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Brownjohn PW, Zoufir A, O’Donovan DJ, Sudhahar S, Syme A, Huckvale R, Porter JR, Bange H, Brennan J, Thompson NT. Computational drug discovery approaches identify mebendazole as a candidate treatment for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1397864. [PMID: 38846086 PMCID: PMC11154008 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1397864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by numerous renal cysts, the progressive expansion of which can impact kidney function and lead eventually to renal failure. Tolvaptan is the only disease-modifying drug approved for the treatment of ADPKD, however its poor side effect and safety profile necessitates the need for the development of new therapeutics in this area. Using a combination of transcriptomic and machine learning computational drug discovery tools, we predicted that a number of existing drugs could have utility in the treatment of ADPKD, and subsequently validated several of these drug predictions in established models of disease. We determined that the anthelmintic mebendazole was a potent anti-cystic agent in human cellular and in vivo models of ADPKD, and is likely acting through the inhibition of microtubule polymerisation and protein kinase activity. These findings demonstrate the utility of combining computational approaches to identify and understand potential new treatments for traditionally underserved rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hester Bange
- Crown Bioscience Netherlands B.V., Biopartner Center Leiden JH, Leiden, Netherlands
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Xu F, Xie L, He J, Huang Q, Shen Y, Chen L, Zeng X. Detection of common pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis via microarray data analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28029. [PMID: 38628735 PMCID: PMC11019104 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research reveal rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is related to atherosclerosis (AS), common pathogenesis between these two diseases still needs to be explored. In current study, we explored the common pathogenesis between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and atherosclerosis (AS) by identifying 297 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) associated with both diseases. Through KEGG and GO functional analysis, we highlighted the correlation of these DEGs with crucial biological processes such as the vesicle transport, immune system process, signaling receptor binding, chemokine signaling and many others. Employing Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis, we elucidated the associations between DEGs, revealing three gene modules enriched in immune system process, vesicle, signaling receptor binding, Pertussis, and among others. Additionally, through CytoHubba analysis, we pinpointed 11 hub genes integral to intergrin-mediated signaling pathway, plasma membrane, phosphotyrosine binding, chemokine signaling pathway and so on. Further investigation via the TRRUST database identified two key Transcription Factors (TFs), SPI1 and RELA, closely linked with these hub genes, shedding light on their regulatory roles. Finally, leveraging the collective insights from hub genes and TFs, we proposed 10 potential drug candidates targeting the molecular mechanisms underlying RA and AS pathogenesis. Further investigation on xCell revealed that 14 types of cells were all different in both AS and RA. This study underscores the shared pathogenic mechanisms, pivotal genes, and potential therapeutic interventions bridging RA and AS, offering valuable insights for future research and clinical management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Linfeng Xie
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
- Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jian He
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
- Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qiuyu Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yanming Shen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
- Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Liangwan Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Xiaohong Zeng
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
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Yakkala PA, Rahaman S, Soukya PSL, Begum SA, Kamal A. An update on the development on tubulin inhibitors for the treatment of solid tumors. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:193-220. [PMID: 38618889 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2341630] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Microtubules play a vital role in cancer therapeutics. They are implicated in tumorigenesis, thus inhibiting tubulin polymerization in cancer cells, and have now become a significant target for anticancer drug development. A plethora of drug molecules has been crafted to influence microtubule dynamics and presently, numerous tubulin inhibitors are being investigated. This review discusses the recently developed inhibitors including natural products, and also examines the preclinical and clinical data of some potential molecules. AREA COVERED The current review article summarizes the development of tubulin inhibitors while detailing their specific binding sites. It also discusses the newly designed inhibitors that may be useful in the treatment of solid tumors. EXPERT OPINION Microtubules play a crucial role in cellular processes, especially in cancer therapy where inhibiting tubulin polymerization holds promise. Ongoing trials signify a commitment to revolutionizing cancer treatment and exploring targeted therapies. Challenges in microtubule modulation, like resistance and off-target effects, demand focused efforts, emphasizing combination therapies and personalized treatments. Beyond microtubules, promising avenues in cancer research include immunotherapy, genomic medicine, CRISPR gene editing, liquid biopsies, AI diagnostics, and stem cell therapy, showcasing a holistic approach for future advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna Anjaneyulu Yakkala
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Shaik Rahaman
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - P S Lakshmi Soukya
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sajeli Ahil Begum
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
| | - Ahmed Kamal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
- Department of Environment, Forests, Science & Technology, Telangana State Council of Science & Technology, Hyderabad, India
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da Silva EL, Mesquita FP, Aragão DR, de Sousa Portilho AJ, Marinho AD, de Oliveira LLB, Lima LB, de Moraes MEA, Souza PFN, Montenegro RC. Mebendazole targets essential proteins in glucose metabolism leading gastric cancer cells to death. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 475:116630. [PMID: 37473966 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most-diagnosed and deadly malignancies worldwide. Deregulation in cellular bioenergetics is a hallmark of cancer. Based on the importance of metabolic reprogramming for the development and cancer progression, inhibitors of cell metabolism have been studied as potential candidates for chemotherapy in oncology. Mebendazole (MBZ), an antihelminthic approved by FDA, has shown antitumoral activity against cancer cell lines. However, its potential in the modulation of tumoral metabolism remains unclear. Results evidenced that the antitumoral and cytotoxic mechanism of MBZ in GC cells is related to the modulation of the mRNA expression of glycolic targets SLC2A1, HK1, GAPDH, and LDHA. Moreover, in silico analysis has shown that these genes are overexpressed in GC samples, and this increase in expression is related to decreased overall survival rates. Molecular docking revealed that MBZ modifies the protein structure of these targets, which may lead to changes in their protein function. In vitro studies also showed that MBZ induces alterations in glucose uptake, LDH's enzymatic activity, and ATP production. Furthermore, MBZ induced morphologic and intracellular alterations typical of the apoptotic cell death pathway. Thus, this data indicated that the cytotoxic mechanism of MBZ is related to an initial modulation of the tumoral metabolism in the GC cell line. Altogether, our results provide more evidence about the antitumoral mechanism of action of MBZ towards GC cells and reveal metabolic reprogramming as a potential area in the discovery of new pharmacological targets for GC chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emerson Lucena da Silva
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Felipe Pantoja Mesquita
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Dyane Rocha Aragão
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Adrhyann Jullyanne de Sousa Portilho
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Aline Diogo Marinho
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Lais Lacerda Brasil de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Luina Benevides Lima
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Maria Elisabete Amaral de Moraes
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Pedro Filho Noronha Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Mister Hull Avenue- Pici, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Raquel Carvalho Montenegro
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1000 - Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, Brazil.
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Graff BT, Palanivel C, Jenkins CB, Baranowska-Kortylewicz J, Yan Y. Benzimidazole carbamate induces cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells via two distinct cell death mechanisms. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:162. [PMID: 37179350 PMCID: PMC10183037 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01454-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is responsible for >90% of breast cancer-related deaths. Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are the front-line treatment for mBC. However, the effectiveness of MTAs is frequently limited by the primary or acquired resistance. Furthermore, recurrent mBC derived from cancer cells that survived MTA treatment are typically more chemoresistant. The overall response rates for the second- and third-line MTAs in mBC patients previously treated with MTAs are 12-35%. Thus, there is an ongoing search for novel MTAs with a distinct mode of action that can circumvent chemoresistance mechanisms. Our results show that methyl N-(6-benzoyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate (BCar), a microtubule-disrupting anthelmintic that binds to the colchicine binding site separate from the binding sites of clinically used MTAs, has the potential to treat MTA-resistant mBC. We have comprehensively evaluated the cellular effects of BCar in a panel of human breast cancer (BC) cell lines and normal breast cells. BCar effects on the clonogenic survival, cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, senescence, and mitotic catastrophe were measured. Approximately 25% of BCs harbor mutant p53. For this reason, the p53 status was included as a variable. The results show that BC cells are >10x more sensitive to BCar than normal mammary epithelial cells (HME). p53-mutant BC cells are significantly more sensitive to BCar treatment than p53 wild-type BC cells. Furthermore, BCar appears to kill BC cells primarily via either p53-dependent apoptosis or p53-independent mitotic catastrophe. When compared to docetaxel and vincristine, two clinical MTAs, BCar is fairly innocuous in HME cells, providing a much wider therapeutic window than docetaxel and vincristine. Together, the results strongly support the notion that BCar-based therapeutics may serve as a new line of MTAs for mBC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan T Graff
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Chitra Palanivel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Christopher B Jenkins
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Janina Baranowska-Kortylewicz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
| | - Ying Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
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Li Q, Demir S, Del Río-Álvarez Á, Maxwell R, Wagner A, Carrillo-Reixach J, Armengol C, Vokuhl C, Häberle B, von Schweinitz D, Schmid I, Cairo S, Kappler R. Targeting the Unwindosome by Mebendazole Is a Vulnerability of Chemoresistant Hepatoblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174196. [PMID: 36077733 PMCID: PMC9454988 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to conventional chemotherapy remains a huge challenge in the clinical management of hepatoblastoma, the most common liver tumor in childhood. By integrating the gene expression data of hepatoblastoma patients into the perturbation prediction tool Connectivity Map, we identified the clinical widely used anthelmintic mebendazole as a drug to circumvent chemoresistance in permanent and patient-derived xenograft cell lines that are resistant to cisplatin, the therapeutic backbone of hepatoblastoma treatment. Viability assays clearly indicated a potent reduction of tumor cell growth upon mebendazole treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of mebendazole and cisplatin revealed a strong synergistic effect, which was comparable to the one seen with cisplatin and doxorubicin, the current treatment for high-risk hepatoblastoma patients. Moreover, mebendazole treatment resulted in reduced colony and tumor spheroid formation capabilities, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis of hepatoblastoma cells. Mechanistically, mebendazole causes blockage of microtubule formation and transcriptional downregulation of genes encoding the unwindosome, which are highly expressed in chemoresistant tumors. Most importantly, mebendazole significantly reduced tumor growth in a subcutaneous xenograft transplantation mouse model without side effects. In conclusion, our results strongly support the clinical use of mebendazole in the treatment of chemoresistant hepatoblastoma and highlight the potential theranostic value of unwindosome-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Salih Demir
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Álvaro Del Río-Álvarez
- Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol IGTP, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Rebecca Maxwell
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandra Wagner
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Juan Carrillo-Reixach
- Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol IGTP, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Liver and Digestive Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBEREHD), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Armengol
- Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol IGTP, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Liver and Digestive Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBEREHD), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Christian Vokuhl
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Beate Häberle
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Dietrich von Schweinitz
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Irene Schmid
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Roland Kappler
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-89-4400-57810
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Daniel JP, Mesquita FP, Da Silva EL, de Souza PFN, Lima LB, de Oliveira LLB, de Moraes MEA, Moreira-Nunes CDFA, Burbano RMR, Zanatta G, Montenegro RC. Anticancer potential of mebendazole against chronic myeloid leukemia: in silico and in vitro studies revealed new insights about the mechanism of action. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:952250. [PMID: 36091760 PMCID: PMC9452629 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.952250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is caused by constitutively active fusion protein BCR-ABL1, and targeting ABL1 is a promising therapy option. Imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib have all been shown to work effectively in clinical trials. ABL1 mutations, particularly the T315I gate-keeper mutation, cause resistance in patients. As a result, broad-spectrum ABL1 medicines are desperately needed. In order to screen potential drugs targeting CML, mebendazole (MBZ) was subjected to the in vitro test against CML cell lines (K562 and FEPS) and computational assays. The antiproliferative effect of MBZ and the combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was tested using end-point viability assays, cell cycle distribution analysis, cell membrane, and mitochondrial dyes. By interrupting the cell cycle and causing cell death, MBZ and its combination with imatinib and dasatinib have a significant antiproliferative effect. We identified MBZ as a promising “new use” drug targeting wild-type and mutant ABL1 using molecular docking. Meanwhile, we determined which residues in the allosteric site are important in ABL1 drug development. These findings may not only serve as a model for repositioning current authorized medications but may also provide ABL1-targeted anti-CML treatments a fresh lease of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Paulino Daniel
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Felipe Pantoja Mesquita
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Emerson Lucena Da Silva
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Pedro Filho Noronha de Souza
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Luina Benevides Lima
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | | | - Caroline de Fátima Aquino Moreira-Nunes
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Rommel Mario Rodríguez Burbano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Ophir Loyola Hospital, Belém, Brazil
| | - Geancarlo Zanatta
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Raquel Carvalho Montenegro
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Raquel Carvalho Montenegro,
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Ntafoulis I, Koolen SLW, Leenstra S, Lamfers MLM. Drug Repurposing, a Fast-Track Approach to Develop Effective Treatments for Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:3705. [PMID: 35954371 PMCID: PMC9367381 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most difficult tumors to treat. The mean overall survival rate of 15 months and the 5-year survival rate of 5% have not significantly changed for almost 2 decades. Despite progress in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease, no new effective treatments to combine with radiation therapy after surgical tumor debulking have become available since the introduction of temozolomide in 1999. One of the main reasons for this is the scarcity of compounds that cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reach the brain tumor tissue in therapeutically effective concentrations. In this review, we focus on the role of the BBB and its importance in developing brain tumor treatments. Moreover, we discuss drug repurposing, a drug discovery approach to identify potential effective candidates with optimal pharmacokinetic profiles for central nervous system (CNS) penetration and that allows rapid implementation in clinical trials. Additionally, we provide an overview of repurposed candidate drug currently being investigated in GBM at the preclinical and clinical levels. Finally, we highlight the importance of phase 0 trials to confirm tumor drug exposure and we discuss emerging drug delivery technologies as an alternative route to maximize therapeutic efficacy of repurposed candidate drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Ntafoulis
- Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (I.N.); (S.L.)
| | - Stijn L. W. Koolen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sieger Leenstra
- Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (I.N.); (S.L.)
| | - Martine L. M. Lamfers
- Brain Tumor Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (I.N.); (S.L.)
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Patil VM, Menon N, Chatterjee A, Tonse R, Choudhari A, Mahajan A, Puranik AD, Epari S, Jadhav M, Pathak S, Peelay Z, Walavalkar R, Muthuluri HK, Ravi Krishna M, Chandrasekharan A, Pande N, Gupta T, Banavali S, Jalali R. Mebendazole plus lomustine or temozolomide in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: A randomised open-label phase II trial. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 49:101449. [PMID: 35747192 PMCID: PMC9156991 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) has dismal outcomes and limited treatment options. Mebendazole (MBZ) has activity in glioma both in-vivo and in-vitro, and is well tolerated in combination with lomustine (CCNU) and temozolomide (TMZ). In this study, we sought to determine whether the addition of MBZ to CCNU or TMZ would improve overall survival (OS) in recurrent GBM. METHODS In this phase II randomized open-label trial, adult patients with ECOG PS 0-3, with recurrent GBM who were not eligible for re-radiation, were randomized 1:1 to the CCNU-MBZ and TMZ-MBZ arms. CCNU was administered at 110 mg/m2 every 6 weeks with MBZ 800 mg thrice daily and TMZ was administered at 200 mg/m2 once daily on days 1-5 of a 28 days cycle with MBZ 1600 mg thrice daily. The primary endpoint was OS at 9 months. A 9-month OS of 55% or more in any arm was hypothesized to warrant further evaluation and a value below 35% was too low to warrant further investigation. OS was analyzed using intention to treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. Per-protocol analysis was used for safety analysis. Clinical Trials Registry-India number, CTRI/2018/01/011542. FINDINGS Participants were recruited from 14th March 2019 to 18th June 2021, 44 patients were randomised on each arm. At 17.4 months, 68 events for OS analysis had occurred, 33 in the TMZ-MBZ and 35 in the CCNU-MBZ arm. The 9-month OS was 36.6% (95% CI 22.3-51.0) and 45% (95% CI 29.6-59.2) in the TMZ-MBZ and CCNU-MBZ arms respectively, in the ITT population. ECOG PS was the only independent prognostic factor impacting OS (HR-0.48, 95% CI 0.27-0.85; P = 0.012). Grade 3-5 adverse events were seen in 8 (18.6%; n = 43) and 4 (9.5%; n = 42) patients in the TMZ-MBZ and CCNU-MBZ arms respectively. There were no treatment related deaths. INTERPRETATION The addition of MBZ to TMZ or CCNU failed to achieve the pre-set benchmark of 55% 9-month OS. This was probably due to 28.6% of patients having poor PS of 2-3. FUNDING Brain Tumor Foundation (BTF) of India, Indian Cooperative Oncology Network (ICON), and India Cancer Research Consortium (ICRC) under ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay M. Patil
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
- Corresponding author at: Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, 1110, Homi Bhabha Block, Parel, Mumbai, India.
| | - Nandini Menon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Abhishek Chatterjee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Raees Tonse
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Amit Choudhari
- Department of Radiology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Abhishek Mahajan
- Department of Radiology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Ameya D. Puranik
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Sridhar Epari
- Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Monica Jadhav
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Shruti Pathak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Zoya Peelay
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Rutuja Walavalkar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Hemanth K. Muthuluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Madala Ravi Krishna
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Arun Chandrasekharan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Nikhil Pande
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Tejpal Gupta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Shripad Banavali
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Rakesh Jalali
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
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10
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Gousias K, Theocharous T, Simon M. Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Glioblastoma. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030564. [PMID: 35327366 PMCID: PMC8945784 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells of glioblastoma, the most frequent primary malignant brain tumor, are characterized by their rapid growth and infiltration of adjacent healthy brain parenchyma, which reflects their aggressive biological behavior. In order to maintain their excessive proliferation and invasion, glioblastomas exploit the innate biological capacities of the patients suffering from this tumor. The pathways involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis are the mechanisms most commonly affected. The following work reviews the regulatory pathways of cell growth in general as well as the dysregulated cell cycle and apoptosis relevant mechanisms observed in glioblastomas. We then describe the molecular targeting of the current established adjuvant therapy and present ongoing trials or completed studies on specific promising therapeutic agents that induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of glioblastoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Gousias
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Marien Academic Hospital Lünen, KLW St. Paulus Corporation, 44534 Luenen, Germany;
- Medical School, Westfälische Wilhelms University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Medical School, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2414, Cyprus
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-2306-773151
| | - Theocharis Theocharous
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Marien Academic Hospital Lünen, KLW St. Paulus Corporation, 44534 Luenen, Germany;
| | - Matthias Simon
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bethel Clinic, University of Bielefeld Medical School, 33617 Bielefeld, Germany;
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11
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Joe NS, Godet I, Milki N, Ain NUI, Oza HH, Riggins GJ, Gilkes DM. Mebendazole prevents distant organ metastases in part by decreasing ITGβ4 expression and cancer stemness. Breast Cancer Res 2022; 24:98. [PMID: 36578038 PMCID: PMC9798635 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01591-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women. Approximately 15-20% of all breast cancers are highly invasive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and lack estrogen, progesterone, and ERBB2 receptors. TNBC is challenging to treat due to its aggressive nature with far fewer targeted therapies than other breast cancer subtypes. Current treatments for patients with TNBC consist of cytotoxic chemotherapies, surgery, radiation, and in some instances PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy. To advance current therapeutics, we repurposed mebendazole (MBZ), an orally available FDA-approved anthelmintic that has shown preclinical efficacy for cancers. MBZ has low toxicity in humans and efficacy in multiple cancer models including breast cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, medulloblastoma, colon cancer, pancreatic and thyroid cancer. MBZ was well-tolerated in a phase I clinical trial of adults recently diagnosed with glioma. We determined that the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of MBZ in four breast cancer cell lines is well within the range reported for other types of cancer. MBZ reduced TNBC cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and caused G2/M cell cycle arrest. MBZ reduced the size of primary tumors and prevented lung and liver metastases. In addition, we uncovered a novel mechanism of action for MBZ. We found that MBZ reduces integrin β4 (ITGβ4) expression and cancer stem cell properties. ITGβ4 has previously been implicated in promoting "cancer stemness," which may contribute to the efficacy of MBZ. Collectively, our results contribute to a growing body of evidence suggesting that MBZ should be considered as a therapeutic to slow tumor progression and prevent metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie S. Joe
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA
| | - Inês Godet
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
| | - Nubaira Milki
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
| | - Noor U. I. Ain
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311NIH NIDDK Short-Term Research Experience Program to Unlock Potential (STEP-UP), The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA
| | - Harsh H. Oza
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA
| | - Gregory J. Riggins
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA
| | - Daniele M. Gilkes
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA ,grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
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12
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Drug Repurposing for Glioblastoma and Current Advances in Drug Delivery-A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121870. [PMID: 34944514 PMCID: PMC8699739 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults with an extremely poor prognosis. There is a dire need to develop effective therapeutics to overcome the intrinsic and acquired resistance of GBM to current therapies. The process of developing novel anti-neoplastic drugs from bench to bedside can incur significant time and cost implications. Drug repurposing may help overcome that obstacle. A wide range of drugs that are already approved for clinical use for the treatment of other diseases have been found to target GBM-associated signaling pathways and are being repurposed for the treatment of GBM. While many of these drugs are undergoing pre-clinical testing, others are in the clinical trial phase. Since GBM stem cells (GSCs) have been found to be a main source of tumor recurrence after surgery, recent studies have also investigated whether repurposed drugs that target these pathways can be used to counteract tumor recurrence. While several repurposed drugs have shown significant efficacy against GBM cell lines, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) can limit the ability of many of these drugs to reach intratumoral therapeutic concentrations. Localized intracranial delivery may help to achieve therapeutic drug concentration at the site of tumor resection while simultaneously minimizing toxicity and side effects. These strategies can be considered while repurposing drugs for GBM.
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