Patient-Derived, Drug-Resistant Colon Cancer Cells Evade Chemotherapeutic Drug Effects via the Induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Mediated Angiogenesis

Discovery of New Anti-Cancer Agents against Patient-Derived Sorafenib-Resistant Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is the most well-known type of endocrine cancer that is easily treatable and can be completely cured in most cases. Nonetheless, anti-cancer drug-resistant metastasis or recurrence may occur and lead to the failure of cancer therapy, which eventually leads to the death of a patient with cancer. This study aimed to detect novel thyroid cancer target candidates based on validating and identifying one of many anti-cancer drug-resistant targets in patient-derived sorafenib-resistant papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We focused on targeting the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) in patient-derived sorafenib-resistant PTC cells compared with patient-derived sorafenib-sensitive PTC cells. We discovered novel SERCA inhibitors (candidates 33 and 36) by virtual screening. These candidates are novel SERCA inhibitors that lead to remarkable tumor shrinkage in a xenograft tumor model of sorafenib-resistant patient-derived PTC cells. These results are clinically valuable for the progression of novel combinatorial strategies that facultatively and efficiently target extremely malignant cancer cells, such as anti-cancer drug-resistant PTC cells.

Drug Discovery Using Evolutionary Similarities in Chemical Binding to Inhibit Patient-Derived Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Drug resistance causes therapeutic failure in refractory cancer. Cancer drug resistance stems from various factors, such as patient heterogeneity and genetic alterations in somatic cancer cells, including those from identical tissues. Generally, resistance is intrinsic for cancers; however, cancer resistance becomes common owing to an increased drug treatment. Unfortunately, overcoming this issue is not yet possible. The present study aimed to evaluate a clinical approach using candidate compounds 19 and 23, which are sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) inhibitors, discovered using the evolutionary chemical binding similarity method. mRNA sequencing indicated SERCA as the dominant marker of patient-derived anti-cancer drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but not of patient-derived anti-cancer drug-sensitive HCC. Candidate compounds 19 and 23 led to significant tumor shrinkage in a tumor xenograft model of anti-cancer drug-resistant patient-derived HCC cells. Our results might be clinically significant for the development of novel combinatorial strategies that selectively and efficiently target highly malignant cells such as drug-resistant and cancer stem-like cells.

Effects of Anti-Cancer Drug Sensitivity-Related Genetic Differences on Therapeutic Approaches in Refractory Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer (TC) includes tumors of follicular cells; it ranges from well differentiated TC (WDTC) with generally favorable prognosis to clinically aggressive poorly differentiated TC (PDTC) and undifferentiated TC (UTC). Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is a WDTC and the most common type of thyroid cancer that comprises almost 70–80% of all TC. PTC can present as a solid, cystic, or uneven mass that originates from normal thyroid tissue. Prognosis of PTC is excellent, with an overall 10-year survival rate >90%. However, more than 30% of patients with PTC advance to recurrence or metastasis despite anti-cancer therapy; consequently, systemic therapy is limited, which necessitates expansion of improved clinical approaches. We strived to elucidate genetic distinctions due to patient-derived anti-cancer drug-sensitive or -resistant PTC, which can support in progress novel therapies. Patients with histologically proven PTC were evaluated. PTC cells were gained from drug-sensitive and -resistant patients and were compared using mRNA-Seq. We aimed to assess the in vitro and in vivo synergistic anti-cancer effects of a novel combination therapy in patient-derived refractory PTC. This combination therapy acts synergistically to promote tumor suppression compared with either agent alone. Therefore, genetically altered combination therapy might be a novel therapeutic approach for refractory PTC.

Synergistic Anticancer Activity of N-Hydroxy-7-(2-Naphthylthio) Heptanomide, Sorafenib, and Radiation Therapy in Patient-Derived Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Models

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an undifferentiated and advanced form of thyroid cancer, accompanied with a high ratio of epigenetic adjustment, which occurs more than genetic mutations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic anticancer effect (in vitro and in vivo) of the new combination of N-hydroxy-7-(2-naphthylthio) heptanomide (HNHA) and sorafenib with radiation therapy in pre-clinical models of ATC. The ATC cell lines, YUMC-A1 and YUMC-A2, were isolated from the current patients who were treated with HNHA and sorafenib, either as monotherapy or combination therapy. Synergistic anticancer effect of the combination therapy on the intracellular signaling pathways and cell cycle was assessed via flow cytometry and immunoblot analysis. To examine tumor shrinkage activity in vivo, an ATC cell line-derived mouse xenograft model was used. Results showed that the combination therapy of HNHA and sorafenib with radiation promoted tumor suppression via caspase cleavage and cell cycle arrest in patient-derived ATC. In addition, the combination therapy of HNHA and sorafenib with radiation was more effective against ATC than therapy with HNHA or sorafenib with radiation. Thus, the combination of HNHA and sorafenib with radiation may be used as a novel curative approach for the treatment of ATC.