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Bazzichetto C, Di Martile M, Del Bufalo D, Milella M, Conciatori F. Induction of cell death by the CXCR2 antagonist SB225002 in colorectal cancer and stromal cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2025; 188:118203. [PMID: 40412356 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2025] [Revised: 05/13/2025] [Accepted: 05/21/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Molecular targeted therapies have had great success in cancer treatment due to their high efficacy and selectivity. Identifying specific prognostic/predictive biomarkers helps clinicians stratify patients according to individual characteristics and improves patient quality of life in terms of disease control and survival. In our previous work, we identified Interleukin-8 as an important prognostic biomarker according to specific genomic alterations of colorectal cancers, leading us to investigate the effects of its axis inhibition, by targeting the Interleukin-8 receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. Here, we show that dual CXCR1/2 inhibition does not affect colorectal cancer cell viability, whereas CXCR2-selective inhibition by SB225002 reduces cell viability in responder colorectal cancer cell lines. More specifically, these responder cells undergo programmed cell death upon SB225002 treatment, while non responder cell lines incur in a reversible G2/M arrest. Interestingly, the same response in terms of inhibition of cell viability also occurs in the stromal compartment (normal fibroblasts): however, in this compartment, the G2/M block is non reversible, hence leading to non-apoptotic cell death. These findings suggest that SB225002 could be a potential therapeutic agent in colorectal cancer, by affecting not only cell viability, but also tumor-stroma interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bazzichetto
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine - Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona, and Verona University and Hospital Trust (AOUI), Verona, Italy
| | - Fabiana Conciatori
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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D'Aguanno S, Brignone M, Scalera S, Chiacchiarini M, Di Martile M, Valentini E, De Nicola F, Ricci A, Pelle F, Botti C, Maugeri-Saccà M, Del Bufalo D. Bcl-2 dependent modulation of Hippo pathway in cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:277. [PMID: 38755629 PMCID: PMC11097437 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01647-1] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL are the most studied anti-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family proteins. We previously characterized both of them, not only for their role in regulating apoptosis and resistance to therapy in cancer cells, but also for their non-canonical functions, mainly including promotion of cancer progression, metastatization, angiogenesis, and involvement in the crosstalk among cancer cells and components of the tumor microenvironment. Our goal was to identify transcriptional signature and novel cellular pathways specifically modulated by Bcl-2. METHODS We performed RNAseq analysis of siRNA-mediated transient knockdown of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL in human melanoma cells and gene ontology analysis to identify a specific Bcl-2 transcriptional signature. Expression of genes modulated by Bcl-2 and associated to Hippo pathway were validated in human melanoma, breast adenocarcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines by qRT-PCR. Western blotting analysis were performed to analyse protein expression of upstream regulators of YAP and in relation to different level of Bcl-2 protein. The effects of YAP silencing in Bcl-2 overexpressing cancer cells were evaluated in migration and cell viability assays in relation to different stiffness conditions. In vitro wound healing assays and co-cultures were used to evaluate cancer-specific Bcl-2 ability to activate fibroblasts. RESULTS We demonstrated the Bcl-2-dependent modulation of Hippo Pathway in cancer cell lines from different tumor types by acting on upstream YAP regulators. YAP inhibition abolished the ability of Bcl-2 to increase tumor cell migration and proliferation on high stiffness condition of culture, to stimulate in vitro fibroblasts migration and to induce fibroblasts activation. CONCLUSIONS We discovered that Bcl-2 regulates the Hippo pathway in different tumor types, promoting cell migration, adaptation to higher stiffness culture condition and fibroblast activation. Our data indicate that Bcl-2 inhibitors should be further investigated to counteract cancer-promoting mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy.
| | - Matteo Brignone
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Stefano Scalera
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Martina Chiacchiarini
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Valentini
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Ricci
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, 66100, Italy
| | - Fabio Pelle
- Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Claudio Botti
- Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Marcello Maugeri-Saccà
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
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Yang Y, Liu P, Zhou M, Yin L, Wang M, Liu T, Jiang X, Gao H. Small-molecule drugs of colorectal cancer: Current status and future directions. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:166880. [PMID: 37696461 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166880] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the world's fourth most deadly cancer. CRC, as a genetic susceptible disease, faces significant challenges in optimizing prognosis through optimal drug treatment modalities. In recent decades, the development of innovative small-molecule drugs is expected to provide targeted interventions that accurately address the different molecular characteristics of CRC. Although the clinical application of single-target drugs is limited by the heterogeneity and high metastasis of CRC, novel small-molecule drug treatment strategies such as dual/multiple-target drugs, drug repurposing, and combination therapies can help overcome these challenges and provide new insights for improving CRC treatment. In this review, we focus on the current status of a range of small molecule drugs that are being considered for CRC therapy, including single-target drugs, dual/multiple-target drugs, drug repurposing and combination strategies, which will pave the way for targeting CRC vulnerabilities with small-molecule drugs in future personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiren Yang
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengyu Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyang Zhou
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323, United States
| | - Linzhou Yin
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowen Jiang
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Huiyuan Gao
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
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Wu P, Guo J, Yang H, Yuan D, Wang C, Wang Z. Exosomes Derived from Hypoxic Glioma Cells Reduce the Sensitivity of Glioma Cells to Temozolomide Through Carrying miR-106a-5p. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:3589-3598. [PMID: 36248244 PMCID: PMC9556335 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s382690] [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: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypoxia is a frequent feature of solid tumors which significantly affects the efficacy of treatments such as chemotherapy. In addition, exosomes from hypoxic cancer cells could contribute to the chemoresistance of tumor cells through carrying miRNAs. It has been shown that miR-106-5p level was upregulated in glioma. However, whether exosomes derived from hypoxic glioma cells could affect temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in glioma through carrying miR-106a-5p remains unexplored. Methods Exosomes were isolated from glioma cells under normoxia or hypoxia condition. EdU staining and flow cytometry assays were used to assess the cell proliferation and cell apoptosis. The relation between miR-106a-5p and PTEN was investigated by dual luciferase assay. Results MiR-106a-5p was enriched in exosomes derived from hypoxic glioma cells compared to exosomes from cells under normoxia condition. Additionally, hypoxic glioma cells were able to transfer exosomes to glioma cells, resulting in a significant increase of miR-106a-5p level in cells. TMZ remarkably suppressed glioma cell proliferation and triggered cell apoptosis. However, hypoxic glioma cell-derived exosomes markedly promoted the proliferation and suppressed the apoptosis in TMZ-treated glioma cells, and miR-106a-5p inhibitor was able to abolish these phenomena. Meanwhile, PTEN was verified to be a direct target of miR-106a-5p. Furthermore, TMZ elevated PTEN and Bax level and reduced p-Akt level in glioma cells, whereas these changes were reversed by hypoxia glioma cell-derived exosomes. Furthermore, hypoxia glioma cell-derived exosomes reduced the sensitivity of glioma cells to TMZ in vivo via downregulating PTEN. Conclusion Collectively, exosomal miR-106a-5p derived from hypoxia glioma cells could reduce the sensitivity of glioma cells to TMZ through downregulating PTEN. Thus, our study might provide new strategies for improving the clinical efficacy of TMZ on glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peizhang Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, People’s Republic of China,Department of Neurosurgery, Yancheng First People’s Hospital, Yancheng, 224000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yancheng First People’s Hospital, Yancheng, 224000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongwei Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yancheng First People’s Hospital, Yancheng, 224000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Debin Yuan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yancheng First People’s Hospital, Yancheng, 224000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoxiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yancheng First People’s Hospital, Yancheng, 224000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Zhong Wang, Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, People’s Republic of China, Email
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