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McCorkle JR, Ahn R, Cao CD, Hill KS, Dietrich CS, Kolesar JM. Antineoplastic Drug Synergy of Artesunate with Navitoclax in Models of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1321. [PMID: 38610999 PMCID: PMC11011058 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071321] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Artesunate belongs to a class of medications derived from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua) known as artemisinins. Artesunate has traditionally been used as a frontline treatment for severe malaria but has also demonstrated antineoplastic activity against various malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Data suggest that artesunate exacerbates cellular oxidative stress, triggering apoptosis. In the current study, we investigated the ability of navitoclax, an inhibitor of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein family, to enhance artesunate efficacy in ovarian cancer cells. Artesunate and navitoclax both demonstrated antiproliferative effects on 2D and 3D ovarian cancer cell models as single agents. Upon combination of navitoclax with artesunate, antineoplastic drug synergy was also observed in each of the 2D cell lines and ovarian tumor organoid models tested. Further investigation of this drug combination using intraperitoneal CAOV3 xenograft models in BALB/scid mice showed that the artesunate/navitoclax doublet was superior to single-agent artesunate and vehicle control treatment. However, it did not outperform single-agent navitoclax. With optimization, this drug combination could provide a new therapeutic option for ovarian cancer and warrants further preclinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Robert McCorkle
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (J.R.M.); (K.S.H.); (C.S.D.)
| | - Rebecca Ahn
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
| | - Connie D. Cao
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
| | - Kristen S. Hill
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (J.R.M.); (K.S.H.); (C.S.D.)
| | - Charles S. Dietrich
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (J.R.M.); (K.S.H.); (C.S.D.)
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
| | - Jill M. Kolesar
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (J.R.M.); (K.S.H.); (C.S.D.)
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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2
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Zhong H, Jiang Q, Wu C, Yu H, Li B, Zhou X, Fu R, Wang W, Sheng W. Design, Synthesis, and Antitumor Activity Evaluation of Artemisinin Bivalent Ligands. Molecules 2024; 29:409. [PMID: 38257322 PMCID: PMC10818997 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020409] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Five artemisinin bivalent ligands molecules 4a-4e were designed, synthesized, and confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and low-resolution mass spectrometry, and the bioactivities of the target compounds were investigated against four human tumor cell lines in vitro, including BGC-823, HepG-2, MCF-7, and HCT-116. The results showed 4a, 4d, and 4e exhibited significantly tumor cell inhibitory activity compared with the artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin; compound 4e has good biological activity inhibiting BGC-823 with an IC50 value of 8.30 μmol/L. Then, the good correlations with biological results were validated by molecular docking through the established bivalent ligands multi-target model, which showed that 4e could bind well with the antitumor protein MMP-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhong
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
| | - Qi Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
| | - Cong Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
| | - Huanghe Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
- TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation and Development International Laboratory, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Bin Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
- TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation and Development International Laboratory, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Xudong Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
- TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation and Development International Laboratory, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Ronggeng Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
- TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation and Development International Laboratory, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Wenbing Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China; (H.Z.); (Q.J.); (C.W.); (H.Y.); (B.L.); (X.Z.); (R.F.)
- TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation and Development International Laboratory, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
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3
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Hashemi M, Aparviz R, Beickzade M, Paskeh MDA, Kheirabad SK, Koohpar ZK, Moravej A, Dehghani H, Saebfar H, Zandieh MA, Salimimoghadam S, Rashidi M, Taheriazam A, Entezari M, Samarghandian S. Advances in RNAi therapies for gastric cancer: Targeting drug resistance and nanoscale delivery. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 169:115927. [PMID: 38006616 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115927] [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: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer poses a significant health challenge, and exploring innovative therapeutic strategies is imperative. RNA interference (RNAi) has employed as an important therapeutic strategy for diseases by selectively targeting key pathways involved in diseases pathogenesis. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), a potent RNAi tool, possesses the capability to silence genes and downregulate their expression. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the potential applications of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and short hairpin RNA (shRNA), supplemented by an in-depth analysis of nanoscale delivery systems, in the context of gastric cancer treatment. The potential of siRNA to markedly diminish the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells through the modulation of critical molecular pathways, including PI3K, Akt, and EMT, is highlighted. Besides, siRNA demonstrates its efficacy in inducing chemosensitivity in gastric tumor cells, thus impeding tumor progression. However, the translational potential of unmodified siRNA faces challenges, particularly in vivo and during clinical trials. To address this, we underscore the pivotal role of nanostructures in facilitating the delivery of siRNA to gastric cancer cells, effectively suppressing their progression and enhancing gene silencing efficiency. These siRNA-loaded nanoparticles exhibit robust internalization into gastric cancer cells, showcasing their potential to significantly reduce tumor progression. The translation of these findings into clinical trials holds promise for advancing the treatment of gastric cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rezvaneh Aparviz
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzie Beickzade
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Simin Khorsand Kheirabad
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Khazaei Koohpar
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
| | - Amir Moravej
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Dehghani
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Saebfar
- European University Association, League of European Research Universities, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Mohammad Arad Zandieh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Healthy Ageing Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
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4
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Chatterjee R, Shukla A, Chakrabarti K, Chatterji U. CLEC12A sensitizes differentially responsive breast cancer cells to the anti-cancer effects of artemisinin by repressing autophagy and inflammation. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1242432. [PMID: 38144525 PMCID: PMC10748408 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1242432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Enhanced inflammatory responses promote tumor progression by activating toll-like receptors (TLRs), which in turn are inhibited by C-type lectin like receptors (CTLRs), like CLEC12A. Although the presence of CLEC12A in acute myeloid leukemia is well established, its role in non-hematopoietic tumors is still obscure. In hematopoietic tumors, CLEC12A mostly inhibits TLRs and modulates inflammatory responses via NF-κB signaling. In this study, the fate of tumor progression was determined by modulating CLEC12A using artemisinin (ART), a FDA-approved anti-malarial drug, known for its anti-cancer and immunomodulatory properties with minimal adverse effects on normal cells. Method Effects of ART were primarily determined on hematological factors and primary metastatic organs, such as lungs, kidney and liver in normal and tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with different concentrations of ART and expressions of CLEC12A and associated downstream components were determined. CLEC12A was overexpressed in MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells, and the effects of ART were analyzed in the overexpressed cells. Silencing TLR4 using vivo morpholino was performed to elucidate its role in tumor progression in response to ART. Finally, CLEC12A modulation by ART was evaluated in the resident cancer stem cell (CSC) population. Results ART did not alter physiology of normal mice, in contrast to tumor-bearing mice, where ART led to tumor regression. In addition, ART reduced expression of CLEC12A. Expectedly, TLR4 expression increased, but surprisingly, that of NF-κB (RelA) and JNK/pJNK decreased, along with reduced inflammation, reduced autophagy and increased apoptosis. All the above observations reverted on overexpression of CLEC12A in MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells. Inhibition of TLR4, however, indicated no change in the expressions of CLEC12A, NF-κB, or apoptotic markers. The effect of ART showed a similar trend in the CSC population as in cancer cells. Conclusion This study, for the first time, confirmed a differential role of CLEC12A in non-hematopoietic tumor and cancer stem cells in response to ART. Subsequent interaction and modulation of CLEC12A with ART induced tumor cell death and abrogation of CSCs, confirming a more comprehensive tumor therapy with reduced risk of recurrence. Therefore, ART may be repurposed as an effective drug for cancer treatment in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranodeep Chatterjee
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - Aditya Shukla
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Urmi Chatterji
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
- Centre for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
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5
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Ribeiro LAF, Dos Santos IBF, Ferraz CG, de Souza-Neta LC, Silva VR, Santos LDS, Bezerra DP, Soares MBP, Zambotti-Villela L, Colepicolo P, Ferreira AG, Araújo FM, Ribeiro PR. Bioactive compounds from Vellozia pyrantha A.A.Conc: A metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis approach. Fitoterapia 2023; 171:105686. [PMID: 37748714 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105686] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The chemical composition of V. pyrantha resin (VpR) and fractions (VpFr1-7 and VpWS) were assessed by LC-MS and NMR. Twenty-eight metabolites were identified, including 16 diterpenoids, seven nor-diterpenoids, one fatty acid, one bis-diterpenoid, one steroid, one flavonoid, and one triterpenoid. The pharmacological potential of VpR, VpFr1-7, and isolated compounds was assessed by determining their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. VpFr4 (IC50 = 205.48 ± 3.37 μg.mL-1) had the highest antioxidant activity, whereas VpFr6 (IC50 = 842.79 ± 10.23 μg.mL-1) had the lowest. The resin was only active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 62.5 μg.mL-1) and Salmonella choleraesius (MIC and MFC 500 μg.mL-1), but fractions were enriched with antibacterial compounds. V. pyrantha resin and fractions showed great cytotoxic activity against HCT116 (IC50 = 20.08 μg.mL-1), HepG2 (IC50 = 20.50 μg.mL-1), and B16-F10 (12.17 μg.mL-1) cell lines. Multivariate statistical analysis was used as a powerful tool to pinpoint possible metabolites responsible for the observed activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz A F Ribeiro
- Metabolomics Research Group, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química Aplicada (PGQA), Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Iago B F Dos Santos
- Metabolomics Research Group, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Caline G Ferraz
- Metabolomics Research Group, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química Aplicada (PGQA), Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Lourdes C de Souza-Neta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química Aplicada (PGQA), Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | - Daniel P Bezerra
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | - Pio Colepicolo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio G Ferreira
- Laboratório de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Floricéa M Araújo
- Metabolomics Research Group, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Paulo R Ribeiro
- Metabolomics Research Group, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química Aplicada (PGQA), Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
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Marchesi E, Gentili V, Bortolotti D, Preti L, Marchetti P, Cristofori V, Fantinati A, Rizzo R, Trapella C, Perrone D, Navacchia ML. Dihydroartemisinin-Ursodeoxycholic Bile Acid Hybrids in the Fight against SARS-CoV-2. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:45078-45087. [PMID: 38046338 PMCID: PMC10688034 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Here, we propose the molecular hybridization of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and ursodeoxycholic bile acid (UDCA), approved drugs, for the preparation of antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2. DHA and UDCA were selected on the basis of their recently demonstrated in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2. A selection of DHA-UDCA-based hybrids obtained by varying the nature of the linkage and the bile acid conjugation point as well as unconjugated DHA and UDCA were tested in vitro for cytotoxicity and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity on Vero E6 and Calu-3 human lung cells. The hybrid DHA-t-UDCMe, obtained by conjugation via click chemistry on a gram scale, was identified as a potential candidate for SARS-CoV-2 infection treatment due to significant reduction of viral replication, possibly involving ACE2 downregulation, no cytotoxicity, and chemical stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Marchesi
- Department
of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Gentili
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Daria Bortolotti
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Preti
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Virginia Cristofori
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Anna Fantinati
- Department
of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberta Rizzo
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudio Trapella
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Daniela Perrone
- Department
of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Navacchia
- Institute
for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), National Research
Council of Italy (CNR), Via P. Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy
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7
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Michener CM, Ricci S, AlHilli M, Beffa L, Debernardo R, Waggoner SE, Brainard J, Plesa M, Belinson JL, Trimble CL. Safety and efficacy of topical artesunate for the treatment of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3. Gynecol Oncol 2023; 178:102-109. [PMID: 37839312 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.10.003] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of topical artesunate ointment for treatment of biopsy-confirmed Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) 2/3. METHODS Participants were enrolled on a prospective, IRB-approved, dose-escalation phase I trial testing either 1, 2 or 3 treatment cycles (5 days), every other week, as applicable. Clinical assessments were completed prior to each dose cycle and included exam and review of adverse event (AE) diary cards. HPV testing and colposcopy was completed at 15 and 28 weeks. AEs were assessed according to CTCAE 4.0 criteria. Complete responders (CR) underwent biopsy of the treated site at the 28-weeks while partial (PR) and non (NR)-responders underwent surgical resection or biopsy and ablation. RESULTS Fifteen patients consented to and began treatment. Per-protocol assessments were completed in 100% at 15- and 80% at 28-weeks. All patients completed prescribed cycles with no grade 3 or 4 AEs. Vulvovaginal burning/ was the most common AE occurring in 93.3%. AEs were grade 2 in 23.7% and included vulvovaginal pruritus (n = 3), swelling (n = 3) and candidiasis (n = 2). The highest ORR was in the 3-cycle group (88.9% with 55.6% CR). HPV-16 was detected either alone (46.7%) or with other subtypes (33.3%) in 80% of lesions and 5 of 8 (62.5%) with CR had complete viral clearance. CONCLUSIONS Topical artesunate for treatment of high-grade VIN shows high tolerability, low toxicity and evidence for clinical response in this initial small series. The safety and observed responses support further study in a Phase II trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad M Michener
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
| | - Stephanie Ricci
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Mariam AlHilli
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Lindsey Beffa
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Robert Debernardo
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Steven E Waggoner
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jennifer Brainard
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Mihaela Plesa
- Frantz Medical Group, 7740 Metric Dr., Mentor, OH 44060, USA
| | - Jerome L Belinson
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Preventive Oncology International, 19601 Van Aken Blvd, Apt P5, Shaker Heights, OH 44122-3508, USA
| | - Cornelia L Trimble
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Oncology, and Pathology, USA
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8
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Jochims F, Strohm R, von Montfort C, Wenzel CK, Klahm N, Kondadi AK, Stahl W, Reichert AS, Brenneisen P. The Antimalarial Drug Artesunate Mediates Selective Cytotoxicity by Upregulating HO-1 in Melanoma Cells. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2393. [PMID: 37760834 PMCID: PMC10525565 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092393] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite great efforts to develop new therapeutic strategies to combat melanoma, the prognosis remains rather poor. Artesunate (ART) is an antimalarial drug displaying anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. In this in vitro study, we investigated the selectivity of ART on melanoma cells. Furthermore, we aimed to further elucidate the mechanism of the drug with a focus on the role of iron, the induction of oxidative stress and the implication of the enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). ART treatment decreased the cell viability of A375 melanoma cells while it did not affect the viability of normal human dermal fibroblasts, used as a model for normal (healthy) cells. ART's toxicity was shown to be dependent on intracellular iron and the drug induced high levels of oxidative stress as well as upregulation of HO-1. Melanoma cells deficient in HO-1 or treated with a HO-1 inhibitor were less sensitive towards ART. Taken together, our study demonstrates that ART induces oxidative stress resulting in the upregulation of HO-1 in melanoma cells, which subsequently triggers the effect of ART's own toxicity. This new finding that HO-1 is involved in ART-mediated toxicity may open up new perspectives in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finn Jochims
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (R.S.); (C.-K.W.); (N.K.); (A.K.K.); (W.S.); (A.S.R.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter Brenneisen
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (R.S.); (C.-K.W.); (N.K.); (A.K.K.); (W.S.); (A.S.R.)
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Marchesi E, Perrone D, Navacchia ML. Molecular Hybridization as a Strategy for Developing Artemisinin-Derived Anticancer Candidates. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2185. [PMID: 37765156 PMCID: PMC10536797 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin is a natural compound extracted from Artemisia species belonging to the Asteraceae family. Currently, artemisinin and its derivatives are considered among the most significant small-molecule antimalarial drugs. Artemisinin and its derivatives have also been shown to possess selective anticancer properties, however, there are several limitations and gaps in knowledge that retard their repurposing as effective anticancer agents. Hybridization resulting from a covalent combination of artemisinin with one or more active pharmacophores has emerged as a promising approach to overcome several issues. The variety of hybridization partners allows improvement in artemisinin activity by tuning the ability of conjugated artemisinin to interact with various molecule targets involved in multiple biological pathways. This review highlights the current scenario of artemisinin-derived hybrids with potential anticancer activity. The synthetic approaches to achieve the corresponding hybrids and the structure-activity relationships are discussed to facilitate further rational design of more effective candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Marchesi
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Daniela Perrone
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Maria Luisa Navacchia
- Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 40129 Bologna, Italy
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Makhmudiyarova NN, Ishmukhametova IR, Tyumkina TV, Mescheryakova ES, Dzhemileva L, D'yakonov V, Terent'ev AO, Dzhemilev UM. Multicomponent Assembly of Bicyclic Aza-peroxides Catalyzed by Samarium Complexes and Their Cytotoxic Activity. J Org Chem 2023; 88:11473-11485. [PMID: 37557189 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c00555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
An original strategy toward bridged tetraoxazaspirobicycloalkanes was developed. The synthesis is based on a three-component condensation-cyclization reaction of primary arylamines with 1,1'-peroxybis (1-hydroperoxycycloalkanes) and pentane-1,5-dial catalyzed by Sm(NO3)3·6H2O. The structures and conformations of the products were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. High cytotoxic activity and biological potential toward ferroptosis induction were found for the synthesized bicyclic aza-peroxides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliya N Makhmudiyarova
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 141 prospekt Oktyabrya, 450075 Ufa, Russian Federation
| | - Irina R Ishmukhametova
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 141 prospekt Oktyabrya, 450075 Ufa, Russian Federation
| | - Tatyana V Tyumkina
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 141 prospekt Oktyabrya, 450075 Ufa, Russian Federation
| | - Ekaterina S Mescheryakova
- Institute of Petrochemistry and Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 141 prospekt Oktyabrya, 450075 Ufa, Russian Federation
| | - Lilya Dzhemileva
- N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, 47, Leninsky prospekt, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir D'yakonov
- N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, 47, Leninsky prospekt, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander O Terent'ev
- N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, 47, Leninsky prospekt, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Usein M Dzhemilev
- N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, 47, Leninsky prospekt, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
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11
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Niederreiter M, Klein J, Arndt K, Werner J, Mayer B. Anti-Cancer Effects of Artesunate in Human 3D Tumor Models of Different Complexity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097844. [PMID: 37175551 PMCID: PMC10178545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097844] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The anti-malaria drug Artesunate (ART) shows strong anti-cancer effects in vitro; however, it shows only marginal treatment results in clinical cancer studies. In this study, ART was tested in preclinical 3D cancer models of increasing complexity using clinically relevant peak plasma concentrations to obtain further information for translation into clinical use. ART reduced cell viability in HCT-116 and HT-29 derived cancer spheroids (p < 0.001). HCT-116 spheroids responded dose-dependently, while HT-29 spheroids were affected more strongly by ART than by cytostatics (p < 0.001). HCT-116 spheroids were chemo-sensitized by ART (p < 0.001). In patient-derived cancer spheroids (PDCS), ART led to inhibition of cell viability in 84.62% of the 39 samples tested, with a mean inhibitory effect of 13.87%. Viability reduction of ART was 2-fold weaker than cytostatic monotherapies (p = 0.028). Meanwhile, tumor-stimulation of up to 16.30% was observed in six (15.38%) PDCS-models. In 15 PDCS samples, ART modulated chemotherapies in combined testing, eight of which showed chemo-stimulation (maximum of 36.90%) and seven chemo-inhibition (up to 16.95%). These results demonstrate that ART's anti-cancer efficacy depends on the complexity of the tumor model used. This emphasizes that cancer treatment with ART should be evaluated before treatment of the individual patient to ensure its benefits and prevent unwanted effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Niederreiter
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Klein
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Kerstin Arndt
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Werner
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Mayer
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 8a, 80336 Munich, Germany
- SpheroTec GmbH, Am Klopferspitz 19, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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12
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Tao Y, Li W, Yang J, Xue T, Wang Y, Dong X, Xu H, Ren J, Lu J. Exploring underlying mechanism of artesunate in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Clin Transl Oncol 2023:10.1007/s12094-023-03125-5. [PMID: 36952106 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03125-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous hematological cancer. The current diagnosis and therapy model of AML has gradually shifted to personalization and accuracy. Artesunate, a member of the artemisinin family, has anti-tumor impacts on AML. This research uses network pharmacology and molecular docking to anticipate artesunate potential mechanisms of action in the therapy of AML. METHODS Screening the action targets of artesunate through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), PubChem, and Swiss Target Prediction databases; The databases of Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Disgenet, GeneCards, and Drugbank were utilized to identify target genes of AML, and an effective target of artesunate for AML treatment was obtained through cross-analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks are built on the Cytoscape platform. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted on the relevant targets using R software. Finally, using molecular docking technology and Pymol, we performed verification of the effects of active components and essential targets. RESULTS Artesunate 30 effective targets for treating AML include CASP3, EGFR, MAPK1, and STAT3, four targeted genes that may have a crucial function in disease management. The virus infection-related pathway (HeptatisB (HBV), Human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and etc.), FoxO, viral carcinogenesis, and proteoglycans in cancer signaling pathways have all been hypothesized to be involved in the action mechanism of GO, which is enriched in 2044 biological processes, 125 molecular functions, 209 cellular components, and 106 KEGG pathways. Molecular docking findings revealed that artesunate was critically important in the therapy of AML due to its high affinity for the four primary disease targets. Molecular docking with a low binding energy yields helpful information for developing medicines against AML. CONCLUSIONS Consequently, artesunate may play a role in multi-targeted, multi-signaling pathways in treating AML, suggesting that artesunate may have therapeutic potential for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Tao
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhang Li
- Meishan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Affiliated Meishan Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Meishan, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianying Yang
- Meishan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Affiliated Meishan Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Meishan, Sichuan, China
| | - Tingting Xue
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanlu Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Dong
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianye Ren
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiahui Lu
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Ruan ML, Liu Y, Zhang C, Mao X, Hu D, Lok CN, Yam JWP, Che CM. Dihydroartemisinin engages liver fatty acid binding protein and suppresses metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma growth. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:2747-2750. [PMID: 36757177 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc00265a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin non-covalently binds liver fatty acid binding protein (FABP1) with micromolar affinity, acts as a FABP1-dependent peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonist and inhibits metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Ling Ruan
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China. .,Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Yungen Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, P. R. China
| | - Chunlei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China. .,Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Xiaowen Mao
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Di Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China. .,Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Nam Lok
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China. .,Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Judy Wai Ping Yam
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Chi-Ming Che
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China. .,Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, P. R. China.,Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, P. R. China
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14
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Xu Z, Zhang X, Liu J, Zhao S, Liu J, Zhou W. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Amyl Ester Tethered Dihydroartemisinin-Isatin Hybrids as Potent Anti-Breast Cancer Agents. Chem Biodivers 2023; 20:e202201257. [PMID: 36808231 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202201257] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
A series of novel amyl ester tethered dihydroartemisinin-isatin hybrids 4a-d and 5a-h were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as anti-breast cancer agents. The synthesized hybrids were preliminarily screened against estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231 and) breast cancer cell lines. Three hybrids 4a,d and 5e not only were more potent than artemisinin and adriamycin against drug-resistant MCF-7/ADR and MDA-MB-231/ADR breast cancer cell lines, but also displayed non-cytotoxicity towards normal MCF-10 A breast cells, and the SI values were >4.15, indicating their excellent selectivity and safety profiles. Thus, hybrids 4a,d and 5e could act as potential anti-breast cancer candidates and were worthy of further preclinical evaluations. Moreover, the structure-activity relationships which may facilitate further rational design of more effective candidates were also enriched.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, P. R. China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, P. R. China
| | - Shijia Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, P. R. China
| | - Junna Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, P. R. China
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15
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Zhao S, Zhang X, Tang M, Liu X, Deng J, Zhou W, Xu Z. Design, synthesis and anti-breast cancer properties of butyric ester tethered dihydroartemisinin-isatin hybrids. Med Chem Res 2023; 32:705-712. [PMID: 36816432 PMCID: PMC9926453 DOI: 10.1007/s00044-023-03030-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Fifteen novel butyric ester tethered dihydroartemisinin-isatin hybrids 4a-d and 5a-k were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for cytotoxicity against four human breast cancer cell lines, including MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7/ADR and MDA-MB-231/ADR using the MTT method. A significant part of them were active against the four tested cancer cell lines, and the representative hybrid 5b (IC50: 1.27 µM) was 14.88 -> 78.74 times more active than adriamycin (IC50: 18.90 µM), DHA (IC50: 28.28 µM) and ART (IC50: > 100 µM) against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, whereas hybrid 5c (IC50: 2.39 and 3.95 µM) was superior to adriamycin (IC50: 3.38 and >100 µM), DHA (IC50: 48.80 and 82.78 µM) and ART (IC50: >100 and >100 µM) against MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-231/ADR breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, the selected hybrids (IC50: >100 µM) displayed non-cytotoxicity towards normal MCF-10A breast cells, and the SI values of hybrids 5b,c were >78.74 and >41.84 respectively, demonstrating their excellent selectivity and safety profiles. Accordingly, hybrids 5b,c could serve as promising anti-breast cancer candidates and deserved further preclinical evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijia Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025 Guizhou PR China
| | - Min Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025 Guizhou PR China
| | - Xiaocheng Liu
- Haiso Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430074 P.R. China
| | - Jialun Deng
- Haiso Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430074 P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025 Guizhou PR China
| | - Zhi Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025 China
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Arthur R, Navik U, Kumar P. Repurposing artemisinins as neuroprotective agents: a focus on the PI3k/Akt signalling pathway. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 396:593-605. [PMID: 36464748 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02350-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin and its derivatives, since their discovery by professor Tu Youyou in the early 1970s, have been the bedrock for the management of malaria globally. Recent works have implied that they could be used to manage other diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. Neurodegenerative disorders mainly occur in the adult population resulting from a progressive deterioration of neuronal structures. These include Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Multiple sclerosis (MS), among others. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway plays a significant role in the central nervous system. It has been investigated extensively for its role in central nervous system physiological processes such as cell survival, autophagy, neuronal proliferation, and synaptic plasticity. Therefore, the modulation of this pathway will be crucial in the management of neurodegenerative disorders. This review seeks to compile most of the research findings on the possible neuroprotective role of artemisinins with special emphasis on their modulatory role on the PI3k/Akt pathway. A literature survey was conducted on PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and EMBASE using the keyword artemisinins, and a total of 10,281 articles were retrieved from 1956 to 2022. Among these, 120 articles were examined using Mesh words like PI3k/Akt, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation coupled with boolean operators. Most research revealed that artemisinins could help neurodegenerative disorders by modulating the PI3k/Akt with subsequent inhibition of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis. This paper illustrates that artemisinins could be repurposed as a neuroprotective agent.
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Cheikh IA, El-Baba C, Youssef A, Saliba NA, Ghantous A, Darwiche N. Lessons learned from the discovery and development of the sesquiterpene lactones in cancer therapy and prevention. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:1377-1405. [PMID: 36373806 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2147920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are one of the most diverse bioactive secondary metabolites found in plants and exhibit a broad range of therapeutic properties . SLs have been showing promising potential in cancer clinical trials, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their anticancer potential are being uncovered. Recent evidence also points to a potential utility of SLs in cancer prevention. AREAS COVERED This work evaluates SLs with promising anticancer potential based on cell, animal, and clinical models: Artemisinin, micheliolide, thapsigargin dehydrocostuslactone, arglabin, parthenolide, costunolide, deoxyelephantopin, alantolactone, isoalantolactone, atractylenolide 1, and xanthatin as well as their synthetic derivatives. We highlight actionable molecular targets and biological mechanisms underlying the anticancer therapeutic properties of SLs. This is complemented by a unique assessment of SL mechanisms of action that can be exploited in cancer prevention. We also provide insights into structure-activity and pharmacokinetic properties of SLs and their potential use in combination therapies. EXPERT OPINION We extract seven major lessons learned and present evidence-based solutions that can circumvent some scientific limitations or logistic impediments in SL anticancer research. SLs continue to be at the forefront of cancer drug discovery and are worth a joint interdisciplinary effort in order to leverage their potential in cancer therapy and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israa A Cheikh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Chirine El-Baba
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ali Youssef
- Department of Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Najat A Saliba
- Department of Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Akram Ghantous
- Epigenomics and Mechanisms Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Nadine Darwiche
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Preclinical Study of Plasmodium Immunotherapy Combined with Radiotherapy for Solid Tumors. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223600. [PMID: 36429033 PMCID: PMC9688403 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICB) is ineffective against cold tumors and, although it is effective against some hot tumors, drug resistance can occur. We have developed a Plasmodium immunotherapy (PI) that can overcome these shortcomings. However, the specific killing effect of PI on tumor cells is relatively weak. Radiotherapy (RT) is known to have strong specific lethality to tumor cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that PI combined with RT could produce synergistic antitumor effects. We tested our hypothesis using orthotopic and subcutaneous models of mouse glioma (GL261, a cold tumor) and a subcutaneous model of mouse non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, LLC, a hot tumor). Our results showed that, compared with each monotherapy, the combination therapy more significantly inhibited tumor growth and extended the life span of tumor-bearing mice. More importantly, the combination therapy could cure approximately 70 percent of glioma. By analyzing the immune profile of the tumor tissues, we found that the combination therapy was more effective in upregulating the perforin-expressing effector CD8+ T cells and downregulating the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and was thus more effective in the treatment of cancer. The clinical transformation of PI combined with RT in the treatment of solid tumors, especially glioma, is worthy of expectation.
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