Sorafenib inhibited cell growth through the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

Machine learning model reveals roles of interferon‑stimulated genes in sorafenib‑resistant liver cancer

HCC (Hepatocellular carcinoma) is the most common malignant tumor; however, the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors is not well understood. Sorafenib, an approved treatment for HCC, inhibits angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation. However, only ~30% of patients are sensitive to sorafenib and most show disease progression, indicating resistance to sorafenib. The present study used machine learning to investigate several mechanisms related to sorafenib resistance in liver cancer cells. This revealed that unphosphorylated interferon-stimulated genes (U-ISGs) were upregulated in sorafenib-resistant liver cancer cells, and the unphosphorylated ISGF3 (U-ISGF3; unphosphorylated STAT1, unphosphorylated STAT2 and IRF9) complex was increased in sorafenib-resistant liver cancer cells. Further study revealed that the knockdown of the U-ISGF3 complex downregulated U-ISGs. In addition, inhibition of the U-ISGF3 complex downregulated cell viability in sorafenib-resistant liver cancer cells. These results suggest that U-ISGF3 induced sorafenib resistance in liver cancer cells. Also, this mechanism may also be relevant to patients with sorafenib resistance.

Fabrication and characterization of nanodelivery platform based on chitosan to improve the anticancer outcome of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma

Chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) showed promising results in drug, vaccine and gene delivery for the treatment of various diseases. The considerable attention towards CS was owning to its outstanding biological properties, however, the main challenge in the application of CS NPs was faced during their size-controlled synthesis. Herein, ionic gelation reaction between CS and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP), a widely used and safe CS cross-linker for biomedical application, was exploited. The development of nanodelivery platform, namely Sorafenib-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (SF-CS NPs), was constructed in order to improve SF drug delivery to human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. The NPs were artificially fabricated using an ionic gelation technique. A number of CS NPs that had been loaded with an SF were prepared using different concentrations of sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). These concentrations were 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/mL, and they are abbreviated as SF-CS NPs 2.5, SF-CS NPs 5.0, SF-CS NPs 10, and SF-CS NPs 20 respectively. DLS, FTIR, XRD, HRTEM, TGA, and FESEM with EDX and TEM were used for the physiochemical characterisation of SF-CS NPs. Both DLS and HRTEM techniques demonstrated that smaller particles were produced when the TPP content was raised. In a PBS solution with a pH of 4.5, the SF exhibited efficient release from the nanoparticles, demonstrating that the delivery mechanism is effective for tumour cells. The cytotoxicity investigation showed that their anticancer effect against HepG2 cell lines was significantly superior than that of free SF. In addition, the nanodrug demonstrated an absence of any detectable toxicity to normal adult human dermal fibroblast (HDFa) cell lines. This is a step towards developing a more effective anticancer medication delivery system with sustained-release characteristics, which will ultimately improve the way cancer is managed.

Therapeutic Effects of Crocin Alone or in Combination with Sorafenib against Hepatocellular Carcinoma: In Vivo & In Vitro Insights

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of the phytochemical crocin alone or in combination with sorafenib both in rats chemically induced with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in human liver cancer cell line (HepG2). Male rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely, control group, HCC induced group, and groups treated with sorafenib, crocin or both crocin and sorafenib. HCC was induced in rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN), then 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF). The HCC-induced rats showed a significant decrease in body weight compared to animals treated with either or both examined drugs. Serum inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP); interleukin-6 (IL-6); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and oxidative stress markers were significantly increased in the HCC group and were restored upon treatment with either or both of therapeutic molecules. Morphologically, the HCC-induced rats manifested most histopathological features of liver cancer. Treatment with either or both of crocin and sorafenib successfully restored normal liver architecture. The expression of key genes involved in carcinogenesis (TNFα, p53, VEGF and NF-κB) was highly augmented upon HCC induction and was attenuated post-treatment with either or both examined drugs. Treatment with both crocin and sorafenib improved the histopathological and inflammation parameters as compared to single treatments. The in vivo anti-cancer effects of crocin and/or sorafenib were supported by their respective cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells. Crocin and sorafenib displayed an anti-tumor synergetic effect on HepG2 cells. The present findings demonstrated that a treatment regimen with crocin and sorafenib reduced liver toxicity, impeded HCC development, and improved the liver functions.

Knockdown of lncRNA TP53TG1 Enhances the Efficacy of Sorafenib in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

The multikinase inhibitor, sorafenib, is a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its limited efficacy, drug resistance and toxicity are a concern. In this study, we investigated the role of lncRNA TP53TG1 in the efficacy of sorafenib in HCC cells. We found that treatment with sorafenib increased the expression of TP53TG1 in HCC cells. Knockdown of TP53TG1 sensitized tumor cells to the antiproliferative effects of sorafenib. Furthermore, TP53TG1 knockdown had an additive inhibitory effect on HCC cell proliferation and migration in the presence of sorafenib. The combination of TP53TG1 knockdown and sorafenib drastically inhibited the activation of the ERK pathway. This work demonstrates that TP53TG1 deficiency enhances the efficacy of sorafenib in HCC. Combining TP53TG1 knockdown with sorafenib may be an optimal form of therapy for HCC treatment.

Long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs as crucial regulators in cardio-oncology

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Significant improvements in the modern era of anticancer therapeutic strategies have increased the survival rate of cancer patients. Unfortunately, cancer survivors have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which is believed to result from anticancer therapies. The emergence of cardiovascular diseases among cancer survivors has served as the basis for establishing a novel field termed cardio-oncology. Cardio-oncology primarily focuses on investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms by which anticancer treatments lead to cardiovascular dysfunction and the development of novel cardioprotective strategies to counteract cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapies. Advances in genome biology have revealed that most of the genome is transcribed into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are recognized as being instrumental in cancer, cardiovascular health, and disease. Emerging studies have demonstrated that alterations of these ncRNAs have pathophysiological roles in multiple diseases in humans. As it relates to cardio-oncology, though, there is limited knowledge of the role of ncRNAs. In the present review, we summarize the up-to-date knowledge regarding the roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicities. Moreover, we also discuss prospective therapeutic strategies and the translational relevance of these ncRNAs.

Pterostilbene promotes mitochondrial apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in glioma cells

Glioma is the most general primary and lethal intracranial malignant tumor. Pterostilbene (PTE), an analog of stilbene and resveratrol, has attracted attention in recent years due to its significant antitumor activity in multiple solid tumors; however, its effect on drug-resistant glioma cells and the underlying mechanism have not yet been reported. In this study, we found that pterostilbene inhibited proliferation, induced intrinsic mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and caused S phase arrest, inhibited migration and excessive invasion in glioma cells. Pretreatment with the pan-caspase-inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK attenuated the PTE-induced apoptosis of glioma cells. Moreover, PTE significantly increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Inhibition of ROS with N-acetyl-l-cysteine not only rescued PTE-induced reduction of cellular viability but also prevented glioma cell apoptosis. We also discovered ERK 1/2 and JNK signaling pathways were activated by PTE and contributed to induce glioma cell apoptosis. In addition, specific inhibitors of ERK 1/2 and JNK attenuated PTE-induced apoptosis. Besides, PTE significantly reduced tumor volume and prolonged median survival of tumor-bearing rats in vivo. In summary, the results of this study indicate that the anti-tumor effect of PTE on glioma cells may provide a new treatment option for glioma patients.

Paclitaxel and Sorafenib: The Effective Combination of Suppressing the Self-Renewal of Cancer Stem Cells

“Combination therapy”, which is a treatment modality combining two or more therapeutic agents, is considered a cornerstone of cancer therapy. The combination of anticancer drugs, of which functions are different from the other, enhances the efficiency compared to the monotherapy because it targets cancer cells in a synergistic or an additive manner. In this study, the combination of paclitaxel and sorafenib in low concentration was evaluated to target cancer stem cells, miPS-BT549cmP and miPS-Huh7cmP cells, developed from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells. The synergistic effect of paclitaxel and sorafenib on cancer stem cells was assessed by the inhibition of proliferation, self-renewal, colony formation, and differentiation. While the IC₅₀ values of paclitaxel and sorafenib were approximately ranging between 250 and 300 nM and between 6.5 and 8 µM, respectively, IC₅₀ of paclitaxel reduced to 20 and 25 nM, which was not toxic in a single dose, in the presence of 1 µM sorafenib, which was not toxic to the cells. Then, the synergistic effect was further assessed for the potential of self-renewal of cancer stem cells by sphere formation ability. As a result, 1 µM of sorafenib significantly enhanced the effect of paclitaxel to suppress the number of spheres. Simultaneously, paclitaxel ranging in 1 to 4 nM significantly suppressed not only the colony formation but also the tube formation of the cancer stem cells in the presence of 1 µM sorafenib. These results suggest the combination therapy of paclitaxel and sorafenib in low doses should be an attractive approach to target cancer stem cells with fewer side effects.

NO donor inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MEK/ERK pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

PABA/NO, O2-{2,4-dinitro-5-[4-(N-methylamino) benzoyloxy] phenyl} 1-(N, N-dimethylamino) diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate, is a diazeniumdiolate-based NO-donor prodrug that releases exogenous nitric oxide at high concentrations to induce apoptosis in many tumor cell lines.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the effects of PABA/NO on hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and apoptosis induction both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

PABA/NO dramatically inhibited the growth of Bel-7402 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and significantly induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, accompanied by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, up-regulation of Bax and Bad, release of Cyt c and activation of cleaved-caspase-9/3 and cleaved-PARP, which were related to suppressing PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor) and U0126 (an ERK inhibitor) prior to PABA/NO were found to synergistically enhance PABA/NO-induced apoptosis. Carboxy-PTIO as a NO scavenger obviously attenuated PABA/NO-induced apoptosis. Additionally, H22 tumor-bearing mice experiments demonstrated that PABA/NO exerted good anti-tumor effects via reducing tumor volume, tumor weight and decreasing the expression of CD34. Furthermore, PABA/NO treatment strongly inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MEK/ERK signaling pathways in H22 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

PABA/NO induced apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MEK/ERK pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.