1
|
Jiménez-Alonso JJ, López-Lázaro M. Dietary Manipulation of Amino Acids for Cancer Therapy. Nutrients 2023; 15:2879. [PMID: 37447206 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132879] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells cannot proliferate and survive unless they obtain sufficient levels of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids (AAs). Unlike normal cells, cancer cells have genetic and metabolic alterations that may limit their capacity to obtain adequate levels of the 20 AAs in challenging metabolic environments. However, since normal diets provide all AAs at relatively constant levels and ratios, these potentially lethal genetic and metabolic defects are eventually harmless to cancer cells. If we temporarily replace the normal diet of cancer patients with artificial diets in which the levels of specific AAs are manipulated, cancer cells may be unable to proliferate and survive. This article reviews in vivo studies that have evaluated the antitumor activity of diets restricted in or supplemented with the 20 proteinogenic AAs, individually and in combination. It also reviews our recent studies that show that manipulating the levels of several AAs simultaneously can lead to marked survival improvements in mice with metastatic cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel López-Lázaro
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pokrovsky VS, Abo Qoura L, Morozova E, Bunik VI. Predictive markers for efficiency of the amino-acid deprivation therapies in cancer. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1035356. [PMID: 36405587 PMCID: PMC9669297 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1035356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid deprivation therapy (AADT) is a promising strategy for developing novel anticancer treatments, based on variations in metabolism of healthy and malignant cells. L-asparaginase was the first amino acid-degrading enzyme that received FDA approval for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Arginase and arginine deiminase were effective in clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic melanomas and hepatocellular carcinomas. Essential dependence of certain cancer cells on methionine explains the anticancer efficacy of methionine-g-lyase. Along with significant progress in identification of metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, new amino acid-cleaving enzymes appear as promising agents for cancer treatment: lysine oxidase, tyrosine phenol-lyase, cysteinase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. However, sensitivity of specific cancer cell types to these enzymes differs. Hence, search for prognostic and predictive markers for AADT and introduction of the markers into clinical practice are of great importance for translational medicine. As specific metabolic pathways in cancer cells are determined by the enzyme expression, some of these enzymes may define the sensitivity to AADT. This review considers the known predictors for efficiency of AADT, emphasizing the importance of knowledge on cancer-specific amino acid significance for such predictions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vadim S. Pokrovsky
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Combined Treatment, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biotechnology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- *Correspondence: Vadim S. Pokrovsky,
| | - Louay Abo Qoura
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Morozova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria I. Bunik
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physicochemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jiménez-Alonso JJ, Guillén-Mancina E, Calderón-Montaño JM, Jiménez-González V, Díaz-Ortega P, Burgos-Morón E, López-Lázaro M. Artificial Diets Based on Selective Amino Acid Restriction versus Capecitabine in Mice with Metastatic Colon Cancer. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14163378. [PMID: 36014884 PMCID: PMC9412877 DOI: 10.3390/nu14163378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
New therapies are needed to improve the low survival rates of patients with metastatic colon cancer. Evidence suggests that amino acid (AA) restriction can be used to target the altered metabolism of cancer cells. In this work, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of selective AA restriction in colon cancer. After observing anticancer activity in vitro, we prepared several artificial diets and evaluated their anticancer activity in two challenging animal models of metastatic colon cancer. These models were established by injecting CT26.WT murine colon cancer cells in the peritoneum (peritoneal dissemination) or in the tail vein (pulmonary metastases) of immunocompetent BALB/cAnNRj mice. Capecitabine, which is a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colon cancer, was also evaluated in these models. Mice fed diet TC1 (a diet lacking 10 AAs) and diet TC5 (a diet with 6% casein, 5% glutamine, and 2.5% leucine) lived longer than untreated mice in both models; several mice survived the treatment. Diet TC5 was better than several cycles of capecitabine in both cancer models. Cysteine supplementation blocked the activity of diets TC1 and TC5, but cysteine restriction was not sufficient for activity. Our results indicated that artificial diets based on selective AA restriction have therapeutic potential for colon cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emilio Guillén-Mancina
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Víctor Jiménez-González
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Patricia Díaz-Ortega
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Estefanía Burgos-Morón
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Miguel López-Lázaro
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kumari N, Bansal S. Arginine depriving enzymes: applications as emerging therapeutics in cancer treatment. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 88:565-594. [PMID: 34309734 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04335-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy and other medications are employed to treat various types of cancer. However, each treatment has its own set of side effects, owing to its low specificity. As a result, there is an urgent need for newer therapeutics that do not disrupt healthy cells' normal functioning. Depriving nutrient or non/semi-essential amino acids to which cancerous cells are auxotrophic remains one such promising anticancer strategy. L-Arginine (Arg) is a semi-essential vital amino acid involved in versatile metabolic processes, signaling pathways, and cancer cell proliferation. Hence, the administration of Arg depriving enzymes (ADE) such as arginase, arginine decarboxylase (ADC), and arginine deiminase (ADI) could be effective in cancer therapy. The Arg auxotrophic cancerous cells like hepatocellular carcinoma, human colon cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer cells are sensitive to ADE treatment due to low expression of crucial enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), and ornithine transcarbamylase (OCT). These therapeutic enzyme treatments induce cell death through inducing autophagy, apoptosis, generation of oxidative species, i.e., oxidative stress, and arresting the progression and expansion of cancerous cells at certain cell cycle checkpoints. The enzymes are undergoing clinical trials and could be successfully exploited as potential anticancer agents in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Kumari
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat, Solan, 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Saurabh Bansal
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat, Solan, 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chi X, Liu K, Luo X, Yin Z, Lin H, Gao J. Recent advances of nanomedicines for liver cancer therapy. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:3747-3771. [DOI: 10.1039/c9tb02871d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This review highlights recent advancements in nanomedicines for liver cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Chi
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Zhongshan Hospital
- Xiamen University
- Xiamen 361004
- China
| | - Kun Liu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation
- The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Xiamen University
- Xiamen 361005
| | - Xiangjie Luo
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation
- The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Xiamen University
- Xiamen 361005
| | - Zhenyu Yin
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Zhongshan Hospital
- Xiamen University
- Xiamen 361004
- China
| | - Hongyu Lin
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation
- The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Xiamen University
- Xiamen 361005
| | - Jinhao Gao
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation
- The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Xiamen University
- Xiamen 361005
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dika IE, Abou-Alfa GK. Treatment options after sorafenib failure in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Mol Hepatol 2017; 23:273-279. [PMID: 29151326 PMCID: PMC5760005 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2017.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Second line therapy after failure of sorafenib continues to be under study. Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is measured in months, with median overall survival reaching 10.7 months with sorafenib. Because of the modest net benefit sorafenib has contributed, and rising incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the world, continued efforts are ongoing to look for efficient upfront, second line, or combination therapies. Herein we review the most relevant to date published literature on treatment options beyond sorafenib, reported studies, ongoing investigational efforts, and possibilities for future studies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imane El Dika
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Affiliation(s)
- Wissam Zam
- Al-Andalus University for Medical Sciences, Syrian Arab Republic
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Arginine deiminase PEG20 inhibits growth of small cell lung cancers lacking expression of argininosuccinate synthetase. Br J Cancer 2011; 106:324-32. [PMID: 22134507 PMCID: PMC3261683 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Some cancers have been shown to lack expression of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), an enzyme required for the synthesis of arginine and a possible biomarker of sensitivity to arginine deprivation. Arginine deiminase (ADI) is a microbial enzyme capable of efficiently depleting peripheral blood arginine. Methods: Argininosuccinate synthetase expression was assessed in human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) by immunohistochemistry (IHC), with expression also assessed in a panel of 10 human SCLC by qRT-PCR and western blot. Proliferation assays and analyses of apoptosis and autophagy assessed the effect of pegylated ADI (ADI-PEG20) in vitro. The in vivo efficacy of ADI-PEG20 was determined in mice bearing SCLC xenografts. Results: Approximately 45% of SCLC tumours and 50% of cell lines assessed were negative for ASS. Argininosuccinate synthetase-deficient SCLC cells demonstrated sensitivity to ADI-PEG20, which was associated with the induction of autophagy and caspase-independent cell death. Arginine deiminase-PEG20 treatment of ASS-negative SCLC xenografts caused significant, dose-dependent inhibition of tumour growth of both small and established tumours. Conclusion: These results suggest a role for ADI-PEG20 in the treatment of SCLC, and a clinical trial exploring this therapeutic approach in patients with ASS-negative SCLC by IHC has now been initiated.
Collapse
|
9
|
|
10
|
Abstract
The transfer of polymer-protein conjugates into routine clinical use, and the clinical development of polymer-anticancer-drug conjugates, both as single agents and as components of combination therapy, is establishing polymer therapeutics as one of the first classes of anticancer nanomedicines. There is growing optimism that ever more sophisticated polymer-based vectors will be a significant addition to the armoury currently used for cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Duncan
- Centre for Polymer Therapeutics, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3XF, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Vicent MJ, Duncan R. Polymer conjugates: nanosized medicines for treating cancer. Trends Biotechnol 2005; 24:39-47. [PMID: 16307811 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 311] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2005] [Revised: 09/22/2005] [Accepted: 11/10/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Interdisciplinary research at the interface of polymer chemistry and the biomedical sciences has produced the first polymer-based nanomedicines for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These water-soluble hybrid constructs, designed for intravenous administration, fall into two main categories: polymer-protein conjugates or polymer-drug conjugates. Polymer conjugation to proteins reduces immunogenicity, prolongs plasma half-life and enhances protein stability. Polymer-drug conjugation promotes tumor targeting through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and, at the cellular level following endocytic capture, allows lysosomotropic drug delivery. The successful clinical application of polymer-protein conjugates (PEGylated enzymes and cytokines) and promising results arising from clinical trials with polymer-bound chemotherapy (e.g. doxorubicin, paclitaxel, camptothecins) has provided a firm foundation for more sophisticated second-generation constructs that deliver the newly emerging target-directed anticancer agents (e.g. modulators of the cell cycle, signal transduction inhibitors and antiangiogenic drugs) in addition to polymer-drug combinations (e.g. endocrine- and chemo-therapy).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María J Vicent
- Centre for Polymer Therapeutics, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|