induce synthetic lethality in cancer. In this study, we established a 19F-NMR-fragment based approach to identify RAD51 binders, leading to two initial hits. A subsequent SAR program identified 46 as a low micromolar inhibitor of the BRCA2-RAD51 interaction. 46 was tested in different pancreatic cancer cell lines, to evaluate its ability to inhibit the homologous recombination DNA repair pathway, mediated by BRCA2-RAD51 and trigger synthetic lethality in combination with the PARP inhibitor talazoparib, through the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, we further analyzed the 46/talazoparib combination in 3D pancreatic cancer models. Overall, 46 showed its potential as a tool to evaluate the RAD51/PARP1-2 synthetic lethality mechanism, along with providing a prospect for further inhibitors development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Myers
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Poppi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Rinaldi
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marina Veronesi
- Structural Biophysics Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; D3 PharmaChemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciamarone
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Viola Previtali
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Greta Bagnolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Schipani
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Stefania Girotto
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; Structural Biophysics Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Di Stefano
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fulvia Farabegoli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Naomi Walsh
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, D09 NR58, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
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2
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Rinaldi F, Schipani F, Balboni B, Catalano F, Marotta R, Myers SH, Previtali V, Veronesi M, Scietti L, Cecatiello V, Pasqualato S, Ortega JA, Girotto S, Cavalli A. Isolation and Characterization of Monomeric Human RAD51: A Novel Tool for Investigating Homologous Recombination in Cancer. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202312517. [PMID: 37924230 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202312517] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
DNA repair protein RAD51 is a key player in the homologous recombination pathway. Upon DNA damage, RAD51 is transported into the nucleus by BRCA2, where it can repair DNA double-strand breaks. Due to the structural complexity and dynamics, researchers have not yet clarified the mechanistic details of every step of RAD51 recruitment and DNA repair. RAD51 possesses an intrinsic tendency to form oligomeric structures, which make it challenging to conduct biochemical and biophysical investigations. Here, for the first time, we report on the isolation and characterization of a human monomeric RAD51 recombinant form, obtained through a double mutation, which preserves the protein's integrity and functionality. We investigated different buffers to identify the most suitable condition needed to definitively stabilize the monomer. The monomer of human RAD51 provides the community with a unique biological tool for investigating RAD51-mediated homologous recombination, and paves the way for more reliable structural, mechanistic, and drug discovery studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Rinaldi
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Schipani
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Balboni
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Catalano
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberto Marotta
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Samuel H Myers
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Viola Previtali
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marina Veronesi
- Structural Biophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luigi Scietti
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Cecatiello
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Current address: Structural Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole Milan, Italy Palazzo Italia Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Pasqualato
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Current address: Structural Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole Milan, Italy Palazzo Italia Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Jose Antonio Ortega
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- Structural Biophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
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Calheiros J, Raimundo L, Morais J, Matos AC, Minuzzo SA, Indraccolo S, Sousa E, da Silva MC, Saraiva L. Antitumor Activity of the Xanthonoside XGAc in Triple-Negative Breast, Ovarian and Pancreatic Cancer by Inhibiting DNA Repair. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5718. [PMID: 38136266 PMCID: PMC10741784 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the DNA damage response may contribute to the sensitization of cancer cells to DNA-targeting agents by impelling cell death. In fact, the inhibition of the DNA repair pathway is considered a promising anticancer therapeutic strategy, particularly in combination with standard-of-care agents. The xanthonoside XGAc was previously described as a potent inhibitor of cancer cell growth. Herein, we explored its antitumor activity against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), ovarian cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells as a single agent and in combination with the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) olaparib. We demonstrated that XGAc inhibited the growth of TNBC, ovarian and PDAC cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. XGAc also induced genotoxicity, inhibiting the expression of DNA repair proteins particularly involved in homologous recombination, including BRCA1, BRCA2 and RAD51. Moreover, it displayed potent synergistic effects with olaparib in TNBC, ovarian cancer and PDAC cells. Importantly, this growth inhibitory activity of XGAc was further reinforced in a TNBC spheroid model and in patient-derived ovarian cancer cells. Also, drug-resistant cancer cells showed no cross-resistance to XGAc. Additionally, the ability of XGAc to prevent cancer cell migration was evidenced in TNBC, ovarian cancer and PDAC cells. Altogether, these results highlight the great potential of acetylated xanthonosides such as XGAc as promising anticancer agents against hard-to-treat cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Calheiros
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.C.); (L.R.); (J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Liliana Raimundo
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.C.); (L.R.); (J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - João Morais
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.C.); (L.R.); (J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Ana Catarina Matos
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.C.); (L.R.); (J.M.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Sonia Anna Minuzzo
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.A.M.); (S.I.)
| | - Stefano Indraccolo
- Department of Surgery Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (S.A.M.); (S.I.)
- Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV—IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (E.S.); (M.C.d.S.)
- CIIMAR—Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixôes, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Marta Correia da Silva
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (E.S.); (M.C.d.S.)
- CIIMAR—Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixôes, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Lucília Saraiva
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.C.); (L.R.); (J.M.); (A.C.M.)
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Wang J, Wen Y, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Jiang Y, Dai C, Wu L, Leng D, He S, Bo X. An interpretable artificial intelligence framework for designing synthetic lethality-based anti-cancer combination therapies. J Adv Res 2023:S2090-1232(23)00374-0. [PMID: 38043609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.035] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Synthetic lethality (SL) provides an opportunity to leverage different genetic interactions when designing synergistic combination therapies. To further explore SL-based combination therapies for cancer treatment, it is important to identify and mechanistically characterize more SL interactions. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have recently been proposed for SL prediction, but the results of these models are often not interpretable such that deriving the underlying mechanism can be challenging. OBJECTIVES This study aims to develop an interpretable AI framework for SL prediction and subsequently utilize it to design SL-based synergistic combination therapies. METHODS We propose a knowledge and data dual-driven AI framework for SL prediction (KDDSL). Specifically, we use gene knowledge related to the SL mechanism to guide the construction of the model and develop a method to identify the most relevant gene knowledge for the predicted results. RESULTS Experimental and literature-based validation confirmed a good balance between predictive and interpretable ability when using KDDSL. Moreover, we demonstrated that KDDSL could help to discover promising drug combinations and clarify associated biological processes, such as the combination of MDM2 and CDK9 inhibitors, which exhibited significant anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION These data underscore the potential of KDDSL to guide SL-based combination therapy design. There is a need for biomedicine-focused AI strategies to combine rational biological knowledge with developed models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yuqi Wen
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Zhongming Wang
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yuyang Jiang
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Chong Dai
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Lianlian Wu
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Dongjin Leng
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Song He
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Xiaochen Bo
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, 100850, China.
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Previtali V, Myers SH, Poppi L, Wynne K, Casamassima I, Girotto S, Di Stefano G, Farabegoli F, Roberti M, Oliviero G, Cavalli A. Preomic profile of BxPC-3 cells after treatment with BRC4. J Proteomics 2023; 288:104983. [PMID: 37536521 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2023.104983] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
BRCA2 and RAD51 are two proteins that play a central role in homologous recombination (HR) and DNA double strand break (DSB) repair. BRCA2 assists RAD51 fibrillation and defibrillation through binding with its eight BRC repeats, with BRC4 being one of the most efficient and best characterized. RAD51 inactivation by small molecules has been proposed as a strategy to impair BRCA2/RAD51 binding and, ultimately, the HR pathway, with the aim of making cancer cells more sensitive to PARP inhibitors (PARPi). This strategy, which mimics a synthetic lethality (SL) approach, has been successfully performed in vitro by using the myristoylated derivative of BRC4 (myr-BRC4), designed for a more efficient cell entry. The present study applies a method to obtain a proteomic fingerprint after cellular treatment with the myr-BRC4 peptide using a mass spectroscopy (MS) proteomic approach. (Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042696.) We performed a comparative proteomic profiling of the myr-BRC4 treated vs. untreated BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells and evaluated the differential expression of proteins. Among the identified proteins, we focused our attention on proteins shared by both the RAD51 and the BRCA2 interactomes, and on those whose reduction showed high statistical significance. Three downregulated proteins were identified (FANCI, FANCD2, and RPA3), and protein downregulation was confirmed through immunoblotting analysis, validating the MS approach. Our results suggest that, being a direct consequence of myr-BRC4 treatment, the detection of FANCD2, FANCI, and RPA3 downregulation could be used as an indicator for monitoring HR impairment. SIGNIFICANCE: RAD51's inhibition has gained increasing attention because of its possible implications in personalized medicine through the SL approach. Chemical disruption of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between RAD51 and BRCA2, or some of its partner proteins, could potentiate PARPi DNA damage-induced cell death. This could have application for difficult to treat cancers, such as BRCA-competent and olaparib (PARPi) resistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Despite RAD51 being a widely studied target, researchers still lack detailed mechanistic information. This has stifled progress in the field with only a few RAD51 inhibitors having been identified, none of which have gained regulatory approval. Nevertheless, the peptide BRC4 is one of the most specific and best characterized RAD51 binder and inhibitor reported to date. Our study is the first to report the proteomic fingerprint consequent to cellular treatment of myr-BRC4, to offer a reference for the discovery of specific protein/pathway alterations within DNA damage repair. Our results suggest that, being a direct consequence of myr-BRC4 treatment, and ultimately ofBRCA2/RAD51 disruption, the detection of FANCD2, FANCI, and RPA3 downregulation could be used as an indicator for monitoring DNA damage repair impairment and therefore be used to potentiate the development of new effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Previtali
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Samuel H Myers
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Poppi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Kieran Wynne
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland; Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Irene Casamassima
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy; Structural Biophysics and Translational Pharmacology Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Di Stefano
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fulvia Farabegoli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgio Oliviero
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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Calheiros J, Corbo V, Saraiva L. Overcoming therapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer: Emerging opportunities by targeting BRCAs and p53. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188914. [PMID: 37201730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by (epi)genetic and microenvironmental alterations that negatively impact the treatment outcomes. New targeted therapies have been pursued to counteract the therapeutic resistance in PC. Aiming to seek for new therapeutic options for PC, several attempts have been undertaken to exploit BRCA1/2 and TP53 deficiencies as promising actionable targets. The elucidation of the pathogenesis of PC highlighted the high prevalence of p53 mutations and their connection with the aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance of PC. Additionally, PC is associated with dysfunctions in several DNA repair-related genes, including BRCA1/2, which sensitize tumours to DNA-damaging agents. In this context, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) were approved for mutant BRCA1/2 PC patients. However, acquired drug resistance has become a major drawback of PARPi. This review emphasizes the importance of targeting defective BRCAs and p53 pathways for advancing personalized PC therapy, with particular focus on how this approach may provide an opportunity to tackle PC resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Calheiros
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratόrio de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biolόgicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vincenzo Corbo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy; ARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lucília Saraiva
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratόrio de Microbiologia, Departamento de Ciências Biolόgicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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Yusoh NA, Tiley PR, James SD, Harun SN, Thomas JA, Saad N, Hii LW, Chia SL, Gill MR, Ahmad H. Discovery of Ruthenium(II) Metallocompound and Olaparib Synergy for Cancer Combination Therapy. J Med Chem 2023; 66:6922-6937. [PMID: 37185020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Synergistic drug combinations can extend the use of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) such as Olaparib to BRCA-proficient tumors and overcome acquired or de novo drug resistance. To identify new synergistic combinations for PARPi, we screened a "micro-library" comprising a mix of commercially available drugs and DNA-binding ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes (RPCs) for Olaparib synergy in BRCA-proficient triple-negative breast cancer cells. This identified three hits: the natural product Curcumin and two ruthenium(II)-rhenium(I) polypyridyl metallomacrocycles. All combinations identified were effective in BRCA-proficient breast cancer cells, including an Olaparib-resistant cell line, and spheroid models. Mechanistic studies indicated that synergy was achieved via DNA-damage enhancement and resultant apoptosis. Combinations showed low cytotoxicity toward non-malignant breast epithelial cells and low acute and developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos. This work identifies RPC metallomacrocycles as a novel class of agents for cancer combination therapy and provides a proof of concept for the inclusion of metallocompounds within drug synergy screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Aininie Yusoh
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Paul R Tiley
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K
| | - Steffan D James
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K
| | - Siti Norain Harun
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jim A Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Norazalina Saad
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ling-Wei Hii
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Suet Lin Chia
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Martin R Gill
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K
| | - Haslina Ahmad
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Wei J, Li Y, Li R, Chen X, Yang T, Liao L, Xie Y, Zhu J, Mao F, Jia R, Xu X, Li J. Drug repurposing of propafenone to discover novel anti-tumor agents by impairing homologous recombination to delay DNA damage recovery of rare disease conjunctival melanoma. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115238. [PMID: 36868105 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115238] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Conjunctival melanoma (CM), a rare and fatal malignant ocular tumor, lacks proper diagnostic biomarkers and therapy. Herein, we revealed the novel application of propafenone, an FDA-approved antiarrhythmic medication, which was identified effective in inhibiting CM cells viability and homologous recombination pathway. Detailed structure-activity relationships generated D34 as one of the most promising derivatives, which strongly suppressed the proliferation, viability, and migration of CM cells at submicromolar concentrations. Mechanically, D34 had the potential to increase γ-H2AX nuclear foci and aggravated DNA damage by suppressing homologous recombination pathway and its factors, particularly the complex of MRE11-RAD50-NBS1. D34 bound to human recombinant MRE11 protein and inhibited its endonuclease activity. Moreover, D34 dihydrochloride significantly suppressed tumor growth in the CRMM1 NCG xenograft model without obvious toxicity. Our finding shows that propafenone derivatives modulating the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 complex will most likely provide an approach for CM targeted therapy, especially for improving chemo- and radio-sensitivity for CM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlian Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yongyun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ruoxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Tiannuo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Liang Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yuqing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Jin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Fei Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Xiaofang Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-pathogenic Plant Resources from West Yunnan, College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, China; Clinical Medicine Scientific and Technical Innovation Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China.
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9
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Synthesis and Anticancer Evaluation of New Indole-Based Tyrphostin Derivatives and Their ( p-Cymene)dichloridoruthenium(II) Complexes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010854. [PMID: 36614289 PMCID: PMC9821196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
New N-alkylindole-substituted 2-(pyrid-3-yl)-acrylonitriles with putative kinase inhibitory activity and their (p-cymene)Ru(II) piano-stool complexes were prepared and tested for their antiproliferative efficacy in various cancer models. Some of the indole-based derivatives inhibited tumor cell proliferation at (sub-)micromolar concentrations with IC50 values below those of the clinically relevant multikinase inhibitors gefitinib and sorafenib, which served as positive controls. A focus was set on the investigation of drug mechanisms in HCT-116 p53-knockout colon cancer cells in order to evaluate the dependence of the test compounds on p53. Colony formation assays as well as experiments with tumor spheroids confirmed the excellent antineoplastic efficacy of the new derivatives. Their mode of action included an induction of apoptotic caspase-3/7 activity and ROS formation, as well as anti-angiogenic properties. Docking calculations with EGFR and VEGFR-2 identified the two 3-aryl-2-(pyrid-3-yl)acrylonitrile derivatives 2a and 2b as potential kinase inhibitors with a preferential activity against the VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase. Forthcoming studies will further unveil the underlying mode of action of the promising new derivatives as well as their suitability as an urgently needed novel approach in cancer treatment.
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10
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Tsang ES, Munster PN. Targeting RAD51-Mediated Homologous Recombination as a Treatment for Advanced Solid and Hematologic Malignancies: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead. Onco Targets Ther 2022; 15:1509-1518. [PMID: 36536949 PMCID: PMC9758980 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s322297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
RAD51 is integral in homologous recombination DNA damage repair and has garnered much interest as both a biomarker and potential therapeutic target in oncology. Multiple in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated its role as a predictive marker, particularly in the context of platinum-based therapies and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. In this review, we highlight the development of RAD51 inhibitors, with a focus on novel molecules and ongoing clinical trials. Despite many efforts to develop effective and tolerable direct RAD51 inhibitors, identification of these agents remains challenging. Clinically, however, there may be a role of pharmacological indirect RAD51 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica S Tsang
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Pamela N Munster
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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11
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The Mechanistic Understanding of RAD51 Defibrillation: A Critical Step in BRCA2-Mediated DNA Repair by Homologous Recombination. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158338. [PMID: 35955488 PMCID: PMC9368738 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytotoxic action of anticancer drugs can be potentiated by inhibiting DNA repair mechanisms. RAD51 is a crucial protein for genomic stability due to its critical role in the homologous recombination (HR) pathway. BRCA2 assists RAD51 fibrillation and defibrillation in the cytoplasm and nucleus and assists its nuclear transport. BRC4 is a peptide derived from the fourth BRC repeat of BRCA2, and it lacks the nuclear localization sequence. Here, we used BRC4 to (i) reverse RAD51 fibrillation; (ii) avoid the nuclear transport of RAD51; and (iii) inhibit HR and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic treatments. Specifically, using static and dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and microscale thermophoresis, we show that BRC4 eroded RAD51 fibrils from their termini through a “domino” mechanism and yielded monomeric RAD51 with a cumulative nanomolar affinity. Using cellular assays (BxPC-3, pancreatic cancer), we show that a myristoylated BRC4 (designed for a more efficient cell entry) abolished the formation of nuclear RAD51 foci. The present study provides a molecular description of RAD51 defibrillation, an essential step in BRCA2-mediated homologous recombination and DNA repair.
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12
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Bagnolini G, Balboni B, Schipani F, Gioia D, Veronesi M, De Franco F, Kaya C, Jumde RP, Ortega JA, Girotto S, Hirsch AKH, Roberti M, Cavalli A. Identification of RAD51–BRCA2 Inhibitors Using N-Acylhydrazone-Based Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1262-1269. [PMID: 35978685 PMCID: PMC9377020 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
RAD51 is an ATP-dependent recombinase, recruited by BRCA2
to mediate
DNA double-strand breaks repair through homologous recombination and
represents an attractive cancer drug target. Herein, we applied for
the first-time protein-templated dynamic combinatorial chemistry on
RAD51 as a hit identification strategy. Upon design of N-acylhydrazone-based dynamic combinatorial libraries, RAD51 showed
a clear templating effect, amplifying 19 N-acylhydrazones.
Screening against the RAD51–BRCA2 protein–protein interaction
via ELISA assay afforded 10 inhibitors in the micromolar range. Further 19F NMR experiments revealed that 7 could bind
RAD51 and be displaced by BRC4, suggesting an interaction in the same
binding pocket of BRCA2. These results proved not only that ptDCC
could be successfully applied on full-length oligomeric RAD51, but
also that it could address the need of alternative strategies toward
the identification of small-molecule PPI inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Bagnolini
- Computational & Chemical Biology (CCB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Beatrice Balboni
- Computational & Chemical Biology (CCB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Schipani
- Computational & Chemical Biology (CCB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Dario Gioia
- Computational & Chemical Biology (CCB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marina Veronesi
- Structural Biophysics and Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Cansu Kaya
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ravindra P. Jumde
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Jose Antonio Ortega
- Computational & Chemical Biology (CCB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- Computational & Chemical Biology (CCB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Anna K. H. Hirsch
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational & Chemical Biology (CCB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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13
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Zhang J, Yang C, Tang P, Chen J, Zhang D, Li Y, Yang G, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Liu J, Ouyang L. Discovery of 4-Hydroxyquinazoline Derivatives as Small Molecular BET/PARP1 Inhibitors That Induce Defective Homologous Recombination and Lead to Synthetic Lethality for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy. J Med Chem 2022; 65:6803-6825. [PMID: 35442700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The effective potency and resistance of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors limit their application. Here, we exploit a new paradigm that mimics the effects of breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA) mutations to trigger the possibility of synthetic lethality, based on the previous discovery of a potential synthetic lethality effect between bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) and PARP1. Consequently, the present study describes compound BP44 with high selectivity for BRD4 and PARP1. Fortunately, BP44 inhibits the homologous recombination in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and triggers synthetic lethality, thus leading to cell cycle arrest and DNA damage. In conclusion, we optimized the BRD4-PARP1 inhibitor based on previous studies, and we expect it to become a candidate drug for the treatment of TNBC in the future. This strategy aims to expand the use of PARPi in BRCA-competent TNBC, making an innovative approach to address unmet oncology needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifa Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Chengcan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Pan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Juncheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Gaoxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Yun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan,China
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14
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Kelm JM, Samarbakhsh A, Pillai A, VanderVere-Carozza PS, Aruri H, Pandey DS, Pawelczak KS, Turchi JJ, Gavande NS. Recent Advances in the Development of Non-PIKKs Targeting Small Molecule Inhibitors of DNA Double-Strand Break Repair. Front Oncol 2022; 12:850883. [PMID: 35463312 PMCID: PMC9020266 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.850883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of cancer patients receive DNA-damaging drugs or ionizing radiation (IR) during their course of treatment, yet the efficacy of these therapies is tempered by DNA repair and DNA damage response (DDR) pathways. Aberrations in DNA repair and the DDR are observed in many cancer subtypes and can promote de novo carcinogenesis, genomic instability, and ensuing resistance to current cancer therapy. Additionally, stalled or collapsed DNA replication forks present a unique challenge to the double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair system. Of the various inducible DNA lesions, DSBs are the most lethal and thus desirable in the setting of cancer treatment. In mammalian cells, DSBs are typically repaired by the error prone non-homologous end joining pathway (NHEJ) or the high-fidelity homology directed repair (HDR) pathway. Targeting DSB repair pathways using small molecular inhibitors offers a promising mechanism to synergize DNA-damaging drugs and IR while selective inhibition of the NHEJ pathway can induce synthetic lethality in HDR-deficient cancer subtypes. Selective inhibitors of the NHEJ pathway and alternative DSB-repair pathways may also see future use in precision genome editing to direct repair of resulting DSBs created by the HDR pathway. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in the development of inhibitors of the non-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (non-PIKKs) members of the NHEJ, HDR and minor backup SSA and alt-NHEJ DSB-repair pathways. The inhibitors described within this review target the non-PIKKs mediators of DSB repair including Ku70/80, Artemis, DNA Ligase IV, XRCC4, MRN complex, RPA, RAD51, RAD52, ERCC1-XPF, helicases, and DNA polymerase θ. While the DDR PIKKs remain intensely pursued as therapeutic targets, small molecule inhibition of non-PIKKs represents an emerging opportunity in drug discovery that offers considerable potential to impact cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M. Kelm
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Amirreza Samarbakhsh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Athira Pillai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Hariprasad Aruri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Deepti S. Pandey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - John J. Turchi
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States,NERx Biosciences, Indianapolis, IN, United States,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Navnath S. Gavande
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States,*Correspondence: Navnath S. Gavande, ; orcid.org/0000-0002-2413-0235
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15
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Kohaar I, Zhang X, Tan SH, Nousome D, Babcock K, Ravindranath L, Sukumar G, Mcgrath-Martinez E, Rosenberger J, Alba C, Ali A, Young D, Chen Y, Cullen J, Rosner IL, Sesterhenn IA, Dobi A, Chesnut G, Turner C, Dalgard C, Wilkerson MD, Pollard HB, Srivastava S, Petrovics G. Germline mutation landscape of DNA damage repair genes in African Americans with prostate cancer highlights potentially targetable RAD genes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1361. [PMID: 35292633 PMCID: PMC8924169 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28945-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In prostate cancer, emerging data highlight the role of DNA damage repair genes (DDRGs) in aggressive forms of the disease. However, DDRG mutations in African American men are not yet fully defined. Here, we profile germline mutations in all known DDRGs (N = 276) using whole genome sequences from blood DNA of a matched cohort of patients with primary prostate cancer comprising of 300 African American and 300 European Ancestry prostate cancer patients, to determine whether the mutation status can enhance patient stratification for specific targeted therapies. Here, we show that only 13 of the 46 DDRGs identified with pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations are present in both African American and European ancestry patients. Importantly, RAD family genes (RAD51, RAD54L, RAD54B), which are potentially targetable, as well as PMS2 and BRCA1, are among the most frequently mutated DDRGs in African American, but not in European Ancestry patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Kohaar
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA. .,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.
| | - Xijun Zhang
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Shyh-Han Tan
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Darryl Nousome
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Kevin Babcock
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Lakshmi Ravindranath
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Gauthaman Sukumar
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Elisa Mcgrath-Martinez
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - John Rosenberger
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Camille Alba
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Amina Ali
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Urology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Denise Young
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Yongmei Chen
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Jennifer Cullen
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Inger L Rosner
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | | | - Albert Dobi
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Gregory Chesnut
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Urology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Clesson Turner
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Clifton Dalgard
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Matthew D Wilkerson
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Harvey B Pollard
- The American Genome Center, Precision Medicine Initiative for Military Medical Education and Research (PRIMER), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Shiv Srivastava
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cell biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Gyorgy Petrovics
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, John P. Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA. .,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.
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16
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Jain A, Bhardwaj V. Therapeutic resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Current challenges and future opportunities. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:6527-6550. [PMID: 34754151 PMCID: PMC8554400 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i39.6527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Although chemotherapeutic regimens such as gemcitabine+ nab-paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX (FOLinic acid, 5-Fluroruracil, IRINotecan, and Oxaliplatin) significantly improve patient survival, the prevalence of therapy resistance remains a major roadblock in the success of these agents. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms that play a crucial role in PDAC therapy resistance and how a better understanding of these mechanisms has shaped clinical trials for pancreatic cancer chemotherapy. Specifically, we have discussed the metabolic alterations and DNA repair mechanisms observed in PDAC and current approaches in targeting these mechanisms. Our discussion also includes the lessons learned following the failure of immunotherapy in PDAC and current approaches underway to improve tumor's immunological response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Jain
- The Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - Vikas Bhardwaj
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
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17
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van de Kamp G, Heemskerk T, Kanaar R, Essers J. DNA Double Strand Break Repair Pathways in Response to Different Types of Ionizing Radiation. Front Genet 2021; 12:738230. [PMID: 34659358 PMCID: PMC8514742 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.738230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The superior dose distribution of particle radiation compared to photon radiation makes it a promising therapy for the treatment of tumors. However, the cellular responses to particle therapy and especially the DNA damage response (DDR) is not well characterized. Compared to photons, particles are thought to induce more closely spaced DNA lesions instead of isolated lesions. How this different spatial configuration of the DNA damage directs DNA repair pathway usage, is subject of current investigations. In this review, we describe recent insights into induction of DNA damage by particle radiation and how this shapes DNA end processing and subsequent DNA repair mechanisms. Additionally, we give an overview of promising DDR targets to improve particle therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerarda van de Kamp
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tim Heemskerk
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roland Kanaar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Essers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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18
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McPherson KS, Korzhnev DM. Targeting protein-protein interactions in the DNA damage response pathways for cancer chemotherapy. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:1167-1195. [PMID: 34458830 PMCID: PMC8342002 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00101a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular DNA damage response (DDR) is an extensive signaling network that orchestrates DNA damage recognition, repair and avoidance, cell cycle progression and cell death. DDR alteration is a hallmark of cancer, with the deficiency in one DDR capability often compensated by a dependency on alternative pathways endowing cancer cells with survival and growth advantage. Targeting these DDR pathways has provided multiple opportunities for the development of cancer therapies. Traditional drug discovery has mainly focused on catalytic inhibitors that block enzyme active sites, which limits the number of potential drug targets within the DDR pathways. This review article describes the emerging approach to the development of cancer therapeutics targeting essential protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in the DDR network. The overall strategy for the structure-based design of small molecule PPI inhibitors is discussed, followed by an overview of the major DNA damage sensing, DNA repair, and DNA damage tolerance pathways with a specific focus on PPI targets for anti-cancer drug design. The existing small molecule inhibitors of DDR PPIs are summarized that selectively kill cancer cells and/or sensitize cancers to front-line genotoxic therapies, and a range of new PPI targets are proposed that may lead to the development of novel chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Silva McPherson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health Center Farmington CT 06030 USA +1 860 679 3408 +1 860 679 2849
| | - Dmitry M Korzhnev
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health Center Farmington CT 06030 USA +1 860 679 3408 +1 860 679 2849
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19
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Palladium catalysed hydrolysis-free arylation of aliphatic nitriles for the synthesis of 4-arylquinolin-2-one/pyrazolone derivatives. Tetrahedron Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2021.153296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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20
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Alkassis S, Yazdanpanah O, Philip PA. BRCA mutations in pancreatic cancer and progress in their targeting. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:547-557. [PMID: 34289788 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1957462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Genomic instability resulting from DNA damage repair (DDR) deficiencies is a hallmark of cancer and offers treatment opportunities. Homologous recombination DDR defect is a result of multiple critical gene mutations, including BRCA1/2. Targeting DNA DDR defects in pancreatic cancer (PC) is emerging as a potential treatment strategy with current focus on BRCA mutations.Areas covered: Challenges in treating patients with PC are explained. We review DDR defects as a treatment target in PC, specifically, germline BRCA mutation and sensitivity to platinum compounds and exploiting the strategy of synthetic lethality using poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition. Literature review was undertaken through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov website.Expert opinion: DDR defects are promising targets for novel therapies in PC. Early application of such strategy is in patient subgroup with BRCA germline mutation, which is seen in only 5-7% of the PC population. The oral PARP inhibitor olaparib in the maintenance setting represents the first targeted therapy in metastatic PC based on a phase 3 study. There is a very modest benefit for patients with PC using PARP inhibitors. Future work must improve our understanding of mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to PARP inhibitors in PC and enhance the molecular selection of patients for such therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer Alkassis
- Internal Medicine Department, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Omid Yazdanpanah
- Internal Medicine Department, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Philip Agop Philip
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA
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21
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Shkundina IS, Gall AA, Dick A, Cocklin S, Mazin AV. New RAD51 Inhibitors to Target Homologous Recombination in Human Cells. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12060920. [PMID: 34208492 PMCID: PMC8235719 DOI: 10.3390/genes12060920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting DNA repair proteins with small-molecule inhibitors became a proven anti-cancer strategy. Previously, we identified an inhibitor of a major protein of homologous recombination (HR) RAD51, named B02. B02 inhibited HR in human cells and sensitized them to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro and in vivo. Here, using a medicinal chemistry approach, we aimed to improve the potency of B02. We identified the B02 analog, B02-isomer, which inhibits HR in human cells with significantly higher efficiency. We also show that B02-iso sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells to the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) olaparib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S. Shkundina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA; (I.S.S.); (A.D.); (S.C.)
| | | | - Alexej Dick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA; (I.S.S.); (A.D.); (S.C.)
| | - Simon Cocklin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA; (I.S.S.); (A.D.); (S.C.)
| | - Alexander V. Mazin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA; (I.S.S.); (A.D.); (S.C.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Correspondence:
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22
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Scott DE, Francis-Newton NJ, Marsh ME, Coyne AG, Fischer G, Moschetti T, Bayly AR, Sharpe TD, Haas KT, Barber L, Valenzano CR, Srinivasan R, Huggins DJ, Lee M, Emery A, Hardwick B, Ehebauer M, Dagostin C, Esposito A, Pellegrini L, Perrior T, McKenzie G, Blundell TL, Hyvönen M, Skidmore J, Venkitaraman AR, Abell C. A small-molecule inhibitor of the BRCA2-RAD51 interaction modulates RAD51 assembly and potentiates DNA damage-induced cell death. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:835-847.e5. [PMID: 33662256 PMCID: PMC8219027 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BRCA2 controls RAD51 recombinase during homologous DNA recombination (HDR) through eight evolutionarily conserved BRC repeats, which individually engage RAD51 via the motif Phe-x-x-Ala. Using structure-guided molecular design, templated on a monomeric thermostable chimera between human RAD51 and archaeal RadA, we identify CAM833, a 529 Da orthosteric inhibitor of RAD51:BRC with a Kd of 366 nM. The quinoline of CAM833 occupies a hotspot, the Phe-binding pocket on RAD51 and the methyl of the substituted α-methylbenzyl group occupies the Ala-binding pocket. In cells, CAM833 diminishes formation of damage-induced RAD51 nuclear foci; inhibits RAD51 molecular clustering, suppressing extended RAD51 filament assembly; potentiates cytotoxicity by ionizing radiation, augmenting 4N cell-cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death and works with poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP)1 inhibitors to suppress growth in BRCA2-wildtype cells. Thus, chemical inhibition of the protein-protein interaction between BRCA2 and RAD51 disrupts HDR and potentiates DNA damage-induced cell death, with implications for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan E Scott
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Nicola J Francis-Newton
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - May E Marsh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Anthony G Coyne
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Gerhard Fischer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Tommaso Moschetti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Andrew R Bayly
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Timothy D Sharpe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Kalina T Haas
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Lorraine Barber
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Chiara R Valenzano
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Rajavel Srinivasan
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - David J Huggins
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Miyoung Lee
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Amy Emery
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Bryn Hardwick
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Matthias Ehebauer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Claudio Dagostin
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Alessandro Esposito
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Luca Pellegrini
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Trevor Perrior
- Excellium Consulting, Brook Farm Barn, Lackford, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6HL, UK
| | - Grahame McKenzie
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Tom L Blundell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Marko Hyvönen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK.
| | - John Skidmore
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Ashok R Venkitaraman
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK.
| | - Chris Abell
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
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23
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Chakraborty S, Dutta K, Gupta P, Das A, Das A, Ghosh SK, Patro BS. Targeting RECQL5 Functions, by a Small Molecule, Selectively Kills Breast Cancer in Vitro and in Vivo. J Med Chem 2021; 64:1524-1544. [PMID: 33529023 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Clinical and preclinical data reveal that RECQL5 protein overexpression in breast cancer was strongly correlated with poor prognosis, survival, and therapeutic resistance. In the current investigation, we report design, synthesis, and specificity of a small molecule, 4a, which can preferentially kill RECQL5-expressing breast cancers but not RECQL5 knockout. Our stringent analysis showed that compound 4a specifically sensitizes RECQL5-expressing cancers, while it did not have any effect on other members of DNA RECQL-helicases. Integrated approaches of organic synthesis, biochemical, in silico molecular simulation, knockouts, functional mutation, and rescue experiments showed that 4a potently inhibits RECQL5-helicase activity and stabilizes RECQL5-RAD51 physical interaction, leading to impaired HRR and preferential killing of RECQL5-expressing breast cancer. Moreover, 4a treatment led to the efficient sensitization of cisplatin-resistant breast cancers but not normal mammary epithelial cells. Pharmacologically, compound 4a was orally effective in reducing the growth of RECQL5-expressing breast tumors (human xenograft) in NUDE-mice with no appreciable toxicity to the vital organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Chakraborty
- Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Kartik Dutta
- Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Pooja Gupta
- Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Anubrata Das
- Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Amit Das
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India.,Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Ghosh
- Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Birija Sankar Patro
- Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
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24
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Myers S, Ortega JA, Cavalli A. Synthetic Lethality through the Lens of Medicinal Chemistry. J Med Chem 2020; 63:14151-14183. [PMID: 33135887 PMCID: PMC8015234 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Personalized medicine and therapies represent the goal of modern medicine, as drug discovery strives to move away from one-cure-for-all and makes use of the various targets and biomarkers within differing disease areas. This approach, especially in oncology, is often undermined when the cells make use of alternative survival pathways. As such, acquired resistance is unfortunately common. In order to combat this phenomenon, synthetic lethality is being investigated, making use of existing genetic fragilities within the cancer cell. This Perspective highlights exciting targets within synthetic lethality, (PARP, ATR, ATM, DNA-PKcs, WEE1, CDK12, RAD51, RAD52, and PD-1) and discusses the medicinal chemistry programs being used to interrogate them, the challenges these programs face, and what the future holds for this promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel
H. Myers
- Computational
& Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Jose Antonio Ortega
- Computational
& Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational
& Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University
of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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25
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Balboni A, Govoni M, Rossi V, Roberti M, Cavalli A, Di Stefano G, Manerba M. Lactate dehydrogenase inhibition affects homologous recombination repair independently of cell metabolic asset; implications for anticancer treatment. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020; 1865:129760. [PMID: 33035602 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2020.129760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cells show highly increased glucose utilization which, among other cancer-essential functions, was found to facilitate DNA repair. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity is pivotal for supporting the high glycolytic flux of cancer cells; to our knowledge, a direct contribution of this enzyme in the control of DNA integrity was never investigated. In this paper, we looked into a possible LDH-mediated regulation of homologous recombination (HR) repair. METHODS We identified two cancer cell lines with different assets in energy metabolism: either based on glycolytic ATP or on oxidative reactions. In cells with inhibited LDH, we assessed HR function by applying four different procedures. RESULTS Our findings revealed an LDH-mediated control of HR, which was observed independently of cell metabolic asset. Since HR inhibition is known to make cancer cells responsive to PARP inhibitors, in both the cellular models we finally explored the effects of a combined inhibition of LDH and PARP. CONCLUSIONS The obtained results suggest for LDH a central role in cancer cell biology, not merely linked to the control of energy metabolism. The involvement of LDH in the DNA damage response could suggest new drug combinations to obtain improved antineoplastic effects. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Several evidences have correlated the metabolic features of cancer cells with drug resistance and LDH inhibition has been repeatedly shown to increase the antineoplastic power of chemotherapeutics. By shedding light on the processes linking cell metabolism to the control of DNA integrity, our findings also give a mechanistic explanation to these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Balboni
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marzia Govoni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Rossi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Di Stefano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Marcella Manerba
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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26
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Moreno LM, Quiroga J, Abonia R, Lauria A, Martorana A, Insuasty H, Insuasty B. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and in silico studies of novel chalcone- and pyrazoline-based 1,3,5-triazines as potential anticancer agents. RSC Adv 2020; 10:34114-34129. [PMID: 35519030 PMCID: PMC9056798 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra06799g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel series of triazin-chalcones (7,8)a-g and triazin-N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)pyrazolines (9,10)a-g were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity against nine different cancer strains. Triazine ketones 5 and 6 were synthesized from the cyanuric chloride 1 by using stepwise nucleophilic substitution of the chlorine atom. These ketones were subsequently subjected to a Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction with aromatic aldehydes affording chalcones (7,8)a-g. Then, N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)pyrazolines (9,10)a-g were obtained by cyclocondensation reactions of the respective chalcones (7,8)a-g with 3,5-dichlorophenylhydrazine. Among all the evaluated compounds, chalcones 7d,g and 8g exhibited more potent in vitro anticancer activity, with outstanding GI50 values ranging from 0.422 to 14.9 μM and LC50 values ranging from 5.08 μM to >100 μM. In silico studies, for both ligand- and structure-based, were executed to explore the inhibitory nature of chalcones and triazine derivatives. The results suggested that the evaluated compounds could act as modulators of the human thymidylate synthase enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leydi M Moreno
- Heterocyclic Compounds Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Universidad del Valle A.A. 25360 Cali Colombia
| | - Jairo Quiroga
- Heterocyclic Compounds Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Universidad del Valle A.A. 25360 Cali Colombia
- Center for Bioinformatics and Photonics-CIBioFI A.A. 25360 Cali Colombia
| | - Rodrigo Abonia
- Heterocyclic Compounds Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Universidad del Valle A.A. 25360 Cali Colombia
- Center for Bioinformatics and Photonics-CIBioFI A.A. 25360 Cali Colombia
| | - Antonino Lauria
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche "STEBICEF", Università di Palermo Viale delle Scienze Ed. 17 I-90128 Palermo Italy
| | - Annamaria Martorana
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche "STEBICEF", Università di Palermo Viale delle Scienze Ed. 17 I-90128 Palermo Italy
| | - Henry Insuasty
- Heterocyclic Compounds Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Universidad de Nariño A.A. 1175 Pasto Colombia
| | - Braulio Insuasty
- Heterocyclic Compounds Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Universidad del Valle A.A. 25360 Cali Colombia
- Center for Bioinformatics and Photonics-CIBioFI A.A. 25360 Cali Colombia
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27
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Matiadis D, Sagnou M. Pyrazoline Hybrids as Promising Anticancer Agents: An Up-to-Date Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5507. [PMID: 32752126 PMCID: PMC7432644 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyrazolines are five-membered heterocycles possessing two adjacent nitrogens. They have attracted significant attention from organic and medicinal chemists due to their potent biological activities and the numerous possibilities for structural diversification. In the last decade, they have been intensively studied as targets for potential anticancer therapeutics, producing a steady yearly rise in the number of published research articles. Many pyrazoline derivatives have shown remarkable cytotoxic activities in the form of heterocyclic or non-heterocyclic based hybrids, such as with coumarins, triazoles, and steroids. The enormous amount of related literature in the last 5 years prompted us to collect all these published data from screening against cancer cell lines, or protein targets like EGFR and structure activity relationship studies. Therefore, in the present review, a comprehensive account of the compounds containing the pyrazoline nucleus will be provided. The chemical groups and the structural modifications responsible for the activity will be highlighted. Moreover, emphasis will be given on recent examples from the literature and on the work of research groups that have played a key role in the development of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Matiadis
- National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, 153 10 Athens, Greece;
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28
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Could Protons and Carbon Ions Be the Silver Bullets Against Pancreatic Cancer? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134767. [PMID: 32635552 PMCID: PMC7369903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive cancer type associated with one of the poorest prognostics. Despite several clinical trials to combine different types of therapies, none of them resulted in significant improvements for patient survival. Pancreatic cancers demonstrate a very broad panel of resistance mechanisms due to their biological properties but also their ability to remodel the tumour microenvironment. Radiotherapy is one of the most widely used treatments against cancer but, up to now, its impact remains limited in the context of pancreatic cancer. The modern era of radiotherapy proposes new approaches with increasing conformation but also more efficient effects on tumours in the case of charged particles. In this review, we highlight the interest in using charged particles in the context of pancreatic cancer therapy and the impact of this alternative to counteract resistance mechanisms.
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