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Bakshi HA, Mkhael M, Faruck HL, Khan AU, Aljabali AAA, Mishra V, El-Tanani M, Charbe NB, Tambuwala MM. Cellular signaling in the hypoxic cancer microenvironment: Implications for drug resistance and therapeutic targeting. Cell Signal 2024; 113:110911. [PMID: 37805102 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110911] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
The rewiring of cellular metabolism is a defining characteristic of cancer, as tumor cells adapt to acquire essential nutrients from a nutrient-poor environment to sustain their viability and biomass. While hypoxia has been identified as a major factor depriving cancer cells of nutrients, recent studies have revealed that cancer cells distant from supporting blood vessels also face nutrient limitations. To overcome this challenge, hypoxic cancer cells, which heavily rely on glucose as an energy source, employ alternative pathways such as glycogen metabolism and reductive carboxylation of glutamine to meet their energy requirements for survival. Our preliminary studies, alongside others in the field, have shown that under glucose-deficient conditions, hypoxic cells can utilize mannose and maltose as alternative energy sources. This review aims to comprehensively examine the hypoxic cancer microenvironment, its association with drug resistance, and potential therapeutic strategies for targeting this unique niche. Furthermore, we will critically evaluate the current literature on hypoxic cancer microenvironments and explore state-of-the-art techniques used to analyze alternate carbohydrates, specifically mannose and maltose, in complex biological fluids. We will also propose the most effective analytical methods for quantifying mannose and maltose in such biological samples. By gaining a deeper understanding of the hypoxic cancer cell microenvironment and its role in drug resistance, novel therapeutic approaches can be developed to exploit this knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid A Bakshi
- Laboratory of Cancer Therapy Resistance and Drug Target Discovery, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin MN55912, USA; School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, BT521SA, UK.
| | - Michella Mkhael
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, BT521SA, UK
| | - Hakkim L Faruck
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin MN55912, USA
| | - Asad Ullah Khan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Chronic Diseases, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin MN55912, USA
| | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yarmouk University Irbid, Jordan
| | - Vijay Mishra
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Mohamed El-Tanani
- RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nitin B Charbe
- Center for Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutics (Lake Nona), University of Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- Lincoln Medical School, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK.
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Cuevas-Estrada B, Montalvo-Casimiro M, Munguia-Garza P, Ríos-Rodríguez JA, González-Barrios R, Herrera LA. Breaking the Mold: Epigenetics and Genomics Approaches Addressing Novel Treatments and Chemoresponse in TGCT Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097873. [PMID: 37175579 PMCID: PMC10178517 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ-cell tumors (TGCT) have been widely recognized for their outstanding survival rates, commonly attributed to their high sensitivity to cisplatin-based therapies. Despite this, a subset of patients develops cisplatin resistance, for whom additional therapeutic options are unsuccessful, and ~20% of them will die from disease progression at an early age. Several efforts have been made trying to find the molecular bases of cisplatin resistance. However, this phenomenon is still not fully understood, which has limited the development of efficient biomarkers and precision medicine approaches as an alternative that could improve the clinical outcomes of these patients. With the aim of providing an integrative landscape, we review the most recent genomic and epigenomic features attributed to chemoresponse in TGCT patients, highlighting how we can seek to combat cisplatin resistance through the same mechanisms by which TGCTs are particularly hypersensitive to therapy. In this regard, we explore ongoing treatment directions for resistant TGCT and novel targets to guide future clinical trials. Through our exploration of recent findings, we conclude that epidrugs are promising treatments that could help to restore cisplatin sensitivity in resistant tumors, shedding light on potential avenues for better prognosis for the benefit of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berenice Cuevas-Estrada
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Michel Montalvo-Casimiro
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Paulina Munguia-Garza
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Juan Alberto Ríos-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo González-Barrios
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Luis A Herrera
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey 64710, Mexico
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Bui BP, Nguyen PL, Lee K, Cho J. Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1: A Novel Therapeutic Target for the Management of Cancer, Drug Resistance, and Cancer-Related Pain. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246054. [PMID: 36551540 PMCID: PMC9775408 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a key transcription factor that regulates the transcription of many genes that are responsible for the adaptation and survival of tumor cells in hypoxic environments. Over the past few decades, tremendous efforts have been made to comprehensively understand the role of HIF-1 in tumor progression. Based on the pivotal roles of HIF-1 in tumor biology, many HIF-1 inhibitors interrupting expression, stabilization, DNA binding properties, or transcriptional activity have been identified as potential therapeutic agents for various cancers, yet none of these inhibitors have yet been successfully translated into clinically available cancer treatments. In this review, we briefly introduce the regulation of the HIF-1 pathway and summarize its roles in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In addition, we explore the implications of HIF-1 in the development of drug resistance and cancer-related pain: the most commonly encountered obstacles during conventional anticancer therapies. Finally, the current status of HIF-1 inhibitors in clinical trials and their perspectives are highlighted, along with their modes of action. This review provides new insights into novel anticancer drug development targeting HIF-1. HIF-1 inhibitors may be promising combinational therapeutic interventions to improve the efficacy of current cancer treatments and reduce drug resistance and cancer-related pain.
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Thévenod F, Schreiber T, Lee WK. Renal hypoxia-HIF-PHD-EPO signaling in transition metal nephrotoxicity: friend or foe? Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:1573-1607. [PMID: 35445830 PMCID: PMC9095554 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03285-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The kidney is the main organ that senses changes in systemic oxygen tension, but it is also the key detoxification, transit and excretion site of transition metals (TMs). Pivotal to oxygen sensing are prolyl-hydroxylases (PHDs), which hydroxylate specific residues in hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), key transcription factors that orchestrate responses to hypoxia, such as induction of erythropoietin (EPO). The essential TM ion Fe is a key component and regulator of the hypoxia–PHD–HIF–EPO (HPHE) signaling axis, which governs erythropoiesis, angiogenesis, anaerobic metabolism, adaptation, survival and proliferation, and hence cell and body homeostasis. However, inadequate concentrations of essential TMs or entry of non-essential TMs in organisms cause toxicity and disrupt health. Non-essential TMs are toxic because they enter cells and displace essential TMs by ionic and molecular mimicry, e. g. in metalloproteins. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of HPHE interactions with TMs (Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cr, and Pt) as well as their implications in renal physiology, pathophysiology and toxicology. Some TMs, such as Fe and Co, may activate renal HPHE signaling, which may be beneficial under some circumstances, for example, by mitigating renal injuries from other causes, but may also promote pathologies, such as renal cancer development and metastasis. Yet some other TMs appear to disrupt renal HPHE signaling, contributing to the complex picture of TM (nephro-)toxicity. Strikingly, despite a wealth of literature on the topic, current knowledge lacks a deeper molecular understanding of TM interaction with HPHE signaling, in particular in the kidney. This precludes rationale preventive and therapeutic approaches to TM nephrotoxicity, although recently activators of HPHE signaling have become available for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Thévenod
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Strasse 12, 58453, Witten, Germany.
| | - Timm Schreiber
- Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Toxicology, ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Strasse 12, 58453, Witten, Germany
| | - Wing-Kee Lee
- Physiology and Pathophysiology of Cells and Membranes, Medical School EWL, Bielefeld University, R.1 B2-13, Morgenbreede 1, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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You D, Du D, Zhao X, Li X, Ying M, Hu X. Mitochondrial malic enzyme 2 promotes breast cancer metastasis via stabilizing HIF-1α under hypoxia. Chin J Cancer Res 2021; 33:308-322. [PMID: 34321828 PMCID: PMC8286887 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2021.03.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) is the substrate to hydroxylate collagen and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which are important for cancer metastasis. Previous studies have shown that the upregulation of collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase in breast cancer cells stabilizes the expression of HIF-1α by depleting α-KG levels. We hypothesized that mitochondrial malic enzyme 2 (ME2) might also affect HIF-1α expression via modulating α-KG levels in breast cancer cells. Methods We evaluated ME2 protein expression in 100 breast cancer patients using immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological indicators. The effect of ME2 knockout on cancer metastasis was evaluated using an orthotopic breast cancer model. The effect of ME2 knockout or knockdown on the levels of α-KG and HIF-1α proteins in breast cancer cell lines was determined both in vitro and in vivo. Results ME2 was found to be upregulated in the human breast cancerous tissues compared with the matched precancerous tissues (P<0.001). The elevated expression of ME2 was associated with a poor prognosis (P=0.019). ME2 upregulation was also related to lymph node metastasis (P=0.016), pathological staging (P=0.033), and vascular cancer embolus (P=0.014). Also, ME2 knockout significantly inhibited lung metastasisin vivo. In the tumors formed by ME2 knockout cells, the levels of α-KG were significantly increased and collagen hydroxylation level did not change significantly but HIF-1α protein expression was significantly decreased, compared to the control samples. In cell culture, cells with ME2 knockout or knockdown demonstrated significantly higher α-KG levels but significantly lower HIF-1α protein expression than control cells under hypoxia. Exogenous malate and α-KG exerted similar effect on HIF-1α in breast cancer cells to ME2 knockout or knockdown. Additionally, treatment with malate significantly decreased 4T1 breast cancer lung metastasis. ME2 expression was associated with HIF-1α levels in human breast cancer samples (P=0.008). Conclusions Our results provide evidence that upregulation of ME2 is associated with a poor prognosis of breast cancer patients and propose a mechanistic understanding of a link between ME2 and breast cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo You
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Danfeng Du
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment and Henan Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Research of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Xueke Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment and Henan Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Research of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Xinmin Li
- Department of Pathology, Women and Infants Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Minfeng Ying
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Xun Hu
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China
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XPA: DNA Repair Protein of Significant Clinical Importance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062182. [PMID: 32235701 PMCID: PMC7139726 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway is activated in response to a broad spectrum of DNA lesions, including bulky lesions induced by platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents. Expression levels of NER factors and resistance to chemotherapy has been examined with some suggestion that NER plays a role in tumour resistance; however, there is a great degree of variability in these studies. Nevertheless, recent clinical studies have suggested Xeroderma Pigmentosum group A (XPA) protein, a key regulator of the NER pathway that is essential for the repair of DNA damage induced by platinum-based chemotherapeutics, as a potential prognostic and predictive biomarker for response to treatment. XPA functions in damage verification step in NER, as well as a molecular scaffold to assemble other NER core factors around the DNA damage site, mediated by protein–protein interactions. In this review, we focus on the interacting partners and mechanisms of regulation of the XPA protein. We summarize clinical oncology data related to this DNA repair factor, particularly its relationship with treatment outcome, and examine the potential of XPA as a target for small molecule inhibitors.
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Xia Y, Jiang L, Zhong T. The role of HIF-1α in chemo-/radioresistant tumors. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:3003-3011. [PMID: 29872312 PMCID: PMC5973460 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s158206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemo-/radioresistance is a major obstacle in clinical oncology. The precise failure mechanisms of chemo-/radioresistance are multifactorial failures. It is now widely accepted that a tumor hypoxia microenvironment contributes significantly to chemo-/radioresistance. Hypoxia is the most common and obvious neoplastic microenvironment and is due to the rapid proliferation of tumor cells. HIF-1α is a principal molecular mediator of adaptability to hypoxia in tumor cells. HIF-1α activation leads to the transcription of a plethora of target genes that promote physiological changes associated with chemo-/radioresistance, including increasing the ability of DNA repair, the inhibition of apoptosis, and alterations of the cellular metabolism. Moreover, recent findings suggest that HIF-1α-activated autophagy is a crucial factor in the promotion of cell survival under the distressed microenvironment, thereby leading to the chemo-/radioresistance. This chapter presents an overview of the role of HIF-1α in chemo-/radioresistance of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xia
- The Graduate School, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixia Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyu Zhong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
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