1
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Chen L, Huang S, Wu X, He W, Song M. Serotonin signalling in cancer: Emerging mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1750. [PMID: 38943041 PMCID: PMC11213692 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1750] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is a multifunctional bioamine serving as a neurotransmitter, peripheral hormone and mitogen in the vertebrate system. It has pleiotropic activities in central nervous system and gastrointestinal function via an orchestrated action of serotonergic elements, particularly serotonin receptor-mediated signalling cascades. The mitogenic properties of serotonin have garnered recognition for years and have been exploited for repurposing serotonergic-targeted drugs in cancer therapy. However, emerging conflicting findings necessitate a more comprehensive elucidation of serotonin's role in cancer pathogenesis. MAIN BODY AND CONCLUSION Here, we provide an overview of the biosynthesis, metabolism and action modes of serotonin. We summarise our current knowledge regarding the effects of the peripheral serotonergic system on tumourigenesis, with a specific emphasis on its immunomodulatory activities in human cancers. We also discuss the dual roles of serotonin in tumour pathogenesis and elucidate the potential of serotonergic drugs, some of which display favourable safety profiles and impressive efficacy in clinical trials, as a promising avenue in cancer treatment. KEY POINTS Primary synthesis and metabolic routes of peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine in the gastrointestinal tract. Advanced research has established a strong association between the serotonergic components and carcinogenic mechanisms. The interplay between serotonergic signalling and the immune system within the tumour microenvironment orchestrates antitumour immune responses. Serotonergic-targeted drugs offer valuable clinical options for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐Sen UniversitySun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Institute of Precision MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐Sen UniversitySun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Shuting Huang
- School of Public HealthSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoxue Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐Sen UniversitySun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Weiling He
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐Sen UniversitySun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryXiang'an Hospital of Xiamen UniversitySchool of MedicineXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Mei Song
- Institute of Precision MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐Sen UniversitySun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
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2
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Sblano S, Boccarelli A, Mesiti F, Purgatorio R, de Candia M, Catto M, Altomare CD. A second life for MAO inhibitors? From CNS diseases to anticancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116180. [PMID: 38290352 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO A, B) are ubiquitous enzymes responsible for oxidative deamination of amine neurotransmitters and xenobiotics. Despite decades of studies, MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) find today limited therapeutic space as second-line drugs for the treatment of depression and Parkinson's disease. In recent years, a renewed interest in MAOIs has been raised up by several studies investigating the role of MAOs, particularly MAO A, in tumor insurgence and progression, and the efficacy of MAOIs as coadjutants in the therapy of chemoresistant tumors. In this survey, we highlight the implication of MAOs in the biochemical pathways of tumorigenesis and review the state-of-the-art of preclinical and clinical studies of MAOIs as anticancer agents used in monotherapy or in combination with antitumor chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Sblano
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Angelina Boccarelli
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Mesiti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa Purgatorio
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Modesto de Candia
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Cosimo D Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
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3
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Cui Q, Jiang D, Zhang Y, Chen C. The tumor-nerve circuit in breast cancer. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:543-574. [PMID: 36997828 PMCID: PMC10349033 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10095-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that innervation is one of the updated hallmarks of cancer and that psychological stress promotes the initiation and progression of cancer. The breast tumor environment includes not only fibroblasts, adipocytes, endothelial cells, and lymphocytes but also neurons, which is increasingly discovered important in breast cancer progression. Peripheral nerves, especially sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory nerves, have been reported to play important but different roles in breast cancer. However, their roles in the breast cancer progression and treatment are still controversial. In addition, the brain is one of the favorite sites of breast cancer metastasis. In this review, we first summarize the innervation of breast cancer and its mechanism in regulating cancer growth and metastasis. Next, we summarize the neural-related molecular markers in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. In addition, we review drugs and emerging technologies used to block the interactions between nerves and breast cancer. Finally, we discuss future research directions in this field. In conclusion, the further research in breast cancer and its interactions with innervated neurons or neurotransmitters is promising in the clinical management of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxia Cui
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University Science & Technology of China, Zhanjiang, 524000, China
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Dewei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yuanqi Zhang
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University Science & Technology of China, Zhanjiang, 524000, China.
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
- Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China.
- The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650118, China.
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4
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Jayachandran P, Battaglin F, Strelez C, Lenz A, Algaze S, Soni S, Lo JH, Yang Y, Millstein J, Zhang W, Shih JC, Lu J, Mumenthaler SM, Spicer D, Neman J, Roussos Torres ET, Lenz HJ. Breast cancer and neurotransmitters: emerging insights on mechanisms and therapeutic directions. Oncogene 2023; 42:627-637. [PMID: 36650218 PMCID: PMC9957733 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02584-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Exploring the relationship between various neurotransmitters and breast cancer cell growth has revealed their likely centrality to improving breast cancer treatment. Neurotransmitters play a key role in breast cancer biology through their effects on the cell cycle, epithelial mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, inflammation, the tumor microenvironment and other pathways. Neurotransmitters and their receptors are vital to the initiation, progression and drug resistance of cancer and progress in our biological understanding may point the way to lower-cost and lower-risk antitumor therapeutic strategies. This review discusses multiple neurotransmitters in the context of breast cancer. It also discusses risk factors, repurposing of pharmaceuticals impacting neurotransmitter pathways, and the opportunity for better integrated models that encompass exercise, the intestinal microbiome, and other non-pharmacologic considerations. Neurotransmitters' role in breast cancer should no longer be ignored; it may appear to complicate the molecular picture but the ubiquity of neurotransmitters and their wide-ranging impacts provide an organizing framework upon which further understanding and progress against breast cancer can be based.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Jayachandran
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Francesca Battaglin
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Carly Strelez
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Annika Lenz
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Sandra Algaze
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Shivani Soni
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Jae Ho Lo
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Joshua Millstein
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Wu Zhang
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Jean C Shih
- Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Janice Lu
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Shannon M Mumenthaler
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, US
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Darcy Spicer
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Josh Neman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Evanthia T Roussos Torres
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Heinz-Josef Lenz
- Division of Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, US.
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5
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Pappula AL, Gibson LN, Bouley RA, Petreaca RC. In silico analysis of a SLC6A4 G100V mutation in lung cancers. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2022; 2022:10.17912/micropub.biology.000645. [PMID: 36247322 PMCID: PMC9554669 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
SLC6A4 is a serotonin re-uptake transporter which has been a target for anti-depressant therapies but recently some mutations have been described in cancer cells. Here, we characterize mutations in SLC6A4 that appear in cancer cells. We employed several validated computational and artificial intelligence algorithms to characterize the mutations. We identified a previously uncharacterized G100V mutation in lung cancers. In sillico structural analysis reveals that this mutation may affect SLC6A4 ligand binding and subsequently its function. We also identified several other mutations that may affect the structure of the protein. This preliminary analysis highlights the role of SLC6A4 in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ruben C Petreaca
- The Ohio State University
,
Correspondence to: Ruben C Petreaca (
)
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6
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Baú-Carneiro JL, Akemi Guirao Sumida I, Gallon M, Zaleski T, Boia-Ferreira M, Bridi Cavassin F. Sertraline repositioning: an overview of its potential use as a chemotherapeutic agent after four decades of tumor reversal studies. Transl Oncol 2021; 16:101303. [PMID: 34911014 PMCID: PMC8681026 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101303] [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: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirteen different neoplasms were shown to be susceptible to the antidepressant drug sertraline. The mechanisms of action through which sertraline can kill tumor cells are apoptosis, autophagy, and drug synergism. Sertraline inhibits TCTP, a tumor protein involved in cell survival pathways, responsible for reducing p53 levels. The testing of sertraline in vitro and in vivo resulted in reduced cell counting, shrinking of tumoral masses and increased survival rates. Dose extrapolation from animals to humans has shown a therapeutic index of sertraline that could support future clinical trials.
Sertraline hydrochloride is a first-line antidepressant with potential antineoplastic properties because of its structural similarity with other drugs capable to inhibit the translation-controlled tumor protein (TCTP), a biomolecule involved in cell proliferation. Recent studies suggest it could be repositioned for cancer treatment. In this review, we systematically map the findings that repurpose sertraline as an antitumoral agent, including the mechanisms of action that support this hypotesis. From experimental in vivo and in vitro tumor models of thirteen different types of neoplasms, three mechanisms of action are proposed: apoptosis, autophagy, and drug synergism. The antidepressant is able to inhibit TCTP, modulate chemotherapeutical resistance and exhibit proper cytotoxicity, resulting in reduced cell counting (in vitro) and shrunken tumor masses (in vivo). A mathematical equation determined possible doses to be used in human beings, supporting that sertraline could be explored in clinical trials as a TCTP-inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Luiz Baú-Carneiro
- Medical School Undergraduate Program, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe (FPP), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Malu Gallon
- Medical School Undergraduate Program, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe (FPP), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Tânia Zaleski
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe (FPP), Curitiba, Brazil; Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual do Paraná (UNESPAR), Paranaguá, Brazil; Post Graduate Program of National Network's in Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Marianna Boia-Ferreira
- Postdoctoral Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
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7
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Nykamp MJ, Zorumski CF, Reiersen AM, Nicol GE, Cirrito J, Lenze EJ. Opportunities for Drug Repurposing of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Potential Uses in Inflammation, Infection, Cancer, Neuroprotection, and Alzheimer's Disease Prevention. PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY 2021; 55:24-29. [PMID: 34875696 DOI: 10.1055/a-1686-9620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are safe and widely used for a variety of indications including depressive disorders, anxiety, and chronic pain. Besides inhibiting the serotonin transporter, these medications have broad-spectrum properties in many systems. Their roles have been studied in cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and infectious processes. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of drug repurposing of medications already in use. We conducted a narrative review of current evidence and ongoing research on drug repurposing of SRIs, with a focus on immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and neuroprotective activity. SRIs may have clinical use as repurposed agents for a wide variety of conditions including but not limited to COVID-19, Alzheimer's disease, and neoplastic processes. Further research, particularly randomized controlled trials, will be necessary to confirm the utility of SRIs for new indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline J Nykamp
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Charles F Zorumski
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Angela M Reiersen
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ginger E Nicol
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John Cirrito
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric J Lenze
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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8
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Schneider MA, Heeb L, Beffinger MM, Pantelyushin S, Linecker M, Roth L, Lehmann K, Ungethüm U, Kobold S, Graf R, van den Broek M, Vom Berg J, Gupta A, Clavien PA. Attenuation of peripheral serotonin inhibits tumor growth and enhances immune checkpoint blockade therapy in murine tumor models. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabc8188. [PMID: 34524861 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abc8188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel André Schneider
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Laura Heeb
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michal Mateusz Beffinger
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zürich, Wagistrasse 12, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Stanislav Pantelyushin
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zürich, Wagistrasse 12, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Michael Linecker
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lilian Roth
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland.,Surgical Oncology Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kuno Lehmann
- Surgical Oncology Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Udo Ungethüm
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Lindwurmstrasse 2a, D-80337 Munich, Germany.,German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 8a, D-80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Rolf Graf
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maries van den Broek
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Vom Berg
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zürich, Wagistrasse 12, CH-8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Anurag Gupta
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Alain Clavien
- Laboratory of the Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Centre, Department of Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zürich, Raemistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
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9
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Zheng Y, Karnoub AE. Endocrine regulation of cancer stem cell compartments in breast tumors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 535:111374. [PMID: 34242715 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells within breast tumors exist within a hierarchy in which only a small and rare subset of cells is able to regenerate growths with the heterogeneity of the original tumor. These highly malignant cancer cells, which behave like stem cells for new cancers and are called "cancer stem cells" or CSCs, have also been shown to possess increased resistance to therapeutics, and represent the root cause underlying therapy failures, persistence of residual disease, and relapse. As >90% of cancer deaths are due to refractory tumors, identification of critical molecular drivers of the CSC-state would reveal vulnerabilities that can be leveraged in designing therapeutics that eradicate advanced disease and improve patient survival outcomes. An expanding and complex body of work has now described the exquisite susceptibility of CSC pools to the regulatory influences of local and systemic hormones. Indeed, breast CSCs express a plethora of hormonal receptors, which funnel hormonal influences over every aspect of breast neoplasia - be it tumor onset, growth, survival, invasion, metastasis, or therapy resistance - via directly impacting CSC behavior. This article is intended to shed light on this active area of investigation by attempting to provide a systematic and comprehensive overview of the available evidence directly linking hormones to breast CSC biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurong Zheng
- Department of Pathology and Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Antoine E Karnoub
- Department of Pathology and Cancer Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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10
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Ye D, Xu H, Tang Q, Xia H, Zhang C, Bi F. The role of 5-HT metabolism in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188618. [PMID: 34428515 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism has long been linked to tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Numerous studies have shown the functions of 5-HT and its metabolites in the regulation of tumor biological processes like cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, tumor angiogenesis and immunomodulatory through multi-step complex mechanisms. Reprogramming of 5-HT metabolism has been revealed in various tumors paving way for development of drugs that target enzymes, metabolites or receptors involved in 5-HT metabolic pathway. However, information on the role of 5-HT metabolism in cancer is scanty. This review briefly describes the main metabolic routes of 5-HT, the role of 5-HT metabolism in cancer and systematically summarizes the most recent advances in 5-HT metabolism-targeted cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Ye
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Huanji Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Qiulin Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Hongwei Xia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Chenliang Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China
| | - Feng Bi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610041, China.
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11
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Duarte D, Cardoso A, Vale N. Synergistic Growth Inhibition of HT-29 Colon and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells with Simultaneous and Sequential Combinations of Antineoplastics and CNS Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147408. [PMID: 34299028 PMCID: PMC8306770 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Several central nervous system (CNS) drugs exhibit potent anti-cancer activities. This study aimed to design a novel model of combination that combines different CNS agents and antineoplastic drugs (5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and paclitaxel (PTX)) for colorectal and breast cancer therapy, respectively. Cytotoxic effects of 5-FU and PTX alone and in combination with different CNS agents were evaluated on HT-29 colon and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, respectively. Three antimalarials alone and in combination with 5-FU were also evaluated in HT-29 cells. Different schedules and concentrations in a fixed ratio were added to the cultured cells and incubated for 48 h. Cell viability was evaluated using MTT and SRB assays. Synergism was evaluated using the Chou-Talalay, Bliss Independence and HSA methods. Our results demonstrate that fluphenazine, fluoxetine and benztropine have enhanced anticancer activity when used alone as compared to being used in combination, making them ideal candidates for drug repurposing in colorectal cancer (CRC). Regarding MCF-7 cells, sertraline was the most promising candidate alone for drug repurposing, with the lowest IC50 value. For HT-29 cells, the CNS drugs sertraline and thioridazine in simultaneous combination with 5-FU demonstrated the strongest synergism among all combinations. In MCF-7 breast cancer cells, the combination of fluoxetine, fluphenazine and benztropine with PTX resulted in synergism for all concentrations below IC50. We also found that the antimalarial artesunate administration prior to 5-FU produces better results in reducing HT-29 cell viability than the inverse drug schedule or the simultaneous combination. These results demonstrate that CNS drugs activity differs between the two selected cell lines, both alone and in combination, and support that some CNS agents may be promising candidates for drug repurposing in these types of cancers. Additionally, these results demonstrate that 5-FU or a combination of PTX with CNS drugs should be further evaluated. These results also demonstrate that antimalarial drugs may also be used as antitumor agents in colorectal cancer, besides breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Duarte
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Armando Cardoso
- NeuroGen Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- Unit of Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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12
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Gwynne WD, Shakeel MS, Girgis-Gabardo A, Hassell JA. The Role of Serotonin in Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113171. [PMID: 34073226 PMCID: PMC8198186 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast tumors were the first tumors of epithelial origin shown to follow the cancer stem cell model. The model proposes that cancer stem cells are uniquely endowed with tumorigenic capacity and that their aberrant differentiation yields non-tumorigenic progeny, which constitute the bulk of the tumor cell population. Breast cancer stem cells resist therapies and seed metastases; thus, they account for breast cancer recurrence. Hence, targeting these cells is essential to achieve durable breast cancer remissions. We identified compounds including selective antagonists of multiple serotonergic system pathway components required for serotonin biosynthesis, transport, activity via multiple 5-HT receptors (5-HTRs), and catabolism that reduce the viability of breast cancer stem cells of both mouse and human origin using multiple orthologous assays. The molecular targets of the selective antagonists are expressed in breast tumors and breast cancer cell lines, which also produce serotonin, implying that it plays a required functional role in these cells. The selective antagonists act synergistically with chemotherapy to shrink mouse mammary tumors and human breast tumor xenografts primarily by inducing programmed tumor cell death. We hypothesize those serotonergic proteins of diverse activity function by common signaling pathways to maintain cancer stem cell viability. Here, we summarize our recent findings and the relevant literature regarding the role of serotonin in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D. Gwynne
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada;
| | - Mirza S. Shakeel
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (M.S.S.); (A.G.-G.)
| | - Adele Girgis-Gabardo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (M.S.S.); (A.G.-G.)
| | - John A. Hassell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (M.S.S.); (A.G.-G.)
- Correspondence:
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Ye D, Xu H, Xia H, Zhang C, Tang Q, Bi F. Targeting SERT promotes tryptophan metabolism: mechanisms and implications in colon cancer treatment. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:173. [PMID: 34006301 PMCID: PMC8132442 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01971-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Serotonin signaling has been associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Targeting the serotonin transporter to block serotonin cellular uptake confers antineoplastic effects in various tumors, including colon cancer. However, the antineoplastic mechanism of serotonin transporter inhibition and serotonin metabolism alterations in the absence of serotonin transporter have not been elucidated, especially in colon cancer, which might limit anti-tumor effects associating with targeting serotonin transporter. Methods The promotion in the uptake and catabolism of extracellular tryptophan and targeting serotonin transporter was detected by using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Western blotting Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence was utilized to research the serotonylation of mTOR by serotonin and serotonin transporter inhibition. The primary mouse model, homograft model and tissue microarry was used to explore the tryptophan pathway in colon cancer. The cell viability assay, western blotting, xenograft and primary colon cancer mouse model were used to identify whether the combination of sertraline and tryptophan restriction had a synergistic effect. Results Targeting serotonin transporter through genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition in vitro and in vivo induced a compensatory effect by promoting the uptake and catabolism of extracellular tryptophan in colon cancer. Mechanistically, targeting serotonin transporter suppressed mTOR serotonylation, leading to mTOR inactivation and increased tryptophan uptake. In turn, this process promoted serotonin biosynthesis and oncogenic metabolite kynurenine production through enhanced tryptophan catabolism. Tryptophan deprivation, or blocking its uptake by using trametinib, a MEK inhibitor, can sensitize colon cancer to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Conclusions The present study elucidated a novel feedback mechanism involved in the regulation of serotonin homeostasis and suggested innovative strategies for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors-based treatment of colon cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01971-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Ye
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular, Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Huanji Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular, Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hongwei Xia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular, Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Chenliang Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular, Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Qiulin Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular, Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Feng Bi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular, Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
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14
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Santin Y, Resta J, Parini A, Mialet-Perez J. Monoamine oxidases in age-associated diseases: New perspectives for old enzymes. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 66:101256. [PMID: 33434685 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Population aging is one of the most significant social changes of the twenty-first century. This increase in longevity is associated with a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, further rising healthcare costs. At the molecular level, cellular senescence has been identified as a major process in age-associated diseases, as accumulation of senescent cells with aging leads to progressive organ dysfunction. Of particular importance, mitochondrial oxidative stress and consequent organelle alterations have been pointed out as key players in the aging process, by both inducing and maintaining cellular senescence. Monoamine oxidases (MAOs), a class of enzymes that catalyze the degradation of catecholamines and biogenic amines, have been increasingly recognized as major producers of mitochondrial ROS. Although well-known in the brain, evidence showing that MAOs are also expressed in a variety of peripheral organs stimulated a growing interest in the extra-cerebral roles of these enzymes. Besides, the fact that MAO-A and/or MAO-B are frequently upregulated in aged or dysfunctional organs has uncovered new perspectives on their roles in pathological aging. In this review, we will give an overview of the major results on the regulation and function of MAOs in aging and age-related diseases, paying a special attention to the mechanisms linked to the increased degradation of MAO substrates or related to MAO-dependent ROS formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohan Santin
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (I2MC), INSERM, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jessica Resta
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (I2MC), INSERM, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Angelo Parini
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (I2MC), INSERM, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jeanne Mialet-Perez
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (I2MC), INSERM, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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15
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Effect of SSRI exposure on the proliferation rate and glucose uptake in breast and ovary cancer cell lines. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1250. [PMID: 33441923 PMCID: PMC7806821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80850-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy amongst women worldwide while ovarian cancer represents the leading cause of death among gynecological malignancies. Women suffering from these cancers displayed heightened rates of major depressive disorder, and antidepressant treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is frequently recommended. Recently, narrative reviews and meta-analyses showed increased recurrence risks and mortality rates in SSRI-treated women with breast and ovarian cancer. We therefore examined whether three commonly prescribed SSRIs, fluoxetine, sertraline and citalopram, affect proliferation or glucose uptake of human breast and ovarian cancer cell lines characterized by different malignancies and metastatic potential. SSRI treatment or serotonin stimulation with therapeutically relevant concentrations over various time periods revealed no consistent dose- or time-dependent effect on proliferation rates. A marginal, but significant increase in glucose uptake was observed in SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells upon fluoxetine or sertraline, but not citalopram treatment. In three breast cancer cell lines and in two additional ovarian cancer cell lines no significant effect of SSRIs on glucose uptake was observed. Our data suggest that the observed increase in recurrence- and mortality rates in SSRI-treated cancer patients is unlikely to be linked to antidepressant therapies.
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16
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Geeraerts SL, Kampen KR, Rinaldi G, Gupta P, Planque M, Louros N, Heylen E, De Cremer K, De Brucker K, Vereecke S, Verbelen B, Vermeersch P, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F, Cassiman D, Fendt SM, Voet A, Cammue BPA, Thevissen K, De Keersmaecker K. Repurposing the Antidepressant Sertraline as SHMT Inhibitor to Suppress Serine/Glycine Synthesis-Addicted Breast Tumor Growth. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:50-63. [PMID: 33203732 PMCID: PMC7611204 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring is a hallmark of cancer that supports tumor growth, survival, and chemotherapy resistance. Although normal cells often rely on extracellular serine and glycine supply, a significant subset of cancers becomes addicted to intracellular serine/glycine synthesis, offering an attractive drug target. Previously developed inhibitors of serine/glycine synthesis enzymes did not reach clinical trials due to unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles, implying that further efforts to identify clinically applicable drugs targeting this pathway are required. In this study, we aimed to develop therapies that can rapidly enter the clinical practice by focusing on drug repurposing, as their safety and cost-effectiveness have been optimized before. Using a yeast model system, we repurposed two compounds, sertraline and thimerosal, for their selective toxicity against serine/glycine synthesis-addicted breast cancer and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. Isotope tracer metabolomics, computational docking, enzymatic assays, and drug-target interaction studies revealed that sertraline and thimerosal inhibit serine/glycine synthesis enzymes serine hydroxymethyltransferase and phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, respectively. In addition, we demonstrated that sertraline's antiproliferative activity was further aggravated by mitochondrial inhibitors, such as the antimalarial artemether, by causing G1-S cell-cycle arrest. Most notably, this combination also resulted in serine-selective antitumor activity in breast cancer mouse xenografts. Collectively, this study provides molecular insights into the repurposed mode-of-action of the antidepressant sertraline and allows to delineate a hitherto unidentified group of cancers being particularly sensitive to treatment with sertraline. Furthermore, we highlight the simultaneous inhibition of serine/glycine synthesis and mitochondrial metabolism as a novel treatment strategy for serine/glycine synthesis-addicted cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shauni Lien Geeraerts
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics - Plant Fungi Interactions (CMPG-PFI), KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Kim Rosalie Kampen
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Gianmarco Rinaldi
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Purvi Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Mélanie Planque
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nikolaos Louros
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elien Heylen
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat De Cremer
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics - Plant Fungi Interactions (CMPG-PFI), KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Katrijn De Brucker
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics - Plant Fungi Interactions (CMPG-PFI), KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Stijn Vereecke
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benno Verbelen
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Vermeersch
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Cassiman
- Department of Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arnout Voet
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Bruno P A Cammue
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics - Plant Fungi Interactions (CMPG-PFI), KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Karin Thevissen
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics - Plant Fungi Interactions (CMPG-PFI), KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Kim De Keersmaecker
- Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium.
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Gwynne WD, Shakeel MS, Girgis-Gabardo A, Kim KH, Ford E, Dvorkin-Gheva A, Aarts C, Isaac M, Al-Awar R, Hassell JA. Antagonists of the serotonin receptor 5A target human breast tumor initiating cells. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:724. [PMID: 32758183 PMCID: PMC7404930 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07193-6] [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: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast tumor initiating cells (BTIC) are stem-like cells that initiate and sustain tumor growth, and drive disease recurrence. Identifying therapies targeting BTIC has been hindered due primarily to their scarcity in tumors. We previously reported that BTIC frequency ranges between 15% and 50% in multiple mammary tumors of 3 different transgenic mouse models of breast cancer and that this frequency is maintained in tumor cell populations cultured in serum-free, chemically defined media as non-adherent tumorspheres. The latter enabled high-throughput screening of small molecules for their capacity to affect BTIC survival. Antagonists of several serotonin receptors (5-HTRs) were among the hit compounds. The most potent compound we identified, SB-699551, selectively binds to 5-HT5A, a Gαi/o protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Methods We evaluated the activity of structurally unrelated selective 5-HT5A antagonists using multiple orthogonal assays of BTIC frequency. Thereafter we used a phosphoproteomic approach to uncover the mechanism of action of SB-699551. To validate the molecular target of the antagonists, we used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to conditionally knockout HTR5A in a breast tumor cell line. Results We found that selective antagonists of 5-HT5A reduced the frequency of tumorsphere initiating cells residing in breast tumor cell lines and those of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) that we established. The most potent compound among those tested, SB-699551, reduced the frequency of BTIC in ex vivo assays and acted in concert with chemotherapy to shrink human breast tumor xenografts in vivo. Our phosphoproteomic experiments established that exposure of breast tumor cells to SB-699551 elicited signaling changes in the canonical Gαi/o-coupled pathway and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis. Moreover, conditional mutation of the HTR5A gene resulted in the loss of tumorsphere initiating cells and BTIC thus mimicking the effect of SB-699551. Conclusions Our data provide genetic, pharmacological and phosphoproteomic evidence consistent with the on-target activity of SB-699551. The use of such agents in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy provides a novel therapeutic approach to treat breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Gwynne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Mirza S Shakeel
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Adele Girgis-Gabardo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Kwang H Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Emily Ford
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Anna Dvorkin-Gheva
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Craig Aarts
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Methvin Isaac
- Drug Discovery Group, The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Ave Suite 510, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Rima Al-Awar
- Drug Discovery Group, The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, 661 University Ave Suite 510, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - John A Hassell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
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Alhadab AA, Brundage RC. Physiologically‐Based Pharmacokinetic Model of Sertraline in Human to Predict Clinical Relevance of Concentrations at Target Tissues. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2020; 108:136-144. [DOI: 10.1002/cpt.1824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali A. Alhadab
- Oncology Clinical Pharmacology Pfizer Inc. San Diego California USA
| | - Richard C. Brundage
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
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19
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Gwynne WD, Shakeel MS, Wu J, Hallett RM, Girgis-Gabardo A, Dvorkin-Gheva A, Hassell JA. Monoamine oxidase-A activity is required for clonal tumorsphere formation by human breast tumor cells. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2019; 24:59. [PMID: 31754354 PMCID: PMC6852929 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-019-0183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast tumor growth and recurrence are driven by an infrequent population of breast tumor-initiating cells (BTIC). We and others have reported that the frequency of BTIC is orders of magnitude higher when breast tumor cells are propagated in vitro as clonal spheres, termed tumorspheres, by comparison to adherent cells. We exploited the latter to screen > 35,000 small molecules to identify agents capable of targeting BTIC. We unexpectedly discovered that selective antagonists of serotonin signaling were among the hit compounds. To better understand the relationship between serotonin and BTIC we expanded our analysis to include monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), an enzyme that metabolizes serotonin. Methods We used the Nanostring technology and Western blotting to determine whether MAO-A is expressed in human breast tumor cell lines cultured as tumorspheres by comparison to those grown as adherent cells. We then determined whether MAO-A activity is required for tumorsphere formation, a surrogate in vitro assay for BTIC, by assessing whether selective MAO-A inhibitors affect the frequency of tumorsphere-forming cells. To learn whether MAO-A expression in breast tumor cells is associated with other reported properties of BTIC such as anticancer drug resistance or breast tumor recurrence, we performed differential gene expression analyses using publicly available transcriptomic datasets. Results Tumorspheres derived from human breast tumor cell lines representative of every breast cancer clinical subtype displayed increased expression of MAO-A transcripts and protein by comparison to adherent cells. Surprisingly, inhibition of MAO-A activity with selective inhibitors reduced the frequency of tumorsphere-forming cells. We also found that increased MAO-A expression is a common feature of human breast tumor cell lines that have acquired anticancer drug resistance and is associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients that experienced high-grade, ER-negative (ER−) breast tumors. Conclusions Our data suggests that MAO-A activity is required for tumorsphere formation and that its expression in breast tumor cells is associated with BTIC-related properties. The discovery that a selective MAO-A inhibitor targets tumorsphere-forming cells with potencies in the nanomolar range provides the first evidence of this agent’s anticancer property. These data warrant further investigation of the link between MAO-A and BTIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Gwynne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Mirza S Shakeel
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Jianhan Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Robin M Hallett
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Adele Girgis-Gabardo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Anna Dvorkin-Gheva
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - John A Hassell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
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20
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Gwynne WD, Hallett RM, Girgis-Gabardo A, Bojovic B, Dvorkin-Gheva A, Aarts C, Dias K, Bane A, Hassell JA. Serotonergic system antagonists target breast tumor initiating cells and synergize with chemotherapy to shrink human breast tumor xenografts. Oncotarget 2018; 8:32101-32116. [PMID: 28404880 PMCID: PMC5458271 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast tumors comprise an infrequent tumor cell population, termed breast tumor initiating cells (BTIC), which sustain tumor growth, seed metastases and resist cytotoxic therapies. Hence therapies are needed to target BTIC to provide more durable breast cancer remissions than are currently achieved. We previously reported that serotonergic system antagonists abrogated the activity of mouse BTIC resident in the mammary tumors of a HER2-overexpressing model of breast cancer. Here we report that antagonists of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) biosynthesis and activity, including US Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antidepressants, targeted BTIC resident in numerous breast tumor cell lines regardless of their clinical or molecular subtype. Notably, inhibitors of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), required for 5-HT biosynthesis in select non-neuronal cells, the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) and several 5-HT receptors compromised BTIC activity as assessed by functional sphere-forming assays. Consistent with these findings, human breast tumor cells express TPH1, 5-HT and SERT independent of their molecular or clinical subtype. Exposure of breast tumor cells ex vivo to sertraline (Zoloft), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), reduced BTIC frequency as determined by transplanting drug-treated tumor cells into immune-compromised mice. Moreover, another SSRI (vilazodone; Viibryd) synergized with chemotherapy to shrink breast tumor xenografts in immune-compromised mice by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing their apoptosis. Collectively our data suggest that antidepressants in combination with cytotoxic anticancer therapies may be an appropriate treatment regimen for testing in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Gwynne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Robin M Hallett
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Canada
| | | | - Bojana Bojovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Anna Dvorkin-Gheva
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Craig Aarts
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Kay Dias
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Anita Bane
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
| | - John A Hassell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
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21
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Zhang HP, Li GQ, Guo WZ, Chen GH, Tang HW, Yan B, Li J, Zhang JK, Wen PH, Wang ZH, Lv JF, Zhang SJ. Oridonin synergistically enhances JQ1-triggered apoptosis in hepatocellular cancer cells through mitochondrial pathway. Oncotarget 2017; 8:106833-106843. [PMID: 29290992 PMCID: PMC5739777 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Domain (BET) inhibitors, such as JQ1 have emerged as novel drug candidates and are being enthusiastically pursued in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. However, many solid cancers are resistance to BET inhibitors. To explore methods for improving the therapeutic potential of BET inhibitors, we investigated the combinational activity of JQ1 with Oridonin, a bioactive molecules derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Our results showed that Oridonin synergistically enhanced the abilities of JQ1 to inhibit cell viability in HCC cells and, significantly augmented JQ1-triggered apoptosis in HCC cells and in HCC cancer stem-like cells. Moreover, Oridonin dose-dependently inhibited the expression of several anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (xIAP) in HCC cells. Cell fractionation and western blotting analysis showed that the enhancement of apoptosis by Oridonin was associated with cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-9, -3 and cleavage of PARP, indicating the activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that Oridonin may be used to effectively enhance the sensitivity of BET inhibitors in HCC therapy via downregulation of the expression of multiple anti-apoptotic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Peng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Gong-Quan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wen-Zhi Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Guang-Hui Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hong-Wei Tang
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jia-Kai Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Pei-Hao Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jian-Feng Lv
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shui-Jun Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Amson R, Auclair C, André F, Karp J, Telerman A. Targeting TCTP with Sertraline and Thioridazine in Cancer Treatment. Results Probl Cell Differ 2017; 64:283-290. [PMID: 29149415 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67591-6_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
We have initially demonstrated in knocking down experiments that decreasing TCTP in cancer cells leads in some tissues to cell death while in others to a complete reorganization of the tumor into architectural structures reminiscent of normal ones. Based on these experiments and a series of other findings confirming the key role of TCTP in cancer, it became important to find pharmacological compounds to inhibit its function, and this became for us a priority. In the present text, we explain in detail the experiments that were performed and the perspectives of sertraline in cancer treatment, as this became today a reality with a clinical study that started in collaboration with Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Amson
- Bâtiment B2M, Institut Gustave Roussy, Unité Inserm U981, 114 rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805, Villejuif, France.
| | - Christian Auclair
- CNRS-UMR 8113, LBPA, École Normale Supérieure, 61 avenue du Président Wilson, 94235, Cachan, France
| | - Fabrice André
- Institut Gustave Roussy, Unité Inserm U981, Bâtiment B2M, 114 rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Judith Karp
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, 21231-1000, USA
| | - Adam Telerman
- Bâtiment B2M, Institut Gustave Roussy, Unité Inserm U981, 114 rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805, Villejuif, France
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