1
|
Cell-penetrating peptides in oncologic pharmacotherapy: A review. Pharmacol Res 2020; 162:105231. [PMID: 33027717 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and its treatment is extremely challenging, mainly due to its complexity. Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) are peptides that can transport into the cell a wide variety of biologically active conjugates (or cargoes), and are, therefore, promising in the treatment and in the diagnosis of several types of cancer. Some notable examples are TAT and Penetratin, capable of penetrating the central nervous system (CNS) and, therefore, acting in cancers of this system, such as Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). These above-mentioned peptides, conjugated with traditional chemotherapeutic such as Doxorubicin (DOX) and Paclitaxel (PTX), have also been shown to induce apoptosis of breast and liver cancer cells, as well as in lung cancer cells, respectively. In other cancers, such as esophageal cancer, the attachment of Magainin 2 (MG2) to Bombesin (MG2B), another CPP, led to pronounced anticancer effects. Other examples are CopA3, that selectively decreased the viability of gastric cancer cells, and the CPP p28. Furthermore, in preclinical tests, the anti-tumor efficacy of this peptide was evaluated on human breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and melanoma cells in vitro, leading to high expression of p53 and promoting cell cycle arrest. Despite the numerous in vitro and in vivo studies with promising results, and the increasing number of clinical trials using CPPs, few treatments reach the expected clinical efficacy. Usually, their clinical application is limited by its poor aqueous solubility, immunogenicity issues and dose-limiting toxicity. This review describes the most recent advances and innovations in the use of CPPs in several types of cancer, highlighting their crucial importance for various purposes, from therapeutic to diagnosis. Further clinical trials with these peptides are warranted to examine its effects on various types of cancer.
Collapse
|
2
|
Duarte D, Fraga AG, Pedrosa J, Martel F, Vale N. Increasing the potential of cell-penetrating peptides for cancer therapy using a new pentagonal scaffold. Eur J Pharmacol 2019; 860:172554. [PMID: 31326378 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer treatment is one of the major fields of interest for the scientific community. Investment in cancer research is costly but essential to provide patients with more effective and safe treatments. In this project, we describe the synthesis and characterization of new thiazole derivatives coupled to CPP2, a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) reported for colon cancer cells. Using a human adenocarcinoma-derived cell line (Caco-2), these new CPPs were evaluated for antiproliferative (3H-thymidine incorporation) and cytotoxic effect (extracellular lactate dehydrogenase activity). One of these derivatives, the BTZCA thiazole compound and its peptide-conjugated (BTZCA-CPP2) also showed the ability to decrease tumour cell viability and proliferation, with potential cytotoxic effect against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Then, cytotoxicity studies were developed against J774, L929 and THP1 cell lines and this new family showed no significant cytotoxicity, when compared to their counterparts alone (BTZCA and CPP2). The use of smaller CPP conjugated with this family of derivatives can be also considered in future for the development of new drugs to cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Duarte
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, 45, 4200-i35, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandra G Fraga
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jorge Pedrosa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Fátima Martel
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, 45, 4200-i35, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal; Department of Molecular Pahology and Immunology, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bahrami A, Hassanian SM, Khazaei M, Gharib M, Rahmani M, Fiuji H, Jazayeri MH, Moetamani-Ahmadi M, Ferns GA, Avan A. The 9p21 locus as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker in colorectal cancer. Pharmacogenomics 2018; 19:463-474. [DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2017-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related-death worldwide. Despite extensive efforts to identify valid biomarkers for the risk stratification of CRC patients, there are few of proven clinical utility. It is recognized that genetic factors play a major role in determining susceptibility to CRC. Recent genome-wide association studies have demonstrated common genetic variants in a region on chromosome 9p21 associated with an increased risk of CRC. Several genetic polymorphisms have been identified in this region that are associated with CRC. Three genes are located at this locus; CDKN2B(encoding-p15ink4b), CDKN2A (encoding-p16ink4a/p14ARF) and 3′ end of CDKN2BAS (termed-antisense-noncoding-RNA in the INK4-locus [ANRIL]). ANRIL has a post-transcriptional modulatory activity, which has been shown to perturb the expression of nearby genes. It also plays an important role in coordinating tissue remodeling through regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, aging, extra-cellular matrix remodeling and inflammatory response. However, the role of ANRIL is not well understood in CRC. Hypermethylation of the p14ARF and p16INK4a genes is often found in some tumors, including CRC. However, further studies are necessary to explore the clinical utility of these putative markers in risk stratification, and in the assessment of prognosis. In this review, we have summarized the prognostic and therapeutic potential of the p14ARF and p16INK4a genes in patients with colorectal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afsane Bahrami
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjnad, Iran
- Department of Modern Sciences & Technologies; School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahdi Hassanian
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Gharib
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahsa Rahmani
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Fiuji
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mir Hadi Jazayeri
- Immunology Research Center, and Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Gordon A Ferns
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex B. 9PH, UK
| | - Amir Avan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bayat Mokhtari R, Baluch N, Ka Hon Tsui M, Kumar S, S Homayouni T, Aitken K, Das B, Baruchel S, Yeger H. Acetazolamide potentiates the anti-tumor potential of HDACi, MS-275, in neuroblastoma. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:156. [PMID: 28235409 PMCID: PMC5326494 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma (NB), a tumor of the primitive neural crest, despite aggressive treatment portends a poor long-term survival for patients with advanced high stage NB. New treatment strategies are required. METHODS We investigated coordinated targeting of essential homeostatic regulatory factors involved in cancer progression, histone deacetylases (HDACs) and carbonic anhydrases (CAs). RESULTS We evaluated the antitumor potential of the HDAC inhibitor (HDACi), pyridylmethyl-N-{4-[(2-aminophenyl)-carbamoyl]-benzyl}-carbamate (MS-275) in combination with a pan CA inhibitor, acetazolamide (AZ) on NB SH-SY5Y, SK-N-SH and SK-N-BE(2) cells. The key observation was that the combination AZ + MS-275 significantly inhibited growth, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and reduced migration capacity of NB cell line SH-SY5Y. In addition, this combination significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo, in a pre-clinical xenograft model. Evidence was obtained for a marked reduction in tumorigenicity and in the expression of mitotic, proliferative, HIF-1α and CAIX. NB xenografts of SH-SY5Y showed a significant increase in apoptosis. CONCLUSION MS-275 alone at nanomolar concentrations significantly reduced the putative cancer stem cell (CSC) fraction of NB cell lines, SH-SY5Y and SK-N-BE(2), in reference to NT2/D1, a teratocarcinoma cell line, exhibiting a strong stem cell like phenotype in vitro. Whereas stemness genes (OCT4, SOX2 and Nanog) were found to be significantly downregulated after MS-275 treatment, this was further enhanced by AZ co-treatment. The significant reduction in initial tumorigenicity and subsequent abrogation upon serial xenografting suggests potential elimination of the NB CSC fraction. The significant potentiation of MS-275 by AZ is a promising therapeutic approach and one amenable for administration to patients given their current clinical utility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reza Bayat Mokhtari
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Narges Baluch
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Micky Ka Hon Tsui
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tina S Homayouni
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karen Aitken
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bikul Das
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sylvain Baruchel
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Herman Yeger
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|